#Safety Program Benefits

[safetyjackpot]

Effective Safety Recognition Programs for a Secure Workplace

Safety recognition programs play a crucial role in promoting a secure workplace environment by encouraging safe behaviors and rewarding employees' dedication to safety standards. By recognizing and celebrating safety-conscious actions, companies foster a culture where safety becomes second nature. Such programs not only reduce accident rates but also boost morale and productivity, as employees feel valued for their commitment to maintaining a safe work environment. Our customized safety recognition strategies help organizations build a sustainable safety culture, motivating teams to prioritize health and safety in all operations. Whether you’re looking to launch a new program or enhance an existing one, our solutions provide the tools and support you need for a safer workplace.

[artielu]

Ok, so. The Trump budget. It has already passed the House and now just needs 51 senators to pass it and send it to Trump for signature.

There are 53 Republican senators, 45 Democratic ones, and 2 Independents that vote with the Democrats. VP Vance is a tiebreaker vote.

So to block the bill, at least four Republican senators need to find their spines and the Democrats and Independents all need to keep their spines. This will not happen without direct action from voters.

They are only going to resist this bill if they hear from voters in their states. They do not care if some person from California calls them.

It's really fucking bad for everyone except the ultra-wealthy, surprise surprise.

I'm going to go through some of the features of this budget in reblogs, but trust and believe that it's horrible for the vast, vast majority of Americans, including you.

Highlights include:

Extends the Trump tax cuts passed in 2017. This continues $3.7 billion in tax cuts for the wealthy. If this budget does not pass, these tax cuts will expire and go back up without any action.

$150 billion in additional military spending

Work requirements for Medicaid. "childless adults without disabilities would be required to work 80 hours per month to qualify for benefits.". They expect millions of people to fail to meet work requirements and lose Medicaid.

Planned Parenthood and trans care. "Bans Medicaid from providing funding to Planned Parenthood as long as the organization continued to provide abortions, and would bar Medicaid from covering gender affirming health care to any beneficiaries. "

Reduces SNAP food stamp access that 40 million people use. "mandates work requirements for able-bodied SNAP enrollees who don't have dependents.".

Clean energy "dramatically scaling back many of the tax credits for clean energy."

Border walls and ICE. "$46.5 billion toward completing Trump's border wall. It also allots $5 billion for Customs and Border Protection facilities and more than $6 billion to hire and retain more agents and officers"

Student loans. "cut $330 billion from the student loan system by scrapping several existing repayment options, including the Biden-era SAVE program that based payments on income and household size.". Does anyone want to have student loan payments that you cannot afford?

Guts Obamacare. "Saves $100 billion, but will result in millions of Americans becoming uninsured if they fail to adhere to new paperwork requirements or can no longer afford insurance premiums."

Weakens federal courts that keep using orders that his actions are illegal and unconstitutional. It prohibits courts from enforcing contempt citations for violations of injunctions or temporary restraining orders unless the plaintiff pays a bond. Bonds can be EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE and are not currently required in these cases. The provision "would make most existing injunctions—in antitrust cases, police reform cases, school desegregation cases, and others—unenforceable," says the god of constitutional law, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

So, you folks in red states and you folks in wobbly blue states (PA, NC, etc), you need to call your senators and save us all.

Call every day. Call after hours so you can leave a voicemail and not talk to anyone.

For real y'all, millions of people are going to starve, go broke, and be without medical care if this bill passes. Which is a feature, not a bug, of the Trump administration.

And it will balloon the national debt to pay for these tax cuts for the wealthy.

[ericahall123]

2024 Workplace Safety Concerns: How Are Employers Responding

Workplace violence is the act or threat of violence. It ranges from verbal abuse to physical assaults directed toward people at work or on duty. Violence can occur in any workplace and among any type of worker.  

Workplace Safety is a cornerstone of any healthy work environment. However, there’s a darker side that often goes unnoticed: workplace violence. Every year, thousands of American workers report having been victims of workplace violence. In 2021-22, assaults resulted in 57,610 injuries. In 2022, 525 fatalities due to assault were reported, according to Injury Facts. Workplace Safety is a cornerstone of any healthy work environment. However, there’s a darker side that often goes unnoticed: workplace violence.

