i’m an 18 year old male stuck in a small Mississippi town.. so depressing. me and my sister are looking to be roommates and get an apartment or something in the range of Orange Beach, AL - Panama City Beach, FL. this is a pretty solid plan that we’re firm on but i just need advice/questions if anyone with experience on such topics would help!!
what would be a good amount of money to have saved up before we make the move?
has anyone done this or something similar? if so, how was your experience?
thanks guys!!

i’m an 18 year old male stuck in a small Mississippi town.. so depressing. me and my sister are looking to be roommates and get an apartment or something in the range of Orange Beach, AL - Panama City Beach, FL. this is a pretty solid plan that we’re firm on but i just need advice/questions if anyone with experience on such topics would help!!
what would be a good amount of money to have saved up before we make the move?
has anyone done this or something similar? if so, how was your experience?
thanks guys!!

Previous/
The wagons or tanks rolled through the gate in a caravan that was more akin to a carnival than a group of tradesmen; all the wizards with their pointed hats were shaped magnificently against the browns and grays, some wore white porcelain dramedy masks beneath headwear as dark as pipe resin, men and women and those between—as that was common from where they hailed. Their company was perhaps forty and their mules and mares were thirsty and were led to troughs to idle while the wizards removed goods from their wagons or tanks and although it was not a spectacle for them to arrive within Golgotha’s walls, it was something still and the citizens gathered to greet whatever wizards they might know but mostly perhaps to whisper rumors on them. The wizards seemed a taller folk, but that was because of the hats, and they seemed wider too, but that was for the robes they adorned with costume jewelry, trinkets, or fingernail-sized lanterns which contained magical properties hung off their clothes as ornaments (some metal and other crudely wooden). I never knew a people that could trek the wastes in that time as well as me till I knew them.
Boss Maron was there at the gates with his wall men, hollering—shouting really, “The Whores of Babylon have come again!” And the bells signaled from atop the highest tower over the hall of Bosses and I met the front square with a morning headache and a cigarette. The Boss sheriff was clothed, cowboy hat pulled tightly to his ears, and he waltzed through the square, inspecting the new arrivals with his crotch out in front of him as he moved in a swagger like a cup of shifted water. Morning sunlight crested the wall to reflect on the pistol in his holster as it did on the star pin of his hat.
Among them, there was only one wizard I cared to see. Their name was Suzanne.
The hanged bodies of the men remained on the wall, dead and stiff and shifting to the little wind there was.
The square had filled with carts (some drawn by animals and others pushed on oil), and even if it were not for the bells which signaled their arrival, I’d have surely known their presence for the clatter of their metal engines.
“Well goddamn!” said Maron while examining a wizard, “What’s that you’ve got on your legs?”
The wizard, a young woman in plain pants wore a set of leg braces and whenever she moved, she did so in shifting her hips around. “Braces,” she said.
“What’s it for? Or is it some of your all’s secret whodo?”
“I’ve got bad legs. The braces help.” She said plainly, attempting to angle herself straight like a stick against one of the traveling party’s wagons.
“Bad legs?” Boss Maron’s expression was incredulous. “Who has bad legs? What sort of nonsense is it? If a lady like you’s made it this far in life with bad legs, then someone’s done you a disservice.”
She looked on questioningly while the other wizards continued with their unpacking or their conversating—whether it be amongst themselves or with the freckle-spaced citizens in the square.
“How are you to outrun trouble when you’ve got them?” He nodded at the young woman’s legs.
“I don’t.” Her face was red either because of the sun or because of the scrutiny. “I’m just bow-legged.”
“Damn,” he shook his head, “Well how much you want for one of them?”
“One of my braces?”
“Yeah. All I want’s the one anyway.”
“I need both of them.”
“C’mon. You wouldn’t notice just one missing. I mean, you’ve got a spare right next to it.”
Upon noticing a robed figure I recognized by the animals at the troughs, I moved to them instead and let Maron’s conversation fall to the wayside. The chatter of the crowd was wild and startled words came as a wizard exposed their collection of tonics to passersby.
“Suzanne,” I said.
The figure turned to face me, moving their head to look away from a mare they’d been brushing to expose one of those white porcelain masks.
I knew it and could not contain a smile.
“Harlan?” asked the figure. The mask on its face was split in the middle with hinges on either side and they opened it to show their face; it was Suzanne. They’d grown some hair around their throat and wore lipstick on their lips and dyes on their eyes.
“It’s good to see you.” I pushed myself into a hug with them and I could smell the travel off them but didn’t care.
They shifted timidly before hugging me back and I pretended not to notice. Once we’d separated, I looked on Suzanne’s face again and they were looking on at the hanging men on the wall. “Again?” they asked.
I nodded and shot a look towards the Boss across the way.
“What justice?” they asked no one while shaking their head.
Trying an answer, I said, “Justice is something man made, I think. I’ll leave men to men and the rest to God.”
“God.” Suzanne nodded glumly then shook their head. “Which one?”
I laughed a good laugh that felt real but nervous too then kicked the ground and took the last drag off my cigarette before chucking it to the ground. “What’s brought you here?”
Suzanne answered plainly. “We took a long time east out near Pittsburgh.” Their eyes scanned the buildings further on from the square. “The people there are worse than here, it seems. At least you still have your walls.”
“Pittsburgh’s fallen?”
They frowned. “Not completely. They’ve mostly gone underground. A skitterbug infestation caused a plague directly before an attack of proportions I’ve yet seen.” Suzanne’s brow furrowed. “It was awful.” The words hung in the air for a moment. “But we’re here now and thought we’d stop for a rest and some guns and ammo before returning to Babylon. We’ve brought some medicines to trade.”
I learned from my friend that Pittsburgh’s infrastructure and fortifications were decimated in an attack the wizards only caught second-hand and the survivors—holed away in the tunnels beneath Pittsburgh—told of how the demons ran the walls once their reserves were low.
Then the wizards gathered there began unpacking books, some scrolls, and there were medicines too and some of the Bosses other than Maron (he pushed his harassment of the young wizard with leg braces) graced us there with their presence as they came on and began to pick across the goods, haggling prices. Boss Frank was there, and he stood before a wizard by a tank with a wooden table of jars—capped elixirs of varying colors—he grew increasingly frustrated with their selection and took on in his braggadocious way, speaking of numbers. A few of the idle wizards leaned against carts or even took across town and a small group of them had gathered for a quick show near the guard posts, playing instruments (strings over the vocals of “In My Life”) and there in the front of them was a young wizard man that had removed his hat to show how he played with fire flames off his hands—it was a sideshow play—and the citizens wore variations of bemusement or disgust. The children of Golgotha, all dirty faced with sprigs of hair jutting about from their morning’s waking, seemed totally bewildered in the joy of song and clapped their hands or shook their hips all with smiles.
I stuffed my hands in my jacket and prodded Suzanne, “What’s with the plague? I mean, was it contained? None of your lot got sick, did they?”
Suzanne scoffed, perhaps a little pridefully, “No. I wouldn’t worry about that.” They patted a nearby mule then withdrew a brush and moved it across its thin coat before looking over its hooves. “I’ve brought you some books I found out that way though. You still read?”
I nodded.
“Don’t expect any of that fiction. The only ones I’ve found recently are old pamphlets or medical texts.” Suzanne paused and smiled, returning the animal brush to their robes, “You haven’t happened upon anything that might interest me, have you?”
Their shown teeth were infectious. “Mayhap. I’d need you to come back to my place so I could give them to you.” An awkward pause followed and the roar of the still accumulating crowd overtook the space between us before I continued. “Mostly interesting containers and a few flecks of gold I took from some old computers—they’ve been waitin’ on you for weeks now. I got some parchment that might be of use to you too. You can take what you need as always.”
“How about we get some food? I’m famished. Riding through the night takes its toll.”
Me and Suzanne took from the square up a narrow route that led through residences where the lower levels had their curtains drawn and then we took stairs toward balconies and catwalks configured from reinforced metal; we spoke as we went and a few odd glances from passersby met the wizard as we did.
“The tide on the east is rising again,” said Suzanne.
“Worse than before?”
“Worse than before.”
“God, I don’t think I’ve seen the ocean for a decade or more.” I slid my hand along the railing once we came to what was essentially my front porch; it was a perch among the catwalks that cut against the domicile where I shared walls with others on three sides and we stopped there outside my door. “We saw a dragon only a few days ago.”
Suzanne’s interest seemed piqued. “A dragon? And what direction was it traveling?”
