Context - Going with a group of guys in mid-June for a getaway. Nothing but lounging by the pool with drinks, maybe some early golf on a weekday.
Using F&F rates and all pretty much have availability for our weekend.
We are going to Talking Stick Resort for an afternoon, and potentially to an AZ Diamondback game on Saturday.
We are a group of 5, potentially 6 - looking at booking two rooms with two queens in each. I know some of the rooms are suite style and have a sofa bed as well.
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Choices:
Boulders, Curio (seems far from everything, but looks nice)
AZ Biltmore (have stayed before; love the pool and resort feel, but I know 3 guys per room won't be optimal)
Tapatio Cliffs vs Hilton Phoenix Resort At the Peak - both sound like they're a bit rundown? But have suite style rooms, and grounds to walk
Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Scottsdale - very inexpensive, guaranteed breakfast w/Diamond, golf course proximity

Nestled along the picturesque coast of South Carolina, Hilton Head Island is a tropical paradise that offers a plethora of exciting activities for visitors of all ages. Whether you're a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or simply seeking relaxation, this charming island has something for everyone. In this article, we will explore the top fun things to do at Hilton Head Island, highlighting the diverse range of experiences available to make your vacation truly memorable.
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1. Embark on an Unforgettable Boat Charter Adventure:

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the beauty of Hilton Head Island is by embarking on a boat charter adventure. HHIBoatCharters.com offers a variety of options to suit your preferences, from private charters to sunset cruises. Hop aboard and witness the stunning coastal vistas, encounter playful dolphins, and explore hidden coves and sandbars. Whether you're an avid angler or simply want to relax on the water, a boat charter experience is a must-do activity.
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1. Discover the Pristine Beaches:

Hilton Head Island is renowned for its pristine, sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the Atlantic coastline. Grab your beach gear, soak up the sun, and indulge in various water activities such as swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Coligny Beach Park is a popular spot, featuring public beach access, volleyball courts, and shaded picnic areas. Relaxation and fun await you on the island's breathtaking shores.
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1. Explore Nature at its Finest:

Hilton Head Island is a nature lover's paradise, boasting an abundance of wildlife and preserved natural beauty. Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum, where interactive exhibits and walking trails showcase the island's rich history and ecosystem. Take a leisurely bike ride along the numerous scenic trails that wind through lush forests and marshlands. Keep an eye out for alligators, turtles, and a variety of bird species that call this island home.
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1. Tee Off at World-Class Golf Courses:

With over 20 championship golf courses, Hilton Head Island is a golfer's dream destination. From the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the RBC Heritage tournament, to the stunning Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, there are options for players of all skill levels. Immerse yourself in the lush green fairways and challenging holes, surrounded by breathtaking coastal views.
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1. Indulge in Gourmet Dining Experiences:

Hilton Head Island is a food lover's delight, with a diverse culinary scene that offers something for every palate. From fresh seafood caught daily to Lowcountryfavorites like shrimp and grits, you'll find a variety of mouthwatering options. Explore the charming restaurants and waterfront eateries that dot the island, savoring the flavors of the region while enjoying stunning views of the marina or beach.
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1. Enjoy Water Sports and Thrilling Adventures:

For those seeking a bit of adrenaline, Hilton Head Island offers an array of thrilling water sports and adventure activities. Try your hand at parasailing, jet skiing, or kiteboarding, and experience the rush of the ocean. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore the island's many waterways, observing the abundant marine life up close.
Conclusion:
Hilton Head Island is a haven for adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty. Whether you choose to explore the stunning coastline, immerse yourself in nature, or indulge in gourmet dining experiences, this charming island offers a wealth of fun things to do for every visitor. Make the most of your Hilton Head vacation by embarking on a boat charter adventure with HHIBoatCharters.com, taking in the breathtaking views and creating lasting memories. Your island getaway awaits!

Have a booking made a while ago (Homewood Suites) at the corporate rate available to me at the time of booking. Want to change the stay to be shorter by arriving a day later - trying to do it on line it seems to be showing current (quite a bit higher) rate which make total stay more expensive than original one. Is there a way to change it and keep original rate (I'm diamond if it matters at all) ?

I'm in SAN and often find the best flight and/or space out of LAX. Which causes some dilemmas, like this weekend that I'm comparing flights (SAN vs LAX)
Looking at parking options, Hilton LAX seems to win by a long shot.
I'm seeing $167 for 2 weeks, or about $12/day for covered parking with shuttle. With HH number entered for discount.
Beats anything I see on SpotHero or Marriot's PKF promo.
Is this where everyone parks at LAX or is there something else I should look at? Embassy suites looks to be priced a bit higher.
I'm also considering booking hotel stsy the night before. Are these parking rates eligible to earn HH points as though it were hotel spend (booking with Hilton card)?

Hey all,
Excited for our first ever F1 race in Montreal. We’re staying in Mont Royal, wondering if it’s possible to just get an Uber or taxi to drop off right to the track? Do we need to get dropped off at a bridge and walk across? We’re at Homewood Suites Hilton as the starting point. Never used the subway system, ferry, or water taxi before in MTL but open to whatever is going to be simplest.
Thanks so much.

