#Enterprise Connect 2021

[reasonsforhope]

Donald Trump charged in Georgia for efforts to overturn the 2020 election

Link here, because WaPo's security measures stop Tumblr previews. Non-paywall link here.

"Former president Donald Trump and 18 others were criminally charged in Georgia on Monday in connection with efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state, according to an indictment made public late Monday night [on August 14, 2023].

Trump was charged with 13 counts, including violating the state’s racketeering act, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents.

The Recap

The historic indictment, the fourth to implicate the former president, follows a 2½-year investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D). The probe was launched after audio leaked from a January 2021 phone call during which Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to question the validity of thousands of ballots, especially in the heavily Democratic Atlanta area, and said he wanted to “find” the votes to erase his 2020 loss in the state.

Willis’s investigation quickly expanded to other alleged efforts by Trumpor his supporters, including trying to thwart the electoral college process, harassing election workers, spreading false information about the voting process in Georgia and compromising election equipment in a rural county. Trump has long decried the Georgia investigation as a “political witch hunt,” defending his calls to Raffensperger and others as “perfect.”

The Details

“Trump and the other Defendants charged in this Indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” the indictment states.

A total of 41 charges are brought against 19 defendants in the 98-page indictment. Not all face the same counts, but all have been charged with violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Willis said she has given those charged until Aug. 25 to surrender.

Among those charged are Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who served as Trump’s personal attorney after the election; Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows; and several Trump advisers, including attorneys John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro...

Prosecutors brought charges around five subject areas: false statements by Trump allies, including Giuliani, to the Georgia legislature; the breach of voting data in Coffee County; calls Trump made to state officials, including Raffensperger, seeking to overturn Biden’s victory; the harassment of election workers; and the creation of a slate of alternate electors to undermine the legitimate vote. Those charged in the case were implicated in certain parts of what prosecutors presented as a larger enterprise to undermine the election."

-via The Washington Post, August 14, 2023

[rapeculturerealities]

Dirty laundry piles up at Utah's anti-porn and anti-trafficking charities. | Cover Story | Salt Lake City Weekly

There are many forces behind the uptick in anti-porn laws in the U.S., and some of the more influential are based here in Utah. And many of these forces—which present themselves as "anti-porn" or "anti-trafficking" groups—are linked directly or indirectly to each other. Utah-based charities Fight the New Drug and the Malouf Foundation both at varying degrees have hands to play in the enterprise laid out above.

To begin, City Weekly inquiries yielded evidence of apparent connections to Tim Ballard, former CEO and founder of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR)—now called OUR Rescue—and the so-called "rescue operations" on which Angel Studios' motion picture Sound of Freedom is based. Ballard is implicated in many civil and criminal cases, including allegations of being a sexual abuser with ties to the rich and powerful of conservative Utah.

Ballard founded OUR to counter sex trafficking by engaging in vigilante-style, extrajudicial incursions into foreign countries—primarily in Latin America—to "save people." Now, he is being sued in federal district court by some of his victims, who allege that Ballard and his associates, Matt Cooper and Michael Porenta, actually engaged in human trafficking themselves.

Natasha Helfer is an AASECT-certified sex therapist based in Salt Lake City. She is also the founder of the Mormon Mental Health Association, a secular association of mental health professionals who specialize in treating Mormon clients. She was excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2021.

"With issues as severe as sex trafficking, these types of organizations—even if well-meaning—can perpetuate stereotypes, myths, and lies that end up hurting victims more than helping them," Helfer said.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Andrew Perez and Adam Rawnsley at Rolling Stone:

THE CONSULTING FIRM led by Leonard Leo, the architect of the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, has worked for billionaire Charles Koch’s political advocacy network and a dark-money group that is currently arguing a Supreme Court case designed to preempt a wealth tax, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stone. The firm even worked to promote a book by Donald Trump cronies Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie. Leo has played a central role in shifting the high court and its decisions far to the right. As former President Donald Trump’s judicial adviser, Leo helped select three of the Supreme Court’s six conservative justices. He also leads a dark-money network that boosted their confirmations and helps determine what cases the justices hear and shape their rulings. The Supreme Court connection has paid off for Leo — big time. In 2021, he was gifted control of a $1.6 billion political advocacy slush fund. Over the past decade, Leo’s dark money network has plowed more than $100 million into his for-profit consulting firm, CRC Advisors. 

Leo co-chairs the Federalist Society, the conservative lawyers network. He is also the chairman of CRC. Like many consulting firms, CRC does not publicly disclose its clients. However, several of the firm’s clients were named in resumes that applicants submitted to an online jobs bank hosted by the Conservative Partnership Institute, which accidentally left the files exposed online. One CRC employee’s 2024 resume says his clients include the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a dark-money group arguing a case before the Supreme Court this term that is designed to slam the door shut on a federal wealth tax. Experts say the case could upend the nation’s tax code.  “In the last Congress, legislation to establish a wealth tax was introduced in both the House and the Senate,” CEI wrote in its petition to the Supreme Court, adding that justices should act now to “head off a major constitutional clash down the line.” During oral arguments in December, Justice Samuel Alito presented a hypothetical where “somebody graduates from school and starts up a little business in his garage, and 20 years later, 30 years later, the person is a billionaire,” and asked whether the government “can Congress tax all of that.” According to the CRC employee’s 2024 resume, Leo’s firm has also worked for the Koch network’s political advocacy arm, Americans for Prosperity. AFP’s super PAC spent more than $40 million supporting former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s failed Republican primary campaign against Trump this election cycle. AFP’s charitable arm has supported a case at the Supreme Court this term pushing justices to block the government from influencing content moderation by social media platforms.

Rolling Stone exposes radical right-wing SCOTUS puppetmaster Leonard Leo's consulting firm CRC Advisors, whose clients were leaked online.

[coochiequeens]

After stories like this break I always hope it will lead to those supporting surrogacy to agree that there needs to needs to be more regulations.

IVF Centers in Delhi NCR: CBI Uncovers Child Trafficking and Fake Doctors in Fertility Clinics

CBI investigation reveals alarming illegal activities in Delhi NCR fertility clinics, including child trafficking, illegal surrogacy, and employment of unqualified practitioners. The probe exposes violations of the Surrogacy Regulation Act 2021 and links to organized crime. This shocking revelation raises urgent questions about regulation and patient safety in the fertility industry, prompting calls for immediate reform and stricter oversight.

Posted byby Ajay Gupta Political journalistAugust 3, 2024

NEW DELHI, August 3, 2024 – A recent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unveiled a disturbing network of illegal activities within In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) centers across Delhi NCR, sending shockwaves through the fertility industry and raising urgent questions about regulation and oversight.

