#Call Center Services Top Companies

[contactcallcenter]

How Outsourced Insurance Call Centers Improve Claims Resolution

In the healthcare and insurance industries, the complexity of claims processing has increased significantly in recent years. As more policies and regulations are implemented and as the volume of claims grows, healthcare providers and insurance companies face mounting pressure to streamline claims resolution. However, ensuring that claims are processed accurately and in a timely manner can be difficult, especially for organizations already stretched thin. This is where outsourcing insurance call centers becomes a valuable strategy, providing much-needed support for both insurance companies and healthcare providers.

Insurance call centers play a crucial role in resolving claims, offering real-time assistance to policyholders, providers, and insurance companies. By outsourcing these services to dedicated call centers, healthcare organizations and insurance providers can achieve faster and more accurate claims resolution. This, in turn, reduces administrative burdens, minimizes errors, and improves customer satisfaction.

The Growing Complexity of Insurance Claims

1. Evolving Regulatory Requirements

The healthcare industry is heavily regulated, and insurance claims are subject to strict compliance standards. As new healthcare laws are passed, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or updates to Medicare and Medicaid, insurance companies and providers must continually adjust their processes to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. These frequent regulatory changes make it difficult to maintain consistent claims processing procedures.

Additionally, the varying requirements between private insurance plans, employer-sponsored healthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid further complicate the claims process. Each type of insurance policy has its own set of rules, coverage limitations, and filing deadlines, making it challenging to navigate the claims process efficiently. Errors or delays in processing claims can lead to costly fines, lost revenue, and patient dissatisfaction.

2. Increased Volume of Claims

The volume of insurance claims continues to rise, driven by an aging population, increased access to healthcare services, and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions. As patients seek more care, providers are submitting an increasing number of claims to insurance companies for reimbursement. For healthcare organizations, processing this growing number of claims becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive, leading to potential backlogs and delays in revenue collection.

Additionally, insurance companies are tasked with reviewing, validating, and approving these claims, which often involves complex calculations and decision-making processes. Without sufficient support, insurers may struggle to process claims quickly, leading to delays in payment and dissatisfaction among both patients and providers.

3. Managing Complex Claims Types

Beyond the volume of claims, the types of claims being processed have also become more complex. Medical claims can involve multiple providers, facilities, and services, each with their own billing codes and documentation requirements. Claims for specialized services such as surgery, long-term care, or complex medical devices often require additional scrutiny and documentation to ensure proper payment.

The complexity of managing these claims can lead to miscommunication, disputes, and delays in payment. Moreover, healthcare providers may need to engage in time-consuming appeals or follow-up inquiries to ensure that their claims are paid accurately. For both providers and insurers, the claims process can become overwhelming without the right support systems in place.

The Role of Call Centers in Claims Resolution

1. Real-Time Communication and Assistance

One of the primary benefits of insurance call centers is their ability to offer real-time communication and assistance during the claims process. For both patients and healthcare providers, navigating insurance claims can be confusing and frustrating, particularly when dealing with denied claims or disputed payments. Insurance call centers act as intermediaries, providing clear explanations of policy coverage, addressing questions about claims status, and resolving disputes in a timely manner.

By handling these inquiries efficiently, healthcare call center services can reduce the time and effort that healthcare providers spend on follow-up communication. This improves the overall claims resolution process, as call center agents are trained to provide accurate information, facilitate claims adjustments, and ensure that claims are processed in accordance with policy guidelines.

2. Managing Complex Claims Inquiries

For complex claims involving multiple providers or services, insurance call centers are equipped to manage detailed inquiries, escalating cases when necessary to ensure prompt resolution. Call center agents are trained in claims processing and familiar with the regulations governing different types of insurance policies, enabling them to resolve issues quickly and accurately.

In cases where claims are denied or require additional documentation, call centers can work with both the provider and the insurance company to clarify coverage, request missing information, or adjust claims as needed. This reduces the burden on healthcare providers, allowing them to focus on delivering care instead of navigating the administrative challenges of claims resolution.

3. Supporting Appeals and Denials Management

When insurance claims are denied, healthcare providers often need to submit an appeal to secure payment. This process can be lengthy and complex, requiring detailed documentation and follow-up communication. Outsourced insurance call centers can support providers by managing the appeals process on their behalf, ensuring that claims are properly documented, and deadlines are met.

By acting as a central point of communication between providers, insurers, and patients, call centers can streamline the appeals process, helping to resolve denied claims more efficiently. This improves revenue collection for healthcare providers and ensures that patients receive the insurance coverage they are entitled to.

Benefits of Outsourcing Insurance Call Centers

1. Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency

Outsourcing insurance call centers allows healthcare organizations and insurers to reduce operational costs while improving efficiency. By relying on specialized call center services, organizations can avoid the costs associated with hiring and training in-house staff to manage claims inquiries. Additionally, outsourcing eliminates the need for investing in infrastructure and technology to support a dedicated in-house team.

Claims processing outsourcing enables organizations to scale their services based on demand, ensuring that they have the capacity to handle surges in claims volume without sacrificing accuracy or speed. This flexibility allows organizations to optimize their resources and focus on core business functions, while the outsourced call center manages the day-to-day administrative tasks associated with claims resolution.

2. Improved Claims Accuracy and Timeliness

Accuracy is critical when processing insurance claims, as errors can result in denied claims, delayed payments, or regulatory penalties. By outsourcing to top claims processing solution companies that specialize in healthcare and insurance, providers can ensure that their claims are processed accurately and in compliance with industry standards.

Outsourced call centers are staffed by experienced professionals who are well-versed in claims processing, insurance policies, and regulatory requirements. This expertise enables them to resolve claims more efficiently, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that claims are processed on time. As a result, both patients and providers experience fewer delays in reimbursement, leading to greater satisfaction.

3. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

Outsourcing healthcare call center services can significantly improve the customer experience for both patients and providers. Patients benefit from having access to knowledgeable agents who can answer their questions, provide updates on claims status, and resolve issues quickly. This level of service fosters trust and confidence in the insurance provider, enhancing patient satisfaction.

For healthcare providers, outsourcing claims inquiries to a dedicated call center reduces the administrative burden on their staff, allowing them to focus on delivering high-quality care. This, in turn, leads to improved provider satisfaction, as they are able to collect payments more efficiently and reduce the time spent managing claims disputes.

Conclusion

Outsourcing insurance call centers offers numerous advantages for healthcare providers and insurance companies alike. By providing real-time communication, managing complex claims inquiries, and supporting appeals processes, outsourced call centers ensure that claims are resolved quickly and accurately. This not only reduces administrative costs but also improves the overall efficiency of the claims resolution process.

With the growing complexity of insurance claims, outsourcing to specialized claims processing outsourcing companies allows healthcare organizations to focus on their core mission—providing exceptional care to patients—while ensuring that they receive timely and accurate reimbursement for their services. Ultimately, outsourcing insurance call centers leads to faster, more efficient claims resolution, benefiting both patients and providers.

[moonlit-clary-sage]

One thing that I didn't expect this year was wanting very badly to leave my phone job in Utah because of a failing podiatry office in Virginia but here we are.

[volgatigriss]

Volga Tigris-Digital Marketing Agency Dubai

Volga Tigris is a top-notch data analytics company in Dubai, trusted by many leading brands for their trusted data cleansing, data entry, and data analytics services in Dubai. As one of the leading bpo companies in Dubai, they specialized in providing result-oriented strategies to help their client’s businesses in the digital landscape. . Partner with Volga Tigris to take your data analytics efforts to new heights. Contact Volga Tigris today and experience the power of a data-driven and customer-centric approach to data harmonization and data deduplication solutions.

[truefirms1]

Top Call Centers Services Companies

[shamrockqueen]

Omega retreat : chapter 5

Pairing: Alpha Bucky × Omega Reader

Warnings: R18, Smut, Not what it seems, ABO dynamics, knotting, biting, bruising, sexual themes, adult themes

Word count: 2029

Bucky Masterlist

Summary: As an unmarked and lonely omega you find a flyer for a service called The Omega Retreat.

