#PEO in US

[mercanstalks]

Looking to expand to the US? Let us be your guide. Our Payroll in US offers HR, payroll, and benefits administration. Contact us now!

[lucalicatteart]

A few little sketches of some possible school uniforms for mage schools/learning centers for magic/etc. :0c Though because Nanyevimi is so scattered and disconnected, it'd actually vary much more by region (like not everywhere would have a cultural concept of what a suit jacket or neck tie looks like lol), so it's probably unrealistic for so many of them to follow too many traditional Uniform Conventions from cultures in our world, etc. But, still, fun to mess around with designs, and think about which would be most fun to wear/what school you'd go to just based off the clothing lol~

[catinasink]

mmmgmmgm im v tired

[fatherentropy]

playing Stardew Valley with the family been making me want to play Stardew Valley so I've been playing Stardew Valley. Like... all yesterday/today without sleeping....

and now some doodles that look like way more than they are because I slapped a quick bg in!

good nIGHt

[boygirlctommy]

SO. deep breath. FOR YOUR ANIMATIC RIGHT I LOVE IT SOSOSOSO MUCH IF YOU COULDNT TELL. FIRST OF ALL THE SONG CHOICE? 10/10 IM A HUGE WILL WOOD FAN I NEVER EVEN. THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS SONG IS CWILBUR BUT YOUR SO. YOUR SO RIGHT. im turning off all caps this is getting annoying imagine it with the same excitement though.

i love the way? you did the animation? if that makes sense. like the wiggly lines and such. it fits the whole Vibe where nothing really stops moving right. even with the like. background shots its never still and i love that.

the color choices too. i feel like most really impactful art (at least in this fandom) for me either uses very little color variety or a lot of color variety. obviously there isnt a lot of color in the animatic but i feel like that makes it more impactful as i said. especially with how the color changes in different- like, eras? in the beginning of the video, the lmanburg era, the blue fits very well imo. like the color of their suits is blue, it probably stands out most for me in the flag even. its just the color i think of when i think of lmanburg. and then when it switches to pogtopia, its red. Again, similar things to say, red is the color i think of when i think of pogtopia. other than brown i guess. and then the yellow at the end. like yeah this is still pogtopia technically but i feel like the color switch is very important. yellow is the brightest color used which is like. its fitting. fitting of his death- the flashy explosion, the theatrical way he went. and then the white in limbo. its only one scene but still. limbo is, well, a limbo. its bare its uninteresting its suffocating in it's blandness. even if c!wilburs limbo isn't particularly bland, if someones in the same place for 13 years straight its gonna get boring. and i think the use of only black and white shows this perfectly. AND THEN THE END. AUGH. when he's revived it switches from the bland white and black to using all the colors shown so far. which is, albeit, only five including white and black. but still my point stands; it's a great contrast.

NO im not done. back to the linework. i love how in each scene that features a character the lines like. emanate? i guess? from them. specifically in cwilburs case. in the beginning of the video the lines are straight and he's facing forwards. great cool yeah. BUT. when it switches to pogtopia the lines are squiggly and while there are some straight lines they are sporadic and a lot arent coming directly from or to him. ESPECIALLY when pared with the way you redrew each frame it just shows his increased mental instability visually very well. also he's facing away from the viewer instead of towards them which is a really nice touch im just struggling to explain why in words. and then in the first yellow scene after he blew everything up the lines while still sporadic, are a lot straighter and less squiggly. (and only coming from him, the center of everyones attention) while he's still Very mentally unstable, he's just as confident as he was during lmanburg. and in the end when hes revived there isnt any lines like there was before. it gives the same contrasting vibe that the color does. like waking up from a dream, if that makes sense

some other things i noticed. um. the fish in the river in the beginning. really liked that one. gave me a good chuckle after the 10th-15th watch when i noticed it. the transition from the burning flag to pogtopia is really nice. just all the transitions are great actually. and the timing with the lyrics is amazing. also eyebags thumbs up emoji. OH and when cwilbur is revived at the end thats the first time we see his eyes and i like that one.

theres probably more i could talk about if i thought about it for longer but i dont want to keep you here forever. sorry if im the curtains are blue-ing this but take it as a compliment if i am. okay byeeee

SCREAMS OH MY GOD. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! im so glad you picked up on the color stuff omg i wasnt sure anyone would outside of it just being the lmanberg flag colors!!! i wrote a whole poem a few years back about red yellow and blue and how they relate to cwil! yeah the blue in lmanberg is based on the suits, and also that one line ghostbur had about lmanbur crying himself to sleep every night! and red for pogtopia is from tnt and the phrase "seeing red"! yellow was originally revival, supposed to represent the sunrise and like a new beginning, but it worked better here as nov 16th, as more of a final blast of light that burns itself into your retinas.

and :DDD SMILESSS im so glad you like the lines!!! i spent so long messing w different patterns and line weights for it, and im pretty happy w how it turned out :D

also soo glad u picked up on revivebur being the only time we see his eyes/ when hes in full color/ no lines around him!! to me at least his revival was like. picking up the different pieces of himself and reconciling them. realizing that every part of him IS still a part of him, always will be, and hes gotta figure out the way forward.

smiles!!!! tysm this ask absolutely made my day omg <333

[sensitivegoblin]

Need to get bullied n pushed around n teased n used n tormented n played with

[happygirl2oo2]

Maura *about the Rizzolis*: “Every talk I have with you people gets more and more absurd!”

