#some programs do cost that much but also a lot of times you’re just paying so you can say ‘I went to (popular college)!’

[raeathnos]

.

[thatskindarough]

Oh it was only 3 actually, counting that one animatic on YouTube (that BTW i had no idea was yours! I was pleasantly surprised <3)

And I found it so funny that you have somewhat an idea of who I might be PFFF you can throw the guess, it would be funny if you get it right (don't have to say my name if you don't remember it, you can just go for something you remember NFKDSJ)

also time for an actual question since i'm already here, what program did you used for the animatic? I've always wanted to get into animating but most softwares cost money or are free but really bad so I could use some recommendations 👀

Good to hear there is no imposter lol. I should probably start using the false pfp so people know it’s me but I’m too lazy to change them all 💀 also my guess was right as to who you were but probably mainly because I put on my Aziraphale detective hat and you were the last notification before the ask inbox notification and your icon had a red beanie. We meet once again.

As for the animatic I used procreate for drawing and capecut for composting. Not the most efficient method but I liked it. I ended up segmenting off each camera angle into a different canvas and making any animation for the shot that way. I love capecut because the free version has every editing function you need for an animatic and the watermark only appears as a black screen at the end so it’s so easy to crop out. It’s probably the best free editing software I’ve found. (I also used a screen recording device to record the audio cause even if you buy a song it sometimes doesn’t allow you to put it in the program.)

I honestly recommend procreate if you have a device that supports it. I think it’s still only a 10 dollar onetime purchase. But if you don’t have a device that supports it, I have used things like flip a clip which is free, and the paid version is pretty cheap. I have also dabbled in an app called rough animate, also free (you don’t have to pay for the onion skins) which was also okay. I got frustrated cause of the lack of brush choice but other than that it’s not bad at all. If you can’t pay anything at all I’d recommend this because, unlike flip a clip, you don’t have to pay to unlock the a lot of the really helpful features. Ibis paint also added an animation feature I think so that’s an option. Idk if you need the paid version for it, but I remember only having to watch ads for a minute to unlock all the brushes so maybe it’s the same for the animation feature lol.

If you have a computer set up, I’ve also heard nice things about Krita for animation. It’s free and from what I remember it had a really good timeline set up. I actually tried to use it, but my computer at the time was old and slow and it lagged to much, and then I had a shitty no screen tablet and my hand eye coordination when it came to drawing and writing is quite bad, so it just wasn’t a good set up for me personally. But I know people make it work. I mean, people make this kinda shit in MS paint, if you’re dedicated enough you can technically do it in almost any program (though you may not be able to make it as polished as you’d like.)

Then there is Clip Studio Paint, which does cost money but is way less expensive than like, harmony or adobe. The EX version which gives you a second of free animation per project is a $5 monthly subscription for once device, PC MaC IOS, and the Pro version (which is more expensive) gives you unlimited animation animation access for I believe around 10 -15 dollars a month (still less than most streaming services lol). There’s also a one time purchase version that is $50 dollars, but it goes on sale A LOT for $25! Although I don’t think it gives you more than a second of animation. CSP also has a very long free trial period, for EX it was legit like 3 months. so if you try it out and like it, I’d definitely suggest finding a way to pay for it. It’s actually used in some professional studios in Japan, so if you have any professional aims for your work it’s a good starting platform to get into industry software. However a lot of the nice things CSP offers for animation are not needed in the story boarding/animatic stage, so if that’s as far as you wanna take your animations it maaaaaaay not be worth it unless you love it.

If anyone else has other cheap or free recommendations feel free to add on. I have attempted to make animatics on procreate, rough animate, and flip a clip; all of which I have uncompleted projects on. It just so happens that procreate is what I was using when I finally made an animatic I liked enough to see until completion. Whatever software you do use, just make sure you learn how to use it before attempting a big project. Do some smaller stuff before you try anything big.

Edit to check the comments! We got other good recommendations for computers!

[safety-pin-punk]

Hi!

I’m sort of still getting into punk and learning about everything. You’re blog has been really helpful with resources and everything. Plus your cool.

Okayyy, now my question. I’m a junior in high school and I want to go to college. Pursue further education and all of that stuff. Learn more about the world and critical thinking. But I don’t want to pay a ton of money to a bunch of old ivy dudes.

What’s the right direction to go in for this? Is college a good option if I want to learn? What schools are good places? Where do I learn more about this stuff?

Sorry if this is a lot. Thank you though!

Hey! Thank you for your kindness!!

First off, Im going to stress that you are a junior and you have PLENTY of time to think about this. So dont stress too much right now.

Secondly, I want to preface this with the simple fact of college isnt for everyone. There are SO many ways to survive and thrive in life without it. And thats okay, good even! That being said, this post is just gonna be me talking about college. Under the cut of course

OKAY! So, is college a good option if you want to learn? My answer is yes! I learned a lot at college, both inside and outside my classes. I learned a lot of life lessons, I met people from all over the country (and a few international students). And I learned how to challenge my own beliefs and try to see things from perspectives that I didnt even know could exist prior to college.

But Im sure you were referring to the educational aspect. And truth be told, this heavily depends on both your school and you. Some examples: My school had a phenomenal chemistry program. You couldnt walk out of that program without having learned things if you made it through. But my school also had a very poor fine arts program. And to be quite blunt, I often wondered why any art student chose to stay. But going even further, it depends a lot on the individual as well. I was admittedly not the best student. I wasnt that interested in lab or research compared to some of my classmates, nor did I apply myself as much. And the difference is clear to see when others could rattle off different solvents and what reactions would occur from memory and I would be sitting there dumbfounded.

Next question, what schools are good places? Again, that fully depends on what you want to go to school for. But I’ll tell you what I did and how I chose my school. When I was a junior in high school, I found a list of every 4 year university in my state (I knew I wanted to stay in state, but you can do this for wherever you want to go). I then went through and gave each school a ranking out of 5 (based on vibes, chemistry program, education program, cost, and surrounding area). Once I had it narrowed down to only a few schools, those were the ones I toured. And I chose where to send applications from there.

Though, I cant stress enough how beneficial community college can be. A lot of people get all their gen eds out of the way either before they enroll in a university or over summers. Doing this will save you money and time. Literally not a single person on a university campus would look down on you for this. If anything, they will praise you for being smart. I took a few classes over the summers between semesters just to get them out of the way (and also avoid certain professors).

