#bureaucratic hurdles

[my-favouriteiot]

Hospertz: Your One-Stop Partner for Building a Successful Healthcare Facility

Hospertz: Your One-Stop Partner for Building a Successful Healthcare Facility

Streamlining the Journey: Hospertz India Pvt. Ltd. (HIPL) caters to the healthcare industry as a turnkey solutions provider. They offer comprehensive support, guiding medical professionals through every step of establishing a new medical facility.

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Addressing Modern Challenges: HIPL acknowledges the growing complexities within the healthcare landscape. Their expertise helps navigate the increasing bureaucratic hurdles associated with setting up a new medical establishment.

Experience You Can Trust: With their extensive experience, HIPL has a proven track record of assisting doctors, dentists, and other specialists in building multi-specialty healthcare facilities across India. Their meticulous approachensures every detail is addressed, from acquiring high-tech equipment at competitive prices to recruiting qualified staff.

Focus on What Matters: By partnering with Hospertz, medical professionals can concentrate on their core competency: delivering exceptional patient care. HIPL takes care of the rest, handling day-to-day operations, licensing procedures, streamlining processes, and staff protocols. Their objective is to establish a smooth-running, patient-centric, and profitable healthcare facility.

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A Guiding Light: Driven by the vision of fostering quality-conscious and profitable healthcare institutions, HIPL leverages its three core strengths:

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[one-thousand-and-one-fandoms]

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"Dead serious," the reaper answered and I tried to smother the small grin that reflexively pulled at my lips because this was serious, for goodness sake, control yourself!

"But how? More importantly, can it be reversed? Do you know how many times I said that?! It was supposed to be a joke!"

"Well, now it's not, is it?"

"Answer the question," I snapped, but quickly remembered who it was that I was snapping at and what he could do, "please."

"Fortunately for you, careless mortal, it can be reversed. Just declare: "I hereby release you from your oath for the debt has been paid"," the reaper replied.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

I turned to look at Tony, my elderly neighbor whom I'd catsitted for tons of times in the past without expecting anything in return... let alone his soul. He looked pissed. I would be too, to be honest, if I found myself in his predicament.

"I hereby release you from your oath for the debt as been paid," I said, as solemnly as I could when I honestly found the whole situation absurd. Tony glowed white for a moment before he dissipated like mist in the sun and then the reaper and I were left alone.

The reaper pulled out a rolled piece of an old looking, yellowish... paper? Actually, it looked leathery. It might have been hide, now that I think about it. It probably was.

"Now that that business has been taken care of," the reaper said and cut the string, releasing the roll of rolled hide which unfurled into a long, long strip that curled at the feet of the reaper, "if you'd be so kind as to repeat the same thing to all the people in this list, I'll be out of your hair and you won't ever have to see me again. Until the day you die, that is."

I stared at him. Then I looked over his shoulder to read some of the names. The first name was Terry Susan Appleby. Suzie?! Really? I hadn't seen her since I moved to Chicago in 8th grade. I looked at the reaper.

"You're shitting me," I said.

If the reaper could smile, I bet he would have sported a shit eating grin. As it was his skull face seemed to be mocking me even with the lack of eyes and lips.

"Dead serious," he replied.

"Fuck."

“Sure, it’ll only cost you your soul” you used to jokingly say whenever you did something for free. Everyone always got a laugh out of it, and so did you! Until the first soul showed up in your living room with a very, very tired looking reaper.

[mass-convergence]

Becoming more and more motivated to acquire the means to get top surgery and finally rid myself of my boobs.

[dianight]

Let's talk about transandrophobia. And by that I mean let me monologue about my findings browsing the tag and checking related blogs.

For context, most of my (second hand) interactions with it are from additions to the posts of transfeminists where random people antagonize them. Also from knowledge about how a certain user who helped popularize the term and gets referenced on posts about it (and other adjacent pawns) just happens to be a piledriver for callouts that just happen to target trans women. So you will excuse me for being biased and not going into this with a naive mindset.

And I will say that I've engaged with this in significantly more good faith than it deserves. My hope was that perhaps most people using the term were doing it out of ignorance and not malicious intent. I haven't really "counted" or done any actual note taking for this, it's more of a general observation that coalesced over a few days after I did all that digging so numbers are rough estimates and not accurate numbers. I checked about 50 pages on both "latest" and "top" on the tag, aswell as checking the recommended blogs.

