#federal public service commission jobs 2023

[australianwomensnews]

When it comes to Australia’s national regulators, women rule.

Women now dominate the leadership of federal regulatory and oversight agencies that enforce rules for business and the economy, with 33 women holding chief executive or chair roles. This signals a profound shift for the nation’s top watchdogs, once almost solely the domain of male enforcers.

Rapid digitisation and rising globalisation are making traditional black letter enforcement approaches less effective, leading to women with so-called solid soft skills, such as influence, collaboration and communication, winning top-tier regulatory roles.

Women are now at the front line of the battles against scams, identity and data theft, cyber ransomware attacks, electronic espionage, digital surveillance, misinformation, social media abuse and dark web criminality.

“It’s very different to the skills base you needed a decade or two ago where it was just about telling people what to do, and they would toe the line,” says Ann Sherry, a former head of the Office of Status of Women in the Hawke and Keating governments.

“Those jobs were filled by a particular sort of person cast as a regulator. So, in a way, it was almost an enforcement role, whereas the jobs have changed.”

The leadership of the federal public service reached gender equilibrium last year.

Sherry, who is now QUT chancellor and chairs Queensland Airports, digital marketing firm Enero and UNICEF Australia, says that the public sector has been better at promoting women through the ranks but that many women have also built relevant skills in the private sector.

“Many women have had to broaden their careers and build a broad set of skills to be successful. There is now a body of capability to draw up. The talent pool has changed, and the jobs require broader skills. It is a confluence of events,” she says.

The surge in women leading federal regulators compares with 19 women (10 per cent) chairing ASX200 companies and 26 women (9 per cent) who are CEOs across the ASX300, as at the end of 2023.

Competition chief Gina Cass-Gottlieb and Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock (who also chairs the Payments System Board) are the first women to lead their institutions. Others, such as media watchdog Nerida O’Loughlin and energy regulator Clare Savage, have won second appointments.

A push to bring in new blood from outside the Australian public service helped veteran NSW regulator Elizabeth Tydd win an appointment as head of the Australian Information Commission. Carly Kind was tapped from a London think tank to be the new privacy commissioner.

They join a swag of women now overseeing vast swaths of the economy, including infrastructure (Gabrielle Trainor), aviation (Pip Spence), food (Sandra Cuthbert), petroleum (Sue McCarrey) and fisheries (Helen Kroger).

Others such as Rachel Noble (espionage), Julie Inman Grant (e-safety), Jayde Richmond (anti-scams centre) and Michelle McGuinness (cyber co-ordinator) are focused on rapidly emerging harms, including national security threats, identity and data theft, consumer abuse, online scams and fraud.

Workplace and safety regulators are now dominated by women too, including Anna Booth (Fair Work Ombudsman), Joanne Farrell (Safe Work Australia), Jeanine Drummond (maritime safety), Natalie Pelham (rail safety) and Janet Anderson (aged care).

The dominant role female regulators play has been part of a profound shift in the number of women in leadership roles in the Australian government. This has risen from a quarter of executive roles being held by women 20 years ago to over 50 per cent last year.

Battle ready

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, who rose through the ranks as a competition lawyer at law firm Gilbert and Tobin, says her generation of leaders had battled their way through male-dominated workplaces.

“In those workplaces, to get ahead, we needed to target the areas we thought were most important to make an intervention and where we could most effectively make an impact.

“We actually had to build skills to succeed, which are beneficial skills in these roles.”

Ms Cass-Gottlieb says women have also had to differentiate themselves. “You needed to point to other ways of working, including creative and different solutions that drew from experience in various areas rather than a pure step-by-step standard career path.”

Australian Information Commissioner Tydd points to Columbia University research that measured creativity by analysing songs, finding that women created more songs than men.

“Digital government requires a creative use of proactive tools to identify and mitigate future harm. It’s the unforeseen or latent harms that are the most refractory and so we’ve got to look at diagnosis and predictive tools, and that’s where you start to get a bit creative.”

Tydd says she was attracted to regulatory work because of the value of promoting open government, transparency and accountability.

“I think that seeking service and purpose orientation are factors that drive people into this work and I do think seeking service is a very comfortable and well-established motivation within women.”

Demand for new approaches

According to ANU Crawford School of Public Policy director Professor Janine O’Flynn, the data on the importance of public motivation for women is mixed. However, she suggests that women’s more attuned risk and relationship skills help them to be more effective regulators.

“We certainly know that the most effective models of regulation are around how you can think about risk and how you build relationships with the parties that have been regulated.

“I don’t mean that in a sort of dodgy way. The higher the trust relationships you can get between regulators and those who are regulated, the more likely you are to get the outcomes that you’re looking for.”

Read the full article in the link above!

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Wisconsin’s Saratoga Solar Project appeared to have every box checked when state regulators issued their final approval of the 150-megawatt solar farm last spring.

Wood County, where the project is set to be built, will garner $600,000 each year in state funding. Public comments showed residents were largely in support of the effort. And Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission had officially ruled that the project was “in the public’s interest,” greenlighting a plan that was expected to bring upwards of 400 jobs to the area.

“Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of 2024,” reported the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune in April 2023.

But construction never began. And this March, the project’s developer, Savion—a subsidiary of oil giant Shell—asked regulators to give it an extension on its deadline to start building the solar farm. The company cited “delays in the interconnection study process,” setbacks in reaching an agreement to connect to the regional power grid and a three-year waiting period to receive critical pieces of equipment due to supply chain issues.

State commissioners granted the extension earlier this month, giving Savion until April 1, 2027, to start construction on its project that’s already a year behind schedule.

The situation isn’t uncommon. Across the nation, more than 11,000 solar, wind and battery storage projects, together capable of powering tens of millions of homes, were still waiting to connect to a power grid at the beginning of 2024, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s annual report, released in April. Clean energy developers have long complained that they’re often waiting years to get their projects online, even after construction is complete.

Midwest states, including Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, have recently passed laws aimed at shortening that wait time. Last year, Michigan passed legislation that gave the state, rather than counties and municipalities, citing authority for large renewable energy projects to reduce the number of jurisdictions in which developers would need to get approval. And last month, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a sweeping package of reforms into law that are expected to shave as much as nine months off the state’s permitting process.

Despite those efforts, many clean energy projects are still expected to experience lengthy wait times to connect to the Midwest’s regional grid, run by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO. Energy experts say that addressing the myriad delays developers face in the MISO interconnection process—and in other regional grids—is key to ramping up the clean energy transition to meet state and federal climate goals.

“We are still hamstrung by the MISO queue and hamstrung by the MISO process,” said Peder Mewis, regional policy director for Clean Grid Alliance, a Midwest nonprofit that advocates for clean energy policies at state legislatures. “Until the queue and the congestion and all that other stuff at MISO gets fixed, we’re just sitting here waiting, unfortunately.”

The nation’s regional power grids have seen a surge of interconnection requests in recent years, driven largely by the falling costs of renewables and public policy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change.

The U.S. installed a record 31 gigawatts of new solar capacity last year, an increase of 55 percent from 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration. By the end of this year, the agency projects that solar, wind and battery storage will make up a whopping 94 percent of all the new power capacity added to the nation’s grids.

But that record growth has been marred by mounting complaints from developers, some of whom say they’ve been waiting five or more years to connect their new energy projects to the grid. That’s according to a Clean Grid Alliance survey released in April, which interviewed 14 developers operating in MISO’s jurisdiction.

[sublimeobservationarcade]

Coalition Responsible For Consulting Crisis

10 years of Liberal/National federal governments stripped the public service of 15, 000 jobs and opened the door for consultants PwC, KPMG, EY, and Deloitte to feast on government contracts to the tune of billions of dollars. Coalition responsible for consulting crisis, as insider mates shuffle jobs between government and the big 4 consultancy/auditing firms to ensure the flow of business and big bucks. Four Corners has revealed the incestuous relationships in the Department of Defence and KPMG via whistleblowers telling their story about what has been going on. Pigs with snouts in the trough comes to mind as an analogy about what has been occurring. “It has been the Coalition's official benchmark for "responsible management" since 2015; a target that prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison also pursued. More than 15,000 government jobs were abolished as a result.” - (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-13/has-federal-budget-2021-ended-coalition-war-on-public-servants/100133980) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pduOqZPnqVc

Dishonest & Dodgy Coalition Governments Dealing Billions To Consultants

The lack of transparency is a major issue and questions have to be asked whether this was a deliberate strategy by the Coalition in government. Outsourcing, what has always been the work of government through the public service, means that these consulting firms are not scrutinised to the level government departments usually are. The Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments moved much of their work of government to these private consulting firms. Public funds normally allocated to the trusted public service were diverted to these private companies. The PwC tax scandal has shown clearly that these firms are not to be trusted with sensitive and confidential government information.

