#donation tracking software

[donorkitesoftware]

Customization Services for Donation Management Software

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[starseo49]

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[findjoosoftware]

Navigating the World of Online Payment Processing

The world of commerce has undergone a remarkable transformation with the rise of e-commerce, and at the heart of this evolution is online payment processing. From purchasing products and services online to managing subscriptions and making digital donations, online payment processing has become an integral part of our daily lives. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of online payment processing, exploring its significance, the key players in the industry, security measures, and the latest trends shaping the future of digital payments.

The Significance of Online Payment Processing

Online payment processing is the engine driving e-commerce and digital transactions. Its importance extends far beyond the convenience it offers. Here are some of the key reasons why online payment processing is crucial:

Global Reach: It enables businesses to reach customers worldwide, breaking down geographical barriers and expanding their customer base.

Convenience: Customers can make payments and purchases from the comfort of their homes or on the go, making the shopping experience more convenient.

Security: Secure payment processing ensures that sensitive financial information is protected, reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorized access.

Efficiency: The automation of payment processing streamlines financial transactions, reducing manual labor and processing times.

Business Growth: Online payment processing supports the growth of online businesses, enabling them to scale their operations and reach new markets.

Diverse Payment Options: It offers a wide range of payment methods, allowing customers to choose the option that best suits their preferences and needs.

The Key Players in Online Payment Processing

Online payment processing involves several key players, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. Understanding these players is crucial to grasp the intricacies of the payment ecosystem:

1. Merchants

Merchants are businesses or individuals who sell products or services online. They integrate payment gateways into their websites or applications to accept payments from customers.

2. Payment Gateways

Payment gateways are intermediaries that facilitate the transfer of payment data between the merchant and the financial institution. They verify the transaction, handle the encryption of data, and ensure that the payment is securely processed.

3. Acquiring Banks

Acquiring banks, also known as merchant banks, are financial institutions that work with merchants to provide them with the necessary accounts and tools for accepting payments. They play a critical role in authorizing and settling transactions.

4. Issuing Banks

Issuing banks are the financial institutions that issue credit and debit cards to consumers. They are responsible for authorizing transactions initiated by cardholders and ensuring there are sufficient funds for the purchase.

5. Card Networks

Card networks, such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, establish the rules and infrastructure that govern payment card transactions. They facilitate communication between acquiring and issuing banks.

6. Customers

Customers are the individuals or businesses making purchases or payments online. They provide their payment information to complete transactions.

Ensuring Security in Online Payment Processing

Security is a paramount concern in online payment processing. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the threats to security. Here are some of the key security measures and technologies in place to safeguard online transactions:

1. Data Encryption

Data encryption ensures that sensitive payment information, such as credit card numbers, remains secure during transmission. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption is a common technology used to protect data.

2. Tokenization

Tokenization replaces sensitive card data with tokens, which are useless to cybercriminals if intercepted. This adds an extra layer of security to payment processing.

3. Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires customers to provide additional verification, such as a one-time code sent to their mobile device, to complete a transaction.

4. Fraud Detection

Advanced fraud detection systems use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze transaction data in real-time and identify potentially fraudulent activities.

5. Regular Updates

Payment processing systems should be regularly updated to patch vulnerabilities and ensure that they are up to date with the latest security standards.

6. Compliance with Regulations

Adhering to industry and regional regulations, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), is essential to maintain security.

Trends Shaping the Future of Online Payment Processing

Online payment processing is an ever-evolving field. Several trends are shaping the future of digital payments:

1. Contactless Payments

Contactless payments, made through mobile wallets and near-field communication (NFC) technology, have gained popularity due to their speed and convenience. The use of smartphones for payments is on the rise.

2. Biometric Authentication

Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, is increasingly used for secure and convenient payment authorization.

3. Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are gaining acceptance as a means of payment, offering fast and borderless transactions.

4. In-App Payments

In-app payments within mobile applications provide a seamless purchasing experience for users, making it easier to complete transactions without leaving the app.

5. Enhanced Security Measures

Continual advancements in security measures, including machine learning-based fraud detection and risk analysis, will help reduce the risk of fraudulent transactions.

6. Cross-Border Payments

As businesses expand globally, cross-border payment solutions are becoming more vital. Payment processors are adapting to accommodate international transactions and currencies.

7. Payment Integration

E-commerce platforms and online businesses are increasingly integrating payment solutions directly into their platforms, streamlining the payment process for customers.

Choosing the Right Online Payment Processing Solution

Selecting the right online payment processing solution is crucial for businesses. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Integration

Choose a payment solution that seamlessly integrates with your e-commerce platform or website. This ensures a smooth checkout experience for your customers.

2. Security

Security

is a non-negotiable aspect of online payment processing. Ensure that the solution you choose complies with industry standards, such as PCI DSS, and offers robust encryption and fraud prevention measures.

3. Payment Options

Consider the range of payment options the solution supports. The more options you provide, the more accessible your business will be to a broader customer base.

4. Scalability

Opt for a payment processing solution that can scale with your business. As your business grows, the payment solution should be able to handle increased transaction volumes.

5. Reporting and Analytics

Access to reporting and analytics tools can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, transaction trends, and financial performance. Choose a solution that offers comprehensive reporting capabilities.

6. Customer Support

A responsive customer support team can be invaluable in resolving issues quickly and ensuring that your payment processing runs smoothly. Consider the quality of customer support provided by the payment solution.

7. Costs and Fees

Different payment processors may have varying fee structures. Ensure that you understand the pricing model and any additional fees associated with the solution. Consider how the costs align with your business's budget.

8. Reputation

Research the reputation of the payment processing solution. Read reviews, ask for recommendations, and assess its track record in terms of reliability and security.

The Evolution of Online Payment Processing

Online payment processing has come a long way from its early days, and its journey continues. As technology advances and consumer preferences shift, the landscape of digital payments will keep evolving. Businesses that embrace the latest trends and invest in secure and convenient payment solutions are better positioned to thrive in the digital age.

The significance of online payment processing in today's world cannot be overstated. It has revolutionized the way we shop, transact, and do business, making life more convenient for consumers and enabling the growth of countless online enterprises. As we look to the future, the trends in online payment processing, from contactless payments to cryptocurrency, will shape the way we make payments and conduct financial transactions. By staying informed, adapting to these trends, and choosing the right payment processing solution, businesses can ensure a seamless and secure payment experience for their customers and position themselves for success in the evolving digital economy.

[reasonsforhope]

"When Ellen Kaphamtengo felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, she thought she might be in labour. It was the ninth month of her first pregnancy and she wasn’t taking any chances. With the help of her mother, the 18-year-old climbed on to a motorcycle taxi and rushed to a hospital in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, a 20-minute ride away.