Ignoring certain users who use the tag to highlight how absurd the mere concept of it is, since it's just mainly one woman having fun(?) cluttering (neutral) the tag and a few others mocking posts about it; we can roughly put the people who talk about transandrophobia in 3 groups. There is potential for overlap and I reiterate, my good faith is going to skew this toward a more positive vision than reality.

The first group are mostly trans men and a few trans women who would define transandrophobia as transphobia targeted at trans men, which is not at all what the term means nor what its history or actual use is. This group was around 30-40% of the posts, but one has to keep in mind that this was from going over the posts with the tag on their blogs. Posts that would talk about their experiences being the targets of transphobia and calling it transandrophobia.

Not to sound condescending, but getting treated differently to your cis peers (before coming out OR even knowing you are trans), pushback against your transition and toward the closet, bureaucratic hurdles and general hostility to being "the other" is not a transmasc exclusive thing and it's in fact "just" transphobia. Even the supposedly unique to trans men experience of having issues with reproductive health... also happens to trans women, it's the general transphobia of medical professionals. It manifests in different ways, that's it.

Most of the transmascs on this group seem to be under the impression that transandrophobia is an analogous term to transmisogyny that simply describes the targeted transphobia to transmascs and transfems respectively. I understand their posts and it was painful to read many of them, but ultimately what they describe is called transphobia. Most of the (few) transfems on this group were making additions in defense/support of trans men on those same previous posts.

That's as good as it gets though. I really hope the 30-40% estimate is real because the alternative is grim, and as a disclaimer I have (over time) blocked a massive amount of those users who go on posts about transmisogyny to start fights. Those hostile users are very likely to use the tag and be part of the second or third groups, which means that accounting for all the people I've blocked the first group percentage is likely to be <30%.

The second group are cryptoterfs. Or alternatively, people with ideas so bioessentialist that they are indistinguishable from cryptoterfs. I have found only two blogs that were openly "gc" and straight up interacting with open terfs, but many of them had their rethoric and semirelated posts all over and sometimes even the recommended blogs would give it away. Possibly 10% of the tag users belong to this group.

The main giveaway beyond the previous ones seems to be a really transphobic view that what trans men experience as transphobia is really just misogyny. So when they experience that misogyny as trans men it's called transandrophobia. Don't ask me what logic this is, but I've seen it repeated on their blogs so whatever is going on in their brains they seem to commonly agree that trans men are "just" experiencing misogyny. The obvious implication always, always being that trans men are women, a very transphobic idea.

There were some users who are part of the previously mentioned overlap. They will have some posts that tangentially allude at that trans men = women idea but never quite reblog or interact or expand those transphobic views. But they would also be part of the third group.

The third group are transmisogynists. No other way to put it. And I don't mean it in the casual way, we are all kind of transmisogynistic due to society and that's it; I mean it in the openly in opposition to transfeminists and actively spreading hateful and harmful rethoric kind of way. More than half the users of the tag are part of this group.

It's a key difference but a very telling one; where the first group talked about their experiences and how they are affected by transphobia (incorrectly labeling it) the third group engages in reactionary behaviors, always blaming/harassing/critizicing transfeminists posts. It's a genuinely weird feeling to see a post you agree with, along the lines of "men benefit from patriachy" and the "critique" from these users being "how dare these [insert misgendering term] insinuate that trans men are oppressing them".

Reading anything in bad faith, calls for "unity" while at the same reblogging from and interacting with known callout spearheads, honestly shocking hostility to trans women all over their posts and a general very open opposition to any transfeminist theory. Like I was genuinely speechless at some of the posts.

Literally calling random trans women transphobic. Screenshots without context to make it seem like the OP is saying the literal opposite of what she was saying. Congratulatory posts about getting people banned. Straight up callouts.

And I was hoping that the first group would be the majority, with a few bad apples and the expected bad actors.

My conclusion is very simple. Stop using the term transandrophobia. It has no good faith uses, what trans men experience is transphobia since misandry is not a real structural force and misogyny is. Most of its users are hostile to and a danger to trans women in this website, and somehow terf rethoric is generally accepted by them.

Transandrophobia doesn't exist.

[pearlwithgirl]

As the Nightingale Calls

Simon Riley x gn!reader

SFW fluff - 612 words

The first of many tender musings

It’s quiet. The dingy room holds a jarring tranquility, lowering inhibitions, washing away the chaos of the day.

His tongue darts out over dusky pink lips to collect the last of tonight’s ration. Pound cake. 

Vanilla soaked crumbs are cleared from the seam of his mouth and licked away from the jagged line cleaved from nose to neck.

