#Human resource manager California

[evmarkio]

Streamline Your Payroll with the Best Online Payroll Services for Small Business

Looking for the best payroll providers for small businesses? Simplify your payroll management with the best online payroll services for small business at Evmark.io.

Managing payroll can be a daunting task for small business owners. Ensuring that all employees are paid accurately and on time while complying with tax regulations is crucial, but it can also be time-consuming and complex. This is where online payroll services come in handy. At Evmark, we provide the best online payroll services for small businesses, simplifying payroll management and allowing you to focus on growing your business.

Why Choose Online Payroll Services?

Online payroll services offer a range of benefits for small businesses, making them an essential tool for efficient business operations. Here are some reasons why you should consider using online payroll services:

Time-Saving: Automating payroll processes saves significant time, reducing the burden on your administrative staff and allowing them to focus on other critical tasks.

Accuracy: Online payroll services minimize the risk of errors in calculations and tax filings, ensuring your employees are paid correctly and on time.

Compliance: Staying compliant with federal and state payroll regulations can be challenging. Online payroll services keep you up-to-date with the latest laws and ensure your business meets all compliance requirements.

Accessibility: With online payroll services, you can manage your payroll from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for small business owners who are always on the go.

Cost-Effective: Outsourcing payroll can be more cost-effective than hiring in-house staff to handle payroll tasks, especially for small businesses with limited resources.

Features of the Best Online Payroll Services

When choosing an online payroll service provider, it's essential to look for specific features that cater to the unique needs of small businesses. Here are some key features offered by Evmark's online payroll services:

Automated Payroll Processing: Our system automates the entire payroll process, from calculating wages and taxes to generating paychecks and direct deposits.

Tax Management: We handle all aspects of tax management, including calculating payroll taxes, filing tax returns, and managing tax payments. This ensures compliance and reduces the risk of penalties.

Employee Self-Service Portal: Our user-friendly portal allows employees to access their pay stubs, tax forms, and personal information, reducing the administrative burden on your HR team.

Customizable Payroll Reports: Generate detailed payroll reports to gain insights into your payroll expenses, employee compensation, and tax liabilities. These reports are customizable to meet your specific business needs.

Direct Deposit and Check Printing: Offer your employees the convenience of direct deposit or printed paychecks. Our system supports both options to accommodate your preferences.

Integration with Accounting Software: Seamlessly integrate our payroll services with your existing accounting software for streamlined financial management.

Why Evmark is the Best Choice for Small Business Payroll Services

At Evmark, we understand the unique challenges faced by small businesses when it comes to payroll management. Our online payroll services are designed to simplify the process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. Here’s why Evmark stands out as the best payroll provider for small businesses:

Expertise: With years of experience in payroll management, our team of experts is well-versed in the complexities of payroll processing and compliance.

Personalized Support: We offer personalized support to our clients, ensuring that you receive the assistance you need when you need it. Our dedicated customer service team is always ready to help.

Affordable Pricing: We offer competitive pricing plans tailored to the needs of small businesses, making our services accessible without compromising on quality.

Scalable Solutions: As your business grows, our payroll services can scale with you, ensuring that your payroll management remains efficient and effective.

User-Friendly Interface: Our intuitive platform is easy to use, allowing you to manage your payroll with minimal training and effort.

Conclusion

Efficient payroll management is crucial for the success of any small business. By choosing Evmark's online payroll services, you can streamline your payroll processes, ensure compliance, and focus on what matters most – growing your business. Explore the benefits of our online payroll services today and see why we are the best payroll provider for small businesses.

Simplify your payroll management with the best online payroll services for small business at Evmark. Visit Evmark.io to learn more and get started today!

Location: 25101 The Old Rd #155, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381

Phone: (747) 444-0449

[modernhr]

7 Steps to Becoming a Pet-Friendly Workplace

People love their pets, and they love being allowed to bring their pets to work! When someone brings their pet to work, their stress levels drop right away. Petting a cat or dog, playing with them, feeding them or taking them for a walk can induce a sense of well-being. Additionally, pet guardians love to talk about their pets, and this can help employees to socialize with each other. Even people who don’t have pets can get the benefit of petting or playing with a pet in a pet-friendly workplace.

The disadvantage of a pet-friendly workplace is that it can get dirty pretty quickly. Pets might track in mud, leave a lot of hair on the furniture, relieve themselves in places where they’re not supposed to etc. Plus, if you have staff members who are allergic to pets, then a pet-friendly workplace might not work for them.

Making Your Workplace Pet-Friendly

If you want to become a pet-friendly workplace, make sure that everyone who brings their pets to works understands the rules.

Noise Level: Make sure everyone knows not to bring very loud and aggressive dogs to the workplace as this will disturb everybody.

Potty Training: You can make it a rule to bring only potty-trained dogs and cats to the workplace to make sure that they don’t relieve themselves where they’re not supposed to.

Separate Areas for Pets: Consider separating the office into two areas—one in which pets are allowed and one in which pets are not allowed. This way, people who are allergic to pets can sit in the pet-free area.

Dogs vs. Cats: If you’re going to allow both, dogs and cats, into the workplace, then you might also need to separate the office into a dog area and a cat area, unless the dogs and cats in question are able to get along.

Pledges/Applications: The Washington Post also suggests that you get pet guardians to sign a pet pledge or application to indicate that they’ll follow the rules surrounding pets in the workplace. This can get rid of liability issues.

Walking Dogs: It’s also important to make sure that there’s somewhere where dog guardians can take their dogs for walks, close to the office.

Vaccinations: You’ll need to make sure that all pets have had their vaccinations, to make sure that they’re safe for people in the office to play with.

Once you’ve covered the basics, there are so many things you can do to create a pet-friendly workplace. Make sure you keep some pet food and pet toys. You can get scratching posts and cat litter for cats. Also keep some cleaning supplies on hand in case the pet ends up making a mess after all.

About Modern HR Modern HR works with many different industries all over the country. We are proud to say that we have been doing what we love for more than 34 years!

Modern HR brings clarity and simplification to the art of human resources, enhancing our Clients’ culture and allowing them to focus on business growth and prosperity.

Modern HR works with many different industries all over the country. We are proud to say that we have been doing what we love for more than 35 years! Our Services

SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME! sound familiar? This is a common theme that we hear frequently from all business owners. Whether it is payroll, benefits, recruiting or training, the administration of HR Outsourcing Los Angeles                                can take up a lot of your time and distract you from building your business. At Modern HR, it is our business to help you focus on your business. We can develop a customized package of Human Resources California that will meet the needs of everyone in your organization. We offer solutions to a wide variety of the day-to-day challenges you face.

Connected Workforce

Access real time metrics on your workforce and rapid access to the talent your company needs when time is of the essence

Customizable Workflow

CA Human Resource Management are designed around our client’s specific needs from sourcing through to human resources management.

Convenient Engagement

Reduce compliance risk and financial implications associated with leveraging multiple vendors.

[outsourcinghr]

Why Do You Need To Hire HR Consulting Firms California?

In a dynamic work culture, developing HR policies complying government norms and supporting business and employees rights could be a daunting task. One needs to have precise knowledge of updated regulations and industry conditions. But, while working on the other segments developing HR policies could be overwhelming, especially when it's a startup. Therefore, HR consulting firms California step into your shoes and craft HR policing serving as a guiding framework for management, stakeholders, employees and more. 

Here we have highlighted more reasons to choose an HR consulting services company for your business. 

Identify Your Business Needs: Embracing the HR policies development journey provides you with guidance for recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and more services, efficiently. 

Research Applicable Laws and Regulations: Professional HR consulting firm keeps your business up-to-date with the changing industry and market norms. 

Determine Policy Framework: Experts help businesses to decide the structure and layout of the policies that contain clarity and are easy to understand. Our Professionals defined policies include purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedures, and legal references. 

Customize Policies: HR consulting firms develop tailor-made policies that reflect business goals, cultures and more. We formulate such policies, you need expert guidance and ready-to-use templates. 

