#built-in casework

[alittleveggies]

Dining Room Los Angeles

Enclosed dining room - mid-sized contemporary travertine floor and beige floor enclosed dining room idea with white walls and no fireplace

[lilredbandit]

Toronto Transitional Entry Mid-sized transitional entryway design example with a black front door and white walls.

[gatheringbones]

[“Poverty is embarrassing, shame inducing. Misery (misère), the French sociologist Eugène Buret once remarked, “is poverty felt morally.”

You feel it in the degradation rituals of the welfare office, where you are made to wait half a day for a ten-minute appointment with a caseworker who seems annoyed you showed up. You feel it when you go home to an apartment with cracked windows and cupboards full of cockroaches, an infestation the landlord blames on you. You feel it in how effortlessly poor people are omitted from movies and television shows and popular music and children’s books, erasures reminding you of your own irrelevance to wider society. You may begin to believe, in the quieter moments, the lies told about you. You avoid public places—parks, beaches, shopping districts, sporting arenas—knowing they weren’t built for you.

Poverty might consume your life, but it’s rarely embraced as an identity. It’s more socially acceptable today to disclose a mental illness than to tell someone you’re broke. When politicians propose antipoverty legislation, they say it will help “the middle class.” When social movement organizers mobilize for higher wages or housing justice, they announce that they are fighting on behalf of “working people” or “families” or “tenants” or “the many.” When the poor take to the streets, it’s usually not under the banner of poverty. There is no flag for poor rights, after all.

Poverty is diminished life and personhood. It changes how you think and prevents you from realizing your full potential. It shrinks the mental energy you can dedicate to decisions, forcing you to focus on the latest stressor—an overdue gas bill, a lost job—at the expense of everything else. When someone is shot dead, the children who live on that block perform much worse on cognitive tests in the days following the murder. The violence captures their minds. Time passes, and the effect fades until someone else is dropped.

Poverty can cause anyone to make decisions that look ill-advised and even downright stupid to those of us unbothered by scarcity. Have you ever sat in a hospital waiting room, watching the clock and praying for good news? You are there, locked on the present emergency, next to which all other concerns and responsibilities feel (and are) trivial. That experience is something like living in poverty. Behavioral scientists Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir call this “the bandwidth tax.” “Being poor,” they write, “reduces a person’s cognitive capacity more than going a full night without sleep.” When we are preoccupied by poverty, “we have less mind to give to the rest of life.” Poverty does not just deprive people of security and comfort; it siphons off their brainpower, too.”]

matthew desmond, from poverty: by america, 2023

[creator-of-calm-queer-chaos]

CERULEAN SEA HAS A SEQUEL

I REPEAT

THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA BY TJ KLUNE HAS A SEQUEL

It’s called ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’ and it’s Arthur’s perspective, life, and the events following Cerulean Sea. Here is the summary from Macmillian (Tor Book’s distributor):

“A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.”

Its publishing date is September 10th of this year, and you can preorder it from most everywhere you buy books!!

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Dr. Phil: States across the country have passed laws banning "gender affirming care" on minors. Our next guest is a queer woman who is married to a trans man. When Jamie Reed worked as a caseworker at the transgender centre at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, she thought she was saving trans kids' lives. But she claims what she witnessed there was so morally and medically appalling that she had no choice but to expose what was really going on.

Jamie Reed: I was working in a paediatric gender for 4 1/2 years, primarily responsible for patient intakes. The center followed this message that transition would solve everything. That it would solve a child’s mental health problems. There were very few written protocols or guidelines. One of the providers even said we were "flying the plane as we built it." Doctors are acting like they're God when it comes to medically transitioning children.

Children could identify themselves as transgender, see a therapist for one visit, see our endocrinologist for one visit, and end up with hormones that would impact and change their bodies for their lifetime. These were identities that were still shifting and changing, but the treatments were irreversible and permanent. I saw a young person who was begging to have their breasts put back on after having surgery.

We were encouraged not to make a big deal out of it and definitely not to tell other families. I couldn't continue to be silent on it. The medical harms and trauma that I saw with these teens just took over my life. I was told I could no longer raise concerns or even use the phrase, "I have concerns about a patient." I have no trust in this industry medically transitioning minors anymore.

Dr. Phil: Jamie, thank you for being here.

Jamie: Thank you for having me.

Dr. Phil: You describe yourself a queer woman married to a transgender man and you're a member of the LGBTQ community and you went there to do something good, something positive at this clinic in St Louis. What changed your mind?

Jamie: A number of things. We started to see patients who were experiencing very significant medical harms. Being rushed to the emergency room with lacerations requiring stitches. We had patients contact us who were begging to have body parts put back on within months of having surgeries. And the thing that kept happening is every time I would raise concerns and ask about the protocols and ask about the guidelines, this is just how the industry works. If a child says they're trans, there’s no questioning it, we just say, "yep, you're trans, what would you like?"

Dr. Phil: You’re telling me that a 12- or 13-year-old who can’t decide which pyjamas to wear can come in and say, "I’ve decided that I want to transition," and with no more than a couple of hours - or two visits, not even a couple of hours, two visits - they say, okay, start taking this, start doing this. Which alters their biochemistry in a way that you can’t come back from.

Jamie: Correct.

Dr. Phil: And you say you saw dramatic increases in teenage girls that had no previous history of gender distress and they suddenly declared themselves transgender and demanded immediate testosterone [and] blockers.

Jamie: When I started - so I was there for 4 1/2 years, and when I started, I maybe would have 5 to 10 new incoming patients a month. By the time I left it was close to 50 every single month. My background is in clinical research and so I started looking at the data, I wanted to know what the numbers told me. And towards the end of my tenure, 73% of the new patients coming to us were girls who were in their teen years, so in that really vulnerable age of like 13 to 16 where they are just exposed to so many social pressures and they’re so empathetic to what’s going on around them too, that they really pick up on what’s going on in their peer group. We had clusters where it would be a handful of one whole high school classroom would come in all trans identified.

Dr. Phil: Historically, this typically would be males and you would have a female how often?

Jamie: Oh, very rare. And also, the ages were different. So, it would usually be younger boys who seemed very feminine or had feminine traits to their family and their families would seek care trying to understand what’s going on for their young male child. This was never something that would start in adolescence.

And these girls were also learning on TikTok, Instagram, they would come in and they would almost have the exact same storyline too. Like they learned what to say from a video to explain, "oh no really, I’ve felt this way from early childhood." But a lot of their parents couldn’t remember anything like that.

And part of what’s going on right now is that if you question this at all, you are immediately called transphobic, you’re immediately called homophobic, you’re immediately considered a bigot. And it’s just not scientific reality.

Dr. Phil: Jamie Reed says that her goal was to support trans youth. Jamie says patients had no idea what they were going to be as adults, yet all it took for them to permanently transform themselves was one or two short conversations with a therapist. When you say short, what would you call short?

Jamie: One visit. I saw letters being written approving children for puberty blockers or cross sex hormones after a single visit with a therapist.

