#Power Platform experts

[gibbearish]

speaking of terraria ive spent the last few days grinding my way through it for the first time in i think like over two years and i forgot. so much but also im doing SO much better than before

[webtualglobal]

The data management and analysis capabilities of your organization can be greatly enhanced by incorporating Power BI into your business processes. Power BI enables businesses to make smarter, faster decisions by offering powerful data visualization and real-time analytics. However, successfully implementing Power BI requires a strategic approach that covers everything from choosing the right developers to deploying dashboards and utilizing its services. The initial step in Power BI implementation is hiring developers skilled in creating solutions customized to your company's needs. These developers are responsible for setting up the technical framework, designing Power BI dashboards, and ensuring seamless integration with your data sources. A well-organized dashboard can transform complex data into easy-to-read visuals, giving decision-makers a clear view of business performance and trends. Once your dashboards run, the next focus is utilizing Power BI services. These services allow you to share reports across teams and collaborate effectively and securely. With Power BI's cloud-based capabilities, employees at all levels can access up-to-date insights, regardless of location, ensuring that everyone in the organization is on the same page when making crucial business decisions. A successful implementation also requires a clear understanding of your company's data needs and workflows. Identifying relevant data sources and ensuring they're correctly connected to Power BI is critical for providing accurate and actionable insights. Additionally, it's essential to train employees using the platform to get the most out of the tool. Empowering your team with the skills to use Power BI effectively ensures better adoption and more significant business value. Adopting Power BI in your enterprise offers many opportunities for more informed decision-making. Businesses can gain deeper insights into performance and trends by working with skilled Power BI developers, creating meaningful Power BI dashboards, and utilizing Power BI services to enhance collaboration.In addition to supporting a data-driven culture that promotes growth and maintains an organization's competitiveness, Power BI streamlines data analysis.

[astrologydray]

Fama In The Houses 🏡

🌬️Fama is asteroid 408, named after the Roman goddess of fame, rumor, and reputation. In your chart, Fama shows where your name travels, how you’re remembered or talked about, and whether that recognition comes from truth, gossip, or legacy. It’s your “echo chamber”—the space where the world hears or repeats your story.

🏠 Fama in the Houses:

1st House: Your identity becomes your calling card. People recognize your presence, looks, or style—you are your own brand. Even without trying, you might attract attention just for being you.

2nd House: Your values, voice, or possessions can make you famous. Fama here brings recognition through self-worth, talents, or the way you handle money—you’re remembered for what you build or own.

3rd House: Fame through speech, writing, teaching, or social media. You might be known for how you communicate or for something you said that went viral. Watch for both praise and gossip.

4th House: A legacy tied to your roots, family name, or private life. You might be famous within your hometown, or your family’s reputation follows you. Fama here can also signal ancestral fame or inherited notoriety.

5th House: Recognition through creativity, performance, or romantic flair. You might gain fame for your self-expression, children, or playful charm. You shine when you let your inner artist out.

6th House: Known for your work ethic, service, or skills. You could build a reputation in a specialized field or become a quietly respected expert. People talk about how dependable or talented you are in what you do.

7th House: Your fame may come through partnerships, collaborators, or public-facing relationships. You’re known as someone’s other half or as part of a power duo. Your connections make you visible.

8th House: Infamous or magnetic—Fama here points to mystery, taboo, or transformation. Your name might carry a sense of depth or secrecy. Recognition could come through crisis, healing, or occult themes.

9th House: You’re known across borders, philosophies, or teachings. Fama here gives you a platform through publishing, travel, education, or belief systems. Your words may reach far corners of the world.

10th House: A powerful placement—your career, public role, or legacy becomes what you’re known for. Whether celebrated or criticized, your name echoes in the public sphere. Fame is likely here.

11th House: Fame through communities, causes, or online spaces. You’re known in your networks or for something futuristic, rebellious, or humanitarian. Social media could be your megaphone.

12th House: A hidden or spiritual fame—your name may be whispered rather than shouted. Known for what’s behind the scenes, or even after your time. Fama here suggests a quiet legacy with deep impact.

[cryptosocialnetwork]

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[hcvney]

“ Payment Accepted ”

you meet a mysterious man alone in a subway corridor and agree to play Ddakji with him. After losing, you willingly offer yourself to him, drawn in by his charm.

Rating: 18+ (explicit, nsfw)

Pairing: The recruiter (gong yoo) x F!Reader

Warnings: Power dynamics, oral (f receiving), public setting (no witnesses), reader willingly submitting

It wasn’t even supposed to be your stop.

You’d missed your train by seconds — the echo of its departure still rattled the platform tiles beneath your boots. The crowd had thinned. The lights buzzed above in flickering pulses. You were alone.

Or… almost.

The suitcase caught your eye first.

Then the man beside it.

He stood like he was waiting for someone — crisp dark suit, red tie knotted tight, one hand tucked neatly into his coat pocket. Calm. Still. Almost too still. Like a photograph.

When you didn’t move, he smiled.

“Lost?”

His voice was deep. Clean. Almost velvety. Like it belonged somewhere indoors, behind polished glass and soft whiskey.

You hesitated. “No. Just… missed my train.”

“Then maybe you’ll play a game with me while you wait.”

Your breath caught.

He bent down and unlocked the suitcase with a satisfying click.

Inside—two neatly folded pieces of red and blue Ddakji paper.

“You win,” he said, “you get the money.”

