#racial pet justice

[choicesficwriterscreations]

June MC of the Month: Dr. Casey MacTavish Carrick

Please welcome our fifth MC of the month! Each month, we will highlight one MC or OC that is currently on our Meet My MC / OC List. The MC / OC is selected randomly on the Wheel of Names, and eligibility requirements can be found here. We accept MC / OC profiles on an ongoing basis. Please feel free to send yours in!

This month's MC of the month is...

@jerzwriter's Casey MacTavish Carrick.

Learn more about Casey and her creator, Elsa, below.

In your words, tell us what you like most about your MC. 

There are many things I love about Casey. First and foremost, she’s genuine.  What you see is what you get; she has no time for games or being fake.  She wears her heart on her sleeve, and even though that has burned her in the past, she refuses to allow it to change the person is.  She’s passionate about her beliefs and does not back down.  She is very serious when she needs to be - at work, when dealing with a crisis, or engaged in activism - but in her personal life, she’s playful, quirky, and not afraid to make an idiot out of herself (or others) to have some fun.  She really tries to live every day to its fullest, even when it’s difficult to do so.  

Do you feel your MC is like you at all? How are you alike or different?

In some ways, yes; in others, no. We’re both passionate about our beliefs and fight for them. We were both activists from a young age, and that's an important part of our lives. We try not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the journey more than the destination. And the people we love mean more to us than anything else. most. 

However, Casey has her shit together to a level I have never been able to achieve. lol She’s a doctor, and I barely passed my science classes. And her husband is FAR superior to any of my exes (if I had what she does, I'd make sure they never became exes). lol What can I say? Fictional men written by women are just better. 

What is most important to your MC? What is their motivation in life?

People matter the most to her. It was her motivation for going into medicine and what has driven her activism.  She can’t witness problems and gross inequity and not attempt to do something to solve them. She believes if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. 

She almost lost her mother as a young child, and she almost lost her own life as a resident, and again in her 30s, so she values every day and lives with the understanding that we all have expiration dates.  There is no day but today - and she uses that to push herself. 

Her career is very important to her, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the people she loves.  She is fiercely loyal, and when she loves someone, she loves them for life.  Tobias and their girls are her world, and they have plenty of family - real and found - surrounding them.  

Casey wants to leave the world better than it was when she entered it.  She has worked tirelessly for equity for all. As a proud bisexual woman, she has fought for women's and LGBTQ rights. Growing up in a diverse community, in a city that has residents living in both extreme poverty and excessive wealth, she loathes inequality. As such, racial and social justice issues, as well as equal access to healthcare are important issues to her. She is appalled that people die in one of the wealthiest nations in the world simply because they don’t have insurance.  That becomes her biggest mission. 

What are their biggest pet peeves/dislikes? 

Pretentiousness. She’s not a fan of affluence, and she's automatically suspicious of people who have too much. That’s a struggle for her and Tobias initially because he is extremely wealthy. It took a lot of work, and some changes and compromises, for them to rectify that.

Intolerance. People who feel the need to control how others live their lives incense her. She has no use for people who espouse racist, misogynistic, and homophobic views.

Hypocrisy and phoniness.  She’s a genuine soul, and she expects the same in return.  She can usually sense when someone is inauthentic, and she will do her best to keep such people out of her inner circle.  

If your MC could change one thing - anything - what would it be? 

She would change the world.  She would rid it of many -isms. More than anything, she’d like to see a world where people are truly judged by the content of their character, not by their race, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic standing.  She knows the world is an unfair place, and it’s distressing to know how it is almost impossible to change it, but it doesn’t mean she won’t try.  But, if she were given a magic wand, she knows exactly what she’d do with it. 

What is your MC’s favorite quote or song?

“Love is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust.” - Bell Hooks - This is her guiding principle.  Love is not a noun, it’s a verb, and when we love people or things, we need to give them our full commitment and dedication.  One cannot be lazy about love. To whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48) Although she was raised in the Catholic faith, Casey really had no use for organized religion and considered herself agnostic by the time she met Tobias.  Three things made her begin to believe in something greater: her near death after the chemical attack, the love she shares with Tobias, and the birth of their first child, Samantha.  She NEVER becomes a bible thumper, nor does she believe there is one "true" religion. She considers herself more spiritual than religious, but this bible quote resonates with her.  Especially after she and Tobias were sure they would share a future together.  Given his level of wealth, she insisted this would be how they would live and raise their daughters. She has a zillion favorite songs, but the four songs that she and Tobias selected for their wedding will forever hold a special place in her heart.  They are All of Me by John Legend, Spend My Life With You by Eric Benet, Every Time I Close My Eyes by Babyface, and You Make Me Feel Brand New by The Stylistics.  Is there anything else you’d like to share about your MC: (It can be why you created them, how they’ve inspired you, or you could write a little blurb as if it is coming from your MC - an acceptance speech. :) ) 

Casey’s sunny demeanor leads most who don’t know her well to believe she has had a charmed life.  But that's not true. Casey made a decision to have a bright outlook - whenever possible - because of the struggles she faced.  Nearly losing her mother at a young age, seeing her family struggle under the mountain of medical debt, and coming to terms with her sexuality were all defining moments of her younger years…. And each one played a part in the anxiety that remains an issue for her throughout her life.  These struggles all left scars but also helped her become the woman she is today. 

Her unlikely romance with Tobias Carrick faced challenges at first, but once they realized that they both accepted that they had found “the one,” they were all in for life. They’re alike in many ways… outgoing, flirtatious, full of life, and, yeah, horny. Lol, But their differences complimented each other.  Tobias is so self-assured, and he helps Casey build her confidence.  Casey’s authenticity helps Tobias get in touch with his authentic self, and together, they live their very best lives.

To learn more about Case, please see her character bio and Casey & Tobias's masterlist.

[brookston]

Holidays 9.8

Holidays

Actor’s Day

Asturias Day (Spain)

Blondie Day

Blue’s Clues Day

Colorism Awareness Day

The Commemoration of the Two Sieges (Malta)

Community Day (Extramadura, Spain)

Coronation Anniversary of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania)

Day of Aid Workers

Day of Asturias (Spain)

Day of the Battle of Borodino (Russia)

Extramadura Day (Spain)

Father’s Day (Latvia)

Festa Della Rificolona ends (Paper Lantern Festival; Florence, Italy)

Fiestas de Santa Fe begins with the burning of the Zozobra (New Mexico)

Financier’s Day (Russia)

Grandparents’ & Family Caregivers’ Day (Florida)

Hazelnut Day (French Republic)

Iguana Awareness Day

International Day of Journalists

International Literacy Day (UN)

Kosrae Liberation Day (Micronesia)

La Vierge de Meritxell (Feast of Our Lady of Meritxell; Andorra)

Mariä Geburt (Liechtenstein)

Martyrs’ Day (a.k.a. Massoud Day; held on Shahrivar 18) [Can be 9.8 or 9.9]

Matki Boskiej Zielnej (a.k.a. Fest of Greenery; Poland)

Meritxell Day (Andorra)

National Actors Day

National Ampersand Day

National David Day

National Dog Walker Appreciation Day

National Double Merle Awareness Day

National Essential Medicine Shortages Awareness Day

National Iguana Awareness Day

National Lissencephaly Awareness Day

National Neighborhood Day

National Pardon Day

908 Day

Nuakhai (Odisha, India)

Onam ends (India)

Pardon Me Day

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day

Pledge of Allegiance Day

Sirona Asteroid Day

Solidarity Day of World Heritage Cities

Star Trek Day

Tank Crewman’s Day (Russia)

Turkmen Bakhshi Day (Turkmenistan)

Victory Day (Malta)

Volunteer Day (Spain)

World Gravity Day

World Physical Therapy Day

Worldwide Cystic Fibrosis Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bacon Burger Day

Date Nut Bread Day

International Day of Papaya

International Food Delivery Day

National Merlot Day (South Africa)

Independence & Related Days

Alsann (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Andorra (Nation founded, 1728)

