#and that under employment isn't a category

[awkward-teabag]

But there's a labour shortage, they should have no problem getting another job 'cause companies constantly complain about how they can't find employees! /s

this layoff shit is eerie. hundreds of people across industries and companies getting canned all at once, all the time, every day. my linkedin feed is full of people begging for work, more and more every day. companies who can definitely afford these people but wanna save a few extra bucks. who's gonna be left working?? what are we doing here

[gothhabiba]

I understand what people mean by prison abolition, but what does it mean in practice to abolish the family? I've never quite got it - who is raising children? How does it work? I'm asking in good faith, I've just always been a bit embarrassed to ask anyone

Like positions that are “anti-work” or against “gender,” the thing being objected to is more detailed and specific than the range of meanings that can reasonably or semi-reasonably be assigned to the word in question (“work,” “gender,” “family”)—which is why these propositions and programmes can have a bit of a PR problem. And, as with all terms that position themselves against something (e.g. "anti-psychiatry"), the term "family abolition" can be taken up by people with a range of different positions who disagree amongst themselves on some issues. In general, though, no one objects to "people living together or being emotionally close to each other" or "children not being left to roam about at random and get eaten by wolves" or anything.

Rather, anti-capitalist objections to "the family" tend to hinge on objections to:

parental rights, or "the special legal powers of parents to control major aspects of their children’s lives," which function as "quasi-property interests" more than anything that is in the best interest of children (link explicitly relates to U.S. law). Parents legally control where their children live, whether and where they go to school, what information they have access to, what level of freedom of mobility they have, what medical care they receive and don't receive, and what they may do with their own bodies, and are legally allowed to physically assault their children.

relatedly, the lack of legal autonomy that children possess (this is also often discussed under the banner of "children's rights" or objections to "adultism").

the positioning of "the family" as the only economic or social "safety net" in an economy and a society which provide no other one (creating an artificial "structural scarcity" of care). In a society which is otherwise dominated by "economic competition between atomized individuals," the family must be relied on—and yet, for some people (whose families cannot or will not provide living space or financial support in an emergency; whose families are abusive and physically or psychically dangerous to be around or rely on; who will not receive help or emotional support from a spouse or family unit without making serious concessions on the level of their personhood being basically respected; Black working-class people in whose communities the nuclear family unit has been deliberately prevented from forming by government intervention), the family cannot be relied on.

the way that the positioning of "the family" as the only safety net therefore constitutes economic coercion that works to keep people (especially women and LGBT, disabled and/or transracially adopted people) in abusive or exploitative situations, and that works to create incentives for working-class women (whose employment is generally less secure) to make themselves erotically desirable to men & disincentives for doing anything else.

the idea that housework, gestational labour & childbirth, and childcare are tasks "naturally" falling to the "mother" ("mother" as a "natural category"), such that the social, political, and economic nature of these tasks, and the economic and political discourses that mobilise the creation of our concept of "motherhood," are obscured.

Thus the objection is to "the family" as a unit of social reproduction under capitalism—as a legal, political entity that structures inheritance, taxes, health insurance, "race" and ethnicity, &c., and therefore works as a sort of interface between the capitalist state and the individual.

So the programme of "family abolition" involves, firstly, the control of the means of production on the part of the proletariat (this is a communist programme—the point isn't to remove the safety net of the family while keeping capitalism in place, but rather the idea is that without capitalism this ultimately abusive safety net ought not to be needed); and then the abolition of marriage as a legal institution; the abolition of parental rights; the putting in place of measures for the elderly and disabled to be cared for regardless of whether they have family alive who are both able and willing to care for them; the forming of social networks at will; and, depending on who you ask, the communal raising of children (which involves ceasing to privilege "parent" as a legal title automatically conferred upon biologically creating a child).

Obviously, toddlers who do not yet understand things about the world including "causation" and "mortality" will need on occasion to be restrained from running blithely into the jaws of wolves &c. The argument is just that coercion of this sort should be legitimately in the best interests of the child; not performed by two people who need answer for their actions, up to and including battery of their children, in no way other than saying that they "plausibly believe this to be necessary to control, train or educate their child"; and walked back in measure as the child gains the ability to assert their own desires.

Probably no one has a perfect solution 100% worked out—life is messy, and we don't know what the future will look like—but having a perfect solution 100% worked out should not be a prerequisite for noticing that the current situation is abusive and untenable.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The REAL AI automation threat to workers

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

Long before the current wave of AI hype, we were being groomed for automation panics with misleading stories. Remember this one? "'Truck driver' is the most common job in America. Self-driving trucks are just around the corner. How can we prevent America's army of truckers from turning into a howling mob when the robots steal their jobs?"

https://futurism.com/millions-of-jobs-are-at-risk-but-their-loss-could-be-for-the-greater-good

It was absolute nonsense. First of all, "truck driver" isn't a particularly common job in America! The BLS lumps together all cargo vehicle drivers under a single classification. The category error here was thinking that every delivery van driver, furniture mover, and courier is behind the wheel of a big rig, cracking wise on a CB radio as they tear up the interstate.

But what about automation threats? It's possible that if we redesigned the interstates to give 16 wheelers their own separated lanes, and then set them to following one another, that they could traverse long distances in that way. Congratulations, you've just invented a shitty, failure-prone train.

"Shitty train AI" does not threaten the job of the vast number of people the BLS classifies as "truck drivers." For one thing, "shitty train AI" isn't going to pilot a UPS van around the streets of a busy city with other road users. Sure, a few robotaxi companies have bamboozled city governments into conscripting the city's residents into an uncontrolled murderbot experiment. These are not going well:

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/9-key-leaders-depart-gms-cruise-amid-ongoing-investigation-into-san-francisco-incident/

More than $100b has been set on fire chasing the robotaxi dream, and the result is most charitably described as a technological curiosity, requiring 1.5 high-waged remote technicians to replace each low-waged driver:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/09/herbies-revenge/#100-billion-here-100-billion-there-pretty-soon-youre-talking-real-money

But even if we could perfect this technology, robots still wouldn't replace all those "truckers" who drive delivery vans (to say nothing of moving vans!). The hard part of driving a UPS van isn't just getting it from place to place – it's getting the parcel into the place. The robo-van would still need at least one person to get the parcel from the back of the van and into the reception desk, porch, or other delivery zone. It's not going to fire those parcels at your door with a catapult. It's also not going to deliver them by drones. Drone delivery is another one of those historical curiosities, capable of delivering a very narrow range of parcels, under even narrower circumstances:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#droned

If all UPS delivered was lightweight, non-fragile rectangular parcels ordered by people with large, unobstructed back yards, then sure. Congrats, you've just created the world's least-useful parcel delivery service!

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/06/amazon-drone-delivery-service-seeks-faa-approval-to-launch-in-2022/

All that said, the big rig drivers probably don't need to worry about robots stealing their jobs. It's not even clear that "shitty train" is within our technological grasp, but even if it is, there's yet another problem with the AI automation trucker jobpocalypse: "trucker" is already one of the worst jobs in America:

https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/news/rigged-forced-into-debt-worked-past-exhaustion-left-with-nothing/

It's hard to overstate just how fucking terrible it is to be a trucker. Truckers are trapped in abusive debt holes by their employers – who misclassify their workforce as "contractors" in a bid to sidestep labor law. Shriven of any labor rights, truckers are forced into the most ghastly, body-destroying, family-wrcking, financially precarious existence imaginable.

