#Free online excel training

[eduhubspot]

If you're aiming to enhance your project management expertise, a PMP Weekend Boot Camp might be the perfect solution for you. In this article, we'll explore how a Virtual PMP Bootcamp can provide you with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to excel in the PMP exam and beyond.

 To ace the PMP exam, practice is crucial. A PMP simulator allows you to take mock exams under realistic conditions, helping you assess your progress and identify areas that need improvement.

[lindwurmkai]

hey, have you heard that pillowfort has ✨ drafts ✨ now? (as in, the ability to save your posts as drafts.) they're still working on the queue feature (update: it's done!), but drafts are a big step forward!

in case you missed it so far, pillowfort is like a cross between tumblr and dreamwidth/livejournal, with a simplified dashboard reminiscent of old school tumblr and some classic livejournal features such as communities, threaded comments, and the ability to make individual posts followers-only or mutuals-only.

what are communities? basically, central hubs for posts about any subject you want that, unlike hashtags, can be moderated. they may have rules, such as "[subject matter] must be tagged" for example. you can post directly to a community or reblog existing posts to it!

since the site is currently experiencing some financial trouble, i thought i'd help out by spreading the word once again.

edit: the fundraiser was a success! crisis averted! i knew we could do it :D

why you should give pillowfort a chance:

no ads

no venture capitalist funding

no spying on the users

completely free to use except for optional premium features

nsfw is allowed except for sexual depictions of minors. if you're unsure what exactly that means, their tos may help

communities and the privacy controls mentioned above are excellent features

great community, low drama compared to other websites (so far)

the site's features themselves encourage genuine connection and good-faith conversation over endless "discourse"

every blog can automatically be filtered by original posts only or reblogs only

reasons not to join:

if you enjoy algorithmic social media. there is no algorithm at all

if you want to post or look at machine-generated art. they're still finalising the wording and personally i hope some exception will be made for models trained on ethically sourced images, but basically an anti-AI rule is in the works (update: finished!)

if you cannot live without reblog additions (reblogging with comment). all discussions on a pillowfort post take place in the comments section, and only your own followers see your tags. this has its pros and cons for sure! a similar feature to scratch that itch may be implemented in the future, but it will never be exactly like on tumblr.

if you need everything to be an app. the website works fine in a mobile browser and a progressive web app will hopefully be released soon (basically it's like an app in your browser and on mobile these can be added to the homescreen like real apps i think? they have push notifications!), but there's not going to be a native app available through official app stores due to the restrictions of those stores.

other factors to consider:

yes, the userbase is still small. depending on your interests, activity may be very slow. but we can change that! and on the plus side, reblogging your post to a community is a good way to easily get more eyes on it; way more effective than simply adding tags imo

the site culture is a bit different than on tumblr. many people read everything that's been posted since the last time they were online and don't follow more users/communities than they can keep up with. it's still somewhat lacking in shitposts and heavy on "essays" but don't be afraid to post whatever 😅

there are no blog themes like we have them on tumblr as yet, but you can customise your blog's colours and use html/insert links and images in your blog description

likes literally do nothing except to let OP know you enjoyed their post. you can't look at a list of all your likes. beware!

the staff is small and development is slow. some highly anticipated planned features other than the aforementioned queue include: - multi-account management - dashboard filters/reading lists - post bookmarking (since likes don't work that way) but we don't know how soon any of those will be implemented.

there is a user-developed browser extension (well, a userscript) called tassel available that adds additional features much like tumblr's beloved xkit :)

✨ okay, so how do i sign up? ✨

if you're interested but confused by the sign-up process or still under the impression that you need to pay to sign up (false), i'll put some clarifications and invite codes under the read more below. plus a note on donating, premium features, the paypal issue etc.

in a nutshell:

it's free

signing up without an invite code is possible, but you may have to wait a short while - supposedly less than an hour atm. just submit your email to the waitlist

if you don't feel like waiting, you can either use an invite code from an existing user or pay $5 to sign up instantly

every user gets plenty of invite codes and we're all willing to hand them out at the drop of a hat. they're really not hard to come by

some invites to get you started (just click the link):

invite 1 ▪ invite 2 ▪ invite 3 ▪ invite 4 ▪ invite 5

invite 6 ▪ invite 7 ▪ invite 8 ▪ invite 9 ▪ invite 10

invite 11 ▪ invite 12 ▪ invite 13 ▪ invite 14 ▪ invite 15

invite 16 ▪ invite 17 ▪ invite 18 ▪ invite 19 ▪ invite 20

i'll try to periodically check if any have been used and cross those out.

...paypal issue?

ok so paypal doesn't like working with sites that allow nsfw. as a result, you need a credit card in order to donate to pillowfort, buy one of those insta-registration keys, or subscribe to premium features*. i personally happen to have a credit card and would be willing to help out anyone who trusts me enough to send the money to me via paypal, but i realise chances are only my friends will do this.

some users are currently organising various activities for the purpose of letting people who only have paypal contribute to the site's survival. it's not super relevant for new users and won't get you access to premium features, but i thought i'd mention it anyway in case someone loves the concept of the site so much they want to support it immediately. a fundraising community has been created to collect posts of that nature!

*premium features are strictly limited to two categories of things:

fun little extras that no one truly needs

higher image upload limits, because obviously big images take up bandwidth and are therefore a reason for increased costs

you will never need to pay for vital accessibility features or anything of the sort. :)

[nova--spark]

TFP: TIMESKIP | RID15 AU

Set 3 Years Post Predacons Rising & 1 Month post RID15 Finale [A Personal Rewrite/AU Of the TFP Kids Post TFP/RID]

Jasper, Nevada has become a quiet place for Jack, Miko and Rafael after their final goodbye with team Prime, and with Ratchet, when word that the Medic was needed reached their comms.

For the next 3 years, it was relative radio silence. No news from Cybertron, though they tried to reach out. They sent so many transmissions to their friends, yet not a single one returned to them.

Almost as if something blocked them from them, like something didn't want them in contact.

So, in the absence of their friends, their robotic family they had loved so much, the trio of kids put their all into making them proud.

They spent every day they could at Hangar E, and every year, on the anniversary of their departure, they would visit the old Outpost Omega-1.

They would hold hope for their friends to reach out, someday.

They had to...right?

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Miko dove head first into combat training, thanks to some strings pulled by Agent Fowler. When she wasn't sparring on a mat with her teachers, she was in the hangar, cheered on by Raf and Jack as she learned to translate those moves into the Apex Armor.

After some convincing too, of her parents when she turned 18, and some more strings pulled by Fowler, Miko made the base her home, and lived in Jasper full time. She'd even had her cats brought over from Japan, a fact that made her stay in the hangar less lonely, though she'd spent many dinners at Raf and Jack's homes regardless.

She'd trained her abilities in battle to a fine tuned machine, hoping for the chance to make Bulkhead proud when he walked through the groundbridge someday. Even took to a video diary, to catch him up on everything that had happened since they'd left Earth.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Rafael excelled in his studies to little surprise of many of the others in his presence. The young boy seemed to have matured overnight, and after a letter from Fowler to some colleagues in some colleges, Raf was skipped up a few grades, and was even taking some college courses online, to further his computing knowhow.

Taking up robotics as a hobby mostly, Rafael upkept the remaining Cybertronian tech left by their robotic team members. He remembered every lesson from Ratchet, and from the many times he also tried to help with Bee's voice box, so it was of little surprise to the team when Raf not only upkept but upgraded their base's tech. No better wifi could be found in Jasper, and access to every show they wanted was at their fingertips.

Still, Raf missed Bee, especially after seeing every transmission they sent go unanswered. His best friend had promised to visit, to write them back, call...had...he forgotten them?

