#Financial Risk in Estimating

[asestimationsconsultants]

How a Cost Estimating Service Prevents Budget Overruns in Government Projects

Government projects, from infrastructure development to public sector building projects, are often large in scale, highly complex, and come with strict budgetary constraints. In such projects, ensuring that financial resources are properly allocated and spent is critical. One of the most effective tools in preventing budget overruns in these projects is a cost estimating service.

A cost estimating service helps government agencies and contractors accurately predict the financial needs of a project, helping to prevent overspending, misallocation of resources, and financial surprises that can derail projects. In this article, we will explore how a cost estimating service plays a crucial role in preventing budget overruns in government projects.

The Importance of Accurate Cost Estimation

In government projects, budgets are often fixed, and any deviation from the allocated funds can cause significant delays, loss of public trust, or, in some cases, legal consequences. This makes accurate cost estimation a key element in project planning and execution. Poorly estimated budgets are one of the leading causes of budget overruns. A cost estimating service provides the necessary expertise to predict costs accurately and manage risks effectively throughout the project.

How Cost Estimating Services Help Prevent Budget Overruns

Accurate Initial Cost Forecasting

One of the primary roles of a cost estimating service is to create a detailed, accurate initial cost forecast. This involves gathering data from multiple sources, including historical project costs, labor rates, material prices, and other essential elements that contribute to the total project cost. The cost estimator uses this data to generate a comprehensive budget for the project that reflects both direct and indirect costs.

By developing a clear and detailed initial cost estimate, a cost estimating service helps government agencies understand the financial scope of the project and ensures that they allocate resources appropriately. Without this accurate forecasting, the project could face unexpected financial challenges down the line, leading to costly overruns.

Identifying Potential Risks Early

A key benefit of using a cost estimating service is the ability to identify potential risks and financial challenges early in the project. Estimators are trained to consider various scenarios that may lead to budget issues, such as increases in material costs, supply chain disruptions, and delays caused by weather or regulatory issues.

By identifying these risks early, cost estimators can factor them into the project budget and propose contingency plans. For example, if the cost of a key material is projected to rise, the estimator can adjust the budget to accommodate this increase. This proactive approach helps to prevent surprises that could lead to cost overruns during the project's execution.

Real-Time Budget Monitoring and Adjustments

Once the project is underway, the cost estimating service continues to play a key role in monitoring the budget in real-time. By tracking actual expenditures and comparing them to the original estimates, cost estimators can identify discrepancies and take corrective actions quickly.

If costs are higher than anticipated, the estimator can work with the project manager to adjust the budget, reallocate resources, or find cost-saving opportunities to keep the project within financial constraints. Real-time monitoring allows for adjustments to be made in a timely manner, preventing small issues from snowballing into major budget overruns.

Detailed Breakdown of Costs

A cost estimating service provides a detailed breakdown of costs, which is especially important for government projects that require transparency. Each aspect of the project—whether it’s materials, labor, equipment, or overhead—can be tracked and monitored separately.

This level of detail allows stakeholders to see exactly where money is being spent and identify areas where costs might be higher than expected. For example, if labor costs are consistently exceeding estimates, the project manager can investigate the cause and implement measures to reduce these expenses.

By breaking down costs into clear categories, a cost estimating service helps ensure that resources are used efficiently and that there are no hidden or unnecessary expenses. This transparency helps prevent budget overruns and ensures that the project remains on track financially.

Integration with Project Management Tools

Many modern cost estimating services integrate with project management software to provide seamless tracking of both costs and progress. These tools allow real-time updates and visibility across different project phases, ensuring that all stakeholders, including government officials, contractors, and project managers, have access to the latest financial information.

This integration allows the project team to monitor expenditures against the budget as the project progresses. It also facilitates communication between different teams, which helps in addressing financial issues as soon as they arise. By using integrated tools, government projects can stay on track and within budget.

Providing Accurate Change Orders

Changes in scope are common in large government projects, whether due to regulatory adjustments, design revisions, or unforeseen issues. Each change can have a significant impact on the project budget. A cost estimating service helps manage these changes by providing accurate cost estimates for change orders.

When a change is requested, the estimating service can quickly assess how it will affect the overall project budget. This allows stakeholders to make informed decisions about whether the change is feasible within the existing budget or if adjustments need to be made. By evaluating the financial impact of changes before they are implemented, the cost estimating service helps prevent the project from exceeding its budget due to uncontrolled changes.

Ensuring Compliance with Regulations and Guidelines

Government projects often have strict regulations and guidelines regarding budget management and expenditure. A cost estimating service ensures that the project remains in compliance with these rules by adhering to established budgeting standards and reporting requirements. This is crucial for preventing budget overruns that may arise from non-compliance or mismanagement of funds.

By ensuring that all estimates are accurate and that costs are tracked according to regulatory standards, the estimating service helps government projects avoid penalties or delays caused by budget mismanagement.

Creating Contingency Budgets

One of the most important tools in preventing budget overruns is the use of contingency budgets. A cost estimating service helps create a realistic contingency budget that accounts for unforeseen costs or changes that might arise during the project.

Contingency budgets act as a financial cushion, providing the project with the flexibility to handle unexpected costs without exceeding the overall budget. By allocating a percentage of the total budget for contingencies, a cost estimating service ensures that the project is prepared for any surprises that may occur during construction or development.

Conclusion

Budget overruns are a significant challenge in government projects, where financial resources are often limited and must be used efficiently. A cost estimating service helps prevent these overruns by providing accurate cost forecasts, identifying potential risks, and offering detailed breakdowns of expenses. With real-time monitoring, accurate change order assessments, and the creation of contingency budgets, a cost estimating service ensures that government projects remain financially on track from start to finish. By using a professional cost estimating service, government agencies can reduce the risk of budget overruns and ensure that taxpayer funds are used effectively to complete projects on time and within budget.

[pejasurveying1]

The Importance of Quantity Surveying in Construction Projects

Discover how Quantity Surveying ensures cost control, contract compliance, and risk management in construction projects. From budgeting to dispute resolution, learn how expert QS services enhance project efficiency and financial stability. Contact PEJA Surveying today for tailored solutions.