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Re:
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Over the past year and a half, following my complaint to the EEOC, I have continuously been subjected to harassment and retaliation by my former employer. The situation escalated when I came across an audiotape revealing the company's VP of Finance discussing financial fraud. I have attached my EEOC complaint and rebuttal to provide you with a better understanding of this situation. The company has embarked on a campaign of retaliation and attempts to cover up the truth. Recently, I discovered that my phone was under surveillance by private investigators hired by my previous employer, Socure Inc. As mentioned earlier, this harassment began at my local YMCA, where multiple individuals were instructed to participate in a planned campaign targeting me. Socure extended their actions beyond the YMCA by continuously tracking my cellphone's location wherever I went. Initially, I suspected I was being followed, but I later realized that my phone had been compromised. My messages and calls were being monitored, and even my home internet seemed to be tapped into. Furthermore, I have reason to believe that my bank transactions were being monitored as well. I am being targeted because I disclosed illegal activities involving the VP of Finance, which he was afraid to share. I’m one hundred percent certain that Socure hacked into my cellphone to eavesdrop on all conversations. Any and all things that I discuss with my wife would later be discussed amongst gym goers, at multiple Mosque, and random places I often visit. I have attached my EEOC compliant for further assessment of this situation.
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The following individuals, whom I suspect were compensated, were involved in collecting information about me and fabricating false allegations:
* Sonia Atherly, the Director of the YMCA
* Stephin Roberts, a YMCA member who became a friend
* Ade A. (last name unknown), a YMCA member who became a friend
* Andre Nelson, a friend from Downtown YMCA Brooklyn whom I haven't spoken to in two years
* Austin Hill, a YMCA member who accompanied Andre Nelson
* Ethan, a YMCA member (last name unknown)
* Torell Taylor, a YMCA member
* Multiple neighbors: units 5A, 5F, and 2X PHE
* Serdar Cam, former neighbor and new neighbor at 322 Gates Ave
* Trevor (last name unknown), a YMCA member
* Justin (last name unknown), a YMCA member
* An unidentified female YMCA member who unexpectedly appeared at a restaurant where my wife and I were in Puerto Rico
* Gavin Tseng, a former friend who orchestrated a scheme involving real estate and a startup concept
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Retaliations took place at the following locations:
* Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA: 1121 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Brooklyn Mosque Khalifa: 120 Madison St, Brooklyn, NY
* Islamic Mission of America/Dawood Mosque: 143 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
* Airport Travels: JFK AirTrain
* Puerto Rico Vacation: Hilton Hotel
* Trip to Milwaukee: Airbnb rental at 1028 East Juneau Avenue, Unit 416, Milwaukee, WI 53202
* Supermarket in Brooklyn: 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Multiple Banking Institutions: Chase at 1380 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216 & TD Bank at 957 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* Multiple NYC Train Platforms: Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station & 125th Street Station
* Apartment Building: 322 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
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Types of framing and allegations being built against me:
* Resume fraud
* Real estate fraud
* Influencing people to file lawsuits
* Influencing neighbors to complain
* False restaurant reporting
* False robbery attempt
* And more...
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Director, Sonia Atherly - Staged Office Phone Video Recording:
Sonia Atherly, the director of the Bedstuy YMCA, participated in a retaliatory campaign. On September 29, 2022, she requested a meeting with me in her office. During our conversation, she pulled out her phone and began recording from her work monitor, alleging that a masked individual had entered the gym. She even asked me to view the video footage. While I complied, her phone continued recording, capturing my voice in the process. This action appears to be an attempt to counter the accusations made by the VP of Finance regarding fraudulent activities and manipulate my voice recordings to paint a negative picture of my behavior. In response to my concerns, the YMCA director provided the following reply: "Hi Lou. I believe that it was on Tuesday, and I was actually taking photos, so no, your voice would not have been captured in any way. To be clear, we do not record conversations at the Y in any way, shape, or form unless we have signed event waivers. I hope this clarifies the matter for you." On September 30, 2022, Sonia orchestrated an incident where the same individual showed up at the front desk as I was leaving, hoping to provoke a response from me and involve me in their investigation. For months, non-members of the YMCA were allowed to come into the facility and harass me while surveillance cameras were purposely turned off to destroy any possible evidence.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Program Coordinator, Jeff (Damian Best):
Upon my arrival at the basketball gym, Jeff, the program coordinator, and a parent with her child were already present. After requesting Jeff to wait a few more minutes, the parent engaged in a heated argument with him, demanding to know why her child couldn't participate since no one else was there. I reassured her that while I didn't mind, Jeff was responsible for setting the rules. She eventually left the gym in an angry state. Their intention was to have me report the incident to management and portray me as someone who constantly complains. On October 4, 2022, I sent an email to myself for record-keeping purposes.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA Member, Ade (last name starting with "A"):
On Saturday, October 8, 2022, Ade and I agreed to meet for a late lunch at "The Green Place" in Brooklyn. I noticed that he kept referencing financial figures related to specific people he worked with. I suspect he has also been recruited to participate in Socure's retaliation against me. Their goal is to capture recordings of me to use them against me, claiming that I habitually record people. Ade also expressed dissatisfaction with the YMCA's adult open gym times during Saturday's basketball hours. He mentioned having discussed it with the front desk. On October 9, 2022, Ade sent me a screenshot of the YMCA's response to his request. It's important to note that I never made any complaints. As someone who lives near the YMCA and often wakes up early, I told him, "I don't want to play." Once again, Socure is attempting to build a case portraying me as someone who incessantly complains and records people to divert attention from their own misconduct. Multiple members were instructed to complain to me so that my name can be implicated. I believe that individuals are being compensated to assist them. In early May 2023, both Ade and Stephin Roberts repeatedly interrupted my workout in an attempt to initiate a conversation with me.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Stephin Roberts - Staged information gathering:
Stephin Roberts, a fellow YMCA member, unexpectedly called me after we crossed paths at the gym, which was an unusual occurrence. We exchanged brief greetings, and I proceeded with my workout. I suspect that his intention in calling me was to record our conversation and use it against me, falsely claiming that I frequently record people, which is entirely untrue. Given that my cellphone was being tracked, it seemed that whenever I left my home, I would coincidentally encounter Mr. Roberts. He had been instructed to fabricate a false DUI incident to elicit personal information from me regarding a case on my record that had been expunged. During our conversation, I shared a past experience of mine involving a car accident I had when I was younger while dating someone, as well as my advice on expungement, recounting a personal incident that happened to me. At the time, I thought Mr. Roberts was a genuine person with good intentions. I believe Socure will be attempting to coordinate and get me arrested for theft or burglary based on the previous expunged records, trying to paint a negative image of who I am. I believe Stephin Roberts has been recording me as a tactic instructed by Socure's private investigator.
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Friend from Downtown YMCA Brooklyn whom I haven't spoken with in two years, Andre Nelson at Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA:
I haven't had any communication with Andre Nelson for more than two years. However, he unexpectedly appeared at the gym I regularly attend on a Wednesday evening, despite it not being in close proximity to his residence. Subsequently, Mr. Nelson started frequenting the gym with his friend Austin Hill. Together, they began coordinating with YMCA members, informing them about my situation with Socure. Within one week, one of Austin Hill's Facebook friends reached out to me, mentioning a potential collaboration with someone they knew, namely Austin Hill. As I stated, I've never met Mr. Hill nor had any connection with people he knew outside of Mr. Nelson. When I encountered Mr. Hill during the following open gym session, he acted as though nothing had transpired, and I played along. Additionally, Austin requested certain documents from me for his business, but I never fulfilled his request. To confirm my suspicions that Austin was attempting to set me up, I orchestrated an event by telling him, "Yeah, man, girls don't care if you have a ring on. They will approach you. Come to this bar tonight." Upon my arrival at the bar a few minutes later, a woman wearing a wedding band tried to get my attention. However, I sensed that it was a staged occurrence. When Andre Nelson and Austin Hill arrived, they infiltrated the group of members, instructing them to provoke me during the basketball game while secretly recording my reactions. At one point, a member named Justin threw a water bottle, and the situation escalated.
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Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Trevor - Staged information gathering:
Trevor started asking and mentioning multiple work-related questions. On October 7, 2023, he mentioned having a quarterly review and asked for suggestions. Within weeks later, Trevor asked me if I knew any lawyers as he was dealing with a housemaid who was suing him. This same situation happened with more than two other members (Stephin Roberts, Kadeem Kirsten) in which they asked me attorney-related questions. I believe he was instructed to record our conversations.
Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member, Torrell Taylor:
As previously mentioned, I believe that the YMCA's Director is monitoring my interactions with other gym members in order to collaborate with them. Their objective is to falsely claim that "Lou is influencing people to document incidents," all with the intention of tarnishing my reputation. Additionally, Socure allegedly requested Torrell to open a restaurant in downtown Brooklyn as part of their scheme to build a case against me. YMCA member Justin repeatedly approached me, informing me that Torrell had opened a restaurant with poor-quality food and suggested I visit. Upon receiving this information from Torrell himself, I decided to pay the restaurant a visit. However, Torrell was not present during my first visit. I attempted a second visit, only to discover that the restaurant was closed. When I texted Torrell to inquire about the closure, he responded that there had been an issue with the owner's licensing. It is apparent to me that this was a staged event orchestrated by Socure to fabricate a case against me by falsely claiming that I reported violations against Torrell's restaurant. As mentioned earlier, I strongly believe that my phone was being tracked, and it is possible that a separate line was used to make false reports under my information.
Furthermore, my emails were also subjected to hacking.
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Wireless Earbuds Planned at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA open gym by Kadeem Kirsten - early 2022:
To ensure my privacy and personal space during the YMCA open gym sessions, I started choosing a spot away from others. I made sure to thoroughly clean the area where I sat, removing any bottles, wipes, or other items. After finishing my workout, I briefly went to the bathroom, and upon my return, I noticed a wireless earbud near the window close to my chair. I suspect that Khadim Kirsten intentionally placed the earbud there as he kept watching me closely. Mr. Kirsten also asked me for legal advice as well as a UX Designer, the same exact topic that Gavin Tseng asked me. Mr. Kirsten is one of those new members who never came to the YMCA. Upon rejecting Socure's settlement offer in January 2023, that's when all of these new members started coming to open basketball nights.
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Mosque Khalifa on Bedford Ave: Sept 2, 2022, at 120 Madison St, Brooklyn, NY, United States, New York:
During the service at Mosque Khalifa on Bedford Ave, the preacher persistently addressed a specific topic related to my case. He made references to "a brother within this community, one of our own, who made a recording" in an apparent attempt to divert attention to the tape I had recorded. Following my complaint to the EEOC through email, the recording was promptly deleted on the same day, which I later submitted to the EEOC. I started attending Islamic Mission of America/Dawood Mosque at 143 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, and immediately, I was followed by an individual who repeatedly tried to have a conversation with me. I was also followed to a Mosque in Harlem, NY.
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T-Mobile Visit Tracking / Unauthorized new number added at 574 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217:
Concerned about the security of my internet connection with Verizon, I visited T-Mobile to add a new line specifically for internet access. To my surprise, shortly after arriving at the store, a male approached the same register I was standing at and started asking questions. A few days after leaving the store, I discovered that a new phone line had been added to my T-Mobile account without my knowledge or consent. I promptly contacted T-Mobile customer service to inquire about the data usage associated with that particular number, but unfortunately, I did not receive the requested information. I believe Socure hacked my home network, such as my laptop, tablet, Television and home camera. For the past year and a half, Socure has managed to view all of my browsing history. I believe they kept contacting lawyers that I reached out to after every visit I made on their website to avoid me from being represented. In additional, after noticing that my email accounts were hacked, I wrote a statement indicating that my emails were hacked in which I got notarized at TD Bank.