You are paired with a compatible alpha to spend your heat or just a week at a luxurious cabin at a forest resort. Amenities and Utilities included. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, fresh air, as well as the company of an alpha of your choosing. What could possibly go wrong?

He circled his fingers around the necks of the bottles, letting his nails cut through the wet labels as he pulled the beers from the cooler. The ice crunched together as it filled in the gap left behind before Bucky shut the lid and walked away.

His associates sat outside, and as he offered one of the beers as he approached one of the other men.

The third gentleman sat, unmoved, in a luxurious deck chair. His legs were spread, creasing his white trousers as his ankle sat on top of his other knee. He scratched at the chin of his dark goatee, looking back at his colleague through tinted glasses.

“I take it that the shop talk is over.”

Bucky sat back on his chair, rubbing his temple as Tony spoke.

“Not that it isn’t interesting.” Steve laughed back as he smoothed down a stray tuft of his sandy blonde before reaching back down to twist the top off his beer. A bit of foam followed after to dribble out over his thick fingers, and he switched the bottle to his other hand as he tried to shake the mess from his skin.

"Geez, Buck. Did'ya shake it?”

Bucky shrugged, laughing a little as he popped the cap off his own bottle and sat back before Steve shot back with another joke.

“Is this your way of getting back at me?”

Bucky shot back with equal sarcasm. “Yeah, I shook your beer because you were prowling through my Omega’s profile.”

“Can’t blame me for being a little jealous.”

“Oh? Back on the dating game, boys?" Tony gave them both a smirk as he asked.

“I think it really came through this time.” Bucky said before taking a sip of his beer.

“She has you smitten this soon?” Steve smiled back.

“She’s something else; I could tell right away.”

“I feel like I’ve heard this song before.” Tony teased, turning his eyes away from the other men.

“I know that this time is different. It’s that itch in my belly that had never been there before. She just really brings my Alpha out just when I hear her voice.” Bucky brought the spout back to his lips and knocked back another swig of beer before continuing to speak.

“I think that website finally came through for me.”

“You lucky bastard, but I can’t say they don’t owe you one at this point.” Steve shined back as he sipped up the last of his beer.

“I hope they know better than to let this end like any of the last ones.” Tony shot back, still trying to crack the sugar coating on this story to find a more realistic center. “I still say it’s no better than burning your money, especially after how long you’d had the subscription.”

“Says a man who’s already married.” Steve tried to grin away a small sneer.

Tony was a Beta—a married Beta with a baby on the way. He would never know the struggle of finding one’s perfect match when there were so few to look through.

“Besides, the girls get it for free, so somebody has to pay.” Steve didn’t even look up from his empty bottle when he said it more to himself than the other men. The website didn’t advertise as such to the desirable Omega’s, but the Alpha’s were given a much more formal subscription through a sister site. The Alphas were always willing to pay, of course.

“I just think that at this point, it would have to feel like a scam after all you’ve been through.” Tony spoke back.

"Well, there will be hell to pay if it is.” Bucky didn’t look back up as he answered, choosing instead to watch the swirl of his beer as he tipped the bottle back and forth.

Tony finally cleared his throat, annoyed that his pushback didn’t yield any results. “You know, I’ve heard some stuff about that place.”

Bucky hesitated before giving a stern “So have I.”

Tony took a deep breath, not wanting to insult his long-time friend any further. “I’m not saying you're that kind of person. You’re a good man, Buck. I just wish you didn’t associate with something that didn’t match your character.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I don’t do those kinds of things. I want to do right by any girl of mine.”

Bucky never led any of his friends to believe he was anything less than an upstanding man, so Tony believed him as he spoke.

Steve cleared his throat, trying to disperse the cloud of awkward tension in the air. Especially what had circled his own head.

“Love at first sight then; I hope she lives up to this hype.”

“I’d say so.”

“Caught the fish I couldn’t.” Steve smirked back before leaning forward to tap his empty bottle against the one still in Bucky’s hands.

Bucky closed the gap with a little ‘clink’ to finish the small toast to his success.

“And don’t think you can try and steal her.”

Fed up with the sparks of jealousy, Tony hit his knees with the palms of his hand before pushing up from his seat.

“Well, I think it’s my turn to get a drink.”

With his colleague’s departure, Bucky felt the subtle buzz in his pocket before he could pull Steve into another conversation.

Bucky lifted his finger to excuse himself before walking back, passing Tony and his now-full glass of scotch.

He flipped his phone open, finding a picture on the small screen. He has to bring the phone closer to his face before yours becomes recognizable in the image of a changing room.

It was from an angle to show a flowy floral dress that ended along your upper thigh. It dipped along your bustline and tightened around the hourglass dip at your waist.

He smiled, leaning on the wall as another notification lit across the top of the little screen to signal you’d sent another photo.

You had gone through with your little shopping excursion, lifting your once dampened spirits. It was actually nice to like how you look in new clothes, and you made sure you weren’t the only one.

There was no doubt that you were perfectly Omega. From your overall shy demeanor to the soft shape of your gorgeous body as it lights up across the screen.

Bucky had had his fill of pushy women. He wasn’t asking for a servant, just an equal partner, but their demanding nature too easily turned him off.

He looked back at the glass door that stood between him and his friends out on the deck. It was just a small gesture to secure his privacy as he clicked a few buttons to bring himself to the new picture.

It was a romper, a low v-cut sitting over your breasts as the ends of the shorts rose high along your thighs.

He lingered on each dip and curve for as long as it would take to paint the picture to his memory before thumbing back with, ‘Doing some shopping, doll?’

He didn’t have the luxury of watching your response load with the dance of bouncing dots, but was almost immediately met with, “Yeah, I didn’t have vacation-friendly clothes. Whatcha think?’

‘The second one is a bit risqué, isn’t it?’

You flinched at the last message, and you hoped that it didn’t mean you offended him.

‘Oh geez. It is a bit, but I already bought it.’

‘I never said you didn’t look good; it’s certainly more than I’ve gotten to see so far ;)'

You laugh a little, feeling bashful upon seeing the little winking face as you hold your phone close. You wanted to type back, but his messages popped up before you could.

‘Are there any more pictures I can look forward to?’

‘I sent a few; you should have gotten them by now.’ You answered back just as quickly.

His simple flip phone wasn’t that great at receiving pictures, but just in time, two more made it through.

It’s you in a long, flowy dress of blue, showing less skin besides a leg peeking out from a slit at the side. It was cute; it looked form-fitting and soft.

The other was a simple plaid button-up top and a pair of denim shorts. You had your body turned to show the curve of your ass as a little peeked out the bottom of the denim. It made him glad that he’d be having you all to himself over that weekend.

His tongue spread over his lips as he pictured the thin strip of denim that would be covering your hidden pink center and how the seams would pop as he tried to pull it out of his way to find it.

‘Please tell me you bought that last one.’

‘Just the shorts, the shirt seemed like it would be too hot.’ You tapped away with a reddening smile before lifting your gaze back up to the other stores ahead. A familiar cursive name lit up in pink crossed your vision before you stepped towards it.

He must have been lost in thought as he studied the last few outfits, giving you time to let your own wander around the rest of the shops.

It had been a long time since you had this much fun, and even as you crossed through the threshold of the store and looked around at its overpriced goods, you wanted nothing more than to treat yourself like the beautiful omega he seemed to see.

There were some stringy pieces in the back, all lace and a little fabric. Not quite your style, so you kept browsing. There were a few baby doll dresses, some with fluff, and one that was nearly see-through. You eyed the black mesh bashfully, only now feeling just a bit in over your head.

You pinched the fabric, a little surprised at how silky the mesh was between your fingers.

You pulled it off the rack, sizing it up against your body, before shifting your eyes towards the changing room and thinking about what a good picture this beauty would make.

By the time your clothes were off and the dress was on, you knew it would be an immediate purchase before you even snapped the photo. You almost wanted it to be a surprise, but you craved this new kind of attention. To push past the edge of flattery into something deeper, maybe even darker.

