#Pension Certificates

[townpostin]

321 Pension Approval Certificates Distributed in Jamshedpur

Senior Citizen Pension Certificates Distributed at Baridih Assembly Office Under the directives of Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy, 321 approval certificates for the Chief Minister’s State Old Age Pension Scheme were distributed at the Baridih Assembly office on Sunday. JAMSHEDPUR – On Sunday, 321 approval certificates for the Chief Minister’s State Old Age Pension Scheme were distributed at the…

[phoenixyfriend]

Ko-Fi prompt from Isabelo:

Hi! I'm new to the workforce and now that I have some money I'm worried it's losing its value to inflation just sitting in my bank. I wanted to ask if you have ideas on how to counteract inflation, maybe through investing?

I've been putting this off for a long time because...

I am not a finance person. I am not an investments person. I actually kinda turned and ran from that whole sector of the business world, at first because I didn't understand it, and then once I did understand it, because I disagreed with much of it on a fundamental level.

But... I can describe some factors and options, and hope to get you started.

I AM NOT LEGALLY QUALIFIED TO GIVE FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.

What is inflation, and what impacts it?

Inflation is the rate at which money loses value over time. It's the reason something that cost 50 cents in the 1840s costs $50 now.

A lot of things do impact inflation, like housing costs and wage increases and supply chains, but the big one that is relevant here is federal interest rates. The short version: if you borrow money from the government, you have to pay it back. The higher the interest rates on those loans, the lower inflation is. This is for... a lot of reasons that are complicated. The reason I bring it up is less so:

The government offers investments:

So yeah, the feds can impact inflation, but they also offer investment opportunities. There are three common types available to the average person: Bonds, Bills, and Notes. I'll link to an article on Investopedia again, but the summary is as follows: You buy a bill, bond, or note from the government. You have loaned them money, as if you are the bank. Then, they give it back, with interest.

Treasury Bills: shortest timeframe (four weeks to a year), and lowest return on investment. You buy it at a discount (let's say $475), and then the government returns the "full value" that the bond is, nominally (let's say $500). You don't earn twice-yearly interest, but you did earn $25 on the basis of Loaning The Government Some Cash.

Treasury Notes: 2-10 year timeframe. Very popular, very stable. Banks watch it to see how they should plan the interest rates for mortgages and other large loans. Also pretty high liquidity, which means you can sell it to someone else if you suddenly need the cash before your ten-year waiting period is up. You get interest payments twice a year.

Treasury Bonds: 20-30 years. This is like... the inverse of a house mortgage. It takes forever, but it does have the highest yield. You get interest payments twice a year.

Why invest money into the US Treasury department, whether through the above or a different government paper? (Savings bonds aren't on sold the set schedule that treasury bonds are, but they only come in 30-year terms.)

It is very, very low risk. It is pretty much the lowest risk investment a person can make, at least in the US. (I'm afraid I don't know if you're American, but if you're not, your country probably has something similar.)

Interest rates do change, often in reaction or in relation to inflation. If your primary concern is inflation, not getting a high return on investment, I would look into government papers as a way to ensure your money is not losing value on you.

This is the website that tells you the government's own data for current yield and sales, etc. You can find a schedule for upcoming auctions, as well.

High-yield bank accounts:

Savings accounts can come with a pretty unremarkable but steady return on investment; you just need to make sure you find one that suits you. Some of the higher-yield accounts require a minimum balance or a yearly fee... but if you've got a good enough chunk of cash to start with, that might be worth it for you.

They are almost as reliable as government bonds, and are insured by the government up to $250,000. Right now, they come with a lower ROI than most bonds/bills/notes (federal interest rates are pretty high at the moment, to combat inflation). Unlike government papers, though, you can deposit and withdraw money from a savings account pretty much any time.

Certificates of Deposit:

Okay, imagine you are loaning money to your bank, with the fixed term of "I will get this money back with interest, but only in ten years when the contract is up" like the Treasury Notes.

That's what this is.

Also, Investopedia updates near-daily with the highest rates of the moment, which is pretty cool.

Property:

Honestly, if you're coming to me for advice, you almost definitely cannot afford to treat real estate as an investment thing. You would be going to an actual financial professional. As such... IDK, people definitely do it, and it's a standby for a reason, but it's not... you don't want to be a victim of the housing bubble, you know? And me giving advice would probably make you one. So. Talk to a professional if this is the route you want to take.

Retirement accounts:

Pension accounts are a kind of savings account. You've heard of a 401(k)? It's that. Basically, you put your money in a savings account with a company that specializes in pensions, and they invest it in a variety of different fields and markets (you can generally choose some of this) in order to ensure that the money grows enough that you can hopefully retire on it in fifty years. The ROI is usually higher than inflation.

These kinds of accounts have a higher potential for returns than bonds or treasury notes, buuuuut they're less reliable and more sensitive to market fluctuations.

However, your employer may pay into it, matching your contribution. If they agree to match up to 4%, and you pay 4% of your paycheck into an pension fund, then they will pay that same amount and you are functionally getting 8% of your paycheck put into retirement while only paying for half of it yourself.

