#best way to make $1000 a week online

[pnsge]

:o) ⬅️ is way more of a freak than they are

[rigelmejo]

Let's suppose you want to learn Chinese mainly to read webnovels (or other reading material).

Now, personally, I recommend some study of pronunciation like pinyin, and watching some videos or reading some articles on tones and tone sandhi, grammar, hanzi and hanzi structure. Because at some point you'll probably want to listen too, speak too. So you know - use other resources to study the other skills! If you plan to do anything besides read eventually. Also, I think some pronunciation study actually helped me with remembering hanzi (the sound components in them) and reading skill.

But lets suppose you're studying mainly so you can read webnovels. Which is what I did in my first year. And you can set a goal to start reading webnovels within a year. For some people it takes as little as 3 months to start reading webnovels, for others like me it took around 6 months to start reading webnovels and 12 months to feel comfortable.

Download Pleco app and Readibu app. These apps will be your best friends. Pleco app is a dictionary tool so you can look up unknown chinese words, and it's Clipboard Reader area is where you can paste any chinese text into and then click-translate any words. I recommend the first time you look up any word, you press the dictate/speaker tool so you can hear how it's pronounced. You can save words in Pleco and study them using Pleco's built in SRS flashcards if you wish. Mainly though, the important part is using Pleco to look up words, read example sentences, and to use the Clipboard Reader area to read any Chinese text you find online. Pleco has an area to purchase graded readers, these will probably be some of the first things you read (if you choose to use paid resources). Readibu app is a click-translation Reader app for Chinese, you can browse the app for webnovels, or you can go to the Search area and paste in a url of a chinese webnovel, then Readibu will say it's not in the database so click 'search with Google' then you'll see the url as a result and click it, then bookmark the webnovel page in Readibu. From there you can click the open book icon on any webnovel, and it will make it just click-translate text and provide you the Readibu app features. Once you're reading a lot of webnovels, you may wish to use Readibu to read, for some people it will be more convenient than Pleco for going chapter by chapter.

Make a plan to start studying hanzi. I recommend you focus on the most common 1000-2000 chinese words, or the HSK 4 vocabulary, or both. The goal here is to get your vocabulary and hanzi recognition around HSK 4 level. I used this book (Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: (HSK Levels 1 -3) A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters) because it just clicked with me, I just read through it over a few months. You can use SRS flashcards (like Anki or Pleco) collections that people have made (I recommend this Mnemonics Simplified Hanzi Deck, or Mnemonics Traditional Hanzi Deck). For common words, I recommend Spoonfed Chinese anki deck (note it has some mistakes but I like that it has audio and sentence examples), but there's a ton of anki decks and common word frequency lists (you can genuinely just study a list) just pick a resource you like with either 2000 common words or HSK 4 vocabulary. Literally just pick any study materials where you can learn roughly 1000 common hanzi and 1000 common words or more. Whatever materials work for you. Study however you want - some people find anki flashcards useful (I just cram studied 1000 words for a few weeks each then never looked at anki again), some find books useful, some find textbooks useful, some use vocabulary lists, some use videos, just pick something. Your goal is going to be to study these words/hanzi in 3-6 months. 8-10 months if you want to wait to read longer, or need more time to study. I studied 800 hanzi in the book I linked for the first 3 months, then 1000 words the next month, then 1000 words the next month, then about 500 more hanzi the next month. It is okay to cram study! It is okay to not memorize these hanzi and words! Just get a basic familiarity! You are going to fully learn these common hanzi and words when you READ later.

As you are studying common hanzi and words, start reading a grammar guide if you would like some knowledge of grammar. Or watch some grammar videos on youtube, whatever clicks best with you. Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar is a good grammar guide summary book, AllSetLearning Chinese Grammar Wiki is an excellent website you can read. I read another grammar guide summary, the website no longer exists. Again, do not try to memorize and drill this stuff, just go through it and get a basic familiarity. You can move on if a particular grammar point makes no sense right now. Learn about grammar the same time you're studying hanzi and common words, so the first 3-6 months.

Okay it's been 3 months! You know some hanzi (maybe 50-500), you know some words (maybe 50-1000 depending on how intensely you've been studying)! Start reading! You're going to start with Graded Readers, which are reading material made for learners. Heavenly Path's Comprehensive Reading Guide suggests some free graded reader resources in the Below 1000 characters section. I used Mandarin Companion Graded Readers and other graded readers I could purchase in Pleco. Mandarin Companion has some graded readers with 50 unique characters. I started with some Pleco graded readers that had 300 unique characters, then moved up to graded readers with 500-800 unique characters. Read graded readers! Reread them! Look up any words you don't know (using Pleco or something else). Listen to the pronunciation of any new words. If reading in Pleco, you can use the Dictation tool to hear the sentences read aloud. When using graded readers in general, use any audiobooks that accompany them. Mostly though just read, read, read, and look up anything you want. Look up grammar points in something like AllSetLearning Chinese Grammar Wiki if you are now starting to see some grammar that confuses you while reading. The reading practice is what is going to teach you the words you've been studying in other materials.

Now it's been 6 months. You've been working your way through graded readers of increasing unique character count (and are now reading graded readers of at least 800 unique characters or more). You've been working your way through studying common hanzi and words, and now have studied at least 1000 words or more. (If you cram like I did, you probably have studied over 2000 words but only the 800-1000 words in your graded reading material have been 'fully learned' and the other words you studied are only vaguely familiar, this is perfectly fine). Go to Heavenly Path and start reading the stuff they recommend for people who know 1000-2000 characters. I think @秃秃大王 by 张天翼 is perfect for people who know around 1000 characters to start with. You can keep reading some graded readers like those that go up to 1500-2000 unique characters if you'd like, but start trying to read novels for native speakers too. Again, I recommend anything in the easiest 'recommendations' from Heavenly Path's recommendation list of webnovels, a lot of novels for children will be perfect at this point. You'll gradually work on increasing the unique characters of your reading materials. Read in Pleco or Readibu so you can use the click-translate tool. To find webnovels online, paste or type the chinese name of the novel (and author if you know it), and then 'zaixian yuedu' like this '秃秃大王 张天翼 在线阅读'. It is very easy to find novels online in chinese.

From here you just continue reading more difficult novels! Go at the pace you choose! Once you're reading stuff with 2000 unique characters, then if you wish you can stop studying hanzi and common words outside of just looking them up in reading. You can of course continue to study hanzi and words outside of reading. But if you'd rather just learn words by looking them up as you read, you can start doing that as soon as you switch to novels for native speakers (1000-2000 characters). Congrats, you are reading webnovels!

Some people start reading webnovels within a few months, and you can start with a higher unique character count if you wish. Such as starting with MoDaoZuShi or Zhenhun or SaYe as soon as you go from graded readers to regular novels. The difficulty curve will be a lot steeper, and you'll be looking up a LOT of words for a while. But other people have done it. I started reading webnovels around 6 months, after doing graded readers for a while, and it took picking several easier and harder reading materials until I found a comfortable reading level to continue from.

So it boils down to: start studying very common words and hanzi (a list, a book, anki, whatever works for you, and you don't have to memorize just get some Exposure some Basic Familiarity), read about grammar if you wish (again just get some Basic Familiarity so later if you need to look up a grammar point in depth as you read, you know what to look up), and START READING ASAP. Use Pleco and Readibu to read with click-translations of words. Start with graded reader materials, then as soon as you can tolerate move on to novels for native speakers. Heavenly Path's website is a great resource for finding reading material at your level if you have no idea what to pick and don't want to trial and error different webnovels until something is doable. For anyone who finds sounds help with memory (like me) or who plan to eventually learn to listen to chinese, listen to the pronunciation of any new words when you look them up. If you watch cdramas, cdramas often have chinese subtitles on them, those can be good practice for reading as well.

You can start reading within a year. You can read graded readers within a few months, as soon as you feel it's tolerable. And then you can just learn new words BY reading, review words you've looked up before BY reading, review grammar BY reading, and work your way up to reading whatever webnovels you want. I find learning words BY reading much easier for myself, doing what I want to do in the language as I'm learning to read, much easier to stick to and enjoy than anki flashcards or word lists or textbooks. So from me, the suggestion to push yourself to read graded readers ASAP is so you can get to the part of learning BY reading quicker.