You can drive a truck for years, give almost all of the money you earn back to your employer (who denies that you're their employee) to pay back the usurious loan for your truck. Then, your employer can underschedule for shifts so that you miss a loan payment, and they can repo your truck and keep the six-figure repayment you've already made to them, leaving you destitute.

They can force you to work for hours – days! – without pay while you wait for loading and dispatch. They can make you drive long past the point of safety, then, if (when) you get into a wreck, they can fine you for not taking the mandated rest breaks.

Now, these drivers aren't about to be replaced by AI – but that doesn't mean that AI won't affect their jobs. Commercial drivers are among the most heavily surveilled workers in the country. Amazon's drivers (whom Amazon misclassifies as subcontractors) have their eyeballs monitored by AI;

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/17/revenge-of-the-chickenized-reverse-centaurs/

AIs monitor the voices of the (primarily Black, primarily female) workforce at Arise – homeworkers who field customer service calls for blue-chip companies like Carnival Cruises and Disney. They're listening for unruly children or pets in the background, and workers who fail to muffle these dependents lose the contracts they have to pay to train for:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/22/paperback-writer/#toothless

And AI monitors the conduct of workers on temp-work apps. If a worker is dispatched to a struck workplace and refuses to cross the picket-line, the AI boss fires you and blacklists you from future jobs for refusing to robo-scab:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/30/computer-says-scab/#instawork

Writing in The Guardian, Steven Greenhouse describes the AI-enabled workplace, where precarious, often misclassified workers are monitored, judged, and fined by algorithms:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/07/artificial-intelligence-surveillance-workers

Whether it's the robot that gets you disciplined for sending an email with the word "union" in it or the robot that takes money out of your paycheck if you take a bathroom break, AI has come for the workplace with a vengeance.

Here's a supreme irony: nearly all of the beneficial applications for AI require that AI be used to help workers, not replace them, which is absolutely not how AI is used in the workplace. An AI that helps radiologists by giving them a second opinion might help them find tumors on x-rays, but that's a tool that reduces the number of scans a radiologist processes in a shift, by making them go back and reconsider the scans they've already processed:

https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/

But AI's sales pitch is not "Buy an AI tool and increase your costs while increasing your accuracy." The pitch for AI is "buy and AI and save money by firing workers." Given how bad AIs are at replacing humans, this is a bad deal all around, both for the worker who loses their job and the customer who gets the substandard product the AI makes.

There is a very limited slice of applications where an AI could make a lot of money for a company that deploys it, without costing that company anything when the AI screws up. For example, AI is a really good tool for fraud! Rather than paying people to churn out millions of variations on a phishing email, you can get an AI to do it. If the AI writes a bad phishing email, it's OK, since nearly all recipients of even good phishing emails delete them. What's more, no one will fine you or publish an op-ed demanding that your board of directors fire you if you buy an incompetent AI to commit fraud. Fraud is a high-value, low-consequence environment for using AI.

Another one of those applications is managing precarious workers who don't have labor rights. If the AI unfairly docks your worker's wages, or forces them to work until they injure themselves or others, or decides that their eyeball movements justify firing them, those workers have no recourse. That's the whole point of pretending that your employees are contractors: so you can violate labor law with impunity!

But that's not the ironic part. The ironic part is that "being a shitty boss" is the one AI application that companies are willing to increase their net spending on. No one buys an eyeball-monitoring AI so they can fire a manager. This is the one place where AI is there to augment, rather than replace, an employee.

This makes AI-based bossware subtly different from other forms of Taylorism, the "scientific management" fad of the early 20th century that saw management consultants choreographing the postures and movements of workers to satisfy the aesthetic fetishes of their employers:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

The pseudoscientific cod-ergonomics of the 1900s was demeaning and even dangerous, but it wasn't automated, and if it increased worker output, this was incidental to the real purpose of making workers move like the machine-cogs their bosses reassured themselves they were:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/21/great-taylors-ghost/#solidarity-or-bust

Every AI panic is a way of deflecting attention from the real, grimy, here-and-now ways that AI is destroying our lives by demanding that we entertain nonsensical science fiction claims about large, shiny existential risks that AI might present in the future.

The "X-risk" of the spicy autocomplete chatbot waking up and using its newfound sentience to turn us all into paperclips is nonsense. Adding words to the plausible sentence generator doesn't turn it into a superintelligence for the same reason that selectively breeding faster horses doesn't lead to locomotives:

https://locusmag.com/2020/07/cory-doctorow-full-employment/

But there is a way that AI could destroy the human race! The carbon footprint and water consumption associated with training and operating large-scale models are significant contributors to the climate emergency, which threatens the habitability of the only planet in the known universe capable of sustaining human life:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/federicoguerrini/2023/04/14/ais-unsustainable-water-use-how-tech-giants-contribute-to-global-water-shortages/

Likewise, AI isn't going to replace you at work. But it's already augmenting your shitty boss's ability to rip you off, torment you, maim you and even kill you in order to eke out a few more basis points for the next shareholder report.

Science fiction is a fun and useful way to tell parables about our current technologies. But it's not a roadmap for the future. The fact that sf writers like me found AIs as useful measures to describe Earth's dominant artificial life form – the limited liability corporation – doesn't mean that superhuman AIs should – or can – be created.

Back the Kickstarter for the DRM-free audiobook of The Bezzle, read by Tumblr's own @wilwheaton!

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

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/11/robots-stole-my-jerb/#computer-says-no

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[chibrary]

The Chrimer: 2014, Formula Renault.

Charles' karting days are over: in 2014, he graduates to single-seaters.

Single-seaters are known to be difficult to master; their aerodynamics, light weights and powerful engines mean they're both incredibly fast and difficult to control. Charles makes the jump to the category with British racing team Fortec Motorsports. His signing gets announced in November 2013 for the upcoming season.

By this point, Charles has been working with manager Nicolas Todt (the son of a hugely influential Ferrari/FIA boss) for a couple years. Racing isn't cheap: Todt is instrumental in financing his move to single-seaters.

This was critical to the viability of Charles' career. In 2021, Toto Wolff estimated that a "good go-karting season costs €250,000, an F4 season €500,000, and an F3 season €1 million" while speaking about the difficulties young drivers aiming for F1 have.

The Leclercs' aren't able to drop that kind of money on racing: Pascale is a hairdresser, and Hervé works for the family business: a small plastics company.

In 2021, Lorenzo says (awkwardly translated into English):

 “Every year, in karting, we said to ourselves that it was the last season. Charles handled the pressure, knowing that if he didn’t have results, it was over, and that, even if he had results, we weren’t. not sure to continue. Hervé, his father, tried to make it run by all possible means. I was at the national level in karting. Being lucid, I saw that it would be impossible for me to go to F1. So I stopped, because the family bet was to find solutions at all costs for Charles to succeed. Because he, at 11, was already standing out from the crowd, with drivers like Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly."

And from Arthur in the same interview:

"At 14, I played my first full championship. But immediately we had to stop for three years, because for my father it was too expensive to support Charles and me at the same time."