He hoped not. Raf could never forget the scout, the one who'd help Raf find his own voice, among the chaos of his own home and family life.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Jack changed the most and the least at the same time. He was still a gentle and quiet soul, but he was fiercely protective now, of Miko and Raf. He dove into his studies, and even skipped a grade, to the surprise of his mother. Studying under her even, Jack learned medical care for his loved ones behalf, especially with all the bruises Miko returned with after her sparring lessons. He joined, once in a while, when he had the energy to, but his energy had shifted to making sure both of his teammates were ok. For his 18th birthday, his mother surprised him with a real motorcycle of his own, after seeing how much he missed Arcee and their rides around Jasper. And Agent Fowler, who had begun dating June at this point, helped hook up Jack with a job alongside him, mainly harmless paperwork, but it would pay better than slinging burgers at KO Drive Inn did, which he appreciated.

His free time was often spent fixing up his bike, and riding out far, along the routes him and Arcee would take. He really hoped their messages would reach them someday.

-0-0-0-0-0-0

Added Notes

Takes place 1yr after the ending of RID15/it's finale

June and Fowler got married by the time Jack is 19, which Jack actually was happy about, even if it shocked him a good bit at the start that they did begin to date.

Rafael has been checking every cryptid sighting website he used to, searching for any hint that Team Prime has come back.

Knockout has been, unbeknownst to Cybertronians and humans alike, been sneaking to Earth via rogue groundbridge of his own. It was where he lost Breakdown, and he continues to race still there [Yes this is bc of RID's use of his car model]

The kids came into contact with the Rescue Bots at some point, and they too have had issues contacting Cybertron, something that they tried to work on together but it did little in the end.

The 'Autobot' High Council had put a ban on travel to Earth, and had erased the coordinates from most databanks, as well as disrupting transmission from the kids to team Prime.

Crown City is located California for this AU

Outpost Omega-1 has been abandoned yes,the kids mainly use Hangar E, but regularly visit the old base since it's destruction.

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

wait whats wrong with poodle mixes?

doodle fans are known for not caring about genetic screenings or breeding based on temperament, and even more commonly just crossing poodles with breeds distant enough that the outcome is too wide a spectrum to reliably predict.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with doodles themselves in a vacuum, but they’re a fad “designer dog” breed right now. Greeders (greedy breeders) make all sorts of lofty promises to first-time dog owners. They claim every doodle is hypoallergenic (they aren’t) and doesn’t shed (they absolutely shed). They say they’re the perfect lovable family dog (that really depends on training and hoping the greeder didn’t breed a child-aggressive dog). They say they’re easy to train (not inherently, poodles tend to train easy but that doesn’t mean the mutt produced when crossing them with any other breed will be). They say they’re low maintenance (doodles typically have coats that mat VERY easily and must be brushed thoroughly 1-2 times daily, I have never seen a doodle keeper actually do this and if you see doodles in public or online they’re often matted from toe to tip, then yeh owner complains when a groomer has to literally shave the entire dog to get it free of mats).

Doodles are just genuinely a scam. It’s not the fault of the dogs, and a doodle has just as much capability to be an excellent companion dog as any other mutt, but they rarely get that chance because they’re bought on impulse to keep up with the growing fad. The greeders producing them are con artists who intentionally target first-time and uneducated dog owners because they’re an easier mark. Since they give poor advice to clients, many of these clients have no idea how to train their dogs or how to deal with socialization and behavior issues as they arise. That’s where you get the completely neurotic nightmares vets and pet groomers think about when they hear a doodle has an appointment.

Doodles also attract the most annoying elitist white women on the planet who will try to gun you down for saying poodle mix or mutt instead of doodle.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Twinkfrump Linkdump

I'm touring my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in CHICAGO (Apr 17), Torino (Apr 21) Marin County (Apr 27), Winnipeg (May 2), Calgary (May 3), Vancouver (May 4), and beyond!

Welcome to the seventeenth Pluralistic linkdump, a collection of all the miscellany that didn't make it into the week's newsletter, cunningly wrought together in a single edition that ranges from the first ISP to AI nonsense to labor organizing victories to the obituary of a brilliant scientist you should know a lot more about! Here's the other 16 dumps:

https://pluralistic.net/tag/linkdump/

If you're reading this (and you are!), it was delivered to you by an internet service provider. Today, the ISP industry is calcified, controlled by a handful of telcos and cable companies. But the idea of an "ISP" didn't come out of a giant telecommunications firm – it was created, in living memory, by excellent nerds who are still around.

Depending on how you reckon, The Little Garden was either the first or the second ISP in America. It was named after a Palo Alto Chinese restaurant frequented by its founders. To get a sense of that founding, read these excellent recollections by Tom Jennings, whose contributions include the seminal zine Homocore, the seminal networking protocol Fidonet, and the seminal third-party PC ROM, whence came Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and every other "PC clone" company.

The first installment describes how an informal co-op to network a few friends turned into a business almost by accident, with thousands of dollars flowing in and out of Jennings' bank account:

https://www.sensitiveresearch.com/Archive/TLG/TLG.html

And it describes how that ISP set a standard for neutrality, boldly declaring that "TLGnet exercises no control whatsoever over the content of the information." They introduced an idea of radical transparency, documenting their router configurations and other technical details and making them available to the public. They hired unskilled punk and queer kids from their communities and trained them to operate the network equipment they'd invented, customized or improvised.

In part two, Jennings talks about the evolution of TLG's radical business-plan: to offer unrestricted service, encouraging their customers to resell that service to people in their communities, having no lock-in, unbundling extra services including installation charges – the whole anti-enshittification enchilada:

https://www.sensitiveresearch.com/Archive/TLG/

I love Jennings and his work. I even gave him a little cameo in Picks and Shovels, the third Martin Hench novel, which will be out next winter. He's as lyrical a writer about technology as you could ask for, and he's also a brilliant engineer and thinker.

The Little Garden's founders and early power-users have all fleshed out Jennings' account of the birth of ISPs. Writing on his blog, David "DSHR" Rosenthal rounds up other histories from the likes of EFF co-founder John Gilmore and Tim Pozar:

https://blog.dshr.org/2024/04/the-little-garden.html

Rosenthal describes some of the more exotic shenanigans TLG got up to in order to do end-runs around the Bell system's onerous policies, hacking in the purest sense of the word, for example, by daisy-chaining together modems in regions with free local calling and then making "permanent local calls," with the modems staying online 24/7.

Enshittification came to the ISP business early and hit it hard. The cartel that controls your access to the internet today is a billion light-years away from the principled technologists who invented the industry with an ethos of care, access and fairness. Today's ISPs are bitterly opposed to Net Neutrality, the straightforward proposition that if you request some data, your ISP should send it to you as quickly and reliably as it can.

Instead, ISPs want to offer "slow-lanes" where they will relegate the whole internet, except for those companies that bribe the ISP to be delivered at normal speed. ISPs have a laughably transparent way of describing this: they say that they're allowing services to pay for "fast lanes" with priority access. This is the same as the giant grocery store that charges you extra unless you surrender your privacy with a "loyalty card" – and then says that they're offering a "discount" for loyal customers, rather than charging a premium to customers who don't want to be spied on.

The American business lobby loves this arrangement, and hates Net Neutrality. Having monopolized every sector of our economy, they are extremely fond of "winner take all" dynamics, and that's what a non-neutral ISP delivers: the biggest services with the deepest pockets get the most reliable delivery, which means that smaller services don't just have to be better than the big guys, they also have to be able to outbid them for "priority carriage."

If everything you get from your ISP is slow and janky, except for the dominant services, then the dominant services can skimp on quality and pocket the difference. That's the goal of every monopolist – not just to be too big to fail, but also too big to care.

Under the Trump administration, FCC chair Ajit Pai dismantled the Net Neutrality rule, colluding with American big business to rig the process. They accepted millions of obviously fake anti-Net Neutrality comments (one million identical comments from @pornhub.com addresses, comments from dead people, comments from sitting US Senators who support Net Neutrality) and declared open season on American internet users:

https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2021/attorney-general-james-issues-report-detailing-millions-fake-comments-revealing

Now, Biden's FCC is set to reinstate Net Neutrality – but with a "compromise" that will make mobile internet (which nearly all of use sometimes, and the poorest of us are reliant on) a swamp of anticompetitive practices:

https://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/blog/2024/04/harmful-5g-fast-lanes-are-coming-fcc-needs-stop-them

Under the proposed rule, mobile carriers will be able to put traffic to and from apps in the slow lane, and then extort bribes from preferred apps for normal speed and delivery. They'll rely on parts of the 5G standard to pull off this trick.

