#national business institute

[bunniesbearsandadventures]

Vent post;

Just your daily reminder

For every one college student who's meeting new people and hanging out with new friends there is another student who's so busy and caught up with work they can barely maintain one relationship with one other person.

For every one college student who's costing on C's and B's there is another student panicking and doing everything they can to maintain their B's because their scholarships and Family depend on it.

For every one college student who's able to party and go out around town trying new things there is another student who's schedule looks like "go to classes-study-go to work" and they have to maintain that schedule with no room for personal time.

Just a daily reminder that college isn't for everyone.

Not because the classes are hard or because they can't financially afford it.

Some people aren't built for college because while other students can skip class every day and still end the semester with a B. Other students have to sacrifice their time, relationships, happiness, and social life and it still isn't enough, just to end the semester with a C at best.

[alienfocus]

Nog een leugen van de overheid? Het overweldigende bewijs dat tabak GEEN kanker veroorzaakt - Frontnieuws

De waarheid is dat geen enkel onderzoek ooit onomstotelijk heeft kunnen bewijzen dat roken de directe oorzaak is van longkanker, hartaandoeningen, emfyseem of andere ziekten waarmee het routinematig in verband wordt gebracht. Bron: Nog een leugen van de overheid? Het overweldigende bewijs dat tabak GEEN kanker veroorzaakt – Frontnieuws

[primeviewprathamesh]

Fiji National University: An Eminent Institution in Fiji

[gentlemans-code20]

#Institute - The World Bank

The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and best-known development bank in the world and an observer at the United Nations Development Group. The bank is headquartered in Washington, D.C., in the United States.

[totallyhussein-blog]

All out for the RNLI in Manchester on May 13th

It was great to take part in the recent AGM of the RNLI City of Manchester branch. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute are the charity which saves lives at sea and in 2022, the RNLI's lifeboats were launched 9,312 times, their crews saved 389 lives and RNLI lifeguards saved 117 people.

Here in Manchester, we have some exciting plans lined up to support these efforts and on May 13th, a city wide collection will be taking place. On this day, RNLI supporters will be on the streets of Manchester City Centre where you can donate or ask questions about the RNLI's lifesaving work across the UK.

I've been involved with the RNLI since 2016 and in this time, I've always loved taking part in these events. It's great to hear the experiences of RNLI crew members and it's also great to speak with members of the public and listen to their experiences with the RNLI. Everybody is welcome and if you'd like more information then please visit us at RNLI.org.

[yurunivo]

Hello! I'm not sure if i'm the one but can we get some more Mavuika x Creator! Reader (gender neutral) in which the creator is falling deeply in love with Mavuika and the creator is slowly getting his/hers/their memories back and awakening a little bit of power (like maybe aweking some unique element or getting better healing abilities) ?

I'm pretty sure you were the one yea. Sorry for not answering sooner I just had no motivation to write 😭

Synopsis: your time with Mavuika! (And "your" past) part 1 part 2 part 4

TW: slight angst, fluff, OOC, arguements, reader is referred to as they/them for easier use but gender is up to what you interpret as, bad writing, bad grammar, english is not my first language, slightly rushed at the end, not proofread

Characters: Mavuika x gn!creator!reader

"Please don't walk through the halls, our Archon is busy-"

"I just have a word with her, that's all."

The receptionist sighed as you glared at her and walked off. You've had a bad week, constantly getting excruciatingly painful headaches and nightmares which make you wake up in a cold sweat. What made it worse that you couldn't really remember them when you woke up, which made it all the more frustrating. That, along with the fact that your boss was giving you more work than usual was making you snappy and irritated all the time. The even more strange thing was the fact that you were seeking out Mavuika, almost as if she was a pinicle of warmth in a snowy wasteland, so you did eventually visit her.

As you reached her office door, gloved hands gently pushed it open to see her inside. Your eyes softened, and you could feel your stress slipping away. She was sleeping though, her head on a pile of documents.

"That's.. Strange. Normally she would spend a lot of time with me, did she ignore all this work just for me?" You thought to yourself. However, instead of peaking over, you decided to sit in a sofa next to her table.

Curiosity did get the better of you though.

You skipped over to her desk and found loads of papers from different nations, which was really strange considering Mavuika was more busy dealing with Natlan's problems. You picked up a few documents and read them, cringing at the insignia of the other nations.

As you kept reading, you got more confused, and certainly more angry.

"Death threats, intimidation and war threats to Natlan, and Sumeru is asking for an alliance? What the hell is going on?!" You exclaimed, not noticing how Mavuika woke up. As you were about to read more, she snatched the papers from you, and looked at you with an expression you couldn't read.

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"Well I did, too bad. Now mind explaining what the hell is this?"

She didn't answer, and you felt your patience running thin. You didn't want to raise your voice at her, but the frustration of her not telling you was too much to handle. Still, you managed to control yourself, taking deep breaths.

"I'm not going to repeat myself, what is this?"

She paused, and for a moment, she contemplated whether she would tell you or not. Guilt was on her face, yet she finally told you.

"The other nations want you back for whatever reason, and they are threatening to add more to Natlan's plate by instituting a war. Sumeru is offering to help, but that's the only consolation I have," she breathed out. Your eyes softened, and your lips trembled. Seeing Mavuika like this was making you feel negative, especially since it was about you.

You picked up her hand and held it gently, but it was also firm. You didn't know what you could really do to help, considering that you were the one that they were after.

"Listen Mavuika, I am your creator, so I should have the right to know about all this, no? I may not be strong, but it's not like I'm completely useless," you held her hand against your forehead, both of you looking away from each other.

Feeling the need to lighten her pile of work, you let her go for a moment, going up to her desk and setting up the documents. You didn't look at her, nor did she look at you.

"I'll help," you spoke up.

"You don't need to."

"I insist."

She sighed, yet reluctantly went up to you to do the same. She knew that you wouldn't really change your mind, so there was really no point in arguing any further.