Where to learn more? Google. Google schools near you. Google schools where you want to go. Google schools ranked nationally in xyz. Google affordable universities. Google universities that have good financial aid programs. Just google so many things. From there, spend time exploring university websites. Read about their community and their academic programs. See if they have virtual tours uploaded. Check out their student activity board social medias to see what it would be like to be there as a student. Sign up for tours. Do an overnight visit if you can!! Or even, just walk around the campus without a tour guide

Best of luck to you on your academic journey! Hope I was a little helpful here

[funplexflip]

i saw you post mentioning that you’re getting your phd in lit, i wanted to ask (as someone who aspires to do the same but it only starting their bachelors currently) how you went/are going about that? like do you have to publish or are you doing research? sorry i’m just trying to figure out how my path will go 😭🙏

Aw man I'm really happy you asked! I will say that the process is different for everyone and there's no singular timeline/way of going about it. So I recommend whatever feels like the right path for you. Also, apologies if this is a bit rambling.

For me, I breezed through my undergrad (though I changed majors a few times before landing on English). For my MA, I got it from the same college I got my BA from. Some colleges are funny about getting multiple degrees from the same school, so just be mindful of that. My biggest rec is to try and get a graduate assistantship during your MA program if your school offers it. It not only pays you a small stipend, but it fully covers tuition costs. To complete an MA program, most people have to complete a thesis. Honestly, I don't know much about the thesis process, because my school offered a path where I did an internship in place of a thesis. That's something that will just depend on your school and your program.

As for the PhD program, I was lucky enough to get into my first choice, but I sent in about 8-10 applications and only got 2 acceptance letters. I can't give much advice on that front but I'd recommend applying wherever you're interested plus one of two backup schools if you don't get accepted anywhere else.

The great thing about a PhD program is that you get the assistantship by default, so tuition isn't much of a concern. By then, you should be decently sure of what area(s) you want to study. I focus on 20th century and children's literature (not very dark academia of me but that's what I was interested in studying). I'm only a year into my PhD program but once my required course work is finished, I'll basically only be working on my dissertation, which is a large research/writing project that will eventually be published. Again, I'm not far enough in to give a lot of details on specifics.

I know that was probably a lot but that's the most barebones basics of it. Like I said, everyone's process of going through college is different. I'll always say that if you're able, take things at a pace you're comfortable with. I hope all of this was helpful and I wish you the best of luck 🤙

[notsocheezy]

Brain Curd #117

Brain Curds are lightly edited flash fiction - practically first drafts - posted daily (haven't missed one yet!) and sometimes written with the express intention of being terrible… but, you know, in an endearing way. Please like and reblog if you enjoy - the notes keep me going!

He's gonna be Frank with you. Read the rest of The Frank Program here on Tumblr!

“Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, this is The Frank Program. I’m Frank -”

“- and I’m Big Mike. Today’s guest is the most popular streamer on all of Twitch.TV, here in the studio we have Mr. Hellspawn!”

“How’s it going?” Hellspawn spoke softly into his microphone.

“Uh…” Frank shuffled through his notes, which Mike had prepared for him. “Wasn’t I supposed to ask you that?”

Mike patted him on the back. “Don’t worry about that, Frankie. Anyway, Mr. Hellspawn, why don’t you tell us a little about what you do for the listeners who aren’t aware?”

“Sure thing, Mike. My job is a little hard to explain, but I’ll start at the beginning. When I first started streaming, the hot thing to do was to play videogames. People want to see other people play games because it’s a social activity, at least originally, but on Twitch, it’s different. We don’t really know each other, we’re not really friends, but instead it’s more like a substitute for that. That’s why I really blew up about four years ago. Everyone was stuck inside, nowhere to go, nothing to do. They wanted some company.”

“So, uh, what makes you special, then?” Frank asked.

“If you ask me, I think I just got lucky. But I guess people liked my specific way of interacting with the audience. I’d say, ‘chat, help me out here, should I go down this tunnel or cross this bridge?’ and, you know, they’d vote on it basically.”

“That doesn’t seem so hard to understand.”

“Sure, but now it’s a little different. Instead of mostly playing games and talking to the audience here and there, people seem not to want me to play games so much anymore. I always give them the option, but whenever I put it up to a vote, my subs just want to see me doing normal everyday stuff. I’ve got cameras set up all over my house. Game room, kitchen, bedroom…”

“Bedroom?”

“Some of my fans pay for a little extra, if you catch my drift.”

Frank’s eyes popped wide open. “You’re a prostitute?!?”

“Hey, hey, hey…” Mike chuckled nervously. “How about we don’t go there, Frank?”

Frank was indignant. “It’s a simple question!”

“Yeah, no, that’s fine, guys. It’s basically an after-dark stream that costs money to watch. I don’t have sex with anyone for money.”

Frank glared at Mike. “See? It was a good question!”

“I only get a little naked. A little. But more people like to watch me cook and just chat about life. It’s kind of meditative for me, you know? I’ve got my Hell Squad over for dinner every night. And they’re happy to send me money to keep the whole thing going. I haven’t worked a traditional job since 2019, so I can spend all my time on this. Five days a week, dawn to dusk.”

“So, tell me Mr. Hellspawn, where did you come up with that name?”

“Not a lot of people know this, but I’ve had that name since kindergarten. I was a real troublemaker as a kid, and my father would always call me Mr. Hellspawn whenever I did anything he didn’t like. I don’t really talk to him anymore, but that name has stuck with me. I wear it as a badge of honor. Barely anyone in my life calls me by my legal name… which I guess he also gave me.”

Frank looked over at the empty corner. “You… don’t talk to your father anymore?”

“No, not at all. We were never very close at the best of times. He kicked me out when I was fifteen and we haven’t spoken since.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It doesn’t really bother me anymore, to be honest. He used to haunt my dreams, but… Now, I don’t think I can even remember his face.”

Frank’s hands shook. He gripped the microphone stand to keep them stationary.

Mike cleared his throat to break the dead air. “What are some of your favorite moments from your livestream?”

Hellspawn chuckled. “I think that might be when I tried making veal schnitzel from scratch. I ended up breading my hand by mistake, and the chat just kept saying, ‘glove hand! Glove hand!’ It’s become one of many inside jokes with my community.”