The ISP cartel and the FCC insist that this is fine because web traffic won't be degraded, but of course, every service is hellbent on pushing you into using apps instead of the web. That's because the web is an open platform, which means you can install ad- and privacy-blockers. More than half of web users have installed a blocker, making it the largest boycott in human history:

https://doc.searls.com/2023/11/11/how-is-the-worlds-biggest-boycott-doing/

But reverse-engineering and modding an app is a legal minefield. Just removing the encryption from an app can trigger criminal penalties under Section 1201 of the DMCA, carrying a five-year prison sentence and a $500k fine. An app is just a web-page skinned in enough IP that it's a felony to mod it.

Apps are enshittification's vanguard, and the fact that the FCC has found a way to make them even worse is perversely impressive. They're voting on this on April 25, and they have until April 24 to fix this. They should. They really should:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-401676A1.pdf

In a just world, cheating ripoff ISPs would the top tech policy story. The operational practices of ISPs effect every single one us. We literally can't talk about tech policy without ISPs in the middle. But Net Neutrality is an also-ran in tech policy discourse, while AI – ugh ugh ugh – is the thing none of us can shut up about.

This, despite the fact that the most consequential AI applications sum up to serving as a kind of moral crumple-zone for shitty business practices. The point of AI isn't to replace customer service and other low-paid workers who have taken to demanding higher wages and better conditions – it's to fire those workers and replace them with chatbots that can't do their jobs. An AI salesdroid can't sell your boss a bot that can replace you, but they don't need to. They only have to convince your boss that the bot can do your job, even if it can't.

SF writer Karl Schroeder is one of the rare sf practitioners who grapples seriously with the future, a "strategic foresight" guy who somehow skirts the bullshit that is the field's hallmark:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/07/the-gernsback-continuum/#wheres-my-jetpack

Writing on his blog, Schroeder describes the AI debates roiling the Association of Professional Futurists, and how it's sucking him into being an unwilling participant in the AI hype cycle:

https://kschroeder.substack.com/p/dragged-into-the-ai-hype-cycle

Schroeder's piece is a thoughtful meditation on the relationship of SF's thought-experiments and parables about AI to the promises of AI hucksters, who promise that a) "general artificial intelligence" is just around the corner and that b) it will be worth trillions of dollars.

Schroeder – like other sf writers including Ted Chiang and Charlie Stross (and me) – comes to the conclusion that AI panic isn't about AI, it's about power. The artificial life-form devouring the planet and murdering our species is the limited liability corporation, and its substrate isn't silicon, it's us, human bodies:

What’s lying underneath all our anxieties about AGI is an anxiety that has nothing to do with Artificial Intelligence. Instead, it’s a manifestation of our growing awareness that our world is being stolen from under us. Last year’s estimate put the amount of wealth currently being transferred from the people who made it to an idle billionaire class at $5.2 trillion. Artificial General Intelligence whose environment is the server farms and sweatshops of this class is frightening only because of its capacity to accelerate this greatest of all heists.

After all, the business-case for AI is so very thin that the industry can only survive on a torrent of hype and nonsense – like claims that Amazon's "Grab and Go" stores used "AI" to monitor shoppers and automatically bill them for their purchases. In reality, the stores used thousands of low-paid Indian workers to monitor cameras and manually charge your card. This happens so often that Indian technologists joke that "AI" stands for "absent Indians":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

Isn't it funny how all the really promising AI applications are in domains that most of us aren't qualified to assess? Like the claim that Google's AI was producing millions of novel materials that will shortly revolutionize all forms of production, from construction to electronics to medical implants:

https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/millions-of-new-materials-discovered-with-deep-learning/

That's what Google's press-release claimed, anyway. But when two groups of experts actually pulled a representative sample of these "new materials" from the Deep Mind database, they found that none of these materials qualified as "credible, useful and novel":

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c00643

Writing about the researchers' findings for 404 Media, Jason Koebler cites Berkeley researchers who concluded that "no new materials have been discovered":

https://www.404media.co/google-says-it-discovered-millions-of-new-materials-with-ai-human-researchers/

The researchers say that AI data-mining for new materials is promising, but falls well short of Google's claim to be so transformative that it constitutes the "equivalent to nearly 800 years’ worth of knowledge" and "an order-of-magnitude expansion in stable materials known to humanity."

AI hype keeps the bubble inflating, and for so long as it keeps blowing up, all those investors who've sunk their money into AI can tell themselves that they're rich. This is the essence of "a bezzle": "The magic interval when a confidence trickster knows he has the money he has appropriated but the victim does not yet understand that he has lost it":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/09/autocomplete-worshippers/#the-real-ai-was-the-corporations-that-we-fought-along-the-way

Among the best debezzlers of AI are the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy's Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, who edit the "AI Snake Oil" blog. Now, they've sold a book with the same title:

https://www.aisnakeoil.com/p/ai-snake-oil-is-now-available-to

Obviously, books move a lot more slowly than blogs, and so Narayanan and Kapoor say their book will focus on the timeless elements of identifying and understanding AI snake oil:

In the book, we explain the crucial differences between types of AI, why people, companies, and governments are falling for AI snake oil, why AI can’t fix social media, and why we should be far more worried about what people will do with AI than about anything AI will do on its own. While generative AI is what drives press, predictive AI used in criminal justice, finance, healthcare, and other domains remains far more consequential in people’s lives. We discuss in depth how predictive AI can go wrong. We also warn of the dangers of a world where AI continues to be controlled by largely unaccountable big tech companies.

The book's out in September and it's up for pre-order now:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/ai-snake-oil-what-artificial-intelligence-can-do-what-it-can-t-and-how-to-tell-the-difference-arvind-narayanan/21324674

One of the weirder and worst side-effects of the AI hype bubble is that it has revived the belief that it's somehow possible for giant platforms to monitor all their users' speech and remove "harmful" speech. We've tried this for years, and when humans do it, it always ends with disfavored groups being censored, while dedicated trolls, harassers and monsters evade punishment:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/07/como-is-infosec/

AI hype has led policy-makers to believe that we can deputize online services to spy on all their customers and block the bad ones without falling into this trap. Canada is on the verge of adopting Bill C-63, a "harmful content" regulation modeled on examples from the UK and Australia.

Writing on his blog, Canadian lawyer/activist/journalist Dimitri Lascaris describes the dire speech implications for C-63:

https://dimitrilascaris.org/2024/04/08/trudeaus-online-harms-bill-threatens-free-speech/

It's an excellent legal breakdown of the bill's provisions, but also a excellent analysis of how those provisions are likely to play out in the lives of Canadians, especially those advocating against genocide and taking other positions the that oppose the agenda of the government of the day.

Even if you like the Trudeau government and its policies, these powers will accrue to every Canadian government, including the presumptive (and inevitably, totally unhinged) near-future Conservative majority government of Pierre Poilievre.

It's been ten years since Martin Gilens and Benjamin I Page published their paper that concluded that governments make policies that are popular among elites, no matter how unpopular they are among the public:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B

Now, this is obviously depressing, but when you see it in action, it's kind of wild. The Biden administration has declared war on junk fees, from "resort fees" charged by hotels to the dozens of line-items added to your plane ticket, rental car, or even your rent check. In response, Republican politicians are climbing to their rear haunches and, using their actual human mouths, defending junk fees:

https://prospect.org/politics/2024-04-12-republicans-objectively-pro-junk-fee/

Congressional Republicans are hell-bent on destroying the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's $8 cap on credit-card late-fees. Trump's presumptive running-mate Tim Scott is making this a campaign plank: "Vote for me and I will protect your credit-card company's right to screw you on fees!" He boasts about the lobbyists who asked him to take this position: champions of the public interest from the Consumer Bankers Association to the US Chamber of Commerce.