IVF Centers in Delhi NCR Key Findings

Numerous IVF centers Delhi NCR implicated in child trafficking schemes

Surrogate mothers exploited in violation of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

Organized syndicates linked to organ trade and forced begging identified

Fake medical credentials and forged adoption documents discovered

The Investigation Unfolds IVF centers Delhi NCR

The CBI’s probe, which began as an inquiry into a single child trafficking incident, quickly ballooned into a comprehensive examination of the fertility industry in the National Capital Region. Investigators uncovered a complex web of illegal activities, with some IVF centers serving as hubs for various criminal enterprises.

“What we’ve found is deeply troubling,” said CBI spokesperson Rajesh Kumar. “These centers, which should be helping families, have instead become conduits for exploitation and trafficking.”

A Pattern of Abuse Illegal IVF centers

The investigation revealed multiple schemes operating under the guise of legitimate fertility services:

Baby Trafficking: Newborns purchased from surrogate mothers were sold to childless couples or, more alarmingly, to criminal networks.

Illegal Surrogacy: Despite the ban on commercial surrogacy, many centers continued to offer paid surrogacy services, exploiting economically vulnerable women.

Document Forgery: Staff at several clinics were found creating false adoption papers and medical records.

Unqualified Practitioners: Some centers employed individuals with fake medical degrees, putting patients at severe risk.

Legal Framework and Violations

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, explicitly prohibits commercial surrogacy in India, allowing only altruistic arrangements. However, the CBI’s findings indicate widespread disregard for these regulations.

“The law is clear,” explained Dr. Shalini Mishra, a legal expert in reproductive rights.

“Surrogacy can only be altruistic, with no financial compensation beyond medical expenses. What we’re seeing here is a blatant violation of both the letter and spirit of the law.”

The Greater Noida Gang

In April 2022, authorities arrested a gang operating out of an IVF center in Greater Noida. The group, which included two female employees of the clinic, lured prospective parents with promises of baby boys, a practice strictly forbidden under Indian law.

The Fake Doctor Incident

September 2022 saw the arrest of an IVF clinic owner following the death of a woman during a procedure. Subsequent investigation revealed the owner’s medical degree was fraudulent.

The Egg Donor Mastermind

A 2021 case involved the rescue of a two-year-old child from a trafficking ring. The operation’s leader was discovered to be an egg donor with connections to multiple hospitals in the region.

Implications IVF Centers in Delhi NCR

The scale of illegal activities uncovered by the CBI raises serious concerns about the oversight of fertility clinics in India.

Dr. Amit Banerjee, a reproductive health specialist, warns of far-reaching consequences:

“This isn’t just about illegal adoptions or surrogacy. We’re talking about potential links to organ trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation. The ramifications for public health and safety are enormous.”

As the investigation continues, calls for reform are growing louder. Experts suggest several key steps:

Enhanced Monitoring: Implement more frequent and rigorous inspections of IVF centers.

Stricter Licensing: Tighten requirements for operating fertility clinics.

Patient Education: Launch public awareness campaigns about legal surrogacy and adoption processes.

Inter-Agency Cooperation: Improve coordination between health authorities, law enforcement, and child welfare organizations.

The CBI’s investigation into illegal IVF centers in Delhi NCR has exposed a dark underbelly of the fertility industry, highlighting urgent needs for reform and vigilance. As authorities work to dismantle these criminal networks, the challenge remains to ensure that legitimate fertility services can operate safely and ethically, providing hope to families while protecting the vulnerable from exploitation.

For the latest updates on this developing story, visit the CBI’s official website or follow our continuing coverage.

[gatheringbones]

[“While “essential workers” in the poultry industry were made to feel dirty, nonessential workers in fields like finance and computer engineering—the “people with laptops”—were sheltering in place, more distant from what transpired in industrial slaughterhouses than ever before.

Thanks to FreshDirect and Instacart, consuming meat no longer even requires coming into contact with a deli butcher or grocery clerk. With a few taps on a keyboard or the swipe of a screen, consumers can get as much beef, pork, and chicken as they want delivered to their doors, without ever having to think about where it comes from. And yet, as the popularity of bestselling books like Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals attests, a lot of Americans do think about this. In recent years, more and more consumers have begun to carefully scrutinize the labels on the packages of the meat and poultry they buy. The ranks of such consumers have grown exponentially, paralleling the rise of the “good food” movement, which promotes healthier eating habits and reform of the industrial food system.

Although the movement is, in Pollan’s words, a “big, lumpy tent,” composed of a broad coalition of advocacy organizations and citizens’ groups that sometimes push for competing agendas, one of its aims is to persuade consumers to become more conscientious shoppers and eaters. Among those who put this idea into practice are so-called locavores, who buy food directly from local farms, ideally from small family-run enterprises that embrace organic, sustainable practices: ranchers who raise grass-fed cows that never set foot in industrial feedlots; farmers who sell eggs that come from free-range chickens reared on a diet of seeds, plants, and insects rather than genetically engineered corn and antibiotics.

Locavores engage in what social scientists call “virtuous consumption,” using their purchasing power to buy food that aligns with their values. The movement appeals to the growing number of Americans who want to feel more connected to the food they eat and to the people who raise it, with whom locavores can interact directly at farmers markets or through community-supported agriculture programs. It is a captivating vision, and the benefits of eating locally grown food—which is likely to be more nutritious, to come from more humanely treated animals, and to be better for the environment—are manifold.

But locavores have some blind spots of their own, most notably when it comes to the experiences of workers on small family farms. As the political scientist Margaret Gray discovered when she set about interviewing farm laborers in New York’s Hudson Valley, the vast majority of these workers are undocumented immigrants or guest workers who toil under abysmal conditions, often working sixty- to seventy-hour weeks for dismal pay. “We live in the shadows,” one worker told her. “They treat us like nothing,” said another. In her book Labor and the Locavore, Gray asked the butcher on a small farm why so few of his customers seemed to notice this.

“They don’t eat the workers,” the farmer told her.

“He went on to explain that, in his experience, his consumers’ primary concern is with what they put in their bodies,” Gray wrote, “and so the labor standards of farmworkers simply do not register as a priority.”]

eyal press, from dirty work: essential labor and the hidden toll of inequality in america, 2021

[marlinspirkhall]

well of course i have to ask about your "subnautica au" wip!!