Joining this class will lead you an understanding of preventive measures you can take to avoid workplace violence. The speaker will offer insights on employee assistance program, zero-tolerance policy etc. that will help you to minimize such risks.   

The impact of workplace violence can range from psychological issues to physical injury, or even death. The risk for fatal violence is greater for workers in sales, protective services, and transportation. The risk for nonfatal violence resulting in days away from work is greatest for healthcare and social assistance workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plays a crucial role in ensuring workplace safety.  Apart from all the above mention topics she will touch on the key aspects of the class which is of course OSHA’s guidelines for workplace safety.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20,050 workers in the private industry experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence in 2020. These incidents required days away from work. Of those victims who experienced trauma from workplace violence:

73% were female

62% were aged 25-54

76% worked in the healthcare and social assistance industry

22% required 31 or more days away from work to recover

22% involved 3-5 days away from work

Over the past few years, workplace violence has been on the rise, particularly in specific industries such as healthcare and social assistance. Healthcare workers are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing workplace violence, with incidents occurring at a rate four times higher than in the private sector (OSHA, 2015). The shift toward remote work, economic instability, and political polarization have contributed to increased tensions and conflicts within organizations (Lipscomb & London, 2015). For instance, data from the FBI shows that workplace active shooter incidents have increased by more than 150% between 2006 and 2018 (FBI, 2019).

Session Highlights:

The workplace violence in a federal, state and local level

The way OSHA is involved in mandating protections for employees

Policy and training will provide employers with valid steps in mitigating workplace violence

How states have already developed, mandated workplace violence efforts

The role of the Employer in protecting employees and providing safety in the workplace

The elements of a safe workplace against violence initiated by Employers

Employers should identify employees with volatile tendencies and aggressive behaviour’s.

How an effective Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help employees manage mental health issues as a result of violence in the workplace

Penalties and fines placed on the Employer and/or the employee who is part of workplace violence incident

How Managers who don’t follow safety guidelines can be at risk of criminal sanctions due to Vicarious Liability

Why You Should Attend:

Employee training and creating an emergency action plan

Conducting mock training exercises with local law enforcement

Adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence

Who Should Attend:

All Employers

Business Owners

Company Leadership

Compliance professionals

Payroll Administrators

HR Professionals

Compliance Professionals

Managers/Supervisors

Employers in all industries

Small Business Owners

During the Q&A session following the live event, ask a question, and get a direct response from our expert speaker.

Important Notice for our “Live” Attendees:If you have enrolled in the“Live Webinar”, you will get your instruction kit before 24 hours of the live class.

For Recorded and E-transcript Participants: If you have signed up for the“Recorded”class or for the “E-transcript”, you will get access to the “Recording link”or the“PDF”within 24-48 hours of the live class.

[abcshomecare]

ABCS Home Care

ABCS Home Care provides compassionate and reliable non-medical care services to seniors throughout Texas. We understand the desire for older adults to maintain their independence and live comfortably in their own homes. Our dedicated caregivers offer a helping hand with everyday tasks, ensuring your loved ones feel safe, supported, and respected.

Business Hours: Mon - Thu: 9am - 3pm ; Fri - Sun: Closed

Payment Methods: Private Pay, Debit, Credit, Insurance, Zelle, Square, Cashapp

Owner Name: Melanie Allen/Christopher Allen

Contact Info:

ABCS Home Care

Address: 307 S. Main Street, Ste 110, Bryan, TX, USA 77803

Phone: +1 979-599-8825

Business Email: info@abcshome.com

Website: http://www.abcshome.com

Follow On

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562818263415

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcshomecare/

[misantherapy]

US people with disabilities in the supplemental security income (SSI) program can't have a penny over $2K in their bank account at any time in order to keep their benefits.

You know this economy. That amount is completely unlivable & makes it hard for people with disability to save for the future or have a safety net for emergencies.

A new bill would raise the max to $10K (or $20K for married couples). It would make a world of difference.

Show support by contacting your reps.

Edit: Had the word petition on the mind, mistakenly called it that.