Macedonia (from Yugoslavia, 1991)

Seybold (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

2nd Sunday in September

Auditor's Day (Scientology) [2nd Sunday]

Day of Lake Baikal (Russia) [2nd Sunday]

Day of Open Monuments (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Day of the Homeland (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Education Day (UK) [2nd Sunday]

Family Day (Kazakhstan) [2nd Sunday]

Fjord Day (Denmark) [2nd Sunday]

Grandparent's Day (Canada) [Sunday after 1st Monday]

Great Procession of Tournai (Belgium) [2nd Sunday]

Hug Your Hound Day [2nd Sunday]

Joust of the Quintana: La Rivincita (The Rematch; Italy) [2nd or 3rd Sunday, Pt. 1 in July]

National Bilby Day (Australia) [2nd Sunday]

National Dementia Carers Day (UK) [2nd Sunday]

National Education Sunday (UK) [2nd Sunday]

National Firefighters’ Memorial Day (Canada) [2nd Sunday]

National Pet Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis) Awareness Day [2nd Sunday]

Racial Justice Sunday [2nd Sunday]

Remembrance Day for Victims of Fascism [2nd Sunday]

Road Workers Day (Tajikistan) [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sustainable House Day (Australia) [2nd Sunday]

Turkmen Bakshy Day [2nd Sunday]

Vanavanemate Päev (Estonia) [2nd Sunday]

Workers of Natural Gas and Petroleum Industry Day (Ukraine) [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning September 8 (2nd Full Week of September)

Folic Acid Awareness Week (thru 9.14)

Healthcare Environmental Services Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

International Housekeepers Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Arts in Education Weeks (thru 9.14) [From 2nd Sunday]

National Assisted Living Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Beauty and Barber Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Biscuit and Gravy Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Compassionate Leadership Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Environmental Services Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Nephrology Nurses Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Suicide Prevention Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

Festivals Beginning September 8, 2024

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival (Austin, Texas)

Bean Soup Festival & Fair (McClure, Pennsylvania) [thru 9.14]

Bloemencorso Lichtenvoorde (Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands)

Bloemencorso Loenhout (Loenhout, Belgium)

Cambridge Carnival (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Fiddles Vittles and Vino (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Heritage Fire (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

International Alexandrinsky Theatre Festival (Saint Petersburg, Russia) [thru 10.30]

Manifesta [European Nomadic Biennial] (Barcelona, Spain) [thru 11.24]

Feast Days

Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia (Roman Catholic Church)

Adrian of Nicomedia (Christian; Saint Feast Day) [brewers, middle England's brewers guild] *

Ann Beattie (Writerism)

Archie Goodwin (Artology)

Carnot (Positivist; Saint)

Corbinian (Christian; Saint)

Disibod (a.k.a. Disen or Disbode; Christian; Saint)

Eusebius, Nestablus, Zeno, and Nestor (Christian; Martyrs)

Feast of Honor for Lada and Leda (Bread & Harvest Festival; Slavic Pagan/Asatru)

Feast of ‘Izzat (Might; Baha’i)

Feast of Papa-Lea (God of Kava Drinking)

Frédéric Mistral (Writerism)

Il-Vittorja (a.k.a. Feast of Our Lady of Victories; Malta)

Jill St. John Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mead Day (Pagan)

Michael Frayn (Writerism)

Mimi Parent (Artology)

Monti Fest (Mangalorean Catholic; Parts of India)

Morty Moot Mope (Muppetism)

Nativity of Mary (Roman Catholic Church, Anglo-Catholicism)

Our Lady of Charity (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Covadonga (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Meritxell (Andorra; Christian; Saint)

Ozias Humphry (Artology)

Paradoxically Non-Paradoxical Day (Pastafarian)

Sergius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Theosophy Day

Vicious Sex Day (Pastafarian)

Virgin Mary Day

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [36 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 251 [54 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Ally McBeal (TV Series; 1997)

Betty Crocker's Cookbook, by the Betty Crocker Editors (Cookbook; 1950)

Blue’s Clues (Children’s TV Series; 1996)

Bone Machine, by Tom Waits (Album; 1992)

Boys Town (Film; 1938)

The Breadwinner (Animated Film; 2017)

Brigadoon (Film; 1954)

Carnival Courage (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1945)

Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1963)

Catty-Cornered (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1966)

Cold Comfort Farm, by Stella Gibbons (Novel; 1932)

Cosmicomics, by Italo Calvino (Short Stories; 1965)

The Cyberiad, by Stanisław Lem (Short Stories; 1965)

The Eagle Has Landed, by Jack Higgins (Novel; 1975)

Everglade Raid (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely, by Frank Sinatra (Album; 1958)

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1965)

Havana, by Camila Cabello (Song; 2017)

Hitchhiker, by Neil Young (Album; 2017)

Hold Your Fire, by Rush (Album; 1987)

iCarly (TV Series; 2007)

I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head, by Kylie Minogue (Song; 2001)

It (Film; 2017)

Jeannie (Animated TV Series; 1973)

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (Novel; 2004)

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards (Children’s Book; 1974)

Lost in Space (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1973)

Lovelorn Leghorn (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Make Me, 20th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2015)

Mouse-Warming (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Never for Ever, by Kate Bush (Album; 1980)

Nurse Betty (Film; 2000)

The Oprah Winfrey Show (Daytime TV Series; 1986)

Psycho (Film; 1960)

The Pure and the Impure, by Colette (Novel; 1932)

Purr-Chance to Dream (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Scalp Treatment (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1952)

Second Foundation, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1953) [Foundation #3]

The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1959)

Slicked-Up Pup (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

Song of Victory (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

Star Trek (TV Series; 1966)

Suffer, by Bad Religion (Album; 1988)

Today’s Name Days

Adrian, Mariä Geburt (Austria)

Hadrijan, Maja, Marija, Sergije (Croatia)

Mariana (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Mariann, Marianna, Marianne (Estonia)

Taimi (Finland)

Adrien, Béline (France)

Adrian, Mariä Geburt, Otmar (Germany)

Despoina, Genethlios, Skiadeni, Tsampika (Greece)

Adrienn, Mária (Hungary)

Immacolata, Maria (Italy)

Amirs, Ilga, Ilgonis, Nelda (Latvia)

Daumantė, Klementina, Liaugaudas, Vytautas (Lithuania)

Allan, Alma, Amalie (Norway)

Adrian, Adrianna, Klementyna, Maria, Nestor, Radosław, Radosława (Poland)

Natalia (Russia)

Miriama (Slovakia)

Cinta, Covadonga, Fuensanta, Meritxell, Natividad, Nazaret, Nuria, Sagrario, Sergio (Spain)

Alma, Hulda (Sweden)

Maria, Mary (Ukraine)

Adria, Adrian, Adriana, Adrianna, Adrien, Adrienne, Hadria, Hadrian, Hadrien, Joachim, Joakima, Joaquin, Joaquina (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 252 of 2024; 114 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 36 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 8 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Guy-You), Day 6 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 5 Elul 5784

Islamic: 4 Rabi I 1446

J Cal: 12 Gold; Fryday [11 of 30]

Julian: 26 August 2024

Moon: 25%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 28 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Mont]

Runic Half Month: Ken (Illumination) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 81 of 94)

Week: 2nd Full Week of September

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 18 of 32)

[shorlibteens]

It's February! This month—and every month—is a great time to learn about Black history. Start with these titles, available at your local library:

THIS MONTH'S RECOMMENDED READS

Realistic Fiction:

Invisible Son / Kim Johnson

Nigeria Jones / Ibi Zoboi

The Black Flamingo / Dean Atta

Monster / Walter Dean Myers

Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Alternate Histories:

Pet / Akwaeke Emezi

Children of Blood and Bone / Tomi Adeyemi

Blood Debts / Terry J. Benton-Walker

The Davenports / Krystal Marquis

Nonfiction:

Inheritance : A Visual Poem / Elizabeth Acevedo

We are not yet equal : understanding our racial divide / Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden

The beautiful struggle : a memoir / Ta-Nehisi Coates

Freedom! : the story of the Black Panther Party / Jetta Grace Martin, Joshua Bloom, Waldo E. Martin, Jr.