AOS, Spuhura, Kirsulu, maybe Spones and Chapel/M'Benga... I drafted entirely too many side characters for this & had to start looking into subnautica speed runs, because you just know that 400+ Starfleet officers are going to make it off that planet within 6 days

The premise of this is there are Kelvin Pods which are smaller than Life Pods, though the K-pods have more in common with the life pods we see in the game. I gave Sulu a concussion because he was the stronger swimmer & then Jim almost gets eaten by a big fish but once they connect with the rest of the crew it's fine. there's a lot outlined from 2021 but I abandoned it and still need to finish it one day 😭

Excerpt:

If he squints, he can just make out a mop of dark hair poking out of the Lifepod in the distance, and he waves his flares until he gets their attention. On the radio, the conversation continues. “- moreover, travelling without a radiation suit… Captain?" Spock's voice is distorted. “What?” Bones says, his voice significantly closer. There's the sound of footsteps, and then Bones' head pops up beside Spock's. “Jim?!” his voice says, about the same volume as Spock's. “YES. RADIO BROKE,”Jim signs frantically. “WE SWIM 2 U.” “No, Jim, stay where you are!” Bones says. “We'll come to you!” Jim shakes his flares angrily. “OUR POD IS PIECE OF SHIT.” “Captain,” He can almost hear Spock's raised eyebrow. “Are your floatation devices stable?” “4 NOW.” “Then stay there!" Bones yells. “We've already lost-” he stops, and Jim tenses. “LOST WHT?” The radio cuts off abruptly, and Jim shields his eyes with a hand. It's difficult to make out without his glasses, but he's pretty sure Bones and Spock are having an argument. Sulu climbs the ladder, and peers into the distance. “What's going on?” Jim shakes his head. “I'm not sure.” The radio connects again. “This is a secure channel,” Spock says. Jim and Sulu exchange a look. Slowly, Jim raises one flare. “RECEIVING.” “Only forty-seven crew members have made contact so far,” Bones begins. His voice is heavy. “Forty-nine, if we include the two of you.” Jim swallows. That leaves over three-hundred crewmembers unaccounted for. He had been lulled into a false sense of security by the radio- for a moment, it had sounded like the regular Open Channel on The Enterprise, and he could almost believe he was back on the bridge, monitoring the chatter as they went about their daily business. “And we know Uhura is safe, because of Spock's connection to her.” There's a slight hesitation in his voice, and he wonders what Bones isn't telling him- or what Spock isn't telling Bones about Uhura’s condition. “We think Chekov is with her.”

[WIP tag game]

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Batman And The Thunderbolts

by Thorau After a break in at Wayne Enterprises ends in a piece of tech being stolen by an unknown individual, Bruce Wayne aka Batman follows the device to New York to locate the device and the person responsible for stealing it. While there, Bruce makes some connections that he did not invision happening. Takes place in a universe nearly identical to the MCU. Words: 7451, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English Fandoms: Marvel, DC - Fandom, Batman - All Media Types, Hawkeye (TV 2021) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M Characters: Bruce Wayne, Kate Bishop, Clint Barton, James "Bucky" Barnes, Yelena Belova, Alexei Romanov (Marvel), John Walker (Marvel), Alfred Pennyworth, Roman Sionis Additional Tags: dc, Marvel - Freeform via https://ift.tt/CyHUrsT

[mariacallous]

Moscow’s decadeslong weaponization of energy against Europe became an incontrovertible fact in late 2021 and early 2022, when the Kremlin throttled natural gas deliveries to stop Germany and other European countries from aiding Ukraine. To make sure that Russia cannot use energy to wage war again, it’s time for the United States to place permanent sanctions on the remaining Russian gas pipelines to Europe, starting with the existing but soon-to-expire sanctions on Nord Stream 2, the inactive gas pipeline that connects Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea.

With Europe’s energy imports from Russia now down to a trickle, attention has increasingly focused on other questions—above all, just how reliable U.S. support for Ukraine will be going forward. Not only did the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives block nearly $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine last fall and early this year, but the Biden administration has also been slow-rolling aid, is about to let several billion dollars in aid expire unused, and continues to dither on allowing Ukraine to strike military and infrastructure targets with long-range weapons.

But recent developments suggest that the next big question mark concerning support for Ukraine and Europe’s ability to withstand Russia is emanating not from Washington, but from Berlin.

In the years running up to Russia’s most recent invasion of Ukraine, successive German governments under Chancellors Gerhard Schröder, Angela Merkel, and Olaf Scholz pursued a policy of accommodation toward an increasingly authoritarian and aggressive Russia under President Vladimir Putin. This included the concepts of Neue Ostpolitik—or the “new eastern policy,” a supposed reboot of former Chancellor Willy Brandt’s Cold War-era rapprochement toward the Soviet bloc—and Wandel durch Handel, or “change through trade.”

In theory, the two concepts were supposed to lead to stable relations and even democratic reforms in Russia, based on the notion that increased commercial ties with Europe would show Putin the benefits of peaceful relations with Germany and the West. Unlike Brandt—who knew that the carrot of Ostpolitik only worked with the stick of strong Western deterrence—successive German administrations not only let their defense capabilities atrophy, but also vetoed NATO contingency planning on its eastern frontier, lest the Kremlin be offended.

Close ties with a resource-rich Russia also coincided with the interests of the German corporate sector, which has long wielded an outsized influence over policy in Berlin and has rarely let pesky distractions such as national security or human rights get in the way of deals with authoritarian nations.

This is not just hindsight. For almost two decades, there was a persistent chorus of contemporaneous warnings against Berlin’s policies toward Russia, the folly of which remains as evident today as it was at the time of their enactment. Despite Putin’s increasingly brutal crackdowns at home, multiple occupations of neighboring countries, and mounting attacks against Western democracies, successive German leaders kept rolling out their tired nostrums on Russia to cover the increasingly sordid business and energy ties they forged with Moscow.

Each of the three German leaders contributed. Schröder signed a highly controversial energy deal with Russia only a few months before departing office in 2005—and went to work for Kremlin-controlled Gazprom shortly thereafter. He eventually held posts at multiple Russian state-controlled energy enterprises, including as chairman of the shareholders’ committee at the Gazprom-backed Nord Stream 1 pipeline project, which he had greenlit as chancellor.

Merkel, his successor, then pushed through another pipeline project—Nord Stream 2—even as Russians were conducting cyberattacks against the German parliament and a campaign of assassinations in Europe, including one just steps from the Chancellery in Berlin. Not even Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014 could stop the project.

In mid-2022, Merkel admitted that she had never been under any “illusion” that Putin would change his ways through increased trade with Germany—yet she pursued the deals anyway. To be fair, Merkel never ruled alone, and for 12 out of the 16 years of her chancellorship, the traditionally Russia-friendly Social Democrats held powerful positions. These included then-Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a close confidant of Schröder’s, and then-Economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who greenlit the sale of Germany’s largest domestic gas storage infrastructure to Gazprom.