“Former KPMG partner urges royal commission into consulting industry following damning report into PwC scandal” - (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/06/former-kpmg-partner-urges-royal-commission-into-consulting-industry-following-damning-report-into-pwc-scandal) “PwC Australia has sacked eight partners, including its former CEO Tom Seymour, over their direct involvement in or knowledge of the tax leak scandal which has engulfed the consulting firm.” - (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-03/asx-markets-business-live-news-july-3/102553582)

Neoliberal Coalition Oversees Erosion Of Ethics  & Professional Standards

Overcharging and extending contracts is rife in the consulting sector and via these government contracts they have gone to town. Tens of billions of dollars have been siphoned off into the hands of these firms and their insider mates of the Coalition. Scott Morrison has a lot of questions to answer re-Robodebt and PwC was involved in this illegal debacle as well. It is time that these people were brought to justice and prosecuted. The erosion of ethics and professional standards has been overseen by the Coalition in power. Screwing the taxpayer out of money and feathering the nest of private individuals has been happening on a very large scale. “Collins had breached a series of confidentiality agreements made with federal Treasury and the Board of Taxation that gave him access to various consultative forums as a senior partner in the local branch of a global accounting firm. Information obtained during those processes was used to brief local and international tax partners or staff on what the government was doing in specific areas of taxation. It was publicly known that Collins had shared knowledge that he should not have shared, as was the fact that his former firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (now PwC), was given a disciplinary penalty that required it to tighten up training and procedures.” (https://www.themandarin.com.au/219292-damning-emails-reveal-former-pwc-peter-collins-multiple-breaches/

Liberal Vision Of Australia All About Wealth At Any Cost For The Few These people at the heart of these big 4 consultancy firms have earned millions of dollars. They live in big houses in exclusive suburbs worth millions of dollars, and they drive very smart cars. Insider trading is illegal and yet these accountants have trod an inside track thanks to their Coalition mates in power. A decade of Coalition governments has overseen the massive expansion of private consultants taking over the public service. Liberals screwing the Australian people for their own advantage. Profits and avoiding public scrutiny by Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison are at the heart of this betrayal of trust. “The previous Coalition government spent $20.8bn outsourcing more than a third of public service operations, an audit has found. The federal government released the findings of the Australian public service audit of employment on Saturday, which examined the hiring practices and associated costs of 112 public service agencies, excluding the CSIRO, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and parliamentary departments. It found the equivalent of nearly 54,000 full-time staff were employed as consultants or service providers for the federal government during the 2021-2022 financial year – the equivalent of 37% of the 144,300-employee public service.” - (Stephanie Convery, The Guardian, 6 May 2023) Conservative voters in Australia are hoodwinked into voting for the Coalition on the basis of socially conservative policies. Meanwhile, we are all shafted via insider trading for their mates and plum government contracts for wealthy friends in the consultancy business. Hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds being siphoned off into the hands of these dubious individuals. Donald Trump and the Republicans have written the modern rule book for this grifting behaviour in government in recent times. Trump is a hero for these conservatives combining billion dollar grift with authoritarian power to keep any dissenting voices in check. Look at the list of questionable activities undertaken during the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments. - Climate change and global warming – the Coalition has put back Australia at least a couple of decades via their inaction and manipulation of government policies in this space. - Consultancy Crisis/Gutting the Public Service – tens of billions of dollars going into private hands via overcharging, wasteful practices, and neutering public scrutiny and the voice of the public service. - Robodebt – the Robodebt scheme was cooked up by Scott Morrison and was illegal, but put into practice anyway. 500, 000 Australians were wrongly accused of owing large amounts of money to the government. People killed themselves in despair over this! A settled class action has cost taxpayers $1.6 billion so far. A Royal Commission was scathing in its condemnation and recommendations for further prosecution against those administering the scheme. Scott Morrison, of course, denies any wrong doing and responsibility for something he instigated. - Sports Rorts – pork barrelling taken to another level, as Coalition ministers direct spending to swing voter seats in a bid to shore up support for their electoral cause. Australians in Labor seats miss out on investment into their infrastructure because of where they reside and the political bellwether situation. - Uluru Statement from the Heart – 10 years of Coalition government denied this call from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians for a place at the big table. Whenever Liberal/National governments come to power they invariably dismantle and defund Indigenous bodies and programs, which were established by Labor governments to close the gap. Whether it is politics over concern for First Nations’ people or just out and out racism the end result is the same. Is it any wonder that First Nations’ Australians want a Voice to Parliament written into the Constitution. Peter Dutton is leading the No vote against the Voice in the referendum. The Nationals also oppose it. Mean spirited, racist, and, generally, lacking compassion are all ways to describe this behaviour. - Housing Crisis - Where has all the social housing in Australia gone? Neoliberal economic policies have given everything over to the private sector and the profit motive. Needy and vulnerable? Tough luck, you're stuffed in Oz these days. - Corporate Profits Driving Inflation - A concentration of corporate power via takeovers and mergers means that price setting is rife in Australia. Bugger all competition (where and what has the ACCC been up to?) in the banking sector, supermarkets, audit firms, airlines, real estate, mining, energy sector, and everywhere you seek to do business is an oligopoly. Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt & Financial Freedom ©WordsForWeb

Read the full article

[hardynwa]