Regularly Review and Update: HR policies should not be static documents but must be modified with changing laws, regulations, and organizational needs. To understand the need of an hour, we help businesses to define their goals using a tailor-made human-centric approach.  

Communicate and Train: Once the HR policies are developed, on clients' demand we plan to introduce these policies to employees. Based on business or platform needs, we conduct training sessions and address employee issues. 

Get in touch with our experts now to match the specific details you want to highlight about the HR consulting firm in California.

[recentupdates]

Human Resource Management System: Streamline Your HR Operations

In today's fast-paced business environment, managing human resources efficiently is crucial for the success of any organization. Human Resource Management (HRM) plays a vital role in the effective functioning of a company. To simplify and automate various HR processes, many organizations opt for Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). This article delves into the significance of HRMS, the benefits it offers, and the importance of payroll service providers and HR consulting services in California.

What is a Human Resource Management System (HRMS)?

A Human Resource Management System (HRMS) is a software solution designed to streamline and automate various HR functions within an organization. It acts as a central repository for employee data, enabling HR professionals to manage employee information, track performance, streamline recruitment, and ensure compliance with employment laws.

Benefits of Using an HRMS

Implementing an HRMS offers several benefits to organizations, including:

Streamlining Employee Data Management

With an HRMS, companies can efficiently manage employee data, including personal information, employment history, performance reviews, and training records. This centralization eliminates the need for manual record-keeping, reduces paperwork, and ensures data accuracy.

Enhancing Recruitment and Onboarding Processes

An HRMS simplifies the recruitment and onboarding processes by automating tasks such as job posting, applicant tracking, resume screening, and background checks. It enables HR teams to find the right candidates quickly and seamlessly onboard them, improving the overall efficiency of the hiring process.

Simplifying Time and Attendance Tracking

Tracking employee attendance, leaves, and work hours can be time-consuming. An HRMS simplifies this task by providing automated time and attendance tracking features. Employees can clock in and out electronically, and managers can easily monitor attendance records and generate accurate timesheets.

Managing Employee Benefits and Compensation

HRMS software streamlines the administration of employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. It ensures accurate benefit calculations, automates enrollment processes, and enables employees to access their benefit information conveniently.

Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws

Compliance with employment laws and regulations is crucial for every organization. An HRMS helps ensure adherence to legal requirements by automating compliance-related tasks, generating reports, and tracking important dates, such as contract renewals and performance evaluations.

Improving Performance Management and Training

An HRMS facilitates effective performance management by providing tools to set goals, track progress, and conduct performance evaluations. It also simplifies the training and development process by offering training modules, tracking employee training records, and identifying skill gaps.

Effective Succession Planning and Talent Management

Succession planning and talent management are essential for organizational continuity. An HRMS aids in identifying high-potential employees, tracking their career progression, and creating development plans. It ensures a smooth transition during leadership changes and nurtures talent within the organization.

Role of Payroll Service Providers in California

Payroll management is a critical aspect of HR operations. California businesses often seek the assistance of payroll service providers to handle payroll processing, tax compliance, and other related tasks. These providers have the expertise and knowledge to manage payroll efficiently, ensuring accurate and timely payment to employees.

The Advantages of Outsourcing Payroll Services

Outsourcing payroll services to specialized providers offers several advantages to California businesses:

Cost Savings: Outsourcing payroll eliminates the need for in-house payroll staff and associated infrastructure costs. It allows businesses to focus on core activities while reducing expenses.

Time Efficiency: Payroll service providers handle all payroll-related tasks, such as calculating wages, deductions, and taxes. This frees up HR professionals’ time, enabling them to concentrate on strategic HR functions.

Expertise and Compliance: Payroll service providers stay updated with the latest tax laws and regulations. By outsourcing payroll, businesses ensure compliance and minimize the risk of errors or penalties.

Data Security: Payroll service providers employ robust security measures to protect sensitive employee data, reducing the risk of data breaches or identity theft.

Scalability: Payroll service providers can easily accommodate changes in employee numbers, ensuring a seamless payroll process during periods of growth or downsizing.

HR Consulting Services in California: A Strategic Approach

Human Resource outsourcing consultant California offer specialized expertise and guidance to businesses in managing their human resources effectively. These services assist organizations in aligning HR practices with business objectives and implementing strategic HR initiatives.

Leveraging HR Consulting Services for Organizational Growth

By engaging HR consulting services, California businesses can experience the following benefits:

Strategic Planning: HR consultants help organizations develop HR strategies aligned with their long-term goals. They analyze workforce needs, assess skill gaps, and create plans to attract, develop, and retain talent.

Policy Development: HR consultants assist in developing comprehensive HR policies and procedures that comply with local and federal regulations. These policies promote fairness, inclusivity, and transparency within the organization.

Change Management: During periods of organizational change, such as mergers or restructuring, HR consultants provide guidance on managing the human aspect of change. They ensure smooth transitions, minimize resistance, and foster employee engagement.

Employee Engagement and Retention: HR consultants help create a positive work environment by implementing strategies to enhance employee engagement and satisfaction. This leads to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved organizational performance.

Training and Development: HR consultants identify skill gaps and design training programs to enhance employees’ capabilities. They provide guidance on implementing performance management systems and conducting effective employee assessments.

A Human Resource Management System (HRMS) is a powerful tool that enables organizations to streamline HR processes, enhance efficiency, and improve overall workforce management. Alongside HRMS, payroll service providers in California offer valuable assistance in managing payroll operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Additionally, HR consulting services play a pivotal role in aligning HR strategies with business objectives, nurturing employee engagement, and fostering organizational growth.

source: https://medium.com/@arinageorge123/human-resource-management-system-streamline-your-hr-operations-ef59222ae6cd

[nasa]

Moon Mountain Named After Melba Roy Mouton, NASA Mathematician

Award-winning NASA mathematician and computer programmer Melba Mouton is being honored with the naming of a mountain at the Moon’s South Pole. Mouton joined NASA in 1959, just a year after the space agency was established. She was the leader of a team that coded computer programs to calculate spacecraft trajectories and locations. Her contributions were instrumental to landing the first humans on the Moon.

She also led the group of "human computers," who tracked the Echo satellites. Roy and her team's computations helped produce the orbital element timetables by which millions could view the satellite from Earth as it passed overhead.

The towering lunar landmark now known as “Mons Mouton” stands at a height greater than 19,000 feet. The mountain was created over billions of years by lunar impacts. Huge craters lie around its base—some with cliff-like edges that descend into areas of permanent darkness. Mons Mouton is the future landing site of VIPER, our first robotic Moon rover. The rover will explore the Moon’s surface to help gain a better understanding of the origin of lunar water. Here are things to know:

Mons Mouton is a wide, relatively flat-topped mountain that stretches roughly 2,700 square miles

The mountain is the highest spot at the Moon’s South Pole and can be seen from Earth with a telescope

Our VIPER Moon rover will explore Mons Mouton over the course of its 100-day mission

VIPER will map potential resources which will help inform future landing sites under our Artemis program

The VIPER mission is managed by our Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. The approximately 1,000-pound rover will be delivered to the Moon by a commercial vendor as part of our Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, delivering science and technology payloads to and near the Moon.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[lifegoesonevenifeverybodyisgone]

THE Joe Character Analysis. Part 1: The Greasers and J's Mexican Heritage

Merry Christmas, especially to the dedicated Joe fan, @barbieb0y! After torturing myself by recapping and taking notes of the entire 2.0 event, Joe's character story "The San Francisco Kids", looking at his storyboards and comic, getting Joe to 100% bond, having him as my main in the Series of Dusks, and reading + re-reading all of his voice lines/mini stories/descriptions; I can confidently say that I have gained more insights about his character and formed theories of my own that we shall tackle today.

While looking at J's character storyboard I noticed something interesting about his fashion style.

J's fashion style is inspired by the Greaser's aesthetic. Considering that Bluepoch pays attention to character details and their outfits, this is an intentional choice. By briefly looking at the Wikipedia page for the Greaser subculture, I noticed that the most prominent adopters of the style are Italian Americans from the North and Hispanic Americans in the South (including places like California, in this case, Haight Street).