Steinmeier, who embodies Berlin’s failed Russia policies like few other politicians, is today Germany’s ceremonial president and missed a splendid opportunity to step down on Feb. 24, 2022, following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Gabriel, meanwhile, has also paid little political cost. He belatedly admitted mistakes in his relations with the Kremlin and seems to have reinvented himself as a staunch trans-Atlanticist with plum positions at Atlantik-Brücke, Harvard University, and the Eurasia Group.

Scholz, in turn, clung to Nord Stream 2, which was close to completion as Russia’s war on Ukraine was brewing in 2021 and early 2022. He refused to consider sending even strictly defensive weapons to Ukraine, offering to provide 5,000 helmets instead. He finally gave in to overwhelming pressure to revoke the pipeline’s operating permit just hours before Putin launched the invasion.

To Scholz’s credit, just days after the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, he proclaimed a bold reorientation of German foreign policy—the so-called Zeitenwende, or change to a new era—which was aimed at finally facing up to the Russian threat and renewing Germany’s defense posture. Since then, Germany has become the second-biggest provider of aid to Ukraine after the United States, including military, financial, and humanitarian aid.

Little is left of the Zeitenwende today. Last month, Germany slashed military aid for Ukraine in a draft federal budget for 2025 released last month, roughly halving it from the previous year’s total of 8 billion euros ($8.9 billion). While Berlin’s defense budget has finally reached NATO’s minimum of 2 percent of its GDP, the German government shows little hurry to build up weapons stocks and raise military readiness. With a view to next year’s national elections and rising support for Kremlin-friendly parties shaping recent regional elections, Scholz appears to be positioning himself to campaign as the “peace chancellor” who kept Germany out of the war. Too much help for Ukraine would only get in the way. Obviously, Berlin slashing aid would deal a major blow to Kyiv’s war effort, especially given doubts about Washington’s reliability following the November elections and the possible need for Europe to stand on its own.

Even as a cloud of uncertainty rises over German military aid to Ukraine, the cloud over Berlin’s future energy policy could turn out to be just as dark. Germany accomplished the feat of replacing Russian gas supplies in an astoundingly short time, but it’d be naïve to think that there won’t be strong pressure from German corporations and across much of the political spectrum to restore commercial ties with Russia the moment that a cease-fire between Moscow and Kyiv were announced. This pressure would be especially acute in the energy sector, where Germany long sought deals for relatively cheap pipeline gas from Russia. Germany’s energy options have shrunk even further following the shutdown of the last of its nuclear power plants last year.

It’s in the interest of the United States and all supporters of a free and peaceful Europe that Germany does not go back to its old Russia tricks.

Fortunately, the United States can help ensure that this does not happen. In 2019, the U.S. Congress passed limited, technology-calibrated sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline—in the form of the bipartisan Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act—resulting in a one-year delay in construction as Russia scrambled to find other technical means to complete the project. But the law, which was expanded in scope a year later, will sunset at the end of this year if Congress doesn’t act. Even though Nord Stream 2 has never come into operation, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently introduced new legislation that would renew the sanctions.

This should be a no-brainer for Congress. Already, the Senate Armed Services Committee and Banking Committee have reportedly approved extending the sanctions via an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act. All that is required now is for the leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to sign off, which is likely to happen soon.

The problem, however, is the White House. In late 2021, even as Putin was amassing troops at Ukraine’s doorstep, the Biden administration waived the sanctions that had delayed Nord Stream 2. It made a deal with the outgoing Merkel government: In exchange for sanctions relief, Berlin promised national and EU-level sanctions the moment that Russia “attempt[s] to use energy as a weapon or commit[s] further aggressive acts against Ukraine.”

Despite clear evidence that the Kremlin was already undersupplying European gas storage and threatening Moldova following its 2019 election of a pro-Western government, no German-led sanctions were forthcoming. Instead, the Merkel government fast-tracked approvals and dispatched envoys to Washington just weeks before the Russian invasion to lobby Congress to spare Putin’s pipeline. Biden and Scholz—who replaced Merkel as chancellor in December— finally stopped the project shortly before Russian tanks rolled across Ukraine’s frontier.

There is no excuse for a reprise. The era of Gazprom’s domination of Europe must finally be over, and neither the German business community nor the country’s pro-Kremlin political factions should contribute to undermining European peace and stability again. And if the Biden administration—which has pandered to Berlin to the exclusion of most other European allies—decides to oppose bipartisan congressional plans to extend sanctions, it should rethink that approach.

After all the sacrifice of the last few years, there is no reason to let malign Russian energy interests use their friends in Germany to creep back into Europe. And whoever wins the U.S. presidential election in November, American policy toward Europe should no longer pay such lopsided attention to the opinions of Berlin.

Biden, however, may once again be accommodating Scholz’s worst instincts if he intends to block the renewal of Nord Stream 2 sanctions, which will expire if Congress does not act. On Capitol Hill, support for sanctions renewal is bipartisan. It’s time for Biden and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin—who both have less than five months left in office—to bolster Europe’s long-term security by allowing the extension of sanctions.

While they’re at it, Biden and Cardin might also encourage new laws to prohibit, once and for all, former public officials from working for Russian state-owned-enterprises or their subsidiaries. And they should pressure Berlin to do likewise. Otherwise, Russian interests will make sure that a whole lot of trade without much change is coming down the pipeline.

[alexzalben]

Apple TV+'s Monsterverse Series Gets a Title... And Godzilla

Apple TV+'s Monsterverse spinoff series has a title: MONARCH

MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS

...and some first-look images revealing Godzilla is in the show.

Today, Apple TV+ announced the title of its highly anticipated sci-fi drama based on Legendary’s Monsterverse as “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” and unveiled the first images from the 10-episode series starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski.

Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga – spanning three generations – reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.  “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is co-developed by Chris Black ("Severance," "Star Trek: Enterprise," "Outcast,") and Matt Fraction ("Hawkeye”). Matt Shakman (“Wandavision”) directs the first two episodes. 