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Grocery Shopping Brooklyn:
During my visit to the local supermarket, I noticed several individuals following me closely, paying particular attention to the food items I was selecting and the card I used for payment. I believe I was being followed long before I started to notice.
* May 8, 2023, at 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
* May 1, 2023, at 1420 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216
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Online Job Targeting:
I have been repeatedly targeted for specific jobs and companies, which I believe are staged by Socure, just as they did by involving me in a company backed by their investors to stage multiple events against me while interfering with my employment. I was lured into Plural, formerly known as Civic Eagle, where multiple African American candidates who did not qualify were being hired without my knowledge. All whom I’ve never spoke with. I suspect that Socure somehow gained access to my T-Mobile account and requested my entire call history to monitor my communications. Furthermore, I believe that when I sought legal counsel after receiving the EEOC's authorization to file a lawsuit, Socure clandestinely intervened in my calls to every law firm I contacted.
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Puerto Rico Vacation on Dec 23, 2022:
Upon our arrival at our room in Puerto Rico, we noticed a black male who entered a room adjacent to ours shortly after us. However, after a couple of days, we did not see him again.
During a visit to a restaurant in Puerto Rico, I recognized the hostess as the same woman I had encountered multiple times at the YMCA. She had her head covered with a white scarf. As I was seated facing the entrance, she deliberately made eye contact with me, seemingly aware that I recognized her. After finishing lunch, this same woman followed us to the waterfront and watched us closely.
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Neighbor Tracking Movement at 322 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216:
Every time I left my building, I noticed a consistent pattern where the neighbor from 5F would coincidentally head towards the elevator, wait in the lobby, and enter the building exactly at the same time. This behavior raised suspicions and led me to believe that individuals from 5A were strategically positioned next door, potentially tapping our walls to eavesdrop on our conversations. The neighbor in 5A, whom I knew through the YMCA, repeatedly complained about the building while urging me to submit a work order. I also suspect that Socure assisted one of my former neighbors, Serdar Cam, in moving into the building after they discovered my text messages about potentially moving there. Immediately after moving in, Serdar started complaining as well. I believe Socure was involved in placing a previous female tenant in the building, who also complained to me on multiple occasions about the building.
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Uber License Training:
Once again, Socure monitored the location of my phone and deployed individuals to the classroom where I was attending classes in Long Island City in early March 2023. After completing the classes, I became too afraid of potentially facing false rider allegations.
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New Open Gym Invitation by Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA member Ethan, Andre Nelson was present on March 2, 2023, at 300 Adelphi, Brooklyn, NY 11205:
Ethan, a fellow YMCA member, invited me to join him at a nearby gym. To my surprise, Andre Nelson was also in attendance. While playing on the court, I noticed one of the players guarding me had a conspicuous microphone attached to them, and an Asian woman diligently captured footage from different angles with a video camera. I believe they were recording my voice and actions on the court. Additionally, it seems that after complaining about what happened at the YMCA, members are being instructed to engage me outside the YMCA to diffuse the situation. This incident further raised my suspicion that our apartment might be under surveillance, as I had previously mentioned Andre Nelson's presence at the open gym to my wife. Moreover, during the open run, I noticed the unexpected presence of multiple YMCA members from the Downtown Brooklyn location, whom I hadn't encountered in the past four years. I firmly believe that Andre Nelson orchestrated their participation and that they were strategically placed as collaborators by Socure.
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New Gym Invites
After fully understanding that I knew about all of the plans in place at the YMCA, with the help of the YMCA Director, Sonia Atherly, multiple members were told to invite me to other gyms to built a campaign of “ this is Lou everywhere he goes”. Over six plus individuals were asked to invite me to new open gyms and men’s league to play in. This is all to avoid further problems at the gym.
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Real Estate / Startup Venture Inquiry by Gavin Tseng:
Due to ongoing targeting, I decided to distance myself from everyone for months. However, my friend Gavin Tseng, whom I knew while living in Downtown Brooklyn, repeatedly invited me to his upstate home and wanted me to see properties he was interested in purchasing. It was quite unusual that Mr. Tseng would frequently text me, asking about my availability on specific days. I suspect that Mr. Tseng was recording our conversations during the trips and multiple phone calls, where he sought my help with UX Designing for his apartment rental car service. I believe Socure conducted research on my past work history, including my involvement in a Delegate campaign in Maryland for a real estate professional. I suspect that Socure fabricated false accusations against this individual and used my information to create misleading claims, leveraging my network and devices.
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Subways / Stores Staged Evidence Building:
Regardless of the subway station I find myself in, I consistently experience being followed by random individuals who are instructed to approach me closely while holding their cellphones up to my face and posing questions. On multiple occasions, I recall three females approaching me seeking guidance regarding subway directions, and I willingly offered my assistance. However, I have recently become aware that individuals, including camera operators, have been capturing these interactions on film as part of what appears to be a deliberate campaign to discredit me.
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March 28, 2023 - Travel to Milwaukee:
While traveling to Milwaukee for a getaway from my wife after several disputes, I noticed that I was being followed at the airport. The surveillance continued throughout my stay at the Airbnb located at 1028 East Juneau Avenue, Unit 416, Milwaukee, WI 53202, from March 28, 2023, to April 11, 2023. I also experienced being followed at the Hertz car rental at 804 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, on April 6, 2023, and at the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlet at 11211 120th Ave, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, on the same day.
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April 12, 2023 - Returning back from Milwaukee:
Immediately after arriving back in New York City from my two-week vacation, at around 3:45 pm ET, just two minutes after landing, I received a text message from a YMCA member whom I hadn't communicated with in over three weeks. The message mentioned something along the lines of "See you tonight," which I promptly deleted. This unmistakable occurrence served as a clear indication that my phone was under surveillance and being tracked.
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April 21, 2023 & May 7, 2023 - Vitamin Shoppe at 12 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217:
As I entered the Vitamin Shoppe in Downtown Brooklyn on Atlantic Ave, I noticed that I was being followed. While at the checkout counter, an African American gentleman positioned himself next to me, seemingly eavesdropping on my account information and the items I was purchasing. I strongly suspect that a similar incident occurred during my previous visit on April 21, 2023, although I was not actively observing at that time.
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On May 6, 2023, between 11:30 am - 12:45 pm - JFK AirTrain:
Once again, I became aware that my phone was being tracked. I accompanied my wife to the airport as she was departing for Milwaukee. Upon arriving at the station, an assertive African American woman in her late 30s hurriedly approached us, despite the presence of multiple station operators. She aggressively stopped us and began asking for directions. Sensing something amiss, I promptly distanced myself from the situation while my wife attempted to assist her with the directions.
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Friday, May 11, 2023 at Costco Eyewear at 517 E 117th St, New York, NY 10035: While I was sharing my information, a woman in her late 50s approached the counter and closely observed my personal details. I have come to believe that Socure has someone at Chase informing them of my location whenever I use my Chase bank card. The day before, I made purchases with my Chase card at Costco.
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Friday, May 11, 2023 at Costco at 517 E 117th St, New York, NY 10035: While conversing with a product representative at Costco, a young female employee in her late teens or early twenties approached with an older Senegalese gentleman in his late 60s. The gentleman sought assistance with a product due to his limited English proficiency. As he showed me his phone up close, I noticed someone recording our interaction from a distance. Once again, I felt as though I was being followed. It seems that a private investigator was aware of my recent purchase of fish oil at Vitamin Shoppe on May 7, 2023, as well as my pursuit of becoming a personal trainer. They orchestrated the scenario with the gentleman asking me specific questions about fish oil. It's worth noting that the material I was studying for personal training explicitly states that trainers should not recommend any medication to individuals.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Hoyt Station in Brooklyn: Once more, I found myself being followed into the train station. While I was waiting there, a woman approached me once again, seeking directions. Without hesitation, I gestured towards someone else nearby and firmly replied, "No, ask her." Interestingly, there was a man across the platform holding two cameras, capturing the entire interaction between us. Following the unsuccessful attempt, the woman conversed with the man briefly before they both boarded the train.
Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Bedford and Quincy in Brooklyn: As I neared my apartment building, I noticed two cameramen once again attempting to record me. Sensing their presence and their intention to cross the street, I quickly changed course and crossed over to the other side, putting some distance between us.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023 - TD Bank at 957 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216: While I was withdrawing cash from the ATM, a white male in his late 20s, accompanied by a dog, was recording me from outside. I also believe Socure did some digging into all of my transactions at my local banks, such as Chase and TD Bank.
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Saturday, May 13, 2023 - Credit Card information altered: When I logged into my Discover Credit Card account, I observed that my information had been modified.
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Monday, May 14, 2023 - Best Buy Brooklyn at 625 Atlantic Ave Ste A7, Brooklyn, NY 11217: Upon reaching the printing department at 12:14 pm ET, I was harassed by an African American woman in her late 60s. I ignored her and left through the opposite side, but she continued to follow me and tried to engage in a conversation.
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Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Target 517 E 117th St Suite 201, New York, NY 10035, at 10:46 am ET: Upon realizing that I was aware of the cover-up occurring, where individuals were tailing me and inquiring with their phones in hand, Socure strategically positioned an African gentleman near the entrance of the targeted bathroom. They had been closely observing my actions. Remarkably, this man was dressed identically to me during the incident that unfolded on Friday, May 11, 2023
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While waiting in line, I believe a Senegalese couple were instructed to chat about illegal activities intentionally while I was behind them and they absurdly moved to another line.
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Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - Cohen’s Fashion Optical at 86 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027: While retrieving my reading glasses from Costco, I discovered that the prescription was stronger than what was indicated in the eye examination. The lenses ended up negatively impacting my vision. I requested to review the physician's notes from the exam, but despite waiting for over 30 minutes, they were unable to provide any documentation as the physician was acting very strange. Instead, they gave me evasive responses, leading me to ultimately leave without a resolution.
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May 18, 2023 - Chase Bank at 1380 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216 @ 12 PM ET: Around 12 PM ET on May 18, 2023, at Chase Bank on Fulton Ave in Brooklyn, I experienced another incident I believe involves Socure. An individual was sent to tail me, and it began at TD Bank where this person approached the teller in an ostentatious manner, loudly expressing their intentions. I suspect this encounter was being recorded in an attempt to frame a robbery on me. It seems that Socure is continuously monitoring my activities, possibly as a diversion from the fact that their former CFO was untrustworthy. Regardless of where I go, I am constantly being followed, with new tactics being devised every time I step outside my home.
I’m writing to put a stop to this targeting and ongoing harassment.