[helthcareproducts]

Weight Loss: LeanBiome - BRAND NEW Weight Loss Offer

[rochestertrailriders]

Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons: A Starter Guide

This podcast episode provides an insightful guide for beginners on starting horseback riding lessons. It discusses how to choose the right lesson program, what to expect during lessons, the essential attire and safety gear needed, and the physical expectations and rewards of riding. Special attention is given to the inclusivity of the sport, with a nod to programs like EquiCenter that cater to…

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #32

August 30-September 6 2024.

President Biden announced $7.3 billion in clean energy investment for rural communities. This marks the largest investment in rural electrification since the New Deal. The money will go to 16 rural electric cooperatives across 23 states Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Together they will be able to generate 10 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 5 million households about 20% of America's rural population. This clean energy will reduce greenhouse emissions by 43.7 million tons a year, equivalent to removing more than 10 million cars off the road every year.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic 10th offshore wind project. The latest project approved for the Atlantic coast of Maryland will generate 2,200 megawatts of clean, reliable renewable energy to power 770,000 homes. All together the 10 offshore wind projects approved by the Biden-Harris Administration will generation 15 gigawatts, enough to power 5.25 million homes. This is half way to the Administration's goal of 30 gigawatts of clean offshore wind power by 2030.

President Biden signed an Executive Order aimed at supporting and expanding unions. Called the "Good Jobs EO" the order will direct all federal agencies to take steps to recognize unions, to not interfere with the formation of unions and reach labor agreements on federally supported projects. It also directs agencies to prioritize equal pay and pay transparency, support projects that offer workers benefits like child care, health insurance, paid leave, and retirement benefits. It will also push workforce development and workplace safety.

The Department of Transportation announced $1 billion to make local roads safer. The money will go to 354 local communities across America to improve roadway safety and prevent deaths and serious injuries. This is part of the National Roadway Safety Strategy launched in 2022, since then traffic fatalities have decreased for 9 straight quarters. Since 2022 the program has supported projects in 1,400 communities effecting 75% of all Americans.

The Department of Energy announced $430 million to support America's aging hydropower. Hydropower currently accounts for nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation in the United States. However many of our dams were built during the New Deal for a national average of 79 years old. The money will go to 293 projects across 33 states. These updates will improve energy generation, workplace safety, and have a positive environmental impact on local fish and wildlife.

The EPA announced $300 million to help support tribal nations, and US territories cut climate pollution and boost green energy. The money will support projects by 33 tribes, and the Island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. EPA Administer Michael S. Regan announced the funds along side Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in Arizona to highlight one of the projects. A project that will bring electricity for the first time to 900 homes on the Hopi Reservation.

The Biden-Harris Administration is investing $179 million in literacy. This investment in the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant is the largest in history. Studies have shown that the 3rd grade is a key moment in a students literacy development, the CLSD is designed to help support states research, develop, and implement evidence-based literacy interventions to help students achieve key literacy milestones.

The US government secured the release of 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua. Nicaragua's dictator President Daniel Ortega has jailed large numbers of citizens since protests against his rule broke out in 2018. In February 2023 the US secured the release of over 200 political prisoners. Human rights orgs have documented torture and sexual abuse in Ortega's prisons.

The Justice Department announced the disruption of a major effort by Russia to interfere with the 2024 US Elections. Russian propaganda network, RT, deployed $10 million to Tenet Media to help spread Russian propaganda and help sway the election in favor of Trump and the Republicans as well as disrupting American society. Tenet Media employs many well known conservative on-line personalities such as Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, Dave Rubin, Tayler Hansen and Matt Christiansen.

Vice-President Harris outlined her plan for Small Businesses at a campaign stop in New Hampshire. Harris wants to expand from $5,000 to $50,000 tax incentives for startup expenses. This would help start 25 million new small business over four years.

[drdemonprince]

I grew up with abstinence-only sex education, and it did a real number on me. But I’ve shaken off enough of my old cultural programming to realize that the transmission of bacteria and viruses is a thing that sometimes just happens when animals come together, no matter how stringently we might try to prevent it.

I have gotten urinary tract infections when a stray microbe found its way into my urethra after sex. Lube and bodily fluids have disturbed my vagina’s pH and caused a yeast infection many times. So has wearing a bathing suit for too long without drying it, yet another “risk” worth the pleasures of swimming along the sea wall.

Once or twice I’ve had an outbreak of cold sores, just like 80% of humans. If I’m like most people, I probably caught oral herpes when I was very young, sharing a sippy cup or rolling around at a sleepover.