Hailing from Legendary Television, the series is executive produced by Black, Fraction and Shakman alongside Joby Harold (“Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”) and Tory Tunnell  (“Spinning Out,” “Underground”) from Safehouse Pictures, Matt Shakman ("Wandavision"), Andy Goddard ("Carnival Row, "Downton Abbey"), Brad Van Arragon ("Yellowjackets, "Carnival Row"), and Andrew Colville (“Severance,” “Star Trek: Discovery”). Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship with the film franchise. Legendary Entertainment’s Monsterverse is an epic entertainment universe of interconnected stories that bring together popular culture’s most titanic forces of nature. Witness humanity’s greatest battle for survival as we fight for our world in the face of a catastrophic new reality—the monsters of our myths and legends are real. Beginning in 2014 with Godzilla and continuing with 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the Monsterverse has accumulated close to two billion dollars globally at the box office and is ever-expanding, with the highly anticipated sequel “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

[anotheruserwithnoname]

What we know about Jackdaw so far

(EDIT Jan 21, 2023: This piece has been updated to include a little bit of new information as Jenna Coleman made her first media confirmation of the new movie in her recent Telegraph interview)

So, as Jenna Coleman begins what will hopefully be a successful run in the play Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (stream please, National Theatre Live) my thoughts turn to a rather mysterious project she was involved in just before Christmas - somehow as she was in the midst of rehearsals for the play. Jackdaw - as the project has been referred, though this may not be the final title - has had only scant regional media coverage and I admit that if not for that scant coverage I would be starting to wonder if this project was real or some sort of nethoax like a certain alleged lost film Tumblr was on about for a while in the fall.

Since there have been numerous posts on the topic here in recent weeks (mostly by @oswincoleman who has done an amazing job keeping track), I thought I’d try and distil what major information is known (or not known) about this film so far. Spoiler break for length.

1. As I said, it is not known if Jackdaw is the official name, or a working title, or some sort of cover title like “Blue Harvest” disguised the filming of Return of the Jedi; but that would have to mean “Jackdaw” is connected to some major enterprise, which it doesn’t appear to be. Although I saw someone ask if maybe this was connected to Sandman coming a few months after its renewal by Netflix (and Netflix allegedly being connected to Jackdaw, not to mention a comics-accurate hair-colour change by Jenna), there’s no sign of any connection to Sandman or any other franchise (Mason Alexander Park of Sandman said the other day they don’t expect to resume filming till the summer); and despite the director having worked on Doctor Who before, there’s been nothing to suggest it’s related in anyway to that either (and they’d be talking Disney+ or BBC not Netflix if it was).

2. As of mid-January, all we have heard about it is from social media posts and a few “what are they filming?”-style stories on local/regional news sites, plus a casting call for extras that was posted in December. Recent major media coverage of Jenna - including about her hair colour change - have made no reference to the project.

3. Jenna herself has only made reference to this production by way of a couple of enigmatic Instagram Stories posts, one showing a motorcycle, another showing camera equipment. According to social media, she filmed her role over the course of about a week or so in mid-December. Despite this, people purporting to be insiders on the production have claimed she has a major role in it. Speculation is she might go back to film more after the play wraps. But social media reports filming on Jackdaw wrapped in mid-January. Filming apparently took place in the north of England, including Hartlepool.

3.5. Interestingly, Jenna has made no reference to the film in recent interviews, including the one with Graham Norton who surely must have been aware of the social media reports if nothing else; even when she was under her NDA for Sandman back in 2021 she was at least still able to acknowledge she was filming “something” recently even if she couldn’t say what. Jackdaw does not seem to something on the scale of a Marvel movie, so I can’t see her not being allowed to at least acknowledge the film - unless maybe the producers of the Lemons play asked her not to, perhaps so as not to take away from the play. To be fair, if you’re promoting a specific event it wouldn’t do to spend the limited time available talking about Jackdaw, Wilderness, Sandman S2, Klokkenluider, War Rooms... right?

5. Who is involved in Jackdaw? Other than Jenna, it appears the lead actor is one Thomas Turgoose, known for the This is England films and TV series in the UK (an unknown to me; he was in one of the Kingsmen films too; I see Jenna also began following him on Instagram at some point). A casting call for a scene suggested Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jenna’s co-star in the upcoming Wilderness, is also in it but I haven’t seen much more on that. And Jenna reportedly has a stunt double. Personnel from The Sandman are also involved such as the cinematographer as well as the director is reportedly Jamie Childs, Jenna’s current boyfriend who directed her main episode of SM. If reports are accurate it makes this an interesting hybrid of her most recent TV projects.

6. Around the time of filming, as we know, Jenna dyed her hair a bright blonde, a look she debuted at an event she found time to attend just before the holidays. It is not yet known if she did it for the film, for the play (as she’s kept it and yellowish hair for a play called Lemons, etc., makes sense), or both. Or maybe she just decided to go blonde. The fact she’s still dark-haired on the posters for the play suggests it was a decision made after the initial publicity photo shoots for the play were done.

6.5 Surprisingly, Jenna didn’t make an Instagram post about changing her hair colour. Indeed, except for a couple of play-related posts and one set of pics taken while preparing for a pre-blonde event, she was all but radio silent on Instagram during December (she didn’t do a year in review for Instagram Stories either, nor did she post anything related to the event she attended where she unveiled the new hairdo). Which does make sense if she was shooting a movie, commuting, preparing for the play, etc.

7. There’s apparently a rave sequence in the film with police (including apparently riot cops, at least based on the casting call), for which some photos from the set have emerged. Jenna, as noted, apparently has a stunt double possibly related to motorcycle riding?

8. Social media have said this is a film being made for Netflix, but Netflix has yet to make any announcement regarding such a production. Obviously, no hints of a release date have come out (and remembering the long wait for a release on Klokkenluider, scenes for which Jenna filmed 2 years ago, it may be a while). According to the social media reports, this is a feature-length film, not a short, intended for cinemas.

I’m sure I missed a few (and likely made some mistakes too) but these are the major bullet points as I understand them. Despite claims of Jenna having a major role in the show, I’m a little skeptical given how little time she appears to have spent filming (and the fact she squeezed this in while in the midst of rehearsals for the play). The fact we have a pretty clear indication of when she went blonde (between her event in early December with dark hair, followed a couple weeks later by her attending an event with blonde hair), I don’t think it’s a case of her having done more filming earlier that we don’t know about (unless she changes hair colour during the film ).

My gut is telling me it’ll be the same as Klokkenluider, for which Jenna indeed plays a major role but according to reviews does not actually appear throughout the film. In Jackdaw, Jenna could be playing a major role - but one that only involves her in a few scenes. Time will tell. And until or unless someone - production company, one of the actors, Netflix - actually releases some sort of info, we’re stuck for now with speculation, guesswork and Instagram posts.

Update: January 21, 2023: Jenna Coleman was the subject of a major interview with the Daily Telegraph magazine. The article is behind a paywall, but it does confirm that Jenna did film a movie called Jackdaw, dyed her hair for the film, and apparently plays a “pixie punk biker” in the movie. The plot thickens!

[govindhtech]

Space Tech: Private Ventures and Mars Exploration

Space Tech

Beyond intrepid exploration, space technology has advanced to address pressing issues on Earth. It is becoming more and more essential to the effective operation of contemporary societies and their economic growth. Space has the potential to directly affect billions of people’s lives and open up large-scale, highly impactful solutions.