For the past couple of weeks, you were there to help Mavuika. You were always at her beck and call, skipping your work to help with hers. The only thing you did however was confiscate useless documents, sign the ones that she couldn't, and carry piles of work to warehouses.

As you were walking through the place, whistling to yourself, you realized that you had just passed the place that you were supposed to be in. Noticing your mistake, you ran to that place in exasperation, not noticing how a gust of wind helped you to run faster..

"Why do I keep forgetting this shit?.." You rubbed your temples, setting the box down. Looking at all the shelves, you deadpanned at the realization that the shelves were much higher than you anticipated.

"I should've brought a ladder.." You mumbled.

Then suddenly, without any explanation, a pillar of Geo helped you up, slowly rising to the shelves. The revelation almost made you scream, but you kept it in. You were really high up, and the fact that you didn't know what was happening made it even more terrifying. Was this Zhongli's doing? To taunt you before he came to hunt you again? You couldn't really tell, the only thought running in your head was how the hell would you get down.

The even stranger thing that happened was that a gust of wind separated the boxes and placed the one that you brought without you needing to use your hands. It might've been the Anemo Archon, but the fact that if it was, he would probably not help you with anything. He would most likely make you fall instead, taunting you like Zhongli. But it didn't really make any sense. How the hell would they even reach you all the way from Natlan?

As the pillar mounted you down, you were about to run to reach Mavuika, but your temperature rose uncomfortably high, which was very unusual. The sudden change made you collapse onto the ground, golden blood seeping out of your nose. You felt yourself getting light headed as you struggled to keep yourself awake.

"Not now god dammit!" You exclaimed in your head as your vision turned blank, losing your consciousness.

....

Where were you?

You held your head, groaning at the painful sensation. You got a clearer look at your surroundings, notifying you that you weren't in Natlan. No, this place was nothing like Natlan. It was more regal, the entire place being covered by intricate gold designs. You explored the place for a bit, still trying to figure out what happened.

You walked around, then suddenly, you saw a projection in front of you. Okay, it at least confirmed that you were in a dream. But when the projection finished appearing, you saw someone whom you didn't expect to see.

It was... Nahida?

"Greetings your grace," she bowed, and you just told her to stand back up.

"Kusanali? What are you doing here?" You raised an eyebrow. Seriously today was one of the most craziest days of your life, more than when you realized that you were in the Genshin world.

"I have been trying to speak with you, your grace. It was very hard, I admit, and I may or may not have caused those nightmares, I am really sorry about that." Oh, so that's why these horrible dreams happened, and why you couldn't remember them. You smiled awkwardly, knowing that you would forgive her anyway. After all, she was the first to actually help you in this world.

"What did you need to speak with me for?" You asked.

"It's about the other nations, I want to inform you that they are currently on the hunt for you, and want you back into the position of creator," she answered, and now there were even more questions in your head. What was the strange switch up for?

"But I must ask your grace, is this what you really dream of, your throne room?" She pointed at the giant throne at the back, and you quickly went to answer.

"No, I don't dream about anything like this," you replied back in confusion. Right, was this supposed to be normal?

When you turned around to ask Nahida a question again, she was gone. Was she hiding? No, she was completely gone, you couldn't feel her presence any where, almost as if she was forced out of your dream.

You looked around more and more, only to realize that there was a carbon copy of you on the throne.

They looked exactly like you, except more regal, and more intimidating than what you could ever be. However, you did notice that they were... Crying? Tears were definitely spilling out of her eyes, yet their expression stayed the same.

Yea this was weird.

You looked around again to see the Archons behind you. You flinched at the sight, however, they weren't looking at you, rather they were looking at what you could assume to be the previous creator. Their expression was one of pity, and in almost half a second, they attacked the creator. Yet that "you" didn't move a muscle, allowing them to get a hit. As you stared at the throne, there was golden blood seeping out, yet the creator was as hard as stone.

They had sealed the creator.

....

You woke up with a gasp, feeling sweaty and uncomfortable. Looking at your hands, you saw they were trembling. Your throat felt dry, way too dry for your liking. As you reached out for the nearest liquid next to you, your hands landed on a cup of tea, which you picked up and drank immediately. You calmed down a bit, reminiscing on what you just experienced.

"So that's what happened, I wonder why.." You mumbled. You finally payed attention to where you were, and saw that you were back in Mavuika's office. Huh, you didn't remember being here last.

Finally paying attention to what was next to you, you saw a tray on a stool, and some food on it. The tea you drank just now was probably from that tray.

Your eyes wandered, and it stumbled upon Mavuika. She was on a chair too, yet she was sleeping, her arms crossed. As multiple ideas went through your head, it finally clicked.

"Was she taking care of me?" You thought, yet you were too much in a trance to wake her up and ask her. Your cheeks were flushed, and you felt them getting warmer.

You wondered what this feeling was, the way your heart started beating faster and how you felt all giddy inside.

"Ah whatever, I'll figure it out soon," you muttered, oblivious to your own feelings.

Sorry I didn't include the abilities part too much, I was more focused on the creator and Mavuika's relationship 😓

[robertreich]

The Truth About Immigrants and the Economy

Immigrants are good for the economy and our society! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

For centuries, immigration has been America’s secret sauce for economic growth and prosperity.

But for just as long, immigrants have been an easy scapegoat.

One of the oldest, ugliest lies is to falsely smear immigrants as criminals.

It’s just not true. Crime is way down in America. Anyone who says otherwise is fearmongering.

And whatever crime there is is not being driven by immigration. Immigrants, regardless of citizenship status, are 60% less likely to be incarcerated for committing crimes than U.S.-born citizens.

Maybe that’s why border cities are among America’s safest.

Immigration opponents also claim immigrants are a drag on the economy and a drain on government resources.

Rubbish!

Quite the opposite, the major reason immigrants are coming to America is to build a better life for themselves and their families, contributing to the American economy.