Mutual Funds:

I've definitely linked this article before, but the short version is:

An investment company buys 100 shares of stock: 10 shares each in 10 different "general" companies. You, who cannot afford a share of each of these companies, buy 1 singular share of that investment company. That share is then treated as one-tenth of a share of each of those 10 "general" companies. You are one of 100 people who has each bought "one stock" that is actually one tenth of ten different stocks.

Most retirement funds are actually a form of mutual fund that includes employer contributions.

Pros: It's more stable than investing directly in the stock market, because you can diversify without having to pay the full price of a share in each company you invest in.

Cons: The investment company does get a cut, and they are... often not great influences on the economy at large. Mutual funds are technically supposed to be more regulated than hedge funds (which are, you know, often venture capital/private equity), but a lot of mutual funds like insurance companies and pension funds will invest a portion of their own money into hedge funds, which is... technically their job. But, you know, capitalism.

Directly investing in the stock market:

Follow people who actually know what they're doing and are not Evil Finance Bros who only care about the bottom line. I haven't watched more than a few videos yet, but The Financial Diet has had good energy on this topic from what I've seen so far, and I enjoy the very general trends I hear about on Morning Brew.

That said, we are not talking about speculative capital gains. We are talking about making sure inflation doesn't screw with you.

DIVIDENDS are profit that the company shares to investors every quarter. Did the company make $2 billion after paying its mortgages, employees, energy bill, etc? Great, that $2 billion will be shared out among the hundreds of thousands of stocks. You'll probably only get a few cents back per stock (e.g. Walmart has been trading at $50-$60 for the past six months, and their dividends have been 57 cents and then 20.75 cents), but it adds up... sort of. The Walmart example is listed as having dividends that are lower than inflation, so you're actually losing money. It's part of why people rely on capital gains so much, rather than dividends, when it comes to building wealth.

Blue Chip Stocks: These are old, stable companies that you can expect to return on your investment at a steady rate. You probably aren't going to see your share jump from $5 to $50 in a year, but you also probably won't see it do the reverse. You will most likely get reliable, if not amazing, dividends.

Preferred Stocks: These are stock shares that have more reliable dividends, but no voting rights. Since you are, presumably, not a billionaire that can theoretically gain a controlling share, I can't imagine the voting rights in a given company are all that important anyway.

Anyway, hope this much-delayed Intro To Investing was, if not worth the wait, at least, a bit longer than you expected.

Hey! You got interest on the word count! It's topical! Ish.

[bhavishyaperformship]

[wdtom]

Doorstep Service for Hassle-Free Life Certificates

The Department of Posts, via India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), has introduced a new doorstep service to help pensioners submit their Digital Life Certificates (DLC). This service aims to make the process easy and convenient. Paperless and Hassle-Free Process: The DLC submission process is now completely paperless, seamless, and hassle-free. Pensioners are not required to send the acknowledgment…

[youthchronical]

SCR launches Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 for pensioners

South Central Railway explained the process to submit life certificate digitally. The image is used for representative purposes only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images South Central Railway (SCR) has launched the Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 across the zone for pensioners to submit a ‘Life’ certificate for continuation of pension this month. The App The process is through ‘face…

[shamebats]

In investigating this theory, Dr Newman demonstrated fundamental and comedic mismatches between longevity claims and observed patterns. In the process, Dr Newman revealed that the well-publicised "Blue Zones" claims for the secrets of longevity are infallibly flawed. Dr Newman showed that the highest rates of achieving extreme old age are predicted by high poverty, the lack of birth certificates, and fewer 90- year-olds. Poverty and pressure to commit pension fraud were shown to be excellent indicators of reaching ages 100+ in a way that is 'the opposite of rational expectations'.

[mushimatsu]

I found the full versions of the job apps from this post! This was a collab with the restaurant chain Sukiya, so that's where the job app is for! Pictures from this blog post here!

Translation under the cut

Osomatsu:

Academic background/work experience (include relevant experience):

(dates left blank) NEET, factory job, Chinese food restaurant, etc Anyway I have experience with a lotta stuff! And more

About yourself:

Gyuudon! I can eat a lot of it! Beer! (something crossed out) I can drink a lot of it! 

Hobbies/Skills:

Horse racing, pachinko, all kinds of gambling!

Reason for your application:

Because I think I could eat a lot of gyuudon. And because I think a pork bowl made with a brand new model of charcoal grill would be tasty! 

Working hours (for example 9 ~ 17): (he left this blank and just put an x through Monday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Other requests:

I’d like to immediately take off days where a machine is being replaced, store remodeling days, and horse race days! 

What days would you prefer to work?: (left blank)

How many hours would you like to work a day?: (left blank) How long can you work for?: (left blank)

Karamatsu:

(in the furigana section where you're supposed to write the pronunciation of your name he wrote it in English instead of hiragana)

Phone Number: Secret (it's so important to tell you that he wrote "secret" as the English word in katakana, and not the Japanese word for secret)

Academic Background/Work Experience:

Theater Completed curriculum at Hybrid Oden cart (Hybrid misspelled as Hybrit) And more

About yourself:

When I take the stage called Sukiya... After that... Who knows...

