📷Solar Power Bank: The Ultimate Solution for Your Charging Needs Introduction In today's fast-paced world, staying connected is essential. Whether it's for work or leisure, we rely heavily on our electronic devices to keep us connected. However, with the constant use of these devices, the battery life can quickly drain, leaving us stranded without a power source. This is where a solar power bank comes in handy. In this comprehensive review, we will explore why everyone needs a solar power bank and how it can benefit you. The Benefits of a Solar Power Bank A solar power bank is a portable device that can charge your electronic devices using solar energy. It is an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for your charging needs. Here are some of the benefits of using a solar power bank: 1. Portability: A solar power bank is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. You can take it with you on camping trips, hikes, or any outdoor activity. 2. Convenience: With a solar power bank, you don't have to worry about finding a power source. You can charge your devices anywhere, anytime, as long as there is sunlight. 3. Eco-Friendly: A solar power bank uses renewable energy, which is good for the environment. It reduces your carbon footprint and helps to preserve the planet. 4. Cost-Effective: A solar power bank is a one-time investment that can save you money in the long run. You don't have to pay for electricity or disposable batteries. How Does a Solar Power Bank Work? A solar power bank works by converting sunlight into electricity. It has solar panels that absorb sunlight and convert it into energy, which is stored in a battery. When you connect your device to the power bank, it transfers the stored energy to your device, charging it. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solar Power Bank When choosing a solar power bank, there are several factors to consider. These include: 1. Capacity: The capacity of the power bank determines how many times it can charge your device. The higher the capacity, the more times it can charge your device. 2. Charging Speed: The charging speed of the power bank determines how quickly it can charge your device. The higher the charging speed, the faster it can charge your device. 3. Durability: The durability of the power bank determines how long it will last. You want a power bank that is sturdy and can withstand outdoor conditions. 4. Price: The price of the power bank is an important factor to consider. You want to get a power bank that is within your budget but also meets your needs. Conclusion In conclusion, a solar power bank is a must-have for anyone who relies heavily on electronic devices. It is a portable, convenient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for your charging needs. When choosing a solar power bank, consider the capacity, charging speed, durability, and price. With a solar power bank, you can stay connected wherever you go. Related Websites: 1. https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/ 2. https://www.solarpowerrocks.com/ 3. https://www.solarpowerauthority.com/

Hey guys, so I currently have 0 good bacteria and just started taking oral probiotics and vaginal probiotic suppositories. After I rebuild my flora, will I have to forever take pills to keep them there after they colonize? or will they maintain themselves there without the need to keep taking probiotics?

Basically, I want to know if this is something else anyone experiences. I go through periods where I get nothing done, I feel like shit, and I want to die or do self die. Feels like it creeps up overtime exponentially and will hit a peak, until suddenly, I have a breakthrough moment. I find something cool or interesting and I can't help but try. BOOM, I do it, and I feel super accomplished.
I feel like the next coming of Jesus. I can't help but think about it constantly. I work on it constantly. I perfect it, its the only thing I do. And when I force myself to do anything else, I feel an ability to ACTUALLY force myself to do something with those parts of my life. Doing the dishes? Suck ass but no problem let me do them. Oh, vocab review I've put off for a month to learn another language? I got this, no problem. Lemme plow through it. Achieving milestones I set for myself? Why even call them milestones! And I do all of these things legitimately to completion with a bit of actual willpower, an ability to grit my teeth and see it through completion.
Then, overtime, that depression comes back. Feels like it comes out of nowhere but its really a slow burn that just ramps up hard at the end. Anyone else? I just wanna know if I'm alone here or not.
inb4 'talk to a professional', trying. schedules are long and tentative. My introductory psych appointment was cancelled because of a court date due to not renewing my tags which I've been putting off :( ironic
/rant

I’ve had BV “problems” since around 2020. I originally tried treating myself at home with Monistat-7 thinking it was a yeast infection, and boy did that cause a catastrophic chain of vaginal issues since. Long story short, I recently went to a PA OBGYN (not a Dr) and she called me with my results testing positive for BV. I asked her if Boric Acid would be good for me since these are the symptoms I’ve had since 2020. Odd odor, strange discharge and burning during any sort of penetration. This has all come in flares, ups and downs over-time. She said she wanted me to try either Flagyl or metrogel (?) And I opted with the pill due to being so sensitive to anything topical down there. Mind you, I am 90% sure I tried both of these back in 2020. I’m sensitive to soap, lotion, razors, wax, creams, and even deodorant during shorts weather for my big-thigh girls. So basically, I’m doing the antibiotic and asked her if I could take probiotics too. She said yes and directed me to the nearest grocery store and said there should be a refrigerated section and to pick one that supports Flora. I’m curious tho, how should I be taking these and is there a better brand/type? I’ve heard a lot about lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus reuteri which seem to be unrefrigerated. I’ve read either to take them 2-3 hours after the antibiotic or after the weekly round of Flagyl is done. Any advice is great! :) TYIA

I applied for a passport renewal by mail on 4/1 and USPS tracking confirms it was delivered to the Irving, TX location the morning of 4/4. To the best of my knowledge, all of my paperwork was in order. But the application status portal has never listed anything but “Not Available,” and my bank hasn’t processed the check I sent along with the application, either.
After a few attempts I was able to get through to the expedite-your-passport phone line, and they sent me the application, which I promptly submitted, only to get a message saying that “After reviewing our system, we are unable to complete your request because we have not yet received your application at the Department of State.” I replied with a note clarifying my situation and asking for further info but never heard back.
So now I’ve called the expedite-your-passport people again, and they just recommended waiting until 14 days before travel and calling back then. When I pressed them and mentioned my check hadn’t cleared, they put me on hold and eventually said I could either wait until 14 days before travel or just try reapplying altogether, but they couldn’t provide me with any further info.
I’m starting to get worried that my paperwork may have gotten lost in the shuffle entirely, and I have an international trip planned for July—I’m not sure if the 14-day window is going to be enough time if they determine that I have to start from square one (and I’ve of course already mailed them my current passport).
Has anybody seen a situation where a check hasn’t been processed for 8 weeks and the new passport still arrived eventually? Or is there a more direct method of ascertaining the status of my application paperwork before a locator number is assigned online? Any leads whatsoever would be greatly appreciated!

Partner and I are purchasing a home and are scheduled to close on June 23rd. We had our inspection in early April and requested a few repairs one of them involving the electric service line into the house that was eroded and the service box that had evidence of a mouse infestation and double neutrals. Buyer did not want to deal with it and offered a credit, we countered as it seemed low what they were offering ($1.5K) while we got a quote for $3.5K for the needed repair from a local electrician. They agreed under the condition that if they failed the C.O. inspection due to this issue, we would be responsible for obtaining the C.O. after completing the repairs within 30 days from close. This all seemed reasonable and was agreed to on 5/19 signed by both parties. Now on June 2nd the day after I was required to give notice, I will not renew my lease on 7/1 we receive the C.O. inspection report, and it failed. I am concerned that the report is dated 5/18, the day before we signed the addendum that indicated that we would be responsible for the C.O. if it failed due to the repairs for which credit was given. It feels as though we signed without critical information that the seller withheld from us given the date of the inspection report. I also do not understand why it would have taken almost 2 weeks for them to provide this to us (they were aware of my requirement to give notice on my lease by 6/1 as it came up in conversations surrounding timing the closing and meeting other contingencies). The C.O. is vague and notes a couple of outlet issues and a smoke detector needing replacing. There is a handwritten note on the bottom that also indicates "elec needed". They have stated that this is due to the box issue and that they fixed the other issues already not related to our request. Now they say either they will fix it and get the C.O. OR we can move forward without it and it will be our responsibility after close.
For now, I am planning on contacting the inspector to find out exactly what is required to obtain the C.O. to determine what we would be responsible for vs. the seller. Overall, the delay in providing us the report and the fact that it was dated the day before they added the C.O. condition feels very slimy to me.
I am also contacting an attorney to review our contract further, as I feel uncomfortable with how things are progressing and the lack of communication. Secondly, I have contacted my loan officer to see how long my rate lock is good for given rates seem to be increasing again. I also have $20K in EM on the line here.
How concerned should I be about these issues? Something seems off here and I appreciate any insight.