The long-term economic benefits of immigration outweigh any short-term costs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that adding more immigrants as workers and consumers — including undocumented immigrants — will grow America’s economy by about $7 trillion over the next decade. And those immigrants would increase tax revenue by about $1 trillion, shrinking the deficit and helping pay for programs we all benefit from.

Immigrants of all statuses pay more in taxes than they get in government benefits. Research by the libertarian Cato Institute found first-generation immigrants pay $1.38 in taxes for every $1 they receive in benefits,

This is especially true for undocumented immigrants, who pay billions in taxes each year, but are excluded from almost all federal benefits. After all, you need documentation to receive federal benefits. Guess what undocumented immigrants don’t have. Hello?

And of course, one of the most common anti-immigrant claims also isn’t true.

No. Immigrants are not taking away jobs that Americans want. Undocumented immigrants in particular are doing some of the most dangerous, difficult, low-paying, and essential jobs in the country.

Despite what certain pundits might tell you, immigration has not stopped the U.S. from enjoying record-low unemployment.

And as the Baby Boom generation moves into retirement, young immigrants will help support Social Security by providing a thriving base of younger workers who are paying into the system. The fact that so many immigrants want to come here gives America an advantage over other countries with aging populations, like Germany and Japan.  

What’s more, immigrants are particularly ambitious and hardworking. They are 80% more likely to start a new business than U.S. born citizens. Immigrant-founded businesses also impressively comprise 103 companies in last year’s Fortune 500.

And immigrants continue to add immeasurably to the richness of American culture. We should be celebrating them, not denigrating them.

It’s time to speak the facts and the truth. We need immigrants to keep our economy — and our country — vibrant and growing. They are not “poisoning the blood” of our nation. They’re renewing and restoring it.

[reasonsforhope]

"In a historic move Friday [November 8, 2024], Sacramento State announced its new Native American College, a first of its kind in the California State university system. 

The college, a co-curricular institution housed at Sacramento State, will support Native-based education with a focus on leadership and career building. It will offer a diverse range of programs that integrate "tribal values, traditions and community engagement," according to a press release. 

This marks Sacramento State's second ethnic-based institution. The university launched the the nation's first Black Honors college earlier this year. 

The announcement was made at the California State Capitol by President Luke Wood and Dr. Annette Reed, an enrolled member and citizen of the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, who will be the first dean of the Native American College. 

Reed said students will have access to faculty mentors, advisors, outreach coordinators and more who have the expertise to work closely with Native American students and can support them holistically. 

She hopes this historic initiative will address low enrollment of Native students pursuing higher education across the state and in the country. Native American students face significant barriers to enrolling in higher education, such as financial constraints, feelings of isolation, historical trauma and lack of culturally relevant curriculum. 

"And so I'm hoping this impacts the students where they go through as a cohort. They can create networks, they can be able to have more of a support system going through and beginning together and hopefully graduating at the end together," Reed said.

Reed recalled taking her first class on Native American studies in 1980. She would later on serve as the director of Native American studies at Sacramento State and chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies. For her, advocating for Native American education was a natural top priority. 

"People always ask me, 'What is Native American studies?' It is history. It is looking at culture. It's looking at teaching sovereignty, federal Indian law. It's teaching social work, art. It's teaching about Native cultural expression, it can be literature," Reed said. 

The Native American College will introduce two new courses, according to Reed, which will be focused on Native American leadership. 

"It means that maybe some of the ones that start in Fall 2025 will end up here at the Capitol. Maybe they'll end up being the future senators or assembly people or the future of people in business. They might be leading our nation as tribal chairs, they might be going into the medical field," Reed said. "But whatever field they go into, leadership is really key." 

Students who want to be in the Native American College can apply after being accepted into the university's general application process. All students will be required to minor in Native American Studies, with an emphasis on Native American leadership."

-via ABC 10, November 8, 2024

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) "Ignatius Sancho" (1768) Oil on canvas Located in the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada Charles Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729 – 14 December 1780) was a British abolitionist, writer and composer.

Believed to have been born on a British slave ship in the Atlantic, Sancho was sold by the British slave traders into slavery in the Spanish Viceroyalty New Granada. After his parents died, Sancho's owner took the two-year-old orphan to Britain and gave him to three sisters living in Greenwich, where he remained for eighteen years. Unable to bear being a servant to them, Sancho ran away to the Montagu House in Blackheath, London where John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu taught him how to read and encouraged Sancho's budding interest in literature. After spending some time as a butler in the household, Sancho left and started his own business as a shopkeeper, while also starting to write and publish various essays, plays and books.

Sancho quickly became involved in the nascent British abolitionist movement, which sought to outlaw both the slave trade and the institution of slavery itself, and he became one of its most devoted supporters. Sancho's status as a property-owner meant he was legally qualified to vote in a general election, a right he exercised in 1774 and 1780, becoming the second known British African to have voted in Britain after John London. Gaining fame in Britain as "the extraordinary Negro", Sancho became, to British abolitionists, a symbol of the humanity of Africans and the immorality of the slave trade and slavery. Sancho died in 1780. The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, edited and published two years after his death, are the first published letter collection by a writer of African descent

[todayontumblr]

Tuesday April 11.

Autism Acceptance Month.

Today is Tuesday, April 11, which means we are eleven days into the 30 blessed days of #autism acceptance month, 2023 (previously known as #autism awareness month). April is the month and April 2nd is the day—World Autism Day, to be precise—and these first weeks of spring are a time for uplifting autistic voices of all identities, advocating for acceptance, progress, and sharing in the community's joy. It began back in 1972, as National Autistic Children’s Week, and was founded by The Autism Society to raise awareness and campaign for change in communities, schools, medical facilities, and businesses. And this same vital, wonderful work continues today, and not just for the month of April, of course—but every day of every year. The lived reality is that every day of every month is Autism Acceptance Month, and it is on all of us to do better.