None of this makes me disgusting, irresponsible, evil, or dangerous to others. It just makes me a living creature that exists in close contact with other creatures. I believe I have a responsibility to get tested regularly, to alert people who have been close to me when I get sick, and to use preventative measures like condoms, PreP, vaccines, toys, and masks to prevent the spread of infections as best I can. But I never imagine I can lead a life without risk — or that such a life would even be desirable.

There is no such thing as completely “safe” sex. A friend of mine can’t use condoms because they give her bacterial vaginosis. She chooses instead to fuck raw and take PreP and get anything else she catches treated. A guy I know who masks and tests religiously caught COVID while fisting someone (with a gloved hand!) at an air-filtered party. HPV is so prevalent that most sexual wellness clinics don’t bother testing for it, and can’t do much for a patient if they do have it. Our bodies are teeming at all times with various endemic viruses and microbes that we will never have the power to purge.

Then there are the possible costs of not having sex — vaginal atrophy, pelvic floor weakening, reduced access to endorphins, loneliness, touch starvation, the despair of harboring dreams that one never dares try. I can’t decide for anyone else which dangers loom the largest, but for me a gonorrhea shot is a fair trade for the hours of leg-cramping, bed-staining, hypno-kinky sex that led to it. There’s no guarantee that the next time I have sex it will be anywhere near as much fun, but the potential keeps me throwing the dice.

I hear quite frequently from sexually inexperienced Autistic people who crave an intimate connection, but desperately wish to remain responsible and “safe.” They want there to be a set of iron-tight rules they can follow that will guarantee they remain a virtuous person who never hurts anyone’s feelings, and never catches any sexually transmitted infection.

I understand why they want someone to impose order onto an unpredictable, terrifying world. But I can’t give that certainty to them, nor can anyone. All I can suggest is that they be honest with themselves about what they want, inform themselves of the costs and benefits to pursuing their desires, and then venture forward — proudly welcoming the correct risks into their life, rather than trying to avoid any risks at all.

Life is nothing but a negotiation of risk. If a person has gender dysphoria and they want to combat it, they must risk a transition they could one day regret. If an abolitionist wants to take a stand against the police state, they must plan for the possibility of arrest or political repression. When we open our hearts to love, we expose ourselves to grief — our partners will keep changing and growing, sometimes away from us. Each step that we take forward in life closes off potential paths. There is no avoiding this.

Instead of chasing after the false promise of “safety,” trying to remain completely insulated from harm and challenge forever, we must get better at admitting risk into our lives.

I wrote about all about the messy business of risk mitigation, and how the pursuit of perfect safety is used to justify isolation, theft of bodily autonomy, and political repression. It's free to read (or have narrated to you by the app!) at drdevonprice.substack.com

[vague-humanoid]

A recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that workers laboring in the U.S. without lawful work authorization contribute nearly $100 billion in taxes to federal, state, and local economies. 

Tax experts, economists, and union organizers say it is unfair for undocumented workers to pay into the system in the billions without a legal status to be able to reap the benefits. They say workers do not get to legally participate in social safety net programs or see economic relief from government initiatives. 

Advocates say that could change if federal lawmakers commit to pathways toward extending work authorization to the 11 million people living in the U.S. without it due to their immigration status. A move toward a more broad and attainable work authorization status would boost federal and state tax bases and further fund government programs.

“Let’s just be clear: Contrary to stubborn myths and partisan-fueled tropes, undocumented immigrants pay taxes, lots of them,” said Jon Whiten, the deputy director of ITEP.

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Bouncing off of your response to the 17yo sex question- the carceral aspect of our justice system aside, anything that leads to you getting listed as a registered sex offender in the US is gonna cut off your access to safety net programs (I work with housing benefits, we're required to deny services without exception to sex offenders). Which isn't just an issue with "consensual but statutorily illegal" situations, but also a major issue with queerphobic laws that've labeled queer sex or nonconforming gender expression as sex offenses.

to say nothing of unhoused people who catch the sex offender label for using the bathroom outdoors while having literally no other options.

and, if I can be real, even people who are on the sex offender's registry for actual factual sexual crimes shouldn't be denied basic rights such as housing. fucking anyone explain to me how that's helping anything or making anyone safe. fucking hideous system we live in.

