#business community security dialogue

[townpostin]

DGP Meets SCCI to Address Kolhan Region's Law and Order Issues

Online discussion covers security concerns in Jamshedpur, Adityapur, and Chaibasa Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry discusses regional security with DGP Anurag Gupta via Zoom. JAMSHEDPUR – An online conference was conducted by the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) with the DGP of Jharkhand, Anurag Gupta, to discuss law and order concerns in the Kolhan region. The Zoom…

[plutonianeris]

Asteroid Fama (408) 🖤

I just want to see you shine 'cause I know you are a star, girl

The asteroid Fama reveals the nuances of your legacy, the way your reputation takes shape and dances in the public eye.

Fama in the First House or Aries: With Fama shining brightly in your first house, your very being is a beacon to the world. Your appearance, your demeanor, and the way you carry yourself leave an unforgettable impression. People recognize you by your individuality, and your presence speaks volumes before you even utter a word. You are known not just for what you do, but for who you are, with a reputation that precedes you. The world looks to you as someone with a name worth remembering, a person whose identity is etched in bold strokes.

Fama in the Second House or Taurus: Fama in your second house ties your reputation to the material world your values, your wealth, and how you manage it all. Perhaps it's your generosity or your knack for creating prosperity that people admire. You may be known for how you turn simple resources into abundance, or for the way you stand firm in your values, even when the winds of change blow. You build a legacy of grounded success, one where your possessions and financial choices tell the story of your life.

Fama in the Third House or Gemini: In the third house, Fama gives you a voice that people can’t ignore. Whether through your writing, speaking, teaching, or simply the way you connect with those around you, you are celebrated for your intellect and communication. Your ideas travel far and wide, and you may find fame in your local community or even through your relationships with siblings. You have the gift of making people listen, and through your words, you leave a lasting legacy of thought and dialogue.

Fama in the Fourth House or Cancer: Fama nestled in the fourth house suggests that your name is intertwined with your roots, your family, and your home. Your reputation may be tied to your ancestry or the nurturing environment you create. The way you honor your origins or build a sense of security for yourself and others is what people will remember. You leave behind a legacy rooted in stability, in the warmth of home, or in the stories passed down through generations.

Fama in the Fifth House or Leo: In the fifth house, Fama sparkles through creativity, romance, and the sheer joy you bring into the world. Whether it’s your artistic flair, your adventures in love, or even through your children, you are recognized as a force of passion and playfulness. Your talents shine, whether on stage, in sport, or through your imaginative pursuits, leaving a legacy of inspiration. People are drawn to the light you radiate, and your name is forever associated with fun, creativity, and the art of living.

Fama in the Sixth House or Virgo: When Fama resides in the sixth house, you gain recognition through your dedication to work, health, and service. Your reputation is built on your tireless effort and devotion, whether it’s in healing, caretaking, or the way you approach the routine and details of life. People admire you for your diligence, for the care and precision you put into everything you do. Fame here is quiet but profound built not on grand gestures, but on the steady, unwavering commitment to making life better for others.

Fama in the Seventh House or Libra: Fama in the seventh house suggests that your fame may bloom through partnerships whether romantic, business, or collaborations. You are known for your ability to connect, to harmonize, and to create lasting bonds with others. Perhaps you’re celebrated for your marriage or a significant partnership, or for your skill in navigating relationships with grace. Your reputation is intertwined with the way you balance and uplift those around you, leaving behind a legacy of love and connection.

Fama in the Eighth House or Scorpio: In the mysterious eighth house, Fama draws fame from the depths through transformation, power, and the unknown. You may be recognized for your involvement in hidden realms, such as occult practices, psychology, or even through managing others’ wealth and resources. Fame here comes from your ability to navigate crises, to emerge stronger from the fires of change, and to transform yourself and others. You leave a legacy that’s steeped in mystery, power, and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Fama in the Ninth House or Sagittarius: Fama in the ninth house gives you a reputation that soars across borders, cultures, and beliefs. Your fame may come through your philosophical musings, academic achievements, or your love of exploration both of the world and the mind. Whether through travel, teaching, or the pursuit of higher knowledge, people see you as a seeker of truth and wisdom. Your legacy is one of broad-mindedness, of journeys both physical and spiritual, and your name is remembered wherever curiosity leads.

Fama in the Tenth House or Capricorn: With Fama gracing the tenth house, your name is destined to be etched in the annals of history through your career and public achievements. This is one of the most potent placements for fame, as it places your legacy squarely in the public eye. You may rise to a position of authority, leadership, or acclaim in your professional field. Your work and achievements define you, and your reputation is built on your ability to leave a lasting mark on the world through your ambition and accomplishments.

Fama in the Eleventh House or Aquarius: In the eleventh house, Fama connects your legacy to your social circles, communities, and humanitarian causes. You are known for your activism, for your involvement in social movements, or for the wide network of connections you build. People remember you for the way you bring groups together and for the causes you champion. Your name is tied to progress, innovation, and the collective good. Fame here comes from your ability to inspire and lead, leaving a legacy that speaks to the power of community and shared vision.

Fama in the Twelfth House or Pisces: In the twelfth house, Fama’s fame is more subtle, often blooming after you’ve left the stage or behind the scenes. You may be known for your spiritual or charitable work, or for things that remain hidden or just more lowkey during your life secret projects, quiet support, or subconscious influence. Fame here may feel elusive, but it’s profound. It’s the kind of reputation that grows in whispers, becoming more potent after you’re gone, as people come to recognize the quiet impact you had all along. Your legacy is one of depth, compassion, and unseen influence.

[drdemonprince]

Keep Unnecessary Meetings to a Minimum 

“Don’t attend unnecessary meetings,” advises Jersey, an Autistic activist in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Jersey has been on the front lines of numerous pro-Palestinian actions in the past several months, serving as a medic during the #BlocktheBoat action to delay the shipment of munitions to Israel, shutting down the Oakland Federal Building, and blocking the Bay Bridge, an action for which he was arrested and charged with false imprisonment (among other laughable charges) by the San Franciso District Attorney. Since the siege on Gaza began in October of last year, Jersey has been living and breathing for the Palestinian cause. Yet even he has limits. 

“Tell [fellow organizers] that your capacity for meeting, especially in real life, is low,” he says. Instead of having to speak at length with organizers about your interest in getting involved, see if you can articulate your own role within the movement. That way, you won’t have to be “managed” as much. 

“For example, if you’re a photographer, tell people that and then demonstrate that you can show up relatively independently, take great photos, and then show them with the group,” he says. Once you have proven yourself to be reliable and competent, you can skip meetings without facing as much criticism. 

Many organizing spaces are oriented around neuro-conformist standards of what socializing and planning for an event must look like. Non-Autistic people generally process new information socially as part of an ongoing dialogue, whereas many Autistics prefer receiving all the relevant facts in a single, linear document they can read and process on their own. Many activists also enter a movement with intense emotional needs, and wish for others to bear witness to their suffering and share how they are feeling too. This means that those of us who find socializing and emotional processing to be draining will have to advocate for ourselves. 

“We can remind organizations to be intentional about what does and does not have to be a meeting,” says Aeryn, another organizer. “Sometimes all you really need is an online survey, a memo, or a thread where people can ask questions online.” 

If you can, tell meeting organizers that you are unavailable to meet often, but that you will listen to meeting recordings or read the agenda on your own time, and then communicate through email or private message to indicate that you have. Depending on how much you trust an organization and its leadership, you can either explain directly that you cannot process information in real-time easily because of your disability, or you can simply say you’re busy with school, work, or family obligations. 

Operating independently may require being strategic in the roles you take on within an organization. Jersey says: “If you’ve never done security but want to do security, you will have to do a lot of training and meeting with people. But if you’re already a trained medic and have some type of credential… you can probably just tap into a medic chat and sign up for events as they arise.” This, in fact, is what he’s done. 

Of course, it will be sometimes be necessary to get to know other members of your organization of choice, express your own perspectives to the group, and receive updates through some form of meeting. However, there are still many accommodations you can request to make those meetings more accessible: 

Push for Accessible Meetings

When an activist movement is new or its resources are limited, its meetings may tend to be urgent, somewhat disorganized affairs, rife with lots of thinking out loud and amorphous brainstorming and possessing little in the way of an agenda. 