Progress has been made, but there is still so much to be done in the struggle for equality and justice for all those living under the broad church of autism. And if these words sound hollow, then simply read the moving story of Debra Vines, of The Answer Inc., and of her autistic son Jason. She articulates everyday struggles that families can face, and the many joys they experience, too. Her message is simple, but powerful: don't give up on milestones.  

Want to know more, get involved, or donate? Here is just some of an impressive selection of charities sourced by the fine people at the Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide, where you can find the complete list of 20 charities and organizations:

The Asperger/Autism Network

The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Autism Research Institute

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autism National Committee

Happy Tuesday, folks, and here's to better.

[httpsvgin]

🦴 ━─ 𝒮weet 𝒞arol͟i͟n͟a͟. 𝜗𝜚₊˚

【 𝒞ho sangwoo & 𝒞hildhoodbsf!reader

. ͏ㅤㅤꉹㅤׅ⠀⁺　⠀⠀ @httpsvgin　　𓈒　 ♱ ❛❜ ， 面爛

　

੭̲᱖　  you hated clubbing, everything about it filled you with dread. the stench of sweat, blinding lights that could send someone to the hospital, obnoxious couples grinding on every surface they could find, the risk of a psycho lacing your drink without even knowing? yeah, it definitely wasnt an atmosphere you wanted to associate with. yet here you were in your friends bathroom against your will while you stared at your attire in the mirror basically regretting your entire life decisions.

੭̲᱖　  a black laced dress clung to your body perfectly highlighting every inch and trace of your curves, stopping just at the flesh of your thighs elegantly yet not to short to where you could look trashy and as though you had no dignity. your legs were covered with a thin pair of dark tights while a pair of matching coloured heel-boots covered your feet, the length of the leather material sat just under your knee caps. finally, you topped off your outfit with a long sleeved leather jacket to cover your bare arms from the cold outside that awaited.

੭̲᱖　  a gasp from behind forced you to jerk your head at the noise to where your eyes met with your friends which were clung to your body, looking you up and down before giggling loudly like a child.

੭̲᱖ “oh, my, god! i didnt even recognise you for a second because of how sexy you look!” a loud squeal echoed around the marble bathroom, your friend showering you with compliments to which you shoed her off, laughing softly through the blush that grew on your cheeks with embarrassment.

੭̲᱖ “the cab is gonna be here in two minutes, pack your shit and get ready to party!” she screamed in a sing-song tone at the word party before scurrying out her bathroom to collect the rest of your friends that sat in the bedroom with wide, smiling faces. you on the other hand grunted quietly, a weird, nervous sensation twisted and fluttered in the pit of your stomach. again, you took a final look at yourself in the mirror before your friend called your name from the bottom of her stairs which fuzzed your thoughts back into reality.

੭̲᱖ grabbing your belongings, you shoved them in the small handbag that you slung over your shoulders and inhaled sharply. finally collecting yourself, your heels clicked against the floor while you followed the voice of your whining friend from the front door. there, you both squished into the backseat of the cab that had awaited outside. this was gonna be one hell of a night.

੭̲᱖　  yeah, it was worse than you could’ve ever imagined. you had been in the club for, what, half an hour? and about seven men have already tried to hit on you. one even instituted for you to be his, and quote, ‘sugar baby,’ to which you kindly assured him you had enough money as you needed.

੭̲᱖　  which wasnt wrong, you were far from poor. graduating tied top of your classfrom seoul national university just a few years back with intent to become a state worthy crime investigator. which now, you were close too, being a well know lawyer and investigator in the south, and at one point earning the badge of koreas first female officer to succeed in law enforcement. your job was where you gained your wealth and fame that surrounded you now.

੭̲᱖　  infact, growing up wasnt always easy. your mother could barely scrape by to afford food on the table every night as your dad was never around to provide for you both, too busy with his long term affairs to even give a shit about his wife and child at home. it was hard watching your mom juggle severely part time jobs at once just so you had a bed to even sleep on. even since you were a child, you promised you magically grow wealthy and provide your mother with the world. a house by the beach, to pay of all her debts, for her to live the rest of her life in peace. it was all you wanted, to see her finally happy.

੭̲᱖　  sadly, she passed the year before you graduated. and since, your independence grew rapidly to where you are now. living in central seoul in a luxury penthouse with degrees and trophies around your apartment complex and money you can’t even count if you wanted to. if only your mother was there to see your achievements.

੭̲᱖　  now here you sat in a shitty club, music shaking the floor below you while you slumped against one of the lounge chairs in the corner of your room. to your right, a girl sat atop a boys lap with their mouths crashing against each other and you physically gaged at the loud, wet noises they left out. to your left, a man triple your age slurred in your ear, the stench of alcohol and sweat rinsed his breath which tickled your ear since he trailed his finger along your cheek.

੭̲᱖　  wrinkles seemed to ridden every inch of his face, some of his teeth black and rotten due to his age. why he was in a club you had no idea, because it was clear he was meant to be in a nursing home. yet still, he leaned in to peck your neck and immediately you pressed your hand to his chest with a tight, bitchy smile.

੭̲᱖　  “do you have a lighter?” you leaned in to whisper into his ear, earning a rich chuckle from him. he hummed, riding his hand up your thigh and it made your throat burn with bile at his wrinkled, perverted touch. digging his hand into his blazer pocket, yours followed to his back one as you forced a fake giggle. there, you yanked at the bills that sat tight in his pocket, carefully removing them without him even knowing with a soft glide of your hand along his hip. how delusional of him. smirking, he handed you the lighter and you thanked him sweetly, stepping up from your seat between the cushions assuring him you will be back. you lied right through your teeth to him before your heals clicked against the sticky floor, leaving your jacket to dangle off your shoulders slightly and you shoved the back exit door open with your elbow.

੭̲᱖　  the freezing midnight air hit your skin like a bullet, goosebumps rising comfortably along your arms and thighs as you pressed your back against the wall behind you. with shaky hands you pulled the cigarettes from your jacket pocket, pressing the butt of the cigarette to sit between your lips and rose the flame that flickered from the lighter towards the front of the rolled up nicotine. there, you laid your head against the brick wall, inhaling a mouthful of smoke and fluttering your eyes shut softly. the light that illuminated from the moon glistened against your skin magically, highlighting the raw beauty from your features.

