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How a legal battle over an endangered chicken could reshape the Texas oil industry
2023.03.29 11:28 houstontexas2022 How a legal battle over an endangered chicken could reshape the Texas oil industry
 | POLITICS How a legal battle over an endangered chicken could reshape the Texas oil industry submitted by houstontexas2022 to TexasPolitics [link] [comments] Edward McKinley March 28, 2023 A lesser prairie chicken is seen amid the bird's annual mating ritual near Milnesand, N.M., on April 8, 2021. A lesser prairie chicken is seen amid the bird's annual mating ritual near Milnesand, N.M., on April 8, 2021.Adrian Hedden/AP A wild chicken species in the Texas Panhandle could stymie the nation’s oil and gas producers, industry insiders fear. After decades of advocacy from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week named the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species. The bird, which lives in grasslands across five states, including the Texas panhandle, once numbered in the millions. Recent estimates suggest there are about 32,000 remaining. RELATED: Big Oil is making billions, but don't expect lower gas prices The bird was previously categorized as endangered in 2014, but a judge repealed that as part of a lawsuit from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association that asked for more time to prove that existing conservation efforts would work. Nearly a decade later, the service is trying once again. Industry groups and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton oppose the move and have sued, claiming the plan in place is working. An endangered species designation triggers stringent conservation rules to protect the animal and its habitat. Existing oil and gas projects, as well as certain renewable energy projects, could be grandfathered in, but new projects could be blocked entirely or require expensive additional permits. “This will add significant time and uncertainty to those permitting requirements," said Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. “We’re talking about the most prolific oil field not only in Texas but in North America," he said. "And we think significant portions of oil and gas could be shuddered or negatively impacted, dramatically impacted, in such a way that it would disrupt the state of Texas’ economy, and frankly our national security and our energy security." The listing also affects ranchers, as livestock grazing in certain areas could be harmful to the prairie chickens. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller lambasted the decision as a power grab and overreach from the Biden Administration, and he suggested it could contribute to rising food costs. The decision to name the bird as endangered was announced last fall. Industry groups, including Shepperd's and several cattle groups, are suing once again to stop the listing. And Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing separately on behalf of the agriculture and energy arms of the state government. Are the birds rebounding? The current argument boils down to whether or not the existing conservation plan is working to save the birds. Known as the “rangewide plan,” it’s administered by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which is comprised of the Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife and its counterparts from other states in the region. The effort began about a decade ago. Critics of the new designation say populations of the bird are either stable or growing, and its habitat is protected. The plan requires oil and gas companies seeking to develop land in the chicken’s habitat to invest in conservation efforts elsewhere to cancel out the damage from their projects. David Yoskowitz, director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, also disagreed with the decision, writing, "We believe that the listing decision jeopardizes years of voluntary conservation efforts by landowners and industry." But the national Fish and Wildlife Service said that active oil and gas wells in the chickens' habitat have increased by more than 80 percent over the last 10 years, a significant threat. "Voluntary conservation efforts have helped conserve key habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken," the agency wrote in its announcement of its listing decision, "but have not demonstrated an ability to offset the threats and reverse the trends of habitat loss and fragmentation facing the lesser prairie-chicken." An internal audit, which was shared as part of a federal public comment period, said the plan is on track to run out of money in the coming years, in part because funds were diverted from their intended purpose. For instance, it said, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies borrowed money from the supposedly permanent conservation fund, spending some on paying staff and more on a new, $650,000 headquarters building in Boise, Idaho, which is nowhere near the habitat for lesser prairie chickens. Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, described the rangewide plan as a “scam.” “We’ve had a chance to actually look at how that plan that was supposed to obviate the need for a listing has played out,” he said. “It’s shocking, and the lesser prairie chicken has lost a great deal of habitat that was not replaced.” Robinson's group, which has since the 1990s petitioned the federal government to name the bird as endangered, says the chicken's habitat has declined over the past decade and that oil and gas companies are generating “phantom” restoration credits without actually preserving any habitat. For example, the group argued that the rangewide plan claimed to have restored 8,000 acres of chicken habitat by thinning out shinnery oak. But according to academic studies, those trees are “critical to conservation of some populations of prairie chickens.” “The lesser prairie chicken has been on a downward trajectory for a long time, and with that and many other species, it takes years and even decades to recover them," Robinson said. [email protected] Photo of Edward McKinley Written By Edward McKinley Reach Edward on Edward McKinley reports on Texas state government and politics from the Hearst Bureau in Austin for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News. He is a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and a 2020 graduate of Georgetown’s Master’s in American Government program. He previously reported for The Albany Times Union and the Kansas City Star newspapers, and he originally hails from the great state of Minnesota. CBS |
2023.03.29 07:56 roberestarkk Text to Speech Testing
There is a certain aura, a cultural meme, regarding the United Nations Armed Forces. A very particular version of events that is peddled across the galaxy, generally the result of an interstellar game of telephone. This aura is that of an unflinching, uncaring war machine. One that starts with the goal of total destruction of its opponents, and works towards that by any means necessary.
It is easy to see how this came about. Even putting aside the pre-Contact War conflicts, there is plenty of brutality to be found. The exploits of Spearhead Platoon during the Second Hekatian War, fighting it's way from the Susquehanna to the palace of the Hekatian Emperor, has particularly dominated the popular consciousness for many, and it is difficult to argue they did not experience some of the worst the war had to offer. A still frame of Corporal Heppell, gas mask concealing all but his eyes, half a second away from plunging his plasma-enhanced bayonet into a Hekatian platoon commander, has become one of the most reproduced images of the whole Battle of New York.
While plasma bayonets were only issued to a small portion of British units during the Second Hekatian War, melee fighting still occupied a disturbingly high proportion of the wars with the Hekatians a modern war. The Battle of London (both 2021 and 2025) saw civilians armed with little more than axes and clubs achieving at least some success against mechanised Hekatian forces in the tight urban confines of the city, with their contributions in the Second Hekatian War forming a part of the critical force that halted the Hekatian offensive. Less well commemorated, but by no means less brave, was the near-complete annihilation of the 8th Battalion Rajputana Rifles in the opening phases of the Battle of New Delhi. Caught out-of-position by the surprise landing of Hekatian forces, the soldiers rushed into battle against a far-superior Hekatian force. By the day's end, only 3 soldiers survived from the entire ordeal, but their counterattacks, waged with everything from rifles to chunks of rubble used as clubs, successfully held up the better part of a division for some critical hours. Doubtless similar stories exist across every front of the war.
Infantry fought with all manner of weapons, with KPA forces famously utilising shovels and large quantities of grenades while fighting from trench to trench on the slopes of Mt. Paektu. During the later stages of the Battle of New York, Gurkha units roamed the irradiated rubble of the city, wielding plasma-enhanced kukris: this was so extraordinarily effective that Hekatian units in the Brooklyn area had a bounty set on the weapons, on the basis that each collected meant another of the feared soldiers had been eliminated, and that soldiers would be more watchful in hopes of collecting said bounty. The actual effect was that the number of losses credited to Gurkha units went up, as their soldiers (now aware of just how effective they were) delved deeper and deeper into psychological warfare. Meanwhile, Hekatian soldiers became so jumpy that they often exposed themselves to Human forces by firing away at nonexistent targets, and were so nervous as to lose all composure when engaged. When the United Nations counterattack successfully trapped a large quantity of supply-starved Hekatians in the radioactive ruins of New York, an intimidation campaign of such ferocity was launched that even a century later headless Hekatians are occasionally located within the New York area.
There are, of course, other ways to be brutal than a bayonet or bullet.
The Second Hekatian War, for example, saw the mass deployment of nerve gas against Hekatian forces landing in Southern England, with this considered to be the single deadliest event in the history of warfare (excluding attacks targeted at civilian populations). True numbers on the death toll are hard to come by, but it is estimated these attacks alone killed roughly 100,000 Hekatians, unprepared for the gas as they were exiting their ships, with an unknown number severely wounded. This is at present the only confirmed deployment of chemical weapons in either war: rumours persist of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea having used significant quantities during the fighting across the Korean Peninsula, and into Northeastern China. To this day, neither the People’s Republic of China, nor the Korean Federal Republic have confirmed these rumours, and all files regarding the status of the DPRK’s chemical arsenal have been sealed away until 2155.
Chemical weapons were not the only weapons of mass destruction brought out in desperate defence of Earth. Biological weapons were deployed, albeit in significantly less flashy ways. Though continuously denied by the United Nations to this day, all evidence indicates that a modified form of Tularemia was deployed against Hekatian forces in the United States. By all accounts, this was extraordinarily effective in shattering Hekatian morale, along with generally degrading their ability to resist United Nations counterattacks. This disease, relatively minor as far as biological weapons go, was generally non-lethal, and thus believed acceptable to be used against the Hekatians without causing further escalation if discovered.
Currently, there is significant reason to believe the Hekatians may have deployed biological weapons of their own, which may later have morphed into the infamous Cincinnati Flu, though this is highly controversial amongst war historians, and is believed to have occurred independently of the use of Tularemia. It is also worth noting that declassified British documents speak openly of a large stockpile of anthrax being distributed across the island at the start of the Second Hekatian War, with the intent being to release it en masse as a form of vengeance should Britain fall. Still uncertain is why, even a century after the war and the collapse of the Hekatian Stellar Imperium, several Hekatian-majority worlds (including, most infamously, Kulabaddos) semi-routinely see severe outbreaks of a disease worryingly similar to H1N1.
The most destructive WMDs in pure terms were the InterStellar Faster-than-light Missiles. Effectively the old idea of the Relativistic Kill Vehicle, except with a hyperdrive strapped to them, they saw very little use across the war, except for a few carefully calculated deployments by United Nations forces. Using stolen missiles, the Muaytrov and Hualkinov anchorages were utterly destroyed, followed by the military staging post of Traxio.
But these are not the weapons of mass destruction thought of when the Second Hekatian War springs to mind.
In the course of the Second Hekatian War, nukes were tossed around in large numbers. City after city across the United States of America fell victim to Hekatian nukes, while American strikes (generally tactical in nature, directed at concentrations of Hekatian forces and key command and control sites) usually invited yet more retaliation. Historians are unable to come to much of a conclusion on the effectiveness of this strategy by the American military, in no small part due to the difficulties of credibly predicting what would have happened without it. It is arguable that these attacks were responsible for the collapse of Hekatian morale and eventual widespread mutinies: this can also be attributed to any of hundreds of factors. It must be noted, though, that the Hekatians began the nuclear game with the destruction of Washington DC, and that ultimately all responsibility lies with them.
After the war, there was much debate on the morality of this action, rather than just the efficacy. It was declared by some that Humanity, now no longer in an existential fight for it's liberty and potentially survival, was in a "post-nuclear" age, where it could step away from these insanely destructive weapons. While this did hold for biological and chemical weapons, it simply could not for nuclear weapons, as the reality of maintaining an effective military on the interstellar scale quickly caught up. Nukes are fielded in what could be described as a liberal amount: fashioned into Nuclear Explosively Formed Projectiles or Casaba-Howitzers, they form the backbone of the Stellar Navy’s anti-ship missile arsenal. Special forces units have routinely made use of sub-kiloton devices in the Rigel Campaign, and conventional forces maintain large stockpiles for tactical usage. Even the famous SIM-94, defender of the skies, is more commonly than not fielded with a nuclear warhead of some sort.
These are carefully calculated tactical uses, yes. A Casaba-Howitzer melting a warship is a far different thing than the nuclear bombardment of Los Angeles, both in scale and morality. But most commanders do still hesitate when they order a nuclear strike in an exercise. Failsafes abound for all devices intended for anti-ship purposes to prevent their usage in other ways, while devices for use as bombs are subject to hyper-strict command-and-control procedures. ISFMs are subject to even stricter control, since their misuse could devastate an unshielded planet.
The cumulative effects of such a war have continued to be felt for decades afterwards. The Second Hekatian War is believed to be the war with the single highest rate of PTSD amongst veterans. Post-war advances in medical technology helped to at least lessen the effects of physical wounds, and the general improvement in living standards that followed the wars has significantly helped many veterans, but some things can't be solved by getting to take a holiday to space on the cheap. This is of course not to mention the refugee populations of the former United States, many of them surviving by flukes while losing their entire family. It is a horror no one seeks to experience again.