Dr. Phil: And how long would that visit be?

Jamie: 30, 40 minutes.

Dr. Phil: And you said that the clinic would actually provide them a letter that checked all the boxes for them to qualify for the treatment.

Jamie: It wasn’t the clinic, it was me. It was my job. I sent out the fill-in-the-blank letter. I sent it. It’s what we did. We sent it directly to the community therapist and said just fill this out, plug-in where you need to, and we’re good to go.

Dr. Phil: What kind of things would it say?

Jamie: At the end of all of the letters would say, "I am approving this patient for puberty blockers or cross sex hormones." "They meet criteria."

Dr. Phil: There were some emails that you saw that were very troubling to you and I’d like to look at these.

Email to Jamie from Parent Revoking Consent June 9, 2022

"Please be advised that I’m revoking my consent for this course of medical treatment. Grades have dropped, there’s been an in-patient behavioural health visit and now he’s on 5 different medications. Lexapro, Trazadone, Buspar, etc. Blank is a shell of his former self riddled with anxiety. Who knows if it’s because of the hormone blockers or the other medications. I revoke my consent. I want the hormone blocker removed."

Jamie: The mom, who is a legal guardian, sent us that email and we acted like we knew better than a parent. And we refused to remove the blocker.

[hezekiahwakely]

As anticipated, here are my extensive red string notes from the pilot:

God knows how relevant any of this will turn out to be, but I'm nothing if not a collector of trivial information

Very long text beneath the cut:

Page 1

The Magnus Protocol Pilot 10/25/23

Characters (in order of appearance)

Alice Dyer -O.I.A.R. employee -Dated Sam in uni -Jokester -Training Sam -Gets along with Colin

Teddy Vaughn -Retiring from the O.I.A.R. after 4 (?) years -Going into insurance field

Colin Becher -O.I.A.R. IT Manager -Vegetarian 🥬 -On the hook of "his nibs" (boss, male) -Sensitive about FR3-d1 app development, communicates w/politicians, trying for 2 years -Only gets along w/Alice -Knows computers are listening -Jokes about being killed

Lena Kelley -O.I.A.R. Team/Department Manager -Authoritative, follows protocol -Doesn't think Gwen is qualified for management

Gwendolyn Bouchard -O.I.A.R. employee -Backlog of casework -Dislikes Lena, wants her job -Dedicated to detail -Accused of nepotism by Alice -Thinks current job is beneath her -"Not like most people." *static*

Samama Khalid (Sam) -New O.I.A.R. employee -Dated Alice in uni -Wanting to 'get back on his feet' -Familiar with TMI -Didn't know what the Incidents were before hire!!

Page 2

Pilot notes con. 10/25/23

Listening Tech - Turns on by itself 💡

Dated computers (O.I.A.R.)

"Manager's speakerphone" (Lena's)

CCTV (O.I.A.R. breakroom?)

Cell phone (Alice's)

*O.I.A.R. formed in 70s? Accor. to Alice*

*Response Department no longer exists*

Still in onboarding paperwork, "Response 121"

Sam ticked this box

Tech Specs

O.S. = Windows NT 4.0 (modified) -Extended support for this O.S. was ended Dec. 31, 2004 IRL -Runs on workstations connected by LAN -Similar GUI to 95; comes w/Internet Explorer

FR3-d1 -Custom research software circa mid-90s -Flags Incidents and creates a database -Can search private/protected sources (email) -Alice claims no one has understood its workings for 15 years -Written in German source code

*1 Year = Average Employee Stay*

Page 3

Pilot notes con. 10/25/23

Classification System

Used in FR3-d1's database

Structure: CATXRXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX

CATXRX -> From reference table (CAT = Category?) First four digits -> Main subject of Incident DPHW (?) Next eight digits -> Date of Incident Last eight digits -> Current date

Example: CAT2RC1157-12052022-13012024* -First one we hear they file. "1157" is the "DPHW" for "dolls, watching."

*Jan. 13, 2024 is the date of Sam's onboarding/training (after Teddy's going-away party)

*as listed in transcript; in-show, it's quoted as 22102023, or Oct. 22, 2023

Page 4

Pilot notes (con.) 10/25/23

FR3-d1's Voice to Text/Text to Speech

Voices (named by Alice, which Gwen dislikes):

Neil = Alex

Chester = Jonny

(those two most common)

Augustus = ?

Neil's Incident

Occurs in "Cyberspace" via the transcript

"I'm so sorry. I should have listened. I just couldn't face the thought of the rest of my life never hearing him again, I had to try." First lines 😢

Email from Harriet Winstead to Darla Winstead, May 12, 2022

Recitations *can* be paused by pressing "space"!

Chester's Incident

Also occurs in "Cyberspace"

Topic: Magnus Institute Ruins.

On forum, user RedCanary, begins April 10, 2022. Explored 4/19-20/22.

Third floor gone. No old papers.

Suspicious, occult (?) graffiti, stains (!)

Took box with strange symbols (same as ones on walls/floors)

4/30/22 Posted image of gore/eyes, possibly of themself. Banned + did not return.

Page 5

Pilot notes con. 10/25/23

Early release video Case #: CAT1RA1353-03102023-22102024(listed as 202"3" on Patreon)

Video was posted 10/22/23.

Listed as "Incident" on Patreon.

According to transcript, the O.I.A.R. offices are located in Royal Mint Court.

Johson (sic) Smirke Building

Main building.

5 storeys, Grade 2 listed.

Designed by James Johnson, but constructed between 1807-1812 by Robert Smirke after Johnson died. To be used for mint.

Entrance lodge also built by Smirke, in front of building.

Page 6

Pilot - Public Release -TMAGP#001

Changes:

Sam's first incident number - today's date

CAT2RC1157-12052022-13012024 -> CAT2RC1157-12052022-09012024

Voice (first incident)

Neil -> *Norris*

Minor word/date changes in incidents.

Minor line read differences.

Descriptions of Incidents in new transcript:

Norris': CAT1RBC5257-12052022-09012024 Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]

Chester's: CAT23RAB2155-10042022-09012024 Transformation (Eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]

[haggishlyhagging]