Jane: “You say "you people" like you're not a part of this family. I got some news for you, Maura Isles: you're already on the Christmas card.”

[perenlop]

wait ok coming back to post one thing. im skimming reddit (yes i know) and on a completely unrelated topic someone linked a video but put up “hey if you have misophonia be careful with this one” besides the link and wow? wanna cry now tbh

[thatnoulguyorsomething]

I was thinking, violence can work, but it can also backfire horribly. Unfortunately I don't often get the choice of what to do in those situations (either because other people escalate, or because I am more busy doing damage control), but, since I am already perceived masc and arab (iow people always assume violence from me anyway), I have found that it has a much more threatening effect to be as calm and to-the-point as possible (but still maintaining the same point - ie, making the "only good * is a dead *", standing up a couple steps in front of the guy, and just staring him down).

Again, generally good advice, but situationally dependent. The bit about "diversity of tactics" was very relevant, and that also requires an understanding of the tactics and their applicability.

Some very eloquent notes on violence as a necessity for resistance.

[mercanstalks]

PEO in US: Understanding the Benefits and Risks for Your Business

In today's highly competitive business environment, companies need to find innovative ways to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and increase productivity. One strategy that many organizations are turning to is Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). By partnering with a PEO in US, businesses can offload some of their administrative responsibilities, such as payroll, HR, and benefits management, to a third-party provider. In this article, we will explore the benefits and risks of PEO in the US, as well as global peo providers to consider.

Benefits of PEO in US

Cost savings: One of the most significant advantages of partnering with a PEO is cost savings. PEOs can leverage their economies of scale to negotiate better rates for employee benefits, workers' compensation insurance, and other HR-related services. By outsourcing these tasks, businesses can reduce their overhead costs and focus on their core competencies.

HR expertise: Another benefit of partnering with a PEO is access to HR expertise. PEOs have a team of experienced professionals who are well-versed for Employer of Record in US, HR best practices, and compliance requirements. This can help businesses avoid costly mistakes and ensure that they are following the latest guidelines.

Improved compliance: Compliance is an essential aspect of HR management. PEOs can help businesses stay compliant with various state and federal laws, including wage and hour regulations, tax laws, and anti-discrimination laws. This can minimize the risk of legal disputes and costly penalties.

Reduced administrative burden: By outsourcing payroll, benefits administration, and other HR-related tasks, businesses can reduce their administrative burden. This can free up time and resources for core business activities, such as sales, marketing, and product development.

Risks of PEO in US

Loss of control: One of the main risks of partnering with a PEO is the loss of control over certain HR functions. While PEOs can help businesses streamline their operations, they may not always align with the company's values and culture. This can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.

Communication challenges: Another risk of PEOs is communication challenges. Since PEOs are third-party providers, there may be a communication gap between the PEO and the business. This can lead to misunderstandings and delays in resolving issues.

Legal risks: While PEOs can help businesses stay compliant with various employment laws, they may not always be fully liable for legal risks. This means that if there is a legal dispute, the business may still be held responsible. It is essential to carefully review the PEO contract and understand the extent of the provider's liability.

Global PEO Providers to Consider

Globalization Partners: Globalization Partners is a leading global PEO provider that offers a range of HR-related services, including payroll, benefits administration, compliance management, and more. The company has a presence in over 187 countries and can help businesses streamline their global expansion.

Velocity Global: Velocity Global is another global PEO provider that offers a range of HR services, including global payroll, HR compliance, and immigration support. The company has a presence in over 185 countries and can help businesses navigate the complexities of global expansion.

Shield GEO: Shield GEO is a global PEO provider that specializes in payroll and compliance management. The company has a presence in over 90 countries and can help businesses reduce their administrative burden while staying compliant with local laws and regulations.

Final thoughts

Partnering with a Payroll in US can offer many benefits, including cost savings, access to HR expertise, improved compliance, and reduced administrative burden. However, there are also risks to consider, such as the loss of control, communication challenges, and legal risks. If you are considering working with a global PEO provider, it is essential to research.

[ms-demeanor]

Friends, I think we need to talk about Covid.

I want to get a few caveats out there before I start:

I am aware that there are people who need to exercise extreme caution about Covid; I live with someone who has two solid organ transplants and who is at the most immune compromised level of immune compromised. *I* have to be extremely cautious about covid.