A flash of anger zaps across your visage. It only lasts a moment - his opponent has already paid his price, resting deeply. Communing with roots and fragrant earth. 

Raising a scarred hand to the corner of your mouth, he swipes away a smear of rosy jam. He suckles at the skin of his thumb, savouring the mellow tartness, eyes still glued to your lips.

He raises his gaze to meet yours. The same cogs are turning, the same thoughts being mulled over in your own brain.

Should you give in to the insistent tug?

The well-established, scarcely-acknowledged tether between yourselves?

Certainly not. It’s ill-advised, a dangerous game rife with bureaucratic hurdles and the looming threat of eternal separation.

Will you do it anyway?

The answer lies somewhere just below the surface. You are drawn to chase it, to dig calloused fingers into the damaged terrain and nick yourself on colluvial shards in pursuit of the warm loam below. To have your wounds licked clean by your Herculean comrade.

Your breaths are shallow, catching on a sharp, long-held craving. The scene lulls on, wordless.

He leans in.

You meet him in the middle, eyes fluttering shut, lips brushing softly, heads spinning in tandem. 

Over and over, chapped lips unite, tongues lick and flick. 

Sugary confection and tobacco. 

The moment drips, saccharine, pasted by sticky sweetness onto the surface of your mind - it’s placed in a special spot reserved for the most treasured relics. 

It wafts its way through you, filling hollows you’ve long kept barren. It yellows the walls - not in a shade of sickly flax, no. It’s sunny and safe and warm. 

You share the same breath, the same need, the same profound emotions - it’s nearly overwhelming.

*Nearly* - but it’s just right. A resounding equilibrium come to fruition.

It makes you shiver, stuttering exhalations and soft sighs proclaiming feelings unspoken.

You don’t part for lack of want or gratification, but you do need to breathe at some point.

Camouflaged lids open. He blinks slowly back at you in a shade of soft amber, gaze cutting right through the fog, radiant beacons in a sea of blotchy noir.

Again, you sense the same thoughts racing through his mind - it’s like peering into a looking glass. You’re used to constant risks and uncertainties - it’s a fickle life, but tonight? You have no doubts. 

You can feel it in the feather-light graze of his broad hands, glean it from the sprawling wingspan that enfolds you, drawing you impossibly close. 

The longing to flee an albatrossean curse, deserting the inky eye masks, the storms, the psychological burdens. 

You’d like to slip the plumage and slither between battered ribs, finding rest under a comfortable thrum, steady and strong.

A nightingale calls out in the dark. It’s a welcome accompaniment to a tender, glowing moment, but it barely breaches the fringes of your mind. 

Though tomorrow will be another story, nothing beyond this room is more pressing than the languid sequence playing out, the gentle knock of his forehead on yours, the soft glow of a tender revelation. 

You bask in it, growing pliant, baring your throat to beckon gnashing teeth over a delicate pulse point.

You aren’t afraid - they won’t hurt. Blunted solely for you, worn down by shared time, trust, and trauma.

He leans in again. 

You will.

[aliensupersyn]

3b. Gege and Gojo's Answer to Conservatism: 'Changing the System from the Inside' Doesn't Work

Overall thesis for this project: Godzilla and Mothra create the cultural context of creatives using powerful monsters (or kaiju) to disrupt Japanese bureaucracy and society, usually to make some larger criticism.

Manga spoilers below!

More than anything, Gojo hates a conservative government. Gege argues that only a monster can destroy the (conservative) bureaucratic system; that destruction takes both immense power, and the resolve to wield it. Maki, Gojo, and Sukuna perform massacres against the system after having to overcome systemic hurdles before they achieve their goal. Maki was first killed by the patriarchal powers of the system. Sukuna's power was suppressed by the sloppy, but effective tactics of the Higher-Ups to keep his fingers separate. Gojo played by the system's rules and became a teacher, but was ultimately betrayed by the Higher-Ups after being sealed; they branded him as a traitor and tried to turn his students against him. Gojo fought for years as a teacher to change the system from the inside. He held onto the belief that he would be enough to change the system that hurt his friends in the past, but not even his power could effectively defeat the conservative powers without getting his hands dirty. With all his strength, Gojo was forced to make the hard decision to destroy the system, much like Maki. For Gege, a monster, or kaiju, uses their immense power to disrupt the rigid systems set by the conservative bureaucrats afraid of change.

When I think of Gojo, I think of the students he fought to protect and nurture. Yuta was a cursed child who the Higher-Ups and Geto wanted to kill. Hakari was an outcast unable to use normal cursed techniques like anyone else. Maki was an estranged Zenin without cursed energy or a technique. Megumi was an abandoned child with no one but the Zenin to go to. Yuji was another kid with nowhere to go, and was constantly targeted by the Higher-Ups.

