#best paying jobs in public utilities

[grandstarlightperfection]

best paying jobs in public utilities

The Utility Worker is tasked with maintaining the cleanliness, orderliness, proper maintenance, safety, and security of buildings, grounds, equipment, and inventory. They offer support to skilled maintenance, landscaping, and custodial teams by following instructions and carrying out various semi-skilled or unskilled responsibilities related to the maintenance and repair of facilities.

What are the rights and responsibilities of public utilities?

(i) Public utility undertakings have the obligation to offer services to all individuals without any form of discrimination based on caste or creed.

(ii) These services must be provided promptly and as needed. It is important to establish rules and regulations to ensure the uniform and regulated use of public utilities.

Electrical Engineer:

An electrical engineer specializes in the design, development, and maintenance of electrical systems. They work on projects involving power generation, distribution, and transmission, and are responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical infrastructure.

Requirement:

Generally, obtaining a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field is typically a prerequisite.

Demonstrating a solid understanding of electrical principles, systems, and codes is essential.

Proficiency in utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software and other engineering tools is necessary.

Having analytical and problem-solving skills is vital for designing and resolving issues in electrical systems.

Effective communication and strong teamwork abilities are crucial for collaborating with colleagues and clients.

Lineworker:

A lineworker, also known as a line technician or lineman, is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing power lines and electrical distribution systems. They often work at great heights and in various weather conditions to ensure the uninterrupted flow of electricity.

Requirement:

High school diploma or equivalent is typically required, though some formal training programs may be available.

Physical fitness and strength to work at heights and in challenging weather conditions.

Knowledge of electrical systems, safety protocols, and tools used for installation and maintenance.

Ability to interpret blueprints, diagrams, and technical instructions.

Excellent balance, coordination, and manual dexterity.

Electrician:

Electricians are highly trained and proficient experts responsible for the precise installation, upkeep, and restoration of electrical systems within various structures, including buildings, residences, and other architectural establishments. They work with wiring, circuits, fixtures, and equipment to ensure electrical safety and proper functioning.

Requirement:

Successful completion of an apprenticeship program or vocational training specific to electrical work is typically required.

A comprehensive understanding of electrical codes, regulations, and safety practices is necessary.

Proficiency in accurately interpreting and comprehending electrical blueprints and schematics is essential.

Hands-on experience in electrical installations, repairs, and proficient troubleshooting is highly valued.

Excellent hand-eye coordination and meticulous attention to detail are crucial attributes for this role.

Power Plant Engineer:

A power plant engineer is involved in the design, operation, and maintenance of power generation facilities. They work with various types of power plants, such as thermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, or renewable energy plants, to ensure efficient power production and adherence to safety regulations.

Requirement:

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

Understanding of power plant operations, thermodynamics, and energy conversion processes.

Knowledge of environmental regulations and safety standards.

Demonstrating advanced proficiency in utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software and other cutting-edge engineering applications is crucial for this role.

Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Wind Turbine Technician:

Wind turbine technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines used for generating renewable energy. They perform inspections, troubleshoot issues, and ensure the efficient operation of wind power systems.

Requirement:

Completion of a wind turbine technician training program or related education.

Understanding of wind turbine systems, components, and maintenance procedures.

Ability to climb heights and work in confined spaces.

Knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems.

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Operator:

Operators are professionals who oversee and control the operation of public utility systems or facilities. They monitor equipment, maintain operational parameters, and ensure the smooth functioning of utilities such as water treatment plants, power plants, or wastewater treatment facilities.

Requirement:

High school diploma or equivalent, though additional technical training may be required.

Knowledge of specific utility systems, equipment, and processes.

Ability to monitor and control systems, detect abnormalities, and respond to emergencies.

Basic computer skills for operating control systems and data entry.

Understanding of safety protocols and regulations.

Water Treatment Specialist:

Water treatment specialists work in water treatment plants to ensure the purification and treatment of water for safe consumption. They operate and maintain various equipment and processes to remove impurities and contaminants from water sources.

Requirement:

Education requirements can vary, ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemistry, or a related field.

Knowledge of water treatment processes, equipment, and chemicals.

Familiarity with water quality standards and regulations.

Ability to operate and maintain water treatment systems and equipment.

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Energy Auditor:

An energy auditor assesses energy consumption patterns in buildings, industries, or public facilities. They identify areas of energy inefficiency, propose energy-saving measures, and recommend improvements to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Requirement:

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field is typically a fundamental requirement for this position.

Knowledge of energy systems, efficiency principles, and renewable energy technologies.

Familiarity with energy auditing methods, tools, and software.

Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.

Effective communication skills for presenting findings and recommendations.

These public utility jobs play crucial roles in maintaining and delivering essential services such as electricity, water, and energy to communities while ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Conclusion:

The field of public utilities offers a diverse range of career opportunities with different skill sets and requirements. These jobs play vital roles in ensuring the efficient and safe delivery of essential services to communities. While compensation can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and industry demand, it is worth noting that some public utility jobs are known for being among the best-paying in the industry.

Professions such as electrical engineers, power plant engineers, and wind turbine technicians are often recognized as highly lucrative careers within the public utilities sector. These roles require specialized expertise, technical knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex systems and technologies. Additionally, management positions within public utility companies can also offer competitive salaries and benefits.

It is important for individuals interested in pursuing the best paying jobs in public utilities to consider the specific educational requirements, experience, and skill sets necessary for each role. Keeping up with advancements in technology, regulations, and industry trends can also contribute to professional growth and increased earning potential.

Overall, the

offer not only financial rewards but also the satisfaction of contributing to the reliable and sustainable delivery of essential services to communities.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Lies, damned lies, and Uber

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me TONIGHT in PHOENIX (Changing Hands, Feb 29) then Tucson (Mar 10-11), San Francisco (Mar 13), and more!

Uber lies about everything, especially money. Oh, and labour. Especially labour. And geometry. Especially geometry! But especially especially money. They constantly lie about money.

Uber are virtuosos of mendacity, but in Toronto, the company has attained a heretofore unseen hat-trick: they told a single lie that is dramatically, materially untruthful about money, labour and geometry! It's an achievement for the ages.

Here's how they did it.

For several decades, Toronto has been clobbered by the misrule of a series of far-right, clownish mayors. This was the result of former Ontario Premier Mike Harris's great gerrymander of 1998, when the city of Toronto was amalgamated with its car-dependent suburbs. This set the tone for the next quarter-century, as these outlying regions – utterly dependent on Toronto for core economic activity and massive subsidies to pay the unsustainable utility and infrastructure bills for sprawling neighborhoods of single-family homes – proceeded to gut the city they relied on.

These "conservative" mayors – the philanderer, the crackhead, the sexual predator – turned the city into a corporate playground, swapping public housing and rent controls for out-of-control real-estate speculation and trading out some of the world's best transit for total car-dependency. As part of that decay, the city rolled out the red carpet for Uber, allowing the company to put as many unlicensed taxis as they wanted on the city's streets.

Now, it's hard to overstate the dire traffic situation in Toronto. Years of neglect and underinvestment in both the roads and the transit system have left both in a state of near collapse and it's not uncommon for multiple, consecutive main arteries to shut down without notice for weeks, months, or, in a few cases, years. The proliferation of Ubers on the road – driven by desperate people trying to survive the city's cost-of-living catastrophe – has only exacerbated this problem.

Uber, of course, would dispute this. The company insists – despite all common sense and peer-reviewed research – that adding more cars to the streets alleviates traffic. This is easily disproved: there just isn't any way to swap buses, streetcars, and subways for cars. The road space needed for all those single-occupancy cars pushes everything further apart, which means we need more cars, which means more roads, which means more distance between things, and so on.

It is an undeniable fact that geometry hates cars. But geometry loathes Uber. Because Ubers have all the problems of single-occupancy vehicles, and then they have the separate problem that they just end up circling idly around the city's streets, waiting for a rider. The more Ubers there are on the road, the longer each car ends up waiting for a passenger:

https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Uber-Lyft-San-Francisco-pros-cons-ride-hailing-13841277.php

Anything that can't go on forever eventually stops. After years of bumbling-to-sinister municipal rule, Toronto finally reclaimed its political power and voted in a new mayor, Olivia Chow, a progressive of long tenure and great standing (I used to ring doorbells for her when she was campaigning for her city council seat). Mayor Chow announced that she was going to reclaim the city's prerogative to limit the number of Ubers on the road, ending the period of Uber's "self-regulation."

Uber, naturally, lost its shit. The company claims to be more than a (geometrically impossible) provider of convenient transportation for Torontonians, but also a provider of good jobs for working people. And to prove it, the company has promised to pay its drivers "120% of minimum wage." As I write for Ricochet, that's a whopper, even by Uber's standards:

https://ricochet.media/en/4039/uber-is-lying-again-the-company-has-no-intention-of-paying-drivers-a-living-wage

Here's the thing: Uber is only proposing to pay 120% of the minimum wage while drivers have a passenger in the vehicle. And with the number of vehicles Uber wants on the road, most drivers will be earning nothing most of the time. Factor in that unpaid time, as well as expenses for vehicles, and the average Toronto Uber driver stands to make $2.50 per hour (Canadian):

https://ridefair.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legislated-Poverty.pdf

Now, Uber's told a lot of lies over the years. Right from the start, the company implicitly lied about what it cost to provide an Uber. For its first 12 years, Uber lost $0.41 on every dollar it brought in, lighting tens of billions in investment capital provided by the Saudi royals on fire in an effort to bankrupt rival transportation firms and disinvestment in municipal transit.