Masking does prevent a certain level of transmission, and people who think they may have covid should mask and people who are concerned that they may be at high risk for covid should mask.

You should be vaccinated and boosted with the most recent vaccines that are available to you; covid is highly transmissible and very serious, you do not want to get covid and if you do get covid you don't want it to be severe and if you do get covid you don't want to give someone else covid and up-to-date vaccinations are the best way to reduce transmission and help to prevent severe cases of Covid.

We should be testing before going to any gatherings, and informing people if we test positive after gatherings, and testing if we suspect we have been exposed.

It is bullshit that there aren't good protections for workers who have covid; you should not be expected to go to work when you are testing positive

It is bullshit that people who are testing positive are not isolating for other reasons; if you have Covid you should not be going out and exposing other people to it even if you are experiencing mild symptoms or no symptoms.

We do need better ventilation systems for many kinds of spaces. Schools need better ventilation, restaurants need better ventilation, doctor's offices and hospitals and office buildings need better ventilation and better ventilation can reduce covid transmission.

I want to make it clear that Covid is real and there are real steps that individuals and systems can take to prevent transmission, and that there are systems that are exerting pressures that needlessly expose people to covid (the fact that you can lose your job if you don't come in when you're testing positive, mainly; also the fact that covid rapid tests should be ubiquitous and cheap/free and are not).

All of that being said: I'm seeing some posts circulating about how we're at an extremely high level of transmission and the REAL pandemic is being hidden from us and, friends, I'm pretty sure that is just incorrect and we're spreading misinformation.

I'm thinking of this video in particular, in which the claim is made that "your mystery illness is covid" in spite of negative tests. The guy in the video says that there's nothing else that millions of people could be getting a day, and that he predicted this because a wastewater spike in December meant that there was a huge spike in cases.

I've also seen people saying that deaths are where they were in 2021-2022, and that we're still at "a 9/11 a week" of excess deaths and friends, I'm not seeing great evidence for any of these claims.

I know that we (in the US, which is where the numbers I'm going to be citing are from) feel abandoned by the CDC and the fact that tracking cut off in May of 2023. But that only cut off for the federal tracking.

I live in LA county and LA county sure as shit is still tracking Covid.

If you want a clearer picture, you can see the daily case count over time compared to the daily death count:

Okay, you might say, but that's just LA.

Alright, so here's Detroit:

Right, but maybe that's CDC data and you don't trust the CDC at this point.

Okay, here's fatalities in New York tracked through New York's state data collection:

It's harder to toggle around the site for South Dakota, but you can compare their cases and hospitalizations and deaths for early 2022

To cases and hospitalizations and deaths from early 2024

And see that there's really no comparison.

Okay, you might say, but people are testing less. If they're testing less of course we're not seeing spikes, and they're testing less because fewer tests are available.

Alright, people are definitely testing less than they were in 2021 and 2022. Hospitalization for Covid is probably the most clear metric because you know those people have covid for sure, the couldn't not test for it.

Here are hospitalizations over time for LA:

Here are hospitalizations over time for New York:

As vaccination rates have gone up, cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have gone down. It IS clear that there are case spikes in the winter, when it is cold and people are indoors in poorly ventilated spaces and people are more susceptible to respiratory infections as a result of cold air weakening the protection offered by our mucous membranes, and that is something that we will have to take precautions about for the forseeable future, just as we should have always been taking similar precautions during flu season.

So I want to go point-by-point through some of the arguments made in that video because I'm seeing a bunch of people talking about how "THEY" don't want you to know about the virus surge and buds that is just straight up conspiracism.

So okay, first off, most of what that video is based on is spikes in wastewater data, not spikes in cases. This is because people don't trust CDC data on cases, but I'd say to maybe check out your regional data on cases. I don't actually trust the CDC that much, but I know people who do tracking of hospitalizations in LA county, I trust them a lot more. Wastewater data does correlate with increases in cases, but this "second largest spike of the entire pandemic" thing is misleading; wastewater reporting is pretty highly variable and you can't just accept that a large spike in covid in wastewater means that we're in just as bad a place in the pandemic as we were in 2022. We simply have not seen the surge of hospitalizations and deaths that we would expect to see in the weeks following that spike in wastewater data if wastewater data was reflective of community transmission.

The next claim is that "there is nothing else that is infecting millions of people a day" and covid isn't doing that either. The highest daily case rates were in January of 2021 and they were in the 865k a day range, which is ridiculously high but isn't millions of cases a day.

But what we can see is that when people are tested by their doctors for Covid, RSV, and the Flu, more tests are coming back positive for the Flu. Covid causes more hospitalizations than the other two illnesses, but to be honest what the people in the video are describing - lightheadedness, dizziness, exhaustion - just sound like pretty standard symptoms of everything from covid to the cold to allergies. There are lots of things your mystery illness could be.