Bucky stared at the small screen as he tried to navigate to any new photos, only to have it buzz between his fingers. It was you in a thin black nightie, showing him just a glimpse of everything he’d been pining to see. The subtle dips of your body and bare skin, the apex of your smooth thighs still hidden under the black hem, and the dark circles of your soft nipples nearly totally visible through the sheer fabric over your breasts.

He felt the air being punched out of his lungs like a blow to his stomach. It was one of the few times he would curse himself for not having a more modern phone because he couldn’t zoom in further.

‘Do you have any idea what you're doing to me right now?’

You replied with a cheeky ‘just a little’ before another photo flooded over his dinosaur of a phone.

This time you were facing away from the mirror, showing the contours of the back of your body that were now visible. You’d tried to bend your leg so it popped your bottom out in a desirable pose. It did just as you’d wanted, giving him a view of the cleft of your round ass as if the negligee were melting away to finally reveal your bare body.

He had to close the phone just to better calm himself so his building erection could leave as quickly as you’d given it to him. He’d never hear the end of it if he walked out, as it began to strain against his jeans.

There was no question now, even before his last message came through. You would absolutely be buying this one.

Chapter 6

Tags : @bethyruth @scott-loki-barnes @wintrsoldrluvr @buckysdoll85 @lendeluxe @meowmeowyoongles @heletsmelovehim @mcira @buckysbaby-doll @serendipitouslife90 @unicornicopia1 @animegirlgeeky @matchat3a @darkdemeter @onyxwolf @thebuckybarnesvault @nicestgirlonline @jbuckybarnesfan @val-writesstuff @birdenthusiastez @ozwriterchick

[roki-snake-sinner]

Ex Be Gone sample letter/text

(I want to further my shop (Snakeshoppe.etsy), and maybe try the Patreon thing out)

Situation: You have an Ex that had cheated on you, and you broke up with them. However, they will not leave you alone and have threatened to hurt your family if you don’t get back with them. The Ex is human, so you moved to another city that is vastly monster living, but your Ex still followed you. In a last ditch effort, you go to the police, who are all different species of Monsters, and the Chief gives you a card for a ‘Ex-Be-Gone’ Guard Dog service.

“Technically, no one in the station is allowed to have these, but when the law favors one side more than the other.” He left it at that.

You decided to call the service that night, and got a quick answer.

————————

You: How much does it cost to stop an… ex spouse?

GD Service: Depends on how long the stalking has been going on. The longer, the less it costs.

You: Two years. *information added*

GD Service: Payment after the job is done. And next time, have better taste in humans.

———— A few days after, you receive a letter with a Hellhound drawn on the front of the envelope, and a ‘R’ stamp holding the letter inside.

-

Dear Human,

Sorry about the long ass wait for the confirmation. Kind of hard to find an infected needle in an infected needle pile, but job’s done.

I won’t bore you with the details, but I think this was my best work yet. Had to be a little more coy with how I got them to agree to follow me, but a little pretending goes a long way. I could see how you were dragged down so easily, what without the sharper instincts and wanting to be loved.

But, you won’t have to worry about them anymore. Can’t really tell if they were still breathing by the time I was done with them, but at least they won’t be bothering you anymore.

And, don’t worry about the payment. Me and the pack had too much fun to think about being paid for it. Plus, you’re new to our services and the city.

So, think about it as a ‘Welcome to Misers, City of the Monsters and Miserable Humans that try to control it’ present.

If you are ever in need of some ‘removal’, or other such needs, make sure to go to the Misers’ Cops first. They may not be the top of the food chain, but even the lowest of Monsters respects them.

Don’t go to the human ‘only’ cops tho, but I feel you already knew that.

But, if you really want to pay for the ‘removal’ of the trash, then buy from any Monster store, cafe, library, or visit my friends over at the local swimming center.

They always looking for people that can chase the little Mers around to get them used to using both their fins and legs, when the situation calls for it.

Don’t worry, they don’t bite… Much.

Stay safe tho, the company I work for is, big but the humans try to be bigger.

Signed,

Your Loyal Guard Dog

Rox

[nasa]

Calling Long-Distance: 10 Stellar Moments in 2022 for Space Communications and Navigation

Just like your phone needs Wi-Fi or data services to text or call – NASA spacecraft need communication services.

Giant antennas on Earth and a fleet of satellites in space enable missions to send data and images back to our home planet and keep us in touch with our astronauts in space. Using this data, scientists and engineers can make discoveries about Earth, the solar system, and beyond. The antennas and satellites make up our space communications networks: the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network.

Check out the top ten moments from our space comm community: 

1. Space communication networks helped the Artemis I mission on its historic journey to the Moon. From the launch pad to the Moon and back, the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network worked hand-in-hand to seamlessly support Artemis I. These networks let mission controllers send commands up to the spacecraft and receive important spacecraft health data, as well as incredible images of the Moon and Earth.

The Pathfinder Technology Demonstration 3 spacecraft with hosted TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload communicating with laser links down to Earth. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center

2. Spacecraft can range in size – from the size of a bus to the size of a cereal box. In May 2022, we launched a record-breaking communication system the size of a tissue box. TBIRD showcases the benefits of a laser communications system, which uses infrared light waves rather than radio waves to communicate more data at once. Just like we have upgraded from 3G to 4G to 5G on our phones, we are upgrading its space communications capabilities by implementing laser comms!

3. The Deep Space Network added a new 34-meter (111-foot) antenna to continue supporting science and exploration missions investigating our solar system and beyond. Deep Space Station 53 went online in February 2022 at our Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex. It is the fourth of six antennas being added to expand the network’s capacity.

4. You’ve probably seen in the news that there are a lot of companies working on space capabilities. The Near Space Network is embracing the aerospace community’s innovative work and seeking out multiple partnerships. In 2022, we met with over 300 companies in hopes of beginning new collaborative efforts and increasing savings.

5. Similar to TBIRD, we're developing laser comms for the International Space Station. The terminal will show the benefits of laser comms while using a new networking technique called High Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking that routes data four times faster than current systems. This year, engineers tested and proved the capability in a lab.

6. In 2021, we launched the James Webb Space Telescope, a state-of-the-art observatory to take pictures of our universe. This year, the Deep Space Network received the revolutionary first images of our solar system from Webb. The telescope communicates with the network’s massive antennas at three global complexes in Canberra, Australia; Madrid, Spain; and Goldstone, California.

7. Just like we use data services on our phone to communicate, we'll do the same with future rovers and astronauts exploring the Moon. In 2022, the Lunar LTE Studies project, or LunarLiTES, team conducted two weeks of testing in the harsh depths of the Arizona desert, where groundbreaking 4G LTE communications data was captured in an environment similar to the lunar South Pole. We're using this information to determine the best way to use 4G and 5G networking on the Moon.

8. A new Near Space Network antenna site was unveiled in Matjiesfontein, South Africa. NASA and the South African Space Agency celebrated a ground-breaking at the site of a new comms antenna that will support future Artemis Moon missions. Three ground stations located strategically across the globe will provide direct-to-Earth communication and navigation capabilities for lunar missions.

9. Quantum science aims to better understand the world around us through the study of extremely small particles. April 14, 2022, marked the first official World Quantum Day celebration, and we participated alongside other federal agencies and the National Quantum Coordination Office. From atomic clocks to optimizing laser communications, quantum science promises to greatly improve our advances in science, exploration, and technology.

10. We intentionally crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid to test technology that could one day be used to defend Earth from asteroids. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, mission successfully collided with the asteroid Dimorphos at a rate of 4 miles per second (6.1 kilometers per second), with real-time video enabled by the Deep Space Network. Alongside communications and navigation support, the global network also supports planetary defense by tracking near-Earth objects.

We look forward to many more special moments connecting Earth to space in the coming year.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[matt0044]

Why does Indie Animation lend itself to such intense discourse?

If I had to speculate from my own observations (feel free to call me out on an overgeneralizations), it would be that the harsh turn against any given indie project would be akin to a mother scolding a child with, "I expected this from your sibling but you?!"