(sorry if this is incorrect idk how the fuck to translate what he said. hate his ass /j)

Hobbies/Skills:

I can sing while playing guitar, and more...

Reason for your application:

Gyuudon, butadon, curry... Because your menu calls to me...

Working hours (for example 9 ~ 17): (left blank)

Other requests:

I'm not tied down to anyone...

What days would you prefer to work?:

What a foolish question...

How many hours would you like to work a day?:

I'm not tied down to any time...

How long can you work for?:

How many times do I have to tell you...

Choromatsu:

Academic Background/Work Experience:

Totoko-chan's manager Worked at father's friend's company And more

About yourself:

Personally, I would benefit from your company's management policy, so I think I can achieve results while working remotely. The other day, all my brothers caught a cold, but I was busy making content as a small influencer!*

Hobbies/Skills:

Kanji certification level 6, English certification level 6. Thank you very much.

Reason for your application:

Sukiya would benefit from an entrepreneur and marketing and advertising specialist with a concise plan to make KPIs a priority activity. Boosting conversions** can create solutions for Sukiya through engagement. Gyuudon benefits will surely create profit. Assign buffers and launch. Thank you very much.* ** like click through rate

Working hours (for example 9 ~ 17): (left blank)

Other requests:

Frankly, a pension plan is a must, with a minimum of 200,000 yen fixed and committed per month. Thank you very much.

What days would you prefer to work?:

I will send you the agenda for today's activities afterwards. Thank you very much.

How many hours would you like to work a day?: (left blank)

How long can you work for?: (left blank)

*(struggled so much with him and his business buzzwords if anyone has corrections please tell me)

Ichimatsu:

Academic Background/Work Experience:

Honored Squad Leader for Life at Factory Worked at Cat Cafe, as a cat And more

About yourself:

I want to gather some cats at the restaurant, but not like it would be a cat cafe, and make a "Cat Sukiya"...

Hobbies/Skills:

Cat certification level 2

Reason for your application:

I want to surround the restaurant with a lot of cats.

Working hours (for example 9 ~ 17): (left blank)

Other requests:

How many cats am I allowed to bring to the restaurant?

What days would you prefer to work?:

No particular preference

How many hours would you like to work a day?:

No particular preference

How long can you work for?:

As long as there's cats

Jyushimatsu:

Academic Background/Work Experience:

PRACTICE SWINGS

About yourself:

78 METER THROW

Hobbies/Skills:

BASEBALL

Reason for your application:

I WANT TO EAT LOTS OF GYUUDON!

(All the questions about when you're available to work):

I WANT TO EAT GYUUDON EVERY DAY!!

Todomatsu:

Academic Background/Work Experience:

Currently attending a very prestigious college Part time job at a trendy coffee shop And more

About yourself:

My brothers are all stupid, so I'm the best choice <3

Hobbies/Skills:

English and Japanese certified

Reason for your application:

The new menu item avocado gyuudon is my favorite, so you're going to release it, right? That is to say, you'll hire me, right? Right? Thanks <3

Working hours (for example 9 ~ 17): (left blank)

Other requests:

Rather than just beer, I want to sell kalua milk and cassis orange too ⭐

What days would you prefer to work?: (left blank)

How many hours would you like to work a day?: (left blank)

How long can you work for?:

Depends on if the customers are cute girls <3

thank you @totmatsu for ur help

[novankenn]

So in a universe where Jaune seduced Salem into stopping the shadow war for now are living in a nice house with Salem Pregnant. Cut to them stressing out over taxes because Jaune was never taught and its been so centuries since Salem had to do any. Cue stress, confusion, and anger. Maybe Mama Arc comes in to help keep Salem calm for the baby and teach Jaune taxes.

Officially no one knew what caused the Grimm to cease their predations. What serendipitous act ushered in this new Golden Age for Remnant. Well no one accept for a very small contingent of young huntsmen and huntresses. It was almost funny for them all that "Love at First Sight" would be what saved the world.

Well maybe not that exactly. It was more desperate tackle by a overwhelmed blond knight upon evil incarnate... turned accidental kiss that really pulled everyone's ass out of the fire. In that single moment Salem Queen of the Grimm instantly became smitten with one Jaune Arc.

Three month into their instant marriage, The Arcs decided that EverNight Castle and the Grimmlands were not the place to raise a family. So they moved. They moved to Vale.

Jaune: ARGH! *Throws a pen across the kitchen table* This is INSANE!

Salem: *Rocking in a rocking Chair hands on her belly* Jaune, honey it's okay. It's okay. You don't need to...

Jaune: Salem this HAS to be done. If we don't file, we won't be able to access the VCB, or get our share of the Dust Rebate.

Salem: VCB?

Jaune: Vale Child Benefit.

Salem: We don't need those things. I have more than enough gold to last a hundred life times.

Jaune: Yes, gold coins with your face on them. Gold Coins that need to be converted to lien because in today's society gold is not used for direct purchases.

Salem: Seems like an oversight.

Jaune: Well exchanging the gold for lien means we are selling assets, which is means we are liable to pay the capital gains tax on 50% of the proceeds of sale...