The question of suitable employment is raised persistently within the welfare system: what is to be expected of women with children? should they work or stay home? what kind of work are they offered or forced to take? is that work entirely determined by prejudgments as to their nature—what can and should be expected of them because they are female, female and black, female and white, female and poor, female and unmarried? In New York City, women on welfare say that they have been strongly encouraged by welfare workers to turn to prostitution, the threat being that the individual woman may in the future be denied welfare benefits because the caseworker knows the woman could be making big bucks on the street; or in emergencies, women on welfare are told to raise the money they need by turning a trick or two. In Nevada, where prostitution is legal, women on welfare have been forced off welfare because they refused to accept the suitable employment of prostitution; once it is a legal, state-regulated job, there is no basis for refusing it. Prostitution has long been considered suitable employment for poor women whether it is legal or not. This is particularly cynical in the welfare system, given the fact that women on welfare have been subjected to "fornication checks"—questioned about their sexual relations at length, questioned as to the identity of the fathers of so-called illegitimate children, questioned as to their own sexual habits, activities, and partners—and have been denied welfare if living with a man or if a man spends any time in the domicile or if having a sexual relationship with a man. Their homes could be inspected anytime: searches were common after midnight, when the welfare workers expected to find the contraband man; the courts put a stop to late searches but daytime searches are still legal. Beds, closets, and clothes were inspected to see if any remnant of a male presence could be found. Sometimes criminal charges of fornication were actually brought against the mothers of illegitimate children; the purpose was to keep them from getting welfare. For instance, in one typical case, a New Jersey woman was convicted of fornication and given a suspended sentence; she was forced to name the father, who went to prison. Welfare workers were allowed to interrogate children concerning the social and sexual habits of their mothers. Women on welfare have even been required to tell when they menstruate. Women on welfare have had no rights to sexual privacy; and in this context, turning them toward prostitution goes right along with refusing to allow them private, intimate, self-determined sexual relations. Prostitution is the ultimate loss of sexual privacy. Gains made in the courts in the 1960s to restore rights of privacy to these women are being nullified by new welfare policies and regulations designed to control the same population in the same old ways—practices that reappear in new guises but are built on the same old attitudes and impinge on the welfare population in the same old and cruel ways. The state is a jealous lover, except when it pimps.

-Andrea Dworkin, Right Wing Women

[celestialastronmy]

Lucifer Season 1, Episode 9 "A Priest Walks Into A Bar this has to be my favorite episode from season 1 it really stuck with me.This episode marks a critical dramatic turning point in the overarching narrative of the first season through the introduction of Father Frank Lawrence, a compelling new character serving both plot and thematic functions.Father Frank's initial involvement in the episode's casework components allows for insightful observations concerning detectival procedurals. However, it is his interactions with Lucifer Morningstar that furnish the most meaningful character revelations.

It comes as a surprise to observe the bond that forms between the pious man of faith, Father Frank, and the fallen angel known as Lucifer. At first glance, these two individuals seem unlikely compatriots given their opposing roles in the cosmic order. However, upon closer inspection, one sees that beneath the surface differences lies a common desire for empathetic communication. Father Frank shows a remarkable ability to listen without prejudice, drawing out Lucifer's long-held burdens and moving tale of family disruption. Where others offer only condemnation based on reputation, the good Father offers compassion. Through respectful dialogue, these disparate figures develop a rapport built on sincerity rather than superficial image. Frank appears to understand that even Lucifer wishes to unlade his soul and find a place of acceptance. In their conversations, humanity can be seen humanity's universal need for willing ears and unbiased regard and support. Father Frank, like Lucifer, carries great sadness in his heart. For Frank, it's the pain of feeling he has let down his flock by not always living up to his ideals as a priest. This has made him question what he stands for. Through their friendship, Father Frank and Lucifer help each other to understand life's difficulties better. While Frank's devotion to God remains strong even in death, Lucifer finds himself deeply upset by Frank's sudden passing. In that moment, the Devil reacted not with his usual coldness but with real grief - as someone who saw the unfairness of loss and who treasured Frank's acceptance. Both Frank's willingness to aid others in need and Lucifer's growing care for humanity show there is healing to be found in sincere relationships rather than isolation. By opening our hearts to one another, even in small ways, we can all work to overcome life's challenges. When we make an effort to empathize with people different from us, hope has a chance to take root. For those who suffer alone, reaching out a hand of fellowship, as Father Frank did, may be the first step to finding peace. Long story short: Lucifer's interactions with Father Frank externalize the show's central themes: the power of forgiveness, opening up to others, questioning dogma, but not morality itself. Their kinship demonstrates Lucifer Morningstar's thematic journey towards embracing his capability for righteousness when apart from righteous trappings.

[theamd426]

Potential JATP WIP. Working title is Together I Think That We Can Make It.

Basically in this fic Reggie is a foster kid who get's diagnosed with Leukemia over summer break. Victoria works in the cancer ward at the LA Children's hospital, and will eventually try and persuade Ray to take him in once he gets out of the hospital.

This is a WIP fic, and I want to wait until it's completely done to post on AO3, but I'd love some feedback so far. Also if you're interested in being a beta reader let me know!

Reggie sighed as the elevator rang, reaching the 5th floor. The doors opened and he was quickly wheeled inside the cancer ward at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Reggie’s caseworker, Todd gave him a comforting smile as one of the nurses wheeled Reggie into the ward.

“It doesn’t seem so bad here,” Todd said as Nurse Victoria wheeled Reggie into his room.

The room itself still looked like a hospital room, but it wasn’t completely bare and sterile. The walls were painted a nice crisp white, and there were built in wood cabinets surrounding a big tv that helped give the room some warmth. Right under the window there was a small seating area with an arm chair and a green couch, that most likely turned into a pullout bed in case a patients family slept over.

“You can decorate however you like,” Victoria said, with a smile. “With discretion I might add. This is still a children’s ward. So please no pictures of drugs or naked girls.”

“Not even if they’re scientific,” Reggie said, bitterly.

Todd gave nudged Reggie’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Watch your attitude please,” he said, slightly annoyed.

“Sorry,” Reggie mumbled. “You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t really have anything to decorate with.”

Victoria gave Reggie a sad smile, knowing his situation. She knew first hand how hard it is to witness a family member go through cancer, and she witnessed countless kids and their families fight everyday, but she never imagined how hard it would be to fight this battle as a kid with absolutely no one in your corner.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, trying to not act upset about what Todd said to Reggie.

He was a foster kid who had just been abandoned by his last foster placement and was now getting treated for cancer. He had every right to be bitter and upset.

Todd set Reggie’s trash bag of belongings on the floor next to his bed. He then turned to Victoria and gave her a fake smile.

“Is there anything I need to sign before you get started with his treatment?” He asked, glancing down at his watch.

“No, I think we’re good. We’ve already gone over his treatment plan with you guys and we will contact you again if anything changes.”

Todd nodded his head and pulled out his phone to check his text messages. After sending a couple of texts, he put his phone away and gave Reggie a very fake smile.

“Okay, well you have my number if you need anything,” he said, before turning and walking out of the hospital.

“Too bad I don’t have a phone,” Reggie said, plopping down on his bed.

“I’m going to go grab you a hospital gown and then we’re going to get you ready to get your port,” Victoria said, trying to lighten the mood. “When was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?"

"I got a take home lunch yesterday at school, and I had some water last night around eight thirty," he said.

"You didn't eat dinner" Victoria asked kind of shocked.

Reggie just shook his head and started to remove his worn-out converse. If he was going to be stuck in this ward for the next few months while he went through chemo then he was at least going to be comfortable.

Victoria looked over the skinny teenager and realized he was probably starving, that combined with his worn-out clothes led her to think that he was possibly neglected in his last placement.

"Okay, then after we insert your port I’ll bring you anything you want from the HBO café downstairs,” she said handing him the menu that was on the dresser. "Dr. Isaac said you don't need to go on a neutropenic diet just yet, so if I were you I'd take advantage of the greasy options now."