Uber then lied to retail investors about the business-case for buying its stock so that the House of Saud and other early investors could unload their stock. Uber claimed that they were on the verge of producing a self-driving car that would allow them to get rid of drivers, zero out their wage bill, and finally turn a profit. The company spent $2.5b on this, making it the most expensive Big Store in the history of cons:

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/infighting-busywork-missed-warnings-how-uber-wasted-2-5-billion-on-self-driving-cars

After years, Uber produced a "self-driving car" that could travel one half of one American mile before experiencing a potentially lethal collision. Uber quietly paid another company $400m to take this disaster off its hands:

https://www.economist.com/business/2020/12/10/why-is-uber-selling-its-autonomous-vehicle-division

The self-driving car lie was tied up in another lie – that somehow, automation could triumph over geometry. Robocabs, we were told, would travel in formations so tight that they would finally end the Red Queen's Race of more cars – more roads – more distance – more cars. That lie wormed its way into the company's IPO prospectus, which promised retail investors that profitability lay in replacing every journey – by car, cab, bike, bus, tram or train – with an Uber ride:

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1RN2SK/

The company has been bleeding out money ever since – though you wouldn't know it by looking at its investor disclosures. Every quarter, Uber trumpets that it has finally become profitable, and every quarter, Hubert Horan dissects its balance sheets to find the accounting trick the company thought of this time. There was one quarter where Uber declared profitability by marking up the value of stock it held in Uber-like companies in other countries.

How did it get this stock? Well, Uber tried to run a business in those countries and it was such a total disaster that they had to flee the country, selling their business to a failing domestic competitor in exchange for stock in its collapsing business. Naturally, there's no market for this stock, which, in Uber-land, means you can assign any value you want to it. So that one quarter, Uber just asserted that the stock had shot up in value and voila, profit!

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/hubert-horan-can-uber-ever-deliver-part-twenty-nine-despite-massive-price-increases-uber-losses-top-31-billion.html

But all of those lies are as nothing to the whopper that Uber is trying to sell to Torontonians by blanketing the city in ads: the lie that by paying drivers $2.50/hour to fill the streets with more single-occupancy cars, they will turn a profit, reduce the city's traffic, and provide good jobs. Uber says it can vanquish geometry, economics and working poverty with the awesome power of narrative.

In other words, it's taking Toronto for a bunch of suckers.

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/2024/02/29/geometry-hates-uber/#toronto-the-gullible

Image: Rob Sinclair (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Night_skyline_of_Toronto_May_2009.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

[skeletoninthemelonland]

I'm sorry about what you're going through with your family. Personally I've never had to move out quickly, but I've been in tight situations to stay out and this is what worked for me. Everything I'm outlining is assuming you're in the US and that you're 18+. If you're younger than 18 you're parents can report you missing and that's a whole shitload of problems.

1. If you don't have a job, get one. Even if it's part time and entry level. Barely any money is better than no money. If you can get a job making good tips, even better. But do what works for you. If you're worried about transportation, look for jobs in a city that has public transport and jobs near either bus or train stops. You can also Google how to build a resume if you don't have one.

2. Try to make a budget as best you can. That shit is hard and frustrating and it seriously sucks. But you'll be able to figure out exactly how much you need for rent, groceries, transportation, and utilities. To get an idea for rent prices, check out Zillow or apartments.com in cities you're interested in. Preferably close to your job so you can spend less on transportation, but not many people get that lucky.

2.5. Look in Facebook, Craigslist, and other sites to find roommates. Roommates will DRASTICALLY decrease your rent cost. But meet them ahead of time, make sure they're legit. Online stalk them, talk with them, their contact info EVERYTHING you can know about them to make sure they're a good fit for you.

*you can do 1 and 2 interchangeably. If you don't know how much you'll need to make to afford an apartment, check out apartment prices first, then look for jobs in that area*

3. Reach out to anyone who can help you move. I know that's hard, but the worst people will say is no (I know that sucks too and I'm sorry I even had to write it) but if people in your life know your situation and that you're trying to leave, that you're working on a tangible plan, they'll be more likely to help.

4. If you're worried about not being able get back in once you're gone, try to pack things discreetly as possible and take only what's important so you can get it in one go. If you've got money to rent a moving truck, even better.

5. Keep tabs on any bills your parents might be paying for you, like a phone bill. You'll need reliable internet to help find jobs and places to live. If you don't think you'll get to have that, get a library card. Libraries have public access to computers and the ability to hook you up with a TON of community services. Plus library cards are free which is nice.

I'm sorry that's all I've got off the top of my head. I hope you get the help you need!! You are loved 💜

thank you so much!!!

though i'm not from the US, some of the things you listed might work for me. i also wanna figure out how i can leave with someone else so we can both work together to sustain ourselves, so i think that should count as a roommate? i can't really abandon them.

i wanna try finding a temporary job (though college classes are suspended now, once it returns they'll take majority of my day) and make comissions.

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Just a note because I've had some inquiries lately -- it's always fine to include more than one way to give when submitting an item for RFM! It's always best to have a crowdfund page of some kind (gofundme, fundly, etc) and only list a direct payment processor like paypal or venmo as a secondary, but including multiple payment methods is okay, as long as you don't mind your paypal/venmo/etc being public.

Ways to Give:

hi-this-is-ali-rae is getting top surgery, scheduled for January; they're preparing for the surgery and the healing after, and raising funds to cover out-of-pocket costs and make their recovery as comfortable as possible. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

Anon linked to The Big Gay Market, a LGBTQ+ owned-and-operated pop up maker's market in Madison, Wisconsin, which has been in operation for nearly a year. They're looking to move into a bigger venue after receiving fantastic community support, and are crowdfunding via Kiva loan for a down-payment to reserve the space for their next market. (When you support organizations and people via Kiva it's a no-interest loan from you, so the money eventually comes back to the lender.) You can read more and contribute to the loan fund here.

nehirose's cat Winston had to go to the emergency vet last night for pyometra; they were able to get antibiotics and fluids, but she's fundraising for the visit fees and follow-up and spay with a non-emergency vet, which is a struggle with rent looming this week. You can read more and support the fundraiser here, read more and reblog here, or give via paypal here.

News to Know:

Anon wanted to remind folks that the US government is offering another round of free COVID tests; you can order four tests per household, and if you didn't order tests in September during the previous round, you can order eight per household. You can order tests via the post office or the COVID.gov website.

Recurring Needs:

Anon linked to a fundraiser for Alchemia and Bugland, who have urgent financial needs after the loss of their home, and are also looking for media contacts who would be interested in covering their story, or advocacy and legal support in Illinois, particularly support for people with disabilities, autism, blindness, and/or who are LGBTQ+. You can read more at Dreamwidth here and support the fundraiser at GoFundMe here.

gwydion's very elderly car broke down in late October; the repair, to a cooling hose, has cheap parts but expensive labor, and ate most of zir budget for the month. Ze can't do without a car, being disabled, but can't afford to replace it either; ze's raising $280 to help cover bills and the repair. You can give via PayPal here.

gwydion linked to a fundraiser for Squirrel, a good friend who has recently lost his job and needs to raise about $800 to cover bills and food; Squirrel has had a lot of interviews and believes he will have an offer but won't start work until December. You can give via paypal here.

gwydion linked to a fundraiser for a friend, whose dog Rosie needs medical care, dental work, and special food; you can read more and give here at gofundme.

mid-nighttiger linked to a fundraiser for a friend, Katherine, a cosplayer (501st and Rebel Legion, among others) who was in a serious car accident and has had a gofundme set up for her medical expenses; you can read more and reblog Mid-Nighttiger's post here or support the fundraiser here.

rilee16 is raising funds to cover utilities after having to use bill money to cover rent and late fees; Rilee also needs to be able to pay for medication. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[mothmags]

omg nashi dragneel headcannons that no one asked for!

part 1 - part 3

is the bitch who would say "thats so Scorpio rising of you" ironicly and she intentionally gets the persons star sign wrong because she thinks its funny

she knows everyones birthday by heart, and their star sign, rising sign and the list goes on

gives people either very criptic or very specific horoscopes whether they ask for it or not

not just interested in astrology but also astronomy and can read celestial maps really well.

She would randomly say space facts as a kid and natsu would just smile and nod not knowing if she was just fucking with him

theres like a 50/50 chance that she is

she wanted to be an astronaut growing up

space is very much so her special interest

has cried to The Planets - Jupiter and will cry again (me too)

she becomes very emotionally attached to the bots the Fiore Space Institute (FSI) send into space

she does a lot of writing

After literal years of begging, Natsu and Lucy help her get into the FSI Mage Program when she was 14

its where they utilize celestial and other space based magic to better understand the cosmos

In-between jobs, she studies and researches for FIS and is eventually considered an accomplished astronomer when she's older.

when shes in what her family calls "research mode" she will forget to take care of herself

Is "best friends" with gray and juvias middle kid, Maree

She takes her out to the middle of the ocean occasionally to stargaze (they are definitely not dates. they dont know what you are talking about)

lightweight when it comes to alcohol

LOVES traveling and seeing new places

cat person (obviously)

is a sarcastic little shit in the best way

she and leo have little outings every week - like to get boba or to a bakery to get snacks

as the designated older sibling leo is "forced" to pay

he hands his card over to the cashier with a fake groan and complains about how unfair it is that HE has to pay despite nashi not saying shit about him paying

Fiercely independent, like oh my god girl its ok to ask for help jfc

It mainly stems from the pressure of living up to the dragneel name in the eyes of the public

being in one of the most famous guilds with your parents being some of the strongest in said guild will do that to you

she's working on it, guys. i promise

her love language is touch

shes always hooking her arm around someone elses, holding onto their sleeve or leaning on people she cares about

she might be independent, but she's a daddys girl at heart and will hook her arm around his whenever she can

she gets cold fast, so in the winter months, she constantly has her arm hooked around his

[snowmuttgetsweird]

5/12/24, late morning

How about something a little more positive while I wait for my mom to give me the okay to call her for mother's day?

