#Latest retail jobs today

[ehowfind]

Retail careers | AL AIN COOP

Would you like to become part of a dynamic team in retail careers field. We have a team that is dedicated to delivering superior shopping experiences for customers across the UAE?

Latest Al Ain Coop retail Careers posted Today Would you like to become part of a dynamic team in retail careers field. We have a team that is dedicated to delivering superior shopping experiences for customers across the UAE? If so, consider applying for latest Retail careers at Al Ain Coop. It is a leading retail chain in the UAE that offers exciting employment opportunities for individuals…

[falloutgirlboy]

hmv near me is hiring its 10 hours and only seasonal and idk how much it pays compared to my job now but houghhhhhhhhh the circles......

[corollaservant]

Retail Therapy // Dabi x f!reader x Shigaraki (18+)

Synopsis: Working as a sales assistant in a high end sneaker shop is boring. But you're about to be taught otherwise.

Warnings: noncon/dubcon (idk about this one), degradation, humiliation, illegal recording, mentions of crimes, ableist remarks (not from reader), harassment, dumbification

A/N: kinda thought of the LoV as streamers (but not like gamers). thx anon in spam blog for encouraging this dumb idea, idk what this says about us:)

Another boring day at work. But honestly, what were you expecting? 

You didn’t know anyone who had fun working in retail. Not that this would be your job forever, as you planned on quitting and you know... try something else. Dropping out of college may have not been a smart move but you were confident that you’d find your path, somewhere, sometime. The store was never busy, the pricing and interior design repelling most passers-by and only attracting a couple influencer kids (you often laughed at the term) and their rich parents or a few unknown athletes in an effort to buy designer and make a better name for themselves. High end clients never showed up in person, they had no reason to, no one shopped at boutiques anymore—all the more sneaker ones. 

You would often kill time by watching stuff online (who didn’t), looking at the latest socialite news in various media outlets, the world was going downhill, you thought, as you absentmindedly sipped from your water bottle. Articles wrote about villains, social pariahs, as they’d branded them, parading power by killing innocent civilians ‘for the fun of it’. 

Two shadows at the door caused you to look up. Customers? No way. Your heart stopped for a second as both walked through the door. Was this some kind of a twisted game of fate? Who didn’t fucking know them, Dabi and his subordinate, the man he had on a leash, even though he was the supposed boss, Shigaraki Tomura. What the fuck where they doing here? 

The taller man, which you knew as Dabi, wore a dark blue jacket with the collars ripped while his patched purple skin stood out. Surgically attached staples (or where these piercings?) moved when he smiled. Despite the menacing appearance, you had to admit he looked quite... elegant? His shorter companion didn't fail to catch your eye either, a hood pulled low over his face and wearing a miserably plain outfit. Under other circumstances, you’d throw guys like them out the store—this wasn’t some charity but you quickly reconsidered, once you remembered their recent streaming. Shigaraki filmed Dabi burning up a whole forest just to kill some time as they laughed. Cool, yeah. Problem was they had accidentally murdered some poor people on a picnic, who they’d later find and film, joking about how ‘today was not the day for a picnic, guys’. The two villains would livestream the whole thing on various platforms, other times they’d upload it later on a channel, where perverse comments encouraged and gave them both views. They obviously had a clear immoral viewpoint on heroes (they despised the filth society had created on false pretense) and never failed to shout it even louder. 

‘’Hello, sweetheart.’’ Dabi greeted you, approaching the register. His loyal dog followed close, hands in his pockets and a sly smile. 

‘’Me and my...friend would like to check out a few shoes today, we’re feeling generous.’’ The friend didn't sound very friendly.

You regained composure and whispered a ‘’y-yes, sure!’’ as they looked at you. Dabi's eyes diverted to your work uniform, a blazer with exposed bust and a tight pencil skirt (yeah yeah, you knew this was a high end sneaker store but rules were rules and you had to attract the filthy rich somehow...manager's words, not yours)

‘’W-what would you guys like to see?’’ You stammered, their proximity not helping. 

‘’Sweetie got a speech impediment?’’ Shigaraki asked no one in particular before Dabi interrupted.

‘’Don’t listen to this asshole, he isn’t getting any so he’s always pissed off.’’ The first scowled but remained silent. 

Dabi seemed... kind? You thought as you looked at him and shyly moved to the display shelves. 

‘’S–so, could you guys tell me what you’re looking for exactly?’’ You couldn’t believe these two had to come to your place for fucking shoes—somehow the thought of villains having to buy clothes had never really crossed your mind. 

‘’We don’t fucking care, sweetheart.’’ Dabi said looking directly at your chest, eyeing your tits. Such a pervert, thinking you wouldn’t notice. 

The whole time Shigaraki was on his phone, which he held in a bizzare way, it was known his quirk involved his hands but you never bothered to care, both these guys were murderous and you possessed no ‘quirk’ whatsoever so it really wouldn’t matter if it came down to physical altercations. 

‘’We have t–these ones..’’ You lifted your arm up to show Dabi a new pair you got in last week as his eyes travelled to your bent ass, skirt accentuating the curves even more, as he smirked to himself. 

‘’T–they collaborated two brands for this.’’ You murmured, not sure he heard you. His presence made you anxious, you knew what he was capable of and definitely wanted to live another day. 

‘’Oh yeah?’’ Dabi said. ‘’How much do these cost? They’re fucking ugly.’’

You opened your mouth to retort but settled with a ‘’T–two grand.’’ It came off unsure and hesitant. 

‘’These are dead. Two grand for these abominations? Hey Shiggy, come look!’’ He told the man who had been too consumed with his phone to listen to the conversation.

‘’Look at that shit man, can you believe trash heroes buy that for two grand?’’ He questioned as the latter lifted his gaze.

‘’Yeah I really don’t give a fuck, buy your shit and go, I have content to upload.’’

‘’Please excuse him, baby, he’s just a weirdo who gets off on livestreaming the people he decays, don’t worry we won’t take long.’’ 

Decaying? Livestreams? And why did he call you baby? These guys had to be joking, they were openly talking about murdering people for fun and you suddenly felt sick, your stomach with its contents turned over.

You had been silent, looking at them in horror, while Dabi broke the silence.

‘’Awwh, c’mon now, I’ll be nice. I think I might like these.’’ He said and pointed to a pair of black plain sneakers, they’d suit him, you thought despite the predicament.

You must’ve not reacted at all so he spoke again.

‘’Are you slow, sweetheart? I said I want to try these on, in 15.’’ The tone made you immediately snap out of your thoughts and take a step back—he felt too close through your peripherals. 

‘’L–let me check in the b-back for you guys..’’ You apologized, you couldn’t even turn around but somehow got to the storage room. Fuck, of course he had to be wearing one of the largest freaking sizes, your store never brought these as no one ever bought them, what was he, a fucking giant? You were frantically searching through storage drawers and anything scattered you could find across the room but without success, the pair was sold out (was a basic choice) and the sizing available was 13 and below. Shit, you cursed, as you were about to exit, when you saw two figures at the door startling you. 

‘’What’s taking you so long? Lost in the hallway?’’ Dabi mocks, as Shigaraki snorts. 

‘’I- I– couldn’t f-find the ones you’re looking for.’’ You avert your eyes and Dabi’s smirk wavers.

‘’What does that mean, baby?’’ He furrows his brows. ‘’You should be grateful I even chose this shitty store in the first place. It’s not enough you charge poor customers two grand for shoes I can find in the dumpster, now you’re telling me you don’t have the one pair I actually liked?’’ He raises his tone as he has you practically pinned against the door. You could’ve sworn the other guy's laughing but the room’s spinning and you try to take a deep breath. 

‘’I- i’m sorry, guys, p-please let me try to find s-something else- for you, I–’’

‘’No, I think you can just shut the fuck up now. I don’t want excuses from that pretty mouth of yours.’’ His words hurt as you try blinking your tears away—it used to help but not when they’re flooding your eyes like a stream anyway. You feel like this could actually be your end and matter of fact, anyone would know soon enough, as you’d probably also get livestreamed while they’re at it.

‘’Soo.. let me get this straight, you can’t find a proper excuse, you don’t have my shoes, you make me and Tomura wait while you're blabbering some bullshit and you scam stupid cunts for money. Does your boss know he’s hired the dumbest whore on the planet or do you fuck him to keep your job? And for a shitty job like this? You reaally gotta be desperate.’’ He finishes and now the tears are well formed and fall from your eyes, as you sob—you literally sob, ashamed and hurt, these men didn't even know you and here they were throwing words around because of a pair of fucking shoes, you feel useless and embarrassed, as you choke out some ‘I'm sorry’s.

None of them seem to care about your tears or your stuffed nose, snots falling down your chest and staining the work blazer and Dabi continues in an amused tone.

‘’Stop crying, it's pathetic. Be of use instead, will you?’’ He sighs and looks at Shigaraki, who had been watching his phone intently the whole time.