Gojo protected all of the previously mentioned students while teaching them to defend themselves. He taught as a teacher with the sole purpose of his students some day surpassing him and changing the system. His hope for his students to surpass him could beread as an indication of Gojo seeing his own shortcomings as an effective apparatus for change from within the system. Here, "the system" means jujutsu society, and Japan at large.

Gojo tries and fails to change the system from the inside. He plays by the system's rules and hopes that with all his power, he can protect his students, but the Higher-Ups prove him wrong. Despite all the power he wields, he can't protect Yuji from the powers-that-be. Both Sukuna and the Higher-Ups manage to kill Yuji at least once.

Gojo stretches himself thin trying to fill in all the gaps that the Higher-Ups create, save as many lives as possible, while also swearing to change the system from the inside out. Maybe by raising a new generation that goes beyond the boundaries set by the Higher-Ups, Gojo thought he would finally change the world.

For the teacher that relies on his students to be the means in which they make a difference (be it to the system, or the world), the students become their greatest weakness. The Higher-Ups use the system to weaken his students, and ultimately Gojo as well. Imagine the difference someone like Hakari might have made in Shibuya if he hadn’t been discouraged from seeking an education? Gojo sending Yuta away could be read as his attempt to save his student from the bureaucrats’ meddling. Comparatively, Gojo hid that Yuji was alive from everyone to train him in secret, away from the eyes of the Higher-Ups; when Yuji did return, the Higher-Ups proved Gojo right by immediately trying to have Gakuganji’s students kill him again.

Gojo's fight was less about the force of his strength, but more so his ability to protect his students from the systems of power threatening their lives. That's the thing about Infinity: Gojo might be untouchable, but his students don't have that luxury. Even worse, what happens when the infallible teacher makes a mistake? The students have to step up and finally fly on their own. Yuta, Maki, Hakari, and Yuji's trusted with carrying on Gojo's fight, but only after he finally makes the tough decision to get rid of the Higher-Ups. For Gojo, killing the Higher-Ups, dismantling that conservative system, was a necessary step for his students to have their freedom.

Notes:

Did not know this would be split into two(?) parts but okay lol. I needed to set some groundwork for my personal reading of Gojo because I don't see anyone talking about Gojo like I have in this post. No one ever focuses on his role as a teacher being the most important aspect of his character, so I felt that really needed it's own space first and foremost. Next part will be more about the kaiju reading and Gojo's anti-bureaucracy. I'm really interested in looking into Japan's teachers' education movements against the ministry of education. I feel like Gojo would be a valuable comparison at the very least.

Hope you guys enjoy this one

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

New images show Brazil’s uncontacted people are thriving – but with success comes a new threat

Exclusive: under the government’s hands-off policy isolated community numbers are growing in Indigenous territories, as is the risk of ‘catastrophic’ contact

In one of Brazil’s most deforested Amazonian states, Rondônia, an isolated community is thriving. They are experts at hunting with long bows and at protecting their land from unwanted visitors with traps of hidden hardwood spikes so sturdy they can take out a tractor tyre. These spikes that hobbled a vehicle driven by a team from Brazil’s National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) earlier this year – and ended its mission in the Massaco Indigenous territory.

No one knows what they call themselves, the Massaco is the name given to them after the river that runs through their domain near Brazil’s border with Bolivia. The Massaco are one of the 28 isolated communities confirmed to be in Brazil. Another 85 have been reported but have not yet been confirmed through the rigorous evidence-gathering and bureaucratic hurdles required.

The spikes have been found with increasing frequency and ever closer to the base from which Funai veteran Altair Algayer oversees the protection of this 421,000-hectare (1.04m-acre) territory. They would seem to send a message: stay out.

It was Algayer who placed cameras in the rainforest in an attempt to better quantify the population without risking contact. The images, taken in 2019 and 2024, and published for the first time by the Guardian and the Brazilian newspaper O Globo, gave Algayer his first look at people he has been protecting for most of his career. It is also vital proof of the Massaco’s existence that will allow Funai to continue its work.

Continue reading.

[autisticadvocacy]

Ten million Americans lost Medicaid coverage as states decide who'll continue to receive benefits; more than 70% lost coverage because of bureaucratic hurdles, not because they were ineligible. More than half that lost benefits are likely people of color.