[jaeminvore]

Credit Card Baby | Z.CL — PREVIEW (read here)

“Who do I gotta fuck for barricade tickets to Sabrina Carpenter around here?”

PAIRING: Chenle x Fem!Reader

SYNOPSIS: Four days, three broke girls, two possible outcomes, and one solution. What are you willing to sacrifice in exchange for a night seeing a long-awaited Juno pose five feet away from your eyeballs? Your dignity, probably because it just so happens that one (1) Chenle Zhong could be the solution to your current girl problem. Only, you don’t really do well with charity. Nothing in life was free and everything had a price, but Chenle likes to think differently—that he's simply helping a friend out. Like the many times he did before. There should be sugar-daddy-sugar-baby joke around here somewhere.

alternatively: ‘three dumb bitches telling each other ‘exactlyyyy’.’ — ‘A sugar-daddy (kinda) au with no age-gap, but with a financial gap that no one asked for’.

CONTENT TAGS & WARNINGS: mildly suggestive themes, crack treated seriously, comedy, college au, fluff, friends to a secret third thing, sugar daddy au (kinda).

TEASER WORD COUNT: 770

FULL FIC WORD COUNT: estimated 15K (more or less)

RELEASE DATE: June 26, 2025 — 11 PM PST

TAGLIST: send an ask if you want to be notified when the full fic is posted!

NOTE: if you listen closely, you can hear me screaming because no one is more excited than me, who finally got around to writing a Chenle fic after so long of telling myself that I will. Eventually. And now we're here YAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

“Guess who might have found a solution to our ticketing problem!”

You slid onto the cushioned seats of the breakfast nook—a breakfast nook, Jesus—right across from Minjeong sipping her to-go cup of thai milk tea. She wordlessly slid one towards you. You took a generous drag of the stuff.

“Actually, it was more of Renjun’s idea—which I am effectively stealing.”

Yizhuo, who was in the middle of plating a hefty amount of pad see ew, looked like she swallowed something toe-curlingly sour. “Oh so you were with Renjun-ge.”

An easy smile curled on your lips as you lifted a shoulder to shrug, sweetly batting your eyelashes. “What can I say? The guy gives good head–” (“I did not need to know that.”) “–anyways, my idea.”

“Mine was probably better.”

“Oh yeah?” you drawled, egging Yizhuo on. “Let’s hear it then.”

“Breaking into the thrift store and stealing everything from the cash register.”

“She claimed if her parents found out about her crimes, they’d have to bail her out from prison and then restore her money privileges,” Minjeong glared at the youngest who simply whistled to Espresso as she carried on with the food. “Then I had to remind her of her reputation.”

“Good thing you did ‘cause that’s the dumbest fucking idea I’ve ever heard,” you said and you made sure it showed on your face as Yizhuo wilted underneath your tangible disappointment that she would even risk an integral part of her privileged life when she had used it as a counter-argument to the whole OnlyFans thing. “So we’re going with my solution to our broke-ness—Chenle Zhong.”

Yizhuo did not look pleased whatsoever. “What does Caillou have to do with Sabrina Carpenter?”

You ignored Minjeong shrieking with laughter. “Chenle’s got money,” you said as if you were talking to a toddler barely getting a grasp on words having their designated meanings. “And do you know what we need to get tickets? Money, and Chenle has a lot of it.”

“It took Renjun for you to realize that Chenle could be our solution?” Yizhuo exclaimed in disbelief, head in her hands. “Oh my God—it took Renjun telling you, then you telling us that he could be our solution? How could I’ve been so stupid?”

Her head jerked upwards, ponytail swishing along and gave you a look so sharp and abrupt that you jerked in surprise. You fixed your posture so fast that your grandmother would have been proud. For once. “You’re definitely asking Chenle.”

“Uh—first of all, why me? Don’t rich people have, like, some sort of kinship with one another? Like, hey, can I borrow ten-thousand dollars? I’ll pay you back with five-percent interest.” You were sure that wasn’t how deals between rich people were made, but whatever. “Second, why not you, money bags?”

“He’ll never say yes to me,” she said brusquely, clicking her tongue. “I kicked his ass a bunch of times in PUBG and he’s still bitter about it. It’s not my fault he sucks absolute balls. There’s like, a compilation of him complaining on stream about how I was cheating–” Yizhuo made air quotations “–on TikTok. It’s so funny. Actually, I’ll send you the link—”

You turned your gaze towards Minjeong for help, eyes widened a fraction for an added pathetic flair as the younger one focused on scrolling through the damn clock app.

“Don’t look at me. Chenle’s just cheap with everyone—actually, maybe except for you,” Minjeong pointed a long, black almond tipped nail in your direction. “the favorite.”

“You say it like it’s an insult.” You slurped your milk tea at an obnoxious volume, shrinking in your seat. “Maybe he’s just nicer to me because I’m nice to him unlike you two.”

“Is that what we’re calling it these days?” Minjeong said, eyeing you curiously.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She moved her gaze elsewhere. “Nothing.”

You squinted. “Uh-huh.”

“Anyways,” she said, pointedly keeping her gaze forward. “He started it. I asked him if I could borrow money for my Lyft and he laughed in my face.”

You pressed your lips together to keep yourself from laughing too because, yeah, the image was a little funny. “You’re exaggerating,” you said evenly.

Yizhuo made a half-wince, half-smile sorta thing with her face. “Are we though?”

“Lele’s not that much of an asshole,” you defended. “He drives me home. You could have hitched a ride with us is all I’m saying.”

On the other hand, Minjeong looked like she was heavily debating whether she should smack you upside the head, or not. “For someone smart, you’re real stupid.”

You frowned. “Hey.”

TAGLIST: @jaylaxies @hoondrop @gojosmojodojo @justalildumpling @dammit-jjk @learnthisfeeling @90s-belladonna

[cosmicpuzzle]

Mars ♂ in Houses

Mars in 1st House

You are bold, combative and impatient by nature. You can tend to act first and think later, or jump to conclusions too quickly. Not content with just watching life from the side-lines, you need to have direct experiences. Equally, you can be headstrong and inconsiderate; wanting things your own way or not at all. Physically, you should enjoy good stamina and body strength. However, with your tendency to impulsiveness, there may be accidents and injuries.