I was involved in a thread on a different sub about emotional support animals, and it lead me to doing a lot of research on signing off on a housing packet or ESA letter for clients. I was hoping to gain further insight from individual here with more experience than I, I just recently passed my LSW exam and am only a few months in to working towards my LCSW.
What are some things you do to ensure an ESA is appropriate for a client? Do you have a standard letter or do you personalize for the client’s specific pet? Has anyone received training on this? Or any other thoughts about this specific topic.
Some things I read that a therapist should consider before signing a letter and/or packet include: - What happens if the ESA letter is used by the client out of state. Would that be considered practicing outside of your license area? (For example, a client moves or begins to attend an out of state college). - Does the client have the knowledge or experience to care for and train an ESA? - Does the client have the funds to care for, train, provide medical services to, etc. their ESA? - How informed are you (the therapist) about local, state, and federal laws for ESAs? - How do you determine the threshold for “an ESA is necessary to mitigate symptoms of client’s pyschological disability” if therapy and/or medications also mitigate the symptoms?
Additional interesting things I found was the ACA’s stance on ESA paperwork and some info from the APA.
2019 statement from ACA “Given increased public and professional interest in Emotional Support Animals and recent problematic instances involving ESAs in the news media, the Human Animal Interventions in Counseling (herein referred to as HAIC) has created a formal position statement regarding ESAs. It is the recommendation of the HAIC that professional counselors do not engage in the practice of writing letters for their clients, unless the counselor has specialized training and experience in working with human-animal bond in counseling such as would be outlined in the ACA AAT-C Competencies for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) due to the potential risks involved for clients, the public, the counselor, and the animal. The ACA Code of Ethics C.2.a Boundaries of Competence states that counselors only work within their boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervision, experience and credentials. As Licensed Professional Counselors, the assessment of DSM 5 diagnoses for human clients is within the scope of practice; however, the added practices of animal behavior, behavior assessment or HumanAnimal Interventions are (most often) not. Emotional Support Animals may, in some specific circumstances, provide benefits to humans to minimize identified symptoms often associated with a DSM 5 diagnoses; however, because of the potential risks and unanticipated outcomes, the HAIC strongly suggests that counselors abstain from writing letters for persons seeking counseling or assessment for the sole purpose of obtaining an ESA recommendation letter.“ (https://www.unh.edu/sites/default/files/departments/student_accessibility_services_/aca.final_version_esa14556_002.pdf)
APA resource document on ESAs - https://www.psychiatry.org/getattachment/3d42da2a-9a4d-4479-869f-4dd1718f1815/Resource-Document-Emotional-Support-Animals.pdf

• I found it interesting that they mention an ESA letter should be reviewed every 6 months, “ensuring that the ESA is providing therapeutic benefits on an ongoing basis based on self-report and clinical observations.” This seems like it would cause a lot of issues where people in housing where pets were not allowed receive an ESA, the letter is not renewed, and now there are people without housing and/or a lot of animals going to the shelter.
  
• However I see the positive of this, as an open ended ESA letter could be dangerous if you are no longer seeing the client but they are showing new landlords or people in public this letter stating you believe their ESA should be allowed in (to whatever establishment they are wanting to enter).
  

Background: I have been at my company for nearly 5 years; company size is less than 100 people. I came in as an experienced Mechanical claims adjuster, moved up to claims supervisor, then to claims Manager over that department. About 6mo in I was taking over the IT duties for that dept. At the time we were going like a weed so it was simply setting up new workstations and registering the system on the domain, nothing hard. In 2021 they fired the guy that was handling their IT support. They have an MSP that handles 1 firewall, MS partner, and endpoint AV.
I took over IT support duties late 2021 + being Claims manager (over 50 people). My IT duties included everything from user support to reviewing/approving IT related service bills. I am even reviewing vendor contracts as our needs grow or shrink. My pay contract was structured as 35hrs Claims + 5 hrs IT = 40hrs for a base salary of $56k, I could pull up to 12hrs per week for additional IT time at a different hourly rate. I pulled over $62k for 2022 under this pay scale.
After March 2023, that claims department is no longer, our partner was going a different direction for claims adjudication and did not renew our contract.
I have been in limbo since March as to what the company wants to do with me. Right now it looks like they are wanting me to stay in my seat to take claim calls (as a claims supervisor) plus IT manager at the base pay of $56k (salary), no option for OT or additional IT pay like last contract.
Reality check: I see this is I am performing the job of IT Manager, as a one man shop. I do not want to do claims anymore. I feel that $56k is low pay for IT Manager, am I smoking crack thinking this?

The Bottom Line

The latest legal fight concerning capital interests and workers in the United States has resulted in the US Supreme court overturning lower courts' decisions to dismiss a case of Glacier - a concrete company - suing the workers' union for destruction of property after negotiations broke down and a strike was called.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/supreme-court-rules-union-labor-dispute-involving-truck-99761361
^{I would like to briefly mention that I like making posts about court cases, legislation, and legal proceedings because that is where the real nuts and bolts of capitalism are often found. It is precisely in the government's protection of property rights and claims to ownership that we find the framing and brickwork of capitalism. If that very idea is foreign-sounding to you, don't worry, I'll make a post about just that concept some time in the future.}

Some Basic Facts

In 2017, Glacier Northwest and the local Teamsters Union for the truck drivers failed to negotiate a renewed contract, triggering a workers' strike. That morning, 16 of the 85 striking drivers had already filled trucks with wet concrete. The trucks were returned to Glacier's facilities with the drums rolling so as not to destroy the trucks and potentially allow any managers etc to save the concrete. (Note here that many of the major media corporations leave out details about the manner and conditions in which the drivers left the trucks and concrete.)
Glacier tried suing the union for destruction of its property, and lower courts had been dismissing the case following an earlier 1959 decision that said state law generally doesn't apply to cases like this, and therefore the National Labor Review Board has jurisdiction over the case.
The Supreme Court's decision simply overturns lower courts' decisions to dismiss the case at this point, which means the case will go on, the desired outcome at this point for Glacier Northwest.
Importantly, note that the drivers not only returned their trucks to the facility and left the drums rolling, at least some of them notified their managers of the condition of the trucks and managers and non-striking workers managed to remove the concrete before the trucks were damaged, so they are suing over the lost concrete. Importantly, Glacier had issued letters of reprimand to the drivers, but rescinded some after the Union's lawyer pointed out that they had notified management of the condition of the trucks just at the time of the strike.
https://www.courthousenews.com/labor-laws-dont-shield-truck-driver-walkout-supreme-court-rules/