“Thanks,” Reggie said, taking a deep breath out.

Victoria paused for a moment before reaching for the trash bag on the floor.

“We need to wash your clothes to make sure that everything is sterile,” She said, sympathetically. “Do you have anything in that bag that doesn’t need to be washed - photos, trinkets, or books maybe?

“No,” Reggie shrugged. “It’s all Goodwill clothes.”

“Okay then,” Victoria said picking up the trash bag. "Dumb question, but do you want the bag back?”

“Will you guys give me something to put my clothes in when I leave?”

“Yes, of course,” Victoria said, trying not to tear up.

"Then yeah go ahead and toss it. I've been using that bag for a about a year anyway."

Victoria picked up all of Reggie’s belongings and brought it over to laundry management. She tried her best to keep her composure until she was completely alone. She knew good and well that she was about to start several jars in the break room to raise money to not only buy Reggie a damn suitcase, but to also get him some decent clothes and decorations.

Victoria was going to be damned if this kid survived cancer and had to leave with all of his belongings inside of a plastic hospital bag.

As Victoria was off getting everything ready for Reggie to receive his port, Reggie laid back on his hospital bed and did his best to fight back his tears. All he wanted at the moment was for his two best friends to come and be with him. But it was the first day of Summer break, and Reggie didn’t have the heart to tell either of his friends that he was diagnosed with Cancer, and now he didn’t know if how he’d be able to reach out to them without a phone or tablet. Basically he was stuck watching cable all day long.

Maybe Alex was right. Maybe they shouldn’t have forged his foster parents signature so that Reggie could donate blood.

****

“I’m not doing it,” Alex, Reggie’s best friend and bandmate, said after throwing away his blood drive form.

“But you and Luke haven’t even done it,” Reggie said, looking back and forth between Alex and Luke, Reggie’s other best friend and bandmate. “You guys haven’t done it yet right?”

“No, we haven’t had sex yet,” Alex said, rolling his eyes as he playfully pushed Reggie. “But, it’s complete bullshit that we’d be banned for life the second we do. It’s homophobic.”

Reggie sighed knowing this was going to mean he’d be giving blood alone. Luke was terrified of needles and Alex was apparently now protesting the matter.

“I don’t know,” Reggie said, sadly. “I kind of wanted to know my blood type.”

Alex’s face softened. He knew Reggie didn’t know much about his genetics. His birth parents gave him up for adoption when he was a baby, and then when he was 10 his adoptive parents dissolved his adoption. The now 16-year-old has had 13 foster placements ever since.

“You should still do it then,” Alex said, nudging Reggie’s shoulder. “We probably wouldn’t be scheduled for the same class period anyway.”

“I don’t know,” Reggie said shrugging his shoulder. “I doubt Caleb would even sign the permission form.”

“Who says he has to sign it?” Luke said, smirking.

“No, no, no!” Alex said, stopping in the middle of the hallway. “Do you know how much trouble he would get into if he forged his foster dad’s signature?”

“I don’t know,” Reggie said, shrugging his shoulders. “Worst case scenario, he kicks me out. Which, might I add, will probably happen in the next month or so anyway.”

Alex sighed and shook his head.

“I’m still totally against this plan and if anyone asks, I had nothing to do with this.”

“Yeah, but out of the three of us, you have the best handwriting,” Luke pointed out.

“Please,” Reggie begged. “I may not get this chance again until I’m 18.”

“Bobby has way better handwriting then I do,” Alex said, pouting. “Just ask him tonight at band practice.”

“He has to go to his brother’s softball game tonight,” Reggie reminded him. “And the permission form is due tomorrow.”

“Stupid private school,” Luke grumbled. “It’s not fair that he get’s to go to Los Feliz and we don’t.”

“To be fair, my parents offered to send me to Los Feliz, but I wouldn’t dare to leave you idiots alone,” Alex said, smirking.

“I uh… I actually was offered a scholarship,” Reggie said, blushing. “But I won’t be able to go unless they can find a foster home closer to the school.”

“Your joking?” Alex said, shocked.

Reggie shook his head.

"It's not going to happen though," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Los Feliz is full of rich families. They don't foster, and if they do, then they're just doing it so they can get a baby with no trauma."

"So your stuck here with me?" Luke said hopeful that his two best friends weren't leaving him behind.

"Yeah, your not getting rid us that easy," Reggie said with a smile. He then turned to Alex and gave him his best puppy dog eyes. "Please? For a kid who doesn't know where he came from?"

“Fine,” Alex grumbled. “I’m going to kill both of you if we get caught though.”

“Dude relax,” Reggie said, smiling. “We’re not going to get caught.”

****

Reggie felt unusually tired the day of the blood drive, and he couldn’t figure out why especially since nothing in his routine had changed in the past couple of days. He did go to bed a little later than he usually did since his foster father Caleb caught him coming in after curfew. He spent the better half of the night listening to his foster father yell and berate him before locking him in his bedroom. It was nothing he hadn’t dealt with before, so he couldn’t understand why he was so exhausted.

“You look tired,” Alex said, leaning on the locker beside Reggie’s.

“Caleb was in a big mood last night,” Reggie said, yawning. “I’m probably getting moved after we finish exams.”

“I’m sorry,” Alex said, sympathetically. “Maybe your next placement will be better?”

Reggie slammed his locker shut and shrugged his shoulders. He had been moved so much lately that it didn’t really bother him.

“I doubt it,” he said, walking to class. “No one voluntarily takes in teenagers, especially ones who have been rehomed.”

Alex bit his lip, he wanted to ask his parents if they could take in Reggie, but he knew Reggie was openly bi and he didn’t want to subject Reggie to their homophobia. It was already bad enough hiding his own relationship with his parents, he didn’t want to force Reggie to do the same if he found someone he really liked.

As the two got closer to their first period pre-calculus class, Alex perked up and immediately started to reach in his book bag.

“I almost forgot,” Alex said, pulling out a breakfast sandwich. “My mom said that you should never give blood on an empty stomach.”

“You told your mom I was giving blood?” Reggie asked.

“Well… not exactly,” Alex said, blushing. “My dad gave blood for our church’s blood drive last month and my mom made a big scene about him eating a big breakfast that morning.”

“You do know I get free breakfast and lunch right?” Reggie asked, furrowing his brows.

“Yeah, but school food sucks,” Alex said, shivering at the thought. “I honestly don’t know how you and Luke eat it everyday.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Luke eat worse,” Reggie said, giggling. “Last weekend I saw him put mashed potatoes on a waffle. It was disgusting.”

“Yeah, that checks out,” Alex agreed. “I still don’t know how you do it though.”

Reggie just shrugged his shoulders and took a bite out of the breakfast sandwich Alex gave him.

“I don’t know… I guess when the alternative is not eating you kind of just get over the taste.”

Alex looked at Reggie with sad eyes as the two walked into class and took a seat at their desks. Reggie quickly finished his sandwich and started to open his worn-out notebook.

