#plumbing career training

[mpaskills]

  Take the next step to becoming further qualified as a plumber and gasfitter in Australia! 

Advanced Training: - 

Course description 

Learning doesn’t stop at the end of an apprenticeship. MPA Skills is a trusted partner in the licensing space and offers a range of short courses designed to upskill the construction industry in WA. 

Plumbing Contractor’s Licence (PCL) – Want to start your own plumbing business or undertake managerial/supervisory positions within the plumbing industry? MPA Skills offer the following courses: Business, Drainage, Water and Sanitary which meet the nine mandatory competencies to be issued a PCL from the Plumber’s Licensing Board. 

Backflow Prevention – This unit of competence specifies the outcomes required to test, commission and maintain backflow prevention devices in water services. It covers preparation for work, identification of testing and commissioning requirements, physical testing and commissioning of devices, maintenance and completion of work finalization processes as required by the Water Corporation. 

Restricted Plumbing Permit Course – This course is Restricted to Licensed Electricians and Gasfitters with a Non-Plumbing Pathway (Due to timing of changes in the Plumbing Licencing Board’s Policy on what will be required from training to gain this permit. MPA Skills will not be offering the Restricted Plumbing Permit Course in 2023 as we cannot guarantee that the current content will satisfy the changes. We are hoping that in 2024, we will be able to offer the new requirements of this course). 

Certificate III in Gasfitting – This course is restricted to plumbers who have not achieved the gas pathway or previous gas fitters who have not held a gas permit in over 5 years. 

Gas Servicing – This course meets Building and Energy requirements in Western Australia. This unit of competence specifies the outcomes required to diagnose and repair faults on domestic and commercial Type A gas appliances. Work associated with this unit is undertaken within the scope of AS5601:2013 gas installations and local licensing requirements (gas, electrical and plumbing). 

Restricted Gas Permit Course – A trainee must hold a restricted Permit (training permit), enabling them to perform gasfitting work while working under supervision, prior to undertaking gasfitting training at the 

Certificate III or IV level. The Permit must be endorsed for the class or type of gasfitting work being undertaken. 

Gas License – This course provides participants with the skills and knowledge necessary for people licensed in Western Australia to work safely and efficiently as gas  installers. 

  FAQs:- 

1. Reasons to get Professional plumbing Training? 

Website: - https://www.mpaskills.com.au/ 

Address: - https://goo.gl/maps/1GAiF2mDqwwgtitR9 

Location: - https://plumbing.mpaskills.com.au/contact-mpa-skills/ 

Follow us on social media- 

Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/MpaSkills 

Instagram: - https://www.instagram.com/mpa_skills/ 

LinkedIn:-https://www.linkedin.com/company/mpa-skills 

YouTube:- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC48DzRpP4kmmGPwniqcBvfw/videos 

[pttedu]

Pipefitter Career Overview: Roles, Salary & Educational Path

A pipefitter career is a rewarding path with diverse roles. Read more to learn about different job roles, educational paths, and career outlook.

[andrevasims]

Pretersolaria Institute: CC-Free Uni & Individual Lots

Eventually I want to share the entirety of Rhyolite Valley, but it's a bit hairy with the 47 sims & CC hood deco & the garbage data I let seep in while playing (so I'd have to remake all of that before sharing).

I thought I'd "practice" the process of remaking the hood by starting a little smaller: The uni subhood. Since I only made a handful of sims for it (which are not included... yet) and it works aesthetically without CC hood deco. Sounds simple, right? Weelllll it took about a week of near daily effort to actually do. Makes the prospect of doing the actual hood soooo much more exciting lol /s

Anyway, that's what this is: A new university subhood template that's CLEAN & EMPTY. As a bonus (or if you just don't like the subhood), I've also included individual lot packages for every lot in the subhood to use wherever you want.

The "gimmick" of this hood is that Rhyolite Valley, and by extension Pretersolaria Institute, is entirely self-sufficient & cobbled together by the local residents. Which means there's no indoor plumbing lol.

That also means simply sitting down at a computer to write a term paper isn't as easy as a regular uni. Students have to go to THE BOOKMOBILE to access computers. Same goes for the skill building required for each semester/major. You have to venture out to the relevant community lot to find the means for skill building.

I've included in the uni's photo album & the lot descriptions which skills are available to build on each lot. It'll say "+Cooking" or whatever skill(s) the lot can provide based on the objects it has.

— WHERE/HOW TO INSTALL: —————————

Place the "PRTR" folder in its entirety in the "Program Files > EA GAMES > The Sims 2 University > TSData > Res > NeighborhoodTemplate" directory. Or whatever equivalent location you have for a TS2 University folder in the Program Files section.

Mootilda's Subhood Selection Mod is required to see additional universities below the main 3 pre-made ones.

You can then select Pretersolaria Institute in the list of options when creating a new uni subhood in a neighborhood.

— UNI SUBHOOD LOT INFO: ——————————

• Dorms: 1 (Klaatu Mobile Park)

6br / 5ba | Value: §20,444 | Size: 30 x 20

• Residential: 3 (Fulquard, Mushnick, & Burson Shack)

1br / 1ba | Value: §3,816-§3,862 | Size: 10 x 10

• Greek House: 1 (Tobor Testing Bureau)

10br / 10ba | Value: §30,363 | Size: 30 x 20

• Community: 6 (Wiploc Amphitheatre, THE BOOKMOBILE, Ikron Confectioneries, Zarkov Training Center, Big Heart Dude, Krelboined Horticulture)

• Secret Society: 1 (Temple of Laganaphyllis)

Value: §56,035 | Size: 20 x 20 | Zone: Community (individual version)

— NOTES: ———————————————————

• On 2 lots (Big Heart Dude & Wiploc Amphitheatre), I used the Seasons Music career reward The Rock Hammer for speaker deco. I used MoveObjects to delete the guitar but keep the speakers.

It's possible that either A. The guitars will respawn when you move the lot in the hood, or B. Sims will attempt to play the guitar and complain about being blocked (because I purposely blocked them).

If the guitars respawn, open the lot in Buy/Build mode and with MoveObjects On use the sledgehammer tool to remove the guitar.