This brought to my attention that J, in fact, could have Mexican heritage. Specifically, he is a mixed White-Mexican American.

Why so?

J's paternal side is the legendary arcanist family, the Waylands. The last name Wayland derives from the Norman French word Wēland, which may also derive from the ancient Germanic words wēla-nandaz, which means "battle" and "brave." This means that his father is most likely a typical White American.

Since J is a mixed arcanist, I would assume that his biological mother is a human Hispanic considering the significant percentage of San Francisco's Hispanic population and also due to J's identification with the Greaser subculture.

A mixed child has a higher chance of learning their mother's culture especially if they grow up around other maternal family members or people of the same culture. I noticed that my mixed-race cousins whose father was an American, identified more with their Filipino side especially since they live in the Philippines. I identify more with my mother's ethnic group due to the same reasons.

Besides his tanned skin, his love for Mexican food and drink and his mastery of cooking the cuisine may suggest that he is of Mexican descent.

Examples:

The most telling of these examples is J's cooking ability NOT his preference for Mexican food. In the first example, he managed to make a hot sauce AUTHENTIC enough that Centurion, a CANONICAL Mexican-American character, was taken back to her hometown. This is a big deal considering that in the 1990s, there wasn't Youtube or online sources that could spread authentic recipes for Mexican food! Due to the limited educational resources in that era regarding cooking Mexican food, this means that he most likely learned it by being taught by someone who could make Mexican food, which I conclude is his biological mother.

Tang Ji, the chef who raised J after his father died, is a Chinese immigrant so it's unlikely that he knows how to cook Mexican food from the get-go. J himself also knows how to cook Chinese food because of this. There is a chance that one of the Mexican immigrants could have taught J how to cook Mexican food but due to his tan skin color (that he had even before he began blacksmithing) this leads me to assume that my conclusion is the more likely option.

But why? I am led to believe that his mother passed down her recipes to her husband and son just like how some of my mixed family members exchange recipes and traditions amongst each other. A fast way to connect to one's culture is by knowing how to make food from THAT culture. Since J lost his mother at a young age (but not too young as not to remember her), I think it is his way of remembering his mother and connecting to his culture (since he cannot speak the language I assume).

So going back to the Greaser subculture that J identifies with, it emerged amongst lower-class teenagers and young adults. The Greaser subculture was associated with motorcycle gangs, their attire, their greased-up hair, and their rebellious attitude.

This is reflected in J's fashion:

(His hairstyle is a more tousled version of a flop)

(His jacket seems to be a modified Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket)

(His jeans are Levi's dark blue jeans that are inspired by the 50s with the cut of the jeans being a bit wider near the end to make way for boots)

(His boots are partially hidden by his jeans but it is a Winklepicker boots which are characterized by their slick body, pointy toes, and straps)

(The Greasers were oftentimes bikers and were fond of the hot rod type of bikes. "Hot Rod" is a way of modifying classic vehicles by stripping them of their parts, which exposes insides like the pipes, to increase speed.)

The original Greasers were from ethnic minorities like those from the Mediterranean, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Italian. They felt united in the feeling of being left out of the post-war economic boom and also experienced discrimination and poverty. The theme or main philosophy and ethos of the Greaser and the cultural aspects of Mexican-American culture are essential in understanding J, his understanding of the world, and his background in Haight Street.

In three posts, I will discuss the three themes that explore 1) collectivism vs individual choice, 2) masculinity, family, and community, and 3) J's philosophy regarding blades and metals (and how it connects to his views of imperfection and culture). I will also be comparing and contrasting him with characters like Legers, Argus, and Isolde. I will reblog these posts when they come, so sit back and enjoy!

Link to the ultimate Joe Directory: https://www.tumblr.com/lifegoesonevenifeverybodyisgone/771822786973958144/the-ultimate-joe-directory?source=share

[covidsafecosplay]

The People’s CDC COVID-19 Weather Report: October 14, 2024

The People's CDC has released another updated report on COVID-19 data and action items for the United States of America.

Highlights:

According to data last updated 10/5/2024, the CDC’s national wastewater map shows 16 states with “High” or “Very High” wastewater levels.

According to the Wastewater COVID-19 National and Regional Trends dashboard, all regions continue to show a downward trend over the last several weeks.

Many Bay Area counties are set to reimplement mask mandates in hospitals from November 1 through Spring 2025. Some of the rules apply to only certain healthcare staff while others include visitors and patients. Though these mandates are limited in scope, duration, and geography, a few are expanded compared to last year’s Bay Area mask rules, a sign that pressure on decision makers is working. 

In the past week, the California Department of Public Health reported that 6 new cases of bird flu (H5N1) were confirmed in dairy workers in California, with each case being connected to contact with infected cattle in California’s Central Valley. While there is yet no documented human-to-human transmission, each new case presents a greater risk of the virus mutating to spread from human to human.

The Texas State Affairs Committee posted notice of a hearing at the Capitol on October 16 to discuss, among other things, “Unmasking Protestors.” Opposition is mounting, and people are organizing.

Read the rest of the report here:

Please note that the CovidSafeCosplay blog and its admin are unaffiliated with the People's CDC or its management, and are simply sharing the resource.

Via the People's CDC About page:

The People’s CDC is a coalition of public health practitioners, scientists, healthcare workers, educators, advocates and people from all walks of life working to reduce the harmful impacts of COVID-19.  We provide guidance and policy recommendations to governments and the public on COVID-19, disseminating evidence-based updates that are grounded in equity, public health principles, and the latest scientific literature. Working alongside community organizations, we are building collective power and centering equity as we work together to end the pandemic. The People’s CDC is volunteer-run and independent of partisan political and corporate interests and includes anonymous local health department and other government employees. The People’s CDC is completely volunteer run with infrastructure support being provided by the People’s Science Network

[hypelens]

California Fires: The Pacific Palisades Blaze and the Ongoing Battle Against Wildfires

California is once again in the grip of devastating wildfires, with the Pacific Palisades Fire taking center stage as it threatens communities, disrupts lives, and underscores the ongoing challenges posed by climate change. With gusty winds, dry conditions, and rising temperatures fueling the flames, residents and first responders are facing a dire situation.

Overview of the Pacific Palisades Fire

The Pacific Palisades Fire, which erupted earlier this week, has rapidly spread across the densely populated region. According to KTLA, strong winds and bone-dry vegetation have exacerbated the blaze, making it challenging for firefighters to establish control. As of Wednesday evening, evacuation orders remain in effect for several neighborhoods, with over 1,200 acres burned and containment efforts ongoing.

Residents have shared harrowing accounts of the fire’s swift advance. James Woods, the renowned actor, shared his own close call with the flames, describing the moment he had to flee his home as a "race against time," as reported by CNN. His experience highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of these wildfires.

The Human Impact

For many residents, the Pacific Palisades Fire is more than just a headline—it's a life-altering event. Evacuees have described the chaos of leaving their homes, unsure of what they might return to. Emergency shelters have been set up across Los Angeles, offering temporary refuge for those displaced.

Local businesses have also felt the effects, with closures and supply chain disruptions adding to the economic strain. The fire has prompted community members to band together, offering support through donations, volunteer efforts, and emotional encouragement.

The Role of Climate Change

California’s wildfire seasons have grown longer and more severe in recent years, with experts pointing to climate change as a significant contributing factor. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and erratic weather patterns create the perfect storm for wildfires to ignite and spread.

The Los Angeles Times notes that the Pacific Palisades Fire is part of a troubling trend: an increase in "urban wildfires" where natural landscapes collide with densely populated areas. These fires pose unique challenges, not only in terms of firefighting but also in ensuring public safety in urbanized regions.

The First Responders' Heroic Efforts

Firefighters and emergency personnel have been working tirelessly to combat the Pacific Palisades Fire. Helicopters and air tankers have been deployed to drop water and fire retardant, while ground crews battle flames in challenging terrain.