Black birds in the sky / Brandy Colbert

Graphic Novel:

Victory. Stand! : raising my fist for justice / Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, Dawud Anyabwile

[legy]

random game roundup

yeah baby lets go i hate posting things at a time people will see them

Meeting in the Flesh - PWYW

actually im obsessed with this one. holy shit. it fucking rules. its free and i think you should play it

this is a self-described "cozy horror-based dating sim" and i personally didnt think it was like. scary horror. but i absolutely loved it.

the premise is that you are vil, a salt courier in a city that um only eats salt and things mixed with salt? and the eclipse is approaching, a time of great significance in local culture.

i played the full yiestol route which took about 45 minutes. the art is gorgeous, and the writing was compelling enough that i kept playing past the usual 15 minutes. if i have a complaint its that the music was much more "miss" than "hit". you should play this one!!!!!

Flying Frags - World Tour - PWYW

this is. unreal. its a very visually interesting looking fps that is hampered by having some of the least responsive controls ive ever experienced in my life. i have no idea what is going on here lol. it would take two solid seconds of mashing the shoot button (both ctrl and left mouse button) before my gun owuld start firing. i wish i recorded myself playing this thing bc all i could say the entire time was "what in the goddamn"

Eternia: Pet Whisperer - $3

Included in Indie bundle for Palestinian Aid

this is a visual novel about going to a shelter to adopt a pet but all the animals at the shelter can talk. found the loving realistic paintings of the animals very funny when contrasted by the more typical visual novel sprite of the protagonist. also that you have one interaction per day implying you spend like a month at this shelter where the inhabitants kind of hate you lol

Six Match - $2.50

Included in Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

i forgot to take a screenshot lmao

this is cute! six match is a match 3 puzzle game where you control a little guy who shuffles around the board. you have to make a match within six moves or you lose. it's pretty difficult (im bad at match three...) and kept my attention well the entire time.

i think generally the presentation is extremely good and the sound effects are satisfying but it does feel weird to me that there is zero music at all. overall this is very charming and worth a few minutes at least

Occupy White Walls - Free!

this is "an" "mmo" so kind of hard to get a taste of in only 15 minutes but by god did i try

occupy white walls is an art gallery sandbox. you have your own space to build a place to display art. i spent most of my time running around various recommended player spaces but it looks like it's very robust and interesting to build in

also this runs like ass in "high complexity" spaces despite the fact that it was not really taxing my hardware at any point. idk what was going on with that. this is completely free and on steam so if you want to go wander around some online art projects you could certainly do worse

[redheadgleek]

Quarter reads 2023

At the beginning of the year, I posted on facebook for book recommendations to read over the new year and had multiple friends comment with recommendations. So I’m reading books this year that I might not have otherwise.

January – The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness by Joel Ben Izzy. FB recommendation. I was really hesitant to read this book, as it sounded very much like “all things happen for a reason” and “God has a purpose for all suffering” which is one of the things that I left behind even before leaving my religion. I’m glad I read it, as it’s been one of my favorites of the year. Beautiful interweaving of story-telling and grief. – The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson. Friend recommendation. A story of a time in history that I knew little of (the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula). It started out so good – the first 3rd was fantastic, the second 3rd was mediocre, and the last 3rd painful. So disappointing. – The White Allies Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women by Lecia Michelle. A finish up from last year. I was really hoping for an anti-racism 201 type book and this was not it. Still some good points. – Flying Solo by Linda Holmes. I saw this on a friend’s end of year list and thought it sounded good (plus I really love Linda Holmes’s writing for NPR). For being written by a happily single woman, there was a lot of emphasis placed on dating relationships. – Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. Friend recommendation. I have never read a book like this. Creepy and mind blowing in a philosophical way. It’s so very Russian (or rather Ukranian) and the whole thing felt foreign. I’m on the waiting list for the sequel. – Scales and Sensibility by Stephanie Burgis. Jane Austen meets pet dragons. Recommended in one of my fantasy groups as cozy fantasy. – A Charmed Christmas by Alison Cochrun. A short-story epilogue to The Charmed Offensive. I could have done without it. – Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr. Started reading this in November of 2022 for a book club that I couldn’t attend, so it kept getting bumped. It was a good thriller, but I didn’t buy the antagonist’s motivations. – Twitter Crush: A Gen-X Medical Romance by Em S A’Cor. I got this as an ARC from a physician writing group I’m part of. The writing was fine. There were several subplots that I had issues with, including the guy getting black out drunk on their first date, a “shrill” ex-wife, and a “romance” between the vixen chief fellow and the chair department, which was gross and lecherous and blamed entirely on the fellow. And while I really do appreciate writing from one’s own experiences, descriptions of vaginal dryness from menopause and impotence from antidepressants do not fit well with a romance novel. – I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston. Much better than One Last Stop. – The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis. I’ve read the LOTR trilogy countless times – but I will admit to being guilty to skimming over Books 3 and 5 and getting to Sam and Frodo climb to Mount Doom. So there was a part in the beginning of Book 5 that I had to listen to twice because I’m pretty sure I’ve never registered it before. Anyway, Andy’s voice was amazing as always and I almost want to listen to the whole thing again. (He’s recording the Silmarillion right now, so maybe I’ll be finally about to get through that book). – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. My first Christie. It was a good murder mystery and I hadn’t quite figured it out by the end. – All Systems Red by Martha Wells. An enjoyable read, although I think I need to read the rest of the series in order to properly judge it. – They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Pretty much as it advertises on the tin. The premise gave me anxiety.

February – Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. Friend recommendation. Read this on my way back from a vacation in Hawai’i. Lovely story of perseverance and a good picture into old Hawaiian culture and the perfect cap to a wonderful vacation. – Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin. A young healer tries to find a teach while navigating investigations by the Inquisition. Reminded me of T Kingfisher’s A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking. Not fond of romances between 15 and 24 year olds though. -* Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Loved this one. Emily’s a professor in the study of fairies exploring a small village trying to figure out their secrets and she can’t get along with the villagers and her too charming colleague sweeps in. I can’t wait for the sequel. – I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Audiobook. Friend recommendation. This one has been circulating my social groups because she was raised Mormon. That ended up making up very little of her memoir, rather it was more focused on her eating disorder and her relationship with her mom. It was an abrupt ending though and felt incomplete. An easy listen – each chapter was ~ 2-5 minutes. – Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair. Like everyone else, I was completely taken by her viral twitter thread about how men bear all of the responsibility of unwanted pregnancies. This was a meatier exploration and well worth the read.

March -* Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Book club read. A beautiful book exploring mother-daughter relationships, grief, and culture. One of my favorites that I’ve read so far this year. – Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again: Women and Desire in the Age of Consent by Katharine Angel. Book club read. It’s been a while since I read a book where “feminism” was flung around like a dirty word (and yet, I think if you asked the author, she would tell you that she’s a feminist). The last part, exploring vulnerability, was great, but there was absolutely no discussion about how it was as unrealistic in sex as consent culture, which she chided for pages. – Autoboyography by Christina Lauren. Friend recommendation. Two boys fall in love in a high school in Provo, UT – the setting was so perfectly Provo that I was transported back there, but there were inconsistencies in the depiction of Mormonism that I’m pretty sure other fans wouldn’t have picked up on. – Fairy Tale by Stephen King. Friend recommendation. Also my first King book read. There was so much that I loved about it – the world setting was fantastic. It started to drag and become formulaic towards the middle end. I did nearly throw the book in disgust at the ending, because we couldn’t possibly have a 17 year old boy go back to the Real World without losing his virginity to a random character he never interacted with, right? Bah. – This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley. Friend recommendation. I’m not sure that I am the right audience for this book as I no longer see myself as Christian or really believe in God or Christ at all anything, but, the storytelling was gorgeous and poetic, and some parts resonated deeply. It certainly is a brand of Christianity that I wish more would get behind. – The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Very much enjoyed this story. Had a lot of the same charm as The House in the Cerulean Sea. – The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper. I was expecting a weightier book, something like The Darkness Outside Us. It was okay for what it was. – The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian. I walked into the book thinking it was a sapphic romance – nope! A fun little gay highwayman romantic romp, but was left a little unfinished. – The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian. The sequel to above. The questions were mostly answered here and it was a good conclusion to the series. – The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older. A friend and I tried out the “Buddy Read” function on StoryGraph for this and it was like a virtual book club where we could make comment and respond to each other. The mystery sort of fell apart for me, but it was an enjoyable novella.