Mars in 2nd House

Impulse buying is not unknown to you! A certain amount of your energy and drive is directed at making or spending money. On occasion, you may be prepared to take financial and business risks. You can get a rush from wheeling and dealing. Less positively, there can be conflicts over money or possessions.

Mars in 3rd House

Your thinking is quick and sharp and you like to participate in active discussions and debates. At times, your verbal manner can be too abrupt or cutting for others. Arguments and disputes with neighbors or siblings are possible. Some care is necessary when driving or undertaking short journeys.

Mars in 4th House

A fine line exists between your home being a place of high activity or a battlefield. You like to dominate your domestic scene and in extreme cases can come across to your family as a hothead or bully. Equally, a dominant parent can cause friction within the family. You have to watch how you express your physical energies around your home, as accidents are possible.

Mars in 5th House

A born romantic, you are ardent, passionate and enthusiastic about pursuing the object of your affection. Likewise, suitors can be just as ardent and determined in their pursuit of your affections. You have a competitive spirit and may excel in a sport or recreational activity. There can be a tendency to take risky gambles.

Mars in 6th House

You are an energetic and industrious worker. If you employ others, you need to be aware of potential conflicts and losses through staff. There can be accidents at work and danger to your health through impatience or impulsiveness. You may be susceptible to burns, bruises and fevers.

Mars in 7th House

You are drawn to energetic and enthusiastic people. Direct and competitive in your relationships, you need a partner that you can spar with. Quarrels and disagreements are frequent in your personal unions. Other people can annoy or irritate you if they interfere in your life. Partnerships tend to be made and broken quickly and impulsively.

Mars in 8th House

You have strong survival instincts and react quickly to threatening or risky situations. You can act recklessly and defiantly, yet you instinctively know how far to take things. Facing perilous situations can give you an adrenalin rush. You are prone to arguments over money and shared resources with personal or professional partners. Problems or disputes may arise over legacies and inheritances.

Mars in 9th House

You have an enthusiasm for learning and acquiring knowledge. However, you are not a person who just sits back and accepts what you're told or taught; you tend to challenge ideas and outlooks. Travel interests you and can broaden your horizons, however, you may need to take care physically when overseas. Legal conflicts are possible.

Mars in 10th House

You have high ambition, coupled with a strong desire and drive to do the best you can professionally. You are motivated by the urge to achieve goals and vocational aspirations. Competitive and energetic, you may do well in careers associated with the military, engineering, sport or corporate management. Be aware, that an over-estimation of yourself or the misuse of your energy can damage your reputation. You may experience conflicts with authority figures.

Mars in 11th House

You are motivated to make friends and to join clubs or societies. Your friends tend to be boisterous and energetic. Arguments and conflicts are likely between you and your friends. You need to be careful with regard to the company you keep, as others can lead you into trouble. Consequently, some of your friendships are frequently tested or deemed to be more demanding than they are worth.

Mars in 12th House

You may find it difficult to keep motivated or to take action when required. You can benefit from taking time out to recharge your batteries. Secretive behavior can create difficulties. Be aware that there is a danger of being exploited or undermined by others.

For Readings DM

[wizzard890]

Warner Brothers would absolutely not be remaking Harry Potter as a prestige television series if it wasn't for the persistent popularity of the Marauders fandom.

Sure, companies dip back into IP all the time, but Harry Potter has had mixed success over the past ten years: popular video game, disastrous Fantastic Beasts movies, pandemic-successful stage show -- this isn't a sure bet, particularly if you're hoping to capture new fans, not just feed aging millennials.

Luckily for the bottom line, there is a thriving Harry Potter adjacent fandom, one that's only ballooned in popularity as the books proper have receded from popular culture. Studios often do algorithmic calculations to estimate popularity/risk/audience and oh boy, do young people fucking love Marauder shit. It's bled into BookTok, back into the related dark academia subculture (which Harry Potter arguably helped create in the first place); it pulls in fans who aren't familiar with the books, who instead consider specific fanworks canonical. They love the setting; anything to enrich the locale where Remus and James and Snape and Lily and Peter and Sirius have adventures. What better way to monetize that interest than stretching each book into a ten episode season of prestige television? If J.K. Rowling's creative control didn't expressly forbid anything beyond straight adaptation of the book, I'm sure WB would be developing a prequel as we speak.

J.K. Rowling is, of course, an executive producer, and WB's creative team has signaled that they will be working with her closely.

I truly think this is the most significant negative impact of a single fandom on the real world since The Last Jedi wars radicalized a generation of young men. We're looking at a potential total revitalization of Rowling in popular culture, unfathomable amounts of money in her pocket, complete creative control and publicity, associated bumps for the Harry Potter theme park, all of it.

Many people in the fandom understand that they're walking a line by engaging with Harry Potter at all, to such an extent that it's good form to make a point of not buying Harry Potter merch. That drives me a little bit crazy. Okay, you've repudiated the desire to own a Hufflepuff Scarf. In this age of studios watching fandoms, of total breakdown of the creator/audience divide, does that really matter? You've withheld your purchasing power, but kept the IP thriving.

And the thing that gets me is that Marauders fandom is so barely Harry Potter, so tangentially related, that they could have taken their flanderized headcanons and written their own books, or applied them to literally any other boarding school setting! There are maybe four chapters that cover the young lives of Harry Potter's Dad's Friends, and in all of them the characters are lightly sketched at best. No one would even accuse you of plagiarism for taking these characters and doing something else with them, they're essentially walk-on roles. Instead we have an active and growing fandom, where Sirus/Remus moved from being the eighth most popular ship on Ao3 to the SECOND, in the space of a single year. That's with no new books, new movies, no external bump of any kind from the IP.

And okay, sure, did this fandom sign a check to J.K. Rowling? No, that would be Casey Bloys and the rest of the clowns at HBO. But at this point, aren't we splitting hairs?