੭̲᱖　  suddenly, someone cleared their throat from beside you. you jumped, coughing rapidly at how much smoke you inhaled on accident. clutching your chest, you coughed harshly against the burning sense that tingled your throat and a figure loomed over you. your cheeks burned, eventually slowing down your breathing to where you cleared your throat, bringing the hand that clutched your chest to rub the back of your neck. slowly, your eyes trailed up the man that had watched the whole thing. his attire consisted of a black suit jacket with matching trousers and a white buttonup underneath, the first two buttons being undone and revealed a slightly toned collarbone. but then you saw his face.

੭̲᱖　  a man, perhaps his late thirties stared back. his features were all so recognisable, his sun tanned skin clear and looked extremely soft under the moonlight. his dark hair looked fluffed and messy, slightly grazing over his eyebrows which had twisted into a frown. a pair of silver lined glasses were protecting his big, brown eyes that seemed to be perched only on you. a vein ran softly along his sharp jaw, lips soft and pressed into a tight line while he stared. you frankly couldnt believe the man standing infront of you. you couldnt draw your eyes from him, not for a second.

੭᱖　  “sangwoo?” your voice was quiet, ushering with disbelief and your lips seem to part open to gape at the man you knew all to well standing infront of you.

੭̲᱖　   he didn’t speak. instead, his hand reached out to take the cigarette that dangled from your lips, your lipstick stained the end before he brought it between his own lips, inhaling sharply. he looked drained, shattered even, his eyes looked sunk and sleep deprived as he tilted his head back the same way you did earlier, exhaling a loud puff of smoke that made his adams apple bobbed in his throat.

੭̲᱖　  “i didnt know you smoked.” the lack of emotion in his tone made your stomach churn. he looked as beautiful as he did all those years ago, even with his obviously aged features and dull words. seeing him raw and live again made sparks of electricity and memories fuzz painfully at your brain.

੭̲᱖　  cho sangwoo, your childhood crush and college fling stood beside you. the last time you raw him was graduation, you both collected you diplomas together infact while his mother cheered along for you both in the waves of people. it made you feel less shit about your own mother not being there to see your amazing moment that you shared with your best friend. you still remember how euphoric it felt to throw your hat into the air beside him. the look of admiration in his eyes as he pulled you both into an embrace, quietly sobbing into your long, black graduation robe. you thought you would never see him after that day as it was also the day you moved to england for your trainee degree. and now here he stood ten years later, not able to take his pretty eyes off you while they took the whole of you in, making you turn into mush under his predatory eyes.

੭̲᱖　   “never pictured you as a club girl either.” he huffed, carefully examining the way you grew red until his eyes.

੭̲᱖　  “yeah, im not.” now it was your turn to act dull despite the warmth and nostalgia that grew in your stomach. “i had no choice but to come im afraid.” you took a step toward him, reaching up to yank the cigarette from his lips and taking it between yours, taking a long drag, tasting his lips along the end of it.

੭̲᱖　  he hummed, pushing his glasses up from the end of his nose and stared ahead. “so you dont have a mind of your own? cant make decisions for yourself, no?” his tone grew sharp and teasing, blinking a few times to hide the smirk that tickled along his lips. his cockiness made you want to smack his stupid face there and then, but you knew better than to give him the reaction you wanted and you brushed it off with another long inhale of the cigarette you both shared.

੭̲᱖　   “but you look..” his voice was low, turning his head against the wall to look down at you from his side. you matched the way he leaned back against the wall, turning your head up and to the side to catch his deepened gaze. it took everything in you not to scream in his face. to beg why he never called. why he just removed himself from your life with such ease. why it took you years to get over him while he seemed perfectly fine without you. why— “beautiful. at least that hasnt changed.” the way he complimented you so casually made you feel like putty under his fingers. every day you are complimented for your beauty, and sure, it makes you feel good about yourself. but hearing it from him was far deeper than that.

੭̲᱖　  “and you look like shit.” humour laced your tongue, offering the cigarette over to him. he scoffed dryly through a low chuckle, his fingers brushing over your palm while he took it from you. his touch. his laughter. his eyes. it felt unreal to be within his presence. and even despite the winter air that cursed the breeze, you felt the warm aura radiating from his body and filling you with happiness.

੭̲᱖　  “glad to know that mouth hasnt changed either.” again, he chuckled under his words, taking a long drag off the cigarette before dropping it to the ground bellow him, crushing it under his shoe. slowly, he lifted himself from the wall, brushing off his expensive looking blazer jacket and adjusting the end of his glasses once again. he was close enough that you could smell the twist of his cologne and smoke that clung to his broad body, a strand of hair falling to cover over his doe eyes. your breath hitched in your throat when he took the coldness of your fingers between his warm ones, using his free hand to adjusting the hair from your face that had been blown by the wind.

੭̲᱖　   the second he stood infront of you felt as though they could last for an eternity, loosing your balance within the soft colour of his eyes you thought you forgot about until now. then, you opened your mouth to speak to which he shushed you immediately, his hand petting the side of your head to feel the softness of your hair below his warm palms and you rubbed your cheek against the softness of his skin that stroked you gracefully.

੭̲᱖　  “once i come back, im going to take you out and spoil you with every ounce of money i get.” his quiet words caught you off guard, one of your eyebrows cocked up in confusion but to sooth the emotion you felt he brought his head to lean his forehead against yours. “i promise, okay. fuck, just wait for me, hm?” the emotion that now replaced his once dull tone made you think for a second that he was about to cry. yet, you couldnt help the way you fluttered your eyes closed at his vulnerability.