If sims are complaining about not being able to reach the guitar, well they're not supposed to be able to lol. If hearing them complain is annoying, you can either use this mod that makes them stop yelling when something blocks them and leaves only the thought bubble, or delete the whole object.

• The Wiploc Amphitheatre may also have some glitchy-looking ground that you can see in neighborhood view when the camera moves. This is because I shortened the lot with Lot Adjuster. I don't know how to make it stop doing that, because I've transferred the lot to other hoods, packaged the lot, Lot Cleaner'd it, Lot Compressor'd it, moved it to the Lots & Houses Bin, etc. and it has never stopped looking like that. So again if that annoys you, remove the lot I guess?

• Please let me know if there are any additional problems.

I've never done this before specifically with a uni subhood, so it's very likely I messed up somewhere.

Additional Interior/Detail Pictures

DOWNLOAD UNI SUBHOOD: SFS | MF

DOWNLOAD INDIVIDUAL LOTS: SFS | MF

[thesimblrofficedirectory]

Welcome to The Simblr Office Directory

This blog is an archive of the submissions for the office-centric OC prompt posted by the light of Simblr, @kashisun.

Here you can browse all the amazing creations submitted by your fellow simblrs. Feel free to scroll to your delight or click one of the links under the cut to see who's on roster under (or over) a particular bureau or delegation.

Want to be added to the directory or confirm that you've been queued? Just include a link to your post in an ask off anon and it will be queued within 48 hours. Until we get through the backlog and can queue at a more leisurely pace, all ask submissions will receive a confirmation. You can always mention us, but we won't be able to provided confirmation for that method.

Leaving the company? If you'd like your post removed, just include a link to the post in an ask off anon and it will be removed. Sideblogs may require additional verification. Please allow, at most, 48 hours for the request to be honored. Removal requests will not be confirmed, only acted upon.

Every company's hierarchy is a little different. Designations for this directory are based on some of the companies I've worked for, but especially on the multi-media marketing company I work for now.

Bureaus and Their Delegations

Delegations with an * currently have low or no headcount (posted and queued). Excludes leadership.

Bureau of Client Engagement

Leadership

Billing*

Escalations*

Product Support*

Quality Assurance*

Sales*

Bureau of Compliance (Bureau-specific Internal Affairs and Auditing)

Leadership

Client Engagement*

Facilities*

Finance*

Human Resources*

Information and Technology*

Legal (General)

Legal (Leadership)

Marketing*

Bureau of Facilities

Leadership

Catering*

Environmental (Janitorial, HVAC, and Plumbing)*

Mechanical (Electrical, Elevators, Equipment Maintenance)*

Premise* (Grounds Maintenance and Real Estate)

Purchasing* (From pushpins to pallet jacks)

Security

Warehousing* (Shipping, Receiving, Mail room, and Inventory)

Bureau of Finance

Leadership

Accounting

Asset Management*

Investments*

Travel and Accommodations*

Vendor Relations*

Bureau of Human Resources

Leadership

Career Development (Internships and Internal Role Transitions)

Dependent Care*

Employee Activities Committee (Members are volunteers)

Employee Benefits*

Floating Delegates (Administration) (For profiles that list a nondescript secretary/admin/receptionist/assistant role)

Floating Delegates (General) (For profiles that do not list a position)

Floating Delegates (Leadership) (For profiles that list a nondescript managerial role)

Health Services*

Payroll*

Recruiting*

Training*

Union Relations*

Bureau of Information & Technology

Leadership

Data Security*

Infrastructure*

Public Relations

Research and Development*

Systems and Devices*

Telecommunications*

Bureau of Marketing

Leadership

Copy

Design

Planning and Implementation*

Board of Directors

Chief Officers

CEO - Chief Executive Officer/President

COO - Chief Operations Officer/Vice President

CCO - Chief Compliance Officer/Vice President

CFO - Chief Finance Officer/Vice President

CITO - Chief Information and Technology Officer/Vice President

CMO - Chief Marketing Officer/Vice President

Executive Administration* (Admins that report to chief officers)

[pianokantzart]

The Super Mario Bros. Redux (Pt. 2)

What would happen if, in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, after Mario and Luigi are separated, Mario was the one who ended up in the clutches of Luigi’s eventual arch nemesis, while Luigi teamed up with some of his own close allies to go rescue him?

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 ________

While on the train, E. Gadd and Luigi mostly keep to themselves. Luigi stares silently out the window trying to absorb everything that's happened while the professor tinkers with his vaccuum device, which Luigi now knows to be The Poltergust 3000. However, as night begins to fall, E. Gadd finally breaks the silence between them.

He asks about the tools Luigi carries and mentions that though they seem to be mainly for plumbing, there's a few mixed in that are better suited for engine repair. Luigi explains that while he and his brother's main profession is as plumbers, he does like to tinker a little– mostly fixing up the van or repairing household appliances.

E. Gadd seems happy to meet another tinkerer– even one so inexperienced in comparison– and asks Luigi if he ever considered a change of careers. Luigi declines, insisting he'd never leave his brother, saying he is "twice the plumber than I am a mechanic."

E. Gadd notes how much Luigi seems to admire his brother. Luigi confirms wholeheartedly and gushes about how great Mario is until he gets caught up in how much he misses him. Not wanting to make a scene by getting choked up, he distracts himself by asking E. Gadd about his work, and if he himself has a partner.

The Professor explains he's an inventor, and though his experiments are fairly eclectic his main area of expertise is ghosts and spirits. As for a work partner, he dismisses the very notion. He has happily lived and worked alone his entire life, and would have been perfectly content to stay that way had ghosts not raided his lab back in Evershade Valley.

Luigi– just now learning that Evershade Valley was E. Gadd's home– offers his condolences, but Elvin shrugs him off and assures that it's fine, as he's already working on a solution.

Suddenly, the train screeches to a stop, and the lights overhead shut off. Luigi starts growing nervous, and assures himself out loud that it's probably only a minor problem, and they'll be back on track in no time.

The Professor isn't so sure. He pulls out his handheld device he had used earlier (which looks uncannily like a Nintendo DS) and examines the readings. He gives a foreboding "oh dear," and Luigi asks what's wrong.