In a 2021 stream, Arthur expands on the difficulties:

"With my father I never traveled once. He didn't have the money for Charles' karting or for me. He did not have the money to go & see Charles in the race, actually. We were staying at home and following Charles in the computer."

(As a note, Charles would work with his uncle once he reached F1 to sponsor Arthur's career.)

In classic Charles fashion, he tried to put a positive spin on it in a 2020 interview:

"I have learned that from my father, who quite often left me alone on the race weekend so that I grew up on my own. I am trying to do the same with Arthur and so far he is doing a great job!"

The Leclerc family has a complicated history with racing: Hervé actually comes from a very successful Monaco family. His stepfather, Charles Manni, was the founder of a local company that manufactures car parts. Here is Hervé showing his F3 car to his stepfather:

And Hervé with his half-brother (/Charles' uncle) Thierry Manni--

However... while Hervé and Thierry fell in love with racing, their father did not.

Thierry said:

"I often read that Charles comes from a modest family, but that's not true. We were the biggest employer in Monaco, but my father held on to a certain number of values. In the family, we do not write blank checks. He put limits on his participation, Hervé gave what he could and, at one point, we even found ourselves faced with an impasse. This is where Nicolas Todt intervened in 2011 to help us, under the leadership of Jules Bianchi. "

Once Charles' career appears to be in jeopardy, Jules-- Todt's first signed driver-- insists that they meet.

Todt is impressed by the karter, and steps in. Usually, a manager attempts to finance a driver through securing sponsorships; in Charles' case, Todt puts the money up himself.

In 2019, Todt says:

"I signed Charles at 14. He should have stopped karting because he ran out of money. I decided to help him. I introduced him to Ferrari a few years ago and today he drives there. And no one can say that he got there just like that: he's there because we did the job. For me, someone like Charles is my greatest pride, the fact that he went there and delivered."

Todt would later expand on this:

"I love finding future stars and helping them make their dreams come true. I am the only manager who does it that way, that is my specialty. It's easy to say: you have to do this, you have to do that. As long as it's not your own money, you can give advice. You can say 'buy this house'. But do you say: 'Buy this house, we make 50/50?' Then it's a completely different thing. If I believe in someone, then I invest. Of course, I also try to find sponsors who help me. But if I don't find sponsors, I'm the one who has to invest. I did that with Jules [Bianchi], I did it with Charles, and I do it with drivers who I think are special."

With Todt's support, Charles is able to compete in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Championship.

It is worth noting, though, that single-seaters weren't the only thing Charles learned to drive in 2014:

Charles starts his season off by picking his number... 17, which was also the number Jules was racing under in F1 at the time:

Charles starts the season strong. Charles manages to set a category track record at preseason testing: Kartcom's article summarizing the day was simply titled "Charles Leclerc leaves everyone in his trail in Barcelona".

Charles is quoted, saying:

"I don’t think the tests could have gone any better. It’s incredible being a rookie and setting the fastest overall time! We still have plenty of work to do, although I have learned a lot. Listening to the engineers is the key to making progress quickly. And although it’s nice to be quickest, it is still only testing. The races themselves will be a different matter."

Jules sends out his well wishes for Charles' first race in Imola:

And Charles returns it:

Charles might be a rookie, but he impresses his team enough to where they run him in another series concurrently.

Formula Scout would summarize the season:

Leclerc entered Formula Renault 2.0 for his rookie single-season season, embarking on the Alps series for Fortec Motorsports. He quickly became a frontrunner, making the podium at round two at Pau and then twice again at Spa. At Monza he won both races, and followed that with more podiums to secure second place in the championship behind third-year FR2.0 racer Nyck de Vries. Some of Leclerc’s most impressive performances last year came in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 as a guest entry. He took part in six races and finished second in the last three of those, up against lots of drivers with multiple years of experience in the series.

His first win single-seater win is in Monza, where he has a perfect weekend: he also wins that second race.

Of course, in true Charles fashion, he couldn't stop himself from a little self-criticism after the race:

"My start was not perfect and I’ve lost a place. Than I’ve managed to recover it duelling with Isaakyan. When my team told me of the 10” penalty assigned to Riener, I just focused in keeping my pace. This is a very special day as this is my first win ever in singleseaters."

Charles would finish the season with 199 points, 2 wins, 7 podiums and 1 pole position.

Formula Scout would summarize his performance:

After several starring years on the world karting scene, Leclerc’s car debut season was a long awaited one and it lived up to expectations. A non-score at the Imola opener aside, Leclerc delivered a superb rookie season, maturing and improving round after round, which culminated in a spectacular double victory at Monza and saw a further five podium appearances throughout the campaign. A protege of Nicolas Todt’s All Road Management firm, he has also been superb in his guest Eurocup outings and the chief 2.0 series appears to be a logical next step – one he’s more than ready for. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take a higher jump up the ladder than that. 

They were right: Charles would take his old karting rival Max Verstappen's now open F3 seat at Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2015 season.

As a final note, this year was also very tragic: Jules' accident would happen in October, on the same day as Charles' final race in Formula Renault.

I'm not going to go into the details, because it feels like it would be disrespectful: it was a tragedy, and it very clearly deeply affected Charles and his family. Jules was an incredible influence for Charles, both personally and professionally.

Through all of this, however, Charles continues into Formula 3.

But that's for the next chapter.

[here-there-were-dragons]

the average sornieth dragon is probably illiterate.

it's easy to forget in current times that literacy is a skill that has to be taught, and is actually pretty hard to teach on a large scale, and not something all sentient beings are born by default with. the world of sornieth seems to largely exist in a patchy pre-industrial state made up mostly of isolated self-reliant clans under a loose shared banner held together by what is functionally the church (the functional territory map of each flight probably looks like fucking medieval germany), with no sign to date of any sort of consistent-or even really particularly extant-standard education system, and a large proportion of breeds-like snappers-have anatomy that makes writing extremely difficult to impossible for them without employing a scribe, which takes money and time and access to someone you can hire in the first place. magical or technological assistance to be able to do such things probably exists in some limited capacity (the grasp apparel as a telekinesis spell comes to mind), but most likely is either pricey, difficult to learn, difficult to find, or all of the above, and most dragons seem to live in situations where they do manual labor to support their clan-not famous for being the sort of circumstances where someone would have the money and time to dedicate towards learning what would most likely be an unnecessary skill for their day-to-day work, especially if they lack the anatomy to be able to use said skill without help anyway, and also not famous for being the sort of circumstances where finding access to education on unnecessary things like that would be very easy either. not to mention that quite a few breeds seem to prefer living in isolation entirely.

rates of illiteracy probably vary by flight and are probably concentrated most in larger breeds, since more of them have anatomy that isn't conductive to being able to hold any sort of writing tool and probably mostly take-or are mostly only offered- physical jobs because their sheer size and strength is useful and well, stereotypes form and eventually it just becomes The Thing To Do and employers love sticking people in rigid categories to do whatever form of business astrology the prefer on them to determine if they're "right for the team" no matter how nonsensical their standards for testing are, so the stereotype becomes self-reinforcing. as much fun as we have sitting up here with our highly accomplished world-destroyingly powerful sorcerers and wizards, remember that the average citizen of sornieth, is not an accomplished powerful sorcerer or wizard. most of our dragons are the protagonists of the world, not it's average everyday people. this might also contribute slightly to why in-lore dragons don't seem to breedchange very often-baldwin's transformation mentions that a breedchange scroll is used by reading it, which you can't really do if you can't read.

there might be some sort of simplified runic system that most are made at least passingly familiar with-like "this is the symbol for danger"-but full on written language is probably a less common skill than it is on modern earth.

spoken language, on the other hand, i could see most knowing at least a little bit of two or more of, with several breeds having native languages and all of the beastclans there are to trade with. and whatever number of magical languages there might be.