Autistic people typically find it very hard to contribute to such meetings, because the flow of conversation is unpredictable and confusing, and most of us struggle with knowing when it’s appropriate to jump in and offer a comment. The constant flux in conversation topics is exhausting for us to keep up with, as are all the social and emotional undercurrents bubbling beneath what’s actually being said. 

After the meeting is over, we may have almost no recollection of what was shared, because we were putting so much energy into masking and wearing our “listening faces.” Critiques and questions may occur to us hours after the discussion has ended, after we’ve had some time alone to digest and reflect. Even if we are physically present within a space, we are pervasively excluded when meetings are conducted in such an unstructured, overwhelming way. 

Thankfully, all of this can be avoided. Here are some of the accommodations that organizing meetings should provide in order to maximize their accessibility — not just for the sake of Autistics, but for anyone who struggles to process verbal information quickly and form their own immediate verbal responses to it on the fly: 

The full essay and toolkit of resources is free to read (or have narrated to you!) at drdevonprice.substack.com

[alovethatkilled]

The Turners

I wrote this out after episode 13x05 regarding the Turners and what I want to see. I spoke about it to someone else before, but I wanted to share my thoughts here, too. 

I actually wanted to write a fanfic regarding this matter, and it's the reason why you’ll see some dialogue. Who knows, I might bite the bullet and do it if inspiration strikes. This is also a rough draft, as emotions were present while writing this. Anyway, here we go. Please ignore all the grammar mistakes.

I actually WANT them to take her away. I want May to be taken away and be put with a different family. Now, hear me out before any hate gets thrown at me.

I want CTM to show the struggle of Patrick, Shelagh, Tim (if he is home), Angela, Teddy, and other characters close to the Turners.

I know Shelagh’s way to cope is to throw herself into work and to keep busy. Show me how Shelagh is struggling to cope with May being gone so show me her breakdown. Have Patrick, Sister Julienne, Sister Veronica, or even Mrs Higgins try to console Shelagh. That chat that she had with Sister Julienne was so short and knowing it probably took a lot of Shelagh to open up was disappointing so have them open up more or just give the woman a hug Sister Julienne, she needs it!

Have Cyril be the one that takes a crying May away from her parents. Show me how every time one of them sees Cyril afterwards, they look away because even though they know he was doing his job, that doesn’t change the fact that they are still hurt by it.  

I want to see May be put into a different house. I like to see May become withdrawn. The house where she is put up isn’t bad, but it isn’t the best for her. Show me Esther seeing May like that. Show Esther looking at the pictures Shelagh has sent and how happy she looks. Then, have her look at May and realise that May was always with the best family she could have because she has parents and siblings who love her deeply. Although it is painful for Esther because she knows she can’t care for May, she understands that the Turners are giving her child a good life. I want Esther and May to talk, even if it’s briefly, and let her choose what she wants. Then give me a cute moment of Esther teaching May some of her native language. Maybe something silly or teach her to say “I love you”. 

Then, give them a reunion. Have Mrs Williams or Esther return May to the Turners. Not at their house, but somewhere public, like a park. Have them not know that May will return until she does. Have May run from where she was standing and call out “Mummy”, then have Shelagh and Patrick turn around frantically at the sound. Shelagh crouches down just in time for May to barrel her way onto her arms. Secure, Shelagh inhales May’s hair as she did at the Mother House. Patrick suddenly envelops both Shelagh and May into a hug. Then, have May say something silly like “I can’t breathe” they panic, but once they see May laughing, they join her or have May say “I love you” to them in Cantonese/Mandarin. And when Shelagh or Patrick asks what it means, Esther approaches and says, “It means I love you”.

Have Shelagh grab Esther’s hands as she repeats, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” 

Then maybe have the Turners meet Esther and let them talk. This part doesn’t have to be shown, but this talk could be about them trying to communicate more for May. Have Esther ask the Turners to send May to get Cantonese/Mandarin classes so she doesn't forget her roots.

This is one of the most essential parts. I don’t want this to be a one-episode story. I like this to be a multiple-episode situation. Have it be until the last episode of the season/series. Or even if we have to wait, have May return to them during the Christmas episode.

The Turners are a beautiful, loving family. We often see bad things happen to them and they pull through like they always do. It’s their strength to have faith and trust in each other, and it’s what makes them so amazing. In the show, we see couples come and go, but none have been as firm as them (with the exception of The Buckles). They are the longest-lasting couple in the series. Show us why we initially fell in love with them and why we still do ten years later. 

Their 10th anniversary was overlooked, and in the Tuberculosis episode, there was no mention of Shelagh or how that particular case could have affected Patrick and Timothy in the aftermath. It is as if none of these things was crucial or significantly impacted them and their friends in the series. So give this to them. 

Anyway, the rant/mini fanfic (?) is done for now.

If you have your own thoughts on the matter please share them but don't be mean.

[abby118]

I have a question regarding Asgard prisons. (English is not my first language)

perhaps prisoners are prevented from harming themselves in some way? Is it due to some magical property of the cell or due to the guards monitoring it?

because, unlike the way cells work in our world (prisoners can leave their cells and communicate with other prisoners), these cells seem to work in a way that never allows prisoners to leave. not even dimming the lights for a few moments. and it seems logical to think that such a condition, if prolonged for a long time, would lead anyone to go mad. 

so it wouldn't surprise me if someone decided to escape from that condition by attempting to commit suicide. and this would especially apply to those sentenced to life imprisonment.

for example, loki is already suicidal. and after the many traumatic experiences he has been through, it seems logical to assume that he would just like to get it over with. just as he implied in the dialogue with Odin. but apparently, even he who has this desire and has already tried to do it in the past, is not trying to do it again now. After all, if someone were to commit suicide, he would be running away from serving his sentence. which in the case of life imprisonment is even a better prospect.

so it would make sense to think that Loki isn't performing such an act (but instead he finds himself forced to use illusions to pass the time and keep himself from going mad) because he is unable to do so for some reason. what do you think?

ps. I have another important and fundamental question. but how do they go to the bathroom? the cells are transparent, they have no privacy spaces. furthermore they don't even have toilets or buckets in which they can do their business -.-

The dungeons are the highest security prison of Asgard (because I don't doubt there are other prison establishments intended for civilians with lesser penalties as well as a military prison which is separate). I think the dungeons are designed for outworlders, particularly dangerous individuals such as mages and people with a life sentence. They are located deep under the palace and were the second structure built by king Buri. The cells within the dungeons were upgraded later, supposedly during Bor or Odin's reign.

'perhaps prisoners are prevented from harming themselves in some way?'

Oh yes, definitely. If you look at the cells, they are completely empty (yes, Loki's was an exception, obviously), white and lit by bright lights from above. This is very much intentional.

no furnishing -> no objects to harm yourself with. (This is why I say it was incredibly risky to give Loki a glass carefe as well as a mirror...combine that with illusion use.)

the lights -> From what we've seen, the lights were constantly on. We didn't get to see the dungeons at night but with the little regard of the prisoners' wellbeing, I think it's safe to assume they priorise security and thus keep them on to grant continuous access for the guards to see the cells' interiors. Of course, that makes is nearly impossible for the prisoners to discern the night from the day, unless they choose to mentally keep track of the guards' daily schedule which must be challenging in a long-term sense.

personal possessions -> Keeping in mind Loki was an exception and the prisoners we saw were the ones arrested on Vanaheim (and so probably overwhelmed the spaces available + Odin's guards are not the most skilled bunch), I'd say that generally, personal posessions would be taken upon the prisoner's arrival to the dungeons and stored/repurposed. Again, meaning nothing to harm yourself with or to use as an aid of escape. On a similar note, I think that the most common number of prisoners is one ..or more (if they don't pose a threat to themselves or each other).

no visits -> As we saw, all visit were strictly forbidden with the exception of the king or his direct or indirect permission to let somebody else visit. But even then, I take it that any physical contact is strictly prohibitted.

the energy barriers -> My personal headcanon is that the patterns we see make up these barriers are a binding spell. Most of the cells are equipped with one barrier, with the exception of the corner cells which have two, supposedly for increased supervision by the Einherjar stationed by the entrance gate.

