#booker transportation

[diamondpaintingworld]

What are the requirements for owner operators and truck drivers?

Many people working as truck drivers have to decide between being an independently running owner operator or driving for a company. In some countries, where the cost of living is higher and there's less job security, employment as independent party trucking may be the best option for people.

What is an owner operator truck driver?

An owner operator truck driver is an individual who drives his or her own vehicle and provides transportation services to others. The business is self-employed, meaning that the drivers set their own schedules and choose which customers they want to work for. They also have complete control over their vehicles, which means they can choose when and where to drop off cargo for delivery or pick up loads from other companies' locations.

Owner operators have the freedom to drive for multiple companies at once if they wish; however, each company must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition this requirement also applies when it comes time for renewing your CDL license every 3 years; each time you renew your license there's another exam process that must be completed before being granted another one (which means having passed all previous exams).

You have many responsibilities as an owner operator.

As an owner operator, you have many responsibilities. You are responsible for the truck and its maintenance. You are responsible for the truck's safety. You are also responsible for the fuel economy of your vehicle and cargo that it carries on its journey from A to B.

Lease your truck and get the free tires

Leasing your truck can be a very cost-effective way to get around. You’ll save money on the lease and use of your vehicle, as well as on insurance and maintenance. The leasing company will typically pay for any tires you need. Plus, they provide free roadside assistance for any problems with your vehicle while it is in their possession—which means no more waiting in line at the mechanic's office!

Once you've leased your rig from an approved provider (like Trucking info), there are many other benefits available:

Free training programs from industry leaders

Fuel discounts at certain terminals or fuel stations

Parking discounts at local garages

Trucking is a great job for an independent contractor or owner operator

Trucking is a great job for an independent contractor or owner operator. It’s one of the best ways to make money, get experience and learn new skills.

Trucking can be done as an employee or as an independent contractor (also known as an “independent owner operator”). As an employee you will have benefits like health insurance, paid vacation days and sick days. You may also receive bonuses based on your performance with the company. As an independent contractor you are responsible for paying taxes on your income since it is considered self-employment income instead of wages or salary income

How to become a successful owner operators

There are a few steps you should take to become a successful owner operator. First, you need to be able to drive a truck. A CDL license is required by most states and many cities, so if this isn't available in your area or if it's not for whatever reason (such as financial hardship), then you'll have to find another way of getting around without one.

Next up: passing the DOT test! This is required by all states in order for drivers' licenses and insurance coverage from state authorities like DMV (Department Of Motor Vehicles). If you fail once during the exam process or later on when driving under supervision with an instructor at night time behind some sort of safety barrier system called a "fog lamp," then there could be consequences such as losing your license permanently over time due to having too much alcohol inside of blood stream levels at any given time during operation hours.*

Benefits of trucking owner operators

You are your own boss. The majority of owner operators and truck drivers work for themselves, so you can choose the hours that fit your lifestyle and schedule.

You are in control of your own schedule. If you want to work from home and drive every day for two weeks, it's possible with this job!

You can work from a laptop or tablet if that's what works best for you (and even if it doesn't). Many people choose to use these portable devices while they're on the road so they don't have to worry about missing out on opportunities because they didn't have access to email or phone reception (or both).

Get advice from an experienced truck driver

Ask a truck driver or a friend who is already a driver.

Ask your local live trucking company if they can recommend someone who has been working as an owner operator for some time and can give you advice about what it takes to become one.

If you don't have any options, reach out to someone in your community who knows something about being an owner operator or truck driver (i.e., someone who will be able to help guide you through the process of becoming one).

How to drive an 18 wheeler

Driving a truck is difficult, but it’s not impossible. The first step is to understand what each type of truck does and how they operate. Then you need to learn the basic rules of the road, including turning left or right at intersections and stopping when approaching crosswalks or stop signs. You should also know how many miles per hour (mph) it will take for your vehicle’s speedometer gauge needle to reach its maximum reading on a level road surface with no obstacles between you and oncoming traffic; this number will vary depending on whether there are curves in front of you as well as hillsides around corners that must be taken into account before deciding if turning onto them would be safer than staying straight ahead over flat surfaces with no elevation changes whatsoever (which would lead us into uncharted territory).

When driving these heavy vehicles through busy streets filled with other cars who may not understand what they're doing--or simply don't care--you'll want someone who knows how much force their brakes can generate without causing any damage whatsoever; otherwise they might cause accidents while trying out new ideas behind closed doors!

Conclusion

Requirements for owner operators and truck drivers are different from other professions such as airline pilots or doctors. It is important to follow certain rules to ensure job security and health. There are many factors that affect the job description of an owner operator. For example, a CDL holder with a large vehicle may be required to drive for three straight days, thus making it difficult for them to take care of their family commitments.

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #10

March 15-22 2024

The EPA announced new emission standards with the goal of having more than half of new cars and light trucks sold in the US be low/zero emission by 2032. One of the most significant climate regulations in the nation’s history, it'll eliminate 7 billion tons of CO2 emissions over the next 30 years. It's part of President Biden's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 on the road to eliminating them totally by 2050.

President Biden canceled nearly 6 Billion dollars in student loan debt. 78,000 borrowers who work in public sector jobs, teachers, nurses, social workers, firefighters etc will have their debt totally forgiven. An additional 380,000 public service workers will be informed that they qualify to have their loans forgiven over the next 2 years. The Biden Administration has now forgiven $143.6 Billion in student loan debt for 4 million Americans since the Supreme Court struck down the original student loan forgiveness plan last year.

Under Pressure from the administration and Democrats in Congress Drugmaker AstraZeneca caps the price of its inhalers at $35. AstraZeneca joins rival Boehringer Ingelheim in capping the price of inhalers at $35, the price the Biden Admin capped the price of insulin for seniors. The move comes as the Federal Trade Commission challenges AstraZeneca’s patents, and Senator Bernie Sanders in his role as Democratic chair of the Senate Health Committee investigates drug pricing.