I love my day job! I'm a TCG guy more than anything, hobby-wise, so exploring board games as a sales person has been intimidating, and I frequently feel like I'm underperforming even when my coworkers tell me I'm doing great and that I'm providing skills the crew doesn't have otherwise, but it's a wonderful job. It's relatively low stress, there's ample opportunity to steal extra shifts which makes up for the middling pay, and a (generous) employee discount for arguably my most expensive hobby (ironically Digimon is one of the cheapest TCGs out there) is a godsend.

On quiet days, I'm frequently treated with an opportunity to learn a new board game. Last week I learned Wingspan, a few days ago I learned Wyrmspan, and just yesterday I learned Scout. I've even had opportunities to play multiple games before they were even available to the general public like Gloomhaven Buttons & Bugs and Star Wars Unlimited! So far almost everything that I've played I've enjoyed a lot too.

It might not be the highest paying job, but it's very easy, the staff and management is super laid back and grounded, and I get to learn board games. I literally can't think of anything wrong with that. It's the kind of job that makes me WANT to do my best, so I frequently go above and beyond the level of effort I'd normally exert for other retail jobs I've had.

Besides all that, it might have literally saved my life. Art is cool, but it doesn't pay that well- especially at the level I'm at. This day job being my primary flow of income with art being supplemental has been very good, and I'm very lucky that my patrons and followers are willing to be so patient with me while I find my footing.

I know I've said so before, but I feel like this year I've really got a great chance at succeeding financially. Last year I only had my day job since September, so for 8 months I had to earn a bare minimum of about $1800 a month through art alone so I could set aside 20% for taxes and still pay rent. This year, my day job and Patreon more or less cover rent for me, and everything I make through art is technically "gravy." Right now, all of that is going toward paying off money I owe to my roommate for covering most of our utilities by himself, but once that's all paid off and I'm consistently making enough to keep up with paying half of those bills, 30% of whatever I make through art will be set aside for taxes from now on, regardless of how much I make since I'm not trying to hit a specific threshold for rent, and then the rest can become SAVINGS! The key now is to calculate the average cost of our bills and utilities so I can try to make sure I make MORE per month than what I owe so I can catch up to the ongoing fees. I'm pretty optimistic about that.

BOOKS! As you know, I've been reigniting my love for reading since a little before I moved to WA- mostly because it's cheap (I've fallen in love with my local discount book shop's clearance racks), and it's a great way to fill in dead hours and lunch periods at the day job and quiet evenings at home when I'm done with art. Especially now that it's warming up, sometimes I like to head outside for a walk and then settle down and read in the park. Once in a while I treat myself to a milk tea or something too.

I finished The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon, and I loved it. I'm probably going to give it a second read because I think there were some parts I may have ADHD'd through and not quite absorbed, and the sequel should be out sometime this year too. I got The Archive Undying as a birthday gift last year, so the sequel might be the first brand new book I'll have purchased in a while lol- I'm super excited.

My friend that let me borrow Legends & Lattes picked up a copy of the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, which he let me borrow before he started reading it himself, and I devoured it. Much like the first, it's a super cozy little read- not much in the way of substance, very little in the way of world building or complex character relationships, etc, but rich in comfort and good feelings.

Right now I'm working on a collection of Lovecraftian/Cosmic Horror short stories called Horrors Beyond: Tales of Terrifying Realities, and I found a couple more books from my local discount book store I'll tackle after that: What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson (honestly I did not know this was a book first- shame on me) and The Star Fraction by Ken Macleod. I got them both off the clearance rack for just a little over $5 bucks in all!

I'm also experimenting with audio books. While I'm doing relatively mindless logistics stuff at the day job, I'm listening to audio books in one ear of some things I've read a while ago, but since kinda forgot. My mom was always a huge Anne Rice fan and had proudly collected the entirety of her works, and so I read a handful of books from her library growing up (my personal favorite of what I've read myself actually being Cry to Heaven). One I remember reading but not really enjoying much was actually the first book in her Vampire Chronicles, Interview with the Vampire. I'm not a big Louis fan (I'm more in the Lestat camp myself) and found the book as a whole kinda dull, mostly due to Louis' weak and winging personality, but I've since decided to give it another shot as an audio book, and it IS at least better than I remember giving it credit for. I still don't care for Louis though, lol. I prefer to read myself, but audio books are nice just to keep my brain going with something in the background while I'm doing something otherwise fairly mindless, like alphabetizing and rearranging miniatures or beautifying shelves of product.

GAMES! Not a TON to talk about here tbh. I've mostly been playing FF7 Rebirth, and it's been... Good...? I finally beat it on Normal after about 150 hours trying to exhaust every sidequest and minigame as much as possible, and I've since begun my Hard mode NG+. The story is great, there are a couple parts I'm not fond of that feels like Nomura is just Kingdom Hearts-ing all over FF7, but it's good overall and the gameplay feels really good. The most frustrating part of the game by far is just all the minigames- mostly that in order to completely beat them all, you have to do them PERFECTLY- it's very unforgiving.

Gotta go for now. Talk later. :)

[terrence-silver]

Hi! this is kind of a weird topic… BUT I noticed this past the year or so of people getting literal microchips implanted into their hand and using the it to pay for groceries or unlocking doors in their house and there even was this big thing going around of Elon musk wanting to test (LITERALLY TEST ON PEOPLE) these brain chips that he claimed would make the blind see, the paralyzed walk, and eventually turn people in cyborgs??? It was rejected by the U.S regulators but it’s just so crazy and surreal to think abt but I was think if this was something Terry would do cause honestly would it be all that surprising from all the stuff that man has done? Like would he think about doing that to beloved to just track them? What I was thinking was he would cause again it’s Terry Silver but another part is thinking he wouldn’t cause where would beloved be going without him? They barely leave his house to begin with and is under watch.

---

Why do I think that after the 80's, Dynatox could've re-branded from handling toxic materials (and their often ethically questionable disposal) and went straight into the business of cyber-tech...among other things, of course. All the Billionaires are doing it, so why not Terry Silver, trailblazing along with Steve Jobs, Zuckerberg and Musk. A new company for a new age and a new, equally re-branded Terry. Allegedly re-branded Terry, of course. Also, it proved to be the marketing ploy of the century to have people conveniently forget Dynatox's undoubtedly numerous controversies from the past and draw in a hip, fresh, innovative crowd that thinks Dynatox's ultraviolet goggles are just the breakthrough of the decade and ignore the fact that Dynatox hasn't in fact 'gone green' and is still very much in the business of destroying the planet with dirty chemicals. And it works! Thing is, the court of public opinion has a notoriously short memory span when faced with consuming new technology. New things. People care more about having the next new thing than the fact that these new things are tested on other people. On animals. On destroyed environments. On nature. You give the public a new phone and they tend to neglect the fact it utilizes Third World sweatshops and child labor in the process of production.

Speaking of which, after it is deemed totally safe, of course beloved gets microchipped by Terry Silver and they don't even know it happened or maybe they consented not really realizing what they're consenting too. Their movements, their very life is literally something he can track from his phone like they're his property, which they are.

Not just that, as Terry Silver himself ages, it is not entirely unbelievable to think he'd replace organs that are failing or not functioning as well as he'd like, perfectionist that he is, that he'd have them exchanged for these cyborg-like augmentations, maintaining his prime, or what he deems as his prime for as long as possible. Just does miracles for his need to control everything, even the quality of his liver pumping out water, because he wouldn't accept a part of him having subpar quality. By-passes and Stents. Implanting new hearts from vetted donors. Blood transfusions. I can see Terry as the type to re-juvenate himself constantly at private, highly coveted clinics for the uber-wealthy, like a vampire, to keep himself vital and alive for as long as possible. In the best shape he can possibly be in. If he could insert a computerized heart made out of steel into his chest, he would. As for beloved? There's a miniscule, microscopic plate under their skin patented by Dynatox's scientists. They're quite literally marked. If they ever strayed or goodness my, ran, they would be found within hours. Minutes. There's an App for that. Hey, the wealth insure and secure their cars, estates, their antiques and their watches. Their goddamn branded Birkin bags.

Why wouldn't Terry Silver insure and secure the one he loves?

[aeon2407]

Pyro's Pyrotechnic Love Life - Chapter 9: Lesser Evil

For @contentment-of-cats. Also on AO3.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Palpatine was... worried. It wasn’t a feeling he experienced often, but there it was. Vader, his most utilized enforcer, was nowhere to be found, once again chasing down Kenobi, this time somewhere in the Deep Core, right after the initial battle on Krownest was over. That damn obsession the weakling Skywalker had for his old Master would be Vader’s downfall, and Palpatine needed to find a backup apprentice soon. That redheaded boy that’d been harassing his operations would be quite a Sith from what he’d seen, he’d be a suitable replacement.