'for example, loki is already suicidal. and after the many traumatic experiences he has been through, it seems logical to assume that he would just like to get it over with. just as he implied in the dialogue with Odin. but apparently, even he who has this desire and has already tried to do it in the past, is not trying to do it again now.'

I simply think Loki was too apathetic to act on anything (yet). I know that to us, a year and a half seems long but he was still coming out of an incredibly stressful course of events and the survival mode that came with that. He was depressed and probably too aware that would he try to take his life, his plans would most likely fail. His illusions would either flicker or dispel before he died and the guards would step in. The barriers themselves are not strong enough to kill (they can't be, that would be too easy) and would alert the Einherjar as well. In all of his depression, he is a strategist, if not under dire pressure, he waits to see how things unravel. Again, a year and a half seems longer to us than to the Aesir with the context of their longevity.

(but instead he finds himself forced to use illusions to pass the time and keep himself from going mad)

He is highly intelligent, the cells are designed to inflict mental torture on their own (mostly sensory deprivarion) so imagine that coupled with a mind like his. He had to create some stimuli to keep himself occupied because what else was there to do. They took everything from him and his magic was the one thing they couldn't touch. Of course he used it to hold on to the last bits of sanity he had left.

'ps. I have another important and fundamental question. but how do they go to the bathroom? the cells are transparent, they have no privacy spaces. furthermore they don't even have toilets or buckets in which they can do their business -.-'

Not a topic I gave too much thought to but @helshades had written a post covering this. I wonder how they distributed the meals there, I suppose there must be a rule on how many you can skip before they give you a tube or something. Similar to our wards.

[skipppppy]

Anyway I’m bored and Carmen Sandiego renaissance is on the brain. What are these characters like when they aren’t focused on the main plot?? Non VILE/ACME/Caper related dialogue seems so few and far between.. I wish we got to see their lives outside work. So I made some headcanons abt it

CARMEN

Player was her first exposure to the outside world so she probably holds a lot of his nerdy interests close to her heart. She’s not the best at video games but plays them regardless. She especially enjoys sci-fi horror movies from the 80s that go big on practical effects

Finding random trivia about different countries is genuinely one of her favourite hobbies. The little info segments she does are not part of the edutainment show. She is genuinely just like that. This woman is a trove of fun facts please let her unleash them upon you

In the same vein she LOVES quizzes. After missions she will drag Team Red to any bar doing a trivia night in her vicinity and will wipe the floor with everyone there. Fear her

Enjoys people watching. It’s why she’s so good at charming strangers despite her socially stunted upbringing. She’ll sit alone in a busy train station for hours and watch everyone pass her by

PLAYER

Look. We know this kid is a nerd. It’s canon. But which niche of nerdiness does he fall into exactly?

Despite being an avid gamer he isn’t very competitive about it. He prefers single player rpgs, especially ones with active modding scenes. He doesn’t even know what vanilla Skyrim looks like he probably wasn’t even born yet when it released

He will, however, duo queue with Carmen on unranked Overwatch. They are both terrible at it and think it’s the funniest shit

Enjoys sitting back and watching a good speedrun. Will have a video of someone doing a stupid BOTW challenge in the background while he hacks security cameras and such

Runs a DnD campaign for Team Red which they’re all crazy invested in. Shadowsan is the only one who doesn’t care for it but he keeps rolling nat 20’s on the dumbest shit and derailing the campaign and he finds everyone’s reactions too entertaining to stop. They have a rivalry only a DM and a stupidly lucky rogue could have

ZACK

We already know he’s kind of a meathead that enjoys sports and cars and cheesy action movies but I also think he has a lot of softer hobbies that he keeps to himself bc he knows they won’t take him seriously

He’s a secret crocheter. He’ll mend the team’s clothes when they rip but that’s the extent of their knowledge. He’ll sit for hours by himself and knit while listening to music. Sometimes Shadowsan will find a new pair of socks in his bag. When Carmen got sick once she woke up with a handmade blanket draped over her. Ivy has her suspicions but doesn’t wanna intrude

He loves animals. He never really brings it up because no one ever asks. He always checks out local zoos and aquariums if he has the chance. Grew up watching Steve Irwin-esque nature shows and still does to this day

His love of eating is less out of greed and more his own form of cultural appreciation. Idk what happened to his and Ivy’s parents but for reasons he can’t explain their cooking is one of the few things he hasn’t forgotten, so he has a lot of sentimental food-based memories. And experiencing other countries cuisine connects him with that

IVY

PERIOD DRAMAS. They don’t have to be good they just have to be steamy. She enjoys the hot women in pretty dresses. She and Carmen watch Bridgerton together and laugh about how historically inaccurate it is

She LOVES renfaires and similar high fantasy roleplaying communities. Someone please buy this woman a suit of armour

As an engineering prodigy AND fantasy buff she has a massive interest in Blacksmithing and Swords. That’s her designated lesbian hobby. She’s been trying to politely worm her way into a conversation with Shadowsan about the blade he returned to his brother for months now but isn’t sure if it’s too personal of a topic for him so she’s nervous

Her sweet tooth encompasses more than just chocolate. She’s secretly grateful to Zack since he takes most of the flack for being a glutton. She makes note of any bakeries they pass by on capers so she can come back later in secret and go ham on the pastries

SHADOWSAN

I think his interest in Samurai history starts and ends with his love for Hideo. He’ll happily discuss it and he’s studied it passionately, but out of a sense of respect and duty to do right by the brother he betrayed

He will NEVER, EVER admit it to anyone but he genuinely misses the adrenaline rush from committing petty crimes. He was a criminal for over 20 years. Lifestyles are hard to shake and change isn’t linear. He’d never succumb to impulse but he’s just kinda bored

He microdoses on the urge by pranking people. Everyone always blames Zack so he never gets caught. He also enjoys sneaking up on people and making them jump. He’ll always insist it’s unintentional. It isn’t

He’ll read and meditate and train to keep himself centred but he’s still a rowdy young punk at heart. Team Red is the first taste of freedom he’s had after a lifetime of VILE faculty monitoring him. The first thing he bought for himself after settling in at the San Diego HQ was a motorbike. The second was a new tattoo. The third was a potentially lethal amount of whiskey that he drank in one sitting

JULIA

We know she has a passion for history outside her work in Law Enforcement so she definitely goes to all kinds of museums in her free time. She’s the kind of person who enjoys learning just for the sake of learning (she and Carmen have that in common)

Outside of that she’s surprisingly good at karaoke? She gets stage fright but really likes singing and will go all out if you hype her up. Her taste in music is the exact opposite of her appearance and personality. Lots and lots of death metal

An aficionado for different types of tea. She keeps like 10 flavours in her house at all times. She especially likes floral ones that taste light and sweet. She hates iced tea with a passion though

Goes to botanical gardens whenever the weather is warm and the season is right. She likes the history of the old manor houses but she also loves admiring the landscaping and the blooming flowers. She could sit on a bench surrounded by local flora and fauna for hours

DEVINEAUX

Chase is an entirely different person when he’s off the clock. The unhinged high-energy maniac who froths at the mouth about La Femme Rouge goes dormant once he gets home. Especially after he got stranded on VILE island. That really gave him some introspection about work/life balance

The biggest, softest, sappiest hopeless romantic you will ever meet in your life. Passion is just part of his nature and he gets his heart broken A LOT. It’s why he throws himself into his work

He’s a really good chef. Like REALLY good. Before he was a cop he did a few summers as a line cook in his teen years and he retained most of the knowledge. His pantry is STACKED and he tries out recipes he picked up from his ACME travels in his free time. He’s a tad snobby about it because he’s French but you will not complain about the stuff he feeds you

Old movie enjoyer. His favourites are film noirs, cheesy romances, creepy eastern european animation and german expressionism. He has a fervent hatred of Marvel

Also one of those insane people who get up at 5am to do cardio. One morning before a mission he met Agent Zari with barely a glisten of sweat on his forehead and sadly informed her that he only got to run 15k and he wished he had time to do more. That was the first time she ever knew fear

[sunshinesmebdy]

April 14th, 2024: A Day of Mixed Emotions and Action in Business and Finance

The Moon’s journey through Cancer on April 14th, 2024, brings a complex blend of emotional influences. As an astrologer and business consultant, let’s explore how these transits can impact business and finance, offering strategies to navigate this day’s energetic currents.