The Department of Justice sued Apple for being an illegal monopoly in smartphones. The DoJ is joined by 16 state attorneys general. The DoJ accuses Apple of illegally stifling competition with how its apps work and seeking to undermining technologies that compete with its own apps.

The EPA passed a rule banning the final type of asbestos still used in the United States. The banning of chrysotile asbestos (known as white asbestos) marks the first time since 1989 the EPA taken action on asbestos, when it passed a partial ban. 40,000 deaths a year in the US are linked to asbestos

President Biden announced $8.5 billion to help build advanced computer chips in America. Currently America only manufactures 10% of the world's chips and none of the most advanced next generation of chips. The deal with Intel will open 4 factories across 4 states (Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, and Oregon) and create 30,000 new jobs. The Administration hopes that by 2030 America will make 20% of the world's leading-edge chips.

President Biden signed an Executive Order prioritizing research into women's health. The order will direct $200 million into women's health across the government including comprehensive studies of menopause health by the Department of Defense and new outreach by the Indian Health Service to better meet the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Women. This comes on top of $100 million secured by First Lady Jill Biden from ARPA-H.

Democratic Senators Bob Casey, Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown, and Jacky Rosen (all up for re-election) along with Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Sheldon Whitehouse, introduced the "Shrinkflation Prevention Act" The Bill seeks to stop the practice of companies charging the same amount for products that have been subtly shrunk so consumers pay more for less.

The Department of Transportation will invest $45 million in projects that improve Bicyclist and Pedestrian Connectivity and Safety

The EPA will spend $77 Million to put 180 electric school buses onto the streets of New York City This is part of New York's goal to transition its whole school bus fleet to electric by 2035.

The Senate confirmed President Biden's nomination of Nicole Berner to the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Berner has served as the general counsel for America's largest union, SEIU, since 2017 and worked in their legal department since 2006. On behalf of SEIU she's worked on cases supporting the Affordable Care Act, DACA, and against the Defense of Marriage act and was part of the Fight for 15. Before working at SEIU she was a staff attorney at Planned Parenthood. Berner's name was listed by the liberal group Demand Justice as someone they'd like to see on the Supreme Court. Berner becomes one of just 5 LGBT federal appeals court judges, 3 appointed by Biden. The Senate also confirmed Edward Kiel and Eumi Lee to be district judges in New Jersey and Northern California respectively, bring the number of federal judges appointed by Biden to 188.

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

"I Believe In You (Rehearsal)" - Sinead O'Connor, Madison Square Garden, New York City, October 16, 1992

Huge sadness to find out that Sinead O'Connor passed away this week — a truly one-of-a-kind artist. I still remember as a kid seeing her on the Grammys in the late 1980s and just being blown away (and a little bit confused) by her pure, focused intensity amidst the chintz and cheese of an awards show on broadcast TV.

In the outpouring of grief for Sinead, people have been saying that we failed her, we didn't deserve her, etc. Fair enough, but I imagine that O'Connor would roll her eyes a bit — if her weird, sometimes chaotic career proved anything it's that she was no one's victim. But you gotta acknowledge that sexism / conservatism / idiocy was a big and unfortunate part of her story. In some other epoch/universe, she would've been revered as an oracle or prophet. Instead, she gave us the truth and we gave her hell.

Case in point! Her infamous appearance at 1992's "Bobfest" during which Sinead was booed off the stage before she could perform "I Believe In You." Bizarre and embarrassing.

"Half the audience were cheering, half were booing, which is a strange sound," she recalled many years later. "I’m highly affected by sound, and it was making me want to vomit. So, when Kris [Kristofferson] helped me offstage, I was trying to suppress the urge to vomit over him… a bit of a headfuck. And I still remember dear old Booker T – who’s now a great friend – on the piano, getting ready to play the Dylan song. But my version involved whispering it, and the noise was too loud. So I just shouted the lyrics to Bob Marley’s "War" instead. Willie Nelson was waiting backstage. He’s a very funny character, who’d previously trained me how to transport weed across county lines! He’d also asked me to record a version of Peter Gabriel’s "Don’t Give Up" the next day. So when Kris led me offstage, Willie came up and whispered: 'You’re still coming in the studio tomorrow, right?' Ha ha! And we went off and had a spliff."

For an idea of how things could've been, take a listen to the remarkable afternoon rehearsal performance, wherein Sinead finds a holiness in the song that even Bob never matched. The rapture of faith, the glory of love. I believe in you.

Don’t let me change my heart Keep me set apart From all the plans they do pursue And I, I don’t mind the pain Don’t mind the driving rain I know I will sustain ’Cause I believe in you

Photo: Anton Corbijn

[justforbooks]

Middle England by Jonathan Coe

Reactionaries and remoaners clash in a meditation on anger, loss and the passing of time featuring the characters from The Rotters’ Club

At one point in Middle England, a couple attend a marital counselling session in which they are each asked to explain why they are so angry that their spouse voted differently from them in the EU referendum. One complains that the other, by voting leave, showed that “as a person, he’s not as open as I thought he was. That his basic model for relationships comes down to antagonism and competition, not cooperation.” Her husband answers that her remain vote made him realise she’s “very naïve”, “lives in a bubble”, and that it gives her “an attitude of moral superiority”.

The therapist’s verdict is: “What’s interesting about both of these answers is that neither of you mentioned politics. As if the referendum wasn’t about Europe at all. Maybe something much more fundamental and personal was going on. Which is why this might be a difficult problem to resolve.”

That, perhaps, is the sore point a novelist taking on Brexit as a subject might be expected to probe. There’s a truth here – that the Brexit vote was experienced and has continued to be experienced as a matter of personal identity. For a novelist, this is where the action is.