‘’Tomura, how do you think bitches like her pay when they can’t satisfy my needs?’’ He asks the man, who contemplates for a second, kind of clueless and annoyed, interrupted from the live streaming of the rest of the LoV. 

‘’Ugh.. I don't know, kill her? Listen man, we don’t have much time, we have to go meet the rest, so whatever it is, make it quick. I want to show my face in Toga’s stream, she has too many hot bitches watching.’’

This man is out of his mind.

‘’Shiggy, you fucking incel, it’s not like you’re going to fuck any of them, so how about you put your scrambled, decayed brain to good use?’’ Dabi responds, all while you’re looking at the exchange horrified, where is this going?

‘’Well...since apparently I’m the smart one here, I’ll tell you both how this is gonna end up.’’ Dabi exhales, he sounds bored but his eyes gleam, he seems amused. ‘’You can’t offer me my shoes? You offer me your body, it’s not like you have anything else going on for you. I fuck you and your little cunt and you–’’ he turns his attention to Shigaraki, ‘’–you’re going to film the whole fucking thing. Should grant you enough pussy, once I let you participate.’’

-

You want to scream, you really do. But there’s no words coming out, the phone’s too far away, the storage room's hidden in plain sight and there’s two guys ganging up on you so what’s the only thing you do? Beg.

‘’P-please, Dabi, I can—I can help you find something else, we have-’’ You blabber but he cuts you off.

‘’Wow doll, surprised your dumb brain memorized the name. But I don’t blame you, I would too.’’ He’s inching closer to you, as you back off, each step he takes leads you towards the end of the room. The closet touches your back—you’re pinned under him, the shelves hit against your back.

‘’Got the camera on?’’ He tells Shigaraki, without turning to look at him, while the latter scoffs.

‘’Yeah, all set.’’ You can see him holding his phone and wait impatiently.

‘’Now..’’ Dabi says, ‘’take that nasty shirt off, God, who dresses whores like you up? Tits out and everything for the public to see.’’ He says as your shaking hands start unbuttoning the work blazer; you had no shirt under it, it was a hot day and you hadn’t bothered, it’s not like customers were frequent. 

He’s so close that your arms touch his shirt as you slowly unbutton it and the blazer falls down your shoulders, your bare tits in full display not just for him but for Shigaraki’s camera to film as well. His eyes rake you up and down, your cheeks stained with tears, your hair disheveled with strands that stick out in opposite directions as your tits quiver on your chest. It’s swift, but you notice how his turquoise eyes widen—not a lot, since they’re heavy lidded and half patched anyway.

‘’Fuck, these look nice..’’ He comments as he brings up both hands to grope them while you gasp. His hands are not as cold as you expected, they’re large, slender and painted black as he starts circling his wrists while still at a fair distance. You moan and he smirks, Shigaraki switching spots to get a better angle. 

Dabi closes the distance as his face is on yours, his breath on your mouth and you close your eyes when he laughs.

‘’Aw, did you think I’d kiss you?’’ He says as you whimper frustrated but he continues ‘’Whores like you don’t deserve kisses.’’ He grabs your skirt with both hands and aggressively lowers it as you stumble trying not to fall down.

His words cut deep and you fight the urge to let another stream of tears down your face; you’d been called names in the past, but the way he talked upset you way more than anyone before. Unbeknownst to him, your felt your panties smeared, his warm hands had turned you on—the thought of you being like this disgusted you. You really were pathetic and he’d soon find out.

His hands cupped your clothed cunt as you moaned ‘’D-dabi, please–’’ to which a voice from the back laughed. You had completely forgotten about Shigaraki, the fact that he was watching (and filming) making you want to vomit.

‘’Baby, please shut the fuck up.’’ Dabi says ‘’Tomura, are you getting this?’’ But at this point Tomura was not only getting it but holding the phone with one hand while the other rubbed a bulge on his pants.

Dabi moves your panties to the side, almost ripping them apart and pushes two fingers without warning in your cunt as you choke on a moan. His fingers feel good, too full in a way and he knows how to move them inside, working his way deeper, while they’re already long.

‘’Man, you’re not gonna believe how wet she is.’’ He tells Tomura, who hums and strokes his clothed cock, phone still in his hand. 

You’re being moved up and down the shelves, his fingers penetrate your cunt with force as you feel the pressure in your core build up, you think about fucking yourself on his fingers, grinding up and down—maybe cum and have them gone?, but he brings his other hand to your neck and chokes you with precision, blocking your airway immediately: ‘’Don’t think you get to decide when to cum.’’ He says and he removes his stained hands, your arousal is brought to your face as he turns around and proudly shows the camera. 

‘’Look at this retail cockwhore guys, pussy dripping from two men she couldn’t sell shoes to!’’ He brags and you crumble, embarrassed and desperate for an end.

‘’D-dabi, p–please don’t say that!’’ You mewl and he looks down at you with pity.

‘Say what? The fucking truth? Aren’t you a little cumslut, yes or no?’’

‘’I– I–am n-not—’’

‘’I said, are you or aren’t you my little cumslut, yes - or - no?’’ He orders as you notice something small and blue igniting from his fingertips and you freeze.

‘’Say it.’’

‘’I- i am.’’ You brokenly murmur, but he needs all the words. 

‘’You’re what?’’ 

‘’Y–your cumslut..’’

‘’I need the name too, camera's on you know’’. His patience wears thin, you can tell by his tone.

‘’I-i-am--Dabi’s cumslut.’’ You look at the camera and with that he finally snaps, turning you over and grabbing you by the waist, his fingers touch your bare back, as he spanks a heated palm on you and you flinch.

‘’Good, now let’s show everyone how cumsluts like you get fucked.’’ He unzips his pants and brings his cock in between your folds. 

The sensation is intoxicating, your heat and his pre in between you while your hands are stretched to touch a shelf you can’t reach. You don't even know what you're up against, fuck, you hadn't even seen—

‘’Make sure you’re getting this.’’ is all Dabi says before abruptly pushing his cock inside you as you let out a sharp cry, he’s too big and you can’t take him at once, a pain shoots up your belly as he starts thrusting at a steady pace. 

‘’P-please ‘s too much, s-slow d-down!’’ You yell behind you but he doesn’t seem to care, as he grabs your hips harshly and pushes himself deeper, your cunt stretching to accommodate whatever it can and you thank his fingers for the prior mess they made.

‘’Fuuck, feels too good.’’ He groans as he thrusts into you. You hear a sudden whimper and look around to see Shigaraki with his cock out, moving his fist up and down his length—eyes fixated on the spectacle. 

You don’t have time to beg him to stop filming because Dabi’s slender hands are toying with your clit, his cock rips apart your insides as pads of his fingers find the bundle of nerves with ease. He teases it—not harshly, as his cock does that for you, but in light strokes, like he’s trying to tickle you and you feel yourself tremble, your cunt twitches and he feels it too apparently, because he groans ‘’Shit, you’re tight, too? Who would’ve expected it, huh..’’ as Shigaraki is starting his commentary on camera.

‘’Take a look guys, this is probably the biggest cockwhore we’ve seen... look closer! getting her loose cunt all fucked like that.’’ Dabi huffs, skin slapping sounds reverberate across the storage, as he continues his pace, cock disappearing in between your folds.

‘’Man, shut the fuck up.’’ He tells the guy behind him, ‘’her pussy’s tight as shit..or maybe I just have a big cock.’’ You can tell he smirks and you moan, it's like he's harsher now, his cruel words while they shouldn't, are bringing you closer and you can’t deny the pleasure he’s giving you, each time he belittles you or Shigaraki for the matter.

You can't even see him, but you imagine him drinking in your pathetic state: desperate, arched back, lifted skirt and abused flesh—frustrated whines and miserable attempts to sink down his cock, even when you know damn well he’s the one setting the pace.

‘’Hey, Shiggy..’’ Dabi groans, ‘’want me to let the whore fuck herself on my cock? She seems soo eager.’’ He tells Tomura, who at this point is solely focused on your ass sinking on Dabi ahead.

‘’S-sure..’’ He breathes out, too horny to care. 

Dabi stops moving, cock hard and still inside you, stretching you out regardless, as you pant frustrated. You’d been so close and he stopped once again. Fuck it, you think, you need to get your release somehow. 

You take a deep breath and start tantalizing him, cock throbs in your walls while you move and grind your hips back and forth. Dabi hisses, his hands dig in your ass, a pain from a metal on your hips—you’d definitely have marks tomorrow but it feels too good and he lets you, which surprises you.

‘’D-dabi, is she good?’’ A voice calls from behind but Dabi doesn’t answer, he just lets you do your work as you increase your pace, your legs are about to fail you but you raise yourself up and grip whatever you can find in front of you; you can hardly breathe. You think you might make yourself cum and he must be on the verge too, because he grabs you by the hair and spears his cock so deep, you want to scream—but you can't because there's not enough air in your lungs to function. ‘’Enough.’’ He spits and starts drilling himself back at his own relentless pace.

You feel numb but a known sensation spirals under you, fuck, he feels good and you suddenly wish for his hands on your clit so you beg. Again. 