E. Gadd explains that many kingdoms have at least one haunted location, called a "ghost house." The Birabuto Kingdom is no exception, and they were passing by that very house at that moment. While the ghosts who resided there usually kept to themselves unless their home was invaded, the shattered Dark Moon likely allowed them to target any living thing passing through the area.

Then, a creepy, raspy voice comes on over the intercom: "Please remain in your seats. We will be with you shortly! Hee hee hee hee!"

Luigi lets out a little squeak of terror and curls up tighter into his seat. E. Gadd gets up and starts walking toward the engine room, lighting his way with a flashlight at the end of the nozzle of The Poltergust 3000.

"Professor!" Luigi calls in a frightened whisper "What are you doing!?" "Relax Kiddo, I catch ghosts all the time!" E. Gadd assures, giving Luigi a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "It's like riding a bike for me! You just sit back, I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Professor E. Gadd makes his way to the train's engine room. As he suspected, the drivers are knocked out, and a large band of about ten boos are wreaking havoc. Among them is a ghost dog, though it merely seems to be innocently concerned with the unconscious drivers, playfully sniffing them, nudging them, and bounding around their sleeping bodies.

The Professor wastes no time confronting the spirits, but as they fight back he is quickly overwhelmed.

Before any true harm can befall E. Gadd, Luigi suddenly appears in the doorway and rushes to his aid.

With E. Gadd struggling to get back to his feet, Luigi takes possession of The Poltergust and– though visibly panicking– makes quick work of all the ghosts except two: a single boo that flies off through an open window, and the dog ghost who phases into a nearby wall.

E. Gadd, dazed but ultimately uninjured, compliments the still trembling Luigi on his skills with The Poltergust. Though he is a little annoyed that the device was taken without permission, he confesses that the outcome more than makes up for it.

After E. Gadd and Luigi check on the drivers and confirm they too are unharmed, they look over the engine. Thankfully, all damage is surface level, and after getting the lights back on Luigi and E. Gadd work together to get the control panel functioning again.

Then they return to their seats, E. Gadd assuring the confused fellow passengers that it was merely a small electrical error that had now been repaired. After a moment the dazed voice of one of the train drivers speaks over the intercom, apologizing for the delay as the engine revs back up, and Luigi and E. Gadd continue toward the capital of The Birabuto Kingdom.

The scene transitions to Evershade Valley where, deep below the foundations of the mansion Mario had attempted to seek refuge in, phantoms twirl around a grand, ghostly ballroom, overseen by a giant dark-eyed boo in a gemstone crown.

The little boo who had avoided capture on the train suddenly enters. Once he finds the courage to uncover his face, he reports to his king that recent efforts to stop E. Gadd from reaching The Birabuto Kingdom have failed.

King Boo demands to know how the mission could've possibly been a failure considering the numbers they had at their disposal and how frail and weak E. Gadd has gotten over the years.

The boo explains that E. Gadd wasn't alone this time and that another human was with him, young and strong, wielding The Poltergust 3000 in the scientist's stead.

King Boo demands a name. The smaller boo doesn't know, but can give a description: mustachioed, big nosed, and dressed in a hat and overalls.

This intrigues the king. He dismisses the frightened boo and calls upon Boolossus, telling him to bring his newest painting to The Secret Altar beneath the courtyard.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

James Earl Jones passed away today at the age of 93 💔Jones was an Army veteran who used the GI Bill** to study acting before launching a career that included providing the voice for Darth Vader and portraying Admiral James Greer in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.

James Earl Jones became a voice of rolling thunder as one of America's most versatile actors in a stage, film and television career that plumbed race relations, Shakespeare's tragedies.

Jones climbed to Broadway and Hollywood stardom with talent, eventually landing starring roles like Darth Vader in "Star Wars" and Mufasa in "The Lion King." He appeared in Conan the Barbarian and was Eddie®Murphy's dad in Coming to America.

He was one of the few entertainers to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards) for his prodigious career.

** GI Bill benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you're training for a job. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training

RIP James Earl Jones 1931-2024 💔

#JamesEarlJones #legendary #actor #icon #Mufasa #darthvader #legend #memories #childhood #nostalgia #nostalgic

Posted 9th September 2024

[ashleywool]

but getting older means more awkward situations

Turned 37 yesterday. The 34 guilty convictions were a very nice present. Probably the best present I've ever received, including last year, when my present was a literal Broadway contract (ok, technically we found out on June 22, but tomato/tomahto).

A less nice present was the letter from my building management informing me that if I renew my lease (which I won't), my rent will be raised to what would have been 33% of my net income if HTDIO was still running. It was about 29% before, which is still a lot, but worth it for the ability to have no roommates in a decent apartment.

And when I say "decent," I mean decent in that it checks most of the basic boxes amenable to a reasonable quality of life. That is, if you don't mind having a walkup with a perpetually dysfunctional kitchen ceiling light, a radiator that you can't turn on, water damage on the ceiling due to other people's radiator dysfunction, construction outside your window during the day, aggressively loud pedicabs in the evening, and squeaky garbage trucks at 1am. So basically, a decent quality of life for heavy sleepers (which I am not) with fully functional body temperature regulation (again, not me) and no mobility issues whatsoever (I do check that box, at least for now).

The plus sides are: it's right in Hell's Kitchen, and within walking distance to most of the places I regularly go, it's a reasonably sturdy and non-fire-hazardy building for its age (which means I feel comfortable leaving my cats there) with functional plumbing and electricity (except the kitchen ceiling light), never had a pest problem, the refrigerator and microwave are brand new and excellent quality, the oven is younger than me, although it's small, and only one of the burners doesn't work.

I'm no stranger to the horror stories of NYC apartment living. I know I'm still more privileged than most to live in a place that's decent.

But it's not "you need a six-figure income and perfect credit just to APPLY to live here" decent.

It's not "you owe $9K in deposits and broker fees before you even move in" decent.

It's not "you must have either consistent exorbitant wealth or significant supplementary generational wealth in order to stay here" decent.

"So just get a job. Just get a roommate. Just put up with more problems. Suck it up. Or move back in with one of your parents again."

Sure. Okay. I'd love to. But.

When the minimum wage is $16 an hour, this isn't a "just get a job" problem.