A Brief History of Violence and Destruction in Labor Movements

There's the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, during which militias were called to try to force movement of the rolling stock. Several places saw fatal clashes between these groups, though notably the militias generally killed more workers and workers generally injured some militiamen and destroyed some trains.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Railroad_Strike_of_1877
The Burlington Railroad Strike of 1888, which has a plethora of deaths and actors from the Pinkertons to deputies as well as a court injunction which effectively ended the strike by forcing workers of other railroads to operate as scabs.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_railroad_strike_of_1888
July Revolt of 1927 in Vienna where rightwing milita groups fired into a crowd of socialist party ("democratic socialists") members, where two of the party members died. The 3 militia members were acquitted of the killing charges leading to widespread strikes and more violence.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Revolt_of_1927
Rolling Stone has a surprisingly concise list of 9 great examples of destruction of property in protests, starting with: The Boston Tea Party.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ferguson-protest-george-floyd-minneapolis-nine-historical-property-destruction-175763/
The Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest workers' revolt in US history, began with the first family being evicted from the company town home in which they lived while it was raining and the police threw their belongs out into the rain.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain
The fact of the matter is that labor movements are wrapped up in fundamental disputes about the control over capital and as such are intrinsically violent and destructive.

The question is not whether or not it would be best to avoid violence and destruction; the question is why these conflicts repeatedly get framed as stemming from greed, selfishness, and immoral actions of low-wage workers and almost never as the greed and selfishness and stubbornness in negotiations by capitalists.

Back to the concrete trucks.
I have seen (and no doubt will see some of you) say that the workers shouldn't have begun their strike after loading up the trucks. IIRC, Glacier's lawyer themself suggests that the workers intentionally timed their strike to be a burden on the company.
Yea, well, that is kind of the fucking point. Strikes and protests are intended to be inconvenient for the people who are not listening. As MLK said, "*A riot is the language of the unheard." The fact that the trucks were left rolling and that management was even notified at all of the condition of the trucks and concrete says that these workers actually kind of gave a shit about the hardship intrinsic in a strike, and the fact that managers and any remaining non-striking workers struggled to save the trucks and lost some concrete is entirely the point of a strike: to remind the owners of capital that it is the workers who make shit happen day in and day out.
The decision by this court is one of a long history of governments intervening on behalf of private capital and the wealthy elite members of society against the interest of a lower class of wage laborers.
I'll leave you with the one dissenter's words:

“Workers are not indentured servants, bound to continue laboring until any planned work stoppage would be as painless as possible for their master. They are employees whose collective and peaceful decision to withhold their labor is protected by the NLRA even if economic injury results.” — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Chapter 88 - From All I Believed
​
Morning, Two days before Shel
Captain Setar suppressed a smile as she watched the Ops door close. “Well, that was interesting… Ce’lani is a little cranky.” The last vestiges of sleep clung to her as she settled down into the command chair. She felt worn out, but it was the cusp of dawn, and Pod Seven had only just turned over control. “Report on station?”
“The perimeter’s secure,” Jelki replied crisply, pulling up the map of the campus on the main screen. “Pod One is on station and reports twelve by twelve. Sgt Ma’reis is already complaining about janitor duty.”
“Ah, first pod problems.” Setar shook her head, rubbing her eyes and blowing gently on her mug of tea. “What about the objective?”
“The objective’s secure,” Re’lan piped up, already sounding chipper. The woman could have been priestess of Jrafell. Her unwavering cheeriness would have been a character fault if she weren’t so devoted. As it was, it was a damned penance for everyone else at this time of day.
Jelke finished running the obligatory shift change checks and stretched. Things wouldn't get interesting until breakfast, but watching the perimeter was a given. It didn't keep the curiosity out of her voice, as she cocked her head and glanced over. “What was interesting with Captain Ton’is, Ma’am?”
“Mm! Well… it appears she’s expecting a call from Professor Warrick today,” Setar drawled out, taking a moment to savor their reaction. “She felt a need to remind me she’s devoted to Hele, and that if Be’ona or I let her sleep through the call, she’s going to ‘fuck us up the ass with a lasrifle and pull the trigger’.”
Re’lan was probably blushing like a cadet, but Jelke shook her head ruefully. “I expect there's a ‘but’ in there somewhere, Captain?”
“Well, yeah, she said that’s where the rifle would go…” Setar sniggered before taking a long sip from her tea, and slid a bit lower in the command couch. Her eyes wandered to the traffic on the board. “She also made it clear what’ll happen if anybody listens in.”
Thoughtful silence descended. Setar almost counted to twelve before-
“We’re going to anyway, right Captain?” Jelke asked nonchalantly. “You know, for security’s sake?”
“Sergeant, that would be a base infringement of Captain Ton’is’ privacy, which is in fucking short supply for everyone in this bunker.” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, watching the steam rise from her mug. “Deeps right we are.”
_ _ _
Lady Wicama regarded her guest with interest as their autocab plied its way about the outskirts of Prelitauri. While she’d been free and cheerfully able to accommodate Khelira’s request, Monsignor Santino Barcio, or Friar Barcio, as he preferred, was not at all what she’d been expecting. She supposed it was a matter of exposure…
The Palace had never quite been the same since Princess Yn’dara’s wedding. Yn’dara was one of those odd Royals who, though well-regarded, was seldom in the public eye. A perennial favorite of the Empress, indulging her unexplained absences passed as a matter of course for the Court. Widely known to be estranged from her mother, Princess Arduina, no one enquired either deeply or often, so when she suddenly resurfaced, her return would have equally passed without comment… if not for the wedding.
Yn’dara had shocked the entire Nobility.
While it was common for any woman to marry into an established family and become a kho, the wedding should have been singular for a Princess. Princesses didn’t marry into families, Princesses formed them. And while Yn’dara technically had done so, she’d taken on three unmarried women at the same time as her husband, who was a Human! Favorite or no, the wags in the court were agog that the Empress accepted Adam so readily! The Empress, however, had been adamant; Yn’dara and her family had her blessings, and were to be left alone.
However, time had proven to be on Yn’dara’s side as well as the Empress.
After a wedding seen across the galaxy, Yn’dara’s family settled into a life of public duty. They spent long trips away from Shil, and while quietly dismissed as ‘pleasure excursions’, her trips often showed the throne to the outer provinces. Although her public engagements were few, she’d become a vocal advocate of the Empress’ reforms against graft and corruption, and, gradually, the jealous mutters about scandalous excess and Human debauchery faded away. Her marriage remained an unusual footnote, but time had demonstrated the value of Yn’dara and her wives to the throne.
Then there was Prince Adam.
Rumor held the Prince had made a favorable impression on the Empress years before, at an event hosted by Yn’dara’s mother. While details had never been forthcoming, a more significant story about Adam wafted briefly through the ranks of the Golden Glaives.
Both stories had been effectively silenced, but Wicama knew who to talk to, and being Khelira’s guardian carried a certain clout all its own. Though that influence waxed and waned over the years, raising Khelira required being aware of events that could shape her future, and she’d proven herself to be discreet. Over time, doors had opened and words had flowed.
Time had been on Prince Adam’s side, as well.
As the years passed, she’d had an exposure to Prince Adam that few of the court and none of the public enjoyed. She’d been wary at first, but he’d been a good friend and mentor to Princess Khelandri before she joined the Marines, and however infrequent his presence, he always displayed a keen mind, a loving heart, and a steadfast duty to his wives. Privately, he absolutely doted on young Khelira and possessed a loyalty to the Empress that you could bend battlesteel around. The two got along famously - after all, he was a veteran.
Not Navy, mind you, but you couldn’t have everything.
And so, as Humanity began making forays upon the galactic stage, her first impression of the species had been favorable. She’d witnessed Adam mature into his role with the court, and while the issue of children remained unspoken, that faded as well. At the time, Yn’dara had been sixth in the line of succession. A year after the wedding, Kamaud’re became an adult, followed a year later by Khelandri, and the matter became largely moot.
As for a second impression on Humans, Khelira had provided enthusiastic reports about Thomas Warrick. While the Princess thrived at the Academy, Warrick seemed to be something special.
The absence of a father in her life had been a void that no woman could properly fill, but she’d done her best. Although she’d entertained a few qualms, as the months passed by, Warrick remained a positive influence. Khelira’s messages were infrequent by necessity, but she’d written about her distress over Warrick’s family and clearly been moved. Prince Adam carried his own scars, but what veteran didn’t? He hid them carefully around Khelli, and if Warrick had chosen not to, he’d provided a useful sense of perspective, instead. It was time for Khelira to grow up, and that meant facing the grist of differing opinions and ugly realities. That was what education was actually for, and Warrick seemed to be doing admirably well as a grindstone.
All of that was before the library incident, which settled her opinion once and for all. While erratic, irreverent, and capable of violence, Humans clearly could be a positive influence when channeled in the right direction. Yn’dara had shown what a good Shil’vati woman was capable of with Prince Adam, and Lady Pel’avon was following suit.
And at least the wags at the Palace wouldn’t speak of Yn’dara’s state wedding again. As a subject for spectacle, Miv’eire Pel’avon’s had put it to shame.
Still, it was good to see Warrick married. While Professor Ha’meres scandalous exploits had faded from the public eye, older wo… more mature women didn’t forget such things. The man had been a daring adventurer - and an inveterate gadabout - and an unmarried man around that many young women was too tempting for some girls. A wife or two… preferably more… resolved such idle fancies. If the Pel’avon ceremony had been somewhat… questionable in taste, compared to Adam’s, it remained legally binding. Warrick was willing to settle down, and by all reports his wife had a proper sense of decorum.
Human men seemed to be a trial from the Goddess, but hopefully she and her kho-wife could sort him with time, love, and kindness.
While exposure to only two Humans was not what she’d call a comprehensive sample, in both cases her impressions had been quite positive. And so, when Khelli asked her to escort a Human Priest about the city, she’d been entirely willing.
Thus far, it had been an enjoyable morning. While there had been occasional missteps, their conversation had been delightful as they traveled from property to property. Even so, she hadn’t expected to meet such a kindred spirit.
Admittedly she’d stammered a bit when he mentioned eating the flesh and drinking the blood of his redeemer. On the other hand, she compared it to the first time she’d bled into the ocean, mingling salt in her blood with the seas. He’d turned shockingly pale, so she changed the subject. It was a purely symbolic act to Drepna - just a cut on the thumb, for goddess sake...
She’d taken extra care afterwards. Barcio could be clearly a sensitive male, but diplomacy was part of her work. Even calling her role ‘work’ was deceptive. She’d raised Khelira in every way an Empress could not.
It was easy for other women to appreciate the prestige of her position, but few understood the depth of it - or the satisfaction.
During her career in the Navy, her flotilla had provided direct support for the Empress, and they’d come to work closely over three tours. After Khelira’s birth years later, the invitation came from the Royal Household to act as her guardian, and she’d never looked back. Competition had been fierce for the prestigious position, but applying had been the best move of her life.
Empress Kamilesh loved all her children and had spent as much time with each of them as she could, but her work was all-consuming, and after her husband’s act of… Well, the Empress had been there, but she’d born her pain privately. She had lost herself in her work for many years before recovering a semblance of her former self, and her absence had taken a toll on her children. Kamaud’re had taken it the worst. Khelandri had bounced back, while everyone doted on Lu’ral. Barely more than an infant, Khelira had been far too young to remember. Wicama had been there through all of it.
It was a good life, and the princess was a delightful girl. For Wicama, the absence of a man in her life was something she’d felt now and then, but she invested her life in Khelira. The Empress treated her as a member of the family in all but name… and in a very real sense, the child you raised was your child.
Looking back, some women might insinuate she’d given up her personal life to raise another woman’s daughter. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
She had her calling - just as Friar Barcio had his.
Yes, he was a priest, and his religious strictures were very unusual. A male priest in any of the Shil’vati faiths would never be placed under such restraints, and for a man to go unmarried was noteworthy…
But she understood having a calling. Oh yes, she understood that as few others could.
After discussing his needs, they’d set out to examine three properties around Prelitauri. The Friar’s individual requirements were deceptively difficult when taken as a whole. A complex coupling a generous auditorium, ample administrative space, and he clearly needed substantial grounds to properly convey a sense of aura. Such accommodations were seldom on the market, and since he expected his colleagues to arrive in weeks, his need was immediate.
Thankfully, urban renewal moved in waves. The tides of such fashions meant Prelitauri was once again an up-and-coming area. While difficult to find, three older structures had the potential to be suitable, and so it was that she’d enjoyed learning about her guest as they explored the tiny district.
The Monsignor spoke four other Earth languages fluently. He tended to break into his native tongue and hadn’t mastered contractions yet, but his Vatikre was passable and he listened carefully, seldom needing to ask about a word. After limiting her contractions when she spoke, their conversation flowed easily.
Barcio had shown little enthusiasm for the first two properties, but their conversation regarding other matters never waned. She expanded on her devotion to Drepna, Shil and the roles of each goddess while asking careful questions of his faith. His own inquiries proved thoughtful, and he was as avid in politely asking after her beliefs as explaining his faith.
After their second hour together, she’d taken the liberty of calling Prelate Hi’meta Merlamiss. As a priestess of Drepna’s second circle, Merlamiss had proven a valuable contact over the years. Well connected, she enjoyed a good relationship with many other prelates of the Divine Halls; she also got on well with Xinfess, the Rakiri’s Speaker of the Dark Mother on Shil. A meeting with Barcio would readily open doors for his group that might otherwise prove difficult to attain, and while Barcio’s accent strained now and then, it was clear the Monsignor and the Prelate shared a questionably low sense of humor.
Given a chance, they’d probably get on famously.
Certainly, that would be a blessing. Their hunt for a suitable facility had not gone nearly so well, and while Barcio had been conciliatory toward the first two facilities, she could tell he wasn’t taken with either. The last property wasn’t high in her expectations, so she found herself casting her head to the side when it swept into view and he clasped his hands in excitement.
”*È bella!* This is beautiful,” he exclaimed. “It reminds me a bit of my childhood home in Sacile!”
She looked out at the complex with its low gabled roofs, as their cab wound up from the entrance. Beside the drive, a small river meandered through the campus past the main buildings. She tapped the console to slow their ride and considered the place in a new light. “I’m… well, a bit surprised to be honest, Friar.”
“Please! We have been traveling for hours now, and I am not holding a service.” The Friar spared her a warm smile, before gazing back at the premises. “I would take it as a great kindness if you would call me Santino.”
“Very well - on the condition you call me Wicama.” It had been some time since anyone called her by anything but title or rank, and the informality was pleasant. Still, as their autocab closed on the end of the lane, she let such thoughts go and considered the location properly.
The buildings were low, sensible cubes, but that was largely an end to it. The architect had made some unusual choices in Helkam motifs that strained understanding. A long colonnade bordered the river, and that seemed nice enough, but the buildings! Forgoing purple was one thing, but they were beige! With unusual elements and the repressively bland color scheme, it was small wonder the clerk handling the property confessed that the space had lain vacant. Its original owners went into foreclosure. The exotic design had proven unable to attract interest, laying dormant ever since.
Barcio… Santino… seemed delighted, however, and she pulled up the specifications on her omni-pad. “This site has two smaller auditoriums besides the main one, while the central building has four floors. One is underground, but all the floors face an interior atrium.”
As the cab gently halted in the car park, she climbed out to hold the door but Santino had already scrambled out and was examining the gardens with evident interest. Tall stands of parago trees were losing the last of their fronds for the year, but she had to admit the grounds were substantial. Yesterday’s storm had left the morning air cold and crisp, lending the gardens an appealing aspect. Untended since the last owners, much could be done with them.
She had given up trying to escort the Friar anywhere after their first two stops, and now they fell into an easy pace side by side as they strolled toward the main building. She turned back to the property itself. “So, this reminds you of your home?”
It wasn’t exactly Helkam architecture - domes weren’t covering every possible surface - but the builder had clearly been nodding in that direction. A promenade wound to the entry, supporting white chevrons that arced into the sky. The bright morning sky shone through clever cutouts, making the unusual design at least look light, rather than oppressive and unappealing. With a decent renovation, the facility had possibilities, and the price was comparatively low.
“*Si!* Oh, not so much like home, but there is the sense of it. I was born near the sea, and this feels… similar.” He gave her a depreciating smile before rolling his eyes. “It may not please everyone who is coming, but ‘everyone’ is not here, so I am allowed some indulgence! Better to have something waiting than nothing at all. I confess, some of my colleagues thought we’d only manage when the bridge to Messina is finished.”
“You should not have been sent ahead alone! Surely your colleagues were not that worried about a poor reception,” she tutted. Priest or no, there were decencies about a man traveling alone to be observed. “You shouldn't need a bridge to find a place for your mission. I don’t know where Messina is, but I’m certain Prelate Marlemis wouldn’t stand for it!”
“Tch! Excuse my poor efforts! The older I get, the more I remember things like yesterday. Unfortunately, the yesterdays I remember so well were thirty years ago!” Barcio smiled wryly up at her as they walked. “The ‘bridge to Messina’ used to be a saying… People dreamed of building a bridge to Sicily, and it became something that never happened. My English friends would instead say ‘when hell freezes over’. *Un'espressione volgare*, but very much to the point.”
“Ah… I’m sure we can manage something, and this could be made presentable. Maybe change the beige to a pale violet?” she offered helpfully as she made it to the door first, holding it open. “The aura inside isn’t so bad.”
“You’ve said that several times, but I do not know what you mean?” He paused in looking around the entry, which had an open foyer exposing the two floors above and led out to the atrium beyond. “What is ‘aura’? I do not think I know the word as you mean it.”
“Aura is… Hmm…” Wicama paused thoughtfully and gestured at the atrium. The interior was in better shape than the grounds, and the architect had done something clever. Not yet noon, a bevel along the top edge filled the space with sunlight. “Have you ever walked along a beach and wanted to save a shell? When you are there, that is aura… When you take the shell home and think of the beach, that is aura, but… less focused. Diminished. You sense the beach because of the shell, but you are not at the beach. Places can have aura, but it is more than character. If you move through a place and find yourself experiencing it? That is aura.”
“Mhm! *lodevole!* I like this idea very much. It would be right at home in the Vatican. Not everyone understands a space can move the spirit, or lend power to a message.” He nodded thoughtfully as he cast his eye about the open space. “With the right advice, perhaps we can lead others to these halls.”
“Perhaps. If you tour the Palace, I hope you’ll allow me to show you about? A lot of the real gems are hidden from the public.” She watched as he wandered toward the double-helixed stairways bordering the room. Those were definitely Helkam; walking up one side without meeting someone coming down the other was an interesting experience… once. After that, they could be an absolute nuisance. Spotting the elevators, she called him back. “The nice thing is this place is inexpensive! That will pad out your funds for a good remodel.”
Wicama quietly thanked the Goddesses that the builder’s had the good sense to install normal Shil’vati-style elevators. The sides were open, granting a wide view out over the atrium. The grounds were terraced to create a small park; that could make the underground space bearable, and the plans made them seem spacious enough. Not to everyone’s taste, but pretty. “I feel bad for asking, but can you afford the building? If the price of the first two bothered you, we can find others.”
“I would not hear of it! Thank you for your concern, but we are economical with our funds, and were sent with a generous sum. This is an important venture to everyone involved,” Barcio clasped a hand over his chest, as he shook his head. “I can not thank you enough for your help! You have surely spared me weeks, and I might not have found something half so suitable. As it is, the grounds are enough to gain me converts. Father Roscio and Pastor Weber will surely plant a vineyard before the inside is half done!”
“It’s not a problem. I have plenty of time,” she replied, dismissing the matter as inconsequential. “I work at the Palace, but with the Court away and my daughter at school, I’m a bit at loose ends just now. At the very least, I insist on helping you through the paperwork. I wouldn’t put it past some realty clerks to try and overcharge you… Someone from outside Shil, that is. I’ll ensure they stick to the listing.”
“To someone not from Shil… or someone who is not Shil’vati, perhaps?” His head canted slightly to one side, but he smiled as he said it. “*Certamente!* I would not dream of preventing you, though Rabbi Kleinbaum will be bitterly disappointed she has nothing to moan about.”
“I hope you won't take this badly, as I’ve only met one Human.” Wicama gave him a smile. She was long past girlish uncertainty, and the Navy had taught her a generous measure of professional poise to go with her skills as a markswoman. “You aren’t what I expected.”
“You know the professore, then?” He sucked in a breath and pursed his lips. “I am still deciding what sort of man he is.”
“No, actually, I know another Human but I’ve not… I have not… met Professor Warrick.”
“So. You mean that I am not *un barbaro*? I am here to make sure that we are seen as something more than savage warriors, *capisci*?” He studied her expectantly. “While the Imperium is doing good work on Earth, some still live in want. The Imperium provides enough for all to survive, but not all live in plenty. We need to present ourselves well.”
”That seems like a very secular outlook.” She offered, as they rode up to the third floor. Barcio asked for an explanation of the word, and by the time they’d made their way through the first offices he had the idea.
“My church has not always troubled itself with such things, but our holy father is greatly concerned with such inequalities. He takes it upon himself to address such matters with the Governess, when their time allows.”
“Your church has a good relationship with her?”
“È straordinario! The Governess adores our food, and while she was adamant about taking quarters in the Vatican, she has taken pains not to disturb us.” He shrugged dismissively. “*Cosa sai fare?* It seemed a small price, and we have endured far worse.”
“I used to hear terrible stories about red zones on Earth, though the Humans I’ve met don't seem the sort. It is good that your… pulp?” She tried the word and was rewarded with kind laughter and a gentle correction. “It is good that your pope concerns himself with the full welfare of the people and works with your governess. Our prelates share the same concerns.”
“I thought the Empress was the head of your church? Now, I find you have many…” he groped for a word, frowning, and gave up. “*Questo accento è una prova di fede!* ‘Denominations’ is not the right word, but she is the one revered, yes?”
“Of course! The Empress has to show all of our virtues and none of our faults, but that’s part of her role. To favor any divinity over the others could cause divisions. She has her personal preferences, of course, but never lets them be known.” Wicama explained carefully. “It would be in poor taste.”
“And poor politics, I think?” Santino gave her a long look. At his height it was difficult, but he managed. “This makes sense to me now, that the Imperium leaves matters of faith alone. *Una benedizione inaspettata.*”
Despite the serious topic, his fervent reply brought a smile back to her lips. “It seems your pope considers politics as well as economics.”
“People will always defend economic theories which assume that growth will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice. This has never been confirmed by the facts, and expresses a crude trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system.” He said, stopping to clasp a hand over his cross. “Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting.”
“That doesn't sound like scripture.” She offered cautiously, as they made their way into a wider suite of offices on the second floor.
“*Esattamente.* The words of Pope Francis, a good and blessed man who appointed me to my position. His successor, his holiness John Paul the Third, is much of the same mind,” Santino said quietly. “Our savior washed the feet of others and urged all to do the same. The hardest step is to be involved. To work together for change, as well as to pray. That is why I am here.
“*I pigri di cuore trovano sempre una scusa* Some Humans, they are yet angry with the Imperium. Now they have enough, they are bitter not to have plenty. For some there is never enough - the true poverty lies within their hearts,” Santino said a bit testily. “Our faith teaches us to find salvation in eternal life, but others? *Pigrizia!* They see it as an excuse from taking agency in themselves. Jesus washed the feet of others - he did not lay down and wait for someone to wash his!”
Wicama turned the unfamiliar metaphor over in her mind but decided she had the sense of it. “Sham teaches us that helping our families and one another is the same as helping ourselves. ‘The rising tide bares us all from the reefs’.” It was a matter of faith… but that was why it was faith in the first place. On the whole, it seemed like a mature perspective that explained the changes she’d seen in Prince Adam over the years. “You’re here to meet with others, but this seems as much about knowing yourselves.”
“*Sì, non è una brutta cosa avere umiltà davanti a Dio.* Human beings, while we are capable of the worst, we are also capable of choosing the good. Of rising up to make a new start. We are entering the galaxy.” He gestured out the window at the world beyond. “If not now… when?”
_ _ _ “So, when are you going to explain this masterpiece you four have been cooking up?” Marin asked. Sammi and Sam were barely awake but the twins had already arrived, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, and Marin cursed the resilience of youth. The room was acceptably warm, but Ayen had complained about the cold and used the excuse to slip back into bed. She was considering her options for joining him.
Somewhere, somehow, Sammi had found their rabbit pajamas again. “Sam, explain it to her? You do it better.” Sammi yawned, but Marin suspected it was an act. Once something got their attention, sleep was usually an afterthought.
“What, now?” Sam had barely stumbled into the room and blinked. Bleary-eyed and barely awake, he looked like he’d been ambushed, which was exactly the case.
“Pllllllleeeease…?” They sat back pulling the ears, giving their best Roger Rabbit impression. Luminous green eyes peered out at Sam, imploringly.
“Alright… I need coffee, but fine.” Sam trudged over to the kitchenette and poked listlessly at the instant coffee. It was getting perilously low, but Marin was sure he’d brought more on the ship. Eventually Sam gestured at the K’herbhal sisters with his mug. “So the girls want to create an artificial topological soliton. It's like a black hole, except where it isn't… It's sort of a kink in space-time.”
“Made you say kink!” Sammi grinned impishly and the girls blushed. Marin shook her head but paid attention. It felt far too early after another late night, but once everyone was up you had to hang on for whatever came next.
“So, what's that got to do with this… hole you want to use for power?” Marin raised her voice just enough to drag the conversation back on track.
“It’s more like a side effect. If it cuts the right angle, it goes into a realm of space-time we can tap for power. Think of it as an obverse of an energy drain, so it's like a white hole.”
“Let me guess.” Marin shook her head and grinned, holding up a hand to forestall the inevitable. “Except where it isn’t?”
“Ummm… pretty much.” Sam grumbled, blowing at his coffee. Marin glanced back at the twins. With Sam busy, the twins had gravitated to either side of Sammi. There was room left on the couch, and she wandered over to settle in beside one of them.
The Sams had been complaining for years about a lack of ‘focal power’ for their mass compression technologies, and while a rubber duck inside a diamond was impressive, they’d wanted to do something more - a lot more. She suspected if the twins were providing the means, then they already had something about to surface from the depths of their imaginations. Over the years she’d learned to pick a bit, rather than take their answers at straight value. “And if things don’t cut at the right angle? You remember how long it took to get rid of the Navy, when you started talking about making black holes?”
“It's not our fault they didn’t understand,” Sammi said defensively, crossing their arms and pouting at her before the rabbit ears fell over their face.
“Who didn’t understand what?” Akeimei yawned at the door. She cast a wink her way before wrapping her arms around Sam and gave him a quick hug. “What did I miss?”
“Umm… a parallel universe, if the math is right,” Sam mumbled from the depths of his coffee cup.
“What? Like identical versions of us?” Marin watched Akimei’s nose wrinkled at the smell before she slipped away from Sam. Slipped down beside her, they rubbed shoulders a moment. “Tell me, is there one where I get more sleep?”
“More or less identical… though it's not like you need to go into a parallel universe for that sort of thing. There’s already a ‘you’ out there somewhere right now, to say nothing of past and future ‘you’.” Sam scratched his cheek idly for a moment “It's just the math. The universe is so vast that there are exact physical cosmic twins of us out there somewhere, not to mention even more almost-twins.”
“Sam’s right!” Sammi perked up excitedly, bouncing on the sofa. “Then there are quantum cosmic twins - which gets weird because particles exist in multiple states and you’d sort of overlap… but the easiest one is probably just another us elsewhere in the universe right now! That's sort of the point where the universe is bigger than you can imagine!”
“So exactly the same… or almost.” One of the twins giggled. “Just like us!”
“Pretty much,” Sam nodded, slowly emerging from the depths of his coffee. “Another you out there on another Shil, or another me on a whole Earth, even - just a little bit different.”
“What? Like an Earth that never met the Imperium?” Marin canted her head, tossing out the obvious. It was hard to remember her life before, and she didn’t want to contemplate the alternative.
“Oh, I don't like that idea.” One of the twins stuck out her lip. “We want to come to Earth!”
“Yeah,” her sister nodded, though she suddenly looked glum. “I don’t know if Professor Warrick would mind though. He’d be with his wife and daughter, there.”
“Oh…” her sister's face crumpled. “I didn’t think of it that way.”
“Well, don’t…” Sammi hugged them both a moment, though they held the first twin a bit tighter. “The point is, somewhere he’s with them right now!”
“Wow, I guess so.” she brightened. “Just imagine! A whole Earth that never met the Shil’vati!”
“I wouldn’t worry, sis.” her twin nodded. “I think Professor Warrick is pretty happy right now.”
_ _ _
“I am not happy about this!” Tom glared at his omni-pad before tossing it down in frustration.
Miv looked up at her husband.
“It’s an honor!” She tucked her chin in and gave him a long, considered look, “What is it that’s bothering you - really? It wasn't Monsignor Barcio. Are you certain this isn't the same sort of thing?”
“Yes, I’m sure!” he growled, looking away like a guilty child. “Alright, maybe… but this uniform is the silliest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ll look like a mushroom, and the hat only makes it worse!" Tom grimaced at the omni-pad accusingly, "They won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, so now I’m on the rolls as a Warden Captain - whatever that is - and this ceremony is ridiculous!”
“The ceremony is traditional. Very symbolic... Besides, they don't make wardens out of anyone below the rank of captain - I looked it up. You were one before, so it's appropriate to make you one instead of a Warden Major or Warden Colonel.” She smiled at him serenely. “Surely, it can’t be the worst thing you’ve ever done.”
He turned to wag a finger her way. “I’ll take that bet!”
“Worse than our wedding reception…?” She crooned, teasing him. “Or maybe pre-term night? I swear by the Goddess no one will pinch your ass, except for Lea and I.”
“Fine…” Her smile grew wider as he grumbled, but he was calming down already and there wasn't heat in it. Still, he stubbornly clung on to the point a while longer. "It’s in my top five.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive, husband. Now then, I have meetings all afternoon, so why don't you finish reviewing the menu? You’ll feel better when all this is over and you can go back to cooking, chess, or starting that eeeyiy club… You might even give Ce’lani a call or message her?” She gathered her coat and smiled demurely, though it harbored nothing innocent. “If I’m not here you’ll have perfect privacy… Just don't promise anything you wouldn't promise to me.”
“It’s iai-do…” Tom groused, but he was already picking up his omni-pad.
She blew him a kiss and made her way toward the commons. Tom would probably stew a while, but he’d make the call.
There would be time to meet with Ce’lani on the common, before she had to come home for dinner.
_ _ _
Tom looked over the banquet menu as if it might reach out and bite him. The words stared up at him with perfect innocence.
Appetizer: Fruit and Cheese Platter - Slices of various cheeses and fruits on a platter providing a delicate mix of sweet, tangy and creamy to invigorate the dining experience. Serve with a selection of sweet and semi-sweet wines.
Soup: Choice of Tomato or French Onion Soup - Served with a piece of baguette and cheese.
Salad: Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing -- an assortment of greens and fruit with a balsamic grain dressing to cleanse the palate.
Entree: Cornish Pasty - This herb-infused meat and pastry dish provides a counterpoint to the tangy taste of the salad and soup. Served with a creamy buttered mashed potato (a vegetable, humanely prepared!) with chives (also a vegetable). Served with a selection of wines or ales.
Dessert: Chef’s Sorbet Surprise - A sweet treat complemented by a palate cleanser, ending the meal on a piquant note.
His last call with Bherdin had been a trial and a half. Omni-pads were the definition of ‘high fidelity’, and hearing the little Shil’vati hyperventilate for ten minutes over the plan was pointless. At least Melondi had easier going with Vedeem on her side... one way or another this was happening.
As a final consolation, he relented on wearing matching suits. Bherdin frequently bemoaned Tom’s 'lamentable' fashion sense, and he perked up at that, promising to get him some appropriate formalwear for the occasion.
Privately, he suspected his Shil’vati friend was looking for a convenient alibi if a riot started.
In fairness, it probably wasn't a bad idea.
“Too late to use it myself…” he muttered. It wasn’t quite noon, and Miv was probably right. Instead of Chess Club or starting Iai-do practice or just cooking out at Human Food, he was stuck here at home. Miv’s place was bigger, but most of his stuff was still in boxes; it left him listless and climbing the walls. If this worked, at least things could get back to normal.
…Mostly normal…
He flipped back to the picture of the Warden uniform on his omni-pad. It was bad enough, but the hat made the whole thing look like a blue toadstool in silver filigree.
He swiped the picture away like an act of revenge, but didn’t toss the pad back on the table.
…Miv was right... and I promised to call Ce’lani…
Tom centered himself, pulling up the number. The universe was always in motion and a good Taoist accepted their part in what came. That was the lesson of ‘the Vinegar Tasters’, and it held true… The painting showed three men standing around a vat of vinegar. Each has dipped his finger into the vinegar and tasted it. The expression on each man's face showed his individual reaction.
The painting was an allegory for Confucius, Buddha, and Lao-tse. Confucius wore a sour look on his face. He believed life was out of harmony with the universe. As the second figure in the painting, Buddha had a bitter expression. Like the vinegar, life was painful and filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering. The last man, Lao-tse, was smiling at the taste. To him, harmony existed naturally and could be found by anyone at any time in any experience.
He thought about his buddy Dave. The old Marine would probably shake his head and tell him to ‘embrace the suck.’ It pretty much boiled down to the same thing.
Not that he was against calling. Miv and Lea had practically taken turns urging him on and giving their views on why it was a good idea. They hadn't harped about it, but he knew which way the wind was blowing. And Ce’lani’s message had been short, sweet in the literal sense, and the sound file she’d offered up had been…
…Pretty nice, really…
If he still said no, or decided he didn't like where this was going, they’d back his choice, of course. He didn't have a doubt in his mind… But with everything else in his life turned upside down, calling Ce’lani seemed like a calm in the eye of a storm.
…It's just a phone call. Leave the chaos at the gate…
He settled down on the couch to check his messages before giving her a call. It was nearly lunch…

