#Automated bell system

[vivencyglobal]

School Bell Solutions Based on PA System in Dubai: Sounding the Bell for School Communication with Vivency Technology LLC

An education institution's effectiveness depends highly on communication, which enables the institution's smooth running and learning, as well as safety. Vivency Technology LLC boasts of being a well-established provider of PA system-based school bell solutions in Dubai, offering systems that meet the ever-changing demands of schools to ensure that there are means available to facilitate day-to-day scheduling and announcements and cater to emergencies hereafter. Below is an overview of what they have to offer at Vivency Technology LLC.

A full range of solutions in PA System

The backbone of communication is a robust PA System in the school. Vivency Technology LLC presents the classroom with the latest systems that have been designed and equipped so that both sound and clarity across the school premises are effectively utilized. These PA systems are installed with broadcast capabilities with the ability to connect up to various microphones, and all this could be adjusted with a volume control device so that every important message reaches the intended audience: students, teachers, and any other administration staff.

From daily announcements to general notifications and critical alerts, the PA systems offered by Vivency provides a complete seamless communication in order to improve operational efficiency in schools. Their solutions are effortlessly integrated into existing structures at the school, allowing for smooth upgrades of the communication systems without disruption.

Intelligent Automated School Bell Systems

Vivency Technology LLC justly considers the time management in schools very valuable for maintaining order and productivity. It thus provides the automation of ringing bells for class and break schedules and other activities. Bells set to ring at certain times and for given durations will do away with manual operation and consequently cutting down on interruptions in classes.

Accurate implementation of schedules has been automated for the sake of smooth working days for administrators and teachers toward education without worrying about logistical details. This creates a reliable and organized environment where both students and staff would be without stress.

Every Institute's Need is Different

Every Institute Prints Individual Ink with Personalization and Flexibility.

Each school is different, and so is its need. Customization and flexibility are what is provided by Vivency Technology LLC. It's from configuring systems and scheduling to integrating other technologies. The complete offerings are designed to meet widely different educational institutions in Dubai.

It is actually flexible so it can adapt solutions fit to how big, how much infrastructure and operations are intended for that specific school: Her 3rd-grade elementary up to her senior campus. Solutions from Vivency are anything but inaccessible when it caters to these environments.

Safety First through Emergency Notices

Safety first for students and staff is a goal for every school. Vivency Technology LLC designs each school bell-PA system into an emergency notification system that enables schools to send messages about very important events.

This is from lockdown messages to evacuation instructions. These systems allow schools to respond quickly and efficiently, minimizing confusion, and increasing security, during emergencies. Such prudent investment in advance thinking would prepare schools for otherwise unforeseen circumstances.

Ease of Use and Support to Ensure Reliability

The user-friendly design of products from Vivency Technology LLC is one of the amazing features of the entire solution. This is why it is easy for a school to acquire as well as use the technology to enjoy the benefits.

The complete technical assistance and training that it offers are what ensure the fully working implementation for schools. They can trust the specialist team of Vivency to work on all the problems and provide continued assistance, which can further be expected from this investment.

Why to Prefer this vivency Technology LLC?

Really a promising name in Dubai for the PA-based school bell systems solution has the things such as reliability, innovations and customer-centric support features. This is not only going to enhance communications, and time-scheduling but will also make it more conducive for learning.

Get for Your Institutions Everything Available from Vivency Technology, from Cutting-Edge Technology for Communication and Time Management to Customize Solutions for Specific Needs to Even Protection Enhancement for Crisis Situations with Expert Advice and Support for Smooth Functioning.

Conclusion

In such a fast-paced educational scenario, Dubai requires such systems which can enhance communication, attendance keeping as well as safety. The PA system-based school bell solutions of Vivency Technology LLC are indeed remarkable in providing innovation and practicality to the very fabric of school functioning.

By having these cross-functional systems connected, one can focus on the purpose that school serves - grooming young minds, learning, and flowing as a whole. Choose vivency Technology LLC for redefining educational institution terms on communication and scheduling.

[prettyobsessed]

‧₊˚ ⋅* ‧₊ 🪐༘Temptation Whispers Home 🍵‧₊˚ ⋅* ‧₊୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

⁺₊ / pairings: Xavier / fem!reader ✩ / genre: smut [nsfw 18+, mdni] ₊˚ / tags: nsfw, smut with plot, story plot smut, masturbation, mutual attraction, grinding, soft sex, slighty rough sex, cowgirl position, lots of teasing, fingering, lots of kisses, unprotected sex, mouth job, hand job, kissing, nipple stimulation, clit stimulation, neck kink, nipple kink smut, spanking, facial cumshot, mature sexual content ☾ / word count: 6.6k

✧summary✧ *ੈ♡⸝⸝🪐༘⋆ Amidst the allure of Xavier's presence and the intoxicating atmosphere, the narrator grapples with their desire for intimacy and the uncertainty that shrouds their relationship. The scene pulses with tension and longing as they navigate the complexities of unspoken desires and emotional boundaries, hinting at a deeper connection waiting to be explored. ﹌﹌﹌

“I couldn’t control myself, and resisting you any longer has become increasingly difficult. It's as if you've cast a spell over me. It feels almost criminal—the effect you have on me."

☄. *. ⋆ Standing before my wardrobe, indecision settled upon my shoulders like an unwelcome guest. Meeting Tara, my best friend, shouldn't have been so complicated, yet there I was, deliberating over my outfit for nearly half an hour.

The events of last Saturday lingered in my thoughts, seemingly crept up on me—the night Xavier and I went to the club and things got… dangerously flirty.

Facing the mirror, I examined myself wearing my pastel blue thong, a reminder of Xavier lingering in my mind. "Am I wearing this intentionally with him in mind?" I paused, questioning my motives. "Stop. I’m not even meeting him today. Why bother?" I murmured to myself, shaking off the distraction, but not wanting to change out of the thong.

I was jolted back to reality when my phone notification bell rang. Glancing up at the screen, I noticed today’s date: Monday, 5th February. 2:28pm. With a resigned sigh, I selected a grey mini skirt paired with a white off-shoulder top, its thin fabric ideal for the anticipated hot day. Gathering my hair into a bun, I applied a spritz of Bare Vanilla to my neck and wrists, relishing in the comforting scent of my current favourite fragrance. Slipping into my trusty black boots and grabbing my bag, I hurried out the door, ensuring I hadn’t left anything behind and securing the automated lock. Venturing further from my apartment, a nagging thought crept into my mind. "Did I forget something?" But with Tara waiting, I pushed the thought aside and continued on my way.

"Today was a blast! Thanks for showing me around,” Tara exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Let’s go out again next week! See ya!” she chirped, waving energetically as she walked away. "Bye, Tara!” I called out with a playful pout. After bidding her farewell, I set off on my journey home, only to be caught off guard by an unexpected downpour. In an instant, I was soaked through from head to toe.

Frantically rummaging through my bag, I realised my oversight. "Damn it, I forgot my umbrella," I muttered, feeling water seep into every crevice. Drenched from head to toe, I cursed my forgetfulness as the heavy rain continued to pour down. I sprinted towards my apartment, each step weighed down by the rain-soaked clothes clinging from my hair to my body. Finally reaching my doorstep, I encountered another setback. Attempting to use my keycard, the electronic lock flashed an ominous "System error. System error." 

Recalling the maintenance warning, I hadn't anticipated it causing such immediate inconvenience. Frustration bubbled up within me as I futilely tried my security passcode, only to be met with the same error message. Feeling the urgency, I contacted the security of the building regarding the issue. They reassured that the issue would be resolved with a reboot in approximately 2 hours. 

Two hours. What am I going to do? I can't even go anywhere in this heavy downpour.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm me, I heard the click of a door unlocking behind me. Turning, I saw Xavier, my neighbor and hunting partner, emerging from his apartment. He was clad in a cozy knit sweater, exuding warmth and an irresistible charm. "Ehem. Oh hi, Xavier," I greeted him, attempting to conceal my discomfort, yet pleasantly surprised and blushing at his appearance.

Xavier's expression shifted from surprise to concern as he observed my sodden appearance. Attempting to discreetly cover myself, the sheer fabric of my wet clothes left little to the imagination. "What happened? Are you okay?" he asked, moving closer and sensing my distress. With a sheepish smile, I explained the situation, gesturing helplessly at the malfunctioning lock and the relentless rain outside. Xavier's tense expression softened, replaced by empathy. "Ohh… hmm, would you like to come inside first?," Xavier offered, his voice warm with concern. "You need to dry off and warm up. I'll make us some tea."

Gratefully accepting his offer, I stepped into his cozy apartment with a mixture of relief and embarrassment. 

The warmth of the place enveloped me, dispelling the coldness of the rain-soaked evening. Xavier's gaze lingered on me, a mixture of concern and something more primal flickering in his eyes as he took in my drenched attire. His breath deepened, and he swallowed nervously. Quickly averting his eyes, his cheeks flushed slightly. I couldn't help but notice his expression. Was it because of that night? The memory of our encounter hung between us, adding an awkward tension to the air.

Sorry about the inconvenience," I mumbled, attempting to hide my soaked top with my hands, growing increasingly self-conscious. Xavier shook his head, offering a reassuring smile while guiding me further inside. "No need to apologise. I wouldn't want you catching a cold. Let me grab you a towel and some dry clothes," he said as his hand brushed mine for a split second before disappearing into another room.