[thatstormygeek]

But it isn’t worth getting lost in the pedantic details; details that even Trump doesn’t waste time on. What matters here is the overall image he and his coterie wanted to paint: an image constructed by surrounding the doddering, terrified 78-year-old manchild with comic symbols of hypermasculinity (Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White—the latter of whom was last seen drunkenly slapping his wife in a Mexican night club on New Year’s Eve); by Trump kissing the fireman’s uniform of his “fan” killed by a stray bullet at his rally, and wearing the comically oversized ear bandage to remind everyone of his near-brush with death. It is the image of Trump as God-appointed leader, the nation’s savior, and protector against the violent “un-human” hordes. Major media, parroting the Trump team’s pre-spin, had promised for days that the speech would be an exercise in “unity,” reflecting a newfound humility that Trump had allegeldy gained from his brush with assassination last weekend. Racket readers were better prepared: As I argued on Tuesday, Trump’s obvious move would be to follow the example of fascist leaders before him —including Generalissimo Francisco Franco and, yes, Hitler — in claiming that his near-death experience was “proof” that his authority was sanctioned by the divine.

The New York Times tried to “contextualize” Trump’s threats a few days ago, noting that the “costs and hurdles would be enormous.” But this is, again, missing the forest for the pedantic trees. The point isn’t that it would be easy or legal to round up 20 million people, any more than it was going to be easy or possible to “build the wall” during his previous term. It’s that this is the direction he wants to drag the entire country in. And don’t be confused about this: Rounding up 20, or even 10 or 5, million people is a project that will touch every aspect of life in the United States. It will mean checkpoints and random raids at workplaces and in neighborhoods; it will mean mistakes, wrongful detentions and deportations, racial profiling and state violence at an unprecedented scale. I can tell you from having covered past threatened mass expulsions, particularly in the Dominican Republic, that even when the full extent of the government’s threat is not realized, in practice it is an exercise in terror and a virtual carte blanche for violence against the targeted minority, up to and including outright lynching. The Times wrote that “consensus among immigration experts and former homeland security officials is that logistical, legal, bureaucratic and cost barriers would make it virtually impossible to carry out the mass deportations Mr. Trump seeks in the span of a four-year presidential term.” But what legal barriers? The Supreme Court just ruled that a president can do whatever he wants, so long as it is an “official act.” And who says Trump — who, again, tried to overthrow an election by force — will allow himself to be limited to just one more four-year term? And I guess, at root, that’s why I and other political observers sat through all 92 minutes of the longest, most rambling, incoherent speech by a major party nominee in televised history. Because if the Democrats, media, and the rest of the supposed pro-democracy opposition don’t get it together and figure out how to stop this immediately, it will be a preview of the next chapter of our lives.

[noneedforbloodpressure]

Yesterday (Feb 29, 2024), the IDF opened fire on Palestinian civilians hoping to get food from aid trucks in Gaza City. You can read what we know in full detail here (NPR, MSF, Reuters, CNN), but I'd like to highlight a few things.

Kamel Abu Nahel, who was being treated for a gunshot wound at Shifa Hospital, said he and others went to the distribution point in the middle of the night because they heard there would be a delivery of food. "We've been eating animal feed for two months," he said. He said Israeli troops opened fire on the crowd as people pulled boxes of flour and canned goods off the trucks, causing them to scatter, with some hiding under cars. After the shooting stopped, people went back to the trucks, and the soldiers opened fire again. He was shot in the leg and fell over, and then a truck ran over his leg as it sped off, he said. (NPR)

Initial statements by the IDF claimed deaths were due to a stampede as the desperate crowd rushed for food. However, conflicting reports from Israeli officials have already come forth reporting otherwise. The articles from NPR, Reuters, and CNN that I've linked above all report the IDF firing into the crowd due to "[feeling] under threat" (CNN), as well as report the firing of tank rounds at the site of the massacre.

Critically, CNN reports the following regarding the IDF's statements regarding panic and stampede: "A local journalist in Gaza, Khader Al Za’anoun, who was at the scene and witnessed the incident... said that the chaos and confusion that led to people being hit by the trucks only started once Israeli forces opened fire" (Bold for emphasis done by me).

I'd like to add that even if the IDF had truly not opened fire and there was only a desperate stampede, I would fully hold the IDF and the Israeli government responsible for the deaths regardless. You cannot starve people and obstruct aid (AP News, TIME Magazine, a different article from Reuters) and then claim you are not responsible for their deaths. Especially not when deliberate starvation has long been known to be a weapon of war and tool of genocide.