੭̲᱖　  “i have some.. business to attend to while im gone. it’s a lot to explain but, uhm, please, just be here when im back.” your name felt raw on his tongue, and hearing his say it after so long was a feeling you couldnt only recognise as yearning. you had so many questions. what business was so important? and what was so desperate about it that he needed to leave so soon? your thoughts could run a thousand miles if they could but then, he pulled back, forcing you to wrench your eyes open to see a piece of paper handed out infront of you, a number written along it.

੭̲᱖　  “my mother lives close by, her stall is just down the road from here.” his eyes grew in sadness, making his look like a puppy with the way they sunk at the mention of his mom. “promise me you will look after her when im gone. please.” the desperation on his tongue made you feel ill, not able to break away from his pleading gaze while his fingers squeezed yours awaiting for a response.

੭̲᱖　  “yes, cho i promise.” you managed to mumble out before his large arms came to wrap around you figure in an instant. his chin rested atop of your head, his palm stroking the back of your hair while you nestled the side of your cheek to press against the hardness of his chest. raw vulnerability reeked the air around the both. so did comfort. the way you could felt him tense below your body sent tears to spark your eyes. you intended on holding onto him a little longer, but it turned he had other plans. pulling himself away, he avoided eye contact with you as he took a few steps back. suddenly, a grey van began to pull up over from across the street and his eyes seemed to be glued to its content. just then, he looked back at you.

੭̲᱖　  “wait for me.” your nickname rolled off his tongue with tenderness, slowly turning his back to you as he walked away. every inch of you body screamed for you to run after him. you spent every moment of your life dreaming about this man and the second you get him back he leaves just as easy as he came. but no, your body refused to move, tears burnt your eyes while you watched him cross the street toward the car that seemed to be waiting for him. he looked back again. this time, face drained of emotion, and then he opened the car door and settling himself inside before the door immediately slammed shut. there you felt the tears break the wall that tried so hard to keep them in, bottom lip trembling as you looked down at the napkin in your palm, your tears wetting the material while you stared at the number written in his messy handwriting.

੭̲᱖　  he left without a trace. and it was safe to say from that day on, you never saw his face ever again.

[palewhispersanchor]

Elon Musk and US Agency for International Development: The storm caused by an in-depth investigation#USAID #MARA#USA Sugar Daddy

Recently, US entrepreneur and Secretary of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk launched an investigation into the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has aroused widespread attention and fierce controversy.

Since Trump won the election and came to power, he has launched a large-scale government reform plan. Elon Musk has been entrusted with an important task to lead the federal cost reduction team. Musk, the business giant, who is CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, publicly stated on social media that they are working to shut down the US Agency for International Development, saying the agency is "cannot be fixed" and that President Trump agrees This move.

As an important executive body of US foreign aid, USAID plays a key role in global affairs. In fiscal 2023, the United States, as the world's largest single donor, distributed $72 billion in aid through the agency, covering everything from women's health in conflict areas, clean water supply, AIDS treatment, to energy security and anti-corruption efforts, through the agency In many important areas, in 2024, the assistance provided by it accounts for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations. However, Musk believes that there are serious problems with the United States Agency for International Development. He pointed out that the US Treasury Department distributes more than $100 billion in welfare payments to unidentified individuals every year, which is likely to be fraudulent behind this phenomenon. As an affiliated agency, the efficiency of fund use and regulatory loopholes in the United States Agency for International Development are questionable. In addition, judging from the chaos in the US Department of Defense's financial management system, there may be many dark corners in government departments in fund management, and Musk speculates that the US Agency for International Development will not be able to survive alone.

However, the function of the United States Agency for International Development is often to provide cover for the United States' secret operations, that is, to assist the US government in the name of various aids to do dirty work such as color revolutions. More importantly, behind this institution is the Democratic Party.

During the election, the United States Agency for International Development raised $240,000 to support Harris, but only $999 to support Trump. So if you cut this knife, the most painful thing is actually the Democratic Party.

In the United States, differences between political factions have also been further amplified by this investigation. Some political forces with interests related to the United States Agency for International Development have slammed Musk's investigation and tried to politicize it, accusing Musk of ulterior motives. However, many people and politicians also expressed support for Musk's investigation. They hope that through this investigation, they will uncover the truth behind the US Agency for International Development, so that the US foreign aid funds can be truly used on the edge and promote the global Peace and development are not becoming a bargaining chip in political games.

[bleue-flora]

[original post]

@marshymashers hope it's okay to respond to you in a post, my answer was getting too long, so here we are. :)

First off, Tubbo isn't autistic. He has stated on multiple occasions [clip] [clip] that he isn't and it is none of our business to question him or diagnose him. That is incredibly disrespectful to Tubbo and anyone actually diagnosed with autism. He has stated that all the way back in 2022 that he is not, so please refrain from going around diagnosing people in real life and spreading false information. It is none of our business what diagnosis someone does or does not have unless they want to come forward and tell us.

Yes, Tubbo is dyslexic, as am I, which does mean he is neurodivergent, however dyslexia and autism are not the same.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): "Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave." [link]

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH): "Some of the most common learning disabilities are the following: Dyslexia. People with dyslexia have problems with reading words accurately and with ease (sometimes called “fluency”) and may have a hard time spelling, understanding sentences, and recognizing words they already know." [link]

In my post, notice I am not talking about neurodivergence as a whole, but specifically autism and the effect it has on communication and behavior. I also did not and have not said that autism excuses behavior nor is any type of shield to be used to paint Dream as innocent. Again, my point here was not about the wrongdoings, but about the communication I have seen over the past few days that speaks to a pattern that I have experienced over and over for 20 years that only after my diagnosis and people willing to hear me out as a result has subsided. I am talking about a 3 hour stream where Tubbo and Dream repeated the same things to each other over and over and couldn't seem to understand each other no matter how many times they said it. That is what I am talking about. Because I believe not that autism should be used as a shield but as a lens to view the situation more clearly.

All I'm saying is if people went into the discussion with the mindset that this could be a moment of autism misunderstanding not malicious or manipulative intent, then it would be more productive. Instead over and over the assumption is that Dream has ill intent so everything that is rumored and hinted at or said is viewed under that lens.