His touch, feather-light against mine, sent a sudden chill coursing through me in response to this familiar connection. As I waited, I couldn't help but replay the memory of my (not so) drunken encounter with Xavier that night. The thought sent a shiver racing down my spine, kindling a slow, simmering heat within. When Xavier returned with a towel and a set of dry clothes, I accepted them gratefully, retreating to the bathroom to change. As I entered, I carefully place the dry clothes on the countertop.

Glancing into the mirror, I was startled to find myself drenched by the rain, the droplets clinging to my skin like shimmering diamonds. As I reached up to adjust my hair, I noticed the transparency of my top, revealing more than I intended. My heart raced as I realised the shape of my breasts was clearly outlined, a blush creeping up my cheeks at the thought that Xavier might have noticed it. A rush of embarrassment and arousal collided within me. Unable to resist the pull of memory, I tentatively traced the curve of my lips to my body, the touch reminiscent of Xavier's from that unforgettable night. His hands had possessed a magnetic power, leaving an indelible mark on my senses. ☄. *. ⋆ ﹌﹌﹌ Flashback

It was 1 am, and Xavier and I were still in the club. I remember vividly slow dancing to "Alone With You" by Alina Baraz. Xavier stood protectively in front of me, alert to any wandering eyes. "Something 'bout the look on your face, as you feelin’ a way, baby, I feel it too," I mouthed the lyrics to Xavier, my hands roaming over him, on his chest, on his neck—lost in the moment, and I noticed Xavier was smirking, looking at me, seeming to enjoy it. After spending countless hours partnering with Xavier in battle against the Wanderers, it became inevitable that I would begin to harbour feelings for him—admiring his sweetness, his mannerisms, his unwavering protectiveness, and God, that voice of his.

For months, I had been secretly listening to his voice notes, touching myself, feeling aroused by the softness of his tone. It's almost as if I am protected and safe just by listening to him.

I'm convinced that Xavier feels the same way because of all the signals he's been giving me, indicating his affection. However, despite this certainty, a hint of doubt lingers. It felt as if there was an undeniable distance—a boundary he was setting between us.

That night in the club, emboldened by alcohol’s courage, I found myself drawn closer to Xavier, scrutinising his features under the dim lights. His eyes gleamed like distant stars, captivating me with their allure. He was undeniably beautiful. As our gazes met, a mixture of confusion and intrigue danced in his eyes, shrouding him in an enigmatic aura I couldn't quite unravel.

I just want to kiss him so badly. Drawing tantalisingly close, I draped my arm over Xavier's neck as we swayed to the music, our bodies magnetically drawn together. His scent was nearly angelic, with perfume notes reminiscent of grapefruit and bergamot, further adding to his allure. Xavier's gaze lingered on me, intense and wanting, yet unable to voice his desires. Playfully, I nibbled on my lip, feeling the electric tension between us, sensing his arousal. Slyly, I guided his hands to my waist, silently granting permission as we moved to the slow rhythm.

Locked in a flirtatious exchange, I met his gaze, a silent invitation passing between us. Body to body, eye to eye, the tension was palpable. Positioning myself on my back, I purposefully initiated a sensual grind against him, daringly pushing the boundaries of the game. My fingers lingered close to his neck, and there, he reciprocated. Xavier was feeling me—his hands on my body as my hips ground against his clothed erection, causing it to grow harder.

The pulse of his arousal reverberated through me, igniting a fervent craving deep within my core. Both of us were lost in the moment, slowly moving to the rhythm of the music.

Turning my body back to him, I absorbed the expression etched on Xavier’s face. It was one I wished I could freeze forever. His endearing innocence, accentuated by a rosy blush, amplified the allure that made resisting him a futile endeavour. He exuded a captivating blend of bliss and longing, as if silently begging for more. Yet, despite his evident desire, Xavier exercised restraint. "Y/N, please," he implored softly. "You're drunk.”

With an insatiable longing, I took in every detail of his eyes, tracing the soft contours of his lips before locking eyes with him once more. "I'm not drunk...yet," I murmured softly, a breathless neediness creeping into my voice, as if daring him to push the boundaries further.

Should I take the leap and make the first move? Lost in the moment, I couldn't resist the pull any longer. Just as I was about to lean in closer to him, he beat me to it. “Then, can I kiss you...? You look so pretty, I can't resist anymore,” he asked, his tone filled with neediness and helplessness. I knew it. I knew Xavier was into me, but hearing his verbal confession still caught me off guard, filling me with a heady mix of anticipation and delight. With a seductive curl of my lips into a grin, I wordlessly granted him my consent, sealing our mutual desire with a brief but intense kiss upon his lips. The giddy sensation from the kiss lingered, but Xavier's insistence on escorting me home carried a tender urgency, his need to ensure my safety blending seamlessly with the unspoken longing that hung between us.

Did Xavier really think I was that drunk? That I was unaware of my own actions? My heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty as I unlocked the door with my keycard and gently laid myself down on my bed. Xavier's presence beckoned irresistibly, and I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes flickered with a mixture of desire and restraint, mirroring my own conflicting emotions. Craving his touch, I reached for his hand and pulled him down beside me, my fingers trembling with anticipation. We kissed again, our bodies gravitating closer, and his touch on my chin sent a rush of warmth coursing through me, banishing any doubts or hesitations I may have had.

"You have such soft skin," Xavier murmured, his fingers outlining my shoulders to my body. His words ignited a delicious tingle throughout me as we continued to share kisses. Feeling a surge of desire, I decided to intensify the intimacy. With a bold move, I rose from my seated position and straddled him, feeling the heat of his arousal pressing against me. As our bodies aligned, I began to move with a slow, tantalising rhythm, grinding against his clothed erection with increasing fervour. Each motion sent waves of pleasure coursing through us both, heightening the intensity of our connection. Xavier's hands explored every curve of my body, his touch adding fuel to the fire.

Yet, amidst the intoxicating haze of lust, a lingering question nagged at my mind: What was holding him back? Was it fear, responsibility, or perhaps something else entirely? "You make me feel so safe," I whispered into his ear, my hands roaming over his body, eliciting soft whimpers of pleasure with both our clothes still intact.

But just as the intensity peaked, Xavier abruptly halted our exchange, reminding me of the blurred lines in our current situation. He gently grasped both of my wrists, then cupped my cheek in a tender gesture. “Stop,” he whispered, his voice laced with regret. “We can't do this. You're drunk, Y/N.” His words were both a plea and an apology, his gaze filled with admiration yet tinged with sorrow. “My god, look at you,” he continued, his tone filled with longing. “So... so pretty like this. But no, I can't... we can't—not like this. I'm sorry.”

As Xavier's lips brushed against my forehead, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions surged through me, mingling with the warmth of his affectionate gesture. I felt the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air, the lingering echo of our shared desire, and the ache of unfulfilled longing. With each heartbeat, I struggled to reconcile the tenderness of his kiss with the sudden emptiness left in his wake as he quietly slipped out the door, leaving me to grapple with the unresolved tension between us.

The morning sunlight filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as I found myself lost in a whirlwind of memories from the previous night. Each moment replayed in my mind with vivid clarity, revealing truths I hadn't fully grasped in the haze of last night. Amidst the tumult of my thoughts, a simple text message interrupted my reverie, stirring a mix of relief and anticipation within me. 'Hey, U up? how r u feeling?’ The words, though brief, carried a weight of concern and care that warmed my heart. However, amidst the exhaustion and emotional whirlwind of the night before, I succumbed to sleep before replying to Xavier. Flashback ends

﹌﹌﹌ ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧

With a shaky exhale, I snapped back to reality and shifted my focus away from the mirror. Peeling off my damp clothes, I slipped into the garments Xavier had passed to me earlier—a cozy grey jumper, white sweatpants and a pair of fuzzy socks. They carried the fresh scent of recently laundered fabric, infused with the comforting aroma of rosy detergent.

Carefully, I hung my wet clothes on an empty rack and used the towel to pat my hair dry. Exiting the bathroom, I spotted Xavier seated on the couch, his eyes heavy with drowsiness. The sound of the bathroom door closing startled him, jolting him awake from the brink of sleep. Squinting against the room light, he offered a warm smile as I approached. "Hey, you're back," he greeted, stretching his arms out in a lazy stretch. I thanked Xavier for the clothes and socks, feeling a rush of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. In response, he gestured towards a steaming cup of honey milk tea he had prepared, knowing it was my favourite. Next to it were a variety of cupcakes from the bakery shop he had visited earlier. I smiled, touched by his effort to please my palate. 

Sitting beside him on the couch, the television hummed softly in the background — casting a soothing ambiance over the room. However, the silence between us grew palpable, prompting me to break the ice. Despite the flickering images on the television screen, neither of us spoke, lost in our own thoughts. "So, any good shows on TV lately?" I ventured, trying to ease the tension with a casual conversation.

Xavier shook his head, his gaze distant as he stared at the screen. Sensing his unease, I shifted closer, determined to bridge the gap between us. "Did you went out today?" I asked gently, hoping to draw him out of his reverie. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah… I went for a run, just trying to clear my head," he admitted, his voice tinged with exhaustion. Concerned, I reached out to him, offering my support. "Do you need any help? I'm here for you," I reassured him, squeezing his hand comfortingly, at the same time taking a sip of the tea. As I reached out to comfort him, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle change in Xavier’s demeanour. Before I could dwell on the intensity of the moment, Xavier broached a topic that caught me off guard.