Thrawn was occupied with Krownest, and until that portion of Mandalorian Space was stabilized he’d be indisposed. Palpatine was aware enough to recognize the Mandalorians for the threat they were. Thrawn was the best option, even if he’d rather have him elsewhere.

And then there were the Tagges. It was no secret to anyone that Domina Tagge was making moves at every moment of every day. He’d hope that having Killian and Sanya Tagge be high-ranking Separatists would’ve weakened The House when the CIS inevitably lost the war, and he’d be able to nationalize TaggeCo as part of the reparations.

He did not foresee Cassio and Domina Tagge committing parricide and completely cutting out the Separatist leadership, or TaggeCo starving the entirety of Serreno when Dooku decided to move on Tagge Space by force. He ruled the galaxy, but the Tagges controlled it, and nothing short of a brutal and public incursion to seize TaggeCo would take that control from them. They were a problem, a problem he didn’t know how to solve.

And was that dread in his stomach? Something was about to happen, he could feel it in the Force, but what?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Containment Cell Two, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

Hera was thinking over the offer. If what Lapin Tagge said was true, the Tagges fully intended to remove Palpatine from power, one way or another. Should they succeed, the Rebellion would be rendered irrelevant and unnecessary unless the Dynasty proved to be just as bad or worse than the Empire. The offer was simple. Join the Armada or any department of their operations and they would guarantee amnesty for her. She’d get a stable paying job no matter which department she chose, along with healthcare and other benefits.

But what made her truly consider it was them saying TaggeCo could restore Kanan’s vision, and that they had an hour to decide before the ISB’s Major Partagaz came to interrogate them and the offer expired. She’d heard of Partagaz before, a Clone Wars hero that was involved in so many secrets his name had to be redacted, leaving only ‘Partagaz’ on his illustrious, medal-filled record. She’d also heard horror stories about his interrogation techniques. The man was psychological warfare personified.

Hera caressed her stomach. She was deciding for two. The offer was made almost an hour ago. She was running out of time. The toggle was flicked. “Tell Lapin Tagge that I accept the offer.”

If any of her family rejected it, she would only be able to watch as they were taken away. The child inside her was the priority now.

It took ten minutes for a guard component to arrive and release her. She looked down the hallway to see Sabine, Kanan, Zeb, and Tristan being guided out of their cells. Chopper was nowhere to be seen, and Ezra was looking at them with stubborn eyes through the ray shields. She wanted to talk to him, to beg that he accepted before it was too late, but that was the moment two ISB officers arrived. She recognized Wullf Yularen, and the other must be Partagaz.

Hera stared back at Ezra with pleading eyes as she was escorted away and the two officers made their way over to her son.

“Where are you taking us?”

“To The Lady. The specifics of your arrangements still need to be made.”

Well then, time to see what her future would look like.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recovery Room, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

“Wait, you two were engaged?” Yana was looking between Yissa and Artur in shock, all three of them now somewhat dressed and on a different bed while Merri blissfully twitched on the other one, barely conscious. Yissa was blushing lightly and Artur just shrugged.

“Our families arranged it. Yissa chose me out of a lineup and Aunt Mina gladly paid the bride price to get the Hammerlys into the blood web. By the way, Yissa, six million was criminally low.”

“Well, I didn’t have much of a say in things, Artur.”

“Alright, cut it out, both of you. What happened after you got engaged?” Yana interrupted before they could argue again. She’d only just managed to make them get along.

Yissa looked at her wyf. “Well, we got engaged, went on a few dates mostly for the publicity, and then on my wedding day I found a note detailing the best route out of the building to the nearest recruiting station. The rest you already know.”

Yana did know. It was broadcasted live a week after the Youth Corps placed her on Corulag. The Runaway Bride, climbing down the side of the Hall of Citizens with no less than thirty kilos of jewelry on her dress, hotwiring a speeder, and gunning it for the nearest Imperial recruiting station will forever be imprinted in her mind. Yissa had inadvertently inspired her.

“Who placed that note there? Did you know?”

“I don’t. Whoever it was didn’t leave a name.”

Artur spoke up. “I do.”

Both women looked at him, and Yissa’s eyes widen as she registered the look on his face. She tackled him in a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”

Yana was connecting the dots. Artur left that note, making sure to keep himself from suspicion in the process. Why? Did he not like Yissa? Or was it the arranged marriage he didn’t want? Did he not want to get married? To anyone? To her? What if he-

No. Stop. Bad brain. He loved her, that much she knew. That was enough. Now, just one last thing.

“What are we gonna do about Merri?”

Before any of them could deliberate on it, Lapin poked their head in. “Everyone, check your personal message stack. Artur, Operation Titanfall is a go. Get dressed, you’re needed on the bridge.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conference Room One, The Acquisitor, Tagge Armada

The trip from the Levinbolt to the Acquisitor was silent, save for Lapin relaying instructions to the pilot and giving a clearance code on approach. The Spectres were all huddled in one corner, heads down. They all took the deal. They were selling out. They were leaving the rebels, leaving the cause, behind to save themselves. Chopper was missed, but Lapin had assured her that the droid was safe and untouched, and that she’d get him back eventually. Ezra, on the other hand…

Why was he so damn stubborn? Hera knew why, but this was unwinnable. You didn’t go up against the Tagges and expected to survive. You just didn’t. If it was the Empire she would’ve been right there with him, ready to die before giving up or giving in, but it wasn’t. Unlike the Empire, the Tagges realized that while not everyone could be threatened into submission, anyone could be bought, you just needed to find the right currency.

She had been bought. They offered her a damn good life, and even promised new eyes for Kanan as a ‘signing bonus’. In the end, she was selfish. For once in her damn life, she chose the selfish, self-serving option.

Did she regret it? Maybe. Too late to back away now.

Sabine was staring at her boots, leaning on Tristan for support. Her father was still in the brig, so was her riduur. She needed to use this opportunity to negotiate their releases, secure them protection like what they offered her. Some cynical part of her brain told her to leave her mother out of it. Ursa Wren abandoned her own family, let her see what it felt like. That line of thought did nothing for her guilt.

She was running away again. First her family, now the Alliance. Once a coward, always a coward, she supposed.

A voice snapped them out of their thoughts. “We’re here. Landing now.”

A squad of guards in gray, red, and gold escorted them from the moment they left the shuttle to the moment they walked through the doors of the conference room. Lady Domina was there, sitting at the head of a long table, datapad in hand.

“Captain Syndulla, Commander Dume, Captain Orrelios, Lord and Lady Wren. Sit down, if you please.”

Eyebrows raised at the formal address of their ranks, or title in Sabine’s and Tristan’s cases, but the five of them sat down at the other end of the table.

“I’ve been told that you five have accepted my offer. This meeting is just to finalize some finer details and give each of you a chance to… negotiate.” Her eyes turned to Sabine. “Your parents, in particular, can still be spared, if you can offer me something equally valuable in return.”

Sabine and Tristan both glared at her, rage bubbling up. Their parents were people, not bargaining chips. But to this woman that’s exactly what they were. “What do you want?” Sabine growled.

A smile, deceptively sweet. “A life for a life. Your father, mother, and husband, for Jan Dodona, Gial Ackbar, and Saw Gererra.”

All four sets of eyes widened. “Why Saw? What’s so special about him?”

Sabine felt, rather than saw, Domina’s eyes hardened. A screen appeared in the middle of the table and a news report from HNN was played.

“Controversy from the Senate Building today as Senator Ulric Tagge of Tepasi accused several other senators, including Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Bana Breemu, of colluding with notorious terrorist Saw Gererra to cover up a planetwide genocide on Jegsziv, a world in the Expansion Region that has long been classified as a Class-4 bioweapon after a supposed mining disaster infected the planet’s atmosphere. Along with that, new evidence from the ISB has apparently been brought to light on supposed connections between several senators and the insurgent organization known as the Rebellion or the Alliance. All of the accused senators have, at this point, refused to comment on the allegations. This is Alton Kastle, reporting live on HoloNet News.”

She looked at the four stunned rebels. “Before you ask, no, that wasn’t propaganda. The allegations are real. Every single one of them.”

Kanan could feel the truth from Domina Tagge, so at least she fully believed what she was saying, and he told the rest of them as much. Hera was disgusted. Not exactly surprised, not with Saw, but she was surprised about Senator Organa or Mon Mothma covering it up.

Regardless, there were also the connections between the senators and the Alliance. If those charges stuck, and the ISB being confident enough to arrest two prominent senators publicly was alarming, the Alliance would lose their best assets in the Core, their eyes and voices in the Senate, and would also have to mount a rescue mission that was likely an ambush.

No matter which way this went, the Alliance just took a possibly lethal blow. Morale would be low, and if either of the senators talked the Empire would have enough information to rout the entire rebellion.

Sabine was… glad. Shamefully, she was glad. If the Alliance was doomed, then there was almost no reason for her to stay when there was an alternative that would end up overthrowing the current regime anyway, and with many more resources under them. Wait. Idea.

“How would you feel about including Alliance personnel into the deal? My parents, Ezra, and the Alliance. The same deal you offered me.”