Yes, the plasma bayonet is still technically fielded by both the Territorial and Stellar Army (though, notably, not the Orbital Infantry, who solely fight in the cramped confines of space stations). But it has not been used in combat in decades, and is widely agreed to only exist because of tradition, and also as a somewhat risky means of cooking food. To the average soldier, the idea of a bayonet charge is unthinkable, not least because it means a lot has gone wrong.
When the Hekatians were at the gates in 2025, it was necessary to project a certain image. The unflinching warrior, remorseless and unplagued by questions of morality. Even at the time, this had serious problems. Now, in 2150, things are different. That image is back in the box as far as the United Nations is concerned, even as the myth continues to spread. But the thing about boxes is that you can always open them up again. The only hope is it never will be.
Some may notice that there has been a slight retconning of ISFMs here. Originally they were intended to hit their target at FTL speeds: I have spent at least a year bothered by my earlier concepts of FTL. Firstly, the problem of where they got the energy to go FTL: this was covered by a "no one knows", which was eventually meant to be "no one knows but it's being siphoned from other dead universes and for some reason can't be harnessed by other uses", which was a cop-out to be honest. The second issue was that obviously any shield to protect against this would be absurdly powerful, so absurdly powerful as to render any planet basically invulnerable to everything. Thirdly, they had an interesting effect on space battles, in that they forced them to be more conducted in orbits of planets where collateral damage would prevent the usage of ISFMs. I really like this as a concept, especially since I think it's a kinda nice inversion of how anti-ship missiles work in reality (which force ships to get further and further away), but I realised that ISFMs were basically just too good at this. So I have decided to change it slightly, so that it's closer to a "slipspace" style. ISFMs are now just RKVs with the ability to go faster than light, then they drop out slightly before hitting the target. Still very powerful but less nakedly reality breaking. The point about forcing battles to be more in orbit still stands, but now those ships could better defend themselves or evade. Basically the difference between how hypersonic weapons are portrayed against modern carriers, and their current reality: still capable but not perfect. The same change applies broadly to regular hyperdrives, but they're not really that affected.
Anyway, if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee, it helps a ton, and allows me to keep writing this sort of stuff. Alternatively, you can just read more of it.
submitted by roberestarkk to u/roberestarkk [link] [comments]
It is easy to see how this came about. Even putting aside the pre-Contact War conflicts, there is plenty of brutality to be found. The exploits of Spearhead Platoon during the Second Hekatian War, fighting it's way from the Susquehanna to the palace of the Hekatian Emperor, has particularly dominated the popular consciousness for many, and it is difficult to argue they did not experience some of the worst the war had to offer. A still frame of Corporal Heppell, gas mask concealing all but his eyes, half a second away from plunging his plasma-enhanced bayonet into a Hekatian platoon commander, has become one of the most reproduced images of the whole Battle of New York.
While plasma bayonets were only issued to a small portion of British units during the Second Hekatian War, melee fighting still occupied a disturbingly high proportion of the wars with the Hekatians a modern war. The Battle of London (both 2021 and 2025) saw civilians armed with little more than axes and clubs achieving at least some success against mechanised Hekatian forces in the tight urban confines of the city, with their contributions in the Second Hekatian War forming a part of the critical force that halted the Hekatian offensive. Less well commemorated, but by no means less brave, was the near-complete annihilation of the 8th Battalion Rajputana Rifles in the opening phases of the Battle of New Delhi. Caught out-of-position by the surprise landing of Hekatian forces, the soldiers rushed into battle against a far-superior Hekatian force. By the day's end, only 3 soldiers survived from the entire ordeal, but their counterattacks, waged with everything from rifles to chunks of rubble used as clubs, successfully held up the better part of a division for some critical hours. Doubtless similar stories exist across every front of the war.
Infantry fought with all manner of weapons, with KPA forces famously utilising shovels and large quantities of grenades while fighting from trench to trench on the slopes of Mt. Paektu. During the later stages of the Battle of New York, Gurkha units roamed the irradiated rubble of the city, wielding plasma-enhanced kukris: this was so extraordinarily effective that Hekatian units in the Brooklyn area had a bounty set on the weapons, on the basis that each collected meant another of the feared soldiers had been eliminated, and that soldiers would be more watchful in hopes of collecting said bounty. The actual effect was that the number of losses credited to Gurkha units went up, as their soldiers (now aware of just how effective they were) delved deeper and deeper into psychological warfare. Meanwhile, Hekatian soldiers became so jumpy that they often exposed themselves to Human forces by firing away at nonexistent targets, and were so nervous as to lose all composure when engaged. When the United Nations counterattack successfully trapped a large quantity of supply-starved Hekatians in the radioactive ruins of New York, an intimidation campaign of such ferocity was launched that even a century later headless Hekatians are occasionally located within the New York area.
There are, of course, other ways to be brutal than a bayonet or bullet.
The Second Hekatian War, for example, saw the mass deployment of nerve gas against Hekatian forces landing in Southern England, with this considered to be the single deadliest event in the history of warfare (excluding attacks targeted at civilian populations). True numbers on the death toll are hard to come by, but it is estimated these attacks alone killed roughly 100,000 Hekatians, unprepared for the gas as they were exiting their ships, with an unknown number severely wounded. This is at present the only confirmed deployment of chemical weapons in either war: rumours persist of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea having used significant quantities during the fighting across the Korean Peninsula, and into Northeastern China. To this day, neither the People’s Republic of China, nor the Korean Federal Republic have confirmed these rumours, and all files regarding the status of the DPRK’s chemical arsenal have been sealed away until 2155.
Chemical weapons were not the only weapons of mass destruction brought out in desperate defence of Earth. Biological weapons were deployed, albeit in significantly less flashy ways. Though continuously denied by the United Nations to this day, all evidence indicates that a modified form of Tularemia was deployed against Hekatian forces in the United States. By all accounts, this was extraordinarily effective in shattering Hekatian morale, along with generally degrading their ability to resist United Nations counterattacks. This disease, relatively minor as far as biological weapons go, was generally non-lethal, and thus believed acceptable to be used against the Hekatians without causing further escalation if discovered.
Currently, there is significant reason to believe the Hekatians may have deployed biological weapons of their own, which may later have morphed into the infamous Cincinnati Flu, though this is highly controversial amongst war historians, and is believed to have occurred independently of the use of Tularemia. It is also worth noting that declassified British documents speak openly of a large stockpile of anthrax being distributed across the island at the start of the Second Hekatian War, with the intent being to release it en masse as a form of vengeance should Britain fall. Still uncertain is why, even a century after the war and the collapse of the Hekatian Stellar Imperium, several Hekatian-majority worlds (including, most infamously, Kulabaddos) semi-routinely see severe outbreaks of a disease worryingly similar to H1N1.
The most destructive WMDs in pure terms were the InterStellar Faster-than-light Missiles. Effectively the old idea of the Relativistic Kill Vehicle, except with a hyperdrive strapped to them, they saw very little use across the war, except for a few carefully calculated deployments by United Nations forces. Using stolen missiles, the Muaytrov and Hualkinov anchorages were utterly destroyed, followed by the military staging post of Traxio.
But these are not the weapons of mass destruction thought of when the Second Hekatian War springs to mind.
In the course of the Second Hekatian War, nukes were tossed around in large numbers. City after city across the United States of America fell victim to Hekatian nukes, while American strikes (generally tactical in nature, directed at concentrations of Hekatian forces and key command and control sites) usually invited yet more retaliation. Historians are unable to come to much of a conclusion on the effectiveness of this strategy by the American military, in no small part due to the difficulties of credibly predicting what would have happened without it. It is arguable that these attacks were responsible for the collapse of Hekatian morale and eventual widespread mutinies: this can also be attributed to any of hundreds of factors. It must be noted, though, that the Hekatians began the nuclear game with the destruction of Washington DC, and that ultimately all responsibility lies with them.
After the war, there was much debate on the morality of this action, rather than just the efficacy. It was declared by some that Humanity, now no longer in an existential fight for it's liberty and potentially survival, was in a "post-nuclear" age, where it could step away from these insanely destructive weapons. While this did hold for biological and chemical weapons, it simply could not for nuclear weapons, as the reality of maintaining an effective military on the interstellar scale quickly caught up. Nukes are fielded in what could be described as a liberal amount: fashioned into Nuclear Explosively Formed Projectiles or Casaba-Howitzers, they form the backbone of the Stellar Navy’s anti-ship missile arsenal. Special forces units have routinely made use of sub-kiloton devices in the Rigel Campaign, and conventional forces maintain large stockpiles for tactical usage. Even the famous SIM-94, defender of the skies, is more commonly than not fielded with a nuclear warhead of some sort.
These are carefully calculated tactical uses, yes. A Casaba-Howitzer melting a warship is a far different thing than the nuclear bombardment of Los Angeles, both in scale and morality. But most commanders do still hesitate when they order a nuclear strike in an exercise. Failsafes abound for all devices intended for anti-ship purposes to prevent their usage in other ways, while devices for use as bombs are subject to hyper-strict command-and-control procedures. ISFMs are subject to even stricter control, since their misuse could devastate an unshielded planet.
The cumulative effects of such a war have continued to be felt for decades afterwards. The Second Hekatian War is believed to be the war with the single highest rate of PTSD amongst veterans. Post-war advances in medical technology helped to at least lessen the effects of physical wounds, and the general improvement in living standards that followed the wars has significantly helped many veterans, but some things can't be solved by getting to take a holiday to space on the cheap. This is of course not to mention the refugee populations of the former United States, many of them surviving by flukes while losing their entire family. It is a horror no one seeks to experience again.
Yes, the plasma bayonet is still technically fielded by both the Territorial and Stellar Army (though, notably, not the Orbital Infantry, who solely fight in the cramped confines of space stations). But it has not been used in combat in decades, and is widely agreed to only exist because of tradition, and also as a somewhat risky means of cooking food. To the average soldier, the idea of a bayonet charge is unthinkable, not least because it means a lot has gone wrong.
When the Hekatians were at the gates in 2025, it was necessary to project a certain image. The unflinching warrior, remorseless and unplagued by questions of morality. Even at the time, this had serious problems. Now, in 2150, things are different. That image is back in the box as far as the United Nations is concerned, even as the myth continues to spread. But the thing about boxes is that you can always open them up again. The only hope is it never will be.
---Authors Notes---
Some points: the Korean Federal Republic is supposed to be the unified state that now comprises the Korean peninsula. The Rigel Campaign thing is something I have been meaning to expand on for a while now, and has been mentioned before, though not by that name. Fingers crossed I can sort out the relevant stories for that some time soon.Some may notice that there has been a slight retconning of ISFMs here. Originally they were intended to hit their target at FTL speeds: I have spent at least a year bothered by my earlier concepts of FTL. Firstly, the problem of where they got the energy to go FTL: this was covered by a "no one knows", which was eventually meant to be "no one knows but it's being siphoned from other dead universes and for some reason can't be harnessed by other uses", which was a cop-out to be honest. The second issue was that obviously any shield to protect against this would be absurdly powerful, so absurdly powerful as to render any planet basically invulnerable to everything. Thirdly, they had an interesting effect on space battles, in that they forced them to be more conducted in orbits of planets where collateral damage would prevent the usage of ISFMs. I really like this as a concept, especially since I think it's a kinda nice inversion of how anti-ship missiles work in reality (which force ships to get further and further away), but I realised that ISFMs were basically just too good at this. So I have decided to change it slightly, so that it's closer to a "slipspace" style. ISFMs are now just RKVs with the ability to go faster than light, then they drop out slightly before hitting the target. Still very powerful but less nakedly reality breaking. The point about forcing battles to be more in orbit still stands, but now those ships could better defend themselves or evade. Basically the difference between how hypersonic weapons are portrayed against modern carriers, and their current reality: still capable but not perfect. The same change applies broadly to regular hyperdrives, but they're not really that affected.
Anyway, if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee, it helps a ton, and allows me to keep writing this sort of stuff. Alternatively, you can just read more of it.
Note from roberestarkk
I am blatantly copy-pasting this from elsewhere to help test a text-to-speech issue2023.03.29 07:23 hillymunster ACH - I'm still looking for advice?
My clients provide me with authorization to draft their monthly invoice via ACH. They provide me with their name, bank account number, routing number, etc. I am PULLING their money from their account and depositing in to my operating account. Our bank charges $50/month plus $1 per draft (I think it's $1 or about). This doesn't sound bad but I draft over 200 people per month. It adds up. Is there another option?