When you're a highly trained professional at the highest level of your field and you're unemployed because corporate landlords were mad that your show wasn't selling $800 tickets in the middle of January like your neighbors at Merrily, this isn't a "just leave the industry" problem.

When finding a new career that would pay anything near what you need to live in this city would require taking out a small fortune in student loans to get another degree just to qualify for entry-level jobs that still won't pay your bills until you significantly advance, this isn't a "you majored in theatre, what did you expect" problem.

When you're autistic and chronically fatigued, fastidious about cleanliness and clutter, and religiously adhere to schedules and routines and predictability in your own space, this isn't a "just get a roommate" problem.

When you are a more-famous-than-average individual whose autism is directly tied to the things you're best known for, and Reddit is full of nightmare stories about what it means to have an autistic roommate, and Reddit is also rife with lies and rumors about you specifically, this isn't a "just get a roommate" problem.

And while I love my parents and have great relationships with both of them and they are doing everything they can to support me...for complicated logistical and personal reasons that are none of the Internet's business, "just move back in with your parents" is not a super helpful solution either.

But if I don't find a miracle between now and the end of August, that's probably what I'll end up doing.

And the crazy thing is, the fact that that's even an option for me STILL makes me more privileged than MOST people.

Nobody should have to face the situation I'm facing, and yet millions of people--especially disabled people--face this and worse, with far less support than I have. A cornerstone of my advocacy has been pointing out this inequity as often as I can, and trying to use my privilege and platform to help and amplify people who don't have those resources.

At this point in my career, I am supposed to be throwing down the ladder. Instead, and in spite of everything, I'm clinging to the ladder for dear life while the rungs crack beneath my feet.

And it all comes down to the landlords.

Legislation that limits the acquisition power and earning power of property owners, and enacts strict rent caps for residential AND business buildings, would solve 98% of my problems and approximately 75% of everyone else's problems in this city. (Please don't quote me on these statistics, they are sourced directly from my ass and are for idealistic illustrative purposes only.)

Anyway. Um.

34 felony convictions is still a beautiful thing.

[thedarknesssings]

Prompt 17: One Could Hope

Prompt 17: Free Write  - FFXIV Write 2023 Characters:  Lord Armand de Courcelle, mentions of the children.

Morning was the only quiet time the father of a house of ten children knew.  Armand took advantage of this fact.  Dawn crept in and a servant quietly snuck into his room to drag the heavy drapes open.  Sunlight spilled across his bed, the gentle light pulling him from his reveries and into the waking world once more.  

A groan slid from his lips as he turned over onto his back.  An arm drifted across his pillow while the sheets twisted around his hips.  After nearly seventy years of waking, it wasn’t getting any easier.  His bones ached in the morning when before it had only been his left leg and arm, where the injuries from the war had been severe enough to send him home for good.  Back into the arms of his overjoyed wife expecting their second.  

In hindsight he was grateful now that life had seen fit to send him home.  His father died fighting the dragons and left him inheriting young, but not before he had arranged his marriage to a girl from House Dzamael.  Fortune smiled upon him to bless him with a wife he’d come to love very much.  She’d gifted him with ten fine children and given her life bringing the last one into the world.  Armand was content he could spend the last years of her life at her side, raising their brood.

A throat cleared nearby.  “My Lord.”  The servant  intoned.  Armand briefly had to wonder if they trained to sound that way.  “Shall I ring for breakfast to be brought here today?”

“No,”  He rolled his head to peer into the light, eyes squinting.  The silhouette of the servant was all he could make out of them.  “In the study, please.  And draw me a bath first.”  

Armand closed his eyes and listened as the servant left, their steps soft and the door eased closed.  If he thought he could get away with lying in bed all day, he may have tried that today.  His feet found the floor and his hands found his hair, raking through the long loose locks.  Black as the night and now salted liberally with grey and white strands.  

He had aged well, or so he thought.  The few lines on his face were happy ones, crows feet at the corners of his eyes and the gentle curves to either side of his lips marking a man with plenty of reason to smile over the years.  A few worry lines creased his brow but they weren’t as deep as the others.  His scars had faded to pale lines in his flesh, jagged and raised though the ones on his leg were.  Eighteen years later and the scar on his heart had also faded.  He had told his children last night that he was considering finding a companion of his own.

Their responses had been supportive.  A brief huff of laughter sounded at the memory.  Ulysses had always been a strange child, but the chosen phrasing over the situation had stunned Armand.  Having his halls plumbed?  The very images that brought to mind stained Armand’s face anew with crimson.  

In all his long years, he’d only ever been with Adorinna.  They married young, but his military career had kept him away from her and her bed for some time.  Like Dauvaunt, Armand had been a late bloomer.  The confusion over desire and the focus of it held him hostage from taking action.  He found women attractive and knew he could learn to love them as his past had proved, but his fantasies had always revolved around men.

And now he was free to explore those desires.  If he could find anyone interested in a near seventy year old, Ishgardian Viscount with as many children as one had fingers.  Armand groaned again and shoved himself out of his bed.  At least he didn’t suffer from grand delusions on the matter.  His children’s trials in love were all the dashing of hopes he needed. Yet he’d given them leave to find him appropriate matches.  Maybe looking on his behalf would result in them finding their own desires met.

“Your bath is ready, My Lord.”  The servant called from the adjoining room.

“Ah, thank you.”  Armand replied, pulling on his house robe.

The morning and all its quiet glory awaited him.

[celticcrossanon]

Celta: “That is a good catch. I know Harry got his provisional wings (passed the first bit of the training), but I have yet to see any article about him getting his actual wings (completed his training and qualified to fly).”

Hmm…this could describe Sparry’s truncated career as a working royal, as well. Poor H, always falling short of complete, true success (whether in his education, military career/pilot’s wings, royal career, marriage/parenting, finances, you name it), but at least he’s consistent lol��a consistent underachiever.

IIRC he has not received the Order of the Royal Garter, either, while William long ago has. Charles would be the one to bestow it on H, and that seems highly unlikely at this point. Wait until Catherine - and in the fullness of time, George, Charlotte, and Louis, too - become members of the Garter (ie “earn their wings”), while Harry languishes without. He hasn’t even begun to plumb the depths of true “Spareness.”