Reactions as 9000 federal civil servants fail promotion exams

Nigerians were shocked to the marrow over the news that no fewer than 9,000 civil servants who sat the 2022 Federal Civil Service Commission’s promotion examinations failed. According to the report, the list of the workers’ performance was obtained from the Federal Civil Service Commission. DAILY POST gathered that out of about 13,000 civil servants that sat for the examination, which was held in about 69 Computer Based Test Centres across the country, over 9000 failed, leaving the number of the successful candidates in the neighbourhood of 4000. The candidates, the report said, were drawn from the core civil service, including the Nigeria Police, other paramilitary and specialised agencies. The report also said that the letter containing the list of the successful civil servants was dated November 30, 2023, and sent from the Federal Civil Service Commission. The letter, tagged: ‘FC.6241/S.35/Vol.xi/ T12/268,’ was signed by the Director of Promotions, Sani Bello, and addressed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. A cursory look at the list showed that only 3,851 civil servants, out of over 13,000 civil servants who sat for the promotion examination passed, while the rest failed. Since the report filtered into the public domain, Nigerians have been reacting, with many saying that the major problem which the country faces today is the issue of unqualified and dumb civil servants. Those who hold this line of thought have strongly argued that the civil service of any nation is the administrative engine that keeps such a country’s government running. Leading this argument is a mechanical engineer, Livinus Eze, who lamented that recruitment into the civil service in Nigeria is no longer based on merit, but rather on one’s ‘connection.’ He told DAILY POST: “I remember in those days, when civil servants were held in high esteem because they were believed to be highly cerebral. “Those days, when you hear that somebody is a permanent secretary, you would know that such a person is an embodiment of experience, competence and intelligence. “But, what do we have today? We have a bunch of mediocre people, parading themselves as civil servants.” How did the country descend into such low ebb? He said: “The problem started with the introduction of a quota system in the recruitment process. The quota system made it possible that those who were not qualified got jobs in the civil service because of where they came from. “For me, there is nothing wrong in quota system because it will ensure that one section of the country does not dominate other section, but where a section of the country or a state fails to provide qualified persons for particular vacancies, the proper thing to do is to fill the vacancy with competent and qualified people from outside such area. “But, in Nigeria, so long as you are from a state or region that must fill certain vacancies, whether you are competent and qualified or not, you will be given the job. And that is the bane of our civil service. “How can you explain what has happened; that out of 13,000 civil servants, who sat for ordinary promotion exams, which I am sure were based on their job specifications, not up to 4000 passed? And over 9000 failed? “So, what are they doing receiving fat salaries at the end of every month? No nation can make progress this way; it is quite unfortunate,” he stated. There are others who insist that the result of the promotion exam has only shown the level of rot in the country’s civil service. One of those pushing this line of argument is Chidiebere Eze, a business administrator. He argued that the corruption that is almost destroying every fabric of the country took its roots from the civil service. “You don’t need to search far to know why Nigeria is classified as the global poverty capital. When you have people who don’t know anything but only to go to work and receive salaries at the end of the month, how can such a country be productive? “Poverty will inevitably be the lot of such a nation. Everything our politicians know about corruption was learnt from the civil service. “They were the ones that introduced the famous ‘five percent’ of the 1960s that brought about the first military coup in Nigeria. “The rot in the civil service is just too much and needs an urgent intervention. And it is good that this kind of exam was conducted and its result made public so that Nigerians can see where their problems are coming from and know what to do to tackle it headlong,” he told DAILY POST. Also commenting, the Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, said the import of the massive failure is that the civil service is lacking competence. While speaking to DAILY POST, he stressed that its implication was low productivity as no man can give what he does not have. “The implication is that unqualified people are occupying positions in the civil service, meaning that productivity will be very low. Memos will not be up to the standards they ought to be. And of course, performance in the civil service will be declining. “But that is not a new thing because the unnecessary bureaucracy, which the civil service shows clearly is a function of this kind of performance. “When incompetent people are occupying positions, of course, their performance will be below standard, and rather than doing things correctly, unnecessary bureaucracy comes in and the whole system suffers as a result,” he said. On the way forward, he stressed the urgent need for training and retraining of the civil servants. He said: “We cannot say that people should be sacked, but we are saying that there is the need for training and retraining. “It is not enough to have a degree, diploma or some certificates, people have to be trained and trained to be able to live up to their potential within the civil service. “So, there is a need to overhaul the civil service. There is need for retraining of the civil servants and there is need for reorientation in the civil service, so that they will know the exact thing to do as civil servants. “Then, of course, the world is going digital; we are no longer analogue. Some of the civil servants are still analogue. “There is a need for training and retraining to bring the civil servants up to the standard of modern civil service, so that their performance can be better.” On the argument that such a poor performance cannot be dissociated from the recruitment process anchored heavily on quota and federal character principle, he admitted that “the recruitment process has a big problem; it is faulty and that is as a result of quota system and federal character principle. “People are recruited based on where they come from, the language they speak and the religion they profess, rather than their competence. “Of course, it has a direct bearing on the quality of their output because competence and performance are together; when you are competent, you perform better. “We are not saying that the quota system should be abolished because there are some disadvantaged communities, but what we are saying is that we should not sacrifice competence on the altar of quota system or federal character principle.” On his part, the president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, commended the Commission for conducting the promotion exam as a way of assessing the capacity of the civil servants. He, however, decried the outcome, which he said was disappointing and an indication that most of them were not even qualified to have been employed. He said: “First, it is good that the Federal Civil Service Commission conducted the promotion exam, at least to assess the capacity of the civil servants they wanted to promote. “However, what the outcome of the exam implies is that most of the civil servants were not even qualified to have been employed in the first place; but because we have a system that encourages corruption, so many of them found themselves there. “That is why the civil servants are even more corrupt than the politicians, and you don’t see them being productive like their counterparts in other parts of the world. “It is unfortunate that most of them were not qualified from the outset, but they still found their way there. “So, what we must do in this circumstance is that we must encourage competence and promote it above the man-know-man approach or what some may like to call ‘connection’ in the recruitment process. “There is nothing bad in organising a promotion exam for them. Generally, the result is a clear indication that the government must look inward to find people who are competent and productive enough to deliver. “What this also means is that over time, we never realised that the crop of the civil servants are this dumb but at the end of the day, we have seen what the civil service is made of. “So, I encourage the government to do more by looking at people based on their competence and bringing them on board to get better results.” However, a Niger Delta activist, Seigha Manager has a different view about the development. He said the fact that over 9000 did not pass the promotion exam does not mean they are incompetent and unqualified. He noted that those who were assumed to have passed and got promoted were those who scored the highest marks to fill the vacant position. In other words, he explained that there are those who could have scored even above the threshold of the pass mark but could not be promoted because the vacant positions were not enough to accommodate all of them. He illustrated what he meant with his experience when he was in the service, saying, “For example, when we were writing for our directorship position, nine people wrote the exam and there were only two vacancies. “Ordinarily, the pass mark would have been 49 percent, but because we were nine and only two people were needed for the two vacancies, the stake was raised. “The person with the highest mark scored 72 percent. I was the second person with 62 percent. So, it was just the two of us that were promoted to fill the two vacancies. “There was somebody who scored 61 percent and about three other persons that scored above 55 percent but they could not be promoted because there were only two vacancies. “I think there were only two people that scored below the pass mark of 49 percent. But, you find out that only two of us passed and got promoted because there were only two vacancies. “So, invariably, since only two people were promoted, it appeared as if seven others failed, but in actual sense, only two people failed. The other five people could not be promoted because the vacancies were meant for two people that scored the highest marks. “The pass mark was 49 percent and they scored above that, but they could not be promoted because only two vacancies existed. So, it is the same thing that could have happened in this current case of over 9000 civil servants believed to have failed the recent promotion. “Not all of them could have failed but because the vacancies that existed were limited, even though they exceeded the pass mark, they could not be promoted.” “That is exactly what I think could have happened, but that is not to say that every person is intelligent or that nobody failed. “There were people who could have failed but the majority passed, just that they couldn’t be promoted because the spaces were not enough to accommodate all of them,” he told DAILY POST. Read the full article

[apk-iso]

Federal Public Service Commission FPSC Jobs Notification November 2023

Federal Public Service Commission FPSC Jobs Notification November 2023 Federal Public Service Commission FPSC Latest Management Posts Announcement

Federal Public Service Commission FPSC invites applications for jobs

advertised in Dunya newspaper on 4th November 2023 in various cities of Islamabad,

Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Gilgit and Lahore.

[ailtrahq]

Uncover how major tech companies are exploring the cryptocurrency frontier. From patents to partnerships, delve into the unique approaches and initiatives leading the tech-crypto integration narrative. In a significant trend, major tech companies are increasingly getting involved in the world of cryptocurrencies. This growing connection suggests a future where digital currencies could play a pivotal role in our tech interactions. Amid this, the recent revelation about Microsoft’s plans to integrate a crypto wallet into its Xbox platform adds a new layer to this narrative, offering a glimpse into how tech giants might be leaning towards embracing cryptocurrency. Now, let’s explore how other major tech players are venturing into the crypto realm to better understand the overall landscape. Microsoft: a glimpse into the future The leaked documents concerning Microsoft’s ambitious plan to meld Bitcoin wallets with its popular Xbox gaming platform have sparked excitement among both gaming and crypto enthusiasts.  Although the specifics of this integration remain shrouded in mystery due to its accidental disclosure amid a legal skirmish with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the revelation is nothing short of enthralling​​.  Microsoft isn’t new to blockchain, the technology underpinning most cryptocurrencies. Its Azure platform used to host a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) facility, aiding businesses in developing, testing, and deploying blockchain applications. However, this was shut down in September 2021. Data miners have recently uncovered evidence of the company’s endeavors in developing a non-custodial Ethereum (ETH) wallet seamlessly integrated within Edge, Microsoft’s chromium-based web browser. The timeline and intentions behind the potential release of this cryptocurrency wallet for public use remain undisclosed. In February 2023, Microsoft initiated a partnership with Ankr to cater to the needs of enterprises and businesses seeking reliable access to blockchain data via a trusted node hosting service provider. Amazon: crypto curiosity Amazon, on the other hand, has not made a pronounced foray into the cryptocurrency space. However, its curiosity is apparent through its blockchain endeavors.  Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a range of blockchain services, facilitating businesses in developing blockchain-based applications.  Moreover, rumors fluttered in 2021 when a job posting for a Digital Currency and Blockchain Product Lead appeared on Amazon’s job portal.  Despite the company’s denial of any immediate plans to accept cryptocurrency, the job posting hinted at a possible future where Amazon might consider diving into the digital currency domain. Google: navigating the crypto cloud Google has taken a notable step towards cryptocurrency acceptance.  In October 2022, during the Cloud Next conference, Google unveiled its partnership with Coinbase to facilitate cryptocurrency payments for cloud services. This integration initially allowed customers of the Google Cloud platform to make payments using cryptocurrencies like BTC and Ethereum (ETH) through Coinbase Commerce. Though initially available to a specific user base, Google plans to eventually extend this service to a broader range of customers. This prudent approach reflects Google’s strategy of navigating the crypto domain cautiously, weighing the benefits against the challenges posed by this emerging financial technology. Sony: betting on a crypto future Sony’s venture into the crypto domain has a distinctive flavor compared to other tech giants. A 2021 patent reveals Sony’s innovative approach to integrating cryptocurrency within the gaming environment, specifically for in-game esports betting.  The patent showcases a system where players can bet using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in real-time during esports events, with an AI determining the betting odds based on historical player performance. This innovative integration isn’t exclusive to PlayStation consoles;