“Well,” I craned over the railing, looking down the narrow walkway that separated my building and the one across the way; I couldn’t see the front square from outside my home, but I could still just make out the music echoing from that direction, “Could’ve been north or west. I was preoccupied, but I wouldn’t worry much. The wall men gave it a pretty good thrashing before it took off.”
“Hmm.”
“So, the ocean? It’s rising, huh?”
They joined me there on railing, supporting themselves against their forearms. “It is. Faster than ever. Some bad magic’s taken the water. I imagine by the end of the year Pittsburgh will be under it. There’s something bad coming. You might call it intuition if you want, but I know it’s coming. Something bad. Revelations bad. There comes a time when even those of us forsaken are brought worse.”
“Bah!” I couldn’t help it, “John thought it was the end times while he wrote the damn thing. And what about all the other books? Hm?”
Suzanne put up their hands. “I didn’t mean it like that at all. You know I’m only the mildest scholar on the topic.”
“Anyway. You’d better not start having visions. Got enough to worry about as is.” I’d not realized my shoulders were tense until their hand touched me, and I flinched.
“You’ve a bruise around your neck. Care to elaborate there?”
I shook my head. “Got into a fight.”
Suzanne laughed, removed their pointed hat and playfully put it on my head. “C’mon. Cook me something. You might not know a thing about spices, but your cooking’s always tasted better.”
We took through my door to my small single room where simple amenities awaited and an ancient, decommissioned pump-shotgun hung on the wall over the bed. “That’s just ‘cause you ain’t the one laboring over it.”
Across a meal of potato cakes and toasted bread, we drank coffee until I broke into the liquor to spice my coffee and alleviate my hangover, and we shared the drink and Suzanne took to wash in the sink while I smoked outside on the overlook. Upon returning to the room, I saw them there with a wet rag stuffed beneath an armpit and they were beautiful caught without robes, frame cast in sunglow through the crack in my doorway. In a moment, our hands glided around one another in a scramble of arms at the middle point between us and we took to bed for a while.
Come midday, we remained there, staring at the ceiling, chests bare, and blanket strewn across our lower halves.
“You’re going gray,” said Suzanne.
“You’re getting old too, ya’know.”
“Yes.”
“How long did you say you’ll be staying?” I asked while trying to mask whatever excitement may be present.
“Few days. Once we’ve enough ammunition.” They traced their index finger along my ear lobe.
“Stay.” I offered.
They frowned. “Come.”
“I did already.”
They gave me a light shove and cut their eyes at me. Hazel. How good that color was. “Really. What keeps you here?”
“Things.” I pushed up in the bed to sit, finagling my underwear from the jeans on the floor.
“I wish you would.”
“I’m no wizard.”
“You don’t need to be.”
“Maybe there will come a time when I take you up on that offer. Who knows?” I slid into the drawers.
“Is it Maron?” they asked, “I don’t know your fascination with him. He’s the worst combination cruel and dumb I’ve seen.”
“Like an animal.” I nodded. “Like something real bad’s wrong with him. But no. He’s not my fascination.” Lying was always hard with them. “I worry about this place. I wouldn’t do the things I do if I didn’t. What if I were to leave it and then it turns out like Pittsburgh.”
“Oh, you’re an expert in plagues now?”
“No,” I scoffed, “I guess it’s just a place that weighs on my conscious.” I went to sit on the bed alongside them.
“You hate it here. I can see it more on your face every time we meet.”
“That I do. Call it an investment dilemma. I’ve put time in it, and I want it to be well.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
I caught Suzanne’s face there, staring up from the flat pillow, flustered. My reasoning was hard, but I continued, “There is one thing I should undo before I leave here. It’s a long time coming, and I don’t know if I can. But it’s important,” upon seeing their quizzical expression, I added, “And it is secret.”
“I wish you’d come with us. You’d be welcome.”
“I’ll visit Babylon sometime next month. I promise.”
“You shouldn’t call it that. I don’t like it when you call it that.” The wizards never called their home Babylon; that was a name conjured by the many religious fanatics that considered their magic evil (even if they did trade with the ‘heretics’ from time to time). The name they’d given their own city of medicine was Alexandria; it was fitting for I’d seen their expansive libraries and could become lost in them easily.
“Fine. I’ll be there.” I squeezed their hand in mine. “I’ll miss you once you’ve gone.”
“Don’t get sappy,” they said before planting a kiss on my forehead.
The day went and then the next and another and the wizards packed their belongings. No more music for Golgotha, only quiet agony. As Suzanne said, they’d left me a few books and I’d given away my parchment, jars, and gold. While they were in town, I even was able to snag a few more bottles of their famous wizard liquor along with a few vials of medicine—always good to have whenever I set foot beyond the walls or when someone within might need it.
There came a time finally—as every time it does—where I watched the caravan, with gray smoke clouds off the engines, take on north first where there was an opening wide enough in the ruins to accommodate vehicles, then it hooked around a wide bend that took them west then their black shapes against the red morning skyline disappeared like fading ink as their magic cloaked them entirely. I wished them well, but at the moment of dissipation, I felt an urge to leap from the top of the wall, charge across the field, scream that I was coming and scream it loud enough that I’d hurt myself. I think I just loved—though I never said it aloud and neither did they—and love is a bad thing more often than it is good, for the longing it leaves in its absence drives a person mad and I did not want to be mad; the feeling burst from me quietly there on the wall while I was flanked on either side by guards. I was sure all along the way they went that I could just make out Suzanne among them; that was probably a fault in my vision, but I imagined they were casting glances back, hoping to hold me as strongly as I wished to hold them. I went to the streets of Golgotha where the town quieted from the previous days’ engagements with the wizards.
Normal came and settled and then came chanting from Lady as she moved through sullen quiet streets. She was so far off that I was not sure it was her at all and then came the lines as she drew nearer by the hydroponics towers, and she shouted them vigorously and shook her fist above the air and held a staff with a swinging lantern of incense in her opposite hand, partly for ceremony and partly for support. The words came harshly, gravelly:
“They called to the mountains and to the rocks, fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
“The lamb will be your shepherd. He will guide you. Hallelujah! He will lead you to the springs of living water and wipe away every tear!”
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand! Do not be tempted by the deviousness of the whorish Babylonians for all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
A person, among the catwalks, shouted down at Lady, “Shut-the-fuck-up!”
I watched her come fully down the avenue as she dodged a thrown egg from somewhere unseen, then dashed away toward an offshoot alley to hide somewhere, incense lantern smoking, clanging against her back while she screeched off more scripture from memory. After she was long gone, I moved to the spot where the egg was, rubbed it into dirt with the sole of my boot and looked up through the spiderweb network of catwalks overhead; there was no one.
Without a thing keeping me, I took off the following day, and upon meeting the gates, Maron was there and I could see he was the proud owner of a used leg brace; he grinned upon seeing me, patting his mustache down with his forefinger and thumb.
“Whatcha’ think?” He motioned to his left leg. “It’s a bit of a conversation starter, ain’t it?”
“Get your boys to open the gate, I’m going out.”
He shook his head. “Won’t find anything out there. It’s all dirt and rubble, you know.”
“Just open it.”
“You know what?” He cut his eyes at me. “There’s gonna’ come a day when you won’t be so able bodied or maybe the Bosses won’t like you coming and going as you please.”
I inhaled heavily then let it go. “Now can’t we skip to the end where you acquiesce to my request?”
“Words words words you’ve got. You’ve got a lot of words. Acquiesce. Psshaw.” Boss Maron waved for the guards to open the gate and they did, and I stepped by him, and he spit somewhere behind me before I heard him hobble around with his single leg brace.
The path was clear and open on all sides and in no time, I’d taken across the field to the east and found myself on the edge of the ruins where things stank, and I was free from no other thought than to live. Creeping hot overcame me and brought my hair to my forehead and I holed off in a shadow to drank from my gourd before continuing. The sun was red in the sky in the places where I could see sky from around the black shadows of towering structures. I ducked beneath an old shop counter when I heard the skittering of fart heads and pulled a sleeve to kill the scent of their chlorine breath.
Once they’d gone, I pulled through the wreckage more and more till I came upon the markings for an old safehouse in the back office of a garage I’d not been to in a while. What were my intentions? Was I going to go all the way to the coast? Throw myself into those bad magic waters? There’s a thing they don’t teach you in religion. They prattle all day to do this or that and they say that Hell awaits sinners or Hades or maybe its in layers or circles or what have you. They’ll tell you about the places and they’ll say that if you take life into your own hands, you end in Hell, but what’s a person to do when those creeping intrusions come along—the ones that call to a person in the darkness, the ones where they tempt you to jump from a high place or there’s always a gun or a poison. Maybe a person could bribe another to do it for them. Where do they end up then? What are you supposed to do to stave off those thoughts? Should a person contend such melancholies with prayer? That did not seem helpful. What is the soulless to do without the promise of those pearly gates anyway?