Banks stand to lose $10b/year from this rule (which means Americans stand to gain $10b/year from this rule). What's more, Scott's attempt to kill the rule is doomed to fail – there's just no procedural way it will fly. As David Dayen writes, "Not only does this vote put Republicans on the spot over junk fees, it’s a doomed vote, completely initiated by their own possible VP nominee."

This is an hilarious own-goal, one that only brings attention to a largely ignored – but extremely good – aspect of the Biden administration. As Adam Green of Bold Progressives told Dayen, "What’s been missing is opponents smoking themselves out and raising the volume of this fight so the public knows who is on their side."

The CFPB is a major bright spot in the Biden administration's record. They're doing all kind of innovative things, like making it easy for you to figure out which bank will give you the best deal and then letting you transfer your account and all its associated data, records and payments with a single click:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/21/let-my-dollars-go/#personal-financial-data-rights

And now, CFPB chair Rohit Chopra has given a speech laying out the agency's plan to outlaw data-brokers:

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/prepared-remarks-of-cfpb-director-rohit-chopra-at-the-white-house-on-data-protection-and-national-security/

Yes, this is some good news! There is, in fact, good news in the world, bright spots amidst all the misery and terror. One of those bright spots? Labor.

Unions are back, baby. Not only do the vast majority of Americans favor unions, not only are new shops being unionized at rates not seen in generations, but also the largest unions are undergoing revolutions, with control being wrestled away from corrupt union bosses and given to the rank-and-file.

Many of us have heard about the high-profile victories to take back the UAW and Teamsters, but I hadn't heard about the internal struggles at the United Food and Commercial Workers, not until I read Hamilton Nolan's gripping account for In These Times:

https://inthesetimes.com/article/revolt-aisle-5-ufcw-grocery-workers-union

Nolan profiles Faye Guenther, president of UFCW Local 3000 and her successful and effective fight to bring a militant spirit back to the union, which represents a million grocery workers. Nolan describes the fight as "every bit as dramatic as any episode of Game of Thrones," and he's not wrong. This is an inspiring tale of working people taking power away from scumbag monopoly bosses and sellout fatcat leaders – and, in so doing, creating a institution that gets better wages, better working conditions, and a better economy, by helping to block giant grocery mergers like Kroger/Albertsons.

I like to end these linkdumps on an up note, so it feels weird to be closing out with an obituary, but I'd argue that any celebration of the long life and many accomplishments of my friend and mentor Anne Innis Dagg is an "up note."

I last wrote about Anne in 2020, on the release of a documentary about her work, "The Woman Who Loved Giraffes":

https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/19/pluralist-19-feb-2020/#annedagg

As you might have guessed from the title of that doc, Anne was a biologist. She was the first woman scientist to do field-work on giraffes, and that work was so brilliant and fascinating that it kicked off the modern field of giraffology, which remains a woman-dominated specialty thanks to her tireless mentoring and support for the scientists that followed her.

Anne was also the world's most fearsome slayer of junk-science "evolutionary psychology," in which "scientists" invent unfalsifiable just-so stories that prove that some odious human characteristic is actually "natural" because it can be found somewhere in the animal kingdom (i.e., "Darling, please, it's not my fault that I'm fucking my grad students, it's the bonobos!").

Anne wrote a classic – and sadly out of print – book about this that I absolutely adore, not least for having one of the best titles I've ever encountered: "Love of Shopping" Is Not a Gene:

https://memex.craphound.com/2009/11/04/love-of-shopping-is-not-a-gene-exposing-junk-science-and-ideology-in-darwinian-psychology/

Anne was my advisor at the University of Waterloo, an institution that denied her tenure for fifty years, despite a brilliant academic career that rivaled that of her storied father, Harold Innis ("the thinking person's Marshall McLuhan"). The fact that Waterloo never recognized Anne is doubly shameful when you consider that she was awarded the Order of Canada:

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/queen-of-giraffes-among-new-order-of-canada-recipients-with-global-influence

Anne lived a brilliant live, struggling through adversity, never compromising on her principles, inspiring a vast number of students and colleagues. She lived to ninety one, and died earlier this month. Her ashes will be spread "on the breeding grounds of her beloved giraffes" in South Africa this summer:

https://obituaries.therecord.com/obituary/anne-innis-dagg-1089534658

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/13/goulash/#material-misstatement

Image: Valeva1010 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hungarian_Goulash_Recipe.png

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

[mellosdrawings]

What do you use to draw with? Like what device and drawing app? I finally graduated high school and want to get back to drawing and maybe start posting it but I wanted some advice

Hi~

I'm just gonna go and give you my full setup (plus health advices coz trust me they're important).

These days I use an IPad Pro 11" and Procreate. My friend has the bigger version but I hurt my elbow using it because it made my moves too big, so I settled for the littler version. I suggest you chose based on your feelings for that. If you want a bigger screen to see more of your work, it's perfectly valid.

If you do take those two, I suggest you also take the ICloud save. (I have the 200Go save and that's only 3€ a month, but the 50Go save in free!) Should your IPad eventually break, you'll be able to retrieve ALL your art files from the Cloud, which is a huge lifesaver!

(I used to use a simple computer plus graphic tablet plus Adobe Photoshop, but it kept crashing so much that I had one too many rage quits. Plus it's super expensive since it's subscription based, and nowadays they take your art from the Adobe Cloud to feed their AI, so I can't really recommend that. Photoshop is an excellent tool but the direction Adobe is taking does NOT suit me.)

For brushes I just use the default Procreate Pencil. For the eraser I use Syrup, which is found in the default Inking Brush set.

My base canvases are 4000x4000px with a DPI of 300 (I suggest you improve the DPI if you do illustrations or really precise work. I only do little fanarts and comics with that DPI). For posting online please be careful to chose an RGB color profile (I use the default Display D3). If you ever want to print though, you should chose a CMYK color profile (I use the Generic CMYK Profile then).

Now back to the real world! I'm going to strongly suggest you make sure your paper/computer/screen is at least at an angle, at best right in front of your face. The least pressure you have to put on your neck (bending), the better it will be. If you do traditional art, I'll suggest actual art tables that you can adjust in size and angle. Here's mine.

To prevent any pain in my thumb I use one of those hold-helpers thingies kids use to hold their pens properly! It increases the size of the grip which prevents from holding the pen too tight (trust me, it's important). You can also find special tape to roll around your pen if you need an even bigger grip.

I wish I had a proper desk and chair because that will also be very important for your posture and health, but rn I'm not in my own flat so eh. What I'll encourage you to do instead are stretches and exercises BEFORE and AFTER an art session. Fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, neck. If you want to avoid medical costs (masseur, kine, osteopath) you need to take great care of your body. You can also find little self-massaging gadgets in sports shops to help with your muscles.

(Talking from experience there. I'm only 25 and I already had to undergo surgery on my writing wrist because I f*ed up. Your health is important!)

I'm aware most of those are extremely expensive to get (it took me half a year of intense working and savings just to get the IPad) but I've found that they were 100% worth it in the end. It's alright to get things little by little if you feel they are going to be important for you. I strongly suggest you invest in your health first though!

Once you have decided on your preferred setup, I guess the only thing left to do is train, experiment and have fun!

I think that's all? If you need more advices on setups or art or whatever, I'd be happy to help, my DMs are always open!

Also congrats on graduating highschool!

[wyrddogs]

What's your current spiciest or unpopular dog-related opinion? 👀

Oh boy. 😂 Okay here we go:

I am very, very tired of the fighting between the training philosophies.

I started out as a compulsive trainer (Koehler method) and I believe now I count as a balanced trainer. I used to have a low opinion of the purely positive and force free crowd, which was shitty of me! I have since grown up and have irl and online friends in the LIMA and FF/PP communities who are excellent trainers that I respect a lot. I have specifically sought advice from FF trainers on things because I know I will get a thoughtful response.