“And how was the schnitzel?”

“Oh, it was terrible. I had no idea what I was doing. It was like a piece of shoe leather with burnt grease on the outside. I had to order takeout.”

Frank breathed heavily. “I have to go.”

Mike was confused. “Buddy, we just got started! Do you always end your shows early?”

“I just… I can’t…”

“We can take a break -”

“No, no, no! I need to get out of here!”

“Fine! I’ll finish the damn show. I’m doing most of the work anyway. Do your closing line before you leave.”

“I… I’ve been The Frank Program. Thank you - Thank you for letting me be…” he made eye contact with Hellspawn and panicked. He quickly ran out of the studio and slammed the door.

[realcleverissues]

If you’re into UBI, you need to support Housing

I love the idea of a UBI. However, until we have enough housing, any additional money everyone starts getting will just go to increased housing costs. I.e. property values will go up, as will rent, moving that UBI income from the lower class to homeowners and landlords, while not improving the housing situation or life for most people. This is clearly not what we want to accomplish with a UBI.

We need to first build housing and then implement a UBI. (I imagine housing that is owned and run by local gov’ts or non-profit organizations, like housing authorities.) And considering the cost of a UBI, this is very feasible.

Let’s imagine a very modest UBI of $100/mo = $1,200/yr. There are around 260 million americans over 18. If everyone got a UBI, that’d be over $260B/yr. If we estimate housing construction costs of $260k/unit (just for convenience; the actual costs average only $200k), we can afford to build 1 Million apartments each year. 

Estimates vary of how many homes are needed to satisfy housing demand in the US, with estimates varying between 3 to 8 million homes. Let’s round up to 10 million.

It would take just 10 years of our UBI setup to completely transform the housing crisis. That’s not a long time. And this was using very conservative figures. If we imagine a UBI of $1,000/mo (which many do), we could pay for all the housing from a single year’s budget!

And what do we get in return? Primarily, two major results:

a. People are housed: People have adequate housing; slow the progression of people into homelessness (caused by housing prices); improve rate of getting people out of homelessness. (And, ideally, guarantee housing for everyone.) Additionally, the price of housing will go down for everyone, benefiting the lower class tremendously. (Some economists have estimated that the price of housing in some places could come down as much as 10% with adequate housing supply. Imagine saving 10% on your rent!) (It could potentially reduce the value of homes to some extent, which current property owners will not like, but I don’t think people are entitled to push for housing scarcity so that they can profit off it. Additionally, some studies show that things like changing exclusionary zoning can *increase* property values due to the fact that the same plot of land can now house more people.)

b. Money then put into a UBI is not swallowed by the upper class. The value of the money is more evenly enjoyed by all. Not to mention the savings from reduced housing costs (which could easily be $100/mo in savings). In other words, people will have more money, and the UBI becomes more effective. 

It’s also worth noting that the investment into housing construction will actually pay for itself, as renters pay for use of the homes. Unlike a UBI, this investment produces dividends. Those funds can be reinvested in housing, other community needs, or used to help fund the UBI.

There is a lot of exploitation that happens in our capitalist system, but housing is by far the worst since it effects everyone (i.e. everyone needs a home) and is likely the most expensive part of everyone’s expenses, with many people seeing a third or more of their income going to this one expense, every month, till they’re dead.) We must fix housing first. We must plug the hole in the ship before we can expect to move it forward with any efficiency. If you believe in a UBI, and understand the costs of it are worthwhile, then you need to also be advocating for a massive program to address the housing crisis.

[nicklloydnow]

“Each day in Jocktober, which takes place in October, Opie & Anthony producer Sam Roberts picks a different radio show from around the country and then the show spends an hour diagnosing exactly what makes that oh-so-zany “morning zoo”-style show so shitty. Jocktober is like if Warner Herzog or the Coen Brothers spent a month each year just attacking movies like Paul Blart and Mortdecai – but also explaining the conventions of why they are so bad. Wouldn’t that make the film industry better? Wouldn’t it at least be entertaining? At least one of those things, yes.

Exaggerating the characteristics of drive-time radio, interrogating the conventions of the radio industry, is a way to ask: Why do people act this way? If this sounds familiar to improv people, it should: the goals are exactly the same, they just go about it in different ways. The work of improv is to excavate some truth of a situation and then heighten it to show why it’s funny, like some kind of fiendish archeological dig. Opie and Anthony, on the other hand, prefer to throw the entire situation into a giant rock tumbler to shake the dirt off of it and leave the fossils of truth at the end. Sure, some delicate things might get broken, but if they were that delicate, then how valuable were they in the first place?

The public at large pigeonholes Opie & Anthony as those terrible zany “morning zoo”-style DJs. But there’s a difference. Gregg “Opie” Hughes gives a shit when it’s done badly. Around the tenth day of every Jocktober, Opie and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the crew, kind of reach a point where it’s not longer even fun to mock these shows. Like Radiohead turning its back on Creep, it hurts them too much. Radio hosts, by and large, the targets of Jocktober, do nothing but play Creep. (…)

Prepburger and other services like it license content, like The Fugitive and War of the Roses, and the other, smaller, refillable formats that allow shows to comment on topical events, to any radio show who can pay. That’s why every morning show in every market is indistinguishable white noise. They’re literally saying the exact same thing. It’s like that part of Going Clear that talks about L. Ron Hubbard as a sci-fi writer where he’s like “never write any character who has not appeared in that magazine before. Realism or originality is the enemy,” or something like that, I wasn’t listening that hard.

One element that continues to be at the heart of a lot of programming philosophies is localness. With the advent of huge national radio shows like Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony, smaller market shows were forced to use what they had to stay relevant. They literally did stuff like hang up signs in studios that reminded jocks to “Stay Local” and talk about the stuff in the town, or inject specifics about the nearby highway, or talk about local news stories. Which is fine, but can come at the cost of prioritizing actually stimulating conversation. Focusing on trying to work the name of the local mall into your story is completely missing the point that people don’t give a shit what specific you use, the important thing is you’re talking about things that are honest and immediate and you’re good at talking.