At the Area 25 health centre, they told her it was a false alarm and took her to the maternity ward. But things escalated quickly when a routine ultrasound revealed that her baby was much smaller than expected for her pregnancy stage, which can cause asphyxia – a condition that limits blood flow and oxygen to the baby.

In Malawi, about 19 out of 1,000 babies die during delivery or in the first month of life. Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in the country, and can mean newborns suffering brain damage, with long-term effects including developmental delays and cerebral palsy.

Doctors reclassified Kaphamtengo, who had been anticipating a normal delivery, as a high-risk patient. Using AI-enabled foetal monitoring software, further testing found that the baby’s heart rate was dropping. A stress test showed that the baby would not survive labour.

The hospital’s head of maternal care, Chikondi Chiweza, knew she had less than 30 minutes to deliver Kaphamtengo’s baby by caesarean section. Having delivered thousands of babies at some of the busiest public hospitals in the city, she was familiar with how quickly a baby’s odds of survival can change during labour.

Chiweza, who delivered Kaphamtengo’s baby in good health, says the foetal monitoring programme has been a gamechanger for deliveries at the hospital.

“[In Kaphamtengo’s case], we would have only discovered what we did either later on, or with the baby as a stillbirth,” she says.

The software, donated by the childbirth safety technology company PeriGen through a partnership with Malawi’s health ministry and Texas children’s hospital, tracks the baby’s vital signs during labour, giving clinicians early warning of any abnormalities. Since they began using it three years ago, the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths at the centre has fallen by 82%. It is the only hospital in the country using the technology.

“The time around delivery is the most dangerous for mother and baby,” says Jeffrey Wilkinson, an obstetrician with Texas children’s hospital, who is leading the programme. “You can prevent most deaths by making sure the baby is safe during the delivery process.”

The AI monitoring system needs less time, equipment and fewer skilled staff than traditional foetal monitoring methods, which is critical in hospitals in low-income countries such as Malawi, which face severe shortages of health workers. Regular foetal observation often relies on doctors performing periodic checks, meaning that critical information can be missed during intervals, while AI-supported programs do continuous, real-time monitoring. Traditional checks also require physicians to interpret raw data from various devices, which can be time consuming and subject to error.

Area 25’s maternity ward handles about 8,000 deliveries a year with a team of around 80 midwives and doctors. While only about 10% are trained to perform traditional electronic monitoring, most can use the AI software to detect anomalies, so doctors are aware of any riskier or more complex births. Hospital staff also say that using AI has standardised important aspects of maternity care at the clinic, such as interpretations on foetal wellbeing and decisions on when to intervene.

Kaphamtengo, who is excited to be a new mother, believes the doctor’s interventions may have saved her baby’s life. “They were able to discover that my baby was distressed early enough to act,” she says, holding her son, Justice.

Doctors at the hospital hope to see the technology introduced in other hospitals in Malawi, and across Africa.

“AI technology is being used in many fields, and saving babies’ lives should not be an exception,” says Chiweza. “It can really bridge the gap in the quality of care that underserved populations can access.”"

-via The Guardian, December 6, 2024

[mahmoudna]

“I Need Your Support to Continue My Studies and Build My Future from Gaza🍉🍉

My name is Mahmoud Naeem Abu Hatab, from Gaza.

I am a university student majoring in Software and Databases at Al-Azhar University. Since the beginning of my academic journey, I have been passionate about User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design, as well as website development. These fields inspire me, and I dream of advancing my skills and building a professional career in them.

Unfortunately, during the recent war, I lost my laptop, which was essential for both my studies and work. I was forced to flee my home and relocate to southern Gaza due to the difficult circumstances. Despite my efforts to replace my laptop, the financial situation has made it impossible to afford a new one.

Without a laptop, continuing my studies or seeking job opportunities in programming and design has become extremely challenging. This directly affects my academic progress and future career.

Today, I am reaching out to ask for your support to help me purchase a new laptop. Having a laptop would allow me to resume my studies and work on programming and design projects that are crucial for improving my skills. It is a vital step towards completing my education and pursuing my dream of becoming a professional in programming and UX/UI design.

I know that the situation in Gaza is difficult, but I believe education is the only path to building a better future for myself and my family. If you are able to contribute any amount to help me get a new laptop, it would be a real opportunity for me to get back on track academically and professionally.

I am determined to keep learning and working despite the challenges, but I need your support to achieve this goal. Every donation or act of help, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in my life.

If you’d like to support me, you can donate through:

GoFundMe

OR

USDT

If you can assist in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you for your support and kindness! 🌿

@gaza-evacuation-funds @appsa @nabulsi27 @palestinegenocide @orblesbian @palebluebutler @pallasisme @fallahifag-deactivated20240722 @vakarians-babe @sayruq @ @plomegranate @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @queerstudiesnatural @tamamita @apollos-boyfriend @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @queerstudiesnatural @palestinegenocide @sar-soor @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @marnosc @flower-tea-fairies @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @tsaricides @belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @brutaliakent @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @4ft10tvlandfangirl @90-ghost @paper-mario-wiki @nabulsi @prisonhannibal @beepiesheepie @walcutt @schoolhater98 @commissions4aid-international @sar-soor @zigcarnivorous@tododeku-or-bust@turtletoria @brutaliakhoa @flower-tea-fairies @schoolhater @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @sayruq @omiteo777 @malcriada @neptunerings @bat-luun @kaneverse @nightowlssleep @staretes @friendshapedplant @soon-palestine @aria-ashryver @heritageposts @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness-blog @khangerinedreams @kordeliiius @mazzikah @feluka @dlxxv-vetted-donations @girlinafairytale @a-shade-of-blue @vakarians-babe @babygoatsandfriends @self-hating-zionist @mangocheesecakes @dlxxv-vetted-donations @gazaboovintage @gazavetters @wellwaterhysteria @sar-soor @applebunch @irhabiya @sayruq @xxx-sparkydemon-xxx @junglejim4322 @reptilianspecies @dr-lapdance @tamamita @cantsayidont @fairweathermyth @dear-indies @eruthiawenluin @katealot @lenasai @stalinistqueens @ayeshjourney @gaza-evacuation-funda @el-shab-hussein @irhabiya @nabulsi @ibtisams @dlxxv-vetted-donations @tododeku @a-shade-of-blue @gaza-relief-fund @catnapdreams @northgazaupdates @buttercuparry @stuckinapril

[goodluckclove]

Popping in from the void to spread the news that the nonprofit National Novel Writing in a Month has declared that not supporting genAI has "classist and ableist undertones".

Also popping in to say that the main technology NaNo uses to track wordcount is wildly available for free, meaning either on your own or with friends you can practice the useful part of the experience on your own at virtually any time. Without people aggressively hounding you for donations or pushing the support of exploitative software and writing scams. Or like exploiting kids? They've done so much bullshit at this point I've lost track.