The video goes on to talk about the fact that people aren't testing, and why their tests may be coming back negative and I'd like to point out that the same things are all true of Flu or RSV tests. People might be getting tested too early or too late; getting a negative test for the flu isn't a good reason to assume you've got covid, getting a negative test for covid isn't a good reason to assume you've got the flu, and testing for viruses as a whole is imperfect. There are hundreds of viruses that could be the common cold; there are multiple viruses that can cause bronchitis; there are multiple viruses that can cause pneumonia, and you're not going to test for all of these things the moment you start feeling sick.

He then recommends testing for multiple days if you have symptoms and haven't had a positive test (fine) and talks about the location of the tests (less fine). Don't use your rapid tests to swab your throat or cheek unless it specifically says that they are designed to do so. Test based on the instructions in the packet.

He points out that the tests probably still pick up on the virus because they're not testing for the spike protein, they're testing for the RNA (good info!)

The video then discusses something that I think is really key to this paranoia about the "mystery illnesses" - he talks about how covid changes and weakens your immune system (a statement that should come with many caveats about severity and vulnerability and that we are still researching that) and then says that it makes you more susceptible to strep or mono and that "things that used to clear in a day or two now hit you really hard."

And that's where I think this anxiety is coming from.

Strep throat lasts anywhere from three days to a week. A cold takes about a week to clear. The flu lasts about a week and can knock you on your ass with exhaustion for weeks depending on how bad you get it. Did you get a cough with your cold? Expect that to take anywhere from three to eight weeks to clear up.

I think that people are thinking "i got a bad virus and felt really sick for a week and haven't gotten my energy back" but that just sounds like a bad cold. That sounds like a potent allergy attack. That doesn't even sound like a bad flu (I got a bad flu in 2009 and thought i was going to straight-up die I had a fever of 103+ for three days and felt like shit for three days on either side of that and took six weeks to feel more like myself again).

Getting sick sucks. It really, really sucks. But if you're getting sick and you're testing for covid and it's coming back negative after you tested a few times, it's almost certainly not covid.

The video then says "until someone provides evidence that it's not covid, it should be assumed to be covid because we have record levels of covid it's that simple" but that's not simple. We don't have record levels of covid and he hasn't proved it. We have record high levels of wastewater reports of covid, which correlates with covid cases but the spike in wastewater noted in december didn't see a spike with a corresponding magnitude of cases in terms of either hospitalizations or deaths, which is what we'd have seen if we had actual record numbers of covid.

He says that if you want to ignore this, you'll get sick with covid, and that about 30-40% of the US just got sick with covid in the last four months (which is a RIDICULOUSLY unevidenced claim).

He says that we need to create a new normal that takes covid into account, which means masking more often and testing more often and making choices about risk-avoidant behaviors.

Now, I don't disagree with that last statement, but he prefaces the statement with "it doesn't necessarily mean lockdown" and that's where I think the alarmism and paranoia is really visible here. We are so, so far away from "lockdown" type levels that it's absurd to discuss lockdown here.

What I'm seeing right now is people who are chronically ill, people who are immune compromised, and people who are experiencing long covid (which may not be distinct from other post-viral syndromes from severe cases of flu, etc, but which may be more severe or more notable because of the prevalence of covid) are talking about feeling abandoned and attacked and left behind by society because covid is still out there, and still at extremely high levels.

I am seeing people who feel abandoned and attacked because the lgbtq+ events they are attending don't require masking. I am seeing people who are claiming that it is eugenicist that their schools don't have a negative test policy anymore.

And this comes together into two really disconcerting trends that I've been observing online for a while.

The claim that the pandemic is still as bad as it's ever been and in fact may be worse but we can't know that because "they" (the CDC, the government, capitalist institutions that want you back in the office, the university industrial complex that wants your dorm room dollars) are covering up the numbers and

Significant grievance at the fact that people are acting like number one is not true and are putting you at risk either out of thoughtlessness (because they don't realize they're putting you at risk) or malice (because they don't care if the sick die).

And those things are a recipe for disaster.

I think I've pretty robustly addressed point one; I don't think that there's good evidence that there's a secretly awful surge of covid that nobody is talking about. I think that there are some people who are being alarmist about covid who are basing all of their concern on wastewater numbers that have not held up as the harbinger of a massive wave of infections.

So let's talk about point number two and JK Rowling.

Barnes and Noble is not attacking you when it puts up a Hogwarts Castle display in the lobby. Your favorite youtuber isn't trying to hurt you when they offhandedly mention Harry Potter.

If you let every mention of Harry Potter or every person who enjoys that media franchise wound you, you are going to spend a lot of your time wounded.

People are not liking Harry Potter at you.

Okay.

People are also not not wearing masks at you.

You may be part of a minority group that experiences the potential for outsized harm as a result of majority groups engaging in perfectly reasonable behaviors.

There are kind, well-meaning, sensible people who go out every day and do something that may cause you harm and it's not because they want to hurt you or they don't care about whether you live or die, it is because they are making their own risk assessments based on their own lives and making the very reasonable assumption that people who are more concerned about covid than they are will take precautions to keep themselves safe.