Big software provider tried to bully us, need help to try and settle the score. David vs Goliath basically.
I signed up for a SaaS (software as a service) agreement for my business, at the time of sign up I was specific about it being a 12 month term with no further term. The contract I signed clearly stated that there was a 12 month initial term, with no further term in the schedule of terms. I noted that there was an auto renew provision in the contract which referenced that there would be an auto renewal of the “further term” as per the schedule of terms, unless they received a cancellation request which had to be submitted in writing on their prescribed cancellation template (link buried in contract of course). Naturally, I made the assessment that any auto renewal would be 0 months as the “further term” in the schedule was stated as 0 months, subsequently making the auto renewal redundant and the contract of service being for a finite term of 12 months.
Fast forward 9.5 months and I decide we are not going to continue with SaaS provider, and in the interests of being a decent partner decide to advise the SaaS provider (via their cancellation template) that we will not be looking to renew beyond the initial term. I figured this was in their interest as I could have just let the term expire without engaging at all, but I wanted to ensure they were in the loop as you never know who you will work with in the future and it is best to conduct yourself accordingly imo.
Well, then we get an email saying we hadn’t provided the cancellation inside the minimum 3 month window and that the subscription would auto renew for 12 months, this also included a statement of claim for an unpaid invoice for the first quarter of this new service period billed in advance. We got complete radio silence from our customer success manager and started getting regular emails from their accounts and legal dept. about the unpaid invoice. We advised that we had only signed up for 12 months, but they just replied saying that they sympathized with us but that they had to adhere to the cancellation policy and insisted we pay.
Well, this bought about a fair bit of anxiety, sole trader business vs multi-national software provider. So after trying to contact anyone and everyone at the company to discuss to no avail, and continued demand for payment and us fearing they might assign debt collectors as part of their systematic processes that would become an absolute nightmare for us we decided to get an external contract review to confirm our position.
It was identified that our position was 100% water tight and that we had only signed for 12 months, we replied to the legal dept at the SaaS provider with the position (again) and low and behold we got an apology in return stating that they had misunderstood the terms of our contract, sorry for any inconvenience, our account would be closed and the invoices credited. They also advised that they had advised the customer success managers to not enter into dialogue with us while the matter was in play, so we basically missed out on 2.5 months of access to the customer success managers.
The question is, could we, and if so, what would be the best way to do so, look to recover the costs of the contract review which we funded to affirm our position, and/ or the last ~3 months worth of rental on the initial SaaS term which we had no ability to engage with the customer success manager for which obviously had an impact on service delivery?
Thanks AusLegal legends!