*

Hi Nonny,

Sad but true. Harry does not seem to be able to bring any project to a successful conclusion. Part of that is that the requirements are beyond him, like in his education  (he just did not have the academic ability to do well, and no shame for that, as many of us struggle with one or more academic subjects, myself included) and part of it is his lack of work ethic and the expectation that exceptions will always be made for him. In my opinion, anyway.

You are right, Harry does not have the Order of the Garter. The only order of chivalry he has is the Royal Victorian Order, and that is at a lower grade than other royal family members - The Princess Royal is the Grand Master of the order and a Dame Grand Cross (the highest level), The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, The Duke of York, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Queen Camilla and The Princess of Wales are all Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCVO, the highest level of the order), and Harry is only a Knight Commander (KCVO), the next level down in the order of chivalry. 

It is interesting that his grandmother never raised Harry to a higher level of the Victorian Order and never gave him any of the other orders of chivalry (Knight of the Garter or Knight of the Thistle - Prince William is both, as is Princess Anne and other members of the royal family). 

[nervosims]

Gryps Hilago Ruleset

Osiyo! Welcome to Gryps Hilago. This BACC isn't necessarily starting from scratch, per see. Moreso, the families have lived on the land for quite some time (and have stubbornly refused to leave). The 'founder' is just the one sim with initiative to transform the ghost town into something nicer.

This is an Esotheria stan account, so I'm pretty much abiding by those rules (with some alterations).

RESTRICTIONS

- No electronics. So things like TVs, stereos, computers, electr-... you get the idea. Period appropriate 'hidden' appliances are a-okay, however (within reason, of course). Things that feel too cheaty will probably get ignored (so hidden TVs are a no-go).

- No running water. Sims can take baths, shower, the whole lot... but they won't have the luxury of plumbing. With mods like Fetch Water and Water Require for Bathing, this is pretty easy to manage.

- No cars... except horses. Horses are a-okay. New families'll need to raise and train the horse (with the help of Barnyard Bash). However, it makes sense for my founders to already have horses, right?

- No delivery services

- No services

- No fertilising. Dude... I'm totally not gonna stick to this.

- No community lots (at the start). I do have some parks, mining outposts, etc. but they're more for lore than actual use. So they're more like places to grab water and materials for crafting. They don't earn me CAS points... but they're so pretty :)

- No businesses that sell stuff you can't craft/catch/grow (remember, no deliveries!).

- No hobby lots.

- No townies

FOUNDER

Only the politics career is available and it's only available for the founder. Our founder is the de-facto mayor, and every promotion means better stuff for the town

- (Lvl 3) Lobbyist: Befriend a sim who has the Mechanical skill maxed out to gain access to electricity & running water. I think, lore-wise, they should have some sort of power generated. Like a power plant. I'll expand on this a bit more later.

- (Lvl 4) Campaign Manager: Befriend a sim who is the owner of a business to unlock community lots & townies.

- (Lvl 6) State Assembly Person: Politics is now unlocked to everyone (but only one sim can be Mayor at any given time)

- (Lvl 8) Judge: Befriend a sim who is highest in the Law Enforcement career to unlock the Law career. - (Lvl 10) Mayor: Downtown unlocked.

UNLOCKING the CAREERS

- ATHLETIC: Add connection to Downtown and build a stadium with town funds ($50,000) - MILITARY: Add connection to Downtown and build a Military Base with town funds ($50,000). Only one Sim can be General at any given time. - BUSINESS: Once one of your Sims’s businesses reaches top rank, they can enter the career. When they reach the top of the career, it is unlocked for everyone. - SCIENCE: The career is open to any Sim with maxed out logic skill and a golden talent badge in Robotics. Once they reach the top of the career, they build a research facility with town funds ($50,000) and the career is unlocked for everyone with a University degree in Physics. - CRIMINAL: When the population reaches 100, a place in the Criminal career opens up. Once the top of the career is reached, it is unlocked for everyone, but only one Sim can be Evil Mastermind at any given time. - SLACKER: Once the population reaches a multiple of 500, a position in the career opens up. The career is unlocked to everyone when a connection to Downtown is added. - CULINARY: the Sim entering the career has to open a restaurant business. It does not have to reach a particular rank, but needs to be played at least one day a week. Once they reach the top of the career they can start hiring personnel, and the career is unlocked for everyone. - LAW ENFORCEMENT: A position opens when the town has had its first burglary. Once the Sim has reached the top of the career, they build a Police Station with town funds ($30,000), and start recruiting more law enforcers, unlocking the career for everyone. Burglar alarms are unlocked. Only one Sim can be Captain Hero at any given time. - MEDICINE: When one of your Sims has fallen ill, and has passed on their disease to at least 2 other sims, a position opens to one Sim who has studied Physiology. Once they reach the top of the career, they build a Hospital with town funds ($70,000), unlocking the career for everyone with a University diploma in Biology.

EP CAREERS: - EDUCATION: A position opens up once the first child in your town reaches childhood. Once the town’s teacher reaches the top of the career, they build a school with town funds ($20,000), and the career is unlocked for everyone with any University degree. - ARCHITECTURE: Unlocked when a connection to Downtown has been established. - SHOW BUSINESS: Unlocked when a connection to Downtown has been established - ADVENTURE: Unlocked when the founder builds a museum community lot ($30,000). Once the top of the career is reached, it’s unlocked for everyone. - GAMER: career unlocked to every sim who owns a computer, tv, console and arcade game, after Electricity has been added. - INTELLIGENCE: Unlocked once the top of the Law Enforcement and Military career have been reached, but is only open to Sims who graduated college with a GPA of 4.0 - OCEANOGRAPHY: open to any Sim with a golden fishing talent badge. Once the first Sim reaches the top of the career, it is unlocked for everyone with a University degree in Biology. - DANCE, ENTERTAINMENT: Unlocked when the founder builds a cultural center ($50,000) - JOURNALISM: Unlocked when a connection to Downtown has been established. A position opens up everytime there have been 5 burglaries where items have actually been stolen (burglaries interrupted by the burglary alarm do not count), 5 Sim-Instigated fires where an object actually burned down (fires put out by the fire department do not count), or a Sim reaches the top of any career. - LAW: A position opens up every time a Sim gets furious at someone. To enter the career this way, a Sim needs to have studied Couples Counselling. The career is unlocked for everyone with a University degree in Political Science once the Founder has fulfilled his requirements as a Judge. - MUSIC: Unlocked to everyone when at least 3 instruments have been placed on a community lot. - ARTIST: Unlocked when a connection to Downtown has been established. The career is open to any sim who has sold at least 5 masterpieces. - PARANORMAL:  A position opens when the town builds a cemetery and 5 graves have been sent to it. Additional positions open whenever a Sim is turned into a creature (vampire, werewolf, witch, zombie) or an alien is born. - NATURAL SCIENCE: The career is open for any Sim with a golden gardening talent badge and a University degree in Biology.