See also the "We were rooting for you" gif often tossed around.

Indie Animation be it from a small studio or crowdfunded is seen as bypassing the hoops and hurdles of getting your foot in the door of the highly corporatized entertainment industry. With the likes of Disney or Nick or any given streaming service, creator driven projects are subject to the whims of the company who holds the IP.

And those whims are often to said IP's detriment. It'll more often than not be willfully neglected at best or treated as just something to fill a time slot or shove onto a streaming platform as "content." Enough may be allowed to flourish but their either uncerimoniously cut short at best or being dragged out as a franchise at worst.

To keep from going on about the whole Legend of Korra vs. Spongebob thing (I was there people, there was an LoK fandom believe it or not), indie animation has often been seen as small scale but also within the creator's general control since they control how long it goes or how it's written.

Many cartoons like Gravity Falls, Owl House and Amphibia have talked about trying to get their vision across while contending with a lot of Standards and Practices. Their story which had a "kids and adults alike" target audience would have the top brass insist on something more just for the former category.

While they find work arounds, often to stick their tongue out at the FCC, this can be a hard reminder of who has the final say despite it being what you want. Indie animation is seen as an answer to "What if Alex Hirsch didn't have to comprimise elements of Gravity Falls for the FCC?" or "What if Dana Terrence could just blaze her own trail with The Owl House with little to no notes?"

Especially when it comes to animation with queer characters. Animation made to be "fit for kids" have it tough enough even today but adult animation has to "play it for laughs" since comedies have been the defacto standard for that type of cartoon.

However... a show being creator driven or creative team driven comes as a double edged sword for the fandoms they form. Not all stories that play out across multiple episodes of varying lengths are going in the direction YOU might want to.

Creators might tire of a certain direction or formula and mix things up with things that come to mind almost on the spot. Even with a solid plan, the status quo will get a shake up that can and will alienate those who fell in love from episode one.

Indie Pilots spark the imagination something fierce. There's theories as to what any little detail could mean going forward and speculation on what a character's arc could be. These go wild because Fandom is all about the hypothetical, the unknown, the what could've/should've/would've been. Whole phenomenon would be dead in the water otherwise.

Thing is that not all theories will be proven right if any at all. The creators aren't mind readers and even if it isn't a legality like in corporate, they don't read fanfics if only because they don't want their vision to be totally compromised. Any good creator knows not to just give fans what they want. However... trampling over all these fanfics and theories makes it feel like any given fan had their "child" dragged into the streets to be shot.

A harsh phrasing but that's how a lot of fans act when continuing episode bump up against initial impression of this character or that storyline. It was their creation but new lore, new backstory or what have you is liable to override them. It's been an occupational hazard of being a member of fandom for ages yet it's become the center of a lot of discourse now more than ever. Say thank you to social media for creating such a combative environment everybody.

It's this... feeling of ownership that has existed in fandoms of other shows owned by corporations but amplied by the smaller scale of it, how creators seem more... approachable. And THIS is how the YouTube "critic" scene comes in to capitalize.

So... yeah.

[marketingexpertodn]

Call Center Services Provider Top Companies | Guided by ODN

Call Center Services Provider Top Companies. Let’s explore some top call center service providers, including Leading Company ODN

[shinestarhwaa]

FELINE FANTASIES || MINNIE YONTARARAK

Genre: Smut

Pairing: Minnie x Female reader

Word Count: 2K

Tags/warnings: sexworker!Minnie, sexting, phonesex, masturbation, cunnilingus, squirting

Taglist: @anyamaris @a-soft-hornytiny @whatudowhennooneseesyou @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @pyeonghongrie-main @woosanbby @dreamlesswonder86 @changbinslovelylegs @jonghostie @lovjensoo @mjyungi @bratty-tingz @sugarnspice630 @stardragongalaxy @bro-atz @wisejudgedragonhairdo @mingisg00dgirl @wh0re4yunsangho

ENJOY!

This was not your proudest moment.

It's also isn't a very expected moment. At least, not to you. You had never imagined yourself dialing the number of a phonesex company for women. You just couldn't get yourself to press the call button yet. You felt your hands getting sweaty with anxiety and you looked around nervously as if anyone was gonna catch you in your own apartment.

You had stumbled upon an Feline Fantasies ad while trying to find a good porn video to get off to - spoiler alert: you couldn't. But on the bottom right side of the page a certain ad had caught your attention instead and the impulsive person in you immediately dialed the number. ''No,'' you spoke to yourself, deciding you should check if there's a website first. You typed in Feline Fantasies in the searchbar and quickly spotted the pink logo you saw earlier in the ad. You clicked the link and you were directed to the website.

The pink and white logo was centered at the top of the page and you scanned the text below it. You scrolled further down and saw they provided phonesex and sexting services. You bit your lip and decided to click on the button reading 'Sext with one of our girls now!' Your heart was pounding in your chest as you waited.

The site first told you to create an account and you did it mindlessly, answering several questions for confirmation. Then a new page opened, showing girls in various skincolours and sizes to suit anyone's taste. Every girl on the top row seemed to be available and you looked at their profiles for a bit, but your eyes quickly landed on 'Minnie' and you nearly dropped your phone. Fuck, she is hot. You clicked on her profile and read her intro text. ''Minnie is often called the Thai princess in our company but don't let her beauty fool you. With her quick wit and seductive tone she is a dreamlady for anyone. Do you wanna sext with Minnie? Click here.''

You scrolled through her pictures. She wore a revealing black dress and her black bangs fell a little over her seductive cat-like eyes. Her full lips were parted slightly and she bit her pointer finger seductively. When you scrolled a little further you were met by pictures from a nude photoshoot of Minnie. Your breath hitched in your throat when you saw the girl laying naked on a purple velvet sofa. Her hand was cupping one of her breasts and she winked seductively at the camera. If you weren't already wet you definitely would have been now.

The horniness takes over your brain and you click on the button, being redirected to a messaging page. A few dots started moving immediately, raising your anxiety. ''Oh God what am I even doing,'' you cursed at yourself.

Minnie: Hey there darling. Welcome to Feline Fantasies

Minnie: Is this your first time using our services?

You: Hi Minnie! Yes this is my first time

Minnie: Thank you for choosing me for your first experience! What can I do for you sweetie? ;)

You: I was trying to watch porn to help me get off and relieve some stress but I haven't been able to do so unfortunately... Then I saw the FF ad and I hoped you could help me..

Minnie: Oh I surely can help you cum sweetheart, are you alone? What are you wearing?

You: Yes I'm alone in my apartment, I'm laying in bed in a top and panties

Minnie: Touch your breast darling, fondle yourself gently to ease yourself in.

You sighed and brought your free hand up to your covered breast, your hard nipple poking through the material. You gently fondled your breast and took a deep relaxing breath.

Minnie: Take your top off baby and touch your nipples for me

Minnie: S that feeling good baby?

You: Very good, Minnie, I wish it was you, you'd look so hot touching me and talking to me You: Please continue

You took off your top and licked the tips of your thumb and pointer finger, wetting them before you circled your nipple and rubbed them between your fingers. You pushed your thighs together as you feel yourself throbbing at the thought of what's coming - you.

Minnie: Put your hand in your panties now baby, how wet is my princess for me?

You: Oh Minnie I'm so wet for you, I'm soaking my panties, I wish I could hear your voice

Minnie: That's possible if you switch from messaging to a phonecall, it will just cost a little extra babe x

You: That'll be worth it

You switched to phonecall and quickly completed the payment. Soon enough you heard Minnie's voice through your phone. ''Hey darling, here I am again, did you miss me?'' she giggled. You smiled and put your phone on speaker. ''For those 2 minutes? Yeah, very much so,'' you grinned. ''Are you ready to continue?'' Yes, ready.''

''Take your panties off baby, spread your legs for me.'' You obeyed her orders and slid two of your fingers through your folds. ''God, Minnie I'm so wet, I wanna cum so badly,'' you whined. ''Don't worry baby, I'm gonna make you cum, touch your clit... Circle it lightly...'' she spoke seductively into the speaker. You moaned when your fingers touched your clit. You circled it slowly, slowly pressing down on it. ''Hm, you sound so pretty baby, like an angel... Rub it quicker for me, go faster.''