“I win… you repay me however I ask.”

He paused. “But only if you want to.”

That part wasn’t a threat.

It was a dare.

Your eyes flicked to the paper squares. Then to his hands — long fingers, buttoned cuff. Clean nails. The kind of man who didn’t just take control. He commanded it.

You stepped closer.

“I’ll play,” you said. “But don’t go easy on me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

You lost.

Three times in a row.

The sharp crack of the Ddakji slapping the platform echoed louder than you expected. The final fold flopped onto its back, defeated.

You looked up.

He was already stepping toward you — not hurried. Just… deliberate. One slow foot in front of the other.

You swallowed. “So… what happens now?”

“You pay,” he said, smooth as ever. “But I’m not interested in slapping you.”

He reached out, his fingertips brushing under your chin. Lifting it.

“You’re far too pretty for that.”

The words weren’t crude. They were precise. Like everything he did was planned two steps ahead.

“There’s no one here but us,” he said. “And I think you knew you’d lose the second you agreed to play.”

Your pulse throbbed in your throat.

“Why else would you still be standing here?”

“Why else are you looking at my mouth like that?”

You didn’t answer.

You didn’t need to.

Because when he kissed you, you kissed him back.

Hard.

His hands slid around your waist and backed you into the subway wall, one palm splayed against the tile behind your head. The suitcase lay forgotten. His tongue slipped between your lips with expert ease — no fumbling, no hesitation. Just full intent.

He tasted like mint and something darker.

You let out a breathless sound as he pressed his body to yours — sharp suit lines firm against your chest, thigh between your legs.

“You want to repay me?” he murmured, lips ghosting your ear. “Let me taste you.”

Your knees nearly buckled.

You didn’t answer with words.

You just nodded — and reached for the zipper of your jeans.

He dropped to his knees with the grace of someone who was used to being obeyed.

You steadied yourself against the wall as he gently tugged your pants down, his breath warm against your inner thighs. His eyes never left yours.

Even when he licked his lips.

“Already wet for me,” he muttered, more to himself than to you.

Then his mouth was on you.

The first lick was broad — tongue flat, slow, deliberate, dragging up your slit like he wanted to memorize the texture. He stopped at your clit, mouth pausing to gently suck — not hard, not rushed. Just enough pressure to make your breath hitch and your knees tighten.

Hot and slow and deliberate — like he wasn’t just trying to make you come, but trying to learn you. Every flick of his tongue was measured, every suck of your clit perfectly timed.

His tongue moved with devastating skill — circling your clit once, twice, then flicking it rhythmically while his lips sealed around it. He kept you open with one strong arm under your thigh, holding your hips steady when you bucked forward.

Your hands fisted into his hair, breath catching when his tongue flattened and dragged upward — then circled again, tighter, then again—

You weren’t guiding him — he didn’t need guidance — but you needed to hold something as he devoured you like it was his purpose.

He changed pace — slow swirls, then sharp flicks. He dipped down, licked through your folds, and back again, tongue teasing your entrance, then sucking your clit again until your moans echoed off the tiled walls.

You cried out softly, but he only pressed deeper — one arm hooked around your thigh to keep you open, the other hand braced against the floor.

“Let go,” he said between licks. “You can. No one’s watching.”

He closed his mouth around your clit again — this time sucking harder, with his tongue flicking in steady rhythm.

You came with a gasp, thighs trembling, hips rolling forward into his mouth as he groaned against you — like your taste was everything he expected and more.

Your orgasm tore through you like a wave — hips bucking into his face, thighs clenching around his shoulders, your fingers gripping his hair so tight you heard him moan.

He didn’t stop.

He licked you through the aftershocks — slow, reverent strokes now, easing the tremors out of your legs until your grip loosened and your back slumped into the wall.

Only then did he stand.

He licked his lips. Not in show. Just to taste what lingered.

And then he smiled.

“Payment accepted.”

He smoothed your clothes back into place, tucked your hair behind your ear, and handed you a small piece of paper from his jacket.

“Call the number,” he said.

He leaned in again — lips grazing your cheek, hot breath against your ear.

“Or don’t.”

“But if you don’t…”

“I’ll come collect you again.”

And with that — he turned. Lifted his suitcase. Vanished into the tunnel like a shadow.

[optiblog]

OPTİVİSER - GOLD

Welcome to Optiviser.com, your ultimate guide to navigating the complex world of electronics in 2024. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, finding the right devices that suit your needs can be overwhelming. In this blog post, we’ll harness the power of AI to help you make informed choices with our comprehensive electronics comparison. We’ll take a closer look at the top smart home devices that are revolutionizing how we live and work, providing convenience and efficiency like never before. Additionally, we’ll offer expert laptop recommendations tailored to various lifestyles and budgets, ensuring you find the perfect match for your daily tasks. 

AI-powered Electronics Comparison

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As we delve into the world of consumer technology, it's important to highlight the Top Smart Home Devices 2024. From smart thermostats to security cameras, these devices are becoming essential for modern households. They not only enhance convenience but also significantly improve energy efficiency and home safety.

For those looking for a new computer to enhance productivity or gaming experiences, consider checking out the latest Laptop Recommendations. Many platforms, including Optiviser.com, provide comprehensive comparisons and insights that can help consumers choose the best laptop suited to their needs, whether it’s for work, study, or leisure.

