2023 Race for Autism
Attendance: 5,000 - 10,000
Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 6:30am to 11am
website link: https://www.raceforautism.org/Static/Event-Info
⚠️ Road Closures and Delays -
Those participating in the race are being instructed to park within Balboa Park lots and on the west side of Balboa Park. The 5K start is on 6th Street between Juniper and Laurel. The 5K starts at 7:25 AM.
These streets will be officially closed by 7am:

• 6th Ave and Laurel South Lawn
• Balboa Drive
• El Prado
• Pan American Rd. East
• Presidents Way
• Circle Palisades Lawn
• Pan American Rd. West
• Plaza de Panama
• Cabrillo Bridge
• Balboa South Drive

This is the second time visiting Japan with my boyfriend and our main goals were to eat good food and ski at Hakuba Valley. We saw cherry blossoms, experienced Japanese onsen, and traveled a lot with our JR rail pass!
Day 1 Tokyo:

• Arrived at Narita in the afternoon
• Omotesando (shopping, ramen at Oreryu Shio Ramen Jingu-mae; order from the vending machine, it’s cheap and fast)
• Shibuya (conveyer belt sushi at Gansozushi, we only went there because the other sushi place we wanted to go to - Sushi No Midori - wasn’t taking any more people. We were super tired and just wanted something quick)
• We stayed in Kyobashi near Tokyo Station. The area feels upscale, quiet, clean and safe. It’s not crowded and has very wide streets (easy for wheeling luggages from the station to your hotel), and is centrally located. Not much nightlife.

Day 2 Tokyo to Hakuba Valley:

• Breakfast at Tsukiji Market. Even at 7am most places have a short wait. We ate A5 Wagyu, sushi at Tsukiji Itadori Bekkan, and got taiyaki at Tsukiji Sanokiya. Also bought some small bowls and sake cups from Ichifuji
• Shiba Park. Didn’t get much time here since we were rushing to catch our train, but we saw Tokyo Tower and some cherry blossom trees in front of Zojo-ji
• Train from Tokyo Station to Nagano and bus to Hakuba Valley. We’re glad we budgeted a lot of extra time at Tokyo Station because we were pretty lost. You don’t really need to be at the platform super early (boarding time is just a few minutes before departure)
• At Nagano station we got soba noodles while waiting for our bus to Hakuba. Seems like a lot of locals were eating there too.
• Dinner in Hakuba at NEO＂和＂食堂 一成. The tonaktsu here is delicious, and we tried duck sukiyaki. The restaurant only has like 3-4 tables so get here early if you don’t have a reservation.

Day 3 Hakuba Valley:

• Ski day at Iwatake. Not much snow coverage, but we still had fun. It has a lot of beginner and easier intermediate terrain with pretty good views (hard/expert terrain were closed due to lack of snow.) It was cloudy all morning but around noon it cleared up and we had amazing views of Hakuba valley.
• The City Bakery is worth a visit even if you don’t ski at Iwatake. It’s a beautiful wooden viewing platform and attached cafe with coffee and pastries.
• Hakuba Happo Onsen. Very clean and relaxing experience. The best part was sitting in the tatami room after the onsen, and drinking some tea from the vending machines.
• Dinner at Yamagami Syokudou NEO. We had grilled pork and beef, ramen, gyoza and potato croquette.

Day 4 Hakuba Valley:

• Ski day at Happo One. It snowed all day so there was a good amount of fresh powder, but also poor visibility. The terrain here is more advanced, especially because it’s not well groomed. The green runs are very narrow cat tracks. We stayed in the section called Panorama Pair. Lower half of the mountain was mostly closed.
• Stayed at Hakuba Hifumi. We used the onsen, relaxed in our room, then had dinner in the hotel (shabu shabu.) Staying here was one of the major highlights of our whole trip. If you can find a room here I’d highly recommend it! (http://www.hakubahifumi.jp/en/)

Day 5 Hakuba to Osaka:

• Long travel day. Bus from Hakuba > Nagano, train from Nagano > Kanazawa, then Kanazawa > Osaka, around 6 hours total travel time. We sat on the left side for Nagano > Kanazawa and got amazing views of snow mountains. Watched anime, took a nap, ate ekiben.
• Namba Walk, had ice cream and matcha tiramisu at Maccha house
• Kuromon Market and Dotonbori. Didn’t enjoy it much our second time round. The food we had was mediocre (maybe we’re just unlucky). The line for takoyaki was super long, and the takoyaki was very undercooked and runny.
• Umeda Sky Building. Nice experience overall, especially watching the trains go across the river. Luckily we were able to just go up without any lines.
• We stayed in Shin Osaka station area. It’s much quieter than Osaka station but still pretty convenient.

Day 6 Osaka:

• Breakfast at Dashichazuke En.
• Osaka Castle Park. There were a few cherry blossom trees blooming. Recommend walking to the Japanese Garden on the south west corner of the castle.
• Lunch at Sachifukuya (in Jo Terrace). The Hokkaido milk soft serve ice cream is really good.
• Gift shopping at Shin Osaka station. Also had conveyer belt sushi at Ganko kaitenzushi.
• Train to Kansai Airport. We arrived about 3 hours before departure. Check-in line took 1 hour. Our gate was in an area that is mostly under construction so there was not much to eat or shop. I recommend doing your souvenir shopping at the big train stations (Shin Osaka or Osaka) instead of the airport.

Some tips for future travelers:

• Don't just buy a 24 hour Tokyo metro ticket. There are two different subway companies, the Tokyo Metro (blue M symbol) and Toei (has a green leaf symbol), and we were not able to use our metro pass on any of the Toei stations. It was still possible to get around but we had to walk further to certain stations. I think there is an option for a combination ticket for both, we just didn’t know at the time.
• If you’re going to or from Tokyo Station, budget an extra 15-20 minutes travel time. You can even spend a whole hour exploring the station's food.
• When booking a hotel in Hakuba, check the free shuttle map so you can use it to get to and from the slopes and bus station. Some hotels will also offer some shuttle services as well (e.g. pickup and drop off at the bus station.)