We are not at a place in the pandemic where it is sensible to expect people with no symptoms of illness to mask in public as a matter of course or to present evidence of a recent negative test when entering a public building in their day-to-day life.

I think now is a really good time to sit down and ask yourself how you expect things to be with covid as an endemic part of our viral ecosystem. I think now is a good time to ask yourself what risk realistically looks like for you and for people who are unlike you. I think now is a good time to consider what would feel "safe" for you and how you could accomplish feeling safe as you navigate the world.

I'm probably going to continue masking in most indoor spaces for years. Maybe forever. There are accommodations that SHOULD be afforded to people who have to take more precautions than others (remote learning, remote visits, remote work, etc.), and we should demand those kinds of accommodations.

But it is going to poison you from the inside out if you are perpetually angry that people who don't have the same medical limitations as you are happy that they get to go shopping with their faces uncovered.

So now I want to talk to you about my father in law.

My father in law had a bone marrow transplant in 2015. That's the most immune compromised you can get without having your organs swapped out.

The care sheet for him after the transplant was a little overwhelming. The list of foods he couldn't eat was intimidating and the limitations on where he could go was depressing. It cautioned against going to large events, it recommended outdoor gatherings where possible but only if he could avoid sunlight and was somewhere with no history of valley fever. It said that he should wear masks indoors any time he was someplace with poor ventilation and that he should avoid contact with anyone who had an illness of any kind, taking special note to avoid children and anyone recently vaccinated for measles.

It was, in short, pretty much what someone immune compromised would need to do to try to avoid a viral infection. Sensible. Reasonable. Wash your hands and social distance; wear masks in sensitive contexts and don't spend time in enclosed places with people who have a communicable illness.

This is what life was always going to be like for people who are severely immune compromised, and it was always going to be incumbent upon the person with the illness to figure out how to operate in a society that is not built with them in mind.

It is not the job of every parent I encounter to tell me whether their child has been vaccinated against measles or chicken pox in the last three months. That isn't something that people need to do as part of their everyday life. However it IS my responsibility to check with the parents I'm hanging out with whether their children have been vaccinated against measles or chicken pox in the last three months so I know if it's safe for my immune compromised spouse to be around them.

If you want an environment in which you feel safe from covid, at this point in the pandemic (when the virus is endemic and not spreading rapidly as far as we can see from case counts) it is your responsibility to take the steps necessary to make you feel safe. Some of those steps will involve advocating for safety improvements in public spaces (again, indoor ventilation needs to be better and I'm personally pretty extreme about vaccination requirements; these are things we should be discussing in our school board meetings and at our workplaces), some of those steps will involve advocating for worker protections, guaranteed sick time, and the right to healthcare. But some of the things you're going to need to do to feel safe are going to come down to you.

If you are concerned about communicable diseases you have to be realistic about the fact that our society doesn't go out of its way to prevent communicable diseases - norovirus among food service workers pre-pandemic is pretty clear evidence of that. You are going to have to be proactive about your safety rather than expecting the world to act like Covid is at 2021-2022 levels when it is measurably not.

[klugpuuo]

I don’t know how to play minesweeper but it and Tetris together tickles a very specific part of my brain. I want to try it. (If the tag you put on it is talking abt me hiiiii <3 saw it while I was checking ur blog again as I do)

talking abt you cause Tetris and talking abt kurro BC they are a masochist

[probablyasocialecologist]

The bodies of 50 Palestinians were discovered at the grounds of the Khalifa bin Zayed elementary school in Beit Lahia on Tuesday after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, local residents told Middle East Eye. The bodies were discovered under a mound of rubble at the school with videos uploaded on social media sites showing several of the body bags tied with white plastic zip ties, normally used for tying cables together. According to eyewitnesses assisting in identifying the deceased, Israeli forces reportedly executed the Palestinians nearly two months ago on a road near the school. The school had served as a shelter for thousands of displaced Palestinians before it was bombed and besieged by Israeli forces in early December. The school had been supported by United Nations Relief and Works Agency, also known as Unrwa, since 2010.

[fastandcarlos]

When He Kisses You At The Paddock For The First Time : ̗̀➛ F1 Reaction

» Max Verstappen 

It was all adrenaline as Max came out of the car, an unexpected victory left him bouncing around, rushing over to his team. He couldn’t wait to greet everyone, however when his eyes landed on you, he felt urgency like never before. It was as if you were the only two people in the paddock as Max cupped either side of your face, pressing a kiss to your lips. You could tell he wasn’t thinking, however when he pulled back and still wore a wide smile, you knew he didn’t care anymore, more than happy to introduce your relationship to the rest of the world. 