Top Smart Home Devices 2024

As we move into 2024, the landscape of home automation is evolving rapidly, showcasing an array of innovative gadgets designed to enhance comfort and convenience. In this era of AI-powered Electronics Comparison, selecting the right devices can be overwhelming, but we've highlighted some of the best Top Smart Home Devices 2024 that stand out for their functionality and user experience.

One of the most impressive innovations for this year is the latest AI-powered home assistant. These devices not only respond to voice commands but also learn your preferences over time, allowing them to offer personalized suggestions and perform tasks proactively. Imagine a device that can monitor your schedule and automatically adjust your home's temperature and lighting accordingly!

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Laptop Recommendation

In today's fast-paced world, choosing the right laptop can be a daunting task. With numerous options available in the market, it's essential to consider various factors such as performance, portability, and price. At Optiviser.com, we provide an insightful guide to help you navigate through the vast array of choices. To streamline your decision-making process, we have developed an AI-powered Electronics Comparison tool that allows you to compare specifications and features of different laptops side by side.

This year, we have seen a surge in innovative laptops that cater to diverse needs. Whether for gaming, business, or everyday use, our top recommendations include models that excel in battery life, processing power, and display quality. For instance, consider the latest models from top brands, which have integrated the best features of Top Smart Home Devices 2024 trends, ensuring seamless connectivity and advanced functionalities.

Additionally, if you're looking for a laptop that can handle multitasking effortlessly, we suggest models equipped with the latest processors and ample RAM. Our detailed Laptop Recommendation section on Optiviser.com includes expert reviews and user feedback to help you choose a laptop that not only fits your budget but also meets your specific requirements.

[not-terezi-pyrope]

AI continues to be useful, annoying everyone

Okay, look - as much as I've been fairly on the side of "this is actually a pretty incredible technology that does have lots of actual practical uses if used correctly and with knowledge of its shortfalls" throughout the ongoing "AI era", I must admit - I don't use it as a tool too much myself.

I am all too aware of how small errors can slip in here and there, even in output that seems above the level, and, perhaps more importantly, I still have a bit of that personal pride in being able to do things myself! I like the feeling that I have learned a skill, done research on how to do a thing and then deployed that knowledge to get the result I want. It's the bread and butter of working in tech, after all.

But here's the thing, once you move beyond beginner level Python courses and well-documented windows applications. There will often be times when you will want to achieve a very particular thing, which involves working with a specialist application. This will usually be an application written for domain experts of this specialization, and so it will not be user-friendly, and it will certainly not be "outsider-friendly".

So you will download the application. Maybe it's on the command line, has some light scripting involved in a language you've never used, or just has a byzantine shorthand command structure. There is a reference document - thankfully the authors are not that insane - but there are very few examples, and none doing exactly what you want. In order to do the useful thing you want to do, they expect you to understand how the application/platform/scripting language works, to the extent that you can apply it in a novel context.

Which is all fine and well, and normally I would not recommend anybody use a tool at length unless they have taken the time to understand it to the degree at which they know what they are doing. Except I do not wish to use the tool at length, I wish to do one, singular operation, as part of a larger project, and then never touch it again. It is unfortunately not worth my time for me to sink a few hours into learning a technology that you will use once for twenty seconds and then never again.

So you spend time scouring the specialist forums, pulling up a few syntax examples you find randomly of their code and trying to string together the example commands in the docs. If you're lucky, and the syntax has enough in common with something you're familiar with, you should be able to bodge together something that works in 15-20 minutes.

But if you're not lucky, the next step would have been signing up to that forum, or making a post on that subreddit, creating a thread called "Hey, newbie here, needing help with..." and then waiting 24-48 hours to hear back from somebody probably some years-deep veteran looking down on you with scorn for not having put in the effort to learn their Thing, setting aside the fact that you have no reason to normally. It's annoying, disruptive, and takes time.

Now I can ask ChatGPT, and it will have ingested all those docs, all those forums, and it will give you a correct answer in 20 seconds about what you were doing wrong. Because friends, this is where a powerful attention model excels, because you are not asking it to manage a complex system, but to collate complex sources into a simple synthesis. The LLM has already trained in this inference, and it can reproduce it in the blink of an eye, and then deliver information about this inference in the form of a user dialog.

When people say that AI is the future of tutoring, this is what it means. Instead of waiting days to get a reply from a bored human expert, the machine knowledge blender has already got it ready to retrieve via a natural language query, with all the followup Q&A to expand your own knowledge you could desire. And the great thing about applying this to code or scripting syntax is that you can immediately verify whether the output is correct but running it and seeing if it performs as expected, so a lot of the danger is reduced (not that any modern mainstream attention model is likely to make a mistake on something as simple a single line command unless it's something barely documented online, that is).

It's incredibly useful, and it outdoes the capacity of any individual human researcher, as well as the latency of existing human experts. That's something you can't argue we've ever had better before, in any context, and it's something you can actively make use of today. And I will, because it's too good not to - despite my pride.

[hellfiresky]

That cursed Kaminoan sex ed

The downtime between missions was always a drag. Delta Squad spent their time lounging in their barracks, doing whatever they could to rest, and fill in the mind-numbing hours. Scorch, naturally, was never content to let a dull moment fester.

“Oi, vode,” Scorch, sprawled across his bunk wearing his ill-fitting red cadet fatigue as his top and full armour from his waist down, piped up. “You lads remember that kriffing awkward repro health module from Kamino? What class was that? Sentient Bio 101 or some dwang?”