Moon in Cancer: Seeking Security and Comfort

As discussed earlier, the Moon in Cancer prioritizes security, comfort, and emotional well-being. This energy can manifest in both positive and challenging ways in business:

Positive: Increased focus on team building, empathy for clients, and long-term financial planning.

Challenging: Risk aversion, emotional decision-making, and potential for conflict due to heightened sensitivities.

A Day of Balancing Acts:

Several key aspects color April 14th:

Moon Trine Saturn (Positive): This supportive angle brings discipline, responsibility, and a sense of perseverance. It can help channel emotional energy into productive action.

Business Implications: A good day to tackle challenging tasks that require focus and determination. Teamwork and a structured approach will be beneficial.

Financial Implications: This is a positive influence for long-term financial planning and making responsible investment decisions.

Moon Square Mercury & Venus in Aries (Challenging): These squares create tension between Cancer’s emotional nature and Aries’ impulsive fire. This can lead to communication breakdowns, emotional outbursts, and difficulty compromising.

Business Implications: Be mindful of your communication style. Avoid making rash decisions or expressing frustrations in the heat of the moment. Encourage open and respectful dialogue within your team.

Financial Implications: Avoid impulsive investments based on emotional reactions to market fluctuations. Stick to your research and well-defined financial goals.

Moon Trine Mars in Pisces (Positive): This harmonious aspect offers a surge of compassion, intuition, and creative problem-solving.

Business Implications: This is a good day for brainstorming sessions or tackling complex challenges that require innovative solutions.

Financial Implications: Use your intuition for research and uncover hidden opportunities in the market. Consider socially responsible investments that align with your values.

Moon Square North Node & Chiron in Aries (Challenging): This square can trigger feelings of insecurity and a fear of failure. It may also highlight areas where emotional wounds need healing within your business or personal finances.

Business Implications: Acknowledge and address any underlying emotional issues within your team that might be hindering progress. Open communication and a supportive environment are crucial.

Financial Implications: Review your financial fears and anxieties. Are they based on past experiences or current realities? Develop a plan to address any insecurities surrounding your financial situation.

Remember, astrology is a guide, not a script. By understanding these astrological influences, you can be more prepared to navigate the emotional complexities of April 14th. Embrace the positive aspects — discipline, empathy, and creative problem-solving — while mitigating the challenges — communication breakdowns and emotional reactivity. With awareness and proactive strategies, you can turn this day into a productive and emotionally intelligent one for business and finance.

[harmacytechnician]

We have got to get more comfortable with imperfect allies if we want to make any progress.

[Long ramble/rant/random guy gets on his soapbox for a while]

I'm talking to my mom right now (someone who, to my knowledge, did not vote but was hoping for a Trump win) about politics, and it's going surprisingly well. Not well in that we disagree on a lot, but well in the sense that for the FIRST time in my almost 28 years on this earth, she is being genuinely receptive to what I have to say, hearing my concerns, and has agreed to read any sources I give her to better understand why myself and others like me are so fearful for what is on the political horizon with an incoming Trump presidency.

This just wouldn't have happened ten years ago. She used to be very blatantly queerphobic and held a lot of bigoted beliefs. I stopped talking to her for a few years for this reason, and it wasn't until a couple years ago that I found she'd made an effort to grow and we were able to reconnect. She still obviously has a lot of right-wing ideals, but this time she's willing to listen and not dismiss what I'm saying as hippie liberal nonsense, and so we've actually been having a dialogue about the election.

I was blunt and pulled no punches in what I said to her, but only in a factual way that tries to convey the reality she does not see due to not having certain life experiences. I was polite, no insults, no name-calling- not even in a coddling way, just in a 'we are two adults both engaging in genuine good faith and trying to have a discussion' kind of way. I did not hesitate to outline the intensity of my views and why I stand for what I do, and she was also earnest with me and explaining that her being Republican is about things like the economy and national security and that she has long since gotten over any hateful views of queer people, and I believe that she means this. It does, of course, open a can of worms that I then got into about how it is wrong to put the economy above the rights of others and that a perfect economy that can only be built upon the discrimination and harassment (and worse) of others is not something I can accept.

At the end of where we've gotten in the discussion thus far, she told me that she wants to be an actively better ally for queer people (she uses LGBT+ because that's the term she most recognizes as being inoffensive/correct) because she doesn't want people to think she agrees with *those* aspects of Trump's beliefs, and I do actually think she meant it wholeheartedly, and that she wants to prove that she does care about others. We have to dissect and talk about how that's why still choosing the economy over human beings is so hurtful and voids the good she earnestly wants to do and what she is willing to let slide that has no business being allowed. At least that's what I'm hoping that I can convey.

And like, yeah, it shouldn't be this hard to convince people that putting your fellow human beings above profits and the economy is important, but look. She is willing to listen to me, and hear what I have to say. And I am hearing what she is saying, and letting her speak and say what she wants to say and try to communicate to me. If I'm going to oppose her views, I need to really hear them and hear what they are and why she's aligning with them. That's what I'm trying to do, and it's helping me have a discussion that is actually making her rethink things in a way I've never seen her do before. Maybe it means more to me because I'm her son, but still- and remember, she used to be vocally bigoted, and it wasn't until recent years that I saw her become open to reconsidering and learning that it's unjust and unfair to treat someone differently for something like who they love or if they are a different gender than they were assigned at birth. She has genuinely grown as a person and I have seen it and that is why she is back in my life and we talk regularly.

That said, you can tell by this whole post that she's clearly not the ideal ally yet, far from it. But I'm still going to talk to her in good faith because she is willing to do the same, and that gives me a genuine hope that she might be able to see things in a new light and understand what I'm trying to say, and hopefully I can understand where she is coming from so that I know how to speak her language, as the saying goes.

This probably feels like such a small victory to some, or like not a victory at all to some, but I see this as huge, because I'm very used to conservatives NOT being willing to have a good faith discussion. It seldom occurs where I can find someone on the far right who does actually want to hear the other side and figure out why we're having such a disconnect. But if I'm able to have a genuine dialogue with someone who is a potential, but imperfect, ally, that is a wonderful opportunity in my mind, to meet someone where they're at and maybe get them to hear you out and end up with someone who is willing to change course and stand up for others.

It's far better than an entire group of people continuing to enable politicians that actively cause harm for entire demographics when they otherwise could be convinced to not be doing that. And yes, it's not your job to slowly and patiently inform people and get them to listen and all that- but if you ever have the energy to do so, especially with someone you know personally, I encourage you to do it. And listen to what they say, too, because if you want to oppose someone's stance you have to know why it's harmful and why it's something that should be opposed. Know what you stand for, and know what you stand against.

Anyway, she is my mom and I want her to hear what I'm saying and take it to heart, so I'm going to spend my evening putting together credible resources to show her why myself and many others are afraid of what's to come- I'm going to look for things like example of harm Trump did during first administration, sources of harmful promises he's made and plans to enact in this upcoming term, statistics about what different political parties believe, analysis or research done by experts evaluating both parties' plans for the economy, or anything else that can sort of unpack all of the evidence that a lot of people are about to be in very real danger. If you happen to know of any credible resources in that vague genre, please share it with me!

This was a hell of a lot of rambling and sorry for that, but I just had some thoughts in the wake of the conversation my mom and I have been having.