(…)

Nothing encapsulates what Jocktober is about better than the name itself. “Jocktober” refers to the seemingly universal cliché where every radio show calls the month of October “Rocktober” and makes all these loud promos about it and hypes it up and makes this huge deal about how they play [radio station bro voice – you know the one] the most rock out of any station and October is going to rock so hard. But then they just PLAY EXACTLY THE SAME FUCKING SONGS THEY NORMALLY DO. The sound and fury, etc. To quote Anthony Cumia circa 2009: “There’s all this energy… but it’s all wasted energy. It’s like sitting in your driveway in neutral and just gassing it.”

(…)

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the first ever Jocktober episode was actually and explicitly inspired by a jock on some other show chastising O&A for, “not [having] anything to talk about, so they just talk about their real lives.”

And so, like NutraSweet, Jocktober was invented by accident. Even die-hard Pests might forget that when The Show went after 97.1 ZHT’s Morning Zoo on October 1, 2008, it was based on bad intelligence from a listener, that Frankie and Danger Boy were “talking shit” about the show.

The damage was done. Opie & Anthony had “napalmed the wrong village” as Anthony replacement Jim Norton put it.

But in the process, they realized that there were a lot of little villages out there that deserved napalming. Enough, in fact, to sustain the heady fall tradition of Jocktober for the next six or seven years… depending on how you count.

Anthony and Jim Norton supplied the bulk of the comedic voice, historically, and Opie was the point guard who kept things on track, but Jocktober really gave Opie’s voice a time to shine. He’s a student of radio and prides himself on knowing its history and the theory behind why it works, so he particularly hates seeing it done badly. And he’s usually thought of as almost the heart of the show, where Anthony or Jim make the really dirty, cutting jokes about child molesting or how fat/skinny/old/young/famous/washed up/etc. someone is. But there are moments every once in a while where Opie is suddenly just enormously cruel and you realize… this show has no heart. When the moral compass of the show blows up, Jocktober is like a some kind of Bermuda Triangle nightmare.

(…)

The early years of Jocktober, starting in 2008, was a very particular era for shock jocks. Satellite radio allowed them to be out from under the thumb of the FCC, but it was still before the Internet progressed to the point where personalities are really accountable for what they say. All these shows were just lost to the ether, but now everyone knows that everything’s permanent and the internet is forever. For that reason, I’d argue that there’s two distinct periods of Jocktober: 2008-2011 and 2011-present.

It was during the first period, 2008-2011, when they really learned how to effectively use social media as a tool for mischief. In the Jocktober of 2008, there were some mentions of sending “pictures of roosters” to email addresses and administrators of the official sites of different stations, as well as the long-standing tradition of listeners bombarding any station mentioned on-air with horrific phone calls.

But soon enough, Opie and Anthony walking into the studio was basically like the pilots in Pacific Rim climbing into those huge robots. They could get on mic and command their huge social media following to destroy whatever target they pleased. So each day in Jocktober would go like this: they’d announce the name of that day’s show, and then the clock started until “phase 1 is complete,” which means the show was forced to disable posts on their Facebook wall. Then began phase two, where listeners would leave the most vile, disgusting jokes and pictures on the comments of the Facebook wall. That went on until Phase 2 was complete—as in, the entire Facebook page had to be deleted.

This seems like it took place back in some era when cyberbullying was a more innocent thing. Maybe “innocent” is the wrong word for spamming a Facebook page with hundreds of pictures of a man eating shit or a terrifying bus accident, but there was certainly a time when you could say “hey, just unplug the computer if it’s too much!!” and really believe it. But as we entered the more recent era, though, social media began to fragment even more and bleed into people’s “real” lives, until finally, coincidentally very near Jocktober 2014, the whole GamerGate thing happened and everyone kind of realized, hey, maybe even radio station cyberbullying isn’t just good clean fun.

(…)

On the last day of Jocktober, Opie & Anthony turned the focus on themselves, because after all, they’d be just as hacky as Terry Clifford if they didn’t call out their own shortcomings. This usually consisted of listening to some old shows from their Boston days or early in New York and pointing out flaws. Personally, I have to say that one definite flaw in the Opie & Anthony Show was that one of them liked to go on racist tirades that ended up on the front page of the newspapers.

But this isn’t about Anthony, it’s about Jocktober. And if you’re saying that he shouldn’t be on the radio anymore, then here is some good news for you: he’s not. Jocktober remains a fascinating cultural artifact. I was listening to one of these shows with a friend once and her reaction was, “How can you listen to these? It’s… so funny.” I think she meant just how decadent the kind of humor is in O&A in general, and then Jocktober in particular. They’re responding to this shitty, watered down entertainment, so they purposely make their show the most sugary, rich product possible. It was like they were getting mad that someone’s Kool-Aid is weak and doesn’t have enough sugar, so you dump 10x too much sugar in it. Jocktober was the most high-proof, premium-grade version of O&A’s cartoon-cruel comedic voice possible. (…)

Shortly after Anthony got fired in July of 2014, comedian and frequent guest Joe DeRosa compared the freedom of speech to the right to eat as much candy as you wanted. Sure, the thinking goes, knock yourself out, but if you eat too much, eventually you’re going to get sick. Looking through this lens, SiriusXM’s decision to fire Anthony was like Bloomberg’s decision to ban large sodas. Sure, you can drink this sweet, decadent soda, but it’s in the interest of everyone concerned that you don’t literally drink all of it.

Probably good thinking. But if you are so inclined, every episode of Jocktober is right here.”

[iglobalweb]