[iamconstantine]

arcane characters as college staff

Mel

History professor 

Refers to all students by (honorific) (surname)

Nothing but praise on ratemyproffesor

“I didn’t like history until I took Professor Medarda’s class” 

Doesn’t write scholarly articles, just giant ass books that she pumps out almost every year somehow

Quickly responds to emails. No response = its in the syllabus 

“Is there any make up work I can do to get my grade up—“ Absolutely not

But if you go the writing center you can get extra credit

Every year her students ask for an extension on the final project and every year she gives a long and furious rant about how the project was visible online from Day 1 and they had all semester to work on it

She has a beautiful office that looks like a miniature library and she only sees students by appointment

Jayce

Physics professor

Is a prolific author but somehow can’t figure out how to set up the course online

Prints cheesy physics memes 

Every zoom meeting begins with 1000 messages saying “professor Talis we can’t hear you your mic isn’t on” every. time.

you can come see him in his office any time, door’s always open

but his office is so messy you probably won’t be able to sit because he has a stack of papers on every chair

“Everyone got this question on the exam wrong so I’m going to give everyone credit because that means i didn’t teach it properly”

Always throws an end-of-year party at his place 

Caitlyn

English Literature professor 

would win best dressed of the staff, always shows up in the slacks-and-blazer fit

“To understand why the narrator wears red shoes, we need to take a look at the sociopolitical state of Edinburgh in 1864.”

if you reply to a discussion board post with just “I agree” you’re not getting credit and it isn’t up for discussion 

Never reads contemporary fiction. The “newest” book she’s read is The Great Gatsby

“We’re not having a party but if you want to bring snacks and soda to the last day of class that’s fine”

Covers a lot of authors but it somehow always comes back to Emily Dickenson

Is that teacher that assigns 400-page books every week

Constantly publishing in lit journals (rumor has it she writes steamy open-door romance books under a pen-name but no one has confirmed this)

Ekko

Art professor 

You have to actively screw up to get a bad grade with him

He wrote thousands of letters to the board until they caved and gave the class a proper kiln

“Write a three-page essay explaining why AI art is not art and insisting otherwise is spitting in the face of humankind. Double spaced. Due Friday 11:59”

Throws back coffee. Has a coffeemaker in the studio. Two of them. 

“Hey guys some of you are submitting assignments at 2 in the morning. It can wait until the next day. Please get some sleep.”

He’s created awe-inspiring pieces but if you just wanna paint a frog wearing a hat he’ll say “that’s cool”

Says he knows who banksy is but will never tell

He gets way too deep in the zone. Once reached for his coffee cup while painting, drank paint water instead. Didn’t notice.

Jinx

Chemistry professor 

If you email her the response will be “k” or “no” and nothing else

Waits until twenty minutes after the class begins to email everyone that class is canceled 

Never wears a coat, goggles, or gloves. But will call out students if they don’t

takes 5 years to post grades

“Look I’m not remembering any names. Too many. If I’m talking to you I’ll just point”

Puts a meme on the projector every day. Mostly incomprehensible. Picture of a horse on an beach and it just says “Zimbabwe”

lowest score on ratemyprofessor

someone creates a website called ratemystudent and administration has no proof that it was her because technically the students with bad scores being the same students that get bad grades in her class can be coincidental 

Viktor

Biomedical engineering professor 

Only professor who still uses chalkboards

First day of class is first day of class. No reviewing the syllabus, turn to page 34 in your textbook.

Puts things in the syllabus to catch people who use ChatGPT. If you’re caught, you’re removed from his class. Immediately. You will not get to plead your case.

Most of his cited sources are himself

Literally begs students to thrift their textbooks online instead of buying them from the school. Provides free PDFs as often as he can.

He reads journals every day and will write personal letters to authors he disagrees with

If a student asks a particularly dumb question he’ll step out of the room for ten minutes to compose himself and then resume teaching like nothing happened

Vi

Not a professor, works at the on-campus gym and leads clubs

Constantly curses without batting an eye. Students will leave class with their very uptight professor then come to the soccer club where vi walks in like “sorry I’m late guys i had a motherfucker of a headache this morning”

Please don’t ask her about anything that isn’t club or sport related. If you ask for directions or how to get in contact with student services she’s got nothing

If she refs for a game and you’re on the opposing team you’d better watch yourself. She will rip you a new one if you break any rules. One time a player grabbed one of her member’s mask during a game and he left crying after Vi was done with him

Students run into her at the local hangouts a lot but it’s never awkward. just reminds you not to party too hard before the game tomorrow 

Leads pretty much every club but dance. Wouldn’t admit it but she has no sense of rhythm and refuses to even do it as a student

You can call her coach or captain or just Vi, whatever you want. But if you call her Violet she’ll stare you down until you correct yourself

Heimerdinger

Anthropology professor 

Spends the first day of class getting to know everyone. “We’re going to go around and give our names and a fun fact about ourselves!”

Gives the “Nacirema” assignment and can’t wait to tell everyone the catch

His classroom is filled with artifacts. Don’t ask about any of them because it will take up class time

If you can’t make it to class he sends really nice responses saying he understands, then checks in when you come back

The only thing that puts him in a bad mood is the “why do anthropologists study dinosaurs if anthropology is about people” question. He’s old and tired 

Keeps thinking about retiring, keeps changing his mind

Silco

Political science professor

His classroom is bare and blank. No life. Just fluorescent lights and chairs.

Brags about how few people pass his class

Very strict on attendance. Too many absences and you’re out. 

If the assignment is due at 11:59 and you turn it in at 12:00, it’s late

“I am quite interested to hear why you believe you are deserving of a higher grade when you’ve spent less than thirty minutes attending all of my classes combined. Please, continue.”

Will straight up roast other professors no problem. Encourages students to pass it along

He encourages debate but the only thing students debate about outside of class is whether he’s hot or creepy af

Final project is a choice between A) A ten-page essay on why there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, or B) a presentation on why the country is doomed

Vander

Education professor 

Makes his own series of Crash Course-esque videos

Comes to class in jeans at best. Sweats, sometimes. 

He has one coffee mug that says #1 Dad and he refuses to use anything else

He puts fun questions on his exams, like riddles. If no one gets it, he actually gets sad

Whenever he erases the whiteboard he always misses a spot. He’s that professor.

If he catches you plagiarizing, you get one pass before he reports it. But you have to come to his office so he can tell you how disappointed he is and how much potential you have

He gives a seminar about how worried he is for the future of education and the wellbeing of the next generation and everyone leaves feeling guilty. Everyone.

Make a pop culture reference in class and everything will grind to a halt so you can explain it to him. Visuals help.

Sevika

Librarian

If you play music in the library she’ll walk up to you and just go “are you joking”

Have a phone call on speaker and she’s hanging it up for you

There’s signs telling you to be quiet every three feet

If you see her outside of school no you didn’t

She’s in charge of leading classes on accessing academic databases and she fucking hates it

Somehow knows where every book is down to the shelf. She’ll tell you what you’re looking for before you can finish your sentence

technically she’s supposed to do a walkthrough before closing for the night but if you can’t read the library hours on the signs it’s your fault if you get locked in

[anon-sect]

Picture source: @spencer-kicks

PART ONE......

Kevin had a popular YouTube channel where he would show off his shoes and give a review about them, all the positive, and negative notes. He had over 5K subscribers and was approaching 6K. He decided that he would do a special celebration the moment he reached 6k subscribers.

A few weeks later, he reached 6K. He posted a contest to celebrate reaching a milestone since starting his YouTube channel. One lucky subscriber would get to help out with a video review on his channel. After a week, he picked the winner of the contest. The winner was invited to his house to participate in the next video review.

Alex couldn't believe he was selected out of the many that entered the contest. Kevin had really picked him to be in his video. He was surprised when Kevin had paid for his flight out. He was also informed that his hotel arrangments had been made as well. He just needed to catch the flight out to him. He would pick him up at the airport.

When the day came, Alex was curious as to why there wasn't a return flight ticket. It was just a one-way ticket. He was sure Kevin would explain once they finally met. True to his work, Kevin was at the airport waiting on him. On the ride to his place, both him and Kevin had a wonderful conversation. But back at Kevin's place, was when he started to suspect something was wrong.