My opinion is everyone can learn something from another training philosophy, even if that thing is “I don’t want to do that, so I will try something else.”

The fastest way for me to lose respect for a trainer is if they shit on another training philosophy. Even if that trainer has the same training style as me. I think it’s unprofessional and rude.

[miketownsends]

how do i become a fan of the mariners

^ still coping with blaseball end. went to a couple games as a kid but all i remember is a player named raul

man baseball has helped me SO much with losing blaseball so i get that. start with the Dorktown Mariners doc, if you haven’t already! it’s on YouTube. it’s a history of the Mariners (and Seattle baseball in general) up to about 2019, so that’ll give you a good overview of the team (and how wild it is that the team even exists in the first place)

if you want to get to know the current team, there’s an excellent Mariners blog called Lookout Landing, and every season before Spring Training starts they do a series called 40 in 40 where they write 40 articles, one for each of the players on the Mariners 40-man roster. a handful of the players detailed here aren’t on the current 40-man (Ty Adcock and Taylor Trammell wound up on waivers and were picked up by other teams, Prelander Berroa, Blake Hunt, and Zach DeLoach were traded, and Matt Brash and Jackson Kowar both needed surgery and won’t be back until next season) but it’ll give you a fairly good overview of who’s here, particularly our main guys on the 26-man roster (so the guys who are active with the big league club)

Lookout Landing is just really great reading, in general - every article is truly well-written, from deep-dives into players and stats to write-ups on literally every single game the Mariners play. god, i gotta see if i can dig up my favorite article, gimme a sec…. ah! found it. it’s from a random July game, in a season where the Mariners would wind up finally, FINALLY making the playoffs for the first time in 21 years (thanks in large part to Cal Raleigh, who is featured prominently in the article, though of course we couldn’t know that at the time), and the end of it just… gets me every time.

speaking of Cal Raleigh, i would be remiss in not mentioning the Truth Meeting article - this all happened when Cal (and Logan Gilbert, one of the Mariners starting pitchers) were in the minors together, but it’s really good insight into the type of guy Cal is and the relationship he has with Logan (and other pitchers in general - he’s become such a leader with both the pitching staff AND the team as a whole and it’s been very cool to watch)

after that, if you wanna watch games, 🏴‍☠️ is gonna be your cheapest (aka free) options. i unfortunately don’t have a ton of insight into that front but i do know that options are out there. otherwise, if you’re in-market the Mariners are on Root Sports (which is carried by Comcast and Fubo, among others) and if you’re out-of-market you can watch them on MLB TV. both options have subscription fees, which can unfortunately be kinda pricey. if you’re a T-Mobile customer you can get a free MLB TV subscription, but it’s only available at the start of the season, so unfortunately it’s passed for this year. there’s also radio, which is free but i’m not 100% sure if you need to be local? (i’m assuming you’re probably local if you’re looking to get into the Ms + you mentioned Raul who i’m assuming is probably Raul Ibanez, but there’s lots of out-of-town Ms fans too so!) there’s an online option and also an app as well!

some other random Ms content:

Felix Hernandez’s perfect game is on YouTube

Tayler Saucedo (one of our relief pitchers) streams on Twitch - he’s more active during the offseason, obviously, but recently he’s been on the IL (has a minor knee injury and should be back pretty soon) and has been occasionally streaming DURING the games which has been pretty funny (he went viral on Mariners Twitter the other day for his reaction when we had a very exciting comeback win against the Yankees). he’s also a local guy who grew up an Ms fan so it’s been very cool to have him around!

Jen Mueller, one of the Mariners on-field reporters, has a YouTube series called “I Cook, You Measure” where she cooks and chats with various Seattle athletes, including some of the Mariners. so far she’s done episodes with Cal Raleigh, Logan Gilbert, Tayler Saucedo, Bryce Miller, Luis Castillo, and Bryan Woo, as well as former Mariners Mike Cameron and Tom Murphy (Tom was on the team when the episode was filmed but went to the Giants this season). there’s also the Bonus Bites which are just outtakes from the eps that are also really worth watching, there’s some fun stories in there!

okay uhhhh this is way longer than i anticipated it being so i’ll stop here but if you have any other questions lemme know! also if you ARE local and have any questions about coming to a game, the stadium, etc let me know as well, i basically live at T-Mobile Park during baseball season so i’ve got plenty of tips 😅

[ninchen1909]

The Teacher and the Mob Boss

-Chapter 2-

Warnings: talk about women’s shelter

Word count: ~1900

 After my conversation with Wanda I run towards my car as fast as I could, I just want to go home, lock myself up in my apartment and never leave it again.

My workbag long forgotten in my classroom, I start the engine, and immediately head out of the parking space.

The whole drive home I tried to stay calm, to not get lost in my thoughts, which seem to suffocate me, and I fail miserably at it. The last words Wanda spoke to me before I ran away, live in my head rent free:” The way you just spoke to him (y/n)…he killed people for way less.” I shake my head, trying to get rid of the dark and all consuming words, even though I know Wanda was just stating the truth.

A million thoughts running through my mind: “what should I do now?, Do I have to transfer to a different school? Does he know where I live, he already knows where I work so it’s pretty easy for a man like him to find out, where I live. What does this encounter mean? Does it mean anything at all?

It feels like I’m breaking down under these thoughts. I could still feel his intense stare in the depths of my soul. I had the feeling like he wanted to find out my biggest insecurities and crush me with them.

After what felt like the longest car ride of my life, I finally arrive at my destination. I kill of the engine and don’t waste any time to get inside.

As soon as I close the apartment door behind me I lock it, before leaning my back on it, letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I don’t really know how long I’m standing there like this, just breathing and trying to organize my messy thoughts. And surprisingly it’s working, as soon as the secure feeling, of being in my own home, the place where I always feel safe, hits me, I’m feeling better. Slowly but surely I start to calm down, my heart rate going back to normal. I can feel my muscles relax, and my clouded mind starts to get clear again.

Maybe I’m just overreacting, maybe he has already forgotten about me and he just wanted to stop by the school to meet the teacher who just can’t seem to shut their mouth. I mean the interaction with Barnes was intense, yet very short, would he really care so much about a random teacher who doesn’t fully agree with his way of parenting? I don’t think so. Sure a man like him has other things on his mind and a lot of things to handle.

I push myself away from the door, and start to head towards my living room, after kicking my shoes of.

As I enter said room, my eyes found my laptop, which still lies on my couch, abandoned after yesterday’s online shopping spree. Should I really do it? Do I really want to waste even more time on this guy? Especially after finally calming down?

With a deep sigh, I grab my laptop and open it, just to type the name “James Barnes” in the search bar of my internet browser. Immediately hundreds of articles are showing up. Apparently he’s the owner of one of the biggest Inport and Export companies in the world, which he inherited from his father, James Barnes Senior after he died 5 years ago. His mother’s name is Winnifred Barnes and he has a younger sister named Rose.

Most of the other articles showing him with various different women on his arm, one more beautiful than the last. I roll my eyes at the pictures, of course he’s not only a mob boss but also seemingly the biggest player in our whole country.

Just as I’m about to close my laptop my eyes stop on another article with the headline:”James Barnes builds and finances women’s shelter “I click onto the article and start to read: “Businessman James Barnes, owner and CEO of Barnes Enterprises, builds a shelter for women in need.

Mr. Barnes is quoted as followed: “Every woman who’s suffering from physical, mental or sexual violence through her partner or other members of her family is more than welcomed here. I guarantee you you’re safe here, my excellent team is specially trained to help you through this traumatic phase in your life. We will work together, so you can start your future with strength and without any fear. No woman or child should ever have to endure violence, no matter in which form.”