Salem: Ridiculous

Jaune: AND seeing as all your coins predate known historical civilization figuring out the Adjusted Cost Base to properly account for what the actual profit from the sale... is almost impossible.

Salem: Vale should just use the Tithe system.

Jaune: We've just gotten you a Social Insurance Number, thanks to Os...

Salem: Don't mention his name, around the babies!

Jaune: Fine. I still need to do T1 couples return for us, and I'm not sure if I have to do a T2 Corporate Return for EverNight, or a T3 Trust return.... I don't think I can do this...

Salem: We have the money, dear. Hire someone.

Jaune: Like who? Who do we approach and say, here's all our paperwork, oh and by the way we have like 600 million lien worth of gold in the Grimmlands in addition to my Huntsmen Pension. Who?

Salem: Oh, they just kicked!

Jaune: Maybe I'll just start over? Maybe I should get a program?

Salem: Jaune, darling... come here.

Jaune: That could work, but we still need to figure out as birthday for Salem, and get a birth certificate...

Salem: Jaune, sweetie... come here... they're kicking!

Jaune: Maybe I should talk with Mom? She's been doing hers and Dad's taxes for years...

Salem: Jaune... JAUNE!

Jaune: Ah! What?

Salem: Forget about that. Come here.

Jaune: But...

Salem: Come here. You've stressed over those papers enough. Come.

Jaune: *Rises from his seat, and walks over.*

Salem: Here. *Takes Jaune's hand a placed it upon her belly* You feel that?

Jaune: Yes. Yes I do.

[southeastasianists]

When Thailand's long-awaited equal marriage law came into effect on Thursday, police officer Pisit "Kew" Sirihirunchai hoped to be among the first in line to marry his long-term partner Chanatip "Jane" Sirihirunchai.

And he was - they were the sixth couple to register their union at one of Bangkok's grandest shopping malls, in an event city officials helped organise to celebrate this legal milestone.

Hundreds of couples across Thailand received marriage certificates on Thursday, breaking into smiles or tearing up over the moment they had dreamed of for so long.

It was a pageant of colours and costumes as district officials hosted parties with photo booths and free cup cakes - one Bangkok district was giving air tickets to the first couple who registered their marriage there.

"The rainbow flag is flying high over Thailand," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on Facebook from Davos where she is attending the World Economic Forum.

Activists said they were hoping to cross the 1,448-mark for registrations by the end of Thursday - 1448 is the clause in the Thai Civil Code covering the definition of marriage.

"We have been ready for such a long time," Pisit said. "We have just been waiting for the law to catch up and support us."

The two men have been together for seven years. Eager to formalise their relationship, they had previously been to a Buddhist monk to give them an auspicious new last name they can share – Sirihirunchai. They had also asked local officials to issue a letter of intent, which they both signed, pledging to get married.

But they said having their partnership recognised under Thai law is what they had been waiting for: "This is perfect for us. The law that protects our rights."

Until now, official documents listed Pisit and Chanatip as brothers. That way they could be a family in the eyes of the law. A marriage certificate meansLGBTQ+ couples now have the same rights as any other couple to get engaged and married, to manage their assets, to inherit and to adopt children.

They can also make decisions about medical treatment if their partner becomes ill and incapacitated, or extend financial benefits – such as Pisit's government pension – to their spouse.

"We want to build a future together – build a house, start a small business together, maybe a café," he adds, making a list of all that the law has enabled. "We want to build our future together and to take care of each other."

The law, which passed in both houses of parliament in June last year before being endorsed by the Thai king in September, is a big step for LGBTQ+ rights.

Thailand remains an outlier in Asia in recognising marriage equality - only Nepal and Taiwan have legalised same-sex unions.

It's one reason why Aki Uryu, who is Japanese, moved to Bangkok to be with her partner. She said life is difficult for the LGBTQ+ community back home: "In Thailand, I can hold hands with my partner, walk together. No one says anything. It's just different. It feels right."

After the two women married on Thursday, Aki said: "It is like I have started my new life."

Watching them celebrate, along with so many other couples in a Bangkok mall, was Mr Zhang, a gay Chinese man who did not want to reveal his first name.

"We're excited, we're also very jealous," he said. "Thailand is so close to China, but in another sense it's so far away."

And yet, even in Thailand, with its famed tolerance towards LGBTQ+ people, activists say it took a sustained campaign to win legal recognition.

A long wait

"We've been waiting for this day for 18 years - the day everyone can recognise us openly, when we no longer need to be evasive or hide," 59-year-old Rungtiwa Thangkanopast, who will marry her partner of 18 years in May, told the BBC earlier this week.

She had been in a marriage, arranged by her family, to a gay man, who later died. She had a daughter, through IVF, but after her husband's death began spending time, and later helping run, one of the first lesbian pubs in Bangkok. Then she met Phanlavee, who's now 45 and goes by her first name only.

On Valentine's Day 2013 the two women went to the Bang Rak district office in central Bangkok to ask to be officially married - a popular place for marriage registration because the name in Thai means "Love Town".

This was the time when LGBTQ+ couples began challenging the official view of marriage as an exclusively heterosexual partnership by attempting to get marriage certificates at district offices.