Sony’s patent mentions the potential to extend this esports betting technology to other platforms, including those of Microsoft and Nintendo.  Moreover, in a significant stride towards fostering the global web3 infrastructure, Sony has entered into a joint venture agreement with Startale Labs. This collaboration aims to develop a blockchain that could underpin the global web3 infrastructure.  As crypto.news previously reported, both Sony and Startale Labs express a strong belief in the potential of web3 and are on a mission to “create killer web3 use cases” to drive its adoption. Sony’s engagement with blockchain technology doesn’t end here. They have also explored blockchain for digital rights management, hinting at a multifaceted interest in this technology.  The alignment of blockchain and cryptocurrency with gaming and digital rights management showcases Sony’s holistic approach to exploring the crypto domain. Meta: pioneering a digital frontier Meta has been at the forefront of exploring the intersection between social interaction and digital technology.  The company’s rebranding to Meta in 2021 reflected its ambition to pioneer the construction of a digital universe known as the metaverse.  Meta’s initial venture into the crypto world came with the Libra project, which was rebranded to Diem, aiming to create a stablecoin that could facilitate transactions within its vast network of users. However, regulatory hurdles led to the shutdown of the project. While the current status of Meta’s crypto ventures remains somewhat elusive, the vision of a decentralized, blockchain-powered metaverse keeps the conversation around Meta’s crypto ambitions alive. The road ahead The integration of crypto and blockchain into tech platforms, facilitating crypto payments for cloud services, or utilizing blockchain for digital rights management and web3 infrastructure development are illustrations of how these technologies can meld seamlessly. However, the journey is not devoid of challenges. Regulatory hurdles, technological limitations, and public skepticism are some of the roadblocks that need addressing.  It’s a journey that demands collaborative effort, not just among tech giants but also between governments, regulators, and the global community.

[manleycollins]

Journal Entry #75 - Happy Independence Day....Simply Talking

JOURNAL ENTRY #75 Name: Manley M Collins Social Security Number: 5 7 9 – * * – 6 5 4 1 Date of Birth: 06/21 Place of Birth: Washington, District of Columbia Country of Birth: United States of America Date: July 4, 2023

TOPIC: Happy Independence Day…Just Simply Talking

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) with SplitSpot and Pine Street Inn is in the appeals process. For some odd reason, I am telling them racism and discrimination during and after the end result of any situation. I am telling before applying for services and jobs, and now no one is hiring or accepting me for housing for telling before. What is the importance of Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination? Just like Southampton, what is the importance of Boston Public Health Commission?

Street money donations to me went to Boston Public Library (BPL), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

I obtained my Zumba certification and started practicing plus putting videos on YouTube. I have joined the important Zumba groups. I got my first education course Cueing Like A Pro for free. My first instructor class was in Foxboro, Massachusetts at Fit Factory. It was fun and I was the only African (Cameroonian)-American male in the class. The photo is on my photostreams. Zumba did let me know I am independent contractor while doing classes. Along with my fitness coach interview from OrangeTheory, I received the inside track of how much personal trainers and group fitness instructors are paid per hour. I will be working a lot. I toured a space using Peerspace to host my first class. I am debating whether to go back to the Hartford Business Insurance or try K and K business insurance for the first time.

I am working with Massachusetts Vocational Rehabilitation Commission and they have done a wonderful job in helping revamp my resume, begin getting the motivation to job search, and listen to similar topics to DeVry University and University of Phoenix. They tried to push me to talk about my future like I was crazy, but I simply told them the past and present issues at hand. The only future situation is the upcoming Olympics 2024.

I attended another Inclusion Summit with the University of Phoenix.

My project and program management skills are very beneficial in managing the limited income and benefits.

My Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps benefits went from $450 per month during pandemic with federal help, then to $200 per month with state help, and now to $20 per month a reality in having cash available, and mind you I am still under the poverty line and low-income status.

My Medicare benefits are coming for the first time. I had to inquire about how to get my medical premium paid for and MassHealth Medicaid had an answer for me plus an application. I sent the application right back in. At the same time, I returned back to my roots with applying for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Part C with the ultimate plan including all the bells and whistles. BCBS also offers international travel insurance plans too. I am excited. Hello again Anthem BCBS and CareFirst BCBS. Nothing the other insurance policies, but I was introduced with BCBS when I had my internship with the federal government.

After suppressing my sugar for a long time, and no sugar and carbs diet, my body went haywire in March 2023, I gained ten (10) pounds because metabolism or the hunger gene or starvation body notification kept going off like crazy. I am drinking plenty of Powerade and Vitamin Water, eating a lot of 7-Eleven Pizzas and McDonald's French Fries combined with my nutritional shakes, Lenny and Larry's cookies, One A Day Multivitamin, and Metamucil. I went back to Digestive Advantage gummies again. Someone really loved my glowing skin, which means the collagen vitamin powders is working.

I attended a Meetup Memorial Day Picnic in Cambridge and it was fun. I met plenty of people. We played throw the football. I saw some new games that I never seen before. I spoke with a variety of different people. I played UNO and got some free food at the park. Thanks for a great time, Tal as the host and others. We shared food and drinks as well.

City of Boston Election Board sent me another rejection notice stating I am not allowed to vote, but I cannot help the automated processes connected to the RMV and any other departments to capture new residents.

Massachusetts is finally giving up sex in 2023, very surprising and I wonder why.

I attended the United States Department of State Foreign Service seminar. It was very enlightening and helpful to understand the positions. I gave real-time questions and got real-time answers.

I have a mentee from the University of Phoenix and met twice already to help guide her during her doctoral journey and process. I attended the University of Phoenix mentor and mentee conference in June 2023. It feels good helping someone else during their journey.

I changed therapist services until I find the right one. I left Boston Medical Center, then went to Life Stance, and then Trust Therapists, and then TCA Counseling Group, and then Boston Neurobehavioral.

I attended the Volontaire Paris Olympics 2024 Webinar, which gave more insight on the volunteer process. I am glad an investigation is going on regarding the Paris Olympics 2024 ticketing process, but I could not find any affordable seats for any of my events, such as athletics and basketball. Remaining athletic tickets were $900 per seat and basketball medaling ceremony games did not have anything.

I spent my birthday in Raynham, Massachusetts at the Marriott Courtyard. I did the gym, went to Walmart, ate at Applebee's, listen to audiobooks, synchronize my computer with the cloud, my smartphone and new USB drive, socialized over the sex apps and finally got one friend to come over, and slept naked. Yes, I made phone call to the Federal Express attorney team. I saw somewhat of the suburban and countryside of Greater Boston area.

Celebrating by communicating like no tomorrow across social media apps and at the Marriott Courtyard plus switching rooms in a different part of Massachusetts. Massachusetts has mobile homes parks, ya'll, all neat, clean, groomed to a 'T', and sparkly. It is my first trip on MBTA's Purple line or regional rail and GBTA bus system.

Black Entertainment Television "12 Years a Slave" movie pissed me the heck off. United States of America truly showed the separation of and disruption the African-American/Black family. It is still done through the courts.

Eric Tolendano and Olivier Nakache French film "The Intouchables" movie was fresh and exciting about two heterosexual men taking care of each other and serving a purpose in each other lives. English subtitles were great. I was able to match the language with how they say it French. However, the movie does depict Africans or Black people are the same no matter where we are. It was combined sad and happy emotional ending.

I lost another USB drive or taken from my back pocket, but re-purchased another one with storage upgrade. Still sending everything to the technology cloud.

I ate my meal (grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, vanilla ice cream, and blondie) at Applebee's and got a buzz from Peach on the Beach.

I had a happy birthday. God blessed me to see another year. Thank you and I am grateful.

I am still going to American Red Cross Boston Food Pantry and Boston Medical Center Food Pantry.

One of the individual human defendants is trying to settle and get out of a lawsuit they brought on themselves. I do not submit. I do not tolerate racism or discrimination in any shape form or fashion.

I met with Pine Street Inn leasing department for their permanent housing locations.

I attended the Boston Public Library Morning Brew discussing the preservation of Boston communities’ histories.

I registered for the USATF Masters Championships and already booked everything.

I attended my first Tend Dental appointment. They gave a referral to O'Trafford Dental Specialists and they were going to restart the same process as Tend to provide treatment for my 20-year root canal issue.

I attended Massachusetts Superior Court Hearing regarding Southampton and met the attorney general staff member attorney representing Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I spoke with the attorney after we got instructions from Judge and we, the attorney and I, discussed the notice of appearances and withdrawals during the case.