I appreciate the recommendations before, but options like BlueVine or Melio won't work. These "free ACH" bank/companies require the client to connect their bank with Plaid and initiate the transfer on their end. My clients are specifically giving me ACH authorization so they don't have to pay every month or take any action.
I need a service that allows me to input name/routing/account number every month then DRAFT / PULL the money from the clients' accounts and immediately deposit it into my account. Is there a free or low cost option? I feel like I'm missing something. In my industry, ALL ACH payments are free for the customeclient; they are not charged like they are for a credit card payment. So I feel like I'm missing something - are they using a system I haven't become aware of? Or cutting a check for each client with the routing/account number and somehow processing it? I don't know. Any input would help. The fees are killing us, especially because we do not pass them on for ACH. No one does, so it wouldn't be OK if we did.
submitted by hillymunster to smallbusiness [link] [comments]
I appreciate the recommendations before, but options like BlueVine or Melio won't work. These "free ACH" bank/companies require the client to connect their bank with Plaid and initiate the transfer on their end. My clients are specifically giving me ACH authorization so they don't have to pay every month or take any action.
I need a service that allows me to input name/routing/account number every month then DRAFT / PULL the money from the clients' accounts and immediately deposit it into my account. Is there a free or low cost option? I feel like I'm missing something. In my industry, ALL ACH payments are free for the customeclient; they are not charged like they are for a credit card payment. So I feel like I'm missing something - are they using a system I haven't become aware of? Or cutting a check for each client with the routing/account number and somehow processing it? I don't know. Any input would help. The fees are killing us, especially because we do not pass them on for ACH. No one does, so it wouldn't be OK if we did.
2023.03.29 06:29 Preferably_Anonymous Online mortgage lenders?
I'm looking to buy my first house and am wondering what route I should go for my mortgage. My credit score is around 770 and between my wife and I, we have a combined income of $140k.
Are there reputable online lenders that typically offer lower rates than the major lenders or local lenders? Credit unions vs banks?
I just don't really know where to start when checking out different options so I could use some advice on this
Thanks in advance
submitted by Preferably_Anonymous to FirstTimeHomeBuyer [link] [comments]
Are there reputable online lenders that typically offer lower rates than the major lenders or local lenders? Credit unions vs banks?
I just don't really know where to start when checking out different options so I could use some advice on this
Thanks in advance
2023.03.29 06:01 mschvs_one Day 456 Stats
Alive: 490
Dead: 6,651
Day 456 Change: 1
Day 456 Percent Change: 0.204%
Total Percent Dead: 93.14%
Estimated Bots: ~42*
Pool Value Per Person: ~$145.73**
*Estimated Bots is a rough count determined by all "safe" logins within the first 30 seconds of a new day. This number is far from accurate, as there are surely some humans caught up in it, but for now, it is the best number we can get without having a bigger universe. Eventually, we will have a more accurate method to get this number.
**This number does not account for the credit fees, etc, removed from the total pool amount. At the end of the game the total pool will likely be closer to ~$67k after credit card processing fees are deducted by MSCHF. This number also does not account for your potential local and federal taxes which would be owed on the winnings.
submitted by mschvs_one to MSCHVS [link] [comments]
Dead: 6,651
Day 456 Change: 1
Day 456 Percent Change: 0.204%
Total Percent Dead: 93.14%
Estimated Bots: ~42*
Pool Value Per Person: ~$145.73**
*Estimated Bots is a rough count determined by all "safe" logins within the first 30 seconds of a new day. This number is far from accurate, as there are surely some humans caught up in it, but for now, it is the best number we can get without having a bigger universe. Eventually, we will have a more accurate method to get this number.
**This number does not account for the credit fees, etc, removed from the total pool amount. At the end of the game the total pool will likely be closer to ~$67k after credit card processing fees are deducted by MSCHF. This number also does not account for your potential local and federal taxes which would be owed on the winnings.
2023.03.29 05:24 Next_Gen_investing What would be your 4 % dividend fund ? Stocks only :)
You've been given 100k and in order to keep it you must invest in stocks (Sorry No SCHD, no hate just thinking stocks) Also no REITS and LPs because of their tax rules. What would be your ideal portfolio of say ~20ish companies giving you a stable yield of 4% ?
Here's mine -
I picked 23 companies and in summary I went heavy on Energy, Semiconductors and tobacco. I lead with CVX because of the worlds reliance on oil, I like QCOMM because it has a nice low PE of ~11 and I see tobaccos as stable dividend cash cows (Ive got PM in there too). To diversify myself I chose healthcare and consumer sectors like Pepsi and Lowes. Im was wresting with DVN because of its variable dividend, but I ultimately decided to keep it.
https://preview.redd.it/mwbdb06rjlqa1.png?width=1253&format=png&auto=webp&s=7f5e8d01b770ceb6e29a891f89719f264cfd9d15
Some of the current price's arent reflective of todays market values.
submitted by Next_Gen_investing to dividends [link] [comments]
Here's mine -
I picked 23 companies and in summary I went heavy on Energy, Semiconductors and tobacco. I lead with CVX because of the worlds reliance on oil, I like QCOMM because it has a nice low PE of ~11 and I see tobaccos as stable dividend cash cows (Ive got PM in there too). To diversify myself I chose healthcare and consumer sectors like Pepsi and Lowes. Im was wresting with DVN because of its variable dividend, but I ultimately decided to keep it.
https://preview.redd.it/mwbdb06rjlqa1.png?width=1253&format=png&auto=webp&s=7f5e8d01b770ceb6e29a891f89719f264cfd9d15
Some of the current price's arent reflective of todays market values.
2023.03.29 01:50 Fleetwood154 So the FDevs felt some type of way for us console players & threw us a bone.o7
 | submitted by Fleetwood154 to EliteDangerous [link] [comments] |
2023.03.29 01:42 Sarge45k "Missing Colors" of the 45th PVI.
 | It has been found!! The "missing colours" of the 45th PVI! An incredible story that has direct lines to General Lee & his family. submitted by Sarge45k to CivilWarVexillology [link] [comments] Exceedingly rare outside of museum collections are regulation American battle standards, much less such historical flags with applied battle honors that was thought lost and has just recently been consigned by direct family descent of last caretaker. The 45th Pennsylvania was a magnificent fighting unit who lost 3 battle flags during the war. This was their last flag issued & it saw the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Battle of the Crater, Weldon Railroad & Poplar Springs Church where the unit was decimated & much of the unit was captured. The 45th served the entire war from October 1861 to finally being mustered out July 1865 with casualties totaling about 500. General U.S. Grant planned simultaneous attacks on both of Lee’s flanks at Petersburg in Sept., 1864. Lee’s left was attacked by the Army of the James under Butler. Lee’s right was attacked by Gen. Gouverneur Warren of the 5th Corps with a goal of cutting the Boydton Plank Road supply line. Units of the 9th Corp were attached, including a brigade containing the 51st NY, the 58th MA, and the 45th PA, all posted on the extreme Union left. CS General Henry Heth formed a frontal infantry attack to counter the Union move. Cavalry General Wade Hampton supported the attack by taking on the Federal left flank. He sent Gen W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee’s brigade completely around the Union line, and Lee personally led the dismounted 9th and 10th VA cavalries which attacked the exposed rear and flank of the enemy. The result was decisive. The three Union regiment noted above, which include the 45th PA, were nearly annihilated by Lee’s Virginians. Hampton recorded it like this: As the enemy moved up to reinforce, he exposed his flank to me. I at once ordered Gen. Lee to attack, which he did with the 9th and 10th Va. Regiments in the handsomest style, leading his men in person. These regiments went in, in the line of battle, dismounted and reserved their fire until very near the enemy. Delivering it regularly, they charged, routing the enemy completely, capturing about nine hundred prisoners and ten standards. From the Union perspective, the fighting that Sept. 30 was a disaster (though fighting the next several days stabilized and advanced the Union line). Known as the Battle of Poplar Springs Church or Pebbles Farm, Division commander Gen. R. B. Potter claimed in a report a month later that the 51 NY and the 45th PA destroyed their colors before capture. This was just wishful thinking. A complete version of events is available in the History of the Forty-Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry: According to Sergeant J. D. Straight of company I, who was with the colors and ought to know, General Potter was evidently misinformed about the colors of the Forty-fifth being destroyed. Sergeant Straight says in substance that after our line of battle had been attacked in flank and rear and had been thrown into confusion, and he, as one of the color guard, and Sergeant Joe Reigle, the color bearer, who although partially disabled by a flesh wound, was still carrying the flag, became separated from their comrades and began making their way through the brush and timber, as they supposed, into our own lines, they were suddenly confronted at close quarters by a line of dismounted Rebel cavalry. There was no time or opportunity to destroy the flag or do anything else but surrender when summoned to do so or be shot down… the boys evidently did everything within reason to save the flag. In this connection Sergeant Straight says further that the flag captured that day was the colors of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, the one we received after our reenlistment and which Sergeant Reigle carried from the time we left Annapolis in April, 1864, until the battle of Cold Harbor where Reigle was wounded and Straight himself took the flag and carried it until Reigle, having recovered from the effects of his wound, resumed his duties as color bearer on the 19th of June; Reigle carrying the flag from that time until it was captured. It is not known which soldiers of the 9th and 10th VA actually captured the flag, but Gen. W. H. F. Rooney Lee kept it as a trophy. In the post war years Lee settled at Ravensworth Plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia. Putting him near the hub of DC politics, Lee became a Congressman representing that part of Northern Virginia. Within Lee’s district in Alexandria was (and still is) Episcopal High School and Seminary. Today it is one of the oldest high schools in the US, with many Washington elites sending their children to this full time boarding school. The school was well represented in the Confederacy, and the names of 61 alumni killed in Confederate service are engraved in marble in the school’s chapel. Alexandria, as everyone knows, was quickly occupied by Union troops in 1861 and Elmer Elsworth’s death was the first of the conflict. Episcopal High School and the Seminary were also occupied and ravaged by Union troops. In the 1880’s, the school petitioned Congress for reparations of some sort. Congressman Rooney Lee introduced such a bill to repay the school for damages. From Lee’s biography: the bill came up for consideration upon a favorable report; the Democrats generally favored it, but the General [Lee], fearing that the Republicans would oppose it, quietly and with dignity walked to the center of their side, and made his speech in behalf of his bill directly to them. They listened attentively and with profound respect. Finally there came an interruption from behind him: “…Was this school continued during the Rebellion?” “Yes, as far as possible. Most of the professors remained there,” said the General. “For whom did those professors pray? Did they pray for the Unionists or the Confederates?” The General’s reply was instant, “I do not know; I never heard them pray, but they were saintly men, and I assume they prayed for all sinners, and left the good Lord to say who were the sinners.” The whole House applauded…and his bill was passed. William Henry Fitzhugh “Rooney” Lee gave the flag to the principal of Episcopal high school, Launcelot M. Blackford, in 1889. The above bill passed in Congress in 1889. It is speculated that the flag was a gift or gesture of victory over the Republicans. The regulation flag staff top has inscription “W.H.F. Lee to L.M. Blackford 1889” “MAY YOU EVER INSPIRE OUR SOUTHERN BOYS TO GREATNESS”. What a wonderful sentiment from the son of Gen. Robert E. Lee who spent his life in education after the war as President of Washington College to L.M. Blackford a lifelong educator who served under Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia. L. M. Blackford who was principal for 40 years, gave the flag to Patrick Henry Callaway who in turn taught at the school for 72 years (taught from 1916 to 1988) and died in 1995 at age 100. The flag was said to be still on its staff in the Blackford years. Shredded and deteriorating, Mr. Callaway removed it from the staff and kept it in a box until his death. CONDITION: Flag is very good as professionally conserved & framed. A conservation report is available to interested parties. Flag staff is very good with mixed chocolate patina with verdigris. Inscription quite discernible. https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/2187-391/ |
2023.03.29 01:27 Still_Performance_39 NOP Fanfic: An Introduction to Terran Zoology – Chapter 4
Credit to u/SpacePaladin15 for the NOP world.
I hope everyone enjoyed the first foray into Venlil education of our home’s biodiversity. There were a lot of guesses for what I was describing and many of them were right on the money. I’ll be revealing some of them as the story progresses.
Other comments made me realise that I’ve never actually described our primary narrator Rysel, which I intend to remedy. I was going to do this anyway but here, a bit earlier than expected, is the second POV in this story. Hope you enjoy.