"Do you remember anything from last Saturday?" he asked suddenly, his tone hesitant.

Startled, I choked on my tea, the liquid spilling onto my shirt in an embarrassing display of clumsiness. "Shit. Umm. I-I don't remember... anything. At all. Um, what happened?" I stammered, my attempt to hide my discomfort only adding to the awkwardness of the moment.  As I fumbled to clean up the mess, a flurry of apologies spilled from my lips, each one a feeble attempt to distract from the truth lingering beneath the surface. In reality, I remembered everything from that night, every touch and detail etched into my memory with perfect clarity. Yet, despite this knowledge, I found myself unable to speak the truth, to acknowledge the undeniable connection that had formed between us. 

Was I denying my own feelings too, or simply afraid to confront them?

Xavier’s observation of my discomfort only added to my embarrassment, leaving me at a loss for words. 

"Sounds like a lie," he teased, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as his eyes twinkled with amusement. I headed to the kitchen to fetch more napkins. Sensing my unease, he too reached to grab for more and gently dabbed at the spilled tea on my shirt. I felt a sudden chill spread through my body, causing both my nipples to harden in response. A faint blush crept onto my cheeks as Xavier's gaze lingered on my reaction. Despite my attempts to conceal my arousal, the unspoken tension between us hung palpably in the air, underscored by the knowing smile tugged at the corners of Xavier’s lips.

Embarrassed, I deflected his words once more, particularly after he had already noticed my body's response to his touch. I turned back to check for any more spills on the couch, but I was stopped when Xavier enveloped me in a comforting hug from behind. I melted into his embrace, his warmth intoxicating as it seeped into mine. "I can't stop thinking about you ever since that night," Xavier confessed softly, his lips brushing against my ear. My heart raced at his words, a dangerous sweetness enveloping me in his proximity—a rush of desire mingled with uncertainty.

As Xavier opened up further, his words poured out in a rush of honesty. He confessed that he had been unable to sleep after sending me home that night, his thoughts consumed by visions of me. He admitted to finding solace only in fantasies of me, even resorting to pleasuring himself while imagining me in his arms. His confession sent a thrill through me, leaving me flushed and craving his touch even more.

"Every time I'm with you, it's like my heart skips a beat," he confessed, his voice heavy with desire and neediness. "I've wanted nothing more than to protect you, keep you safe, be by your side, and to make you happy. So I buried those feelings deep down because I wasn't sure if you felt the same way. But that night, I couldn't fight it anymore. You were so… irresistible. You’re like an addiction I can't shake off, and I don't want to. You drive me crazy in the best way possible, and I can't get enough of you."

As his embrace deepened, Xavier tenderly nuzzled his nose against my neck before trailing his lips to my collarbone.

“I couldn’t control myself, and resisting you any longer has become increasingly difficult. It's as if you've cast a spell over me. It feels almost criminal—the effect you have on me," he continued, a slight laugh in his voice, his arms wrapping tightly around my body as he whispered into my ear. “I find myself craving your presence, your touch, and those mesmerising eyes of yours... I just can’t get you off my mind. I just wanna know if you feel the same way too.”

Feeling unable to hold back any longer, I bare my feelings for him, summoning the courage to confess how I couldn’t resist touching myself to his voice notes every night. I found myself lost in their soothing cadence, a mixture of comfort and arousal intertwining in my mind. But it's not just his voice that ensnares me; it's the tenderness and kindness he exudes, weaving a tapestry of longing and connection that I find impossible to evade.

I felt the atmosphere shift, the tension palpable between us.

Xavier’s voice caught, his tone laced with surprise. “Every night? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have offered more than just… voice notes,” he said. His smile turned playful, revealing a side of him I hadn’t seen before. I playfully nudged his arm, attempting to escape his embrace, but he only tightened his hold, and I could feel his erection growing bigger.

His refusal to release his embrace made my body quiver in anticipation. His hands explored my curves, silently pleading for more as I pressed closer against him. Pausing before speaking again, he exhaled with longing. “Do you want me to continue? Please, please say yes,' he pleaded, his lips grazing my neck before tenderly moving to my cheeks.

Yes. A million times yes. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Are you kidding me?

With a nod of approval and verbally expressing my consent, I closed my eyes, surrendering to his touch. His hands cupped my breasts, easing away the tension with each caress. I savoured his scent mingling with mine as he moaned softly, his fingers finding their way to tease and tantalise my nipples through the fabric of my shirt. Gradually, his hands ventured beneath my shirt, firmly squeezing and grabbing my bare breasts and skin, eliciting an ecstatic moan from me in response. Moved by the urge to reciprocate and heighten Xavier’s pleasure, my hands reached toward his arousal, gently palming his hardness through the fabric of his pants. I slowly ground my ass against his firm erection, deliberately driving him wild. With slow, deliberate movements, I began to rub and stroke him, intent on bringing him the same pleasure he was offering me. As I explored his size, he felt long and slender beneath my touch—leaving my core suddenly feeling empty and wet.

As Xavier's lips pressed tender kisses onto my shoulder, a gentle sigh escaped my lips as he brushed against the subtle fragrance of my Bare Vanilla perfume, very faint, nestled just below my ear. He paused, inhaling deeply, his expression transforming into one of unmistakable pleasure. "I love this scent on you," he whispered, his voice saturated with desire.

“Can't wait to taste you,” he continued, his tone low and dark, brimming with longing and need. Xavier’s movements became more fervent, accompanied by soft moans escaping his lips. In response, his hands found their way to slip into my pants and gently circle my clothed clit with his thumb, applying just the right amount of pressure to send waves of pleasure coursing through my body. With his other arm, he pulled me closer to him, our bodies pressed tightly together. I melted into his touch, arching my back and resting my head on his shoulder, silently conveying my pleasure. His lips continued their exploration, trailing kisses along my neck and intensifying their attention on my shoulders. With a gentle yet decisive movement, Xavier turned me by my waist, now facing him. Our bodies were so close that I could feel his erection pressing against my stomach.

He then showered my neck with more kisses, his hands finding their way to grip my ass and lightly tap it. In response, I teasingly traced my fingers under his shirt, returning his kisses with passion. I love the way Xavier is making me feel. Unable to resist any longer, I halted our playfulness and took his hand, leading him to the living room where we settled onto the couch. With tender care, I nestled onto his lap, sinking into the plush cushions as we enveloped each other in a warm embrace.

As our kisses deepened, Xavier's touch grew insatiable, his fingers eagerly exploring every curve of my body as I straddled him. Each caress heightened my awareness of his growing arousal, fuelling my desire for him to be even more aroused. Yielding to my playful instincts, I decided to tease him further by rising from his lap and treating him to a seductive strip tease. With deliberate grace, I peeled away my shirt and pants, revealing myself in nothing but socks and a pastel blue lace thong, the anticipation hanging thick in the air between us.

"My favourite panties. Mmm," he murmured, his breath deepening as he swallowed, his fingers grazing the thin fabric of the thong, causing the elastic band to snap against my skin. Recollections of our initial meetings flooded my mind, vividly reminding me of the moments when his gaze lingered upon me, captivated by the sight of those particular panties. It was during one such encounter, as I leaned down to retrieve a plushie that had slipped from my grasp, that his eyes seemed unable to stray from the enticing sight. "Thank the lucky stars I have a sixth sense," I replied with a playful twinkle in my eye, savouring the anticipation building between us. He persisted in teasing and pleasuring me, eliciting gasps of desire from my lips as I yearned for more. 

I caught Xavier’s lips curling slightly at my words, a sight that filled with delight at his unbridled desire. The way he looked at me, all heated and giddy, added fuel to the fire of my own arousal. As I stood there, basking in his gaze, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement coursing through me, heightened by the contrast of the cool air against my exposed skin, mingling with the warmth radiating from our entwined bodies.

Xavier pulled me back onto his lap, his hands enveloping mine as he peppered soft kisses upon my palm. Moving with a tender yet urgent desire, his lips trailed from my hand to my nipples, where he sucked gently. Meanwhile, his hands eagerly gripped my ass, pulling me closer to him, eliciting a soft moan from me as I watched his lewd act unfold before me. He gasped for air after his arousing exploration of my nipples, feeling his breath hot against my skin. Cupping his face in my hands, I showered him with soft, lingering kisses, starting from his rosy cheeks, then trailing a path to his inviting lips, his cute nose, and finally, his smooth forehead. In response, he reciprocated within seconds, returning my kisses with equal passion which made me giggle due to the ticklish sensation.

My fingers then glide through his beautiful hair, allowing myself to revel in the moment. The warmth of Xavier's embrace enveloping me in a sense of security and passion. As my hands trailed down to his chest, I felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my touch. With a playful glint in my eyes, I deliberately circled my hips, relishing in the pleasure as I teased his arousal through the fabric of his pants with each subtle movement.

Xavier’s hungry eyes devoured my naked body, each glance feeling like a caress. Suddenly, his hand came down on my ass with a sharp spank, a playful punishment for my naughtiness. I gasped in surprise, but the thrill of his touch only made my core throb with anticipation.

There’s something so sexy in being the one who’s stripped down to just panties and socks, while being locked in a heated embrace with a fully clothed man.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to do this,” he moaned, his eyes growing darker, indicating his eagerness to do more than just kiss and spank me tonight. “You don’t have to listen to my voice notes anymore,” he continued, murmuring huskily with his hands gripping my ass as he held me close. “I can talk you through it anytime you want…from now onwards, every night.” Xavier’s gaze locked with mine.

