#manage e waste project

[aishwaryyadav12]

Conserve Energy, Conserve the Planet: A Call to Action

In our everyday actions, we often overlook the impact they have on our planet. From the flick of a light switch to the turn of a key in an ignition, we consume energy derived from precious resources, which in turn contributes to climate change, dwindling ecosystems, and the loss of species. However, we have the power to change this narrative. By conserving energy, we can create a brighter, cleaner, and more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come. Let's explore some simple yet effective ways to conserve energy and protect our planet.

Small Changes, Big Impact:

Conserving energy doesn't have to be complicated or burdensome. It starts with small changes in our daily lives. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use, opt for energy-efficient products, and consider alternative modes of transportation such as biking or public transit. These simple steps can make a significant difference in reducing our energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Embracing Renewable Energy:

Supporting renewable energy sources is another crucial aspect of conserving energy. By embracing solar and wind power, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable energy future. Consider investing in solar panels for your home or advocating for renewable energy policies in your community. Together, we can create a greener and healthier planet.

Reducing Single-Use Products:

A lesser-known aspect of energy conservation is reducing our reliance on single-use products. Items like plastic bags and disposable utensils not only contribute to waste but also require a considerable amount of energy to produce and dispose of. By opting for reusable alternatives, we not only save energy but also help protect our natural resources and mitigate climate change.

Advocating for Change:

Energy conservation goes beyond our individual actions. It requires collective efforts and advocacy for change on a larger scale. Support political initiatives and policies that prioritize renewable energy sources. Encourage businesses and organizations to adopt sustainable practices. By raising our voices and working together, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.

Testimonials from Youth Changemakers:

To inspire and motivate youth to save the environment and energy, let's hear from some young changemakers who have made a significant impact:

"I realized that every time I turned off unnecessary lights, I was not only saving energy but also contributing to a healthier planet. It's empowering to know that my small actions matter." - Greta Thunberg, 20, Sweden.

"By installing solar panels on our school rooftop, we not only reduced our energy costs but also taught the entire school community about the benefits of renewable energy. We are showing that sustainability is achievable." - Licypriya Kangujam, 11, India.

"Switching to a bike for my daily commute not only saves me money but also reduces my carbon footprint. It's amazing how a simple change can have such a positive impact on the environment." - Isra Hirsi, 20, United States.

"Through our environmental club, we organized a campaign to reduce single-use plastic on campus. Seeing the positive response from students and staff made me realize the power of collective action in conserving energy and protecting our planet." - Melati Wijsen, 22, Indonesia.

[fromjeevita]

Is Everyone a Climate Changer?

Introduction

Climate Change is a short term with a big impact. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produce heat-trapping gases like Carbon dioxide and methane. These gases are the cause of Global Warming. This further leads to the melting of glaciers which causes a rise in water level every year.

Where do we step in…...

Now, one might ask if he/she is connected to this. The answer is a big YES. Everyone from rich to poor, short to tall, fat to slim is responsible for the climate change happening around us. They are unknowingly a reason for climate change whether it is positive or negative. Yes, climate change can be both negative and positive]. For those of you wondering what positive climate change is, they are the impacts of climate change which are beneficial for us. 

A mind-boggling FACT.

Let’s talk about an average person’s morning routine. He/she wakes up, brushes their teeth, takes a bath, eats breakfast and gets on any means of transport to get to their work. Even in this short 3-4 hours of the time gap, the person has created an impact towards climate change. For example, when he/she brushes their teeth the amount of water they use is a key factor in CC because if they use a greater quantity of water, the purification company would have to use more of their factories to purify them. Now, some of you might think that if they waste just 20-30 ml of water it is not going to make a difference but wait let me show you how cool maths is. Let’s say each person wastes only 1ml of water every day (which is less and not true at all) and only 1 billion out of the 8 billion people on this planet waste it. So now each day 1,000,000,000 ml or 1 million litres of water is getting wasted. And again, this is not even the accurate results. So, you see how such a small thing created such a massive impact on climate. These small things when compiled make big impacts.

Similarly, if we put this vice-versa then if a person only saves 1 ml of water each day and only 1 billion out of 8 billion people on this planet do so, we all will be able to save about 1 million litres of water every day. This was only the start of your day. 

Conclusion

Let’s take one more example. Let's say you travel to your workplace or school in your car or scooter. We all know that burning fuel releases greenhouse gases into the environment. If one person goes in one car and the second one goes in another car to the same place. That is 2x emission of harmful gases. But let’s say they both go in one car; it will reduce the emission by half. These are just some short instances from our daily life which lead us as a changing factor in the climate change journey. So by just thinking about it for some time, we can give our efforts to the planet and climate itself

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.co2nsensus.com/blog/countries-generating-carbon-credits

[envirocarefoundation]

Is Everyone a Climate Changer?

Introduction

Climate Change is a short term with a big impact. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produce heat-trapping gases like Carbon dioxide and methane. These gases are the cause of Global Warming. This further leads to the melting of glaciers which causes a rise in water level every year.

Where do we step in…...

Now, one might ask if he/she is connected to this. The answer is a big YES. Everyone from rich to poor, short to tall, fat to slim is responsible for the climate change happening around us. They are unknowingly a reason for climate change whether it is positive or negative. Yes, climate change can be both negative and positive]. For those of you wondering what positive climate change is, they are the impacts of climate change which are beneficial for us. 

A mind-boggling FACT.

Let’s talk about an average person’s morning routine. He/she wakes up, brushes their teeth, takes a bath, eats breakfast and gets on any means of transport to get to their work. Even in this short 3-4 hours of the time gap, the person has created an impact towards climate change. For example, when he/she brushes their teeth the amount of water they use is a key factor in CC because if they use a greater quantity of water, the purification company would have to use more of their factories to purify them. Now, some of you might think that if they waste just 20-30 ml of water it is not going to make a difference but wait let me show you how cool maths is. Let’s say each person wastes only 1ml of water every day (which is less and not true at all) and only 1 billion out of the 8 billion people on this planet waste it. So now each day 1,000,000,000 ml or 1 million litres of water is getting wasted. And again, this is not even the accurate results. So, you see how such a small thing created such a massive impact on climate. These small things when compiled make big impacts.

Similarly, if we put this vice-versa then if a person only saves 1 ml of water each day and only 1 billion out of 8 billion people on this planet do so, we all will be able to save about 1 million litres of water every day. This was only the start of your day. 