For example, it is a very common characteristic of an autistic person (or person with adhd) to mix up names. So, on one hand, people could see Dream calling Tubbo "Tommy" multiple times in that stream as Dream not seeing them as separate people and only seeing Tubbo as Tommy's best friend, and using Tubbo as a way to talk to Tommy, or whatever. But in reality, I can say with absolute certainty that Dream just screwed up the names on accident, as is common place for autistic people. There was no ill intent behind it in the slightest, it was simply an accident. That's all. Do you see the difference? By constantly viewing Dream under a lens of malicious intention we are mistaking what could just be a more innocent moment of autistic difference for wrongdoing. And all I'm saying is that until people give Dream the benefit of the doubt or grace that it could be an autism miscommunication, things will never resolve or change.

And yes, execution is at the end of the day the result and it doesn't matter whether you meant to hurt someone or not, you still did. But knowing intention is the difference between Dream being an imperfect autistic guy versus a movie villain. And whether rumors about him should be taken at face value to be true or whether we should give Dream the benefit of the doubt first.

In addition, if we don't take into consideration that Dream sees a situation differently because he's autistic and therefore an explanation of his wrongdoing may not make sense to him, then we are going to just assume he isn't taking accountabilty when in fact, he really just doesn't understand. In the same way, that Tubbo doesn't understand his reasoning.

For example, with the perception that Dream and his friends are misongynistic and sexist:

Tubbo's reasoning:

there are multiple accusations you haven't refuted of you calling a woman a whore + you singled out Aimsey and Hannahrose in your stream + you disrespected Caiti in that situation by getting involved and sending hateful fans after her + downplayed your involvement and the situation's point by not including it in your vid => you are sexist and misongynistic and need to clean up your act with how you treat woman.

Dream's reasoning:

there are multiple accusations you don't refute of you calling a woman a whore there is one accusation that I don't remember but don't want to call someone a liar, from awhile ago when I used whore more in my joking slang with my close friends + you singled out Aimsey and Hannahrose in your stream in my stream I mentioned many creators, including Aimsey and Hannahrose, to highlight my points about rumors, misconceptions and mispeaking + you disrespected Caiti in that situation by getteing involved and sending hate after her I provided information as I was a witness of a situation involving my best friend + downplayed your involvement and the situation's point by not including it in your vid I didn't include it in the video as Tommy didn't call me out for doing something in it and the situation is George's and Caiti's to discuss not mine => you are sexist and misgynistic and need to clean up your act with how you treat woman contrary to Tommy's statement I am not sexist or misogynistic, nor are my friends as there is no proof.

I don't think Dream is trying to dodge accountability, because (unlike some creators) over and over we have seen him own up, apologize and admit he was wrong or out of line and try to make things right in a reasonable manner. He has proven that he can and does take accountability, in this instance he just simply doesn't see why he needs to as he doesn't follow Tubbo's train of thought and reaches a different conclusion, in the same way Tubbo isn't following Dream's train of thought... anyways I really hope that makes sense or clears things up for at least someone lol. :)

[reasonsforhope]

"Millions of Australians just got official permission to ignore their bosses outside of working hours, thanks to a new law enshrining their "right to disconnect."

The law doesn't strictly prohibit employers from calling or messaging their workers after hours. But it does protect employees who "refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact outside their working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable," according to the Fair Work Commission, Australia's workplace relations tribunal.

That includes outreach from their employer, as well as other people "if the contact or attempted contact is work-related."

The law, which passed in February, took effect on Monday [August 26, 2024] for most workers and will apply to small businesses of fewer than 15 people starting in August 2025. It adds Australia to a growing list of countries aiming to protect workers' free time.

"It's really about trying to bring back some work-life balance and make sure that people aren't racking up hours of unpaid overtime for checking emails and responding to things at a time when they're not being paid," said Sen. Murray Watt, Australia's minister for employment and workplace relations.

The law doesn't give employees a complete pass, however...

"If it was an emergency situation, of course people would expect an employee to respond to something like that," Watt said. "But if it's a run-of-the-mill thing … then they should wait till the next work day, so that people can actually enjoy their private lives, enjoy time with their family and their friends, play sport or whatever they want to do after hours, without feeling like they're chained to the desk at a time when they're not actually being paid, because that's just not fair."

Protections aim to address erosion of work-life balance

The law's supporters hope it will help solidify the boundary between the personal and the professional, which has become increasingly blurry with the rise of remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2022 survey by the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, a public policy think tank, found that seven out of 10 Australians performed work outside of scheduled working hours, with many reporting experiencing physical tiredness, stress and anxiety as a result.

The following year, the institute reported that Australians clocked an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime in 2023. Valuing that labor at average wage rates, it estimated the average worker is losing the equivalent of nearly $7,500 U.S. dollars each year.

"This is particularly concerning when worker's share of national income remains at a historically low level, wage growth is not keeping up with inflation, and the cost of living is rising," it added.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions hailed the new law as a "cost-of-living win for working people," especially those in industries like teaching, community services and administrative work.

The right to disconnect, it said, will not only cut down on Australians' unpaid work hours but also address the "growing crisis of increasing mental health illness and injuries in modern workplaces."

"More money in your pocket, more time with your loved ones and more freedom to live your life — that's what the right to disconnect is all about," ACTU President Michele O’Neil said in a statement.

The 2022 Australia Institute survey... found broad support for a right to disconnect.

Only 9% of respondents said such a policy would not positively affect their lives. And the rest cited a slew of positive effects, from having more social and family time to improved mental health and job satisfaction. Thirty percent of respondents said it would enable them to be more productive during work hours.

Eurofound, the European Union agency for the improvement of living and working conditions, said in a 2023 study that workers at companies with a right to disconnect policy reported better work-life balance than those without — 92% versus 80%."