Hey everyone! I heavily relied on this sub-Reddit to plan our trip despite this being my 5+ trip down. And it was the best largely because of the resources one can find by searching just about anything in the archives. Merci beaucoup!
Because planning & making a trip with a little one can be more complicated, it felt important to share what we did with her to make the journey more enjoyable!
Lodging! A big challenge for traveling families is the limited private space available in hotel rooms. Especially when you have napping kiddos. This is why Airbnb was a total life saver in the past but in respecting the local folks & their housing needs, we dove into the hotel life with bebe girl. We went with Homewood Suites by Hilton on Rampart. After price hunting, the hotel suite was the cost of an Airbnb that would have required us to drive to to the FQ, the Warehouse District, and we had housekeeping, breakfast, a mid-week happy hour with wine and snacks, as well as safe reliable parking in the garage (valet was $40 for us a night and we also got a discount on the booking, with AAA). We utilized the slumberpod (Amazon) and a sound machine, this worked great for us! The kitchen was very helpful! We also travelled with the grandparents and they had a room next door , which gave us a hangout zone with her baby monitor after bedtime. But you can book a suite that has private space depending on your hotel & budget.
Hotel was right across from the FQ which made for easy fun walks in between nap times (and many lunch options nearby). We bought a cheap $35 umbrella stroller and used her baby fan! It is the last week of May, and while hot in the sun, mornings & evenings, & in the shade- totally pleasant.
Speaking of food, we went with all new places!
Sunday: got in late, walked the quarter, picked up muffalatta and po-boys at Verti Marte for the hotel and enjoyed them with our own wine. Bring cash! It is a cash town!
Monday: breakfast at hotel (so nice with a kiddo & the staff made it very accommodating). French Quarter day! Living our best tourist life. Lunch at Napoleon’s House (we went heavy on places with out reservations because babies). Wine and snacks during afternoon naptime! We decided to do a beignet stand each day and hit up the OG Cafe DM. Dinner reservations at Shaya did not disappoint. So kiddo friendly at 5pm and we hit the end of happy hour! We also walked Magazine post dinner- so lovely.
Tuesday: beignets at Hotel Monteleone, very fancy! Very different. Pharmacie Museum was $10 a person & short enough for a naptime window. Lunch at 1000 Figs and a wander around City Park’s statue garden! Dinner at Charles Seafood in Harahan (20 minutes) and we really enjoyed the place. Again, so kiddo friendly and a great value. The drive back in along St. Charles was a delight.
Wednesday: we snuck out and got pastries for our trip out of town at Croissant d’Or (easy walking distance from hotel). My one regret of the trip was picking Oak Alley. We mostly intended to just walk and do the self-tour of the enslaved people’s homes. They were charging $27 for what we wanted and $30to add the big house tour. Silly. We ended up with a sick kiddo and sat in the shade before leaving. Our takeaway as Northerner’s was that this was simply an Instagram shot money maker, existing for white old tourists and if plantations should be used for anything these days, it is accurate historical learning and Oak Alley isn’t that. I’d go back and redo, heading to Whitney.
With the grandparents along, we left the kiddo with them and went for a date night at Fritai. I wanted to do Dakar but the nonrefundable cancellation policy is tough with a baby.
Speaking of sick kiddo, she was not doing well and it turned into a 11pm pediatric ER trip with a 104 fever. A local family member suggested the Pediatric E Room in Metairie on Vet, it was great. Rough night but she started to rally the next day & we took turns staying inside with her. Ate in with Killer Po-Boy. After medicine and sleep, the air cooled and we took baby on a bayou walk. Lafitte Barataria Nature Preserve was great. 25 minute boardwalk ramble and saw all the fun wildlife. The parking lot closed at 5pm but the ranger let us park outside and enjoy it. Dinner at Restaurant des Families (spelling?) was a delight!
Friday: Beignets at Morning Call with Coffee post check-out. Cemetery drive before heading out of town.
Note: grandparents were super helpful and were able to get out to do a few things without us! They made it all much more enjoyable. If they couldn’t have made it, we would have asked friends to join in to help even the mental load! Hope this helps someone with kiddos!