Conclusion

Let’s take one more example. Let's say you travel to your workplace or school in your car or scooter. We all know that burning fuel releases greenhouse gases into the environment. If one person goes in one car and the second one goes in another car to the same place. That is 2x emission of harmful gases. But let’s say they both go in one car; it will reduce the emission by half. These are just some short instances from our daily life which lead us as a changing factor in the climate change journey. So by just thinking about it for some time, we can give our efforts to the planet and climate itself

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.co2nsensus.com/blog/countries-generating-carbon-credits

[fatehbaz]

"Industry" as a frame of meaning is [...] relevant from the beginning of [modern-era labor advocacy and the general practice of intentionally "taking it easy" or "slowing down" while at work in order to advocate for and take care of oneself] [...], a form of "working badly" [...]. This close link is understandable given the absolute focus on efficiency that marks management thinking - Taylorism [Frederick Taylor's time studies and his support for using stopwatches to micro-manage in the workplace], the Gilbreths' time and motion studies [...]. [W]e can feel that trace of disgust, a certain sneering affect [...]. The sneer gathers around the word "motionless," [...]. The promise of the “upstanding citizen” is posed against the figure of the cripple, etymologically bound to the one who creeps, who stays low, to the one who is not proud and erect and in public view. In this way, that figure - along with the hobbled, the mute, the blind, the mad, the deaf, the chronic, and, of course, the paralyzed - becomes the exemplary negative definition. [...] [T]he only culturally sanctioned options are to be hidden from public life or recuperated [...]. That [...] fantasy of [a] return to previous levels of mobility that aligns easily with ableist conceptions of normal function and health [...] is also grounded in the specific idea of a return to ["productivity"] [...].

We can find this dynamic in especially dramatic form in the influential work of early twentieth-century “scientific management” theorists Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, known both for their time and motion studies of labor processes [...]. [T]he Gilbreths are relentlessly devoted to the reduction of inefficiency in labor to save energy, reduce unnecessary fatigue, and, above all, neutralize the fundamental “waste” of effort and time hidden within every human movement, particularly when at work. According to Frank and Lillian, “there is no waste of any kind in the world that equals the waste from needless, ill-directed, and ineffective motions, and their resulting unnecessary fatigue.” The battle against this “waste” gets posed as a civilizational battle stretching back across human history, only now conquerable with modern means, yet theirs is also a project with explicitly nationalist overtones that can be strategically couched to suit a war economy and a desire for American imperial hegemony.

---

The solution they propose is a total analytical dissection of labor processes, breaking single tasks into discrete parts to detect the little gaps in time that could be closed. Such minute lags and “micromotions” will necessarily get missed without the tools the Gilbreths turn to, like moving picture cameras - turned to face workers with chronometers in front of the lens and reticular grids on the wall behind for scale - and a “chronocyclegraph,” which allowed them to zoom in on a single gesture to see its tiny deviations and wasted movements frame by frame. In their methodology, delays and breakdowns take a form almost directly counter to simple malingering or the kind of willful self-stasis that Spargo denounced. Rather, what causes the inefficiency that the Gilbreths target is too much movement, an excess of animacy and motions that need not be done to complete a task, resulting in unnecessary fatigue and wasted opportunities for profit.

Yet at the heart of this, there is one figure seen to most embody this “wasted” energy and time in full - not in a specific action, badly choreographed task, or laziness, but in their entire being. This is what they designated as the “cripple,” [...].

---

“What,” the Gilbreths ask, “is to be done with these millions of cripples, when their injuries have been remedied as far as possible, and when they are obliged to become again a part of the working community?” [...] The “cripple” therefore emblematizes the waste of America’s “human resources” for the Gilbreths. It manifests a physical limit - the body that is conventionally seen to be unable to do productive work - but also a political one that they cannot even fathom, or at least allow publicly: the idea that anyone might challenge either the supposed utility of this frenzy of streamlined work or the very category of what constitutes “waste” itself. For the Gilbreths, the “elimination of waste” is not merely a project of capital. It is a civilization-scale undertaking that benefits all involved in the process: “All workers are sharing in the savings made possible by the elimination of waste.” [...]

It is not mere surveillance, increased policing, or something that openly oppresses and invites a revolt. Instead, it is a mode of management and control that seeks to saturate every step of the process, all the while insisting that what’s good for profit is good for those whose stolen time generates that profit.

---

All text above by: Evan Calder Williams. "On Paralysis, Part 3". e-flux Journal Issue #147. September 2024. Published online at: e-flux dot com slash journal/147/624989/on-paralysis-part-3/. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Text within brackets added by me for clarity/context. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism.]

[anzulvr]

Hello how are you today. I was wondering can I request karma x reader headcanon who are enemies. Like always competing for better grades and are always at each other throats

— ACADEMIC RIVALS HEADCANNONS

Karma Akabane x Reader (gn!) // the beginning of this takes place before Karma is dropped to E class, you’re A-CLASS classmates // this is so late I’m sorry… like a year late i think. pls forgive me. Cute request shoulda done sooner but I’m so behind!!

Unconsciously Karma is going to assume the worst of you, before even speaking to you he had a few assumptions of the type of person you were.

Though you can’t really blame him for it, A class students aren’t exactly known for being kind.

You had a few assumptions about him yourself.

Wasted potential, a genius who got into fights on a regular basis. He was so full of himself, always leaving class before the lesson ended. Not to mention the way he never followed instructions.

You didn’t appreciate the fact things worked out for him better than they did for you.

He constantly outperformed your scores with a point or even half a point. It was irritating. You spent hours perfecting your writing, memorizing equations, and taking notes. He didn’t even stay in class for longer than 30 minutes because he already knew the lessons?!

No matter how much you studied ahead, he already knew that. If you managed to score 100 on a test he’d somehow gotten extra credit points. It was driving you insane.

He could probably feel the hostility, which is why you avoided each other for the most part.

Until…

You got paired up for a project.

Your worst nightmare came true.

He’s cute from afar. Actually having to interact with him and having your A+ on the line was not cute in the slightest. He’s smart, you couldn’t deny that, oftentimes he slacks on bigger homework assignments like these because he doesn’t feel like it.

You were hoping he’d help regardless, you could do it all yourself but if he pitched in it would take a lot of stress off your shoulders.

You got into a disagreement about how the assignment should be done. He decided you could stray from the instructions a bit while you wanted to do everything by the book.

Eventually he caved when he saw it was genuinely bugging you when he didn’t even care about the assignment.

Now that you had to talk to each other almost every day, you both realized what you had in common. Things you misunderstood about one another and had grown pretty close.

Close enough for him to make fun of you and shove his test scores in your face.

You didn’t expect you could become friends with someone so different from you. When you realized how much you liked him it worried you.

You started looking his way when you should've been reading your textbook.

You stopped telling him to be quiet whenever he talked your ear off during a lesson.

You were putting more effort in the way you looked and dressed when you got ready in the morning.

You even turned in an assignment late because you chose to help him with a last minute project.

If someone had told you that you'd like him that much a few months ago; you would have laughed in their faces.

You realized how far gone you were:

(“He's distracting me from my studies... Wait- was his plan to begin with?!”)

Lucky for you, he started showing up on time and even stayed in class the whole day!

(he did show off to you how he could finish the worksheets in less than half the time you could, but hey, you can't win them all.)