‘’D-dabi, please, agh t–touch me..there.’’ 

‘’Beggars can’t be choosers, baby.’’ He smirks and picks up the pace, if that's even possible, the motion perfect for your pussy to squeeze him in tighter and while he acts all tough, a hand is back on your clit. He wants you to come undone, wants to be the one bringing you to such despair. 

‘’D-dabi!, I-I'm-hmn.. g-gonna–’’

Hairs stick to your sweaty forehead, veins pop out your hands as you cum feeling a faint knot snap, you blabber a bunch of incoherent words and tremble, shutting your eyes in shame.

He’d been waiting for this, holding himself back but he wanted your mess, your pathetic orgasm so he can let himself go with a couple final thrusts. He groans, praising your ‘’good cunt– baby..’’ before shooting his load inside—shit, he came inside, you think, this is so wrong but the sensation is tingling, almost satisfying in a twisted way.

A voice interrupts the moment when both of you turn to look at Shigaraki, cock in between a fist and a frown on his face, he seems upset.

‘’Dabi, you idiot, I wanted her too.’’ He says and Dabi looks at you, fucked out and cum oozing from your hole. His cum. 

‘’Well,’’ Dabi looks at you, ‘’would my favorite cumslut help a friend in need?’’ he smirks, ‘’Just some head, we don’t have all the time in the world, alright?’’ He smiles as you lower your gaze—fuck fuck fuck, wasn't one enough? What's the point of arguing though, one look at both of them convinces you otherwise.

‘’C-could I please have some water?’’ You try to stall, throat dry and raspy from the sounds made earlier. 

‘’Water?’’ Dabi laughs, ‘’nah...it’s too far away. Here, have this instead.’’ He says as he approaches you and swiftly moves his hands up your cunt, gathering his load and your juices and bringing the mix to your mouth. ‘’Open up.’’ He orders and your eyes widen before you realize he sticks his fingers in your mouth, coating your tongue and continues ‘’now, you can suck the incel off.’’

Your mouth isn't dry anymore—it's disgustingly covered in his salty cum but Shigaraki's too impatient to retort and already has his cock poking at your opening. He’s smaller but has nonetheless notable girth. 

‘’Mhm..not gonna last, man.’’ He warns but Dabi seriously doesn't care. Indeed, once you're forced to take Tomura in your mouth under Dabi's glare and bob your head up and down a couple times, he pants and whines, cock jerks in your mouth, as a palm with the pinky lifted rests on your head pushing it down his groin. You gag as he stretches your mouth full, the flushed tip scratches down your throat, but soon enough he comes; you can tell by the way he frantically bucks his hips up, so you remove your mouth in tears, when he loses control, this feels horrible. His cum spurts all over the place, some lands on your hair and some on his shirt. 

‘’Fuck!’’ He groans, ‘’My shirt’s stained, you whore.’’ His voice is whiny as red eyes narrow. For the first time, he manages to inflict terror upon you, his hand’s about to touch you when Dabi interrupts.

‘’Enough, she’ll give you another one, I’m sure shitty store sells some lame shirts somewhere.’’

Tomura sighs and removes his shirt. He throws it to your face and hisses.

‘’Gross, you can keep it, cumslut’’. You feel tainted and humiliated, some fresh tears wipe semen off your face, when Dabi speaks up.

‘’Tomura–’’ There's still hope in your eyes, as you turn to him.

‘’She's about to put in on Depop, you know.’’

Dabi and Tomura smirk and you wordlessly get up, something plummets inside (your heart?), as you wipe tears inside your elbow, the only clean body part of yours.

-

It’s been hours since the shift ended and they left the store, blowing you a kiss but you’re curled up in bed as you anxiously scratch your knees. You feel dirty. Empty. You remember Dabi’s hands on you, Tomura’s shirt and load in your hair, which was later thoroughly washed to the point clumps fell off, when a message appears on your phone.

It’s a message request and it reads:

How’s my favorite cockwhore doing?

You suddenly feel very nauseous, how did they even find you? Your hands are shaking as you pick up your phone to unlock it, only for a new request from a different account to pop up: 

1 attachment sent.

You take a deep breath as you try to think rationally. Don’t cry. Crying doesn’t erase it. Don’t cry.

This could be worse, you finally convince yourself. This could’ve been livestreamed.

[jamiepaige]

Constant Companions Closeup #5: CADMIUM COLORS

(also on bandcamp and spotify!)

Once again, welcome back to the Constant Companions Closeups - a series of in-depth dives into the songs off of my latest album, Constant Companions! Last time, I wrote a whole diatribe about my OCs while talking about I Wish That I Could Fall, and today, we're eating paint! Cadmium Colors featuring Soneji of Project Mikan!

Consider this a content warning: this post will discuss the pandemic, struggles with mental health, and suicidal ideation/attempts. I'm hoping it'll ultimately be uplifting, but the discussions at hand are incredibly heavy, and it wouldn't do this song right to be vague. Please be warned.

---

Let's talk about COVID.

At the beginning of 2020, I was in the midst of a long-term break from making music. It wasn't completely cold turkey, and I might not have even called it a break if you'd asked me at the time, but things were dire. I was still dealing with the burnout I'd sustained from the making of Autumn Every Day; I'd had my ego bruised by a live performance at a house party that went so hilariously bad it'd hurt even the most stoic performers (imagine watching an entire packed room of people clear out in 5 minutes flat from the already hyper-exposed vantage point of being on stage in front of them and knowing you single-handedly caused that lol); I had just moved across the country, and was preoccupied with trying to make ends meet as a 22 year old dealing with pure adulthood for the first time.

I was working a shitty minimum wage job at a discount clothing store I will not be naming, slogging through late-night shifts that wouldn't get me home until 3 am some nights. I had friends and roommates, but they were all just as overworked and exhausted and dealing with their own shit as me. I was mentally ill and unmedicated. Suicidal ideation was rearing its ugly head at my lowest moments.

Then, as I turned 23, a global pandemic shut the world down, my grandpa died with me being unable to attend his funeral, and I had a catastrophic mental breakdown that suddenly turned the voices in my head into a deafening cacophony of self-inflicted malice.

In hindsight, I think being 23 kinda just does that to you

---

Fast forward to 2021. I was back at my retail job with the pandemic raging in full force, my sense of self was held together with duct tape, positive self-talk essentially didn't exist for me, and I was the loneliest and lowest I had ever been. I was working the fewest hours I could get away with, and still, almost all spare time I had was taken up either by work or by my recovery from it.

This was around the time I got an email from Crypton, of all places - the people that make Hatsune Miku, for anyone uninformed. They wanted a remix of the song Happy Synthesizer for a Digital Stars compilation. I could not for the life of me tell you how I lucked into this or why they reached out to me of all people, but they did, and I was deathly determined to prove myself worthy of it.

This was August of 2021. I was staring down the barrel, languishing in what felt like only half of a life, fantasizing about death and trying to twist my thoughts into something that could at least keep me blearily shuffling forward another couple days. It was untenable.

(I'd also recently been diagnosed with OSDD 1b - this is a whole can of worms I can't really open until we talk about Breeze Blows, but it's important to at least mention that coping with this was a significant part of this turnaround.)

It's melodramatic, but I had only two options - make things again, or die.

I finished that remix within 24 hours of getting the stems, and I will gladly toot my own horn about it - it's really fucking good, in my opinion. Bittersweet ended up coming together in a mad dash over the next couple months as well. I was making music again.

Even though I was exponentially busier, things paradoxically got easier. I made the creative process a priority in my life, and not only did it give me an outlet for everything that had otherwise been eating away at my soul, but it struck a chord with other people who had been struggling as well. Things just... started getting brighter.

So I kept making music and living and yadda yadda blah blah here I am. This is all a lot of words and very personal stories of mental health struggles to say this:

One: The line between being an artist and being one of countless people forced to work jobs that go nowhere, that put their life at risk, that force them to strip parts of themselves away - it is a faint and transparent line built on circumstances of class and privilege and luck. Making Art and being an Artist aren't magical elevated states of existence, but something anyone is capable of if given the space to nurture their creativity. I believe the world should be a place where any person can do this.

Two: It's easy to convince yourself that art is meaningless in the face of the world at large. And yes, revolutions aren't fought by poetry and paintings, and people aren't fed through songs. But art is a source and a medium for connection; Art is how we find beauty in a disorganized and entropic world; Art is what we come home to and what words we write and pictures we paint and songs we sing to remind us that people matter to us and love is real and life is worth fucking living. Maybe that's corny and stupid, but it's true.

Three: So help me God, I will never work retail again in my entire life.

---

This is another song that is heavily inspired by artists like Prefab Sprout, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and other artists of that ilk - very 80s, very flowery and sentimental lyricism, focused on telling a story. I greatly admire songs that aren't afraid to paint otherwise banal or ordinary scenes in abstract reverence!! I wanted the verses to contrast heavily with each other in that way, with verse one's relentless poeticisms (prosaic practice of depravity) and idioms turned on their head (suspending innocents above their disbelief) against verse two's incredibly straightforward depiction of a factory worker's circumstances.