Anyway, I took on past the safehouse and found a utility hall in the side of a tall industrial building just beyond a partially erect chain link fence. The wall was opened up like a cracked shell from years of standing alone, and after ducking through there, I found some old matches in a drawer, plastic gas cans whose contents had long since congealed within; I kicked them (not that I expected anything more). Moving further down the wide hallway, there were shelves of dusty tools, and I took some hammers and knives (cheapo stuff).
Further still down the hall, there was a staircase, and I took it quietly; the stone stairs made hardly a sound against the bottoms of my boots, and I took the stairs more quickly till I was out of breath and caught myself on a landing where I supped silent air before rushing further up the stairs. An old metallic cabinet or console—I couldn’t make it out—lay strewn across the steps to the second-highest floor and I climbed over it before coming to the building’s roof access. Upon coming to the door with a metal push bar across its middle, I gave it a shove and it did not budge but a minor clink and I took a moment to collect myself before rummaging through my gear.
Slung through a loop on the inside of my pack was a short prybar that was so worn around its tooth it was more rounded than an edge; I shimmied the piece of metal into the spot where the door latched into the way and began crimping the spot apart, trying all the while to maintain a relative quiet in the dead ruins. Once I’d bent away at the door for a few moments, I elevated my body weight at an awkward angle to pop the door free and it did so, half open, with a rusty screech that forced a long pause from me; I stood there by the newly opened doorway for a full minute, holding the prybar, holding my breath. Upon hearing nothing in response to the noise of the door, I slid the tool into my pack and slipped through the threshold.
The flat roof of the industrial building sloped to one corner—where the opening in the wall of the first floor was—and sitting there in the middle of an open platform was an old helicopter, blades half torn away or rusted off and the remaining slanted from the top of the old vehicle, touching the platform it sat upon. The roof access looked like a little square house atop the flat headed structure and around the side of the access, I found an old corpse (entirely bones) wrapped in black plastic-like armor, the white dry fingers laid across its lap, several digits gone and its hollow eye holes staring off into the sky with a permanent smile. I moved to the thing that hadn’t been human in a long time and prodded it; the skeleton slumped to the side and looked on the ground by its shoes. How long had it been staring at the sky and how long had it been waiting for me to come and change its dead visage?
I moved to the edge of the building, to the corner where the building sloped and looked off the edge to the ground below; all was quiet, and nothing moved save the shadows’ stalwart creep across the ground. Examining from above, I could see the opening I’d climbed through and beneath my shifting feet, I felt the ground give a little; timidly, I angled more forward and for a moment I thought I knew why I’d gone up there in the first place. Suddenly six-stories felt high. The urge to jump came. Perhaps on the way down, I’d have just a blink to convince myself I’d slipped.
“Hey!” A shout from somewhere down below came from the direction I’d come from. I shook my head as it felt as though it was a ghost echo, a noise that wasn’t. Then it came again, “Hey!”
I squinted my eyes and there in the crumbled road below, there was a human I didn’t initially recognize; it was only after the figure tumbled through the remains of the chain link fence that I recognized it as Dave. I blinked.
Out of breath, he angled over to the opening at the base of the structure and called up at me, “Hey! I see you up there!”
Whisper-yelling, I cupped my hands, “Shutup!”
I took back to the stairs, and he hollered after, “Where you going?”
With reckless abandon, I took the stairs many at a time, leapt the cabinet on the stairs, scrambling while also reaching for the prybar I’d put away. I held the cold metal in my hand and charged toward the industrial storage hallway where I could see him silhouetted in the frame of the crumbled opening.
His chest heaved and he wiped at his brow; slung across his shoulder was a small supply bag and worn like a necklace was a pair of binoculars. “God, you move fast. Like a fuckin’ cockroach in light.” His eyes shifted from my face to the prybar in my hand as I approached him.
Standing within the echoey hallway, I lifted the weapon and pointed it at him. “What’d you follow me for?”
“You wouldn’t use that on me.” He took his eyes from the prybar. “I don’t think you would anyway. You might be shady, Harlan, but I don’t take you as a stone-cold murderer.”
“You take me wrong,” I said.
“Maybe.” He seemed to think on it a moment. “You wouldn’t?”
“If you’ve given away my position to those things, I might.”
“Lots of bluster.” Dave offered an incredibly forced smile, and I could see just from the little shine of the sun in the opening that his eye had blacked but remained functional. “I been watching you.”
“Oh?”
He nodded. “I snuck out after you.”
“You ought to go back.”
“You ought to just listen. There ain’t a thing back there for me.”
“I don’t care.” The sharpness in my voice felt good. “I don’t need some sorry sack sneaking up on me when I’m mindin’ my own.”
A quiet laugh. “There’s nothing there for me. I been farming all my life and if I die,” he shrugged, “So be it.”
“Idiot. Fuckin’ idiot.”
“You manage out here! Wizards can too!”
“Wizards have magic.”
“You got some of that?”
I lowered the crowbar.
“We’ve got to stop starting our conversations with fights.” He paused and moved into the shadowy hallway of the building before perching in a half-sit half-lean against the wall near me. “I never was violent anyway, so if you want to hit me with that then do it.”
“Hmm.”
His shirt clung to him, sweat thick and dark on his chest and pits. “Goddamn you move fast.”
“You should wear a jacket or something. Long sleeves keep the sun off and a thicker material gives you a modicum of protection.” I took to squatting too, maintaining ample distance betwixt us. “A hat helps too, but I’m always losing hats.” I chewed on my tongue while mulling over whether I should leave him.
“Are you going to try and slink away while I’m not looking?”
I blinked. “No.”
“Liar.” He took a healthy gulp from his water gourd then wiped his mouth. “East is the ocean?”
I nodded.
“Is it far?”
I nodded. “For you.”
Dave sighed. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Telling me.”
“Okay.”
“You ever have any kids?”
I shook my head.
“It’s somethin’. Henry had so much energy—especially when he was little—there was times I didn’t think he’d ever settle down.”
“What are you doing out here?” I asked.
“Helen told me she was the same way when she was his age. She had energy too. I feel so tired.”
“Dave. What the fuck are you doing out here? Why’d you follow me?”
He took one last swallow from his gourd before shoving it into his pack. “I wanted to talk to you about killin’ the Bosses.”
I laughed into my hand. “That’s—that’s a thought.”
“I mean it.” His stare was like pinpricks.
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A little less than 2 months ago I submitted an ARC request to my HOA for a fence. I went through a company that has installed the same fences in my neighborhood. After 10 days past the manager of the HOA requested some additional information for clarity of the request. Which upon review was warranted. Several weeks later the HOA board had a “clarification” question. Asking if I plan to run the sides of the fence to my property line. Which I am and this was clearly shown on the plat map I submitted with the request.
It’s now been about 6 weeks and I have still not received approval nor denial on my fence. The ARC request forms states the board has 30 days to make a decision. If more information is required then the 30 days starts over until that information is received. The covenants basically state the same thing. What they don’t state is what happens if you do not receive a response within the 30 day period. I was told the 30 days started over with their “clarification” question. Which was not information they did not have and nothing needed resubmitted.
I have been in contact several times with the HOA community manager. She keeps telling me she is waiting to hear back from the board. Our board was just established this year so from what I can understand the community manager is guiding them. Our neighborhood has been here for several years but was just completed and the HOA management company was turned over to the board.
All that being said I am requesting the same style fence to be erected in the same manor several houses in the neighborhood already have. At this point I’m really tempted to say fuck it and have the fence installed without approval. One of my concerns is that there is an easement bordering my property on the side. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to run up to it being that it is my property. However, the city does manage the easements in our neighborhood. I also am unsure how ugly it could get with the HOA if they were to deny me and I already have it installed. But I feel I have everything on my side. They didn’t get back to me in their allotted time and I have multiple examples of other house with the same fence. So maybe I would win in court? I live in North Carolina by the way. Any thoughts or advise?