Middle England is the third novel featuring the characters from Coe’s 2001 novel The Rotters’ Club and 2004’s The Closed Circle, and sees an excellent writer making an enjoyable, absorbing and less than completely successful attempt to find the sweet spot of that sore point. The action runs from the spring of 2010 to the autumn of 2018, and the newsreel that unrolls in the background takes in Gordon Brown’s encounter with “that bigoted woman”, the coalition government, the London riots, the murder of Jo Cox, Nigel Farage’s notorious “Breaking Point” poster, the London Olympics and all the rest of it. And in that respect, of course, we know what’s going to happen because we’re living it. This is a book that foretells the present.

It also has a good deal to tell us, oddly, about geography and local transport. Coe has frequent resort to the melancholy poetry of place. On page four we read that the hero is driving “through the towns of Bridgnorth, Alveley, Quatt, Much Wenlock and Cressage”, and 40 pages later he’s taking the route in the other direction: “Cressage, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth, Enville, Stourbridge and Hagley”. A garden centre isn’t just “midway between Shrewsbury and Birmingham”: it’s “not far from the M54 and considered such a geographical fixture that it had its own official sign on the motorway”. A pub is “tucked away in a hard-to-find corner beside the Suffolk Street Queensway in Central Birmingham”. At one point we meet characters “driving out of Birmingham along the A3400”; at another contemplating the “rail replacement service between Kettering and Nuneaton” “‘Rail replacement service’, ‘Kettering’, ‘Nuneaton’. Were there five more dispiriting words in the English (or any other) language?”

In its politics, just as in its gripes about public transport, this is a great big Centrist Dad of a novel. It lives largely in the world of the media, academia, politics and (peripherally) the City. Benjamin Trotter is a failed novelist who in late middle age finds himself longlisted for the Man Booker prize; his old friend Doug is a well-heeled centre-left newspaper columnist; his niece Sophie is a university lecturer who becomes a minor TV don. The book has a wide cast of characters, though the ones we’re invited to sympathise with are pretty much all remainers.

And yet it’s never stronger or more convincing than when it’s furthest from political events. As the novel addresses the rise of populism, for example, we meet reactionary oldies in golf clubs moaning about “political correctness”; a lunatic conspiracy theorist buttonholing a publisher with a manuscript about the EU’s “Kalergi Plan” for white genocide; a porcine chancer funding the referendum through a dodgy free-market thinktank; an elderly former car worker uncomprehendingly contemplating the site where the Longbridge plant used to be; a privileged Corbynite student lodging a complaint against a lecturer after hearing (at second hand) that they’d said something to a trans student that could be taken the wrong way. They tell us, in caricatural form, what we already know – or at least suppose we do.

One problem is that the historical scaffolding is so familiar, and yet will date so fast; this means that certain passages of exposition feel clunky. The reader in 2018 has no need to be told the following:

Jeremy Corbyn had become leader of the Labour Party in September. The surprising – even astonishing – election of this obscure but long-serving, rebellious backbencher had been seen by many, including Sophie, as a welcome sign that the party was planning to return to the principles it had abandoned under Tony Blair.

The reader in 2028 might welcome the reminder. The reader in 2038 will struggle to give a damn. The reader in 3018 may eke a PhD out of it.

To give Middle England its due, it doesn’t aim to cover everything, recognising wanly that, in drink, the conversation will broaden out “to include Brexit, Donald Trump, Syria, North Korea, Vladimir Putin, Facebook, immigration, Emmanuel Macron, the Five Star Movement and the contentious result of the Eurovision song contest in 1968”. So the American elections are dispatched, wittily, in two lines:

Finally, Benjamin said: “I don’t like Trump, do you?” “Nope,” Charlie said. “Can’t stand the bloke.” Benjamin nodded. With the political discussion out of the way …

And it is when the political discussion is out of the way that the novel becomes richer and less schematic. There’s Sophie’s odd-couple relationship with her driving instructor husband Ian (they met on a speed awareness course) and the way she thinks and rethinks an adulterous near-miss at the beginning of their marriage. There’s Benjamin’s relationship with his sister Lois and his long-lost schoolfriend Charlie, now working as a children’s entertainer and locked in a feud with a rival clown. And there’s Benjamin’s journey towards self-understanding and acceptance. All these are done with real style and feeling.

Coe’s writing is as smoothly accomplished as ever. His comic set pieces – funerals, dinners, clown fights – and scenes capturing the affectionate and ridiculous sex of middle age, and a relationship between a journalist and a Yes Minister-style government adviser, are very funny.

Yet this is also a surprisingly sentimental book, beginning and ending with Benjamin listening wistfully to Shirley Collins’s song “Adieu to Old England”, which is not to its disadvantage. It is an autumnal novel, and a sad one: poignant about the passing of time, the wishing for what has vanished, the decades lost to obscure hatreds, misplaced loves and unsatisfactory marriages – and about what, washing up on the brink of old age, we’re left with and what we can or can’t make of it. That a river, or two, runs through it is no accident.

And in this context the national stuff just sort of bubbles up. The Midlands landscape of Benjamin’s childhood, a landscape at once familiar and remembered and transformed and imaginary, is the real middle England of the novel. And what is lost and gained goes far beyond the referendum in 2016. To quote that therapist again: “Something much more fundamental and personal was going on.”

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[world-of-fire-and-flight]

Manuscript Search Tag: TSAF

Thank you for tagging me, @author-a-holmes! Your fill was so intriguing and fun and gosh I miss Lizzy and Booker😅 *clears schedule to catch up on things* My words were Last, Chill, Hand, Work and I'm using my romantasy WIP to fill these 🤞

Last

Her heart and her body ached for the warm affection glowing in his eyes, melting her soul and all the threats hanging over her before they managed to detain her feelings.

Adelaide took a deep, almost ragged breath. Her mind fumbled to find a resolve she didn’t want to feel. All she wanted was for this moment to last. She ached for it to lead to something wonderful and true, something safe and sure, something that could be love.