The flowery language might have worked against me somewhat, though! I've seen a lot of folks that thought the ending was darker or much more defeatist than I intended, and while some of that is just inevitable with a work of art, I want to be clear.

Translator's note: this means "don't kill yourself, you idiot"!!

As you may have picked up from the previous post in this series, this song does heavily feature a leitmotif or two predominantly performed under pudgy pretenses. I'm not going to go on that whole novella-length spiel again, but rest assured knowing that this song, too, is one that makes me think about my OCs. Since it's something many people missed, however, I will take a moment to point out that this song quotes none other than Autumn Every Day off of my album of the same name!

Painting and visual art have been something of a reoccurring obsession of mine in my own art. I grew up around visual artists, have always been friends with many visual artists, and generally have a really intense love of it as a medium and a mode of expression. However, there's also always been a sense of... well, I don't want to call it jealousy, but it's jealousy. I've tried many times to start making visual art of my own, and I have made some things, but it's been a struggle, and I worry sometimes that my eye has permanently outstripped my ability.

However, in my quest to toss out grand expectations and simply have fun making art, I did recently pick up a cheap little drawing tablet! I'm excited to be a beginner at something artistic again...

Finally, I want to thank a couple people: Soneji of Project Mikan for the gorgeous, soaring saxophone solo; friend_xp for the mindboggling MV editing; and especially my good friend Que for the GORGEOUS painterly art that goes along with this song! Que's style was just perfect for this, and really tied the whole thing together immaculately!! There's no joke or deeper lore or anything I just fucking love Que's art go follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And with that, I think this post is complete!! If you have anything else you wanna know about, ask away in the replies! Tomorrow will be Breeze Blows with Marcy Nabors and Marlow Jacobs!!!

MAKE ART AND BE GAY

[starsomens]

Could you possibly write a story about how Noah’s girlfriend can’t go on tour with him because she has to work a normal job like retail or something so she gets really depressed and misses him so her best friend (gay guy) calls Noah and they plan to surprise her. Either fluff or smut I’m not picky.

Note: I made a friend based off of one of my friends

warnings: Slightly

"Look all I'm saying is that you could quit, you work with us and I can have you around any time of the day" he said setting his luggage on the tour bus. He was leaving for another tour and of course came the difficult part of saying goodbye.

"Noah...you know I like my job and how I feel about working." you say sliding your hands up his chest and hook around his neck "I will miss you though" you pout as his lips come down to meet yours in a peck

"then come with me" he whispered

"Noah you know what I'm going to say, now go on" you playfully slap his butt "your fans are waiting for the king"

After saying your goodbyes to Noah, the boys and the rest of the team, you drive yourself back home. No music on the radio, no calls just yet, just some silence. You always wore a happy face when you sent him off, but deep down it really does hurt to see him go. No funny jokes in the car or recalling memories. Pulling up to your house wasn’t any better either, but it was your rest day before going into work tomorrow so you wanted to get some things done and rest up before the hectic week started.

You would’ve gone back to sleep, but you opted to just stay in bed. You didn’t really like falling asleep, knowing that Noah was gone, and when you would wake up, he wouldn’t be there either which kind of made it worse. Stayed in bed for a couple more hours just scrolling through your phone, about two hours later Noah had given you a call

“ hey princess, how are you holding up?” he asked sounding happy to be talking to you.

“ I’m doing all right but the house feels too quiet… I miss you” you sigh

” I miss you too princess. But I’ll be back before you know it at least we’re not traveling outside the country so if you need me to come back just let me know. I’ll leave them run back to the house.” he chuckled.

“ even if your states away, you’d run for me?”

“ I would crawl for you. It’s not like I haven’t been on my knees for before.” You could practically hear him, wiggling his eyebrows through the phone.

“Noah! The rest of the guys are you!” Gently scolded him

“ don’t worry they either sleep or have their headphones on. It’s not like they don’t know how I am with you, so it wouldn’t be a surprise.” he giggled once again. This would definitely be the death of you.

“Oh Getting a call from Derek” you said as your phone buzzes against your hand “ if you want I can call you back. I’ll make the call quick.” he said not wanting to get off the phone with him.

“ no baby it’s okay go have fun your conversation. Knowing Derek he’s probably gonna tell you about his latest hook up.”

“Okay… I love you I’ll talk to you later”

“ I love you more sunshine” he made a sound and blew a kiss through the phone like he usually likes to do “ I’ll keep you updated when we get to our first stop”

“ make sure to tell Bryan to send me all the pictures he takes of you” a lot of pictures to himself, which always pissed you off because it was always the best pictures of Noah

“ I’ll make sure to tell him no go talk to Derek. He’s probably cursing you out knowing you’re not picking up his call right away.

With that said, you hang up the phone and pick up the next call

“ hey there Bestie I feel like ditching work. I’m just going shopping today because of that you caught a cold and gave it to me.” Right off the bat told you his plan no hesitation just like he would typical Derek.

You chuckle and shake your head” not today Derek I think I might want to go to work. Just not really feeling it today.”

“ oh, babes” it finally struck him “ Did Noah leave for tour already?” he asked

“ yeah… not really in the mood to go shopping you know?” You couldn’t help start to feel a massive weight on your chest. Course you miss Noah but you’re also just really sad he wasn't around. You know what came with the package when you would date someone who was in the music industry. And you accepted it....but it never got easier. Some tours felt shorter than others. He's only been gone for some hours and you wanted him back already.

You finally got yourself out of bed, shower and get yourself ready for a day of work. Derek came to pick you up and even brought your usual coffee and breakfast order. He always knew how to sweeten you up, even if it was just a little. Work was as it usually was stubborn customers, long hours, and even longer time staring at the clock, waiting for closing. but it did beat staying at home all by yourself Waiting for Noah. You got to crack jokes about customers with Derek.

It was going really well for the first week or so. You’d get home and take a nice relaxing bath and chat with Noah. Sometimes it was his day off so you got to video call with him and see the sites of the state he was currently in. He had even secretly grabbed merchandise from each store of anything you pointed out and cute. And for that week OK that wasn’t until the next month hit… Derek was doing a phenomenal job. Especially after, He did offer for you to go out to your favorite little drink spot and it honestly sold it nicely. He took him up on the offer. However, by the end of the night he just kept sipping on your now water down drink we’re calling memories about Noah. Some of them having a little too much information then he usually ask you for.

He took you home and made sure that you were inside of your house, and that your door was locked

“ don’t worry Y/N, it’s the first day I promise you will be better and you’ll just be looking forward to him coming home you’ll see” he may have said that with too much confidence….

The next week and a half you would mow around and almost any little thing that reminded me of you would make you tear up. And he wasn’t to complain about his best friend. However, there was only so much that his sanity he could take seeing as that he was now holding sanity for you both.

The only time you seem to feel happier when you had a video call with Noah, but sometimes they were cut short due to him having to go out and perform. Luckily, some of the staff were good friends with you and would video call you during his performances, it was nice that you wish you could have been there in person.

Sometimes you really did regret not taking up on his offer. But you didn’t just want to be on tour as his girlfriend who just tagged along you would’ve felt like you were freeloading away. Oh, how you missed him to go to bed. The way he peered your entire face with kisses whenever you have a nightmare. How he warm up your hands by holding them in his and blowing hot air onto them. You felt like a teenager who missed her crush in a way it wasn’t too far off from that. Going to about 2 1/2 months of you being an absolute dread and depression your best friend had had enough. So during one of your episodes, where you just laid in bed, playing all of your songs on repeat, he made a little phone call to Noah.

You have no idea how you didn’t hear the conversation. All you knew was that you were now in your office job face-to-face with your boyfriend with a large book of roses. If the tour dates were right, he was supposed to be basically on the other side of the country here he was, your jaw was slag as you stared at him, not knowing whether to scream or to jump on him

“ did you miss me princess?” he asked with the sarcastic you finally found the world to move your legs and throw the entire body weight on him which he caught gracefully.

“ of course I missed you you fucking idiot. How Could you ask me something like that?! How are you even here? Why are you even here??!”

You had every question possible, and it was answered with a gentle, the long kiss on your lips. Derek took cans of the bouquet of flowers as your arms wrapped around nose in his around your waist. He pulled your body flush against yours as you were left, only on your tiptoes to reach him. it felt like nearly 100 years without him kissing you were holding you. You wanted to say frozen in the moment for as long as you could. Forever if it was possible. He was so warm and comforting, you felt like you were finally whole again with him in your arms

“ well, if you had to know How I’m here whenever shows had to be delayed due to weather, so I got a quick flight back home. Of course Derek helped me make their arrangements times and flights. He also told me how sad and down your feelings since I’ve been gone I feel awful so I came back.” he smiled at you. “ really this is all because of him he deserves all the credit.”