There were around 400 heterosexual couples waiting with them on that day. Rungtiwa and Phanlavee were refused, and the Thai media mocked their effort, using derogatory slang for lesbians.

Still, activists managed to persuade the government to consider changing the marriage laws. A proposed civil partnership bill was put before parliament, offering some official recognition to same-sex couples, but not the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.

A military coup in 2014 which deposed the elected government interrupted the movement. It would be another decade before full marriage equality was approved by parliament, in part because of the rise of young, progressive political parties that championed the cause.

Their message resonated with Thais – and attitudes too had changed. By this time, same-sex marriage was legalised in many Western countries and same-sex love had become normalised in Thai culture too.

Such was the shift in favour of the law that it was passed last year by a thumping majority of 400 votes to just 10 against. Even in the notoriously conservative senate only four opposed the law.

And couples like Rungtiwa and Phanleeva now have their chance to have their love for each other recognised, without the risk of public derision.

"With this law comes the legitimacy of our family," Rungtiwa says, "We're no longer viewed as weirdos just because our daughter isn't being raised by heterosexual parents."

The new law takes out gender-specific terms like man, woman, husband and wife from 70 sections of the Thai Civil Code covering marriage, and replaces them with neutral terms like individual and spouse.

However, there are still dozens of laws in the Thai legal code which have not yet been made gender-neutral, and there are still obstacles in the way of same-sex couples using surrogacy to have a family.

Parents are still defined under Thai law as a mother and a father. The law also does not yet allow people to use their preferred gender on official documents; they are still stuck with their birth gender. These are areas where activists say they will still need to keep pushing for change.

And it is especially significant for older couples, who have had to ride out the shifts in attitude.

"I really hope people will put away the old, stereotypical ideas that gay men cannot have true love," said Chakkrit "Ink" Vadhanavira.

He and his partner Prinn, both in their 40s, have been together for 24 years.

"The two of us have proved that we genuinely love each other through thick and thin for more than 20 years," Chakkrit said. "We have been ready to take care of each other since our first day together. We are no different from heterosexual couples."

While Chakkrit's parents quickly accepted their partnership, it took Prinn's parents seven years before they could do so.

The couple also wanted to share the production business they ran together, and other assets, as a couple, so they asked Prinn's parents to adopt Chakkrit officially, giving him the same family name. Prinn says the new law has brought welcome legal clarity to them.

"For example, right now when a same sex couple buy something together – a large item - they cannot share ownership of it," said Prinn. "And one of us passes away, what both of us have earned together cannot be passed on to the other. That's why marriage equality is very significant."

Today, said Prinn, both sets of parents treat them as they would just like any other married children.

And when they had relationship problems like any other couple, their parents helped them.

"My dad even started reading gay magazines to understand me better. It was quite cute to see that."

Additional reporting by Lulu Luo, Paweena Ninbut and Ryn Jirenuwat in Bangkok

[khush-chronicles]

My own grandfather was a freedom fighter. But that is his achievement, in his lifetime. What right do I have to benefit from that? Even my dad wasn't born at that time.

My grandfather used to work as a police officer for a Nawab in a palace (which is now used as a museum) in Dhaka before the liberation war. My grandmother was the beloved handmaid of the wife of the Nawab. the 8 siblings of my mother were born and raised in the palace.

My grandfather was courageous. But he had 8 children and a wife. So during the massacre of 25th March, he left the city. My grandmother still says how she had to step over and on dead bodies, and walk to her village from the city all the way. How the river she had to cross through a boat was filled with fresh dead bodies, how vultures were eating the flesh by the morning of 26th March. She says that was the last she ever saw a vulture in her life. Vultures are nearly extinct in our country today. She is an 87-year-old woman, who often forgets her grandchildren's names. She can still clearly describe the horrors she saw.

After coming back, my grandfather started a grocery store. But his spirit to fight remained. He used to refuse any Pakistani who came across him. No service at all. He used to sell Milk tea with cream. Which my grandmother made at home. Pakistanis apparently loved the cream, but he always refused. He used to give shelter to the young freedom fighters in his home. Wrap them up in mats and make them stand beside cupboards so it'd look like it is just a rolled-up mat. My grandmother used to feed them like her own children, even though she was younger than a lot of them. Such were their spirits, such was their love, such was their will to serve.

The Pakistanis my grandfather used to turn away, came with military officers, beat him up in front of his own shop, thought he died, and threw his "body" in the river. His "body" was brought home to my grandmother, who didn't cry. She stood firm. My grandfather laughed, that supposed dead man laughed and said, "Fooled them".

This happened again. But he pretended to drown to save himself again. Then the man proceeded to drown 3 wooden boats full of military men in the same hour. He came back and went straight to the freedom fighter camp, collected weapons, and disappeared. Came back as a victor, a proud Bangladeshi, a warrior, a free man, and paralyzed.

He received a pension from his previous police job. But never collected the Freedom Fighter certificate. He didn't see any point in dragging his paralyzed body to a few villages away just for a piece of paper that said freedom fighter. He kept the rifle though. My grandmother now threatens people with it. Badass couple.