****

Reggie was scheduled to give blood right at the beginning of 3rd period, which means he was missing music with Alex and Luke. Luke wished Reggie good luck at the end of chemistry, and Reggie made Luke promise to grab a review packet for him for their final next week. He didn’t have access to private music lessons like Luke or Alex, so music class was the only chance he had to learn theory.

When Reggie arrived in the gym for the blood drive there weren’t as many students as he imagined. Most of the students were volunteering for the blood drive for their nursing classes. He assumed that more students would be willing to donate, but the gym was practically empty, meaning that they will probably stop doing blood drives next year.

Once he was at the front of the line to check in, one of the nursing students took his permission slip, that Alex did a pretty good job forging, and started to take his vitals. Reggie was a bit worried that he wouldn’t pass the weight requirement, since he hadn’t been eating as much as he normally does. His weight did drop, but he was still above the required weight and height for donating blood so he was let through.

After his passing his initial check up, Reggie was finally brought over to the area where students were waiting to get poked. Reggie waited five minutes and was then escorted to a chair.

His nurse, Gloria, gave him a big smile as she started looking for veins. Once she was sure she found a good vein she told Reggie to relax his arm and turn his head so he didn’t have to look at the needle going into his arm. But Reggie didn’t. Instead, Reggie just stared at his arm as the needle went in.

“Wow, you didn’t flinch at all,” Gloria said as she taped Reggie up.

“It’s not the worst pain I’ve been in,” he said with a smirk.

Gloria gave him a sad smile and handed him a stress ball. Reggie started to squeeze the ball allowing his blood to come out quicker.

“Okay, I’ll be back to check on you in a bit,” Gloria said, taking her gloves off. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’ll try not too,” Reggie said, sarcastically.

Reggie gently squeezed the stress ball, but after a few minutes of squeezing his hands started tingling, his limbs started to feel heavy, and he started to feel really tired. He blinked for a bit and did his absolute best to keep his eyes open and stay awake.

“Come on,” he said, focusing on his blinking. “You can fall asleep when you get home. Don’t cause a problem.”

Reggie’s eyes continued to flutter for a few moments longer before he couldn’t feel anything and everything went completely black.

****

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

Reggie groggily opened his eyes to the steady sound of a heart rate monitor letting everyone know that he was still alive.

He looked around the room and saw dozens of nurses and doctors walking around the ER triage center as they assessed different patients. He looked around the room and furrowed his brows when he saw pictures of kittens and clowns on the wall. The sound of a toddler crying only solidified his hypothesis. He was in the ER at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Reggie groaned and started looking for a way to quietly remove the wires that were hooked up to him. Butt after one accidental bad move, the monitors went off and an ER Nurse came rushing in. She looked over him for a minute before giving him a comforting smile.

“It’s good to have you back in the land of the living,” the nurse said as he started to check Reggie’s vitals. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine,” Reggie said, rubbing his eyes. “What happened?”

“You passed out at a blood drive,” he said, seriously. “Do you know what happened? Did you just forget to eat maybe?”

Reggie shook his head, he had devoured that breakfast sandwich the moment Alex gave it to him, and he snagged a blueberry muffin from the cafeteria. He should have been fine.

“Okay, well we’re testing your blood right now just to be safe,” he said, gently. “Your school gave us your dad’s number but he didn’t pick up. Is there anyone else we can call?”

Reggie sighed as he bit his lip. He knew his social worker Todd was going to have to find out about him being in the hospital. He just didn’t want to hear the lecture that would surely come from it.

“818-555-0149… that’s my case worker’s number. His name is Todd,” Reggie said, biting his lip.

“Oh,” the nurse said, quietly. “I’ll um… I’ll call him right now.”

Reggie nodded his head as he curled up further in his hospital bed. Nurses and doctors all around him were ignoring him as they all went about their jobs.

As he sat there alone, he started to get flashbacks to when he was 10 and he was abandoned in this very ER after his appendix burst. He thought his parents left to go fill out paperwork for his surgery, but after a few hours, they never came back. The hospital called their names several times over the intercom, but nobody ever came.

That was the day Reggie found out that he wasn't biologically related to his parents. He was adopted, and they didn't want him anymore. 

[mint-moon25]

FLORIDA - FOOD ASSISTANCE - SNAP

NEW - WEBSITE

MY ACCESS . MY FL FAMILIES . com

WENT - 2 - PROVIDERS - APP

CHANGED - MY ZIP CODE

WENT - 2 - WEBSITE - LINKED - MY

BENEFITS

WHEN - I - DID - STATUS - WENT

2 - 2ND - PART - NO 2 - NOW - A

CASEWORKER - WILL - REVIEW

SHORTLY - HOORAY

WILL - GET - BENEFITS - 22 MAR

AFTER - ALL - PROVIDERS - APP

TYPED - MY - CASE NO

SAME - AFTER - YEARS

BENEFIT - AS - HOMELESS

TOTAL - $67

HAD - 2 - RE-APPLY - FOR

PAPERLESS - AND - TEXT

THEY'RE - NOT - GREAT

WITH - THAT - SAW - MY

PAST LETTER - JAN 2024

FORGOT - THAT ADDRESS

SO - LONG - AGO

MIAMI - OVER - 1 YEAR

SAW - AGAIN - MY - HE IS

A - WOMAN - AND - SAID

'HIS - OTHER - HALF'

CAN - EXPERIENCE - YES

BEING - A - MAN - TOOLS

SO - CAN - WEE WEE LIKE

A - MAN - WITH - RUBBER

BODY - PARTS - FR

AMAZON - ALSO

WHO - GIVES - FOOD - TO

US - WEDNESDAYS

GAVE - HIM - $200

AMAZON - GIFT - CARD

SO - THEY - BOUGHT

BODY - PARTS

FAKE - BOOBS - 4 HIM

FAKE - MALE - RUBBER

PARTS - SHE - CAN YES

WEAR - 2 - WEE WEE

LIKE - A - MAN

$200 - WOULD - HAVE

BOUGHT - ME - SWIMWEAR

PINK - OTHER - COLORS

$19.99 - 2 DAY - PRIME

OR - OVERNIGHT FREE

WELL - HE - SAID - BECAUSE

OF - HOMELESS

MY - MIND - ($30 MILLION)

MILITARY - TENTS - 3 MEALS

FREE - NOT - 5 MEALS - SAID

GOVERNOR - DECREASING

MIN WAGE

I - THINK - THESE - HOMELESS

WHITES - BLKS

DEPRESSING - DOMESDAY

HOMELESS - EX - US ARMY

VETERAN - CREATING - WORDS

PER - LAW - 'I - CAN - READ TOO'