Welcome new readers. Please start with chapter one https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/11ai7iv/last_of_the_defenders_ch_01/
Previously https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/1219ns7/last_of_the_defenders_ch_29/
Allah leaned against one of the tables, purring softly. Li was beside her swiftly, gripping her shoulder reassuringly.
“But we’re not gonna let that happen,” the human promised. “And you’re going to help.”
“I knew they were evil,” Allah started to say but stopped. She bit her lip, tail flicking up a cloud of dust in the long disused room. The lights flickered again and the U’knock clawed at the glow stick on the table beside her, holding it before her, eager to have something stable to hold onto.
Li patted her shoulder again and turned to the table with the helmets. She lifted one to Allah’s head, pursed her lips and set it down. She picked up another, nodding in satisfaction, and began taking it apart. “I’m sure they think the same thing about humans,” she said.
“Who would care what they think?” Allah tried to keep the bile from her voice.
“PsyOps,” Li answered, as if the strange word should explain everything. When Allah only lowered her ear in confusion she said “‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither, you will fail in every battle’.” The human smiled. “The swarmers consider us a meddling subspecies that steals the resources that are rightfully theirs. We keep getting in their way, preventing ‘progress’ and forming unnatural alliances with other, lesser, organisms.”
“You sound like you have spoken to them.”
Li nodded. She removed two panels from the top of the helmet. “I’ve spoken to millions of them,” she admitted, then said softly, “I was probably the last voice most of them ever heard.”
She lifted the helmet and adjusted it to fit atop Allah’s head. “These millions,” the U’knock asked, “are all dead?”
The Defender nodded. “Very much so,” Li’s tone was light but the human face was a stone mask in the green light. The overheads flickered like lightning, casting her in hard brightness before the green gloom returned to paint dark shadows under her eyes and mouth. It made her look more predatory; a hunter hiding in tall grass, bent to pounce.
Li removed more sections from the helmet, the odd thing sliding down around Allah’s ears.
“I would like to know how to kill that many.”
A different kind of shadow crossed the human’s face, a sadness that cracked through the hardness.
Li turned to the panels she had removed, taking a pair of tiny buttons out. She held one up and turned Allah’s head, trying to fit the button in the U’knock’s ear.
“Let's hope you don’t have to find out,” Li said, trying a different button from a different helmet. “It was a pretty expensive day for me.
“And I’m still paying the tab.”
Li patted Allah’s shoulder again. The U’knock turned to look at her.
“Looks like that fits,” the human forced a grin. She handed Allah another button. “How's it feel?”
“Strange,” Allah admitted. She shook her head and felt the button wiggle inside her ear. “What is this?”
“Virtual Reality Education Helmet,” Li grinned again but the smile did not reach her eyes. “Welcome to Primary School.”
Allah tapped the thing on her head with a claw. It was stiff, but not hard like bronze. And it held an odor--several--of something cheesy and vinegary and a little moldy all at once.
“Careful,” Li cautioned. “Plastic that old can get pretty brittle.”
The U’knock wondered why humans would use something so obviously inferior if they could make things with the new metal. Then she considered her mother’s Com’Cha and retracted her claw from the gift. Even if a warrior offered a replacement made entirely of new metal, the old bronze weapon held a special place in her life.
Perhaps these helmets held such prestige for Li’s people?
“This will teach me to fight?” she asked, trying to muster the proper amount of reverence for the object.
“No,” Li shook her head, “I’ll take on that job. And Jung, too. This,” she tapped the helmet on Allah’s head, “will teach you basic commands and instructions for ground equipment and the extravehicular combat suit. You remember the mess hall? How hard it was just to get hot water from Demeter?” Allah nodded, perking and flattening her ears, “That's because you weren’t ‘thinking’ the right words. We’ll start you out with English because Demeter uses that by default. Once you have basic commands memorized, we’ll move to general tactics, strategy, and combat.”
“You used this,” Allah touched the helmet. It was cool, hard, alien in her head, “as a child?”
Li chuckled. “No,” she admitted. “V-REHs are intended to acclimate xenoforms--species other than human--to our ways. From farmer to front line fighter, there’s a training program for just about any job.
“That's also why the helmets are so modular,” she gestured to the discarded pieces. “They can accommodate almost any ‘head’ shaped configuration; kitty cat ears, literal four eyes. In some cases, like the Shoo, they can accommodate a species with no head at all.
“I gotta get back to work,” Li left the mess where it lay and strode toward the door. “Demeter, offload basic command lessons one through thirty to a microcore at the Romeo-02 terminal.
“C-c-commmmmmmmmmmPlying!”
“Can we trust Demeter to provide proper instructions?” Allah asked. Fears from last night--particularly one about melting brains--crossed her thoughts as they strode down the hall.
“I’ll do a quick file check to make sure but,” Li looked over her shoulder. She chuckled at Allah’s expression: ears flat, lips pushed out and constantly glancing upward to try to “see” the thing on her head. “V-REHs can’t hurt you. Maybe trick you into walking into a wall, but that won’t be an issue; the basic lessons are designed to be used while seated.
Do you need to poop or anything before you start? You could be in there for a while.
Allah nodded, eliciting another trip to another room similar to the showers aboard Star dancer, filled with more tiny rooms. This one was cream colored, and inside each room was a tiny cream colored throne with a bowl in the seat.
Li stood outside, giving instructions on the throne’s--the bidet toilet’s--use. Then it was back to the room of warriors--the security station, Li corrected--and Allah’s first lesson.
“Touch the V-REH,” Li lifted her hands to her own head, pressing her palms to her temples, “here. It’ll run through a self adjustment process and I’ll link it to your nanites. That should speed things up a lot.”
“Will it hurt?” Allah asked, “as much as last time?”
“This shouldn’t hurt at all,” Li said with a grin, “so if it does either take it off immediately or ask me to. It might be disorienting at first though so get comfy.”
Allah returned to the corner and settled on the hard floor, sitting cross legged. As she did, Li returned to and began tapping on the face of the monitor. A soft click sounded and a tiny shiny stone flickered in the faltering lights. Allah had still not touched the V-REH when Li moved the stone to another hole, pressed on her keyboard with her fingers and nodded in satisfaction. She turned in the tiny throne and regarded Allah quizzically.
“I can’t initiate a session for you,” Li said by way of explanation. “It’s designed to be voluntary, so nothing can. I can disengage you but that's about it.” She stood, walked the short distance to Allah’s corner and held out the stone to the U’knock. “The V-REH will need to calibrate with you, then recognise it needs this,” Li pressed the stone into Allah’s paw.
“I’ll be right here if you need anything,” the human pointed to the monitor, turned and strode to the throne.
Allah looked at the tiny stone. In the flickering lights, she had thought it was white. Up close, however, it looked more of a pale green. She carefully picked it up to inspect. As she did, it moved away from the light of the glowing stick beside her and captured the myriad hues projected by Li’s monitor. The stone shifted in color again, a dizzying burst of different colors packed so close together they appeared white again.
Why was she hesitating? Allah had pledged to help defend her planet, had stood before the quorum of Umati’clam and professed it as fact. Now, she dithered. Li had returned to her work, finger beating a rhythm like raindrops on the surface of the table. Allah felt alone, ignored. And part of her realized that she was. Li had good reason to--she was working to save Allah’s people--and to grow upset because her friend so easily turned to the task was beyond petty.
“What if I don’t?” Allah asked aloud.
Li’s fingers stopped suddenly, then the human placed her hands in her lap. She did not turn to look at Allah, but sat with the stone mask again and stared at the monitor.
“It's your choice, Allah,” she said slowly, “and it’s not one I can make for you. If you’re asking ‘Will I throw you out on the street?’ or ‘Will we stop looking for your father?’ the answer to both is no. I took you in last night, frankly, because you had the lowest chance of survival of those around me. Those that,” Li sighed, pulling on the thin cored that held her hair in a tail. “Those that had a chance.”
She shook her head, combing her fingers through the long, thick black hair. “I know you’re worried that you won’t be much help. And you’d rather be out there,” she gestured to the screen, wiggling her fingers. The glyphs disappeared to be replaced by images from seven times two plus two drones patrolling the city and the surrounding wasteland. “Looking for him right now.”
“That’s not what I--”
“And I know you’re scared,” Li interrupted. “And angry. You’ve got good reason to be. This…won’t be much fun when the shooting starts.” She did turn now, the sad smile that would not reach her eyes painting her lips. “But you were right,” she said. “I do need a friend. I’d like that friend to still be you in the morning.”
The human shrugged her shoulders. “I'm sorry to put that on you. I don't want to add to your burdens.” And Li turned back to the monitor and began tapping again.
Allah did not know what to say. She sat in the corner, watching Li return to work. Allah had felt alone, afraid. And angry, yes. But what must Li be feeling right now? Her own people had abandoned her quest. She stood in defiance of the bullies and defenders now.
This planet's protector.
“When I finish with this machine,” Allah asked, “we will pop the corn and speak of mates?”
The corner of Li’s mouth rose. “And watch Journey To The West while I paint your claws.”
Allah nodded. This was a burden she could, would, must happily bear. To stand beside Li, no matter the cost. Not out of honor, nor pride. Not even to save her people.
She would do this because her friend asked her to.
The U’knock raised her paws to either side of the helmet, pressing gently.