Domina raised an eyebrow. Bold, this one. Expectedly so, but still bold. “Unlike your Alliance, Lady Wren, I operate on guarantees, not hope. Defined terms. Hard boundaries. So, make me a proposal, and I will consider it. Until then, this negotiation will be strictly focusing on your immediate family.”

Shoulders sagging, Sabine nodded regardless. It was objectively reasonable. The Lady was being generous enough. Testing that generosity was not the best idea, not right now. “Fine, but I’m coming back to that later. I’m not leaving them to fend for themselves, not if I can help them.”

A nod. “Fair enough, although you understand that you need to betray two important rebel commanders to get your parents back, don’t you?”

Hera took control of the situation before Sabine could answer. “We need some time to discuss. And some privacy.”

Lapin looked at Domina, got a nod, and escorted the four rebels into a side room. “You have five minutes. Again, I hope you choose wisely.”

Hera waited until the door is shut before turning around. “I’m going to ask this very seriously. Are we going to give up Admiral Ackbar and General Dodona to save the Wrens and Ezra?”

Sabine looked around. If it was just up to her, she would do it in a heartbeat. At least Dodona and Ackbar had a chance to escape whatever ambush was coming their way. The others were doomed if they couldn’t help them, right here, right now. Her found family seemed to share that line of thought, and Kanan confirmed that Domina was being truthful.

“I’m not part of this Alliance, and this is a choice between two strangers and my parents for me. I’m choosing my parents.” Sabine nodded in agreement at her brother’s statement. Despite what her mother’s actions might have indicated, family truly was everything to a Mandalorian.

It came to a vote. Zeb was hesitant, but eventually he relented that at least the two rebel commanders had a chance to evade capture. Hera looked around. “Alright, we’ll tell Domina where to find them. Hopefully they can escape. Now, what about Gererra?”

Sabine looked at Tristan. “I have an idea, but I need you to agree to it.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, do you have a proposal for me?”

Sabine stared at those eyes, those icy blue eyes, and almost buckled. Somehow, the woman looking at her was more terrifying than most of the beings she’d encountered so far. “Yes. We’ll give you intel on Ackbar and Dodona, in exchange for my father, Ezra, and protection for any Alliance personnel that wants it.”

“And Gererra?”

“We don’t know where he is.”

“Shame. Amnesty for your father, Commander Bridger, and consideration for any defecting Alliance personnel in exchange for Ackbar and Dodona. That’s my final offer.”

Sabine looked around, getting one last round of confirmation. “Done, but we need to get them back before you get your intel.”

“Perfectly reasonable. What about your mother?”

A second of hesitation. Domina analyzed it. Ah, so that was how she wanted to do this. If her guess turned out to be correct then Wren was more ruthless than she thought.

Her guess was proven right when Sabine turned back to her. “She abandoned her son. Her family. Let see how she likes it.”

Domina smiled. “As you wish. Lapin, arrange transport for Alrich Wren and Ezra Bridger from the Levinbolt. Now, regarding your positions within TaggeCo, have any of you given any thought as to what you want to do?”

Hera was the first to speak. “Piloting. I want to fly, and none of that orbital nerfshit either. I want to travel deep space.”

Lapin checked their datapad. “There’s always a cargo pilot position open at TaggeCo, and 3rd Scout Platoon on the Enterprise is requesting a new pilot. I’m guessing you’d want a job away from combat?”

Hera frowned. “How’d you figure?”

A pointed glance at her stomach. Of course they knew. Of course. “Yes, I’d like something calm for a while at least. I’m guessing I’ll be hauling cargo across the galaxy?”

“Not right away. There’s a training course on procedures and protocol, then you’ll fly shorter deliveries first. Understand that all of you are effectively on parole, and you will be treated as such. You will be under surveillance, your movements and access will be restricted, and you can be subject to randomized check-ins from a TaggeCo enforcer at any time. This is the only way to peacefully keep Great Uncle Wullf off your backs.”

Hearing Colonel Yularen, Scourge of the Rebellion, referred to as ‘Great Uncle Wullf’ was jarring, but Hera forced herself to move on. “I’ll also need the Ghost back. It’s a modified freighter, I can use it for deliveries.”

Went unsaid was that the Ghost has been her home for over a decade, and she didn’t want to lose it too.

Domina shook her head. “TaggeCo has very strict standards for the vessels in our fleet. Besides speed, the Ghost doesn’t meet any of them. You can have it back as a personal spacecraft after the ISB is done examining it.”

The tone left no room for debate. Once again, Hera had no desire to get on this woman’s bad side. Domina turned her gaze to Kanan. “Every freighter requires a copilot and a security officer. Once we restore your sight you can get both certificates in three months. Would that be acceptable, Commander Dume?”

Kanan frowned. “It is, but how did you know-?”

“Your original name? We have access to the Jedi Archives, Commander, including the list of members and their blood samples. A simple DNA test was sufficient.”

His brows shot up. “You have access to the Archives!?”

“A replica of it, yes.”

“How!?”

A chuckle. “A Lady needs her secrets, Commander. A Tagge even more so. Now, your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and you all will be processed into our system a week later.”

Her eyes turned to Sabine and Tristan. “If either of you want to join the Armada, there are positions available for you both in either Weapons or Engineering. All enlisted, no officer posting. The next intake for the NCO Academy is full so you both will have to start at Private E-1. Not to worry, with your skill you’ll be promoted to Spec-4 soon enough. Any further and you’ll have to take the NCO exam.”

Sabine thought about the ranks for a second. “Wait, you-“

“Use the same rank structure as the Imperial Army? Yes, up to Marshal. No sense fixing a system that works. The Navy ranks are similar.”

Sabine thought about it. “And you’re sure there are no officer posts for us?” Being an officer would come with privileges and authority, and they’d also get paid more.

Domina shook her head. “No, but even if there were neither of you have a baccalaureate, so you’re both ineligible for commission. You’ll be given the opportunity to earn one as you serve, but I’d recommend rising through the enlisted ranks first before you go for a commission.”

Sabine looked at Tristan. He nodded. He wanted to keep fighting. “We’ll enlist.”

Lapin tapped their datapad. “You’ll be sent to our primary facility on Tepasi for basic training, then assigned to a ship or a planetside base. We’ll make sure you two are assigned together. I’m classing you both as Weapons Engineers. Your new uniforms and rank devices will be provided before you leave. Here are your contracts, take your time reading, feel free to ask any questions.”

While Sabine and Tristan read through the contracts, Lapin shifted to Zeb, who was offered the chance to become a Dax by Master Ordis and was eager to take it. While the Armada patrolled and protected Tagge Space, the Dax acted as protectors of Tepasi itself. The elite warrior sect of the Temple of Lotus, the symbol of Tepasi faith, and under the command of the revered Grandmaster Teshin, who was once a Dax himself, they protect and serve Tepasi, not any family or faction.

Zeb had met them before, when he escorted the Royal Family to Tepasi for a diplomatic trip. They were honorable and just. To be a Dax would be an honor.

Lapin finalized some of the paperwork. “Well, if you’d come with me, Commander Dume, we’ll get you prepped for surgery. Any preferences on eye color?”

Kanan turned his head to Hera, feeling her out in the Force. “Blue. Bright blue.”

“Done. Follow me. You can accompany him, Captain Syndulla. Captain Orrelios, you’ll need to swear in and be initiated into the Tepasi faith. Seeker Rell will guide you to the ship’s prayer room to get the process started.”

A short man in a white set of leather armor approach the door, hood drawn up to the forehead and head bowed. “Follow me, Initiate Garazeb. I will guide you on the first few steps of your new journey.”

Zeb shot one last look at Tristan and Sabine, still sitting at the table. He waved them goodbye, nodded at Kanan, saluted Hera, then followed the Seeker out. A new journey. An honorable one.

Sabine waved him off. “Will we get to see him again?”

“That depends on scheduling. You’re allowed leave while on duty, and the Dax have ample free time between shifts and missions. Captain, Commander, if you two will stay here a while more, your exchanged prisoners are docking now.”

The door opened five minutes later, both Ezra and Alrich escorted through the threshold in cuffs. Ezra was also sporting a Force dampener around his neck. Kanan felt a chill through his spine. He could hear his apprentice, and by tomorrow he would be able to see him, but he couldn’t feel him. Where there should’ve been a bright conduit of the Force, there was only… a Human. A normal Human. It was jarring, and terrifying, and… stop. Stop that line of thought. As long as Ezra could behave, he’d be just fine.

Things would be just fine. As long as The House kept its word and there were no other complications.

…

He just jinxed them all, didn’t he?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Docking Bay 74, Coruscant Spaceport, Coruscant

One ‘Codi Lerobi’ checked through customs at the spaceport and made his way to the central hub. He needed to get information, reorient himself with the Core, then make it back to Bay 81 in time for his flight to Tepasi. He didn’t notice the plainclothes ISB spoof sending a message through his comms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Stinger Mantis, Tanalorr, Koboh Abyss

Life was good for Cal Kestis. He had an integral part in the Hidden Path, he had a daughter to care for, friends to hang out with, a safe world to settle on, and, after a slip up with Merrin about using his last name on her citizenship forms since she didn’t have one of her own, he had a very scary and very loving wife.

So of course the galaxy decided that now was the perfect time to drop a bomb in his lap.