You picked up the pace and started to rub your clit uncontrollably. ''Please keep talking Minnie, talk dirty to me, fuck, talk to me, I wanna hear your voice too, wanna hear you moan too,'' you panted. ''Whatever my babygirl wants,'' she said with an audible smirk plastered on her face. ''I'll tell you just what I'm doing. I'm sitting here and I'm rubbing my pussy through my pretty... lacy black lingerie... and you've gotten me so wet babygirl... My pussy got so excited for you,'' she moaned. You had no idea if she actually spoke the truth or if she was just playing an act like many callgirls did, but it didn't matter for you in the moment. Wetness was flooding from between your legs as you kept rubbing your clit as you listened to Minnie gush about how wet you got her.

''Hm, putting two fingers inside my wet pussy now baby, oh~ Oh God Y/N,'' she cried. Her moans sounded so pornographic and it raised every hair on your body and made you tingle. ''M-Minnie, fuck, I can already feel it!'' you whined out. ''Yeah baby? Does that make you cum? Then cum for me baby, oh yes, fuck!'' she moaned. She kept encouraging you while she moaned and panted into the speaker, sending you over the edge. You spasmed uncontrollably and rode out your orgasm.

''That's a good girl,'' she praised you in a soft voice, ''cumming so beautifully for me.'' You sighed contently, tired after the long process of trying to cum, but you didn't want it to be over just yet. ''What's wrong princess?'' ''I'm tired but I don't want it to stop...'' ''Well this doesn't have to be the last time we're in contact right baby? Plenty more opportunities for us to call and maybe next time we'll cum together,'' she giggled.

In the weeks after that it became a regular thing for you to call Minnie. It embarrassed you how many money you spent on her but it was worth it for you, it was your own dirty little secret.

On a regular Friday afternoon you were walking out of your work office and stopped at the nearby coffeeshop to pick up an iced americano and a cupcake but you nearly choked on your own saliva when you saw a certain someone sitting in the café. Your body trembled but it led you to stand in front of her. She looked up and smiled softly, ''Hi... Can I... help you with anything?''

She looked ten times more beautiful in real life and she looked so cute in her denim dress. ''You... You are Minnie, right?'' you asked hesitatingly. ''Um, yes,'' she said, ''Do we know each other?'' ''I'm Y/N, we... we spoke on the phone a few times,'' you said, cheeks burning up. Her expression changed, showing her beautiful smile and her eyes sparkled. ''So you're Y/N? Wow, you're even more beautiful than I had imagined,'' she grinned, ''Do you wanna sit down?''

You nodded and took place next to her. ''So, what are you doing here...? I've never seen you here before,'' you said, fidgeting with your jewelry. ''I had lunch with a friend and ran some errands here in the neighbourhood. Is this where you live?'' ''Yeah I live a few streets away from here, I just got off work,'' you explained. She smiled and nodded, taking a sip of her green tea.

''Minnie... I was wondering... This might be a really weird request and I don't think you even do this but... Instead of a phonecall, do you think you could come over to my house instead...? Ofcourse I'll pay you,'' you whispered. Minnie was taken aback but smiled. ''I've never done a professional home...session before. So I shouldn't let you pay for it... Maybe I can give it to you for free? As a thank you for the contributions you've made,'' she grinned, ''I have time right now, actually.''

Your cheeks got even redder and you stammered before nodding and agreeing to take her to your apartment. Half an hour later you were sat next to her on your freshly made bed. ''So this is where the magic happened for you,'' she grinned. You smiled and nodded, ''pretty much, yeah.''

Minnie didn't waste any more time, pressing her plush pink lips on yours and pulling you close. Your lips moved together and your hand dove into her lucious black hair, pulling it slightly when she bit your lip. Minnie moaned into the kiss and started unbuttoning your blouse, grazing her fingers over the sheer material of your bra. She rubbed your nipples through the fabric, making you moan into the kiss and squirm in her arms.

She pulled away and took off your skirt and panties, revealing your wet, glistening cunt. The woman nearly moaned at the sight, getting on her knees in front of you and parting your legs. You leaned back on your elbows and threw your head back when you felt her tongue flick on your clit. You cursed underneath your breath when her tongue dipped into your core. You rolled your hips slowly, riding her tongue as you ran your hands through her hair again, pushing her head deeper between your legs and locking her there with your legs.

The pleasure Minnie gave you was nearly unbearable and made you see stars. No one had ever been able to pleasure you like this, not this easy. You felt like you were on cloud 9 when Minnie's tongue rubbed against your inner walls, her nose brushing on your clit. You'd seriously pay insane amounts of money to get her to do this daily, but you immediately told yourself not to be impulsive and go too overboard with the entire situation. She quickly pulled you out of your thoughts as she seemed to be touching some kind of sensitive spot inside you, pleasuring you just right.

''T-That's it! F-fuck my pussy with that tongue! Fuck!''

Minnie moaned against your pussy and ate you out like there was no tomorrow and soon enough you started to feel your abdomen tighten and your body was trembling. Your orgasm washed over you and you let go of yourself, cumming hard and squirting on her tongue. She lapped up your juices hungrily and rode out your orgasm, letting you catch your breath again. ''Fuck, that was incredible, do that again.''

And by the judgement of Minnie's feline eyes, she didn't mind at all to fulfill your fantasies.

[colettebronte]

Presumptuous: Chapter 6

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Bridgerton Masterlist

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader

Summary: On your third night with Anthony, you go from a swim in the ocean, have some sexy shenanigans in a private cabana and a serious conversation afterwards

Word Count: 3.6k

Warnings: 18+ for this chapter with warnings for oral sex and a teeny tiny bit of praise kink. Minors DNI. I will put this up on Ao3 so please do not repost my work elsewhere

Author’s note: So here we are at last, it's the “Anthony Bridgerton is the King of Oral” chapter and I hope you enjoy it! Thank you once more to @fayes-fics for being the best and most patient beta ever

Ch 6: Night 3: Swimming and a Cabana at Night

Being upgraded to a Deluxe Beach Suite you’ve discovered, has many advantages. But thus far, your favorite is that all you need to do is open a set of sliding glass doors in your room that lead out to your own small, private section of beach, complete with a boardwalk that leads straight to the water.

You also have your own private cabana, that with one phone call, you can have food and drinks delivered without having to get up once you’ve settled onto the white-cushioned, teak wood furniture. It’s a service you’ve availed yourself of every day since your arrival.

This is the first time you’ve used the service at night. Michaela, the absolute queen that she was, assured you that the wait staff could still do beachside food and drink service in the evenings.

And so, you have a glass pitcher of sangria and a bottle of Anthony-approved wine chilling in a bucket on a small table in the center of your cabana. Dinner is set to be delivered via the beach wait staff later.

During the day, you normally tie back the billowy white curtains that make up the walls of your cabana but for the sake of privacy, tonight you leave them loose. A light breeze tousles your hair as you step out of the structure and down onto the smooth wooden slats that make up the boardwalk. It’s barely fifteen steps and then you’re at the water’s edge, the setting sun bathing everything in orange and dark pink.

You slip off your sandals and bend down to hold them in one hand. Dipping your toes in the water, you can’t help wiggling them in the damp sand as the water gently laps at your feet.

Closing your eyes, you use all your senses to breathe and let the sound of the waves and the cool dusk air wash over you. This is a moment, a memory you know you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.

You start to sway and then strong arms are wrapping around your waist, a stubbled chin resting on your shoulder, both a pleasant weight against your body. Smiling softly and eyes still closed, you lean back against Anthony and let him hold on while you silently enjoy the surf and each other’s company.

After a while he murmurs, “I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening than with a beautiful woman on the beach.”