My parents were originally Chinese nationals at my time of birth but they're US citizens now. They were on a H-1B and H4 visa in the US when they gave birth to me, so from what I've read online this seems to give me a weird form of both US and Chinese citizenship, if that's correct?
I've gone back to China before as a child and my parents got me a travel document for that. It's my understanding that the travel document marks me as a Chinese citizen. The travel document was issued around a decade ago and I've never had a Chinese visa. I'm currently trying to go back to China to visit grandparents and my visa application was turned down at the consulate because I mentioned that I had gone to china before without a visa, and the person reviewing my application told me that I must have a travel document (I was unaware up to then).
I'm currently trying to decide whether I want to renew it or not and would appreciate any advice. My main concerns are the timing and whatever citizenship effects this might have. If I were to go back to China, I'd have to leave within 18 days, but the processing time for a travel document supposedly takes a minimum of 10 business days, so even if everything goes perfectly it'll still be really close and from what I've heard Chinese documents typically take much longer than their estimated times.
Furthermore, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of China and I wouldn't want renewing my travel document to result in anything that'd make me more of a Chinese citizen or anything like that. I'm quite unsure of my Chinese citizenship status right now but if renewing it or not wouldn't make a difference, then I'd be more inclined to just renew it and try, because for other reasons this is likely the last time I'll have a chance to go back to China to see my grandparents. Even though I'm not particularly close with them, I feel like I'll regret it if I don't go.
As a last question, would it be possible to just not tell the people at the consulate I've been to China before and try and get a tourist or Q2 visa that way? My twin sister managed to get a tourist visa in 2019, although I understand there were rule changes since then. But I was thinking that maybe they can't link the old travel document to my new US passport and if so, I could just apply for a visa as a normal US citizen.
I'd greatly appreciate any help or advice, thanks!