A broad term for satellites, space stations, ground stations, tracking and monitoring centers, downstream analytics and artificial intelligence, software, and other technologies, SpaceTech offers innovative ways to solve global concerns. Satellites increase communication, navigation, and earth observation capacity at low cost even in remote locations. Satellite-based earth observation data is vital, accurate, and reliable for data-driven decision-making by businesses and governments.

The underserved and otherwise unprofitable regions can benefit from high-speed connectivity thanks to the satellites. The application of action plans for intelligent agriculture, resource management (land and water), infrastructure development (urban and rural), climate and weather monitoring, environmental protection (including reducing the risk of disaster), and other purposes can all benefit from the use of satellite data.

Aerospace Innovation

The space industry is predicted to increase in value from USD 360 billion in 2018 to USD 558 billion by 2026 and roughly USD 1 trillion by 2040. Even though the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is one of the world’s top space agencies and is working on projects like the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC) and the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), India currently only makes up 2%, or USD 7 Bn, of this market value.

One reason could be that the private sector’s contribution to the Indian space industry has primarily consisted of ISRO subcontracting, with ISRO historically handling the crucial value addition activities internally. Because of this, Indian private companies have lagged behind other world leaders in SpaceTech in terms of end-to-end capabilities.

The publication of SpaceCom Policy 2020, Space RS Policy 2020, Geospatial Policy 2021, and other policies, along with the creation of organizations like NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN–SPACe), have created a national push to expedite the private sector’s involvement in the Indian space area. The Department of Space is also working on a comprehensive Space Act and other policies, including launch vehicle and space exploration policies.

Because of our natural curiosity and desire to understand the universe, space travel has long fascinated people.

Recently, private enterprise and international cooperation have transformed space exploration.

This article will explore the changing face of space exploration and emphasize the importance of international collaboration and private industry.

New Space Technologies

Pioneers of Personal Space Travel

NASA, Roscosmos, and ESA were the only government space agencies allowed to explore space. However, private companies leading space innovation changed everything:

SpaceX since 2002 has resupplied the ISS, developed reusable rocket technology, and prepared to colonize Mars.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin offers professional and recreational suborbital and orbital spaceflight.

Rick Branson’s suborbital space tourism company, Virgin Galactic.

Innovating, competing, and seeking commercial opportunities beyond Earth are redefining space exploration in private space ventures.

Space Exploration Companies

International Space Cooperation

Space exploration requires international cooperation even as private businesses grow:

The Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS) is a global collaboration marvel. European, Japanese, Canadian, Russian, and US space agencies participate.

Mars exploration: NASA, ESA, and others work on Curiosity and Mars Sample Return.

The Artemis Accords outlines global cooperation on the Moon and beyond, inviting international partners to lunar exploration.

Global Collaboration and Private Enterprises Benefits

Space exploration benefits from private sector involvement and international cooperation in a number of ways.

Innovation: By bringing in competition and innovation, private endeavors lower costs and advance technology.

Commercialization: Businesses worldwide can take advantage of commercial endeavors to expand their satellite deployment, space tourism, and resource exploitation capabilities.

Shared Resources: Working together, nations can pool resources, exchange knowledge, and take on challenging projects.

Scientific Discovery: Across national boundaries, international cooperation increases the possibility of scientific discovery and exploration.

Difficulties and Things to Think About

Although private and international partnerships present notable benefits, they also present certain challenges.

Regulation: To address new challenges, the framework governing international cooperation and private space endeavors needs to change.

Resource Management: A complex ethical and legal challenge is the responsible use of space resources, such as lunar mining.

Space Debris: Coordinated actions ought to tackle the expanding problem of space debris and environmentally friendly space operations.

Space Travel Prospects

Future space exploration could lead to asteroid mining, planet colonization, and scientific breakthroughs.

Space exploration is entering a new era as private companies and multinational partnerships change the space environment.

Space exploration is more accessible, sustainable, and transformative than ever thanks to private innovation and international collaboration. It shows our willingness to push the limits and our enduring spirit of exploration.

Mars Rover

What is Mars Rover?

A robotic vehicle that investigates the surface of Mars is called a rover. Rovers are long-range, remotely controlled vehicles that gather data and take images while traveling great distances. They have found evidence of water, ancient life, and possible resources on Mars, among many other significant discoveries.

Six Mars rovers have been successful so far:

In 1997, Sojourner became the first rover to set foot on Mars. During 83 days, it investigated the Ares Vallis region. The twin rovers Spirit (2004) and Opportunity (2004) touched down on Mars in 2004. For many years, they investigated the Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, respectively. Opportunity stopped operating in 2018 and Spirit became stuck in 2010.

Gale Crater is presently being explored by Curiosity (2012). It has found evidence of ancient lakes and rivers, among many other significant discoveries.

The Jezero Crater region is being explored in Perseverance (2021). In addition to gathering samples of rock and regolith broken rock and soil for potential return to Earth, it is searching for indications of prehistoric life.

The first Chinese rover to set foot on Mars is Zhurong (2021). It is investigating the area of Utopia Planitia.

An essential component of our Mars exploration are the Mars rovers. They have made significant contributions to our understanding of the Red Planet’s potential for habitability.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[neohumancapitalism]

Homesteading for the Homeless:

How Converting Empty Commercial Spaces into Indoor Farms Can Address Food Insecurity and Unemployment

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high vacancy rates for commercial spaces in metropolitan areas, especially malls and skyscrapers. At the same time, homelessness remains a significant issue, especially in coastal cities. One solution to address both these problems is to convert empty commercial spaces into indoor farms and communal living areas for homeless Americans, owned and operated by their workers.

Indoor farming has emerged as a sustainable and efficient method for producing high yields of crops in a small space, regardless of weather or climate conditions. Vertical farming, a method of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, has gained popularity in recent years as a way to maximize space and improve efficiency. Repurposing vacant commercial buildings could create a new industry that addresses food insecurity while providing employment for the homeless.

According to a report from CBRE, the United States had a 16.4% office space vacancy rate at the end of 2020, the highest it has been since 2011. The retail sector was also struggling, with a national vacancy rate of 10.5% in the first quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, homelessness remains a significant issue in coastal cities, with an estimated 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in January 2020, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Startups in the vertical farming industry have been on the rise in recent years. According to AgFunder, an online platform that connects investors with agtech startups, there were over 60 vertical farming startups that raised over $1.2 billion in funding in 2020. These startups are using innovative techniques to grow crops in urban areas, close to consumers, and reduce transportation costs and emissions.