HERE's - GOOGLE - SEARCH

FLORIDA - ON - SCHEDULE

MIN - WAGE - NEW - $12 HOURLY

TIPPED - JOBS - LOWER

HOWEVER - GREAT - NEWS - FL

30 SEPT - NEW MINIMUM WAGE

$13 - HOURLY - FLORIDA

MONDAY - AT - LEAST

THEY - BOSTON - MA - MASSACHUSETTS

6 MONTHS

THEIR - STOCKBROCKER - FRIEND - HUGE

HOUSE - BUILT - FREE - 4 - THEM - LOTS OF

BEDROOMS - SAN DIEGO - BEACH - AREA

BEACH - HOUSE - HE's - TURNING - INTO A

BED - AND - BREAKFAST

BACK - AREA

ROCK & ROLL - BEACH - ACTIVITIES

HE's - CHARGING - MONEY - FOR

GOOD - 4 - THEM

FREE - HUGE - BEACH - HOUSE

4 - THEM - 2 - MAKE - MONEY

FROM - HE - CAN - COOK - HE's

THE - CHEF - 4 - BREAKFAST - 2

GOOD - 4 - THEM

THEY'RE - LEAVING

HISPANIC - MALE - KEPT - ON

SAYING - WHAT - I - GAVE HIM

HE'LL - GO - 2 - JAIL - FROM

HE - CAN'T - FIND - MY - YES

2 - INFLATE - MY - AIR - MAT

HE's - LEAVING - 2 GET JOB

GOOD

LAW - PASSED - WE'RE - YES

WAITING - 1 YEAR - CAMP

AREA - THEY - WILL ONLY

B - ALLOWED - THOSE - YES

BURROWED - PROPERTIES

1 YEAR - IN - ADDITION - TO

MORE - TRADITIONAL

SHELTERS - TOTAL - SPEND

$30 MILLION

1 YEAR - CAMP - AREA

MILITARY - TENTS

GUARDS - NO - CURFEW

UNTIL - THEM - GETTING

HUGER - TARP - AT - ROSS

$7.99

THEN - OTHER - THAT HAS

HOLE - ALREADY - 4 - I'VE

BEEN - USING - 2 - TIE ON

FENCE - USING - THAT

8 FT - X - 10 FT

SMALL - IN - REAL LIFE

USING - 2 - PROTECT MY

WALMART - LUGGAGE

DUFFLE - BAG - ROSS

BAGS - SKIN - CARE

WATERS - CLOTHES

2 - SHIELD FR RAIN

2 DAYS - AT - LEAST - WILL

RAIN - IN - MIAMI - THUS I

AM - PREPARING

HISPANIC - MIDGET - WHO

WANTS - 2 - MARRY - ME I

SAID - I - HAVE - 'NOVIO'

BOYFRIEND - NOW - HE WAS

SCARING - ME - ABOUT - BLK

MALE - LOOKING - AT - MY BL

BLUE - TARP

MOST - LIKELY - MY - BLK

BALLS - 2 - TIE - TARP - HE

TRIED - 2 - SCARE - ME

STEALING - MY - SHIRT

MY - PILLOWS - MY IGLOO

BOO BOO

GOD - REDEEMED - US - FR

THE - CURSE - OF THE LAW

OF - THIS - PLANET

DOMINATED - BY - SATAN

A - LOOSE OUTLAW SPIRIT

BUT - WE'RE - REDEEMED

EXCEPT - FROM

CONSTANT - ROBBERY

JESUS - IS - LORD

TOLD - HIM - 2 - STOP

SCARING - ME - HE - 2

WANTED - 2 - WATCH

ME - PUT - MAKE - UP

ON - TOLD - ME - ABOUT

THE - BACOPA - EFFECTS

AROUND - MY - NOSE

THEY - ARE - FULL - OF

MEDS - HOUSEWIVES

FISHTALES - SOLUTION

I - SAID - DON'T - WORRY

ABOUT - IT - I - NEED - TO

DO - MY - MAKE UP

THEN - LATER - HE - JUST

LOOKS - AT - ME

I - JUST - LOOK - SOME -

WHERE - ELSE

WHAT - I - MISS - ABOUT

EUROPE - TALL - BLUE

EYES - GORGEOUS MEN

MISS - ABOUT - ASIA

ADMIRING - GLANCES

OF - TALL - THIN PRETTY

MALES - VIETNAM - AND

BANGKOK - THAILAND - 2

HERE - IN - MIAMI

UGLY - SMELLY - BAD

BREATH - HOMELESS

HOBO - HISPANIC AND

BLKS - WANT 2 SHOVE

THEIR - PEE PEE IN MY

VAGINAL - AREA - FOR

I - HAD - TENTS

I - HAVE - BLUE - TARP

'NO ONE - IS LOOKING'

BLK - MALE - WANTED

2 - TALK - 2 - ME - AT

2:08A EST

I - SAID - 'IT's - 2 A EST'

HE - SPOKE - LOUD - 2

A - HISPANIC - OLD YES

MALE - OUT - LOUD

THEN - LEFT

I - HAD - EAR - PLUGS

ON - YOUTUBE - JERRY

SAVELLE - GOD's WORD

JOEL OSTEEN

2 - BUILD - US - UP

BLK - HOMELESS - FR

OTHER SIDE - OF SW 2 ST

WANTED - 2 - SHOW - HIS

NAKED - PEE PEE - 2 YES

PENETRATE - VAGINAL

AREA - LIVE - INSIDE - MY

BLUE - TARP

MIAMI - FLORIDA

LIVE - LIVE - PEE PEE - 2

WEE - WEE - ON FENCES

LIVE - PEE PEE - 2 - YES

PENETRATE - ASIANS

INSIDE - OPEN - BLUE

TARP - FR - ROSS DRESS

4 - LESS

MIAMI - IMMORAL - USA

AMERICANS - CUBANS

COLUMBIANS - HISPANICS

BLKS - FR - CUBA - ALSO

BLKS - FR - HAITI - MOST

VIOLENT - MIAMI - POLICE

BRICKELL - CITY - CENTRE

ARMED - ALLIED - ALLIANCE

SECURITY - THEY'RE - LIKE

COPY - CATS - OF - MIAMI

14TH - AMENDMENT

AS - AMERICANS

ILLITERATE - LOW - GPA

NOT - BRIGHT - VIOLENT

UGLY - REPULSIVE - YES

HUMANS - MIAMI - 99%

SPANISH - FR - SPANISH

COUNTRIES

AMERICANS - CAN'T READ

14TH - AMENDMENT

NO - STATE - CAN - DEPRIVE

A - PERSON - OF - LIFE

ILLEGALLY - ARMED

POLICE - SHERIFFS - SECURITY

NO - STATE - CAN - DEPRIVE

PERSON - OF - LIBERTY - YES

HOMELESS - IS - LIBERTY

NO - TATE - CAN - DEPRIVE

PERSON - OF - PROPERTY

ALWAYS - ALLIED SECURITY

SMILING - ABOUT - THROWING

AWAY - WHAT - WE - BOUGHT 2

7TH - AMENDMENT

CIVIL SUITS - WHEN - AMOUNT

IS - OVER - $20 - RIGHT 2 TRIAL

BY - JURY - SHALL - B - ALWAYS

PRESERVED - REV'D - REVISED

THUS - AS - WE - SUE

HARVARD - LAW

REPUBLICAN - PARTY - OF - FL

PAYING - ME - $1 TRILLION PER

DAY - 500 YEARS - TAX - PAID

PLUS - CITIZENS - RESIDENTS

OF - FLORIDA

'2 - KILL - A - MOCKINGBIRD'

2 - KILL ABUSE FOREIGNERS

BIBLE - NEVER - HARM - THE

FOREIGNER - LIVING AMONG

THEM - NEVER - MISTREAT 2

EATING - FIRST - THEN - WILL

GO - 2 - ROSS

BUY - HUGE - TARP - $7.99

JESUS - IS - LORD

KOREAN - GIRLS 2

[maciek-jozefowicz]

Designing a house in SketchUp — perspective view from southwest.