His words made me blush even more, the heat rising in my cheeks, intensifying my need for him. Xavier offering to talk me through my orgasms? Like? Holy fuck. The mere thought made my mind dance with tantalizing fantasies and wander to all sorts of delicious scenarios, stirring a wild craving that pulsed through every inch of my being, leaving me squirming with anticipation.

“Oh really? You sure you won’t be tired?” I teased, leaning in closer and playfully biting his lower lip, a flirty glint in my eyes as I recalled his tendency to doze off during the day. “For you, I’ll stay awake all night,” he replied, his tone brimming with determination and desire. His hands reached for mine, kissing it tenderly, his expression filled with an ardent longing. I never imagined Xavier could be so utterly infatuated with me. His shy demeanour was nowhere to be found. It's surprising how unabashedly sexy he sounds. Yearning to taste him, my heart raced with anticipation as I gracefully rose from his lap, positioning myself on the ground before him —in a low kneel position. 

Looking into Xavier’s eyes, I began to explore his thighs, running my hands over the fabric of his pants until I reached his undeniable arousal. Slowly, I pulled down his pants slightly, revealing his full glory beneath. His erection stood proudly, a glistening bead of precum at its tip. 

I moaned at the sight of his long and slender erection in my hands, wondering if I could take it all inside me.

As I leaned in closer, I moistened my lips, preparing to take him into my mouth. With a gentle touch, I traced circles along his shaft, feeling him twitch beneath my touch. A low groan escaped his lips, spurring me on. With a deliberate motion, I applied a slick of saliva, ensuring smooth entry as I enveloped Xavier in warmth. Our eyes locked onto each other, maintaining unbroken contact, heightening the intensity between us.

He reached out, his fingers tangling in my hair, holding it in place to make it easier for me to pleasure him with my tongue.

The taste of him was intoxicating, his musky scent filling my senses as I savoured each lick and tease. Despite the difficulty of accommodating his sizeable erection in my mouth because of its length, I persisted. With every moan that escaped his lips, I felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing that my efforts were driving him wild. The sound of my gagging only added to the intensity of the moment, sending vibrations of pleasure humming through my throat.

“Yes…just like that. You’re doing so good” Xavier cooed, his moans like music to my ears. He lets me have my way with him, without any resistance or coercion, which only fuels my desire to engage in even more naughty, sinful acts with him.

Deciding to delay climaxing for the moment, Xavier withdraws his erection from my mouth and gently lifts me from my position. With care, he settles me back onto the couch, lying me down on it with tenderness. He shifts my leg, positioning it between his body and mine. As my legs find their place between us, he pauses to admire my beauty, playfully pinching my nipples and tracing kisses along my skin. My body shudders in response to his touch, aching for more with each caress. Xavier then firmly grasps my thighs and gently pushes them down, exposing me completely to his gaze. With my legs draped over my stomach, he continues to explore my body with his hands, his fingers eventually finding their way to my clit, concealed just enough beneath my pastel blue thong.

His voice carries a smooth sweetness, almost velvety—wrapping around me with a seductive undertone as he posed his question. “How long have you been fantasising about me?” his words hung between us, punctuated by soft kisses planted on my thighs before he continued. His relentless teasing drove me to the brink of madness. My throbbing clit yearned for the exquisite touch of his tongue, yet he tantalisingly denied me, his lips lingering maddeningly close but only grazing my trembling thighs, making my clit throb more.

"Ever since I first saw you!" I exclaimed, my voice tinged with a hint of moan. Xavier's grin widened, his pride evident as he heard my response. "That night in the club, you were teasing me so hard and grinding on me," he continued, his tone playful yet curious. "Were you intentionally trying to arouse me, or was it simply the influence of alcohol?" Xavier asked again, his gaze searching for the truth as he peppered kisses near my core, teasingly close, tempting me with his seductive proximity.

"I only had two shots of tequila. I just couldn’t resist teasing you," I confessed, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "You looked so good in that lighting, and I couldn’t help it. I got so horny just thinking about how it would feel to have that dick inside me," I added, feeling a rush of excitement at his attention, my tone teasing and flirtatious.

Xavier moaned in response to my confession, visibly pleased, his hand stroking his erection as he became aroused. He gave a sudden, firm lick against the fabric of my thong, where my clit was hidden, drawing a whimper from me in anticipation. In one swift motion, he grabs the waistband of my panties and pulls them away from me, leaving me exposed to his eager gaze. With unwavering focus, he directed all of his attention to my clit, eliciting moans of pleasure from me. He lavished it with his tongue as though it were his favourite dessert. The sensation was unlike anything I'd ever felt before, far more intense than anything I could achieve alone, and I couldn't help but moan with pleasure at every lick. 

His hands gripped firmly on both my thighs, pushing them down to spread my folds even more, exposing my bare clit to his eager mouth. Xavier's expert attention had me writhing with desire, every touch sending waves of pleasure through me. I was soaked to the core, and Xavier showed no signs of stopping. His tongue danced over my folds at a rapid pace, driving me wild with each flick. The sensation was so intense that my hands instinctively ran through his hair.

When he fucked my clit repeatedly with his tongue, it sent me over the edge, and I couldn’t help but cum hard, my body shaking with pleasure as my pussy clenched in response. As I trembled from the intense climax, Xavier lifted his head, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "I wanna feel you," he whispered, his voice dripping with lust, each word sending a jolt of excitement through me.

Xavier's demeanour caught me off guard. Despite his angelic appearance, it was clear that he possessed a dark side, prompting me to reassess just how innocent he really was. While I adored both aspects of him, his freaky side held a particularly irresistible allure that turned me on. I push Xavier's face away from my clit, commanding him to get back to his seated position on the couch. The act of asserting control over him seems to intensify his arousal.

With an intense hunger in my core reserved solely for his manhood, I rise to straddle him once more—my favourite position. Perched on his lap, I ensure his throbbing erection aligns perfectly with my clit. With a teasing bounce, I let my breasts jiggle, tempting him further. "Your wish is my command, sir," I whisper, biting my lip, relishing the anticipation of being in control. I coat his shaft with my saliva several times, ensuring it's slick and ready for our pleasure. Each application of saliva is deliberate, my movements slow and teasing as I take my time to ensure he's adequately lubricated for what I have planned next.

His hands and fingers delicately traced the bottom of my feet, moving up to my legs, ensuring I felt stabilised and secure. His protective touch made my head swim with giddiness and my body ache with desire once again.

Deliberately, I glide Xavier's erection against my clit, relishing the pleasure that courses through both of us, evident in his uncontrollable moans. "You feel so good, yeah just like that… don't stop," Xavier gasped, his voice strained with pleasure. It was as if every nerve in his body had been set alight, flooding him with an intense wave of pleasure that left him breathless. The lewdness of my actions only serves to heighten my arousal, matching his fervour. As if guiding him into my pussy, I instead tease his erection with just the outer folds of my clit, luxuriating in the sensation. Xavier responds with lust-filled moans, his hands exploring my body with eager anticipation.I particularly enjoy the sensation of his thumb and index finger pinching my nipples, and I can't resist sucking on his fingers for added pleasure.

Continuing to tease him, I grind on his erection until I'm dripping wet and unable to hold back any longer. The desperate need to feel him inside me consumes me. Finally, I coat my hands with saliva once more before slowly guiding his dick inside me. The initial stretch is overwhelming, his lengthy and slender shaft momentarily causing concern, but soon I find myself accommodating him comfortably. As he fills me, a moan of relief and pleasure escapes my lips, echoing Xavier's own moans of satisfaction.

He praises me for taking all of him, his words stirring a sense of pride and determination within me, fuelling my desire to please him even more. Starting with a slow grind, I gradually increase the pace, bouncing fervently on his cock. The sensation of him filling me up completely ignites a primal need within me, urging me to move faster. With each thrust, I clench my pussy around him, feeling it throb with anticipation, aching for more of him. Xavier takes notice of my escalating desire and grips my ass firmly, his touch sending shivers down my spine. The sharp spanks he delivers heighten my neediness, each one adding a delicious sting to the pleasure coursing through me.

Feeling my fatigue from the vigorous motion, Xavier takes initiative and shifts our rhythm, thrusting into me instead. Xavier's eyes burn with desire as he pins my arms behind my back, his strength and dominance amplifying the intensity of our encounter. With each forceful thrust, he plunges deep into my throbbing pussy, driving me relentlessly towards the brink of ecstasy.

As his pace quickens, tears of pleasure well up in my eyes. 'You're doing so good, taking it in like that." I wriggled free from his grasp and instead placed my hands on his chest, using them to stabilise myself as I adjusted my position. With a subtle shift, I angled myself better, allowing me to bounce on him even more. "I can't hold back anymore, I’m going to cum,' Xavier exclaims. Just before he reaches climax, I release myself from his grip, dropping to my knees, eager for him to cover my mouth and face with his release. He then releases onto my face and tongue, his cum pouring over me in abundance.

I let him cover my face and tongue until there's no more left. With a hint of lingering desire, I decide to prolong his orgasm, swallowing his cum while gently licking his tip. It seems Xavier is overwhelmed by the sensation, almost on the verge of passing out.