Life Insurance Policy Administration Systems Market Analysis, Size, Growth, Competitive Strategies, and Worldwide Demand
Latest added Life Insurance Policy Administration Systems Market research study by AMA Research offers detailed outlook and elaborates market review till 2028. The market Study is segmented by key regions that are accelerating the marketization. At present, the market players are strategizing and overcoming challenges of current scenario;
Some of the key players in the study are:
Accenture (Ireland)
Andesa Services, Inc. (United States)
Concentrix (United States)
EXL (United States)
FAST Technology (United States)
Infosys McCamish (United States)
InsPro Technologies (United States)
Majesco (United States)
Mphasis Wyde (France)
Oracle (United States) etc.
Life Insurance Policy Administration Systems is used to execute a number of core policy processes including rating, quoting, binding, issuing, endorsements, and renewals. Life insurance policy administration systems allow insurers to develop and administer new life, annuity, pension, and health insurance products for clients. Using these systems, organizations can design new policies, calculate policy costs, and maintain a record of policies issued to clients. Life insurance policy administration systems are commonly used by enterprise insurance organizations to manage existing policies and develop new insurance products.
Influencing Trend: Increasing Competition
Opportunities: Growing Spending of Organisations on Policy Administration Systems
Emerging Advancements in Administration Systems in the Form of Automation
Market Growth Drivers: Increase in the Outsourcing of Policy Administration Functions
Rapidly Changing Market Conditions
The Global Life Insurance Policy Administration Systems segments and Market Data Break Down by Type (Software, Services (Managed Services, Professional Services)), Policy Administration (Policy Lifecycle, Underwriting, Contract Changes, Claim Settlement, User Experience, Others), Deployment Model (SaaS, On-premise), End User (Insurance Companies, Banks, Others)
Presented By
AMA Research & Media LLP