EARNING HOOD ADDITIONS

Community Lots: When the founder is promoted to Lvl 4. Either a playable sims buys a lot, or the town funds are used for the new business. Not only that, but you earn 1 CAS Sim (how cool). You can make these sims whenever, there's truly no rush.

Downtown: Once at Lvl 10, the founder unlocks access to the Downtown region via railway (it's the Old West... it's definitely the railway). Hobby lots are also accessible. Of course, it comes at a cost ($500,000) but look on the bright side! We get 5 CAS sims.

University: Unlocked when your town’s teacher reaches the top of the Education career. They have gathered enough renown and connections to set up their own campus of Sim State University. The Mayor will be required to fund the start of the construction, costing the town $500,000 The establishing of a new campus naturally draws new students to the area. You earn 5 CAS Sims.

Shopping District: Unlocked when your town has 5 player owned businesses of any rank, and the Business Career is unlocked. The Mayor will be required to fund the acquisition and conversion of the new stretch of land, costing the town $1,000,000 More businesses means more job openings, and your town attracts Sims looking for work. You earn 10 CAS sims.

TAXES

I've never played with taxes, so I'm playing with them from the start. Taxes will all go to Sheriff Qaletaqa Brokejaw. I imagine she's an incredibly trusted member of Gryps Hilago, and she's storing it for community use sometime in the future. She'll hold onto the taxes until our founder becomes The Mayor (I imagine this is when she finally begins to trust Ayizan... she's a hard lady to impress).

Taxes are paid on the first day with Money Order, and are stored away using Rainy Day Savings. Donations are also accepted, and will be added to the tax pool.

Households are divided into tiers based on their total funds (check from neighborhood screen): Upper Class (net worth $150,000+) Middle Class (net worth $70,000-$150,000) Lower Class (net worth $30,000-$70,000) Poverty (net worth below $30,000)

Each tier earnsEach tier earns the city tax per week based on the number of sims in that household: Upper Class: $1,000/Sim Middle Class: $500/Sim Lower Class: $250/Sim Poverty: $100/Sim

SIM MULTIPLIER

The SM is just a number that you will multiply your number of playable Sims by in order to get the city’s population. The goal of this challenge is create a city with a population of at least 50,000.

At the start of the challenge, the SM is 1. As you progress and unlock certain additions for your neighborhood you’ll increase your SM. Points for your SM are added as follows: +1 for your first community lot +1 when you reach a total of 5 community lots +1 for every additional 5 community lots +5 for adding a Downtown +5 for each Business District +5 for each University -From now on when population is mentioned, it simply means your total number of playable Sims multiplied by your SM.

EXTRAS

Electricity and Running Water: PersimmonSimmer has a really cool rule for getting running water/electricity. A power plant must be built for sims to be able to use electricity. This plant will cost $75,000 and can be purely decorative. Same for a Water Treatment Plant ($75,000) that unlocks running water.

Phones: For phones, both mobile and landline, there should be some sort of structure for them, right? So phone towers are $75,000 as well... No I don't hate my self :).

LINKS:

- Esotheria's BACC Rules

- Nepheris’ BACC Rules

- PersimmonSimmer's BACC Rules

- Olivethegreat’s BACC rule additions - MCC Rules - Redmond-flats BACC rule changes, additions and tweaks

MODS: - ACR V2   - Visitor Controller - iCad’s Aging Mod + Kidsimblr ACR fertility tweak for iCad’s Aging mod + Chris Hatch’s Neighborhood Age Correct - Invisible Fishing Pond - Gain hygiene from Hot tubs - Cyjon’s Job Stopinator - Simlogical School System

DOCS & REFERENCES:DOCS & REFERENCES: - Excel spreadsheet for Nepheris’ BACC - Taxes spreadsheet for MCC (long post by Eumachia) - Mortia’s Medieval Game Setup Guide (contains tons of awesome tips & links!)

[transbookoftheday]

Roller Girl by Vanessa North

Recently divorced Tina Durham is trying to be self-sufficient, but her personal-training career is floundering, her closest friends are swept up in new relationships, and her washing machine has just flooded her kitchen. It’s enough to make a girl cry.

Instead, she calls a plumbing service, and Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario comes to the rescue. Joe is sweet, funny, and good at fixing things. She also sees something special in Tina and invites her to try out for the roller derby team she coaches.

Derby offers Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Joe cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help but want more.

With work still on the rocks and her relationship in the closet, Tina is forced to reevaluate her life. Can she be content with a secret lover? Or with being dependent on someone else again? It’s time for Tina to tackle her fears, both on and off the track.

[mpaskills]

The Significance of Professional Plumbing Training

Introduction:

The plumbing industry serves as a linchpin in upholding the health and safety of our communities. Whether it's guaranteeing access to clean drinking water or facilitating proper sewage disposal, plumbers oversee the intricate network of pipes and fixtures that keep our homes and businesses functioning seamlessly. To thrive in this pivotal profession, formal plumbing training isn't merely advantageous; it's indispensable. In this blog post, we will explore the compelling reasons why plumbing career training, encompassing training courses and apprenticeships, is of paramount importance for aspiring plumbers.

In-Depth Knowledge and Skill Enhancement: Plumbing stands as a multifaceted vocation, necessitating an in-depth grasp of diverse systems, codes, and regulations. Formal plumbing training programs furnish comprehensive insights into the fundamentals and intricacies of plumbing, encompassing aspects like pipe installation, water distribution, drainage systems, and sewage systems. Through a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, budding plumbers acquire the technical proficiency required to diagnose and resolve real-world plumbing challenges.