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the world’s emerging superpower. However, it is also a country facing a growing number of economical, social, and ecological issues.
China’s GDP exceeds $11 trillion dollars, making it the second largest in the world after the US. Despite this, its rate of economic growth has sharply dropped to 6% in 2016 from 9% in 2013. The PRC has a highly centralized and government-managed economy, along with strictly regulated political life. Notwithstanding, some Chinese provinces are allowed to pursue independent economic policies.
China officially has a multi-party political system. However, in practice, there is only one party that holds significant power — the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was founded on July 1, 1921. The CPC’s ideology is based on the Marxist-Leninist doctrine introduced by Karl Marx (a Prussian economist) and Friedrich Engels (a German philosopher and businessman) in the 1880s. This doctrine was later supplemented by the theory of Socialism by Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin (a Russian politician and revolutionary).
The doctrine postulates that society is composed of two major economic classes — the working people (exploited) and the bourgeoisie (exploiters). According to this theory, a global economic crisis will lead to a revolution, with the working class taking control of the world and the bourgeoisie being eliminated. Ultimately, capitalism will cease to exist, and communism (where goods are freely available and nobody works) will prevail. Mao Zedong, the founder of the CPC, adapted this theory to the Chinese context by including Chinese farmers in the definition of the working class.
The PRC government plays a central role in both the political and economic aspects of China. The CPC governs China through an administrative pyramid, with the Central Committee (Politburo) and the National Congress at the top.
The National Congress is comprised of over 2000 delegates who are elected mainly from local CPC committee members. This assembly convenes for a two-week session in Beijing once a year. The 22 Chinese provinces are managed by regional governors appointed by the Central Committee, and their primary objective is to fulfill the CPC’s goal of achieving GDP growth. The government operates based on five-year plans.
The list of other political parties in China includes:
Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (53,000 members, representing Taiwan residents in China); China Democratic League (130,000 members, mainly composed of the middle class); China Democratic National Construction Association (69,000 members, consisting of entrepreneurs); China Association for Promoting Democracy (64,000 members, primarily intellectuals); Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party (65,000 members, representing government employees); Zhigongdang of China (15,000 members, representing overseas Chinese); Jiusan Society (68,000 members, comprising individual professionals); Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (1,600 members, including prominent Chinese celebrities). All of these parties are aligned with and support the CPC in its major initiatives and policies. Opposition to the CPC is not tolerated.
Economic Review
Administratively China consists of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the central government, and 2 special administrative regions.
China’s main economic regions:
Eastern Coastal Region: This region includes provinces like Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, as well as Shanghai. It has been a major driver of China’s economic growth due to its proximity to international trade routes and its well-developed infrastructure. The Eastern Coastal Region contributes approximately 45–50% to China’s GDP. Western Region: The Western Region comprises provinces such as Sichuan, Chongqing, and Yunnan, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region. This region is known for its rich natural resources, including minerals, energy, and agricultural products. The Western Region contributes around 15–20% to China’s GDP. Central Region: The Central Region includes provinces such as Henan, Hubei, and Hunan. It is characterized by a mix of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and services. The Central Region contributes roughly 15–20% to China’s GDP. Northeastern Region: The Northeastern Region consists of provinces like Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. Historically, this region was a vital industrial base for heavy machinery, mining, and manufacturing. However, it has faced economic challenges in recent years. The Northeastern Region contributes approximately 7–10% to China’s GDP. Pearl River Delta: The Pearl River Delta is a highly urbanized and economically dynamic region located in Guangdong Province. It encompasses cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan. Known as a manufacturing and export hub, it has played a pivotal role in China’s economic growth. The Pearl River Delta contributes around 10–15% to China’s GDP. Yangtze River Delta: The Yangtze River Delta region covers Shanghai and the surrounding provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It is one of the most economically developed and prosperous regions in China. With a strong focus on finance, manufacturing, and services, the Yangtze River Delta contributes approximately 20–25% to China’s GDP. China’s Latest Economic Updates
Stock Market
The Shanghai Composite rose from 2892 in November 2022 to 3284 (as of May 17, 2023).
Currency
Yuan rose from 6.7 in Jan 2023 to 7.0 as of May 17, 2023
Employment
In March 2023, China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate decreased to 5.3%, the lowest in seven months, from February’s 5.6%. Those aged 25–59 saw their jobless rate drop to 4.3% from 4.8% in February, while those aged 16–24 increased to 19.6% from 18.1%. The unemployment rate in 31 large cities and towns also declined to 5.5% from 5.7%.
Employees’ average weekly working hours across China increased to 48.7 in March from 47.9 in February. In the first quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate slightly declined to 5.5% from 5.6% in Q4 2022. The government has set a target of around 5.5% for the year, with the creation of approximately 12 million new urban jobs. China has also set a 2023 GDP growth target of about 5%.
GDP
China’s economy grew by 2.2% (SA) in Q1–2023, the third consecutive quarter of expansion following the removal of travel restrictions in Dec-2022 and a three-year crackdown on tech firms and property. However, the uneven recovery showed that while consumption, services, and infrastructure spending picked up, slowing inflation and rising bank savings led to doubts about demand.
In Mar-2023, the central bank cut lenders’ reserve requirements for the first time in 2023 and Beijing promised more fiscal stimulus.
Inflation
In April of 2023, China’s inflation rate declined to 0.1% from the previous month’s 0.7%, which was lower than anticipated. The decrease in prices for both food and non-food items was due to an unstable economic recovery after the enclosure policy was lifted. Food prices fell notably due to lower prices of pork and fresh vegetables, while non-food prices fell due to lower prices for transportation and housing. Inflation for health remained steady, while education costs increased.
Trade
Country’s exports rose unexpectedly by 14.8% YoY to a high of USD 315.59B in March 2023, rebounding sharply from a 6.8% drop in January-February combined and beating market consensus of a 7% fall. It was the first advance in shipments since September 2022 as Beijing boosts trade with developed countries and emerging economies. Steel products (53.2%) and refined products (35.1%) were the largest contributors. Exports to China’s largest partner, ASEAN, rose 35.43%, while those to the EU (3.38%) and Russia (136.43%) also increased. Conversely, exports fell to Japan (-4.8%), Taiwan (-27.6%), and the US (-7.68%), while they expanded to Australia (23.7%) and South Korea (11.3%).
SVET Analysis Space (A-):
Advantages:
Strategic location: China is located in the heart of Asia, which gives it a strategic location to engage in trade and diplomacy with neighboring countries. China also has access to the Pacific Ocean, which allows it to trade with countries in the Americas and Oceania. Natural resources: China has significant reserves of coal, iron ore, and other minerals. The country is also the world’s largest producer of rare earth elements, which are essential in the manufacturing of high-tech products. This resource base has fueled China’s economic growth over the past few decades. Agricultural productivity: China has a large and fertile agricultural base, which allows it to produce significant amounts of food. The country is the world’s largest producer of rice and wheat, and it has made significant advances in crop yields through the use of technology and modern farming practices. Disadvantages:
Natural disasters: China is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and typhoons, which can cause significant damage to infrastructure and disrupt the economy. Resource depletion: China’s rapid economic growth has led to the depletion of some of its natural resources, such as water and arable land. This depletion can lead to environmental degradation and food insecurity in the future. Energy dependence: Despite having significant reserves of coal, China is also heavily dependent on imported oil and gas to meet its energy needs. This dependence makes the country vulnerable to supply disruptions and price fluctuations on the global market. Voice (C):
Pluses:
Stability: The Chinese government prioritizes maintaining stability and order in the country, which has helped to ensure social cohesion and economic growth. Economic development: China’s political system has enabled it to pursue policies that have led to rapid economic growth and development over the past few decades. Nationalism: The Chinese government emphasizes the importance of national unity and pride, which has helped to foster a strong sense of identity among Chinese citizens. Strategic planning: The government’s focus on long-term planning has enabled China to achieve its ambitious economic and geopolitical goals. Minuses:
Lack of political freedom: The Chinese government tightly controls political expression and restricts freedom of speech, assembly, and association, which has led to criticism from human rights groups. State control: The government’s control over the economy and key industries can stifle innovation and limit the potential for private sector growth. Lack of transparency: The Chinese government is known for being opaque in its decision-making processes, which can lead to uncertainty for businesses and investors. Human rights violations: The government’s policies towards ethnic minorities, such as the Uighur population in Xinjiang, have been criticized by the international community for alleged human rights abuses. Ethos (B-):
Han Chinese: The Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group in China, accounting for over 90% of the population. They enjoy the most favorable treatment from the government and have access to the best jobs, education, and healthcare. However, this has led to some resentment from minority groups who feel marginalized. Ethnic minorities: There are 55 recognized ethnic minority groups in China, including Tibetans, Uighurs, Mongolians, and others. They often face discrimination and limited opportunities for advancement. Some minority groups, such as the Uighurs in Xinjiang, have also been subject to government repression. Rural residents: China’s rural population is around 40% of the total population. They often have limited access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities compared to urban residents. However, the government has implemented policies to try to bridge this gap, such as investing in rural infrastructure and offering subsidies to farmers. Urban residents: China’s urban population is growing rapidly and has access to more job opportunities, education, and healthcare than rural residents. However, this has also led to increased competition for resources and rising income inequality. Time (B-):
Positive scenarios:
Continued economic growth: China’s economy has been growing rapidly over the past few decades, and it is likely to continue. This could result in increased prosperity and an improved standard of living for many Chinese citizens. Technological advancement: China has made significant strides in technology and innovation, and this trend is likely to continue. This could result in China becoming a global leader in technology, creating new industries and high-paying jobs. Improved infrastructure: China has been investing heavily in infrastructure, such as high-speed rail and new airports, which can improve transportation and connectivity and stimulate economic growth. Increased global influence: As China’s economy and political influence continue to grow, it could become a dominant player on the global stage, shaping international politics and economics. Negative scenarios:
Environmental degradation: China’s rapid economic growth has resulted in severe environmental problems, such as air and water pollution. If this trend continues, it could have severe consequences for public health and the environment. Social inequality: China’s economic growth has also created significant social inequalities, with a wealthy urban elite and a poorer rural population. This could result in social unrest and instability. Political repression: The Chinese government’s increasing control over the media and the internet, and its crackdowns on dissent, could result in greater political repression. Economic slowdown: China’s economic growth has already slowed in recent years, and if this trend continues, it could result in job losses and economic instability, which could have global consequences. Overall
The Chinese reforms were initiated by Deng Xiaoping (1978–1992) in the late 1970s. These reforms aimed to open up China to foreign investment, encourage private enterprise, and modernize various sectors of the economy. As part of these reforms, the number of directly controlled industries was drastically reduced. Additionally, the number of price-controlled goods decreased from approximately 300 to around 20.
With that said, the government still exercises strict regulatory oversight and establishes guidelines and policies that private businesses must adhere to. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) continue to play a significant role in the Chinese economy and frequently receive preferential treatment and support from the government.
Those policies were continued under Jiang Zemin (1993–2003), during which China was accepted into the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 11, 2001, and also under Hu Jintao (2003–2013). However, when Xi Jinping (2013-present) assumed power, there was a gradual shift towards increased direct control over the economy and the establishment of a more centralized system. This change was accompanied by the active implementation of mass-surveillance technologies.
That happened synchronously with the end of the world’s latest 80-year-long generational cycle, which began in the 1940s and 1950s. This cycle was characterized by massive political decentralization, resulting in the emergence of several dozen new states between 1940 and 2000. After the 2007–2008 debts debacle, this cycle of economic expansion, driven by the exploitation of readily available resources, came to a close. However, it was artificially extended for the next 15 years through the easing of monetary policies pursued simultaneously by central banks worldwide.
That led to an unprecedented growth of private businesses worldwide. It was accompanied by increased prosperity and a rising level of education across all segments of the population. Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, particularly in the high-tech industry, began to assume leading positions in the economic landscape. However, this economic progress was not accompanied by significant political reforms.
The old class of hereditary, mostly populist politicians, who often lacked education, managed to stay in power throughout that period, largely due to the outdated electoral system based on indirect political representation. However, when blockchain technologies were utilized to establish algorithmic consensus and enable effective direct governance, this new system faced resistance from entrenched political clans in all countries, resulting in its suppression.
China is currently at the forefront of this trend, with its political class focused on leveraging high-tech advancements to achieve both economic efficiency and comprehensive political control. However, there are two significant obstacles that China faces along this path.
Firstly, China is confronted with a shrinking population. In recent years, the country has undergone a substantial demographic shift characterized by an aging population and a decline in the working-age population. This is partially attributed to the one-child policy that was enforced from 1979 to 2016, resulting in a diminished labor force and a growing proportion of elderly individuals.
Secondly, there is a culmination of the resource-exploration and expansionist phase of global economic growth, accompanied by escalating political and military tensions worldwide. This situation is likely to result in a reduction of China’s import markets and an increased dependence on a less-competitive domestic market. Consequently, this could potentially lead to a scenario of stagflation, characterized by stagnant economic growth coupled with high inflationary pressures.
Faced with these fundamental challenges, it is highly probable that China will resort to aggressive and militaristic policies in an attempt to expand its territory directly or enforce its economic dominance in the Asian region through alternative means.
China is expected to continue on its trajectory towards increased global dominance through local conflicts and enhanced technological control over the economy and population over the next 15–20 years. However, this trend could be altered by a new wave of decentralization, which would require a significant deviation from current policies.
Such a shift may occur when not only the current generation of older politicians, but also the subsequent one (which is likely to further reinforce the existing trend), is replaced by “enlightened” technocrats who advocate for a return to decentralized approaches in both politics and economics.