Opening your eyes, you turn in his arms to wrap yours around his neck, tugging him down to softly kiss the corner of his mouth. His hair has fallen into his eyes and as you pull back you reach up to tuck the strands behind his ears. He looks at you with that fond expression you’ve seen on him several times before. How in the hell are you going to part with this man when it’s time to leave? 

Giving yourself a mental shake, you step back and take his hand in yours. It's become a habit by now to twine your fingers together.

It’s then you notice he’s wearing a cream-colored sarong, the same as the one you have on, provided by the resort. Except unlike you who is wearing your swimsuit under yours, you’re fairly sure he’s completely bare under his.

Anthony tugs on your hand, leading you further into the water. You pull off your sarong and throw it, along with your sandals in the direction of the beach behind you. After a moment your bathing suit top and his sarong joins them.

As you wade into the water, now up to your knees, you can’t help but marvel at the sight of him, every inch of his tanned, toned muscles are bare and on display for only you. How is he real? And how, of all people, did he find his way into your life.

You’re the least interesting person you know.

Anthony must sense your distraction, because he lets go of your hand and then he’s giving you a look you can only describe as mischievous, glancing between you and the deepening water, now up to your waist.

“Anthony, don’t even,” are the only words you can say before he’s hoisting you over his shoulder. You let out a less-than-dignified squeal, flailing at the surprise of finding yourself airborne.

You feel slightly vindicated when Anthony gasps out, “Ooof,” when you accidentally kick him before you settle and accept your fate.

Just when you’re sure he’s going to throw you in or do something equally obnoxious, he gently sets you down. You’re able to stand on your tippy-toes with the water reaching under your chin. 

Anthony once again takes you in his arms and asks, “Shall we swim for a bit, before dinner arrives?”

You look back at the beach behind you and then at the open water ahead of you, growing darker as the sun continues to set. “Could we stay together, close to the shore?” Your voice is quiet, but Anthony hears you just fine over the rolling waves.

He’s giving you that soft look again. “Of course,” he says and then you’re treading water together.

As the sky darkens, you bob together in the water, perfectly content to stay entwined. When a particularly high wave splashes over you both, you push his hair back from his face and he does the same for you.

Just when you fear you may become more prune than human, Anthony starts to maneuver you back to shore. Unable to help yourself, you let go of him and start to swim back on your own. Over your shoulder you call out, “Last one to the cabana has to clean the sand off the other one’s feet!” You kick off in the water, splashing him in the face.

Anthony is still sputtering in the water when you reach the shore. You lean down to pick up the clothes you both discarded and then you’re watching him swim elegant breast strokes toward you. You’re momentarily lost watching the play of his muscles as he glides in the water.

Your brain fizzes as he steps out of the water nude, water cascading off him in rivulets. He looks like some sort of debauched sea god as he strides towards you, leaving behind nothing but footprints in the damp sand.

You give him his sarong. It’s when he’s tying it around his waist that you remember your one-sided wager. But before you can sprint off, He’s lifting you up again, this time to carry you in his arms.

“No more racing,” he rumbles. “I’ll wash both our feet”

Resting your head on his shoulder as he makes his way back up the boardwalk, you smile and after running a finger down his cheek say, “Good boy.”

He inhales sharply and then stumbles on one of the slats before quickly regaining his footing.

Well that’s a tidbit you’re going to file away for future use.

**********

Later, after dinner has been had and the sangria pitcher is empty, you both lean back on one of the couches. Anthony presses a kiss into the top of your head and then he gets off the couch to sit on the wood floor. Before you can ask what he’s doing, he’s pulling a round, white-cushioned ottoman over and resting your legs on top of it before he moves back to sit beside you. Heat pools in your belly as you recall the plan for the evening.

Anthony’s mouth, on and in your body. Based purely on his kisses, you know you’re in for one hell of a night.

Tucking in close, Anthony captures your mouth with his and the taste of sangria, salt and him fills your senses. Breaking the kiss, he traces your cheek with his tongue, stopping to rumble in your ear, “Shall we begin?”

Already impossibly turned on you ask, “What do you need me to do?”

Nuzzling your cheek, you feel him smile as he says, “Nothing. Just lie back and enjoy as I lick the salt off every inch of your skin.”

Inhaling sharply, you gasp out, “Green.”

Anthony stands, giving you a smoldering look. He sets your legs down and positions the ottoman between them, taking care to make sure your feet are firmly planted on the floor. He takes a seat on the ottoman’s plush cushion top and then he slides close to you, his knees mere inches from the couch frame.

And then he rises up and descends on you, his lips latching onto the column of your throat, licking and sucking a line down your skin. He flattens his tongue and the feel of him has you grasping the cushions under you.

As he moves down your throat and onto your chest you moan out, “Can I touch you?”

Anthony licks a line between your breasts and then pauses to say, “Green. And feel free to leave marks.”

Something feral rises up at his words and then you’re grabbing his shoulders, not caring if this time, your fingernails dig in and leave imprints on his skin.

He takes one of your breasts into his mouth, capturing your nipple between his tongue and teeth, gently nipping at it and you’re sure if his body wasn’t weighing you down, you’d be bucking him off. He follows suit with your other breast and nipple as you continue to writhe under him. Anthony wraps one arm around your waist in an attempt to stabilize you.

He licks down your belly, his tongue tracing careful lines up, down and swirling around your belly button. And even though you’ve long since dried off from your swim, you know you’re sopping wet again, just from his ministrations.

You’re sure he’s ready to go down between your legs, but then he moves to sit back on the ottoman. He takes your right leg and starts to paint lines into your skin with his tongue and you sit up on your elbows to glare at him.

The wicked smile he flashes as your eyes meet let you know that he knows exactly what he’s doing.

After giving equal, infuriating attention to your other leg and both feet, he at last pushes the ottoman back and sinks to the floor between your legs, gently nudging them further apart. He opens his mouth to ask a question but before he can speak you grit out, “Green! So much green . . . just green all over the place!”

Anthony laughs and says, “Well all right then.”

And then there’s no more talking for a while as he leans in to untie your sarong, leaving your lower half fully exposed to the air, your bathing suit bottom long-abandoned. You’re applauding your choice as it now makes it easier for Anthony to get down to the business at hand.

“Gorgeous,” he murmurs and then he’s nosing at your folds, dipping in first before his tongue follows, gently lapping at you. Sliding down the couch, you spread your legs further apart as he flattens his tongue and begins to swirl around your clit.

With a cry, your hands fly into his hair, not caring how hard you tug, trusting that he’ll let you know if it becomes too much.

He begins to spear in and out of you, his tongue a hard, flat muscle that he wields with expert precision. You shift one hand to his upper arm, grabbing onto his powerful bicep for dear life as he continues to devour you, leaving you a sobbing, quivering mess under him.

Just when you think it can’t possibly get better, he begins to hum and the vibration sets you hurling toward the precipice. You tug on his hair,  trying to give him a warning.

“Ant . . . Anthony . . . I’m not . . going . . t . . to last,” you stutter out between moans. 

He pulls out briefly to say, “I know My Love, whenever you’re ready, I’ve got you.”

And maybe it’s those words as much as the feel of him that sends you over the edge, throwing yourself back against the cushions to come with a scream, sobbing and shaking as your orgasm overtakes you, all bright light and electric heat.

Moments, or maybe it’s hours later, you’re still sobbing as Anthony rises to sit on the couch and pulls you into his arms. He pushes the damp hair off your forehead and presses kisses to your temple.

When you at last regain your breath and some semblance of thought, you look up at him and ask, “Would you like me to reciprocate?”

Anthony smiles softly and shakes his head. “Not tonight.”

His words spark an idea and you move to stand up. Legs shaking, you say, “Grab the wine and follow me.” You slowly make your way back inside before you lose your nerve.

Once back inside your room, you go to the desk. Taking out a piece of stationary, you compose a quick note, which while Anthony is placing the chilled wine on a side table next to a daybed, you seal inside an envelope. 

While he’s pulling out glasses you go into your bathroom and take a pair of bathrobes off hooks and, after slipping the envelope into the pocket of one, wrap the other around your body. You hand the first one to Anthony as he finishes filling the glasses and sets them down as you settle on the daybed. After a moment he joins and sits behind you, pulling your body back to rest against his.