» Lando Norris 

He was sure that there was no one else around as Lando found you hanging around at the back of the garage. As soon as he saw you he pulled you along with him to a hidden spot that he had found amongst some of the equipment. “Come with me,” he whispered, encouraging you to trust what he was doing. You thought nothing of it as Lando kissed you, however you soon found that you weren’t quite alone as you thought, turning around to find Andrea looking back at you both having been looking for Lando to brief him about the car, and now, scold him too. 

» Charles LeClerc 

It was all planned meticulously by Charles, with rumours beginning to spread about the two of you, Charles wanted to take back control. You walked hand in hand through the paddock, blocking out the cameras that followed you, and as you arrived at Ferrari, Charles pulled you towards him and gave you a kiss goodbye, leaving you in hospitality for a while. His smile was wide, full of pride as journalists fired several questions his way, deciding that the kiss did all the speaking for the two of you, and firmly established you as one of the most popular couples on the grid. 

» Oscar Piastri 

The day hadn’t quite gone to plan as Oscar returned to his driver’s room where you were, unable to get his head around where things went wrong. You kept a bit of a distance with some of Oscar’s staff around, but with how frustrated he was, he simply didn’t care anymore. “Love, come here,” Oscar told you, tapping the space beside him, wanting you as close to him as he could get you before giving you a kiss, ignoring the stares of his staff around you both who had no idea that that was the direction your relationship was going in. 

» George Russell 

Everyone knew how close you and George were, friends for years, it was no surprise to see you stood at the very front to celebrate George on pole with the rest of Mercedes. However as he walked over to you, you noticed there was a different look in George’s eyes. As he came over and took his helmet off, George placed his hands on your waist, lifting you up and pressing a soft kiss against your lips. There was a hushed silence around you, no one could quite believe the two of you had managed to fool everyone for so long, but George couldn’t keep his secret any longer. 

» Carlos Sainz 

As a new face in the Ferrari garage, you had a fair bit of attention from some members of staff, with a couple particularly interested in getting to know you. Carlos tried his best to ignore it for a while, but with jealousy snapping away at him he ended up walking over and pressing a kiss to your lips when he noticed that the guy was stood next to you. Carlos took you by complete surprise, but you’d seen the look in his eye often enough and knew exactly what hint he was trying to drop, silently walking away from you again as if nothing had happened. 

» Daniel Ricciardo 

His mind didn’t think as Daniel came back from yet another successful race and found you stood in the middle of the paddock. He was used to kissing you whenever he wanted in private, and seemed to forget that you weren’t in private momentarily. Daniel bounded over to you and pressed a kiss to your lips before hurrying to pull away. “Oops,” he muttered, realising what he’d done, feeling your hand hit against his arm, knowing that with so many people around there was bound to be someone who’d seen you both. “Well, at least everyone knows I’m taken now.” 

» Lewis Hamilton 

Neither of you were aware that you had been spotted sharing a kiss until Lewis was called into a meeting at the garage. He had kissed you at the very back of the Mercedes lounge, convinced that no one would be able to see you both, but when you’re as popular as Lewis is, someone is always watching. Although the team weren’t exactly impressed, Lewis didn’t care, the only person he cared about was you and making sure that you were alright. Luckily for Lewis, you were more than alright, relieved in a way that you didn’t have to sneak around anymore. 

˗ˏˋ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ! ´ˎ˗

[hairmetal666]

Steve has this bar he loves in Chicago. It's a little bit dive-y, a little bit dirty, but it's quiet. A good place for when he needs to clear his head.

Only, tonight, the place is packed. Music pounding from the jukebox, no space at the bar, patrons at the dartboard and pool table. In three years he's never seen it like this.

He has a second to wonder what's going on before he sees exactly who is going on, and for him to catch Steve looking.

"Stevie!" Eddie Munson cries. He leaps from the bar top, the people below scrambling away from the stomp of his big black boots.

He hasn't seen Eddie in years. Can't actually remember the last time. Max and Lucas's wedding? Robin and Nancy's baby shower?

Steve considers booking it out of there, escaping in the crush of the crowd. By the time he has the thought, though, Eddie's already pulling him into a hug.

He's excited to see his friend. He is! Really. He loves Eddie. But that's kind of the problem.

Steve fell in love and Eddie left town.

Well, maybe it wasn't so dramatic as all that. It wasn't until six months after they packed the last box in the back of Eddie's van that Steve could name his feelings for what they were. And by then, Corroded Coffin were building buzz and Eddie had a huge whole life outside of the people he saved the world with.

Over the years, as Eddie's fame grew, he came around less and now they hardly see each other. They still talk from time to time, Steve still buys all the band's records, and Eddie's still close with all the kids, Nancy and Robin too.

Eddie releases him, those big eyes bright, a pure and genuine smile stretching his face. Steve's stomach twists, heart skipping a beat.

"Gotta be honest with you, man. Never expected to see Steve Harrington in a place like this."

Steve snorts. "There's lots of place I go you wouldn't expect."