[strawberryforks]

cops & chaos // tim bradford x f!reader

(part 1/3)

warnings: violence, kidnapping, guns, uhh probably other stuff too

a/n: thank you @113littlecrime for requesting i lovelovelove a good angsty plot-line. also, i wrote this instead of doing my classwork (#pleasevalidatemypreferredprocrastinationmethods) and i’m really hoping this means that the writers-block is gone because i’ve written over 5k words today after a way-too-long break. four-something-thousand of them was fanfic but trust, i’ll get back to my originally scheduled program (my silly little romantasies) soon

You lost your phone during the struggle so Life 360, the app your boyfriend insisted you download, would not come in clutch. The only person you could rely on right now was yourself and you… well, you were a little bit busy. Tied up with something, if you will.

You wanted your phone–wanted whatever invasion of privacy you could get. As long as it screamed: Here! I’m right here! And now? You were regretting turning down the one-month anniversary gift Tim had tried to give you, too.

“Baby,” he’d said, “please take it.” Tim Bradford tried pushing the box with a custom necklace inside of it back to you. Upon first glance, you had loved it. Studded with your birthstone, you were in awe. Immediately, you plucked it from where it lie and studied it appreciatively. When your thumb and index finger brushed over the jewelry, Tim looked nervous. You repeated the motion and something poked you—you moved it closer to your eyes and barked out an anxious bout of laughter. An incredulous one. Your boyfriend of one month (sure, you had known each other forever. Gone to elementary school together, then to the military, then, after being discharged you had decided to join him in his next adventure: becoming a cop. You and Tim had known the inner workings of each other’s mind, always. You were best friends but the label was never strong enough; best friends but did things best friends didn’t. Tim and you went out to eat and he always insisted on paying. When he was anywhere he needed a DD–or anything really–you were who he called. Once upon a time, he would rescue you from shitty boyfriends, then, he’d be jealous of the decent ones. Happy for you, but jealous, as you wasted time better spent with another whatshisface. You realised pretty quickly that your relationship, the only serious one you ever had, wasn’t fulfilling you. When you realised what was missing, that Tim was missing, you broke it off, lest you lead on a poor bloke while being in love, because that’s what you were) with your best friend. Things went back to the normal you knew. For three more years, you and Tim were friends with all kinds of benefits and just… no label. It took a friend and coworker, Angela Lopez, starting a family for him to realise he wanted to, too. And sure, the two of you, with your unorthodox relationship could’ve moved in together and called yourself roommates. You could’ve eventually had kids and called yourself co-parents but Tim came to the conclusion he wanted to call you his, instead. You always had been but the label was nice) still, your boyfriend of one month had given you a necklace with a tracker in it and you were only one half of shocked and appalled. “Tim, no,” you told him. You handed the box back, necklace plopped unceremoniously inside of it. “That, just so you know, is crazy.”

You two argued. Nothing bad but nothing good, either.

“Please, it’s for your safety”//”I’m just as capable of taking care of myself as you are. Do you want to wear a glorified collar and be microchipped like a dog?”//”I’ll wear one if you do,” and you snorted at that one, but,//”No, Tim. I already downloaded that stupid app of yours. (Life 360) Just because we slapped a label on this—us—doesn’t mean you need my location every second of every day.”//��You already tell me where you’re going, Y/n/n–”//”Exactly! I already tell you where I’m going so this is unnecessary. It’s a pretty necklace so I’ll wear it on one condition”//Of course. Anything”//”The tracker comes out.”

You were stubborn and you were an idiot. So, while a pretty necklace, covered in your birthstone, rested below your collarbone it was useless. Pretty but useless: how you were feeling right about now. Well, scratch that… with your hands wrenched behind your back, your wrists rubbed raw from the rope that pinned them together, and the blood smeared on your cheek and dripping from your bottom lip, you weren’t feeling too hot. Pretty wasn’t a descriptor you could use unless it was a prefix. You were in a pretty shit situation, you had been pretty stupid, walking home alone in the dark when you had a feeling the black SUV parked at the gas station you shopped at was the same one that had been parked on your street when you went for your morning job. You were pretty embarrassed that you’d gotten into your current situation and moreover, you were pretty pissed off.