"Fuck," he moans explicitly. Despite his satisfaction, he expresses a hint of apology, explaining that he didn’t want to soil my face. I offer a reassuring smile, assuring him that it's alright and that I love it. His eyes soften with gratitude, and a warm sigh escapes him, relieved by my understanding. Gently, I savour some of his warmth from my skin, the sensation still intense and lingering. Rushing to fetch a towel, Xavier wipes my face clean, his touch tender and apologetic, yet filled with care and affection. He quickly moves to support me, wrapping his arms around my waist tenderly. Pressing gentle kisses to my shoulder, he murmurs soothing words of reassurance as he catches his breath. Laying me back onto the couch, he ensures that I’m comfortable and relaxed, his concern for my well-being evident in every gesture. I invite him to join me, and as he settles beside me, I gently stroke his hair and offer him a warm embrace.

Xavier momentarily detaches, his footsteps echoing lightly against the hardwood floor as he made his way to the kitchen, a subtle spring in his step betraying the renewed energy coursing through him. As he returned with a tray of refreshments, a playful glint danced in his eyes, his grin infectious.

"You seem like you've been fully recharged," I remarked, a teasing lilt to my voice as I admired his refreshed appearance. "Did I unknowingly stumble upon the secret to your energy?" Xavier chuckled, setting the tray down with a gentle clink of glasses. "Perhaps you have," he teased in return, his tone tinged with flirtatiousness. "Your place next?" The playful banter between us filled the room, infusing our embrace with an even deeper sense of closeness and intimacy as we basked in the afterglow of our shared passion. As we snuggle once again, this time much closer, Xavier reminds me of how cherished and loved I am, reaffirming our deep connection and the intimacy we share. Throughout the aftercare, his focus remains entirely on me, ensuring my well-being and emotional comfort are prioritised above all else.

—By prettyobsessed. ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚🧸🐇୭🧷✧˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀🧷 P.S: It’s my very first time writing smut! What do you think? xx

⋆·˚ ༘ *🔭

—

this content is copyrighted by @prettyobsessed. all rights are reserved. it is prohibited to replicate, imitate, plagiarise, or repost my content on any other platform without authorisation. translations are also not permitted unless proper credit is given🌷

[bogkeep]

in which i tell you about medieval timekeeping methods

ok we gotta start with BABYLONIAN TIME and SUNDIALS because this is the Foundation. this is what they used for thousands of years. pretty much every structure we have for understanding and conceptualizing time is based on The Movements Of The Universe - years, months, days, this is how we understand Time to pass. the sun and stars were used for keeping time since Always!!!! there were also multiple ways of keeping time with the Shadows of the sun, not just sundials, but also tablets to measure the length of shadows. And Such

BABYLONIAN TIME is twelve hours daylight, twelve hours nighttime. this makes very good sense considering Sundials, you just split the indicators into twelve parts. don't know why Twelve specifically other than that the babylonians liked it, but it is a very nice, divisible number, and its been kept as the base for all the hour keeping systems i've read about so far.

but yes this does mean that a babylonian hour does not have a set, static length like a modern hour does...! it changes with the seasons and the place, so a babylonian winter hour is different from, say, a winter hour in northern norway. it probably helps to be closer to the equator and reliable sunny weather.

until the invention of mechanical escapement clocks, babylonian time was The main, foundational understanding of timekeeping, BUT...!!!!!! the church put a spin on it. what the monasteries needed to keep time for was Prayer Times, which they had seven of and were based on the passion of the christ. so they signaled the Seven Canonical Hours, starting at sunrise, ending at sunset. church bells is also how people kept time, because you could hear them out in the fields. timekeeping was a bit of a wibbly wobbly art but accuracy wasn't That important.

the various methods used to keep time in addition to sundials included: the cock's crow, candles, hymns, incense, and water clocks. not hour glasses, as they were invented around the same time as mechanical clocks. isn't that wild!!!!!!!

WATER CLOCKS, also called clepsydra, are a diverse category of clocks ranging from a container with water dripping out of it at a steady pace, to complex hydraulic mechanisms with weights and stuff that i honestly have yet to grasp. the simple versions were used in classical greece + rome in the same way you'd use hourglasses, to keep track of speech time, watch time, et cetera. the islamic world + china were the ones to develop the complex water clocks. there's documentation of a water clock in gaza that had like, moving automata and stuff around year 500. there was a water driven astronomical clock in china around year 1000. water clocks made a comeback in europe around the 1100ds, and were getting more widespread use. like at least they work at night, unlike SOME dials

"mechanical clock" is a bit of a misnomer since water clocks were clearly also mechanical, and the exact time of invention of what we think of as mechanical clocks is Vague. the word "horologia" was used to refer to any kind of timekeeping device, including the noble rooster, so it's a bit of a semantic haze.

they had astrolabes, which Could be used to tell the time, but weren't used to do that in the daily life. scientists wanted to make an automated astrolabe for like, the Science, they just needed to invent the perpetuum mobile first and then combine them. obviously.

the missing piece for the MECHANICAL CLOCK was the escapement, the mechanism that regulates the time with which the gears turn. once they got this going, probably early 1300ds, they got the shows on the road. the shows being: the astronomical clock, and the public striking clock. these were considered different things, you see.

the astronomical clock is the Automated Astrolabe. it shows the movement of the sun and moon and stars and as a consequence, the Time. they had dials that people could read the time from, but they were generally considered objects of prestige and god's glory, kind of like cathedrals. they often had moving figures and such.

now, public clocks that mark the hours with sound, THAT'S a timekeeping device. they didn't even have clock faces at first, and it really is so interesting to think about how looking at a clock wasn't considered the main way to tell the time. these clocks seem to have originated in italian cities and spread from there, and this is where we get ITALIAN TIME.

to show babylonian time with a mechanical clock is impractical. the machinery is good at regular movement, to show babylonian hours you kind of need the astrolabe. so italian hours were static and unchanging in length. you had twenty four hours in a day, and the cut-off point was half an hour past sunset. that was the end of the twenty fourth hour, and a new calendar date begun.

of course, the time of the sunset keeps changing all the time As Well, so these clocks had to be adjusted for that Continuously. which was annoying but they still did it until the 17th century. this method was used in italy, bohemia, silesia and maybe poland? i'm unsure what they used outside these spaces at the time, if they stuck to the babylonian hours even with mechanical clocks and did complex maths about it.

at least the NUREMBERG CLOCK had its own take on it, even if it didn't spread beyond southern germany at all. they used babylonian hours, but instead of changing the length of an hour, they changed the amount. eight day hours and sixteen night hours in december, opposite in june. the tables needed for how many days with how many hours were very complex and annoying also.

the concept of starting a new calender day at midnight, and never needing to constantly adjust day hours or when the sunset begins, WAS known but only used for scientific and astronomical purposes. like that's such a weird way to split the day!!!!! twelve at MIDDAY?? WEIRD. some travellers noted that this was a very practical and elegant solution, though, but travel and far flung communication was still very slow, so mismatched timekeeping was more annoying than inconvenient. but anyway that's for the future to figure out

[sims-tec]

Designed by the Adeptus Mechanicus for the Great Crusade, the appropriately dubbed MK2 'Crusader' power armor was a step up from the MK1, featuring bells and whistles that would be a hallmark in later models. Waste recycling, automated medical gear, auxiliary and life support systems, and sealed against the void of space. The helmet included a number of enhanced sensors, image magnification, ultraviolet and infrared sight, and a zooming in feature.

The MK3 'Iron' power armor was designed for the invasion of the Squat Homeworlds and boarding actions. A reinforced MK2, it featured reinforced frontal armor for better close quarters combat, filling a niche that would later be taken by the terminator armors. It was never meant to replace the MK2, merely supplement, and so no legion was fully stocked with the model. While it shined in the role it was meant for, the suit was otherwise clumsy and uncomfortable for conventional warfare. Around the time of the Horus Heresy, the armor was being phased about in favor of the various terminator armors, though still common among traitor legions, especially among honor guards and spear tip operations.

The suits have no morphs, are unisex, teen to elder, everyday, formal, sleep, athletic, swim, outdoor, career, and maternity, and require into the future. The patterns include the original 18 space marine legions, Sons of Horus, War Hounds, and Brotherhood of Steel with rank markings. I'd like to thank Polar-the-Primordial for allowing me to use these models. Thank you so much, and please enjoy!