Eddie's smile wobbles, Steve thinks. It's gone in a blink, though, and Eddie laughs. "I'm sure you do, sweetheart. Have time for a drink with me?"

Eddie navigates to the bar, returns with two beers in hand. He presses his palm to the small of Steve's back, directing him to the single empty table in the corner as far from the jukebox as possible.

"How's life treating you, Stevie?" Eddie asks after a sip. "Nance told me the store is doing really well."

"It's good, yeah. Finally turning a profit. Wasn't sure about Dustin having us add a game section, but he was right. It's really taken off."

"Oh, he told me," Eddie smirks.

Steve rolls his eyes. "I'm sure that he did. He hasn't let me hear the end of it."

"That tone," Eddie says, voice soft.

"What brings you to Chicago?" He asks to hide the way all the fucking love he feels for this man is bleeding out of him.

"Not really supposed to be," he laughs. "Flight got diverted to O'Hare, can't get another one until tomorrow. Have to make it to LA in time to play a show."

They both know Eddie loves it; the rush, the adrenaline, that comes with performing, to making it to shows at the very last minute. It's how they got here in the first place.

"Working on new music?"

Eddie leans back, dimples popping with the pleased lift of his lips. "Oh, Harrington, you don't even know what we have in store." He leans over the table and launches into tales of rehearsals and writing. Steve drinks his beer and can't take his eyes off his friend, Eddie the sun Steve orbits around, helpless to his gravitational pull.

"So, Stevie," Eddie says, once there's no more to tell about music. "You seeing anyone?"

Steve hides his cringe with a chuckle. Picks up his beer to buy time and finds it empty. "Not anyone of note."

"C'mon, how is that possible? You're easily the hottest guy in this place."

He grimaces. "That's a low bar."

"Oooh, still bitchy after all these years." Eddie snickers, takes a swig from his bottle.

"Shut-up."

"Seems like it's been a while since you dated."

"You interrogating my love life now, Munson?"

"No, not at all. Just curious."

"Okay, who are you dating? Still that guy from People?"

"Gossip," Eddie frowns.

"Anyone else you got your eye on?"

"No one new," Eddie says. He stares at Steve hard for a second, like he wants to dig into his brain, like it holds the answer to all life's question.

"There is someone, then." Steve tries to ignore the jealousy licking down his spine. Eddie isn't his and never will be.

Eddie picks at the label on his now empty beer. "Not--not really." He licks his lips, leaning over the table again. "Is there a reason you don't seem to date anymore, man? It's just--you wouldn't hurt for options, right?"

Steve freezes, trying to figure out a way to answer that won't end up breaking his own heart. "Ah, it's--you know, things got busy with opening the store and everything. Stopped being a priority."

"Are you lonely?"

"Are you?" He snaps before he can stop himself. "Sorry, I'm--sorry."

"Yeah, man. I'm lonely as hell." Eddie answers as though Steve didn't give him an out.

"I--you ever have someone where the timing is always wrong?"

"Think it's a hazard of my profession. Who's yours?"

"What?" Steve clunks his bottle too hard against the table.

"The one that got away?"

"It's--it--I--it doesn't matter."

Eddie's smile is all jagged edges. "Nancy?"

"God, no. Nance and I are good with being friends. No lingering feelings there. Who's yours?"

"Ahh," Eddie sits back a little, eyes glittering with an emotion Steve can't place. "The best boy I ever met. Can't get over him, can't forget him. I think they guys are going to start banning my 'pathetic gay yearning songs'. Gareth's words."

Something in Steve's chest crumbles to dust. There's someone. Has always been someone. Of course. Eddie is beautiful and hot and charismatic and fucking famous. And Steve is--just a guy who runs a struggling bookstore with a couple of his best friends.

"That's--I'm sorry it didn't work out." He's trying to stop his voice from breaking, from giving Eddie any hint of what he's feeling, just knows he has to get out. "Listen, man, thanks for the beer. Great to catch up. You should hit up Robin and Nancy the next time you're in town. I gotta get going."

"Wait, Steve--"

"See you around."

He doesn't wait. He pushes through the people, and races out the door, into the crisp Chicago fall air. He squeezes his eyes closed, practices his breathing exercises, tries to relax the clench of his teeth, ease the screaming in his lungs.

Three steps away from the building is as far as he gets before he hears, "Steve, please wait." A hand catches his hip, holding him in place.

"Eddie, I don't--"

"It's you," Eddie says. His face is pale, stricken. "You're the one who got away, Steve."

"What?"

"I've never been able to work up the nerve to confess. I've been trying for years, but. Too afraid of losing you to tell the truth."

"Years?" Steve's brain is trying to wrap around what's happening. That Eddie has feelings for him? That he's the source of the pathetic gay yearning?

"God, since 1986, at least."

Steve doesn't know what to say; what to do. He's been waiting for this moment so long, and his brain goes on pause.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same," Eddie rambles. "Hell, I'd be surprised if you did, but--"

"You're mine too," the words tumble out.