1
When lilacs last in the door-yard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d—and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
​
O ever-returning spring! trinity sure to me you bring;
Lilac blooming perennial, and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love.
​
2
​
O powerful, western, fallen star!
O shades of night! O moody, tearful night!
O great star disappear’d! O the black murk that hides the star!
O cruel hands that hold me powerless! O helpless soul of me!
O harsh surrounding cloud, that will not free my soul!
​
3
​
In the door-yard fronting an old farm-house, near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac bush, tall-growing, with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom, rising, delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle......and from this bush in the door-yard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms, and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig, with its flower, I break.
​
​
4
​
In the swamp, in secluded recesses,
A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song.
​
Solitary, the thrush,
The hermit, withdrawn to himself, avoiding the settlements,
Sings by himself a song.
​
Song of the bleeding throat!
Death’s outlet song of life—(for well, dear brother, I know
If thou wast not gifted to sing, thou would’st surely die.)
​
5
​
Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid cities,
Amid lanes, and through old woods, (where lately the violets peep’d from the ground, spotting the gray debris;)
Amid the grass in the fields each side of the lanes—passing the endless grass;
Passing the yellow-spear’d wheat, every grain from its shroud in the dark-brown fields uprising;
Passing the apple-tree blows of white and pink in the orchards;
Carrying a corpse to where it shall rest in the grave,
Night and day journeys a coffin.
​
6
​
Coffin that passes through lanes and streets,
Through day and night, with the great cloud darkening the land,
With the pomp of the inloop’d flags, with the cities draped in black,
With the show of the States themselves, as of crape-veil’d women, standing,
With processions long and winding, and the flambeaus of the night,
With the countless torches lit—with the silent sea of faces, and the unbared heads,
With the waiting depot, the arriving coffin, and the sombre faces,
With dirges through the night, with the thousand voices rising strong and solemn;
With all the mournful voices of the dirges, pour’d around the coffin,
The dim-lit churches and the shuddering organs—Where amid these you journey,
With the tolling, tolling bells’ perpetual clang;
Here! coffin that slowly passes,
I give you my sprig of lilac.
​
7
​
(Nor for you, for one, alone;
Blossoms and branches green to coffins all I bring:
For fresh as the morning—thus would I carol a song for you, O sane and sacred death.
​
All over bouquets of roses,
O death! I cover you over with roses and early lilies;
But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first,
Copious, I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes;
With loaded arms I come, pouring for you,
For you, and the coffins all of you, O death.)
​
8
​
O western orb, sailing the heaven!
Now I know what you must have meant, as a month since we walk’d,
As we walk’d up and down in the dark blue so mystic,
As we walk’d in silence the transparent shadowy night,
As I saw you had something to tell, as you bent to me night after night,
As you droop’d from the sky low down, as if to my side, (while the other stars all look’d on;)
As we wander’d together the solemn night, (for something, I know not what, kept me from sleep;)
As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west, ere you went, how full you were of woe;
As I stood on the rising ground in the breeze, in the cold transparent night,
As I watch’d where you pass’d and was lost in the netherward black of the night,
As my soul, in its trouble, dissatisfied, sank, as where you, sad orb,
Concluded, dropt in the night, and was gone.
​
9
​
Sing on, there in the swamp!
O singer bashful and tender! I hear your notes—I hear your call;
I hear—I come presently—I understand you;
But a moment I linger—for the lustrous star has detain’d me;
The star, my departing comrade, holds and detains me.
​
10
​
O how shall I warble myself for the dead one there I loved?
And how shall I deck my song for the large sweet soul that has gone?
And what shall my perfume be, for the grave of him I love?
​
Sea-winds, blown from east and west,
Blown from the eastern sea, and blown from the western sea, till there on the prairies meeting:
These, and with these, and the breath of my chant,
I perfume the grave of him I love.
​
11
​
O what shall I hang on the chamber walls?
And what shall the pictures be that I hang on the walls,
To adorn the burial-house of him I love?
​
Pictures of growing spring, and farms, and homes,
With the Fourth-month eve at sundown, and the gray smoke lucid and bright,
With floods of the yellow gold of the gorgeous, indolent, sinking sun, burning, expanding the air;
With the fresh sweet herbage under foot, and the pale green leaves of the trees prolific;
In the distance the flowing glaze, the breast of the river, with a wind-dapple here and there;
With ranging hills on the banks, with many a line against the sky, and shadows;
And the city at hand, with dwellings so dense, and stacks of chimneys,
And all the scenes of life, and the workshops, and the workmen homeward returning.
​
12
​
Lo! body and soul! this land!
Mighty Manhattan, with spires, and the sparkling and hurrying tides, and the ships;
The varied and ample land—the South and the North in the light—Ohio’s shores, and flashing Missouri,
And ever the far-spreading prairies, cover’d with grass and corn.
​
Lo! the most excellent sun, so calm and haughty;
The violet and purple morn, with just-felt breezes;
The gentle, soft-born, measureless light;
The miracle, spreading, bathing all—the fulfill’d noon;
The coming eve, delicious—the welcome night, and the stars,
Over my cities shining all, enveloping man and land.
​
13
​
Sing on! sing on, you gray-brown bird!
Sing from the swamps, the recesses—pour your chant from the bushes;
Limitless out of the dusk, out of the cedars and pines.
​
Sing on, dearest brother—warble your reedy song;
Loud human song, with voice of uttermost woe.
​
O liquid, and free, and tender!
O wild and loose to my soul! O wondrous singer!
You only I hear......yet the star holds me, (but will soon depart;)
Yet the lilac, with mastering odor, holds me.
​
14
​
Now while I sat in the day, and look’d forth,
In the close of the day, with its light, and the fields of spring, and the farmer preparing his crops,
In the large unconscious scenery of my land, with its lakes and forests,
In the heavenly aerial beauty, (after the perturb’d winds, and the storms;)
Under the arching heavens of the afternoon swift passing, and the voices of children and women,
The many-moving sea-tides,—and I saw the ships how they sail’d,
And the summer approaching with richness, and the fields all busy with labor,
And the infinite separate houses, how they all went on, each with its meals and minutia of daily usages;
And the streets, how their throbbings throbb’d, and the cities pent—lo! then and there,
Falling upon them all, and among them all, enveloping me with the rest,
Appear’d the cloud, appear’d the long black trail;
And I knew Death, its thought, and the sacred knowledge of death.
​
15
​
Then with the knowledge of death as walking one side of me,
And the thought of death close-walking the other side of me,
And I in the middle, as with companions, and as holding the hands of companions,
I fled forth to the hiding receiving night, that talks not,
Down to the shores of the water, the path by the swamp in the dimness,
To the solemn shadowy cedars, and ghostly pines so still.
​
And the singer so shy to the rest receiv’d me;
The gray-brown bird I know, receiv’d us comrades three;
And he sang what seem’d the carol of death, and a verse for him I love.
​
From deep secluded recesses,
From the fragrant cedars, and the ghostly pines so still,
Came the carol of the bird.
​
And the charm of the carol rapt me,
As I held, as if by their hands, my comrades in the night;
And the voice of my spirit tallied the song of the bird.
​
16
​
DEATH CAROL.
​
Come, lovely and soothing Death,
Undulate round the world, serenely arriving, arriving,
In the day, in the night, to all, to each,
Sooner or later, delicate Death.
​
Prais’d be the fathomless universe,
For life and joy, and for objects and knowledge curious;
And for love, sweet love—But praise! praise! praise!
For the sure-enwinding arms of cool-enfolding Death.
​
Dark Mother, always gliding near, with soft feet,
Have none chanted for thee a chant of fullest welcome?
​
Then I chant it for thee—I glorify thee above all;
I bring thee a song that when thou must indeed come, come unfalteringly.
​
Approach, strong Deliveress!
When it is so—when thou hast taken them, I joyously sing the dead,
Lost in the loving, floating ocean of thee,
Laved in the flood of thy bliss, O Death.
​
From me to thee glad serenades,
Dances for thee I propose, saluting thee—adornments and feastings for thee;
And the sights of the open landscape, and the high-spread sky, are fitting,
And life and the fields, and the huge and thoughtful night.
​
The night, in silence, under many a star;
The ocean shore, and the husky whispering wave, whose voice I know;
And the soul turning to thee, O vast and well-veil’d Death,
And the body gratefully nestling close to thee.
​
Over the tree-tops I float thee a song!
Over the rising and sinking waves—over the myriad fields, and the prairies wide;
Over the dense-pack’d cities all, and the teeming wharves and ways,
I float this carol with joy, with joy to thee, O Death!
​
17
​
To the tally of my soul,
Loud and strong kept up the gray-brown bird,
With pure, deliberate notes, spreading, filling the night.
​
Loud in the pines and cedars dim,
Clear in the freshness moist, and the swamp-perfume;
And I with my comrades there in the night.
​
While my sight that was bound in my eyes unclosed,
As to long panoramas of visions.
​
​
18
​
I saw askant the armies;
And I saw, as in noiseless dreams, hundreds of battle-flags;
Borne through the smoke of the battles, and pierc’d with missiles, I saw them,
And carried hither and yon through the smoke, and torn and bloody;
And at last but a few shreds left on the staffs, (and all in silence,)
And the staffs all splinter’d and broken.
​
I saw battle-corpses, myriads of them,
And the white skeletons of young men—I saw them;
I saw the debris and debris of all the dead soldiers of the war;
But I saw they were not as was thought;
They themselves were fully at rest—they suffer’d not;
The living remain’d and suffer’d—the mother suffer’d,
And the wife and the child, and the musing comrade suffer’d,
And the armies that remain’d suffer’d.
​
​
19
​
Passing the visions, passing the night;
Passing, unloosing the hold of my comrades’ hands;
Passing the song of the hermit bird, and the tallying song of my soul,
(Victorious song, death’s outlet song, yet varying, ever-altering song,
As low and wailing, yet clear the notes, rising and falling, flooding the night,
Sadly sinking and fainting, as warning and warning, and yet again bursting with joy,
Covering the earth, and filling the spread of the heaven,
As that powerful psalm in the night I heard from recesses,)
Passing, I leave thee, lilac with heart-shaped leaves;
I leave thee there in the door-yard, blooming, returning with spring,
I cease from my song for thee;
From my gaze on thee in the west, fronting the west, communing with thee,
O comrade lustrous, with silver face in the night.
​
​
20
​
Yet each I keep, and all, retrievements out of the night;
The song, the wondrous chant of the gray-brown bird,
And the tallying chant, the echo arous’d in my soul,
With the lustrous and drooping star, with the countenance full of woe,
With the lilac tall, and its blossoms of mastering odor;
With the holders holding my hand, nearing the call of the bird,
Comrades mine, and I in the midst, and their memory ever I keep—for the dead I loved so well;
For the sweetest, wisest soul of all my days and lands...and this for his dear sake;
Lilac and star and bird, twined with the chant of my soul,
There in the fragrant pines, and the cedars dusk and dim.