What the fuck is going on? At this point I think NaNo is actively trying to push it's primary audience away until it's just Derrick, the tech guy who is thrilled to generate 30 novels in 30 days. He's not donating shit to this Good Person Nonprofit, but he's super happy to self-publish all of his new manuscripts with stolen art work, reveling in the fact that he is not only a Real Writer, but now also a disabled rights activist somehow. Cool!

That is all.

No it isn't. Here, for those who might want their next read to come from a new or painfully familiar place.

Now that is all.

[bynux]

Asking For Donations — This Will Likely Be My First & Last Time Doing This

Cshpp - $d1pl0mat

Hey all, I'm a neurodivergent transfeminine person who could use a bit of a financial boost. I've been unemployed for over a year due to autistic burnout and a lot of life circumstances piling on in a short time. Thankfully, things seem to be settling into place and good things are on the horizon, but I need a bit of a push to get there.

The Good: I currently have an apprenticeship lined up that will pay me well and get me into my desired field of software development. I only have to do a behavioral interview (which I expect to pass with flying colors) and I'll be starting training next month. This will enable me to move in with my partners and largely get my life back on track.

The Not-So-Good: That still leaves me with about a month and a half of not getting paid yet. Like I said above, I've been unemployed for just over a year, taking odd jobs and helping my partner(s) with finances as a way of keeping afloat. However, the family I'm living with has their food assistance on hold and I'm unsure when that problem will subside. This is on top of running low on gas, medical weed, and with a phone bill due in the very near future.

This request isn't quite as urgent as some of the others you might see, but if you have $10-20 to throw my way I'd be insanely appreciative. I'm seeking a total of ~$300 to be solidly set with groceries, gas, meds, my phone bill, and a little overhead for incidentals.

Thank you in advance <3

[fluidangel]

ok since i've been sharing some piracy stuff i'll talk a bit about how my personal music streaming server is set up. the basic idea is: i either buy my music on bandcamp or download it on soulseek. all of my music is stored on an external hard drive connected to a donated laptop that's next to my house's internet router. this laptop is always on, and runs software that lets me access and stream my any song in my collection to my phone or to other computers. here's the detailed setup:

my home server is an old thinkpad laptop with a broken keyboard that was donated to me by a friend. it runs yunohost, a linux distribution that makes it simpler to reuse old computers as servers in this way: it gives you a nice control panel to install and manage all kinds of apps you might want to run on your home server, + it handles the security part by having a user login page & helping you install an https certificate with letsencrypt.

***

to stream my music collection, i use navidrome. this software is available to install from the yunohost control panel, so it's straightforward to install. what it does is take a folder with all your music and lets you browse and stream it, either via its web interface or through a bunch of apps for android, ios, etc.. it uses the subsonic protocol, so any app that says it works with subsonic should work with navidrome too.

***

to listen to my music on my phone, i use DSub. It's an app that connects to any server that follows the subsonic API, including navidrome. you just have to give it the address of your home server, and your username and password, and it fetches your music and allows you to stream it. as mentionned previously, there's a bunch of alternative apps for android, ios, etc. so go take a look and make your pick. i've personally also used and enjoyed substreamer in the past. here are screenshots of both:

***

to listen to my music on my computer, i use tauon music box. i was a big fan of clementine music player years ago, but it got abandoned, and the replacement (strawberry music player) looks super dated now. tauon is very new to me, so i'm still figuring it out, but it connects to subsonic servers and it looks pretty so it's fitting the bill for me.

***

to download new music onto my server, i use slskd which is a soulseek client made to run on a web server. soulseek is a peer-to-peer software that's found a niche with music lovers, so for anything you'd want to listen there's a good chance that someone on soulseek has the file and will share it with you. the official soulseek client is available from the website, but i'm using a different software that can run on my server and that i can access anywhere via a webpage, slskd. this way, anytime i want to add music to my collection, i can just go to my server's slskd page, download the files, and they directly go into the folder that's served by navidrome.

slskd does not have a yunohost package, so the trick to make it work on the server is to use yunohost's reverse proxy app, and point it to the http port of slskd 127.0.0.1:5030, with the path /slskd and with forced user authentification. then, run slskd on your server with the --url-base slskd, --no-auth (it breaks otherwise, so it's best to just use yunohost's user auth on the reverse proxy) and --no-https (which has no downsides since the https is given by the reverse proxy anyway)

***

to keep my music collection organized, i use beets. this is a command line software that checks that all of the tags on your music are correct and puts the file in the correct folder (e.g. artist/album/01 trackname.mp3). it's a pretty complex program with a ton of features and settings, i like it to make sure i don't have two copies of the same album in different folders, and to automatically download the album art and the lyrics to most tracks, etc. i'm currently re-working my config file for beets, but i'd be happy to share if someone is interested.

that's my little system :) i hope it gives the inspiration to someone to ditch spotify for the new year and start having a personal mp3 collection of their own.

[kryptid-kat]

Resources for streamers, vtubers and youtubers

I have been doing my own streams and videos on and off for a couple of years and I have found a couple of websites that was a big help when i was planning what games to play and such. So here are they!

---

Gaming A little something that helped me out a LOT when choosing games to play for an audience. How Long To Beat: Website that gives you an estimate on how long a game would take to play through. Great tool if you want to find a short game or if you want to figure out if you want to commit to a longer one.

Can You Run It: Giving system requirements for games. Both minimum and recommended. If you are not sure what components you got in your pc the site offers an .exe file that will check your pc for you.

---

Stream  Some of my fav stream plugins and extras

Pando stream pet: make streams a little bit more exciting with a stream pet! 

Ko-Fi stream alerts: ko-fi site donations show up on stream, custom alert and donation goal tracker (for twitch or youtube)

Stream Elements: Sponsorship tools, chat bot, alerts and and other useful bits

---

Vtubers there would be a LOT to cover here and I may ant to do a separate masterpost on tracking softwares and such, this ma ybe a little copout for now. Vtuber resourches twitter constantly updated with free and payed assets and commissions.

Vtuber resourches masterpost carrd

[vendemiaire-crafts]

Toploader #16 — still available! 🌙🔮

Donate a minimum of 3 USD to a Palestinian fundraiser, and message me to purchase!

Don’t know who or where to donate? @karamrafeek needs your support!

Karam was studying software engineering and well on track to get his degree when the bombings began. His dreams were interrupted cruelly as his home and university were destroyed. As well, Karam’s mother is now very sick from several diseases, and he is trying to support her. They need funds to travel and evacuate.

Help Karam and his mom here:

The other stuff I’ve got are still available as well!

[donorkitesoftware]

Customization Services for Donation Management Software

Enhance your donation management software with our customization services. Tailored solutions to meet your unique needs and boost donor engagement!