I don’t really care about the rest of the article anymore, as I’m way too concentrated on Barnes interview. His words make me wonder, if he ever had to endure this kind of violence, something about this interview makes me believe, that this project is personally important for him and not just a way to make him seem like a decent human being to the public. Maybe there’s more to him than he lets people know. After reading the article I don’t know what to think anymore, actually I don’t want to think about him at all. But somehow my thoughts are always going back to him, one side of me wants to get to know the person behind the ruthless mobster reputation, the other side of me however wants to book a one-way ticket to Finland, so I never have to meet him ever again. After my mind starts to go crazy again, I decide to call it a day, and after a really quick nighttime routine. After snuggling up in my purple fuzzy blanket, I try to push all the thoughts aside, by focusing on the bright glow of the moon shining through the windows right into my bedroom.

  The next day begins in a rush, falling asleep in the early morning hours, after tossing and turning around the whole night, wasting my thoughts and my sleep on a curtain blue-eyed mob boss really took a toll on me. I nearly missed the ringing of my alarm, three times in a row, only to immediately jump out of my bed, after checking the time. I rush to get ready for the day, before heading out the front straight towards my car.

Just like yesterday I take the direct way to my classroom, just in time to greet my students, with a fast beating heart I wait for Charlotte to arrive, anxiously looking forward to find out if he will be with her. After about five more minutes I see Charlotte running down the hall towards the classroom: “Good Morning Mrs. (y/l/n) she gives me the same beaming smile like she did yesterday. “Good Morning Charlotte, you are coming alone today?” “yes, Uncle Stevie brought me to the main entrance, but he and my Papa have to talk to a lot of people today, so he didn’t have the time to bring me all the way down here to the classroom.” My stomach drops after hearing her words, still I give her a smile in return “That’s alright, I’m happy you’re here, please take your seat, I’m just going to greet the rest of your classmates, then we going to start with the lessons.” She nods at me and heads into the classroom, why does it bother me, that he’s not here, it’s not like I want to see him right? I mean I’m glad, that I don’t have to face him today. So why is my body reacting like that. I shake my head to get rid of this thoughts. After I welcomed my last students, I close the door to start the lesson.

  The whole day passes by pretty smoothly, and before I know it, the children are on their way home now I just have to pack my workbag, so I can head home too. I’m already walking down the floor towards the main door, when I hear the squeaking of shoes behind me which is soon followed by a “(y/n) wait….” I halt to a stop and turn around: “Seriously Wanda, what is it with running through the school building nowadays?” she just gives me a cheeky grin, but due to the look she gives me, I can, that she’s worried about me:” How are you? I mean after all what happened yesterday… I tried to call you, to check in on you but you never answered you’re phone so I guessed, you didn’t want to talk” She looks at me with an intense stare, looking for any sign of discomfort in my face. “Thank you for trying to check in Wan, but I’m fine, I just needed some time to calm down, but I’m good now. And sorry for not calling you back, I left my phone in my bag, and after running of so quickly yesterday I left my stuff in my classroom.” she gives me a quick nod “no worries, I’m just glad you’re Ok. Stark asked me to find you, he waits for you in his office.” She notices the slight flicker of panic washing over my face, so she quickly continues “he wants to speak to you about the school’s fall festival.”

“Alright, thank you for letting me know: Have a good afternoon.” I give her hand a quick, gentle, squeeze before turning on my heel to head to the headmaster’s office. The door is already wide open, before I can even reach the door, Mr. Stark already tells me to come in.

“Good afternoon Mrs. (y/l/n) please take a seat, he points towards the chairs in front of his desk.

“Hello Mr. Stark, Wanda told me, you want to talk to me about our fall festival.” He gives me a nod: “that’s correct, I think you’re happy to hear, that you don’t have to plan the whole festival on your own. We found a volunteer, well better said he found us, he explicit asked to help you. He also offered to finance everything so you don’t have to worry about the budget. He made it very clear, that you can have everything you want for the festivities.”

I look at him in astonishment, a smile forming on my lips, as I raise from my seat.

“That are really good news. Can I ask who this generous volunteer is, so I can thank him?.

Mr. Starks eyes shift to something behind me, and just as I’m about to turn around, I hear his voice, I immediately froze in my movement. My heart skips a beat only to continue beating twice as fast.

“That would be me, princess, but there is no need to thank me, spending a lot of time with you in the next few weeks, is thank enough.” I take a deep breath, before turning around, and there he is, standing arrogantly in the doorframe, both hands buried in the pockets of his pants. For a brief moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of nervousness in his eyes.

His eyes find mine and “Mr. Barnes.”  his name leaves my lips in a whisper. “Yeah, that’s my name, princess, but I think you should start calling me Bucky, after all we are going to spend a lot of time together.

And right in this moment I realize: I’m screwed

[1eos]

hi miss kendra, i need some advice if you don't mind. your new job journey has inspired me to quit the fuckass job i'm sick of but the audhd hates to think of change, and i don't know if i should just go for a masters instead to jump up a level in the job market. or, would you suggest joining the girls in stem with a python course? i hate to see my degree (business) go to waste and have been avoiding smth in software bc of that but if the jobs are good i might have to bc i can NOT stay here any longer w no progression money wise.

i dont mind at all <3 the main reason why i will never leave tumblr is that if you curate it right this can really become a support group for audhd adults and we all help each other survive this sick ass world. bc wow that audhd response to change is sooooo hard to deal with in the workplace which sucks bc in this current climate changing jobs frequently kinda is the wave rn

but anyways advice. obvs i can't know exactly what's best for you but i will throw some questions that helped me figure out where to narrow my focus!

1st. to answer the question is i would suggest joining the girls in stem. absolutely! but don't limit your focus to a python course. the main reason i didnt get into stem earlier was that i didn't realize there were sooooo many different niches of stem and thought that just bc i didnt necessarily want to do 0s and 1s exclusively it wasn't for me but now taking different classes im seeing its a lot of different things i could excel in. like i went in doing web design and realized while i don't enjoy that the way i expected it introduced me to networking, cybersecurity, and data science which i AM interested in. so if you're interested but java gives you the ick (valid) def start poking around free resources first before committing. i investigated some reddit threads and found online it training things that i did and ofc there are a bunch of books too

currently ive subscribed to tryhackme. of all of the hands on training courses its one of the cheapest at $14 a month and its walking me through all the different areas of networking and cybersecurity and its been helpful in getting my feet wet so i can pinpoint what fields im genuinely interested in. currently, im focused on trying to find a field where im truly 100% interested in digging in bc for me ive found caring abt my field gives me excitement that takes the edge off of the ego death change puts me through 😭😭😭😭

i say all that first bc a masters will be a GREAT boon to level up your income esp if you want to work for any kind of university which i would recommend as a good starting place bc the benefits tend to be really good and colleges are relatively more chill workplaces. however, depending on which field you go in just know that a lot of jobs will take the official certifications and your bachelors. and certifications are way cheaper than masters degrees so keep that in mind. especially if you get a certification, get employed in the stem field and then you may have the chance of your employer helping pay for your masters

ofc if you can afford to get your masters now you could go the other direction and start school now and use your school's connections to get student work/part time work in your field and then your odds of being hired in a permanent position after graduating goes up by 300000000000%

and i would suggest sitting down and making a list of everything you hate about your current job and what, ideally, you want for not your dream job but like...the job that could bring you the most content you know? if you're not living to work, picture what you want to do and how your job can help facilitate that without getting in the way.

so like for me my goal is to be able to do the art i want to do without having to worry about starving to death and have as much time to focus on art. bc that's my goal i realized i wanted a job that:

in a stable field where i could potentially get a job anywhere

pays well and consistently

remote work possible

flexible schedule so that i could work less than 5 days a week

clear upward trajectory

not centered around customer service 😭

relatively low stress and doesnt need crazy hours

so with this listed out i realized i didn't actually want my main job to be in the art field bc of the inconsistency and that stem could work for me and then from there anytime i find a new job that i think i could do i investigate it and check to see if the field is shrinking, education requirements, etc etc.

this is a lot but i hope at least one of these thoughts helps you! 💖

[eduhubspot]

Mastering Your Project Management Journey with PMP Weekend Boot Camp and Virtual Learning

Mastering Your Project Management Journey with PMP Weekend Boot Camp and Virtual Learning

In the fast-paced world of project management, staying ahead of the curve is essential to succeed. That's where the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification comes into play, validating your skills and knowledge in the field. If you're aiming to enhance your project management expertise, a PMP Weekend Boot Camp might be the perfect solution for you. In this article, we'll explore how a Virtual PMP Bootcamp can provide you with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to excel in the PMP exam and beyond.