Your voice is quiet as you ask, “Will you stay tonight?” Taking a deep breath, you add, “You don’t have to sleep here. I just would like to have your company for a little while longer. Only if you want to of course.”

Anthony plays with your hair, leaning forward to kiss the exposed skin of your neck. “I’m happy to stay. Besides, we can’t let this open bottle go to waste, now can we?”

You take his hand, pulling it towards you to press a kiss into the top of his fingers. “No, we certainly can’t.”

You feel Anthony shift, his body a warm, pleasant weight against your back. After a few minutes he asks,  “Please don’t take this the wrong way but, why are you here?”

You turn around so you’re facing him. Arching an eyebrow, you ask, “How exactly am I meant to take that?”

Anthony huffs a quiet laugh. “What I mean is, it’s clear to me this isn’t your usual type of vacation. Why here? Why now?”

This man is far too perceptive. “How do you know I’m not some secret heiress who jets off to tropical locales whenever the fancy strikes her?”

Anthony is biting back a smile. “Forgive me. There I go being presumptuous again.”

You lightly poke him in the chest. “Ha! So you admit it!”

Anthony shakes his head, no longer hiding his smile. “I suppose if pressed, I might admit that at times, during our acquaintance I have perhaps once or twice been just a tiny bit presumptuous, yes.”

You want to bask in a moment of superiority but he sits up, bringing you with him, his tone suddenly serious. “But in this case, I know I’m not.” Something must show on your face because he quickly adds, “If you don’t want to tell me, I’ll stop prying.”

It’s your turn to huff out a laugh. All week you’ve kept this to yourself. And it would be nice to talk about it with someone.

To talk about it with him.

You reach over to the side table and refill your wine glass, knowing that this conversation will require liquid courage.

Taking a generous swig, you start, “I’m not sure how much international business news you follow. Specifically, white collar crime.” Anthony raises an eyebrow, but says nothing, so you continue. “Ever since I graduated uni I’ve worked for charitable organizations. The pay is never great, but it’s always been enough to get by and the real reward is helping people who need it, like I once did.”

Anthony sits up fully, refilling his own glass and then takes your hand in one of his, warm and reassuring. You squeeze his fingers gently, and he squeezes back, so you press on.

“When I was a kid I moved to the UK so my Nan could raise me. In the middle of Year 13, she fell ill. Really really ill.” You pause to take a shuddering breath as you recall that time. Anthony rubs soothing circles into the skin of your wrist with two fingers and you find the words to continue. “A charitable organization stepped in and not only paid for Nan’s medical expenses but also covered our household bills and my schooling until we could get back on our feet.”

Anthony takes your glass and sets it down, his glass joining yours on the table. He gently takes both your hands in his.

“So your Nan recovered?”

You offer him a watery smile. “That she did. In fact she’s still going strong. She’s nearly eighty and keeping the staff on their toes at her assisted care home.”

Anthony smiles softly. “That is wonderful to hear. Now I know where you get it from.” He pauses as you lightly swat one of his biceps. “But please, you must circle back to the part about white collar crime.”

You wince. “Must I?”  At his answering nod you sigh and continue, “I’ve worked at many small charitable orgs and it’s been rewarding, but I’ve always wanted to work for a big one. And then two years ago, I got my chance. It was a new organization, formed to be the charitable arm of an investment firm who was looking to take some of their wealth as well as some of their client’s and use a portion for good. Or so they said.”

Anthony drops your hands, a look of shock coming over his handsome face. “You worked for Cowper Capital?”

You heave a sigh. “Technically I worked for The Cowper Capital Foundation. At least I did until about five months ago when I was suddenly sacked but given a ridiculously large severance package that I didn’t even know I was entitled to. About a week later, I was contacted by the National Crime Agency, which is how I found out Lord Cowper was using the foundation to launder money.”

Anthony looks concerned so you quickly reassure him, “I was never in any trouble. I gave them whatever information I could. It turns out they had been investigating him for a long time. I offered to turn the money I got as severance over to the NCA but I was informed that they traced the money back to Lord Cowper’s personal wealth and so, I could keep it. I know I should have  been responsible and saved it but keeping his money just seems gross.”

Anthony shakes his head and refills your wine glasses, taking a sip from his before he hands you the other. “So you decided to use it all for a luxury vacation?” He doesn’t sound angry, just curious.

“First I paid for Nan’s care for the next year and then I gave my best friend rent for a few months because she’s letting me stay with her while I look for a new job and then I booked this vacation. Whatever I have left over when I get home, I’ll donate to charity. Lord Cowper would hate that.”

Anthony shakes his head and laughs quietly. “How is your job search going?”

You’re not sure why he cares but he is so easy to talk to, you don’t mind telling him. “For obvious reasons I’ve decided to leave my working for the CCF off my CV in hopes that whoever sees it will focus on all my previous experience and not the large gap at the end. I put in applications to the three big organizations in London, but so far I haven’t heard back from any of them.”

Anthony nods, thoughtful as he sips his wine. “Who are the three biggest?”

You put down your glass and tick off your fingers. “Well there’s the Thomas Dorset Memorial Fund, The Mondrich Educational Foundation and then the one I’d love to work for the most, the organization that helped me and Nan, The Bridgerton Family Charitable Trust.”

Anthony goes very still for a moment before blinking and then offering you a gentle smile. “Thank you for sharing all of this with me.”

You smile back. “Thank you for listening,” your last word is cut off by a yawn. Anthony’s smile becomes even softer.

“I believe that’s our cue to call it a night, don’t you think?”

You can only nod as he leads you to the bed. He gently takes off the covers and tenderly pulls you into his arms, tucking your face into the crook of his neck, his pleasant scent relaxing you even further. He reaches over to the nightstand and then a moment later, the soft lighting in the room extinguishes.

In the darkness you feel for the first time like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, just from sharing this part of your life with this man. Just as sleep is about to claim you, you feel him press a kiss to the top of your head. 

You’re not sure if you imagine hearing him murmur, “You are an absolute wonder.”

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[mariacallous]

Ever since the televised debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Sept. 10, Springfield, Ohio, has become an epicenter for ferocious anti-immigrant attacks. As he struggled to regain his footing against the vice president, Trump dredged up disproved claims promoted by his running mate, J.D. Vance, who said that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating dogs and cats.

The false allegation, as New York Times columnist Lydia Polgreen argued, tapped into some of the worst nativist sentiment. “There is a long and grim tradition of demonizing Haitians in the United States,” Polgreen wrote, pointing to how the claim revolved around two cherished elements of life, food and pets. Polgreen argued that the situation is a reminder of the threat a second Trump term would pose. “In his elevation of something akin to blood libel against a group of blameless legal immigrants who came to America from their strife-torn nation in search of a better life through hard work… he has proved himself a dangerous and malevolent figure.” Indeed, anti-Haitian sentiment is deeply rooted in American culture, dating back to the Haitian revolution of 1791-1804, when there was a strong reaction against the overthrow of French rule. This rhetoric has frequently included accusations of animal consumption, as well as cannabalism.

As polls demonstrate that immigration remains a top concern for many American voters, Trump’s rhetoric in recent weeks has only become more toxic. At a rally on Long Island, New York, he warned his adoring crowd: “They’re coming from the Congo. They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from the Middle East. They’re coming from all over the world—Asia. A lot of it coming from Asia. What’s happening to our country is we’re just destroying the fabric of life in our country. We’re not going to take it any longer. You got to get rid of these people. Give me a shot.”

Besides circulating a dangerous and toxic set of illiberal ideas that has caused Ohio officials to station guards at the Springfield schools and prompted two local colleges to go remote, Trump’s narrative erases the city’s real lesson for the United States: how immigrants are revitalizing decaying economic areas that have been left behind for decades.

Like places in many other so-called Rust Belt states, Springfield had been a city that struggled as the new high tech, financial service-centered economy took hold in the 1990s. But now, Springfield is booming. The recent history of the city shows not why immigrants are a threat to existing populations, but why they are part of the solution to economic decline and malaise.