Creator: https://www.deviantart.com/polar-the-primordial

SimFileShare: https://simfileshare.net/filedetails/5167422/

Google Chrome: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GuI46EYGN2kNwyqX6rU-TjH0oXzw-h0o/view?usp=sharing

ShareMods:

[kusuokisser]

kusuo doesnt often get scared, but you want to know one thing that rarely fails to get him?

anything automated on a timer. like sprinklers turning on at 6am, the school bell ringing, the ding of a microwave, etcetera.

that poor boy is so jumpy around them, many a time he has considered disabling the sprinkler system but alas he cannot bear to make his momma sad by killing her garden

[shituationist]

assuaging my anxieties about machine learning over the last week, I learn that despite there being about ten years of doom-saying about the full automation of radiomics, there's actually a shortage of radiologists now (and, also, the machine learning algorithms that are supposed to be able to detect cancers better than human doctors are very often giving overconfident predictions). truck driving was supposed to be completely automated by now, but my grampa is still truckin' and will probably get to retire as a trucker. companies like GM are now throwing decreasing amounts of money at autonomous vehicle research after throwing billions at cars that can just barely ferry people around san francisco (and sometimes still fails), the most mapped and trained upon set of roads in the world. (imagine the cost to train these things for a city with dilapidated infrastructure, where the lines in the road have faded away, like, say, Shreveport, LA).

we now have transformer-based models that are able to provide contextually relevant responses, but the responses are often wrong, and often in subtle ways that require expertise to needle out. the possibility of giving a wrong response is always there - it's a stochastic next-word prediction algorithm based on statistical inferences gleaned from the training data, with no innate understanding of the symbols its producing. image generators are questionably legal (at least the way they were trained and how that effects the output of essentially copyrighted material). graphic designers, rather than being replaced by them, are already using them as a tool, and I've already seen local designers do this (which I find cheap and ugly - one taco place hired a local designer to make a graphic for them - the tacos looked like taco bell's, not the actual restaurant's, and you could see artefacts from the generation process everywhere). for the most part, what they produce is visually ugly and requires extensive touchups - if the model even gives you an output you can edit. the role of the designer as designer is still there - they are still the arbiter of good taste, and the value of a graphic designer is still based on whether or not they have a well developed aesthetic taste themself.

for the most part, everything is in tech demo phase, and this is after getting trained on nearly the sum total of available human produced data, which is already a problem for generalized performance. while a lot of these systems perform well on older, flawed, benchmarks, newer benchmarks show that these systems (including GPT-4 with plugins) consistently fail to compete with humans equipped with everyday knowledge.

there is also a huge problem with the benchmarks typically used to measure progress in machine learning that impact their real world use (and tell us we should probably be more cautious because the human use of these tools is bound to be reckless given the hype they've received). back to radiomics, some machine learning models barely generalize at all, and only perform slightly better than chance at identifying pneumonia in pediatric cases when it's exposed to external datasets (external to the hospital where the data it was trained on came from). other issues, like data leakage, make popular benchmarks often an overoptimistic measure of success.

very few researchers in machine learning are recognizing these limits. that probably has to do with the academic and commercial incentives towards publishing overconfident results. many papers are not even in principle reproducible, because the code, training data, etc., is simply not provided. "publish or perish", the bias journals have towards positive results, and the desire of tech companies to get continued funding while "AI" is the hot buzzword, all combined this year for the perfect storm of techno-hype.

which is not to say that machine learning is useless. their use as glorified statistical methods has been a boon for scientists, when those scientists understand what's going on under the hood. in a medical context, tempered use of machine learning has definitely saved lives already. some programmers swear that copilot has made them marginally more productive, by autocompleting sometimes tedious boilerplate code (although, hey, we've had code generators doing this for several decades). it's probably marginally faster to ask a service "how do I reverse a string" than to look through the docs (although, if you had read the docs to begin with would you even need to take the risk of the service getting it wrong?) people have a lot of fun with the image generators, because one-off memes don't require high quality aesthetics to get a chuckle before the user scrolls away (only psychopaths like me look at these images for artefacts). doctors will continue to use statistical tools in the wider machine learning tool set to augment their provision of care, if these were designed and implemented carefully, with a mind to their limitations.

anyway, i hope posting this will assuage my anxieties for another quarter at least.

[rimouskis]

How do u make your yearly budget ? I remember you posting about your budget spreadsheet once. Pls I am v interested on how you set it up

I simply must ask if you're the FBI agent in my phone, because I genuinely just sent a message to a friend saying how excited I was it's the end of the month, meaning tomorrow I get to start with a fresh new slate in my budget hahaha

alright let's talk:

I don't do a yearly budget, technically! I budget month-per-month. There are lots of styles of budgets—some allowing for a yearly/more Long Term view—but what worked for my income level was a month-based system.

I lurked on r/personalfinance on reddit for a long while and actually pilfered my budget template from there!

I use this one, which I like both because I've used it for five years and because it's just plain ol' simple. I don't need charts to automatically populate and I don't want to categorize every purchase I make. I just want to see how much money I have per month and how much I'm spending.

That's also crucial to how I personally do budgeting. I don't set aside $X for food and $X for activities and $X for going out or whatever every month. That isn't productive to me; my life looks different every month depending on what's going on. I don't use my budget to be prescriptive; outside of my fixed expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) I just use my budget to track 1. where my money is going and 2. how much of it I have left.

If you want something with a bit more frills, there are lots of other options (one, two, three) on reddit, but I've [personally] found all their bells and whistles overwhelming. If they have useful features you want to use (like, some will have tabs for you to track debt and payments toward it), you can experiment with them, but I don't recommend them for someone new to budgeting.

...I also don't inherently recommend my preferred spreadsheet, either. It doesn't work for everyone. I've shown it to some friends and they almost immediately knew it wouldn't work for them. The reason it works for me is because I am kind of neurotic about budgeting.

To me, "peace of mind" is maintained by having a really close eye on my finances. That means that I track what I spend daily. I manually input every purchase into the spreadsheet. I manually put every paycheck into the spreadsheet. I keep the Google Sheets app on my phone for this very purpose.

That isn't something everyone's willing to do, and there's no shame in that—we all find the different tools that work best for us! But if you don't think you're able to keep up with manually tracking every cent you make and spend, I don't think that this method will be good for you.

If you need more automation in your budgeting, where you can get things autofilled and so on and so forth, I would have pointed you towards Mint, which I've heard good things about, but it's sadly shutting down this March. The article I linked provided an alternate recommendation, but I can't personally vouch for any of those services.

I've been tempted by YNAB a time or two — I like the idea that they intentionally work you towards living off of old paychecks instead of the money you earn month-of [which is a financial goal we should ALL strive for, even though it can be very hard], and I like that they encourage giving every dollar a "job", but you don't NEED their service to do either of those things. I don't like paying money to save money, you know? lol

I keep a secondary, simple spreadsheet with my "rolling funds" in it — money I set aside every month (which I input as a monthly "expense" in my normal spreadsheet) which I allocate to specific funds, like car funds, travel funds... I even had a "hockey game fund" for a few years, haha.

I prefer that method to paying for a service to do it for me. I'm sure YNAB has some nice bells and whistles, and it's clear MANY people love being integrated into their system, which has some automated bits that definitely make budgeting "easier," but I like Ye Olde Spreadsheet. Having to input every purchase keeps me accountable, I feel. Also it sometimes discourages me from spending money, haha, which is probably a good thing in the long run.

idk. I'm a huge advocate for budgeting. I know it can be really hard for some people, but I sincerely think there's some budgeting method out there that will work for you, you know? I credit my budget spreadsheets for keeping my head above water during the many times where money was/is tight. Knowledge is power and all that.

Not to sound like a #girlboss shilling my financial advice on tiktok (of which there are too many), but being aware of where your money is going is sincerely the biggest, most important step you can take towards building financial safety for yourself. My budget saved my ass this last year.

If you have any other questions, shoot them my way. I know it can seem daunting, but I totally think it's worth it! <3

[rpgsandbox]

Our Brilliant Ruin is a tabletop roleplaying game set in the Dramark, a place where the last fragile remains of society live in the shadow of a dying world. The Ruin, a preternatural force befouling everything it touches, has ravaged geography and culture alike, wreaking destructive havoc and loosing monstrous creatures into a previously bucolic region. With the world plunged into rust and ruin, how will you spend the time you have left?

Our Brilliant Ruin explores human drama and personal intrigue in an elitist, class-based society unraveling after catastrophe. With aesthetics and technology inspired by England’s Edwardian Era and France’s Belle Époque, the Dramark is a fictional world that draws from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements.    

This land of Ruin has no government, no sense of national identity, and no conventional law. Society coasts toward an irreversible demise, guided by the customs of communities whose residents felt betrayed by what law came to represent. They have since broken into three broad factions – the aristocrats, the truefolk, and the unbonded. 

Aristocrats lay claim to the evolving legacy of an obsolete society. Truefolk make the world go ‘round, doing the myriad tasks that keep the Dramark functioning. And unbonded seek to tear down the social order forming communities based on personal beliefs and agendas. 

A character can be from any of these factions, each with their own advantages to leverage during gameplay. 

Within each of these diverse social factions also exist families and guilds that further give players more ways to realize their characters. From the wealthy Galdeparks and industrious Daras to the academics of Crown Hall College and hospitality experts in the League of Glove and Key, a character can belong to any of these ten different sub-factions, offering opportunities for rivalries, alliances, and romances. 

Meanwhile, the Ruin alters the very physiology of things, causing flora to sprout into mutated deathtraps, animals to grow hideous appendages, and humans to transform into monstrosities. The Ruin also clings to metal, corroding and destroying it, leaving the people all the more vulnerable to the creatures it spawns. The Ruin’s ultimate contamination of the entire Dramark isn’t a question of if, but when. 

The Ruin is part of the world, a preternatural force the Dramark must cope with, and one that will eventually blight everything. Some inhabitants face the Ruin head on, trying to hold it back with fire or alcohol (the only known means of destruction), but many realize efforts to eliminate it are a zero-sum game. Instead, they devote themselves to their passions, relationships, and social obligations rather than futile opposition against an inevitable end. 

The final puzzle piece of the world is the syllokinetics, machines built by the previous Royal families whose secrets are lost to time. The massive, syllokinetic engines once held the promise of an automated future in which workers would no longer have to mine, quarry, or farm. But with the erosion of time and Ruin, these syllokinetics now operate without anyone guiding them. While some may still perform their intended purpose, others have malfunctioned, collapsed, or gone completely out of control.