“Kestis? It’s Jung. Obi-Wan Kenobi is on Coruscant. He has a ticket to Tepasi at 2115 today under ‘Codi Lerobi’. I got a holo enclosed with this message as proof. Thought you’d want to know. Gonna try to keep ISB away from this as long as I can. Jung out.”

Cal tried his best to not get his hopes up as he opened the file and looked at the holo. That… that was Master Kenobi. No doubt about it. Older and rougher, but that was him. He should… he should go meet him, right? At the very least Master Kenobi would be safe on Tanalorr, and a Jedi like him surely had many things to teach.

But he promised Kata he’d be there for her natal day next week, and Merrin was so excited about it…

“BD, calculate travel time for me. Here to Coruscant.”

“Beep boop.”

He winces. “How about to Tepasi?”

“Beep beep boop.”

“That’s better. We’re going there. Extraction job, quick and easy. No one needs to know, right?”

“Boop boop bah.”

“Don’t be like that. She won’t even notice! Come on, get the engines started.”

They were just lifting off when his comms cackled to life. “Cal, where are you going?”

Cal froze. Shit. She was supposed to be busy with some ritual in the basement. “Just a quick check in with a contact, making sure everything’s still safe over there.”

“Over where?”

“Uhhhh…. Naboo. Yeah, the cell on Naboo. I’ll be back in two, three days tops. Tell Kata I love her?”

“…You don’t need backup?”

“Uh, no. No, it’s okay. Just a standard check in, shouldn’t be any trouble. Besides, one of us needs to arrange things for Kata’s natal day and we both know I’m useless.”

“Yes you are. Alright, be safe. You take care of him, BD.”

“Beep boop.”

“Alright, gotta go. I love you, Merrin.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

“Beep beep bah!”

“Yes, and you, BD.”

Cal laughed as the comms cut off. “Alright BD, set course for Tepasi and take us out.”

Time to get a Jedi Councilor back. What could possibly go wrong?

[theknightlywolfe]

Okay, so, removing state income taxes, a $65k per year salary is ~$49k take home with zero health insurances.

If rent/mortgage is $1000/mon, utilities and insurance are $250/mon, and food is $250/mon then for bare survival that is $18k gone, you are left with $31k. Most places in the US do not have comprehensive and capable public transportation so that's another $5k on registration, gas, maintenance of a car, down to $26k.

If you have health insurance that your job pays half of, that is another $5k gone, we're down to $21k. (If you buy on the open market that is $4k to $12k a year gone.)

So, if you have no health issues, always eat at home, barely use AC in the summer and Heat in the winter, live in a state with no income tax, don't have any obligation to pay property tax (or any form of housing maintenance), have no issues with your car other than minor maintenance and repair, take no vacations, go to no events, and have zero other people you have to support in any way, you can put $20k in the bank in a year.

But if you do have state income tax, goodbye another $3k to $9k. Health issues, even minor ones, say goodbye to at least $2k even with insurance. Car issue, there's another $1k to $2k. Lucky enough to own a small place, $2k to $13k gone on taxes and maintenance, or maybe you just live where it gets hot or cold and like being comfortable. So, if these things are your situation in a year, even if you have no fun and no life, that annual savings is down to $10k a year.

Your entire enjoyment of life, buying of daily life needs like clothes, and savings for living past working is $10k to $20k per year. Again, if you have no dependents and only do the minimum to survive. No kids, no pets, you are on the cheapest phone and internet and have no TV or streaming services. And, notice what else was missing? *Student debt*

And yeah, that sounds like a lot. Until you realize how little things like a weekly coffee, a weekly drink, meeting with friends to go to the movies/escape room/get a couple cocktails add up. So, even if you manage to use that to enjoy life a little and save $5k a year and work a full time job getting an average of $65k/year for 40 years, your savings at retirement would be a whopping $200k. Let's say your average investment return was 5%, let's say you have $220k now. Well, I sure hope you owned your own place in the first ten years of your $65k job and never moved and now don't have a mortgage or rent to pay.

Oh, you never had issues and never enjoyed life and had no state taxes, and were able to put away $10k a year? A 5% return every year on that to pay for your cost of living is $20k. Which is housing, and food and almost nothing else. Or maybe you expect to die at 76 and will just use it all up in the 11yrs after retiring. I'm sure inflation isn't a thing and you will have no health issues and you can manage to enjoy life on the $18k left after paying the bare minimum to survive.

Can you survive on less than $65k a year salary? Absolutely. I did for years. And not having kids or pets meant I could also enjoy life in a lot of small ways. And I, for the most part, was *healthy* and had no debt except a mortgage (and I only was able to get a home due to Obama's first time home buyer credit and qualifying for FHA and because the market was downturned).

$65k is, even in the best of situations, the entrance to middle, middle class.

i can't stop thinking about the results of that 65k income poll. i've spent my entire life straddling the poverty line so i understand feeling like even just another 10k would assuage my anxieties, but good fucking lord the ultra-wealthy are absolutely winning this class war if the economic policies they have influenced have convinced so many people that an income that can't even afford to own a home or raise a child is 'rich'.

i really, really hope the majority of those votes are from non-americans applying usd conversion rates to their own currency's purchasing power.

[greenproelectrical]

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They’re like detectives

Energy efficiency specialists use a combination of knowledge, skills, and tools to identify and implement energy-saving measures for both residential and commercial clients. This important role centers around promoting sustainable practices, ensuring compliance with energy regulations, and using software tools to analyze energy data.

Todd Holland, an energy conservation project manager at Williams, likens his job to that of a detective. He uses thermal imaging cameras to find nooks and crannies where insulation is missing, or pumps, valves, and water heaters aren’t running as efficiently as they could be.

The most sought-after skills in energy efficiency specialist occupations include identifying opportunities for utility cost savings, conducting home energy assessments, performing insulation and weatherization installation, and working with various state programs including Mass Save. These positions often pay a salary of $90,000 or more depending on experience and uncapped commissions.

They’re committed

Energy efficiency specialists take a comprehensive approach to their work, performing thorough energy assessments (also known as energy audits) to identify areas where a building or business can save electricity, gas, or water. They develop and recommend energy-saving strategies and solutions, and use advanced software tools to track performance and savings over time. They often collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, including public sector agencies and utilities, to help implement projects or programs that reduce energy consumption.

They’re also committed to making sustainable practices accessible to all, finding budget-neutral solutions that put the green upgrades customers need within reach. With these attributes, it’s no surprise that energy efficiency specialists are in high demand. The future of energy looks bright for these dedicated professionals. Learn more about careers in sustainability.

They’re time-efficient

Many people are interested in finding ways to save energy at home. This is why most energy companies offer a no cost home energy assessment where an energy specialist visits the customer’s home and thoroughly explores a variety of potential energy savings tips. From heating and cooling system tune-ups to maximum recommended water heater temperatures to the proper placement of insulation, energy specialists can help customers understand how to make their home more efficient.

Energy Efficiency Specialists are often detail oriented and have a strong ability to analyze data sets. This helps them determine which energy engineering solutions will decrease a facility’s overall load, which allows for significant savings.

The skills that energy efficiency specialists possess can be a great asset to your business and will allow you to take the next step towards becoming greener and more energy efficient. This will help you attract socially responsible consumers and employees, such as millennials who place a high importance on a company’s corporate culture, sustainability initiatives and environmental activism.

[publicaddresssystems]

Public Address Systems

Making the PA System for Schools Effective

The PA system for schools has actually been around as long as any individual can keep in mind. A (public address) system assists schools to interact day-to-day notices to pupils and staff, and likewise to disseminate emergency situation info when it occurs. It is a useful, efficient, and financial tool that has actually evolved and enhanced in time.

The PA system for schools is practically interchangeable with the intercom, and both formats are discovered currently in non-educational settings too. With this movement into wide applications, managers have tweaked things in various methods, helping to develop tried operational methods. Often interaction procedures have needed taking another look at to make sure that efficiency is preserved.

The objective of the PA system is to conduct a mass interaction to a big group without having to assemble them in one area. It is simple to see why this function is a strong motivator in colleges, for students and workers tend to be dispersed all over the place at any point, and obtaining them all to transfer to a hall is turbulent and unpleasant. Moreover, there could be the problems of not having enough room, added management prices, and high chance of decreased focus periods.

To execute the PA innovation, one has to position a speaker in virtually every area, a microphone in a central place, and a transmission network (wired or wireless) for getting the word out to all the speakers simultaneously. One could want or need ancillary devices for appearing a tone or comparable alert to signify the target market of the unavoidable address. This is a reliable and effective means to interact with a basically restricted target market.

For many years, the mostly-in-schools application has migrated into general public areas (like terminals) and various other sort of companies; this has actually prompted some thinking about transforming the nature of notifies before statements or even eliminating them. In general, one wants to provide the courtesy of alerting employees who are engrossed in their job that they need to pay attention to an impending statement. However in a public space, where folks are mainly awaiting transportation, they tend not to be busied and fine with direct announcements.

In even more current times, the number of means for publicly communicating with others has actually increased considerably. Message boards and signs are quite widespread, providing visual content for any person to view whenever they want without any need for distinct disruption. On the other hand, when noises are utilized in some setups (e.g., factory whistles, school bells), the meaning is basically coded within the audio and needs no forewarning.

There is an additional issue, that of evolving interaction methods that concern privacy. There could be the wish to utilize your PA system to transmit an apparently innocuous message without recognizing that it should not be exposed for public consumption since it might be taken as offensive. Administrators are needing to find out exactly how to walk in this field and search for the best method to specify their methods.