Found a Walmart grocery delivery sitting on the sidewalk outside my apartment building in a major US city. Scooped it up and brought it inside. My property manager was less than helpful and told me to just leave it on the sidewalk (lol what? no). I started tracking down anyone with this first initial last name or a variation on Facebook. Then I hopped on our building portal and started searching for anyone with a first name that started with L... after a couple hours I tracked down the owner and was able to deliver her groceries. Hooray!

I accepted a lease on our apartment portal for $1160.95 (10.95 is insurance they profit from because it's tax refundable?) and for a 12-month term again.. It sent me an email documenting that I accepted this offer. It says it was pending resident signature but my lease wasn't generated until 7 days ago and I accepted on May 1st. The lease that was generated is an 8 month lease and 100 dollars more than I agreed to on the rent portal. My city Ann Arbor, MI, has a right to renew the policy and my management was fined this month by not giving my downstairs neighbor a notice to renew as well within 180 days of the end of his lease.. Their reason for me to accept another offer in portal is that, they've done away with 12-month leases and only provide 8 months now. Even though I agreed to something else, they're kinda saying to me, "Too bad. Don't like it? Move." And I don't want to move because I can't afford anything else and would make me homeless if I have to pay more. They have 3 vacant units in my building and nobody wants to move in and haven't in over 3 years.. Do I seem to have a small case if they won't generate me the lease we mutually agreed to by them mutually agreeing as being owners of the portal and apartment. Does that make sense? I know everyone wants more money for their property. But I'm hurting... Bad... I feel very strongly about this and feel I'm in the right to what we agreed to that they changed last minute.