[orangerosebush]

What tickles me about the first book in the AF series emphasizing Artemis' vampiric appearance is that you could argue that he is one, in a sense. Here is an excerpt from Nina Auerbach's Our Vampires, Ourselves:

Auerbach's musing that "[vampires] are disturbingly close to the morals they prey on [...] vampires are neither inhuman nor nonhuman nor all-too-human" is what strikes me here. In many ways, vampires are monsters that lurk within human bodies and under human faces -- which reflects how although Artemis may appear human (and is, uncontestably, human at the start of the series), his nature puts him at the most remote border of the category. The reaction that many human background characters have to Artemis (until ~TOC) is to shudder!

For example, in AF, you have the following:

“Nguyen had heard the name Fowl before—who hadn’t in the international underworld?—but he’d assumed he’d be dealing with Artemis senior, not this boy. Though the word “boy” hardly seemed to do this gaunt individual justice.”

Then, in TEC:

“The waitress scurried to the kitchen, relieved to escape from the pale youth [Artemis] at table six. She’d seen a vampire movie once. The undead creature had the very same hypnotic stare. ”

Artemis is equally ill-fitted to human society as he is to fairy society. It's true that in the first book, Artemis plays up what makes him unsettling to give off that impression of having something powerful and monstrous barely contained beneath a feeble human exterior. The only way for him to command respect as the current heir to the Fowl name is to imply through behavior that appearances are not what they seem; to imply that despite his age, he is of equal importance and power to his (presumed) late father. But Artemis' strangeness transcends performance. He is, by nature, uncanny to those who receive him.

This is what Sigmund Freud says of this quality in his essay The Uncanny (trans. David McLintock)

But Artemis' vampirism goes beyond character, it is also behavioral. If he is a vampire, what does he vampirize? Artemis is, to put it bluntly, skilled at being the heir to a criminal empire. The Fowls have sustained themselves by draining the world around them of wealth the second they came into existence. And how did they come into existence? By stepping onto the shores of Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion! We aren't given much in the way of lore for the Fowls, but they are implied to be old money. That historical power, in turn, implies at least some sort of relationship to British colonial activity in Ireland.

Further, the Fowls have maintained their power over the years by leeching off of the physical power and protection offered by the Butlers. Until Colfer starts allowing Butler's character to grow beyond his employment, his dynamic with Artemis is weirdly reminiscent of a vampire and familiar; the world that Butler gives Artemis access to isn't the day, but rather the adult world. When Artemis' parents are out of the picture in the first book, the only reason Artemis is able to "prey" upon the People is because Butler acts where and when Artemis cannot.

Not to mention -- and I say this with love -- Artemis can be a bit of an energy vampire. He delights in antagonizing, he relishes in drawing out a triumph over an enemy. For example, by the second book, Artemis has driven a handful of school-provided therapists to quit from how drained their interactions with Artemis left them; Artemis is remarkably good at teasing out what would get under one's skin the most.

There's also the matter of Artemis draining some of Holly's/No1's/Hybras' magic in TLC. Although there isn't a scene in the series of Artemis drinking blood, I think that theft of magic can invoke a similar effect in Auerbach's framework.

[578memorylane]

My Lobotomy Corp OCs Part!!!! 2!!!!

It took way way too long but I finally finished the art for my next character! Here she is! Her name is Presley, and she's the Safety Team Captain:

A natural socialite with an upbeat attitude, Presley stands out. She's always wearing a smile, twirling her hair around her finger as she gossips about workplace romance. She's an optimist, an idealist, insistent that everything will be alright — despite the odds.

Presley walks a fine line between innocence and ignorance. She was raised in a Nest on her parents' money. Her concerns were limited to her sheltered, loveless household, which led her to develop a thirst for adventure and a need to be loved. Her naivete is laughable, especially when she believes in it wholeheartedly, stubbornly, even. She sorts everything she sees into "good" and "evil" categories, a system of morality not out of place in a magical girl anime.

Speaking of magical girls — that's basically how Presley sees herself. She has an overblown affection for Fixers, seeing them less like day-to-day jobbers and more like valiant superheroes. After a Fixer saved her life, she was determined to become one herself. Without any combat experience, her "work" consisted of chastising ne'er-do-wells for their evildoing and talking them to the side of kindness. Yes, it's silly, and often ends with her getting punched, but she does have a few successes under her belt. She's a skilled wordsmith with a strong empathy for others.

How does this apply to her recent employment? Well, she's intent on avoiding casualties. At the same time, she aims to make peace with the Abnormalities. You can imagine how well this goes.

Presley's silver tongue makes her the first pick whenever an Abnormality is capable of speech. She's a frequent visitor of the Queen of Hatred, but also works with Child of the Galaxy, Parasite Tree, Army in Black, and Melting Love.

Presley's E.G.O. is In the Name of Love and Hate, though she's not entirely qualified for it. Surely this has no impact on her physical and mental wellbeing...

Presley's Toyhou.se page isn't ready yet, and likely won't be for some time. However, you're welcome to ask me any questions you have about her! :)

[d-criss-news]

Glee star Darren Criss dispels SAG-AFTRA strike myth ahead of Australian tour

Glee star Darren Criss has weighed in on the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood and confirmed that it won’t impact the set list for his upcoming Australian tour which kicks off in September. “I've done theatre stuff and TV stuff, I've done music of my own, I've written for other things, music from YouTube days. All of that will be there,” he confirms to 9Honey Celebrity. "I am sort of this living playlist of a lot of songs that have been featured throughout my career. [The tour] is a bit of everything.”

Best known for his role as Blaine Anderson on Glee, Criss even teases that a few of the most iconic songs he performed on the show will be on his Aussie set list. The Emmy and Golden Globe winner first headed Down Under in 2018 and promises fans will get everything from "whacky synth pop", to jazz and even a few tracks from his TV and Broadway career when he returns. Despite starting in hit shows like like The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and films, Criss can’t say much about his most famous projects due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes in Hollywood, which he stands in solidarity with.

He can, however, dispel a common myth about the strikes which have been making headlines in the US and here in Australia. "This isn't an actor saying, 'We want more money'. These are workers saying, 'We deserve to be treated more fairly,’” he says.

"Surprise, surprise; big corporations tend to take a big cut of things that perhaps they shouldn't, when looking at the disparity in wealth between their employees and the bosses,” Criss continues. A-listers like Jack Black, Daniel Radcliffe, Aubrey Plaza, Vanessa Hudgens, Hilary Duff and more have been photographed on the picket lines supporting the strike recently. But there has been some confusion about the strike as many everyday Aussies assume all Hollywood actors make bank.

