docs: @Override
      public void init() {
          loadConfig();
  
          if (!isEnabled()) {
              return;
          }
  
          try {
              String actorStr = format(ACTOR_FORMAT, actorName, actorEmail);
  
              // Setup GET params...
              List<BasicNameValuePair> getParams = new ArrayList<>();
              getParams.add(new BasicNameValuePair(PARAM_ACTIVITY_ID, activityId));
              getParams.add(new BasicNameValuePair(PARAM_AGENT, actorStr));
              getParams.add(new BasicNameValuePair(PARAM_STATE_ID, stateId));
  
              Object body = null;
              if (formEncodeActivityData) {
                  MultiValueMap<String, String> map = new LinkedMultiValueMap<>();
                  String json = format(STATE_FORMAT, STATE_KEY_STATUS, STATE_VALUE_STARTED);
                  map.add(activitiesFormParamName, json);
                  body = map;
  
              } else {
                  // just post a simple:  {"status": "started"} record to the states API to verify
                  // the service is up.
                  Map<String, String> data = new HashMap<String, String>();
                  data.put(STATE_KEY_STATUS, STATE_VALUE_STARTED);
                  body = data;
              }
  
              ResponseEntity<Object> response =
                      sendRequest(
                              STATES_REST_ENDPOINT, HttpMethod.POST, getParams, body, Object.class);
              if (response.getStatusCode().series() != Series.SUCCESSFUL) {
                  logger.error(
                          "LRS provider for URL "
                                  + LRSUrl
                                  + " it not configured properly, or is offline.  Disabling provider.");
              }
  
              // todo: Need to think through a strategy for handling errors submitting
              // to the LRS.
          } catch (HttpClientErrorException e) {
              // log some additional info in this case...
              logger.error(
                      "LRS provider for URL "
                              + LRSUrl
                              + " failed to contact LRS for initialization.  Disabling provider.",
                      e);
              logger.error(
                      "  Status: {}, Response: {}", e.getStatusCode(), e.getResponseBodyAsString());
              enabled = false;
  
          } catch (Exception e) {
              logger.error(
                      "LRS provider for URL "
                              + LRSUrl
                              + " failed to contact LRS for initialization.  Disabling provider",
                      e);
              enabled = false;
          }
      }