Converting vacant commercial buildings into indoor farms using vertical farming techniques would provide employment for the homeless and communal living spaces. However, these indoor farms could also be operated as worker-owned commercial enterprises. Communal living spaces for homeless individuals would provide a sense of community and stability, as well as a chance to learn valuable skills through participation in the farming process. By operating the indoor farms as worker-owned enterprises, homeless individuals could take ownership of their work and have a say in the direction of the business.

Homesteading using vertical farming is an opportunity to work with individuals who share the same interests and values. For young people, WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) provides opportunities to travel around the world and learn about sustainable agriculture practices. Similarly, converting commercial spaces into worker-owned indoor farms could create new opportunities for homeless individuals to participate in the farming process and learn valuable skills, while also taking ownership of their work.

While there are challenges to converting commercial buildings into worker-owned indoor farms, such as significant investment and expertise, the benefits are significant for those experiencing homelessness and the wider community. By creating worker-owned indoor farms, we could create a new industry that provides stability, food security, and employment opportunities, while building a stronger sense of community.

The conversion of vacant commercial buildings into worker-owned indoor farms using vertical farming techniques and communal living spaces for the homeless could address the challenges facing our society. We have the potential to create a new industry that provides stability, food security, and employment opportunities, while building a stronger sense of community. Let us consider homesteading with worker-owned indoor farming as a solution for the future.

[payalkulkarni]

SAP BTP Consumption Credits: Empowering the Intelligent Enterprise

To address the unique needs of businesses, SAP has introduced the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) and a revolutionary approach to licensing with RISE with SAP. In this blog, we'll explore the concept of SAP BTP Consumption Credits and delve into the capabilities of SAP services BTP, particularly its focus on Business Process Intelligence.

SAP BTP Consumption Credits

SAP's approach to licensing, known as RISE with SAP, offers a unique and flexible solution. Instead of a predefined set of tools, RISE with SAP provides cloud credits to license holders. These credits can be used across various areas of SAP BTP, enabling businesses to tailor their investment to their specific needs.

The flexibility of SAP BTP Consumption Credits is a game-changer. It grants businesses the freedom to choose from a wide array of options, such as SAP S/4HANA integration, database management, and cutting-edge analytics tools. With over 2,000 prebuilt integrations available, businesses can seamlessly connect their SAP systems with other platforms, enhancing their operational capabilities.

Business Process Intelligence

One of the most compelling aspects of RISE with SAP is its robust Business Process Intelligence capabilities. These capabilities are designed to help organizations optimize their processes and gain a deeper understanding of their operations. There are seven key components of Business Process Intelligence:

Analyze: Data scientists can dig deep into system data, gaining insights into what's working well and where improvements are needed. Understanding user behavior is a critical element of this component.

Design and Simulate: Using existing business data, users can create and run simulations to identify the most effective strategies and processes.

Improve: This component focuses on enhancing efficiency through AI, no-code automation, and advanced process automation tools, including SAP Intelligent RPA.

Roll Out and Govern: Efficiently managing and governing processes for end-users is facilitated by this component. Collaboration and documentation sharing become seamless.

Monitor: Keeping a close eye on solution performance ensures that operations run smoothly and issues are addressed promptly.

Model and Manage "Home Base": This component offers a central hub for departments to collaborate and view core processes, ensuring streamlined operations.

Benchmark: By comparing business performance to aggregated industry data provided by SAP, this component offers valuable insights and actionable recommendations for improvement.

Business Process Intelligence is further bolstered by SAP's acquisition of Signavio in January 2021, which brought additional expertise and capabilities into this already powerful suite.

Conclusion

SAP BTP Consumption Credits, in conjunction with RISE with SAP, are ushering in a new era of flexibility and adaptability in business technology. SAP BTP, with its four foundational pillars, is designed to empower the intelligent enterprise by providing essential tools for analytics, application development, database management, and access to intelligent technologies.

The Business Process Intelligence capabilities within SAP BTP and RISE with SAP offer a comprehensive suite of tools for process optimization and enhanced understanding of operations. This integrated approach to technology and licensing provides businesses with the means to stay competitive and efficient in an ever-evolving business landscape of SAP plant maintenance.

[ausetkmt]

https://moguldom.com/445821/dr-ray-winbush-and-the-funded-attack-against-lineage-based-reparations-policy-3-things-to-know/?s=09

Dr. Ray Winbush And The Funded Attack Against Lineage-Based Reparations Policy: 3 Things To Know

From L-R) Dr. Raymond Winbush (photo: Morgan State University), Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor (photo: National Black Cultural Information Trust), Dr. William Darity (Duke University), Kamilah Moore (photo: https://oag.ca.gov/ab3121/members/bios)

Reparations is a heated topic, not just between Black and White Americans but within the Black community as well. When it comes to who should receive reparations, there is a school of thought that it should be given to Black Americans in general. Other reparations scholars, such as Dr. William Darity, Duke University professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, say reparations should only go to Black people who can trace their ancestry back to a Black slave in America.

Recently, there was a panel discussion featuring pro-reparations advocates, such as Dr. Raymond Winbush, who are against lineage-based reparations. Many of the organizations have ties to major funding. Here are three things to know.

1. Winbush: lineage advocates are like slave catchers

Raymond Winbush compared reparations lineage advocates to “slave catchers.” During the panel discussion, a part of which was posted on Twitter by an account named Non-Human Media, Winbush said people who demanded that reparations go only to those who have shown proof of slave ancestry were like “slave catchers” during slavery who insisted that freed Black people show their papers proving they were not slaves. He added that lineage-based advocates also want to depend on documentation that is created by white people. He added too that lineage-based reparation advocates were “pathologically anti-Pan-African,” meaning they were not advocating for the Black community worldwide.

Pan-African activist Winbush is a research professor and the director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. He has also served as a faculty member and administrator at a number of universities, including Oakwood University, Alabama A&M University, Vanderbilt University, and Fisk University.

2. Winbush and funding

Of the people on the panel, which also include Nkechi Taifa (founder, principal and CEO of The Taifa Group LLC, a social enterprise firm whose mission is to advance justice) and Akinyele Umoja (a founding member of the New Afrikan People’s Organization and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement), Non-Human Media tweeted, “Reminder, these people were given a $500,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation to “challenge cultural misinformation and disinformation surrounding reparations.”

Dr. Winbush’s research has received funding in the form of grants from the National Science Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, West African Research Association, Pitney Bowes, Inc., the Ford Motor Company, and the Kellogg Foundation, according to his Morgan State University bio.