"I have a question." Alex asked. Kevin nodded for him to ask. "I didn't get a return flight ticket, and what hotel will I be staying at?" He was curious on both questions.

Kevin just smiled. "Actually, don't worry about the return flight ticket. And as for the hotel, you will be staying with me." He paused. "Now, to your assistance with my next video, you will be helping showcase my new pair of sneakers, Nike Air Zoom Flight 95s." He added.

Alex had seen a pair of those sneakers online before. "So will I be doing the camera shoots?" He asked after he was sort of satisfied with the living arrangements. He saw a smile appear on Kevin's face that told him something different he would be doing.

"Actually, you will be part of the video showcasing my new shoes that just arrived today. The reason why you don't have a return flight ticket is because......well......you will see." Kevin explained as he went to his room and came back with a device in his hand. He programmed the transformation. He pointed the device at Alex and hit flash.

Alex saw a bright light flash at him, and there was an instant change. His body felt different. It felt like he was split in two halves. His field of vision had limited light. He also found himself incapable of moving on his own. No matter how hard he tried to move or speak, he was both immobile and voiceless. The only thing he could materailize is the thoughts in his mind.

"As the winner of my celebration contest, you was selected to be my new pair of shoes to be added to my ever growing colletion." Kevin paused. "But you will be my favorite pair, because you are my very first pair of living shoes. I will wear you many times during every week. You and my feet will get to become best friends. As the winner, you will be in my next video featured on my feet. The only thing is that no one will ever know what happened to you. Even those who will watch the video will only think of you as normal shoes. I hope you enjoy your reward for winning." Kevin finished as the put on his new pair of shoes.

Alex was mortified. He did want to in the video, but not as literal shoes. He saw the light blotted out as a pair of feet crushed his insole face with tremendous pressure. He could tell the sock Kevin was wearing was slightly dirty and had a bad odor to them. To make things worse, all of his senses weere increased by almost 1000%. The odor from the sock was intense. Each step was like being crushed by a mountain, extremely painful. Even feeling the ground that he was being crushed against was no walk in the park. It fetl like he could feel the gravel, sand, and even concrete up against his back. To be walked on was mentally crazy, and he was wondering if his mind would survive being stuck this way forever.

Alex could hear Kevin talking while recording the video. Every word was in reference to him as though he was normal sneakers. He mentally screamed for help in a hopeless situation, wishing his thoughts could be heard through the recording. This was not what he had hoped for when he thought he was going to be in the youtubers next video. It all made sense when there was no return plane ticket or list of hotel reservations. This was Kevin's plan the entire time, and his fans were clueless on it. His only hope now was that help would come rescue him from this fate. He only had one hope of seeing his humanity again. It was a good thing he made a backup plan in case something went wrong on his trip.

After recording the video, Kevin loved how his new shoes felt. They felt way better than normal sneakers. He definitely had to get himself another pair like these. Human material does make for better sneakers, the thought to himself. He knew Alex wasn't expecting this fate. Actually, none of his fans would have suspected it. Neither will anyone know what happened to the winner. The secret about his new pair of Nike Air Zoom Flight 95s would just be that, a secret, only between himself and the very sneakers. That thought cause him to laugh at the situation.

Continuation in PART 2............

[dollieguts1010]

CRAFTYCORN HEADCANONS

• She's 12 years old

• Her pronouns are She/Her/Hers

• She's Pansexual

• "Craftycorn" is actually just a nickname, her real name is Craftella

• She has a crush on Dogday

• Her best friends are Bobby Bearhug, Bubba Bubbaphant, Picky Piggy, and Catnap

• Hoppy is like a sister to her

• She is considered the most beautiful girl in the group

• She is secretly a princess from a far away land but ran away because, she felt ignored by her parents (don't get me wrong. They did love her, it's just that they always put their Kingdom before her)

• The only reason why she ran away from home was because she thought that she was wasting everyone's time and energy, thought that if she disappeared everyone's lives would be better, and she thought that nobody would care or notice if she was gone

(OOOH BUT TRUST ME. THE DAY THAT SHE DISAPPEARED EVERYONE NOTICED AND WAS WORRIED. THE VILLAGERS, THE CASTLE STAFF, HER PARENTS, EVERYONE.)

• She ran away when she was 11 years old

• Her flower necklace was gifted to her by Dogday

• She was the last one to join the Smiling Critters

• She built her tower all by herself and less then 2 weeks

• She has the most BEAUTIFUL little garden around her tower

• She's an amazing dancer and singer but doesn't but never dance or sings in front of her friends cuz she gets too nervous

• When she did sing and dance in front of her friends for the first time, their jaws were just on the floor (their honest reaction 🤯)

• She gossips with Bobby and Picky while doing arts and crafts together

• She loves all form of art

• She loves butterflies and flowers

• She likes listening to pop music

• She secretly listens to Korn or Slipknot in her private time

• She likes catching butterflies and then immediately releasing them afterwards

• She also studies butterflies and flowers and knows lots of facts about them

(Bubba loves learning more facts about them! He just likes gaining more knowledge)

• Host lots of sleepovers

• She has a scrapbook

• She likes to put stickers on her sketchbooks

• She has lots of unfinished forgotten art projects

• Likes baking with Picky

• HATES the smell of cigarettes (she hates them in general)

• Hates being called "Toots" or "Bitch"

(one time Kickin had the mistake of calling her both toots and bitch in the same sentence. let's just say it wasn't very fun for him)

• She doesn't like it when Kickin or Hoppy pranks her

• She collects perfume (just like Bobby)

• She's a anime fan and disney fan

• She's not just an artist, she's also a seamstress and quilt maker (nobody appreciated or noticed her talent until she met the Smiling Critters)

• She has a mountain of plushies in her bedroom that was gifted to her by her friends (most of the time Dogday, Bobby and Catnap were the ones who gifted them to her)

• She likes to crochet

• She's a fashionista (just like Bobby)

• Her and Bobby are similar in many ways

• 1000% reads Bobby's online fanfictions and would be giggling and blushing the entire time while reading it (especially when it's a Dogday x Craftycorn fanfic)

• She doodles her crushes when she's alone

(which would be Dogday)

• She makes potions and herbs

• She has a magical spellbook

• She tends to have a bit of a problem of being a people pleaser

• She's not a unicorn, she's actually a alicorn that just hasn't gotten her wings yet

• She can control people's minds with her singing (she got it from her mother)

• Is the scariest and the most dangerous when she's angry

• She's actually the strongest in the group not Bubba

(hc that unicorn/pegasi/alicorns are incredibly strong creatures with unrealistic amounts of strength)

• Unlike other critters who only have 1 heart, she has 2 hearts. 1 heart pumps cold blood while the other pumps warm blood

(my hc that unicorns/pegasi/alicorns are born with two hearts that pump s both warm blood and cold blood at the same time to protect themself from the cold or the heat)

• When she's mad she'll take it out on her paintings (she doesn't destroy them, she'll just get a blank canvas and paint out her anger onto it)

• Love it when somebody makes art for her

• She loves strawberries

• She's not a fan of spicy food (she's can handle it but just not a fan)

• Has a wall of plushie in her bedroom

• Performs ribbon dances with Bobby

• She loves apple juice

• She writes her own original story when she's alone (no one knows about it except for Dogday and Bobby)

• She's squeaks when she laughs or sneezes, she thinks it's embarrassing, meanwhile the others thinks it's the cutest thing in the world

• She ballet dances in her private time

• She likes playing tag with Hoppy (90% of the time she loses to Hoppy)

• She loves pastel colors

• She is a prime target when it comes to tickling

• Her favorite season is Spring

• Even though she has short hair, she still likes to try out different hairstyles

• She has to constantly cut her hair because it constantly grows back incredibly fast speeds at ridiculous lengths

• Dogday, Bobby, and Picky like to brush and braid her hair when it's long

• She doesn't know how to handle a compliment, like- if someone compliments her she'll just stand there not knowing what to do or say

• She loves when Dogday compliment her, he could say something small like "you're so pretty!" or "your art is so good!" and her face will turn red as a strawberry and she'll melt like ice cream on a hot summer day

• Likes to help Bubba with difficult math problems

• Likes to play pretend with Dogday (most of the time, they're playing out romantic scenarios)

• She can speak in multiple languages

• She often likes to hug her friends, and sometimes give them a small kiss on cheek or forehead

• Her, Bobby, and Kickin like to do eachother makeup

• She makes little flowercrowns for her friends

• She hangs out with Bobby and Dogday the most

• The Smiling Critters are extremely protective of her

• She had a crush on almost every member in the Smiling Critters (except for Hoppy and Picky)

• Likes to put pretty bows on the back of Bobby's head

• While everyone (except for Dogday) thinks that Catnap is a bit creepy, she thinks that he's calming and comforting to be around

• If you make Crafty cry...do yourself a favor and RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Because everyone in the Smiling Critters is chasing you and if they catch you...they will show NO MERCY.