So my last post on cscareerquestions and startups blew up and got amazing responses. Thank you to all that took time out of their day to help people like me. As advised by many, I've decided to post my resume here. I would really appreciate it if you take a look at my resume and provide valuable feedback. If you haven't seen my last post, I've pasted it underneath.
Also, how important is a cover letter?
My last post:
https://www.reddit.com/cscareerquestions/comments/13vh8it/losing_hope_i_dont_know_if_i_can_find_another_job/
https://preview.redd.it/fptseqtp833b1.png?width=733&format=png&auto=webp&s=786224d851c37942e8cbf5220179055ac40d6ef0

(sorry i’m reposting this bc i accidentally posted it from a non anon account).
i recently changed jobs because i was being sexually harassed at work. I thought my new job would be fine because I made very clear I needed 25 hours a week minimum to make ends meet, and my manager agreed to this. However, once I had started the job I was getting anywhere between 6 and 18 hours a week, which simply isn’t enough for me to get by. I brought this up to him and i was basically told ‘all the positions are filled’. I don’t think he’s trying to force me out because he’s told me after every shift that he’s really happy with my performance and I’m always early for shifts and offer to stay late if needed etc.
For the last two weeks I have been frantically looking for new jobs (literally have applied for hundreds), I have applied for universal credit, I’ve even taken on two market stalls (i do art as a hobby so I sell my stuff at craft fairs sometimes) to raise funds for the month. I have three interviews in the next week.
I know this situation isn’t my fault and I’m doing everything in my power to change it… but I feel this overwhelming sense of guilt, shame and embarrassment. I feel like it’s all my fault and that I’m stupid for having taken on this job and not having seen some magical invisible red flag. I feel so ashamed of myself for not having a stable job or career (I’m 25 and the only thing I actively want to do as a career is tattooing but so far I’ve been met with nothing but rejection because it’s so competitive in my city). I’m so embarrassed and I feel like my family aren’t proud of me and I’m just some layabout waster choosing not to work when I know that’s not the case.
I even worry that my partner is going to leave me because of my employment situation, despite the fact that they’ve shown no signs of thinking negatively of me or that it’s my fault. I don’t want to see any of my friends or family because I might just burst into tears or start ranting and not be able to stop so I’ll just push everyone away by being negative. I haven’t slept for days because I’m having nightmares (i have ptsd) which also flares up when stressed. just finished 3 years of therapy for it so idk how it would help doing any more) due to stress about money and I feel so ashamed of myself for having let this situation happen.
I don’t want a family. I don’t care about owning property. I don’t care about expensive clothes or holidays or my fucking pension or anything like that. All I have ever wanted is to do tattooing (don’t care about money just want enough to live on) and having good solid relationships. I genuinely don’t care about the rest of it. I feel like I can’t do anything right and I can feel myself freezing and clamming up because I’m so afraid I’m going to have a nervous breakdown. Like I even have an exhibition coming up in July for LGBTQIA+ pride in my city and this will be really great exposure for me as a small artist, but I just go to my art studio and sit at my desk and want to cry. I’m trying so so hard to go through the motions and be productive and do self care and see people and everything but it’s just not working for me and I don’t know what to do.
Everything feels so uncertain in my life right now and I really don’t know what to do. I’m scared I’m going to have to start using food banks and that kind of stuff soon. like I’m grateful to live in a country that has options like that but i’m just still panicking. i feel like because i’m in good health and able to work, it’s just wrong for me not to. idk sorry this is so messy i just needed to get this off my chest

I'll try to keep this short. I am a sub-contractor to a large multi-national corporate company. I am considered a specialist in my role.
The client is a property investor who has multiple properties around our city that we service in the HVAC/R sector. However, around a year ago I was told by the corporate manager (my direct liason) that I was now banned from said clients sites.
I was banned due to the fact I know his daughter and her now ex partner is one of my good mates. His daughter has serious mental issues of which I tried to talk to her about, she is arguably the most narcissistic person I have met (the rest of our once friend group agree). I also put a stop to her talking so much rubbish about her ex to her dad and basically put holes in the stories she was making up.
After these chats, all in good faith and coming from a place of caring, she then twisted the story to her dad about me and he made the call to make personal matters affect business relations.
Fast forward a year and now one his site needs a new system installed and commissioned of which I am the specialist. Save going elsewhere locally or out of town to source a contractor, I'm it.
However, I told my liason this morning that I do not want to do the job nor be on site as a matter of principle after he asked me to take over the project and conduct the work.
I feel he also allowed client to dictate personal matters in business without mediation. I'm aware he is stuck in the middle but I'd expect him to have my back a bit and set it straight.
AITA for saying no thank you and setting what I believe is a standard of business practice?

Hello there! (Sorry for the long post and I hope these questions qualify for this subreddit). If I choose the option of a makeshift stair from the two options given to me this morning, and they can't do that now, do I still have the option for them to put me up in a hotel? And how much notice are they legally required to give me before I have to leave? Does the landlord showing up at my door and making an offer he can't or doesn't keep constitute as a notice that I need to relocate? I'm in New York State.
Here are all of the details just in case they're important: I am in a new apartment (~2 months). There is a hired company here doing work to replace things that violate a code. I rented under the knowledge that my apartment was newly renovated (the apartments being in the process of being renovated is why the complex's buildings were no longer condemned), that the balconies of all the buildings would be replaced in a few days (it's been over a month and they just started today), and I was under the expectation that I would be living in my apartment during the process of the upstairs deck being replaced. The property management company (we'll call them B) has office hours that end at 4pm. They're the company that manages the landlord's (we'll call him A) properties. We'll call my housing program case manager C.
Reasons I didn't want to relocate to a hotel (that were also explained to the landlord and the property management company): I have 1 cat and of course his litter supplies, food, pet fountain, and litterbox. I'm on food stamps and most of my food is currently refrigerated and needs to be cooked prior to eating it. I'm low on food stamps because I won't receive next month's allotment for a few more days, and I'm expected to have relocated by tomorrow morning and will not be returning for a few days until the work is finished.

1. @ 11am - 12pm: at some point A knocks on my door and explains the city said they're overdue and they have to fix the code violations, and that's why it's noisy, becqusw th balconies are going to be replaced. A says they can either put me up in a hotel or try to make a makeshift stair for me while the deck is being renovated, because of safety reasons. I choose the makeshift stairs.
2. @ 3:08pm: the property management company (B) calls me and says that because I don't want to move to a hotel, I can move in to another apartment for a few days, but I have to leave today. I ask if I can bring my cat, cat supplies and litterbox, if I can bring my food, and is the other apartment clean. B says yes to all of that and explicitly tells me "it will be clean before you move in".
3. cont'd I say that sounds great but I can't agree to anything without speaking with my housing program case manager (C) first. B says okay and they can contact C for me. I say okay if they want. B hangs up. I send C a text about their incoming phone call.
4. @ 3:37pm: C calls me back (she missed the call from B) after seeing my text. I explain things as best I can but I'm interrupted by a call from B, so I merge the two calls. We're not in a three way conference call: B, C, and myself.
5. cont'd B tries explaining the situation to C. Nowhere in any of these conversations has B mentioned what hotel I would be going to and talked over C while C was asking. B says that I can move into another apartment for a few days, but I would have to do so tomorrow morning. C asks if I will have any access to my apartment during this time. B says no. C asks when I have to be out. B says I have to be out by tomorrow morning.
6. @ 3:43pm C excuses herself to find something out and hangs up. B also hangs up. I try to call B to clarify something that was said - that the entire 2nd floor needed to be renovated - because I was told before moving in to my apartment that my apartment was already renovated. I also want to know what hotel I would put up in. So I try to call B multiple times but there is no answer except voicemail.
7. @ 3:48pm C calls me back and says she had made a call to find out if there was any transitional housing space available, but the answer is no. Me moving into another apartment for a few days is nixed due to known bedbug concerns from an apartment in the same building as the one I was offered. C wants to know what hotel the landlord would be putting me/the others up in. I tell her I don't know and I can't get ahold of B.
8. @ 3:50pm C hangs up and tries to call B. After, she calls me back and says she also couldn't get ahold of B so she left a voicemail and sent an email. Neither of us know what to do with me at this point. I say I'll ask the on-site maintenance guy for the landlord's phone number. I don't know if my friends who I stayed with in March/early April would be willing to take me back in with my cat, because they already have 6 cats, and they just lost a rescue cat they were really close to, but I'll ask them.
9. @ 4:03pm I text the maintenance guy asking for the landlord's phone number. He asks me what's going on. I detail the situation of the phone calls. He says the company should have notified me a week ago. I say they did not. (B didn't even try to call me! I don't erase anything from my phone logs and I checked for any missed calls from them. Other than today, the last call I had from B was on the 17th because they wanted to make sure I was going to pay my rent, but I had turned the money order in already and I had the receipt from it. I also have pictures of the money order and also pictures of the receipt after turning the money order in, but I didn't mention that part. I also checked my mail on Saturday evening/night for my electric bill but my mailbox was empty.)
10. @ 4:38pm The maintenance guy texts me that he tried to call the company, no answer. So he also tried to call the landlord, no answer.