Also part of the panel discussion of anti-lineage reparations advocates was Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, a cultural communications specialist based in Washington, D.C. area. She is the founder of the National Black Cultural Information Trust. According to her bio on the organization’s website, she is a descendant of enslaved Africans and maroons in Georgia and South Carolina. 

Additionally, Aiwuyor is a leader and advocate for multicultural digital media. She is the founder of Black Bloggers Connect, the first social network dedicated to supporting Black bloggers around the world, and founder of the Blogger Week Un/Conference, a multicultural social media networking conference held yearly in Washington, DC.

In 2021, the National Black Cultural Information Trust Inc. was awarded a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for its work to correct cultural disinformation, advance reparatory justice, and ​​share cultural information, stories, and resources that uplift the collective freedom of Black communities, according to a press release.

The grant is part of roughly $80 million in awards MacArthur announced in support of the foundation’s Equitable Recovery initiative, centered on advancing racial and ethnic justice. The initiative is funded by MacArthur’s social bonds, issued in response to the crises of the pandemic and racial inequity.

3. Lineage-based advocates: legally safest route

In a debate that threatens to divide the reparations movement, some advocates want reparations to be distributed based on race, going to all Black people in the U.S. Others, like reparations scholar Dr. William Darity, insist reparations must be based on lineage, paid only to descendants of enslaved people in the U.S.

Reparations based on lineage have a better chance of overcoming political and legal challenges, according to Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Berkeley Law School.

Reparations based on lineage, as opposed to race, are less likely to be overturned in court, Berkeley Law School Dean Chemerinsky said during testimony in early March 2022 at one of the commission’s hearings, The New York Times reported.

The historic California Reparations Task Force, chaired by Kamilah Moore, elected to provide reparations based on lineage.

Moore is a reparatory justice scholar and an attorney. She was elected task force chairwoman at the group’s first meeting on June 1, 2021. When the task force opted for a lineage-based route, she said, that not going with a lineage-based approach would “aggrieve the victims of slavery.”

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Sussexes: a content-free zone by u/Mickleborough

Sussexes: a content-free zone You have contracts to produce content for TV and audio. You don’t have much experience, so naturally you hire the best people that money can buy.The persons listed below aren’t necessarily the best, but they do have solid track records. They’re of course individuals whom the Sussexes engaged to get their Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio enterprises off the ground:- Ben Browning, Head of Content for Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio. March 2021 - March 2023. To ‘[guide the Sussexes’] partnership with Netflix and Spotify’. The Sussexes’ vision for Archewell was ‘a global production company that will spotlight diverse voices and share uplifting stories’ to connect with a young, worldwide audience. Returned to his old job.- Chanel Pysnik, Head of Nonfiction, Film and TV (unscripted), May 2021 - present. To oversee nonfiction and documentary film productions, working with Netflix. So how’s Invictus coming along then?- Rebecca Sananes, Head of Audio. July 2021 - Dec 2022 (under 18 months). Pissed off, in all senses of the word. There’s a replacement, but for how long? Who knows, Madame might find another platform.- Nishika Kumble, Senior VP, Scripted Television - August 2021 - present. To work closely with Netflix to ‘create and develop new scripted fare from diverse voices that informs, elevates, and inspires’. Good luck with Bad Manners.One assumes that the Sussexes would outline their thoughts. Then their talented employees would run with them, and hey presto! Nice, shiny content. The Sussexes didn’t even have to come up with ideas themselves - they attempted to mine the public for them. According to the Sun archived / unarchived, the Archewell website touted:Private Eye is a satirical British magazine which picked up the profiteering angle.This ended on a firm note:So there.What happened to the content?The Sussexes didn’t have to be a fully fledged filmmaker like James Cameron. No one expected them to churn out hits like Spielberg. They didn’t even have to do as well as Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine production company.Miuccia Prada, the creative director at Prada, has a PhD in political science and studied mime. She has no design training. She does have good designers, and each season outlines her vision to them. The Sussexes could’ve adopted this method - presumably the Obamas do, with their Higher Ground Productions. But seemingly not. post link: https://ift.tt/M8m46vT author: Mickleborough submitted: July 12, 2023 at 09:18PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[twnenglish]

7 Business You Can Start From Your Home

The concept of working from home has gained immense popularity in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology and changing work dynamics. Starting a business from home not only offers flexibility and convenience but also allows individuals to pursue their passion and generate income on their own terms.

By embracing these business ideas and adapting to the changing business landscape, you can carve out a successful niche for yourself and build a thriving enterprise from the convenience of your home.

Whether you're a stay-at-home parent, a digital nomad, or simply someone looking for more independence and flexibility in their work, these business ideas offer the chance to turn your passion into a profitable venture.

In this article, we will explore seven business ideas that you can start right from your home. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, a freelancer, or someone looking for additional income streams, these home-based ventures offer diverse opportunities to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit.

Explore the advantages of home-based entrepreneurship and Find the perfect opportunity to start your own venture and achieve work-life balance.

7 Business You Can Start From Your Home

1. Freelance Services

In the digital age, freelancing has become a popular choice for professionals in various industries. Utilize your skills and expertise to offer freelance services such as content writing, graphic design, web development, social media management, or virtual assistance. Join online platforms and marketplaces to connect with clients worldwide and build a successful freelance career.

Freelancing has experienced a significant surge in popularity, providing individuals with the opportunity to utilize their skills and expertise to offer a wide range of services. According to a recent study by Upwork, the world's largest freelancing platform, the freelance workforce grew by 22% between 2019 and 2021, with over 59 million Americans freelancing in some capacity.

This trend is not limited to the United States; countries around the world are witnessing a similar rise in the freelance economy.

The freelance market offers a diverse array of services that can be conducted from the comfort of one's home. For example, content writing has become increasingly in-demand as businesses strive to maintain a strong online presence.

Companies are continuously seeking talented writers to create engaging blog posts, articles, and website copy. Graphic design is another thriving freelance field, with businesses requiring eye-catching visuals for their marketing materials and digital platforms.

Freelancing is a great way to work from home and earn a living doing what you love. There are many different types of freelance services that you can offer, including:

Content writing

Graphic design

Web development

Social media management

Virtual assistance

To start a freelance business, you will need to:

Identify your skills and expertise.

Create a portfolio of your work.

Market your services online and offline.

Build relationships with clients.

Deliver high-quality work on time and within budget.

1. Identify Your Skills and Expertise

The first step to starting a freelance business is to identify your skills and expertise. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Once you know what you have to offer, you can start to think about the types of freelance services that you can provide.

Create a Portfolio of Your Work

Once you know what types of freelance services you want to offer, it's time to create a portfolio of your work. This will help you to showcase your skills and expertise to potential clients. Your portfolio can be a website, a blog, or a collection of samples of your work.

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