He won't tell you why he's suddenly so punctual, and he's much better at hiding his motives than you are but you have a feeling you've also been taking up his thoughts.

[verdemoth]

Maven! Small guy KEENLY aware of the crushing weight of responsibility. Director of Mission Control after Odyssey’s ‘retirement’. Doing their best.

-> Following after their mentor, Maven is the current head of Mission Control, a small team tasked with monitoring the status of expeditions, keeping the portal stable, and maintaining the technological systems that assist in these efforts. Maven’s the one calling the shots. In the case of a hazardous situation, Maven has to make an assessment with what information they have access to and decide what to prioritize. They’re inclined to recall the field team when faced with any untested issue, but the current owners/investors of the whole project aren’t too happy when supplies get wasted ‘for nothing’.

-> In practice they usually just go along with whatever Odyssey advises to the absolute best of their ability. And they Will Not complain.

-> They’re kind of usually too worried about have a personality for the entire duration of a mission. They fixate on the job and fret over it 24/7 until everyone makes it back in one piece.

-> When they can relax, Maven’s got some hobbies. They’re into embroidery, playing niche card and board games, and enjoys science fiction and mystery stories.

-> Their cousin, Perseverance, bullies them relentlessly for being a nerd </3. Even though Perse is the one who writes essays on oscillating genes, or the influences that parasites exert throughout an ecosystem, just for fun, so. >:(

-> Maven and Perse didn’t grow up very close in both a physical, spacial sense as well as an emotional one. Their teens is when they started to connect, when their families moved closer again. Maven babysat fairly often and helped her out with schoolwork, leading to Perse taking an interest in Maven’s aspirations and making them her own.

-> She’s a grown woman now and can look after herself, but Maven’s still worried for her now that she’s joined the team officially. They don’t want to get her killed. But then she goes and pulls some shit to make them reconsider all the effort they’re putting into worrying. Like showing Maven a big fuckoff moth she found by releasing it into their room. Again. (..it was a cool moth though)

-> Maven has to babysit Perse’s terrariums once she starts joining expeditions. Maven does not like crawlies.. but they are committed to upholding the highest standard of care for these creatures. They were reaaaaaally anxious about it the first time, but Perse said they did a great job, and they kind of grew to enjoy it? The feeling of being able to do right by these little animals and keep them safe. They don’t mind it, actually.

-> Maven was just stepping into the leadership role on that fateful day they lost contact with the field team. It was supposed to be straightforward, one of the first missions they’d be commanding with little input from Odyssey, up until it all went very wrong. When the storm hit, they scrambled to manage the crisis. In the time it took to restore communication, Maven was certain they’d gotten three people killed. Instead, they just got one person killed. Like it really makes a difference. They are quite certain that Opportunity’s disappearance and presumed death are their fault and they’re not dealing with it very well.

-> They look up to and respect their mentor a lot and honestly it’s just.. easier to let em overstep and take some responsibility away from them. Maven feels Complicated about it. Relieved, sure. Patronized too. They feel crushed that Odyssey doesn’t seem to trust their ability.. but is e really wrong? They’ve already proven to be inadequate. They’re not sure they’ll ever move past this.

[midnightshade]

Title: The Greatest Curse

↷Synopsis: An Assortment of NSFW and SFW Headcanons of how Kenjaku would be in a relationship

Pairing: Kenjaku x Reader

Series: Jujutsu Kaisen

Rating: E (Explicit)

Word Count: 3,373

Warnings: Slight Possessiveness and Controlling Behavior from Kenjaku, Breeding, Pregnancy, Marking, Rough Sex, Mentions of Violence, Exhibitionism, Anal, Consensual Noncon

Author's Note: I updated this because I had accidentally deleted the other one from my old blog, so I re-did it. Hope y'all enjoy ♡

Masterlist

reblogs and interactions are incredibly appreciated ♥︎

Kenjaku loves life. He likes living and he likes people! He hasn't been jaded by his long life and sees the opportunity and potential in even the mundane. That being said, he doesn't often let himself get attached to people.

It makes sense. He's functionally immortal, so getting attached to any one individual can be impractical. Making long-term friends instead of just allies or finding a lover seems like an impossibility. So when he finds himself getting attached to you, he does what he usually does when he feels a connection forming: deny it.

His immediate reaction is to try and deny any feelings of fondness he has for you and keep you at arm's length. There's definitely a "testing period" for Kenjaku when he notices he's taken a liking to you.

You will notice a shift in his personality. Kenjaku is a polite man, all things considered. He's capable and willing to work with others to achieve his goals, but you will notice him pull away.

He isn't outwardly rude, especially if he still needs you as an ally, but his responses are kept clipped and he is more demanding of you than before.

If you manage to push past this roadblock and he finally accepts that he likes you, it's like a 180.

He isn't especially doting, but he is devoted.

Whatever the reason, if you've somehow managed to slip past his defenses and become someone he actually cherishes, consider yourself blessed.

Just by virtue of being with him, your relationship will not always be the safest or the healthiest.

To be blunt, you'll know he loves you because he hasn't killed you. If he's allowing you to stay at his side and to warm his bed every night instead of just disposing of you once you stop being useful, then he loves you.

Because this type of love is so rare for him, know that he tends to be possessive. I do see him preferring more capable partners, so if you can defend yourself or if you're clever enough to get out of a bad situation, he has no issue with letting you wander and do as you please.

But he will check up on you, and he does tend to prefer having you close by. Just for his peace of mind.

He will mentor you in any variety of subjects if you ask. He finds it fun to share his knowledge, and watching you learn and grow is an exciting side project for him.

Kenjaku isn't typically one to say "I love you," aloud. It isn't like he'd never say it, he's just more likely to show love and affection through acts of service and physical touch

He likes to be touching you when he can. A hand on your shoulder or an arm coiled around your midsection. He enjoys hugging you from behind and resting his chin on your shoulder or your head, usually to look over what you're doing.

Likes soft affection like kissing your knuckles or your forehead. He is prone to grabbing your chin or cupping your face to make you look at him when he's speaking.

Admittedly, his controlling nature can bleed through in little behaviors like that. He sees you as his partner, but he's more comfortable leading the relationship.

He doesn't really get jealous, but he can be protective. If you're targeted, he won't waste his time dispatching the problem.

If someone hurts you, there's really no question about what their fate will be. Messing with you is the single dumbest thing anyone can do. He will have no mercy and he will not hold back. All it takes is one wrong move before they're reduced to an unidentifiable stain of red on the pavement

He likes a partner with ambition. If you have the drive to pursue your goals, he finds that incredibly attractive. He will nudge you in that direction if you're more on the timid side.

He likes children so he is very keen on it if you're either good with kids or have some sort of fondness for them.

Even if you struggle with children, don't despair. For a millennia old evil Sorcerer, he's surprisingly talented with kids and he's more than happy to teach you how to properly care for and spend time with them.