Tango on Hudson
"Argentine Tango in NYC on UWS & UES"
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 7:00 PM America/New_York West 68th Street & Riverside Boulevard New York, NY 10069

I'm 25 and I'm making 90k. I've wanted a Challenger forever. When I was 20, for a week I rented a T from Hertz somehow, did a big road trip out west, it was a blast and I've been even more obsessed ever since.
In a sane world I'd wait a couple years and buy one once I have more money and interest rates are lower. I remember 2 years ago I made dogshit money, yet the Scat Pack was only $400 a month to lease and I semi-seriously considered it. But this year is the Last Call and never again will I have the chance to buy one new.
Realistically I'm only interested in either a Scat Pack or a Hellcat. Even the T feels like a compromise. I see that I can save a bit by buying the 22 instead of the 23.
Current vehicle: 2012 F150 Lariat SuperCrew 4x4, 6.5' bed with camper shell, 153k miles, giant 3 foot dent on the side (quoted 3000+ to fix), speedometer reads 40mph too high, oil pressure sensor is fucked and sometimes flashes spurious low pressure warnings. Sluggish acceleration on uphills, I think the transmission fluid is cooked after having to accelerate real hard back and forth to get unstuck from deep must last year, haven't had it looked at yet. KBB claims 10k dealer value for "fair" condition. I suspect I'd get more like 8k for it, if that.
Finances: 90k base pay pre-tax. After taxes, rent, and other expenses 2800 a month left over, of which I put 800 a month in savings. I've only been at this job 3 months. Got a few grand in savings. Like I said, if not for this being the Last Call I'd wait a couple years for sure. According to the Dodge website, if I trade in my truck for 8k and put another 2k down, for a Scat Park it's $750/month to finance and $550/month to lease. For a Hellcat, 1200 a month to finance or 1000 a month to lease... probably unattainable even though my heart really wants it. And that's if they're selling at sticker price, I wouldn't be surprised if it's higher due to this being the last year.
Insurance: I have one speeding ticket on my record (from when I lived in CA... it doesn't seem to show up on my record in VA for some reason, which is cool). I pay $140 a month for insurance on my truck. No idea what typical insurance rates on these bad boys are.
Parking situation: I live in an apartment. Options are street parking and a small outdoor gravel lot. I live in a very nice neighborhood, but Arlington VA where I live is across the river from DC and I gotta wonder about theft. Are there effective countermeasures? Also wondering about deterioration from outdoor parking in a mid-atlantic climate.
I feel like if I miss this chance I'm never going to forgive myself for it for the rest of my life. On the other hand this feels like a financial disaster waiting to happen, plus the worries of theft and deterioration from outside parking. My heart is screaming yes, my brain is screaming no. Of course I could always split the baby and get a used scat pack or a new T but that feels wrong somehow... idk. Am I insane? What would y'all do in my situation?

To preface; I know it's winter and we can't do this in the winter time. But, it's been about 3 years and only progressively getting worse over time. Water based paint does not last.
It would be nice to see our tax dollars spent on some quality road paint. For the last 3 years I feel like only north Albert or New developments have been touched.
Some particular streets to note
-Most of Dewdney is missing lane markings
-Turning lanes at Ring Road/Victoria in all directions
-South Albert
-essentially all of west end of the city to the bypass.
There's a lot more, but I am not sure how to get this addressed other than putting in service requests to the city which only really work for pot holes.

[MAIN] Cafe Corner 10182 - 650 spots at $5
escrow for u/HandsomeHandyMan
March 29th 8PM
Item Name Set Number: Cafe Corner 10182
Lego Price: $3197
Shipping: $53 (UPS Ground, 24x20x5, 8lbs, OR 97603 to ME 04756, insured to $3200)
Raffle Total/Spots: 650 Spots at $5
Price justification: Brick Economy
Call spots: Yes
Spot limit per person: No
Duration of spot limit: N/A
Location(Country): USA
Will ship international: No
Timestamp pics: https://imgur.com/a/4yqN99z
Description: One of the big ones, a greatly sought after set, and it could be yours! Only box damage is a crease on the upper side of the rear face that spans the width of the box. Damage is outlined in the timestamp post.