“Sentient Reproduction and Biological Sustainability Efforts. Worst hour of my life. Long-necks droned through it as if it was some kind of sick droid sex.” Hunching over his datapad, and slicing through some random codes he picked up from their previous op, Fixer didn’t even look up.

“Ah, yeah, that’s the one!” Scorch’s grin was delightful. He yanked his own datapad from his pack, fingers excitedly tapping across the screen. “Guess what, vode? I still have it.”

“You kriffing didn’t,” Fixer finally looked up, his face was a perfect combo of disgust and resignation. “That thing’s foul. Why would you keep that?”

“Mmm why not?” Scorch hummed, scrolling his datapad to no end. “Oh, here we go! Jackpot!” The bleached blond haired RC stood up, and walked towards the broken holotable that was coated in dust in the middle of the room. “Ahem. As his anatomical conduit—”

“His dick,” Fixer cut in, deadpan, still typing binary codes at his datapad.

“—enters the designated receptive structure,” Scorch continued, voice shaking with barely contained laughter.

“Pussy,” Fixer chimed again.

“Scorch is,” Sev coughed from the corner. He pushed himself to focus on the array of weapons in front of him - clearly trying to stay out of this but failing miserably.

“—a critical phase of sentient synchronisation is initiated,” Scorch plowed on, finger jabbing the air.

“He’s pounding,” Fixer supplied with another non-lab grown definition of the act.

“Ugh, find a better word, you di’kut,” Sev lobbed a rolled-up towel at Fixer’s head. It missed and thwacked Scorch’s shin instead, but the demo expert didn’t flinch. “—This interaction, facilitated by coordinated muscular responses, creates a platform for genetic exchange within a controlled environment,” Scorch kept going.

“That’s literally just a corpo way of saying ‘he’s mounting it in,’” Fixer groaned, finally tossing his datapad aside to entertain his brother. “Who writes this stuff? Droids?”

“Really, vod? Mounting it in?” Sev snorted. “You’ve never gotten laid, have you? Kriffing mounting. What are you - describing two banthas fucking?”

Scorch, ignoring his brothers’ continued bickering, powered through to the end of the passage. “—The interaction typically resolves in a peak state of high-intensity release of all tensions!”

“They come,” Fixer said as a matter-of-factly.

“Yep. Both finally blow the hatch, game over,” Sev groaned.

The scattered laughter that followed was broken by the thud of a datapad hitting the floor. Boss, who’d been quietly suffering in his little corner by the window, finally snapped. “WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ABOUT YOU LOT?!” he shouted. “I’m trying to finish our report - cause NONE of you did it, and you’re over there reading Kamino’s sex ed instead of helping me?!”

“Maybe you should get your anatomical condui—“

“SHUT UP 62!”

—

There you go @orangez3st!

[genderkoolaid]

As a strident critic of efforts to silence the movement for justice in Palestine in this way, I expected to encounter opposing perspectives. The conference’s many sponsors included the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN), two organizations at the forefront of such weaponized attacks on college campuses. Fellow speakers included operatives like Kenneth Marcus, who has helped shape the campus crusade for over two decades, including within the Department of Education during the first Trump administration. While I didn’t expect to change their minds, I felt it was important to add my voice to this contested space as a Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates and co-author of Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. I took my place alongside plenty of other experts resolutely opposed to the heavy-handed tactics of the pro-Israel Right and Center. A week after returning from LA, I opened my inbox to discover emails with blaring subject lines from Jewish Insider: “UCLA hosts anti-Zionists at conference on antisemitism,” and one day later, “ADL Alters Conference Sponsorship Policy After Anti-Israel Speakers Exposed.” The two articles listed me as one of three participants whose presentations or mere presence at the conference had crossed a line; in my case, because some years ago I worked as campus coordinator for Jewish Voice for Peace. [...]

The author also published their words at the conference. The whole thing is worth reading but here are some highlights:

Our approach at Political Research Associates, and in Safety through Solidarity, understands antisemitism as an anti-democratic political project that uses conspiracy theories to explain the world through an appeal to supposed Jewish wickedness, subversion, and control. The conspiracy theory of the elite Jewish cabal is a projected image of power, used by authoritarian and nationalist leaders to divert widespread anger, alienation, malaise, and anomie away from the actual sources of social immiseration, and towards an imaginary, diabolic enemy instead. Antisemitic conspiracy theories offer stunted attempts to make sense of the world, easy answers to deeply felt crises of political agency. They can be seductive and appealing, lending purpose, resolve, and hope in place of helplessness. In times of widespread social dislocation, when millions are grasping for answers and eager for someone to blame, authoritarians use antisemitism to sow division and consolidate power, build momentum and expand their coalition by demonizing elite cabals as ciphers for progressivism, as all-powerful threats to tradition, order, and the “common man.” Today antisemitism is a core component of a broader project to entrench authoritarian rule; to sweep away decades of civil rights advances in a wave of white racial backlash; to restructure the national polity and civic life around the contours of white and Christian dominance. Elon Musk and Steve Bannon are normalizing Nazi salutes; leading MAGA podcasters are platforming Holocaust revisionism and lurid tales of Israeli pedophile cabals to audiences of millions; top administration officials are sharing Leo Frank conspiracy theories and statements from the leaders of groups that marched at Charlottesville. [...]