If children are something you 100% do not want, he will struggle a little with that. He likes children and he wants them, especially with an actual lover. I don't know if he will be okay with never having children.

The kids he's already had were mostly for experimental purposes. He wants to experience what it's like to actually have children just to have them.

He might try to convince you or manipulate you into it. He might love you, but Kenjaku is used to getting what he wants.

Isn't big on most pet names, but he will call you things like "dear" or "love." Likes it when you call him pet names, though. He finds them amusing

If you're in a relationship with him, you have to accept all of him, especially his work. He enjoys his work, and he's naturally very curious. He loves you, but he isn't abandoning his work for anyone. It's his passion

If you have a quick and ready mind and show that you're just as curious as he is, he will fall for you hard and fast. He craves intellectual stimulation and wants someone to call an equal. He loves talking to you about anything and everything. It's comforting for him to have someone to dispel the loneliness for once.

However, his work isn't just fun and games. He is not a good person. He has killed people and destroyed lives without a second thought just to further his goals and satisfy his own curiosity. You have to accept this part of him as well if you're going to be with him.

Seriously, if you're at all squeamish, a relationship will not work with him. He's prone to dissecting curses and humans alike, and you've definitely seen his brain on more than one occasion. Not to mention the amount of blood he has on his hands.

If he trusts you enough, you will end up being involved in his plans, meaning you'll be getting your hands dirty. His work is important to him, so there's no greater honor than being entrusted with it.

He is happy when you take a genuine interest in his work. He's the type to guide you through the process of dissecting a curse and see it as a genuine bonding experience.

He likes quiet moments together. He is especially fond of when you rest against his chest while he reads over something. Will often play with your hair at the same time

Regardless of whether or not you're a Heian Era Shaman who has been following him for centuries or a Modern Day Sorcerer, please have some fun with him.

He has a deep love and appreciation for life. He likes to have fun! (Often at the expense of others) Don't be afraid to be spontaneous with him or drag him somewhere just because it piques your interest. He enjoys someone who likes to have fun.

He's interested in new inventions, always has been. New tech, breakthroughs in science and medicine. Even TV and video games.

He actually loves video games. He doesn't always have time for them or to keep up with new IPs, but he enjoys playing with you. Especially retro style games and puzzle games like Portal.

He can be a little shit. He will pull little pranks on you or come up behind you and tickle you. He enjoys getting a bit of a rise out of you and thinks it's funny when you yelp and pout at him. He'll give you kisses all over your face as an empty apology.

Little things show his trust for you. Letting you sleep with him, eating the food you make without worry of poisons, allowing you to tend to the stitches along his head. All of those are rather vulnerable situations, and he doesn't shrink away from letting you near.

He's a great cook. He's had time to practice, so he'll surprise you every now and then with a meal he's prepared. It's typically vegetarian, because that's what he's used to, but it's always delicious and leaves you wanting more.

Be warned, this is Kenjaku we're talking about. He can be manipulative. He'd rather talk any problems out, and he doesn't have patience for childish screaming matches or arguments. He'll talk circles around you, anyhow. He knows how to bend people to his will.

He is a vain man, at least I tend to think so. He has an aesthetic he likes to keep to, even when he's changing bodies, and he tends to prefer more traditional styles of fashion.

Because of this, I think he might be a little insecure about his appearance. He'd sooner gargle shards of glass before ever admitting to it, but once you enter into a relationship with him, there's this slight hesitation from him to change bodies if he thinks his new host won't be as attractive.

As such, he greatly appreciates loyalty. Assure him you still love him, no matter what he looks like, regardless of whether he's a man or woman. It puts his mind at ease.

If you don't flinch away at the sight of his brain, he will fall deeper in love. Being able to handle the sight and also see him in such a vulnerable position means a lot

He's a possessive man. As mentioned before, he likes people but he rarely allows himself to get attached. Being his lover means he is very fond of you, which means he is not letting you go

When you die, he will reincarnate you. It doesn't matter if some other poor soul has to die so you can use their body, all he cares about is having you back with him where you belong.

And know that he will revive you as many times as necessary. If you die in action or of old age, no matter what era he met you in, he's bringing you back.

Til death do us part, but not even death can part you from him. You are his, and that's just how it is.

Loving him isn't always easy or safe, but if he's let you by his side, know that you're the most important person to him. You're under his protection, and he will see to it that you're well loved and well taken care of.

NSFW Under The Cut:

Kenjaku is a walking breeding kink. This man gets insanely horny thinking about flooding you with his seed and getting you pregnant. It doesn't matter if you physically can't get pregnant, he's going to fuck and fill you regardless.

His breeding kink isn't just for show, either. If you two have been together long enough, he will want children eventually. He'll either breed you himself or, if you have a dick, he'll jump into a body with a womb and carry the baby himself.

His favorite position is a mating press. Any position that lets him fuck you hard and deep and that lets his balls smack against you is his favorite.

He can't bring himself to pull out. If he's fucking you, he's milking his balls inside of you. It just feels better to cum inside and he enjoys the intimacy of it.

The one exception are the rare times he pulls out when he's fucking your mouth so he can cum all over your face. He loves seeing you painted with his cum.

He needs to cum at least twice a day, so prepare to have your holes stuffed often

To say he prefers rough sex would be an understatement. He can be violent in bed and he enjoys a little pain with his pleasure.

If you're a one-night stand that could be a problem because he would care very little about your pleasure or comfort, but as his lover he would be more attentive to your needs.

He'll slow down and be more gentle if he needs to be and he never pushes you further than he thinks you can take. He'd also implement a safe word if necessary.

Not to say he never enjoys slow, gentle sex just for himself because he does. He likes to see you come undone underneath him, watching you fall apart with every slow roll of his hips and every gentle kiss to your face.

He likes marking you. Leaving bruises all over your pretty skin, biting you and sucking hickeys all over your neck. They're presents from him, proof of his ownership.

He also likes being marked in return. He will keen if you rake your nails down his back and if you bite him, he always encourages you to bite him harder. He doesn't mind bleeding a little.

He is great at aftercare, despite what people may think. He'll clean you up and make sure your injuries are tended to, all the while praising you for being so good.

He likes to cuddle after sex. He enjoys the quiet intimacy of holding you in his arms, basking in the afterglow. Sometimes, he'll doze silently as you both regain your energy, but usually, he'll engage in pillow talk, usually about whatever has piqued his interest.

His marking kink ties closely with his breeding kink. He sees the act of breeding you as another way to mark you as his own, and if you can get pregnant, he will show you off a lot and ensure everyone knows he's the one who put a baby in you.

He has a praise kink and a body worship kink. He's vain, so hearing his partner call him beautiful or handsome really gets him going. He likes to be pampered and worshipped in bed, even as the dominant one. He wants you to submit and praise him for making you feel so good.