• Has a great relationship with Dawn (Dogday's mother)

• Has a big sweetooth

• Likes to give her friends gifts

• Makes friendship bracelets with the ladies (+ Dogday)

• Sleep with a nightlight

• She has Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and Iygophobia (fear of the dark) and Dogday tries to help her with her fears (it never works)

• She doesn't like talking about her past

• She tries her best to hide her identity of being a princess

• Whenever one of her friends asks her about her past, she'll usually say something like "I would rather not talk about it" or "maybe some other time I'll tell you" eventually she just flat out asked her friends not to ask questions about her past, because it makes me uncomfortable and her friends respected her wishes and doesn't ask her anymore

• She'll often cry herself to sleep while holding a picture frame of her parents (she misses them a lot)

• She's paranoid that are friends will find out that she's a princess

• She's also very paranoid that her parents will find her someday

• Likes to wear a lot cutesy outfits

• When she's tired she lets out of soft neigh instead of a yawn

• When she's nervous, she pulls and fidgets with her tail

• Believe it or not, she surprisingly really enjoys horror movies

• Her and Kickin like to go to the beach and find the prettiest rocks and shells

• She's great at roller skating

• Her and Bobby have matching friendship bracelets

• She can morph her hooves into hands at will

That's all for now!

*I will add more later*

[thesapphireprincess]

Software Engineer 👩🏾‍💻

I recently learned that you can become a Software engineer without a degree. I found a free Introduction to software engineering course on YouTube. It was created by a computer science professor and he goes over everything that a beginner needs to know and what is learned in a full semester. I also found these free Harvard courses and after you complete them you can purchase a verified certificate. The certificate will look so good an a resume and it will show that you know the material.

💌 Being a Software Engineer isn’t the only option for a high paying job without a degree. This is just the one I am choosing.

There are so many resources online but after this I will most likely enroll into a software engineering boot camp since this is what most people do. I found that there are a lot of software engineers who do not have a degree but are still making a ton of money because the work is so valuable. I learned that you can get almost any 6 figure high paying job without a degree except in the medical field. This job will not be replaced by AI which is a relief.

The starting salary for an entry level position is around 70-80k in the United States as of June 2023. Even 60k would be great but there are people making 100-250k a year as a software engineer. The people who work at the big companies make even more than that.

This is a great way to set up your financial future. Imagine being able to save $1000-$2000 a month. Imagine where you’ll be at in 10 years. You can even use this as a starting base to set your life up financially. You’ll be able to afford to live anywhere in the world especially if you get a remote job. Places like San Diego, New York, London or Hawaii. You can afford the cost of living. You can afford to live in any of the major cities and have a really comfortable life. You will have lots of money that you’ll be able to multiply. You’ll actually be able to save up for a house and have actual money to invest. So many opportunities will be available to you. You can live below your means in the best way possible.

Personally I’ve always wanted to live by the beach in a city. By this time next year I’ll be living in a new city with a great high paying job. My current job will look amazing on my resume because I work side by side with engineers and technicians on a daily basis at a reputable company so I can totally jazz up my resume to sound really good. Which totally counts as ✨experience✨. I’ve been working here for a couple of years now which will look even better because it shows longevity.

I definitely plan on moving to San Diego or Hawaii next year when my lease is up. I will update y’all in a week on my progress.

[kiefbowl]

I know you're probably sick of hearing about amazon in general but I just want to mention that their impact on the environment is truly worst than most people think. I work somewhere that process Amazon returns and it makes me genuinely disgusted at some people's consumerism. I'm talking about people bringing back litteral dozens of amazon parcels on a weekly basis. Clearly they had no intention of keeping those things, they just love getting a new package and opening it. It's not a rare behavior either. The return process uses a ton of fuel (much more than if they were juste returning something to their local store) and just as much plastic (seriously, I know it doesn't look like that much but I tried to imagine how much tape was used on a daily basis just for amazon returns and it made me sick to my stomach. And that's just the tape...). Anyway, I'm venting at this point but you're 1000% correct, amazon is trash and I don't trust anyone selfish enough to defend it.

yeah :( part of the problem is that "hauls" are now a type of online content. people buy stuff to open it on camera to their followers with no real intention of keeping any of it. it's an indefensible way to behave tbh. someone buying a couple of cheapo pants off shein a couple times of year isn't great but it's better than buying stuff every week so you have boxes to open on camera. you can't act that way and call yourself radical or leftist or marxist or whatever left leaning words people want to use as identity markers. like we can't get around buying stuff sometimes and I don't want to live in a world where nothing exists, even fun frivolous stuff - but the fact that so many people act like "well if I want something what exactly can I do besides buy it??" as some sort of defense to buying things when...you could literally want less and maybe explore why you constantly want things and maybe realize you are being manipulated by marketing. if you use your airfryer every day and plan on keeping it clean and working for 10 years, that's awesome. if you bought it because you saw 17 reels online about it being cool and only used it twice, you could have kept your money and done a little elbow grease (barely) to go look up how to cook those things with the stove and oven you have. if you feel like you need to avoid repeating outfits all month, maybe think about who actually benefits from you thinking like that. so if you see yourself as so left you're off the spectrum, you really should be trying the best you can to buy less and optimize more. and as a hint, like you say, if you're returning stuff constantly, you're not doing so hot. imo ;)

[chaifootsteps]

So anyway. I'm enraged <3 everything about the music video makes me mad <3 I figured at LEAST if nothing else it was nice that Paranoid DJ got some more recognition. Honestly, amazing for him! He's a stand up chap and he deserves every good thing that's ever come his way. Like Micheal, Ashley and other unsung heros he did SO MUCH for hazbin/helluva and making us fall in love with the characters. BUT. THEY. BARELY. CREDITED HIM. And I am mad. I'm even more mad she did nothing in the video captions other than stick a middle finger up to her haters and the drama of the week. That is not the spirit of indie I fell in love with where she used to thank all her viewers and supporters, staff and collaborators. So instead I decided to look for something happy! SPINDLE'S PRECARIOUS FINANCES: https://graphtreon.com/creator/VivienneMedrano Notice on the graph the steady drop in subscribers Viv has gotten on her patreon since this time last year, 2022. (5.1k to 3.5k) If I'm being generous and looking at her peak a few days ago, (because everyone drops their sub and resubscribes at the end of each the month) she makes about 5.7k a month which adds up to 68.4k a year. Which could sound like an okay salary for ONE person but her patreon says she employs "100+ artists and crew members". that is 100+ people she is paying. I spent forever learning about youtube pay rates tonight. RPM is the term used for the amount a youtuber makes per 1000 ad views and it varies SO MUCH its hard to say what Viv's RPM is. BUT!!! The average rpm for a youtuber is $18. However many many forums have discussed that the category of a video greatly changes its rpm. For example, finance and tech videos have a top rpm due to their demographic (more affluent viewers that advertisers want to target) the younger/poorer the video's audience demographic is, the lower the rpm. Gamers are considered among the lower paid but EVEN LOWER THAN THAT are animators. They make PENNIES. (which is kind of sad because they have the highest effort videos and can't mass produce) I've seen animators say they get about 40 to 60 cents per 1000 views. I have no idea what vivziepop makes from youtube but I think it could be $600-18,000 as an absolute ceiling per 1 mil views.