The efforts of first responders have drawn widespread praise, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass calling them "true heroes" in a recent press conference. She also urged residents to follow evacuation orders and remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation during emergencies.

Preparing for the Future

As California faces increasingly destructive wildfire seasons, officials and experts are exploring ways to mitigate risks and improve preparedness. Key strategies include:

Enhanced fire prevention measures: Controlled burns, vegetation management, and firebreaks can help reduce fuel for fires.

Investments in technology: Drones, satellites, and AI-powered tools are being used to detect and monitor fires more effectively.

Public education campaigns: Teaching residents how to create defensible spaces around their homes and prepare for evacuations is crucial.

How to Help

The Pacific Palisades Fire has sparked an outpouring of support from across the country. If you’re looking to make a difference, here are some ways to help:

Donate to relief organizations: Groups like the Red Cross and local charities are providing food, shelter, and resources to those affected.

Volunteer: Whether it’s helping at evacuation centers or assisting with cleanup efforts, your time can make a meaningful impact.

Raise awareness: Share accurate information about the fire and its effects to help others understand the gravity of the situation.

Conclusion

The Pacific Palisades Fire is a stark reminder of the challenges posed by California’s worsening wildfire seasons. As communities come together to support one another, the need for long-term solutions to address climate change and improve wildfire management has never been more apparent.

Stay updated on this developing story and join the efforts to support those impacted by the Pacific Palisades Fire. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, every action counts in the fight against these devastating blazes.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this press release from the Department of the Interior:

The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources recently signed a new agreement to strengthen cooperation and coordination for the conservation of the American bison across its range in North America. Through a Letter of Intent, the countries will work to pursue bison conservation, restore ecological processes, and support traditional human use of natural resources with a particular focus on the unique historical connection between bison and Indigenous peoples.  

This Letter of Intent was worked on at the recent Canada/Mexico/United States Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management held in San Diego, California and outlines additional collaboration across national borders towards the United States, Mexico and Canada’s shared goal of domestic bison conservation. The Trilateral Committee began in 1996 as a pioneering initiative among the three countries to align efforts safeguarding North America’s wildlife and ecosystems. The committee’s Species of Concern Working Table brings together state, federal and Tribal resource managers and non-governmental organizations to share their expertise and coordinate conservation of species that span the continent.   

The recently signed Letter of Intent outlines the various ways that the three North American nations will work together, including by:  

Improving collaboration on regional activities to promote policies, practices and effective methods in support of the ecocultural conservation of bison; 

Promoting joint work plans within the Trilateral Committee’s Species of Common Conservation Concern working table; 

Fostering transparency about the technical information that is developed jointly; and 

Streamlining reporting on activities conducted under the Letter of Intent with the Executive Table of the Trilateral Committee for its review.

These international efforts will continue to build on the Interior Department’s domestic bison restoration efforts, including the Grasslands Keystone Initiative. In 2023, Secretary Haaland issued a Secretary's Order and announced a $25 million investment to empower the Department’s bureaus and partners to use the best available science and Indigenous Knowledge to help restore bison across the country. The Order formally established a Bison Working Group (BWG) composed of representation from the five bureaus with bison equities: the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. The BWG is developing a Bison Shared Stewardship Plan, which will establish a comprehensive framework for American bison restoration, including strengthening long-term bison conservation partnerships. Central to the development of that plan will be robust engagement with Tribes, including prioritizing Tribally led opportunities to establish new large herds owned or managed by Tribes and Tribally led organizations.   

The American bison once thrived across the largest original distribution of any native large herbivore in North America, ranging from desert grasslands in northern regions of Mexico to interior Alaska. After North America’s European settlement, bison populations were reduced from an estimated 60 to 80 million to a mere 1,000 animals. These surviving bison were saved from extinction and became the founders of several protected populations that put the species on a path of recovery and conservation.  

Today, bison remain absent from nearly 99 percent of their historic range. Most of the bison in North America are in herds that are constrained by fences, isolated from each other, and have fewer than 1,000 individuals, raising concerns about their genetic integrity, wildness and long-term viability of the species.   

Approximately 31,000 bison are currently being stewarded by the United States, Canada and Mexico with the goal of conserving the species and their role in the function of native grassland systems, as well as their place in Indigenous culture.  

[eretzyisrael]

Good News From Israel

In the 19th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

Mother of three is a part-time PhD student and an IDF Command Center manager.

Israeli Professor boosts the immune system to slow the aging process.

Nine inspiring prize-winning young immigrants give hope for Israel’s future.

Four teams of Israelis are helping combat California’s wildfires.

Israeli technology could prevent future wildfires.

Nvidia is investing half a billion dollars in a new Israeli development center.

Israelis thought “outside the box” when stranded on a snowy mountain.

Two ancient structures unearthed from the Kingdom of Judah.

Read More: Good News from Israel

As we anxiously await the possible release of three Israeli female hostages, I was alerted to several articles in this week's newsletter featuring amazing Israeli women. 

The female Professor who discovered boosting the immune system slows aging. The two Israeli female members of the international team that identified a new blood group. And the female Israeli doctor leading the European project to reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Women in the IDF are prolific, comprising 50% of IDF doctors, crewing tanks, and operating an Air Force drone unit. Many others are in combat units or perform vital services in the "Special In Uniform" department.  And read about the mother of three children, studying for a PhD while managing an IDF Command Center.

So many Israeli startups succeed because of the women members of their leadership teams. In fact, women-led Israeli AI startups deliver a 35% higher return on investment than male-led ones. The Heads of Human Resources and Recruitment in Israeli companies most often are women. (Checkout the dozens of Israeli startups that showcased at CES in Las Vegas.) There is even an Israeli tech hub for Bedouin women. And Israel’s "Women Funding Women" program is the first of its kind to connect women entrepreneurs with top-tier women investors.

Among the nine young winners of Nefesh b'Nefesh's Maor (“light”) Youth Prize are the founders of Israeli support group "Big Sister, Little Sister". And read about the many Israeli women who won "Voices of Iron" advocacy awards.

Finally, we salute all the wives of IDF soldiers who have to worry, work and support their families while their husbands are at the front lines.

The photo (TY Sharon) was taken at the end of the recent Momentum Fellowship conference in Israel. Momentum is a transformative leadership development program designed to empower Jewish women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make significant community impact.

[mariacallous]

It’s almost that magical time of year that the Humane Society of America likens to a “natural disaster.” Kitten season.

“The level of emotions for months on end is so draining,” said Ann Dunn, director of Oakland Animal Services, a city-run shelter in the San Francisco Bay Area. “And every year we just know it’s going to get harder.”

Across the United States, summer is the height of “kitten season,” typically defined as the warm-weather months between spring and fall during which a cat becomes most fertile. For over a decade, animal shelters across the country have noted kitten season starting earlier and lasting longer. Some experts say the effects of climate change, such as milder winters and an earlier start to spring, may be to blame for the uptick in feline birth rates.

This past February, Dunn’s shelter held a clinic for spaying and neutering outdoor cats. Although kitten season in Northern California doesn’t typically kick off until May, organizers found that over half of the female cats were already pregnant. “It’s terrifying,” Dunn said. “It just keeps getting earlier and going later.”

Cats reproduce when females begin estrus, more commonly known as “going into heat,” during which hormones and behavior changes signal she’s ready to mate. Cats can go into heat several times a year, with each cycle lasting up to two weeks. But births typically go up between the months of April and October. While it’s well established that lengthening daylight triggers a cat’s estrus, the effect of rising temperatures on kitten season isn’t yet understood.

One theory is that milder winters may mean cats have the resources to begin mating sooner. “No animal is going to breed unless they can survive,” said Christopher Lepczyk, an ecologist at Auburn University and prominent researcher of free-ranging cats. Outdoor cats’ food supply may also be increasing, as some prey, such as small rodents, may have population booms in warmer weather themselves. Kittens may also be more likely to survive as winters become less harsh. “I would argue that temperature really matters,” he said.