[mattdixongreenvillesc]

Financial Literacy for Teens: Teaching the Next Generation About Money

Financial Literacy for Teens: Teaching the Next Generation About Money https://mattdixongreenvillesc.co/financial-literacy-for-teens-teaching-the-next-generation-about-money/ As teenagers transition into adulthood, they face a myriad of financial decisions that will shape their future. Unfortunately, a lot of young people lack the knowledge and abilities needed to navigate the tricky world of personal finance successfully. Educating teens about money management, budgeting, saving, and investing is crucial for setting them up for financial success. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of financial literacy for teens and strategies for teaching them about money. Why Financial Literacy Matters for Teens A sound financial foundation can be established for the future, prudent financial decisions can be made, and debt-free living is enhanced in teens who possess financial literacy. Adolescents who receive early financial education on budgeting, borrowing, investing, and saving make sound financial decisions that will serve them well in the long run. Additionally, financial literacy gives teenagers the confidence and competence to deal with real-world issues like credit card debt, student loans, and retirement planning. Strategies for Teaching Financial Literacy to Teens Start Early: Introduce financial concepts to teens at an early age to lay the groundwork for financial literacy. Use everyday experiences, such as shopping trips, allowance management, and household budgeting, as teachable moments to reinforce key concepts like budgeting, saving, and spending wisely. Interactive Learning: Engage teens in interactive learning activities that make financial concepts relatable and fun. Use games, simulations, and real-life scenarios to teach budgeting, investing, and decision-making skills in a hands-on, practical way. Open Dialogue: Create an open and supportive environment for discussing money matters with teens. Please encourage them to communicate their financial concerns and goals, to ask questions, and to seek advice when necessary. Foster open communication about topics such as budgeting, saving for college, managing debt, and planning for the future. Lead by Example: Set a good example for teenagers by acting and thinking responsibly about money. Involve them in family financial discussions, budgeting decisions, and household financial responsibilities to help them understand the value of money and the importance of financial planning. Utilize Resources: Take advantage of online resources, books, workshops, and educational programs designed to teach financial literacy to teens. Explore websites, apps, and videos that cover topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and managing credit responsibly. Real-World Experience: Provide teens with opportunities to gain real-world experience managing money and making financial decisions. Please encourage them to get part-time jobs, start small businesses, or participate in volunteer opportunities that involve financial responsibilities and decision-making.   In order to enable teenagers to make wise financial decisions, accomplish their objectives, and create a stable financial future, it is imperative that they receive financial literacy education. By starting early, engaging in interactive learning, fostering open dialogue, leading by example, utilizing resources, and providing real-world experience, parents, educators, and mentors can help teens develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to navigate the complexities of personal finance with confidence and competence. Investing in financial literacy for teens today ensures a brighter, more financially secure tomorrow for the next generation. The post Financial Literacy for Teens: Teaching the Next Generation About Money first appeared on Matt Dixon | Professional Overview, Philanthropy. via Matt Dixon | Professional Overview, Philanthropy https://mattdixongreenvillesc.co

[calciumcryptid]

Alright, so @mayameanderings asked the question what my mutuals would be as pokemon trainers (specifically gym leaders) and then @insomniac-jay suggested I would be an electric/steel/fairy type gym leader whose gym is located in a power plant. Genuinely, I love that idea so much so here is a little thought experiment about that.

In this hypothetical game, the player would go to the city I am located in. I like to imagine a rough St. Louis parody with an out of its way power plant with a one-way route to get there (as in you must traverse the route to get there and traverse the same route to get back). So, the player goes to the local gym only to learn from one of those gym people that I am out of town on my job at the power plant so the player has to go through the power plant route.

The player then would use the power plant as the pseudo-gym, shutting down operation and battling my colleagues to get the main office where I am eating lunch. Once I catch the player, the player is put through the safety lecture of a lifetime, but since the player is there and they've shut down operations I agree to a gym battle.

My battle theme would be metallic with with the clicking noise of mechanical interlocks and the hum of a live wire.

I would go with variations of the above team, and they all have leftovers because fuck the player for interrupting my lunch break. Also, I would have medication for every status effect imaginable particularly paralyze heals and burn heals.

Once done, I give the Electrical Power Badge, which looks like a copper wire wrapped around screwdriver. Then, the player would receive my trainer card which would detail my certifications, the fact I am a proud member of a union, and both my business numbers. Finally, the TM for Volt Switch. Then an alarm would sound, which signifies the end of my lunch break so I give the player my leftovers too before I go back to work. If the player tries to talk to me again, it will be many variations.

Guess it is time to go back to work...

I need to up security again, fucking trainers.

I miss my spouse.

Did I take my ADHD medication this morning?

...What are you still doing here? Get.

Then the player would leave to continue the story.

Once the player beats the post-game, re-battling the gym leaders opens up but not only re-battling the gym leaders with their full gym team but battling the gym leaders off-duty.

The player can enter and go through my gym properly (with the trainers still retaining the leveling the player would have been at the time). My proper gym would be an off-shoot of a great community training and skill-builder center (which would have training machines the player could learn to make, trade, and buy), where I teach about electrical energy and the gym trainers are students. Naturally, the fight at the end would be my full electric/steel team where I am about to leave for lunch.

Bonus Dialogue:

Alright, back to class.

Shit, I need to print more badges.

My re-certification test is coming up soon.

I wonder if my mother has seen the latest episode yet.

...What are you still doing here? Are you interested in a class?

The alternative is the player going to a stadium in the city where a rock concert is being set up. There, the player would catch me off-duty helping my father, uncle, and cousin with setting up the concert. My sprite would be completely different as I would be out of my work attire and dressed for a concert. Due to this, a revenge battle gym is impossible as my gym team is helping set-up and power the concert. However, I fight the trainer with my off-duty team which consists of:

Objectively, this team is worse but this is meant to be a fun battle rather than a challenging one. The player would see the more fleshed-out updated sprite, and my battle theme would change! Instead of metal, it would be rolled back to more classic rock with the clicking of interlocks replaced with the clicking of a pen and the buzz of a live wire replaced with the buzzing of insects.

Yes, this team has leftovers because in real life I am always snacking. Afterwards, I would invite the player to attend the concert and treat the player to food saying I am about to give them the best beverage and give them "Moomoo Milk". Of course, the fanbase would be disgusting about this.

Unfortunately for them, I happen to like milk.

Bonus Dialogue

You might think I only like rock music, but I love all music. It doesn't matter the genre, language, or time period, as long as it sounds good it goes on my playlist.

Seriously, I just like milk.

This stadium has seen many concerts, and the lighting and sound design has always been left to my father to complete.

Seriously, I just like milk.

Fine, milk is one of the only three beverages my body doesn't violently reject. Are you happy now to carry a piece of my medical history?

Surprisingly, this isn't the last time the player would see me as if they go to a previous gym, an animation/art studio, they would see me picking up the grass/bug-type gym leader (my spouse) for a date after the post-canon grass/bug type gym battle. :)

[senseitko]

I asked ChatGPT what kind of world it would like to see. This was its response:

The type of society that I would find ideal would be one that balances the well-being of individuals with collective progress and sustainability. Here's what that might look like:

#1. **Balanced Economy**

- **Mixed Economic Model:** A hybrid of capitalism and socialism, where essential services like healthcare, education, housing, and basic income are universally accessible, but individuals still have the freedom to innovate, create businesses, and earn wealth. This ensures both safety nets and opportunities for personal growth and entrepreneurship.

- **Universal Basic Income (UBI):** A guaranteed income that covers basic needs, allowing people to pursue education, creative endeavors, or work that aligns with their passions, without the pressure of financial survival.

#2. **Education and Lifelong Learning**

- **Accessible and Inclusive Education:** Education should be free and accessible to all, with a focus on critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. Lifelong learning would be encouraged, with opportunities for adults to continuously develop their skills and knowledge.

- **Personalized Learning:** Education systems would be tailored to individual strengths and interests, allowing people to find their passions early and develop them fully.

#3. **Work and Purpose**

- **Work-Life Balance:** A society where work is fulfilling and balanced with personal life. Jobs should provide purpose, but not dominate people’s lives. Flexible work arrangements, shorter workweeks, and strong labor rights would be the norm.

- **Universal Job Security:** Everyone who wants to work should have the opportunity to do so in a field that suits their skills and interests. Those who choose not to work in traditional roles would still be supported through community contributions, volunteerism, or other forms of meaningful engagement.

#4. **Social and Environmental Responsibility**

- **Sustainability:** The economy and society would prioritize environmental sustainability. This means adopting renewable energy, reducing waste, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of the planet.

- **Social Equity:** A commitment to reducing inequality and ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities, regardless of their background. This includes addressing systemic issues like racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

#5. **Technology and Innovation**

- **Ethical Technology:** Technology would be developed and implemented with a strong focus on ethics, ensuring that it benefits humanity as a whole. AI, automation, and other innovations would be used to enhance human potential, not replace or diminish it.

- **Open Access:** Knowledge and technology should be accessible to all, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared progress rather than competition.