I had my Massachusetts Superior Court Rule 16 (Pre-Trial) Conference and it was okay. The attorney and an unexpected individual human defendant showed up, and bombarded the Judge. I kept calm and got my instructions. We are in the discovery phase. Just as fast Federal Express attorney team sending documents, and I sending the same punch or even harder back.

I did a lot of surveys. I updated my EZPassNY account. My Great Lakes account moved or migrated to the parent company Nelnet. Edfinancial/IDAPP is upgrading their systems too. I hope they are holding back the already payments made until the systems are finished upgrading. Joel Osteen is still giving great messages. I am still reading United States Congressmen and Congresswomen newsletters and emails. IBM reimagined my machine after installation of another SSD PC Card upgrade…thank goodness for backups. IBM Support did help after to find the parts that were missing from my machine, which was not on the original custom order. I signed up for another Google and FaceBook class action suit. Zoom application is becoming a more important role for my classes and meeting new individuals.

I requested my Annual Credit Report and saw some accounts as expected dropped off. I spoke to Paris 2024 Olympics - On Location Experience for the Olympic and Paralympic Games provided okay packages, but not customizable enough for customer to enough the events of his/her choice especially when priced $15,000 plus per week.

I attended the French Library Online Conversation Club and a Soiree. I researched more on the French language certifications. French Levels of Testing

Going for Nationality License, Long Term Residence Permit DILF - initial / first - A 1.1 DELF tout public - A1, A2, B1, B2 DELF prim - A1.1, A1, A2 DELF junior/scolaire - A1, A2, B1, B2 DALF - C1, C2

Campus France levels of testing TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français Test of Knowledge of French) TEF (Test d'Evaluation du français French Assessment) DELF DALF

I bought a new shoulder wallet and new shorts from Marshalls Clothing Store. I repurchased my Nike athletic outfit - white top, black long spandex.

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) Certifications Taken at Boston Public Library

(Currently on => Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Professional by Oracle University)

Managerial Economics by Stefan Michel

Linux: System Maintenance by Scott Simpson

Programming Foundations: Database by Scott Simpson

Product Management First Steps by Doug Winnie

Introduction to Responsible Artificial Intelligence Algorithm by Martin Kemka

Foundations of Responsible Artificial Intelligence by Ayodele Odubela

Generative Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders by Tomer Cohen

Microsoft Exchange Server 2019: Administration by Robert McMillen

The Data Science of Economic, Banking, and Finance with Barton Poulson

Running a Profitable Business: Understanding Cash Flow by Jim Stice and Earl Stice

Oracle Cloud Database Migration and Integration 2022 Professional Workshop by Oracle University

Project Management Foundations: Integration by Oliver Yarbrough

Learning Apache Tomcat by Josh Samuelson

Apache Web Server: Administration by Jon Peck

Business Analysis Foundations by Greta Blash

Oracle Database 19c: Basic SQL by Bob Bryla

Project Management Foundations: Schedules by Bonnie Biafore

Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Businesses: Essential Training by Kristin Judge

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Essential Training by Grant McWilliams

How to Regain Control of Your Time, Energy, and Priorities by Pete Mockaitis

Oracle Autonomous Database by Oracle University

Demonstrating Accountability as a Leader by Dr. Shirley Davis

Essential French in Two Hours with Paul Noble by HarperCollins

Essential Lessons for First-Time Managers by Dave Labowitz and Madecraft

Deploying Exchange Server 2016 by Robert McMillen

Project Management Skills for Leaders

QuickBooks Online Essential Training (2021) by Bonnie Biafore

Learning Cloud Computing: Core Concepts by David Linthicum

Learning Oracle Database 19c by Bob Bryla

Setting Up a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server by Sandra Toner

What is Business Analysis? by Laura Paton

From my Nokia first cellphone to current Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Apps:

ZIN Play App is Zumba's app to replicate the website. I can make playlists and work with the latest workouts, etc.

Massachusetts Lottery app is the ability to play the lottery, monitor the jackpot, and scan the tickets from the app. I am impressed on my first use.

ClassBuzz is Zumba's app to create gifs and manage virtual and in-person classes.

mTicket is a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority purple line to manage automated tickets. It worked properly. The conductors were able to scan right from the smartphone.

AirFrance is an airplane app and keeps me updated on my favorite trip from Boston to European trip.

Wix Owner is an app that helps manage my websites and new options with VistaPrint. It works well, but VistaPrint and Wix hit a snag in letting customers change their website plan to take advantage of certain features. Wix is the first company I provided my corporation's business paperwork and bank account information.

Virgin Pulse is a health app that works in coordination of Massachusetts General Hospital to provide wellness, mental health, and self-care support with a MGH ACO HealthPlan (MassHealth Medicaid).

OpenTable is a restaurant reservation app that worked well when a new older friend decided to treat me to Eataly Boston (La Pizza & La Pasta diner) in the Prudential Center.

Health Plan Member is a health and medical app to help manage information regarding the MGH ACO HealthPlan (MassHealth Medicaid).

Top Ten (10) Personal Music Playlists

In My Feelings - Kehlani AND In My Feelings - Drake

Temperature Rising - Tory Lanez

Superhero - Dosseh

Birthday Cake - Rihanna

Birthday - Katy Perry

Rachet Birthday - Drake

It's Your Birthday - Luke

Champagne Life - Ne Yo

Break My Soul - Beyonce (Plus The Queens Remix and Honey Dijon Remix)

You Brought the Sunshine (DJ Spen Remix) - The Clark Sisters

The audio books are still letting me know what is happening in the world and how the world thinks. I am going through African-American/Black authors works and books because I am African-American/Black first. If time permits and I finish the African-American/Black authors, then I will visit other races and ethnicities on similar topics.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Blackbirds was a good sibling or friends’ story. I really loved my family and friends, but I guess I was slighted on always seeing the best version of themselves. I could not get too angry with someone (biological father and his family) that was never there. Thank goodness for getting through my child molestation therapy that I never encountered soft dicks or penises. The cocks, dicks, or penises I chased after or chased after me were good and great, and each one knew how to fuck or make love. I did meet some kings of ding-a-lings (for example 11 inches length by 7 inches round), but did not challenge myself to take them. I want to meet a dude with diphallia or anyone as a hermaphrodite. I still have not encountered the best besides myself. Unfortunately, my last bottoming or submission experience was 2010 after chasing each other for five years. I am very glad I evolved in being a dominant top or Type A or active male for females and males. This is probably another reason for me not getting along with males because I do not submit to anyone except to a female who wants the moment for an hour or two. I am very proud of the dominant and aggressive females that I had in life that taught me a good lesson or two in bed. I am very proud of the super feminine and submissive females that fed my ego to the max. It is only one vagina or pussy that I had had superpowers over me like kryptonite before I had to let her go. Yes, if I had preference, priority order 1. Vagina or Pussy, 2. Ass or Butt, 3. Dick or Cock or Penis in any sexual activity in the present or future. Most posts will be written in another language. This is not a coming out story, but taking the power from those who live to disrupt my peace, harmony, and healing, and my optimistic future. Friendships can be cherished if life can allow such closeness over time.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Genevieve was a good family story with a horny spouse. The past can be a detrimental thing, when people have to change names and stay away from family for years or decades. Despite all that happens in and with family, when a strong spouse goes through her final therapeutic session and stands by her man that is a bond no one can go against. Yes, Genevieve "Lakeisha Shawnna Smith" Forbes was my favorite character.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Drive Me Crazy was okay, but highlights again the spin on journalism on high crime, affairs, and mischievous moves. Even though, Earl "Driver" was the main character, his weakness was women and an impersonation of intelligence personality. This story highlights the horrible side of law enforcement, and overstepping and overuse of the law enforcement powers even after someone is long gone or left the force. This reflected back on my situations in Maryland, Ohio, and New York, "Who put all levels of law enforcement up to the decision when there was no supporting evidence?" Ohio, I can admit I was wrong, but could have been let go with a warning. Maryland and New York, as I mentioned an arrest for no reason, "Who made the decision?" Washington, DC and Delaware, still chasing me until something happens for when I miss child support payments and this is because of my ignorance or lack of knowledge of having a child is a criminal offense whether in or out of wedlock, but the church and family sees a child as a blessing and then rip the family apart. Soul stirring Rufus was my comedian in this book. The band of the two brothers was hilarious. Samantha "Panther" helps me understand how she came into Earl "Driver's" life and comes into play for Eric Jerome Dickey's Naughty or Nice. Plagiarism is so real, but Corporate America rejects original thoughts from people like myself, but everyone and even the news steal ideas to what can make the headlines or makes profits. And I am labeled the crazy one and loss all my sh*t.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Bad Men and Wicked Women was excellent. Jake Ellis and Ken Swift were my favorite characters in this one. I need an African male, heterosexual bull co-worker or friend like Jake Ellis in my life. This was another action packed and suspensefully written piece of work. Heterosexuals and Lesbians need to treat the wife right because the ones perceived weak and unsuspecting are the most powerful in a spouse's downfall. This story did give the perspective on how everything is the same in war and fighting, and the glorified world is partially fixed especially in the fields of journalism, such as what makes the news and how a severe crime scene(s) has/have a whole lotta spin. The good jobs perceived to be good and stable, but those getting the good and stable jobs do not realize the grunt work put into having that position. The business of money laundering and blood money is a concept I understand regarding the San Bernadino business. The real banks tried to show me how it is done with a little bit of my money and my own money. Most people believe killers or murderers have no heart, but this story gave whole another perception of protection around offspring, mistreated individuals, and family. In my heyday, this is why South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC knew to contact Marvell (Jake Ellis and Ken Swift combined) and he will handle it, and I do not mind reliving it for any future offspring, protected class of people that can't defend themselves, and family. I have not killed anyone, yet, and if I did, I would not incriminate myself publicly, I would call someone like San Bernadino or ensure my DNA and GPS tracking is nowhere near the crime scene. Eric Jerome Dickey's books are having me flashback hard to my visit in 2011 to California…I actually physically saw most of the places, streets, and all he described.