What are the differences for a diamond member in a Hilton Garden Inn breakfast and a Homewood Suites breakfast buffet? Thank you.

We jump forward another year. Most of the old gang assembles for another milestone moment. I hope you enjoy.
The first chapter of the final arc of the Lieutenant starts on Tuesday!
Terran Space Story: The Lieutenant Saga
Academy Days First Previous Next

Chapter 114: Joyous News as Time Moves Forward

14 Months Later. February 16th, 2267. 14:15 Epsilon Eridani Prime
John was in good spirits despite being made to wear a suit on the weekend. He and Alice had traveled from Manchester to attend a wedding. Another one of their friends was getting hitched. It was good to mingle with and catch up with old friends. These kinds of events were scarce and the ability to see his friends was seemingly scarcer.
His attention span towards the service was questionable at best. Jessica and her fiancé, who he hadn’t had a chance to meet yet, were standing at the altar looking intently at one another. Kristin, Theresa, and Alice were bridesmaids sitting beneath and to the right of the bride. In the pews, John was sitting between Andern and Kevin. In truth, the combined attention span of the trio would not come close to approaching the attention span of any other adult in the church.
John then whispered to anyone that was paying attention, “Man, Alice looks awful in that shade of green.”
Andern snorted loudly right as the pastor paused for dramatic effect in their sermon. Kevin reacted as well but did make any noise, though his holding his hands over his mouth was a telling enough reaction. Both looked like children that had been caught doing something. Meanwhile, Thomas was sitting behind them, due to his arriving late, and grinned at the smart-ass comment while John stared ahead emotionlessly.
The benefit of a Lutheran wedding was that they were minutes away from wrapping up the church stuff. The downside was they were still literally in church. The terrible trio’s wives all looked at them. Kristin gave Andern a murderous glance. Theresa did as well. Alice saw John’s non-reaction and knew instantly he had been the cause of Andern’s outburst.
Less than ten minutes later the wedding was over. The bridal party was arranged to greet all the guests on their way out of the church. The ushers were directing each pew to leave. The trio waited impatiently for their turn to leave.
“You know, you got us into trouble,” Andern said.
“Yeah, our wives looked pissed,” Kevin added.
“I stated a fact. Those bridesmaids’ dresses looked hideous,” John remained unconvinced of his guilt, “A darker shade would work, but that pale green is just…”
“He’s not wrong. That color and to a lesser extent style were kind of affronts to fashion,” Thomas said from behind them.
“I mean, they did make Jessica look absolutely fabulous in her dress. Mission accomplished on that front. But damn, that green,” John grinned, “I’m gonna burn that dress if Alice doesn’t do so before I do.”
“Hey, when are you making Lieutenant-Commander?” Kevin asked, “You should be up for that soon.”
“After the next deployment, I have my early promotion review with Admiral Dufresne. I’ve already been tipped that it’s a green light provided I don’t fuck up properly in the next deployment.”
“We’ve still got what, another two years before we get up for early promotions?” Thomas asked.
“Yeah, they want commanders to be twenty-nine to thirty-one. Then spend another six to nine years and be a captain no later than forty,” Andern said, “Y’all going to make it a career or going to exit when our term is up?”
“Career,” Thomas said, “If we only had to commit for four years, I think I may have tried my hand in the civilian world by now. But keeping us in until we're thirty makes sticking in for the long haul more sensible.”
“Same,” Andern said to the surprise of the other guys, “The pension is damn nice once we hit twenty-five years of service.”
“And we get credit for the four years of academy too,” John stood up as the usher selected their pew, “Holy hell, now that is the most surprising thing I’ve heard all damn day.”
“Right? The laziest one amongst us wants to make it a career in the Navy,” Kevin grinned at Andern as they walked towards the exit.
Andern was about to speak but shut up. The crowd was making their way through the bridal party at an unexpectedly efficient rate. Kristin was the first one to greet them. And her greeting to Andern consisted of a look and a gut punch followed by a quick hug.
“I swear, when you guys get together you behave like children,” Kristin said to Andern before turning and reaching up to hug John, “So nice to see you again. What did you say to make my idiot husband make an ass out of himself?”
“The color of your dresses is a terrible shade of green,” John said plainly.
“Oh, my god. That’s it?” Theresa couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It sure was my dear,” Kevin said as he hugged Kristin.
“We married twelve-year-olds,” Alice said as she shook her head at John.
“Come on, we have the emotional maturity of at least fourteen-year-olds,” John said as he leaned down to kiss Alice on the cheek, “Collectively. Maybe…”
“Ok space pirate, enough of that. Go greet the bride and groom,” Alice was smiling as she gently shoved John off of her and pointed at the important pair.
Alice slapped John in the butt to get him moving. They were slowing things down. Most people that had attended the ceremony were heading to the reception and frankly were more interested in that than the wedding itself. John was certainly among that group, as were his friends.
John smiled as he extended him to shake the groom’s hand, “Congratulations! John Lief, I went to school with your lovely wife.”
Dallas grabbed John’s hand and shook it joyfully, “I’ve heard plenty of stories. I thought they were untrue until the bridesmaids all told similar stories.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure they embellished a few things here and there,” John grinned.
Jessica then turned and looked at John, “If anything we made it sound more human.”
“Congratulations are due to you young lady!” John smiled as he hugged Jessica.
“Thank you so much. I was surprised you could come.”
“I am too. But the timing of it was basically perfect. My last deployment ended just at the right time.”
Andern then joked, “And he didn’t blow up a planet, pirates, or was in a life and death scenario for the first time in his career.”
“That was like the third or fourth deployment that was like that,” John squinted at Andern in response.
“Well, we have plenty of food, snacks, and drink at the reception. I presume you know how to get there?”
John shook his head, “Nope, but my ride service ought to be able to take us there. We’ll probably beat y’all there.”
“The open bar doesn’t open for another couple of hours. Hotel rules,” Dallas looked a bit sad.
“Don’t worry, the big guy can open a tab for us to keep us entertained,” Thomas said slapping John’s shoulders.
“And on that note, we’ll be seein’ ya at the reception hall,” Kevin said as he was gesturing to the group to go forward.
The quartet of trouble then walked out of the church. It was a quaint little place for the town they were getting married in. Nothing too ostentatious or luxurious. Small-town life was a rather beautiful thing to John. The speed that life would pass here was definitely preferable to the hustle and bustle that station and military life seemed to be.
He stopped and looked at the courtyard. Children were playing on the grass, being closely watched by their parents to ensure they didn’t get too dirty or ruin their nice church clothes. Groups of people milling about and talking to one another. The warm sunlight added to the jovial mood.
“John, hurry up, we’ll be late,” Andern said.
“Late for what?” John laughed, “The car ain’t even…”
John saw a football coming from his head out of the corner of his eye. His right hand reached up and caught the ball one-handed. He smiled when he saw a couple of kids look incredibly embarrassed about the bad throw. Then felt bad when one of their dads began to chew them out.
“It’s all good,” John smiled as he tossed the ball to the closest kid, “No harm done.”
“Ooh look at me,” Andern said mockingly, “All athletic and shit.”
Thomas chuckled, “Your jealous because you couldn’t do that.”
“Could too…”
Kevin shook his head, “Take the ball to the face? Yes, yes you would and could do that.”
The young men laughed at Andern. Kevin wasn’t wrong. While Andern was known to surprise the group with his question athleticism, he didn’t hold a candle to John. John, Kevin, and Thomas all knew that Andern’s reflexes weren’t sufficient to dodge or catch the ball.
Andern’s pleas to the contrary fell on deaf ears. Almost on cue, their ride to the reception arrived. John quickly stepped over to the car and opened the door. Kevin and Thomas also slid into the backseat with him. Andern trudged over to the front seat and jumped into the co-pilot’s seat. The first part of their fun day was now over, they were onto the next part, which was going to be way more fun.
​
15:45 Hilton Resort and Conference Suites
John handed the driver a credit chit and told him to keep the change before exiting the car. The driver hadn’t done anything to earn a tip, but John was thankful he was still alive and in one piece. A sentiment shared by the others. But survive they did, now they had had some time to kill before the reception officially started.
“They have two bars here,” Kevin said.
“Are you staying here?” Thomas asked.