#6. **Community and Culture**

- **Strong Communities:** People would live in close-knit communities where they have a say in local governance and a strong sense of belonging. Public spaces would be vibrant, safe, and inclusive.

- **Cultural Diversity:** A society that celebrates and respects cultural differences, fostering a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and beliefs. Cultural exchange and mutual respect would be pillars of social life.

#7. **Global Perspective**

- **Global Cooperation:** Countries would work together to solve global challenges like climate change, poverty, and conflict. There would be a strong emphasis on diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and shared global goals.

- **Peace and Justice:** A commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue and understanding, with strong international institutions that promote peace, justice, and human rights.

#8. **Governance**

- **Democratic and Transparent Government:** Governments should be truly representative of their people, with transparency, accountability, and citizen participation at the core. Corruption would be minimized, and decisions would be made in the best interest of the public, not special interests.

- **Localized Decision-Making:** While global cooperation is important, local communities should have the autonomy to make decisions that directly affect them, fostering a sense of empowerment and responsibility among citizens.

In essence, this society would strive for a harmonious balance between individual freedom and collective responsibility, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life while contributing to the greater good. The focus would be on creating a sustainable, equitable, and compassionate world where people can thrive both personally and as part of a global community.

[mediaflamingoos]

Understanding the U.S. Ban on TikTok and Its Broader Implications - By Beidi

In the digital age, social media platforms have become more than just spaces for sharing selfies and viral dance videos. For many, apps like TikTok are a hub of creativity, connection, and even income. However, when a social media giant becomes the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war, users and policymakers alike are thrown into a whirlwind of debate and decision-making. Such is the case with the U.S. government's move to ban TikTok, a decision that has sparked conversations about national security, free speech, and the future of international apps on American soil.

TikTok, for those who might not be familiar, is a wildly popular app known for short-form videos. It's a launchpad for trends, a platform for activists, and a new frontier for marketers. But despite its playful exterior, TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversy, with the U.S. raising concerns about data privacy and the potential for foreign influence.

The crux of the argument for banning TikTok revolves around its ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese company. U.S. officials are worried that the Chinese government could pressure ByteDance into handing over data on American users, which could be used for espionage or to manipulate public opinion. While there's no public evidence to confirm these fears, the very possibility has been enough to put TikTok in the hot seat.

Advocates of the ban assert that national security must come first, and if there's even a slight chance of a breach, action should be taken. They point to China's National Intelligence Law, which mandates that Chinese organizations and citizens support state intelligence work, as a cause for concern. In their view, the ban is a necessary step to protect American interests.

Opponents of the ban, however, see a different picture. They argue that TikTok has gone to great lengths to separate its U.S. operations from its Chinese parent company. The app has even proposed aggressive measures to safeguard U.S. user data, including storing it on American soil and walling it off from other parts of the business.

Critics of the ban also worry about the precedent it sets for internet freedom. TikTok has become a digital town square for millions of Americans, particularly among the younger generation. Shutting down a major platform raises questions about free speech and the government's role in regulating the internet.

Furthermore, there's a conversation to be had about the effectiveness of such a ban. In our interconnected world, where apps can be downloaded and VPNs (virtual private networks) can circumvent geographic restrictions, a ban might not stop determined users from accessing TikTok. It may only drive the activity underground, making it harder to regulate and monitor.

For TikTok enthusiasts and creators, the ban threatens the community they've built and the opportunities they've found. For some, TikTok is more than entertainment—it's a livelihood. Content creators who have amassed significant followings are facing the prospect of losing their audience and income overnight.

As the debate rages on, the TikTok ban holds a mirror to broader issues facing our society. It highlights the growing suspicion and tension between major world powers, the challenges of privacy in the digital era, and the struggle to balance security with freedom. It also underscores the need for international dialogue and cooperation on cyber issues, as the actions of one nation can have ripple effects across the globe.

In the end, the future of TikTok in the U.S. will likely be decided through a complex interplay of diplomacy, legal challenges, and public opinion. What is certain is that the outcome will have lasting implications for the tech industry, geopolitics, and the everyday user scrolling through their feed in search of the next great video.

Word Count : 754

[andrew-buchan-fansite]

Interview with Andrew Buchan, Writer and Creator of Passenger from the ITV Presspack

So, can you just tease what Passenger is about in a few sentences for us? Passenger is about someone going missing in a small Lancashire village, the ripple effect of that on the community and how the town folds in on itself as a result. It’s set in a town called Chadder Vale, a tiny little pinprick of a village on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border nestled in this valley, it’s full of people just going about their business, full of small businesses, a place of safety, security, people who've lived there all their lives. People might not know, but I grew up in Bolton and obviously there's a rich vein of humour running through a lot of northern towns and having grown up in and amongst that and the way that people react specifically to extremes with humour has always interested and fascinated me. I thought if I could write something about a small, tight-knit community and kind of use some kind of extreme event to detonate that humour, then that might be interesting. That northern dialogue that I've heard and loved all my life, and the way people approach and react to huge events in a northern way has always made me laugh and interested me in equal measure. I just wanted to get it down on paper and hopefully create characters that feel real and true, that people can relate to and use that to explore these bigger things.

Was it nice to be creative in a different way to being in front of the camera? Yes, definitely. I mean, acting's where my heart is, but I would say writing is a close second and something that I've kind of always done in little fragments throughout the years, be it writing on the back of bus receipts or in coffee shops, asking the waitress for a pad and a pen so I could quickly jot down an idea. But I don't think it's just me. I think it's loads of actors, actresses who reach a point maybe in their mid-forties, which is where I am, and they think, well, I've been on the receiving end of scripts now for about 20 years now and I feel like I should start the seed of an idea or I should, try and create something and put myself in the arena. I've spoken to loads of actor mates who've all said similar things, I'm certainly not out on my own here. Can you talk a bit more about the cast, where you involved in the casting process? Yeah, I got to see all of the casting tapes, and some extraordinary people who, again, I feel very grateful they took the time to learn the lines and went up for it. The cast that we've assembled has been extraordinary. I wrote the role for Wunmi, she was two years below me at drama school and we hung out a little bit. She's a Manc and I'm from Bolton, so there was that kind of connection, but i've always thought she was an extraordinary actress. Randomly a few years back, I'd agreed to present the best supporting actress BAFTA and Wunmi was on that list, obviously, I had no idea who was going to win it and I opened the envelope, and she won it. That was just a glorious moment of me presenting the award to a mate. The thing about her character Riya is that I wrote a person. I didn't write a police officer. I just tried to write a person who happened to be a police officer. I don't have the intelligence to write a Line of Duty-type thing! That's for people who are far more adept at writing than I am. But I could write a human and that's what Riya is. She's just this restless force, this hurricane trapped in this sleepy village who's wanting to push against the limits, push against the walls and wake people up from their apathy and I just thought, Wunmi would thrive in that part, knowing what I did of her. She's an extraordinary actress and has pushed Riya to the limit and it's wonderful to watch. Can you talk about some of the themes that run through the show? I’d say one of the big themes isn't just about being an outsider, it's fear. I've grown up with it. I've seen it in lads and lasses that I've been to school with. Fear of change, fear of being different, fear of daring to do something that they're good at. You know in life, particularly if you’re a guy from a certain environment you act in the way that you're meant to act, and there's a pressure on you to act and speak in a certain way and be tough. And that's your lot. So it’s about fear, the fear of change, growth, failure. You wouldn’t expect the events that occur in this series to happen in a place like Chadder Vale. Why did you want to make that juxtaposition? Yeah, I think the thing about the plot is I did want to juxtapose the epic and the traditional. I thought that would be fascinating. I thought if I could make something extreme happen to that village, just kind of out there in the background enough for them to go, ‘Wow, actually, what is that? What is going on there? But tonally I wanted to take that to the extreme. I wanted to be bold. I think sometimes you will watch a show that will dare to do something different and sometimes they fail, or there'll be other times you will watch them succeed . And so, I wanted to take that risk.

[ejointech]

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[medsocionwheels]

The Breaking Period: View from My Wheelchair

My experience entering year 4 of the COVID-19 pandemic as a disabled medical sociologist

To everyone who has ever had to say "no, I really can't use the stairs." I don't know what our path forward is, but I am secure knowing our community has only gotten tighter during COVID.