Like sorry, if I have to hear about the revolutionary queer power of pure, old-school fandom as something that exists without financial incentive, a community that can cause real and tangible changes in the media that gets produced, then you have to allow that those real and tangible changes can be for the worse.

[mascot-multiverse]

URGENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR TRANS HOUSEHOLD

💖 [GoFundMe] ☕ Griff’s Ko-Fi ☕ Salem’s Ko-Fi 🧸 Salem’s Toyhouse 🛒 Family Etsy shop

I am currently in need of urgent assistance. I've opened a GoFundMe to attempt to save my home and my family.

My name is Z. My partner Salem and our housemate Griff are attempting to escape a domestic violence situation. My now ex-boyfriend has been financially, emotionally, mentally, and finally physically abusing me and Salem for over a year. When things finally came to a head, I was able to get a restraining order to keep him out of the home he and I co-own. Due to his financial abuse, my home is at risk of being reclaimed by the bank.

My ex also badly damaged and lied about the state of my car. He was using it to commute with but drove extremely dangerously, resulting in my car becoming severely misaligned. The front driver side tire went flat overnight, and when we pulled it off we realized he had left a death trap and had likely planned to use it to harm himself or us. At this time we are unable to reach any human services building as the closest one is the next town over.

Please boost, share, and interact however you can.

Our immediate concerns need around $3,500. This will cover: -A $700 overdue electric bill, in order to qualify for low-income assistance with the power company -Other utility bills my ex purposefully neglected (water, electric & internet) -Hopefully, repairs to my car. Thanks to my ex's reckless driving, it needs at least 2 new tires and a realignment, which we're waiting on an estimate for. -The $500+ charge it will take the close the phone plan I'm trapped in with my ex. The rest of the GFM's total $16k will be to cover future expenses, including my ex's portion of the house title. $510/$3,500 (out of $16k)

[anghraine]

what happens to charlotte lucas if mr. collins dies early (before he inherits longbourne)?

That is the worst possible scenario for her, basically.

Mr Collins's living with regard to Hunsford only lasts for the duration of his life, so she gets nothing from it. Unless her child (she's implied to be pregnant at the end of P&P) is a son and, iirc, falls within a set number of generations as laid out by the original entailment, she also gets nothing with regard to Longbourn (and if the child is a girl, she now has another dependent to worry about and provide for; I think Mr Bennet's daughters would receive preference over Charlotte's if Mr Collins never inherits and there's no son).

There would have been legal documents accompanying their betrothal that laid out exactly how much property or money Charlotte and her potential children would receive during and after the marriage (this is what is meant by references to pin money and jointure; pin money is what the woman will regularly receive for her private expenses during the marriage, and jointure is what she gets if she survives her husband). There's a straightforward example of this with Mr and Mrs Bennet, for instance.

Mrs Bennet brought a dowry of four thousand pounds to the marriage. Mr Bennet or his family settled an additional one thousand pounds on her at the time (23 years earlier). So there's five thousand pounds attached to Mrs Bennet and her children specifically that is essentially secure—the income from it can only go to her or her children. Since her children are all daughters, however, this pretty much automatically includes her daughters' husbands as well, since women were legally and financially subsumed into their husbands' identities upon marriage and it took some legal shenanigans to protect their resources. Lydia's share of Mrs Bennet's fortune, one thousand pounds, effectively goes to Wickham as part of the marriage arrangements, and it's not clear if Lydia's money is legally secured to her in the same way since it was part of bribing Wickham to marry her at all.

(Tangent: a lot of analysis tends to assume that income from a lump sum of this kind would generate an income of 5% of the principal via low-risk, low-reward government investments. Mr Collins himself explicitly estimates that Elizabeth's portion of Mrs Bennet's settlement would generate an income at a 4% rate, leaving her with a mere 40 pounds a-year. This might seem Mr Collins-style negging, but in reality these kinds of safe government investments could and did drop to rates closer to 3% due to various economic upheavals at the time.)

Returning to Charlotte's situation, eighteenth-century advice urged men (even much less affluent men) to set aside a significant portion of their incomes every year to add to what was settled on their wives/children, so that if they died, their children and widows would have more to live on. The original settlement, as in Mrs Bennet's case, could be pretty small, especially for multiple people to live on. Mr Collins is enough of a rules guy that he might set aside the suggested percentages of his income, especially if Lady Catherine considers it proper. But even if we assume he's setting aside, say, 20% of his income, I doubt that would amount to very much if he dies soon; the Hunsford living is good, but not that good, and he's only 25, so there just hasn't been much time. Charlotte would essentially be a poor cousin by marriage of the Bennets and dependent on her own family (already in straitened circumstances) for anything more than her settlement, which given the circumstances wouldn't amount to much.

People often kill Mr Collins young to given Charlotte a chance at a better life, but in reality, this would likely be a disaster for her.

[aidaita]

Oreo’s urgent Vet Bill

Hi everyone, this is the proper post I promised a few days ago and I apologize for the delay, the last 2-3 days was stressful but I’m emotionally stable to type everything down.

I’ve made an update post on my Ko-fi a few days ago if you haven’t seen it.

To start off, Oreo is my male cat son I’ve take care of for the past 9 years since that fateful day I encountered him 8 years ago. At the time, I was in a dark place mentally as I was heavily depressed from losing a dear friend and in an effort to cheer up, I went outside for a walk with a close friend to the canal two streets down from where I live, and that was where I saw a pair of eyes staring at me. A month old kitten I named Oreo and from that day, Oreo has brightened my world and I’ve taken him in as my precious fur baby ever since. My family unfortunately lost our other cat, Blueberry, last year to cancer for the medicine and treatments weren’t enough to ease her suffering from the cancer, so when Oreo’s second blockage on the evening of February 28, 2025 occurred, I was absolutely terrified.

That night, I skipped dinner, I stayed up half the night watching over Oreo and had a fitful sleep of a few hours, waking up in between the few hours to the noises Oreo was making from the blockage. And so on March 1, I went directly to an animal hospital I normally go to for his check ups, exams, previous surgery he had, but unfortunately they had to turn me away for being fully booked, so I was forced to go to another vet clinic that accepts emergency visits and that’s where I ended up in VCA Knowles Snapper Creek pet hospital and the very expensive vet bill.