“Ahem” Derek cleared his throat causing you to finally separate from one another “well go on, enjoy the rest of your day” he said handing you the flowers once more

“What do you mean? I’m still on the shift” you asked confused

“Nope. I spoke with Jan and you’re cleared for the day. I took your shift”

“Derek..” you wrap your arms around your friend and squeeze him tightly "...what did I ever do to deserve a friend like you? This means so much more to me than you think" you sniff

He hugs you back tightly " Honey, I'm your best friend, I know this means everything to you. But don't worry you're filling me in when we do inventory on Friday" he smirks at you with a sassy wink

Noah already had a pay back in mind for all his help. But now He just wanted to spend time with you. Once you leave the building and into the parking lot Noah pulls you close and whispers to you

"I hope you know we aren't sleeping tonight"

"Did you miss me that much?" you nudge him with your body as you stop to open your car and put the flowers in the back seat. You bend into the car to place them securely when you suddenly feel something push against your ass

"Well...let's just say my hand didn't exactly scratch the itch I had" he smirks as you slowly rise back up making sure to push against him more as you stood

"Well, we cant have that now can we?" you pat his chest returning the smile

"And I think you can say the same for yourself huh princess?"

"The sooner we get into the bedroom, the sooner we'll find out"

That day Noah is very sure he ran 2 red lights on the way home. But coming home to you was all worth it. To be in your arms at the end of the day, he'd give up everything, every time, if it was for you.

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[kicksnscribs]

man they fired another coworker today based on his "attendance points" in the latest string of firing at my job and i've discovered something deadass scummy going on in that fucking store,

they've been targeting anybody who's been making 16.00+/hr [you know, that pay that they offered during the start of the pandemic?] and basically either bullying them or getting them on some of the stupidest charges in order to justify firing them.

Naturally they cant file for unemployment [due to them bascailly failing to perform their duty or w/e] but whats even worse is the fact that they actively refuse to transfer anybody to a new department or store. They will make up anything to justify not transferring anyone unless you are like a super ass kisser and its the single most scummy, underhanded shit i've ever seen in my entire career of working retail.

I know i'm on the chopping block next since i make close to 17.00/hr and also they have been acting moreso like assholes to me so on top of having to stress about a metric fuck ton of work i now have to find the means to get another job.

Which means more money to spend on getting a decent interview fit and a hairstylist bc i've been hiding my hair under a silk cap for a while now...

[chainofclovers]

For the second time in two years I have bought a shirt on the internet that I did not realize was a crop top only to find out it was! The latest one was at least very cheap (marked down so low it's nonrefundable), an impulse buy tacked on to an order of a few nicer items (all of which work great, thanks very much). But like.......what the hell. I knew this top would be "slightly cropped" and I knew to size up because there were enough reviews saying it ran small, but everything about it online led me to believe it would be fitted and the type of cropped that looks good with high-waisted jeans. No one mentioned that if you've got a C cup or higher, this thing will basically look like a very modest bra with short sleeves. (The model looks like she has bigger boobs than me--I'm a C--but I could be delusional.) (On the bright side, had many laughs over this thing when it arrived last night, and when it ends up at Goodwill with the tags still on it makes me happy to think about the absolute journey some unwitting customer is going to go through when they stretch this thing over their chest and experience their body from a whole new view.)

Small victory: it was very cool of my brain that when I put that shirt on, my first thought was not "ugh my body is terrible" but was instead "oh my god this shirt is so wack and that is hilarious"!

I've been thinking a lot about my job and the way my relationship to it ebbs and flows dramatically. I'm in a period of really liking it right now. This could end at any time. And so could, I suppose, the job itself, although things seem relatively stable. Something that's been helping me ever since I went on my once-every-few-months Costco run last weekend is thinking about how my job is only fake important and I genuinely could see myself being one of the food sample people at Costco. I love talking to people, including small talk and random brief encounters. (Believe it or not, this was my favorite part of my years working retail.) I love giving people food. I would not have to think about giving people food at Costco when I was not at Costco giving people food, although I absolutely would. Maybe I will do this when I retire, and maybe I will retire today. :) :) :)

I am not going to retire today, but an exit strategy that is unrelated to writing feels so nice and silly and calming.

I've been having a fucking fantastic time writing lately, even as it is, as always, difficult and annoying. Writing! Yeah!

Also as always, the world is so bad and so good, and everything is going on, and being a person is so weird.

[emergencyplumbingil]

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[jazzhandsmcleg]

tomorrow is my last day at my current job, which was only ever a three-year contracted position. I don't yet have anything else lined up to replace it, and it's not for lack of trying. in fact, I'm waiting to hear from one place to see if they want to interview me, and waiting to hear from another place who said they'd make a decision this week. but I don't know what's coming next. if not one of those two places -- and in fact even if it is the second place; it doesn't pay a whole lot and I have a shiny new car loan to pay off -- I'm going to have to go out and get a retail job or two while I wait for my professional prospects to improve. story of my generation, right?

I've done that before. I don't really want to do it again, but I'll do it if I have to and it'll be fine.

work the last few days have been odd. I've been trying to wrap up one last project, and the deadline of "Friday" has really put me in the zone. I blink and ninety minutes have gone by. blink again and it's lunch time. lunch today was odd, too. my boss ordered in pizza and a salad and all of us commandeered the lunchroom and shot the shit for almost an hour, aka almost twice as long as our government-mandated lunch breaks. I often get weird about eating with people and COVID is always more or less a concern, so I've never actually eaten with any of my coworkers before. they gave me a card, cleverly done up to look like a governmental record. even the people I've seldom interacted with, even the lady who I suspect doesn't really like me very much, added a nice thing or two to it.

tomorrow I'm taking a cake and some popcorn for everyone to eat, as a little reciprocal goodbye gift. if it weren't for that and for the project I have to finish tomorrow (and, well, for the eight hours of vacation pay transferred to cash I'd be giving up), I'd be tempted to just call out tomorrow and go out without any awkward goodbyes. but it'd be kind of rude to do that to my coworkers, who are a pretty good bunch of people. but I'm not ready to leave. but I've been ready to leave for at least a year and a half at this point. but I've known when I was going to be leaving, at the absolute latest, since the day I was hired.

you know a place after three years, you know? it matters in the way all things do after three years. it's weird to think, I will likely never see these people again. it's a bit of a relief. it's a bit sad. after three years, it's mostly just weird.

I'm so tired. I'm a little glad I evidently don't have anything lined up, because it means I get to take next week to "do nothing"...by which I mean I will clean and apply for retail jobs that I hope will hire me even though I haven't done customer service since 2019 and tackle some home projects I've been putting off and cook and. life goes on.

I'm so tired. I drove home today in an exhausted fugue, my mind stretched out and my back sore from craning over papers all day. I sat down to do my budget before I make the cake, and found myself dissatisfied with all my music. I made a new station on Pandora -- well, technically pianobar -- that spun off from The War on Drugs, and got Under the Pressure, eight and a half minutes of serious, dreamy guitar and solo tenor vocals, with a little brass on the side.

under the pressure indeed.

I opened up realtor.com instead of my budget spreadsheet and started looking at pictures of pretty houses in my area. they're all still out of my price range for the foreseeable future, and it's odd because today I can't even imagine myself living in any of those houses. all of my problems would just be there with me instead of here. is that realization maturity?

life sure does go on.

[mariacallous]

A two-month pause in South Africa’s rolling power cuts should have been a call for celebration. Instead, it has ignited debate over how it could boost support for the country’s embattled ruling party ahead of the national election on May 29.

The timing has led to widespread speculation that officials—at an enormous cost to the budget—are intervening in the electricity market to shore up support for the African National Congress (ANC), which risks losing its majority for the first time since the advent of democracy in South Africa three decades ago.

The turnaround at Eskom, the state-owned power utility which has struggled to maintain a steady supply of electricity since 2007, has indeed been dramatic.

Last year, scheduled blackouts, known locally as load shedding, reached record levels and cost the already floundering economy about $90 billion and over 860,000 jobs—particularly hitting its mining and manufacturing sectors. At the micro level, too, South Africans have had to mould their lives around daily power cuts.

Over the past five years, the worsening energy crisis has threatened the survival of businesses—including KFC, the popular American fast-food joint—and required costly fixes for companies that need a steady supply of electricity. Grocery retailer Shoprite recently reported spending $28 million in six months on diesel generators to keep its lights and refrigerators on.

Power cuts have also exacerbated the country’s crime problem, with reports of increased home burglaries in areas that are temporarily disconnected from the grid. Today, smartphone apps such as EskomSePush and Load Shedding Notifier, which provide alerts about impending blackouts, rank among the most downloaded apps in the country.

Owing to incessant breakdowns across the country’s fleet of aging coal-fired power stations, it is estimated that the average citizen spent a fifth of last year without electricity.

Thus, to partially cover the shortfall in electrical output in 2023, Eskom ramped up its use of costly diesel-powered generators, further compromising its already unsustainable financial position. According to Eskom’s latest annual report, the unit cost of electricity from diesel generators is 14 times higher than the utility’s coal plants.