Currently reading: – The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Picked this one up in January and just haven’t gotten into it. – Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. I’ve realized that I’ve read very little in terms of classic feminist works. It’s just a slog for me to get through nonfiction works. – Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark (audiobook). I started to read JS shortly after it was published but I didn’t get more than half way through before it was due back to the library. It’s a slooooooow going book. Over 32 hours. It’ll be my commute book for the next 2 months at least. – A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Book club read

Other friend recommendations for the year: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan What My Bones Knew: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo Frogs in A Pot by K.D. Kinz (written by a nurse I used to work with.) Scythe by Neal Shusterman Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zavin Anxious People by Fredrik Backman The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson Sweet Like Jasmine by Bonnie Gray Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelk (What would you all recommend? I’d like to round it out to 24 books).

Books picked up from the library: Glitterland by Alexis Hall, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, The Rose That Grew From Concrete: a collection of poetry by Tupac Shakur.

[myrfing]

people are just weird about japan man. online america’s little pet country. people defend it like it’s their cute puppy and not just another colonial nation with a complicated past and present filled with a massive variety of different people some of which they may hate and argue with like any other dumbfuck on the internet should they actually understand what they’re saying. right wingers think it’s their apolitical paradise, proof that a “racially homogenous” society is a most productive and peaceful one that makes all the little shows and games they like. progressives can only contextualize it with japanese-american issues, batting ten times harder in the name of racial justice for them than any other kind of asian and of course any other people at all, and for all the little shows and games they like. all around touchy reverence based on fandom obsession it’s great what if real life was just like the animes

[iloveabunchofgames]

#JakeReviewsItch

Arigatou, Ningen-san!

by Michelle Ma

Price (US): Name your own price

Included In: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

Genre: Visual Novel

Pitch: Walk through town finding and petting funny animals. A short, bilingual picture book.

My expectations: Looks super cute. I don't see a single written word in any of the screenshots, and its style is completely unlike any other visual novel I've reviewed so far. I'm feeling good about this.

Review:

If you have a very young child and an iPad, download Arigatou, Ningen-san! right away. It’s going to be a huge hit in your house. For those of us who aren’t churning through a stack of picture books every night, the appeal will be limited.

A bird named Tori-san (“tori” is Japanese for bird) lands on your house and explains that animals around town need love and attention, setting off a linear journey to find five animals across three screens.

A snake named Hebi-san (go ahead and guess the Japanese word for snake) is hiding behind a not-at-all-subtly rustling plant. The other four animals aren’t hiding at all, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Once an animal is found, it must be squashed and stretched, with animations that are guaranteed to send any toddler into paroxysms of giggles. And that’s all there is to it.

The two-finger controls are built for a touchscreen. On a PC, this is emulated by holding Ctrl while clicking. It works, but it’s inelegant. The writing is cute enough, but it’s not the star of the show. The music and sound effects are fitting, but again, they’re not spectacular. It’s all about funny, squishy animals.

+ Cuuuute. + Funny! + Perfect for tiny kids who are just starting to take an interest that flat, glowing thing you always have in your hand. + Maybe 5-10 minutes from start to finish.

– The animal-squishing scenes take a little too long for my liking. You squish and squish and squish, and at some point—I could never quite figure out the trigger—the animal says, "Cool, that's enough," and the scene ends. – Little variety. How about some more hide and seek? What if all the animals didn't have the exact same request? – Unintuitive mouse and keyboard controls. The game refers to two-finger touchscreen operations as "zoom and pinch"—wouldn't it make more sense to map these actions to the mouse wheel or the right mouse button? Take it easy on the toddlers. – All text is displayed in both English and Japanese at all times. I love that it's bilingual; I'm confused by the execution. As an English speaker who is trying to learn Japanese, it's too complex for me. Most text boxes contain multiple sentences, so I have a hard time comparing the two languages. A furigana option would be helpful, as early readers like myself will likely find the some of the kanji impenetrable. Since there's no recorded speech, I must assume everything's meant to be read by mommy or daddy. If said parent is already fluent in two languages—these specific languages—they're probably capable of translating the writing on their own, leaving me to wonder why all text is displayed in both English and Japanese at all times.

🧡🧡🧡🤍🤍 Bottom Line: Arigatou, Ningen-san is free, it's cute, and the picture book crowd will flip for its funny animal squishing. By the way, have to looked up "ningen" yet? That one will catch you off guard.

#JakeReviewsItch is a series of daily game reviews. You can learn more here. You can also browse past reviews...

• By name • By rating • By genre

[canisitsnotlupus]

Racial Justice Working Group

The Co-Sheltering Collaborative is a national network of homeless service and animal welfare providers who gather to advance the practice of co-sheltering people and their animals together at the same facility. As this coalition of organizations and individuals work to create a more equitable world for people and their pets, we also see a need to look internally to create equity within our own operations and our professional fields.  

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 9.8

Holidays

Actor’s Day

Asturias Day (Spain)

Blondie Day

Blue’s Clues Day

Colorism Awareness Day

The Commemoration of the Two Sieges (Malta)

Community Day (Extramadura, Spain)

Coronation Anniversary of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania)

Day of Aid Workers

Day of Asturias (Spain)

Day of the Battle of Borodino (Russia)

Extramadura Day (Spain)

Father’s Day (Latvia)

Festa Della Rificolona ends (Paper Lantern Festival; Florence, Italy)

Fiestas de Santa Fe begins with the burning of the Zozobra (New Mexico)

Financier’s Day (Russia)

Grandparents’ & Family Caregivers’ Day (Florida)

Hazelnut Day (French Republic)

Iguana Awareness Day

International Day of Journalists

International Literacy Day (UN)

Kosrae Liberation Day (Micronesia)

La Vierge de Meritxell (Feast of Our Lady of Meritxell; Andorra)

Mariä Geburt (Liechtenstein)

Martyrs’ Day (a.k.a. Massoud Day; held on Shahrivar 18) [Can be 9.8 or 9.9]

Matki Boskiej Zielnej (a.k.a. Fest of Greenery; Poland)

Meritxell Day (Andorra)

National Actors Day

National Ampersand Day

National David Day

National Dog Walker Appreciation Day

National Double Merle Awareness Day

National Essential Medicine Shortages Awareness Day

National Iguana Awareness Day

National Lissencephaly Awareness Day

National Neighborhood Day

National Pardon Day

908 Day

Nuakhai (Odisha, India)

Onam ends (India)

Pardon Me Day

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day

Pledge of Allegiance Day

Sirona Asteroid Day

Solidarity Day of World Heritage Cities

Star Trek Day

Tank Crewman’s Day (Russia)

Turkmen Bakhshi Day (Turkmenistan)

Victory Day (Malta)

Volunteer Day (Spain)

World Gravity Day

World Physical Therapy Day

Worldwide Cystic Fibrosis Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bacon Burger Day

Date Nut Bread Day

International Day of Papaya

International Food Delivery Day

National Merlot Day (South Africa)

Independence & Related Days

Alsann (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Andorra (Nation founded, 1728)

Macedonia (from Yugoslavia, 1991)

Seybold (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

2nd Sunday in September

Auditor's Day (Scientology) [2nd Sunday]

Day of Lake Baikal (Russia) [2nd Sunday]

Day of Open Monuments (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Day of the Homeland (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

Education Day (UK) [2nd Sunday]

Family Day (Kazakhstan) [2nd Sunday]

Fjord Day (Denmark) [2nd Sunday]