Tied to a shitty chair inside of a shitty warehouse you felt like the stereotypical victim and that was something that, in all your years on this earth, you had never been. Water dripped onto the ground from a hole in the rusted sheet metal roof and a crowd of thugs assembled a few dozen feet away from you. Some of them wore skee masks but the ones that were too dumb to, you cataloged, taking note of their appearances and adding them to your shit-list. When, not if, you got out of here you would make it your personal mission to send all of these losers to jail.

Wonder how they’ll like being trapped.

You’re getting ahead of yourself.

Way.

There’s duct tape covering your mouth and you lick it until there’s space between the plush of your lips and the grey of the tape. Some skin goes with but we can’t all be winners, can we? Then, able to speak again and ready to make them regret the shoddy attempt at shutting you up: spoiler they can’t, you start seeking some attention. “Hey assholes!” you yell, “you know you’re supposed to treat your house-guests well, right? I mean, you’re halfway there! Thanks for taking my coat, and all! (you’re fucking cold) But like, I could use some water. And not introducing yourselves? Dick move.”

You get your water. A bucket of it, thrown in your face.

Like a wet dog, you shake your head. Hair, weighed down by wetness, whips every which way. It slaps against your skin. Burns, a little.

You’re like a dog. A wet dog, shaking off. You snarl like a dog too, spit like one. You let them know you’ll bite like one, too, if the opportunity presents itself.

Your wrists twist behind you, toying with the rope. It doesn’t loosen, barely has any give, and all it does is chafe and chafe.

“I thought I told you to shut her up!” Shouted one of the mask-wearing men.

“You’re buddies are incompetent,” you spit, wishing you could swipe the water away from your face. The hair out of your eyes,

The man, the one whose running this circus you’ve unfortunately found yourself a part of stalks closer, and you figure this is as good of time as ever to try and figure out what the hell is going on. “What do you want?” you ask, cautiously, as he moves even closer.

His shadow falls over you like a cloak; like the rescue blanket the EMTS will drape over your shoulders if your cop-buddies find you, like the arms that would wrap around you if Tim, did, and like the black sheet that would cover you if it all went wrong. As skilled as you were - you weren’t naive and knew this situation was a precarious one. At any time, it could go bad. If you had an idea of the man’s motivation, maybe you could pull a Nolan. Talk to them until their ears bled and their hearts, too, until they let you go and begged for forgiveness in confession at a church. “What’s your plan here, bud? Why me?”

“Y/n L/n.”

Well that’s fan-fucking-tastic. It’s personal.

You pay special attention to his voice, then. To the man's brown eyes and the bushy eyebrows half-visible in the mask’s holes. It’s not familiar but… but maybe your wrong. In your various careers, both dangerous, you’ve seen many faces. On case files, mid-battle, on the street. This one is unspecial; nothing new. “That’s me,” you say (because the dude knows already)

“What’s your name?” you return wearing a too-shitty smile. Maybe you’re a glutton for punishment.

His calloused hand smacked into your face. A sharp sensation stung your cheek and the silver band he wore on his ring ringer (married? No way) sliced your flesh. You could feel it swell, wiped it onto your shoulder anyways. You bite your tongue, lest you say anything else that ends up with you being hit again. “What do you want? Is it money?” you don’t suggest the possibility that it’s revenge; you don’t want to give whoever this is the idea. You know it’s likely, know you’ve made enemies and–

“Your partner,” he sneers, “is digging around where he shouldn’t be. We figured that this would change his attitude, take something of his, and he would focus on you. Not… well, sweetheart, that’s none of your business.”

It was revenge. Not on you. Hm, you thought, I feel a little less shitty now that I know this isn’t all my fault.

“So what? You’re going to kill me? Distract him with grief?” You really hope that’s not the fucking plan. The man, he doesn’t react to your statement–it’s chilling and reassuring. Chilling, because the thought of death doesn’t phase him and reassuring, comforting, because he isn’t overtly eager. He doesn’t smirk, doesn’t smack you again.

“No. You’re worth more alive than in the ground, though… an unmarked grave might be how our plans change if you don’t cooperate. He’d keep searching until he found a body, wouldn’t he? So loyal, so determined. (You’re starting to think this guy has a thing for your boyfriend. A little crush, maybe?) So stupid, poking around where he doesn’t belong. If Tim doesn’t learn to play our game you won’t be the only one cold and gone.”