Even so, the heavy reliance on diesel continued into the new year. However, in late March, Eskom announced a suspension of load shedding, thus, sparking confusion. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, and other commentators are wary of “political interference” and believe that Eskom may be engineering a short-term fix to ratchet up support for the ANC in the run up to voting day.

To many, the skepticism is warranted given Eskom’s checkered past. Even the utility’s former CEO, Andre de Ruyter—who exposed endemic corruption when at the helm but quit the job in early 2023 after being poisoned with cyanide-laced coffee—has said the only plausible explanation is that diesel is being burned “at a rate of knots.”

In a televised interview last year, de Ruyter said that Eskom loses more than $55 million every month to theft, thanks to organized cartels that operate freely within the utility and dodgy procurement deals (an audit by his team found that the company paid over $11,000 for a single mop).

But data from Eskom’s system operator tells a different story about the recent load shedding-free streak. Though the utility’s diesel consumption was particularly high in the first 12 weeks of the year, it fell sharply when blackouts were suspended in March. Since then, use of the fuel has been well below the same periods in 2023, and even 2022.

Instead of running them almost constantly, as it did last year, Eskom is now using its diesel-powered turbines for their intended purpose only: to help meet surges in demand during the morning and evening peak periods.

According to Eskom, it spent 1.1 billion South African rand, or roughly $60 million, on diesel last month, a notable decline from the 3.1 billion rand spent in the same month a year before. Analysts are confident that the utility is being truthful, pointing out that the country’s electricity supply has increased materially in recent months while demand has shrunk.

Most notably, Eskom has brought several units of the Kusile power plant, located in the Mpumalanga province, back online. Though the facility has been under repair, the utility was granted regulatory approval to temporarily operate those units without technologies that prevent toxic sulfur dioxide emissions. This has effectively increased Eskom’s available generating capacity by as much as 2,100 megawatts (MW), which is more than the average supply deficit throughout 2023.

In addition to Kusile, the rest of the utility’s coal fleet is in slightly better shape thanks to increased maintenance over the summer months—between October and March—when electricity demand is typically below average. Both of these have contributed to a meaningful decline in the number of unplanned outages in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, a decrease in overall demand, owing to the weak economy and a boom in private renewable energy investments, has also helped. Eskom estimates that solar panels with a cumulative generating capacity of 5,500 MW have now been installed on the roofs of South Africa’s malls, office blocks, warehouses and households. Of that amount, roughly 2,100 MW was added in the last year alone—the vast majority of which is for self use as the country doesn’t yet have a national feed-in policy.

According to independent energy analyst Clyde Mallinson, total demand for Eskom’s electricity has declined by around 1,400 MW on average, over the past year. He estimates that 30 percent of that is due to reduced consumption from industrial firms, such as steel producers, and from mining groups, including platinum miners, which employ some 182,000 people but have struggled amid a pullback in prices of the metal.

All things considered, the timing of the break in load shedding is merely “coincidental,” Mallinson said. But the communities near the sulfur dioxide-spewing Kusile power plant are still paying the price.

James Mackay, chief executive of the Energy Council of South Africa, a business group that is working with the government to resolve the power crisis, agreed, saying the reprieve “is not electioneering—it’s a genuine shift.”

The improvement is the result of “18 months to two years of hard work,” Mackay said, and reflects renewed efforts to clamp down on corruption, a fresh Eskom leadership team that has political support, an improved culture at the utility, and a stronger maintenance program. The private sector’s involvement, partly in the form of capacity building, is also making a difference.

While the country’s electrical grid remains vulnerable and load shedding is expected to return at some point, power cuts will be less severe going forward, Mackay predicted.

Until then, the ANC is benefiting from a partial recovery in support at just the right time.

In a national poll conducted by the Social Research Foundation in March 2023, 41 percent of ANC supporters said load shedding had forced them to reconsider their support for the party once led by Nelson Mandela. And a quarter said they would not vote for the party if it did not fix the country’s electricity crisis by election day.

“The lights being on has created a fortuitous campaigning environment for the ANC,” said Frans Cronje, director of the Social Research Foundation.

Last month, the party’s support dipped slightly below 40 percent for the first time ever, polling showed. But the latest surveys show it is creeping back up towards the 50 percent mark. The recovery is only partially attributable to the pause in rolling blackouts, Cronje said.

Since 2004, support for the ANC has been steadily declining, as voters remain frustrated over the country’s rising unemployment and poverty rates as well as the numerous corruption scandals that have plagued the administrations of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his predecessor, Jacob Zuma.

Still, the party typically manages to win back some voters in the weeks before every election through an intensive door-to-door campaign. Yet Cronje says the “glacial trend” shows support for the ANC will continue to decline until the next election in 2029—even if load shedding is consigned to the history books.

By that time, South Africa will have liberalized its electricity sector and closed the chapter on Eskom’s century-long monopoly, according to a piece of legislation that may be signed into law before May 29.

Though the state has long resisted calls to allow for a competitive power market, Eskom’s dire financial situation and inability to keep the lights on has finally forced its hand.

The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill is aimed at modernizing the country’s power sector by allowing non-Eskom electricity trading for the first time and requiring the establishment of a fully competitive wholesale market within five years.

That is an ambitious timeline, according to Mackay, who says the partnership between the government and the private sector will need to hold firm to ensure an orderly transformation of the power sector. Mackay adds that as South Africa moves beyond its era of energy insecurity, it will need to be transparent about its plans to decommission coal plants.

The government has suggested it will have to delay plant shutdowns for the foreseeable future, in spite of the blockbuster $8.5 billion energy transition funding deal it agreed to at the COP26 climate conference in late 2021.

“We have said we will transition to cleaner energy, but at our own pace and own time,” President Ramaphosa said last year. “We have got to do it, taking into account the needs of our people and the requirements of energy security.”

Though it is too early to declare victory, Eskom’s recent turnaround provides an opportunity to accelerate South Africa’s green energy ambitions, according to Mallinson. Doing so would help the country to cushion the economic blow of the European Union’s impending carbon border taxes—as things stand, South Africa will be hit harder than any other nation due to its unusually heavy reliance on coal.

While the transition is expected to open up new opportunities for South Africa to become a supplier of low-carbon steel and other goods, it will need to be carefully managed, with over 120,000 people working in the coal sector. The just transition program agreed at COP26 includes funding to reskill these workers and develop new industries in their communities, but progress to date has been slow.

President Ramaphosa wants to attract private-sector investment worth $110 billion in the next five years as South Africa leans more on its BRICS partners—including China, India and Russia—while also seeking to maintain close ties to the United States, the U.K., and Europe. But to successfully court investors and reignite the moribund economy, South Africa needs to finally close the chapter on its load shedding nightmare.

[marketkar]

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4 minutes, 10 seconds Read 

EASY WAY TO CHOOSE PHONE 

POCO has finally confirmed a date on screen for its new phone , it carries screen-to-body ratio of 93.3% at it as minimal possible art . It will carry a 7.69mm slim body. The company has confirmed LED screen for the PREMIUM ART . The TEAM confirms 108MP rear camera for the phone, blue and golden colours, but we can expect more colours possible and wish for our choice. Based on earlier news the phone will be renamed, the phone will be a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 13R Pro 5G which was launched in China last year, so we can expect a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen, Dimensity 6080 SoC (Rebranded Dimensity 810) SoC, 108MP + 2MP rear cameras, 16MP front camera, Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor, 3.5mm audio jack, and a 5000mAh (typical) battery with 33W fast charging. The phone will be sold on Flipkart, similar to other POCO phones. Since the phone will compete with realme 12, it is expected to be priced in Rs. 17,000 range. A Mobile Phone in this day and age of this running era are far more than just tools for communication on the move, not for only calling or messaging it contains our world in it The MARKETKAR.IN is just one click away from you table we take you to the new mono world of best category mobile phone timeline its where about issues relevant to you and your mobile.…let me take you to know whenever new launch with new camera features on any Web pages will get you notified on this website telling you about mobile relevant information and news some of which could save time and money. Ever wondered how the Apple name came to be and why? Well here is how it all began. Who new Jobs was on one of his “mid full days ” and had just come back from an apple farm and thought the name sounded fun, spirited and not intimidating in anyway. That’s how it work choice of your thought your choice matters . Chose it wisely from latest mobile series’s from MARKETAR.IN The very first iPhone was personally announced in early 2007 by Steve Jobs himself from the ground up suffice to say that they have not only led the whole SmartPhone industry but have also revolutionised the mobile phone into SmartPhones that we see today, to put it quite simply they more or less shrunk a Mac laptop computer to fit into the palm of your hand coupled with great aesthetics in terms of design, with their great desktop and laptop computers they produced. A natural transition for Apple

Apple’s latest iPhone 15 series is still fresh in the market, which means that the best Apple iPhone 15 prices far off the original retail price. We’ll likely see some worthy price cuts during this year’s Black Friday sale son but the more significant savings will be record-low iPhone 14 prices instead, as part of the early Apple Black Friday deals. The standard iPhone 15 has a starting price of 80k, with the iPhone 15 Plus sitting at 90 k and the iPhone 15 Pro at 99. Only the iPhone 15 Pro Max was given a higher starting price than the previous year , but it now has 256GB of storage at a minimum, instead of the original 128GB, making it more on par with the original iPhone 14 Pro Max price. The best iPhone 15 deals are usually found through new contract offers and by trading in your old handset. If you’re not on fussed choosing and owning the latest Apple smartphone, or one of the best iPhones for photography at all, then take a look at our guides to the best camera phones in 2023, as well as the best Samsung Galaxy S23 prices for Android fans

DEPENDING ON YOUR BRAND CHOICE AND PRICE RANGE AT LOW COST AND EMI OPTIONS ALSO AVAILABLE

Pre booking of upcoming variety of phone’s available at MARKETKAR.IN in today’s rapidly growing world in tech landscape staying updated is the most demanding thing today. Know your latest smart gadget at very cost friendly part With it’s essentials. The wide variety and range choices in latest mobile phone what set apart the competition in best price market with latest design at the effective cost with warranty Key features like 5g connectivity advance camera systems revolutiozing mobile photography with multiple mode added with advance technology.