When asked, why he did not collect it, he used to say, "Are you free? Are you alive? Are your family members being killed? Am I alive? Are we looking at the green and red flags? Then we're liberated. We are fighters. Our freedom is our certificate."

Where is that freedom now, Nanu? Why are we dying again? Why is that piece of paper more important than our safety and lives? Are you watching from the sky? The sky was painted red yesterday, did you see? Do you know it is the blood of our brothers and sisters? The grandchildren you gave so much up for?

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

A Slice of Life

[A Financial Office, Minato City, 12:39pm]

Advisor: Alright, that should be about everything...

*Two figures sit in the office of a financial advisor agency; a space cluttered with stacks of paper and a few framed certificates on the wall. A worn desk separated her from the Financial Advisor himself, a man in his late fifties. His glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he reviews the paperwork spread out before him.

Financial Advisor: So, Mrs. Tendo, it looks like you’re in a pretty good spot. You’ve been contributing steadily to your pension for years, and between that and your savings, you should have a comfortable cushion...Um...

*SNOOOOREE...*

Advisor: Um...Mrs...Tendo?

*SNOOOOOREE...*

Advisor: Mrs. Tendo!

*POP!*

Bah...!?

*The middle-aged woman sitting opposite him lazes back in her seat, having somehow entered a deep sleep at some point through the conversation. The Advisors probing wakes her up, and she rubs her eyes.

Ah...sorry...I've been losing sleep these last few nights...

Advisor: That's a shame...Were you perhaps worried about our meeting today?

Not really...It's just part of life, and I'm getting old...

Advisor: Would you...like me to repeat what I said?

No. I still heard you. You said that between my contributions and my savings, I should have a comfortable cushion...Right?

Advisor: Um...yes...but how did you-?

Comfortable. That's the word everyone uses...the goal they all assume we should strive for. But I wonder what comfort really means?

Is it just about having enough money to get by? Or is it something more, like finding a way to fill the empty hours?

Advisor: Um...Mrs. Tendo?

Ah, never mind...Like I said, I'm getting old. I'm rambling like a moron.

In any case, that's good to hear. I’ve always been a saver. My husband used to joke that I’d hide pennies under the mattress if I could.

Advisor: Well, that’s paid off. You’ve got enough to start thinking about your next chapter, whether that’s traveling or just enjoying some hobbies without worrying too much.

Hm...

You know...I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next...I mean, I'm happy for retirement and all, but...I feel like I've not got much else to do these days.

Advisor: Pardon for the personal questions, ma'am, but...do you have any family? Maybe you could spend time with them?

Nope. I used to live with my husband and my daughter...I lost both of them during the Tragedy.

Advisor: I see...My apologies, ma'am.

Psh...Don't worry about it, it's not like YOU killed 'em...

Advisor: Well, I suppose it was rather cathartic for you then when the perpetrator for the Tragedy was brought to justice.

...Why would that be?

Advisor: Huh? W-Well...

You heard about what happened up in Hiroshima not too long ago, right? That factory explosion?

Advisor: Yes, I did.

Well, rumor has it that that explosion was part of a bigger conspiracy, which is why the Future Foundation actively involved themselves in suppressing tensions. And many are saying that Junko Enoshima is back, thanks to some leaked info from inside.

Advisor: Um...

Not to mention the fact that Izuru Kamukura and Mukuro Ikusaba, and everyone else who helped Enoshima, are still out there...It's hard to be totally at peace with all these rumors...

I mean, I don't know whether to believe 'em or not, but...it doesn't do my heart any good.

Advisor: I see what you mean. But unfortunately, I'm not the right person to help dispel your beliefs or worries. You'll need a different kind of consultant for that.

Right...

My original point was...after all these years of routine, it’s hard to imagine starting fresh, you know? I’ve always been the one holding things together, keeping the house running, looking after everyone else.

Now that it’s just me, it’s…different.

Advisor: I get it. It’s a big change, and it’s not just about money. But think of it this way. You’ve built something solid here, a foundation. Now, you get to decide what you want to build on top of it. No rush, no pressure.

I suppose that’s true. Maybe I’ll give that book club a try. At the very least, it’s something different.

Advisor: I think that’s a great start, Mrs. Thompson. And remember, you’ve got options. Financially and otherwise. You’ve earned it.

——————————————————————

...

*The Saturday morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees lining the town square, casting dappled light on the stalls of the local farmer’s market. The air is thick with the scent of fresh bread, ripe apples, and earthy herbs. Hanami navigated her way through the familiar aisles, her woven basket tucked snugly under her arm.

Hey, Fushimi. You in?

Fushimi the Baker: Ah! Well, if it isn’t my best customer! I set this one aside for you, Hanami. Fresh out of the oven this morning!

*Fushimi gives Hanami a loaf of her favorite sourdough.

Heh...You know me too well. That's a bit dangerous, huh?

Fushimi: Oh come on, what kind of man do you take me for? Besides, it's not like I'm the only one who recognizes you in this part of town. So, what’s new with you? Still walking those same early morning routes?

You know me...I like to stick to what I know. Though…I did get invited to a book club the other day. Still thinking it over.

Fushimi: Now that’s something new. You should go for it! Can’t live on bread alone, right?

...But I like bread.