Though Criss is by no means a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA or other actors on strike, he says that’s just not the case. "There are actors that do make a significant amount of money that are in the minority of performers, and there is a huge percent of actors that do not fall under that category," he explains. According to a statement from SAG-AFTRA released earlier this month, the current state of the US entertainment industry has made it increasingly difficult for most actors to achieve a middle-class lifestyle.

"For people on the outside looking in, this seems like a classic case of a disparity in wealth," Criss continues. "But this is not about some of the more famous names that you would associate with making millions of dollars... the livelihood of so many people is being threatened." Most SAG-AFTRA members are small-time actors, not multi-millionaire movie stars, and they need Hollywood contracts to keep up with the rapidly changing entertainment industry. At the end of the day, this strike is just like any other labour dispute between employing entities and workers. This one just happens to have an all-star cast.

"If we were painters or something, a dispute between us and our employers and our union is not going to make headline news because the people on the picket lines aren't people that are on posters in your bedroom,” he says. Those are the same people across now counts among his many famous friends, his Instagram brimming with selfies snapped with the likes of Cher, Daniel Radcliffe and Lawrence Fishburne. One throwback snap from his last trip Down Under even shows the singer and actor enjoying an NRL game with Joe Jonas, both of them draped in Penrith Panthers scarves. Though it’s been years since the snap was taken, Criss is excited to return to Australia, a nation that played a pivotal role in his early success when A Very Potter Musical first went viral.

“Australia really drove our [YouTube] channel to a place where we were like ‘holy s—t, this might be something. We might have a company on our hands,’” he reveals. That success inspired Starkid Productions, the theatre company he co-founded and continues to play an active role in today. “The numbers that came from Australia were so staggering at that time that I have always had a really special place in my heart for Australia and for Starkid.” Darren Criss returns to Australia for a five-city national tour starting September 3, 2023. Tickets to all shows go on sale on Thursday, 27 July 2023.

[mywheelieweirdlife]

Hello, I am alive.

I haven't used this blog, or tbh most of my blogs, in a while. Particularly since getting my current job because when you're disabled and teaching, you regularly have no spoons.

But I saw this tiktok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSj6DAMkH/

And what it brought up for me was hella interesting in terms of disability advocacy and relying on (more) abled bodied friends.

I have one friend I trust with my wheelchair when I'm in it.

It's not the friend I live with. In fact I am incredibly stubborn and will put myself in pain and danger at times with a 'No, I've got it' to avoid him pushing my wheelchair.

And it turns out; Sunshine Coasts Aquarium is not independently wheelchair accessible and those ramps were way to steep to be safely navigated without help. (Despite the website saying it's accessible. It was not. SeaWorld is more independently accessible tbh)

And I only had one friend I was willing to let help out of the three who were there I could technically ask. (I realised afterwards I probably could have asked my cousin more, but I didn't at the time)

That friend had essentially paired off with my cousin and was not with me most of the trip.

I was also in my Karma wheelchair not my normal one bc my normal chair has tire problems.

*photo below bc it won't let me type under it*

It's a heavy wheelchair that is not easy to push from within it and fucked up my hands by the end of the day.

I didn't have walking spoons thanks to pain in the morning, but I was physically fucked by the end of the day in this.

And part of that is; I struggle to ask for help but also, when the only friend I can fully trust to ask for it is the friend who worked in disability services and ran wheelchairs around the airport for years as a job.... because that's the only person who won't cause me more pain or almost knock me out of my chair bc they don't understand cut curbs.... (My day started with almost falling out of my chair bc someone else didn't understand cut curbs). It's not a shock that I don't use my aids when I should (like at work) bc it's just too fucking hard.

I need my wheelchair at work, but I can't get it there. I literally can't get to work in it. Buses magically 'Don't see me', ubers and taxi's cancel, unless my coworker is picking me up (and I don't want to ask that of her if I don't have to), I'm not able to take my wheelchair to work so I take my cane and rollator.

And to an extent; that is a privilege that comes with being ambulatory.

But it also means I burn out so fucking hard because I'm so often in pain and I don't admit as often as I should the amount walking fucking hurts.

I stopped telling people that it still feels like lightening and glass when I walk bc most people don't care if I'm doing it all the time and they see it as dramatic… meanwhile I'm here like 'I feel it through my entire spine sometimes but I just ignore it now until it's time to take meds for the other kinds of pains and pray I get some extra relief.'

When you're disabled, sometimes 'I live with higher chronic pain' becomes part of the job description just so you have a job.

Meanwhile I'm working on teaching teens to 'Not do that bc it'll fuck up your body and brain and we will advocate for you to not have to do that if you need'. (I work with neurodivergent youth in employment services in my day job now, hence my lack of online presence for the last while)

Knowing fully well I'm a hypocrite who's burning out bc of chronic pain 99% of the time.

I don't have a lot of disability supports anymore.

I traded pain reduction for being further from toxic family and a hope of having a job history that isn't entirely self employment in sex work or sex worker adjacent categories that I don't put on my resume anyway.

But if I created anything educating truely on the hidden sides of my disability?

I would probably die inside a little acknowledging how much work it is to maintain living like this… while also having to actually confront how much help I don't have despite having lost friendships over how much work it feels like.

And a lot of it for people is the mental toll.

Because internalised ableism is a bitch to everyone. And I don't like how the way I'm looked at changes when I'm honest about how bad things are; because depending how the way I'm looked at changes tells me wether or not I'm about to lose someone.

I'm fully aware that despite knowing I don't need to at all, I still avoid telling my partner things about my disability and it's daily impacts on me because more than knowing they'd worry… and despite knowing no fucks would actually be given and the way they look at me wouldn't change bc they're one of the only people I fully trust wouldn't be weirded out by the full impact of FND on my life bc they've read some of my tumblr things about it before, he knows more than most tbh… I am terrified of that anxious feeling that is entirely trauma of 'Will I become too much after this one'.

I no longer ask things of my abled bodied friends.

I can actually pinpoint the exact interactions I stopped asking as much and I think my actual final straw was after my previous relationship ended and my ex (who is still one of my best friends) started dating someone who is also chronically ill but differently… and hearing the comments made by his family and friends about the 'Relief he was dating someone he didn't have to take care of'.

And he tried to shield me from a lot of the comments, but shit still makes its way back to me and fucked me up a little.

It's weird knowing the two reactions from abled bodied friends would be a mix of 'why didn't you tell me?' and 'I don't understand what you want, you seen fine.' if I ever opened up about how bad it is.

I actually miss living with my cousin bc it was the only place I didn't have to lie about the pain I was in and would get the help in the ways I needed it most without fighting for it.

And tbh; I don't really know if I have a point other than it's fucking hard and the people in my life who aren't disabled have actually made it terrifying to tell even my closest also chronically ill friends how bad it actually is.

Because it got easier to pretend I'm not struggling in pain than admit that I am and ask for help and feel unwanted/rejected.

And abled bodied discomfort is infuriating when it makes you feel so alone and impacts your relationships because they're uncomfortable.

[kimium]

Tell us about your favourite ship/ships for Leona Kingscholar👀

Hi friend! Thanks so much for asking me this! I'm always excited to write about my Twisted Wonderland ships. I'm ranking them based on my silly little categories, so don't take this too serious.

Let's get started!