Antisemitism does show up on the Left, but it structures the Right; it weakens the Left, but it strengthens the Right; it diverts the Left from its goals of freedom and equality, but it helps the Right pursue its goals of exclusion and domination. Elon Musk, the richest person on the planet who’s actively dismantling the federal government, holds immeasurably more power than any undergraduate or college professor. It’s clear where the greater long term, foundational threat to Jewish safety and thriving lies. Tracing the intersection of antisemitism with other forms of oppression gives Jews a stake in standing with Others, and Others a stake in standing with Jews. It grounds the particular fight against antisemitism in a universal project. This means that promoting a robust democracy, and working to end economic and social inequality are important means of fighting antisemitism at its root, by chipping away at the structural dispossession, desperation, and alienation that motivates people to grasp for conspiracy theories and scapegoats. This means that ending antisemitism is everyone’s business, not only out of moral concern for Jews but also because it’s essential to building a more just world for everyone. [...]

These campaigns also fail at actually fighting the real antisemitism that can exist among some pro-Palestine activism. Anti-Zionism isn’t inherently antisemitic; quite the contrary, it’s often motivated by values of justice and equity. The accusation is spurious and flimsy at best, cynical and malicious at worst. But some forms of anti-Zionism can mobilize antisemitism, knowingly or not, when fantastical portrayals of outsized, shadowy “Zionist” power take the place of grounded criticism of Israel’s injustices, or concrete assessment of the actual political influence wielded by the state or its supporters. In a few highly-publicized instances, Palestine solidarity protesters have appeared to indiscriminately target Jewish individuals or institutions to express generalized rage at Israel; subject Jews to political litmus tests; or couch anti-Zionism in the mold of Christian anti-Jewish demonology, for example. Other times, protesters have lapsed into vulgar campism by uncritically cheering on Islamist nationalist movements as vanguards of liberatory resistance, or by mobilizing oversimplistic binaries that caricature all Israelis, Zionists, or Jews as monolithic oppressors. In some of these cases, the antisemitism is clear-cut; other times, what we’re seeing may be a reductive, callous and counterproductive brand of ultraradicalism; understanding this as inherently antisemitic tends to obscure, rather than clarify, the political dynamics at play. Initiatives like the JDA and Nexus can help offer the kind of rigorous, contextual evaluation we need to parse these distinctions. Lost in the din of media hysteria and overzealous lawfare is precisely this capacity to think critically in public. It is possible to have open, honest and tough conversations about antisemitism within the Palestine solidarity movement, which is one goal of our book. But the indiscriminate, authoritarian crackdown makes this incredibly harder, fostering a siege mentality among its targets, provoking activists to double down and bristle with defensiveness and distrust.

[dailymanners]

For this week's Off Topic Tuesday, I am going to touch on a sensitive topic that I generally try to steer clear from on this blog: politics.

I will make an attempt to stay as non-partisan as possible while making this post, because I want to use my platform to raise awareness about an issue (or more accurately a solution to an issue) to as many people as possible.

So here's the thing: maybe I'm biased, but I live in a country that currently has 17 active political parties, and 10 of these have seats in parliament. Personally, I think this is a good system. We have much higher voter participation than places with only 2 or 3 active political parties with seats in parliament / congress, and for obvious reasons. With more choices, people are more likely to find a political party that matches what they really think and feel, rather than feeling bitter at how much they hate both / all candidates and just sitting out elections.

You might be wondering why I care if your country only has 2, maybe 3 political parties. It's because, to avoid naming names, there are some big and powerful countries out there who have a lot of power and influence not just over my country but over the entire delicate system of international politics as a whole. When their economy tanks, ours tanks. When they rile up tensions in the global sphere, we are scared out of our wits because we are tiny and without a military. So when things get bad and scary elsewhere, they tend to get bad and scary here too. Not only that, but in general our policies and talking points tend to be influenced quite a lot by bigger countries nearby. (I know I said I wouldn't name names, but Europeans don't get all smug about this, I am talking about some of the bigger countries in Europe here too. Some of you only have 2 or 3 parties and cause problems for other countries too FYI).

Now I can't help but notice in these big countries that have frankly too much power and influence over the state of things in my own country that, they have this horrible habit of electing people that nobody actually likes. And I really think a lot of that is tied into being locked into the 2 party system. You have lower voter participation because not a lot of people actually feel enthusiastic or happy about the two or three big parties. And a lot of people are justifiably unhappy that every time they vote they're essentially holding their nose while they tick that ballot box. I think things could really change for you, as in getting more voter participation and getting in candidates that people actually like if you actually managed to break out of the 2 (or 3) party system.

But how could you possibly break out of your 2/3 party system and get more political parties into the government, you might be wondering? If you haven't heard about it already, let me introduce you to ranked choice voting, or also known as Alternative Voting in the U.k. The genius of ranked choice voting is that it allows you to vote for a candidate you like and feel represented by without feeling like you're tossing out your ballot by voting third (or fourth) party.

If you'd like to get involved with bringing ranked choice voting to your country, here's a few sources:

If you're in the U.S., check out fairvote.org.

If you're in the U.K., check out the electoral reform society.

Anywhere else, you're probably better suited to find resources for your country than I am.

As a disclaimer, of course I am not a political expert. I simply see a problem and want to use my platform to make more people aware of what I see as a possible solution.