Fushimi: Hah! Yeah, well, me too! In case me making a profession out if it didn't make that obvious!

——————————————————————

*SNOOOORE...*

???: You really should stop doing that.

Ah!?

[cinnamonnangel]

ASTRO 101 - THE HOUSES (PART II)

SEVENTH HOUSE - I BALANCE

(The Seventh House is ruled by Libra and Venus.)

House of marriage, personality and character of our partner, partner’s job

Civil partnership, bilateral relations, long and committed relationship, close friends, closely associated with, opposite side, associations, union, consultancy

Terms of relationship and behavior

Joint ventures, hostilities, adversary, rivals, competition

Traits we feel lacking in ourselves, the parts of us that are in us but have not been revealed and that we have difficulty in accepting

Lower back, skin, external sexual organs, bladder, ovaries, blood

International relations, military or civil wars, treatises, arbitrators, illegal criminals, marriage and divorce rates, foreign trade, public relations

EIGHTH HOUSE - I DESIRE

(The Eighth House is ruled by Scorpio, Mars and Pluto.)

House of death - natural or unnatural, accident, suicide, fire, drowning, diseases, corruption, crises, surgery

Sex, sexuality, erotism, desire, fantasies, fetishes, sexual life

Alteration and transformations, sharing

Heritage, money that comes to us beyond of our control, money that comes to us from others, inheritance from husband

Tax, alimony, debt, heritage, loan, lottery, gambling

Robbery, fighting, theft, slaughter, butchers, coroners, harassment, rape

The fears, privacy, feel rage towards, abomination

Psychology, occultism, parapsychology, subconscious, spiritual psychology

Genitals, groin area, colon, sex organs, gall bladder, rectum, urogenital system

International debts, international financial agreements, charges, stock certificates, interest rates, foreign exchanges, credits, fuses, mortgages, pension funds, legacies, mortality, life-critical, suicide

Surgery, morgue, surgeons, laboratories, nuclear forces, sewage, organized crimes, terrorists, detective, demimonde, arms, underground sources, cabalistic subjects

NINTH HOUSE - I ASPIRE

(The Ninth House is ruled by Sagittarius and Jupiter.)

House of wisdom, mastership, higher education, academic trainings

Cults and thoughts, abstract reasoning, moral evidence, philosophizing, religious cult, reflection, abstract thoughts

The house where we deepen the information we get from the 3rd house

Distant relatives

Society's mindset, social law rules, social and moral rules, harmony with society

Expedition, long trips, distant travels, foreign countries, foreigners, exterior, crew, communication instruments, media, broadcast

Hips, thighs, sciatic nerves, lower spine, liver, autonomic nervous system

Foreign relations and trade, courts, laws, judges, minorities, companies, advertising portfolios, religion and clergy, the country's philosophical and religious tendencies, migrations, long-distance communications, fast-moving news, broadcasting, popular culture, foreigners

Universities, airlines and transport, maritime transport, ministry of foreign affairs, flight attendants

TENTH HOUSE - I USE

(The Tenth House is ruled by Capricorn and Saturn.)

House of profession, honor, social status, public esteem, dignity, business, character, reputation and career

Glory, name, fame, recognition, way of life, purpose and power

Social roles, status in society, the part of society that sees us, social identity, prestige and title

Marital status, our partner's family, parents, father, authoritarian leaders

Skin, hair, knees, teeth, bones, joints, skeletal system, reputation

Government, the state's reputation by foreign countries, heads of state, powers, executives, leaders, celebrities, notable personages, public figures, uplands

ELEVENTH HOUSE - I KNOW

(The Eleventh House is ruled by Aquarius, Saturn and Uranus.)

House of friends, groups, associations, endowments, a circle of friends, people around us, hives, social environments and organizations

Goals, future plans, hopes, goals of life, wishes, happy news, wealth, fortune, expectations from life and dreams

Income from career, colleagues, international friendships, audiences we offer ideas, incoming wealth, gains, profits, writings

Social media, mass media and virtual communities

Endowments associations, politics, parties, establishment, the masses

Lower leg, calves, ankles, electrical impulsive of the nerves, circulatory system, elimination

Allied countries, social institutions and administrations, legislative changes, national mobilizations, revolts, revolutions, organizations, erosions

TWELFTH HOUSE - I BELIEVE

(The Twelfth House is ruled by Pisces, Jupiter and Neptune.)

House of tribulations, secret matters, troubles, subconscious, covert and covered topics, privacy, loneliness, ermitage, place of isolation

Thoughts, anxieties, and fears underlying repressed consciousness, spiritual life

The things we hide from others and are afraid to tell, our shadow sides, psychological problems

Karmic transmissions, burdens and problems we brought from the past

Secret enemy, backfriend

What kind of pregnancy our mother had, our condition in the mother’s womb and the emotions transferred to us in the mother’s womb

Fantasies and fetishes

Feet, all bodily fluids, the lymphatic system

Secret enemies, secret organizations, private affairs, spies, psychics, fortune-tellers, wizards, deep and secret affairs, criminals, thefts, assassinations, drugs, addicts, dark business people, unemployment and strikes

Hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centers, mental hospitals, faith houses, orphanages, clinics, charities, overseas

[drake-wayne-enterprise]

What Kind of Services Does WE provide for it's employees?