[fulhamsw6]

Fulham Electrician

Your Trusted Partner for Electrical Solutions

Introduction

When it comes to electrical services in Fulham, look no further than Fulham Electrician. We pride ourselves on being the go-to experts for all your electrical needs. Our team of skilled and certified electricians is dedicated to providing top-notch services that prioritize safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Comprehensive Electrical Services

Residential Electrical Solutions

At Fulham Electrician, we understand the importance of a reliable electrical system in your home. Our residential services cover a wide range of needs, from simple repairs to complete installations. Whether you're facing a sudden outage, need wiring upgrades, or want to install energy-efficient lighting, our expert electricians are ready to assist you promptly.

Commercial Electrical Expertise

Businesses in Fulham rely on us for their commercial electrical requirements. Our experienced team is well-versed in handling complex electrical systems for offices, retail spaces, and industrial establishments. From electrical panel upgrades to regular maintenance, Fulham Electrician ensures your business operates smoothly with a robust electrical infrastructure.

Emergency Electrical Repairs

Electrical issues can occur at any time, and that's why Fulham Electrician offers 24/7 emergency services. If you find yourself in a critical situation, such as a power outage or a malfunctioning circuit, don't hesitate to call us immediately. Our rapid response team is equipped to handle emergencies with efficiency, ensuring minimal downtime for your home or business.

Upgrading Electrical Systems for Efficiency

In an era where energy efficiency is paramount, Fulham Electrician excels in upgrading electrical systems to meet modern standards. We assess your current setup, identify areas for improvement, and implement energy-efficient solutions. This not only enhances the safety of your electrical system but also contributes to cost savings in the long run.

Electrical Inspections and Maintenance

Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial for preventing electrical issues before they escalate. Fulham Electrician offers comprehensive electrical inspections to identify potential hazards and address them proactively. Our maintenance services ensure that your electrical system operates at peak performance, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns.

Quality Workmanship and Safety

At Fulham Electrician, we prioritize safety in every job we undertake. Our electricians are highly trained and adhere to the latest industry standards. We use quality materials and follow best practices to deliver workmanship that stands the test of time. When you choose Fulham Electrician, you can trust that your electrical project is in capable hands.

Affordable and Transparent Pricing

We believe in transparent pricing and providing value for money. Fulham Electrician offers competitive rates for all our services, and we provide detailed estimates before starting any project. No hidden fees, no surprises – just honest and upfront pricing for quality electrical work.

Contact Fulham Electrician for Your Electrical Needs

For reliable, efficient, and safe electrical services in Fulham, Fulham Electrician is the name you can trust. Don't let electrical issues disrupt your daily life or business operations. Call us today at

020 8166 9967

In conclusion, Fulham Electrician is committed to being your trusted partner for all things electrical. With a focus on quality, safety, and customer satisfaction, we aim to exceed your expectations with every service we provide.

[itsybitsylemonsqueezy]

And so you should make $31 an hour. However, this comparison is not helpful because it continues to sow class discord rather than acknowledge the reality of what real wealth is.

Being rich has less to do with the actual number attached and a lot more to do with where your money comes from. If your wealth is predominantly created from what you do every day (ie. your job as a graphic designer, showing up to your shitty retail gig, and even yes, putting on the white coat for a 9-5 as a doctor), then you are not rich. If your wealth is predominantly created from what you own (ie. real estate, stocks, inheritance, etc), then you are rich.

How can I be so sure? Rich people don't have to fucking labor so they don't.

Let's say you're a doctor in the US. Let's say you make $150K every year, which is pretty sweet from where I'm sitting. The costs you maintain at that income level quickly eat up that income. Your student loans are crippling. Even if you don't have any family to speak of, you have rent, which in most cities can be up to 50% of your income. And your work as a doctor is grueling: you're on your feet all day seeing patients who haven't been to the doctor in years because they couldn't afford to come so now everything is wrong with them, you have to advise them prescriptions and procedures they can't afford because private insurance in this country owns every aspect of medicine, so you can't be sure they'll get any of the things they need. Plus, the drug reps are in your office trying to manipulate your professional opinion by selling you their latest get-rich-quick scheme. And you have to write prior approvals for all of the procedures you asked for today, taking up more of your time which could be better spent with patients. (If you don't know what a prior approval is, it's a hideous invention whereby insurance companies automatically deny customers for procedures and care they need without doctor's spending hours on the phone and a mountain of paperwork explaining painstakingly that there are no cheaper alternatives to the procedure they've asked for. It's god awful.) All of this together quickly shrinks that $150K and the health and happiness it can buy.

Look, I'm not saying that all of our incomes are built equally or that you don't deserve better. Of course you do. I'm saying your fight and my fight is not with people who can take a nice vacation or two every year because their job income allows for it. I'm saying our beef is with people who do not work at all because they do not need to. For the actually rich, they don't take vacations because their whole fucking life is a vacation. They have, literally, more money than they could ever spend.

Doctors and lawyers and you and me are not the same.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[harshitajain999]

Unlocking the Potential of a Digital Marketing Career with Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the career opportunities in the field of digital marketing are vast and growing. With businesses increasingly shifting towards online platforms to engage with customers, the demand for skilled digital marketers has never been higher. If you are looking to start or advance your career in digital marketing, Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad can help unlock the potential of this thriving industry.

Ahmedabad, one of India’s leading commercial hubs, has become a hotspot for digital marketing professionals, offering numerous career opportunities for those passionate about the digital landscape. Whether you are a fresh graduate or a seasoned professional looking to switch careers, Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad provide a wealth of resources and expertise to help you succeed in this dynamic field.

The Rise of Digital Marketing and Career Opportunities

Over the past decade, digital marketing has evolved from a niche profession to a mainstream career path. The advent of the internet, social media, and e-commerce has transformed how businesses connect with their audiences. As a result, companies are increasingly turning to Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad to enhance their online presence, build their brands, and drive sales.

For job seekers and career changers, this shift represents an excellent opportunity. Digital marketing is a multi-faceted field, offering various specializations such as:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

Content Marketing

Email Marketing

Affiliate Marketing

Data Analytics

Each of these areas requires a different set of skills and expertise, making digital marketing a highly versatile career choice.

Why Choose a Digital Marketing Career in Ahmedabad?

Ahmedabad is one of the fastest-growing cities in India, with a booming economy and a thriving business ecosystem. Many businesses, ranging from startups to large enterprises, are now focusing on building their digital presence. This presents a significant opportunity for those pursuing a career in digital marketing.

Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad cater to a wide range of industries, including retail, education, healthcare, real estate, and hospitality. As a result, professionals in this field can work with diverse clients and gain exposure to various sectors. Whether you specialize in SEO, content writing, social media management, or data analytics, the opportunities are endless.

Moreover, Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad offer practical, hands-on training and workshops, helping individuals build a strong foundation in the industry. These services allow aspiring digital marketers to stay updated with the latest trends and techniques, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.

The Benefits of Pursuing a Digital Marketing Career

High Demand for Skilled Professionals Digital marketing is one of the most in-demand fields globally, and Ahmedabad is no exception. Businesses are constantly on the lookout for qualified professionals who can help them optimize their digital strategies. By gaining expertise in digital marketing, you position yourself as a highly desirable candidate in a competitive job market.

Lucrative Salary Potential As more companies invest in digital marketing, the salary potential for digital marketing professionals continues to rise. Experienced professionals can expect high-paying roles such as Digital Marketing Manager, SEO Specialist, PPC Expert, Social Media Manager, and Content Strategist. For those who excel in the field, salaries and career growth can be significant.

Opportunities for Freelancing and Entrepreneurship Digital marketing offers flexibility, allowing you to pursue freelance work or even start your own digital marketing agency. Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad provide an ideal platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn the ropes of digital marketing and start their own businesses. Whether you want to work from home or establish a digital marketing firm, the career possibilities are limitless.