PayPal Info: pm me for my pp
Cash App Info: https://cash.app
​
Tip BlobAndHisBoy
Number of vacant slots: 292
Number of unpaid users: 31
Number of unpaid slots: 111
This slot list is created and updated by The EDC Raffle Tool by BlobAndHisBoy.
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The Council Creek Regional Trail online open house and survey will be open for public comment April 14-May 14. Also plan to visit with us in person from 4-6 p.m. April 25 at the Cornelius Public Library. Plans for the full 15-mile trail include:

• An east-west segment connecting Hillsboro to Forest Grove (6 miles, in progress)
• A north-south segment connecting Forest Grove and Banks and the Banks-Vernonia Trail (not yet started)

The east-west segment connecting HIllsboro to Forest Grove will use the existing railroad right-of-way between the Hatfield Government MAX station and Forest Grove (21st Avenue and Douglas Street, east of Pacific University). Train traffic has not used this section of railroad since 2015. Preliminary design work on the east-west segment has started. Complete information: https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/lut/planning/council-creek-regional-trail

The Council Creek Regional Trail online open house and survey will be open for public comment April 14-May 14. Also plan to visit with us in person from 4-6 p.m. April 25 at the Cornelius Public Library. Plans for the full 15-mile trail include:

• An east-west segment connecting Hillsboro to Forest Grove (6 miles, in progress)
• A north-south segment connecting Forest Grove and Banks and the Banks-Vernonia Trail (not yet started)

The east-west segment connecting HIllsboro to Forest Grove will use the existing railroad right-of-way between the Hatfield Government MAX station and Forest Grove (21st Avenue and Douglas Street, east of Pacific University). Train traffic has not used this section of railroad since 2015. Preliminary design work on the east-west segment has started. Complete information: https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/lut/planning/council-creek-regional-trail

NOT FINALIZED YET

🗓 Date: April 4, 2023 @ 5PM
🗺 Location: Long Beach Civic Center411 W. Ocean Boulevard
📺 LiveStream (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/c/LongBeachTelevision
📺 Live Stream (City Website): https://longbeach.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=84
ℹ️ Details: https://longbeach.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1090799&GUID=E071E685-FE38-4E9D-9272-0EC6C3B8E6B7&Options=info&Search=
📄 Agenda (PDF): https://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1090799&GUID=E071E685-FE38-4E9D-9272-0EC6C3B8E6B7
🗣eComment: https://longbeach.granicusideas.com/meetings/3965-city-council

Agenda Item

CD5 - Sowing Seeds of Change

Item #1 • File #23-0292 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Councilwoman Megan Kerr, Fifth District

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $500, offset by the Fifth Council District One-Time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to provide a contribution to Partners of Parks; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $500 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.

CD3 - Summer Community Concert & Egg Hunt Heights

Item #2 • File #23-0293 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Councilmember Kristina Duggan, Third District

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $2,075, offset by the Third Council District One-Time District Priority Funds, transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide donations of: 1. $1,700 to the Friends of Belmont Shore to support their Summer Community Concert; 2. $375 to the Belmont Heights Community Association to support their Egg Hunt in the Heights; and Decrease appropriation in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $2,075, to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.

CA - Benavidez v Long Beach

Item #3 • File #23-0294 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to pay sum of $150,000, in full settlement of lawsuit entitled Edward Benavidez vs. City of Long Beach, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV02509.

CA - Foster v Long Beach

Item #4 • File #23-0296 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to submit Stipulations with Request for Award for approval by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and if so approved, authority to pay $52,200, in compliance with the Appeals Board Order for William Foster.

CA - Medina-Fernandez v Long beach

Item #5 • File #23-0295 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to pay sum of $99,000, in full settlement of lawsuit entitled Michael Medina-Fernandez v. City of Long Beach, et al., United States District Court Case No. 2:21-cv-07038-JPR.

CA - Mullally v Long Beach

Item #6 • File #23-0297 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to submit two Stipulations with Request for Award for approval by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and if so approved, authority to pay 1) $125,642.50 for Stipulations with Request for Award with a life pension thereafter of $77.31 per week and also 2) separate authority to pay $111,142.50 in compliance with the Appeals Board Order for Keith Mullally.

CA - Radcliff

Item #7 • File #23-0298 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to submit Stipulations with Request for Award for approval by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and if so approved, authority to pay $122,742.50 in compliance with the Appeals Board Order for Donald Radcliff.

CA - Sanders v Long Beach

Item #8 • File #23-0299 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to pay sum of $75,000, in full settlement of lawsuit entitled Markeisha Sanders v. City of Long Beach, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCV16940.

CC - Minutes

Item #10 • File #23-0302 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Clerk

Recommendation to approve the minutes for the City Council Special Meeting of Tuesday, March 7, 2023; and City Council meeting of Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Damage Claims

Item #11 • File #23-0303 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Clerk

Recommendation to refer to City Attorney damage claims received between March 13, 2023 and March 27, 2023.

LS - Ord to amend the LBMC Library Rules

Item #18 • File #23-0309 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Library Services

Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to clarify the City’s authority to enforce the Long Beach Public Library Patron Rules of Conduct (Library Rules) in all Library facilities and on all Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) property. (Citywide)

Mayor - Housing Promise

Item #22 • File #23-0313 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Mayor Rex Richardson

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with local educational institutions including CSU Long Beach, CSU Dominguez Hills, Long Beach City College, and Long Beach Unified School District, as well as industry partners in Long Beach’s key growth sectors, to pursue strategic partnerships and cooperation agreements that make meaningful investments to support housing production and add to Long Beach’s existing housing stock, and refer to the Educational Partnerships Committee and the Housing and Public Health Committee for input and discussion.

CA - Amicus Brief State and Fed Leg Agenda

Item #23 • File #23-0314 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to authorize City Attorney to join amicus briefs that align with the annually adopted City of Long Beach State Legislative Agenda and/or Federal Legislative Agenda, and to request subsequent affirmation by the City Council. (Citywide)

Resolution

CA - Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Day resos

Item #9 • File #23-0300 (Details, PDF)
Recommendation to adopt resolution recognizing the 31st of March of every year as César Chávez Day, a Day of Celebration in the City of Long Beach; and

Chavez & Huerta reso 2

Item # • File #23-0301 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Adopt resolution recognizing the 10th of April of every year as Dolores Huerta Day, a Day of Celebration in the City of Long Beach. (Citywide)

FM - Contract w/Elastec for Elastec E30 work boat and trailer

Item #15 • File #23-0307 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Financial Management

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Elastec, Inc., of Carmi, IL, for the purchase of an Elastec E30 work boat, with trailer and other accessories, in a total amount not to exceed $416,934, including taxes and fees. (Citywide)

FM - FY23 Salary Reso for MWD

Item #16 • File #23-0315 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Financial Management

Recommendation to adopt resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2023 Salary Resolution RES-22-0159 to increase the maximum annual compensation permitted for the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors representative to $200 per meeting attended limited to no more than four meetings per month, inclusive of subcommittee meetings, not to exceed $7,000 maximum per calendar year. (Citywide)

LS - Agrmnt w/Bibliotheca for updated self-checkout machines

Item #19 • File #23-0310 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Library Services

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents, including subsequent amendments, with Bibliotheca, of Norcross, GA to provide updated patron self-checkout machines at the eleven Long Beach Public Library branch libraries, and maintenance services, in a total amount not to exceed $224,726 for a period of 5 years, with no renewal options, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)

DS - 1711 Harbor & 1515 W. 17th St. Appeal D7

Item #21 • File #23-0312 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Development Services

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record and conclude the public hearing and consider one third-party appeal by the Westside Business Association of Long Beach (APL23-005); Adopt resolution adopting and certifying a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND 01-23) and making findings of fact related thereto, and adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and Deny the appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision and approve two (2) Conditional Use Permits (CUP21-010 & CUP21-011) to operate a trucking use on two (2) properties located at 1711 Harbor Avenue and 1515 West 17th Street that total 4.85 acres in size in the General Industrial (IG) Zoning District. (District 7)

PD/FD/TI - Contract for emergency response/public safety equipment and supplies

Item #25 • File #23-0317 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Police
• Fire
• Technology and Innovation

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including subsequent amendments, with Safeware, Inc., of Lanham, MD; and Mallory Safety and Supply, LLC, of Portland, OR, for furnishing and delivering emergency response and public safety equipment and supplies, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the Port of Portland, OR, through Omnia Partners, in an annual aggregate amount of $3,000,000, with a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $600,000, for a total annual aggregate contract amount not to exceed $3,600,000, until the Omnia Partners contract expires on April 1, 2026, with the option to renew for as long as the Omnia Partners contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)

Contract

CM - Sprout Social

Item #12 • File #23-0304 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Manager

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Sprout Social, Inc., of Chicago IL, to provide social media support services and tools, in a total annual amount not to exceed $40,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)

ED - PGWIN service and product providers for training and employment svcs to residents