My favourite ships with Leona Kingscholar (Twisted Wonderland)

I Really Like These Ships

Leona/Malleus

This was actually my first Twisted Wonderland ship. When you start the game you pick a dorm and a character within it. I went with Diasomnia and Malleus as Maleficent is my favourite Disney villain (mostly due to her role in Kingdom Hearts). Thus, Malleus's ceremonial robe vignette was the first one I saw. In it, Malleus's robes are accidentally swapped with Leona's when picked up from being cleaned. The second half of the vignette shows that they have a rather antagonistic relationship with one another. It's a dynamic I instantly liked and I immediately shipped them.

Later, when I played through Book Two I started to see how Leona and Malleus are foils to one another. Their contrast between Malleus crown prince and Leona the second prince with an inferiority complex compelled me. I want to see more of their interactions with one another and if those interactions end up with some unresolved sexual tension, so be it.

Leona/Ruggie

I'll admit, I didn't like this one for a while. Mostly because my favourite dynamic between prince and attendant (Ruggie is an attendant in many ways) is loyalty. Ruggie is loyal to Leona, but it's closer to an employee/employer loyalty. That being said, I understand that both have trouble being honest about their feelings (Leona with his inferiority complex and tsundere attitude. Ruggie who has to survive with his own wits and cunning.). I can see them growing closer, talking their feelings out privately, and getting together. Though, my favourite dynamic between them is Leona "Actually Ruggie is MINE and I May Not Flaunt it Publicly, but if ANYONE Tries to Take Him From Me, They're Toast" Kingscholar. A little possessiveness dashed into the ship is a 10/10 for me.

I think these ships are Fun

Leona/Jack

Look, I am always a little weak to a ship where one looked up to one another, found out they weren't 100% what they thought, and instead of being disappointed frowned, grabbed the other by the shirt and said "I know you can be better so I'm going to MAKE SURE you live up to that potential." I love the idea of Jack's eager persistence and values of hard work and determination lighting a fire under Leona. I love that Jack sees Leona for who he can be and doesn't care about any of the extra "weight" Leona feels he carries. I love the idea of Jack seeing so much good and potential in Leona that it makes Leona want to live up to Jack's ideals.

Leona/Vil

Like with Malleus, Leona and Vil are a fun ship because they're character foils. Leona is a lazy genius who, besides the throne, has everything he could ever want but is crippled by his inferiority complex. Vil, who is brilliant, smart, and worked hard to get himself where he wants, also suffers an inferiority complex. Leona turns to apathy to escape the burning, twisting pain of always being compared to Farena. Vil turns to jealousy, consistently and silently comparing himself to Neige, putting a mask of success and glamour over his fear of always being second best. I think these two could learn a lot from one another and grow from their similarities and differences.

The only reason why this ship is lower on my list is because I'm absolute Rook/Vil trash. Though, I am not opposed to a threesome between Leona/Rook/Vil.

Cute Concept, I see where people are coming from

Leona/Idia

To me this is a ship of "opposites attract". Leona is very confident in his powers, abilities, and skills (when his inferiority complex related to Farena isn't in the way). He's not afraid of being in the spotlight and if people are pissed off at him, Leona will not back down from beating the shit out of them. Leona is also a natural born leader, even if he employs "tough love" methods.

On the other side we have Idia who when not behind a screen is an introvert and awkward with people. Yes, he's also talented and a genius but Idia's confidence and people skills only come out when he's in his element.

My favourite way of seeing them get together is having them play chess. I know at first Idia would try to escape playing with Leona, terrified to be in the same room but as he grows comfortable Idia's talking smack as they play. Sure, some of his terms fly over Leona's head (Idia cannot turn off the gamer terminology) but I bet he's ecstatic that Idia's not backing down from the challenge.

But Do I Ship Yuu with Leona?

Yes, I do. Leona was my first SSR for both dorm and event card (Fairy Tale Gala) so he has always held a special place in my heart. I also think Yuu's first encounter with Leona is hysterical. I love the idea that Yuu is not afraid of Leona simply because they have NO CLUE who he is. This lack of fear is refreshing to Leona who after realizing it's not bravado, that Yuu truly isn't afraid of him, is hooked. It will take Leona a while to figure out that he -likes- Yuu but a little bit of jealousy and possessiveness would probably rear its head within Leona eventually. Yuu's -his- herbivore, damn it.

And there you have it, friend! I hope you like my answers!! Feel free to let me know which are your favourite Leona ships!

[the-daily-tizzy]

China does NOT hold the largest amount of U.S. DEBT; U.S. Social Security Administration does!

A woman, or man dies at age 65 before collecting one benefit check.

She/He and her employer paid into the system for almost 50 years and she collected NOTHING

Keep in mind all the working people that die every year who were paying into the system and got nothing.

And these governmental morons mismanaged the money and stole from the system, so that it's now going broke.

And they have the audacity to call today's seniors "vultures" in an attempt to cover their ineptitude.

The real reason for renaming our Social Security payments is so the government can claim that all those social security recipients are receiving entitlements thus putting them in the same category as welfare, and food stamp recipients.

By changing the name of SS contributions, it gives them a means to refute this program in the future.

It's free money for the government to spend under this guise.

The Social Security check is now (or soon will be) referred to as a Federal Benefit Payment ?

The government is now referring to our Social Security checks as a "Federal Benefit Payment."

This is NOT a benefit.

It is OUR money, paid out of our earned income!

Not only did we all contribute to Social Security, but our employers did too!

It totaled 15% of our income before taxes.

If you averaged $30K per year over your working life, that's close to $180,000 invested in Social Security.

If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security ($375/month, including both you and your employers' contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved .

This is your personal investment.

Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month

That's almost three times more than today's average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration. (Google it – it's a fact).

And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98 if you retire at age 65)!

I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in low-risk interest-earning accounts.

Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did (or Lyndon Johnson).

They took our money and used it elsewhere.

They "forgot"(oh yes, they knew) that it was OUR money they were taking.

They did not have a referendum to ask us if we wanted to lend the money to them…and they didn't pay interest on the debt they assumed.

And recently they have told us that the money won't support us for very much longer. (Isn't it funny that they NEVER say this about welfare payments ?)

But is it our fault they misused our investments?

And now, to add insult to injury, they are calling it a benefit, as if we never worked to earn every penny of it

This is stealing !

Just because they borrowed the money, does not mean that our investments were for charity!

Let's take a stand.

We have earned our right to Social Security and Medicare.

Demand that our legislators bring some sense into our government.

Find a way to keep Social Security and Medicare going for the sake of the 92% of our population who need it.

Then call it what it is: Our Earned Retirement Income .

[pre1ude]

@vilestblood , sent 👫 for four headcanons about our muses' relationship

1.

Their first meeting, logically, ought to be at an external performance before Daniel is even hired, yes I know that's how it should work, but consider instead: an audition or even a debut in front of Antonin's private audience, for the fact alone that Danny can actually pick his repertoire. Which - if he's just met ✨ Mister Cainhurst ✨, in all his odd glory - is guaranteed to be absolutely unhinged. He's immediatelly so very charmed by where he is and who he's with. Technically, it should be nothing new, but while he may have spent most of his measly time outside of home around the well-respected upper class, it's not every day you meet a 7 ft tall gnc blonde with the weirdest vibes imaginable. So Danny sets out to impress him the only way he knows how - by making sure the very first impression he makes is with his music. That is to say: he stiffly drones through a brief conversation, barely meets Nin's eye and then shreds Erlkönig in tempo accelerando, all the way to full speed on a violin. If he has actual operatic accompaniment he would make it a point to overshadow the poor poor tenor they decide to stick him with. Shows off with the triple stops, breaks a few horsehairs and then becomes the equivalent of 🥺👉👈 once the piece is finished.