DIY stands for "Do It Yourself". As a start-up if you are considering to use DIY(do it yourself) website builders like Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Web etc. to save time and good amount of money you need to think twice and never forget the statement: ‘you get what you pay for’ Of course, if your website is temporary, doesn’t need any functionality or it will be just one image like a business card, DIY can be for you. In first impression, DIY website builders looks cost-efficient and lightning speed service, but in reality it is NOT. So before you spend valuable time trying to put pieces together your website on a DIY website builder, we’ve compiled a list of five things to consider. 1. Time (Most valuable thing, you can not buy or take it back) So to save some money (looks like) you started to use one of the DIY website builders. Do you know how much time it will take to finish your website? First, you will need to LEARN the web design program. After mastering the tools you need to decide your website theme, color and fonts.  After that you need to work with the content like pictures, text, forms etc... Put them all together, fix the issues etc... Instead of putting time to your business, you will end up loosing lots of time to build your website. What’s more valuable to the company in the long run, your time or the money? 2. Money (DIY Websites are not FREE, they do NOT cost less) This is very important since people choose DIY Websites to be FREE or cost less. Once you are in business with DIY, you will find that it will cost more than just your time. In some cases, the cost of a site builder could amount to more than you would have spent on a web designer. For example Wix is charging $25 for business planing to sell items online. That's $300 every year for a website you have built and maintain yourself. 3. Design may not look professional and aesthetically pleasing If you are not a web designer most beautiful theme may look bad and may not be user-friendly at the end since there are lots of aspects to consider in web design.  Not only unprofessional look but also copy themes that is being used by 1000s of website will affect your business in negative way. Another point is limitations of the provider. For example once you choose the theme you can not change it to another design. Another example; when you need a special form that is not exists in the DIY platform, you will be stuck with no solution since you can not add special programs to that platforms. 4. User-Experience (UX) and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) If you’re hoping your website will make it top on Google’s listings, then don’t use a DIY website builder because search engines like Google cares greatly about UX and SEO rules that they update frequently. DIY website builders are NOT SEO and UX friendly platforms. Even you know how to use the DIY platform, you will have to spend more time to learn about SEO - UX technical rules and you will try to apply those rules to your DIY website builder platform that is limited to configurations for SEO and UX. 5. Support All DIY website builder companies use automated platforms. You have to help yourself when something goes wrong. When you get stuck with a problem, you will not find anybody to TALK. You will end up reading 100's of FAQ and Forums to find a solution. @iGlobalweb we offer constant support, the ability to change aspects of the website for your business needs with creating visually stunning, SEO/UX friendly, mobile-ready and highly practical websites in a very short time that exceed Google and consumer expectations.

[lady-of-the-upside-down]

Mom is officially retired now, and it has just sunk in how much I’m (sort of) failing in life overall.

By now, I was supposed to be done with school, supposed to be an accomplished math major with internships and maybe one or two extracurriculars under my belt. I was supposed to be making money already, like, good money. I would’ve still been writing but it wouldn’t have been my main thing from the get-go.

But none of that happened. Mistakes made as early as 2017, during senior high school (grade 11-12, sometimes taken inside a university like in my case) caused me to lose a lot of opportunities and connections that could’ve been helpful in the long run. I was kicked out of the school paper like three months into it because of a mistake I made, was also promptly ignored by my classmates, and all that caused me to spiral into a years-long slump that led to many depressive episodes. I hopped from one minor club to another (math, school church, speech) before finally graduating high school in 2019. (If you’re wondering, the mistake in question was asking a silly question during a seminar with a somewhat VIP guest…yeah it was bad, but not it-should-ruin-my-life bad)

I did spend like 2-ish years of college taking math, though I stopped because the pandemic double my already bad slump—costing me my partial scholarship that I had managed to get before. I also ended up with an academic infraction thing last 2021 because I accidentally forgot to cite sources on a philosophy exam, leading me to drop it as a minor. That infraction led me to being disqualified from applying to any exchange programs or conferences. Basically my life from 2017-2021 pretty much sucked.

What adds salt to the wound is that the reason you pick a good school here—as early as 11th grade—is connections and opportunities, both of which I mostly blew my shot in getting them. So it’s like my parents had been bleeding money for years for almost no reason.

Today I’m a creative writing major and education minor, both of which I started late 2021. I had only one internship—the one required by the school, and basically no organization officerships. Luckily enough school started to feel worth the money again because the faculty of the literature department actually care about me and support me in the stories I write. I really got to know them more during the required internship in the “creative writing center” of the university.

I ended up just trying organizations outside school because people there are least likely to know me. I struggle with applying for any part time work and internships for some reason, and I think it might be because of my odd/suspicious history of going to a major school since high school but not having any experience or affiliations. (They must think there is something Bad about me which is why I don’t have any, or the worst case scenario always floating in my head is that someone from high school works there)

On a lighter note, I do have some publications of my creative work but they don’t really pay well (or at all).

I’m struggling to finish my current project: a novel that’s my final requirement for school. It’s been such a struggle but I’m trying. I just feel so out of focus most days. I don’t even know what I’ll be doing once I graduate in February. Probably take the teacher licensure exams and just hope for the best from there.

I’m slowly picking up the pieces lately, as evidenced by some of what I said in the last paragraph, but I’m scared for the future, if these pieces will be enough. I have been so used to stability that I fear that I am taking it for granted. For now I’m hoping Dad continues to be able to do his (high-paying!) job, and that his other side-jobs like consultancy stuff will pay him well soon enough. I feel guilty for being partially the reason he has to take side-jobs to sustain our lifestyle. (my mom doesn’t want to work anymore after suffering through her old place)

Maybe at some point I will be able to actually contribute money to make their lives easier. I’m hoping my book and other future creative projects could someday earn me good money.

I just have many thoughts in my head lately and needed a place to longform vent out so I posted it here. Sorry if some parts seem incoherent, I wrote this all in one go.

[canadianvesselregistry]

How to Save Money on Transport Canada Boat Registration

If you’ve recently bought a boat and are wondering how to save money on Transport Canada boat registration, don’t worry. We will tell you how to get it done for less than half what you’d expect. The Canadian government’s Transport Canada department oversees the maritime industry. When it comes to matters of safety, the guidelines can take time to follow.

In particular, their watercraft registry system, which can leave the uninformed feeling lost, is an example of this. Whether you own a boat and reside on the lake or hire a boat for the weekend to go fishing, you must register it with Transport Canada. Boat owners who are discovered without proper documentation risk fees and possible seizure if found violating the law. Here are ways to cut costs on your boat registration with Transport Canada:

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute! We know it is simple to put off dealing with this matter until the very last minute. You’re busy, and you have so much going on, what with work, school, family, friends, and that new program on Netflix that you have to catch up on. You’ve got a lot on your plate. However, promptly completing the Transport Canada boat registration is always a good option.

Not only does this allow you to complete any essential tasks in advance, but it also ensures that you won’t be subject to any additional costs for being late. And would you believe it? If you request the extension of your boat registration with Transport Canada online before the deadline, the process is straightforward; you can even do it from your mobile device!