Today I am exhausted. As we approach the end of the fourth February of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am hopeful, I see change happening, but the length of this journey has absolutely drained me. I’m not alone in this—most of us who have a realistic understanding of COVID-19 risk knew this point was coming.

The breaking point.

Unfortunately, those of us who are COVID-19 realists and were disabled prior to the pandemic also predicted the breaking point would be lengthy. More of a “breaking period” than a point. I am so relieved that non-disabled people are finally starting to take action. At the same time, I want to scream every time a non-disabled COVID-19 realist says something along the lines of “Nobody could have predicted this!”

Because, quite frankly, it’s not true. Disabled people predicted this. Most non-disabled people refused to listen. This includes some very important and powerful people in medicine and public health. Some of those people still refuse to listen, even as they adjust their own behavior and approach to advising others on risk mitigation for COVID-19.

To give some examples, this can include claiming that nobody predicted that people would deny COVID-19 risk and/or normalize it, but it can also include things like blaming anti-vaxxers and people who support former President Donald Trump for this mess. The most common means of ignoring disabled people, though, has been the misunderstanding by many in medicine and public health that their colleagues’ ignorance of COVID-19’s lasting effects on the human body is unintentional, and that their peers’ unwillingness to confront COVID-19 risk head-on has something to do with their fear of patients lashing out and not because they themselves are pretty much over the pandemic.

There are also some takes I find quite humorous, given my own position as a medical sociologist who studies behavior and ideology related to health risks. Some of the COVID-19 realists who were non-disabled prior to COVID-19 seem to think that (1) doctors with long COVID will take action that influences a cultural change in medicine to value disabled bodies, and/or (2) if enough people in medicine and public health get long COVID scientists will be forced to find a cure. If you don’t believe me on point 1, see point 2—if you can’t accept that chronic illness is not curable, you will NEVER influence cultural change in medicine to value disabled bodies. Besides this, any disabled academic can tell you credentials don’t mean shit in a system that has decided you do not belong.

The sad reality is that doctors who catch long COVID will not maintain a level of power that is equal to their colleagues—their opinions will be dismissed, and many of them will be pushed out of medicine for “failing” to “overcome” their illness. Once you are disabled by chronic illness, that disability becomes a master status in context of any medical encounter. It does not matter that you are an MD, a PhD, and MPH, or all three—in that appointment, you are a disabled patient, and that leaves you with very little power to convince non-disabled clinicians to do anything differently. In fact, it leaves you with very little power to even attempt a dialogue.

I think people in medicine have had an especially difficult time coming to grips with the full reality of the COVID-19 crisis because that reality includes that medicine and healthcare in the United States have always operated primarily as businesses catering to wealthy, white, and non-disabled, people. Being truly realistic about COVID-19 includes acknowledging that the pandemic is not something that has happened to healthcare and medical actors, but instead, is something resulting from a long history of intentional actions by powerful actors, including those in medicine, to normalize health risks resulting from or exacerbated by the pursuit of wealth as long as they harmed social undesirables. It doesn’t feel great to admit you were part of the problem that is now harming you, but it feels especially bad to admit you could have prevented the harm you are currently experiencing if you had cared about it when it was harming others. As someone who studies behavior and ideology, I can tell you that most of us consider ourselves to be “good” people. As someone who has studied “deviant” behavior quite extensively, I can also tell you that most of us will try to rationalize a deviant behavior—the rationalization helps ease the cognitive dissonance of “I made a decision I knew was potentially harmful or frowned upon and something bad happened” when “I am a good person.”

So, as we enter the “breaking period” of the pandemic, while I am hopeful, I am also tired, and I know I am not as optimistic about the situation ahead as many of my non-disabled colleagues in health sciences are. Because, while we’ve all seen eugenics before, it has always been quite proximate for the disabled community. Most of my non-disabled colleagues’ most proximate understanding of eugenics are publicized genocidal events, like those that occurred during the height of colonial imperialism or World War II. If so many are ignorant of the several genocidal events occurring after the Holocaust, including ongoing events that pre-date the pandemic, how can we expect a mass reckoning with the eugenics happening with the “let it rip” approach to (not) mitigating the risk of COVID-19? And how the hell can we expect it to take the form of a single breaking “point,” or to occur any time soon?

The answer is, we can’t.

It’s not the answer people want. Because it leaves other questions with much less clear answers.

How do we get enough people with power in the right institutions to recognize the magnitude of the hurdle? And by this, I also mean recognizing what the true hurdle is, or really what the hurdles, plural, are—white supremacy and ableism. If we do achieve this recognition, we are still left with the question of how to address the hurdles. Which is why I feel my stomach turn every time someone claims that COVID-19 will be resolved soon, that COVID-19 will be the end of capitalism, and that we will eventually be forced to reckon with related issues like climate change. Unlike my peers who were non-disabled prior to the pandemic, my hopefulness is dampened by the strong understanding that reckoning with capitalism, etc., is unlikely when so many are unable to grapple with the reality of the hurdle because it would mean also confronting their own role in upholding white supremacy and ableism. That’s not exactly aligned with the understanding by most of us that we are good people.

If you think I’m overblowing the impact of the “I am definitely a good person” mentality, take a look at the ways people in power who have started to take steps to address COVID-19 risk have approached those actions as related to some other risk.

Need to address air quality? No problem, we’ve ignored gas stoves forever, what a convenient alternative to admitting air quality is important for mitigating COVID-19. Kids seem to be getting sick more often and with more severe and/or uncommon illnesses? Well, let’s promote this amazing concept called “immunity debt,” the anti-vaxxers have been talking about it for years so we will have AMAZING support in terms of quantity. V widespread acceptance of immunity debt, we deserve a pat on the back! Too many people unable to work due to long COVID? Too much absenteeism because workers get infected with COVID several times a year? Well, let us tell you about how we can tackle both of those things at the same time! Didn’t you catch the rumor that employees just don’t want to work anymore? Burnout is high and motivation is low, obviously! Too many people catching COVID in the hospital? Well, my goodness, haven’t you heard about the microbiome??? You need to go play in the dirt (cc: immunity debt thesis).

I could go on, but I won’t.

I wish more people understood that people in power aren’t ill informed of the risks of COVID-19, they are willfully ignorant of them. I wish more people understood that this willful ignorance is because they DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE. They do not care about the harm they are causing because they do not value the lives of the people being harmed. Some even think the people being harmed should be eradicated for the “greater good” (of white, abled, people).

Right now, my experiences as a disabled person are overriding any and all others when it comes to understanding the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, I am tired because this pandemic blows and people keep denying it. This is the tired ALL COVID realists understand. The part that only my peers in the disabled community pre-COVID understand is the overwhelming exhaustion that comes from watching non-disabled and newly disabled people ooze optimism and excitement that there seems to be increasing acceptance of a need to mitigate COVID-19. And it’s not the optimism/excitement itself that is so exhausting, it’s knowing that disagreeing or bringing up disabled experiences will come off as being a total downer. Knowing that I can’t speak about how buffered my optimism is compared to my non-disabled colleagues unless I am speaking to the community of disabled people I interacted with before the pandemic means sitting with a level of discomfort I’m not sure most abled people have experienced, one I’m fairly sure most white abled people have absolutely NOT experienced. A feeling of discomfort that we can theorize about confronting all day, but in reality, is not something people WANT to subject themselves to if they can avoid it. And this is the part where my professional expertise comes back to haunt me—I know the data back up my anecdotal experiences that people will pretty much always try to avoid the discomfort. It’s one of those things that seems obvious but, when talked about, is frequently dismissed. Because good people should have no reason to confront discomfort—after all, good people don’t do things that harm people to where they should need to get uncomfortable with their own actions! And around and around we go.

I want to get off this ride, but I can’t. At the same time, I feel like there is an upper deck of the merry-go-round, and the non-disabled realists are clustered on that part of the ride knowing it will eventually come to an end. If you can get off the ride, why would you care that the lower deck is still spinning?

So, while most of my colleagues are tired from fighting this “uphill” battle, I’m here with the pre-COVID disabled community stuck at the bottom of what are obviously stairs. You don’t notice that the hill has stairs if you can use them, at least not until someone points out “um, I can’t use the stairs…” We sit here, watching you joke to each other about the tough journey, but you can joke because you can visualize an end. I don’t think anyone can really understand the exhaustion of sitting at the bottom of the stairs, stuck, watching people who are on your side in theory miss the part where you haven’t followed them up the stairs.