2.

From then on it goes as smoothly as one would imagine. Granted, Dan susses some oddities out fairly quickly and 'a society of wildly individualistic eccentrics' isn't enough to explain some of them away. He ends up balancing a tightrope between turning a deaf ear out of habit so he can continue to enjoy his time, independence and flourishing reputation, and exploring his suspicions, cautious of the rug being pulled out from under him in a horribly karmic, thematic 'haha you thought' moment. He would like to lead a comfortable existence but he's hardly going to achieve that through willful ignorance. Speaking of, funnily enough, I think he'd initially refuse to suspect Antonin outright, the most vampire looking motherfucker there ever was, because he'd have more or less put him on a pedestal by then. Maybe even shares some suspicions and unanswered questions with him, partly to test him, mostly to assuage his fears. So their eventual "I know what you are." "Say it." "Vampire." "Sure, that works." Twilight moment will be hilarious when it happens and will certainly fall into the category of 'one of those hard life lessons'. A sobering moment. Great for building realistic rapport, though. Like, for example, the issuing of some immunity or protection (in writing), which Danny will ask for and genuinely require in order to stay. A failsafe, if you will.

3.

Antonin represents a whole new school of thought and expression for Daniel, a manner of not denying himself the vengeful need for violence by putting it into his art. By the time he comes into Antonin's employment, Daniel would have had one or two experiences with conducting and only half-feathered attempts at composition. Not because he thinks his efforts aren't good enough, but because the music he creates will always be an expression of emotion for him, most of which is a disturbing tell-all. This baby can hold so much repressed rage and sadness in him. Around Antonin, especially once he's treated to his fascinatingly complex moral codex, he leans in that direction wholeheartedly, without fear of judgement when it becomes more than clear he won't receive any. Still ever cautious, at first, as is his penchant, with references vague, symbolic and perfectly pedestrian so as to keep a low profile, and later far more personal, influenced by and written for his unique set of supernatural skills. Meaning, an until-now passive aggression comes up to the surface and he allows it to lace with his creations, soak into them thoroughly. His first fully transcendental performance is reserved for Antonin in private company. Written and conducted by him entirely; an ode, if you will, to a great big influence in his life. A muse, almost. He requests a hall without windows and advises against bringing in glass.

4.

He indulges Antonin a great deal, even after the Twilight Moment. Whatever admiration Danny harbored for him would simply evolve into a more understandable, mature artistic interest. The man is odd, it can't be denied, who wouldn't be curious about him. His very existence is source of inspiration aplenty; he's something eldritch, mythological, surreal in his own right, an otherworldly subject ideal for musical consecration - historic and mystical both, and at times self-indulgently iconoclastic. He's lived for millenia, he hails from a whole different culture, his voice feels like warm steel. Perhaps Danny's interest isn't quite fully devoid of that admiration he was supposed to lose (on moral grounds), even if on a less personal level. So yes, there are symphonies and operas referencing him a great deal in our musician's future, expressions of his deep-seated fascination, some more interpretative than others. Rarely complimentary, but never condemning.

And have this thought: If he were to want, Antonin could very well work with Danny to restore/replicate old, long-lost musical pieces from Cainhurst times. Daniel can hardly say no to digging up cultural treasures, art is a legacy he's rather protective and passionate about.

+ 1

It's tradition for me to do a bonus on each hc post, but literally all I can think of is Dan's dog, Bentley, having the most ardent desire to chase down Crowtonin. Hauls absolute ass whenever he sees Birb TM. Barks him up trees, shakes his whole ass in excitement about it. Something about that animal in particular just makes him wanna say hi in the most doglike way possible. To such a degree that Daniel finds himself constantly resorting to Baby Swaddle Jail just to keep Ben in line. Save the poor defenseless bird's life. 😔

[pathologising]

I haven't read a ton of anti-psychiatry stuff but from what I have encountered I don't think people are denying that mental illnesses, neurodivergencies, neurological illnesses, and related conditions real or that they have negative impacts on people's lives or that they can't or shouldn't be treated with medication but that psychiatry as a system isn't the best way to do that?

Same with people critical of diagnostic categories. Not denying the phenomena those describe or their impact on our health and wellness but critiquing that they can be ontologically reduced to a set of constructed categories. I know lots of mental health practitioners these days are actually taking a similar approach to the concept of diagnosis, even if they can't do away with it entirely, but treating the way people's symptoms manifest rather than deciding that person falls under a category and treating that category.

(Kind of sucks to feel like I need to make this disclaimer, but I am also a person who has been diagnosed with more stigmatized or 'serious' conditions, as am I a person who has been barred from services I need bc the diagnostic process for autism is so extremely biased and also expensive and can be detrimental for employment or legal issues, such that I don't have a diagnosis.)

Interesting! I'm for reform of the psychiatric system, I've certainly encountered that part of antipsych and I wholly agree with it! But I've also encountered people who are adamant on getting rid of the dsm and medications and that's just what puts me off.

[primeevents]

Celebrate Success: Your Journey to International Business Excellence

The global stage awaits! Are you ready to shine a spotlight on your exceptional business achievements and join the ranks of international leaders recognized by the prestigious Prime Awards? This article invites you to embark on a captivating journey toward international business excellence, culminating in the celebration of success at the Prime Awards ceremonies for businesses.

The Allure of the Prime Awards:

For companies striving to conquer the global marketplace, the Prime Awards represent a pinnacle of recognition. These coveted accolades go beyond mere trophies; they are testaments to innovation, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Winning a Prime Award not only garners prestige and industry respect, but also opens doors to new partnerships, talent acquisition, and a global brand elevation.

Celebrating Each Chapter of Your Business Epic:

The Prime Awards encompass a diverse range of categories, encompassing every facet of international business success. Whether you lead a technology startup disrupting the digital landscape, a sustainable fashion brand championing ethical practices, or a manufacturing giant redefining industry standards, there's a category tailor-made for your remarkable journey.

Here's a glimpse into the inspiring variety of awards:

Innovation Award: Unleashing groundbreaking solutions and reshaping industry norms.

Leadership Award: Pioneering visionaries paving the way for their teams and communities.

Sustainability Award: Environmental champions dedicated to responsible and ethical business practices.

Growth Award: Demonstrating exceptional resilience and scaling new heights with every step.

Customer Experience Award: Exceeding expectations and forging unwavering customer loyalty.

Best Employer Award: Creating a thriving workplace that fosters talent and empowers individuals.

Your Prime Moment Awaits: How to Nominate:

Embarking on your Prime Award nomination journey is both a rewarding and empowering process. Here's a quick guide to illuminate your path:

1. Explore Categories:

Visit the Prime Awards website and delve into the comprehensive list of categories. Identify the one that perfectly aligns with your company's accomplishments and resonates with your core values.