John nodded, “Wedding party and all. Alice took care of all the booking stuff. Technically we didn’t know if I was even going to make this trip until like two weeks ago.”
“Which one do you guys want to go to?” Andern asked.
“How about the one near the reception halls? Less walking that way,” Kevin said plainly.
“Ahh laziness,” John said, “I can subscribe to that newsletter.”
“Nothing you do is ever fucking lazy,” Andern said, “Onward, this way!”
“Hey, is it true you really fought the Icarus?” Thomas asked, “My CO seems to think it was all smoke and mirrors.”
John looked back at Thomas and Kevin and grinned.
“Hold the fuck on,” Kevin said, “That wasn’t propaganda. You actually fought her?”
“Fought with her a couple of years ago when we were doing that pirate hunt. Last year I was on an operation to deliver some very important people, who were a fucking thorn in my side. Well, shit went down, and we threw fists.”
“When I read what ship was involved, I knew it was real,” Andern said, “Come on, really. It’s John we’re talking about.”
“Fair point. Guess I didn’t put two and two together there.”
“I didn’t pay any heed to what was said. How’d you pull that off?” Kevin’s curiosity had taken over his focus.
John held up a finger to pause the retelling of the saga. They had reached their destination. The quartet found an empty table. Just as John was about to restart his story their waiter arrived.
“Good afternoon gentlemen. I’m Karen, what would you like to drink?”
“Beer, whatever’s on tap,” Andern said.
“Make that two,” Kevin said.
“I’ll have an old-fashioned,” Thomas said.
“I’ll have a triple of that…” John was staring at the countertop behind the bar, “McKenna, ten-year-old. Neat, please. Also, is there a place to smoke some cigars?”
“I will get those drink orders in for you. There is, just out that door,” Karen was pointing at the exit that was a stone’s throw away, “We have our patio setup.”
“I see cornhole. We will take the drinks outside,” Andern stood up before he was done speaking.
The trio just stared for a moment at Andern as he got up and immediately left the table. John smiled knowing that the social graces that Andern was not known for remained consistent. Then again, who was he really to say anything about that? He was about as socially with it as Andern was.
“I mean he lacks grace and understanding of the conversation,” Thomas said as he stood up.
“But we’ll be out there. I’ll take the tab too, don’t listen to these troublemakers about paying this bill,” John winked at Karen.
“I will get that order in for you and bring it out to y’all.”
The trio then stepped aside and out of the bar area. They could see Andern had already taken off his suit coat. He was flipping some bags around in his hands. He was ready to throw down.
“So, how’d you pull that off?” Thomas asked, “I’m genuinely interested now that it’s not propaganda and bluster.”
“Yeah, those Waukesha-class assault cruisers,” Kevin paused, “Holy hell, you got the namesake. Anyways, your cruiser doesn’t have a heavy-hitting armament unless you count torpedoes.”
“They have a buttload of rail turrets though. Quantity is a quality upon itself,” John smiled as he tossed the first bag, “But we beat the hell out of the Icarus by luring it into a kill zone surrounded by our missiles and torpedoes that we launched into the planet’s inner ring.”
“Sure, it may be a modified Kelvin class, but that old ship should have had better close-in-combat weapons and systems,” Andern said as he was tossing a bag, “You shouldn’t have been able to…”
“You used the multi-missiles to overwhelm their tracking systems,” Thomas smiled, “Holy hell that is a brilliantly simple plan.”
“Got lucky that they hadn’t updated their systems. I didn’t think they had since the code and systems that control the new tracking systems are under tight wraps,” John said as he looked back and waved down their waitress.
“The wave of mini-missiles and rockets floods their scanners. The bigger missiles and torpedoes come in and hammer the ever-living fuck out of their armor and shields,” Kevin nodded, “Why couldn’t you get the killing blow?”
“The missiles were set up in two waves, I didn’t want to put all of our eggs in one basket. That quality of quantity in our rail guns didn’t have the ability to pierce her armor easily. Certainly not any virgin armor plates. They weren’t going to be stupid and give us her damaged broadside to shoot at,” John said as he took a drink and changed the topic, “How’d the pirate hunting go for all of y’all?”
“Fucking paperwork,” Andern shook his head.
Thomas grinned then looked at Andern, “Actually, what was that operation like on a station?”
Andern looked like he had seen a ghost for a moment, “I’m not joking, the amount of paperwork you guys generated was stunning. I was working two to three hours of overtime every bloody shift and we weren’t even making a dent in the backlog.”
“John, how much paperwork did you do as a captain?”
“Uhm, I mean, it’s excessive but primarily because of after-action reports. Those can get silly involved,” John tossed another bag, “But the paperwork to order new ordinance for the ship was surprisingly easy.”
“Please tell me it was a simple popup in the screens that had you enter in x number of items,” Kevin looked over at John.
“Basically, yes.”
Thomas took a drink and then shook his head, “You cannot be serious. It’s that easy to order more ammo?”
“There was a box for justification,” John then flashed a wicked grin, “I used the same excuse each time. ‘We used most of it up and need more.’”
“That isn’t at all surprising that was the justification you used,” Andern said, “And I wanted to reject such a bullshit justification.”
John started to laugh, “How is that bullshit? That literally is the reason why we needed more. We used the ordinance we had onboard.”
“I’m going to agree with John on this one,” Kevin said.
John turned and waved at the newly arrived bridesmaids. Alice, Kristin, and Theresa walked over in their ugly green dresses. Alice was the first to hug her man.
“What are you boys talking about?” Alice was all smiles as she looked at the other halves of her friends.
“The kind of bullshit your husband used on requisition requests,” Andern sounded entirely too defensive, “You didn’t put that in did you?”
John nodded, “You want proof.”
“I think we just got it,” Theresa said, “Good to see you again John. How are things?”
“Ah hell, can’t complain too much about stuff. But man, it’s good to see the old crew again. Well, most of it anyways.”
Kristin then looked over at Thomas, “When are you getting married? I hear you have been in a relationship for a while.”
“Oh, the relationship is still pretty fresh. I’ve known him for a bit over a year now,” Thomas said, “Probably two years away if all goes well.”
“Slow and steady wins the race,” John said.
“Says the guy that has never been slow nor steady,” Andern snapped back sarcastically.
“I disagree on the steady part. He’s been pretty forthright and focused on the mission at hand,” Thomas said, “Totally agree on the slow part.”
“I will drink to that,” Kevin laughed after he took a swig of beer.
Alice grinned as she looked at John, “You know, he’s going to dig you a hole one day that you can’t jump or talk your way out of it.”
“That’s true, but it wasn’t today,” John raised his glass in the air after taking a drink, “Where’s the bride?”
“Technically he was the one with the shovel this time,” Andern said.
The girls rolled their eyes almost in unison. Andern’s attempt to defer responsibility for his outburst was clearly rejected. Alice’s statement wasn’t entirely inaccurate, John’s mouth likely would do the digging for Andern and him. Andern’s inability to play the part of a straight man would always get them into trouble.
“Speaking of, we need to get back to the suite. There’s her car now. It’s time for her to get changed into the reception dress,” Kristin said as she pointed at the white limo rolling into the parking lot.
“We’ll be here, playing cornhole and drinking,” Andern said.
“And smoking these bloody good cigars,” Thomas said taking a long drag on his.
“It’s not what you know, but who you know,” Kevin grinned.
The girls shook their heads. All were thinking roughly the same thing. How did we get married to them? Despite having the combined emotional maturity of a twelve-year-old, the three married men of the group were reasonably good partners. They were trustworthy and loyal to a fault. Their personalities were a bit odd, some more than others, and their sense of humor could best be described as disturbingly pornographic.
But one more member of the group got married, though this time to an outsider. Jessica’s love life had been a bit of a rollercoaster. But every last one of them was happy that she had found what they had. And they wished for nothing but years of happiness for her in the future.
None among them could tell the future. But these were times to enjoy and live life to the fullest. Friends were moving forward in their lives, and another had reached a momentous life moment. It was a great time to be alive and to share that moment with them.
For John, the moments away from the military were precious and few. Each one he cherished in his own way. He was happy, even content, at the moment. There was no telling what the future would hold.
Though he was certain that in the coming months, his threat would be made manifest. The clock was ticking down toward that eventual confrontation with the Icarus. While he was confident in himself, his crew, and his ship; there was no way to tell if he could pull off his threat. But those were thoughts to dwell on later, for now, it was party time. And it was time to kill some brain cells at the open bar.