The PA system, whether for schools or somewhere else, has actually become a fixture in society, a lot to make sure that individuals come to be inured to it and tune it out. Hospitals, various services, airport terminals, and train terminals continually inform the public of gate modifications, event updates, mundane directions, and emergency situations. A mixed-media format boosts efficiency by catering to different feeling choices amongst a broad tasting of the populace. synchronized clocks for hospitals

The earliest interaction methods most likely located their proving ground in universities, and years of refinement have actually boosted their integrity, efficiency, and performance. Services and various organizations have borrowed them and expanded their usefulness. This cooperation has been making the PA system for schools ever before much more reliable.

[sublimeobservationarcade]

Warnings About Oligarchy Fall On Deaf Ears

I suspect that many of the people that voted for Trump would struggle to spell oligarchy let alone grasp its meaning. Hey, those Big Tech bros are cool guys and wouldn’t it be great to be like them. This sentiment may well capture the popular mood among many younger Americans. President Joe Biden’s outgoing speech to the nation was highlighted by warnings about oligarchy. It seems, warnings about oligarchy fall on deaf ears at the moment. Explaining about the importance of having a separation between government and big business should be fairly nondescript. The general American ignorance about how government works is pretty disturbing. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-16/oligarchy-taking-shape-in-america-joe-biden-/104824806

President Trump Meets with Mark by National Archives and Records Administration is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Oligarchic Alarm Bells Going Off, Warns Biden

Weak governments produce overly powerful private interests. Power abhors a vacuum. Putting billionaires in positions where they directly influence economic decisions taken by the government is a recipe for the corporate takeover of government. Private armies and militias are already emerging from decades of neoliberal rule. The weakening of the state means more corruption and misuse of power by oligarchs. You know, when the Berlin Wall fell and the USSR broke apart in 1991 the US advised Boris Yeltsin on the best way to form a new style of democratic government. Those political and economic advisers went over there and organised the creation of these oligarchs. Created out of the privatisation of Soviet assets like oil and gas and energy utilities. Millionaires and soon, billionaires were generated and these guys were a ring around the democratically elected government. The power, the real power was vested in these oligarchs so that the West could do business with them. This was the accelerated capitalism put in place by the West. The Russians were supposed to be learning from the American model. America Taking An Oligarchic Leaf Out Of Russia Of late, however, it is Trump and American big business copying the Russian oligarchic model. Unchecked influence and power being exerted by the Elon Musk’s, Jeff Bezos’ and Mark Zuckerberg’s is the new world order. Especially, as warnings about oligarchy fall on deaf ears. Vladimir Putin has killed off a number of the oligarchs around him and replaced them with more amenable chaps, I suspect. It will be interesting to see how the American oligarchs around Trump will get on. It is no wonder that the Trump and Putin bromance represents an aligning of authoritarian states. Russia leads the way and get ready for corruption levels to go ballistic in the US under Trump 2.0.

Civil Unrest Looks Likely In America Trump the reality TV, fake billionaire has assembled an executive cabinet largely taken from TV land, Fox News in the main. Appointing to top jobs individuals with no real world experience in their field is a sure fire recipe for dysfunctional government. If the public service below them is gutted and replaced with yes men and women America is in for a collapse of empire. Civil unrest will be on the cards and what the police and security agencies do about that will be pretty important in terms of where it all lands. Revolution is not out of the question. Young people everywhere are sick of being ripped off by the economic setup created by the baby boomer generation. Rents are unaffordable. Property prices out of reach for many. Basic food items have been too expensive for too long. The murder of Brian Thompson the UnitedHealthcare CEO may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Ordinary people are being fleeced by Big Tech and their rentier subscription economic model. You have to pay to use everything but never actually own anything. The devices, the software and access to the digital files are all tied up in a very tight bow. This model is being extended to everything in our lives. Workers are being screwed continuously, as are consumers now, as CEO’s and their companies increase profitability for their shareholders. These giant corporations are making hundreds of billions annually while we are turned over again and again. Weaker governments with less regulatory powers can do nothing about this state of affairs. This is why it is likely that civil revolution will be forced to bust up this grossly unfair economic setup. History tells us that extreme imbalances of wealth always end in revolution. Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump. ©WordsForWeb

Jeff Bezos by U.S. Air Force is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 Read the full article

[palmerhomes]

Office Cleaning In Attadale-Fruitful Results At Affordable Prices by GSB Office Cleaners

In addition to being a location to work, your office represents your business to the public. You meet clients, mingle with coworkers, and finalize those important business deals there. For this reason, it's crucial to make a strong first impression! We at GSB Office Cleaners are committed to assisting you in keeping your office looking its best. Because we understand that you want your workspace to be both professional and welcoming, we are committed to finding the appropriate balance. Efficiency, discretion, and professionalism are the three main things we look for while office cleaning in Attadale. The best tools and supplies are used by our team of professionals to do the job. We all strive to pay attention to the little things.

We can't wait to work with you, team! Our main goals are to deliver exceptional service and make sure you are entirely satisfied with the work we do. If you let us take care of your office's maintenance, get ready for a total makeover! Together, we will turn your office into a comfortable, orderly, and productive haven that will make your business look amazing!

Imagine having a spotless and effective workstation at the start of every day, thanks to our powerful and reliable cleaning products. You will receive a daily dose of unadulterated goodness from our knowledgeable staff! The main ideas behind them include being thorough, staying on task, and smiling when you're done.

When you work with us, you can benefit from the experience of seasoned professionals as well as a conventional cleaning service. Our highly skilled staff uses the most effective techniques to arrange, clean, and sanitize your workspace. They are experts in office maintenance. Even for people who have cleaned before, their increased skill and attention to detail make the experience better. Our amiable and knowledgeable staff is dedicated to improving your workspace because it is a reflection of your company. You will always be greeted with a tidy and friendly space that leaves a lasting impression on clients and coworkers if you put your trust in us.

How proud we are of our amazing crew! When it comes to keeping workplaces spotless, they are absolute specialists. After years of training and experience, our crew has the skills and knowledge to finish the job. Utilizing the newest and greatest equipment in conjunction with low-impact, eco-friendly items is their main goal. These people are cleaning ninjas! They know just what to do to make your desk feel and look its best. They also follow very strict guidelines to be sure that everyone is happy and healthy at work. Sustainable techniques, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and a lot of love for the planet are all on the table!

We combine dependability, efficiency, and affordability in our office cleaning in Attadale to provide you the best value for your money. Our crew has the skills and knowledge to do the job, and they're always looking for ways to improve and go above and beyond your expectations.

At GSB Office Cleaners, we strive to offer premium goods at reasonable prices. We believe that everyone should have access to a clean and safe workplace, regardless of their financial circumstances. Because of this, we are committed to delivering exceptional results without breaking the bank. Without having to pay royal costs, we want you to feel like you're getting royal treatment!

Make an appointment

[studentabode]

Smart Budgeting Tips for International Students: Save Money While Enjoying the Experience

Studying abroad is like calling it a grand adventure in a box – you’d meet new things, go to new places, and realize that Ramen noodles can feed you more than you can imagine. But come on people, let’s not sugar coat it now, the beginning portion which dealt with budgeting? That’s the kind of plot twist you never knew you needed in your life. Don’t worry, though! So here we give you eight tried-and-tested sound advice to travel Europe en masse on a shoestring, from student apartment peculiarities to weirdos you will sure to come across!

1. Plan Your Budget in Advance

Before arriving in a new country, write down a thorough budget. Find out the cost of living in your destination, such as school fees, housing, transportation, food, and entertainment. A specific amount should be allocated to each item and follow it as best you can.

Utilise budgeting applications such as Mint or Pocket Guard to track your spending.

Always keep a separate reserve fund for emergencies.

2. Opt for Affordable Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the greatest books that students can dip into for students abroad. Picking affordable options can help to a great extent in lowering your overall caterers. Look for student housing providers that offer shared flats or purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) near your university.

Check out different options regarding prices, features, and facilities before signing on the dotted line.

Think about living somewhere distant from the city centre if the transport is affordable.

3. Cook at Home

Eating out a lot can be unsustainable for your wallet in the long run. Save money by cooking your meals instead of having lunch in restaurants or ordering food from the outlying area. Try to find a few simple recipes and work with your roommates to prepare meals together.

Shop at local markets to buy fresh and cheap produce.

Meal prepping can save both time and money.

4. Use Student Discounts

Many countries give students discounts for transport, entertainment, and shopping. So always have your student ID card with you and ask if there are any discounts not only in a store or even a particular chain wherever you go.

Get student discount cards like ISIC (International Student Identity Card).

Find out about free or cheap student events and places of interest for students.

5. Choose Public Transport or Cycle

Say no to taxis or rideshare apps that make you overspend on everyday travel. Alternatively, you can use public transportation to get from one place to another, and also purchase or rent a bike by which you can move around. Many cities have schemes to provide students with free or reduced prices on public transport.

Make sure you plan your travel time and route to save both time and money on transport.

Walking short distances can be another great way to save money and stay healthy.

6. Find Part-Time Work

In case the rules of your visa allow this, you can use your free time to engage in a part-time job that will be a source of income for you. Working just a few hours a week can pay for your daily expenses and worry about your financial condition to a lesser extent.

Investigate campus jobs, tutoring, or freelancing.

Keep your work from interfering with your education.