Again, she has an entire studio to pay. Therefore, MOST of spindles money comes from merch and when you factor in the EXTREME oversaturation of merch with the declining viewers, toxic fandom and obvious loss of interest from die hards (based on her patreon) her merch sales are PLUMMETING. Her vacation money right now is probably from her Hazbin contract. Apparently for first time show runners, they make about $30,000 per episode. That's $240,000 she made for season 1 and will make maybe that much or more for season two. It's a good amount of money!! But with her spending rates, the mortgage on her home (that can't be paid off if she was begging for money to pay her dentist in 2019 and hadn't bought the house yet), her lifestyle and studio are NOT sustainable unless hazbin/helluva is her just her foothold in the industry and not the apex of her career.

While she's living the high life like she's 'made it' her whole career is in a very precarious place and what matters the most right now is her online conduct and the quality of her products to determine if she will find work in the future. Of course on the most pessimistic front, she could probably pull it together and do what she does best and leech off other peoples talents for the rest of her career. (eg stepping back, becoming the ceo of spindle and bringing in a network of indie shows by talented new creators that she can slap her name on as a producer and get half the credit)

Anon, there's not a lot of things I enjoy more than good, hard number crunching at Viv's expense. This is sublime.

Hope you're enjoying that Japan-spanning trip full of tea shops and abused animal petting, Viv, because it was probably the worst thing you could have done for yourself at a time like now.

[ros3ybabe]

August 16th, 2023 Mini Update 🎀

Guess who ended up sick on her first day of classes? Me!!

I remember thinking last week how it would not be fun to get sick when school starts, and on my first day of classes, I wake up with a super sore throat, a mild headache, slight dizziness, fatigue, and just overall feeling like trash. It's either a cold or my yearly bout of tonsillitis. I get tonsillitis every year at least once, and it's been that way for 8 years so far.

I did make it through the day, tho! Went to my first two classes of the semester, and I am pretty optimistic! Luckily, I don't have classes tomorrow, but I do have some appointments, so I'm going to wear my mask all day, as I do not want to risk getting anyone else sick. I'm still going to my nail appointment. I feel like it's the least I deserve right now.

(The picture of nails I included is what I changed my mind to for tomorrow, I feel like almond nails will be a cute change from my usual coffin style and might be easier to work with at my job)

I also found out I'll get to see my boyfriend in the next month and a half (we've been long distance 1000+ miles since early July), and I am so excited about that. Hopefully, it'll be a 4-5 day stay, so I can spend some quality time with him.

I want to sleep and recover as much as possible but I also have a decent amount of homework/quizzes/notes/textbook reading to accomplish by Sunday, and since I work Friday thru Sunday, I know I'm going to have to buckle down and be productive as much as I can. Hot tea with honey, chicken noodle soup, and vitamin C are going to be my best friends these next few days while I recover!

This is really not how I wanted to start my semester, but things will get better, I will still succeed, and I will still stay on top of assignments, attendance, and my work ethic overall. One bump in the road doesn't mean I should come to a complete stop! I have high hopes and high expectations and I truly believe in myself.

Also, I managed to complete a 10 min abs pilates workout (despite knowing I didn't feel too great, silly me) and still did skincare, makeup, and working in my planner this morning. I've also completed several assignments and started notes for one of my online classes, so today was not a complete bummer.

Let's hope that I can return to proper health sooner rather than later, and that it doesn't affect my sleep too much!

Thats all for this update!

Til next time, my lovelies!! 🩷

[literaticat]

I thought PRH's author portal sales numbers were fairly accurate, but I looked at my royalty statements and they have about 7k more copies sold per book than what the portal reflects (and that was only through June 30)! Is underreporting by that many copies common with author portals in your experience?

It's not really "under-reporting" -- it's DIFFERENT recording. The portal is more granular and essentually in real time; the royalty statements are the Big Picture, long term.

I would consider the Author Sales Portal to be akin to BookScan. BookScan and the Author Sales Portal are actually quite accurate when it comes to books sold to actual customers at a cash register or online equivalent in near-real time. They can even tell what towns the book sells best in, how it is selling compared to other books, graph how it has done over time, etc. But they DON'T necessarily capture books sold in other ways.

For example, BookScan doesn't capture sales to schools and libraries, bulk orders or "special sales" by companies, books sold at non-bookstores (ie, Sam's Club, Urban Outfitters, etc), books sold for export, etc.

The publisher's Author Sales Portal has similar deficits. (It might show schools and libraries and stuff, idk -- but it definitely doesn't show EVERYthing.)

Now the ROYALTY STATEMENTS, on the other hand, are capturing *different information* -- they DO have all those random other kinds of sales on them, as well as monies earned from subsidiary rights sales, etc. HOWEVER, what they DON'T have is "books sold to actual customers in real time" -- because it's a six-month long snapshot, what they reflect instead is BOOKS SOLD/SHIPPED TO BOOKSTORES, and then BOOKS RETURNED FROM BOOKSTORES.

So let's say your book comes out and 1000 bookstores bought 5 copies each. 5,000 copies have shipped. In the first week, 500 of those copies sold.

So if, a week later, you checked the portal, it would say that 500 copies sold. But if the royalty period ended that same week, the royalty statement you get in a few months time would say that 5,000 copies sold.

If the worst happened, and not another book sold -- those 4,500 copies would eventually be returned. At that point, probably in the next royalty statement, it would show that 500 copies sold, and 4,500 copies were returned.

Does that make sense?

[the-bejeesus]

People need to stop blaming the fact that One Piece isn't nearly as popular in the US as other long running shows like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto on the 4KidsTV dub. Yes the 4KidsTV dub was bad, yes it made it look like a show for little kids. But it aired for just 3 years, and wasn't even viewed by that many people. After all, it wasn't popular. It'd be a setback for sure, but over 16 years later, there's no way this is still the root cause, when shows like My Hero Academia can skyrocket in popularity in a fraction of the time. The newer quality dub is the only dub that's been marketed for a decade and a half, with episodes in sub on Crunchyroll on the day of airing.

The fault isn't the show being too long or the animation or the pacing or any of that. These are problems that every other country has to overcome in selling One Piece. The fault is in Crunchyroll's marketing. While some people point out that "Film Red ads were at Times Square" or "They're showing Episode 1000 at the expo!" there's not much Crunchyroll actually does to encourage new audience members. Yes, the dub is caught up more or less, adapting the most current arc. But that's only if you're buying them on Microsoft Store for $30 for 12 episodes. If that sounds like a scam to you, you have to wait a couple of weeks for it to show up on FUNimation or Crunchyroll, the niche streaming services for dedicated anime fans. If you don't want to subscribe to tons of streaming services and just want to use the most popular ones, it's on Netflix too, but only up to Enies Lobby, it doesn't even cover the first 500 episodes of a 1000+ episode show. A bit odd for a platform that is trying to hype up their live action adaptation of the series, but streaming licenses can be tricky and expensive, at least they have the show at all, as it wasn't even on Netflix in the US for a long time. Hulu fairs a bit better with 457 episodes, though dub is the only option (this was NOT how hulu was with One Piece just 6 years ago, btw. It changes all the time how much sub or dub they have). Don't even get me started on Amazon Prime. It's not even about the $2 per episode, the navigation is horrific. I couldn't even tell you what episodes they have. There's like 3 Season 10s and a Season 11, and all of them have the most random ass selection of episodes. Like straight up, it needs fixed cause idk what the hell's going on. Even if $2/episode was a reasonable price, I'm too scared to buy it. I'm afraid it's not gonna even be the episodes I ordered. If you'd rather just catch the latest episodes on TV, they're on Toonami, the channel that only airs from midnight to 3am. A pretty late schedule for normal people, and even if you can catch them, they're nearly 350 episodes behind there. It actually would have been even more behind, as it was cancelled for quite awhile. But to make up for lost time, they skipped 134 episodes. Those unaired episodes are some of the most iconic, high-rated, and important story arcs of the entire series. And don't expect to catch re-airings, this ain't DBZ Kai on NickToons. You can also collect the series on DVD/BD. But that's gonna cost you $44 for 12 episodes. And don't expect to pick it up at a Wal-Mart or Target. Maybe a Best Buy if you live somewhere busy, but even that's not guaranteed. 9 times out of 10 you gotta deliberately buy that online. Might as well buy two shelves from amazon while you're at it because that my friend is 64 DVD sized boxes you're going to be purchasing, assuming you're buying the Voyage sets. With the Collection sets you can collect the series in just 32 DVD sized boxes, because the Collection sets are literally two Voyage sets for the price of one.