The initial estimate is the one I originally posted on my other post which I’ll upload here for 48 hours observation.

I was also given an estimation for 24 hr observation but in both estimations, it was super expensive and I work at a $13 part time retail work shift and I could not afford it whatsoever. The last surgeries were paid for by my mom but this time she could not pay for this, and she has other health-related financial payments to recuperate financially and that was when I begun to get very stressed and panic. It was made worse and broke me into an emotional panic when my mother suggested that we may have to put him to sleep as we cannot keep paying $3k every time he gets a blockage.

My heart sank, I was not ready to let Oreo go yet. I became so distraught.

What can I do to save Oreo?

I’ve been frantically looking online what to do, looking into pet insurance, frequently asking for payments plans, asking what they can do to reduce the prices, etc. all while I’m on a time limit as I had a work shift in the next 2-3 hours and with this emergency situation, I absolutely needed every hour I can get. It was the most horrible position to be in the middle of.

Oreo could not qualify for pet insurance because it does not cover for pre-existing conditions/treatments (this is his second blockage), the pet hospital (both the first I went to and the second) do not have payment plans, every new estimations they gave me in an effort to help me and Oreo came with high risks such as one that is the bare minimum (just unblocking Oreo) but there’s a big possibility he could be blocked later that day or the next day.

Secondly, Oreo has already been on a treatment plan with his strict diet of prescription Urinary Care food with Science Hill’s ever since his first blockage sometime last year (or 2? I’m not sure, I don’t have the papers from the first one as my mom took him to the vet that time). And the doctors told me that it seems despite the strict diet he has been in, he still got the blockage from built-up sediments. On top of that, in the last vet visit on January 25, 2025 with the first pet hospital, Oreo has IVDD, or at least the beginning of it that the doctors told at the time said “it’s not a big deal right now,” so it will be a problem to look out for as he’s still young.

My mother’s comment of possibly putting him to sleep loomed over my head over all this…

And that was when I decided I can’t do this alone, I’m not ready to let Oreo go yet, not like this, not so soon. So for the first time, I’ve come to you all on the internet for help.

Due to the time constraints, I have no choice but to open a credit line with CareCredit just for this bill for Oreo but the fact he could get blocked again, issues with IVDD possibly rearing its head more urgently so soon, and with this massive bill to pay with my $13 part time retail shift, I knew that if another emergency or urgent vet visit occurs, I will have no choice but to put him to sleep.

That is why I’ve come to you all for help with the emergency vet bill on March 1, 2025 and… my goodness, within 24 hours, we have reached a little more than 1/3 of the $4000 goal (41% reached as I post this) and I could not be anymore thankful and grateful for all of you kindness and generosity to save my baby in this difficult time.

Yesterday I got to visit Oreo, he’s unblocked and appears to be urinating fine, recovering seems to be going well although he does have UTI so there’s a bit of blood in his urine (doctors reassured me that the UTI and blockage are not linked) so he’s getting treatments for that as well.

Today, Oreo will be discharged later in the afternoon or evening so he’ll be coming home soon.

The bill is still stressful but with all of you kind words, encouragement, generosity, and advice, it doesn’t feel as heavy as before. It is still a lot left to pay off so if you can, please donate to my Ko-Fi here so I can focus solely on strictly ensuring Oreo stays with me much longer such as wet food, running water fountain, new litter box, etc.

All donations received will be used solely for the bill and any additional expenses that may come up in the last few hours as I type.

And to everyone who donated so far, thank you… Truly, thank you. The tears I’ve shed the past 2 days were of stress and huge relief.

I will keep posting updates as they happen.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Monica Potts at TNR (05.21.2025):

Rural hospitals are in crisis. “More than 700 rural hospitals—one-third of all rural hospitals in the country—are at risk of closing because of the serious financial problems they are experiencing,” according to an April report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. “Over 300 of these rural hospitals are at immediate risk of closing because of the severity of their financial problems.” And this doesn’t even account for what might happen if Republicans in Congress pass a budget bill that would cut $625 billion from Medicaid to cover tax cuts to the rich. Those cuts not only threaten health care coverage for millions of vulnerable Americans but also would endangermany rural hospitals, which are more likely than urban hospitals to rely on government health care spending to stay in business. Severe cuts to Medicaid could force many struggling rural hospitals to close, further diminishing work opportunities in areas where good, steady jobs are already scarce. Rural hospitals are of course critical for patient care—often there’s only one serving a geographically broad swath of territory—but they’re also a major employer in their communities. They employ hundreds or even thousands of people, including nurses, administrative aids, filing clerks, nurses, nursing assistants, and doctors. If Medicaid cuts force rural hospitals to close, as experts suspect they could, rural America could face an unemployment crisis.

Nationwide, hospitals employ about 4 percent of the U.S. workforce, making them America’s sixth-largest employer. It’s harder to tease out exactly how much of the rural workforce they employ, but by some estimates the health care sector accounts for about 14 percent of employment in those areas; there are many rural counties where hospitals are the largest or second-largest employer. (The stereotype of the rural American farmer is a bit outdated, as most agricultural work disappeared decades ago. By 2016, the biggest employment sectors for rural counties were educational services, health care, and social assistance.)

More than a third of hospitals in the U.S. are classified as rural, and they’re more likely to be operating in the red than their urban counterparts. The reasons are tied to the fortunes of rural communities more generally. The hospitals serve smaller populations and so have fewer patients. On top of that, many rural counties are shrinking in population, and the people who remain tend to be older and poorer than the country as a whole. These smaller hospitals have less power than bigger chains when negotiating reimbursement rates with insurance companies, making the government’s health care programs a more important component of their funding. They’re also serving populations that are more likely to be in poor health, and at the same time facing shortages of primary care physicians. Those problems led 136 rural hospitals, or about 3 percent, to close between 2010 and 2021. Almost three-fourths of those were in states that hadn’t expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, or had expanded it only within the previous year, hinting at how big a role the program plays in keeping those hospitals open. Not all rural hospitals are in crisis, though: Those in states that did expand Medicaid under the ACA are doing better. (However, the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform study found that 190 of the rural hospitals facing risk of immediate closure are in states that expanded Medicaid.) If the past is any indication, the magnitude of the proposed new cuts could severely impact states and the hospitals that rely on those programs.