This situation is the direct result of the string of unconscionable decisions taken by Israeli authorities while waging this war: a relentless bombing and shelling campaign, a complete siege imposed on the enclave, the bureaucratic hurdles and lack of security mechanisms to ensure safe food distribution from southern to northern Gaza, the systematic destruction of livelihood capacities such as farming, herding and fishing. (MSF)

This January, the Israeli government was ordered by the ICJ to "to 'take all measures within its power' to prevent acts of genocide" (TIME Magazine). It is blatantly obvious that Israel has failed to comply (but if you need more convincing, have this statement by the Human Rights Watch).

"Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians and should be held accountable for war crimes – and genocide, according to the UN’s leading expert on the right to food." (The Guardian)

I doubt that any of us who have been advocating for Palestine are surprised - statements by Netanyahu and other members of the Israeli government have long expressed genocidal intent (AP News). The question now - and indeed, the question has always been - what will the world do to stop this? There is no other option than to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, with the acknowledgement that ceasefire is only the first step towards justice. Keep putting pressure on your representatives and governments, keep donating, keep boycotting, keep boosting Palestinian voices and affirming Palestinian humanity - we do not have the luxury of hopelessness.

[darkeagleruins]

BREAKING: NATO now planning to get US troops to the front-line to fight RUSSIA..

What are they thinking?

NATO has disclosed its preparations to deploy American troops to the European frontlines in the event of a full-scale conflict with Russia.

Innovative 'land corridors' are being established to expedite the movement of soldiers through central Europe, bypassing local bureaucratic hurdles.

Stop what you're doing and put some thought behind this.

Since when does NATO have the authority to send US troops into a war that isn't in a NATO country?

Ever since Samantha Power changed the Constitutional Republic into Democracy Governance?

While they're turning our court system into the International Criminal Court that the UN controls right before our eyes without anyone trying to stop her?

Is NATO under the control of the United Nations now?

I bet in the minds of the Communists that's exactly what they believe.

[triptychgrip]

Several years post-canon: expanding Ice Castle into a Nishigori/Katsuki-Nikiforov skating academy

Chapter 16 of my married Viktuuri 2018/2022 Olympic Games fic is up! It was one of my favorite chapters to write, as it touches upon Yuuri and Viktor's long-term plans once Yuuri retires (after the 2022 Games): partnering with the Nishigoris to expand Ice Castle into a world-class skating academy.

If you've read/are in the process of reading my fic, you'll know that figure skating politics are a huge part of my story, specifically because of a non-doping related scandal that shakes up the 2018 Games and affects the figure skating community for years to come. This same scandal/its aftermath deeply influences Yuuri and Viktor to usher in change within the sport, emboldening them to think through how their/the Nishigoris' future academy could push an aspirational advocacy agenda forward.

Below is an excerpt from this latest chapter, which I hope piques your interest in checking this fic out, or my other Yuri!!! on Ice work.

----

“Yuuko and Takeshi are so invested in this vision we have, and they’re sticking their necks out for us a lot. I’m just glad that they’re also so passionate about the waves we’re hoping to make.”

Viktor nodded before taking a hefty bite of his own onigiri, evidently catching on to what he meant.

Even with the preliminary conversations they’d had with the Japan Skating Federation, the four of them knew that some of the core principles of their future skating academy might be a hard sell. However, they were ones that they refused to compromise on, given everything that had happened at the PyeongChang Games (and in the aftermath).

In witnessing the struggle that both Seung-Gil and Yura had undergone to break away from the Korea Skating Union and FFKKR, respectively, the Nishigoris and Katsuki-Nikiforovs were committed to prioritizing at least 4 slots – 2 for the Men’s division and 2 for the Women’s division – for Russian and Korean skaters that wished to skate independently of their federations. But in doing so, they were creating something of a headache for themselves: each one of these prospective skaters would need to find a way to completely self-fund their careers. As such, it would be more important than ever for them and their future staff to acquire some savvy when it came to sponsor recruitment and retention.

Along with this, in a dramatic departure from the way things are typically done, all four of them knew that they wanted their skaters to be well-versed in understanding the politics of the sport.

Though the realities were sobering, there was simply no way that he or his spouse would be able to operate in good conscience and send their Novices and Juniors off to their first ISU competitions without at least some semblance of understanding around how judging worked. Or rather…all the ways it didn’t work.

And by continuing to model the pathways to reform, they wanted their future students to feel empowered to be vocal when it came to ushering in change within figure skating.