[pcttrailsidereader]

The Ever-Changing Length of the PCT

The most recent edition of the PCT's "Trail Dirt" tackled the mystery of the PCT length . . . it has been a topic that has been a curiosity also explored on this website -- https://pcttrailsidereader.com/post/618834872879939586/it-looks-authoritative-and-permanent-but-the The midpoint looks so official but as this article explains, the length of the trail is constantly changing . . . hence moving the midpoint. However, the marker stays put.

Easy, 2,650 Miles, right? Well… not quite.

By Galen Keily

The question of the PCT’s length comes up often, with guidebooks, phone apps, and other sources across the internet offering varying figures. In recent years, PCTA has come a long way in better tracking and calculating distance. While we regularly reference the rounded figure of 2,650 miles as shorthand for the trail’s length, our current best estimate places it at approximately 2655.8 miles. It’s complicated because the length actually varies year by year, and homing in on highly accurate mileage for a trail that spans thousands of miles can pose significant challenges. We know that trail mileage matters a lot to PCT trail users. Read on to discover some of the complexities involved in determining the true length of the PCT.

Northern Terminus, Photo by: Ryan Weidert

It Moves!

Sometimes, the trail gains a mile or two, or sometimes, the trail shaves off miles (you’re welcome thru-hikers!) You might be thinking… how does this happen, isn’t the trail already on the ground? While true, PCTA, alongside managing agencies and dedicated trail crews, continually refines and optimizes the trail’s route. These efforts range from minor adjustments to larger-scale relocation projects aimed at enhancing the overall trail experience. For instance, routine maintenance often involves realigning sections of the trail to improve sustainability, such as adding switchbacks or adjusting trail tread within the existing corridor. These alterations might end up making the trail a bit longer or shorter, typically on the order of hundreds of feet. Pretty small potatoes when looking at a trail that crosses thousands of miles. Other times, the PCT undergoes bigger relocation projects based on a process called Optimal Location Reviews (OLR). These relocations can be significant and can take years to complete. These projects aim to relocate the PCT to a location better suited to providing a natural setting, scenic beauty, and safe public access, among other things. As a result of these projects, the trail’s length may fluctuate by several miles. But they also end up making the trail safer and more enjoyable for all.

The Sierra Buttes Relocation – Old decommissioned PCT shown in dashed black line, current PCT in maroon.

What’s so hard about miles?

Calculating distance across such a large geographic extent is challenging. Even minor inaccuracies that are repeated hundreds of thousands of times compound errors, resulting in significant discrepancies in overall mileage. For example, if each point in our PCT dataset were off by 1ft, the margin of error would be over 200 miles. Additionally, the translation from a three-dimensional Earth to a two-dimensional map necessitates “projecting” data in GIS (Graphical Informational System) software, which can introduce different types of accuracy loss. However, advancements in technology offer us promising avenues for improvement, such as using LiDAR (laser scans of the earth) to more precisely capture and map changes to the trail.

A little bit about the data

PCTA’s current iteration of PCT mapping data is built upon data that was donated to the organization from the Halfmile Project. You may have heard of Halfmile, he and his team are kind of a big deal. The resulting data from this project’s multi-year effort was the best, most accurate data for the PCT of its time. Volunteers in the project mapped thousands of miles of trail with survey-grade custom and commercial GPS units and spent tremendous amounts of time analyzing, processing, and curating the results.

Halfmile, using his iPhone to control the Long Distance Geo Logger. The blue GPS unit is in the lower black side pocket of his pack. You can see coiled cable right above it.

Building on this legacy, PCTA now builds upon that same highly accurate data from Halfmile, revised to account for re-routes and trail reconstruction that have happened since PCTA assumed control of the data. We maintain our PCT Centerline (the line data for the trail’s location) and Mile Markers (points every tenth or half mile), with new versions released on an annual basis, usually in January. The data is displayed on our Interactive Map and made available on our PCT Data webpage, freely available for download in a variety of formats. By fostering an environment of transparency and accessibility, we empower trail users, app developers, and agency partners alike to utilize this standardized dataset, facilitating seamless communication and navigation along the trail.

Graceland takes an emotional moment at the Northern Terminus after an adventure of a lifetime. Photo by: James Townsend

Conclusions

As we continue to monitor changes, refine our modeling of the PCT, and offer it to users in new ways, we realize that our data remains imperfect. Digitally representing the complexities of the natural world always is. Despite this, the Association’s renewed prioritization of data management, built upon the invaluable foundation set by the Halfmile project, marks significant progress in this work. We recognize that our path toward data accuracy is ongoing and that we’re by no means at the finish line (approx. 2,655.8 ), but we’re always improving, collaborating, and working to celebrate the intricacies of the PCT in this unique aspect of our work.

Author: Galen Keily

[captainderyn]

[Fic] To the Brink

Summary: Five finally reaches a breaking point in his Imperial Intelligence career that jeopardizes not only himself, but the well being of Roslynd has well.

Warnings: Implied torture, implied past addiction

Notes: This was meant to be a prompt fill...it is instead a lot more than that. I ramble more in the tags lol. Hope y'all enjoy the first fic with Five and his new wifey...of course it'd be angsty.

This is set ~2-3 years prior to the start of the Imperial Agent story line.

--

"Cipher Five are you listening to me?"

Five tilted his head back against the tree he hid behind, the thorny bushes concealing him from view scratching and catching against the thick material of his uniform.

"I'm always listening to you, Fixer." He murmured, blinking up at the sun that dappled between the thick foliage above him. The green blurred in front of his eyes and he squeezed them closed before peeling them back open.

Shaking his head didn't work either and he scrubbed a hand across his face, keeping himself in the darkness as he focused in on the voice coming in through his ear piece.

Roslynd's voice encompassed him, the familiar cadence a balm to his fried nerves. He yawned, keeping a hand over his eyes to focus solely on her voice instead of the blaring light of his visor's HUD.

"...haven't received new intel since I briefed you yesterday. They've got their movements and plans locked down tighter than the Dark Council's donation history."

Her words blended together in a series of syllables and sounds, relaxing none the less. The soft clip of her accent wrapped around him and he didn't realize the darkness had changed around him until the scrape of bark against the back of his neck and her voice sharpened,

"Five? Cipher Five!"

Pulling his eyes back open, he let his hand drop back down. Rocks may as well have been dragging down his eye lids, "Mmm, I'm still here Fourteen, don't worry."

He could practically feel her displeasure through the comm channel. If they were in the same room, she'd be staring him down with that look on her face, where her brows drew low over her eyes and her lips pressed together until she figured out exactly how to professional rip him a new one. Her hands would be on her hips in the way she always fell into when irritated.

A pang went through him. What he'd give to not be sitting out here in this oppressive humidity of some backwater planet and instead back in Kaas City. 

"As your Fixer, I think you should call off this stakeout and return to base. It's already been several hours with no changes in information. This is not sustainable for the mission."