The GOP’s Medicaid cuts could have disastrous impacts to rural hospitals (and jobs).

[wachinyeya]

Junior Brown- Thu 3 Apr 2025

With millions of solar devices failing, the African solar repair movement is training local technicians to extend their lifespan.

Africa’s solar energy boom has changed lives, bringing power to millions without electricity access. However, as solar equipment ages, a growing number of systems are breaking down. Without repair services, communities risk losing their only source of power.

A growing network of solar repair entrepreneurs is working to fix this problem. Known as the African solar repair movement, this initiative trains local technicians to restore broken solar devices, extending their lifespan and keeping power accessible in off-grid areas. Experts say this approach is crucial for creating a sustainable solar economy.

Solar energy has expanded rapidly across Africa over the past decade. In 2014, the continent had just 1.67 gigawatts of solar capacity. By 2023, that number had grown nearly tenfold to 13.48 gigawatts—enough to power 100 million lightbulbs.

Africa is an ideal location for solar energy. According to the International Energy Agency, the continent has 60% of the world’s best solar resources. In many areas, solar is already the cheapest way to generate electricity.

However, as more solar devices are installed, a new problem has emerged: maintenance and repair. Solar products such as home lighting kits and mini-grids are breaking down; without proper servicing, they become waste.

According to SolarAid, a nonprofit focused on solar access in Africa, over 250 million solar energy kits worldwide have fallen into disrepair. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 75% of all solar products—an estimated 110 million solar lights—no longer work.

Most of these devices could be fixed with simple repairs. However, because there is little infrastructure for solar maintenance, broken systems are often discarded.

This creates three major problems. One is the loss of access to electricity. Many communities depend entirely on solar power. When systems fail, families are left in the dark.

Two, electronic waste accumulation. Non-repairable solar devices contribute to Africa’s growing e-waste problem.

Finally, there is economic loss. Solar products are expensive for African households, and replacing them frequently is not sustainable.

To address this crisis, organizations like SolarAid have launched programs to train local repair agents. These entrepreneurs, often called “solar repair agents,” learn to diagnose and fix common solar equipment failures, such as faulty batteries, wiring issues, and broken switches.

Father Vincent Ngwira, a Catholic priest in Zambia, is one of these repair agents. He has been involved in solar energy distribution since 2017 and recently completed a three-day training program to repair solar devices in his community.

“In the past, people used candles for light, and that led to house fires,” says Ngwira. “Solar changed everything, but now many of these devices are breaking. Learning to repair them has been empowering.”

In September 2023, he fixed a faulty solar panel and a broken flashlight switch. The flashlight repair cost just 20 Zambian Kwacha ($0.75)—a price that makes solar maintenance affordable for even the poorest households.

The African solar repair movement does more than keep the lights on. It also provides economic and environmental benefits: Repair technicians and solar entrepreneurs gain new income opportunities. Repairing solar devices prevents unnecessary e-waste, and keeping money within communities instead of spending on new imports strengthens financial resilience.

In Zambia, 10 repair agents and 7 advanced technicians are now fixing more complex solar failures. SolarAid teams in Zambia and Malawi have repaired over 2,400 solar products in the past year.

“We’re creating a sustainable solar economy,” says Fred Mwale, project manager for SolarAid in Zambia. “Repairing devices instead of replacing them benefits both people and the planet.”

Despite its success, the African solar repair movement faces several challenges.

One is that spare parts are limited. Many solar batteries and components must be imported from China, which can take months. Manufacturers also limit access to repair information to protect their designs.

Two, repair shops must be centrally located in rural areas to be accessible. Some people still have to travel long distances to reach them.

Finally, Zambia alone has 72 spoken languages, making communication difficult for technicians working in remote villages.

Mwale believes that the movement can overcome these obstacles with better support. “We need manufacturers to make spare parts more available and governments to support repair-friendly policies,” he says.

Other renewable energy sources, such as wind power, also face maintenance challenges. However, large-scale wind and hydroelectric projects are usually managed by corporations with dedicated repair teams.

Solar, on the other hand, is often distributed through small-scale systems to individual households. This makes community-based repair models like the African solar repair movement even more essential.

The future of the African solar repair movement looks promising. With better policies and funding, experts predict that solar repair could expand across the continent.

Innovations like 3D-printed solar components and community repair hubs could make repairs even more accessible. Governments may also introduce policies that require manufacturers to provide repairable designs and spare parts.

With Africa’s demand for solar energy increasing, a strong repair network will be essential to powering the continent.

The African solar repair movement is proving that renewable energy isn’t just about installing new systems—it’s about keeping them running for generations. As Africa pushes toward sustainable and affordable energy for all, repair initiatives will play a crucial role in shaping the future.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Long COVID and financial hardship: A disaggregated analysis at income and education levels - Published Dec 2, 2024

Abstract Objectives To examine how long COVID is associated with financial hardship (food insecurity, inability to pay bills, or threat of losing service) across income and education levels, and to assess the role of employment loss or reduced work hours in this hardship.

Data Source and Study Setting We used nationally representative data on 271,076 adults from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Study Design We used multivariable binomial logistic regression models to estimate the average marginal effect of long COVID on financial hardships across multiple income and education groups.

Principal Findings In general, we found a significant positive association between long COVID and the three measures of financial hardships across income and education groups (1–11 percentage points increase, 95% CI 0.00–0.02 and 0.07–0.14, respectively). Mediation analysis showed that lost or reduced hours of employment accounted for a significant portion (6%–20%) of the changes in financial distress.

Conclusions Long COVID has affected the economic wellbeing of people from all socioeconomic statuses, although at a higher rate for lower income groups. Policy attention is needed to address its economic impacts across income and education levels.

What is known on this topic 17.6 million US adults currently have long COVID and given the prolonged effects of long COVID, it has a high potential of causing financial hardship. Literature shows a positive association between COVID-19 and financial hardship as well as delayed and forgone medical care. Literature shows a positive association between COVID-19 and employment loss.