Grandparent's Day (Canada) [Sunday after 1st Monday]

Great Procession of Tournai (Belgium) [2nd Sunday]

Hug Your Hound Day [2nd Sunday]

Joust of the Quintana: La Rivincita (The Rematch; Italy) [2nd or 3rd Sunday, Pt. 1 in July]

National Bilby Day (Australia) [2nd Sunday]

National Dementia Carers Day (UK) [2nd Sunday]

National Education Sunday (UK) [2nd Sunday]

National Firefighters’ Memorial Day (Canada) [2nd Sunday]

National Pet Memorial Day [2nd Sunday]

PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis) Awareness Day [2nd Sunday]

Racial Justice Sunday [2nd Sunday]

Remembrance Day for Victims of Fascism [2nd Sunday]

Road Workers Day (Tajikistan) [2nd Sunday]

Sandwich Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sleepy Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Survey Sunday [2nd Sunday of Each Month]

Sustainable House Day (Australia) [2nd Sunday]

Turkmen Bakshy Day [2nd Sunday]

Vanavanemate Päev (Estonia) [2nd Sunday]

Workers of Natural Gas and Petroleum Industry Day (Ukraine) [2nd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning September 8 (2nd Full Week of September)

Folic Acid Awareness Week (thru 9.14)

Healthcare Environmental Services Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

International Housekeepers Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Arts in Education Weeks (thru 9.14) [From 2nd Sunday]

National Assisted Living Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Beauty and Barber Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Biscuit and Gravy Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Compassionate Leadership Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Environmental Services Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Nephrology Nurses Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

National Suicide Prevention Week (thru 9.14) [2nd Full Week]

Festivals Beginning September 8, 2024

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival (Austin, Texas)

Bean Soup Festival & Fair (McClure, Pennsylvania) [thru 9.14]

Bloemencorso Lichtenvoorde (Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands)

Bloemencorso Loenhout (Loenhout, Belgium)

Cambridge Carnival (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Fiddles Vittles and Vino (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Heritage Fire (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

International Alexandrinsky Theatre Festival (Saint Petersburg, Russia) [thru 10.30]

Manifesta [European Nomadic Biennial] (Barcelona, Spain) [thru 11.24]

Feast Days

Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia (Roman Catholic Church)

Adrian of Nicomedia (Christian; Saint Feast Day) [brewers, middle England's brewers guild] *

Ann Beattie (Writerism)

Archie Goodwin (Artology)

Carnot (Positivist; Saint)

Corbinian (Christian; Saint)

Disibod (a.k.a. Disen or Disbode; Christian; Saint)

Eusebius, Nestablus, Zeno, and Nestor (Christian; Martyrs)

Feast of Honor for Lada and Leda (Bread & Harvest Festival; Slavic Pagan/Asatru)

Feast of ‘Izzat (Might; Baha’i)

Feast of Papa-Lea (God of Kava Drinking)

Frédéric Mistral (Writerism)

Il-Vittorja (a.k.a. Feast of Our Lady of Victories; Malta)

Jill St. John Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mead Day (Pagan)

Michael Frayn (Writerism)

Mimi Parent (Artology)

Monti Fest (Mangalorean Catholic; Parts of India)

Morty Moot Mope (Muppetism)

Nativity of Mary (Roman Catholic Church, Anglo-Catholicism)

Our Lady of Charity (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Covadonga (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Meritxell (Andorra; Christian; Saint)

Ozias Humphry (Artology)

Paradoxically Non-Paradoxical Day (Pastafarian)

Sergius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Theosophy Day

Vicious Sex Day (Pastafarian)

Virgin Mary Day

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [36 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 251 [54 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Ally McBeal (TV Series; 1997)

Betty Crocker's Cookbook, by the Betty Crocker Editors (Cookbook; 1950)

Blue’s Clues (Children’s TV Series; 1996)

Bone Machine, by Tom Waits (Album; 1992)

Boys Town (Film; 1938)

The Breadwinner (Animated Film; 2017)

Brigadoon (Film; 1954)

Carnival Courage (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1945)

Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1963)

Catty-Cornered (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1966)

Cold Comfort Farm, by Stella Gibbons (Novel; 1932)

Cosmicomics, by Italo Calvino (Short Stories; 1965)

The Cyberiad, by Stanisław Lem (Short Stories; 1965)

The Eagle Has Landed, by Jack Higgins (Novel; 1975)

Everglade Raid (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely, by Frank Sinatra (Album; 1958)

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1965)

Havana, by Camila Cabello (Song; 2017)

Hitchhiker, by Neil Young (Album; 2017)

Hold Your Fire, by Rush (Album; 1987)

iCarly (TV Series; 2007)

I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head, by Kylie Minogue (Song; 2001)

It (Film; 2017)

Jeannie (Animated TV Series; 1973)

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (Novel; 2004)

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards (Children’s Book; 1974)

Lost in Space (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1973)

Lovelorn Leghorn (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Make Me, 20th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2015)

Mouse-Warming (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Never for Ever, by Kate Bush (Album; 1980)

Nurse Betty (Film; 2000)

The Oprah Winfrey Show (Daytime TV Series; 1986)

Psycho (Film; 1960)

The Pure and the Impure, by Colette (Novel; 1932)

Purr-Chance to Dream (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Scalp Treatment (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1952)

Second Foundation, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1953) [Foundation #3]

The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Novel; 1959)

Slicked-Up Pup (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1951)

Song of Victory (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

Star Trek (TV Series; 1966)

Suffer, by Bad Religion (Album; 1988)

Today’s Name Days

Adrian, Mariä Geburt (Austria)

Hadrijan, Maja, Marija, Sergije (Croatia)

Mariana (Czech Republic)

Maria (Denmark)

Mariann, Marianna, Marianne (Estonia)

Taimi (Finland)

Adrien, Béline (France)

Adrian, Mariä Geburt, Otmar (Germany)

Despoina, Genethlios, Skiadeni, Tsampika (Greece)

Adrienn, Mária (Hungary)

Immacolata, Maria (Italy)

Amirs, Ilga, Ilgonis, Nelda (Latvia)

Daumantė, Klementina, Liaugaudas, Vytautas (Lithuania)

Allan, Alma, Amalie (Norway)

Adrian, Adrianna, Klementyna, Maria, Nestor, Radosław, Radosława (Poland)

Natalia (Russia)

Miriama (Slovakia)

Cinta, Covadonga, Fuensanta, Meritxell, Natividad, Nazaret, Nuria, Sagrario, Sergio (Spain)

Alma, Hulda (Sweden)

Maria, Mary (Ukraine)

Adria, Adrian, Adriana, Adrianna, Adrien, Adrienne, Hadria, Hadrian, Hadrien, Joachim, Joakima, Joaquin, Joaquina (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 252 of 2024; 114 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 36 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 8 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Guy-You), Day 6 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 5 Elul 5784

Islamic: 4 Rabi I 1446

J Cal: 12 Gold; Fryday [11 of 30]

Julian: 26 August 2024

Moon: 25%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 28 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Mont]

Runic Half Month: Ken (Illumination) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 81 of 94)

Week: 2nd Full Week of September

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 18 of 32)

[willamtomas]

The Humane Foundation: Championing Compassion and Empathy

The Humane Foundation is an organization dedicated to fostering compassion, empathy, and humane treatment of all beings, both human and animal. Established with the belief that kindness and understanding are fundamental to creating a better world, the foundation's mission spans across various domains including animal welfare, human rights, environmental conservation, and education. Through its multifaceted initiatives, the Humane Foundation aims to inspire and empower individuals to make a positive impact on their communities and the world at large.

Animal Welfare

One of the core pillars of the Humane Foundation is animal welfare. The organization works tirelessly to promote the humane treatment of animals, advocating against cruelty and neglect. This involves supporting shelters, rescue operations, and rehabilitation centers that provide care for abandoned and abused animals. The foundation also engages in public education campaigns to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, the importance of spaying and neutering, and the ethical treatment of wildlife.