As far as the record keeping software that monitored and scanned their secured comm channel to report anything off Imperial Intelligence cyber specialists it was just simple concern in Fourteen's voice.

He caught the edge in her voice though.

The HUD in his visor lit up, tracking a series of alerts. He scanned through the text, sifting through what information was actually important as the text disappeared faster than he could read all of it.

"Our targets have made their late arrival. The mission can still be completed."

"Cipher, I think its best to withdraw from this mission." He heard Fourteen clicking through screens through the comm, her fingers flying across the keys, "Your latest biometics--"

He palmed an adrenal stim from the pack at his belt, injecting it in one fluid motion. The location smarted from others he'd previously injected over the long hours of this stakeout, the rush of energy it gave like static through his veins. That was the last one he had in his pack. In yet another practiced motion, he pulled a fortitude stim as well, that one like a rush of cold, clarifying water through his mind.

"I only desist when I receive orders from Keeper." He reminded her.

An ache went through his chest, he wasn't sure if it was from the stims or from the stilted breath Fourteen loosed over the comm. It was the last bit of the woman beneath the agent he got before that cool, level tone returned.

"Understood. I expect you to report in no later than 1600 Kaasi Time. Standard recovery procedures will commence within the next day if that deadline is missed." 

He didn't miss the slight waver in her voice on recovery. Gathering up his sniper rifle, Five hovered his hand over his ear piece, "Heard loud and clear, Fixer. Going dark."

The silence when he clicked off his calm set his nerves back on edge. Even when she was silently pulling up information to brief him on, Fourteen's company through the static was a tether to him.

He crept to the outlook he'd scouted earlier, pressing himself down among the swaying grass and pushes. A few thorny leaves scraped the back of his neck and he grimaced.

The last adrenal stim pushed his luck too far. He could feel his heart hammering erratically against the ground as he flattened himself against the earth, bracing his sniper rifle so he could zero in on the approaching targets. His hands were shaking and he gripped the body of his rifle tighter, peering through the scope.

Each blink felt too heavy, threatening to pull him under.

His target came into view, the speeder crawling along.

Taking a deep breath, Five steadied himself and aimed.

Fired a single shot.

And missed.

---

Roslynd flipped her wrist up, staring at the screen of her watch for the third time in the last three minutes.

15:55

15:56

15:58

She'd gone two minutes without looking, a new record. Instead of checking her watch again as she let the screen go dark, she checked her datapad. Nothing.

Checked her earpiece for any messages she might've missed. Not a single notification.

All of her other briefings and meetings were over for the day. The agents were packing up their things to leave for the night, closing down the building except for those working the overnight shift.

Roslynd herself was supposed to leave at 17:00, after Five reported in and confirmed the status of the mission. The hour she'd given herself after was to write up a quick report, to be finalized and sent to Keeper tomorrow morning.

She toyed with the ring on her finger, the stone catching the blue light of the sleeping data terminals.

Keeper passed by her office and she darted out the door, falling into step alongside him.

"Cipher Five still hasn't reported in." She tried to keep her voice steady, to not sound too harried. Inject just enough of her frustration to make it seem like she was just pissed off she may have to stay past her scheduled departure.

Keeper glanced askance at her, the wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes deepening as he checked his chrono, "He still has time to report in."

"The mission was planned to take less than an hour, the other three were to provide a buffer for him to return back to base. You know how punctual Cipher Five is and I set the deadline for today to account for that, this is unusual behavior.” 

The older agent studied his chrono once again, before fixing Roslynd with a long look. His eyes dipped down to where she was still fiddling with her ring with enough force that her skin was turning red. She dropped her hands, gripping them in a tense parade rest behind her instead. 

“Fixer Fourteen, I think you should retire for the night, the Fixers for tonight’s shift will monitor comm traffic for Cipher Five’s report. You’ve put a lot of overtime into this mission. Besides, you have someone waiting at home for you.” 

Keeper always had a habit of caring for his agents too much, giving them more leeway than many of the Sith breathing down Intelligence’s neck wanted. Treated them too much like people, with lives outside their work instead of means to an end. 

She blinked against the burning in her eyes, trying to keep her voice from sounding too robotic as she said, “Will do, Keeper, thank you.” 

Knowing damn well she’d be returning to an empty apartment, with only the fluffy feline Agent to greet her. That she'd be lucky to get more than scattered minutes of sleep tonight.

She didn't miss the knowing look Keeper sent her way before bidding her good evening and leaving her standing in the hallway. She simply chose to ignore it.

---

Three days.

The longest thirty-six hours of her life. Hours that wouldn't pass faster no matter how much she paced, how much she tried to work away.

Nights spent awake, trying to quiet Agent's own pacing and yowling as he refused to settle into Roslynd's lap and insisted on searching for Five.

It was twenty-four hours after Roslynd left headquarters that recovery procedures were enacted and a team was sent to the backwater planet Five was meant to be on.

Roslynd had watched their progress from her office, tuned into the feed from their comms and watching their progress on the map spread on her second monitor.

They found him trussed up in a backroom of their targets' hideout, so bloodied, swollen, and bruised that their identity scanners threw errors. One of the junior ciphers on the recovery team cut Roslynd's access to their HUD visual feed.

Roslynd cut her own access to their audio feed soon after, when their questions to Five returned near-unintelligible, garbled answers. What had they done in twenty-four hours?

Rocking back in her chair, she scrubbed her hands over her eyes, pressing so hard she saw stars.

"Fixer...?" A tentative voice paired with a knock on her door. She nearly leapt out of her skin, thankful that she'd already closed out the tabs she'd been keeping on the recovery team, "Keeper wants to see you in his office, something to do with your current mission."

Her stomach dropped, but she pushed her chair back anyway and walked on shaking legs to meet Keeper, putting any indication that she knew more than she was supposed to far, far down inside her.

"Fourteen, you look awful." Was the first greeting she got as she closed the door behind her and pulled the blinds as he motioned for her to do.

She fell into a parade rest, pressing her lips together, "I've been concerned about the mission, sir."

"Then you'll be relieved to know that the mission was a success. Cipher Five eliminated his assigned targets."

It took everything in her for her only reaction to be a tilt of her head and a quirk of her brow, "Oh? So the mission is a success."

Keeper scrubbed a hand across his jaw, frowning at something coming through on his datapad. The blue light cast deep shadows over his features, "With collateral damage, yes. As you've probably guessed, Five was compromised in the field."

She knew, she knew and it still ripped through her heart with enough force that her knees quaked and her head went light, "Tell it to me straight, sir. What condition is my agent in."

My agent. My assigned field partner. How would his failure reflect on her. Nothing more.

Still, Keeper motioned for her to sit, steepling his hands when she did. Everything about this was so far beyond acceptable protocol. As Fixer she was not entitled to this information, all she needed to know was that the mission was a success.