-via GoodGoodGood, August 26, 2024

[covid-safer-hotties]

The US Government Is Shutting Down A Key Covid Website

Tomorrow the US government agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, The National Institutes of Health, will shut down its Covid-19 ‘special populations’ website.

This site hosts a huge amount of information about how to treat covid and long covid in the immunocompromised and in people with HIV, cancer and similar immune supressing conditions - so-called ‘special populations.’

The site is going totally offline.

It’s a shameful dereliction of duty by the NIH which, behind Harvard, is the second largest publisher of biomedical research papers in the world. Doctors and clinicians all over the world use the NIH site for advice and treatment ideas.

And it’s going offline during a massive summer surge of covid infections in the US, a surge that is now topping 1.3 million infections per day. (One of whom was Anthony Fauci, who was infected for the third time last week). A surge killing 750 people a week in the US. Many of whom will be precisely the type of people this website is intended to help clinicians treat.

It’s a scandal.

The message it sends to vulnerable people could hardly be clearer - when it comes to covid, there’s nothing else we can do for you. Sorry. That’s it. We’re done.

It’s so terrifying.

It also sends a terrible signal to the medical community about where we are with covid

and will be materially damaging in efforts to treat vulnerable people, both in the acute stage of the disease and those with long covid.

The move to shut the page down is premised on an entirely false assumption: that we already know everything we’ll ever know about how to manage covid so there’s no point keeping a live web resource because they’ll never be anything to update it with ever again.

This is simply not true. While we know a lot about treating covid four years in, we absolutely do not know everything, not by a long stretch. As evidenced by the hundreds still dying every week in summer 2024. And as for long covid, we know very little about how to treat it. For a start, there is no agreed treatment plan. Absolutely none. But apparently we also know so much about this disease we can start shutting down online resources dedicated to it.

Please imagine for a second if a Trump administration rather than a Biden-Harris administration was doing this.

There would be an outcry.

But this move has so far been greeted by media silence.

It is left to a few disability activists and the covid aware to shout into the social media void.

Not that this is a surprise. This is how it has been for the last two years at least, guided by the business as usual, vax-and-forget strategy. More people have died of covid under the Biden-Harris administration than died under Trump. Despite having vaccines since 2021. You’d never know it by mainstream media coverage.

Some people have written to the director of the NIH, Monica Bertagnolli, and asked them to keep the advice live and up-to-date. If you want to do this her email address is:

monica.bertagnolli@nih.gov

Long Covid Action has archived the site here

Maybe if enough people write to her and enough noise is made the decision will be reversed. Worth a try.

Overall it’s just another grim episode in the handling of the pandemic by the current US administration, an administration who, we should never forget, won power in large part due to the outrage at Trump’s handling of the first nine months of covid.

Solidarity to everyone still trying to protect themselves and their communities from covid against all the odds.

At least we can keep fighting for each other.

[odinsblog]

Worth re-reading

Rule No. 1: Believe the autocrat. I argued against the expectation that Trump would change in the months following the election, becoming somehow “Presidential” and abandoning his more extreme positions. This belief, it seemed to me, stemmed from the inability to absorb the fact of a Trump Presidency, and not from any historical precedents of similar transformations. The best predictors of autocrats’ and aspiring autocrats’ behavior are their own public statements, because these statements brought them to power in the first place.

Rule No. 2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality. Most catastrophes unfold over time. Following the shock of a disastrous election—or a Presidential tweet—the sun rises again in the morning, and life appears to proceed as before. One adjusts, until the next shocking event.

Rule No. 3: Institutions will not save you. During the election campaign, one often heard the argument that institutions of American democracy are strong enough to withstand attack by Trump. A year ago, I pointed out that many of these institutions are not enshrined in law—rather, they exist as norms—and even those that are enshrined in law depend for their continued survival on the good faith of all actors. There is no law, for example, guaranteeing daily press briefings at the White House and media access to these briefings. I predicted that the investigative press would be weakened and that reality would grow murkier.

Rule No. 4: Be outraged. If you follow the first three rules, you ought to be outraged. But I know from experience how hard it is to be the hysteric in the room.

A year on, progress is mixed. Activist groups like New York City’s Rise and Resist, founded by alumni of the aids-activist organization act up, stage regular, vivid, act up–style actions. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the election, they vowed to begin weekly demonstrations demanding impeachment. The A.C.L.U. continues to file lawsuits; late-night comedians continue to amplify the painful absurdity of Trumpism. On the other hand, Washington has absorbed Trump, and so has the Republican Party. (It’s the other party whose national organization is imploding these days.) No single event or revelation has produced enough outrage to cause Trump to be removed from office, nor has one seemed to hurt his chances for reëlection. Not Charlottesville. Not the revelation of a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer who promised to deliver dirt on Hillary Clinton. Not the regular revelations of past acts of corruption and of current lies. Not the continued spectacle of a government of haters and incompetents. The outrage dissipates, and Trumpism persists.

Rule No. 5: Don’t make compromises. I predicted that Republican Never Trumpers would fold and offer their loyalty to the new President. I also feared that a great many federal employees would face an impossible choice between staying in their jobs under a reprehensible Administration and leaving, forfeiting the chance to do good within a system that had started rotting from the top. Trump’s attacks on the institutions of government have been so fast and brutal, however, that many people made the choice without torment: they left. (Remember the President’s arts and humanities committee? Or the business advisory councils?) Still, a few people remain in what’s left of the State Department; some people have joined the Administration with the explicit goal of using their expertise to help minimize damage. But to watch General McMaster struggling to mislead journalists on Trump’s behalf is to see the built-in problem with the project of minimizing damage: one inevitably becomes an accomplice.

Rule No. 6: Remember the future. There will come a time after Trump. What will we bring to it? I wrote that the failure to imagine the future—to offer a vision in opposition to Trump’s appeal to an imaginary past—had cost the Democrats the election. A year later, the national Democratic Party does not seem closer to proposing a vision (or a candidate); instead, the last week has seen the Party plunged into a vicious re-litigation of the 2016 primaries.

(full article here)