Adherence to Building Codes and Regulations: One of a plumber's foremost responsibilities involves ensuring that all plumbing endeavors conform rigorously to local building codes and regulations. Disregarding these codes can lead to perilous situations and legal repercussions. Formal plumbing training equips individuals with the essential knowledge needed to comprehend and uphold these codes, ultimately safeguarding the welfare and security of the community.

Apprenticeships: A Tutorship by Seasoned Plumbers Plumbing apprenticeships constitute an integral facet of the learning process. During an apprenticeship, aspirants work in tandem with seasoned professionals, imbibing the nuances of the trade. This hands-on exposure is invaluable, enabling apprentices to translate their theoretical understanding into practical applications. Furthermore, apprentices glean insights into best practices, industry benchmarks, and time-honored methodologies from mentors boasting years of experience.

Skill Refinement and Adaptability: The plumbing industry undergoes perpetual transformation, with novel technologies and materials constantly entering the scene. Formal plumbing training ensures that individuals remain abreast of the latest advancements. This adaptability is indispensable in an arena where plumbers must continually hone their skills to cater to evolving client needs and align with emerging industry standards.

Laying a Robust Foundation: Formal plumbing training establishes a sturdy groundwork for a prosperous career. It endows individuals with a meticulously structured curriculum that encompasses fundamental topics, ranging from the rudiments of plumbing systems to advanced troubleshooting techniques. This foundation not only empowers aspiring plumbers to excel in their initial roles but also sets the stage for career progression and specialization.

Prioritizing Safety: Plumbers wield an array of tools, equipment, and materials that can pose safety hazards if not wielded with expertise. Formal training places a premium on safety protocols and procedures, diminishing the likelihood of on-the-job accidents or injuries. Familiarity with handling hazardous substances, navigating confined spaces, and taking precautions when dealing with high-pressure systems is pivotal for both the plumber's well-being and that of those in their vicinity.

Certification and Licensing: Numerous regions mandate that plumbers secure certifications or licenses to practice professionally. Formal plumbing training often integrates preparatory elements for these examinations, ensuring that graduates meet the requisite criteria to attain licensed status. Possessing the appropriate credentials not only validates one's expertise but also widens the spectrum of job prospects and augments earning potential.

Career Progression: A formal plumbing education lays the foundation for career advancement. As plumbers amass experience and accrue supplementary certifications, they can explore specialized niches within the field, such as pipefitting, steamfitting, or achieving the status of a master plumber. Armed with the right training, dedication, and experience, plumbers can ascend to supervisory positions or even embark on entrepreneurship in the plumbing domain.

Conclusion

In the realm of plumbing, formal training transcends being a luxury; it emerges as an imperative. Plumbing career training, encompassing training courses and apprenticeships, equips budding plumbers with the knowledge, skills, and safety acumen requisite for triumph in this indispensable trade. From upholding compliance with building codes to keeping pace with industry innovations, formal training paves the way for a fulfilling and rewarding plumbing career. Thus, if you contemplate a future in plumbing, consider your investment in education and training as the cornerstone for your professional odyssey in the realm of pipelines and fixtures.

[pttedu]

Building Tomorrow: Empowering Through Skilled Trades in Philadelphia

In the heart of Philadelphia lies an opportunity to shape the future through skilled trades training. Our programs offer a gateway to hands-on learning, providing essential skills and expertise in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more. Through mentorship and practical experience, we empower individuals to forge successful careers. Join us in sculpting a brighter tomorrow through the artistry and proficiency of skilled trades.

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

Roller Girl by Vanessa North

goodreads

Recently divorced Tina Durham is trying to be self-sufficient, but her personal-training career is floundering, her closest friends are swept up in new relationships, and her washing machine has just flooded her kitchen. It’s enough to make a girl cry. Instead, she calls a plumbing service, and Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario comes to the rescue. Joe is sweet, funny, and good at fixing things. She also sees something special in Tina and invites her to try out for the roller derby team she coaches. Derby offers Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Joe cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help but want more. With work still on the rocks and her relationship in the closet, Tina is forced to reevaluate her life. Can she be content with a secret lover? Or with being dependent on someone else again? It’s time for Tina to tackle her fears, both on and off the track.

Mod opinion: I've read and enjoyed this book a few years ago. I remember it being quite sweet.

[denimbex1986]

'Andrew Scott felt no fear when the script for All of Us Strangers first came his way—a little surprising given that he saw everything the project would demand of him then and there. “I immediately knew that I would have to go to a childish place within myself, a place that I feel like I’ve escaped from—which is a place of real loneliness,” he says on this week’s Little Gold Men (listen to the full interview below). “There was something I saw in the role that I understood immediately.”

Fast-forward to more than a year later, when Scott, after both wrapping production and enduring a SAG-AFTRA strike that delayed his ability to promote the movie, finally sat in his first public screening of the film in Los Angeles. “I felt like I was sitting naked in a room of 350 people,” he says with a laugh. “I know there’s a certain degree of nakedness in the movie anyway—physical nakedness—but I was kind of alarmed by how raw it felt.” He then adds, “But that’s okay. That’s my job.”

Therein lies Scott’s unique ability to plumb emotional depths without hesitation while simultaneously seeing the bigger, richer picture. In All of Us Strangers, he plays Adam, a screenwriter who’s living alone in a London tower block and has his world turned upside down with a few chance encounters. One is with Harry (Paul Mescal), a neighbor he slowly falls for. Another is with his parents, who died 30 years ago—but appear to him now in the form of Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, as if they had never passed on.

The blossoming of these relationships, within writer-director Andrew Haigh’s daring metaphysical conceit, demands an extraordinary vulnerability from the film’s lead actor—in the biggest screen role of his career, no less. Scott, who is gay, deeply identified with the story’s careful psychosexual impression of queer life and pain, and he brought a great deal of himself to the part: “I’ve never met [Haigh’s] parents, and he’s never met mine, but I felt like that character had to be a weird marriage between me and [Haigh].”