He also likes praising you. He takes pleasure in watching you blush or look away in embarrassment at his words. He'll say the nastiest shit in your ear in the sweetest, most affectionate voice he can.

Just like in the relationship itself, Kenjaku prefers to take a more dominant role. He doesn't like giving up control, despite what he might say otherwise.

He gets a headrush knowing you completely submit to him. Having that power over you is intoxicating.

He'll let you top him, but don't mistake the situation. You may be the one fucking him, but he's the one in control.

If he's in a male body, please play with his ass. He turns into a drooling mess if you fuck him in the ass. Whether you're using your fingers, your dick, or a strap-on, it's one of the few times you can actually make Kenjaku beg for more.

Tease his asshole with your fingers, lick and kiss at it before shoving your fingers in, and his thighs will start to shake before he demands more. He's a size king, so the bigger the better

He also loves being eaten out. Spend enough time between his legs eating his ass (or his pussy if he has one) and he will fall deeper in love with you. He'll pull and pet your hair and moan out praises as you please him with your mouth.

It's rewarding seeing a man like Kenjaku turn into a desperate mess.

If he has a dick, depending on the body he's in, he loves having his balls played with. The fastest way to get him in the mood is to come up behind him and grope and fondle his balls. Squeeze them gently and tug on them and Kenjaku will slam you against the nearest wall and fuck you until you're unconscious.

Big on Somnophilia. He will discuss it with you if that's a boundary, but if you give him the go-ahead, he will take advantage of it. There will be times when you'll wake up, and he'll already be balls deep inside of you.

He is not shy, and he has no shame. He actually gets turned on fucking you in front of people and sees it as another way to claim ownership. He has no problem continuing a conversation while you're moaning and creaming around his cock.

He has a stupidly high libido, but his self-control is even worse. Sure, he may not mind bouncing you on his dick in front of people, but if you're purposefully trying to get him to lose control, he has no problem ignoring you.

Be careful, though, because when he gets the chance, he will pull you aside and bend you over the nearest flat surface and fill you up until you're a drooling mess.

He will walk out with you trailing behind him, legs shaking and cum still dripping out of your twitching hole while he looks like he hardly broke a sweat from breeding you.

He likes to cockwarm you, but he's more so obsessed with the feeling of you cumming around his throbbing cock.

He'll play with your pussy or stroke your cock mindlessly while you shift and grind yourself against him. He's stubborn and won't move, but his free hand will be placed firmly on your hip to keep you still. When you finally cum, he revels in the way you clench and pulse around him 

Kenjaku loves edging and overstim. Receiving and giving. He will often do it together, edging the both of you while he fucks you, making the sensations more intense until you just can't handle it anymore.

When he's built up the pleasure enough he'll make you cum over and over and over until you're crying from overstimulation. But he won't stop until he's satisfied and exhausted

Please have fun with him. Sex can be passionate and romantic, but he never wants it to be a chore or a job. He wants it to be fun!

Make jokes, be silly, laugh at the weird noises bodies can make sometimes or if one of you accidentally hits your head against something from going too hard. He doesn't want it to be boring.

He loves pleasuring you just as much as he likes to be pleasured. He's more giving in bed than people may think.

If you have periods, he literally does not care about having sex while you're bleeding. You've seen his brain, he's killed people. Do you think a little blood will gross him out?

His dirty talk is more graphic and usually tends to be about the act itself, about how he wants to fill you up and make you scream for more.

He's fine with calling you a slut or a whore, but he doesn't like calling you thinks like stupid or ugly. Even he would never go there.

You have probably kissed his brain at one point and yes, the mouth inside of it can be used. He has eaten you out/sucked you off with it before and it was as strange as it was arousing.

Not to mention a little nerve-wracking since you were concerned about hurting the very sensitive organ.

Kenjaku finds it arousing and very comforting that, even in bed, you don't find his Technique off-putting.

He's into consensual noncon. Dubcon, to be more specific.

He likes it when you struggle against him and make him work for it. He likes to force you down or force your legs open 

Fight back against him, and it'll really get him going, but he does have a limit.

He would be turned off if you cried or screamed at him to stop, even if you were acting. He likes a little chase and struggle, but the idea of actually forcing you turns him off.

Having you fight back a little, only to submit and beg for more is what he wants. He wants to be desired, after all.

He may be rough in bed and possessive, but he loves you more than anything.

You're his, every part of you, but that also means every part of him is yours.

[pookasluagh]

They're talking!

Ch 4 – Inquiry – of The Regret List is out! Crowley is a chaos-demon with texts, Aziraphale opens up about his situation, the first few sparks start to come to life… Excerpt:

Crowley couldn’t stop staring at this trainwreck of a man on the screen. Finally, he managed, “But why? You’re almost fifty. Surely, you don’t need their approval still? Fuck! I thought you would’ve outgrown this by now or—”

Biting his lip, he cut off and looked away, but not before he saw Aziraphale’s raised eyebrow. “Or what?”

Crowley recognized the edge in his voice, something low and fierce and how dare he question Az’s choices. It tipped him right over into boiling anger. “Or maybe I wouldn’t have reached out!” he spat. “I don’t want to be wrapped up in some church bullshit thing again, Az. Your bit on the side or whatever. Tell me honestly—why do you still hide from them? From everyone?”

They glared at each other over the video connection, both waiting for the other to break. Aziraphale looked away first. He shrugged. “Honestly? I don’t know, Crowley. Because I’m scared. I don’t know how to live any other way.”

Crowley’s heart cracked. He was angry and frustrated and yearning all at once. He wanted to protect this man, to shout at him to protect himself, to wrap him up in warm blankets and feed him hot cocoa and kisses. Before he could say anything else, though, Aziraphale sighed.

“Changing now—it would mean admitting that I’ve wasted so many years of my life. I’m not sure I have the strength to face that. Maybe I’m too old to start over.”

“Fuck that,” Crowley blurted at once, causing the other man to open his mouth in surprise. For a split second, he thought about softening his response, then shook his head. “You’re too young not to.”

***** Fic notes: human AU, religious deconstruction, old friends, starting over late in life, rated E.

[imogenkol]

piggy backing a little bit off of this brilliantly heart-wrenching post by @e-the-village-cryptid I wanted to dip my toe into the whole Bix x Timm dynamic - why Bix chose him and why it reads heavily as compulsory heterosexuality to me.

Bix has so many plates spinning - between managing her own salyard and organizing a black market operation selling ship parts to the rebellion (which could get her incarcerated for life at best and executed at worst), she is constantly keeping herself occupied so that she doesn't have to engage with her own thoughts. But she still has to go home at the end of the day, and if personal experience has taught me anything, it's that no matter how worn out you are, whatever you're trying not to think about will always haunt you during the night.

I feel like Bix dreads when the anvil rings at the end of the day because she has to go back to an empty home, with nothing but herself and her own thoughts. She probably still works on a few projects by herself there, but that can only hold her focus for so long.