7. Be Smart About Shopping

Irrational purchases and excessive spending on expensive items could be damaging to your budget. Therefore, shop smart by looking for bargains, discounts, and seconds. For everyday essentials, try visiting supermarkets or local vendors.

Utilize cashback apps and loyalty programs to get more savings.

Borrow or rent objects such as textbooks instead of buying them when they are new.

8. Track Your Expenses Regularly

Maintaining stricter control over your spending habits will certainly have a positive effect on your budget, thus making it one of the most important things to check out. Consume money wisely and evaluate the potential expense areas that might allow you to save some money. It will discipline you towards saving money in the future.

Define weekly or monthly spending limits.

Revise your budget by identifying the unnecessary expenses if you notice them.

Final Thoughts

Good budgeting of students while travelling abroad won't only make their fond memories last forever but also enable them to pay more attention to schoolwork and other than that, they can impress the faculty with great personal development. These travel hacks will keep you on the deviant path of prioritizing academics and having fun without overburdening yourself financially.

Looking for Affordable Student Accommodation?

The right housing is the best strategy for sticking to your budget. Student Tenant provides a great choice of verified and low-cost student housing options specifically designed for international students. They have to offer cosiness-shared apartments or facilities close to your university if there is no existing location for you on the campus of your educational institution.

Kick off your journey with peace of mind by using Student Tenant, the trusted source for your housing requirements!

This catchy, information-rich essay will prevent international students from spending lots of money during their studies, while at the same time linking them to a trustworthy student accommodation service. Make it clearer to me, please!

[allcnaprograms]

Necessary Guide to CNA Certification Renewal in California: Steps, Tips, and Resources for 2023

Essential Guide to CNA Certification⁢ Renewal‍ in California: Steps, Tips,​ and Resources for⁣ 2023

If​ you are a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)​ in California, keeping your certification current is ⁢essential to maintaining your career and professional standing. This essential guide will walk you through the steps, tips, and ‌resources⁤ to successfully renew your CNA certification in California for 2023. Whether you are a seasoned CNA or new to the field, understanding ‍the renewal process can save you ‍time and stress.

Understanding CNA Certification in California

A CNA ⁢certification in California verifies that you are‌ trained‍ and qualified to ⁤provide basic ​care to patients and residents in​ various healthcare settings. The certification must be renewed every‍ two years​ to ensure that CNAs stay up-to-date with their skills and knowledge.

Steps to Renew Your CNA Certification

Renewing your CNA certification involves ‍a simple ⁣yet crucial series of steps. ⁣Let’s‌ break it down:

1. Confirm Eligibility

Ensure⁣ your certification ‍is not expired by more than ‌two years.

Must have completed continuing education requirements.

Maintain a clean⁣ background check; substantial criminal charges can⁤ affect your⁢ renewal.

2. Complete Required Continuing Education

To renew your CNA‍ certification in California, you are required to ⁢complete 48 hours of continuing education (CE) every ‍two years, which​ includes:

12 hours must be on topics related to caregiver skills.

The remaining hours⁤ can include various topics relevant to patient care.

3. Gather Required Documentation

You’ll need to compile various​ documents, such as:

Proof of completed continuing education courses.

Current identification (driver’s license or ⁣ID).

Any documentation‌ related to ‌employment ⁣as ⁤a CNA.

4. Complete the Renewal Application

Fill out the ‌renewal application, which can​ typically be found on the California ⁤Department‌ of Public Health (CDPH) website. Make sure⁣ to double-check all‍ information before submitting.

5. Pay the ‌Renewal Fee

The renewal fee ‌for ⁢a CNA certification in⁤ California is $100. Be prepared‍ to submit ‍payment along with your application.

6. Submit‍ Your Application

Send your completed application⁣ along ⁢with‌ all‍ required⁣ documentation and payment to the CDPH. You can choose‍ to submit your application by mail ⁤or online through the CDPH’s online services portal.

Key Deadlines for CNA Certification Renewal in⁣ 2023

Task

Deadline

Renewal⁣ Application Submission

At least 2 months before the expiration date

Continuing Education Completion

Before application submission

Payment of Renewal​ Fee

At ⁣the time of application submission

Benefits of Renewing Your CNA Certification

Renewing your ‍CNA certification comes with ⁤numerous benefits, including:

Job Security: Staying ⁢certified ensures you can work legally ​in the healthcare sector.

Professional ​Development: ‌Continuing education helps you stay updated with​ the latest best practices and regulations.

Enhancing Skills: Regular training and courses build your skill set, making you a more proficient caregiver.

Career Opportunities: A valid⁢ certification opens doors to various healthcare job opportunities.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Renewal Process

Tips:

Start the renewal⁤ process early ⁣to avoid last-minute complications.

Keep organized records of your education ‌and‍ employment to streamline documentation.

Utilize ⁣online resources to find accredited continuing education providers in​ California.

Consider joining CNA professional‌ networks for support and ⁢up-to-date information on renewal processes.

Case Studies: First-Hand Experiences

Many⁤ CNAs share their experiences about the renewal⁣ process. Here are a couple​ of insights:

Case Study 1: Sarah’s Journey

“I⁣ started my renewal process two⁣ months before my certification was set⁤ to expire. This way,⁢ I could complete my ‌continuing education without⁣ rushing.‌ I found online courses convenient and⁢ manageable around my ⁤work schedule.” -‌ Sarah, CNA

Case Study ​2: Mark’s Mistake

“I ⁤waited until a week before my certification expired to submit my ⁣application, which led to a⁤ lot of stress. Make sure​ to give yourself ample ⁤time⁢ and keep track of your expiration dates!” – Mark, CNA

Resources for CNA⁣ Certification Renewal in California

Here are some useful resources that can help you navigate the renewal process:

California Department of Public⁣ Health

American Nurses Association

CNA Classes & ‍Continuing Education

Nursys License Verification

Conclusion

Renewing ⁤your CNA⁣ certification in California doesn’t ‍have to be a daunting task.⁤ By following⁤ these steps and utilizing the⁣ resources listed, you ⁣can ⁣ensure a seamless renewal process. Stay proactive by completing your continuing‍ education on time, keeping your documents organized, and maintaining awareness⁢ of deadlines. ⁣With a renewed⁤ certification, you’ll not only secure your job ⁢but enhance your skills and advance your career in the healthcare field.

https://allcnaprograms.com/necessary-guide-to-cna-certification-renewal-in-california-steps-tips-and-resources-for-2023/

[unilifeabroadcareersolution]

Cost of Studying in Italy - Complete Guide

@unilifeabroadcareersolutions

This is a hot spot not only because of its significance in art, history, and culture but also because it holds some of the world’s top-ranked universities. The university tuition fees are also not expensive compared to other popular destinations besides having a rather interesting lifestyle. However, to plan your journey to this Mediterranean gem, you will need to know more about cost of living and cost of study.

Tuition Fees

It is less expensive to study in an Italian university compared to the universities of Western Europe. Universities: Depending on the course and depending on your income, it ranges between €900 and €4,000 per year. Most universities have different fees depending on your family’s economic status Universities: They are very pricey with a fee range from €6,000 to €20,000 per year. Best Universities University of Bologna-the oldest university in Europe. • Politecnico di Milano – it is known by engineering and design. • Sapienza University of Rome.

Living in Italy costs

The price may vary according to the city; the bigger cities like Rome, Milan, Florence are usually more expensive than Bologna or Pisa. Average Monthly Costs Living:

Shared student dorm: 250-400€ a month. Private apartment: 400-800€ a month, depending on town.

Food: Groceries: 150-250€ a month. Eating Out: One dinner at a budget restaurant would be 10-20€

Accommodation: Pass to public transport for the month – 25-50€. Many cities have offers for a discounted pass for students.

Utilities and Internet: Utilities: Electricity, heating, water, etc. – 50-100€/month Internet: Approximately 25-30€/month

Miscellaneous: Entertainment, clothing, and leisure: 50-150€/month

City-Wise Breakdown Milan: 1,200-1,500 €/month Rome: 1,000-1,400 €/month Florence: 900-1,200 €/month Bologna: 800-1,100 €/month

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Other scholarships are designed specifically for international students who would like to come to Italy and these ones highly reduce the weight of the expenses. DSU Scholarships: They also alleviate the burden of room and board for the qualified set of students. Invest Your Talent in Italy: They exempt this scholarship from tuition fees, with an additional monthly stipend for postgraduate students. University-Specific Scholarships: It is common to find specific scholarships offered by different universities for international students.

Working While Studying

International students in Italy are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours a week. That will cover some of the living costs. All jobs usually pay between €8 to €15/hour, depending on the job and locality.

Cost Management Tips

• Live in Budget-Friendly Cities: Small cities like Pisa or Perugia are cheaper than Rome or Milan. • Cook food at Home: Italian markets have immense fresh and easily available ingredients. • Student Discounts in Transportation: Generally, majority of museums, cinema’s etc. have transport facility with student discount. • Split accommodation: Sharing with flatmates will miraculously save you a lot on accommodation.

Conclusion

Italy combines world-class education, a rich cultural experience, and affordable living costs, making it an ideal destination for international students. With proper budgeting and planning, you can make the most of your academic journey in this beautiful country.

Ready to explore your study options in Italy? Contact Unilife Abroad Career Solutions for expert guidance and personalized support in achieving your dreams!

84284 40444

info@unilifeabroad.com