[First] [Previous]
Memory transcription subject: Dr Bernard MacEwan, Professor of Zoology
Date [standardised human time]: 21st August 2136
To say I was happy would be a gross understatement. Ecstatic, delighted, joyous and thrilled were far superior adjectives to portray just how incredible this moment of my life was, yet even they felt lacking. Right now, in front of my very eyes, a room full of aliens were taking in their first sights of the biodiverse bounty of Earth. I thanked my lucky stars that out of everyone who could’ve been picked for this project, it was I who had the immense privilege of observing the dazzling parade of emotions that accompanied the Venlil’s first impressions.
Turning my head, steadily so as not to spook anyone, I cast my eyes across the room. Unlike many lecture halls I’d been in, the undersides of the desks were not obscured by typical wooden or plastic panelling. Instead, the underside was completely open, giving me an unrestricted view of the Venlil’s legs, feet, and tail as they sat behind the desks. This made perfect sense. While humans were primarily emotive through our facial features and hand gestures, the Venlil seemed to use their tails and ears as their main method of expressing outward emotion. The lack of obstruction was ideal in aiding my observations as the exercise progressed.
One Venlil’s tail swayed low and slow, their head cocked to one side as their ears flicked back and forth at opposing angles. The tail and ear movements were too alien to me to discern meaning from them, but the cocked head rang familiar tones. Perhaps it could be confusion? This body language, coupled with a slightly slack jawed facial expression, indicated that I may be on the right track. Marvellous!
Another reaction from an audience member at the back felt far easier to identify, fear I believe. Their ears were pinned back across their head, their tail frozen stiff behind them. Similar to humans, their eyes were open wide in apparent shock and a slight tremor seemed to be permeating through their body. I considered intervening but swatted down the idea in the same instant. If they’re that scared of a picture, then a human walking right up to them in a moment of shock will likely cause more problems than it will fix. Thankfully a fellow volunteer, sat beside the immobile Venlil, noticed the predicament, quickly tapping the offending image away from the pad and bringing their tail up to in the process, rubbing it gently across their scared compatriots back. Together, these actions appeared to help the statuesque Venlil as they began to loosen up, tail swishing at an even pace, ears returning to an upright position. The shaking remained sadly but at least they were active again.
How it occurred was unfortunate, but it was fascinating to see how the Venlil reacted both to stressful stimuli and how they comforted one another in times of distress. Incredible!
Who is next, ah yes that one, I recognise them. The first of the class to ask me a question. They seemed a bit smaller than the rest of the Venlil in the room. Younger perhaps, or maybe older who knows? That’s the point of all this I suppose.
If I was to hazard a guess, I would say they are, calm or perhaps bored? The tail isn’t moving but it’s relaxed not stiff like the last one. Their ears are moving too but in a sluggish fashion, flopping lazily from side to side. They’re also resting their head in one hand as they flick through the images with their free hand, paw I should say. Yep, they’re bored. Disappointing I suppose but then again, I can’t expect everyone to be so emotive, oh now wait a second… there we go, saw something that gave you a bit of a startle I imagine, given how you almost knocked yourself off your seat. I smirked, trying to muffle any noise I might be making. I certainly did not relish any fear that may be caused in this exercise, but it never failed to amuse me back home when a student who wasn’t paying attention got a bit of a shock back to reality. Still, I shouldn’t find amusement in this, it’s no wonder that the Venlil were so skittish around even pictures, given what all of humanity had learned in the last month.
----
When the news came back that the Odyssey had not only encountered life but had made first contact with a fully sapient space faring species known as the Venlil, well, to say the reaction was overwhelming would be like comparing a wax candle to the sun. Within minutes of the news breaking, I had become simultaneously glued to my television, displaying livestreams from news stations as information flowed in. Additionally, I was logged into a video call with a dozen of my colleagues from all over the world. The news immediately ignited frantic discussion on what type of life may exist on alien planets.
Questions ranged from what you would expect from a chat room full of zoologist, to others that would’ve been completely farcical before these world rocking events. My favourites in those categories had ended up being, “Do you think they’ll have parallels to Earth in terms of biodiversity?” and the other, “Could their evolutionary tree be similar yet almost opposite to ours? Like, maybe they have whales too but instead of swimming under the great pressures of the oceans they are instead as light as birds, sailing through the skies?”. The reason the first question was my favourite was clear. The concept of how much new life was out there in the stars had never been far away from my mind. In our early days of space exploration, we’d learned that Mars might once have had liquid water that theoretically contained life and the moon of Europa could also have been home to microbial organisms, hidden within its frozen surface. Now to discover that there were entire worlds that supported complex alien life!? The possibilities were exquisitely endless, only matched by imagination itself. The second question was appreciated for that exact reason. Endless possibilities meant exactly that. Perhaps there really were whales drifting gracefully through alien skies, their bones and flesh made of materials so light that air itself was dense enough for them to “swim” through. An astonishingly silly yet wonderful concept that in the moment seemed all that closer… then a soberingly awful reality was forced upon us.
They were terrified of us. The Venlil, along with the rest of their hundred’s strong alliance of advanced alien civilisations, were horrified by our very existence. They were so scared at the arrival of just two of our astronaut’s that their government rushed billions into bomb shelters, sending out a distress signal for military aid to protect them from the awful harm they believed we intended to inflict. The reason that drove them to act this way was just as shocking as the actions themselves. The Venlil, and the Federation they were part of, were comprised completely of obligate herbivores. In their eyes we were a predatory species, our binocular vision, canine teeth, and ability to consume meat were all indicators to that effect. A violent horde of carnivorous, destructive entities that could only draw delight and meaning from the cruelty of inflicting pain upon all in our path, that was what they saw in us.
How could they think this way!? What could possibly have happened in their combined histories that led hundreds of alien species to perceive us as an existential threat simply because of those traits? First of all, it was simply not the case that all creatures with forward facing vision were automatically predators or even carnivorous for that matter! Right off the top of my head, various species of Megabat had been identified with eyes positioned towards the front of their heads. Due to the composition of their diet, many were considered frugivores or even nectarivores. Furthermore, there were countless examples of meat eaters that had eyes on the side of their head. Reptiles like Grass Snakes, Leopard Geckos and the Komodo Dragons were ideal examples of obligate carnivores with eyes on the side of their skull. Many birds possessed this trait as well, ranging from the miniscule and omnivorous Bee Hummingbird of the Cuban archipelago, that subsisted on nectar and insects, to the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica that preyed upon fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and were themselves preyed on by Leopard Seals and Orcas, two more predators with eyes on the side of their head. Finally, canine teeth in humans served only to tear food into smaller pieces, all food not just meat, and it wasn’t just carnivores that had them either. Hippos were a perfect example of an herbivore species with enormous twenty-inch canines that continuously grew throughout their life cycle, never mind the fact that they were notoriously dangerous, being extremely territorial and aggressive if they perceived intrusion or danger.
My mind spun with this paradoxical stream of information. How could civilisations so advanced have such a simplistic, almost naïve way, of identifying whether a living being was a danger to them? And how could they be so horrified by the concept of creatures being carnivores or even omnivores like us? By their own explanation, every species in the Federation were obligate herbivores who coexisted in a near utopian peace amongst one another, but to them we were the complete antithesis of that way of life simply because of our eye position and diet. Surely life amongst the stars could not be so different to Earths that it all fit neatly into that fixed binary of plant eater means peaceful and meat eater means death!? It just didn’t make any sense!
The horrifying ramifications of what that could mean for Earth, should aliens arrive and see how our ecosystems function, was not lost on those on the video call. We immediately dived back into discussion, revisiting the questions that had already sprung into my mind and many more. There had to be a logical reason for this mentality. Perhaps during the development of these societies they’d gone through extinction events or climate crises, just like Earth had throughout our ancient and modern history, tragically destroying habitats, and forcing species into extinction, leaving the rest to evolve rapidly and dangerously to fit the very predatory traits the Venlil had explained to us? It could also be that these alien worlds were very uniform in their environmental conditions. So much so that evolutionary specialisation that arose from differing habitats simply didn’t happen and led to a very narrow field of what a prey or predator species could look like? Possibly, depressingly, it might simply be the case that life on alien worlds really did fit into this binary system and Earth was just an incredibly rare anomaly of extreme biodiversity.
While several other ideas were floated during our deliberation, only these three held any water in our opinions, though even they were quickly whittled down to the most likely scenario we could glean without more data. Hypothesis one required that all, or at least a majority, of Federation societies all went through the same circumstances of environmental catastrophe, evolution, and survival into the space age. This seemed extremely unlikely, given that the same scenario would’ve had to play out nearly identically across hundreds of planets at the hands of the Federation members, both before and after integration into their alliance. Number two didn’t hold much stock either. For it to be true, each world the Federation inhabited would have to be dominated by one single biome across the entire planet. Short of vast terraforming efforts we couldn’t see how something like that could form naturally.
From the limited information we had to hand, hypothesis three was the most compelling rationale to this abnormal predator prey binary. As bizarre as it sounded, it may be true that Earth was an anomaly. That the life present here was a product of environmental factors that just didn’t exist anywhere else, blessing this planet with an overflowing cornucopia of organisms so wonderful and randomly diverse that it made our world so magnificently unique even in an endless eternity of stars. With this thought, my disappointment gave way to a surprising surge of elation! If Earth was truly unique in its biodiversity, then perhaps we could share our knowledge with alien life! Sure, maybe they may have technology beyond our wildest dreams, but we could teach them too. Imagine it, the first sapient “predators” they had ever met and we completely flipped their understanding of nature. To explain to aliens from across the stars how ecosystems on Earth didn’t fit into a simple binary but were instead an intricate, exquisite web in which everything was linked in a glorious, yet fragile, cycle of life.
How amazing would that be, to be able to contribute to this interstellar community, not as the new primitives just breaking the bonds of their home system, but as equals with our own wealth of knowledge and points of view to share. The idea was so magical I came close to leaping from my seat into dance!
…A shocked gasp from one of my colleagues drew me out of fantasy, focusing my attention back to harsh reality. Through the video call I noticed they were staring at their phone, eyes watering as their face contorted in appalled horror. Realising they must have seen something in the news I nearly dived over my desk to retrieve the remote to unmute my television, having silenced it during discussions. What could they have seen to repulse them so severely? It took seconds for me to unmute the TV to hear the news presenter, though it felt like time stood still. The TV finally audible, I listened intently to the most recent reports. As I listened, my hopes and dreams were shattered into pieces. We were not the first sapient predators to have encountered the Federation.
The Arxur. Sapient reptilians had engaged the Federation in a centuries long campaign of genocidal raids, ending the lives of unknowable billions, reducing worlds to ashes and glass, wiping out dozens of civilisations in the process. Incredibly, horrendously, that was only the surface layer of their true malevolence. From hellish malice that could only dwell in the minds of the most deranged sociopaths, the Arxur raids not only slaughtered their targets with impunity but seized anyone they could find, not to use as slaves or bargaining chips against the Federation, but as food! Adults, children, the elderly, anyone they could get their claws on was subjected to a nightmarish barbarity I could scarcely fathom, ending in the jaws and stomach of one of these monstrous beasts. No wonder the Venlil had been scarred to death of our astronauts. The traits they viewed as predatory were given new a light of comprehension. The Arxur fit those traits like a glove and tragically we shared a couple of those traits with them, binocular vision being the most distinct.
In a day of revelations about life in the galaxy, it was this that finally ran me into the ground, no longer having the motivation to function. Attempting to maintain a façade of some normalcy, I bid my friends good night, entering my bedroom where I collapsed into bed, neglecting to change into pyjamas or even remove my prosthetic…What did it matter anyway? In a single day the entire world had been flipped upside down. We’d been introduced to alien life, the long sought after confirmation that were not alone in this vast universe. We’d been crushed by the revelation that they fear us for existing, seeing us as monsters bent on cruel wanton destruction. Finally, to top it all off, we’d learned to our revulsion that there are genocidal lizards in the cosmos that consume other sapients as food… HOW COULD ANYONE PROCESS ALL THIS SHIT!!!
…Drained of all enthusiasm and energy, I lay staring at the ceiling. Intrusive thoughts ran rampant through my mind, reminding me of everything I’d learned, but thankfully none of them latched on as I zoned out in the darkness of my bedroom, eventually, blissfully, being overcome by sleep.