After her on-and-off failed relationship with Cassian that lasted for years, Bix doesn't strike me as the kind of person who even wants to pursue a relationship with anyone at all. That takes time she doesn't have or want to waste and requires her to be open and vulnerable, which is counter-productive to her daily goals. However, there is still a gap that really needs to be filled by something.

Enter Timm Karlo, who Bix has employed at her salyard for an undisclosed, but probably decent amount of time. He is reliable at work and her right hand man in the business. Timm picks up the slack that Bix is physically incapable of doing herself because her workload is already massive. So there's a level of appreciation for him already there and he is, of course, already there. Bix didn't have to go looking for him, she didn't have to put much effort to court or be courted. Timm most likely had feelings for her for a while before she finally decided to reciprocate.

Timm Karlo is perfectly convenient and ordinary.

I'm not saying Bix intentionally heartlessly used him per se, I do believe she had some genuine affection for him, but it is very telling that even when they are officially a couple, she still keeps him at arms length and sometimes even further.

It seemed that they had a very specific set of rules set by Bix. Dinner one night a week. Not twice a week. No spontaneous dates (unless she decides to visit him outside of the set agreement on her own terms). One night a week.

Of course that could be explained by Bix's ridiculously loaded schedule, but it feels like she views the relationship less like a relationship and more like another quota to be filled. Bix shows very little genuine interest in Timm outside of that. She is easily irritated by him and hasn't really told him much about herself other than what everyone already knows (this is honestly the best explanation I can think of as to why she told him Cassian was from Kenari. It's easier to talk about people you know than yourself). The one time they do spend the night together on screen is after Bix has had some drinks at Cavo's and got too deep in her own head about everything happening. Timm was fulfilling his main purpose in that scene - to be a distraction.

The biggest thing for me is that she does not tell him about her secret operation. Bix doesn't trust him, at least not fully, despite the line "He'd do anything for me." If she really believed that, I feel like she would have told him what she was doing, being the reliable hard worker he is. Maybe a part of her knew he couldn't keep his mouth shut, maybe she wanted to protect him, maybe she was greedy and didn't want to have to give him a cut. Could be all of the above.

No matter how you slice it, I truly don't believe Bix held deep feelings - or really any genuine attraction - towards Timm. I think that's what makes his death even more traumatic for her, in all honesty. She feels responsible even though he was an insecure, jealous man that went behind her back and betrayed what little trust she had in him. Which made her feel foolish because she never gave him much thought at all and that's how she overlooked the obvious signs.

In conclusion, Bix should date girls.

[whumpster-fire]

25 Exciting Phrases to Spice Up Your Next Business e-Mail

1: "Dear Motherfucker,"

2: "To whom it may concern, as well as the entire company directory who I am cc'ing because none of you care about my time so I don't care about yours,"

3: If you'd like to know why I am sending this e-mail, please consider reading it for fucking once."

4: "If I do not see conclusive evidence of your head being out of your ass in the next 3-5 business days, I will remove it from your shoulders."

5: "Please attach a current headshot and resume: the latter so I can laugh at your alleged qualifications, the former so I can print it out and put it on a dartboard as advised by HR's Anger Management Seminar"

6: "Due to the considerable destructive forces at my command,"

7: "Cc'ing The Pope on this one to keep him in the loop since the magnitude of this clusterfuck is nothing short of Biblical,"

8: "This is the fourth e-mail I have sent asking you to do your goddamn job. The fifth will be attached to a brick hurled through your office window. You do not want to know what the sixth will be, so get your shit together ASAP please."

9: "Please keep in mind that refraining from inappropriate use of the Reply All button is the only thing separating us from descending into complete Lord Of the Flies anarchy."

10: "All, please review the selection of Dilbert cartoons attached below and reflect on how they might be relevant to the current situation and your role in it."

11: "The Carpool Committee has unanimously voted to play exclusively Alvin And the Chipmunks songs in any vehicle you are a passenger in for a month the next time you schedule a mandatory meeting before 8 AM."

12: "The potted Ficus tree by the 4th Floor break room will be taking the lead on this project from this point on since it is more qualified than any of you."

13: "I didn't think I needed to inform everyone that 'accidentally' stapling your balls to get out of Company Spirit Meetings early is against company policy. However,"

14: "Due to recent events, any personal office supplies brought from home, e.g. paperweights, must now be checked with a Geiger counter."

15: "Please be advised that if you reply with a question that indicates you have not read and understood the list of action items below in its entirety, I will kick you in the teeth so hard you will chew with your appendix in the future."

16: "We regret to announce that Sean is now an outlaw and no longer protected by our Workplace Violence Policy. This decision was not made lightly, but the current situation re: the break room microwaves has forced our hand. Cc'ing Sean to keep him in the loop."

17: "Please keep in mind that you are neither the most profitable nor the most important of our clients, and your disproportionate share of billable hours is due primarily to your whininess, entitled attitude, and inability to give a straight answer."

18: "If you feel the need to contact me outside my scheduled hours, please write your issue on a piece of letter sized paper, then roll it up, seal it inside a glass bottle, and cast it into the ocean. This will get a faster response than emailing, calling, or texting me at 1 in the fucking morning."

19: "Team, As a result of employees being bombarded with hundreds of e-mails after inadvertently hitting reply all, we are now instituting the following change to our e-mail communication policy: to help prevent duplicate corrections, when admonishing a coworker who you feel has used Reply All inappropriately, please make sure to use Reply All as well so the other recipients can see that the responsible party has already been notified of their mistake."

20: "Cc'ing you on every e-mail about this issue due to your record of not giving a shit about a problem unless your time is being wasted."

21: "Please do not disturb the protective circle of salt around the 2nd fridge from the left in the break room, and do not under any circumstances open it without appropriate PPE and an escort from an old priest and a young priest."

22: "After consulting with Legal and HR, we have determined that the ficus tree by the 4th floor break room dispersing pollen into the office environment does not constitute a violation of our sexual harassment policy. Also, please be advised that the ficus tree is female and is not the source of your pollen allergies. No disciplinary action will be taken against it. However, your repeated complaints targeted at the ficus tree based on its status as a plant may constitute a hostile work environment. Please meet with HR ASAP to discuss this further."

23: "Team, Placing an 'Elf On the Shelf' in any location on company premises or within your home office where it may be able to see, overhear, or access proprietary information will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Company proprietary data may not be divulged to any unauthorized third parties, and that includes Santa Claus."

24: "Cc'ing Santa Claus to keep him in the loop on this one."

25: "Sincerely, The Only Guy Who Does His Goddamn Job Around Here."

[aishwaryyadav12]

Is Everyone a Climate Changer?

Introduction

Climate Change is a short term with a big impact. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produce heat-trapping gases like Carbon dioxide and methane. These gases are the cause of Global Warming. This further leads to the melting of glaciers which causes a rise in water level every year.