Others, like Peter J. Wolf, a senior strategist at the Best Friends Animal Society, think the increase comes down to visibility rather than anything biological. As the weather warms, Wolf says, people may be getting out more and noticing kittens earlier in the year than before. Then they bring them into shelters, resulting in rescue groups feeling like kitten season is starting earlier.

Regardless of the exact mechanism, having a large number of feral cats around means trouble for more than just animal shelters. Cats are apex predators that can wreak havoc on local biodiversity. Research shows that outdoor cats on islands have already caused or contributed to the extinction of an estimated 33 species. Wild cats pose an outsized threat to birds, which make up half their diet. In Hawaii, known as a bird extinction capital of the world, cats are the most devastating predators of wildlife. “We know that cats are an invasive, environmental threat,” said Lepczyk, who has published papers proposing management policies for outdoor cats.

Scientists, conservationists, and cat advocates all agree that unchecked outdoor cat populations are a problem, but they remain deeply divided on solutions. While some conservationists propose the targeted killing of cats, known as culling, cat populations have been observed to bounce back quickly, and a single female cat and her offspring can produce at least 100 descendants, if not thousands, in just seven years.

Although sterilization protocols such as “trap, neuter, and release” are favored by many cat rescue organizations, Lepczyk said it’s almost impossible to do it effectively, in part because of how freely the animals roam and how quickly they procreate. Without homes or sanctuaries after sterilization, returning cats outside means they may have a low quality of life, spread disease, and continue to harm wildlife. “No matter what technique you use, if you don’t stop the flow of new cats into the landscape, it’s not gonna matter,” said Lepczyk.

Rescue shelters, already under strain from resource and veterinary shortages, are scrambling to confront their new reality. While some release materials to help the community identify when outdoor kittens need intervention, others focus on recruiting for foster volunteer programs, which become essential caring for kittens who need around-the-clock care.

“As the population continues to explode, how do we address all these little lives that need our help?” Dunn said. “We’re giving this everything we have.”

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Caleb Ecarma and Judd Legum at Popular Information:

Several of Elon Musk’s associates installed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of federal employees. According to two members of OPM staff with direct knowledge, the Musk team running OPM has the ability to extract information from databases that store medical histories, personally identifiable information, workplace evaluations, and other private data. The staffers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly and feared professional retaliation. Musk Watch also reviewed internal OPM correspondence confirming that expansive access to the database was provided to Musk associates.

The arrangement presents acute privacy and security risks, one of the OPM staffers said. Among the government outsiders granted entry to the OPM databases is University of California Berkeley student Akash Bobba, a software engineer who graduated high school less than three years ago. He previously interned at Meta and Palantir, a technology firm chaired by Musk-ally and fellow billionaire Peter Thiel. Edward Coristine, another 2022 high school graduate and former software engineering intern at Musk’s Neuralink, has also been given access to the databases.

Other Musk underlings embedded at OPM following President Donald Trump’s inauguration include the agency’s new chief of staff, Amanda Scales, who until January was a human resources staffer at xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence firm, and Brian Bjelde, who has spent the past 21 years at Musk's SpaceX, including the last 10 leading the human resources department. They are joined by Gavin Kliger, a former Twitter software engineer serving as a special advisor to the director of OPM, and Riccardo Biasini, a former software engineer at Musk’s tunneling venture, the Boring Company. OPM did not respond to a request for comment. Shortly after Trump took office, OPM installed Greg Hogan to serve as its new chief information officer (CIO). Hogan was tapped to replace OPM CIO Melvin Brown, who had accepted the job less than a month ago. The civil servants who oversee the OPM’s information technology services were then instructed to provide access to Musk's associates, according to the OPM staffers who spoke to Musk Watch. One of the OPM staffers received an email from the agency’s new leadership instructing them to give Musk’s team “access [to] the system as an admin user" and "code read and write permissions." “They have access to the code itself, which means they can make updates to anything that they want,” the staffer explained. USAJOBS, the federal government’s official hiring site, was one of the systems that Musk's associates were given access to. The database stores personal information — Social Security numbers, home addresses, employment records — provided by private individuals who have applied for federal jobs, regardless of whether the applicants went on to work for the government. Musk’s aides were also given access to the OPM’s Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) system. Contained within the EHRI are the Social Security numbers, dates of birth, salaries, home addresses, and job descriptions of all civil government workers, along with any disciplinary actions they have faced. “They’re looking through all the position descriptions… to remove folks,” one of the OPM staffers said of Musk’s team. “This is how they found all these DEI offices and had them removed — [by] reviewing position description level data.” Other databases Musk’s team has access to include USA Staffing, an onboarding system; USA Performance, a job performance review site; and HI, which the government uses to manage employee health care. “The health insurance one scares me because it's HIPAA [protected] information, but they have access to all this stuff,” the OPM staffer noted.

[...] A new server being used to control these databases has been placed in a conference room that Musk’s team is using as their command center, according to an OPM staffer. The staffer described the server as a piece of commercial hardware they believed was not obtained through the proper federal procurement process. There is a legal requirement that the installation of a new server undergo a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), a formal process to ensure the change would not create any security vulnerabilities. But in this instance, the staff believes there was no PIA. “So this application and corresponding hardware are illegally operating,” they added. On Friday, Reuters reported that some senior civil servants have been blocked from accessing the EHRI and other OPM systems, making it difficult for career OPM employees to know what Musk’s team has been examining or modifying. In the same report, the outlet revealed the team had moved sofa beds into the agency's headquarters to continue their work around the clock.

This should be a major national news scandal.

Elon Musk and the underlings he put in place at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have jeopardized data privacy and national security.

[mr-entj]

Mr-entj, you always say to start from the problems we want to solve. But how exactly can we find out what those are and how good we are at doing that?

Related answer:

Career and impact

Look around everywhere and see what catches your interest. Here are a few places to start and questions to ask:

Your immediate environment. Look around you—at your situation, family, neighborhood, socioeconomic class, ethnic group, town, city, and country. What issues are affecting them? What conditions are you living in? How are you treated?

For example, a former classmate of mine, whose family was deeply impacted by the Korean War, went on to study at Harvard and earn her PhD at Oxford. Today, she’s a recognized expert on North Korean human rights issues, publishing and speaking on the topic worldwide (currently a guest lecturer at Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government).

Within society. Check the news, social media, and entertainment channels. What themes keep surfacing? What news headlines are most fascinating or disturbing?

For example, I have a friend who was deeply troubled by corporate environmental abuse, everything from unchecked pollution to unpunished disasters and the growing threat of climate change. She pursued a law degree at Stanford Law School, later led the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and now serves as the Director of Global Climate Strategies for a climate non-profit.

At school and in academia. What research are people working on? What subjects interest you? Which professors are tackling interesting problems and pushing exciting boundaries?

For example, a friend of mine was inspired by her Child Development Psychology professor, who encouraged her to pursue graduate school. With support from that professor, my friend earned a spot in a top PhD program at the University of Michigan. Today, she’s a professor of Child and Adolescent Development in California, researching educational outcomes for first-generation Latino students.

At work. What’s inefficient or frustrating? What tools would make life easier? What solutions are missing that need to be built?

For example, a friend of mine noticed how tedious and frustrating it was to onboard contractors. So, he launched a startup to streamline everything from interviews to payroll. In 2021, he sold that same startup to Workday for $500 million USD.

For me, I'm driven by technological innovations that improve society (Product Management + Strategy) and working to ensure the responsible deployment of that technology to keep the world safe (Trust & Safety). For my wife (the INTJ), her focus is on ensuring technology is used fairly and that personal data isn’t exploited or misused (she's a lawyer that works in data privacy).

You won’t know how good you are at solving problems until you identify your strengths. Then: research, experiment, fail, learn, grow, and repeat. Without data, there are no new insights. Get out there, try something, and come back with real-world feedback.

[evamei]

The Greek Gods are still around, but they look a little different now.

Aphrodite is a social media influencer living in California, she makes videos with little sparkles in the titles. They're all some variation of “The BEST outfits for summer” or “This is what you say to get a first date”. It's all run of the mill relationship or fashion advice mostly but every once in a while other types of videos pops up. The one that shocks everyone is when the normally sweet tempered girl flips on a dime and rages against the world restricting the right to love whoever you want. That is one thing she can't sit idly by and watch.