2. Gather Testimonials:

Collect compelling testimonials from satisfied clients, industry experts, and even your own employees. These voices of appreciation add invaluable weight to your nomination.

3. Prepare a Compelling Narrative:

Craft a captivating story that narrates your business journey. Highlight your challenges and triumphs, showcasing your innovative solutions, impactful strategies, and the unique value you bring to the global marketplace.

4. Showcase Measurable Results:

Complement your narrative with quantifiable data that demonstrates the tangible impact of your work. Highlight growth figures, customer satisfaction metrics, environmental benefits, or any other quantifiable evidence of your excellence.

5. Submit with Confidence:

Once you've meticulously crafted your nomination, take a deep breath and submit it! Remember, your application represents not just your company, but the dedication and spirit of your entire team.

The Grand Celebration of Prime Winners:

Earning a coveted Prime Award isn't just about the accolade itself; it's about joining a prestigious league of international business leaders. Being invited to the Prime Awards ceremony is a chance to celebrate not only your own success, but to connect with like-minded visionaries, network with potential collaborators, and share your inspiring story with the world.

The Prime Awards ceremonies are glittering affairs designed to honor the very best in international business. Imagine an atmosphere charged with accomplishment, where innovators, leaders, and changemakers gather to celebrate their collective victories. This is the platform where your company will shine under the spotlight and your achievements will be etched in the annals of international business excellence.

Beyond the Celebration:

Winning a Prime Award isn't simply an endpoint; it's a springboard for further growth and continuous improvement. It serves as a powerful motivator for your team, a validation of your vision, and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs across the globe.

So, are you ready to embark on this breathtaking journey towards international business excellence? Take the first step today, navigate to the Prime Awards website, and let your nomination be a testament to your dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to success. Remember, the world awaits to celebrate your achievements, and the Prime Awards ceremonies for businesses stage is poised to amplify your company's remarkable story.

Embrace the challenge, share your journey, and claim your rightful place among the champions of international business excellence. The Prime Awards await!

[furubagurlstudent]

189 Pounds but also a setback!

It took some time after my initial weight drop, but I managed.

The really bad news is I thought my height was 5' 6" for a long time. It's really about 5' 4" or 163 cm. This brings my BMI back to 32. And while the body-mass index isn't used as much for gauging obesity by some folks, a BMI of under 30 was one of my goals.

However, I was much worse at one point.

When I left my last job in early 2018 I was very overweight. It didn't help that my employer served free sodas to staff. For those of you outside of Metric-land that's 248 pounds. Even after leaving those folks and before I started the bariatric program, I had lost 8 kg or 17.5 pounds.

Turns out your work environment can significantly contribute to your health. Go figure.

Since deciding to skip the surgery I've started on the mildest and least expensive weight loss drugs, something called Orlistat. Since I've gotten to a lower-carb diet, I'm hoping this will help with any fat in the proteins I still eat. Its only major side effect turns out to be a desired one after all, an easier time using the washroom.

So here's hoping I lose another 18 or so kilos in 2024! This should put me in an "overweight" category, but not dangerously so, and I can stay there around 68 to 70 kg, or about 155 to 160 pounds.

[urbanskylinephase2]

Ravet vs. Other Pune Suburbs: Which is the best for 5 BHK flats living?

5 BHK Flats for sale in Ravet

Ravet, once a quiet village nestled within the boundaries of PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation), has rapidly transformed into one of Pune's most sought-after western suburbs. This burgeoning locality has caught the eye of homebuyers and real estate investors alike, thanks to a combination of factors that make it an attractive destination for both residential and investment purposes.

IT Hub:

Over the past two decades, Pune has evolved into a prominent IT and ITES hub, attracting a significant influx of IT professionals who call the city their home. This surge in IT-related employment opportunities has driven the demand for residential properties. Ravet, in particular, has emerged as a top choice for many young IT executives and their families, especially in the affordable to mid-segment housing categories.

Employment Opportunities:

Ravet's strategic location is another compelling factor. It is conveniently situated within a commutable distance of various IT parks that house renowned multinational corporations. The proximity to employment centers makes Ravet an ideal place to live for professionals working in these areas.

Sound Connectivity:

Connectivity is key, and Ravet excels in this aspect. The locality enjoys excellent connectivity through road networks, bus transport, railway, and even the airport. The Mumbai Pune Expressway, Wakad Road, Kalewadi Main Road, and Spine Road are all easily accessible from Ravet. Moreover, it is well-connected to other central points in PCMC and Pune through extensive bus routes originating from Chinchwad Bus Stand, Nigdi Bus Stand, and the Pimpri Bus Stand. Chinchwad railway station is nearby, while Pune airport is just an hour's drive away.

Development of Civic Infrastructure:

The government has recognized the growing demand for residential spaces in Ravet and is actively promoting its development into a modern town. Numerous projects in Ravet have received approval, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure development. This has led to the growth of civic amenities, retail establishments, and the hospitality sector, enhancing the overall quality of life in the area.

Social Amenities:

Ravet is not just about work; it offers an enriching lifestyle with access to top-notch educational institutions and healthcare facilities.

Urban Skyline Phase 2 

Urban Skyline Phase 2 in Ravet, developed by Urban Space Creators, is poised to redefine modern living near the bustling Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Offering a range of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 BHK homes, this ambitious project is currently under construction, with an impressive 40 floors that will soon grace the Pune skyline, making it the city's tallest landmark.

70 plus Thoughtful Amenities 

What truly sets Urban Skyline Phase 2 apart is its commitment to luxury and sustainability. With over 70 opulent amenities, it promises an unparalleled lifestyle. But what makes it truly exceptional is its dedication to eco-friendly practices. It proudly stands as Pune's greenest project, incorporating sustainable construction methods and features like solar heaters, extensive tree plantation, and sprawling landscape gardens.

Green Endeavors in Urban Skyline Phase 2 

Furthermore, the project emphasizes responsible water management with rainwater harvesting and on-site sewage treatment facilities, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint. But luxury isn't compromised; residents will relish in lavish amenities such as swimming pools, state-of-the-art gyms, and even medical facilities for added convenience.

Security is paramount at Urban Skyline Phase 2, with a robust 4-layer security system that ensures residents' peace of mind. All in all, this project is a harmonious blend of luxury, sustainability, and modern living, set to become Pune's urban oasis along the expressway.

If you're in search of 5 BHK flats in Ravet that epitomize luxury and modernity, look no further than Urban Skyline Phase 2. This prestigious development by Urban Space Creators offers a unique opportunity to experience opulent living near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. With its impressive 40-floor tower, it stands as the tallest landmark in Pune, promising a lifestyle that's both elevated and unparalleled.

Nestled amidst serene surroundings and boasting over 70 luxury amenities, including swimming pools, well-equipped gyms, and medical facilities, Urban Skyline Phase 2 redefines what it means to live in style. But it's not just about luxury; this project is a beacon of sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly features like solar heaters, extensive tree plantation, and rainwater harvesting.

The project's commitment to responsible living extends further with on-site sewage treatment and ample open green spaces in the form of lush landscape gardens. 

So, if you're in the market for a 5 BHK home that combines luxury, sustainability, and modern amenities, 5 BHK Flats for sale in Ravet at  Urban Skyline Phase 2 beckons you to explore a life of distinction along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.