Where do we step in…...

Now, one might ask if he/she is connected to this. The answer is a big YES. Everyone from rich to poor, short to tall, fat to slim is responsible for the climate change happening around us. They are unknowingly a reason for climate change whether it is positive or negative. Yes, climate change can be both negative and positive]. For those of you wondering what positive climate change is, they are the impacts of climate change which are beneficial for us. 

A mind-boggling FACT.

Let’s talk about an average person’s morning routine. He/she wakes up, brushes their teeth, takes a bath, eats breakfast and gets on any means of transport to get to their work. Even in this short 3-4 hours of the time gap, the person has created an impact towards climate change. For example, when he/she brushes their teeth the amount of water they use is a key factor in CC because if they use a greater quantity of water, the purification company would have to use more of their factories to purify them. Now, some of you might think that if they waste just 20-30 ml of water it is not going to make a difference but wait let me show you how cool maths is. Let’s say each person wastes only 1ml of water every day (which is less and not true at all) and only 1 billion out of the 8 billion people on this planet waste it. So now each day 1,000,000,000 ml or 1 million litres of water is getting wasted. And again, this is not even the accurate results. So, you see how such a small thing created such a massive impact on climate. These small things when compiled make big impacts.

Similarly, if we put this vice-versa then if a person only saves 1 ml of water each day and only 1 billion out of 8 billion people on this planet do so, we all will be able to save about 1 million litres of water every day. This was only the start of your day. 

Conclusion

Let’s take one more example. Let's say you travel to your workplace or school in your car or scooter. We all know that burning fuel releases greenhouse gases into the environment. If one person goes in one car and the second one goes in another car to the same place. That is 2x emission of harmful gases. But let’s say they both go in one car; it will reduce the emission by half. These are just some short instances from our daily life which lead us as a changing factor in the climate change journey. So by just thinking about it for some time, we can give our efforts to the planet and climate itself

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.co2nsensus.com/blog/countries-generating-carbon-credits

Bhavya Gupta

[fromjeevita]

Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future: Key Steps Towards Achieving Net Zero Emissions

In the face of the growing urgency to combat climate change, achieving net zero emissions has become a paramount goal for societies worldwide. However, this transition requires more than just technological advancements; it necessitates a profound behavioral change in the way we live, work, and consume resources. To ensure the success of this transformative journey, it is crucial to engage young people in sustainability initiatives and encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviors. Let’s explores a few key measures and approaches that can empower youth and drive the transition towards a net zero future.

1. Clean and Hygienic Living and Working Conditions: Creating clean and hygienic living and working conditions lays the foundation for sustainable development. By prioritizing the well-being of individuals and ensuring access to safe environments, we can foster healthier communities and contribute to a more sustainable future. This includes investing in proper sanitation, waste management, and infrastructure to improve overall quality of life.

2. Sponsoring Research on Regional Environmental Issues: Environmental challenges vary across regions, requiring tailored solutions. By sponsoring research on local environmental issues, we can develop context-specific strategies to address these concerns effectively. This approach not only promotes sustainable development but also encourages young researchers to actively engage in finding innovative solutions to regional environmental problems.

3. Ensuring Safety against Industrial Hazards: Industrial hazards pose significant threats to both human health and the environment. It is essential to prioritize safety measures and regulations to prevent accidents and mitigate the negative impact of industrial activities. By investing in research and development of safer industrial practices, we can minimize risks and safeguard communities.

4. Economical Methods for Salvaging Industrial Wastes: Industrial waste management is a critical aspect of sustainable development. Finding economical methods to salvage and repurpose dangerous industrial wastes can significantly reduce environmental pollution. By promoting the adoption of circular economy principles and investing in innovative waste management technologies, we can minimize waste generation and enhance resource efficiency.

5. Encouraging Afforestation and Environmental Education: Afforestation plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Encouraging the growth of forests and integrating environmental education into school and college curricula can instill a sense of responsibility towards nature in young minds. By nurturing an understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the value of sustainable practices, we empower the next generation to become environmental stewards.

6. Promoting Non-Conventional Energy Sources: Transitioning to non-conventional sources of energy, such as solar power, is pivotal for achieving net zero emissions. By encouraging the adoption of renewable energy technologies, we can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Youth involvement in promoting clean energy solutions and advocating for sustainable energy policies can drive the necessary shift towards a low-carbon future.

7. Producing Environmentally Friendly Products: Promoting the production and consumption of environmentally friendly products is crucial for sustainable development. By encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices and consumers to make informed choices, we can create a demand for products with lower carbon footprints and reduced environmental impact. Youth-led initiatives, campaigns, and consumer education play a vital role in driving this shift.

Engaging youth in sustainability initiatives and fostering sustainable behavioral change is paramount in achieving a net zero future. By educating, empowering, collaborating, incentivizing, and setting positive examples, we can cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious and responsible citizens. Together, we can create a world that not only meets our present needs but also ensures a healthier and more sustainable planet for future. 

[envirocarefoundation]

Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future: Key Steps Towards Achieving Net Zero Emissions



In the face of the growing urgency to combat climate change, achieving net zero emissions has become a paramount goal for societies worldwide. However, this transition requires more than just technological advancements; it necessitates a profound behavioral change in the way we live, work, and consume resources. To ensure the success of this transformative journey, it is crucial to engage young people in sustainability initiatives and encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviors. Let’s explores a few key measures and approaches that can empower youth and drive the transition towards a net zero future.

1. Clean and Hygienic Living and Working Conditions: Creating clean and hygienic living and working conditions lays the foundation for sustainable development. By prioritizing the well-being of individuals and ensuring access to safe environments, we can foster healthier communities and contribute to a more sustainable future. This includes investing in proper sanitation, waste management, and infrastructure to improve overall quality of life.

2. Sponsoring Research on Regional Environmental Issues: Environmental challenges vary across regions, requiring tailored solutions. By sponsoring research on local environmental issues, we can develop context-specific strategies to address these concerns effectively. This approach not only promotes sustainable development but also encourages young researchers to actively engage in finding innovative solutions to regional environmental problems.

3. Ensuring Safety against Industrial Hazards: Industrial hazards pose significant threats to both human health and the environment. It is essential to prioritize safety measures and regulations to prevent accidents and mitigate the negative impact of industrial activities. By investing in research and development of safer industrial practices, we can minimize risks and safeguard communities.

4. Economical Methods for Salvaging Industrial Wastes: Industrial waste management is a critical aspect of sustainable development. Finding economical methods to salvage and repurpose dangerous industrial wastes can significantly reduce environmental pollution. By promoting the adoption of circular economy principles and investing in innovative waste management technologies, we can minimize waste generation and enhance resource efficiency.

5. Encouraging Afforestation and Environmental Education: Afforestation plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Encouraging the growth of forests and integrating environmental education into school and college curricula can instill a sense of responsibility towards nature in young minds. By nurturing an understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the value of sustainable practices, we empower the next generation to become environmental stewards.