"What?"

"You're the one who got away. For me. You're mine."

"Steve," Eddie breathes. "Is this--are you serious?"

"Pathetic gay yearning and all."

Eddie's laugh is a bright spot in the darkness, relief and happiness mixed with the hope of what's next.

Steve can't help but giggle. "We're so dumb," he says.

Eddie looks at him with a raised eyebrow before bursting into giggles of his own. "So dumb, Steve, oh my god."

"It's been a decade!"

"Fuck," Eddie cackles.

They collapse against each other, chests heaving with their mirth. As they catch their breath, Steve nuzzles against Eddie's neck, relishing the closeness. It's easy for him to change the angle so their lips meet in a kiss frantic with ten years of longing.

"Your place or mine?" Eddie asks once they part.

Steve laughs. "You think I'm that easy, Munson?"

"Oh, Steve," Eddie smirks. "I know it."

"Asshole." Steve presses a kiss to his jaw. "How many songs did you write about me?"

Eddie smiles so hard his dimples pop. "All of them, baby. Every single one."

Steve rests their foreheads together, body fizzing like freshly uncorked champagne, "Take me home, Ed."

[weemietime]

i am asking this in good faith

If the Bosnian Genocide is has been ruled a genocide and the death count was 33,071 people, how is what is happening in Gaza not a genocide when the number has been surpassed

Because genocide is not about the number of people being killed. Genocide is a specific legal term, and it has to have two components: 1) obviously people have to be murdered -- but this must be done systemically, as a policy (either written or unwritten) of the belligerent party. AND 2) there has to be genocidal intention to murder said people. Genocidal intention means that Party A (Israel) murders Party B (Palestinians) specifically because those people belong to Party B (Palestinians). There is no evidence that Israel has a genocidal intention. In fact, the October 7th massacre was actually a genocidal act on behalf of Hamas - Hamas committed the genocidal action and has been committing genocidal actions for over 20 years, because they specifically want to murder Jews for being Jewish. They also meet the first criteria because this is a systemic policy that is present in the Hamas Charter.

This is very important to distinguish because whilst genocide is a war crime, not all war crimes are genocide. Israel has committed war crimes, including murdering civilians, and even intentionally allowing civilians to be killed (such as bombing a house with a Hamas member in it and killing his family members). But this is not sufficient to rise to the criteria of genocide. We could make the argument that there is ethnic cleansing, because the vast majority of the people being evacuated are of a single ethnicity, Palestinian. However, again, ethnic cleansing alone is not sufficient to rise to the definition of genocide.

Crucially, the ICJ has not ruled that there is a genocide ongoing. They have ruled prima facie that 1) South Africa has the right to accuse Israel of genocide, and 2) that the ICJ itself is fit to hear and rule on the accusation. They have also ordered Hamas to release the civilian hostages, so if Hamas is saying they want to abide by the ICJ, they have already disregarded the ICJ ruling.

Genocide is not based on vibes. It's not based on bad feelings. It's not based on videos and images of dead kids, or destroyed rubble. Genocide is a specific legal term that can only be applied to the above scenario, and it cheapens our language when we levy it in circumstances where it does not apply. It especially cheapens our language when we engage in Holocaust inversion by claiming Israel is doing to Palestine what Germany did to the Jews, which is categorically false.

Beyond this, it belittles the groups that are involved in this conflict, particularly Hamas, to treat them like they are innocent civilians when they are in fact a very well-outfitted military brigade and the official armed forces of the Gazan government with over 40,000 fighters strong, who repeatedly and loudly say "death to Israel, we want to annihilate Israel, we will commit October 7th again and again until Israel is destroyed." They are being funded by the IRGC, they are being used as a proxy for Iran, and innocent Palestinian civilians are suffering as a result. Hamas has openly said that the "blood of martyrs fuels our resistance," they have openly said they hope Palestinian civilians die in droves while they steal aid and resell it at absurd mark-ups, while they flee to Egypt and Qatar so that they don't have to get their hands dirty. They recruit and brainwash young children to fight their "holy war" to murder as many Jews as possible.

And in terms of the death toll, you have to understand that this war is being fought in an urban environment where the belligerents are embedded purposely in the civilian population, in tunnels all throughout the civilian infrastructure. Violating the Geneva Conventions by using hospitals and schools as military bases, refusing to wear uniforms, and intentionally shooting their own people and blaming Israel.

These people even play tapes pretending to be hostages shouting in Hebrew "don't shoot," which is one of the reasons why a hostage was accidentally killed by the IDF, which is then turned around to show how evil the IDF is without understanding the context that these events happen in. In normal urban warfare the ratio of civilian to combatant death is around 9:1. In Gaza, the ratio is, according to Hamas's own numbers, 4:1. Literally twice as low as the average. So, yeah. War crimes are happening. Yes. Absolutely. Genocide is not happening, at least, it's not happening to the Palestinians.