In addition to direct support for animal care facilities, the Humane Foundation collaborates with policymakers to strengthen animal protection laws. By lobbying for stricter penalties for animal abuse and better regulatory frameworks, the foundation aims to ensure that animals are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Human Rights and Social Justice

The Humane Foundation extends its commitment to compassion and empathy to the realm of human rights and social justice. The organization works to address issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. Through partnerships with other non-profits, community organizations, and government agencies, the foundation supports initiatives that provide food, shelter, healthcare, and education to marginalized communities.

Furthermore, the foundation champions causes such as gender equality, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. By advocating for inclusive policies and practices, the Humane Foundation strives to create a society where every individual is treated with fairness and respect, regardless of their background or identity.

Environmental Conservation

Recognizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth, the Humane Foundation places a strong emphasis on environmental conservation. The organization supports efforts to protect natural habitats, combat climate change, and promote sustainable practices. This includes funding research and conservation projects aimed at preserving endangered species, restoring ecosystems, and reducing pollution.

The foundation also engages in educational initiatives to encourage environmentally responsible behavior. By raising awareness about the impact of human activities on the planet and promoting sustainable living, the Humane Foundation seeks to inspire individuals and communities to take action in preserving the Earth's natural resources for future generations.

Education and Advocacy

Education is a key component of the Humane Foundation's strategy to foster a more compassionate and empathetic world. The organization develops and implements educational programs that teach children and adults about the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect for all living beings. These programs are designed to cultivate a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards animals, people, and the environment.

In addition to educational initiatives, the foundation engages in advocacy work to influence public policy and societal attitudes. Through campaigns, public speaking, and collaboration with media outlets, the Humane Foundation aims to raise awareness about critical issues and inspire collective action towards positive change.

Conclusion

The Humane Foundation stands as a beacon of compassion and empathy in a world that often overlooks these essential qualities. By addressing animal welfare, human rights, environmental conservation, and education, the foundation works to create a more humane and just society. Through its unwavering commitment to kindness and understanding, the Humane Foundation inspires individuals and communities to make a difference, one compassionate act at a time.

https://cruelty.farm

[smartzinc]

Meeting the Demands of Gen Z Renters with Smart Technology

The emerging Gen Z renter demographic, born between 1997 and 2012, prioritizes convenience, flexibility and connectivity in housing. Having grown up immersed in technology, Gen Z shows strong preference for smart amenities and responsive service models that property managers can deliver through strategic use of smart devices and infrastructure. 

Defining the Gen Z Renter Profile

Before exploring technology tactics, it is important to understand core Gen Z renter priorities and expectations:

- Tech Savvy – Proficient with digital interfaces and mobile solutions

- Skeptical of Institutions – Prefer direct service models versus intermediaries 

- Price-Conscious – Favor affordable flexibility over luxury  

- Entrepreneurial – Creative side-hustlers seeking housing suitable for business

- Transient – Not settled geographically, willing to frequently relocate

- Experience-Focused – Value unique adventures and atmosphere over material goods

- Health-Conscious – Favor fitness, proper nutrition and wellbeing

- Diverse – One of the most racially inclusive generations  

- Activist – Support social justice and corporate ethics/sustainability

With these traits in mind, smart solutions that align with Gen Z needs include: 

Smart Access and Automation

- Smart Locks – Keyless phone-based entry and access sharing through virtual keys simplifies granting friends or service providers access. Reduces key logistics.

- Smart Lighting – App-based, voice or motion activated lighting allows custom scene setting. Scheduling creates a lived-in look during vacations. Voice control provides hands-free convenience.  

- Smart Switches/Plugs – Remotely control appliances, A/V equipment, sprinklers on schedules or via voice commands even when away from home. Convenient automation.

- Smart Security Cameras – App-linked indoor/outdoor cameras enhance safety. Tenants check home status remotely. Improves accountability for rental upkeep too.

- Smart Thermostats – Adjust temperatures from anywhere. Save energy through smart schedules and open window detection features.    

- Smart Garage Door Openers – Control and monitor garages via apps. Integration with vehicles allows touchless auto-open triggered by vehicle arrival. Adds convenience.

Hyper-Connected Community

- Community App – Branded app for community news, events, staff notices, document access. Builds connectedness.  

- Smart Fitness Equipment – App-linked machines stream on-demand workouts. Provides gym experience without sharing equipment.  

- Smart Package Lockers – Accept package deliveries securely. Tenants unlock via app when convenient. Reduces missed deliveries.

- Community Smart TV – Stream neighborhood events, news and resident content to common area screens to foster community.  

- Tech Lounges/Labs – Designate communal spaces with video game consoles, VR headsets, 3D printers, and other tech toys for an amenity showcase difference.  

- Coworking Spaces – Open workspaces with WiFi printing/scanning, whiteboards, audio/video conferencing and tech resources accommodates remote work needs.

- Smart Green Spaces – App-based reservation of pools, grilling areas, fire pits, dog parks, gardens maximizes shared amenity access.

Optimized for flexible lifestyles

- Shorter Leasing Terms – Offer flexible month-to-month terms or 3-6 month leases attractive for transient renters wary of 12 month commitments.  

- Shared Living Options – Communal houses appeal to social-oriented Gen Z through cost savings and built-in community.

- Pet Friendly Features – Accommodate beloved pets with smart dispensers, camera monitoring, pet spas, DNA mapping for waste identification, and community pet events.  

- Smart Accessibility Features – Features like automated lighting, doors, blinds which can be controlled via voice or app increase accessibility. 

- Smart Mailboxes – Provide package notification and remote package room access for secure deliveries when residents are away.

- Smart Parking Spots – Sensors track spot availability and can even reserve visitor spaces for residents remotely. Eases parking.

Sustainability

- Energy Efficient Lighting – Install LED bulbs to reduce energy usage. Smart lighting allows further optimization.

- Smart Thermostats – Program efficient climate control settings when unoccupied. Integrate with smart vents for zoned optimization.   

- Smart Landscaping – Automate watering based on weather. Detect leaks quickly. Promotes conservation.

- Smart Appliances – Internet-connected refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry optimize energy, water and detergent use. Better cost management.  

- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – Cater to increasing hybrid/electric car ownership with charging stations. 

- Renewable Energy Options – Rooftop solar, community solar subscriptions, or power from wind farms appeals to eco-minded Gen Z.  

- Digital Management – Reduces paper waste through online portals and electronic documents.  

While Gen Z residents require some concessions like shorter lease terms, their affinity for technology allows property managers to deliver appealing lifestyles with unprecedented convenience and community connectivity. With smart solutions as a cornerstone of operations and marketing, managers can fill units and nurture long-term loyalty across this emerging generation of renters.

[brandonwayneb]

there's a reason their obsessed with me..

1) look at my name, and how much my name can stand for

2) i study white crime, and found mass murders..

not complicated at all,

im like a rich celebrity that hasnt been properly acknowledged,

because america was found guilt of mass murder.. and white guys have ways to make the community sick, with child molestation coverups..

instead of justice,

white officials will purposely use "pet" co workers to cover gossips and "room murders"

active assassinations

active mass murders,

this isnt the same america you'd think of..

anyways try to only focus on accuracy and accountability..

I will be down toning my aura

... again... the obvious reasons these crimes spike, is because white guys were caught in mass murder... and they have to be investigated by internal and international affairs...

instead of proper investigations,

white guys are rushing ignorance and using 'stage pets'

to assassination, and rushed medical death law suits...

this is how "white war" criminals always occur...

they will put a "bear rug" tech suit on... and they will crawl over victims that sleep.. and they will use the "bear rug" tech blanket, to completely steal someones life, and disconnect their energy...

the location isnt safe,

because "white" males are sitting in rooms with "tech blankets" forcing people to lose memory... and ruin nature fields of expressions...

and "white" criminals are sitting in locations with "floating skittles"

as in "astrology crystals"

and they used the petrified energy, to compress and murder victims,

leaving behind little "sparkle" images of dead peoples bodies...

in essence,

"white" males are purposely eating "3D" images of astrology as in "3D" sprite or "3D" astrology 7up death lawsuits...

this is why i said dont believe blah blah blah blah blah blah... talk talk talk talk talk... keep only the main english words... and mind world affairs... that these crimes are all WHITE... and ENGLISH... related...

besides several of the white agents also speak duel languages...

as ive said... we all speak more than 1 language...

however the primary abuse,

is the ruined truths in astrology..