I always see people say they never receive upgrades with Diamond, so I wanted to provide some data points from my experience. Also good data points for point values since almost all of these booked with points or certificates. If you're looking for a place to burn points/FNCs I would recommend most of these places.
I am Hilton Diamond achieved via Aspire and these are my first 8 stays in Hiltons booked through my account ever. Most of these stays are fairly short, but hopefully can provide some good data.
*Edited for Formatting*

1. The Gates Hotel South Beach - a DoubleTree by Hilton
   1. Booked 1 Night Standard Room Reward via 46k Points (0.5/0.8cpp)
   2. Upgraded 2 Levels to 1 King Bed Balcony W/Pool View
   3. $250 room upgraded to $350 room
2. Waldorf Astoria Cancun
   1. Booked 5 Night Standard Room Reward via 380k Points (2/2.5cpp)
   2. Upgraded 3 Levels to Ocean Front Suite King
   3. $7600 room upgraded to a $9500 room
3. Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach
   1. Booked 3 Night Standard Room Reward via 285k Points (2.2/5+cpp)
   2. Upgraded 7 Levels to 1 King Suite Oceanfront W/Large Balcony
   3. $6200 room upgraded to a $15k+ room
   4. During the three busiest days of the year at this location (NYE), this one is definitely a fluke. The room wasn't available for 4 hours after check-in and I never even asked for an upgrade. Upgrade was phenomenal and got to see the fireworks during NYE from my room all across the entire beach and received a free bottle of Veuve.
4. Conrad New York Midtown
   1. Booked 1 Night Standard Room Reward via FNC
   2. Upgraded 2 Levels to 1 Bedroom 1 King Suite High Floor
   3. $650 room upgraded to $725 room
5. Conrad New York Downtown
   1. Booked 1 Night Standard Room Reward via 77k Points (0.6/1cpp)
   2. Upgraded 5 Levels to 1 King Deluxe Corner Suite with Hudson River View
   3. $450 room upgraded to a $750 room
6. Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
   1. Booked 5 Night Standard Room via $550 (Price Matched from Hotels.com)
   2. Upgraded 2 Levels to 2 Twin Bed Executive Room Plus
   3. $750 room upgraded to $1250 room
   4. The executive lounge was amazing and me & my friend drank over 20 Pepsis and had a lot of alcohol and snacks probably saving us over $300.
7. Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Curio Collection by Hilton
   1. Booked 1 Night Standard Room Reward via FNC
   2. No Upgrade :(
   3. $550 Room
   4. Mad about this because I messaged them on the app and they said they had already upgraded my room, gave me 2 drink certificates after I said I was disappointed in them
8. Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
   1. Booked 1 Night Standard Room Reward via FNC
   2. Upgraded 3 Levels to a 1 Bedroom Suite W/ Golf View
   3. $455 room upgraded to $650 room

In total, I used 788k points, 3 FNCs, and $550 to book rooms with a base value of $16905 and an upgraded value of over $25000. No, most of these were not rooms I would've booked with cash, but each one of them was an amazing experience with unforgettable memories that I value extremely highly.