The two other priorities he and Viktor decided on with the Nishigoris would be less difficult to garner support around, but even so, they came with their own respective bureaucratic hurdles.

In seeing the way Phichit had hustled to both make and maintain a name for himself in a sport so dominated by the big-name federations, they wanted to reserve at least two spots in their inaugural year for skaters attached to smaller name federations. Working out a fair selection “rubric” would be complicated, and they’d already begun to pick Phichit-kun’s brain as to how one might devise such a process to be the most fair.

[schmetterlinq]

"In the heart-wrenching plea from Amira, a soul caught in the crossfire of war and displacement, the desperation for help resonates like a haunting melody. Her words echo the harsh reality of life in the Gaza Strip, a place that was once a home but has now transformed into a battleground where survival is a daily struggle. Amira introduces herself as a bridge between two worlds—one in Germany, where she now resides as a refugee with a new lease on life, and the other in Gaza, where her family grapples with the devastation of war. The urgency in her message is palpable, a plea for assistance to salvage the remnants of a shattered family life. Her mother, a 70-year-old woman, bears the weight of not just age but also the burden of chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Stranded in Rafah, a city where essential medications and treatments are scarce, she resides in a shelter with living conditions that border on the inhumane. The vivid image of their once-beautiful house in Gaza City, now lost, adds a layer of profound grief to the narrative. Amira's brother's family, too, has become a casualty of war, stripped of their possessions and left to rebuild from scratch. The dire circumstances extend to her sister's family, a unit of seven people, including three children, who find themselves homeless in the aftermath of conflict. Amira, now in Germany, grapples with the challenges of providing support from a distance. The bureaucratic hurdles further complicate the situation. Amira, driven by the desperation to reunite her family and provide her mother with the medical care she urgently needs, attempts to navigate the complex visa application process. The German-Palestinian Embassy's closure in Palestine necessitates a journey to Egypt, adding financial strain to an already dire situation. The exorbitant costs associated with traveling through the Rafah crossing become a formidable obstacle, especially for a family of considerable size. Amira, despite her own struggles as a refugee in Germany, extends a hand, seeking support from others. The sincerity in her request, coupled with the offer to provide evidence for her words, creates a compelling narrative that beckons compassion. The mention of potential channels, such as Western Union or a trusted person in Egypt, showcases Amira's resourcefulness in the face of adversity. In closing, Amira expresses gratitude for any contribution, emphasizing the collective power of individuals joining hands to make a difference. Her plea is not just a call for financial aid but a plea for empathy, understanding, and solidarity in the face of human suffering. It's a poignant reminder that, even in the darkest times, the human spirit can shine through, connecting us across borders and inspiring hope in the face of despair."

(This is not my gofundme, I'm just boosting.)

[colonelrajyavardhanrathore]

Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024: A New Era for Entrepreneurs by Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

In a landmark move to empower small businesses and foster economic growth, the Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024 has been introduced under the guidance of Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore. This policy aims to position Rajasthan as a leader in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector by providing robust support, financial incentives, and a conducive ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

The Importance of MSMEs in Rajasthan

MSMEs are the backbone of Rajasthan’s economy, contributing significantly to employment and GDP. With their presence in sectors like handicrafts, textiles, agriculture, and technology, MSMEs have immense potential to drive growth and innovation. The Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024 seeks to address challenges faced by small businesses and unlock their full potential.

Vision of Col Rajyavardhan Rathore

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore envisions MSMEs as engines of Rajasthan’s economic progress. Speaking at the launch, he remarked: “MSMEs are not just businesses; they are dreams of hardworking individuals. This policy is a promise to support their aspirations and make Rajasthan a hub for entrepreneurial excellence.”

Key Objectives of the Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024

Economic Empowerment: Strengthen the MSME sector to boost Rajasthan’s GDP.

Employment Generation: Create sustainable jobs across urban and rural areas.

Ease of Doing Business: Simplify processes and remove bureaucratic hurdles.

Skill Development: Equip entrepreneurs and workers with the latest skills.

Sustainability: Promote green practices and energy-efficient solutions.

Highlights of the Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024

1. Financial Support

Subsidies and Incentives: Up to 50% subsidy on capital investment for new enterprises.

Low-Interest Loans: Special credit schemes through state-backed financial institutions.

Tax Exemptions: Relaxation in GST and other state taxes for a specified period.

2. Infrastructure Development

Industrial Clusters: Development of MSME-dedicated zones in key cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur.

Common Facility Centers (CFCs): Shared spaces with advanced tools and technology.

Digital Infrastructure: High-speed internet and IT support for MSMEs.