Apollo spends his weeks straining his eyes in a research lab in New York. He keeps trying to make medicines to heal all of humanity's ailments but it seems like for every one he fixes four more pop up. He over works himself until he crashes out. He drags himself to his apartment and sits in the quiet, he's always been flighty but he hadn't cared until now, when he goes from being surrounded by friends and co-workers to the loud quiet. His eyes droop but he still manages to click on the TV. The price of prescriptions has jumped up again, it's impossible for so many people to get what they want or need nowadays, all of his work feels like it's for nothing. He curls up on the couch, using an arm as a pillow and closes his eyes against the migraine forming. Maybe he'll take tomorrow off and try to see if enough inspiration will strike to write a song, he has no doubt that if he did it would go viral for a few weeks.

Hades and Persephone live a simple life. Hades owns a funeral home and Persephone a flower shop. They laugh at how it's a little on the nose for them. They enjoy the small Appalachian town though, it's quaint and flourishes every year for tourist season. They have a big great dane named Cerberus. It's not perfect, Hades still carries the weight of the dead and Persephone is still dragged off to her overbearing mother every year but they both know it could be worse. They hold hands and walk through antique stores, watching as the world changes around them but they stay the same.

Demeter lives in Alabama in an old plantation style home. She hires farm hands to work the fields, sometimes she goes and joins them when she starts missing the dirt under her fingernails. On lazy afternoons she sits and rocks on her porch drinking sweet tea, she's always watching down the road waiting for her daughter to come home for good even though by now she knows that won't happen. When she sees mothers with their little girls she can't help but think about everywhere she went wrong. Maybe if she hadn't held on so tight…maybe if she'd given Hades a chance…maybe, maybe, maybe. Then she sees the story of another young flower of a girl murdered by her husband, sees the man get away with it; the anger and fear floods back in and all she can think about is her estranged daughter.

Zuce is a politician living in DC. Almost everyone hates him and it's eating him alive. He'll make a play for power, stripping an area of resources, removing disaster areas to allow large companies to come in and build bigger, more expensive house complexes, banning apps for profit; he thinks people will praise him but they always do the exact opposite. He's so out of touch with the way the 21st century works that he's turned to refusing to try and understand anymore. He can't wrap his head around the way people care more about being good than being powerful. He hits in his office everyday and watches the news for hours as they bash him in the press.

Hera is never home, always traveling from country to country. Technically she's an online marriage counselor but that can be done from anywhere and her husband sends her monthly allowances. She can't stand to be home with him so she never goes home. She's one of the few Olympians that still goes back to Greece. The first time she's almost crushed by the way time has moved on. Temples in ruins or completely gone. Shards of pottery in glass classes. It's the first time she realizes just how much time has passed and the weight of the years weigh down on her shoulders.

Artemis sits in the quiet of a winter forest. She's surrounded by her hunters still, the only Olympian that had the good sense to bring immortal followers with her. She owns a big cabin, they still hunt for food, still live off the land. She reaches out to her family sometimes, feels an aching pain when she sees Apollo through his brief video calls. Watches as the world slowly drains the ones that tried to keep up with it.

Hades and Persephone make sense, they are life and death, they know how to move on and let the world flow around them like silk. The rest feel time grating against their bones, finding new trends fitting uncomfortably, all of their old stories being twisted. Artemis thinks that she'd follow suit with the rest of them if she didn't see Hestia so often. The girl burns brighter than ever, and Artemis knows there is still hope in the world.

Because the Greek Gods are still around, but just like humans they are changed by the world, and just like humans they will persist through the good and the bad.

[doomsday-architect]

Water vs California. Who wins?

From its northern-most border to its southern-most border, California sits beside the largest body of water on the planet.

The Pacific Ocean.

One would think with all the so-called intellectuals/colleges/universities, the leveraging of the Pacific Ocean to provide drinking water and water for every purpose imaginable would be a slam dunk.

You would be wrong.

Instead, humans, with their usual arrogance, choose to depend on mother nature to provide snow and rain for humans to use.

There are 12 desalination plants. Some under construction. It's not enough, even when added to the water from the Colorado River which is TOTALLY DRY by the time it reaches the Gulf of California.

Many causes, but HUMAN INTERVENTION and STUPIDLY MANAGING the resource (Politics) are the reasons.

So, the top reason FOR THE FIRES and the TOP REASON FOR A LACK OF WATER TO EXTINGUISH THEM, lays right at the feet of human stupidity, arrogance and politics.

Will it change, EVER?

Only if you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.

Golden state?

Once, but, no more.

Couple of facts:

California aqueduct is 444 miles long, north to south.

California is 400 miles wide.

Alaska pipeline (FOR OIL) is 880 miles long.

So, can California leverage the tech we KNOW WORKS to provide water wherever it's needed across the state?

ABSOLUTELY.......

As long as the Feds (and the rest of us) PAY FOR IT!!!

Good thing Joeys time will be up.

Otherwise.........

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 376: Back Together, p2 (Third Round of New Hires)

“Y-you've interviewed all these people, gone through all their resumes?” he asked, sidled up next to Melissa. This was his Office Manager/Girlfriend and the young woman who - along with her hive of worker bees - was handling so much of the practice’s expansion for him. “You must have been busy…”

Dr J, geriatrician and former owner of the medical practice the two of them now sat in while finishing up a dinner of take-out Thai food, was suddenly not feeling quite as confident as he had throughout the day. Melissa had been showing him the new women that they’d hired, girls who were set to work in the two new wings of the building. 

Far Horizons was about to become a full-on health-care complex, complements of funding by Evolution Pharmaceuticals and his ex-wife Sheryl. It all opened for business on Monday, after some early ceremonies and a news piece that was supposed to air at the end of the week. Rather than feeling excitement for the growth of his (former)  business he was instead starting to squirm. His mouth filled with something that tasted like dread. 

“Yep, We've been very busy!” she chirped, pulling up the application and pictures of another girl on the tablet. This one was someone who’d be working behind the desk in the (it still made him shudder) Regression Clinic. In truth, the interviews Melissa had with these girls had been brief, quick introductions more than anything, and they were done over the computer. The girls were mostly all still out in California or Mexico or wherever. 

Dr. J tried to relax about the whole thing, but it was hard. It was all just so crazy, and was quickly becoming a reality. “So the, uh, 50’s housewife look is really coming back, huh?” he pondered aloud, looking at the dress on a pretty young brunette and having a strong recollection of a recent dream. The flashback made him temporarily dizzy. He was becoming confused. For one thing, these images weren’t the amateur selfies that the new girls on his current staff had sent him, back in the last couple waves of hiring. These seemed more professional, and he daresay more clinically crafted to highlight the women’s, umm, best features.

These girls are all insanely gorgeous, he marveled. Like the staff he now had surrounding him day-to-day, it was nearly unbelievable. What the actual fuck - where are they growing these people?!? “It’s kinda, uh, ‘Stepford Wife’-ish,” he commented, unsure she would get the reference.

“You know…I just ordered a few new dresses myself,” Melissa replied as Jay stared at the tablet, no longer paying enough attention to her. She could feel it. She could tell as he went through the tablet preloaded by Evolution with 'applications' that he was feeling more nervous and agitated. Maybe the effects of Katarina’s milk were wearing off, or maybe this was just too upsetting for him. She understood, it could be overwhelming, tripling your staff and facing the prospect of being surrounded by more than three times the women in the office every single day. It was a lot, and she could tell he had some questions.

“So, what’s up with the, uh ‘subject number’ on all of them?” he began in a mumble, “Or this blacked-out space on all of them?”

Melissa paused; she knew she had to have answers. She didn’t want to lie if she didn’t have to, but more importantly she didn’t want to upset him. “The Col-…uh, Evolution actually helped out, found us a lot of girls, doing most of the hiring and human resources for now, until we have our own girl for it - she’s this one here, with the red hair!” She showed him a particularly bosomy picture, hoping to distract him.