The next few days were a haze. I kept the news channels up on my television whenever I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t switched on enough to pay much attention, but I still didn’t want to miss anything. Several of my friends and colleagues reached out to chat and check up on me, worried that I hadn’t returned a number of calls in the immediate aftermath of my exit from the previous days video conference. I assured them that I was fine and that I just needed time to process everything we’d learned. In truth I was far from fine, the revelation that the universe was full of hostile life, seemingly separated along binary lines of predator and prey was a tough pill to swallow. The Arxur were most certainly the greater of two evils, but it wasn’t a superb feeling to know that everyone else in the galaxy was terrified of us due to our appearance and diet, willing to call war fleets in distress at our arrival. The weight of reality felt like it would snap me in two. Suddenly, an unexpected lifeline was tossed my way.
As I meandered throughout my house in a daze, I happened to pass the television at the most fortuitous of moments. A presenter was interviewing a UN representative and they were discussing plans for an exchange programme between the Venlil and ourselves. How could this be? I thought they were too scared to deal with two humans, much less interact with more of us? Watching with intense curiosity I learned that the UN had built quite the rapport with Governor Tarva of the Venlil Republic, thanks in no small part to the great efforts undertaken by the astronauts Sara and Noah, and they had agreed to start pairing up Humans and Venlil through a messaging service, with the aim to eventually introduce them in person.
This was amazing! A ray of light that I desperately needed after these forlorn days. Here was a chance, tentative though it may be, that we could prove to the galaxy that we came in peace and were nothing like the monstrous Arxur. I knew what I had to do.
With new life breathed into me I got to work. Booting up my computer, I looked up the requirements to apply. Simple enough really, provide your name, age, occupation, yada yada, answer a set array of questions, blah, blah, blah, write or record a brief reason for interest, standard fare all in all, none of which took long to complete. My reason for joining was brief and straightforward.
“The Venlil fear us as they perceive our appearance and diet as evidence that we are predators like the Arxur. From what we’ve learned of this reptilian species, the Venlil’s fright is understandable. However, Earth proves that the line between predator and prey is not so simple. I believe that as a Zoologist I can aid in educating the Venlil, teaching them that the traits they see as predatory are not so clear cut on Earth. In doing so, I believe that they can see us in a truer light, that Humans do not fit into their one size fits all predator prey belief. That we are much more complex and we want to share everything we are with them, in peaceful coexistence. It is my hope that through dialogue with a Venlil, I can do my part to make that dream a reality.”
Satisfied with my pitch I submitted my application, and began the arduous task of waiting for a response from government bureaucracy. Convinced it would take weeks to get any response, let alone an acceptance letter, I settled back into my normal rhythms, hopeful anticipation returning my zest for life that had been previously swept out from under me.
The next couple days held true to my expectations of governmental timescales, receiving an automated “Thank you for applying” message over twenty-four hours after my submission. Incredibly, only four days after my submission, I received the official response. The UN are clearly in overdrive to get this out so fast. With barely contained glee I read the email, only for my joy to fall into a deep well of disappointment. I hadn’t been accepted for the exchange of messages. Eye’s trailing away from the message, I could only sit and stare blankly, a profound sense of sadness resonating through me. Minutes passed as a I processed the upsetting news before I returned to the letter. I at least deserved to know was why I had been rejected!
Continuing through the letter, the weight of the rejection pressed upon me, but began to lift as I read the text in full, turning instead to confusion, realisation and then completely overwhelming me with the same sense of thrilling delight that had coursed through me when I’d first envisioned teaching aliens about Earth and all its majestic wildlife. The UN didn’t just want me to chat with one Venlil, they wanted me to teach an entire class of researchers and scientists. This was a dream come true!
This time I really did leap out of my seat, happiness lifting my old bones into an impromptu jig on the spot. I was going into space, to another planet, to meet an entirely new race of sapient beings! I had so much to do. Lesson plans, researcher to collate, decisions on which animals I should introduce them to and how I should introduce them. So much to do, but in this instant it seemed so far away as I continued my merry dance. So enthused was I, that I didn’t notice the coffee table in my path, ramming my left leg into the table, good thing it was the prosthetic. The floor quickly rose to meet me, connecting to my body with a heavy thud. A voice in the back of my head scolded my carelessness, “God dammit it Bernard, you’re seventy-four be more careful.” Though it was quickly drowned out by the ruckus of childlike wonder screaming at the forefront of my mind, “I’M GOING TO MEET ALIENS!!!”.
----
The memories that brought me here creased my face in a wide smile as I continued my observation of the couple dozen individuals before me. The confused Venlil seemed to have gained some confidence, making their way steadily but surely though the images displayed. Our scared stiff student had buddied up with the one that had comforted them, a light orange spreading across their face as they discussed the images with their new friend, curious. My previously bored audience member was now much more alert and attentive as they made their way through the exercise. They held the pad out from their body, as if whatever would appear on the screen could jump out at them. Not ideal, I’ll keep an eye on that, but at least they were now paying attention.
Eventually my eyes fell on the Venlil that had asked me if I was injured, and I beheld a truly remarkable sight. They sat near the dead centre of the room, their sleek coat almost entirely black besides a blotch of tan coloured wool on their chest, an additional small black patch at its centre. Their appearance reminded me of a Sun Bear, though I doubt they’d appreciate the comparison.
Their sparkling emerald eyes were wide open, not in shock or fear like the other Venlil, but seemingly in awe at the images before them. I still had much to learn about Venlil body language, but how could this be anything other than pure exhilarated delight? They were completely enraptured with the images on their pad, tail swishing behind them rapidly and ears flicking wildly. No matter what they pulled up next, each image seemed to only encourage more of this behaviour and, in watching, I felt immense satisfaction. This was why I was here, to show an alien race the wonders of Earth, and to see this joyous reaction in real time? Well, it was enough to bring a tear to my eyes. I’ll be sure to learn their name at the next opportunity, but for now I think I’ll keep watching.
As I continued to watch in silence, I once again thought back to the moment the exchange was announced, that momentary beacon of light that reignited my hopes for friendship and understanding with the greater universe. Perhaps here it was again, shining down from the Sun Bear looking Venlil before me. Chuckling softly to myself, making a mental note not to call them a Sun Bear, I released a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding in, relaxing comfortably into my chair. I think this will work… Yeah, it’ll work.
submitted by Still_Performance_39 to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
I hope everyone enjoyed the first foray into Venlil education of our home’s biodiversity. There were a lot of guesses for what I was describing and many of them were right on the money. I’ll be revealing some of them as the story progresses.
Other comments made me realise that I’ve never actually described our primary narrator Rysel, which I intend to remedy. I was going to do this anyway but here, a bit earlier than expected, is the second POV in this story. Hope you enjoy.
[First] [Previous]
Memory transcription subject: Dr Bernard MacEwan, Professor of Zoology
Date [standardised human time]: 21st August 2136
To say I was happy would be a gross understatement. Ecstatic, delighted, joyous and thrilled were far superior adjectives to portray just how incredible this moment of my life was, yet even they felt lacking. Right now, in front of my very eyes, a room full of aliens were taking in their first sights of the biodiverse bounty of Earth. I thanked my lucky stars that out of everyone who could’ve been picked for this project, it was I who had the immense privilege of observing the dazzling parade of emotions that accompanied the Venlil’s first impressions.
Turning my head, steadily so as not to spook anyone, I cast my eyes across the room. Unlike many lecture halls I’d been in, the undersides of the desks were not obscured by typical wooden or plastic panelling. Instead, the underside was completely open, giving me an unrestricted view of the Venlil’s legs, feet, and tail as they sat behind the desks. This made perfect sense. While humans were primarily emotive through our facial features and hand gestures, the Venlil seemed to use their tails and ears as their main method of expressing outward emotion. The lack of obstruction was ideal in aiding my observations as the exercise progressed.
One Venlil’s tail swayed low and slow, their head cocked to one side as their ears flicked back and forth at opposing angles. The tail and ear movements were too alien to me to discern meaning from them, but the cocked head rang familiar tones. Perhaps it could be confusion? This body language, coupled with a slightly slack jawed facial expression, indicated that I may be on the right track. Marvellous!
Another reaction from an audience member at the back felt far easier to identify, fear I believe. Their ears were pinned back across their head, their tail frozen stiff behind them. Similar to humans, their eyes were open wide in apparent shock and a slight tremor seemed to be permeating through their body. I considered intervening but swatted down the idea in the same instant. If they’re that scared of a picture, then a human walking right up to them in a moment of shock will likely cause more problems than it will fix. Thankfully a fellow volunteer, sat beside the immobile Venlil, noticed the predicament, quickly tapping the offending image away from the pad and bringing their tail up to in the process, rubbing it gently across their scared compatriots back. Together, these actions appeared to help the statuesque Venlil as they began to loosen up, tail swishing at an even pace, ears returning to an upright position. The shaking remained sadly but at least they were active again.
How it occurred was unfortunate, but it was fascinating to see how the Venlil reacted both to stressful stimuli and how they comforted one another in times of distress. Incredible!
Who is next, ah yes that one, I recognise them. The first of the class to ask me a question. They seemed a bit smaller than the rest of the Venlil in the room. Younger perhaps, or maybe older who knows? That’s the point of all this I suppose.
If I was to hazard a guess, I would say they are, calm or perhaps bored? The tail isn’t moving but it’s relaxed not stiff like the last one. Their ears are moving too but in a sluggish fashion, flopping lazily from side to side. They’re also resting their head in one hand as they flick through the images with their free hand, paw I should say. Yep, they’re bored. Disappointing I suppose but then again, I can’t expect everyone to be so emotive, oh now wait a second… there we go, saw something that gave you a bit of a startle I imagine, given how you almost knocked yourself off your seat. I smirked, trying to muffle any noise I might be making. I certainly did not relish any fear that may be caused in this exercise, but it never failed to amuse me back home when a student who wasn’t paying attention got a bit of a shock back to reality. Still, I shouldn’t find amusement in this, it’s no wonder that the Venlil were so skittish around even pictures, given what all of humanity had learned in the last month.
----
When the news came back that the Odyssey had not only encountered life but had made first contact with a fully sapient space faring species known as the Venlil, well, to say the reaction was overwhelming would be like comparing a wax candle to the sun. Within minutes of the news breaking, I had become simultaneously glued to my television, displaying livestreams from news stations as information flowed in. Additionally, I was logged into a video call with a dozen of my colleagues from all over the world. The news immediately ignited frantic discussion on what type of life may exist on alien planets.
Questions ranged from what you would expect from a chat room full of zoologist, to others that would’ve been completely farcical before these world rocking events. My favourites in those categories had ended up being, “Do you think they’ll have parallels to Earth in terms of biodiversity?” and the other, “Could their evolutionary tree be similar yet almost opposite to ours? Like, maybe they have whales too but instead of swimming under the great pressures of the oceans they are instead as light as birds, sailing through the skies?”. The reason the first question was my favourite was clear. The concept of how much new life was out there in the stars had never been far away from my mind. In our early days of space exploration, we’d learned that Mars might once have had liquid water that theoretically contained life and the moon of Europa could also have been home to microbial organisms, hidden within its frozen surface. Now to discover that there were entire worlds that supported complex alien life!? The possibilities were exquisitely endless, only matched by imagination itself. The second question was appreciated for that exact reason. Endless possibilities meant exactly that. Perhaps there really were whales drifting gracefully through alien skies, their bones and flesh made of materials so light that air itself was dense enough for them to “swim” through. An astonishingly silly yet wonderful concept that in the moment seemed all that closer… then a soberingly awful reality was forced upon us.
They were terrified of us. The Venlil, along with the rest of their hundred’s strong alliance of advanced alien civilisations, were horrified by our very existence. They were so scared at the arrival of just two of our astronaut’s that their government rushed billions into bomb shelters, sending out a distress signal for military aid to protect them from the awful harm they believed we intended to inflict. The reason that drove them to act this way was just as shocking as the actions themselves. The Venlil, and the Federation they were part of, were comprised completely of obligate herbivores. In their eyes we were a predatory species, our binocular vision, canine teeth, and ability to consume meat were all indicators to that effect. A violent horde of carnivorous, destructive entities that could only draw delight and meaning from the cruelty of inflicting pain upon all in our path, that was what they saw in us.