"white" male abuse, in astrology

massive war criminals,

not the wrong doings of Gays,

not the wrong doings of Woman,

massive war crimes of WHITE males... and "stage pets"

they call those code "sade"

or "sage"

Beeeeeeeeee saaaaaaaafe!!!

ttyl.. text me if you need anymore info... i will only be staying with the key element words.. and knowingly the valid difference between MASS white coverups... and blaming random gays and woman...

to help draw the image for you,

there's WHITE guys... sitting in rooms purposely watching "3D" skittle boards... and if anyone twinkles or if any new lights happen..

they will know they have new victims... as in theyre collecting a "star map" of victims bodies.

this is why i said we all have to focus on expert astrology.. not white males eating "3D" sprite fairies

keep ur astrology safe

and dont accept "3D mapping"

if you sight to a "white male" a majority of them are sitting in stalker formations, waiting for information on how to cover mass murders... "food codes" and "pet codes"

Keep ur astrology.

not white shit "bear rugs"

not white shit "memory lapses"

not white shit "murder coverups"

not white shit "death lawsuits"

not white shit "face to face liars"

non racially facts, these crimes are caused from "white males" nobody else.. on most accounts.

Keep ur astrology.

Reply only with allies,

unless you know how much ur undertaking in pro life missions.

[brookston]

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Smells Like Teen Spirit, by Nirvana (Song; 1991)

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Test for Echo, by Rush (Album; 1996)

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The Tick (Animated TV Series; 1994)

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True Romance (Film; 1993)

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Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 253 of 2024; 112 days remaining in the year

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Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

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Moon: 16%: Waning Crescent

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Zodiac: Virgo (Day 20 of 32)

Calendar Changes

Shakespeare (The Modern Drama) [Month 10 of 13; Positivist]

[cyberflanerie]

Fieldnotes, Nashville, 05/31/23

Paying a visit to Amazon's recently built Nashville offices, part of the city's future Nashville Yards (still under construction). This city development calls itself "A place of commerce [...] evok[ing] a next-generation sense of place with Class A+ office, retail, entertainment, hospitality, and residential towers in one authentic, irreplaceable community" (Nashville Yards 2023). Lots of retail bingo language here. Gotcha. Right now, it's a HUGE construction site, asphalt burning under the heat of a June summer day.

Surprisingly, it's not easy to find the building in the maze of cranes, rails, and not-very-pedestrian-friendly streets and allies (which is kind of ironic, since Nashville Yards (2023) praises its future "pedestrian pathways, open green spaces, and plazas" - not to be seen, yet). Ultimately, I stumble over the entrance of this tall skyscraper office, even without it having a huge and emblematic smiling arrow at its entrance. For a Wednesday morning at 10 it seems pretty quiet, especially considering that there was a walk-out planned by the Seattle based "Amazon Employees for Climate Justice". Their protest addresses the company's decision making processes not prioritizing, but breaking their climate pledge and general working conditions [for a critical analysis of Amazon's climate pledge, read Emily West's "Decoding Amazon’s Climate Pledge: Public Relations and the Platformization of Governance" in: Smith et al. (2023) "Amazon: at the intersection of culture and capital").

It's too early here in Nashville and I haven't heard of any actions planned. The Nashville employees are noticeably marked by an Amazon employee batch around their neck. There is one employee walking a dog (apparently, pets are allowed in the office?), one in an Amazon logo-ed shirt being dropped off. The Starbucks Pick Up next door seems closed, but the famous banana stand up front offers fruit to the community. Entrance is only granted with a batch and the front desk is armed with cameras that look like the biometric ones from the airport. Also: electronic gates. No way in, it seems. Everything is tightly gatekept (up to the valet guarding the entrance to the parking garage). An NDA built in glass.

Amazon (2023) announces to "ultimately create 5,000 jobs in Nashville. These new jobs include a mix of technical roles such as Software Development Engineers and non-technical roles for candidates at all skill and education levels. In addition to jobs at Amazon, we expect our $230 million investment to create thousands more jobs in other industries such as construction, building services, hospitality and retail." Moreover, as the inititaive Stand Up Nashville notes in their 2022 Amazon Housing Equity Fund Analysis Report, Amazon has - to the surpise of the local community - announced to bring their Housing Equity Fund to the city. "Amazon and our Mayor had agreed to have the corporation fund a new public position tasked with shaping how our city addresses our affordable housing crisis and development boom." (Standupnashville.org, 2022, p. 2).

This seems to be critical on various levels, as the inititive points out (and rightly so): 1. There seems to be a lack of public information about Amazon's use of the fund and the conditions of the cooperation with city officials. 2. While "recent analysis shows that Nashville is in far greater need of homes at the lowest levels of affordability" (Standupnashville.org, 2022, p. 3), Amazon will most likely build units that requires an income higher than that of, e.g., an Amazon fullfillment worker. Additionally, Amazon's office will provide work for mostly white (collar), higher-paying employees, thus leading to the displacement of low-income households and gentrification processes in the neighborhood. As Stand Up Nashville describes (2022, p. 4), "the failure to create deeply affordable housing in our city risks driving communities of color out and worsening racial and economic inequality."

Giving a private cooperation that much power over how a city is developed, built, and - ultimately - socially structured is incredibly dangerous, keeping in mind what a company is eventually after: private profit (and more power). When cities hand over the housing question, and often crisis, to private funders, who gets to decide upon the future of our cities, and the vitally important, should-be-uncoditional right to housing? Are cities build on demand? Stand Up Nashville (2022, p. 7) rightfully warns and concludes: "Amazon’s housing fund could set the standard for how corporations make smart investments in cities like Nashville—or they could lead us towards becoming the next Seattle or San Francisco."

That's where I am headed to next: San Francisco, here I come!

Resources:

Amazon (2023): Nashville, TN. amazon.jobs. https://www.amazon.jobs/en/locations/nashville-area-tn [last accessed 06.12.2023].

Nashville Yards (2023): Nashville Yards. https://www.nashvilleyards.com/ [last accessed 06.12.2023].

Standupnashville.org (2022): SUN-Amazon-Housing-Report.pdf. https://standupnashville.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SUN-Amazon-Housing-Report.pdf [last accessed 05.03.2023].

West, Emily (2023): Decoding Amazon’s Climate Pledge: Public Relations and the Platformization of Governance. In: Smith, Paul / Monea, Alexander / Santiago, Maillim (eds.): Amazon: at the intersection of culture and capital. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Pp. 269-286).

[myangelgarden]

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OPINION

Jim Crow Is Resurrected in Mississippi

DID WOKENESS DO THIS?

Kali Holloway

Updated Feb. 27, 2023 3:42AM ET Published Feb. 26, 2023 9:14PM ET

OPINION

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters

Earlier this month, white representatives in the Mississippi House approved a bill to create a new district—that includes all of the majority-white neighborhoods in Jackson, a capital city that is 83 percent Black. This includes creating a criminal justice system for the district, overseen by an all-white power base.

Under House Bill 1020, the white conservative chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court would handpick the new district’s two supervising judges; its prosecutors and public defenders would be chosen by the state’s white Republican attorney general.

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The zone would be policed by an expanded Capitol Police force, led by the current white police chief, and supervised by the state’s white Public Safety commissioner. Because all the district’s officials would be appointed instead of elected, Jackson’s majority-Black citizenry would have no voting rights on the matter—making it Mississippi’s only jurisdiction where, according to the ACLU, “unelected judges and prosecutors have jurisdiction over criminal and civil law matters”—although 12 percent of their sales taxes would be redirected to help pay for it all.