Scott’s pressing of such tender wounds makes for one of the most devastating performances of the year. His tears flow onscreen with the potency of a volcanic eruption. “There’s no way that I was ever going to draw on anybody else’s experience but my own and bring that, even if that makes me feel vulnerable,” he says. “I don’t really mind. In fact, I think it’s a bit of an honor to be able to show that side.” He’s speaking for himself here, but you feel that pride, that gift, as a viewer too. The sense of heartbreak, longing, and hope is so clear, so present, you can practically touch it.

This is not the first significant role of Scott’s impressive career. His portrayal of Hamlet on the London stage earned widespread acclaim. His Fleabag Hot Priest still inspires memes. But as far as top-lining an Oscar-contending movie from a major Hollywood studio, it’s an obvious breakthrough. “Your hope as an actor is that you’re not going to get pigeonholed, or that people don’t cast you based on your box office opening or even the fact that you may not have played loads of leading roles in film,” he says. “When I was growing up, the idea that a film like this would even exist, and that I would be able to play that role in it—it’s miraculous.” And Strangers, hitting US theaters on December 22 via Searchlight, seems to mark only the beginning of a far more public era for the Dublin-born Scott. He has the titular role in Netflix’s fresh take on The Talented Mr. Ripley coming up next.

Yet the unadorned rigor of this stage-trained actor, who recently completed a tour de force Vanya run on the West End, remains firmly evident. He embodies Strangers’ Adam with an intricate attention to physical detail. “You don’t want somebody pretending to be a boy, but you want a sense of the vulnerability of a child, and also somebody who is learning to fall in love as an adult—and how those things are intertwined,” he says. “I don’t know if that is apparent in watching, but it’s a very, very tactile film…. Even the way he is able to be embraced by his parents, and then learns to be the embracer of Harry, it’s something that I had to map out silently for myself.” One lovely scene later in the movie finds Adam back in his childhood home, wearing pajamas and curling up into bed alongside his parents—with, again, all three actors in question roughly the same age. It’d feel absurd, bordering on campy, if not for Scott’s gentle verisimilitude. “I feel very proud of it,” he says of the sequence. “It takes work.”

For Scott, there’s a direct connection between the way he plays a moment like this and the many frank, sensual sex scenes between Harry and Adam. “Adam wouldn’t have really touched many people in a long time,” the actor says. Haigh devises an authentic and gradual trajectory for the character to find himself sexually with the new man in his life—and it’s sold by the sweet, subtle chemistry between Scott and Mescal, who’ve become close friends out of the production. “We have a very special bond,” Scott says. “I think it added something to this burgeoning relationship, because we had a burgeoning relationship ourselves.”

This did not mean the sex scenes were straightforward. The choreography, developed with an intimacy coordinator, needed to be balanced with spontaneity: listening to each other, being present in the moment. Of shooting these sequences with Mescal, Scott admits, “It was a bit scary at the beginning. Then you get more used to it—and he’s great fun. The good thing about working with somebody that you love is that the process is really enjoyable.” The changing dynamic between their characters presented its own challenge. “How do you portray nervousness? How do you portray lust? That’s a really interesting one, and Paul and I’s chemistry in real life is actually kind of irrelevant,” Scott says. “I was playing a very, very lonely, quite repressed character, which I don’t feel in my own life—and that’s a great challenge. It’s wonderful because it speaks to me of empathy, and that’s what our jobs are.”

There, again, Scott reflects on acting in terms of execution. He examines the work, even on a film as intimate and humane as this, like a technician, bringing his best solutions to the complex dilemmas presented by the script. For a film that hit so personally, Scott had to turn inward for answers. “It takes a lot of mental work and my imagination—about what note you should play and, more specifically, when you should play it,” he says. “Our first job as actors is to power into that imagination, so that’s how I would characterize my experience—to really engage in that part of me that exists and is within me in so many ways.” Watch All of Us Strangers, and you’ll see that side of him. To the movie’s ultimate credit, it’s unmistakable.'

[of-glass-and-ash]

Monster Breeds - Elementals

Before I delve into who my characters are, I need to tell you what they are, and how they function.

Monsters, in this universe, are biologically compatible with humans, and include 2[two] major categories: Fae and Elementals. This is the masterpost of all the types of Elementals. Under the cut is all the species/subspecies for them, along with some notes. If you want the post for Fae, click here!

Elementals: Control Various Elements [Or Things Adjacent]; Some Can Mix And Create Different Subsets; Pointed Ears And Teeth; Poor Eyesight; Eyes Are Always The Color Of Their Blood; Taller And Typically Thin; Built For Speed And Group Hunting

✦Water: Control Any Water- Including Water Vapor And Ice [Though That’s A Bit Straining]; Typically Work In Plumbing Or Around/On Ships; Colder Body Temp; Thin, Dark Blue Blood

✦Fire: Control Any Sort Of Flame; Can Produce Flame Out Of Their Bodies If Well-Trained [Takes A Lot Of Energy]; Typically Work In Pyrotechnics/Performance Arts/Culinary; Higher Body Temp; Glowing, Bright Red Blood

✦Earth: Control Anything Geological [I.E. Crystals, Sand, Metals]; Manmade Metals Are More Of A Challenge; Typically Work In Construction; Human-Like Body Temps; Thick, Grey Blood

✦Air: Control The Speed, Density, And Direction Of Airflow In A Given Area [How Large The Controlled Area Is = Training/Power Level]; Typically Work In Entertainment/Sustainable Energy; Constantly Fluctuating Body Temps; Thin, Light Blue Blood

✦Electricity: Rarest Base Elemental; Control The Flow/Distribution Of Electricity; Typically Work In Electrical/Entertainment; Warm Body Temps; Glowing, Yellow Blood

✦Glass: Genetic Combo Of Earth And Fire Elementals; Controls Any Glass; Thinner Skin; Colder Body Temp; Typically Are Glass-Blowers/Misc. Careers; Generally Considered The Weakest Subset Of Elemental; Quick-Drying, Orange Blood

✦Botanical: Genetic Combo Of Earth And Water Elementals; Control Over Plants; Human-Like Body Temp; Mainly Work In Plant Nurseries; Thin, Green Blood