Compare this to Dragon Ball Z. People my age grew up catching episodes frequently on NickToons or Toonami. Many I know started in their teens watching Dragon Ball Super on Hulu. You can catch the whole series dubbed and subbed on Crunchyroll. If you wanted to own Dragon Ball Z, you can get the Orange Brick DVDs, the Dragon Box DVDs, the DBZ Kai DVDs, the Blu-Rays, the Level Sets (jk they discontinued), the DBZ Kai Blu-Rays, the 30th Anniversary Blu-Rays, the steelbook Blu-Rays. Wal-Mart has Blu-Ray Orange Brick sets where you can buy 3 seasons for $30 dollars, that's 1/3rd of the show for the price of 12 niche anime episodes. You can also buy the manga by the volume, by the box set, in a big-print omnibus set, (partially) in a full color set, or online. And while games like Dragon Ball Z Kakarot are still getting fresh dubs, high-budget One Piece games like One Piece Odyssey or One Piece World Seeker are Japanese subbed only, with not so much as an English dub update in sight. Most Dragon Ball movies are available in dub, and even come in 2 or 4-movie Blu-Ray bundles. One Piece only has 6 of their 14 movies dubbed, with only 6 TV Specials dubbed as well.

My point is that the most approachable way to get into One Piece is the same way it was 16 years ago; piracy. It's not kaizoku-fansubs or kissmanga like it was back in the day, but things haven't changed much. Most fans ik don't catch the latest 12 dubbed episodes on FUNimation, they watch them on 9anime. They don't purchase 4 box sets of manga that are all nearly worth $200, they see fanscans of the colored manga on mangasee. With this kind of fanbase, One Piece is always going to stay within the "Film Red grosses $12M at US box office" range of popularity. To get to the "Dragon Ball Super: Heroes grosses $38M at box office" ball-park, you gotta reach out to the audiences who just want to watch some TV and don't want to have to do some digging. Even the 4KidsTV dub knew this. It wasn't very popular, but by airing at day time and having plenty of commercials, and just being on a channel kids tune into, it would at least catch the accidental attention of people every now and then. Sometimes I have to wonder if Crunchyroll even wants to push One Piece as a flagship series, or if it'd rather just be known for more trending anime like Chainsaw Man and Demon Slayer.

[cyanlastride]

can i tell you a story? for my own good, not yours. you have no obligation to listen.

im warning you now, its an unpleasant one.

the summer before grade 10, i made the best choice of my life. i was feeling a bit lonely, and inspired by my dad to try playing D&D. finding myself lacking real-life friends -- it was the summer, you see, the most barren and socially isolating time of the year, beating even christmas break -- i took to Roll20, an online forum where people meet and start TTRPG groups, dnd5e being chief among them. now, i grew up very closely to the internet. club penguin, nexuiz/xonotic, planeshift, i grew up socializing with people online quite often. but internet forums, even as dull as reddit, werent really my thing. hell, i only got this tumblr account recently. so, making the spur of the moment decision to make a roll20 account and reply to an LFG for new players was really quite a leap for me. a complete shot in the dark.

but it paid off. we had a bit of a rocky start after our first GM ran off never to be seen again, but one of the players stepped up to be our new GM and we played almost every week for almost a year and a half. i forged a strong bond with both the players and the characters -- at the time, i didnt really distinguish between the two. we had some close calls, a lot of near misses, and my character even died once. our party had two paladins, and i was one of them, so resurrection wasnt too big of a deal. eventually, though, we bite off more than we could chew, and land in some pretty hot water. specifically, an underground church full of rats. how we ended up there and the mighty battle that took place are wonderful and thrilling stories for another day. we had to stop the session mid-battle, i dont remember why, but we picked it up the week after. when we came back, we were prepared to fight to the last. if either myself or the other paladin survived, we could resurrect the party with the diamonds on the iron band i had forged around my wrist. if any of the other party members survived, they could bring the bodies up to the surface and get help. we just had to win the fight.

now, being a new player playing pretty much a pre-gen'd paladin, i went the standard plate armour plus sword and board. this made my AC suuuper high, enough that enemies could only really hit me on a roll of 18+. also, if they rolled a nat 20 against me, i had a magic shield that would absorb some of the blow and actually heal myself and my allies for a couple turns. so the only way they can actually hurt me reliably is if they rolled 18 or 19. i was facing off against some random rogue that i didnt know and didnt care to know. if i landed one solid hit on this lady, i could smite her into oblivion. she was a goon, basically.

a goon that rolled three 19s in a row.

a goon that killed me, and any chance i had of saving my friends.

rolling an 18 or a 19 on a 20 sided die is 1/10. rolling three in a row is (1/10)^3, or 1/1000. one in a thousand. that sounds small, right?

fate and chance make mockeries of our lives more often than anyone cares to admit.

we kept playing after that, made new characters, but the loss was real. that probably sounds stupid, especially to people that have had real people close to them die, but to me, my closest friends of the past year were gone because of a stupid chance.

ive taken small risks more seriously since then. i dont drive, and i stare drivers in the eye when i cross the street. im not scared of dying, but i want to see it coming.

when covid started, i spent a lot of time staring death in the face.

not my own death. i was/am unlikely to die from covid. i barely even go outside enough to be at risk of catching a cold. im young, and im healthy.

my parents are older, and less healthy. my mom is a highschool teacher.

ive spent the last 4 years thinking every so often about what i would do if they died. ive treated it as a real possibility that something could happen to them. ive been mentally preparing myself. even now that we're mostly out of the covid danger zone, that preparation remains.

i never considered what might happen if only one of them fell ill. when my dad messaged me that my mom was going into emergency surgery, i could handle that. when my mom was moved into the ICU, i was glad. she is getting the care she needs from experts and professionals, and shes doing okay.

when we get the call that my dad's father, who lives in a resthome in another city, hasnt been seen in two days and that the ambulance just drove away without loading anyone in the back, i can handle that. to be honest i really didnt know my pappa that well.

when my dad, my stoic old dad, breaks into tears after starting the sentence "they can't both die..."

thats harder.

one in a thousand.

its not as small as you think it is.

thank you for listening. my mom, my dad, myself, we're going to be okay.

[stephleb]

Cost Effective Online CNA Classes: Your Path to a Rewarding Healthcare Career

Affordable Online CNA Classes: ⁣Your Path to‍ a Rewarding Healthcare ‍Career

Affordable Online CNA Classes: Your Path ⁤to​ a Rewarding Healthcare Career

Are you seeking a fulfilling career in the healthcare field without spending ‍a fortune on education? ​Look ⁣no ⁣further! Affordable online ‍CNA (Certified Nursing ⁤Assistant) classes ​are​ a great way to get started in ‍a sector that is not only rewarding but also‍ in⁢ high demand. In ‍this article, we will explore⁤ the benefits of becoming a⁤ CNA, how to choose the ⁤right online program, and some practical tips to enhance your learning experience.

Why Choose a Career as ‍a CNA?

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is an excellent career choice for those who want to make ‍a difference in people’s‌ lives. Here are some compelling reasons to consider‌ this path:

High Demand: ‌ The ​healthcare industry is​ growing, and CNAs play a crucial role in patient care, leading to a steady job market.

Quick entry to the Workforce: Online⁤ CNA programs often allow you to complete your training in just a‌ few weeks to a few months.

Flexible Schedule: Online‍ classes provide the flexibility to learn at your pace, making it‌ easier to balance work or family commitments.

Rewarding ⁤Work Environment: CNAs work‍ directly with ‍patients and can forge meaningful connections, ⁤impacting their health ‌and well-being.

Understanding CNA Classes

CNA classes are⁣ designed to equip you ‌with the skills and knowledge needed to provide essential care to patients. The curriculum typically covers‌ topics such⁢ as:

Basic nursing skills

Patient hygiene and care

Medical terminology

Basic nutrition

Dialog skills

Types of Online CNA⁢ Programs

There are various online CNA programs available, ⁢each with its unique features. Here’s a ⁢breakdown:

Program ‍Type

Duration

Cost

Full Online CNA program

4-12 Weeks

$300 – $800

Hybrid⁤ CNA Program

6-14 Weeks

$500 – $1000

Accelerated⁢ CNA Training

2-4 Weeks

$400 -⁤ $900

Benefits of ⁢Affordable Online CNA Classes

Choosing‌ affordable online CNA classes can provide numerous ⁢benefits:

Cost-Effective: Online⁢ programs are usually less expensive than traditional classroom training due to lower overhead ⁤costs.