6. Promoting Non-Conventional Energy Sources: Transitioning to non-conventional sources of energy, such as solar power, is pivotal for achieving net zero emissions. By encouraging the adoption of renewable energy technologies, we can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Youth involvement in promoting clean energy solutions and advocating for sustainable energy policies can drive the necessary shift towards a low-carbon future.

7. Producing Environmentally Friendly Products: Promoting the production and consumption of environmentally friendly products is crucial for sustainable development. By encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices and consumers to make informed choices, we can create a demand for products with lower carbon footprints and reduced environmental impact. Youth-led initiatives, campaigns, and consumer education play a vital role in driving this shift.

Engaging youth in sustainability initiatives and fostering sustainable behavioral change is paramount in achieving a net zero future. By educating, empowering, collaborating, incentivizing, and setting positive examples, we can cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious and responsible citizens. Together, we can create a world that not only meets our present needs but also ensures a healthier and more sustainable planet for future. 



[wolfliving]

Alexa in crisis

*It’ll be a shock if Alexa is killed, because this was the one alleged consumer mega-hit of the Internet-of-Things smart home.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/11/amazon-alexa-is-a-colossal-failure-on-pace-to-lose-10-billion-this-year/

Amazon is going through the biggest layoffs in the company's history right now, with a plan to eliminate some 10,000 jobs. One of the areas hit hardest is the Amazon Alexa voice assistant unit, which is apparently falling out of favor at the e-commerce giant. That's according to a report from Business Insider, which details "the swift downfall of the voice assistant and Amazon's larger hardware division."

Alexa has been around for 10 years and has been a trailblazing voice assistant that was copied quite a bit by Google and Apple. Alexa never managed to create an ongoing revenue stream, though, so Alexa doesn't really make any money. The Alexa division is part of the "Worldwide Digital" group along with Amazon Prime video, and Business Insider says that division lost $3 billion in just the first quarter of 2022, with "the vast majority" of the losses blamed on Alexa. That is apparently double the losses of any other division, and the report says the hardware team is on pace to lose $10 billion this year. It sounds like Amazon is tired of burning through all that cash.

A division in crisis

The BI report spoke with "a dozen current and former employees on the company's hardware team," who described "a division in crisis." Just about every plan to monetize Alexa has failed, with one former employee calling Alexa "a colossal failure of imagination," and "a wasted opportunity." This month's layoffs are the end result of years of trying to turn things around. Alexa was given a huge runway at the company, back when it was reportedly the "pet project" of former CEO Jeff Bezos. An all-hands crisis meeting took place in 2019 to try to turn the monetization problem around, but that was fruitless. By late 2019, Alexa saw a hiring freeze, and Bezos started to lose interest in the project around 2020. Of course, Amazon now has an entirely new CEO, Andy Jassy, who apparently isn't as interested in protecting Alexa.

Advertisement

The report says that while Alexa's Echo line is among the "best-selling items on Amazon, most of the devices sold at cost." One internal document described the business model by saying, "We want to make money when people use our devices, not when they buy our devices."

That plan never really materialized, though. It's not like Alexa plays ad breaks after you use it, so the hope was that people would buy things on Amazon via their voice. Not many people want to trust an AI with spending their money or buying an item without seeing a picture or reading reviews. The report says that by year four of the Alexa experiment, "Alexa was getting a billion interactions a week, but most of those conversations were trivial commands to play music or ask about the weather." Those questions aren't monetizable....

[solarpunkbusiness]

Surera Ward, CEO and founder of Girls Fix It, LLC

Girls Fix It, LLC, which she calls a technology solutions company specializing in cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, game consoles and computers. 

Surera (pronounced “Shore-ah”) is part of the fastest-moving technology industry trend: consumer electronic repair and maintenance. Before starting Girls Fix It, she spent 20 years in the corporate sector, leading software development teams for Fortune 500 companies as an IT business analyst\project manager.

Ward taught herself to program in the 1990s when she worked in software development. 

“Growing up,” she said, “I always liked to take things apart and fix them, like when a tape got stuck in the VCR machine. I got good at fixing.”  At 19, Ward started a software development company in Delaware, Infinity Software Systems. After four years, she transitioned to teaching in schools in Wilmington and New Castle. Currently, Girls Fix It offers training to senior citizens, and Ward also does business consulting for Cellbotics, an electronic device repair training firm based in Atlanta.

But a major problem for Ward and others like her is the planned obsolescence that one also finds in the auto industry. After all, if a product works perfectly for many years, why buy a new one?

Ward is finding, for example, that once she and her two assistants have conducted a repair on a customer's phone, the device will “often throw up error messages hard-coded in by manufacturers to discourage users from going to third-party experts.”

And a practice known as “parts pairing,” which ties individual parts to the devices they're shipped with using unique serial numbers, has made it harder to repair them.

But consumers and small independent repair experts like Ward are fighting back. According to a recent WHYY report, a “Right to Repair” movement is gaining traction around the country. “Four states have passed laws that require manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to repair their devices – a cracked screen, broken phone camera or broken laptop,” according to the story. “There’s legislation in New Jersey, Delaware and a bill in the Pennsylvania Senate, and another in the House. Advocates of these laws say they will save consumers money, save the planet from tons of e-waste and will support small local businesses.” 

Ward insists, “The 'Right to Repair' movement is for consumers and small businesses to have access to parts and schematics that they need. The manufacturers deliberately make the products hard to repair. Parts are often unavailable; schematics are often not accessible, and they create error messages. It's getting harder and harder to repair different devices. Any Apple iPhone 10 phone or better is very hard to repair. Legislation could help, but it would not fully resolve the issue.”

[cmiyczine]

The reason why you're falling behind is that you insist on sending out personalized e-mails, which is a thing no zine does, and it doesn't cast your project in a very good light. How are you planning on handling people's money, printing and shipping if you can't even handle sending out two batch e-mails? We were not supposed to waste time, to round up funds as quickly as possible and you are already lost in the woods. I hope this project happens, but you need to reevaluate your priorities first.

Let me get this straight. You are seemingly angry because I am trying to empathize with the people being rejected because I Know how hurtful it is to be rejected and try to be a little compassionate ?

I don't care if other zines don't do it. I am doing it. I dont care that it casts my project in a bad light. This is my project. I am not struggling. I can manage the rest of the zine very well, I'm very well surrounded.

There is no "We" unless you are one of the artists in the project. If you are, come off anon so I can politely disinvite you.

My heart is bleeding for Palestine and helping is litteraly the one thing that gets me to work hard in this project everyday. It has always been and always will be my first priority. But it doesnt superseed my compassion for the 250 people that have applied that are going to be rejected. If you think a 6 day delay on a timeline that was suposed to be loose is enough to make a project look bad then. Move along ? Go make your own project for Palestine ?