“It’s oppressive because it strips the right of Black folks to vote,” Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said, after the bill cleared the House. “It’s oppressive because it puts a military force over people that has no accountability to them. It’s oppressive because there will be judges who will determine sentences over people’s lives. It’s oppressive because it redirects their tax dollars to something they don’t endorse nor believe in.”

State Rep. Trey Lamar, the white Republican who sponsored the bill, lives in and represents a majority-white district more than two hours away from Jackson. (He holds a seat once held by his grandfather, Leon Hannaford, whose legacy includes introducing a 1962 bill to tighten residency requirements for college students, which a local paper at the time reported, “would have kept Negro James Meredith from filing suit to enter the University of Mississippi.”) In various statements on the House floor and in an op-ed from last weekend, the legislator has insisted that HB 1020, by adding unelected judges to Hinds County’s courts, will help clear up lengthy case backlogs, while an expanded Capitol Police force will address a spike in crime in Jackson, allowing his constituents to “feel safe when they come” to the capital.

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“Black House Democrats rightly compared the bill to Mississippi’s 1890 Constitution, which was drafted explicitly to ‘exclude the Negro’ from voting through sinster methods of black disenfranchisement.”

Calling the bill “racially neutral,” he suggested Jackson’s Black elected representatives, who overwhelmingly rejected the legislation, have “used race” as some kind of political maneuver, and has even gone so far as to accuse those same black officials of “incompetence in leadership.”

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If it’s not already obvious already, there’s really only one way to describe an effort to create a white political stronghold in America’s second blackest city, where the Black majority is subject to taxation without representation—and that is, “trying to pull a Jim Crow.”

But it’s not just the top-down white supremacist power structure the bill proposes that begs the Jim Crow comparisons. It’s also the overtly racist subtext needed to justify the idea that white power is the natural “solution”—an assumption so frequently made, it’s recognizable between all those lines of “racially neutral” language. (At the suggestion of an amendment to ensure his bill’s unelected judges at least be from Jackson, Lamar suggested the search not be limited to the majority-Black city, asking, “Do we not want our best and brightest sitting in judgment?”)

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Black House Democrats rightly compared the bill to Mississippi’s 1890 Constitution, which was drafted explicitly to “exclude the Negro” from voting through sinster methods of Black disenfranchisement. But the toppling of Reconstruction, in Mississippi as elsewhere, was also driven by the white supremacist assumption of Black incompetence, intellectual unfitness, and innate inadequacy, ideas fabricated to cast Black folks as incapable of leading. One Mississippi delegate would later write that the goal of the state’s constitutional convention had been “to adopt some provision in our organic law which would serve to the State a good and stable government, freed from…negro rule from which we had suffered” and to “remove from the sphere of politics in the state the ignorant and unpatriotic negro.”

For nearly a century, the white racist recollection of Reconstruction would redact and overwrite history, smearing Black leaders as inherently unfit to hold office, and falsely portraying the reestablishment of absolute white authority as a necessary intervention and saving grace.

Perhaps this history is lost to Mississippi’s current white legislators, but that seems unlikely considering the effort they’ve put into scrubbing it from textbooks. (Ditto the fact that “no Black official has held” any of the designated shot-calling positions—attorney general, chief justice of the Supreme Court—nor “any statewide elected office since the brief period of Reconstruction after the Civil War, which ended due to white terrorism to block Black voting power,” the Mississippi Free Press reported.)

Apartment complexes and neighborhoods in the southern part of the capital city in Jackson, Mississippi.

Rory Doyle/Reuters

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Mississippi Today reports that during the four-hour debate over the bill, as “Black House members were doing all they could to plead with the humanity of their GOP colleagues, a large number of Republicans left the House floor altogether for a majority of the debate, reappearing from the back halls of the Capitol to cast a final ‘yea’ vote.” Lamar, apparently indifferent, “sat behind the well and scrolled his phone.”

And yet, Lamar keeps saying that HB 1020 is a “good faith effort at helping the people” of Jackson and Hinds County, but it sure seems like the same tired narrative of the “civilizing” power of whiteness being used to save “uncivilized” Blackness from itself.

What’s more, this sudden compulsion to help by takeover—framed almost as charitable giving, in debate over the bill—comes after years of apparently feeling unmoved. Both Lamar and Gov. Tate Reeves used the language of “incompetence” when indicting Jackson’s Black leaders about the recent water crisis, but Jackson’s leaders had already pleaded for funds from Mississippi’s legislative supermajority, only to be repeatedly shortchanged. Jackson city schools have long been underfunded, an issue that was exacerbated by 2013’s Charter Public Schools Act, but instead of correcting the problem, a takeover was again proposed as a logical solution. And during this legislative session, instead of organizing a hostile takeover, the legislature could vote to expand Medicaid, which would do far more to aid Black Jacksonians than stripping their voting rights could even pretend to. But so far, Mississippi’s legislative majority seems uninterested in providing that sort of help.

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Makes you wonder where the ineptitude truly lies.

“If it’s not already obvious already, there’s really only one way to describe an effort to create a white political stronghold in America’s second blackest city, where the black majority is subject to taxation without representation—and that is, ‘trying to pull a Jim Crow.’ ”

If HB 1020 isn’t an attempt at a “land grab,” as Democratic Rep. Ed Blackmon called it, then why does the bill not simply seek to fund more permanent elected judges to Hinds County and Jackson’s courts, instead of diverting tax money to a whole new district? If criminal cases have surged in tandem with Jackson’s crime surge, thus creating the backlog that Lamar wants to address, then why are the unelected judges of HB 1020 also going to be handling civil cases, to re-pose another question from Blackmon? (Especially since, in his op-ed self-defense, Lamar notes that Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owen stated that “our current judges are working really hard, but they have half civil and half criminal dockets.”)

Mississippi’s crime lab has been underfunded, understaffed, and under-equipped for years—contributing to backlogs in Jackson’s courts and all around the state—and yet Lamar’s bill does nothing to address long-standing appeals from lab staffers to address any of those issues. Overlooking these problems doesn’t seem like a good way to address Jackson’s criminal court case backlogs, unless what you were really trying to do was to create yet another entrenched white power system in the state.

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Mississippi’s Capitol Police officers reportedly shot more people in 2022 than any other Mississippi law enforcement department, with the most recent shooting occurring in December. The department’s fatal police shooting of 25-year-old Jaylen Lewis in September is still under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. At a meeting between the police chief and public safety officers, Black residents expressed concerns that Capitol officers don’t know “how to deal with Black people in Black neighborhoods,” and fears that most of the force’s officers are from counties “known for their racial prejudice.”

While the new Capitol District will still be majority Black, it will also include 80 percent of Jackson’s white residents, and guess whose property rights will be prioritized over all else, including certain folks’ lives? Nevermind Capitol Police lack an “oversight board or standard requirements around transparency of reporting regarding officer-involved shootings,” as Jackson-based organizer Makani Themba wrote for The Nation.

Just as Lamar wants his constituents to “feel safe when they come” to the capital, Black Jacksonians want to feel safe, too, both from crime and from over-policing. It’s a concern the legislator blithely dismissed by stating, “if you're not committing crimes in Jackson, you really don't have anything to worry about.”

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That’s quite a statement from someone with deep roots in a state notorious for creating the first Black Codes, having the most racial terror lynchings, having a Senate that voted to ship its Black residents to Africa at the late date of 1922, which created the first White Citizens' Council, which removed the Confederate flag from its banner in 2020, and which attempted to ban the teaching about all of those things with a bill that erroneously calls it “critical race theory.”

In 2023, the Mississippi House passed a bill that would essentially resurrect Jim Crow; now that proposed law will head to the Senate, where Republicans also retain majority power. Perhaps Mississippi will become the first state to so openly reinstate Jim Crow, extracting Black power in every form it can, yet again. And others will undoubtedly follow.

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The problem of the haves against the have-nots will not go away without doing this. 23/06/202208/05/2022 by webmaster What exactly is financial education? People talk about it and write about it. It’s now something of a buzzword, spread in many ways and contexts, particularly during Financial Literacy Month, which just concluded in April. In fact, it’s important to understand what it means and…