There is 1 actual hotel that I know of in my city. Nearby to where I live are three motels, two of them are well known for being seedyrowdy/unclean, and the other one chose not to renew my lease last February. All three of the motels usually have DSS tenants and all three of them are interchangeably called hotels and motels.

hey y’all
posted this on /philadelphia, but i’m also gonna repost it here bc i’m desperate for help. this is my 2nd reddit post ever to please bear with me.
i need some help/advice on dealing with a serious trash/pest problem. i’m writing this because i’m feeling stuck and need some help as this is starting to seriously affect my mental health.
some context (sorry if this is long): i currently live in on francisville in a basement/first floor unit of a row home apartment with 2 other roommates. every day there is a pile of trash in-front of our apartment. our building does not have a trash receptacle, or a specific place for trash. my roommates and i have purchased cans which we leave unlocked for anyone to use.
we are sandwiched between two other buildings, one of which (allegedly) has a trash room (and is managed by our property manager), and the other has an alley where their trash cans are stored. however, tenants from all both buildings and the units above us dump their trash into a combined pile in-front of our apartment throughout the week. the pile never goes away. trash collectors will take what’s in our cans and most of the trash bags from the pile, but i guess bags rip/it is set out un-bagged and the trash collectors don’t take any of it, leaving a giant stinky pile of trash in-front of our apartment 7 days a week.
the results are pretty gnarly. my basement window well gets filled with trash. i have gone as far as installing plastic and metal fencing around it to prevent trash from getting in. it’s effective but not completely.
the worst part is the pests. today alone i have killed around 20 houseflies, and there are still more flying around. i have heard pests crawling around our walls, and even had an encounter with a mouse once. we just got a crack in our foundation sealed today that was surrounded my mouse and rat feces. it was in the same alley as our neighbors trash bins, which is also an absolute mess.
i am a neat freak, so our apartment is pretty clean all of the time. i think the flies and mice get in here because we’re on the first floor so it’s really easy to get in when people are entering and exiting.
i’ve contacted our property management who continues to remind us any pests in our unit is our problem to deal with. we’ve reported the rats and trash to the city through 311 and the public health department several times but nothing has ever happened. it is miserable trying to cook a meal with flies buzzing my head, hearing animals crawling in our walls at night, and being greeted with a pile of trash every time i open my door.
the picture on this post is from today and it’s a pretty average size. sometimes the pile is bigger.
i know the easy answer is to move out, but we (stupidly) resigned our lease and are here until next july. the location is really convenient for our commutes to work and proximity to friends/food/stores.
any advice helps, thank you.

Hello everyone!
I will be moving into a new place starting July 1st, which has heat and water covered but not electricity. The property manager suggested Emmax as a popular provider for the building but since this is my first time dealing with electricity bills, I wanted to ask:
How much are people paying for electricity for their apartments every month in the city?
I appreciate any answers/advice, thanks everyone!

Company Name	Title	City
Tzadik Properties LLC	Maintenance Technician - Part Time	Belfield
Home Instead	In-Home Caregiver (Burleigh)	Bismarck
Tzadik Properties LLC	Apartment Maintenance Technician	Dickinson
Tzadik Properties LLC	Maintenance Technician - Part Time	Dickinson
Tzadik Properties LLC	Make Ready Assistant	Dickinson
John Deere & Company	Electronic Design Engineer	Fargo
MacArthur Co	Warehouse Operations Manager	FARGO
John Deere & Company	Engineering Supervisor, Test Desig	Fargo
Prairie Band, LLC	Physician, Registered Nurse, Emergency Medicine, Medical Support Assistant	Fort Yates
Hankinson Renewable Energy	Associate Merchandiser	Hankinson
Hankinson Renewable Energy, LLC	Scale Operator	Hankinson
Novaspect Inc	PLC Programmer	Mandan
Novaspect Inc	Industrial Technician	Mandan
Noble Casing Inc	Shop Hand	Trenton
MacArthur Co	Warehouse Operations Manager	West Fargo
Noble Casing Inc	Floor Hand I	Williston
Medical Resource Group, Inc.	Licensed Psychologist - Williston	Williston
Noble Casing Inc	Dispatcher	Williston
CHI Living Communities	Medicine Aide	Fargo
CHI Living Communities	Director of Campus Life	Fargo
CHI Living Communities	Immediate Openings Resident Care Manager Riverview Place Fargo	West Fargo
CHI Living Communities	Immediate Openings Certified Medication Aide CMA PT FT Or PRN Riverview Place Fargo	West Fargo
CDR Companies	Pool Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Fargo, ND	Fargo
Greendoor	Registered Nurse - North Dakota	Minot

Hey guys, here are some recent job openings in nd. Feel free to comment here or send me a private message if you have any questions, I'm at the community's disposal! If you encounter any problems with any of these job openings please let me know that I will modify the table accordingly. Thanks!