Chill

Forcing herself to descend the worn staircase, Adelaide clutched her dagger closer to her chest. The hilt radiated heat. By the time she’d reached the bottom of the stairs, Adelaide had begun to wish she’d stayed at Castle Belmont, or had gone straight to the docks to inquire about the medicine directly with Mistress Scrabs’s privateer. But it was too late to turn back now.

Adelaide did her best to tamp down the chill that crawled down her spine. The voices became more distinguishable with each step she took. She stuck to the shadows between the bouncing light cast by the flickering lanterns, hiding behind crates and barrels scattered throughout the cellar and along the walls.

Hand

“Most people who are ‘all right’ don’t wince,” Archduke Hughes said, observing her closely. “If you’re injured, say so.”

“I…well, it’s my wrist,” Adelaide finally conceded. “But I’m sure it’s just a minor sprain. Thank you for your concern, Your Grace.”

The Archduke hummed, his lips pursed. He didn’t ask as he grasped hold of her hand once more and gingerly maneuvered it to examine her wrist.

“William, don’t just stand there, bring me my bag,” he called to the other rider.

Work

As he passed by Viktor’s stall, the gray steed tried to nip at his cloak. Gavin held a finger up to his lips and hushed him. Gavin offered him a carrot, knowing Viktor had worked just as tirelessly on their journey to transport the Eye of Behelwer. The horse accepted it graciously, making Gavin shake his head. He would be so lucky if Aves greeted him the same way. Moving on to the next stall, Gavin watched as Aves turned his back to the stall door as Gavin stopped to unlatch the bolt.

No Pressure Tagging:

@akindofmagictoo @cryptidwritings @aninkwellofnectar @thepenultimateword @ambiguouspuzuma and anyone else who'd like to play along😊 Your words are shallow, ripple, hunger, and drip

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Ideas #60: The Old Guard, but make it Percy Jackson

I was not intending on falling headfirst into another fandom. Nor was I intending to come up with another crazy PJO crossover that somehow manages not to be crack, but I discovered The Old Guard last weekend and this is the end result.

Or: What if, post-movie, the Guard decided to lay low at the one place Merrick's people could never find them: Camp Half-Blood?

Bear with me:

For most of history, "the cradle of western civilization" has been in Europe, as befitting a throughly European idea. But Europe is a big place - and even bigger when you don't have modern transportation to fall back on. A common rule of thumb for medieval travel goes something like 1 day sailing = 7 days on horseback = 21 days walking.

Plus sending satyrs to scope out likely schools is a lovely idea in an era with compulsory public education, but less likely to work in an era where even universities are few on the ground.

All that being said, I imagine it would have been ridiculously easy for demigods to slip through the cracks and never make their way to CHB or CJ, not once suspecting they were anything other than fully human. This is especially true of demigods without spectacular active powers like creating hurricanes or summoning the dead.

As there's no canonical reason why the members of the Old Guard are immortal, there's no reason they can't be demigods who slipped through the cracks, died, and became immortal because of their divine ancestry. It's a rare quirk of genetics that shows up only in 1 in a 10,000 demigods, most often in those who lack any active powers and show only the passive traits of their divine parent - and, therefore, have no idea that they're demigods at all until much, much later in the game.

For the purposes of this fic: Quỳnh and Lykon are descended from southeast asian and subsaharan pantheons of which modern historians have only limited knowledge. Andy is the daughter of Dyḗus, the PIE sky god considered to be equivalent to Zeus, and thus is something like Zeus' stepdaughter. Nicky is the only child of Neptune born in the last two millennia, Joe the son of Apollo in his Greek incarnation, and Nile the daughter of Mars. I went back and forth for possible divine parents for Booker, but ultimately decided to make him a son of Dionysus in this AU. None of them exhibit anything that might be called a power, but have certain talents and personality traits that mark them distinctly as of divine descent.

Just imagine it:

Following Merrick, the Guard needs to lay low. They have many safe houses but no way of knowing how many are compromised. In the end, they decide to go to the one place Merrick can be assured not to find them: Camp Half-Blood.

They get halfway to Ramsgate before realizing the UK probably no longer counts as "the cradle of Western civilization". With a little bit of divine intervention, they find their way to Long Island.

CHB is not unused to people showing up bloody on their doorstep, but most campers have never seen one adult demigod, let alone five. The fact that two of them are Roman and one predates Zeus himself is startling, as I picture this happening in the summer immediately after TLO, before Hera kidnaps Percy.

There's some tension, partly because of the Greek/Roman thing, partly because some campers are bitter these well-trained adults didn't show up to help during the Battle of the Labyrinth/Battle of Manhattan. (The answer - that they just didn't know Kronos was rising - doesn't help much, but the masterclasses they give on various fighting techniques do.)

Percy spends more time at CHB during the next few months than he ever has - after all, who knows when he'll next get to see a non-monstrous half-brother? Nicky may be the son of his father's Roman incarnation - the only one born since Sextus Pompeius to hear him tell it - but he's still family. An ideal big brother really. This does not keep Percy from being kidnapped or the events of HOO from happening, but it does mean there are more people keeping an eye out for him, and when the Argo II runs into trouble in Europe a few people they can call for backup.

But otherwise I have very little plot for this and a lot of scenes of a long few months where CHB and the Guard interact, but then largely go their separate ways until the kids need to phone a friend. This includes: 1) Booker spending a lot of time with his father and remaining half-brother, which gives him both family and the therapist he needs. It's not a magical fix-all, but it starts the path of healing; 2) Nile freaking out over the demigod thing as well as the immortality, but finds comfort in her Ares half-siblings, and generally realizing that while she may have lost her mortal family she never has to be alone, even if she decides being a member of an immortal army isn't for her; 3) Andy teaching all the children all the weapons, because as much as he hates baby demigods having to fight she'd rather teach them how to survive than turn a blind eye to it; and 4) Percy worrying Nicky and Joe are camping out in a cave on the edge of camp because they've been made to feel unwelcome because of the Roman/gay/immortal thing, only to turn permanently red after they kindly explain to him why two adults in a loving relationship might want space for themselves after a traumatic event.