What this study adds Long COVID is associated with increased financial hardship (1–11 percentage points increase) in almost all income and education groups. Lower income groups with income to poverty ratios below 2.00 are especially vulnerable. A significant portion of the association between Long COVID and increased financial hardship (6%–20%) is mediated by loss of employment or reduced work hours.

[asestimationsconsultants]

Uncovering Hidden Costs with a Construction Cost Estimating Service

Construction projects often face unexpected expenses that can disrupt budgets and timelines. These hidden costs may arise from overlooked details, unforeseen site conditions, or changes in project scope. Identifying and accounting for such costs early is crucial for effective financial management. A construction cost estimating service plays an essential role in uncovering hidden costs, enabling project teams to create realistic budgets and avoid costly surprises.

Common Sources of Hidden Costs

Hidden costs in construction can originate from various areas, including:

Site conditions that differ from initial surveys

Design changes or scope creep during construction

Delays caused by weather, permitting, or labor shortages

Price fluctuations in materials or labor

Unexpected regulatory compliance requirements

Coordination and communication breakdowns among contractors

These factors can inflate project costs if not anticipated and managed properly.

Challenges in Detecting Hidden Costs

Incomplete Initial Data

Insufficient site investigations or surveys lead to surprises

Lack of detailed design documentation

Inadequate Risk Assessment

Failure to identify project-specific risks early on

Underestimating the likelihood or impact of certain events

Poor Change Management

Untracked scope changes causing budget increases

Ineffective communication among stakeholders

Market Volatility

Sudden price increases for materials or labor

Supply chain disruptions affecting availability and cost

How a Construction Cost Estimating Service Helps

Cost estimators use comprehensive techniques to identify potential hidden costs, such as:

Thorough site and design reviews to detect overlooked factors

Risk analysis incorporating probability and impact assessments

Detailed allowance and contingency budgeting

Market research to anticipate price trends and supply risks

Structured change management and cost tracking processes

Techniques to Reveal Hidden Costs

Value Engineering: Examining design alternatives to reduce costs without compromising quality.

Scenario Modeling: Testing “what-if” situations to evaluate cost impacts of delays or design changes.

Historical Data Analysis: Using past project data to identify common hidden cost drivers.

Supplier and Subcontractor Input: Engaging experts to uncover overlooked expenses.

Benefits of Addressing Hidden Costs Early

More accurate and reliable budgets

Increased ability to secure financing with confidence

Reduced risk of project delays and disputes

Improved stakeholder trust through transparency

Better decision-making under changing conditions

Conclusion

Hidden costs are an inevitable challenge in construction, but they don’t have to derail projects. A construction cost estimating service provides the expertise and processes needed to uncover and quantify these costs early. This proactive approach helps project teams manage financial risks, maintain control over budgets, and achieve successful outcomes.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Ed Luce: It is not just Donald Trump who dodged a bullet. Half an inch to the left and the cartridge that grazed Trump’s ear would have turned him into a martyr. There is no telling what his death would have unleashed. As it is, the reprehensible attempted assassination of Trump will have profound reverberations for US democracy. Within seconds of being blanketed by secret service agents, Trump was yelling “fight, fight, fight” to the crowd. The instantly ubiquitous photo of him pumping his fist against the backdrop of the stars and stripes will become the emblem of his campaign.

A high-trust society would have awaited the facts of the shooting before leaping to conclusions. By that yardstick, America is close to the edge. Two of the Republicans auditioning to be Trump’s vice-presidential running mate blamed Democrats for inciting hatred of Trump. The favourite, Ohio senator JD Vance, said the Biden campaign’s rhetoric “led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination”. Tim Scott, the South Carolina senator, said Democrats’ “inflammatory rhetoric puts lives at risk”. Elon Musk, owner of the site, X, on which these statements were posted, was quick to weigh in on a conspiracy about how the shooter could have got so close: “Either extreme incompetence or it was deliberate,” Musk wrote.

Many on the left were equally quick to claim that the shooting was a staged or false flag operation to boost Trump’s election prospects. It is notable, however, that no senior Democratic official has yet fanned those rumours. The identity of the suspected shooter, a 20-year-old man called Thomas Matthew Crooks, offered little help. Though he was a registered Republican and an enthusiastic gun owner, he had made a small donation to a pro-Democratic group. It is plausible that like most US assassins, Crooks was acting alone and delusional. That will not stop political entrepreneurs from blaming the shooting on their ideological enemies.

The biggest question is what Trump will do with it. No honest accounting of America’s fetid climate can ignore the fact that the former president himself is the country’s most influential exponent of political violence. He described those who stormed Capitol Hill with knives and nooses on January 6 2021 as “unbelievable patriots”. He mocked an attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of former Democratic speaker, Nancy Pelosi, after one of his own supporters smashed his head with a hammer. And he encouraged extremist militias to “stand by” shortly before the 2020 election. In calmer democracies, an incident as lethal as the near murder of a party leader with a AR-15-type semi-automatic rifle would lead to bipartisan calls for gun control. There is no chance Trump’s party will change its mind on that subject. The number of AR-15s in America has been estimated to be as high as 44mn, which puts comparisons with earlier periods of US political violence into perspective.

Whether Trump gets a lasting sympathy boost remains to be seen. But three conclusions can already be drawn. The first is that the Republican national convention in Milwaukee this week will be dominated by his near miss. Trump’s campaign is enormously skilled at choreographing optics to enhance his message. The iconic fist-pumping imagery of the candidate rising courageously from his near death will suffuse the convention stage. Trump is expected to name his running mate in the next two days — probably on Monday. Expect the nation to be riveted by admiration or dread at the use to which Republicans put Trump’s near martyrdom. At Trump’s first presidential convention in Cleveland in 2016, the streets around the main hall teemed with private militias brandishing arms. Policing the streets of Milwaukee this week will be an unusually fraught challenge, even by America’s standards.

[Financial Times]

[disposable-cellophane-dolls]

We. need. HELP.