Item #13 • File #23-0305 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Economic Development

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with various Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network training and service providers, for training and employment services to residents, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $750,000, for a term ending December 31, 2023, with the option to renew for an additional one-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)

FM - Contract w/Tait Environmental Svcs for the City’s Fuel Operations system

Item #14 • File #23-0306 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Financial Management

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 34878 with Tait Environmental Services, Inc., of Santa Ana, CA, to provide technical support, construction management services, and regulatory updates for the City’s Fuel Operations program, to increase the contract amount by $70,839, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $1,105,839, and extend the term to September 30, 2023. (Citywide)

PRM/PW - Grant funding for Davenport Park Phase II project D8

Item #24 • File #23-0316 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Parks, Recreation and Marine
• Public Works

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an amendment to accept and expend grant funds from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Land and Water Conservation Fund, increasing the award from $2,016,000 to an amount not to exceed $3,656,000, for the period from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2023, for the Davenport Park Phase II Project; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,640,000, offset by grant revenue; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,640,000, offset by a transfer of Land and Water Conservation Grant Funds from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation from the Capital Grants Fund. (District 8)

Conformed Contract

DHHS - Fundamentals of Fatherhood Project

Item #17 • File #23-0308 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Health and Human Services

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents, subcontracts, and any necessary amendments, including any amendments to the award amount, with Public Strategies, Inc., a Technical Assistance provider for the Fundamentals of Fatherhood Project, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $35,000, for the National Responsible Fatherhood Alliance, for the period of April 1, 2023 through October 31, 2023, with the option to extend the agreement for three additional one-year periods at the discretion of the City Manager; and Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $35,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)

ABC License

PD - ABC License - Sake Secret D1

Item #20 • File #23-0311 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• Police

Recommendation to receive and file the application of Sake Secret, LLC, dba Sake Secret, for an original application of an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License, at 460 Pine Avenue; determine that the application serves the public convenience and necessity, and submit a Public Notice of Protest to ABC; and, direct City Manager to withdraw the protest if a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is granted. (District 1)

Ordinance

CA - Boxing and Wrestling

Item #26 • File #23-0318 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 5.24.010, 5.24.020, 5.24.080, and 5.24.140, relating to boxing and wrestling exhibitions, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Citywide)

CA - Advisory bodies & amending Section 2.06.060

Item #27 • File #23-0265 (Details, PDF)
Sponsors:

• City Attorney

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 2.18.050; and, by repealing Section 2.06.060, all relating to compensation and training requirements for members of boards and commissions, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

Pretty soon drivers throughout Georgia and South Carolina should be getting quests for the Master’s Tournament. Some of y’all will be asking about whether it is worth it, and some of y’all will be asking about strategies for working the tournament, so I’ll try to cover both in this post. For reference, I have been an Uber driver in Augusta since 2017. I did two Master’s Tournaments as an X driver pre-pandemic and one Master’s Tournament as an XL driver last year (the two tournaments during the pandemic were closed to the public and were for members only). Sorry to the Uber Black drivers who are looking at this post, I don’t really have much experience to share with you about your platform, but hopefully some of this guide will still be helpful. I don’t do Eats, but they should do well here, too.
Market basics:
Augusta is a rate-card market. It pays UberX $0.60/min and $0.09/mile and pays UberXL $1.45/min and $0.22/mile. Those who are coming from an upfront market (and new drivers who decide to start during The Master’s) will be accepting trips blind (unless Uber goes upfront within the next week). You have to have a SC vehicle inspection to pick up rides in North Augusta, SC, so unless you are a SC driver, or you come from a border town and did the SC vehicle inspection, you might want to avoid that side of town (near downtown, Augusta). Alternatively, if you do have a SC vehicle inspection done, this is a great location to get trips that other drivers (including most taxi drivers) cannot get. Outside of the tournament, the Augusta market only has UberX and UberXL. The platforms that I remember from last year during tournament week included UberX, UberX Diamond, Uber Comfort, UberXL, Uber Black, and Uber SUV. I know Lyft (which normally only does Lyft and LyftXL) also has Lyft Lux, but I’m not sure of their other platforms.
Tournament basics:
The rideshare waiting lot for the Augusta Nationals (the name of the golf course which hosts the Master’s Tournament) is on Washington Rd about a mile East from Exit 199 of I-20. Most tickets can only be used twice for entry into the tournament. The entrance to the rideshare lot is just after the taxi lot entrance which is just after the Olive Garden restaurant if you are coming from I-20. The tournament starts at 8 am and ends when all the players are done on the course, typically around 5pm-ish. Those who attend to watch the tournament but are not members are called patrons. A lot of patrons will only come to see a particular golfer (Tiger Woods draws a lot of attention) and will leave when their golfer leaves (especially during practice rounds). Some patrons will sit at a single hole and will leave when all the players that they want to see for the day have come across that hole.
The women’s amateur tournament already began on Wed March 29, 2023, at Champion’s Retreat. The women’s tournament players get a practice day on Fri March 31 and will compete on Sat April 1 at the Augusta Nationals. Mon, Tues, and Wed April 3-5 will be the practice rounds. A lot of your middle-class fans will be here on one of these days as they will have a hard time getting tickets to the actual tournament; most of these patrons will only be here for a single day. Thu-Sun April 6-9 is the actual tournament. Most of your better-off patrons (and very lucky patrons) will be here during the actual tournament. They will often be here all four days. April 6-9 will be, by far, the busiest times of the tournament.
A lot of businesses arrange for tickets. Outside of C-suite employees, most of these tickets will be given out to customers and awarded to employees for a half-day visit (as they can be used twice) to get the most bang for the buck. This is good for UberX & UberXL drivers as a lot of these patrons who are there for half-day help fill up some of the time between the start time rush and the end of the day rush and are more likely to use Uber (or taxis) to get around.
Try to get along with the law enforcement and the workers at and around the Augusta Nationals. The Augusta Nationals has a reputation for banning and trespassing those who don’t follow their fairly stringent rules, although most of the workers there just work for the week. The Augusta Nationals have stripped members of their membership for things we might feel are small infractions; they certainly don’t care about trespassing a random Uber driver.
Airports:
Augusta has two airports:

• The regional airport (AGS) will be mad crazy during tournament week, but many, many, many drivers will be hanging around the airport, including taxis, Uber Black, limos, hired drivers, shuttles for the master’s, hotel shuttles, etc. Unless you are Uber Black, I honestly don’t recommend hanging out at AGS (but do what you feel is best), although I personally would accept any requests that I got from the airport if I were outside the queue as there could be a hidden surge attached to it. AGS also closes their cellphone waiting lot to rideshare during tournament week. Be wary of picking up at AGS. There are six whole legal spots to pick up at AGS (six more spots at departures), and the Marshalls (GA’s police department responsible for airport operations at AGS) will probably take up two of them for some stupid reason. One of those six spots is also technically a shuttle pickup spot that the Marshalls may or may not be enforcing. Speaking of enforcement, the Marshalls will come out with a new policy several times a day during the tournament, so be polite, follow their immediate instructions, but don’t count on it being the same the next day. Also, the pickup spot in the app is the pedestrian crosswalk that goes between arrivals and departures (smack dab in the middle of the front of the airport). Make sure you pause for several seconds at that spot to start the cancelation timer before driving down towards the exits for arrivals. If you don’t, you have to go all the way around the airport to start the timer. Many knuckleheads will be ordering Ubers while sitting on the tarmac, so you might be collecting a few cancelation fees. A side note: you can always turn left into the rental parking lot and park along the sidewalk if necessary…this includes if you need to run into the airport to use the restroom or when there are not enough places to wait for your rider. This is about the only other place that the Marshalls will not harass you for stopping besides the designated pickup area and the cellphone waiting lot (when not closed). You technically need Uber stickers displayed to pick up at the airport, but I’ve never seen this enforced. If you want to see arrivals and departures, go to flyags.com and certainly don’t rely on the Uber app.
• At AGS, there is also an FBO (some riders will call it “Aviation Services” or “The private terminal” or “The executive terminal” or “The civil part of the airport” or something similar). Unfortunately, passenger auto-pins from here gets lumped into the general commercial pickup location. You will get mostly pilots coming from here as anyone who can charter a private plane will likely have a private ride already scheduled. You can legally pick up from the FBO (and also drop off). When you enter AGS, you’ll see a blue sign pointing to the cell phone waiting lot. Turn right into that lot and then turn left at the next street. Try to pick up under the awning, although you might have a line of grey Mercedes Sprinter vans in the way as those drivers feel they get special privilege (which they kinda’ do because the Augusta Nationals has a TON of political clout in Augusta).
• The other airport is the civil airport in the middle of the city named Daniel Field. Unlike AGS, this airport is typically underserved by Uber but is also extremely busy during the tournament. Despite there likely being a huge line of taxis there, you’ll likely get rides from here if the riders order the Uber before they see the taxis. These riders will likely leave their phone in their plane, so you might not see their blue location dot update. If you see them not have their phone with them (phones are not allowed in the tournament), let them know that there is an Uber representative that can order them a ride back on their account in the parking lot that you drop them off. (You probably won’t get their return trip, but they’ll help contribute to any surges later that you’ll benefit from.)

