thus my tale of woe continues

#2: "hi [professor], hope you're doing well! unfortunately, I'm [sick/stuck at work/dead] and won't be able to submit [assignment] by [due date]. could I please have an extension? if not, is there anything else I could do to make up this credit? thanks so much, [op]"

The FIRST SENTENCE is the thing you want the recipient to do. Do not make them guess.

I want to let you know about ... (This email is to inform someone of something not to ask them to do anything)

Could you please do ... (This is a request. You want them to do something).

I'm looking into x and wondering if you can help me (this is also a request but for information instead of an action).

People do not want to read an email and even if they do read it, most people are skimming and not interested. Tell them what you want first, then provide context or other information (when you need a thing is often key). If the email is informational, you can even add "you don't need to do anything, this is just to keep you informed!" People will appreciate not having to figure out what you want from them.

If you can't articulate what you want the recipient to do with the message, you are not ready to email them. I read too many emails where I have no idea what the person wants from me.

How/when did you get into hockey?

Are you a fan of any other sports?

Do/did you or anyone close to you play hockey?

Has hockey inspired you to try any new activities (e.g. learning to skate)?

If you’re a fan for a team in a city you don’t live in, how did you pick them? If you’re a fan of your local team, do you follow any non-local teams?

Do you go to games? If so, what’s your favorite part of seeing them in-person?

Are you a fan of any fictional hockey media, or just the real thing?

Do you collect merchandise or memorabilia (cards, pucks, jerseys etc)?

What is a moment from a game you’ll always remember watching live?

Do you watch games alone or with others (irl or virtual)?

If you had to add a color to your team’s color scheme, what would it be?

What’s the weirdest place you’ve watched a game?

Have you ever met any players, either by chance or at team signing–type events?

Have you gotten anyone else into hockey?

If you had to commentate a game, would you rather do play-by-play or color?

If you could change, add, or remove a rule from the game, what would it be?

Have you started using any hockey slang in other contexts?

Do you sacrifice sleep to watch games at late/early hours?

Do you have a favorite ultra-specific hockey stat?

What is your favorite jersey from a team you're not a fan of?

Should [insert league here] expand? If so, where do you want the next team?

What is your most hockey player–esque habit irl?

What is one overused question you wish you could make beat reporters stop asking?

Would you rather work for your team's social media (pitch/produce content) or general management (have a say in trades/drafting)?

"After they overheard that ICE was at the courthouse to arrest someone, they improperly accessed court databases to determine who was not born in the United States," a DOJ detention filing says. "They then snuck every suspected illegal alien who was at the courthouse out a back door, where ICE, who was waiting in the parking lot for their target to leave the building, could not see them."

10,000 notes - well executed crowd pleaser

1,000 notes - cult classic

100 notes - uncompromising avant-garde art for those of discerning taste

10 notes - misunderstood genius that the culture is not yet ready for