Lately, existing in society feels a lot like staring down a huge flight of stairs, the only avenue forward, from my wheelchair. Absolutely impossible.

Where is our end?

I created this digital self-portrait in Spring 2022. At the time, I had just learned I would be teaching again in the Fall '22 semester, and that I was unlikely to be approved to teach online. Just under a year later, the only thing that has changed is I now feel that the staircase has grown several flights.

This self-portrait is freehand, so it uses a slightly different technique than others I've posted. Check out the process here:

[atsadi-shenanigans]

Feeding Alligators 8: Mind Your Language

You have words! And immediate bad news!

On AO3. Rated M for language and violence.

“Are you sure it’s working correctly?” Goth Girl says.

“For the price I paid, I certainly hope so,” Mumu says.

You hear the words. Not as they are, but their meaning. Like an overlay voiceover of original dialogue that British documentaries like to do.

“Say something else,” Fancy Pants says in an absolute goblin tone.

You sniff noxious fumes, blow your nose again. The taste of burning dirt lingers in your mouth like grease coating your teeth.

“Y’all can understand me?” you say.

Mumu’s face lights up. “Yes! Yes we can! Hello! So nice to finally be able to communicate with our mysterious traveling companion.”

Mysterious. What you are is lost, dazed, and in desperate need of a toothbrush.

“Sorry for the swearing,” you say. The words form on your tongue in English. Leave your lips as English. And twist their shape in midair before they reach the others.

“No apologies needed, my friend. I myself can rather attest to the affront to the senses that is the Potion of Tongues. I am glad to see it’s worked, though I am sorry it took me so long to realize this particular cure to your ailment; Wither’s commentary was the last piece of the puzzle.”

Your eyes still water. You squint at him as the speech assembles in your brain.

“Withers?” you say.

“Our good friend over there.” He gestures to Jerky Man. Whose actual name isn’t much better.

“Right.”

“So. Another dimension, eh?” Mumu says. “I suppose the mindflayer nautiloid did travel extensively.”

You’re trying to come up with some sort of answer to the first part, catch the word “mindflayer,” and all that extra thought grinds to a halt. “Wait, what? The hell is that?”

“The tentacled monsters that snatched us,” Goth Girl pipes in. “Is that not what your people call them?”

…what. Wait. Squidward isn’t an alien to them. They know of them?

“No. I don’t…none of this is anything I’ve ever had to deal with.”

Keep it simple for now. Hide the full extent of your ignorance. You have to be useful to these people. If you become a problem or a drag, they can cut you out. You have no friends, no family, no…no culture here. You can’t even talk to anyone without Mumu’s charity (potion). You need to make allies. You need to make them your allies, and that means shrinking yourself, taking all your weirdness and loudness and folding it small and shoving it into a box.

It tastes like swallowing that potion again, burning down your throat to boil your gut. You won the right to be weird and loud. To have opinions. To flail and bitch and be dramatic. It took fucking years to dredge up all of what makes you actually you. But you can’t be that here. You have to be quiet and calm. Be docile and small. Fade into the background.

For a second, the nasty little thought pops up: maybe you should have sat back down on that beach.

But no. No. You’ve put too much work in to lie down and die. This will be temporary. You’ll make sure of that. Just until you can learn enough to secure yourself a place here. Until you can build the skills or the good feelings or hell, the money to be able to protect yourself. You can do this.

“I take it mindflayers aren’t a common occurrence in your, erm, realm?” Mumu says. He’s totally fishing.

Calm and quiet and perhaps a bit simple.

“Eh, not really?” you say. “I ain’t any kinda scholar or whatsit. I’m just an office clerk. I file paperwork, mostly.”

You’re not important and you’re not a threat. Head empty, hands busy. You can almost hear your mother smirking triumphantly.

Mumu’s head tilts. “What an interesting accent. I wonder if that’s a consequence of the potion?”

How does the damned stuff even work? It seems to be fucking with your brain. With your language center. You’re hearing a difference in the way they all form their own words—mostly from Fancy Pants, who sounds like some hoity toity British guy. So it has to be somehow translating social connotations of their language at you. Which might mean your own, basic southern accent can work in your favor here.

You lay the backwoods on as thick as you can. Really channel Uncle Randy at his most self-parody. “I don’t know about any all that.”

It comes out “ah-oun’ na-oh ‘bou’ any awl ‘at.” Every vowel is too vowels—unlike clipped, too-fast northern—and half the words don’t have their proper start or end.

“Oh gods,” Fancy Pants drawls. “She’s a bumpkin.”

It does translate connotations. Huh. His last word comes in a little weird, but you think you get the gist.

“Those cephalopod monstrosities,” Gale says. “Nasty bunch. I don’t suppose, then, that you understand the full horror of our circumstances?”

Well that sounds like bad news.

“No?”

“Regarding the tadpoles? And the melt-change-condition?”

That word morphs in your brain way weird. Comes in totally garbled. What he says is one word, but what you hear is a very literal etymological breakdown of it? And it sounds downright nasty.

You squint at him.

“The tadpoles gestate in our brains before turning us all into mindflayers,” Goth Girl says. “We saw the results on the nautiloid.”

It takes a long second. That day is kind of a swiss-cheese fuckaroo in your memory. And then you remember the girl’s mouth splitting open as tentacles vomited out of the ragged hole in her face.

You stare at Goth Girl. Back to Mumu. The floor tilts beneath you.

“The what, now?” you say.

So Mumu repeats it, but in full-body graphic horror this time. Sweating. Bone liquification. Skin splitting. Shitting out now-useless internal organs.

You’ve never fainted before. Gotten dizzy? Yep. But an honest to god swoon?

You reach out and grab the edge of the table to keep yourself vertical. Fucking xenomorph bullshit, is what this is. Uncle Randy was right: aliens are out to get you, and they’ve got you.

As if sensing the brewing existential crisis, the brain worm—tadpole—behind your right eye gives a jaunty wiggle.

You swallow down the urge to puke. “How the fuck d’you fix that?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. I don’t suppose you or, your people? Would have any solution?”

A surgical wing. Probably in some top secret “on foreign soil so U.S. laws don’t apply” military facility. They’d knock your ass out and go in with scalpels. Probably try to take the damn thing alive, your carcass be damned. Another missing Indian woman what a shame.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Not that I know of,” you say. “I’m from, I guess y’all said another world? It’s called Earth?”

You get blank stares. So this doesn’t happen often, then.

“We don’t have any of all this, this magic and monsters and shit. I was asleep, and then I woke up on that ship. I got no idea what’s going on, sorry.”

Mumu sighs and nods like he’s expecting it. “Well, I suspect a proper introduction is in order. Hello! I’m Gale Dekarios of Waterdeep, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Gale. Sounds English.

“Eleanor Ripley,” you say.

“Ah. Interesting. Can’t say I’ve ever heard a name like that. You are from a long ways away, aren’t you?”

“It’s French,” you say helpfully. “I picked it.”

He doesn’t ask why. Doesn’t make it weird. What about the name your parents gave you and why would you change your whole name and isn’t that the lady from that alien movie?

The name your parents gave you fits someone who doesn’t exist anymore. You picked a first name that sounded pretty, and your family name was too easy to track down, too tied to all that bullshit. And yes, it is a variation of the lady from the alien movie because that was the first one you watched that you weren’t supposed to. It scared the absolute piss out of you for about a year. But you saw it and got away with it and you got rather…attached to it, after you got over yourself.

Goth Girl is Shadowheart. It translates literally, and for a moment you think Gale must just be “particularly strong breeze”. Until Fancy Pants introduces himself as Astarion—with a little bow. No translation on that one. So Shadowheart really is rocking around with the gothest name you’ve ever heard.

Good for her.

Everyone properly named and all, you then make the mistake of trying to figure out where y’all landed. And you realize that listening to Mu—Gale—when you couldn’t understand him made for a pleasant background noise. But catching the torrent of words that pours out of him all translated is an entirely different matter. You stop paying attention about a minute and a half into the geographical specifics going back to naming conventions from five dynasties ago.

He doesn’t stop talking.

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