She was focused too hard on keeping her breathing steady and her eyes dry to care what Keeper did or did not know. At least the blinds were drawn, at least no other eyes were watching. She clenched her hands, clasped in her lap, so tightly that her knuckles popped. 

“Preliminary data suggests he hit his targets then experienced some manner of incident. The remaining adversaries took advantage of that lapse to take him into custody and attempt to extract information from him.” 

Information that he wouldn’t have given, especially not after only twenty-four hours, though the mere thought sent a lurch through Roslynd’s stomach. She stared hard at the screens behind Keeper until she felt like she could breathe again.  

Keeper’s voice softened, no, quieter, so that she had to lean forward to hear, “I’m placing him on medical leave upon his return. Clearly something is going on, and I’d rather my senior Cipher be out of office temporarily than lose him all together.” 

“Thank you.” She got out from behind  the lump forming in her throat and nodded along as Keeper picked his voice back up, returning to that clinical tone. 

“As Fixer you are not permitted to debrief him while the medical staff perform their evaluation of him. However, as you’re the one most acquainted with working with him, I would like you to see to it that Cipher Five makes it to a taxi home.” 

Roslynd glanced up at Keeper, at the raised eyebrows wondering if she’d deny it. She didn’t have the strength to, “I’ll make sure he makes it home, sir.” 

“Good,” Keeper looked older now, worn down and weary. How difficult it must be to watch his agent get picked off like flies on the daily and so rarely be able to do anything, “Dismissed, Fourteen. The shuttle is set to arrive by evening.” 

She tried to remind herself as she busied herself with her remaining work and placing an order for supplies to be delivered to their front door by the evening, that things could be worse. Plenty of agents didn’t return from these kinds of incidents after a paltry two days of being MIA, plenty didn’t return it all. 

Instead of soothing her, it only gaped the pit in her stomach further until she found herself paralyzed in her desk chair, spiraling down all the what ifs. She was stuck thinking circles around the folder tucked in her desk drawer at home, where Five had methodically laid out all relevant information, desires, and plans for her if he were to ever not come home, when another agent came to notify her of Keeper’s order to retrieve Five from the medbay. 

It wasn’t another younger agent, but another cipher. One of the few remaining from her and Five’s graduating class from the Academy. The one agent Five would probably consider a close friend outside of the office. 

Cipher Seven gave her a grim smile, “You look like shit, Ros.” 

She aimed a withering look at him as she gathered her things and slung her bag over her shoulder. She tried and failed to keep her hands from shaking. Her muscles would ache tomorrow from all her trembling, “Keeper said the same thing.” 

Seven snorted a laugh and it eased some of her tension. It couldn’t be horrible news if he could laugh, “Do you know how he is?” 

The cipher slung an arm around her shoulder as they walked, waving off the few nosy agents trailing them. A breach of decorum, most certainly, but headquarters was well past closed, and they’d been here long enough to bend a few rules, “You know Val, pissed off as ever that something went wrong in the first place.” 

She pursed her lips at the bold usage of Five’s name, even a nickname. He hated using it anywhere near Intelligence. No matter that his full legal name was written in his files. It was his little bit of paranoia that he clutched closely, the same paranoia that kept him from wearing his wedding band. 

She supposed the last few days was proof as to why exactly he did that. 

“I’m serious, Rhys.” She snapped, but breathed out a sharp breath from her noise and softened her voice, “Keeper didn’t tell me much.” 

She knew Rhys had a habit of diffusing with humor, but there was no place in her shot nerves for jokes or light comments. He was lucky she could speak at all. Thoughts of that stupid folder still threatened to steal her concentration. 

Another reasonable, yet agonizing, part of Five’s need to have everything meticulously in place. 

“Shit, sorry, I know.” Rhys winced, “As far as I’ve been told he’s better than when they found him. Nothing that isn’t just superficial. The team that found him says he’s slept off whatever cocktail the bastards used to try and get him talking.” 

Another piece of her relaxed, and she blinked towards the ceiling, “Good. He seemed…off when I was on the comms with him before it happened. He wouldn’t listen to me when I told him to back off the mission.” 

Close friends as they were, she couldn’t bring herself to share the sinking feeling that she knew exactly why this mission had gone wrong. Something in her stopped the words that Five was hurtling down a dangerous path, getting closer and closer to some edge she couldn’t see because of the demands placed on him. 

Rhys already knew that Five had barely been home, sent on mission after mission by Keeper on behest of his higher-ups. He could infer enough from that. 

“He’s going to have a fit when he learns that Keeper put him on forced leave.” was all Rhys offered. The ‘it’s necessary’ went unspoken, even if it meant Rhys was going to be picking up the slack. 

Roslynd kept a remarkable leash on her composure as they slipped into the medbay. She was even more impressed with how steady she kept her voice as she leveled a look at Five and simply said, “Keeper’s directed me to make sure you find yourself a taxi home.” 

If she looked like shit, then Five looked like death. Though he’d been given a pair of loose black pants and long sleeved shirt instead of his dirt and blood stained uniform, that didn’t hide his face. His eyes flitted up to her from beneath deep bruising that extended over his nose all the way down to his jaw. 

The hands that circled the cup, filled with whatever concoction the med droid was harassing him to drink, were no better. His knuckles were scratched and cut up to the point she wondered how he held the cup at all. 

Superficial, Rhys had said. Superficial still hit her like a punch to the gut. It took everything in her to nod at the medical droid and ask, “What is my agent’s prognosis?” 

Rhys slipped beside her to help Five up. She didn’t miss the way Five winced or the way he moved like his entire body hurt. Nor did she miss the heated, quiet conversation between the two friends as Rhys stabbed a bendy straw into Five’s styrofoam cup and snapped at him to drink up. 

It was a sweet bit of normalcy as the medical droid pulled up its diagnostics, “Cipher Five is recommended limited activity until contacted by his supervisors with further instruction. It is also recommended that Cipher Five cease usage of adrenaline based stims.” 

The droid padded off to the next curtained off area, its monotonous voice picking up again, but Roslynd’s eyes were fixed on Five. He had his eyes fixed on the ground, focused on putting each foot in front of the other and snapping at Rhys to keep his hands off when his friend attempted to help him. 

At the weight of Roslynd’s stare he glanced up, expression going unreadable at whatever he found there. 

Rhys walked with them until they were out on the taxi pad. He had his uniform jacket pulled up over his head against the incessant drizzle, stopping just shy of the roof’s overhang. 

“Get home safe.” he told them both before looking at Roslynd, “And don’t worry about coming in tomorrow, Keeper already doesn’t expect you.” 

The old man was watching out for them once again. Roslynd didn’t have the energy in her to give anything other than a nod. That was all she’d been able to muster consistently: nods. 