This has been the history of immigration in the United States since the founding, and it remains just as important today as ever before.

For much of the 20th century, Springfield, Ohio, located about 45 miles from Columbus, was one of the thriving small cities of the Midwestern United States. Manufacturing had been at the heart of the economy since the late 19th century. In 1902, when the companies that produced Champion harvesters joined with several other brands in the merger that created International Harvester Co., more jobs and money came to the community with the production of agricultural machinery.

In addition to International Harvester, the local economy benefited from the presence of the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, and several other businesses. Though it was certainly not New York, Chicago, or Columbus, Springfield embodied the kind of bustling small city that was at heart of the American Century.

But like many of these cities, the area suffered greatly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as factories closed and jobs went overseas. Between 1970 and 2020, the population fell from more than 80,000 to less than 60,000.

When  Newsweek magazine sought in 1983 to capture for readers what was happening in this increasingly economically desolate section of the country, it zeroed in on Springfield; the editors said it had once been a “dream city.” The magazine published a lengthy special that used the city to tell a bigger story about national decline, and its findings were bleak. Crowell-Collier had closed its plant decades earlier, while International Harvester was reeling amid the recession. Concluding with a pessimistic message, the authors wrote: “The times have not been hospitable to dreaming.”

As he campaigned in 2015, Trump’s anti-immigration and pro-tariff agenda seemed to promise relief.

But while help finally arrived, it came from a very different direction. In 2016, through various incentives, state officials persuaded Topre, a major Japanese company that produced auto parts, to invest millions of dollars to construct a manufacturing plant that would eventually create hundreds of local jobs. In the coming years, numerous other companies followed Topre’s lead.

Attracted by the low cost of living and thriving community, somewhere between 12,000 and 20,000 Haitian immigrants would move to Springfield in the following years. The pace picked up after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were not enough workers in many industries. Employers lured Haitians by advertising good jobs and a decent standard of living. Companies paid for immigration lawyers, translators, and set up online portals to smooth the transition.

The Haitian immigrants, who arrived legally with temporary protected status or humanitarian parole, settled in. They quickly proved to be a valued workforce that allowed the economy to continue prospering. They boosted the once thinned-out population and brought new cultural energy to the community.

McGregor Metal plant’s CEO told NPR that he had depended on about three dozen immigrants to fill the jobs at his factory, which produces steel parts, to make the shop floor work. At the Dole Foods factory, Haitian labor has also been vital. Earning paychecks also means taxes.

The false allegations swerving around Haitian immigrants ignore all of this demand. The fearmongering grows out of a common “they keep coming” myth about immigration, as Harvard University historian Erika Lee argued in Myth America, that wipes away the nation’s own role in “coercing, recruiting, cajoling, and incentivizing foreigners to come to the country to serve its own economic needs.”

Legal immigrants didn’t only provide labor in Springfield, but also boosted the vitality of downtown. Caribbean food trucks and restaurants brought new energy to sleepy streets. Haitian Flag Day became a popular annual event. On Sundays, the prayers and song from the St. Raphael Church, where there has been a regular afternoon Haitian Creole Mass, filled the air. Until recent months, immigrants were understood locally to be integral to the fact that Springfield was standing strong once again. CultureFest, recently canceled because of safety threats, has been a well-attended annual two-day celebration of the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural offerings.

During an interview with NBC News, one Springfield pastor said, “The real story is that for 80 years we were a shrinking city, and now we’re growing.”

With growing populations come problems. These are not imagined and have received ample coverage. As the population climbed back to previous numbers as a result of immigration and a more prosperous economy, emergency services, health care centers, schools, and city services were strained. As the housing stock declined, rent increased. It often became more difficult to secure appointments to key government offices and schools, which—once under threat of shutting down when the population was disappearing—were now trying to keep up with growing student bodies.

Tensions spilled over last year when an 11-year-old boy was killed in a school bus crash that involved a Haitian immigrant. The tragic death unleashed the type of nativist vitriol that Trump has helped to elevate to the highest levels of political power.

These kinds of problems, however, grew out of success, not crisis. They require commonsense, rational government solutions—not the kind of wall-building and deportation measures that would rob the city of a Haitian population that has brought it back to life. Federal support, for instance, could help shore up basic services. New measures to assist with affordable housing could bring down costs for homeowners and renters.

None of these policies would be easy to achieve, and they require spending, but they are well worth it. Rather than offering elixirs that would end up hurting the very communities they promise to save, including the white working-class residents who the Republican Party has depended on, rational policies that address the actual issues can strengthen the infrastructure of cities such as Springfield and allow them to remain great.

One of the most striking developments of recent years has been the way that a far-right nativist rhetoric has taken over the way that Americans discuss immigration.

While Republicans champion the imperative of exclusion and warn of the dangers of replacement, too many Democrats have responded in a defensive fashion by accepting the conservative terms of the debate. During that Sept. 10 debate, Harris’s main response to a question on the topic was to remind voters that Trump had convinced congressional Republicans to vote against a harsh bipartisan border bill. Harris promised that if she was president, she would sign the bill. Trump vacillated. This fit a recent pattern where Democrats have been scrambling to the center, if not to the right of center, to try to win back support on this issue.

Nathan Clark, the father of the 11-year-old who died in the crash in Springfield, recently blasted the Republicans trying to capitalize on his son’s death, which he reminded a Springfield City Commission was an “accident” rather than a “murder.”

Begging the GOP to stop, Clark said: “They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis, and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members. However, they are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed, to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio.”

Regardless of the politics, Americans need politicians to also keep reminding the electorate of what great things immigration has done and continues to do for the nation. And there is no better place to start than Springfield, Ohio.

Writing in the New York Times, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who was born in the city, put pen to paper to remind readers that “the city hit tough times in the 1980s and 1990s, falling into serious decline as manufacturing, rail commerce and good-paying jobs dwindled. Now, however, Springfield is having a resurgence in manufacturing and job creation. Some of that is thanks to the dramatic influx of Haitian migrants who have arrived in the city over the past three years to fill jobs. They are there legally. They are there to work.”

After praising the immigrants for their character and value, DeWine reported how one business owner in the city had informed the governor that “his business would not have been able to stay open after the pandemic but for the Haitians who filled the jobs.”

There is a lesson here for all other communities seeking to do the same. Rather than villainizing newcomers, it might be better—as so many Republicans have done until recent years—to concentrate on policies that would help to integrate legal immigrants who arrive to blighted areas seeking to work, spend, and play. Not long ago, when George W. Bush was president, a substantial number of Republicans and Democrats worked together on a grand bargain that would combine rationalizing the immigration system, including creating a legal path to citizenship for millions of people already in the United States, with tougher border and deportation policies.

Over the past decade, the first part of that bargain has disappeared. Most Republicans focused on the second part of the deal, while many Democrats abandoned hope for the first. Springfield is an important reminder that the politics of exclusion will erode the very people who have been a backbone to the nation’s economy and culture.

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

Trump just said his administration is interested in privatizing the Post Office1 in what would be a major boon for corporate profiteers and a significant blow to consumers and workers. So-called “efficiency” and privatization are taking center stage again in the Trump-Musk transition, even as Trump’s handpicked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy runs a USPS with serious delay issues and constant price increases. A bipartisan outcry has continued for months over DeJoy’s handling of the mail service, but privatization will make things so much worse at USPS. Sign the petition: Urge Congress to block Trump’s plans to privatize the USPS! A top Trump official said private companies are much better than the USPS. He added that the first Trump administration “didn’t finish the job” on privatization, “but we should finish it now.”2 During his first term, Trump called the Post Office a joke and withheld emergency funding from the agency unless it jacked up prices.3 Now he wants to fully hand over the USPS to private operators. Our leaders need to stand in the way. Sign the petition: Urge members of Congress to stand against any plan to privatize USPS! Sources: Washington Post, “Trump eyes privatizing U.S. Postal Service, citing financial losses,” December 14, 2024.