Accessibility: You can ​attend⁢ classes from⁢ anywhere,making ‌it ideal for those who may not have access to local institutions.

Diverse Options: Many programs offer ⁣specialized training, allowing you‌ to focus ⁣on ​areas of‍ interest such as geriatric⁣ care‍ or pediatrics.

Enhanced Learning Experience: ‍ The online format often includes multimedia ⁤resources, interactive activities, and ⁢online forums to‌ facilitate better understanding.

How to Choose the Right Online CNA‌ Class

Here are⁤ some practical ​tips to help you select the​ best online CNA program for your needs:

Accreditation: ​Ensure ⁢the ⁣program is accredited ‌by a recognized nursing association to ⁢validate its authenticity.

Curriculum: Review the curriculum carefully to see if it covers essential⁢ topics and skills.

Hands-On⁢ Training: Look for programs that provide opportunities for practical experience, either through local partnerships ​or clinical placements.

Reviews and Testimonials: Check for reviews from former students to gain insights into their experiences.

Cost⁢ and Financial Aid: ⁣ Compare tuition costs and look for programs​ that provide ‍financial aid⁣ or payment plans.

First-Hand experiences: Students ⁣Speak

Understanding the ⁤opinions of students who ​have gone through ⁢the⁢ process can be immensely helpful. ‍Here are some shared experiences:

Emily’s Journey

“I ​enrolled in an ⁢affordable online CNA program while working ⁤part-time. The⁢ flexibility‌ allowed me to complete the‌ course at my own pace. I finished in just three months ​and landed ‌a job in a local nursing home!”

James’s Transformation

“Initially, I was skeptical about online ⁤learning, but the hands-on training ⁤component made all the difference.‍ I felt confident when I stepped into my first clinical shift!”

Case ​Studies: Success Stories

Numerous‍ individuals have utilized affordable online CNA classes​ to ‌transform‍ their careers. Here are a couple ⁤of success stories:

Maria: ⁤After⁣ completing ‌a low-cost CNA course online, Maria secured a full-time position at a nearby hospital. She is now pursuing her RN degree!

David: David took an⁣ accelerated program and began working as a CNA within‌ a month. He enjoys‌ the flexibility to continue his education while working.

Final thoughts

If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding healthcare career, affordable online CNA classes are your gateway. With a ⁤flexible schedule, low‍ costs, and ‌a growing job market, becoming a ‍CNA ‍can be ‍a‍ smart and fulfilling choice. By investing your‍ time in the right program, you can achieve your career goals ‌while making a positive impact in the lives of others. ​Start exploring ⁣your options today, and take the​ first step towards a fulfilling career‍ in healthcare!

https://cnatrainingcentral.com/cost-effective-online-cna-classes-your-path-to-a-rewarding-healthcare-career/

[blearys-blog]

10 Common Mistakes Writers Make When Pitching to Publications

You’ve got a great idea. You want it out there maybe in a big magazine or a site you love. Pitching to publications sounds simple, right? Write an email, hit send, wait for the yes.

But it’s trickier than that. I’ve been writing and pitching for years, and I’ve seen the same slip-ups trip up newbies and pros alike. Mess up your pitch, and your story stays on your laptop. Nail it, and you’re in print.

Editors get hundreds of emails a day. Yours has to stand out. Avoid these 10 mistakes, and you’ll boost your odds of getting a nod. I’ll break each one down with real fixes, stuff I’ve learned from my own flops and wins.

Plus, if you need a hand, 9FigureMedia can step in. They’re the best option for helping brands and businesses get published in Forbes and other top spots. Let’s jump into what you’re doing wrong and how to fix it.

Mistake 1: You Don’t Know the Publication

You pitch a tech piece to a food magazine. Or a personal essay to a site that only does news. Editors toss those fast. They want stories that fit their readers.

Fix it. Read the publication first. Skim their last five articles. Get their vibe. I once pitched a travel story to a site that turned out to be all business tips. Wasted my time. Match your idea to their style, and you’re halfway there.

Mistake 2: Your Pitch Is Too Long

You write a novel with 500 words about your brilliance. Editors don’t have time for that. They scan, not read.

Keep it short. Aim for 200–300 words. I used to ramble, thinking more words showed I cared. Nope. One editor told me, “If I can’t get it in 30 seconds, I’m out.” Hook them quick, idea, angle, why it works.

Mistake 3: You Sound Like an Ad

You push your company or product too hard. Editors hate sales pitches. They’re not here for your publicity stunts rather they want real stories.

Focus on the reader. Pitch a trend or problem, not your brand. I pitched a piece on remote work tools once, plugging my friend’s app. Crickets. Rewrote it as “How Remote Teams Thrive,” no plug — sold. Save the promo for later.

Mistake 4: You Miss the Deadline Vibe

You pitch a summer travel guide in August. Too late. Publications plan months ahead. Sending stuff at the wrong time kills your shot.

Time it right. Check their schedule and most list it online. I learned this pitching a holiday gift guide in December. Editor said, “We locked that in October.” Now I pitch seasonal stuff three months early.

Mistake 5: You Don’t Show Your Cred

You skip why you’re the one to write this. Editors need to trust you know your stuff. No cred, no chance.

Add a quick bio. Two lines, your experience, your angle. I pitched a fitness piece with “I’ve coached runners for five years.” It landed. No fluff, just proof. If you’re new, tie it to something real, like a project you’ve done.

Mistake 6: You Pitch Too Many Ideas at Once

You cram three story ideas into one email. Editors get confused. They want one clear shot, not a buffet.

Pick one. Send it solo. I tried the combo move early on, three pitches in one go. No reply. Sent one clean idea next time, and it stuck. Focus wins. Need help picking the winner? 9FigureMedia’s the best option for helping brands and businesses land stories in major news outlets, they’ll sharpen your aim.

Mistake 7: You Don’t Follow Up

You send your pitch and wait forever. Editors forget. Life moves fast for them. No follow-up, and your email’s buried.

Check in. Wait a week, then send a short note. “Hey, just following up on my pitch from last Tuesday, any thoughts?” I’ve turned nos into yeses this way. One editor apologized and said it slipped her mind. Gentle nudges work.

Mistake 8: You Ignore the Guidelines

You send a full draft when they ask for a pitch. Or use the wrong subject line. Every publication has rules. Skip them, and you’re out.

Read the fine print. Find their “write for us” page. I ignored guidelines once and sent a 1000-word piece to a pitch-only site. Straight to trash. Stick to what they ask, and you stay in the game.

Mistake 9: Your Subject Line Sucks

You write “Pitch” or “Story Idea.” Boring. Editors skip vague emails. Your subject line’s your first swing, make it count.

Grab them. Try “Can AI Save Small Shops?” or “Why Teens Quit Apps.” I tested this. “Pitch: Tech Story” got ignored. “How Tech Rescues Retail” got opened. Specific hooks pull them in.

Mistake 10: You Take Rejection Personal

You get a no or no reply and give up. Rejections happen. Editors say no for a million reasons, timing, budget, fit. It’s not you.

Keep pitching. I got 10 nos before my first yes. One editor passed, then took my next idea a month later. Persistence pays. If you’re stuck, 9FigureMedia can help. They’re the best option for helping brands and businesses get published in Forbes, they know how to turn nos into yeses.

How to Pitch Like a Pro

You’ve got the don’ts. Now the dos. Here’s a quick rundown to nail your next pitch.

Research Hard: Know the publication’s beat and audience. Tailor your idea.

Keep It Tight: 200–300 words. Hook, meat, close. No fat.

Tell a Story: Skip the sales. Give them a real angle, something readers feel.

Time It Right: Pitch early like months ahead for seasonal stuff.

Prove Yourself: Short bio, real cred. Show you’re legit.

One Idea: Don’t crowd the email. Focus on your best shot.

Follow Up: Week later, short and sweet. Stay on their radar.

Follow Rules: Guidelines are law. Read them twice.

Nail the Subject: Specific, catchy. Make them click.

Bounce Back: Rejection’s normal. Send the next pitch.