Quests:
Last year, the quests were for $15/trip originating from the rideshare parking lot at the Augusta Nationals between 3pm and 7pm. This sounds great, but I only got a total of 7 trips during that quest time for the entire four days of the quest (and one of those trips was a “high priority” return after a very short trip). The big issues are that the tournament might end before 3pm for bad weather or might go beyond 7pm (usually because of weather delays). Also, every driver is trying to cram into the rideshare lot to get in the queue for that quest. Even if the tournament gets out during the quest hours, you will be fighting traffic out of and back into the rideshare lot. The lot seems to be designed for about 20 vehicles, but there were at least 60 vehicles crammed in most of the time last year. Drivers can also park at the Publix parking lot near the Augusta Nationals to get in the queue, but then you must crawl through traffic to get to the pickup. As a strategy, it might be worth it to jump into the Publix lot, though, to get your position in the queue to get one more quest for the night. The quest is what brings drivers to Augusta, but it isn’t really where drivers make their money….
Tips:
Stories abound in and around Augusta about $100 tips that patrons give out during their visit to the Master’s Tournament. In the three years that I drove for the tournament, I only got some of these tips one year (last year) and none the other two years, but I received four of them last year for the following reasons: (1) being a military veteran, (2) returning binoculars that were left in my vehicle, (3) going through a Chick-Fil-A drive thru, and (4) making a half-dozen stops for one rider for cigars and alcohol and ice and other items. The first two tips were easy money; the second two tips cost a lot of time during high surges (although I would have still had a hard time doing better than the $100 during that time). If you are a young lady that is easy on the eyes (not sure of a better way to put it), you will have a much easier time getting the $100 tips, but you’ll likely also face some very stereotypical frat-guy behavior from the mostly older male crowd. Most people giving out these types of tips are not taking UberX or UberXL, though.
Surges:
As an upfront market, real surges are hidden, but you’ll still be able to see sticky surges. The best time for surges (aka, the times when riders exceed drivers) are in the early hours of the morning, the closing hours of the tournament, and during late night. The event starts at 8am (watch out for weather delays), but the rides easily start before 5am. There are a lot of moving parts to get the tournament started, and a lot of the rides that you’ll give as an UberX or UberXL are to those who support the tournament rather than the patrons. Parking lot attendants, traffic control, hospitality, camera crews, etc., are all heading to work. Uber shines at this time as the other modes of transportation have a hard time capturing this traffic unless prescheduled. A lot of patrons will start coming in soon after the workers to try to get the “ultimate” spot, and patrons will keep coming in for several hours. At the end of the tournament, there is no magical place to be except as close to the Augusta Nationals as possible. Patrons, workers, etc. are all streaming out of the same location.
Hot Spots:

• The rideshare lot for the Augusta Nationals: obviously
• Hooter’s: I swear a third of my mid-day trips went between Hooters and the Augusta Nationals. A very short trip.
• Other common restaurants that I would sit at (most of these have other restaurants close by that will be busy, too, but not necessarily as busy): Twin Peaks, T Bonz Steakhouse (in Augusta, not so much the one in Evans), Abel Brown, Beck’s, Cork and Flame (in Evans) and Frog Hollow (and other downtown Augusta restaurants).
• Hotel Clusters: For patrons, these hotels include those on Steven’s Creek Rd (aka Claussen Rd), Gordon Highway off of Exit 3 of I-520, downtown Augusta (one of which is in North Augusta, SC), Wheeler Rd off of Exit 2 of I-520, Jimmie Dyess Pkwy off of Exit 194 of I-20, and Lewiston Rd off of Exit 190 of I-20. Workers will primarily stay at the “cheaper” hotels (which will still be relatively mad expensive) throughout the city, especially around Washington Rd, Wrightsboro Rd near the Augusta Mall, and all the old hotels that litter the rest of Gordon Highway (good locations to pick up 5-7am).
• Underserved house rental clusters:

1. Don’t bother around Washington Rd as patrons will be primarily walking (not worth fighting the traffic for such low fares to the tournament either, imho, unless you are very, very close already).
2. West Lake is a huge location for pickups. It is a gated community, but if you tell the guards you are picking up at 3556 W Lake Dr (the Club House), they should let you right through the gate. You can even type this address in your app to get directions to it (without using your precious destination filters) and have your app look like you are actually going to there for a pickup.
3. There are several subdivisions near Washington Rd and William Few Pkwy in Evans, GA, that are commonly underserved.
4. Whole blocks within River Island Pkwy are rented out by Mercedes Benz and other corporations and is a good source of rides.
5. River North Dr in North Augusta, SC, is a great source of rides for patrons for those drivers who have submitted a completed a SC vehicle inspection to Uber.
6. Otherwise, workers and patrons will be staying in housing all over the city.

Roads to Avoid:

• Traveling down John C. Calhoun Expy/Washington Rd between downtown Augusta and the Augusta Nationals when patrons are going to/from the tournament. If coming from downtown or traveling to downtown, take Riverwatch Pkwy (erroneously labeled River Watch Pkwy on some GPS apps). Both Greene St and Reynolds St become Riverwatch Pkwy if you travel West on them long enough. At Alexander Dr, you will turn left, and then turn left again on Washington Rd (about ½ block from the rideshare entrance). To go downtown, turn left from the rideshare parking lot (not technically allowed, but most people still do so), turn right on Alexander Dr (the next light), and then turn right on Riverwatch Pkwy.
• Berkmans Rd (which becomes Alexander Dr at Washington Rd and becomes Highland Ave at Walton Way) will be closed by the Sherriff when the tournament ends. Until then, feel free to use it although it will be congested at the start of the tournament. The best way to avoid it is a long way around which is to take Walton Way to Walton Way Ext (a right turn), turn left onto Wheeler Rd, and then turn left on Marks Church Rd, to go West onto I-520, then to go East onto I-20, then get off at Exit 200 to Riverwatch, then turn right onto Riverwatch, and then turn left onto Alexander. If you do this with a rider in the car though, they might get really upset for all the extra miles they are paying for although it is much, much faster.
• Boy Scout Rd, which is technically the alternate route for Berkmans Rd when Berkmans Rd is closed. Just about all northbound traffic heading toward the tournament (or to Hooter’s or other nearby restaurants/hotels) that do not use the expressway will be stuck on this road when Berkmans Rd is closed. If Berkmans Rd is closed, you’ll likely regret taking Boy Scout Rd. Otherwise, Berkmans Rd is almost always better.