MOTHER WAS JUST RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL ON THE BRINK OF DEATH FROM A LIFE THREATENING INFECTION AND WE ALREADY COULDN'T AFFORD OUR BILLS OR GROCERIES.

PLEASe. FUCKING. HELP. US.

->K$-Fi ->Partner's P$yp$l -> Ca$hApp

----------------------------------------------

We are experiencing another life shattering crisis.

We said we wouldn't ask for donations anymore since people on Tumblr view that as a crime worse than racism and genocide, but we are at extreme fucking risk, now.

Mother was just rushed to the hospital with a life threatening infection originating from a gash going all the way to the bone that she suffered from falling out of her bed because we couldn't get enough ~financial support~ to get her (and the rest of us) the help we need to improve our living circumstances or even medicine or food.

Now she might die. Just like our housemate did because we couldn't get help affording our moving costs. A man and a dog have already died in this house in the last 2 years because of this refusal to support, because we have been rejected for all aid by the USA Government. We need. Help.

We need. Help. IMMEDIATELY.

We cannot afford our bills. We cannot afford groceries.

We need roughly $2,000 most immediately but everyone cringes away and makes shitty false assumptions when we ask for more than $20, and sometimes even then. I'm sorry but this is reality for anyone in poverty, and I hate to break it to you but it is not our fault we are in poverty-- we were put here by abusive, ignorant, conservative scum.

None of us can work. Only one person in the house can walk and they're disabled in other ways. How is this fair? How is this okay? What gives any of you the right to look down your noses at us and claim we aren't "Doing Enough". Doing WHAT exactly? We have done EVERYTHING WE CAN. The Government said No.

So you think we should die? A man and a dog already died because of this situation, because the government said no help for you, because the people on this fucking website perpetuate ableist, classist, abusive bullshit lies about us and our family and convince people we're a ~scammer~ because we can't snap our fingers and be abled, rich, white, cis, and ~pregnant~ since that is ~literally the bar~ in this hell deep red state. This is public information. Get over yourselves.

Or my fucking favorite: The horrifying expectation for us to DOXX OURSELVES in this era of live streamers being murdered on camera in front of masses just to prove our story.

Grow some empathy, for GODS sake.

Their obituaries are PUBLIC for GODS SAKE.

What is WRONG with people?! PLEASE. HELP. US.

EDIT:So in typical Our Life fashion, things are going from Bad to Worse.

Mother has to have her leg amputated

All thanks to our abusers completely fucking her out of her finances and putting us all in worsening poverty in the MAGA state of Texas. This means that the constant financial help we already needed and weren't getting thanks to abusers and MAGA just increased tenfold.

I literally do not know what else to say other than the same thing I have been saying for 2 years: We need help. We are not getting help. We have been rejected for all aid by MAGA. It is only getting worse. I feel sick, scared, and terrified for my life right now. This is a death sentence and I feel completely abandoned.

Anything people can offer is immensely helpful. We are at ROCK BOTTOM.

Ko-Fi takes a lot out of me to have to babysit but at this point it feels like I am just going to have to try to suck it up and make it work.

So most updates are primarily going to be there.

Currently we are still trying to scrape up the ~$2k estimate so it would be very helpful if people could keep this post circulating cause it's our only hope.

[darkmaga-returns]

Former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz estimates the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is likely "much higher than 20 million" – contradicting federal estimates of 11 to 20 million, due to decades of unchecked crossings and untracked "gotaways."

Ortiz cites long-standing border security weaknesses, recalling waves of unauthorized migration since the 1990s, with many immigrants embedding in communities after evading detection.

Border Patrol struggled with enforcement gaps, including diverted resources (e.g., during the 1992 L.A. riots) and inability to track "gotaways," leading to systemic undercounting.

Ortiz blames lax enforcement and sanctuary city policies for worsening the crisis, advocating for deportations, stricter asylum rules and a "whole-of-government approach" to immigration.

The financial strain on states (e.g., Texas, Arizona) and risks to national security, public services and infrastructure highlight the urgent need for decisive action to address the escalating crisis.

[follow-up-news]

President Donald Trump’s plan to use the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to detain 30,000 immigrants has been hitting major legal, logistical and financial hurdles ever since he surprised many in his own administration by announcing it. Now, as agencies spar over responsibility for operations there and over blame for what has gone wrong, there is a growing recognition within the administration that it was a political decision that is just not working.  Among the major issues, especially as the Trump administration works to slash spending throughout the government, is the cost. Taking detained immigrants to Guantánamo means flying them there, and the administration has sometimes chosen to use military planes that are expensive to operate.   On Tuesday of last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on hand at Guantánamo when a military C-130 carrying nine immigrants landed at the base. The Defense Department calculates the cost per flight hour to operate a C-130 at $20,756, so for a trip of five to six hours, it cost the Pentagon $207,000 to $249,000 round trip, or $23,000 to $27,000 per detainee. Costs for those flights are lower when charter planes that Immigration and Customs Enforcement typically uses for deportation flights are employed in place of the military aircraft. But the administration has opted for military planes for reasons of optics, according to a defense official. When charter planes are used, the operation is still a heavy logistical and financial lift, especially compared with keeping the detainees on the mainland. Each flight includes at least one ICE official for every migrant, often more, as well as a medical team. ICE estimates the average cost of one of its regular charter flights at $8,577 per hour and the cost for “special high-risk charter” flights at $6,929 to $26,795 per hour, but those figures include “flight crew, security personnel, an onboard medical professional and all associated aviation handling and overflight fees,” which the Defense Department estimates for the C-130 do not.  And the space planned to hold the 30,000 immigrants is far from ready. Tents built for that purpose lack air conditioning and running water and do not meet ICE standards for detention, according to the defense official and an additional defense official. The two U.S. defense officials and a congressional official said views within the administration about how viable an option Guantánamo is for holding thousands of immigrants have shifted, though Trump still wants the plan to move forward. The officials said it has become clear since Trump announced the Guantánamo plan that other options, including holding migrants at Fort Bliss, Texas, and other military bases in the United States would be cheaper and more efficient. A scaled-down version of Trump’s Guantánamo plan seems the likeliest outcome, the officials said.