Bonuses include: 1) At least one long digression on how one goes from killing each other multiple times outside the gates of Jerusalem to immortal husbands who are still in the honeymoon stage after 97 decades. This should include a lot of digression on what it takes to have a healthy relationship of any sort, among other related subjects, and hopefully highlight the line between healthy desire to spend one's lives together and unhealthy codependence enough so that MoA's judo throw is avoided; 2) The drama of at least one divine parent beyond Dionysus appearing on scene at some point. Extra bonus points if it's Neptune, who honestly hasn't realized he fathered a demigod child in the last two thousand years. Extra extra bonus points if it's curmudgeonly victorian fisherman Neptune; and 3) Percy upon finding out about Quỳnh immediately offering to go out to Dogger Bank and ask the marine life about a woman in an iron coffin.

And that's it really - not a lot of plot, just a lot of disconnected scenes. As always, feel free to adopt this bun, just link back if you do anything with it.

More Terrible Fic Ideas

[rjzimmerman]

Booker, Grijalva Introduce Bill to Permanently Protect American Bison, Grizzly Bears, and Gray Wolves. (Insider NJ)

Excerpt from this story from Insider NJ:

Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-07) introduced the Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act, legislation to establish permanent federal protections for these three species and expand recovery efforts and coexistence measures. Additionally, the bill would enhance existing tribal management authorities over these species by creating oversight committees that work in unison with Indian Tribes to identify tribal lands suitable for possible reintroduction efforts.

“American bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves are iconic American species and are timeless symbols of our nation’s heritage, yet these animals were driven to the brink of extinction,” said Senator Booker. “Building on the success of past conservation legislation like the American Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, I am proud to introduce legislation that directs the Secretary of the Interior to works closely with Indigenous communities to ensure permanent protection for these animals.”

“Bison, grizzly bears, and wolves hold significant spiritual, cultural, and ecological value to many tribal communities and our nation,” said House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Booker to enshrine protections for these species and ensure that conservation and management are conducted in close consultation with Tribal Nations. For centuries, the United States’ policies have systematically failed to honor our treaties, harming Tribal Nations and resulting in significant cultural losses and ecological damage. Congress has a trust responsibility to move forward from past injustices and craft policies for the future that are based on respect and recognition of Tribal Nations’ leadership in recovering these iconic species and their habitats.”

Specifically, the Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act would:

Prohibit the take, possession, purchase, sale, or transport of American bison, grizzly bears, and wolves, exclusive of captive-bred bison intended for human consumption, with targeted exceptions authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for scientific or conservation purposes and for protection of agricultural interests and public safety.

Exempt religious, cultural or treaty-reserved purposes of Federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Provide for civil and criminal penalties for violations.

Require consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes before a take permit is issued under this Act or before any activity is carried out on the Tribal land of a federally recognized Indian Tribe that may negatively impact habitat or increase mortality of bison, grizzly bears or wolves.

Authorize federally recognized Indian Tribes, in consultation with the Secretary, to manage bison, grizzly bears and wolves reintroduced on Tribal land.

[davidshawnsown]

AFU Motorbike Battalions/Kurins

(based on real life Soviet formations during WW2)

(Inspired by Battle Order's video on Soviet Army motorcycle reconnaisance battalions under division during the Second World War as well as the real life US armored recon units of the same period)

IMU of stories the success of ad-hoc bicycle and motorbike formations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Russian invasion would result in the formation of motorcycle formations of battalion size (called in Ukrainian as Mototsykletnyy batalʹyon) in elements of the armed forces to regularize these. However they follow a Westernized form of the organization of the old Soviet motorbike battalions of mechanized and armored divisions. In cavalry divisions - those armored divisions with cavalry traditions and titles honoring the Ukrainian Cossacks - these units are titled as Kurins (Mototsykletnyy kurin) with its companies named as sotnias. These battalions are armed with primarily Western and locally produced motorcycles and tricycles for their mission as support to recon and combat operations. There's plans to integrate an infantry company to those battalions in the infantry divisions.

In mechanized infantry, assault infantry and mountain infantry divisions they are organized in 4 motorbike companies each with HQ platoon, 4 motorbike platoons (one squad each manned with electric motorcycles), and a mortar and weapons section each. The armored recon company operates M59s and M113s together with the M106 SP mortar and its light tank battalion uses M10 Bookers in its tank platoons and MT-LBs in its infantry and AT platoon. The AT battery uses Jeeps and similar vehicles for the transport of their crew and they are all supported by a forward support company from their parent division and other elements. In a mountain infantry division, an additional squad is tasked within platoons for ski capability.

In a motorized infantry division the motorbike company has no weapons section. The armored recon company is armed with BTR-4s and hand-me-down LAV-3s from the United States and the light tank company uses the M113 and Scorpion.

There's a different TO&E for the battalions in armored divisions. Motorbike battalions in these, alongside the weapons section, are reinforced with two bicycle platoons and a RPG/AT motorcycle section in the motorcycle companies, the armored recon company uses Bradleys, the light tank company, aside from its M10s, uses M113s as mechanized infantry element and there's a assault gun company using Centauros from Italy and the Ukrainian produced MT-LB-12 - inspired by the assault gun troops of cavalry recon squadrons of the United States during the Second World War.

The Motorcycle Kurin of the UGF cavalry division is modeled after the armored division motorcycle battalion but is named and organized in keeping with Ukrainian Cossack cavalry heritage. However it does not have a bicycle nor RPG/AT motorbike section and its AT battery is organized into 4 platoons instead of 3.