3. Skill Training and Capacity Building

Partnerships with educational institutions to introduce MSME-focused courses.

Regular workshops on digital marketing, export readiness, and quality control.

Mentorship Programs with industry experts to guide budding entrepreneurs.

4. Streamlining Processes

Single-Window Clearance: Speedy approvals for setting up businesses.

Simplified Regulations: Reduction in compliance requirements for small enterprises.

Digital Portals: Online systems for registrations, tax filing, and grievance redressal.

5. Promoting Innovation

Research and Development Grants: Funding for MSMEs working on innovative products and solutions.

Technology Adoption: Subsidies for adopting automation and digital tools.

Startup Incubation Centers: Support for MSMEs transitioning into startups.

6. Export Promotion

Global Market Access: Partnerships with trade bodies for export opportunities.

Trade Fairs and Expos: Participation in national and international exhibitions.

Export Subsidies: Financial support for logistics and international marketing.

Sectors Targeted by the Policy

1. Handicrafts and Textiles

Strengthening Rajasthan’s traditional crafts through modern techniques and marketing support.

2. Agri-Based Industries

Encouraging food processing, organic farming, and value-added products.

3. Renewable Energy

Promoting MSMEs in solar panel manufacturing and other green technologies.

4. Technology and IT

Support for tech startups and MSMEs working in AI, software, and digital solutions.

Impact of the Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024

Economic Growth

An expected 30% rise in MSME contributions to the state GDP by 2026.

Increased revenue through exports and enhanced domestic production.

Job Creation

2 lakh new jobs to be created in urban and rural areas.

Empowerment of women and marginalized communities through focused programs.

Ease of Doing Business

Simplified processes to attract 5,000+ new MSME registrations annually.

Global Recognition

Enhanced visibility for Rajasthan’s MSMEs in international markets.

Col Rathore’s Commitment to MSMEs

Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has always championed policies that drive progress and innovation. His leadership in shaping the MSME Policy 2024 reflects his belief in the entrepreneurial spirit of Rajasthan.

In his words: “With this policy, we are not just supporting businesses; we are building dreams, livelihoods, and a prosperous Rajasthan.”

A Bright Future for MSMEs in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024 is a game-changer for small businesses. By addressing key challenges and providing holistic support, it aims to transform the state into a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. With Col Rajyavardhan Rathore’s vision and leadership, this policy is set to empower thousands of entrepreneurs and contribute significantly to Rajasthan’s economic growth.

[theviolenttomboy]

watching one of Sakurai's videos, he says that when covid started he and his dev team had to continue work on the Smash Ultimate DLC from home. There were a lot of unexpected hurdles, but he did his best to smooth everything out, which included skipping over the bureaucratic tape by immediately buying everyone whatever WFH equipment they needed out of his own pocket so that they could continue without delay. (hot dang, he's technically a freelancer, and majority of his team aren't even Nintendo employees, they're Bandai Namco ones) Despite that, he estimates that the dev process as a whole was slowed down by around 30%.

...I think I know what happened to the New Horizons updates. Covid really did screw the planned schedule over. I'd say a safe assumption is that they could at best only release half of what they could've if covid wasn't a thing? Adding to that, the team that works on Animal Crossing is also the Splatoon team, so by the time all cylinders were firing again, focus probably already moved to Splatoon 3 (and likely the AC game for the next console). I can see why/how support dried up pretty fast.

[dandelionh3art]

A history lesson to the people who are busy going off about Afghanistan. Remember what your country did!

Your government has destroyed lives! I know you don't actually care. But still!

Many Afghan interpreters and support staff were left behind when U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. These interpreters, along with their families, had worked closely with American forces over two decades, often in dangerous conditions, providing essential language skills, cultural insights, and support on the ground. Their work made them targets for the Taliban, who viewed them as collaborators with foreign forces.

The U.S. government did have the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program in place to help interpreters and others who assisted American operations to immigrate to the United States. However, this program faced extensive backlogs, lengthy processing times, and bureaucratic hurdles, which prevented many from securing visas in time.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, an emergency evacuation airlift was organized, but it was chaotic, and many who were eligible for evacuation were unable to make it to the airport or were left behind due to the sheer volume of people needing assistance.

Efforts to bring these individuals to safety have continued since the withdrawal. Some advocacy groups and veteran-led organizations have taken matters into their own hands, helping some interpreters escape to nearby countries or find other means of protection. However, thousands of Afghan interpreters and their families remain at risk, as they continue to face threats from the Taliban, which now controls Afghanistan.