[richlyfe]

Defensive astrology observations 👹

- If they have a Pisces moon make sure their not a addict or alcoholic you can’t save them 🫶🏽 also can’t be alone always in a relationship

- if their planets fall in your 12th house…Run save yourself Sun, moon, Venus, Rising. Be prepared for the ride of your life. Bright side painful lessons for spiritual growth.

- moon and pluto negatively aspecting in synastry can be intense but get really toxic

- Mars in Aries avoid fights you’ll most likely end up with a scar on your face.

- Lilith dominants be careful with your romantic partners because they become obsessed and possessive with you which can be dangerous they might take you out 🪦. Never break up with people in person and never tell people when your leaving just go.

- if your friend is a Gemini Sun Women noticed they are really competitive with women. Low vibration ones crave male attention/ validation and hate when other women around them receive it. Gemini low key incestous.

- Libra Moon people a friend to all a friend to none type.

- Pisces suns use vulnerability and sweetness and their good reputation to reel people in…this is fake weakness Pisces Suns are the experts in emotional manipulation. Will use tears, guilt, gifts etc. Great at making you feel your the only one but always have backups. Pisces sun : Appear weak when they are strong

Random Pisces tend to be the Karen’s black or white very entitled and easily offended.

Neptune in 11th house watch out for your friends most likely to backstab you. Also people might gossip about your drinking so just be careful.

If your lover or friends mother is a Scorpio Sun they groom their kids to go after people with money and power. Scorpio Sun women tend to marry rich and the powerful and teach their kids to do the same. If your successful or have clout and you have a new friend or lover and their mom is a Scorpio Sun make sure their intentions are pure.

Leo moons stop dating Scorpio moons please date a Sag moon or Leo sun someone that makes love fun.

Cancer Sun men lie for fun about any and everything always see if what they say checks out before you trust them. The type to hide an entire family and marriage. Boring texters.

Libra men wear the “good guy mask” to reel people in they are the type to plot against you hiding their true agenda while dating you. Ie: Halle and DDG (libra) lyrics read “might just tweet somethin' just to ruin it. I got a platform, I'm abusin' it. It's a couple things about your job I wanna know” -Famous

Virgo suns if they’re not a boss or where they want to be career wise don’t trust them. They can be really envious and purposely give you bad advice or try to distract you from your goals.

Virgo suns learn your body tired of y’all saying y’all stomach hurt.

Leo Suns really fun but can be bad influences. Also can be extremely envious of others success.

[webtualglobal]

To remain competitive and make wise decisions in the current financial climate, organizations need to have accurate forecasting. With the help of modern tools like Copilot and Power BI, companies can significantly improve their financial forecasting processes. These tools combine advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and data visualization to help financial professionals make more intelligent predictions and gain deeper insights into their financial health. Copilot, an AI-powered assistant, integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools, empowering finance teams with automated workflows and enhanced data analysis capabilities. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, Copilot analyzes historical financial data to identify trends, forecast future outcomes, and automate repetitive tasks. This not only reduces human error but also frees up valuable time for finance professionals, allowing them to focus on strategic decisions. Copilot's predictive capabilities enable finance teams to anticipate market fluctuations, optimize budgeting, and make more accurate projections. Power BI, Microsoft's powerful data visualization tool, plays a key role in turning raw financial data into actionable insights. Power BI allows businesses to create dynamic dashboards and detailed reports, presenting monetary data in an easily digestible format. By integrating various data sources such as sales, expenses, and market trends Power BI provides a comprehensive view of a company's financial position. This helps financial teams spot emerging trends, understand correlations, and evaluate potential risks, all of which are essential for making precise financial predictions. When combined, Copilot and Power BI offer a powerful solution for optimizing financial predictions. Copilot's AI-driven analysis enhances Power BI's visual capabilities, allowing businesses to make data backed, informed decisions. Whether it's predicting cash flow, analyzing profitability, or preparing for market shifts, these tools provide financial teams with the insights they need to navigate complex financial positions confidently. In conclusion, leveraging Copilot and Power BI together enables companies to streamline their financial processes, reduce risks, and drive more accurate predictions. By embracing these advanced technologies, businesses can enhance their financial forecasting, making it more reliable and strategically valuable.

[australianwomensnews]

Evidence of a powerful link between smartphones, social media and depression, anxiety and self-harm among teenagers, especially girls, is growing, with new Australian research naming 2012 as the year that ushered in a mental health crisis.

The study of longitudinal data found there is a strong correlation between when an individual was born, how old they were when Instagram and Snapchat came into their lives, and self-reported mental health distress and social isolation.

“Young women born since the late 1990s report much lower levels of mental health than earlier generations and compared to their male counterparts,” the analysis from independent think tank e61 says.

“This generation has lived their teenage years when photo- and video-sharing social media platforms became popular in Australia.

“We also find that lower mental health is highly correlated to self-reported feelings of social isolation as measured through friendship connections.”

The analysis was submitted as evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into mental health and social media and whether age limits should be imposed on young people being able to access such platforms, among other things.

The analysis shows that self-reported scores on young women’s mental health declined from 73 per cent to 62 per cent between 2011 and 2022, while for young men it fell from 74.5 per cent to 67.5 per cent.

“Youth mental health was stable but then began falling sharply after 2012,” said Gianni La Cava, e61 research director.

Women aged 15 to 24 are the heaviest users of social media. Nearly 90 per cent of them use social media every day, or most days, compared with 62 per cent of women aged over 25.