Our Brilliant Ruin uses an original system of dice pools driven by a character’s emotions and motivations. The gamemaster guides the narrative as in most roleplaying games, but only the players roll dice. When making a test, a player chooses a personality attribute and a skill attribute to create a ‘pool’ of d6 equal to the combined value. On a dice-roll test, each 6 is a “brill” and each 1 is a “gloom.”  

If the test has more brills than glooms, the attempt succeeds. If a test has no brills or glooms, the attempt is unsuccessful. If glooms exceed the brills, a catastrophe occurs. 

Players can use any personality and skill combination in a situation if it makes sense in the narrative. An attack motivated by jealousy could be Obsession + Fight or discovering your best friend is hiding a dangerous secret might be Benevolence + Intuit. 

Player characters can also call upon their Portfolios, extrinsic features like money they possess, favors they’re owed, guest lists they’re on, or a patron intervening on their behalf. Portfolio always works; you don’t have to test it. But someone else can always outspend you if it is that important to them... 

To gain an edge on a test, a player can invoke a Passion – a limited resource that adds two dice to their test lowers the threshold of success to 5 and 6. This can tilt a situation in the player’s favor. However, drawing upon one’s Passion can lead to a crisis down the road. Eventually, the costs of invoking Passion come due: When Passion reaches its tipping point, it’ll complicate the dice pool for tests, adding a number of dice that have only glooms. 

The game focuses on the relationships and drama of class-based society and the balance between the “haves” and “have-nots.” Passion drives everyone’s choices during this time of upheaval and Ruin. Secret trysts, hidden agendas, political backstabbing, social intrigue, and class conflict are major pillars of the setting. Violence is also part of Our Brilliant Ruin, as well as opportunities for more intense delves into the Dramark’s vanishing history.  

We have a One-Page Overview you can download by clicking below. This PDF features a condensed version of the rules along with five pre-made characters to play with. Please remember this is preview material and the final layout design is not reflected here.  

Players also work together to develop their own estate as a base of operations for the group. They can make gradual improvements to their property, adding rooms, features, and defenses, to fully customize their experience with Our Brilliant Ruin. 

Investigate an abandoned mansion fallen into disrepair, attend a high-society ball while keeping your wits about you, or confront a deadly chimera that bears an unsettling resemblance to your missing lover. The world is an open book of possibilities… until it ends.

Kickstarter campaign ends: Thu, March 28 2024 3:00 PM UTC +00:00

Website: [Studio Hermitage] [facebook] [twitter]

[mariacallous]

After officially hiking tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports earlier this month, the US government is getting even more serious about keeping China-made autos out of the country. On Monday, the US Commerce Department proposed a new rule that would ban some Chinese- and Russian-made automotive hardware and software from the US, with software restrictions starting as early as 2026.

The Biden administration says the move is needed for national security reasons, given how central technology is to today’s increasingly sophisticated cars. In announcing the proposed ban, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo cited vehicles’ internet-connected cameras, microphones, and GPS equipment. “It doesn't take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of US citizens,” she said.

The US government’s move comes as China has dramatically increased the number of affordable vehicles, and especially electric ones, it makes and sells overseas. Chinese auto exports grew by more than 30 percent in just the first half of this year, setting off alarm bells in Europe and the US, where officials worry inexpensively made Chinese vehicles could overwhelm domestic industry. The US and Europe had moved to make it harder and more expensive for China to sell its autos in those regions, but the Chinese automakers have responded by setting up manufacturing bases in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Mexico—all of which might one day provide a loophole to allow more Chinese-designed and engineered vehicles into new Western markets.

Still, the proposed rule focuses on security rather than competition. Raimondo had previously raised the specter of foreign actors using hijacked connected car technology to cause mayhem on the US public roads. “Imagine if there were thousands or hundreds of thousands of Chinese connected vehicles on American roads that could be immediately and simultaneously disabled by somebody in Beijing,” she said in February.

That situation isn’t quite realistic, given how few Chinese and Russian firms supply automotive software or hardware in the US right now. A proposed software and hardware ban is more preemptive than a response to any immediate security risk, says Steve Man, the global head of auto research at Bloomberg Intelligence, a research and advisory firm. “PRC and Russian automakers do not currently play a significant role in the US auto market, and US drivers right now are safe,” a senior Biden administration official told WIRED.

Because the rule would apply to any connected vehicle, not just electric ones, it would create even stronger prohibitions against Chinese-made auto tech. "If the 100 percent tariffs on made-in-China EVs were a wall, the proposed ban on connected vehicles would be a death sentence for China EV Inc. aiming to enter the US,” says Lei Xing, the former chief editor at China Auto Review and an independent analyst. Under such a rule, he says, the prospects of seeing Chinese EVs on sale in the US in the coming decade is “nearly zero.”

If finalized, the new rule would only apply to automotive hardware and software able to receive or process radio frequency communications, and software integrated into vehicles’ automated driving systems, the Commerce Department says. It would not apply to autos’ “passive” parts, including fasteners and plastic covers. The rules would begin to take effect in model year 2027 vehicles and be fully implemented by 2030.

The rule will now move to a public comment period, and the Commerce Department would likely finalize it before President Joe Biden leaves office in early 2025.

The US auto industry seems to believe the rules are a step in the right direction. In a statement, John Bozzella, the president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation trade group, called the government's process of developing the proposed rules “thoughtful.” While their lead time would allow some auto manufacturers to find new software and hardware suppliers, he said, “the required transition but may be too short for others.”

​​Chinese tech and auto companies—including Huawei, Tencent, Baidu, BYD, and Geely—have invested heavily in developing their own software and hardware for self-driving cars. But so far these products are almost all used on cars sold in the Chinese markets.

The US government has used similar logic to push back against the incursion of other Chinese technology in the US. In 2022, it banned the approval of some equipment from the Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE, also citing national security concerns. This spring, President Joe Biden signed a law that would force TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese firm ByteDance, to divest from the social media app or face a ban. TikTok has challenged the law in court.

The US government’s proposed ban on Chinese connected vehicle software is similar, says Man, the auto analyst. “This is a TikTok move,” he says.

[hebuiltfive]

What Should Have Stayed Buried - Chapter Two: New York

(Chapter One here.)

The city during the holiday season was always a spectacular sight to witness.

Shop windows traded their usual neon signs for festive colours. Evergreen trees, both real and fake, were adorned with baubles and glistening fairy-lights. Elves and snowmen that had won their window-dresser’s hearts now stood proudly behind the glass that looked out onto 5th Avenue. Fake snow garlands that hung in doorways blended well with the dusting of flakes that had settled onto the concrete from an earlier snowfall. Christmas songs blasted out into the streets, a mixture of bells and familiar beats that played as the soundtrack to the bustling city.

With the subways crammed with both shoppers and tourists alike, all in town for the holiday season, yellow hover-taxi cabs swamped the city’s streets. Horns blasted through the music as automated systems tried to get their passengers to their destinations as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Where a ride up to 7th Avenue would normally take forty minutes, the same trip during the holiday season took over an hour. Scott would know because Scott was currently stuck in the back of one of those hover-taxis, ignoring the frantic New Yorkers who were rushing along sidewalks just a few feet away.

Continue reading on AO3 here.

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[doublegoblin]

Check your surroundings for safety

It was either late night or early morning, the difference between the two is so arbitrary and thin. I had just turned the office lights off and locked the door. These twilight hours were nice though, I found an odd comfort to the sound of my steps echoing in the nearly barren car park. Setting my things down in the passenger seat I closed the door and buckled up, safety first. My car is not the newest thing off the factory floor but it does have some nice bells and whistles. The center console lights up and the display is overtaken with the camera feed. A little yellow triangle with an exclamation point and some little white text “check your surroundings for safety”. 

Watching the segmented yellow lines curve with my wheels my eyes drift up and around. A harsh chime snaps my attention back and my foot down on the break. Nearly avoiding an annoying collision with a support column. Thanks little camera. Luckily given the hour of the day I and the security guard were the only witnesses, and he wasn’t much of a talker. Shifting into drive the screen changes to the radio, I leave it off for now. The nice thing about being the last one out is you can kind of do whatever at your own pace. So I grabbed my phone and, keeping a leisurely roll, checked up on anything I’ve missed.

She had been texting me. Nothing serious, I had told her these nights were going to be pretty late. Just something about what the cats were doing, the show she was watching, and a loving goodnight. Checking the time on the phone I figured it was best to not text back. I’d be home soon enough anyway. The most I would do now would be wake her up- a flash of orange causes me once again to slam the brakes. Another wonderful safety feature; my side mirrors light up when something is too close and could also cause a collision. It was Dave. Sheepishly I nodded and waved. He chuckled and returned the wave.

Setting the phone face down on the passenger seat; I ought to invest in a phone holder. I made my way out of the car park with no more distractions. The barriers were raised high and the automated voices wished me a good night.

The city roads were illuminated in an orange glow. Steam rising from the sewer vents and road alike; it must have rained while I was working. Lots of blinking yellow signals made the exit of the concrete jungle swift and painless. The freeway was also empty. I couldn’t be happier. Leaning back in my seat my eyelids were feeling heavy. Really heavy. So I turned the air on and set it to biting cold. I also turned the radio over to something a little more upbeat and heart pumping. Tapping the drums on my wheel it was only a split second of darkness until an alarm snapped my eyes back open and the orange indicators flooded the car.