In the AAFU's two airmobile divisions, the motorcycle battalion's recon company is armed with M113s and BTR-3s, there's no infantry platoon in the tank company and an airborne transport and rigger platoon for parachute and air assault operations is added to the forward support company.

The two marine divisions of XXX Amphibious Corps UkrMC and the planned motorbike battalions of that Corps in Mykolaiv and Kherson are organized for both ground and amphibious operations as relfected in the addition of an amphious scout platoon. However it does have an added water transport platoon in the forward logistics company for the amphibious element there and the tank company uses M59 Scorpion TDs, AMX-10 RCs and AAVP-7s. Squads using electric bikes are to be transported to the shore via other vehicles in amphibious operations before they can be unloaded for use unlike those using normal motorbikes (and those squads using bicycles) which can land to the coast via landing craft. The same vehicles in an air assault motorbike battalion's armored recon company are used in a marine motorbike battalion.

@lukeexplorer

[fruit-salad-ship]

Random AU idea: one of those “character was raised by [animal]” stories like Tarzan, maybe Peach crashes on this really hard to reach island and is picked up by a small group of ursaring, Booker is like a pseudo sibling and Val hangs out with them but acts all aloof. Plum and Grey are sent on an expedition to map the island, there’s a rare gap in the storm/currents/whatever that normally keep people out, Grey as Pokémon research and Plum as a ranger. They get there, find Peach, ???, profit

So, I wrote a huge thing for this without realising, like I blinked and my ADHD provided me a sad story and I recall none of writing it. BUT

here you go. you can all decide what you want this to end like, i left it open ended for optimal gap filling potential.

something like 8000 ish words. get a coffee for this one I guess?

It's unedited, unread, unrefined, and I am unbothered by this.

[phatburd]

There is some part of me that really wants to do a crossover between The Old Guard and Eric Flint's 1632 series. Except, there's a couple of big problems ....

Flint's treatment of 17th century Europe is really fucking dated.

Including Booker and Nile into the narrative would be impossible. Well, possibly Booker, but Nile wouldn't be in the story at all. Grantville gets transported to 17th century Bavaria in 1999 or 2000, way before Nile comes along in the TOG narrative. And which would be a real fucking shame because Flint's version of 17th century Europe can do with more non-white people in it. There were actually more non-white POC in Europe in the 17th century, and Flint's treatment of it shows his biases (accidental or not).

Oh, yeah, I could incorporate 2020s research into what 17th century Europe was actually like, but that would mean having to rewrite lots of Flint's 1632. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not ready for that level of overhaul.

It's a fun book series, don't get me wrong but, man, those blind spots are fucking glaring sometimes.

What is 1632? It's this.

[diamondpaintingworld]

How To Become A Successful Owner Operator Truck Driver

If you’re looking to become a successful truck driver, there are many different paths available. The most common is owning your own semi truck and driving it for yourself. However, this isn’t always the best option for everyone. There are other options that can make your life as a trucker much easier and more profitable.

Becoming an owner operator truck driver

If you're looking to become a truck driver, there's a lot that goes into it. First, let's talk about what an owner operator truck driver is and why they exist.

An owner operator (OO) is someone who operates their own truck and pays for gas, maintenance and repairs out of pocket. They also pay for insurance on their vehicle as well as any other expenses associated with running it (i.e., tolls). OOs can work as long or short haul drivers depending on how much time they want to spend away from home each week; however most OOs choose longer routes so they can make more money per hour than shorter routes would provide them with due to lower cost per mile traveled due to fewer miles driven each day/weekend etc...

What it takes to own and operate a truck?

You need to be able to drive a truck.

You must have a good driving record and an attitude that makes drivers want to work for you.

People want to work with people who are friendly and honest, so it's best if you're not a bossy jerk who expects everyone around you to do what they say when they say it—and if this sounds like something that might apply to yourself, then perhaps there are better careers for people like yourself than owning their own live load trucking company!

Trucking is not a career for everyone.

Trucking is not a career for everyone. If you're looking for an easy way to make money, this isn't the job for you. It's physically demanding, stressful and can be very dangerous if not done right. Truck driving is also one of the most competitive industries in America because of how much money companies pay drivers who want to drive their trucks.

Truck driving is dangerous.

Truck driving is a dangerous job. You are exposed to hazardous materials, weather conditions and traffic all day long. There are many things that can happen when you're on the road:

Hazardous materials - Your truck may be carrying chemicals or other hazardous materials that could cause an explosion if they come into contact with something that isn't meant to be around them (like the engine). If this happens, it could kill you or hurt your co-workers badly enough that they need medical attention.

Weather conditions - When it's cold outside in wintertime during rush hour traffic (which happens often), trucks become stuck in places where there aren't any other cars around because there aren't enough drivers willing to risk their lives by driving through those conditions. This causes delays which adds up over time until eventually everyone has had enough and goes home instead of waiting hours at work just trying not crash into each other!

Truck driving is hard work.

Truck driving is a physically demanding job. It requires you to be awake for long periods of time, sitting in the driver's seat while the truck is moving along at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (112 km/h). Truck drivers also need to be alert and able to multitask while operating their trucks.

Truck driving can be stressful because of this physical exertion and lack of time off; it's not uncommon for drivers who have been working long hours as owner operators for several years before they retire from driving altogether because they're tired physically or mentally exhausted from making so many trips each day.

Truck driving can be exciting.

Truck driving can be a great way to meet new people and make money. It's also a great way to get out of the house, which is something that many people would love to do.

Truck driving requires you to be able to multitask and multi-task, so it's ideal for those who like having lots of things going on at once in their lives. This can include things like listening music while working or talking on the phone while driving through town.

Thousands of people are looking for jobs as truck drivers.

Truck driving is a great career choice for many people. It's not just that you can earn good money, but there are also many different types of owner operator truck driving jobs to choose from. If you're looking for something that will make your life easier and more enjoyable, then this might be the perfect job for you!