Buy In Bulk For Bulk Savings! Assume you have just purchased a fishing boat and are now looking to register it with Transport Canada. You can save money by buying it in large quantities at once. Many other goods and services, some of which have nothing to do with boats, are the same. Even if you only want to spend a few dollars, you can save money by purchasing large quantities. If this is your first time renewing your Transport Canada boat registration, you can save even more money by opting for a yearly membership.

It will save you money in the long run and the transaction charge. Fee fees will be assessed if you need to update your license within the first year. In addition, some third-party vendors give price breaks on Transport Canada watercraft registration, but only if you buy it through their website. The most significant aspect is that they’ll handle your refills and papers.

Buy Your Shipping Label Online For the Transport Canada Boat Registration The most cost-effective method to register your watercraft is through the internet purchase of a shipment label. The only additional expenses you will be responsible for paying are those associated with the delivery or collection of your watercraft. If you plan to move your watercraft using a lift vehicle, you will need to figure out the expense of employing a driver.

There is an opportunity for cost savings if you have a friend who is prepared to assist you and owns a vehicle. Because your yacht is already registered, you do not need to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage for it. This is another way to cut costs and keep more money in your pocket. Lastly, if it is a choice that is available to you, select it so that you will not receive an official Transport Canada sticker for your watercraft; we will discuss this topic in more detail later.

Give Yourself Time For Shipping And Handling! It would help if you allowed plenty of time to decide when shopping for a yacht. The Transport Canada boat registration is merely one step in the process, and contrary to popular belief, there are more significant steps. You’ll still need to get your boat ready for cruising, so you’ll have to shell out more money for life jackets, safety gear, and navigation lights. All of these things will add up to a significant expense.

Some costs are not associated with Transport Canada’s registration but are simple to forget. These fees can be found in the table below. For instance, if you intend to sail your boat in Canadian waterways, you must submit evidence of financial accountability to a marine insurance company and pay the associated charge. This can only be done if you have already purchased Canadian boat insurance.

Contact us at the National Vessel Registry Center today for more information on saving money on Transport Canada boat registration. Also, contact us for any other boating needs; we will be happy to help!

[umichenginabroad]

Transportation and Travels (& a bit about hospitals)

Hi everyone! It’s Lydia Frasz getting back to you from Argentina, and since I started this sentence, which was about three days ago, I’ve visited two hospitals, been in over five Ubers, and missed a day of class because I wasn’t feeling well. In other words, a lot has happened. Before I get into these events, I thought that I’d start off by telling you what this blog is all about: transportation, because it’s a forty minute commute to each class, and then my travels, because it’s definitely one of my favorite things about being in Buenos Aires.

So you may be wondering what happened that involved me ending up in a hospital, and I should first preface with the fact that in Argentina, hospitals are similar to US hospitals, but are also like US doctor’s offices and quick care centers; basically a one stop shop. Now when it comes to which hospital you go to, that may make a difference. Basically, my friend who’s allergic to nuts had an allergic reaction, so we got in an Uber (which only costs about two dollars max), and drove to the nearest hospital. Once there, we tried communicating with the person at the front desk via Google Translate, and he informed us that we had to go to a hospital that specialized in dermatology (we were confused, as her reaction was in her throat), so we left and did what should have done first, call the hotline of our program in Buenos Aires. *Note. Wherever you decide to go, have the emergency hotline saved in your phone!!! They answered immediately, and told us to go to a different hospital. It was much larger and we were directed to a specific seating area right away. The biggest difference from US hospital’s occurred before we were led to the seating area, the front desk attendant had us pay up front, and it was only twenty dollars. My friend and I were so shocked, not just by the price, but that they made sure we wouldn’t be surprised by the cost of our visit. After all was said and done, we ended up heading back instead of waiting longer to see a provider because it was taking a bit of time, but we agreed that it was good we were there in case her reaction worsened. 

Lessons learned: always have emergency contacts in your phone, and it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when the healthcare system is so easy and accessible to use.

Onto the fun part, travels and transportation. So far, I’ve visited Colonia, which is in Uruguay and about an hour and a half boat ride from Buenos Aires, Iguazu, which is in the Northeastern part of the country and is filled with cataratas, or waterfalls, and about a two hour flight, and Tigre, which is about an hour ride by train. To get anywhere to then fly or boat, you need to use some other method of transportation. You can Uber, which is relatively cheap, but the cheapest options are using one of the methods of public transportation, which is either train, bus, or my personal favorite, the subway, or subte. Public transportation requires a Sube card, which you can purchase, but I didn’t have to do this because the program provided me with one. Loading the cards is super easy, and each ride on any option costs about fifty pesos, or ten cents. To get to school, we can take the subte or the bus, and we always take the subte because it’s the most reliable - the bus won’t stop if it’s full, but the subte always stops. This means you might be squished, but you’re never late. Both take you to pretty much any place in the city, or at least within a two to five block radius, and the train can take you anywhere within the province, which is why we used it to visit Tigre.

Colonia del Sacramento is right on the water and about an hour to an hour and a half boat ride from Buenos Aires. It’s a UNESCO heritage site and SUPER beautiful. We spent the night and then toured the city the next day, but you really only need one day. Something you should know before going is that most places prefer Uruguayan pesos but will accept US dollars and usually credit cards, and the prices are more similar to those in the United States.

My favorite night of the trip had to have been in Uruguay. We stumbled upon a little restaurant that was so cute and had live music, so for most of the meal we just danced.

The other place we visited, probably my favorite so far, was Iguazu falls in Puerto Iguazu. There are two sides of the falls, a Brazilian side and an Argentinian side, but I only went to the Argentinian side. This side has more trails and hikes while the Brazilian side is more for sightseeing, but both are amazing. Another cool thing about Puerto Iguazu is that it’s on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, so the restaurant we had dinner at one night had views of each country, even though we were still in Argentina.

The most recent place I visited was Tigre, and I went with my program (CEA) there. Tigre is definitely day trip material, and it is located on a delta. We went on a boat tour through the delta which was really cool, and informative, because there was a guide who told us all about the history and comings and goings of the area. One thing I wish I would’ve done or would do in the future is visit Tigre on a weekend. If you do this, there’s an amusement park you can visit, and it’s only open on weekends, at least now, it may be because it’s technically winter here.

I know that was a lot of information, so if you have any questions please put them in the comment section, and be sure to stay tuned for my next post!

Ciao,

Lydia

Lydia Frasz

Chemical Engineering

Engineering: IPE in Buenos Aires

[petnetwork1]

Pet Adoption in Canada : How to Find the Right Pet for You!