Constant Learning and Growth One of the key reasons digital marketing is such an attractive career path is that it is ever-evolving. Trends and technologies are constantly changing, which means there is always something new to learn. If you enjoy keeping up with the latest developments and adapting to new challenges, a digital marketing career is a perfect fit.

Creative and Analytical Balance Digital marketing combines creativity with data-driven analysis, making it an ideal career for individuals who are both creative and analytical. Whether you’re designing a social media campaign, writing compelling ad copy, or analyzing the results of a marketing strategy, digital marketing offers a balance of creativity and logic.

How Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad Help You Build Your Career

Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad not only offer career opportunities but also provide essential resources to help you grow professionally. Here’s how they can help:

Training and Skill Development: Many agencies in Ahmedabad offer training programs and workshops that cover all aspects of digital marketing. From SEO to social media strategies, you’ll gain practical knowledge that is directly applicable to the job market.

Internships and Job Placements: By collaborating with businesses in Ahmedabad, digital marketing agencies offer internship and job placement opportunities, providing a direct pathway to entering the industry. These real-world experiences help you gain valuable insights into the workings of digital marketing campaigns.

Networking Opportunities: Ahmedabad’s digital marketing ecosystem is thriving, with numerous events, seminars, and meetups for professionals to connect, learn, and collaborate. Joining Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad will open doors to a strong professional network that can support your career development.

Hands-on Experience: Many Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad also offer real-world projects and case studies, allowing you to get hands-on experience in designing and executing marketing campaigns for actual businesses.

Conclusion

The digital marketing industry offers boundless opportunities for those looking to build a rewarding career. Digital Marketing Services in Ahmedabad provide a robust foundation for aspiring professionals, offering training, internships, and networking opportunities. With the growing demand for digital marketing expertise in Ahmedabad, there has never been a better time to dive into this dynamic field. By gaining the right skills and experience, you can unlock the full potential of a digital marketing career and take your professional journey to new heights.

[systech12]

Workstations for Small Businesses: Boost Your Efficiency and Growth in Bangalore

Competition for a small business in Bangalore demands just the right amount of technology. There is no greater investment than an efficient workstation for a developing company. It matters whether you are a start-up, a small retail shop, or a service provider; having the right workstation can make all the difference in your productivity and efficiency. What is it really that makes a workstation a perfect choice for small business and how can they help scale you up?

Why Workstations Matter for Small Businesses

A workstation is more than just a computer. It is the heart of your daily operations: whether you are managing information from your clients, working on your projects, or communicating with your team. For small businesses in Bangalore, having the right workstations ensures you are able to do your jobs smoothly without any interruption.

Power and Performance Workstations are built to handle demanding tasks such as data analysis, software development, and running multiple applications simultaneously. Regular desktops are not the same, though; they come with better processing power, more RAM, and specific components that guarantee high performance and make them ideal for small businesses that demand top-notch reliability.

Scalability Small businesses in Bangalore go through phases of growth, and so should your technology. Workstations are scalable – you can easily upgrade the memory, storage, or even the processor as your business expands. That makes them a cost-effective long-term solution that will continue to serve you well as your team and requirements grow.

Durability Purchasing quality workstations for small businesses helps avoid downtime. Workstations are designed for the rigors of working continuously without overheating and crashing down. For such businesses where time is literally money, having a reliable system is important for staying on track.

Choosing the Best Workstations for Small Businesses in Bangalore

When selecting a workstation for your small business, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your team. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

Processor: Look for workstations with the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 or i9 processors, which offer excellent performance for multitasking.

Memory: Aim for at least 8GB of RAM to ensure smooth performance, especially if your employees use resource-heavy software like accounting tools, CAD software, or graphic design applications.

Storage: Solid-state drives (SSDs) are recommended for faster boot times and quicker data access.

Graphics: If your business involves video editing, 3D modeling, or gaming, consider a workstation with dedicated graphics (e.g., NVIDIA GTX or RTX).

Why Choose Systech for Your Workstation Needs?

If you are a small business owner in Bangalore, then Systech Services Pvt. Ltd. is the ideal partner for all your IT needs. As a Lenovo Platinum Partner, we offer high-performance workstations tailored to your business requirements. Whether you need a single workstation or a fleet for your growing team, we provide personalized solutions that maximize your productivity and business potential.

Ready to boost your business with high-performance Workstations? Contact Systech Services Pvt. Ltd. today for customized solutions that drive efficiency and growth.

[sensitive-virgo]

Vital Guide to Arizona Dental Assistant Requirements: Your Pathway to a Rewarding Career

Essential Guide to Arizona ​Dental Assistant Requirements:​ Your Pathway to a Rewarding Career

Are you considering a career in⁢ the dental field? Becoming⁢ a dental assistant in Arizona is a rewarding path, offering a variety⁤ of opportunities to help patients and ‌support dental professionals. This guide will walk⁢ you through ⁣the​ essential requirements, benefits, and practical tips to kickstart your ⁤career as a dental assistant in Arizona.

Table of Contents

1. Arizona Dental Assistant Requirements

2. Benefits of Being a Dental Assistant

3. Practical Tips​ for Aspiring Dental Assistants

4. ⁣Case Studies:⁢ Real-Life ⁤Experiences

5. Conclusion

1. Arizona Dental Assistant Requirements

To become a dental assistant in Arizona, ⁣you need to meet certain educational⁢ and certification requirements. Here’s a breakdown:

Requirement

Description

Education

Complete a high school ‍diploma or GED.

Training

Graduate from an accredited dental assistant program.

Certification

Obtain the Certified Dental Assistant⁤ (CDA) credential from the Dental Assisting National ‌Board (DANB).

X-Ray Certification

Complete an Arizona Board of Dental Examiners approved radiology course.

CPR ​Certification

Maintain current CPR⁢ certification.

Educational ⁣Pathways

While not always mandatory, completing ‌a dental assisting program is highly recommended. These programs ⁤typically last between 9 months to⁤ 2 ⁢years and​ combine ⁣classroom instruction ⁢with hands-on training. Many ‍community colleges and vocational schools in Arizona offer these programs.

Certification Process

To obtain the CDA credential, candidates must pass a series of exams covering ⁤various topics related ​to ‍dental assisting.

2. Benefits of Being a Dental ⁣Assistant

A ⁤career as a ​dental ⁤assistant‌ offers numerous benefits, including:

Job Security: ‍The demand ⁤for dental assistants continues to grow, ‍with a projected increase of 11% from 2020 to 2030 according to the U.S.‍ Bureau⁣ of Labor Statistics.

Flexible Work Environment: Dental assistants often enjoy flexible schedules, with many ‌part-time and ⁣full-time options available.

Opportunities for Advancement: With additional certifications and experience, dental‍ assistants can move up to more advanced roles, such as dental hygienist ⁣or practice manager.

Positive Impact: You play a vital role in patient care, helping to create a positive experience and ensuring high-quality dental care.

3. Practical Tips for Aspiring ‌Dental Assistants

To better prepare for your career as‌ a dental assistant, consider the ⁣following practical tips:

Network: Connect with ⁢professionals in the dental ‍field through job fairs, seminars, and social media groups to ⁢gain insights and opportunities.

Stay Updated: ⁣Keep abreast‌ of‍ the latest trends in dental technology and practices ⁢to stay competitive.

Gain Experience: Consider volunteering or intern opportunities in dental offices to gain‍ hands-on experience.

Develop Soft Skills: Focus on enhancing your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving ⁣skills, which are critical in a dental setting.

4.‍ Case⁣ Studies: Real-Life Experiences

Let’s⁢ take a look at two real-life experiences of ⁢individuals who pursued careers as‍ dental assistants ​in Arizona:

Case​ Study 1: Jessica’s Journey

Jessica graduated high school unsure ‍of‍ her⁤ career ⁣path. After enrolling in ⁢a dental assistant program, she quickly discovered her passion for patient care. Through her externship, ‌she gained valuable experience that led ‍to a full-time position. Today, Jessica enjoys a fulfilling career where‌ she helps patients every day.

Case Study 2: Marco’s ⁣Transition

After working ⁤in⁤ retail for several ⁤years, Marco decided to switch​ careers. He pursued dental assistant training and​ gained his CDA certification. He appreciates the stability⁤ and ⁤better work-life balance in his new role and‍ looks forward to advancing his career by⁤ becoming ⁣a dental hygienist.

5. Conclusion

Becoming a‌ dental assistant in​ Arizona is a promising career choice that​ requires dedication and the ‌right qualifications. By understanding the essential requirements, benefits, and practical tips outlined in this guide,​ you can successfully navigate‍ your pathway toward a⁤ rewarding career. Start today, and take​ the first step‌ towards making ⁣a difference in the dental health of your ‍community!

https://dentalassistantclasses.net/vital-guide-to-arizona-dental-assistant-requirements-your-pathway-to-a-rewarding-career/