Yesterday I booked an upcoming award stay at an HGV property at what may have been a mistaken points rate. The rate was 10k points/night for a 2 bedroom suite, which was significantly cheaper than the 47k/night base room award rate at this property. The 10k points/night rate for the 2 bedroom suite was only available on three specific nights. The typical rate for this suite appears to be 140k+ points/night. The property has bad recent reviews, but for a total of 30k points for three nights it would still be great value for us. Booked via app, pointed were deducted, and received email confirming reservation. Hopefully I'm not jeopardizing the deal by publicizing the low rate but the booking for 2 bedroom suite at 10k points/night appears to still be available 5/29 - 6/1 at Hilton Vacation Ridge in Sedona, AZ.
Do folks think there is any other explanation other than this being a mistaken rate - could it be some kind of deal or scam related to the HGV timeshare thing? Is the property likely to honor this rate? If they instead cancel on me after I've made travel arrangements would Hilton corporate provide any compensation? Any general advice on how to proceed?
And if it does work out and we get to stay there, do HGV properties have to waive the resort fees on points bookings (gold status if that matters)? Finally, would be grateful for any thoughts on negotiating a good timeshare presentation offer if we do go? (I have no interest in buying a timeshare but would hear them out for the right compensation...)

It was March 1979 and I had just flew from Hong Kong to San Francisco with a 12 hour layover before continuing home. So, I asked around the airport about what to see and do in SF and took what was then known as the air porter to down town SF. The air porter let me out at the Hilton Downtown on O'Farrell St.
So never having been to San Francisco before I decided to walk west but soon I started to think that maybe I had made a mistake, It looked really rough down there and was looking trougher with every step, so not knowing what to do I started walking down Jones St. I thought to myself, all of SF can't look like this. So, after several blocks I saw a club called the Screening room. The sign said Nude Dancers. So I decided to try it out.
The screening room turned out to be a movie house that was running X rated movies in the main theater and had a small room for the nude dancers. I paid extra for the nude show.
There was only 3 or 4 lines of seats I was on the second row right in the middle. The two guys seated next to me were dressed in business suites and were in a jovial mood, giggling and cutting up like 2 13 year old that had just found their older brothers stash of playboy mags.
So the show stared. Now friends, I have had been going to topless clubs for many years, but it had not prepared me for what I was about to see and do.
About 5 or six girls came out wearing only shoes and earrings and with a dildo sticking in their pussies. The girls left the stage and stared inviting the guys to play with their dildos. Back home you could not touch the dancers and that was what I was used to. So I decided that I would not touch the dancers out of respect. So anyway, one little short haired blond slid up to me, put her foot on my shoulder and pussy in my face and invited me to play with her dildo. The two guys sitting to my right were now laughing and cutting up .
I put up my hand and told her that I was there only to look. She Said "what, why not?" I said thanks, but not thanks. Then she stunned me by saying "are you a cop?" The guys to my right started going crazy laughing. I assured her that I was not a cop. She did not buy it. "Why are you guys back here so soon? You were here last week and took all of our vibrators. that is why we are having to use these stupid dildos.
So now I was in fear of being thrown out. Also, I just heard that cops raid this place, and I was now afraid that the real cops might come in while I was there and maybe I would be detained by them. Here I am in a town that I have never been sitting in a theater (that is on the worst street I have ever seen) that was raided just last week. The girl gives me a dirty look, removed her foot off my shoulder and slides over to the laughing guys next to me and invites one of them to paly with her dildo.
The guy stops laughing long enough to say, "Miss, I would love to, but I can't." Again she asked him "why not?" He says, " I am observing lent" and starts laughing again. She says "well OK" and moves over to the next guy who is more than happy to play. So I am thinking, observing lent? What kind of shit is that? Why did I not think to say that? He gets a pass and I get accused of being a cop.
Anyway, the show went on. A girl fucked another girl with a strap on. They pulled a guys stage. And so it went. When the show ended, I was disappointed with myself for not playing with the girls dildo and having as much fun as I could have had. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
I left the place feeling ashamed and swearing that if I ever came back to San Francico that I would never pass up another opportunity like I has just done.
The next time I was in town the Screening room had changed into a guy club.

Hello everyone! I need your opinion on this Embassy Dorado Del Mar Beach. This will be our first trip to PR! I have booked for 7 nights in March 2024 for my kids’ spring break next year. The price is reasonable just under $3000, with free breakfast for 4 people (me and three teenage kids). I also booked for our last two nights at Caribe Hilton; for this I will use certificate/points hoping that it is worth it.
I have been reading some good reviews on this Embassy. However, those terrible reviews are horrifying! They charge pet fess after you check out when you brought no pets at all. The rooms are outdated, carpets being nasty, some says. I don’t mind the hotel being old but are the rooms that dirty and some showers don’t work? I am kinda getting scared. Should I still go for it? Do you think it is worth the price? If not, do you have any other recommendations for 7 nights at reasonably priced Hilton property in PR?
Also, if you have anything you can share about Caribe Hilton, I will be grateful! Thank you and God bless 😊

Hey everyone, hoping someone else has seen this issue and knows what might be happening because BlueStacks' Customer Service has been laughably unhelpful. TIA
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Background: I use BlueStacks for games that use location data. Since I travel a lot for work, I use BlueStacks Location Provider to "spoof" my location back to my home area to interact with just local folks. I have been doing this for years with no issue: Go to Location Provider, search my home address, Set Location, and boom--good to go.
Issue: In the past week or so, Blue Stacks constantly resets my "spoofed" location. I can change my location with no problem and all my apps recognize the new location. However, after a couple of minutes (maybe as long as 10 minutes in some cases) the location resets back to my actual location and won't stay at my "spoofed" location. Repeating the process has the same result.
I have a series of screenshots below showing an example. You can see it took Miami as the "spoofed" location no problem. My apps acknowledged Miami as the location. But 2 minutes later, it had reset back to my actual location. Any ideas how to fix this new issue?
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Screenshot of Original/Actual location
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Search for New/Spoofed location
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Location updated to New/Spoofed location
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Location has been reset (close to original/actual location but not exactly, if that matters)

I recently stayed at the Hilton in Austin, TX and they had a really nice top golf suite and F45 studio IN the hotel. Really cool amenities that I wasn't expecting. Definitely makes a business trip more enjoyable.
Does anyone know of any other Hilton hotels with cool spaces like this or amenities they were pleasantly surprised by?