How could they think this way!? What could possibly have happened in their combined histories that led hundreds of alien species to perceive us as an existential threat simply because of those traits? First of all, it was simply not the case that all creatures with forward facing vision were automatically predators or even carnivorous for that matter! Right off the top of my head, various species of Megabat had been identified with eyes positioned towards the front of their heads. Due to the composition of their diet, many were considered frugivores or even nectarivores. Furthermore, there were countless examples of meat eaters that had eyes on the side of their head. Reptiles like Grass Snakes, Leopard Geckos and the Komodo Dragons were ideal examples of obligate carnivores with eyes on the side of their skull. Many birds possessed this trait as well, ranging from the miniscule and omnivorous Bee Hummingbird of the Cuban archipelago, that subsisted on nectar and insects, to the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica that preyed upon fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and were themselves preyed on by Leopard Seals and Orcas, two more predators with eyes on the side of their head. Finally, canine teeth in humans served only to tear food into smaller pieces, all food not just meat, and it wasn’t just carnivores that had them either. Hippos were a perfect example of an herbivore species with enormous twenty-inch canines that continuously grew throughout their life cycle, never mind the fact that they were notoriously dangerous, being extremely territorial and aggressive if they perceived intrusion or danger.
My mind spun with this paradoxical stream of information. How could civilisations so advanced have such a simplistic, almost naïve way, of identifying whether a living being was a danger to them? And how could they be so horrified by the concept of creatures being carnivores or even omnivores like us? By their own explanation, every species in the Federation were obligate herbivores who coexisted in a near utopian peace amongst one another, but to them we were the complete antithesis of that way of life simply because of our eye position and diet. Surely life amongst the stars could not be so different to Earths that it all fit neatly into that fixed binary of plant eater means peaceful and meat eater means death!? It just didn’t make any sense!
The horrifying ramifications of what that could mean for Earth, should aliens arrive and see how our ecosystems function, was not lost on those on the video call. We immediately dived back into discussion, revisiting the questions that had already sprung into my mind and many more. There had to be a logical reason for this mentality. Perhaps during the development of these societies they’d gone through extinction events or climate crises, just like Earth had throughout our ancient and modern history, tragically destroying habitats, and forcing species into extinction, leaving the rest to evolve rapidly and dangerously to fit the very predatory traits the Venlil had explained to us? It could also be that these alien worlds were very uniform in their environmental conditions. So much so that evolutionary specialisation that arose from differing habitats simply didn’t happen and led to a very narrow field of what a prey or predator species could look like? Possibly, depressingly, it might simply be the case that life on alien worlds really did fit into this binary system and Earth was just an incredibly rare anomaly of extreme biodiversity.
While several other ideas were floated during our deliberation, only these three held any water in our opinions, though even they were quickly whittled down to the most likely scenario we could glean without more data. Hypothesis one required that all, or at least a majority, of Federation societies all went through the same circumstances of environmental catastrophe, evolution, and survival into the space age. This seemed extremely unlikely, given that the same scenario would’ve had to play out nearly identically across hundreds of planets at the hands of the Federation members, both before and after integration into their alliance. Number two didn’t hold much stock either. For it to be true, each world the Federation inhabited would have to be dominated by one single biome across the entire planet. Short of vast terraforming efforts we couldn’t see how something like that could form naturally.
From the limited information we had to hand, hypothesis three was the most compelling rationale to this abnormal predator prey binary. As bizarre as it sounded, it may be true that Earth was an anomaly. That the life present here was a product of environmental factors that just didn’t exist anywhere else, blessing this planet with an overflowing cornucopia of organisms so wonderful and randomly diverse that it made our world so magnificently unique even in an endless eternity of stars. With this thought, my disappointment gave way to a surprising surge of elation! If Earth was truly unique in its biodiversity, then perhaps we could share our knowledge with alien life! Sure, maybe they may have technology beyond our wildest dreams, but we could teach them too. Imagine it, the first sapient “predators” they had ever met and we completely flipped their understanding of nature. To explain to aliens from across the stars how ecosystems on Earth didn’t fit into a simple binary but were instead an intricate, exquisite web in which everything was linked in a glorious, yet fragile, cycle of life.
How amazing would that be, to be able to contribute to this interstellar community, not as the new primitives just breaking the bonds of their home system, but as equals with our own wealth of knowledge and points of view to share. The idea was so magical I came close to leaping from my seat into dance!
…A shocked gasp from one of my colleagues drew me out of fantasy, focusing my attention back to harsh reality. Through the video call I noticed they were staring at their phone, eyes watering as their face contorted in appalled horror. Realising they must have seen something in the news I nearly dived over my desk to retrieve the remote to unmute my television, having silenced it during discussions. What could they have seen to repulse them so severely? It took seconds for me to unmute the TV to hear the news presenter, though it felt like time stood still. The TV finally audible, I listened intently to the most recent reports. As I listened, my hopes and dreams were shattered into pieces. We were not the first sapient predators to have encountered the Federation.
The Arxur. Sapient reptilians had engaged the Federation in a centuries long campaign of genocidal raids, ending the lives of unknowable billions, reducing worlds to ashes and glass, wiping out dozens of civilisations in the process. Incredibly, horrendously, that was only the surface layer of their true malevolence. From hellish malice that could only dwell in the minds of the most deranged sociopaths, the Arxur raids not only slaughtered their targets with impunity but seized anyone they could find, not to use as slaves or bargaining chips against the Federation, but as food! Adults, children, the elderly, anyone they could get their claws on was subjected to a nightmarish barbarity I could scarcely fathom, ending in the jaws and stomach of one of these monstrous beasts. No wonder the Venlil had been scarred to death of our astronauts. The traits they viewed as predatory were given new a light of comprehension. The Arxur fit those traits like a glove and tragically we shared a couple of those traits with them, binocular vision being the most distinct.
In a day of revelations about life in the galaxy, it was this that finally ran me into the ground, no longer having the motivation to function. Attempting to maintain a façade of some normalcy, I bid my friends good night, entering my bedroom where I collapsed into bed, neglecting to change into pyjamas or even remove my prosthetic…What did it matter anyway? In a single day the entire world had been flipped upside down. We’d been introduced to alien life, the long sought after confirmation that were not alone in this vast universe. We’d been crushed by the revelation that they fear us for existing, seeing us as monsters bent on cruel wanton destruction. Finally, to top it all off, we’d learned to our revulsion that there are genocidal lizards in the cosmos that consume other sapients as food… HOW COULD ANYONE PROCESS ALL THIS SHIT!!!
…Drained of all enthusiasm and energy, I lay staring at the ceiling. Intrusive thoughts ran rampant through my mind, reminding me of everything I’d learned, but thankfully none of them latched on as I zoned out in the darkness of my bedroom, eventually, blissfully, being overcome by sleep.
The next few days were a haze. I kept the news channels up on my television whenever I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t switched on enough to pay much attention, but I still didn’t want to miss anything. Several of my friends and colleagues reached out to chat and check up on me, worried that I hadn’t returned a number of calls in the immediate aftermath of my exit from the previous days video conference. I assured them that I was fine and that I just needed time to process everything we’d learned. In truth I was far from fine, the revelation that the universe was full of hostile life, seemingly separated along binary lines of predator and prey was a tough pill to swallow. The Arxur were most certainly the greater of two evils, but it wasn’t a superb feeling to know that everyone else in the galaxy was terrified of us due to our appearance and diet, willing to call war fleets in distress at our arrival. The weight of reality felt like it would snap me in two. Suddenly, an unexpected lifeline was tossed my way.
As I meandered throughout my house in a daze, I happened to pass the television at the most fortuitous of moments. A presenter was interviewing a UN representative and they were discussing plans for an exchange programme between the Venlil and ourselves. How could this be? I thought they were too scared to deal with two humans, much less interact with more of us? Watching with intense curiosity I learned that the UN had built quite the rapport with Governor Tarva of the Venlil Republic, thanks in no small part to the great efforts undertaken by the astronauts Sara and Noah, and they had agreed to start pairing up Humans and Venlil through a messaging service, with the aim to eventually introduce them in person.
This was amazing! A ray of light that I desperately needed after these forlorn days. Here was a chance, tentative though it may be, that we could prove to the galaxy that we came in peace and were nothing like the monstrous Arxur. I knew what I had to do.
With new life breathed into me I got to work. Booting up my computer, I looked up the requirements to apply. Simple enough really, provide your name, age, occupation, yada yada, answer a set array of questions, blah, blah, blah, write or record a brief reason for interest, standard fare all in all, none of which took long to complete. My reason for joining was brief and straightforward.
“The Venlil fear us as they perceive our appearance and diet as evidence that we are predators like the Arxur. From what we’ve learned of this reptilian species, the Venlil’s fright is understandable. However, Earth proves that the line between predator and prey is not so simple. I believe that as a Zoologist I can aid in educating the Venlil, teaching them that the traits they see as predatory are not so clear cut on Earth. In doing so, I believe that they can see us in a truer light, that Humans do not fit into their one size fits all predator prey belief. That we are much more complex and we want to share everything we are with them, in peaceful coexistence. It is my hope that through dialogue with a Venlil, I can do my part to make that dream a reality.”
Satisfied with my pitch I submitted my application, and began the arduous task of waiting for a response from government bureaucracy. Convinced it would take weeks to get any response, let alone an acceptance letter, I settled back into my normal rhythms, hopeful anticipation returning my zest for life that had been previously swept out from under me.
The next couple days held true to my expectations of governmental timescales, receiving an automated “Thank you for applying” message over twenty-four hours after my submission. Incredibly, only four days after my submission, I received the official response. The UN are clearly in overdrive to get this out so fast. With barely contained glee I read the email, only for my joy to fall into a deep well of disappointment. I hadn’t been accepted for the exchange of messages. Eye’s trailing away from the message, I could only sit and stare blankly, a profound sense of sadness resonating through me. Minutes passed as a I processed the upsetting news before I returned to the letter. I at least deserved to know was why I had been rejected!
Continuing through the letter, the weight of the rejection pressed upon me, but began to lift as I read the text in full, turning instead to confusion, realisation and then completely overwhelming me with the same sense of thrilling delight that had coursed through me when I’d first envisioned teaching aliens about Earth and all its majestic wildlife. The UN didn’t just want me to chat with one Venlil, they wanted me to teach an entire class of researchers and scientists. This was a dream come true!
This time I really did leap out of my seat, happiness lifting my old bones into an impromptu jig on the spot. I was going into space, to another planet, to meet an entirely new race of sapient beings! I had so much to do. Lesson plans, researcher to collate, decisions on which animals I should introduce them to and how I should introduce them. So much to do, but in this instant it seemed so far away as I continued my merry dance. So enthused was I, that I didn’t notice the coffee table in my path, ramming my left leg into the table, good thing it was the prosthetic. The floor quickly rose to meet me, connecting to my body with a heavy thud. A voice in the back of my head scolded my carelessness, “God dammit it Bernard, you’re seventy-four be more careful.” Though it was quickly drowned out by the ruckus of childlike wonder screaming at the forefront of my mind, “I’M GOING TO MEET ALIENS!!!”.
----
The memories that brought me here creased my face in a wide smile as I continued my observation of the couple dozen individuals before me. The confused Venlil seemed to have gained some confidence, making their way steadily but surely though the images displayed. Our scared stiff student had buddied up with the one that had comforted them, a light orange spreading across their face as they discussed the images with their new friend, curious. My previously bored audience member was now much more alert and attentive as they made their way through the exercise. They held the pad out from their body, as if whatever would appear on the screen could jump out at them. Not ideal, I’ll keep an eye on that, but at least they were now paying attention.
Eventually my eyes fell on the Venlil that had asked me if I was injured, and I beheld a truly remarkable sight. They sat near the dead centre of the room, their sleek coat almost entirely black besides a blotch of tan coloured wool on their chest, an additional small black patch at its centre. Their appearance reminded me of a Sun Bear, though I doubt they’d appreciate the comparison.
Their sparkling emerald eyes were wide open, not in shock or fear like the other Venlil, but seemingly in awe at the images before them. I still had much to learn about Venlil body language, but how could this be anything other than pure exhilarated delight? They were completely enraptured with the images on their pad, tail swishing behind them rapidly and ears flicking wildly. No matter what they pulled up next, each image seemed to only encourage more of this behaviour and, in watching, I felt immense satisfaction. This was why I was here, to show an alien race the wonders of Earth, and to see this joyous reaction in real time? Well, it was enough to bring a tear to my eyes. I’ll be sure to learn their name at the next opportunity, but for now I think I’ll keep watching.