My 70lbs standard poodle ate 20 packets of probiotic forti flora including the package should I be freaking out? 🥲

LPI (LP Information)' newest research report, the “PV Module-Level Shutdown System Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world PV Module-Level Shutdown System sales in 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected PV Module-Level Shutdown System sales for 2023 through 2029. With PV Module-Level Shutdown System sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world PV Module-Level Shutdown System industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global PV Module-Level Shutdown System landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on PV Module-Level Shutdown System portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms' unique position in an accelerating global PV Module-Level Shutdown System market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for SPV Module-Level Shutdown System and breaks down the forecast by type, by application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global SPV Module-Level Shutdown System .
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of SPV Module-Level Shutdown System market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
https://www.lpinformationdata.com/reports/729927/pv-module-level-shutdown-system-2029
The main participants
NEP
APsystems
SMA
Tigo Energy
TSUN
Projoy Electric
Aurora
BENY New Energy
Greentech Renewables
Zerun
Hoymiles Power Electronics
Ginlong
Trina Solar
Hecheng-electric
Zhejiang Benyi Electrical
Segmentation by type
Single Module
Muli-Module
Segmentation by application
Residential
Commercial
Utility
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
What is the 10-year outlook for the global SPV Module-Level Shutdown System market?
What factors are driving SPV Module-Level Shutdown System market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do SPV Module-Level Shutdown System market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does SPV Module-Level Shutdown System break out type, application?
What are the influences of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war?
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The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers a fantastic opportunity for farmers to receive financial assistance in implementing renewable energy systems on their farms.
The REAP program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), aims to support rural communities by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. Through this program, farmers can access grants and loan guarantees to help cover the costs associated with renewable energy projects.
To begin the REAP program application process, you'll need to gather some key information. Firstly, prepare a comprehensive project proposal outlining your goals, the type of renewable energy system you wish to install (e.g., solar, wind, biomass), and its expected benefits for your farm. Be sure to include estimated costs, a timeline, and any supporting documentation or quotes.
Additionally, you'll need to provide details about your farm, including its location, size, and the types of agricultural activities you engage in. The application will also require information about your current energy usage and expenses, as well as any existing energy conservation measures you have implemented.
The REAP program considers various factors when evaluating applications, such as the project's potential for energy savings, environmental impact, and its ability to benefit the local community. It's essential to demonstrate how your proposed renewable energy system aligns with these criteria.
To submit your REAP application, visit the USDA's official website or contact your local USDA Rural Development office for guidance and assistance. They can provide you with the necessary forms, answer any questions you may have, and guide you through the application process.
Remember, the REAP program is competitive, so it's crucial to submit a well-prepared and compelling application. Take the time to carefully review the program requirements, guidelines, and deadlines to ensure your application stands out.
By participating in the REAP program, you'll not only receive financial support to implement renewable energy solutions but also contribute to a greener future. Transitioning to renewable energy can help reduce your farm's carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainable agriculture.
So, if you're ready to harness the power of renewable energy and take your farm to the next level of sustainability, don't miss out on this incredible opportunity provided by the REAP program. Apply today and join the growing community of farmers dedicated to building a greener and more resilient agricultural sector.