Eric Jerome Dickey's A Wanted Woman was very action packed just like an action movie. A 14-hour audiobook. The main character "The Woman of a 1,000 faces" or "Reaper" or "MX401" was very good depiction of a superb assassin. I was highly impressed. In combination with movies, such as John Wick, 007, Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Equalizer plus violent video games plus news information about gangs, they all inform me that the Cain and Abel biblical depiction of life that killing without remorse does exist. The United States legal world and business world kept driving me into a path I never saw in real life as a way to make a living or never told by education in schools/college/universities. My foundational thought growing up was anyone dying by a gun or bullet was an accident, or someone was angry, or run away from the scene, and to always stay away from guns. As my honest way of living is dwindling down to nothing in the United States of America, no work experience in other avenues of work, or my work experience exceeds W-2, 1099, and Corporate-to-Corporate jobs, I want to meet a real assassin who got started with or without blood money. I do not want drug dealer money because it is too complicated. Doctoral research on my mental health issues already state that I have the capability to do it. As a former armed security guard plus my first legal gun license permit does start the seeding. As a former member of US Veteran Reserve Corp, I saw the weapon training at a secret location for assassins. The name or lingo changes from calling someone a mercenary. The lottery and lawsuits are long shots in trying to get money for all my losses. I am going to give this sports and fitness career a try, but I am inching closer to the unconsidered side of life that is coming out for real if I remain in United States of America. I always wondered by inflation and expensive locations going up, how people could afford that lifestyle?!?! I could travel and know the world another way. Honest living does take on a different connation. The hurt each other never stopped since the beginning of life.

Eric Jerome Dickey's One Night is a book recommended for everyone. I thought just like the character of "Man from Orange County." I am no more NAIVE about women. I really, really, sincerely really did not know about how WOMEN think, process, and do sht. Jacqueline Francesca Parker Summers is one hll of a woman. Best line: Crazy Got to Understand Crazy 2nd Best line: Who wants to battle for Cheesecake? Me: 20 babies…but I will settle to make or have four (4) babies…or at least keep trying. Thank God for this life's break to understand the world.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Naughtier than Nice was super naughty and connected so well. My favorite characters turned into an insane asylum with everyone stubborn. It was a complete opposite of the Naughty or Nice. This book does put in perspective what people do to get money or materialistic things or destroy their own lives. Criminals, con artists, people constantly changing their names or identity, blackmailers, and women or men scorn over a bad breakup do not come to me to pull a scam or got residual feelings. Everything was done the first time around in my life and my apologies for being Fort Knox, US Federal Reserve Bank, the Pentagon, and the entire United States Department of Defense forged as one unit. Thanks to all the servicemembers men and women who do serve in the military and fought for the USA to be free to be crazy. I like somewhat of the James Baldwin connection using the Beale Streets character. Again, everyone said I was crazy or insane. Now, I am definitely going somewhere else to have another country fight for my freedom after this book.

Eric Jerome Dickey’s Naughty or Nice was super hot and funny. Michael “CarpeDiem0707” Davidson and Olivia “Livvy” McBroom Badera are my favorite characters. There is nothing on this earth that can match a woman’s orgasm. Michael “Carpe” reminded me of being such a terrible person to the women in Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, District of Columbia; Maryland; and Chicago, Illinois for making the pussy or vagina talk, vibrate, gush, and sing, and put the women to sleep. Atlanta gave me my first Male-Female-Male (MFM) ménage à trois, but I will experience my Female-Female-Male-Female (FFMF) or Female-Male-Female (FMF) before I leave this world. My self-pleasure (masturbation) to all my fantasies with women is so fulfilling. Second chances on anything or anyone is where I get fcked up with the exception of Planet Fitness and Crunch Fitness, or the gyms, and track and field. I believe and know there is an abundance of first chances and I will continue to chase those first chances until the end of time. I am that motherfcking sex athlete.

E. Lynn Harris’s What Becomes of the Brokenhearted is well deserving, and connects all the books together or at least gives the backdrop of how the books are written. I saved this book for last. Washington, DC’s Black Pride Memorial Day weekend was strong in 1980s and still going strong in 2020s. So many memories for me. Traxx nightclub DC was around in the 1980s….I did not see it until the 1990s. Good times dancing and chatting up conversation, and lots and lots of hugs. E. Lynn Harris books are therapeutic for plenty of various topics. It is disappointing how introverted E. Lynn Harris was, but real as alcoholism takes over, depression takes life to a specific low, and introverts driven for all their love in one person. I am very touched by his books coming at the right time of my life. Thank you, E. Lynn Harris and co-authors. Thanks to the publishing company, actors, and actresses making the audiobooks possible.

I love all of you despite all our differences. I am grateful for the organizations I joined, programs I participated, and schools/universities attended. I am grateful for therapy, medical, medication, and health help by all the research, doctors, nurses, and other heroes. I am grateful for my families, my friends, my social networks, my teammates, my peers, my co-workers, and those I met once in meetings, passing by, or conversations. I never took anything or anyone for granted. I am healing, but willing to talk and discuss about anything. I appreciate and love myself, and my spirit. God is the best person to keep first.

E. Lynn Harris and R. M. Johnson’s No One in the World was very well written. The End leaves room for more or an encore. Colby Aiden Winslow is my favorite character. I did not like him at first, but he knew family. Cissy Winslow is a close second favorite character. Tyler, the US Senator, was a good character also describing the benefits of family and how the world sees people. From all E. Lynn books presents attorneys as whores. Captain-Save-A-Hoe was a funny line. Family has it benefits, but for me, my family said my life would’ve been this way or that way and ended up being all lies for my entire life with the exception of my ex female partner that only came out right. Everyone is a criminal in some shape or form. However, the legal profession is making a path of reality on making someone like me a criminal despite all the education and navigation I prevented to get caught. As a criminal, I never do random…I presented everything upfront…I send everything including the consequences directly back to the source. Afraid of YOU…hll no. This book provides the sides of what family, people, and criminals do when anyone is in a tough spot. For Massachusetts, I tell the truth at the time it happened, then everyone does whatever it takes to turn it into lie. Again, to reiterate “Afraid of YOU…hll no!”

E. Lynn Harris’s Any Way the Wind Blows was good. John Basil Henderson is my favorite character. Bartholomew “Bart” Dunbar reminded me so much of all the gay men that wanted to out me since I was still finding myself in life’s current mess. This could be a root cause for me not getting along with gay men. Ava Harrington paints a very bad picture of mothers, actors, actresses, models, and singers. I thank God I never went that or pursued that route of life for acting, modeling, and singing. Ava’s motherhood issues do shed light that mothers can be more terrible than deadbeat dads. Corporate America does its dirt, but I understand the rewards and consequences of doing business. The hunt for stardom, revenge, or celebrity status is more dangerous than me and my mental health issues. Everyone wonders why I bolt so fast OR patiently wait for all consequences for your actions, and send back paperwork to discuss the issues and tell everywhere so everyone will know what you did along with my response.