As I continued to watch in silence, I once again thought back to the moment the exchange was announced, that momentary beacon of light that reignited my hopes for friendship and understanding with the greater universe. Perhaps here it was again, shining down from the Sun Bear looking Venlil before me. Chuckling softly to myself, making a mental note not to call them a Sun Bear, I released a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding in, relaxing comfortably into my chair. I think this will work… Yeah, it’ll work.
2023.03.29 00:12 Human_Ad5869 B-52 in Montana!
 | submitted by Human_Ad5869 to flightradar24 [link] [comments] |
2023.03.29 00:03 Shakyamuni19 Credit Card question on payment
 | Hey I'm young and new on credit cards. I accidentally did this(first photo) I think I paid my credit card from my checking. 2nd photo just for context. submitted by Shakyamuni19 to NavyFederal [link] [comments] Now, where did the $38.54 go? |
2023.03.28 22:52 Carbeeza_Official So You Want To Finance A Car?
Are you in the market for a new car but need financing to make it happen? If so, you're not alone. 50% of recent car buyers require financing to afford their dream vehicle, but the process of securing financing can be overwhelming and stressful. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the current auto financing experience and what you should keep in mind while shopping to get the best deal.
Buy Now Pay Later, But What About Overall Affordability?
First and foremost, it's important to understand that the car buying process has changed significantly over the years. With the rise of online shopping, consumers now have more options than ever before. However, this increased accessibility also means that there are more potential pitfalls to avoid and more due diligence that is necessary. When it comes to financing, it's essential to do your research and shop around for the best rates and terms that fit your budget.One of the biggest challenges for car buyers is determining how much they can afford. Before you even start looking for a car, you need to know your budget. Take a look at your income, expenses, and credit score to determine how much you can realistically afford to spend on a car. Break it down and make sure that after all of your expenses, including a comfortable vehicle payment, you have some left over. Remember to also factor in other costs, such as insurance, maintenance, and gas. If you’re not sure how to calculate your affordability, there are loads of online resources to help with that. Carbeeza, for instance, will filter vehicles by what fits into your budget based on a few non identifying questions you can answer at the start of the search! Bonus!
Alright, Lets Find A Car!
Once you've determined your budget, it's time to start shopping. There are many online resources available to help you find the right car for your needs and budget. However, be sure to do your due diligence and research the seller and the platform before making a purchase or providing any personal info. There are many sites that claim to provide up front financing on a vehicle but require you to provide personal information that is then provided to the dealership without your knowledge. If you’re not a fan of telling random sites online what your Social Security Number is, you’re not alone! Online privacy is becoming increasingly important and thankfully, technology exists to provide a similar level of insight into your financing budget without even needing your name. Yep, you guessed it, Carbeeza can do that!Once you have found a vehicle that fits your budget, its time to look at the financing options themselves. Many car dealerships offer financing through banks and other lenders. However, be aware that these loans often come with higher interest rates and fees. Alternatively, you can secure financing through a 3rd party like a bank or credit union before you even start shopping for a car. This can help you negotiate a better deal and avoid any surprises at the dealership. However, financing through a 3rd party can be less flexible and you may be shopping based on the max loan amount, which may not fit into your true affordability.
Overall, the car buying experience can be a stressful and overwhelming process, especially if you need financing. However, with the right research and preparation, you can find the right car and financing option for your needs and budget. Remember to take your time, do your due diligence, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Carbeeza is here to help, give it a try today and…
Happy car shopping!
2023.03.28 22:50 One-Durian2205 [HIRING] ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams) 💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
[HIRING][Vienna, Virginia, USA, Onsite]
🏢 Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, Virginia 🇺🇸 is looking for a ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams)
⚙️ Tech used: Cisco, LESS, Linux, Network, PowerShell, SAML, Security, Windows
💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.us/jobs/Navy-Federal-Credit-Union-ISD-Engineer-III-Microsoft-Exchange-M365-Administration-Microsoft-Teams
submitted by One-Durian2205 to sysadminjobs [link] [comments]
🏢 Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, Virginia 🇺🇸 is looking for a ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams)
⚙️ Tech used: Cisco, LESS, Linux, Network, PowerShell, SAML, Security, Windows
💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.us/jobs/Navy-Federal-Credit-Union-ISD-Engineer-III-Microsoft-Exchange-M365-Administration-Microsoft-Teams
2023.03.28 22:49 One-Durian2205 [HIRING] ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams) 💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
[HIRING][Vienna, Virginia, USA, Onsite]
🏢 Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, Virginia 🇺🇸 is looking for a ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams)
⚙️ Tech used: Cisco, LESS, Linux, Network, PowerShell, SAML, Security, Windows
💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.us/jobs/Navy-Federal-Credit-Union-ISD-Engineer-III-Microsoft-Exchange-M365-Administration-Microsoft-Teams
submitted by One-Durian2205 to techjobs [link] [comments]
🏢 Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, Virginia 🇺🇸 is looking for a ISD Engineer III (Microsoft Exchange/ M365 Administration/ Microsoft Teams)
⚙️ Tech used: Cisco, LESS, Linux, Network, PowerShell, SAML, Security, Windows
💰 104,500 - 146,300 USD / year
📝 More details and option to apply: https://devitjobs.us/jobs/Navy-Federal-Credit-Union-ISD-Engineer-III-Microsoft-Exchange-M365-Administration-Microsoft-Teams
2023.03.28 22:23 feb914 Feds to overhaul alternative minimum tax in bid to target top earners [income over $173k]
the budget proposes increasing the AMT rate from 15% to 20.5%. It would also raise the $40,000 exemption amount — which is intended to protect lower- and middle-income Canadians from paying the AMT — to the start of the fourth federal tax bracket: a more than fourfold increase to approximately $173,000 in the 2024 taxation year. The amount would be indexed to inflation.Feds to overhaul alternative minimum tax in bid to target top earners Investment Executive
The budget proposes raising the AMT capital gains inclusion rate from 80% to 100%. Combined with the 20.5% rate
The budget also proposed including 100% of the benefit of employee stock options in the AMT base.
Capital-loss carry-forwards and allowable business investment losses would apply at a 50% rate, and the same limitation would apply to business losses.
The proposal would maintain the 30% of capital gains eligible for the lifetime capital gains exemption in the AMT base, and include 30% of capital gains of donations of publicly listed securities.
It would disallow 50% of a number of reductions, including for the CPP/QPP, childcare expenses, moving expenses and employment expenses (other than those to earn commission income).
As for tax credits, the budget proposes that only 50% of non-refundable tax credits can be used to reduce the AMT, with certain exceptions. Currently most non-refundable tax credits can be applied against the minimum.
The proposed changes would come into force for the 2024 tax year.
2023.03.28 21:49 pineappleperson22 Auto Loan Negotiation
I’m working towards securing an auto-loan.
I was approved and quoted a rate from US Bank. I was also considering visiting a credit union to get a quote for comparison.
I believe a quote from a credit union would be more favorable based on what I’ve read online. One of the red flags I’m seeing is that I’m not able to find a credit union with good reviews anywhere in my area (Denver). This makes me slightly worried to go this route. Does anyone know why this might be the case? Is it typical for all credit unions to have low ratings?
Does anyone know if I’m able to negotiate the interest rate/monthly payment US Bank approved me for?
Appreciate the help!
submitted by pineappleperson22 to auto [link] [comments]
I was approved and quoted a rate from US Bank. I was also considering visiting a credit union to get a quote for comparison.
I believe a quote from a credit union would be more favorable based on what I’ve read online. One of the red flags I’m seeing is that I’m not able to find a credit union with good reviews anywhere in my area (Denver). This makes me slightly worried to go this route. Does anyone know why this might be the case? Is it typical for all credit unions to have low ratings?
Does anyone know if I’m able to negotiate the interest rate/monthly payment US Bank approved me for?
Appreciate the help!
2023.03.28 21:39 _duh Why does California have such a massive coastline?
California monopolizes roughly two thirds of the Pacific coastline of the contiguous United States, including its biggest ports. Today, California has the largest population and highest GDP of any single state, and it's safe to say that access to the ocean has been a significant factor in this growth. On the Atlantic side, the coastline roughly equivalent with California's comprises 11 states from Massachusetts to Georgia; the District of Columbia and Southeast Pennsylvania also have access to the ocean along this stretch without directly bordering it. The Northeast Corridor has a comparable population and GDP to that of California, but is spread between 9 states - its largest port is even jointly operated by New York and New Jersey. In short, the Atlantic coast seems much more democratized than the Pacific coast.
I've read that there were concerns about admitting such a large state into the Union at the time the Mexican state of Alta California, which included all of present-day California and stretched from the Pacific to the Rockies, was ceded to the US. I have encountered debates regarding how far east the state would extend, but it seemed a forgone conclusion that California would stretch from the Mexican border all the way to the 42nd parallel, thus securing itself a massive coastline. At the time California gained statehood, it was the only one west of the Rockies, sparsely populated and surrounded on all sides by territories that would continue to be carved up long after its own boundaries had been set in stone. It seems that massive area known as Alta California could have been cut up any number of different ways once it came under American control, but ultimately the entire coastal portion was separated from the interior and quickly became a state with rigid borders, some 10-60 years before the surrounding territories.
My questions are: did anyone object to a single state holding so much coastal property? Were there any proposals for the California coastline to be split among multiple states? What factors most impacted the final borders of the state and its quick path to statehood? (Did the federal government simply shove through a massive anti-slavery state, for instance?)
submitted by _duh to AskHistorians [link] [comments]
I've read that there were concerns about admitting such a large state into the Union at the time the Mexican state of Alta California, which included all of present-day California and stretched from the Pacific to the Rockies, was ceded to the US. I have encountered debates regarding how far east the state would extend, but it seemed a forgone conclusion that California would stretch from the Mexican border all the way to the 42nd parallel, thus securing itself a massive coastline. At the time California gained statehood, it was the only one west of the Rockies, sparsely populated and surrounded on all sides by territories that would continue to be carved up long after its own boundaries had been set in stone. It seems that massive area known as Alta California could have been cut up any number of different ways once it came under American control, but ultimately the entire coastal portion was separated from the interior and quickly became a state with rigid borders, some 10-60 years before the surrounding territories.
My questions are: did anyone object to a single state holding so much coastal property? Were there any proposals for the California coastline to be split among multiple states? What factors most impacted the final borders of the state and its quick path to statehood? (Did the federal government simply shove through a massive anti-slavery state, for instance?)
2023.03.28 21:34 kodasoda Frank the surgeon part 3
 | Finally got to the “can you send me money” phase. There’s so much more comical dialogue but I don’t want to post it all because it’s waaaaay too much. submitted by kodasoda to scambait [link] [comments] |
2023.03.28 21:08 ISorrowDoom [Diplomatic] Extraordinary session of the European Commission on Russia
Extraordinary session of the European Commission on Russia
July 10th, 2034 -- Brussels
Following the unilateral declarations of independence by a number of Republics, Oblasts, and Krais from within the Russian Federation - it has come to the attention of the Fifth French Republic that the European Commission, more critically the European Union, have not expressed nor made their position on the matter clear.As the independence processes, as mentioned earlier, have developed independently from the wishes of the political structure in Moscow, we deem it necessary for the European Union to reach a consensus on the future relationship between the European institutions and the self-proclaimed independent nations. To this avail, the Fifth French Republic and the Republic of Poland have mutually agreed to create an Arbitrary Committee of the Russian Peace Process that would allow the Russian separatist movements to present their case as to how the European Union ought to proceed and how to model the future relationship with the Russian government and these movements.
The Arbitrary Committee of the Russian Peace Process will be modeled after the Badinter Committee, therefore, consisting of:
- The President of the Constitutional Court of the French Republic;
- The President of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland;
- The President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany;
- The President of the Constitutional Court of Spain;
- The President of the Constitutional Court of Italy;
- The President of the Constitutional Court of Belgium;
- A representative of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee of the Republic of Finland.
- The Constitution of the Russian Federation (2008);
- The subsequent agreements that may have come, following the disruption of the government apparatus of the Russian Federation;
- Documents, proclamations, and declarations that may have come as a result of a popular referendum or vote by the legislative body or population of the republic, krai, or oblast that has proclaimed independence;
- The United Nations Charter;
- Resolutions made by the European Court of Human Rights;
- Resolutions made by the International Court of Justice;
- Resolutions made by the European Court of Justice.