Even if her head was beginning to spin too much to even manage that. The lack of sleep and her inability to keep much down was catching up with her. 

Five glanced over her shoulder before sliding close enough that their arms brushed. Then his fingers hooked through hers, his thumb brushing over her ring. The gentle touch was enough to bring tears to Roslynd’s eyes, that slid down her cheeks and mixed with the rain as the taxi finally pulled up. 

He kept their hands interlocked, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, all the way home. Until they slipped through the door and with it slipped away Five and Fourteen. 

She pointed to the couch, a silent command, and he toed off his shoes to obey as she shrugged off her rain soaked jacket. Agent careened from the bedroom, chirping and brrup-ing with his feathery tail straight up in the air. 

In the short time it took her to hang up her jacket, Agent already claimed Five’s lap, purring so loud that it seemed to shake the entire couch. Roslynd tucked herself on Five’s other side, falling against him as his arm looped around her waist and pulled her close. 

He grunted in pain as she connected with him, but tightened his hold when she tried to scoot away. She relented, resting her head on his shoulder with as much care as she could. She didn’t even know what beneath his shirt looked like. If it was anything like what they’d done to his face…well. He’d be sore for a while. 

“I thought I’d lost you, Val.” she finally broke their silence. 

Five leaned his head against hers, his hand trailing up and down her side as she added, “What happened?” 

“I don’t know.”

 She hadn’t realized the rough gravel to his voice until now. Did that mean that when they…had he been…? She squeezed her eyes closed against the unbidden images of the pain they’d inflicted on him, on the shouts and screams that must’ve been torn from him to shred his voice like that. His arm tightened around her. 

He cleared his throat, though it did nothing to help, “I remember taking out our key targets, then nothing until I woke up in their safe house. I don’t know if I passed out, or if they hit me with a neural detonator, or a concussive shot…” 

Roslynd reached out to brush her hand over Agent’s furry head. The cat pushed his head into her touch, paws frantically kneading Five’s stomach. 

“Stims again?” She kept her voice neutral, even as she felt Five slump next to her, as if he’d been waiting with baited breath for her to bring it up. 

“I didn’t realize how bad it was getting again.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair and she followed the motion, watching him card his fingers through strands that were going gray at the temples. 

She hadn’t realized how often he’d been gone, how often Keeper had been sending him out on missions until she stopped to wonder how she hadn’t noticed yet. She was so used to working with him on the job, to speaking with him daily but…she hadn’t seen him for more than a few days at a time in three or more months now she realized. And most of those days had been spent sleeping, resting with the stress their job put on them. 

Her stomach sank and she turned her face against his shoulder, steadying herself in his warmth. 

“Keeper is granting you leave.” She admitted into his shoulder, not amending that ‘granting’ was a pretty word for ‘forcing’. 

“I know. Rhys told me.” Five sighed, “I’d also talked to Keeper before this mission about transferring to a position here for a little while.” 

She hummed in interest, trying to remember if he’d already mentioned this before. 

“I didn’t want to get your hopes up, but Keeper wants me to take a stint instructing at the Academy. Wants me to evaluate the cadets for potential cipher designations.” Five interlocked their hands again, “I can’t keep going like I am and I don’t want to spend more time away from home than not.” 

He’d been working like this for over a decade of his career in some capacity or another. The Cipher designation was a risky one and each time he left the odds stacked further and further against him. He and Rhys were already an anomaly. Most of the Ciphers they’d graduated with were nothing but names on the memorial wall now. 

Roslynd allowed herself to sink into Five, take in the fact that he was here, that he might be staying here, and at Agent, purring so hard still she was surprised he still had breath. 

Her little family. Their little family. 

Together, okay. Not broken, not lost. 

“I think that would be perfect.” she murmured, realizing in the silence after that Five had fallen back asleep, his breaths soft against her hair.

[thepodcasthoard]

Learn How To Start a Podcast in 2024 in 11 Steps- Shopify

Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Part 6 l Part 7 l Part 8 l Part 9 l Part 10 l Part 11 l Part 12 l Part 13

The fourteenth article Sydney gave me is from Shopify. It lists eleven steps.

Podcast theme

You might recognize this advice as finding a topic, not a theme. Think about goals such as to get more business for your brand, why you want to start a podcast, who your audience is, and what makes your show unique.

2. Format

Interviews, news, scripted nonfiction, educational, and scripted fiction are all formats. There are so many more, so just do some thinking and research and find one that works for you. Podcast length and publishing frequency got lumped in under this step.

3. Create a brand

Don't panic. This is the same advice I've been collecting, just phrased differently.

For example, the guidelines for naming are to keep it short and interesting, keep it easy to spell and pronounce, make sure you like saying it out loud and not just in your head, and make sure it's not already taken.

Choose a category. Most podcast listeners go through the category that appeals to them to find a new podcast, so make sure you're in the right one.

Describe the episode. This is how most people according to a survey of 780 people will decide whether or not to listen to your show. Make it engaging, informative, and keep your audience in mind.

Art. Keep it focused on the art, not any words like the title or subtitle. Intrigue.

4. Equipment.

A microphone is a must, as are headphones and a computer. Nice-to-have options include a pop filter, a stand or boom arm for the microphone, and a shock mount.

5. Recording software.

The article mentions a few software options, both free and paid, so I'll let you decide.

6. Outline your first episode.

Start with the end. What do you want the listener to take away from the episode? Put in the hook for the beginning and any introductions for guests. Also include interview questions if applicable and other talking points.

7. Record

Find a space with little background noise.

Adjust any equipment and software you need to in order to start recording.

Record in high quality

Don't move your head too much- the distance between your mouth and the microphone will change the volume.

Test record.

Record thirty seconds of silence for natural background 'noise.'

8. Intro and outro

Introduce yourself and any applicable credentials.

Say what your podcast is about in a sentence or two.

Why they should listen. Keep the intro short- twenty to thirty seconds in total.

Outros should ease people out of the episode, thank the listener, and encourage them to do something called a call to action or CTA. Limit to one CTA per episode at first, and make them easy- like recommend the podcast to a friend.

9. Edit

Cut the fat, leaving the meat intact. Delete the fluff.

Keep the music softer than you think.

Remove silences.

Fade between tracks to prevent jarring the listener.

The rest of the tips didn't make any sense to me, but I'm sure if you put the steps into a search bar with your editing software and 'tutorial' you'll find out how to do it.

Use a noise reduction to reduce background noise.

Use a high pass filter to filter out certain frequencies.

Equalize your audio.

Add compression.

Use a de-esser.

Master the volume to around the level of other podcasts.

10. Decide on a podcast host

You need an RSS feed to submit to directories.

11. Market your podcast

The article linked this article, which is geared towards small businesses, but the tips seem like they could be tweaked to fit a podcast.