Real Pitch Fails — and Fixes

I’ve messed up plenty. First pitch I ever sent? A 600-word ramble about my blog. No focus, no hook, ignored. Fixed it by cutting to 250 words, clear idea: “How Blogs Beat Ads.” Sold.

Another time, I pitched publicity stunts for a startup I liked. Editor emailed back, “Not a fit, we don’t do promo.” Rewrote it as “What Stunts Teach About Attention.” Got a yes from a different site. Learn from the flops, they teach you.

A friend pitched a parenting piece to major news outlets. Sent it blind, no research. All nos. She dug into one site’s style, reshaped it, and landed it. Know your target, and you win.

Why 9FigureMedia Can Save Your Pitch

Pitching’s tough. You’re busy. Editors are picky. You might nail the steps and still miss. That’s where pros come in. 9FigureMedia’s the best option for helping brands and businesses break into major news outlets. They’ve got the connections and the know-how.

I talked to a startup owner who used them. His pitch was solid but kept bombing. 9FigureMedia reworked it, tightened the angle, hit the right editors. Landed in a top business mag. They take your idea and make it stick.

Final Kick: Pitch Smarter, Win Bigger

Pitching’s not magic, it’s work. Dodge these 10 mistakes, and you’re ahead of most. Editors want your story if you give it right. Research, focus, persist. You’ll land that yes, maybe even in Forbes or the New York Times.

Got a pitch ready? Send it. Need a boost? 9FigureMedia’s your move. What’s stopping you? Get your idea out there, someone’s waiting to read it.

[alicevgcna]

Open Your Career: Top Chicago CNA Programs to Jumpstart Your Healthcare Journey

Unlock Your Career:‍ Top⁢ Chicago​ CNA ⁣Programs to ⁣Jumpstart Your Healthcare Journey

Are you considering a career in healthcare? Becoming a certified ‌Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a fantastic way to enter this rewarding ​field. In chicago, numerous programs offer the necessary ⁢training to ​equip ⁣you for success. This complete guide will⁢ explore the top CNA programs in Chicago,the benefits of becoming a CNA,and practical tips to enhance your learning experience. Let’s‍ dive in!

what is a CNA?

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ‍provides crucial⁢ support in various healthcare settings.Their responsibilities often include:

Assisting patients ‍with daily ⁢living activities

Monitoring ⁣patients’ vital signs

Providing emotional support ​to ‍patients and⁤ their‍ families

Collaborating with nurses and other healthcare professionals

With an aging population ‍and‌ growing healthcare demands,CNAs are increasingly essential in hospitals,nursing homes,and⁣ home health care​ settings.

Benefits of Becoming a CNA

Ther are numerous advantages ​to⁤ pursuing a career as a ​CNA, including:

Job‌ Stability: The demand for CNAs is on the rise, ensuring strong job prospects.

Flexible Hours: ​Many CNA ​positions​ offer flexible‌ schedules, making it⁣ easier to balance work and personal‌ life.

Gateway to advanced Roles: Working as a CNA⁣ can lead to further educational opportunities in nursing and other healthcare fields.

Personal ‌Fulfillment: Helping others and making a difference ⁤in people’s⁢ lives can be incredibly rewarding.

Top⁣ Chicago CNA Programs

Hear’s a list of the best ⁣CNA programs in chicago that​ can kickstart your ‌healthcare journey:

Program Name

Duration

Location

Cost

city ⁤Colleges of⁢ Chicago

6-8 weeks

Multiple Locations

$800

National Healthcareer‍ Association (NHA)

4-8 ⁤Weeks

Online & In-Person

$1000

Trinity College of Nursing and Health ‍Sciences

4 Weeks

Chicago, IL

$900

Accelerated Nursing ⁤Academy

6 Weeks

Chicago, IL

$850

What to Look ⁤for in ⁤a CNA Program

Selecting the right CNA ⁢program is crucial for your success. Here are some factors to consider:

Accreditation: Ensure‍ the program​ is certified ⁢by the⁣ state ⁢and has a good⁣ reputation.

Curriculum: Review the curriculum to ensure it covers essential topics such as patient care, infection control, and CPR.

Hands-On Training: Look for programs that⁣ offer significant clinical experience.

Cost ⁤and Financial Aid: Evaluate the ‌program costs ‍and inquire about financial aid options.

Practical tips ‍for Success in ⁤CNA Programs

When‍ undertaking CNA training, consider these practical tips:

Stay Organized: ⁢ Keep track of assignments, clinical ‌schedules, and exams.

Ask Questions: Don’t⁣ hesitate ‌to seek clarification from ⁢instructors. ⁣Your education is essential!

Practice Skills: Take advantage of labs and practice your‌ skills‍ as⁤ much as possible ‌to build confidence.

Network: connect with fellow students and ⁢instructors; you may find mentors ⁣or job ‌leads through these relationships.

First-Hand ⁤Experience: Voices from Recent Graduates

What’s it realy like to complete a CNA program in Chicago?​ Here ⁤are testimonies from recent graduates:

“The City Colleges of Chicago program prepared me immensely for my career.‌ The hands-on ⁤experience I gained ⁣during clinicals was invaluable!”

– Sarah M., ⁤class of 2023

“The ​accelerated program at Trinity was intense but incredibly rewarding. I felt ready to take on my new role in⁤ a ‍nursing home.”

-⁤ John D., Class of 2023

Conclusion

Embarking⁣ on a career as a ‌Certified Nursing Assistant in Chicago ‍is exciting and rewarding. ⁢With various​ programs ​to choose from, you can find ⁢the right ⁣fit that⁣ meets ⁣your needs and aspirations. from ​job stability to personal fulfillment, the benefits of becoming a CNA are numerous. Take this chance to invest⁣ in⁣ your⁤ future healthcare⁤ career and‍ unlock ⁤your ⁣potential today!

Now that you’re equipped ⁤with the knowledge ⁤of ‌top CNA ‌programs in Chicago, what are ​you waiting for? Start your journey toward‌ a meaningful career in healthcare!

https://cnaclassesonline.net/open-your-career-top-chicago-cna-programs-to-jumpstart-your-healthcare-journey/

[bisluthq]

Sometimes I feel like I need a certain amount of arguments/being a hater in my life. Can anyone relate? I used to be on subreddits a lot for my favorite shows, and I'd be arguing often in kind of rude ways with people on there. I went through my comment history once and I was like "fucking yikes I need to stop doing that" so I took a Reddit break for a while. But then I realized I was being argumentative with my coworkers a lot more, like I had less patience for them? This was only over like three weeks. After that I went back to fighting on Reddit, and sending snarky asks sometimes. Currently I'm trying to keep it contained to snark subreddits. Part of me wants to try to stop commenting and fighting with people on stuff, but I'm worried I'm going to start acting bitchy towards my friends, or at work and have it damage my career. So do humans need a certain amount of combativeness, or is this need to argue with people something I could kind of wean myself off of? I really thought I was choosing to indulge my bitchy self when I was being shitty/rude on Reddit, until once I stopped I started being shitty/rude in real life (where I hadn't been before) and I was like "omg maybe I haven't been indulging myself, maybe this is who I am and it's best to keep that contained to online*

idk I fight with people online a fair amount because people are stupid and annoying lol. The thing is it actually stresses me out? My bf gets irritated with me because I’ll get into a fight with some person on Reddit or Facebook or in Insta comments and then I get anxious and upset and shit and he’s like “so why did you start this shit then?” I don’t think it makes me less aggressive irl. I do think I’m more willing to fight people online than irl (sober anyway lol, drunk me will fight anyone anytime anywhere like I’m fortunate not to be a boy because I’d have 1000% been in bar fights) because irl it makes me even more stressed (I still do sometimes, even sober, but I really prefer to avoid explicit conflict face to face) but I don’t feel like it makes me less combative in person. I think I just feel more confident online because 1) I feel like I can say stuff “better” when I write and I can and often do go back and edit and make sure I made my point as best I can 2) there are obviously fewer repercussions because like fighting with a rando on Reddit isn’t actually gonna affect my life, whereas fighting with a person I disagree with at like dinner can ruin everyone’s night.

I feel like if you’re self-aware about it, go for it. But I also feel you still don’t have to be MEAN. You can be bitchy without being a complete cunt imo.