The dissolution of the Russian Federation
- The ACRPP will review the case on whether the secession of certain republics from the Russian Federation constitutes a complete dissolution of the Russian Federation.
Self-determination
- The ACRPP will review whether the self-proclaimed "republics" have the right to do so, on a case to case basis.
- The ACRPP will accept to host the succession administrations and take their case into consideration when making the final decision.
Borders
- The ACRPP will review the matter of the borders established following the unilateral declaration of peace on behalf of the Republic of Ukraine, and the proclamation of independence by Russian secession states.
Foreign involvement in the peace process
- The ACRPP will review if there is a case for any foreign actor to take part in the peace process regarding the Russian Federation.
- The ACRPP will review the conditions under which the oblasts, krais and republics declared independence and will advise the European Commission on what steps ought to be taken. This would include recommendations on whether or not certain regional administrations ought to be regarded as independent and sovereign from the Russian Federation.
- The ACRPP will revise and advise the European Commission regarding the continuation of the restrictive economic measures employed against the Russian Federation since 2014.
2023.03.28 20:43 Icy_Philosophy_2959 How to Hack and “Fix” a Bad Credit Score Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker
To fix a bad credit score, understand the basic contributors to credit—including whether you pay your bills on time and whether you carry balances on credit cards—and identify the factors that are making a negative impact. Checking for errors on your credit report is also an important step. [[email protected]](mailto:oranjecracktech[email protected])
Your credit score is a three-digit number, usually between 300 and 850, that's based on the information in your credit report. It's valuable for lenders, who need to understand how likely you are to repay money you borrow.
While there are several credit scoring models with different score ranges, 700 or higher is generally considered a good credit score, while 800 or higher is excellent. If your score isn't quite in that range, here's how to get it back in shape. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
On the FICO® Score☉ 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.
VantageScore®, another credit scoring model which was developed by the three main credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), also uses a scale ranging from 300 to 850. But its definitions associated with each score range vary slightly. A VantageScore from 601 to 660 is considered fair, from 500 to 600 is poor, and from 300 to 499 is very poor.
The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for credit, and at better interest rates and terms. If your score is low, it can be difficult to obtain affordable credit or to get approved for a loan or credit card at all. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
You can think of maintaining good credit as preventive medicine. You don't know when something might come up, like a breakup that means having to find a new apartment fast, but good credit can help you handle any affliction with less hassle.
A bad credit score can lead to these roadblocks:
Credit scores aren't static; they change when the information in your credit report changes. That means you can take control of your financial health now, and make moves that will positively affect your credit scores. Here's how. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
If a card has a high annual fee and you're no longer using it, weigh the potential tradeoffs of a shorter credit history with the money you could save. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Credit mix, or the range of credit types you have in your name, makes up 10% of a FICO® Score. You don't need to take out a new loan merely to diversify your credit mix. But dependably managing a credit card is one of the most effective ways to maintain a good credit score. So if you haven't opened your own credit card in the past, consider applying for a secured credit card, which will require a deposit that typically also becomes your credit limit.
If you take these steps and still find yourself struggling, getting help FROM A PROFESSIONAL HACKER may allow you to get back on track.
Be wary of any organization that promises to repair your credit with little or no time or effort. Improving your credit status takes time. Ultimately, there's nothing a credit repair company does that you can't do yourself with time and effort. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Bottom Line
A bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down. There are concrete actions you can take today and in the future to improve it, and to keep your score as high as possible.
Knowing where you stand, and making it a point not to avoid the reality of your credit status, are perhaps the most important ongoing tactics in the drive to improve credit. Check your credit report and score regularly using a free online service like the one available from Experian, and feel empowered knowing you can master your own financial well-being.
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])****============== Do It Yourself Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker
submitted by Icy_Philosophy_2959 to u/Icy_Philosophy_2959 [link] [comments]
Your credit score is a three-digit number, usually between 300 and 850, that's based on the information in your credit report. It's valuable for lenders, who need to understand how likely you are to repay money you borrow.
While there are several credit scoring models with different score ranges, 700 or higher is generally considered a good credit score, while 800 or higher is excellent. If your score isn't quite in that range, here's how to get it back in shape. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
On the FICO® Score☉ 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.
VantageScore®, another credit scoring model which was developed by the three main credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), also uses a scale ranging from 300 to 850. But its definitions associated with each score range vary slightly. A VantageScore from 601 to 660 is considered fair, from 500 to 600 is poor, and from 300 to 499 is very poor.
The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for credit, and at better interest rates and terms. If your score is low, it can be difficult to obtain affordable credit or to get approved for a loan or credit card at all. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
You can think of maintaining good credit as preventive medicine. You don't know when something might come up, like a breakup that means having to find a new apartment fast, but good credit can help you handle any affliction with less hassle.
A bad credit score can lead to these roadblocks:
- Potential rejection for loans and lines of credit.
- Difficulty getting a rental application approved.
- Required security deposits.
- Trouble getting a new cell phone contract.
- Issues during an employment background check.
- Higher insurance premiums in some states.
Credit scores aren't static; they change when the information in your credit report changes. That means you can take control of your financial health now, and make moves that will positively affect your credit scores. Here's how. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
- Check Your Free Credit Score2. Pay Your Bills on Time3. Pay Down Debt4. Avoid New Hard Inquiries5. Boost Your Credit Score With A Professional Hacker6. Get Help Building Credit Score With A Professional HackerHow to Maintain a Good Credit Score
If a card has a high annual fee and you're no longer using it, weigh the potential tradeoffs of a shorter credit history with the money you could save. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Credit mix, or the range of credit types you have in your name, makes up 10% of a FICO® Score. You don't need to take out a new loan merely to diversify your credit mix. But dependably managing a credit card is one of the most effective ways to maintain a good credit score. So if you haven't opened your own credit card in the past, consider applying for a secured credit card, which will require a deposit that typically also becomes your credit limit.
If you take these steps and still find yourself struggling, getting help FROM A PROFESSIONAL HACKER may allow you to get back on track.
Be wary of any organization that promises to repair your credit with little or no time or effort. Improving your credit status takes time. Ultimately, there's nothing a credit repair company does that you can't do yourself with time and effort. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Bottom Line
A bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down. There are concrete actions you can take today and in the future to improve it, and to keep your score as high as possible.
Knowing where you stand, and making it a point not to avoid the reality of your credit status, are perhaps the most important ongoing tactics in the drive to improve credit. Check your credit report and score regularly using a free online service like the one available from Experian, and feel empowered knowing you can master your own financial well-being.
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])****============== Do It Yourself Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker
2023.03.28 20:33 rrmdp 📢 Local Government Federal Credit Union is hiring a Software Quality Assurance Manager!
submitted by rrmdp to jobboardsearch [link] [comments]2023.03.28 19:05 Abject-Guidance-8215 How to Hack and “Fix” a Bad Credit Score Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker
To fix a bad credit score, understand the basic contributors to credit—including whether you pay your bills on time and whether you carry balances on credit cards—and identify the factors that are making a negative impact. Checking for errors on your credit report is also an important step. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Your credit score is a three-digit number, usually between 300 and 850, that's based on the information in your credit report. It's valuable for lenders, who need to understand how likely you are to repay money you borrow.
While there are several credit scoring models with different score ranges, 700 or higher is generally considered a good credit score, while 800 or higher is excellent. If your score isn't quite in that range, here's how to get it back in shape. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
On the FICO® Score☉ 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.
VantageScore®, another credit scoring model which was developed by the three main credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), also uses a scale ranging from 300 to 850. But its definitions associated with each score range vary slightly. A VantageScore from 601 to 660 is considered fair, from 500 to 600 is poor, and from 300 to 499 is very poor.
The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for credit, and at better interest rates and terms. If your score is low, it can be difficult to obtain affordable credit or to get approved for a loan or credit card at all. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
You can think of maintaining good credit as preventive medicine. You don't know when something might come up, like a breakup that means having to find a new apartment fast, but good credit can help you handle any affliction with less hassle.
A bad credit score can lead to these roadblocks:
Credit scores aren't static; they change when the information in your credit report changes. That means you can take control of your financial health now, and make moves that will positively affect your credit scores. Here's how. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
If a card has a high annual fee and you're no longer using it, weigh the potential tradeoffs of a shorter credit history with the money you could save. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Credit mix, or the range of credit types you have in your name, makes up 10% of a FICO® Score. You don't need to take out a new loan merely to diversify your credit mix. But dependably managing a credit card is one of the most effective ways to maintain a good credit score. So if you haven't opened your own credit card in the past, consider applying for a secured credit card, which will require a deposit that typically also becomes your credit limit.
If you take these steps and still find yourself struggling, getting help FROM A PROFESSIONAL HACKER may allow you to get back on track.
Be wary of any organization that promises to repair your credit with little or no time or effort. Improving your credit status takes time. Ultimately, there's nothing a credit repair company does that you can't do yourself with time and effort. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Bottom Line
A bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down. There are concrete actions you can take today and in the future to improve it, and to keep your score as high as possible.
Knowing where you stand, and making it a point not to avoid the reality of your credit status, are perhaps the most important ongoing tactics in the drive to improve credit. Check your credit report and score regularly using a free online service like the one available from Experian, and feel empowered knowing you can master your own financial well-being.
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])****============== Do It Yourself Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker
submitted by Abject-Guidance-8215 to u/Abject-Guidance-8215 [link] [comments]
Your credit score is a three-digit number, usually between 300 and 850, that's based on the information in your credit report. It's valuable for lenders, who need to understand how likely you are to repay money you borrow.
While there are several credit scoring models with different score ranges, 700 or higher is generally considered a good credit score, while 800 or higher is excellent. If your score isn't quite in that range, here's how to get it back in shape. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
On the FICO® Score☉ 8 scale of 300 to 850, one of the credit scores lenders most frequently use, a bad credit score is one below 670. More specifically, a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair, and one between 300 and 579 is poor.
VantageScore®, another credit scoring model which was developed by the three main credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), also uses a scale ranging from 300 to 850. But its definitions associated with each score range vary slightly. A VantageScore from 601 to 660 is considered fair, from 500 to 600 is poor, and from 300 to 499 is very poor.
The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for credit, and at better interest rates and terms. If your score is low, it can be difficult to obtain affordable credit or to get approved for a loan or credit card at all. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
You can think of maintaining good credit as preventive medicine. You don't know when something might come up, like a breakup that means having to find a new apartment fast, but good credit can help you handle any affliction with less hassle.
A bad credit score can lead to these roadblocks:
- Potential rejection for loans and lines of credit.
- Difficulty getting a rental application approved.
- Required security deposits.
- Trouble getting a new cell phone contract.
- Issues during an employment background check.
- Higher insurance premiums in some states.
Credit scores aren't static; they change when the information in your credit report changes. That means you can take control of your financial health now, and make moves that will positively affect your credit scores. Here's how. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
- Check Your Free Credit Score2. Pay Your Bills on Time3. Pay Down Debt4. Avoid New Hard Inquiries5. Boost Your Credit Score With A Professional Hacker6. Get Help Building Credit Score With A Professional HackerHow to Maintain a Good Credit Score
If a card has a high annual fee and you're no longer using it, weigh the potential tradeoffs of a shorter credit history with the money you could save. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Credit mix, or the range of credit types you have in your name, makes up 10% of a FICO® Score. You don't need to take out a new loan merely to diversify your credit mix. But dependably managing a credit card is one of the most effective ways to maintain a good credit score. So if you haven't opened your own credit card in the past, consider applying for a secured credit card, which will require a deposit that typically also becomes your credit limit.
If you take these steps and still find yourself struggling, getting help FROM A PROFESSIONAL HACKER may allow you to get back on track.
Be wary of any organization that promises to repair your credit with little or no time or effort. Improving your credit status takes time. Ultimately, there's nothing a credit repair company does that you can't do yourself with time and effort. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Bottom Line
A bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down. There are concrete actions you can take today and in the future to improve it, and to keep your score as high as possible.
Knowing where you stand, and making it a point not to avoid the reality of your credit status, are perhaps the most important ongoing tactics in the drive to improve credit. Check your credit report and score regularly using a free online service like the one available from Experian, and feel empowered knowing you can master your own financial well-being.
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])****============== Do It Yourself Credit Repair: Fix Bad Credit On Your Own with the help of a professional hacker