Owner operator truck driver

As an owner operator truck driver, you're your own boss. You set your own hours, work schedule, and daily routes. You have the freedom to choose your own route and schedule. You don't have to answer to anyone else but yourself.

As an owner operator trucker, you can decide when and where you want to be each day. If you have a family and children at home, it may be difficult for you to leave early in the morning or later in the day. But if you want more time with them, this is the best way for you to earn money and spend time with them on the weekends.

It's also easier for an owner operator truck driver because there are fewer rules and regulations from carriers or trucking companies that can put additional stress on drivers who are trying to make ends meet at home with their families.

There are many different types of owner operator truck driving jobs.

There are many different types of owner operator truck driving jobs. Some drivers work for the same company or franchise, while others may be independent contractors.

Some professions require more education than others, but all require you to have a valid driver's license and a clean record. If you want to become an owner operator truck driver, there are some basic steps to take:

Find out what kind of trucking company you want to join by checking out their websites or social media accounts online

Start looking into potential employers online after finding one that interests you

Once things get going on this front then it’s time to start talking with recruiters about how much money they pay per month plus benefits like health insurance etcetera (which could include life insurance).

There are many reasons why you should consider becoming an owner operator truck driver,

There are many reasons why you should consider becoming an owner operator truck driver. Here are some of them:

You can make your own hours. If you want to work when it's convenient for you, then this is the way to go. No more having someone tell you when and where to be ready for work every morning or on which days they will assign specific routes for their drivers. In fact, most companies don't even require that their drivers have a fixed schedule of hours because they know that if they do that then they won't get the goods delivered on time and thus lose money in sales commissions from those shipments being late due to bad weather conditions preventing trucks from reaching certain locations within specified time periods (usually 1-3 days), so instead they give each driver unlimited freedom within reason so as long as he/she doesn't commit any major mistakes such as damaging equipment while driving around town at night without headlights lit up like crazy!

Conclusion

Becoming an owner operator truck driver can be a rewarding and lucrative career choice. The best trucking companies will offer you the opportunity to be your own boss, set your own schedule and earn a comfortable income while you travel.

[druckkugelschreiber]

A little bit late to the WIP wednesday tagged by @mxanigel (thank you for the tag <3) but I didn't like what I was writing so I had to rummage around my endless WIP folders to find something I wanted to post.

Namely Andy being cute! Who would have thought?!

“You need some sleep”, Andy said when we came back from the talk with Copley. 

“Yup”, I yawned, walking next to her. Nicky and Joe were in the lead back to the hotel with Booker trailing behind. “Is it that obvious?”

Andy chuckled, “I know your tells.” 

I hummed, as per usual Andy’s presence relaxed me and in my state, over 24h without sleep it basically made me incoherent. 

We reached the hotel.

“How long have you been up?”

“Probably closing in on 40 hours?” I said with a grimace. 

Booker closed the door to the hotel room behind us. 

Andy frowned at me. “Come on then, let’s get you settled in, at least a few hours of sleep before we get on the road.”

“Andy”, I complained, “I’ll be dead after only a few hours of sleep.”

“Yes, but neither of us want to be shot in the head because you’re too tired to work properly”, she pulled me into the back room to the double bed. She turned to Booker, “can you set up the transport?”

Booker smirked. “Yeah, have fun you two.”

I rolled my eyes, but relished in the fact that Andy hadn’t let go of my hand. It was a thing of mine that someone had to cuddle me if I was supposed to get some restful sleep, though with the lack of sleep I could probably do without a cuddle buddy. My sleep had levelled out in africa after a month. After my system realised I could relax, but now with all the stress, I knew my insomnia would be back full force. 

Andy pulled me straight onto the bed and pulled me against her. 

“Don’t you have better things to do?” I said, but rested my head against her chest. Her heartbeat like the sound of my favourite song. 

“No”, Andy said and ran a hand over my new haircut. “Rest now, Jas. I’ll wake you early enough.”

I let out a long breath. My eyes fluttered shut. 

“I’m glad you’re here, Jas”, she muttered right before I was entirely gone to sleep.

[practicalperipherals]

Capturing the Essence of Melbourne’s Top Hotels: The Role of a Professional Hotel Photographer - Hotel Photography

When you think about booking a hotel, what’s the first thing that draws your attention? The photos. A stunning image can instantly transport potential guests to the luxury, comfort, or charm that a hotel offers. That's why hiring a professional hotel photographer is essential for showcasing the very best of what your hotel has to offer, especially in a city as vibrant and diverse as Melbourne.

Melbourne is known for its eclectic mix of architecture, vibrant arts scene, and world-class hospitality. The city’s hotels range from luxurious high-rise establishments with sweeping views of the city skyline to boutique hotels nestled in the quieter, cultural corners of Melbourne. Regardless of the type of hotel, visually capturing the atmosphere and experience it provides is crucial. A professional hotel photographer in Melbourne understands this need and can highlight a property’s unique selling points through expertly crafted images.

Why Professional Photography Matters

In the digital age, a hotel’s online presence is often the first touchpoint for potential guests. A hotel website or booking platform with high-quality, visually appealing photographs is much more likely to convert lookers into bookers. A professional hotel photographer not only captures the aesthetic beauty of the property but also helps tell a story. Whether it’s a rooftop pool with a view of the Melbourne skyline or a cozy interior in a boutique hotel, the photographer brings these features to life, making them irresistible to potential visitors.

Beyond the basics of making a space look appealing, professional hotel photography also sets the tone and communicates the atmosphere. The warm glow of a luxury suite’s ambient lighting, the sleek lines of modern architectural design, or the homey feel of a heritage property — all of these can be communicated through the lens. A talented photographer will know how to showcase these elements, using light, composition, and timing to create images that evoke emotion.