“So, what, I'm just supposed to sit in my car by the train tracks until you call?” I ask, as my car rolls to a stop. I regret the words as soon as they come out of my mouth.
“I thought you said this kid was smart?” Connor asks Johnny, from the back seat.
“I thought he was, too. Yes, obviously. Wait here – and cut the headlights, goddammit,” Johnny says, looking at me from the front seat of my Monte Carlo and shaking his head. He looks furious. He is sweaty, despite Old Man Winter starting to get his grip on Maryland. I look away from him and cut the headlights off.
The freezing rain that is coming down is a perfect match for Johnny’s mood and our plan tonight. Johnny is dopesick. Besides the sweat on his face, his visible irritation, and his obvious anxiety, his wide eyes and pupils are a dead giveaway to a fellow junkie. He no longer looks like the healthy and decent-looking kid that I saw when he got out of jail.
He looks absolutely skeletal, his cheeks sunken in from his heroin habit. He has bags under his eyes, and they somehow look equally terrible during both the over-stimulation of withdrawal and the extreme sedation of a dose of heroin. He is sick now, but he was incredibly high last night. So was I.
I still am. Despite how high on heroin I am, I am not high enough to think that I look better. I would never want anybody that I know to see me right now. I don’t even want to see myself.
Johnny gets out of the car. Connor, a blonde haired, blue-eyed, Irish-looking kid, follows suit. I push the ‘trunk’ button to open the trunk and hear it pop open. I cringe at how loud the sound is. I watch my side view mirror.
I see Johnny and Connor pull two shirts out of the trunk and wrap them around their faces, while they are illuminated by the surreal red color of my brake lights. I have extra shirts that I keep in the trunk in case I soak mine through with sweat while playing ball, and now they are being used in a robbery.
I can see the gravel road that is underneath us stretching out behind us. The gravel road is surrounded by huge, old trees. We are deep in the sticks. About a half mile back are the train tracks where I will wait. Connor and Johnny move out, towards a very small and well concealed driveway.
I start to pull off, slowly, not turning on my headlights yet, even though I can’t see anything at all. I listen to the gravel crunching underneath my car, my entire body clenched as I drive, hoping that I don’t hit a tree. These properties are huge. I couldn’t even see most of the houses from the road, even when it was daylight outside. These are double digit-acre properties.
Johnny is probably right. This is going to be one hell of a come-up. I manage to drive only a little further down the road before I turn my headlights back on, too scared to keep driving into the pitch-black dead of night. I go half a mile and then turn around in somebodies’ driveway, careful to back in, conscious of where I shine my headlights.
Ok, now back to the train tracks until Johnny calls. My heart starts to beat faster.
How did this happen? I was clean. I was so happy. I thought I wasn’t an alcoholic. I drank, and drank again, and drank again. It doesn’t matter if it was just on the weekends for a while. I should’ve known I was going to smoke, too, eventually. I started to smoke, I stopped playing ball, and I started hanging out with Johnny all the time.
Alcohol gave me a hangover. Weed took it away. I became a stoner again, and adderall helped me get through the lazy fog of the weed burnout and force myself to play ball again – until it made me too anxious. The anxiety led me back to oxy. It was only supposed to be one time; one 30mg pill.
Now, I’m doing heroin again.
Of course. With heroin comes robbery. The cycle is complete – well, it will be once I get arrested again, and I definitely will.
I park at the train tracks and turn my car off. The car that I paid off with money that I worked for while I was clean and happy.
Didn’t matter. Never does. Nothing matters, Lonnie.
Not the ‘nothing matters’ thought loop. Please. Anything but this.
I reach into the inside of my left sock and pull the last of my heroin out. The 3 of us bought some last night. They have no self-control or hustle, which is why they are broke and dopesick right now.
I pour some of it onto the ‘Illmatic’ CD case I keep in my car. I use the same CD case to sniff my drugs, every time.
The heroin is a chunky tan powder. It is Baltimore’s ‘raw’ heroin. It’s good, but I know I can find better. I am generous in my self-prescription. After all, robbery anxiety can’t be good for my health. I sniff the dope slowly, hoping to ease the burn that always ensues upon insufflation. It doesn’t burn too bad this time.
I put everything away and recline the driver’s seat. That ought to do the trick. I lean back as far as I can, and then tilt my head back. I sit and wait for the God of dreams, Morpheus, to say hello. The warmth, the muscle relaxation, the dreamy euphoria. The itch, even.
I can’t wait. I hate waiting.
I wait. A minute, then two. Then, I start to feel an extremely pleasant tingle in the back of my neck. All of my limbs become comfortable and warm.
Ah, there it is. Like the tickle of an angel. My whole body relaxes with pleasure. Parts of my body that I didn’t even know I could relax wind up relaxing. All of my needs are satisfied. I have not one worry in the world.
Why am I trying to keep my eyes open? They don’t even need to be open.
A loud, frantic, continuous series of knocks startles me awake. I can hear Johnny's voice before my eyes adjust to my environment.
"-the fucking door"
I semi-spring into action, fumbling for the handle only to find the door locked. I see Johnny running around the hood of my car, over to the passenger side. I hear Connor hitting his fist loudly, aggressively, and repeatedly against the trunk of the car. I unlock the doors, pop the trunk, and then glance in the mirror just in time to see Connor put something in my trunk.
The passenger door opens a millisecond after it is unlocked. It remains open for a few seconds. The trunk slams, and Connor appears, diving smoothly into the back seat.
“Go-go-go,” Johnny says, as he locks the passenger seat back into place, sits down, and slams the door in one motion. He almost closes it on his own leg. The interior of the car plunges into darkness as I start it, put it in drive, and pull off as quickly as I can. I can maintain silence for less than a second of driving.
“What did we get?” I ask. My nose itches. I itch it.
“We?” Connor asks from the back seat.
“Yeah, WE,” I say, unable to keep anger from edging into my voice. “The only reason I didn't come in with you guys is cuz you told me not to,” I add.
“Yeah, because you don't need the money,” Johnny says. I glance over at him. Even through the darkness, I can tell he is sweating even more than before, though he no longer seems angry. They must have made out good, for Johnny to suddenly be able to control his rage and tolerate his sickness like this.
“Bullshit. I need the money,” I say, looking back to the gravel road in front of us. I have to take us back to Johnny’s grandmas’ place. It is at least a 30-minute drive.
“You aren't even sick, Lambo,” Johnny says, softly, like a parent trying to calm their kid down.
“What did you come up on in there?” I ask. I have to know.
“Don't worry about it. You'll get your weed,” Connor interjects quickly. I say nothing. I look back over at Johnny. He's staring at the road. I keep staring at him, waiting for him to look back at me, but he never does.
“Fuck you, Connor,” I say. He chuckles, the way he might at a kid.
45 minutes later.
Johnny gave me extra hashish to assuage his guilt. I know they found a LOT of money in that house. Johnny knew it was loaded. He knew there were pounds of hash, pounds of weed, and fat stacks of cash. That's why we hit it. Fuck them for not even letting me see the inside of the cooler.
My mind takes me back to something Connor said, yet again.
“That's all you get. Unless you're a dope boy in disguise,” he sneered at me, before giving me only half of the ounce of hashish that he was supposed to give me. Dope fiends are the lowest of the low, but dope boys...
I'm off probation. I can make a run at selling heroin. I have thousands of dollars saved from being clean and working my ass off. In our city, heroin sells for quadruple what it does in Baltimore. Go to Baltimore, buy heroin, bring it back here, sell it, quadruple my money. Easy.
I drive and scheme as to how I am going to do it. No way that motherfucker Connor will be involved. I get back to my parents’ house, sniff more dope, and lay in bed. As the dope hits me, it becomes easier and easier to see myself as a heroin kingpin. I have much greater resources now than in my old oxy dealing days. I could really pull it off – especially with Johnny’s help. I can see myself in that Benz I wanted so badly in high school.
I float and drift further into my fantasy, and my waking dream becomes a dreamless nothing.

I manage a property in Panama. It's listed on AirBnB and VRBO. We haven't received any payments yet because it's taken us 6 months to get the corporate entity documents. Now that we have them, we are trying to get the payment released, but VRBO wants a tax form in order to do so - or we take a 30% hit off the top.
Has anyone dealt with this before? Ideas? Thotz and Prers?

Company Name	Title	City
Dakota Wesleyan	Accounting and Business * Business Faculty Position	Alexandria
CBH Cooperative	Kitchen Deli Associate Night Differential full time plus benefits	Belle Fourche
Tzadik Properties LLC	Maintenance Technician	Box Elder
Horton, Inc	Production Positions (South Dakota): Assembler, Machine Operator, Parts Washer,Teardown 2023	Britton
Horton, Inc	Machinist, Production - 2nd shift	Britton
Horton, Inc	Production Worker	Britton
Prairie Band, LLC	Hospitalist - Physician Inpatient	Eagle Butte
Horton, Inc	Machinist, Production - 2nd shift	Lake City
Dakota Wesleyan	Accounting and Business * Business Faculty Position	Mitchell
Dakota Wesleyan	Business Studies - Faculty Position	Mitchell
Tzadik Properties LLC	Maintenance Technician	Rapid City
Tzadik Properties LLC	Apartment Maintenance Technician	Rapid City
Tzadik Properties LLC	Make Ready Assistant	Rapid City
1-800-Hansons	In Home Sales Executive	Sioux Falls
Eat Out Now II LLC	Management	Sioux Falls
BayMark Health Services	Part-Time Program Physician	Sioux Falls
Dakota Wesleyan	Immediate Openings Accounting And Business Business Faculty Position Mitchell	Alexandria
Dakota Wesleyan	Immediate Openings Director McGovern Library Mitchell	Alexandria
Dakota Wesleyan	Immediate Openings Director McGovern Library Mitchell	Mitchell
CareStaf	LPN Long Term Care, Skilled, Rehab $1,600 a Week	Chamberlain
Rove Staffing	LPN - $2,200 Weekly Pay for Long Term Care, Skilled, Rehab, Hospital	Chamberlain
Rove Staffing	CNA - $1,100 Weekly PRN/Contract; Long Term Care, Skilled, Rehab, Hospital	Chamberlain
The Skin Clique	Nurse Practitioner: South Dakota	North Sioux City
CDR Companies	Pool Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Sioux Falls, SD	Sioux Falls

Hey guys, here are some recent job openings , feel free to comment here if you have any questions, I'm at the community's disposal! If you encounter any problems with any of these job openings please let me know that I will modify the table accordingly. Thanks!

Company Name	Title	City
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Anna Maria
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Auburndale
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Bonita Springs
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Cape Coral
HealthMarkets	Health Insurance Agent	Daytona Beach
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Daytona Beach
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Durant
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Estero
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Fernandina Beach
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Fort Lauderdale
HealthMarkets	Healthcare Benefit Provider	Fort Lauderdale
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Hialeah
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Homosassa
HealthMarkets	Healthcare Benefit Provider	Lake Worth
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Longboat Key
FRESENIUS	Facility Social Worker	Middleburg
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Navarre
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	New Smyrna Beach
HealthMarkets	Healthcare Benefit Provider	Ocoee
HealthMarkets	Health Insurance Agent	Ocoee
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Ocoee
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Oneco
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Palm Coast
HealthMarkets	Insurance Agent	Port Orange
FRESENIUS	Manager Social Work Svcs	Saint Johns

Hey guys, here are some recent job openings in fl. Feel free to comment here or send me a private message if you have any questions, I'm at the community's disposal! If you encounter any problems with any of these job openings please let me know that I will modify the table accordingly. Thanks!