E. Lynn Harris’s A Love of My Own was also good, down-to-earth, and more realistic. Sebastian, Zola Denise Norwood, William Jabbar Lewis, Hayden, and Drew Taylor were my favorite characters. I guess I see the reason Corporate America did not like me because I do/did not cross the rules or boundaries, just do the work and learn, and stuck to my data/information and decisions. I thank Corporate America second to Sports and Fitness for teaching me Termination (Let Go), Disconnect (Let Go), and Resilience (Bounce Back). Raymond Jr and Basil was bound to happen. Raymond Jr. and Drew reminded me to realize men can feel emotional just like women. However, I will stick to my realism and not fairy tales.

E. Lynn Harris’s I Say a Little Prayer was hilarious from start to finish. I laughed two days straight. A gun toting or weapon toting Skyler, and Pastor Kenneth and First Lady Sister Vivian were my favorite characters. I am impartial to Chauncey and Bassell because there are the 1% of people who do have self-control and can turn gay on and off, not every LGBTIQA+ or heterosexual cheats. For example, I never cheated in any of my relationships; what happens is the moment someone says let’s go monogamous, I do all my dirt up to the verbal commitment, always plays safe and get tested, then invest all my love, trust, sexual experience, 100% full attention, and energy all into that one person, then when the person leaves or we breakup, I go right back to serial dating. Quote from the book: “Save a Sin to not Lie to a Minister” was funny. The gay-for-play or gay-for-pay was new terminology for me and reminded me of Harvard University COOP Bookstore having a book, "How to be Gay." The acronyms were cute. The names and reflection on the black culture for those and me that can relate is too funny. I really miss and going to miss, Atlanta, Georgia, my first loving outweighs the hate city and good memories outweigh the bad memories there for me. It is awesome to visit the Atlanta metro area.

E. Lynn Harris’s Not a Day Goes By was spectacularly angry and wonderfully written. John Bassell Henderson and his daddy were my favorite characters. Despite everything going on, Bassell stuck to his core and never picked a team. I dislike Raymond Jr, Zuric, and Nico for attempting to make Bassell pick a team. The novel made me reflect on my heterosexual relationships heading in with all love and trust in women, then Yancey and Ava were revealed in the moment of change or distance or space (the difference with my females they kept the kids). With all the Derricks (male or female) of the world, I am still wondering with my Washington, DC or Chicago residences with family or my own place, who the f*ck kept showing up at my lobby or houses, introducing the themselves, and leaving no contact information? My families and receptionist told me constantly.

James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On the Mountain was seriously good to find out what happened before my birth. Richard and Debra were my favorite characters. Richard was strong and had my attitude, “Do me motherfckers!” and take them down right with him, but I am sorry he committed suicide after being set free without knowing he was a daddy and his soul was broken after being jailed for no reason. Debra was strong to show how stand by a cheating husband and pastor, and keep his sins with him even while he pastors a church or being a missionary. New York been doing its shady sht then in the 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s until now and the future. Latinos and everyone else want this country, and history repeats itself repeatedly just with new folks. Everyone, including Jesus, was and is a sinner. Adultery, Violators of the Ten Commandments, and everything was dumped at my doorstep and I never complained or created drama in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s until 2007. Thanks to my higher being or God for keeping me safe back then and now.

E. Lynn Harris’s Basketball Jones was okay. No favorite characters in this one. However out of guilt and not knowing, for and to all my 1980s, 1990s, 2000s male and female friends, my sincere apologies “I AM SORRY” if I lied out of not knowing what I was saying via any communication method in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, or did not tend to your needs as I should have, or did not give you the opportunity to be with me. More power to new beginnings as the story showed.

E. Lynn Harris’s Just Too Good to Be True was slightly depressing. Sports Athletes, I am amazed at the sports industry and I thought direct sales in Corporate America was hard. Women, the church and family culture, and disowning your own kids really surprised me and bad jokes are harmful. I did not know. Delmarr and Sylvester are my favorite characters in this one.

E. Lynn Harris's Abide With Me was more realistic. The World is Evil and I am glad I got mine out early. I may still be suffering, but better position. I was Raymond Tyler Jr mixed with Nicole until 2007. Thanks for my ten (10) Delaney friends. Bassell is too funny and reminds of every sport athlete or military person I ran across. Jared is my dude and still reminds me of my past, current, and future dream type of life always keep trying. Delaney is my stand-up girl. "Family and Friends at a distance."

Just As I Am by E. Lynn Harris is one of the most powerful and relevant novels read or heard so far. Some much Black love poured into it. 15 Hours of Listening…I couldn't stop listening. Self-Reflection, Retrospection of Culture, and Healing Therapy for me. No change in my rules.

E. Lynn Harris’s Invisible Life was relevant and spot on the cards life dealt. Thank you for letting me know my life was unique and okay to be me, a Black man. Black authors can write……….Words from a Stranger provides Healing.

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin is hot 🔥 🥵 Make me wanna have twenty (20) babies

Happy Independence Day or July 4th, Happy Canada or Dominion Day, Happy Nude Recreation Month, Happy Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Happy Global Forgiveness Day, Happy Disobedience Day, Happy Bastille Day, Happy National Motorcycle Day, Happy Buffalo Soldiers Day, Happy Systems Administrator Day, Happy National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

[msclaritea]

Jane Roberts, who is married to Chief Justice John Roberts, made $10.3 million in commissions from elite law firms, whistleblower documents show

Mattathias Schwartz 

Apr 28, 2023, 12:17 PM MDT

Jane Sullivan Roberts, the spouse of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts made more than $10 million in commissions as a headhunter for top-tier law firms between 2007 and 2014, according to internal documents included with a whistleblower complaint. Alex Brandon/AP

Jane Roberts was paid more than $10 million by a host of elite law firms, a whistleblower alleges.

At least one of those firms argued a case before Chief Justice Roberts after paying his wife hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Details of Jane Roberts' work come as Congress struggles to reform the Court's self-policed ethics.

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Two years after John Roberts' confirmation as the Supreme Court's chief justice in 2005, his wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, made a pivot. After a long and distinguished career as a lawyer, she refashioned herself as a legal recruiter, a matchmaker who pairs job-hunting lawyers up with corporations and firms.

Roberts told a friend that the change was motivated by a desire to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest, given that her husband was now the highest-ranking judge in the country. "There are many paths to the good life," she said. "There are so many things to do if you're open to change and opportunity."

And life was indeed good for the Robertses, at least for the years 2007 to 2014. During that eight-year stretch, according to internal records from her employer, Jane Roberts generated a whopping $10.3 million in commissions, paid out by corporations and law firms for placing high-dollar lawyers with them.

That eye-popping figure comes from records in a whistleblower complaint filed by a disgruntled former colleague of Roberts, who says that as the spouse of the most powerful judge in the United States, the income she earns from law firms who practice before the Court should be subject to public scrutiny.

"When I found out that the spouse of the chief justice was soliciting business from law firms, I knew immediately that it was wrong," the whistleblower, Kendal B. Price, who worked alongside Jane Roberts at the legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa, told Insider in an interview. "During the time I was there, I was discouraged from ever raising the issue. And I realized that even the law firms who were Jane's clients had nowhere to go. They were being asked by the spouse of the chief justice for business worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and there was no one to complain to. Most of these firms were likely appearing or seeking to appear before the Supreme Court. It's natural that they'd do anything they felt was necessary to be competitive."

Roberts' apparent $10.3 million in compensation puts her toward the top of the payscale for legal headhunters. Price's disclosures, which were filed under federal whistleblower-protection laws and are now in the hands of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, add to the mounting questions about how Supreme Court justices and their families financially benefit from their special status, an area that Senate Democrats are vowing to investigate after a series of disclosure lapses by the justices themselves..."

[atlanticcanada]

No deal at union deadline; federal workers hit the picket lines as talks continue

Negotiations are expected to continue despite thousands of members with Canada's largest federal public-service union walking off the job this morning at 12:01 a.m. ET.

A late Tuesday news release from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat says the government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada are still at odds when it comes to key contract issues for both sides. The bargaining groups involve some 155,000 federal public servants, including 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers.

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With picket lines expected to be set up this morning at some 250 plus locations, the union is calling the strike action one of the largest in Canadian history. National President Chris Aylward said during a brief news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday night that despite the move, union officials are still hopeful and the goal is to get a tentative agreement.

A handful of federal ministers, including Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board, are expected to address the media later today and provide an update on how the bargaining is going.