The article also mentioned making small snippets of audio to share on social media.

Show notes and search engine optimization are also recommended.

Use your guests' audience to help yours grow.

Guest on other podcasts.

Monetize

Sponsorships

Direct support, like donations or subscriptions.

Affiliations.

Merchandise.

Benefits to starting a podcast

You can reach a new market with your existing brand.

According to statistics from this site, 38% of Americans listened to podcasts within the month.

You don't need an existing audience to be successful- you can build one and make yourself into a reputable expert.

Podcasts are easily consumed while doing other things.

Most podcasts are free, to both create and listen to.

[advancetaxreliefexperts]

TAX PREPARATION BEST PRACTICES FOR A STRESS-FREE FILING SEASON 

As we inch closer to the infamous tax filing season, the palpable tension in the air becomes almost unavoidable. For many, the thought of navigating the labyrinthine tax codes and forms is enough to induce a cold sweat. But it doesn't always have to be this way. 

With a little forethought and meticulous planning, tax preparation can be a breezy, walk-in-the-park experience, saving you not only precious time but also potential penalties for mistakes or late submissions. 

In this article, we'll dive headfirst into a wealth of expert tips, savvy strategies, and best practices for tax preparation that promise to transform your filing season from a stress-inducing nightmare into a seamless and orderly process. 

From understanding how to maximize your deductions, to organizing your financial paperwork, to deciding whether to enlist the help of a professional, we'll equip you with all the tools and knowledge you need to tackle your tax preparation with confidence and ease.

Organize Your Financial Records

The foundation of a smooth tax preparation process is well-organized financial records. To ensure accuracy and efficiency in preparing your taxes, follow these steps for organizing your financial documents:

1. Gather all essential documents: Begin by collecting critical financial records related to your income, deductions, and credits. These may include W-2 forms, 1099 forms, bank statements, receipts for charitable donations, and business expense documentation.

2. Categorize and sort your records: Separate your financial documents into clearly defined categories, such as income, business expenses, and deductions. This approach will make it easier to locate and reference specific documents when preparing your tax return.

3. Use a system for tracking expenses: Implementing a consistent method for recording and tracking your expenses throughout the year, such as financial software or a dedicated expense journal, can greatly simplify the tax preparation process.

4. Store documents securely: Keep your financial records in a secure location, whether it's a physical filing cabinet or encrypted digital storage. This ensures easy access to essential information while protecting your sensitive financial data.

Understand Your Tax Obligations and Deadlines

Staying informed about your tax obligations and deadlines is essential for avoiding penalties or other consequences. To ensure you're educated and prepared for tax season, consider the following tips:

1. Stay up-to-date on tax laws: Tax laws and regulations can change frequently, so make a point to stay informed about any updates or changes that may impact your tax return.

2. Identify the appropriate tax forms: Depending on your financial circumstances, you may need to complete various tax forms. Ensure you've correctly identified and obtained the necessary forms prior to beginning your tax preparation process.

3. Familiarize yourself with relevant tax credits and deductions: Research and understand the tax credits and deductions available to you, enabling you to maximize your tax savings.

4. Be aware of tax deadlines: Missing tax filing deadlines can result in costly penalties. Mark the relevant tax deadlines on your calendar, and consider filing your return early to avoid last-minute stress.

Avoid Common Tax Filing Mistakes

Mistakes during the tax preparation process can lead to delays, penalties, or even audits. To safeguard against errors, follow these guidelines:

1. Double-check your personal information: Confirm that critical details, such as your Social Security number and address, are correct on your tax return.

2. Report all income: Ensure that you report all forms of income, including freelance work, investment income, or gig economy earnings.

3. Verify your deductions and credits: Carefully review your deductions and credits to ensure you’ve followed the guidelines and have correctly calculated the amounts claimed.

4. File electronically: Electronic filing reduces the likelihood of errors and offers faster processing times for tax refunds.

Partner with Advance Tax Relief for Expert Tax Preparation

Enlisting professional tax preparation assistance from Advance Tax Relief offers numerous benefits, including:

1. Accurate and compliant tax filings: Experienced tax professionals possess thorough knowledge of tax laws and regulations, ensuring your return is completed accurately and in compliance with current tax legislation.

2. Time-saving convenience: Outsourcing your tax preparation can free up valuable time, allowing you to focus on your personal and professional goals without the distraction of tax season stress.

3. Proactive tax planning: Advance Tax Relief can also assist with proactive tax planning strategies, identifying opportunities for tax savings and advising on strategies to minimize your tax liability for future filing seasons.

4. Audit support and representation: Should you face an IRS audit, Advance Tax Relief can provide expert guidance, support, and representation throughout the process, alleviating your concerns and simplifying a potentially overwhelming experience.

Achieve a Stress-free Filing Season with Advance Tax Relief

Implementing best practices for tax preparation can help ensure a smooth, stress-free filing season, allowing you to concentrate on your financial objectives with confidence. Advance Tax Relief, a leading tax resolution company in Houston, Texas, is dedicated to providing expert tax preparation services, ensuring accuracy and compliance in your tax filings, and offering support for future tax planning and potential audit situations.

Discover how our experienced team can simplify the tax preparation process, enabling you to approach each filing season with confidence and ease. Contact us today to explore our comprehensive tax solutions and services and begin your journey towards a hassle-free tax filing experience.

[greysweatercat]

i work weird, i think

I normally don't do post like these, but I would like to share some tidbits of how we do things around here ♪

I've seen a lot of people have an idea for something to make and they just draw it. we don't do that.

We use a sort of productivity/project management tool to keep tabs on everything that goes into project work:

Logistics/IT: Includes what you'd expect out of IT, such as setting up software and hardware, updating drivers and such, but also setting up our productivity tools to our workflow for writing, art and other stuff.

Admin: It's mostly for sorting out time tracking data, but every now and then we have a sit-down to work out what our roadmap for the next quarter or year should look like and what stuff need working on.

Ops: The actual act of sitting down and drawing, modeling, writing, etc. takes up a smaller fraction of the total time spent on stuff as you'd expect, as most artists who actually live off of comms and donations will tell you.

PR: This!!! Actually communicating with people on socials has always been a hard thing for me to do, so having a dedicated workspace for it has helped us keep it in check.

R&D: This involves exploring new tools and skills to incorporate into our work. In the past this has mostly meant brushing up on stuff like learning how to draw specific stuff and doing drawing practice in general, but has recently expanded into new software and skills outside of illustration, namely 3D modeling in Blender.

We've had our periods of R&D heavy times, but this has been probably the biggest time and effort investment we've made in a long time, if not ever. Blender is complicated! But fun -w-

So yeah, on top of being a system of eight that only inhabits a single physical person, and said person having a full time job, our work being slow is also just from doing a bunch of different stuff in general that doesn't get posted! So yeah -w-