Law Enforcement:
The LE that you come across in Augusta are overworked outside of the tournament and will have had some really long hours by the time the tournament even starts. If you do something stupid enough to warrant the LE to actually bother going after you, expect at least a ticket. Be polite to LE because their fuses are already short. If you screw up, the best thing to do is to just apologize and accept the chew out if they are yelling at you from the road. Arguing will likely get you swarmed by police in Augusta.
Some notable things to point out:

• The North Augusta Police (in SC) have a reputation for giving out tickets for minor speeding infractions (and North Augusta has some of the lowest speed limits in the market). If you cross the bridges, stay at the speed limit until you get back to GA.
• Georgia State Police (GSP) have a reputation for giving you a ticket if they pull you over, even during non-tournament weeks. Most of their cars are the telltale grey on blue, but they do have a few stealth cars in the Augusta Market (black writing on black paint).
• Speaking of stealth cars, the Richmond County sheriff also have stealth SUVs and a TON of unmarked police cars.
• Georgia Public Safety (GPS) officers come out in numbers and single out a lot of commercial vehicles during tournament week (along with GSP). Note that Ubers are technically commercial vehicles. This is especially true on Doug Bernard Pkwy (the road going to/from the regional airport) and on I-520 and I-20. Doug Bernard Pkwy is easy hunting for GSP & GPS as the road is built like a 65-mph highway but only has a 45-mph speed limit. Everyone I’ve seen pulled over were exceeding 60 (I believe), but that is all the choice of the officers.

Competition:

• Other rideshare drivers: Not as bad as you would think. During the big money-making times, it won’t really matter. The market is flooded with rideshare drivers, though, which means that the surges are less common. Uber Black and UberX/XL surge separately, so there were times that Black was cheaper than X/XL according to several locals. Any stories about the Master’s Tournament driving the surges up to massive amounts all day long comes from 2016, which was the first time that Uber came to Augusta. The subsequent years have been much milder.
• Taxis: Taxi drivers come from all over GA and SC to drive during the tournament. I saw more taxis sitting at Daniel Airfield (our small civil airport in the middle of the city) during a slow time during tournament week last year than I’ve seen in all of Augusta during the rest of the year! At the Augusta Nationals, the taxi lot is next to the rideshare lot (but with a separate entrance), and patrons will have to walk past the Ubers to get to the taxis. At AGS, the taxi lot has its own beautiful exit coming out of the terminal, so the taxis often get riders before riders resort to Uber.
• Limos: Limos come from even further out. I saw limos from Myrtle Beach, Tampa, Kentucky…. LOTS of them all over the place. They are moving around the Daddy Warbucks type patrons and are getting most of those $100 bill tips. =P Limos and shuttles share a lot on Berckmans Rd.
• Hotel vans: Every decent hotel has at least a shuttle or two that they run during the tournament. Many of these hotels park their shuttles for the other 51 weeks out of the year. >.> These shuttles are not supposed to be in the rideshare lot, but some of them were last year.
• Private shuttles: A ton of companies, home-rental companies, and even the Augusta Nationals hire private drivers and use the grey Mercedes Benz Sprinter shuttles to get around. These shuttles are moving around the players, the CEOs, the big sponsor employees, etc. They are getting the rest of those $100 bill tips (many of them get a much higher single tip at the end of the tournament as a percentage of the shuttle cost).
• Public transportation: public transportation (the buses) suck in Augusta and are not really very relevant during the tournament.

Traveling from Other Markets:
One of the mistakes many drivers make is not recouping the costs of traveling from/to their market and missing the surges that result from other drivers leaving their market. I assume that a driver is not going to stay overnight in Augusta as the hotel costs are prohibitive. I also don’t recommend sleeping in your car because the local LE already have short fuses with the extra hours and the extra work brought on from patrons during the tournament (patrons routinely include heads of states and billionaires). If you are over 2 ½ hours away and don’t have a place to crash in Augusta, I wouldn’t bother.
Here is what I would do if I were in these other markets (but your reasoning or circumstances might be different):

• Aiken, SC: Technically the same metro although Augusta & Aiken drivers rarely overlap trips. I’d definitely be outside the Wilcox early to get one of the many patrons needing a ride.
• Athens: I might as well come to Augusta if I didn’t have a game going on. Still a four-hour round trip that I’d have to overcome. Brownie points if I could finagle a ride from the Thompson civil airport on the way to or from Augusta. Sadly, I know more about Atlanta than I know about Athens, but I would guess there are some (relatively) cheapskate patrons staying at hotels in Athens that would need a trip to Augusta early in morning. If so, I’d jump on that if I came across one (probably give them my number to get their return trip, too).
• Atlanta: A five-hour roundtrip is nothing to take lightly. I would only come to Augusta if I had a long-distance trip here (which many patrons will go straight from ATL or even a hotel). Atlanta does well during the tournament as a lot of drivers go to Augusta deadheading both ways, some drivers get pulled to Augusta thanks to long-distance trips, and Augusta ends up sucking up all the rental cars in the SE. A combination that is really, really good for drivers in ATL during tournament week and especially for airport drivers. If I got a long-distance trip back to ATL at any point (likely mid-day or at/near the end of the tournament), I’d take it in a heartbeat and call it a great day while finishing up in Atlanta if I had any more hours to burn.
• Columbia, SC: As I’d only be about an hour away, I’d definitely head over to Augusta. I’d also sit downtown Augusta during the few times that I would sit. I’d try to begin the day with a trip from the hotels in downtown Columbia as lots of international travelers will stay in Columbia (last year a lot of patrons from Ireland stayed in Columbia as the Augusta hotels were full, international travel to Columbia was easier, and the patrons came for a specific Irish player that qualified for the tournament fairly close to the tournament date).
• Macon: I don’t think that I would bother. Very unlikely to find trips along the way either way. To head directly to Augusta takes lots of state highways through small towns, too.
• Savannah: Even worse than coming from Atlanta. No interstates to travel up/down. I’d only do it if I got a patron staying at a hotel in Savannah (and give them my number to get their return trip, too).
• Statesboro: Quite a bit closer to Augusta than Savannah, but still traveling down state highways with little chances of getting a ride between the two metros. I would be surprised if any patrons stayed in Statesboro and ubered back and forth, but I’d accept a ride to Augusta if it came up (again giving my number to get their return trip).

After a long search (a few times being ghosted or beaten to the punch) I found a studio flat on Rightmove that was within my budget.
The viewing went great, I said that I am ready to proceed with the application and pay the holding deposit and was given a business card and so was told to send an email to receive an application form and further instructions.
The first red flag was that the address on the card wasn't a true address - just the city (no building or street name or postcode). The phone number is also a mobile number and not landline and the email address is a gmail address and not a company address…
I sent that email and received a boilerplate HomeLet referencing application form alongside with a second major red flag - the holding deposit equal to a month's rent, more than the legal maximum of one week’s rent.
Now, due to my a bit desperate circumstances (more below) I did proceed with the application.
More red flags came up after checking though:
-Googling the company name only returned a bunch of Rightmove-type websites and a single gov.uk website for a company registered in a different city -Googling his name and surname returned nothing relevant -The address given on the referencing form is a PO box
On the other hand, he hasn’t ghosted me and he has left lots of footprints if that is a deposit related scam - the flat was most certainly real and the bank account is with NatWest so it’s unlikely that he could just disappear.
But it all looks very sketchy and anonymous and the holding deposit amount was illegal.
I would’ve been more careful, but I have to move out from uni halls into somewhere with a more secure parking, as my motorbike which is the only way for me to commute to work got stolen from a council car park next to the halls which is the only place where I can park while living here. I am on a leave of absence from the university, so I can move out of the halls early, but only on specific dates and I basically ran out of time to search for other options. If I can’t move I basically can’t get a new bike and that means losing my job.
How bad does it look (maybe I am just overreacting and it’s just a private landlord who values his privacy and just doesn’t know about the holding deposit limit) and what should I look out for now?
Thanks a lot!
(Using throwaway due to possible identifying information)