Wage increases have been top of mind at the table, with the union pushing for annual raises of 4.5 per cent over the next three years. It says the increases are necessary to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living. The Treasury Board says it offered the union a nine per cent raise over three years on Sunday, on the recommendation of the third-party Public Interest Commission.

Since the strike involves nearly one-third of all federal public servants, both the union and the government have warned of disruptions, including what could amount to a complete halt of the tax season. Other concerns include slowdowns at the border and disruptions to EI, immigration and passport applications.

Initial negotiations began in June 2021, with the union looking for a new contract. The union declared an impasse in May 2022 and both parties filed labour complaints. Mediated contract negotiations began in early April of this year and continued through the weekend in what the union described as the government's last chance to reach a deal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2023

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/jNEUBoR

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[mim526]

"Restrict Bill" = Bad Idea Bill

Legislation proposed by the Biden Administration currently on tap in the US Congress...basic message is TikTok is bad news and national security threat which should be banned, but not with this bill which gives the US government sweeping powers. The section of the proposed law quoted in this article allows US federal government to shut down in any way they see fit anyone who says or does anything the government considers a risk. Bye-bye First Amendment.

Article discussing legislation below (italics mine)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We Need to Ban TikTok . . . but Not Like This | National Review

By JEFFREY BLEHAR

March 29, 2023 11:06 AM

Few are more hostile to the ubiquitous social-media app TikTok than I am. Put bluntly: It should be banned outright. Not just banned from government devices, but banned from the United States altogether, along with all such other attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to both data-mine and propagandistically influence an entire generation of Americans via targeted-message exposure. (The fact that the CCP is hoarding reams of potential blackmail material from Gen Z’s hugely public and awkward adolescence is an almost secondary consideration.) This is an easy call, a matter of fundamental national security.

But truthfully, I don’t just hate TikTok because of the fact that it’s a transparent Chinese op. I hate it because it is an ungated cloaca of demotic sludge, spewing forth brain-warping (and yet clearly addictive; the user numbers don’t lie) infinite content and lulling its participants into the belief that this — highly mediated, because algorithmic — world is the real world. TikTok is the place where people fake cases of Tourette’s Syndrome for clicks, then the followers develop “cases” themselves. It is where you go to “doomscroll the Libs,” easily pulling up one insane 20-year-old  activist after another to confirm all your priors. It is a narcotic, and a toxic one at that. (So says the inveterate Twitter user.)

It is with all that in mind that I rise vehemently in opposition to the RESTRICT Act, which is currently the subject of hot debate in the House and the Senate, and exhort all lawmakers of all parties to oppose it....

The RESTRICT Act is being sold by the Biden administration as an “anti-TikTok” bill — and to be sure, it would do the job — but the powers it seeks to grant to the Federal government are vastly more sweeping and potentially sinister than that.

I will quote only Section 3 of the law to give you a sense of how broad its ambit would truly be:

(a) In General. — The Secretary, in consultation with the relevant executive department and agency heads, is authorized to and shall take action to identify, deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, investigate, or otherwise mitigate, including by negotiating, entering into, or imposing, and enforcing any mitigation measure to address any risk arising from any covered transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that the Secretary determines—

(1) poses an undue or unacceptable risk of—

(A) sabotage or subversion of the design, integrity, manufacturing, production, distribution, installation, operation, or maintenance of information and communications technology products and services in the United States;

(B) catastrophic effects on the security or resilience of the critical infrastructure or digital economy of the United States;

(C) interfering in, or altering the result or reported result of a Federal election, as determined in coordination with the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Federal Election Commission; or

(D) coercive or criminal activities by a foreign adversary that are designed to undermine democratic processes and institutions or steer policy and regulatory decisions in favor of the strategic objectives of a foreign adversary to the detriment of the national security of the United States, as determined in coordination with the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Federal Election Commission; or

(2) otherwise poses an undue or unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the safety of United States persons. [Emphasis added.]

“Any,” “otherwise,” “undermine,” “as determined” . . . these are weasel-words set to become statutory disasters (the various definitions and enumerations specified in the bill do little to substantively narrow its scope). I am not particularly attuned to the paranoid style of politics, but it strikes me that signing off on legislation such as this, so potentially and immediately abusable by the state, is like setting the welcome mat out for Count Dracula along with a fresh pint of blood and an invitation to come on in and sit a spell.

There is an easy way for Congress to ban TikTok: Ban TikTok. Throwing the net this wide is an incipient First Amendment disaster.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

"The dividing line in America is no longer between right or left.  The choice is between normal or crazy." ~ Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

[college-girl199328]

Saturday’s fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in a Toronto subway station, another seemingly random violent attack in the transit system, again brings fear and urgent focus to a city on edge and looking for answers.

Gabriel Magalhaes was sitting on a bench on the Keele station platform in the city’s west end a few minutes before 9 p.m. when he was approached by a man and stabbed without provocation, Toronto Police said. He died in a hospital shortly after.

While police made an arrest that same night, charging a 22-year-old homeless man with first-degree murder, the consequences sent another chill through a city deeply uneasy after a string of violent transit attacks in recent months officials together — once again — looking for answers. That the fatal attack happened on the second weekend after Toronto Police ended its expensive police patrols of TTC property brought particular attention.

Toronto Transit Commission’s chief executive officer, Rick Leary, spoke with Deputy Chief of Police Lauren Pogue on the weekend. Politicians drafted statements of condolences and reassurance. Officials with the city, police, TTC, and transit unions convened meetings. The police and the TTC want people to know the end of the patrol program on March 13 did not mean cops have abandoned transit.

“The by some that they left is said TTC spokesman Stuart Green. “TPS officers continue to patrol the TTC, except instead of doing are now doing it as part of regular daily patrols. Now it’s assigned patrols. More predictable way to do it.”

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, acting as interim mayor, said Monday afternoon that the stabbing was her to hear about. I have two young children breaks for this mother,” McKelvie said.

“We’re not moving in the direction we want to as a city. We know we can do better. We’re all meeting regularly so that we can fix that.” Earlier, in a written said: “The TTC has to be a safe place for all riders and transit workers — we can accept nothing less. I support the work the TTC, Toronto police, and city staff are doing to implement additional safety measures funded by Toronto City Council in the 2023 budget, including 50 new special constables.”

City councilor Jon Burnside, who chairs the TTC board, said others need to help. “Let’s keep in a transit agency. We need social service agencies to step up and the lead on this…. We need other levels of government.

“We also have one-third of our shelter system (filled) with refugees. Where is the federal government? Where are our MPs that represent the people of Toronto? We need help. We need them to find space. We need them to provide the shelters so we can help other Torontonians that need shelter and space.”

The violence was also a rallying cry for a would-be mayor of the city, former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders, running to fill the city’s top job left vacant by the resignation of John Tory. “This child was simply sitting there,” Saunders said in a written statement on social media.

“Our city is starting to normalize crime and disorder. We’re no longer surprised to hear of random acts of violence on our streets and subways.” He said police play “a critical role” in addressing the problems, but only as a “Band-Aid solution.”

“Everything is connected to public safety, especially and foundationally — how we deal with mental health. A murder like this — the randomness of it — speaks to a massive deficit in how we manage the mental health needs of people in Toronto.”

Toronto Police said during their six weeks of special TTC patrols — paying overtime to officers who volunteered for extra duty — said officers referred more than 220 people to social assistance support food and mental health services. They also made more than 314 arrests.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw said officers police the TTC on their assigned patrols. “Toronto Police will be visible in the transit system,” he said time.

“Police officers will patrol during the periods that typically generate the most calls for service, where there is a high volume of ridership with times and locations fluctuating based on our intelligence, including the number of calls for police service and information provided by the TTC.” If needed, he said, the special overtime patrols could return.

The overtime patrols were expensive, about $1.5 million a month, a city budget meeting heard last month. Last week, the city and the TTC announced health and mental health outreach teams in transit facilities.

“There is an unprecedented need for increased services geared to individuals with complex needs who are using the TTC for shelter and warmth,” the announcement said. Social agency workers deployed in the transit system to connect people with physical and mental health support.

Green said a collaborative approach is a way forward. “We also know that there are bigger societal and systemic issues at play when it comes to the root causes of these incidents that require a multi-pronged response,” he said.

“We are currently part of a broader discussion with community and government stakeholders about what can be done to improve safety and security on the TTC. As shocked over the tragic end of Gabriel Magalhaes’ life of another transit in the early minutes of Monday morning.

This is a man's kilometers north of Keele subway station. Police said the victim was being treated suspect was loose after fleeing the scene.

[filectory]

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