Thank you for the question.

At Wayne Enterprises, we are committed to supporting the well-being and professional growth of our employees. To ensure a rewarding work experience, we offer a robust and inclusive benefits package that caters to diverse needs. Our benefits include:

1. All-Inclusive Health Insurance

Comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, and vision care to promote overall health and well-being.

2. Wellness Programs

Initiatives designed to support mental and physical health, including gym memberships, wellness workshops, and preventive health screenings.

3. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

Confidential support for personal and professional challenges, including counseling services and resources for navigating life's difficulties.

4. Pension Plans

Long-term retirement savings options to help employees plan for their future.

5. Paid Vacation and Sick Leave

Generous paid time off policies, allowing employees to rest, recharge, and manage personal matters without financial concerns.

6. Flexible Work Options

Hybrid and flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance and accommodate varying needs.

7. Professional Development

Opportunities for growth, including training programs, certification sponsorships, and tuition reimbursement.

8. Off-Site Childcare Support

Assistance in managing childcare needs to help employees focus on their professional goals.

9. Comprehensive Insurance Options

Life, disability, and other insurance plans to provide financial security for employees and their families.

10. Family Support Programs

Resources and assistance for families, including paid parental leave, family leave, and adoption assistance.

We believe these benefits reflect our dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace. Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Tim Drake

Chief Executive Officer

Drake Industries

Wayne Enterprises

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Haley Britzky, Oren Liebermann, and Natasha Bertrand at CNN:

President Joe Biden is expected to pardon US veterans who were convicted by the military over a 60-year period under a military law that banned gay sex, three US officials told CNN. The pardon proclamation is expected to be announced on Wednesday and one official said it is set to affect roughly 2,000 people. The granting of pardons won’t automatically change convicted veterans’ records but allows those impacted to apply for a certificate of pardon that will help them receive withheld benefits. The pardon, which CNN is first to report on, specifically grants clemency to service members who were convicted under former Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 125 — which criminalized sodomy, including between consenting adults — between 1951 and 2013 when it was rewritten by Congress. It also applies to those who were convicted of attempting to commit those offenses.

Anyone who was convicted of a non-consensual act such as rape will not be pardoned. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Separately, the law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed by Congress in 2011, but not before thousands of service members had been discharged from the military.

A service member’s discharge status can determine what kind of Veterans Affairs benefits they are eligible for. A bad-conduct discharge, for example, given under general court-martial, can make someone ineligible for services including a VA home loan military pension, and education benefits. The pardon is separate from the Pentagon’s ongoing review of military records for those who were discharged based on their sexual orientation, which one of the officials said did not apply to convictions under the UCMJ. The Pentagon launched a new outreach campaign last September to reach more veterans who believe they “suffered an error or injustice” to have their military records reviewed.

[...] The certificate of pardon does not automatically change someone’s discharge status. If a certificate of pardon is issued, the service member will then have to apply to their respective military department’s board of corrections to have their military records corrected.

President Biden is expected to issue pardons to US veterans convicted by the military under UCMJ Article 125 that banned gay sex until 2013. This is yet another step in the right direction for our LGBTQ+ troops who served in the military.

[wdtom]

Doorstep Service for Hassle-Free Life Certificates

The Department of Posts, via India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), has introduced a new doorstep service to help pensioners submit their Digital Life Certificates (DLC). This service aims to make the process easy and convenient. Paperless and Hassle-Free Process: The DLC submission process is now completely paperless, seamless, and hassle-free. Pensioners are not required to send the acknowledgment…

[probablyasocialecologist]

The 39-page document produced by the Cabinet Office and the Government People Group is expected to be published within weeks. The document outlines proposed changes to the UK Civil Service’s “Gender Identity and Intersex policies”. There are around half a million UK Civil Service employees – they are politically impartial officials who support the functioning of central government departments, such as probation officers, who are a part of the Ministry of Justice, or Jobcentre staff, who work for the Department for Work and Pensions.  The new policies state civil servants should equally recognise “gender critical beliefs” and “gender identity beliefs” – meaning that employees can openly share controversial views on trans lives without being penalised. 

[...]

The leaked document also proposes “changes on access to toilets'', so that only trans people with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) can use single-sex facilities.

[...]

Responding to the leaked document, Jolyon Maugham, director of the Good Law Project, which has advocated for trans rights, said: "These measures are illegal - the Equality Act does not only protect trans people who have a gender recognition certificate - and they’re revolting in equal measure.” Responding to this story, Robbie de Santos, Stonewall’s director of external affairs, said: “The leaked guidance contains many highly exclusionary and reprehensible suggestions that, combined, would effectively make it impossible for trans people to work in the civil service. Not only would this guidance be unworkable in practice, but it would be unlikely to stand up to legal challenge, as it brazenly ignores the long-established rules around single-sex spaces as outlined in the UK's world-class Equality Act. “Everyone should have the same opportunity to thrive in the workplace. But these guidelines would serve only to promote bullying and exclusion of trans people - a group who already experience diminished career prospects.”