On the left side is the bicycle “garage” and work shop. Electrical outlets on the exterior allow for electric scooters to be conveniently powered up. The built-in casework is for storing helmets, gloves and parachutes, spare parts like tires, inner tubes and chains, and various maintenance supplies and tools.

“Healthy Planet for Healthy People” will be the slogan of future personal transportation that will replace the automobile. It is not too early for automakers to begin making the transition. There will be a time when BMW, Mercedes and Audi will be known only for their luxury bicycles and status-symbolizing electric scooters. People will forget that they made cars. Ditto Ferrari and Lamborghini, and Tesla, who will invent the first self-driving electric scooter.

Tesla will also invent the first sun powered electric scooter, which will have attached to it a handglider-like canopy with solar panels. The rider of this scooter will be able to scoot for hundreds of miles without a recharge and, also, glide gracefully off cliffs or multi-story scooter parking garages or through specially designed launch-windows of high rise office buildings — getting home from work will have never been so exhilarating.

Of course, not every carmaker will make a successful transition. Some will go extinct. Companies are not unlike species, if they don’t adopt to climate crisis (aka. Clisis), they will die.

[ao3feed-ereloy]

Playing House to Build a Family

by Ratcatcherr

Ereloy Week Day 3: Angst with a Happy Ending

Aloy never expected to find a sister, let alone one who needed her help. But when Beta comes into her life, Aloy knows she has to do everything she can to give her a better future. The only problem? The government won't let her adopt Beta unless she's married. Enter Erend, Aloy's best friend and confidant who'll do whatever it takes to keep Beta safe. They just need to fool their caseworker long enough to make the adoption official. But as they navigate the ups and downs of fake marriage, Aloy and Erend find themselves getting closer than they ever imagined. Can a marriage built on a lie become something real?

Words: 804, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of Ratcatcherr's Ereloy Week 2023

Fandoms: Horizon (Video Games)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Erend (Horizon), Aloy (Horizon), Beta (Horizon), Alva (Horizon)

Relationships: Aloy/Erend (Horizon)

Additional Tags: Fake Marriage, Adoption, Implied Child Abuse

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/45679732

[residentshitcunt]

Looking into this, never would I have guessed at first glance that the organ was built largely in the 1990s, and installed in 1998. It's in Corthell Hall at the University of Southern Maine, built by David E. Wallace and Company (specifications here). I don't know what the voicing is like, but the stoplist is giving "exciting hymn machine" much more than "serious concert instrument". Like there's a 16' pedal reed, which is supporting ???? on the great? How big is that diapason? I do appreciate the cornet décomposé on the swell, a pity it has fuck all counter on the great unless that chimney flute is doing some serious heavy lifting. Then again, if the casework is at all indicative of the pipework inside, the principal chorus is going to be the size of a house and the swell won't stand a chance.

[garettjwilkes]

Garrett J. Wilkes: A Bilingual Advocate for Immigration and Business Law

Garrett J. Wilkes is a seasoned bilingual business professional specializing in immigration and international law. With fluency in English and Spanish, Wilkes brings a unique combination of empathy, creativity, and expertise to his roles, helping individuals and organizations navigate the complexities of immigration processes. His career is defined by his commitment to excellence, meticulous case management, and ability to foster collaborative relationships with attorneys, law firms, and government agencies, including USCIS, NVC, and DHS.

Educational Foundations and Professional Achievements

Wilkes began his academic journey at Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Spanish in 2007. This foundation, combined with his passion for law, led him to earn a Juris Doctor from the Phoenix School of Law in 2011. He further enhanced his credentials by obtaining the Arizona Attorney General Mediation Certification in 2014 and immigration consultant certifications in Utah and California in 2021 and 2022. These certifications reflect his dedication to professional development and his expertise in immigration law.

A Career Defined by Excellence in Immigration Services

Since 2018, Wilkes has served as a business consultant and immigration case specialist at Perennial Solutions in Phoenix, AZ. In this role, he prepares immigration casework for businesses, corporations, law firms, and non-profits. His expertise includes handling nonimmigrant applications such as E Visas, H-1B and H-2B visas, L-1 transfers, and PERM certifications. Wilkes excels in working with complex visa processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance at every stage.

During his time at The Sobampo Law Firm, Wilkes demonstrated his ability to manage intricate legal matters, including removal defense, asylums, and adjustment of status cases. His role involved drafting legal memoranda, consulting with attorneys, and developing strategies to best serve immigration clients. His dedication to detail and streamlined processes consistently delivered positive results.

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Community Engagement

Wilkes' entrepreneurial mindset is evident in his innovative approach to business development. At Rafael Tirado & Associates, he expanded business opportunities and revenue potential while connecting with the community through Spanish radio discussions about immigration law. His ability to bridge cultural gaps has strengthened trust and fostered long-term relationships with clients.

Beyond his professional contributions, Wilkes is a mentor and advocate for education. He provides training in English and Spanish, helping team members improve their skills and efficiency. His commitment to mentoring reflects his belief in collaboration and the importance of knowledge sharing to achieve success.

A Trusted Professional in Immigration Law

Garrett J. Wilkes continues to set a standard of excellence in immigration and business consultancy. His educational background, certifications, and hands-on experience make him a trusted advisor in navigating complex legal landscapes. Whether working with businesses, law firms, or individuals, Wilkes brings a personalized, empathetic approach that ensures every case is handled with precision and care.

Building a Legacy in Law and Advocacy

Wilkes' dedication to his craft, combined with his ability to adapt and innovate, positions him as a leader in immigration law and business consultancy. Through his work, he has built a legacy of trust, professionalism, and positive impact, helping clients achieve their goals while fostering understanding and collaboration across communities.

[glesales]

The Impact of Laboratory Casework on Lab Safety and Compliance

In any laboratory, the primary focus is often on the research and experiments conducted within its walls. However, the effectiveness and safety of these activities are heavily influenced by the laboratory's infrastructure, including its casework. Laboratory casework—encompassing cabinets, countertops, and storage solutions—plays a crucial role in ensuring both safety and compliance with regulatory standards. In this blog post, we'll explore how well-designed laboratory casework can impact lab safety and regulatory adherence, ultimately fostering a more effective and secure research environment.