Virtual PMP Bootcamp: The Pathway to PMP Success

For many professionals, balancing work commitments with pursuing a PMP certification can be a challenge. Enter the Virtual PMP Bootcamp, a flexible and effective solution designed to fit into your busy schedule. These bootcamps offer comprehensive training, interactive sessions, and invaluable mentorship from experienced PMP-certified professionals.

Key Features of a Virtual PMP Bootcamp:

Comprehensive Learning: The bootcamp covers the entire PMP exam syllabus, providing you with a deep understanding of project management concepts, tools, and techniques.

PMP Exam Mentorship: One of the standout features of a bootcamp is the availability of a PMP exam mentor. These mentors guide you through your preparation journey, offering personalized advice and strategies to tackle challenging areas.

PMP Simulator: To ace the PMP exam, practice is crucial. A PMP simulator allows you to take mock exams under realistic conditions, helping you assess your progress and identify areas that need improvement.

PMI ACP Simulator: If you're interested in Agile practices, some bootcamps also offer PMI ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) simulators. This is an excellent opportunity to broaden your skill set and explore Agile methodologies.

Interactive Learning: Engaging videos, practice exams, and collaborative discussions are all part of the bootcamp experience. These elements ensure that you not only understand the concepts but can apply them in real-world scenarios.

Benefits of PMP Certification for You and Your Employer

Earning a PMP certification offers a multitude of benefits for both individuals and their employers. Let's delve into how this prestigious credential can make a difference:

For Individuals:

Enhanced Knowledge: PMP certification equips you with in-depth project management knowledge, making you a more effective and confident project manager.

Career Advancement: PMP certification is widely recognized and respected by employers globally. It can open doors to higher-level positions and greater career opportunities.

Increased Earning Potential: PMP-certified professionals often command higher salaries compared to their non-certified counterparts.

Skill Validation: Certification validates your skills and expertise, giving you the confidence to take on complex projects with ease.

For Employers:

Skilled Workforce: PMP-certified employees bring standardized project management practices, leading to improved project success rates.

Consistent Processes: Certified professionals follow PMI's best practices, ensuring projects are managed efficiently, within scope, on time, and within budget.

Competitive Advantage: Organizations with PMP-certified professionals can showcase their commitment to excellence, which can be a significant advantage when bidding for projects.

Risk Mitigation: PMP-certified managers are adept at risk management, reducing the likelihood of project failures and minimizing financial and reputational risks.

Crafting a Successful PMP Study Plan

A well-structured study plan is the backbone of PMP exam success. Here's a 90-day PMP exam study plan template in Excel format that you can customize to suit your needs:

Weeks 1-2: Foundation Building

Review PMP Exam Outline

Start with PMP Videos and Concept Learning

Weeks 3-4: In-Depth Learning

Dive into Practice Questions and Simulators

Cover One Knowledge Area per Week

Weeks 5-6: Mock Exams and Analysis

Take Full-Length Mock Exams

Analyze Weak Areas and Review Concepts

Weeks 7-8: Refinement and Strategy

Focus on Time Management Strategies

Review PMP Tricks and Tips

Weeks 9-10: Final Practice and Simulation

Take Additional Mock Exams

Simulate Exam Conditions

Weeks 11-12: Final Review and Confidence Building

Review Flashcards and Summary Notes

Relax, Trust Your Preparation, and Maintain a Positive Mindset

Unlocking PMP and PMI ACP Success with Virtual Bootcamps

The journey towards PMP and PMI ACP certification is undoubtedly demanding, but it's also highly rewarding. By enrolling in a Virtual PMP Bootcamp, you're equipping yourself with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in the exams and beyond. The mentorship, practice exams, and interactive learning experiences will pave the way for your success, whether you're aspiring to become a more proficient project manager or aiming to secure career advancements.

Remember, your PMP and PMI ACP certifications are not just pieces of paper; they represent a commitment to excellence and a dedication to delivering successful projects. As you navigate this transformative journey, keep your goals in mind, stay disciplined in your studies, and leverage the resources and support available to you. The Virtual PMP Bootcamp is your key to unlocking a brighter, more accomplished future in project management.

Looking to ace the PMP exam? Join Eduhubspot's Virtual PMP Bootcamp, a weekend intensive that guarantees success. Our expert PMP exam mentors will guide you through the ins and outs, while the PMP simulator ensures you're fully prepared. With the PMP certification, you'll open doors to countless career opportunities. Don't miss this chance! Eduhubspot is your partner for PMP training and certification. Enroll now and pave your path to success.

[scrumptiousbeardturtle-blog1]

Luxury vs. Reliability for City Driving: Tips and Costs for Choosing the Right Car Transport Service

The first thing you need to know is that not all auto transport companies are created equal. Some specialize in luxury vehicle transport, while others focus on more affordable options. It's important to do your research online for a safe direct car shipping reviews to find the best service for your specific needs.

Luxury Vehicle Transport

If you have a luxury vehicle, you want to ensure that it is transported with the utmost care and attention. That's where the nationwide vehicle driveaway service comes in. These companies specialize in high-end vehicles and have the necessary equipment and experience to handle them. They often offer enclosed carriers, which provide extra protection from the elements and road debris. This option may be more expensive, but it's worth the peace of mind knowing that your luxury vehicle is in good hands.

Luxury vehicle transport services often provide personalized customer service to address any concerns you might have. From the moment you inquire about their services to the final delivery of your vehicle, these companies strive to provide a seamless and stress-free experience. They understand the value of your investment and treat your vehicle with the same level of respect that you do.

Another aspect of luxury vehicle transport is the insurance coverage. These companies typically offer more comprehensive insurance policies that cover a wider range of potential damages. This means that in the unlikely event that something does happen to your vehicle during transport, you can rest assured that you will be adequately compensated.

Professional Auto Transport

On the other hand, if you have a more affordable vehicle or are on a budget, you may opt for more open-air car shipping options. These companies typically offer open carriers, which are less expensive but leave your vehicle exposed to the elements. While this may not be a concern for a standard vehicle, it may not be the best option for a luxury car.

However, the best auto transport companies have excellent safety ratings and experienced drivers, so it's important to read reviews and do your research before deciding.

Reliable auto transport options are particularly attractive for those who are moving multiple vehicles at once or for car dealerships that need to transport their inventory. Since cost-effectiveness is a priority, these companies work to optimize their shipping routes and carrier capacity, often resulting in lower prices for the customer.

It's important to note that even with many car transport services, there are still measures in place to protect your vehicle. Many of these companies offer basic insurance coverage and take precautions to secure your vehicle during transport. They may also provide tracking options so you can monitor your vehicle's journey and have peace of mind.

The Process

The process of auto transport is relatively similar for both luxury and affordable options. It starts with obtaining quotes from different companies and comparing prices and services. Once you've selected a company, they will schedule a pickup date and time that works for you. On the day of pickup, the driver will inspect your vehicle and load it onto the carrier.

The carrier will then transport your vehicle to the destination, and upon arrival, the driver will inspect it again and deliver it to you.

Luxury Vehicle Transport

One of the main differences between luxury and reliable auto transport is the level of care and attention given to your vehicle. Luxury vehicle transport companies often have more experienced and trained drivers, as well as specialized equipment for loading and unloading.

They may also offer additional services, such as white-glove delivery, where the driver will personally handle the vehicle and ensure it is delivered in pristine condition.

Luxury transport options may include features like climate-controlled transport for vehicles that require a stable temperature or are sensitive to extreme weather conditions. This is particularly important for classic cars or high-performance vehicles with delicate components. The attention to detail and customization of services can greatly differ from standard shipping options.