“And what does ‘program’ mean? And what’s ‘Coronado’?”

“Oh uh I dunno?” She hated having to lie to him. “Maybe they have some sort of, like, employment…outreach?…program? In…Coronado?” oooOooo I just want to blast him with perfumes, make him believe me! But I promised myself I wouldn’t do that as much. Unless he…unless he wanted me to do it. Ooo nnnnhh that’d be…..oooo…

“So…how many of these new people are there?”

“Including the men?”

He’d forgotten about those. The guys they were hiring, for maintenance, groundskeeping, some gruntwork data entry. The ones they were keeping housed in the basement.  “Uh, no, just the uh-“

“The girls?" she said with a knowing giggle. 

He nodded, grunted his assent: “uh, yeah.”

"Well, at first, It looks like we’ll have about sixty new girls,” Melissa replied, knowing it was a bit more than that, “some on our payroll, some on Evolution’s, but I’ll be managing them all.” The prospect made her warm and wet between the thighs. “And I think eventually we’ll need more.” 

He shivered, and his voice cracked. “a-And how many do we have now? Already working?”

“Thirty. Including me.”

“Jesus.” The scale of it was staggering to him. The scale, and the fact that they’d been able to grow so quickly, filling all these positions in so short a time. “Wow, why? What’s so attractive about these jobs? It can’t be just the pay,” he asked. The pay is ridiculous, though. I don’t know how it’s all feasible. 

“Oh getting girls for these applications was easy!” Melissa replied, “And all of them were hired before your video came out. Now? After this weekend? That video made us very popular! Soooo many people want jobs here now! Girls willing to move from all over! Just to work for us! The applications just keep coming in! Even now!”

“T-that’s insane…” 

“Why is it so crazy? We now have streams of you and your-”

‘Harem’, she wants to say ‘harem’. 

“…staff, all over the internet. Girls just want to be part of it.”

“It makes no sense!” he exclaimed, then paused. His voice dropped as he descended into thought. “The world is…twisted.”

“Oh, sweetie, it’s really not,” she purred, closing the space between them as she leaned in towards him. She’d already begun releasing pheromones subconsciously: 0001.55.6009.xx, 0001.55.6388.dd, and, though she’d promised herself she wouldn’t, 0001.55.6022.cd. “Honey, It makes perfect sense. The world is just…changing. Girls want what they want, and it’s different than before. You have to know that you being so perfectly vulni will bring in girls wanting to join us. They want to join us and grow into something better.”

Dr. J sighed, pondering his place in all this.

“We've been swimming in candidates” Melissa commented, her voice a near-whisper, secretly having begun to shiver herself. All this talk of growing, gathering more girls around herself was getting her excited. She recognized the feeling and it was continuing to make her warm up between her powerful thighs. I want another hundred of them, a thousand. Millions…

“S-swimming..?” Dr. J stammered the fear creeping into his voice.

And now you’re drowning in them. Melissa smiled. She knew it wasn’t just seeing Jay’s shrunken flagellations on livestream that was attracting all the outside attention, from both men and women. Her own influence was growing. They were watching her and her girls, and the world was starting to gravitate toward them. Toward HER. Randi had said something to her recently about it, and it struck her: ‘They’re all, all your followers, all these viewers, starting to see you as something more than themselves, something more perfect, and they like it’. The memory excited Melissa even more, and set her mind reeling. 

“Wanna see some more girls?” Melissa offered, pulling herself from her thoughts and smushing herself into him even closer. She slid her chair until it was practically on top of his. “They’re all so pretty, don’t you think?” Again on her tablet she started swiping through girls, applications, photos, a blur of beautiful girls, attractive women, each one another member of her little beehive. “All our new roommates…” 

“r-roommates?” he stammered, as she’d settled on a particularly athletic looking brunette. Jesus this one could kick my ass. Look at those arms.

“Well, more like housemates.” Melissa corrected. She could tell that he was growing even more nervous, less relaxed by the minute. His thoughts? She could taste them almost as clearly as she did her Tom Yum Goong: they’re all so beautiful, and there are so many of them.

“They’re all going to be living together in the barr-...the dorms and apartments upstairs,” she continued, “those new spaces are pretty much ready to go.” She reached out, pushed an errant lock of hair from his forehead. She could sense his pulse quickening, and saw his eyes flit to her big chest. Where all this talk of new girls - a huger hive of honeybees - made him uneasy, it was thrilling to her. Every new face seemed to make Melissa feel bigger.  And, these days, I like being big. 

“We put a rush on the new girls’ suites since they all need a place. Most are coming from so far away. Mine and the current girls’ won’t be ready for another little bit.”

“And I’ll be staying-”

“With me.”

I can’t wait to put you in your room.

Suddenly he looked even more nervous, especially as he thought  about moving in with her. Maybe it was too much? 

Jay couldn't comprehend what he was feeling in all honesty as he felt himself shift away from her. “uh…could we, like, maybe do this another time?” he asked abruptly, “Maybe just, I dunno, we could talk about something else? Do something else together?”

She knew him well enough by now to know what his little plea meant. She needed to change course with him and protect his weak male ego. You can be so fragile. “Oh,  so you want to spend time just with me?” she asked with a girlish giggle, tucking her tablet under her arm...

“Well, yeah…” 

She sensed he was getting more agitated. Was Katarina’s milk wearing off, or was this all just too much for him now? She knew that she could just calm him down with some of her body’s own perfumes, and did allow a little more 0001.55.6022.cd to ebb off her skin. Despite it, she still felt him wanting to back away some more. As he retreated she caught his eyes  roaming her chest again in a quick furtive pass. He just couldn't help it. I know what the poor thing needs, even if he doesn’t know it himself. 

“Whoa whoa whoa mister,” Melissa laughed, reaching out her strong  arm toward his remarkably thin shoulder, “You’re not going anywhere." She felt him squirm underneath her grip as he tried to get away; it was like restraining a small puppy. “No you are not.”  She took a moment to turn off her tablet and place it on the table. Then, she sat up nice and straight. “C’mere,” she directed him, “Come sit on my lap.”

He gave her a look she didn’t necessarily like. He was having thoughts, getting a bit too fussy for her liking. She knew she needed to exert her will a bit. He needed to calm down. 

“I said.  On. my. Lap. ”

He stayed frozen in place. Was she going to have to release more pheromones? 

“Dear? This is not me asking you. On my lap, NOW.”

Her voice. Something had changed in her voice. It’s not that it was, well, loud - though she had increased its volume - but it had made the windows rattle. It carried with it authority, a terrible, acute authority that made him feel small.

And it made him listen. 

He half stood, turned, and brought himself towards her. On her little breakroom chair she spread her thighs a bit, letting him in to sit. She urged him to hop up onto her right leg and smiled as he sat. 

“That’s it. You said you want my attention?” she purred, enjoying the weight of his little body on her lap, “Well, now you have it.” Snaking her perfectly toned left leg around him, Melissa carefully locked him into place as she gave him a comforting smile and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. 

He tried to move, but his legs may as well have been shackled by steel. His skin prickled in a blend of fear and excitement as he became once again intimately familiar with the phenomenal strength of  her body. Her formidable thighs held him tight while, at the same time, he felt the soft, comforting mass of her right breast pressing into his side. But even surrounded by the soft feminine weight of Melissa’s body, he was still agitated. 

Oh, my fussy little boy.

At first, Melissa was amused by the feeling of his futile half-struggles against her. Then, those feeling changed, She was not only reminded her just how weak he was, but the sensation, the thought of her being so much stronger than him made her feel powerful. Aroused. Hot. She felt herself now getting wetter with each passing second. Tiny thrills fluttered her increasingly superhuman heart as she felt him struggle against her. with all his adorable, meager little might. 

Gotta control yourself, Missy. Deep breaths, in and out, just like you’ve learned. You can't…you can’t…

She felt her breathing pick up, in pace.

…you can't what? You can't enjoy yourself? You can't be yourself around your boyfriend?

A simple but very reckless question began to form in her mind: ‘Why?’ Why can't I just be myself?