There has also been a corresponding decline in friendships and feelings of isolation.

The e61 analysis notes some experts argue that social media can be a source of good for some young people, and mental health responses are individualised.

It also notes that there have been vast reductions in the stigmatisation of mental health issues among young people, which means that more may be comfortable in reporting it.

However, e61 says this “would not explain a sudden drop since the 2010s”.

In South Australia, former High Court judge Robert French was tasked in May with examining the legal consequences of banning children under the age of 14 from having social media accounts. The model would also require teenagers aged 14 and 15 have parental consent to access social media platforms.

In March, the US state of Florida legislated to ban social media accounts for children under 14, while Texas has legislated to require parental consent before allowing a user under the age of 18 to open an account. Spain also bans children under 14 from accessing a social network.

A growing body of evidence is linking social media and mental health. A survey by mental health service ReachOut this year found that 60 per cent of parents said they were concerned about their child’s use of social media and 55 per cent agreed that social media had a significant impact on their child’s wellbeing.

A US study found that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.

Support services:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

[odinsblog]

🗣️This is an illegitimate and deeply corrupt Supreme Court

By upending decades of precedent set by the Chevron doctrine, the U.S. Supreme Court has just usurped the authority of Congress by 1) elevating the court’s “expertise” over actual scientific experts in their given fields, and 2) by dictating that congress must write extremely specific laws that cover every exact issue that might ever arise—but of course the rulings of SCOTUS are not held to the same specificity. This is a pro-big-business, deregulation, Libertarian wet dream and make no mistake, it is absolutely a power grab.

It is worth noting that Neil Gorsuch’s mother, Ann Gorsuch, was a Republican EPA administrator who was determined to deregulate and destroy the EPA from the inside. And Chief Justice John Roberts worked under Ronald Reagan, and for decades toiled to ensure that the Voting Rights Act was overturned and gutted.

For added perspective, the 1980 Libertarian Party platform was to abolish the following:

• Department Of Energy (DOE)

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

• Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OHSA)

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

• Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI)

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

• Federal Reserve

• Social Security

• Welfare

• Public Schools

• Taxation

This is the deregulation spree of the Lochner Era on steroids.

And legalizing punishing the homeless for the simple act of being homeless? No matter how many occasional “good” decisions this court might accidentally stumble into making, this SCOTUS is anti-democratic and just plain old evil.

[randomperson54321]

Fight for the Future - LGBTQ+

Pride Month is here, and this year we’re drawing a line in the sand with our so-called “allies” in Washington, state legislatures, and civil society.

Every year, lawmakers and organizations don rainbow avatars, post hand-waving platitudes, and show up to our Pride marches as symbolic gestures of solidarity. As queer and trans people face unrelenting attacks from the Trump administration1, it’s time to tell them that the only way to support the LGBTQ community is with action—not just showing up for photo-ops.

That’s why we’re sending a letter demanding that lawmakers and civil society shut down three kinds of dangerous censorship bills, all of which promise to give Trump and his allies more power to target our communities and eviscerate our rights to free speech online.

This is an email specifically for our queer friends—we’re doing a letter from the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re hoping you’ll sign.

And if you aren’t queer, please forward this campaign to your LGBTQ friends and family!

Sign Now

As I write this, Congress is advancing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)2, a misleadingly-named bill that anti-LGBTQ organizations have admitted they will use to censor content that promotes LGBTQ “ideology”—which is MAGA-speak for anything acknowledging the fact that we exist.

Dozens of states are also proposing Age Verification bills3, which would require people to submit to invasive ID checks to access websites that states decide might be “harmful to minors,” including sites hosting LGBTQ health information and online communities.

Finally, with a bill sunsetting Section 230—aka the “Internet’s First Amendment”4—online platforms would lose the legal protection that stops the government from punishing them for hosting LGBTQ user content—meaning companies would start “de-wokifying” sites like YouTube and Facebook to remove anything the government doesn’t like.

Some members of Congress claim these bills are necessary to protect children and reign in Big Tech, but the truth is they would be weaponized against LGBTQ people at a time when our rights are being threatened from every direction. The bills’ supporters include groups like the Heritage Foundation, which have explicitly admitted5 that they intend to use these laws to remove queer and trans content online.

The ask is simple: help us shut down these bills, or you can’t sit with us.6

We’re done with fake allyship. We’re done with politicians who stand by while Trump and his cronies get even more tools to surveil and crush the most vulnerable members of our community.

Click here to read and sign our letter, and help us send a clear message to members of the political class: if you’re going to support these dangerous bills, you are not welcome at Pride.

Add Your Name

Happy fucking pride!

Footnotes

1. The LGBTQ+ Bar: https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/trump-executive-order-tracker/

2. LGBTQ Nation: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/05/kids-online-safety-act-reintroduced-in-senate-advocates-fear-itll-block-lgbtq-content-online/

3. Ms. Magazine: https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/25/lgbtq-abortion-censorship-age-verification-laws/

4. Middle Tennessee State University: https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/post/what-would-happen-if-section-230-went-away-legal-expert-explains-consequences-of-repealing-the-law-that-built-the-internet/

5. Heritage Foundation, via Twitter / X: https://x.com/heritage/status/1660111875818790913?s=46&t=cSCIk4PMRMJXS6EBsmJrpg6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bXSVc8lN7o

[mariacallous]

Centibillionaire Elon Musk’s takeover of the former US Digital Service—now the United States DOGE Service—has been widely publicized and sanctioned by one of President Donald Trump’s many executive orders. But WIRED reporting shows that Musk’s influence extends even further, and into an even more consequential government agency.