Capturing the Key Elements of Your Hotel

A skilled hotel photographer in Melbourne knows how to focus on the essential areas of your property. Key shots typically include the hotel’s exterior, lobby, rooms, amenities, and common spaces. For Melbourne hotels, this might also include unique aspects such as city views, cultural decor, or even proximity to famous landmarks like Federation Square or the Yarra River.

The exterior shot is often the first image that grabs a viewer’s attention. A photographer will take into account the best time of day, the angle, and even the weather to ensure that the hotel's architecture and surroundings are displayed in their best light. Inside the hotel, rooms need to look inviting yet luxurious. A well-composed shot can make even the most modest room appear spacious and comfortable. Amenities like spas, gyms, restaurants, and bars are equally important and should be shot in a way that highlights their allure, whether it’s a chic cocktail bar or a serene, spa-like retreat.

The Unique Vibe of Melbourne Hotels

Melbourne is a city known for its unique blend of history, culture, and innovation. Hotels here often reflect this diversity, and a good photographer will know how to capture that. For instance, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, you may have sleek, modern hotels catering to business travelers, while just a few kilometers away in the artistic neighborhoods of Fitzroy or St Kilda, you might find boutique hotels with bohemian vibes and intricate designs.

Each hotel offers a different experience, and a photographer needs to understand how to capture that atmosphere. A professional hotel photographer in Melbourne knows the city, its moods, and its varying styles. They can reflect the urban sophistication of a high-rise hotel in the CBD or the laid-back elegance of a seaside retreat in their work.

The Importance of Attention to Detail

Finally, attention to detail is what separates good hotel photography from great hotel photography. A professional will notice the small things that make a difference — the way sunlight filters through the window in the morning, the textures of the fabrics in the room, or the sparkling cleanliness of the bathroom fixtures. By paying attention to these details, a hotel photographer can create a sense of both luxury and comfort, drawing guests in before they’ve even set foot on the property.

In conclusion, a professional hotel photographer in Melbourne does more than just take pictures. They capture the essence of the experience your hotel offers. Whether you run a boutique hideaway in the city's artistic hubs or a luxury high-rise in the business district, the right images can set your property apart and entice visitors from all over the world.

For More:

Ph: 61430383588

Mail id: photo@maurorisch.com

Working Time: Monday to Friday 8am–8pm.

Visit us: http://www.hotelphotographer.com.au/

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

Crying For Magnum: The Story of Nikita Koloff’s Face Turn In The Time Of Tragedy

TW: Mentions of a car accident, paralysis, and death

Hey Everyone! I hope you all are doing well! Professional Wrestling has a lot of amazing storylines and gimmicks. I consider it to be emotional on a few occasions. With this article , I’m going to explain what I mean by that statement. This is the story of how a Heel turned into a Babyface after a tragedy.

In the Spring of 1986, Magnum TA, the most popular star in Jim Crockett Promotions , had a storyline with Ivan Koloff. During the feud , Koloff would say his nephew, Nikita Koloff , would challenge Magnum for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship and go on to take it from him. Magnum recently won the championship back from Tully Blanchard after winning their legendary , ‘ I Quit ! ’ match at Starrcade ‘ 85. The promoter of NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions , Jim Crockett Jr., would have a contract signing in May for the United States Championship match. Nikita was accompanied by Ivan as Magnum was accompanied by his mother. A fight between the two wrestlers happened after Koloff ridiculed Magnum’s mother. He would soon be stripped of the championship and have to fight for it in a ‘ Best of Seven ’ series of matches . These took place on the Great American Bash Tour for 1986. The series ended in the Summer on August 17,1986 with Koloff becoming the new NWA United States Heavyweight Champion.

Magnum TA was in talks to become the new NWA World Championship after the storyline with Koloff. However , this would never happen . On October 14, 1986 , Magnum TA was in a near fatal car accident in Charlotte , North Carolina. He lost control of his Porsche while it was raining and crashed into a telephone pole. It was claimed that he was speeding , however, he was actually doing the speed limit. He would be trapped in the car for two hours until someone who came upon the wreck called for help. Magnum was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with a broken C-4 and a C-5 vertebrae. Thus, the doctors had doubts that he would never be able to walk for the rest of his life. Magnum TA’s in ring career would end due to months of paralysis on the right side of his body due to the injuries sustained in the accident .

Therefore, after losing Magnum as a top wrestler and Babyface , NWA booker , ‘ The American Dream ’ Dusty Rhodes , made the decision to make his rival before the crash, Nikita Koloff , into a Babyface. Koloff claimed that he gained respect for his colleague and wanted to substitute for him , going by their storyline . Thus, this led to Koloff being on the cover of the Spring 1987 edition of ‘ Wrestling’ 87 ’ Magazine . Nikita would be seen on the magazine crying with the words , “ I cry for Magnum TA ”.

Koloff would state on the show , ‘ Dark Side Of The Ring �� that he got the news about Magnum when he came back from Japan. It took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Magnum would make his TV return in 1987 would be an interview with commentator and backstage interviewer, Tony Schiavone. He would return in front of a live crowd with the help of two referees and a cane to help him walk to wish Nikita and Dusty good luck before they faced Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger. He would also manage Rhodes and Koloff.

In March of 2024, Koloff and Magnum would be seen in the crowd at AEW Revolution to witness Sting’s retirement match.

Nikita Koloff is now a Motivational Speaker and a Preacher.

My Final Thoughts:

Just hearing this story always breaks my heart. Knowing that Nikita would rise up and do something like that for his rival , that amazes me. Seeing that magazine cover with him on it really shows me that it does not matter if someone is a Face or A Heel, if something happens to a wrestler , it’s okay to show emotion and that if affects everyone in a locker room and a promotion. I also hope to meet Magnum and Nikita this year at WRESTLECADE.

( Fun fact: My Dad got to change a tire on Nikita’s car and talk to him. I’m jealous . )

Love You All,

- Kay