She smiled.

“What do we have here?” she began again, unable to keep the husky arousal out of her chuckle, “A poor little bunny, struggling to escape my trap?”

“haha I, uh…”

Though he was sitting on her thigh, his head was still lower than hers. She looked down into his face and read his eyes, his expressions, his emotions and thoughts. She somehow knew what he was thinking, how he’d noticed things seemed physically weird today. Like, didn’t his shoes - new since yesterday - fit better this morning?

“What’s wrong?” she asked, though knowing exactly what was now bothering him. He was feeling so physically inferior, especially now that she was enveloping him in herself. It made her tingle again. She knew he was comparing them: comparing their heights, their sizes, and just how small he was pushed up against her chest. I am, she silently answered his thoughts, I am so much bigger than you. 

“I’m…I’m just a little nervous about all these new people, because…because…” he offered. He knew he didn’t even have to explain what made him so anxious about them, that she could already guess his next unspoken words: it’s because they’re…strangers. 

“Oh, sweetie, give them some time,” she purred, consoling him with a voice she knew he liked, “they’ll become family too. Just like all my other friends have.”

His next thoughts were plain as day to her too: Yeah but why do I feel like, with all these new women around, I’m going to seem even smaller? And then, as he squirmed a bit in her embrace: Why am I suddenly craving milk? he thought, Should I…ask for it?

“I’ll get you some milk later,” she answered, making him gasp. She giggled, and knew she had to reassure him. “I heard your tummy rumble,” she explained. I hear Katarina left some in the fridge. “I’ll get you some, when we’re done here, and then we’ll play at home.” You’re fun to play with when you’re so relaxed

“H-home?”

The poor thing was confused again. 

“You are staying with me again tonight, right?” she asked.

He fidgeted anew. “I was, I’m…actually thinking of staying at my place?”

“Nope,” she answered, “They’re still fixing it up. It’s not ready yet.”

”huh okay,” he replied, completely unaware that he’d just agreed to come home with her again. “But I thought it was just cleaning, patching a few holes in the walls, fixing some cabinet doors?” he enjoined, “And do we know who did it yet?” His eyes glanced down the top of her blouse.

Hm yeah that’s right. ”uh, no,” Melissa answered. I have to ask about that. I’m sure the girls have reviewed the security footage.

“okay, but maybe I can stay on the cot in my office?”

This little man is being a little difficult. We still don’t know who’s ransacked his room, and he thinks he can stay here all by himself?  Maybe he needs to be shown who’s in charge a little more convincingly. 

“Here, stand up,” she instructed, removing her large left leg from where it lay over his thighs.and hips. She took him under the armpits and hoisted him from her lap...

“Wh-what are you doing?” he asked, as she stood him between her legs and leaned in towards him.

She didn't answer. She didn't need to. In just a moment she had the drawstring of his scrubs untied, and had stripped his pants and briefs off him. He was hard. 

Of course. He’s always hard for me. But he’s worried. We’re at the office, in the breakroom. He’s thinking ‘what if…’

“I promise you we’re alone,” she assured him. The windows didn’t have any shades, they were basically on the ground level. But whatever.

She looked down and saw that he wasn’t tall enough to reach what she wanted him to, so she reached down toward his bare, bony hips and lifted him up with her hands, bringing her legs together and him down to kneel on her lap nearly eye-to-eye, his hips at the level of her chest. 

“I noticed you’ve been looking at my chest all night,” she said, her voice now dripping serious with barely contained arousal, sounding deeper, “Why don’t we bring you in for a little visit?”

With that, Melissa used her two hands to part the button-gap of her yellow silk blouse, between the second and third button. She’d opened up a slit, a window of an entry for him, right at the level of his huge, solid, nine-and-a-half inches of dick.

“Slide it in,” she said, and immediately he groaned. She smiled.  She could  almost see the blood rushing from his brain into the second most amazing thing about him, her most valuable ally, that incredible cock of his. It guided him to comply, and with both feeble-looking hands (yes, he needed both hands, both hands, to have the strength to control his own erection) he pushed it down and slid it in-

NNNNnnnnghhhh!!! ohmygodohmygod….

- into the opening between the buttons of her blouse, into the warm, dark passage which led in between her breasts and deep into her cleavage. He felt every millimeter of movement: the cool smooth satin of her shirt sliding around his shaft, and the soft kiss of her breasts as he began to part her softness. He slid into the velvety cave and felt like he was being embraced by heaven itself. Her breasts were held aloft, tautly pressed together by the support of her bra, but he had no trouble sliding in between them. Though he was so big, so long, her cleavage was deep enough to take him in, straight on in full, to the root. It was like they were made for each other, his cock and her tits. His sac pressed against the cool fabric of her blouse.

“Ooooooooooo…” Melissa cooed, looking deep into his eyes as they rolled back in his head, “How does that feel?” she used her arms to gently press her massive breasts together, squashing herself around him even more firmly, as she  wrapped her hands around his little butt and began to push, in and out, her chest into him. His weak body had started to shake and quiver in her embrace, and it was only with her help and encouragement that he was able to begin to pump.

“There we go, there we go,” she purred, helping him move his meager hips in and out, in and out, slowly, sliding in through her slick satin shirt, her smooth skin, and then out of the warm grip of her dark, hidden cleavage. She was going to gift him with a clothed titfuck that she knew would melt his little male-mind. Men are so funny.

His words were nearly gone, but he managed some clumsy form of praise. “Mmm….mmm…oh my god…M-Melissa….oh my god…”

“Shhh, honey, shhhh….it’s okay,” she cooed, now gently rocking her chest forward, her shoulders back in time with each pump, to guide him through a rhythm, to help him along. “You just enjoy it baby, you just enjoy it in there.”

Now his voice had totally failed him, and he fell to grunts. It had been all day - all day! - since he’d climaxed, since he’d come. His body had grown used to orgasming several times a day, if not more, over and over. Whether at his own hand or hers, he’d become accustomed to it, he basically needed it. The milk had helped to distract,  had given him focus, had allowed him to forget his needs until now. But, here now, he was suddenly pent-up beyond belief and ready to blow.

“C’mon, honey, c’mon…go ahead,” Melissa encouraged him, as she felt his scrawny frame start to shiver differently, tense up. He was close, and she knew he had a whole day’s worth to share. A whole day of blissful orgasms, and they were all going to come out in just one moment. She watched, was happy. In and out, in and out of her clothed chest he thrust, thrust, thrust. Trust, trust. He trusted her. She felt it in him, she did. He let himself be like this, he let himself be weak around her. He let himself be enveloped by her, be surrounded by her, be consumed by her, and she loved it. She loved holding him, engulfing and cocooning him and she wanted to do it more more more. If she could pull him fully in there, into her blouse, in between her tits she would. She would trap him, and keep him there. Encapsulate him, insulate him, enwomb him.  “I hope this brings you lots of pleasure…” 

Fuck my chest little man. 

“Oh goddddd….” he finally groaned, finally finding his voice, finally surrendering, his love into the unseen depths of her warm chest. Under her shirt, beneath her blouse, into the satiny confines of her top and bra and skin he let loose a load that drained him, drained his stress, drained his day away. She let him go, she let him empty himself into her, and felt his warm life bubble and goop and stickily slicken his shaft as he continued to thrust and thrust and thrust in his trust of her. She would hold him, she would support him, she would keep him and let him die his little death here, kneeling on her lap and emptying his mess into her top. A whole day’s worth, a trove of his treasure.

“Good baby, good boy,” she allowed herself, the feelings of love and care and affection for him now overwhelming everything else. She hugged his hips to her big bosom, held his smaller body to her larger one. He’d had his hands on her shoulders, and now he let his arms drape behind her. He collapsed, his head falling to rest on hers.

“Melissa, I love you,” he murmured, mouth full of her thick, dark hair.

“I love you too, sweetie…I love you too...” she said, and felt him fall asleep.

==============================================

lots of thanks to ElephantPorn for the AI images in the animation, and to RiF for editing in the copy