Sources within the federal government tell WIRED that the highest ranks of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)—essentially the human resources function for the entire federal government—are now controlled by people with connections to Musk and to the tech industry. Among them is a person who, according to an online résumé, was set to start college last fall.

Scott Kupor, a managing partner at the powerful investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, stands as Trump’s nominee to run the OPM. But already in place, according to sources, are a variety of people who seem ready to carry out Musk’s mission of cutting staff and disrupting the government.

Amanda Scales is, as has been reported, the new chief of staff at the OPM. She formerly worked in talent for xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, according to her LinkedIn. Before that, she was part of the talent and operations team at Human Capital, a venture firm with investments in the defense tech startup Anduril and the political betting platform Kalshi; before that, she worked for years at Uber. Her placement in this key role, experts believe, seems part of a broader pattern of the traditionally apolitical OPM being converted to use as a political tool.

“I don't think it's alarmist to say there's a much more sophisticated plan to monitor and enforce loyalty than there was in the first term,” says Don Moynihan, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.

Got a Tip?

Are you a current or former employee with the Office of Personnel Management or another government agency impacted by Elon Musk? We’d like to hear from you. Using a nonwork phone or computer, contact Vittoria Elliott at vittoria_elliott@wired.com or securely at velliott88.18 on Signal.

Sources say that Riccardo Biasini, formerly an engineer at Tesla and most recently director of operations for the Las Vegas Loop at the Boring Company, Musk’s tunnel-building operation, is also at the OPM as a senior adviser to the director. (Steve Davis, the CEO of the Boring Company, is rumored to be advising Musk on cuts to be made via DOGE and was integral in Musk’s gutting of Twitter, now X, after his takeover of the company in 2022.)

According to the same sources, other people at the top of the new OPM food chain include two people with apparent software engineering backgrounds, whom WIRED is not naming because of their ages. One, a senior adviser to the director, is a 21-year-old whose online résumé touts his work for Palantir, the government contractor and analytics firm cofounded by billionaire Peter Thiel, who is its chair. (The former CEO of PayPal and a longtime Musk associate, Thiel is a Trump supporter who helped bankroll the 2022 Senate campaign of his protégé, Vice President JD Vance.) The other, who reports directly to Scales, graduated from high school in 2024, according to a mirrored copy of an online résumé and his high school’s student magazine; he lists jobs as a camp counselor and a bicycle mechanic among his professional experiences, as well as a summer role at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-computer interface company.

Among the new highers-up at the OPM is Noah Peters, an attorney whose LinkedIn boasts of his work in litigation representing the National Rifle Association and who has written for right-wing outlets like the Daily Caller and the Federalist; he is also now a senior adviser to the director. According to metadata associated with a file on the OPM website, Peters authored a January 27 memo that went out under acting OPM director Charles Ezell’s name describing how the department would be implementing one of Trump’s executive orders, “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce.” This has to do with what’s sometimes known as Schedule F—a plan to recategorize many civil service jobs as political appointees, meaning they would be tied to the specific agenda of an administration rather than viewed as career government workers. The order would essentially allow for certain career civil servants to be removed in favor of Trump loyalists by classifying them as political appointees, a key part of the Project 2025 plan for remaking the government.

“I think on the tech side, the concern is potentially the use of AI to try and engage in large-scale searches of people's job descriptions to try and identify who would be identified for Schedule F reclassification,” says Moynihan.

Other top political appointees include McLaurine Pinover, a former communications director for Republican congressman Joe Wilson and deputy communications director for Republican congressman Michael McCaul, and Joanna Wischer, a Trump campaign speechwriter.

“OPM is not a very politicized organization,” says Steven Kelman, a professor emeritus at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. “My guess is that typically, in the past, there have been only one or maybe two political appointees in all of OPM. All the rest are career. So this seems like a very political heavy presence in an organization that is not very political.”

Another OPM memo, concerning the government’s new return-to-office mandate, appears, according to metadata, also to have been authored by someone other than Ezell: James Sherk, previously at the America First Policy Institute and author of an op-ed advocating for the president to be able to fire bureaucrats. Formerly a special assistant to the president during Trump’s first term, he is now a part of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

The return-to-office policy, according to the November Wall Street Journal op-ed authored by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is explicitly geared toward forcing the attrition of federal employees.

Last week, many federal workers received test emails from the email address HR@opm.gov. In a lawsuit filed last night, plaintiffs allege that a new email list started by the Trump administration may be compromising the data of federal employees.

“At a broadest level, the concern is that technologists are playing a role to monitor employees and to target those who will be downsized,” says Moynihan. “It is difficult in the federal government to actually evaluate who is performing well or performing poorly. So doing it on some sort of mass automated scale where you think using some sort of data analysis or AI would automate that process, I think, is an invitation to make errors.”

Last week, federal employees across the government received emails encouraging them to turn in colleagues who they believed to be working on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access initiatives (DEIA) to the OPM via the email address DEIAtruth@opm.gov.

“This reminded me,” says Kelman, “of the Soviet Stalinism of turning in your friends to the government.”

The OPM did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the people whom sources say now sit atop the bureaucracy.

“I am not an alarmist person,” says Kelman. “I do think that some of the things being described here are very troubling.”