1. Ensuring Chemical Safety Through Proper Casework Design

One of the most significant aspects of laboratory safety is the handling and storage of chemicals. Laboratories deal with a variety of hazardous substances, including acids, bases, and solvents, which require careful management to prevent accidents. Laboratory casework designed with chemical safety in mind can mitigate risks in several ways:

Chemical-Resistant Materials: High-quality laboratory casework is often constructed from materials like phenolic resin or stainless steel, which are resistant to chemical spills and corrosive substances. These materials prevent chemical reactions that could damage the casework or pose safety hazards.

Vented Cabinets: For volatile or fume-emitting chemicals, casework with integrated ventilation systems ensures that hazardous fumes are safely extracted from the work area. This reduces the risk of inhalation exposure and maintains a safer air quality in the lab.

Spill Containment: Modern casework designs often include features like spill trays or containment basins to catch accidental spills. These features help to contain leaks and minimize the risk of chemical exposure or contamination.

2. Enhancing Ergonomics and Reducing Physical Strain

Lab safety is not only about chemical and fire hazards but also about the physical well-being of lab personnel. Ergonomic casework design is essential for reducing physical strain and promoting a safer working environment:

Adjustable Heights: Lab tables and countertops that can be adjusted in height accommodate different tasks and personnel, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Adjustable features ensure that lab workers can perform tasks comfortably, reducing fatigue and strain.

Accessible Storage: Properly designed casework includes easily accessible storage solutions that minimize the need for awkward bending, stretching, or lifting. This reduces the risk of injuries related to repetitive strain or heavy lifting.

Clutter Reduction: Efficient casework design helps to keep workspaces organized and clutter-free. This reduces the risk of accidents caused by tripping over equipment or materials and ensures that lab personnel can work safely and efficiently.

3. Facilitating Compliance with Safety Regulations

Laboratories must adhere to a range of safety regulations and standards, which can vary depending on the industry and location. Laboratory casework plays a key role in meeting these compliance requirements:

Fire Safety: Casework constructed from fire-resistant materials helps to comply with fire safety regulations. Features such as flame-resistant finishes and integrated fire suppression systems contribute to a safer lab environment in the event of a fire.

Hygiene and Cleanliness: Non-porous casework surfaces prevent the buildup of bacteria, mold, and other contaminants, which is crucial for maintaining compliance with hygiene standards. Easy-to-clean surfaces ensure that labs can meet sanitation requirements effectively.

Accessibility and Safety Features: Casework with built-in safety features, such as lockable cabinets for hazardous materials or secure storage for sensitive equipment, helps laboratories adhere to regulations governing the safe handling and storage of chemicals and tools.

4. Supporting Effective Laboratory Workflow

Effective laboratory casework not only contributes to safety but also supports a well-organized and efficient workflow. Proper casework design ensures that all necessary equipment and materials are within easy reach, which can enhance overall lab productivity and safety:

Integrated Workstations: Modular casework systems can be customized to include integrated workstations with built-in utilities, such as water and gas lines. This reduces the need for additional equipment and helps streamline lab operations.

Flexible Layouts: Adjustable and modular casework allows labs to adapt their layouts as needed. This flexibility helps accommodate changes in research focus or equipment, ensuring that the lab remains functional and compliant with safety standards.

Clear Organization: Casework designed with specific storage solutions for different types of materials (e.g., chemical reagents, biological samples) ensures that items are organized and easily accessible. This reduces the risk of accidental cross-contamination or misuse of materials.

5. Promoting Sustainability and Long-Term Compliance

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in laboratory design. Choosing environmentally friendly materials and designs for casework can contribute to long-term compliance with environmental regulations and promote overall sustainability:

Recycled Materials: Some laboratory casework options are made from recycled or sustainable materials, which helps labs meet green building standards and reduce their environmental impact.

Durability and Longevity: Investing in high-quality, durable casework reduces the need for frequent replacements, minimizing waste and promoting sustainability. Long-lasting casework also helps labs maintain consistent compliance with safety standards over time.

Conclusion

The impact of laboratory casework on lab safety and compliance is significant. Properly designed casework ensures that laboratories can handle chemicals safely, reduce physical strain, adhere to regulatory requirements, and maintain an organized and efficient workspace. By investing in high-quality laboratory casework, labs not only enhance safety and compliance but also contribute to a more productive and sustainable research environment. As laboratory needs evolve, staying informed about the latest casework designs and features will help ensure that labs continue to meet safety and compliance standards effectively.

[shalin-designs]

Shalin Designs Launches Comprehensive Furniture Design Services

[United Kingdom, 25 July 2024] – Shalin Designs, a leader in innovative CAD solutions, proudly announces the launch of its Furniture Design Services. This new offering aims to transform 3D models into precise 2D furniture design drawings, streamlining the manufacturing, assembly, and installation of custom-built furniture joinery products.

Furniture plays a critical role in both residential and commercial spaces, enhancing usability and aesthetic appeal. Traditional manual design methods often prove cumbersome, lacking the efficiency and precision needed for modern demands. Shalin Designs leverages advanced CAD technology to provide clients with the freedom, comfort, and numerous advantages of digital design.

Why Custom Furniture Design Services are Essential:

Creativity: Unlock boundless creative potential with versatile design options.

Precision: Achieve unmatched accuracy in every detail.

Productivity: Boost efficiency with streamlined processes.

Space Utility: Maximize the use of available space.

Cost-effectiveness: Reduce costs with optimized design solutions.

Full-Service Furniture Design Process:

Inquiry & Research: We begin with a thorough understanding of your requirements.

Estimation & Quotation: We provide a detailed quote tailored to your needs.

Modeling & Drafting: Our team explores various alternatives to fit your context.

Quality Check: Rigorous checks ensure high-quality final designs.

Delivery & Revisions: Timely delivery in agreed formats with scope for revisions.

Shalin Designs caters to product designers, custom-made furniture manufacturers, construction contractors, and owners seeking meticulous furniture joinery drawings. Our designs cover a wide range of categories including office furnishings, storage solutions, living room designs, dining and kitchen modular furnishings, and more. We serve a global clientele across the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, Singapore, Norway, Ireland, and the UAE.

Service Offerings:

Residential Furniture CAD Design Service

Landscape Furniture CAD Design Service

Commercial Furniture CAD Design Service

Architectural Furniture CAD Design Service

Casework Furniture CAD Design Service

3D Furniture Design Modeling

Advanced Furniture Modeling Tools:

Shalin Designs employs a suite of cutting-edge CAD software/tools such as AutoCAD, Inventor, Woodworks in Inventor, SketchUp, Pytha CAD, Revit, and 3Ds Max to deliver top-notch furniture joinery designs.

About Shalin Designs:

Shalin Designs specializes in providing innovative CAD solutions for a variety of design needs. With a focus on transforming spaces from dream to reality, our expertise spans dining room designs, living room transformations, and more. Our commitment to quality and precision ensures that our clients receive the best possible solutions tailored to their unique requirements.

For more information about Shalin Designs Furniture Design Services, please visit https://shalindesigns.com/furniture-design/

Shalin Designs +44 7540215955 info@shalindesigns.com