Jerking the wheel to the left I narrowly avoided the guard rail. My heart was racing. Had I really fallen asleep? Muffled noises were becoming more crisp as the alarm subsided and an automated voice took over. It was a test of the emergency broadcast system, what wonderful timing. After confirming that no cops were going to make an easy meal of me I noticed the passenger seat glowing white. She was calling me?

Answering the phone she sounded relieved. I apologized for not texting back as I figured she was asleep. She mentioned I was coming home later than normal and she was getting worried. There wasn’t a big fight or anything, we were both adults. We did have a nice little chat and exchanged “I love you” before I hung up. My heart was pumping and eyes firmly opened now. So it was clear the car was darker than normal.

Normally, and I swear it just had been, the center console would give off some bits of light displaying the radio and the information about what was playing yadda yadda yadda. It was dark however, but like, that dark when a screen is on but not showing anything. I’m no tech wiz but something must have happened during my impromptu nap as it was back on the camera feed. Nothing was being shown other than that little triangle and the little white text. Maybe my quick movements got some wires crossed?

The rest of the freeway was uneventful; thank God. I turned off onto a little back road. I didn’t live super far away from the city, but enough where I could enjoy the night sky every once in a while. I pulled to the side of the road and put the car into park and got out. She hummed softly as I leaned against her and pulled out a smoke. Talking to myself I improved a lecture about the constellations that I knew and made up what I didn’t. I was halfway into the discussion of the bull when an alarm in the car caught my attention. Dropping the little nub and snuffing it out with my heel I slumped back inside.

It was the backup camera? Man I must have really did a number on it. The best thing I could think was to turn the car off and back on again. It didn’t fix it. Still a black screen with the fun little pyramid and text. This was a problem for a mechanic and a different day. So ignoring the warning sounds I put her back into drive and took off down the road. She kept beeping but I could eventually tune it out. What I couldn’t ignore was now my side mirrors were flickering like crazy. Normally it’s a solid light but they were strobing something fierce. It was really distracting. The radio turned itself back on too! What the hell was going on with my car?

My heart was pounding, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Why though? It didn’t matter, I could see the house now. The engine was roaring as I tore down the dirt road like a bat out of hell. Why the hell was I so on edge? Closer and closer. The lights were going crazy and the alarm was so damn loud! I gripped the wheel tight, white knuckled. C’mon c’mon almost home. How had I not reached home by no-

I started going backwards.

I looked down at the center console.

Little yellow triangle and small white text.

Check your surroundings for safety.

I could see the road.

[harrelltut]

someone hold My iPhone Device [I.D.] of 1921 Quantum [IQ] 1968att-internetair.tech Patents of 1698att-internetair.com Language Records Scripted by ANU GOLDEN 9 Ether [SAGE] Economic Enterprise Domain [SEED] MERCHANT Infrastructure [MI = MICHAEL] of AUTOMATED [MA] Integrated Marketing [I’M] Communications in Interconnection Agreement [iCIA] Contracts… since I.B.1698 MICHAEL [IBM] harrelltut.com Domain Communication [D.C.] Network Engineer… Computationally Speakin' in My Mathematically Ancient Coptic [MAC] Tech Tongue Worth QUADRILLIONS @ 1921 QUANTUM 2023 HARRELL 2024 TECH 2025 AT&T & IBM [A.i.] LLC of ATLANTIS [L.A.] 5000

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[self-loving-vampire]

Again I appreciate your perspective on this.

I feel like I grasp your thought process a little better now.

I think we both have the same endstate in mind in terms of UBI ultimately making stuff like this a non-issue.

Where we differ seems to be how forward-looking our respective arguments are coming from.

The textile example is an interesting one (and probably archetypical but I'm not much of a historian). Referring back to that, my concern is for the people who are disenfranchised in the interim before the technology inevitably becomes ubiquitous.

(I do think art is at least a bit different, but I'll get back to that.)

My main concern with the inevitability of technological advancement is that the disenfranchisement aspect will outpace society's advancement towards compensating for the change (i.e. with UBI).

You're absolutely correct that the impact on art is a narrow focus; I reiterate that my sense of hopelessness is a direct result of not being convinced we'll see broader solutions like UBI (or other sweeping reforms to the capitalistic nightmare that is the work-to-live model) for the foreseeable future. My (potentially overly) narrow focus is consequently a direct result of picking my battles because systemic issues tend to be inherently difficult to change.

Forgive me for dipping into my own wheelhouse for a sec, but despite relatively consistent efforts, and even a growing cultural awareness of the problem, we can't seem to convince anyone with any power to take meaningful action against the very real threat of global climate change, and I'm not convinced we'll be able to before irreparable harm has been done; on some level we're already past a point we can't come back from.

In a similar if slightly-less-catastrophic fashion, yes, inevitably more people than just artists will face disenfranchisement, but from my perspective it looks like the 'people' (governments? corporations? etc) with any real power to improve conditions for everyone just... won't. Because by the time the consequences reach their doorstep they'll be the ones in the metaphorical 'walled cities' leaving everyone else to fend for themselves/die in a wasteland/etc.

Maybe I'm too pessimistic. If I'm being completely honest, and I try to be, I don't really think the bell can be un-rung on AI art (or automation in general) either, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it; I don't take anything for granted, and I can't be content to suffer in the interim while waiting for a solution I'm not convinced will come soon enough to matter for me, because I have explicit reason to doubt those in power will ever willingly give up even a fraction of it for the common good.

Change may be inevitable, but it is not inevitably good, and as ever, there will be casualties either way.

I do hope you're right about this though, because even without AI art what few skills I can monetize are already effectively obsolete as it stands, and like your Master, I would also like to engage in creative pursuits without the pressure of survival or near-constant uncertainty hanging over my head.

As to why people (myself included) react to the automation of art so differently, your comparison to textiles/industrialization sparked a potential answer for me:

Art is personal. (Yes, losing your job, and by extension your investment into the required skills practically overnight is personal. Yes, this is even more true for the kinds of craftspeople in your initial example, that's why I thought of this. It's also, I gather, what drove them to break machinery, as our current situation is driving people to advocate for stronger IP laws.) Art is the distillation of an artists frame of reference, on top of their acquired skills and connection to a crafted product. AI art feels especially perverse (you totally just used that term I'm sorry my brain does that) in that it's taking what is explicitly a form of self-expression, and making the self component obsolete (and again, it wouldn't be able to exist without those selves' work, which is admittedly true of other advancements, but hits close to home for art in particular) The pride someone takes in their work varies, but an artist is (or was) inextricably linked to their work. (I actually feel more strongly about this in terms of my writing, but as I've stated before, AI will come for writers too. And I'm every bit as much dreading the future where "original" writing dies because people can effectively input what they want and let the AI write fanfiction for them, because this too is an inevitability. Not that I'm making any money from my writing either, but same principle.)

That's not to say something as short-sighted as 'AI art isn't art'; quite the contrary: being able to depersonalize art is probably what makes AI art feel so threatening. (Economic value is the how, but depersonalization of something formerly inherently personal might be the why)

That, and the whole 'effort = value' rationalization I've seen is just that- a rationalization. My actual argument as to why accessibility doesn't justify the cost to existing artists from that angle would be closer to 'it wouldn't really be their art, just an amalgam of everyone else's' and I didn't initially see how that could benefit anyone except corporate interests unwilling to pay artists (or anyone) fairly, or the kinds of commission seekers who never really wanted to compensate artists in the first place; I have no sympathy for either of those, but I understand far too well wanting to express an idea but being unable to covey it.

AI art is very much an example of industrialization in the sense that it detaches the product from the producer in order to devalue the producer. You're absolutely right again, however, in the thought process that someone who couldn't afford to pay an artist isn't hurting artists by obtaining art they couldn't pay to obtain anyway; this is in fact the one glimmer of hope I can take from this whole thing, because more affordable assets could open doors for creative potential in a way that might not be inherently harmful in the short term. So thanks for that.

I'll be the first to admit, both as an artist and a person, that I take things personally, and I'll never be able to be truly impartial when I have any kind of stake in something, but I have to express again how much your insight means me, and that you gave a thoughtful response to my long-winded thought process without dismissing it out-of-hand like others might.

I share the notion that obtaining more information is inherently beneficial (for me it was initially a matter of survival); I hope that we do get to live forever long enough to see a society where UBI exists and therefore survival is decoupled from productivity and technological advancements can be cool and useful and helpful without people feeling like they pose a threat to anyone's livelihood etc.

Thank you!

I do think we generally agree and it is entirely fair to worry about technological developments outpacing equal access even if only temporarily.

People still do have to survive through that somehow after all, and in a lot of places social assistance is shamefully inadequate.

The climate change issue feels like a very prominent example of ruthless, self-interested optimization for profit above all leading to a failure in solving coordination problems despite the fact that those problems may harm long-term gains. Short-sightedness and greed motivating self-destruction in the long run.

It's the kind of issue that is difficult to really fix under the current system and so the most realistic hope is probably, perhaps ironically, technological advancements changing the incentive structures so that fossil fuels are no longer the most profitable option (although fossil fuel companies will fight this unless they can get their slice of the pie).

This isn't the only possibility by any means, but it's the one I'd consider the most reliable, just like how the ban on chemical weapons was motivated by changes in how warfare works rather than altruistic progress.

Social support is kind of different in that the way to strengthen it will likely involve strengthening the left's political position, since it's often conservatives who are gutting these things and telling people to just work harder and pull themselves up by their bootstraps instead.

[tpintro]

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