Another luxury transport feature is the option for single-car transport, which provides an exclusive carrier for your vehicle. This minimizes handling and potential interaction with other cars, reducing the risk of accidental damage. It's an excellent choice for rare, exotic, or particularly valuable vehicles that demand an added layer of security and privacy during transit.

[tearsinthemist]

Want to learn something new

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French

Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

Jan 2, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2023??

Cooking with flavor bootcamp (used what I learned in this a LOT this year)

Beekeeping 101

Learn Interior Design from the British Academy of Interior Design (free to audit course - just choose the free option when you register)

Video on learning to read music that actually helped me??

How to use and sew with a sewing machine

How to ride a bike (listen. some of us never learned, and that's okay.)

How to cornrow-braid hair (I have it on good authority that this video is a godsend for doing your baby niece's black hair)

Making mead at home (I actually did this last summer and it was SO good)

How to garden

Basics of snowboarding (proceed with caution)

How to draw for people who (think they) suck at art (I know this website looks like a 2003 monstrosity, but the tutorials are excellent)

Pixel art for beginners so you can make the next great indie game

Go (back) to school

Introduction to Astronomy (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Principals of Economics (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Introduction to philosophy (free college course)

Computer science basics (full-semester Harvard course free online)

Learn a language

Japanese for Dummies (link fix from 2022)

Ukrainian

Portuguese (Brazil)

American Sign Language (as somebody who works with Deaf people professionally, I also strongly advise you to read up on Deaf/HoH culture and history!)

Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified)

Quenya (LOTR fantasy elf language)

Dec 26, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2024??

Beginner-oriented video on how to sail

This guy has so many videos on baking different types of bread. SO very many.

Coding in Python - one of the most flexible and adaptable high-level programming languages out there - explained through projects making video games

Learn to swim! (for adult learners. I don’t care if you live in Kansas or Mali or wherever. LEARN TO SWIM.)

Learn how quantum mechanics works. Then read some more about it

[Learn about quantum mechanics again, but in a more advanced engineering/mathematics class. Then read more about the math and physics of it]

Poetry Handbook, by Mary Oliver

Something I learned this year: how to sew a quilt (Here’s a very easy beginning pattern that looks amazing and can be done with pre-cut fabric!)

How to hit the ball in softball

Tutorial video on what is under the hood of most (gas) cars + weird engine sounds and what they mean

Full beginner mechanics technical training, if you want to go more in depth

Playlist on how car engine physics work if you want to go ultra in depth

Lecture series on architecture design through study of buildings

How (American income) taxes & tax law work (choose “audit course” at checkout for free class)

Pickleball for beginners (so you can finally join your neighbor/friend/distant cousin who is always insisting you join their team)

+ Para-Pickleball for beginners (for mobility aid users!)

School is so much more fun when there’s no tests:

American Law - Contracts

Shakespeare’s Life and Plays

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Modern Poetry

World History [Part 1, Part 2]

Learn a language:

Arabic + Resource Guide compiled from Reddit (includes info on different dialects)

Chinese (Cantonese) (audio)

Urdu (frequently recommended course on Reddit) + Resource Guide

Yucatec Maya

[thekinkyqueerarchive]

What is Risk Aware Consenual Kink (RACK)? a brief summary

( I couldn't find a post so um ... heres me trying to explain it - please feel free to add on)

Risk-Aware Consensual Kink (RACK) is a framework used within the Kink community to ensure that activities are carried out in a safe, consensual, and informed manner. Many (if not all) kinks have some level of risk attatched to them by nature.

Participants need to be fully aware of the risks involved in the activities they are engaging in. This means that they have a thorough understanding of the potential physical, emotional, and psychological consequences.

AND freely give their informed consent to the activities. Consent must be explicit, enthusiastic, and can be withdrawn at any time.

well then - How do you be Risk Aware? A) Education and Research:

Understand the Activities: Learn about the specific kinks or activities you are interested in. This includes understanding the physical, emotional, and psychological risks involved.

Resources: Use books, articles, workshops, and online forums to gather information. Reputable sources include BDSM community websites, educational materials from experienced practitioners, and classes or workshops offered by knowledgeable instructors. B) Communication:

Discuss with Your Partner(s): Have open and honest conversations with your partner(s) about the activities you want to engage in. Discuss boundaries, limits, and expectations.

Establish Safewords: Agree on a safewords or signals (in the case that a verbal safeword cannot be used) to pause or stop the activity if anyone feels uncomfortable or unsafe. heres a helpful execrpt from The New Topping Book (2003) by Dossie Easton & Janet W. Hardy on what to do in the event of a safeword

C) Preparation and Planning:

Set Boundaries: Clearly define and respect each other’s limits and boundaries. Know what is off-limits and what is acceptable.

Have a Plan: Create a plan for the activities, including steps to take in case of an emergency. This might include having first aid supplies on hand or knowing the location of the nearest hospital. heres a post by @/houndmother // pansy-butch giving some excellent advice about planning and running a scene

D) Risk Assessment:

Identify Potential Risks: Consider the potential risks of the activities. This includes physical risks (e.g., injury), emotional risks (e.g., trauma), and social risks (e.g., privacy concerns). these will be diffrent for diffrent kinks.

Mitigation Strategies: Develop strategies to minimize these risks. This might involve using safe words, ensuring you have the necessary skills and equipment, and having a clear aftercare plan.

E) Skill Building:

Training and Practice: some kinks may need necessary skills to perform activities safely. This might involve practicing techniques, learning from experienced practitioners, and participating in training sessions or workshops.

Continuous Learning: Stay updated with new information and techniques. The BDSM community is continually evolving, and staying informed helps ensure safer practices.

F) Aftercare:

Plan for Aftercare: Aftercare is the process of attending to the physical and emotional needs of all participants after a scene. This might include providing comfort, discussing the experience, and ensuring everyone feels safe and supported. Aftercare is crucial and non optional. it may look diffrent in diffrent dynamics, and that is valid so long as everyone feels adequately supported and cared for

Check-Ins: Follow up with your partner(s) after the activity to discuss how they felt and address any issues that may have arisen. heres a great post on aftercare by @//babygirlbondage

[cbirt]

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Data Analysis Online Training

🚀 Unlock the power of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and elevate your bioinformatics skills with our upcoming training course! ⭐ Why join us? In today’s rapidly evolving world of life sciences, mastering NGS data analysis is essential for cutting-edge research. Our comprehensive training programs are designed to equip you with the skills needed to excel in bioinformatics, whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your expertise. Registrations Open: ✅ Next-Generation Sequencing Data Analysis ✅ Python & Biopython for Bioinformatics 🗓 Dates NGS Data Analysis: September 17 - October 17, 2024 Python & Biopython: September 17 - October 03, 2024 ⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM IST 🗓 Registration Closes: September 15, 2024 💻 Mode: Online 🎯 Ready to make a difference in your research? Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your bioinformatics skills and open new doors in your career. 👉 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲: https://lnkd.in/grUEakiP For more details/queries, contact: info@cbirt.net Feel free to reach out with any questions! #Bioinformatics#NGSDataAnalysis#Python hashtag#Biopython #TrainingCourses#CareerGrowth#BioinformaticsEducation#Students #OnlineCourses #BioinformaticsTools #ComputationalBiology #ScienceInnovation

[wildrosesayshigh3]

I just realized two very important things regarding the svss verse and pidw.

(1) Shen Yuan is at least 18 at most around 22 long before his frontal lobe (the part of the brain responsible for the smart decision making) develops.

(2) PIDW was one of the most popular web novels on line. With several spinoffs and novels being written as inspiration for it. With dozens of people including Shen yuan paying for advance chapters.

Conclusion I don’t think PIDW was really that bad. You don’t pay for a book you don’t like. You wait for it to come out online for free or get a pirated version and then you read the train wreck for free.

Thus leading me to think there was a reason why it was so popular was it compelling characters, fantastic world building, excellent dialogue, interesting new plot points, otherworldly poetic writing, well written connections to the five senses. What about PIDW was so compelling that it made people (other than Shen yuan) spend money it?