Finding the right pet can be a daunting task. You want to find one that is the perfect fit for your personality and lifestyle. If you’re living in Calgary, there are a number of places you can go to find your new best friend.

1. Introduction

This chapter will provide an introduction to the following topics: (1) the history of the field of study known as computer security, (2) the fundamental concepts underlying computer security, and (3) the state of the art in computer security.

2. Reasons to adopt a pet

Pets can provide companionship, love, and loyalty that can be beneficial to their owners. Pets can also help their owners to stay active, as they often need to be walked and played with. Owning a pet can also provide a sense of responsibility and purpose.

3. What to consider before adopting a pet

There are a lot of things to consider before adopting a pet. You need to think about things like whether you have enough space for a pet, whether you have another pet that could potentially get along with a new pet, and whether you’re prepared to handle some of the additional responsibilities that come with pet ownership.

You should also think about your lifestyle and what kind of pet would be a good fit for you and your family. If you’re always on the go, for example, you might not want a dog that needs a lot of exercise. If you have small children, you’ll want to make sure you get a pet that’s kid-friendly.

And finally, you need to be sure that you can afford to care for a pet. Pets can be expensive, especially if you have to pay for food, vet bills, and other pet-related expenses.

So before you run out and adopt a pet, take some time to think about all of these things. It’s important to make sure that you’re ready for the commitment of pet ownership, because once you take in a pet, you’re responsible for its care for the rest of its life.

4. How to find the right pet for you

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a pet. Different types of animals require different levels of care, and some animals may be better suited to your lifestyle than others.

Start by thinking about what you’re looking for in a pet. Do you want a cuddly companion to snuggle with, or an energetic playmate? Do you have allergies, or live in a small apartment? Do you want to take your pet on walks or hikes, or just let it run around in the backyard?

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, do some research on different types of animals. Learn about their care requirements, their personalities, and how much exercise they need. Talk to your friends and family members who have pets to get their opinions.

Once you’ve decided on a type of animal, visit a shelter or pet store to meet some adoptable animals. Play with them, give them a hug, and see which one seems like the perfect fit for your family.

5. Adoption tips

If you are considering adoption, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, be sure that you are ready to become a parent, even if you are adopting a child from foster care. Adopting a child is a huge responsibility, and it is important to be prepared for the challenges that come with it.

Also, be sure to do your research before adopting. There are a lot of different agencies out there, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Talk to friends and family members who have adopted, and read up on the different adoption options available.

Finally, be prepared for the cost of adoption. Adopting a child can be expensive, and there are a lot of different expenses to consider. There are also a lot of government and private programs available to help offset the cost of adoption, so be sure to explore your options.

Adopting a child is a life-changing experience, and it is important to be as prepared as possible before making the commitment. By following these tips, you can ensure that your adoption experience is a positive one.

6. FAQs about pet adoption

There are many frequently asked questions about pet adoption. Below are some of the most common questions and answers.

Q: How much does it cost to adopt a pet?

A: The cost of adoption varies depending on the shelter or rescue organization. Some may charge a nominal fee, while others may require a larger donation.

Q: What is the adoption process like?

A: The adoption process typically includes filling out an application, meeting with an adoption counselor, and paying the adoption fee.

Q: What if I can’t keep my pet?

A: If you are unable to keep your pet, please return the animal to the shelter or rescue organization from which it was adopted.

Q: What if I don’t like my pet?

A: If you are not happy with your pet, please return the animal to the shelter or rescue organization from which it was adopted.

Q: What if my pet gets sick or injured?

A: All pets should have insurance. Adopters are responsible for all costs associated with their pet’s health care.

Q: What is the best way to introduce a new pet to my existing pet?

A: The best way to introduce a new pet to your existing pet is to have them meet in a neutral environment, such as a park or a friend’s house.

7. Conclusion

The conclusion is the final chapter of a book. It summarizes the main points of the book and provides a thought-provoking ending. In nonfiction, a conclusion often offers readers recommendations or advice based on the book’s main ideas. In fiction, a conclusion often provides a sense of resolution or completeness to the story.

No matter what type of book it is, a conclusion should leave readers with something to think about. It should make them question their assumptions, challenge their beliefs, and consider the implications of the book’s main ideas. A good conclusion is memorable and thought-provoking, and it leaves readers eager to discuss the book with others.

The best way to find the perfect pet for you is to do your research. There are a number of animal shelters and rescue organizations in Calgary that have a wide variety of animals available for adoption. Be sure to take the time to visit a few of them and find the one that is the best fit for you.

[iswc07]

Going Business Allied Going Company

Moving can be very boring,Visitor Submitting particularly if you possess a lot of stuff. Packaging up all your factors, leasing a vehicle, running the car, generating to the new position, and unloading everything... This is all really time-consuming. As a result, many persons pick to find the companies of a going organization to accomplish all or facets of it. Regrettably, while choosing a moving organization can save you plenty of your power and energy and stress, choosing the wrong moving organizations could add to it.

To secure your self and your possessions, you will have to know how to select a moving company. Here are a few facets to consider when searching for a great going company. How much of the change are you wanting the moving company to handle? Many persons choose to box up each of their possessions themselves, and find the companies of Flyttehjelp Oslo to load/unload the automobile and transport everything.

Some individuals, especially if they are going cross-country, might lease a car and find the companies of going organizations to field everything up and stock up the automobile, then do the generating themselves. The others find the solutions of moving organizations to accomplish absolutely every thing, from packing the bins to unloading everything in to the correct locations in the brand new house. Just how much are you spending budget for the transfer?

Obviously, precisely what you have the going organizations do can increase your expenses. If you should be effortlessly, you may want to balance quality and ease against price. Assess charges between moving companies, and choose which will most readily useful match your needs. Does the going business make fully sure your possessions against hurt or reduction? You've a lot of capital spent in your possessions. Could you actually manage to? Many moving businesses will only pay a part of the worthiness of your possessions if anything happens to them.

The ideal moving companies can be plumped for by their moving quotations depending on the details about their transactions and the number price quotations they give on request. If quarries regarding various factors on moving businesses satisfied when selected movers ideas of the finest going companies. Remember to ask about the cost to work a going vehicle and to pay the movers. Around estimate the moving costs and ensure that whether they'll attack you with extra costs later or not.

For hiring right selection going organizations take lots of time for you to approximation and then you will have the ability to obtain it right.There is a possibility for incidents while going; some companies give a compensation for broken goods in the accident. Get the number of the driver of the moving vehicle holding your factors only for safety and also question the moving business that you're using, how they would handle a situation where something owed for you is damaged during the shift. Going organizations really are a necessity with therefore many requisitions available you've plenty to pick from.

Moving is too much and there are always have several potential issues across the way. Luckily, all of the issues can be prevented by managing precisely and planning moves ahead. Provide yourself sufficient sometime to acknowledge your great evaluation. Actually, it is better to take care of as much problems that you can before moving and therefore, feel like you are able to change on with your lifetime as opposed to getting away from from recent issues.

If the moving company's program doesn't present enough protection, you might want to check into extra insurance. What type of reputation does the moving organizations have? We've all seen the problem reports of factors changing up dropping or ruined following the going businesses have unpacked the automobile and left. Just as you would like your possessions attached from damage or rejection, in addition you need to know whether a moving business includes a acceptance for splitting or using factors. May the moving organizations give you referrals?

A fantastic going business should have the ability to give you with places upon wondering for. Obviously, definitely the most effective referrals you can get is a recommendation from a buddy or associate. Ultimate Techniques for Selecting a Moving Company. While there is so significantly predicated on having exemplary moving organizations, understanding how to choose a going company is essential. Before you start contacting moving businesses for quotations, make sure to prepare a list of the issues you'll need to ask. That can help you emphasis on a single purpose throughout the discussion.

[eduminatti]

How To Make Your College Tuition More Affordable

College is expensive. Tuition rates have been increasing while family incomes have decreased over time. When it's your turn to attend university, there won't be enough to pay for it. We have some ideas that should help pay for a college education more affordable.

The tuition costs aren't getting any cheaper, so it's crucial to consider ways to make paying for it more affordable.

As per research conducted by schools in Mumbai there are many techniques you can use from applying for scholarships to pursuing a less expensive degree.

Colleges cost not because they are ungenerous. But because they have to cover the cost of running a school.

For example, they pay their professors with the understanding that they'll be able to teach the students and get something out of it in return. They also need to pay rent for the building, utilities, and other things like food for students.

Another survey done by schools in Pune shows that also, some schools have a lot of extra costs because they have more specialised programs that require more equipment or teachers who are experts in particular fields.

It's not just about money either—colleges are also looking out for their student's well-being by keeping tuition low so that more people can go to college and get an education without taking on too much debt.

The reasons for this cost vary from college to college and from state to state, but generally, there are three main factors:

1. The cost of labour. Colleges pay professors more than other industries because they have higher education and experience. They may also have more professional certifications or degrees than their peers in other industries.

2. The cost of materials used by students and faculty alike. The materials used by students (books, laptops, etc.) are often expensive and must be replaced frequently due to wear and tear—and sometimes just because they're out-of-date! Faculty members need supplies like pens, paper clips, highlighters, and printer ink cartridges. The list goes on!

3. The cost of maintaining buildings and grounds on campus. Colleges have large campuses that need upkeep—from keeping the grass mowed to replacing broken windows (which happens often).

Aim For A Low-Cost College

If you want to make your college tuition more affordable, look at the cost of the school you're considering. You'll typically find that more expensive schools have higher tuition rates than less expensive ones, so try to stick with colleges on the lower end of the price spectrum.

Some schools have scholarships specifically designed for low-income students who demonstrate merit or need; others have grants that don't require repayment after graduation. Check out the financial aid section on each school's website before enrolling. So that you know what options are available!

Look For Scholarships

There are different types of scholarships that you can apply for, including:

* Academic scholarships—these are based on your GPA and standardised test scores.

* Leadership or community service scholarships—these are awarded to students who have demonstrated leadership skills and community involvement.

* Talent-based scholarships—these are awarded based on artistic and academic skills such as music or writing.

* Sports scholarships—athletes may be eligible for a scholarship that covers their cost of tuition if they meet certain requirements.

Find A Part-Time Job

A job can be a great way to balance out your income and expenses and can help you save up for what matters most. It's also a great way to build up your resume and gain valuable work experience.

Here are some tips for finding a part-time job while still keeping up with your studies:

-Know what kind of job fits into your schedule. Do you have a flexible schedule? Are there any opportunities for evening or weekend work? Can you pick up shifts during the week when class isn't in session? Knowing what opportunities exist will help guide your search for an appropriate position.

-Look for companies that offer flexibility and support for students who want to pursue higher education. Companies like Starbucks offer flexible schedules and great benefits packages for employees who also attend school full-time.

Look Into Student Loans

Student loans can be a great way to finance your education, but they come with some risks. 

You need to be sure you understand how they work before signing on the dotted line.

Here are some tips for making sure you're well prepared when it comes to student loans:

Find out what types of federal aid are available to you. You might be eligible for grants, scholarships, or other forms of financial aid that don't require repayment after graduation.

Check out all the repayment options available and interest rates and fees. So you know what monthly payment will be after graduation (even if it's not yet time for repayment). The longer you take to pay off your loan, the more interest will accrue over time—so try not to use more than one type of loan at once!

Ensure that any private lender offers deferment options if needed during periods of unemployment or disability; otherwise, you could end up paying back money that isn't yours yet!

Apply For Financial Aid

If you're worried about the cost of college, we've got some tips that can help make it more affordable. The first thing to do is to apply for financial aid.

That way, if you qualify, you can get money to pay for your tuition and other expenses.

Financial aid comes in all shapes and sizes, so it's important to know what's available. Most colleges have a financial aid office where you can get help finding the right forms and filling them out. If you go to a community college or state school, the application process will be easier than attending a private university or out-of-state school.

If you qualify for financial aid, it may cover all or part of your tuition, as well as books and supplies, housing and meals (if applicable), transportation costs such as gas money, and other related expenses like uniforms or lab fees (if needed).

Conclusion

College tuition can be scary, but you don't have to let that stop you from going to the college of your dreams! The key to saving money and making college more affordable is to start working on maximising grants and scholarships at the beginning of your planning process.

 Your best bet is to use an online grant search service which will make it easier for you to apply for grants and scholarships with little effort.