You cringed.

“You’re just going to keep me here, then? Tied up? Under lock and fucking key?”

“Under rope and duct tape, you mean.”

You can’t help it. It’s instinct first, then it’s a slowly brewing plan. You won’t let them hurt Tim; you’ve protected him before, will again. The mixture of spit and blood in your mouth passes your pursed lips and lands on the uppermost bridge of your kidnapper’s nose. “Dumb little–” and then there’s that hand, in your face again. This time he hit you so hard your head spun. Ears ringing, the chair you were tied to wobbled and hit the ground with a large crack. The stupid fucker left you like that, on your side, not mindful of your hands while he continued to gloat and monologue like some wannabe Doofensmirtz protege.

“Tim will be so busy looking for you he won’t realise that my guys, they’re looking for him. A bullet will do nicely, won’t it? WIA to KIA, just like that? Survive in the–”

In the military. This man is military.

You wonder how he got in. Wonder, how someone so stupid, so ignorant, so blinded by ego and cockiness, could’ve been trusted to serve the country.

You don’t find out.

Not as you’re stood back up and leaned against a wall (because one of the chair’s legs broke) not as your neck bends at an angle you know you’ll feel for weeks, and not as in your closed fist, sits a piece of broken glass.

[umgeorge]

Press con questions that weren't shown:

Q: (Jenna Fryer – Associated Press) George, were you guys blindsided by this or have any idea that it was coming or under consideration, that a change in Race Director was coming? GR: No, no idea whatsoever. So, yeah, as I said, it was a bit of a bit of surprise.

Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) George, has there been any response from the FIA or the FIA president to what the GPDA put out? GR: No. Not at the moment, which I'm a little bit surprised about, to be fair. But maybe there'll be something to come. Who knows?

Q: (Ben Hunt – Autosport) It's obviously very disappointing to learn from you that there's no transparency at all from the FIA. Was there any response about where the money's going from for all these fines and all that sort of stuff? Because that's another key element which we would quite like to know as well. GR: No, I think ultimately for us, when we were hearing from the FIA a couple of years ago, when it came to the Presidential elections, they were talking about transparency, talking about where the money is going to be reinvested into grassroots racing, which we're all in favour for. And of course, when it comes to some of these large fines, there's a number of drivers on the grid who can comfortably afford these fines. There's maybe some rookies on the grid that if they're handed a $1 million fine, you know, they can't afford this. But if we know where that's being sort of reinvested and if it's going into grassroots or into some training programs, then we get it. As I said, I think we just want the transparency and understanding of what was promised from the beginning.

Q: (Kevin Scheuren – Motorsport-total.com) A question to George as well on that topic. Isn't it a bad sign that you need to open up a social media account to make your voices heard as a collective? Because it sometimes seems, looking from the outside, that the individual, if the individual has an opinion on stuff, he faces repercussions. Now you have to work as a collective. Are you more or less a pawn in this game? Do you drivers feel sometimes more or less as a pawn in this game, not taken serious? GR: I think we've probably learned from the past that whenever we have spoken up, let's say internally, it hasn't gone anywhere. And as I said, as drivers, we only want the best for the sport. We want to improve it, especially on safety grounds, but whenever it comes to, you know, decisions in the race, we only want to help. And it's been a couple of years now that not much has changed when we have sort of given some views forward. And I guess we all wanted to show that we are collectively united. And maybe that will show how seriously we feel as a whole on the subject.

Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC Sport) George, it's been seven years since the GPDA had put out a public statement of this kind about something they were concerned about. What level of confidence do the drivers have in the leadership of the FIA at the moment? GR: I mean, I'm not too sure to be honest. We recognise everybody's working as hard as they can to do the best job possible. There is obviously a huge amount of change within the FIA quite regularly, so it's clearly not the most stable of places. And maybe that's why it's been a bit challenging to get some of the changes that we've wanted implemented. Of course, everyone has their own side to their own story. But as I said, I think if we feel that we're being listened to and some of the changes that we are experiencing, requesting, are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase. But yeah, I think there's a number of drivers who feel probably a bit fed up with the whole situation. And it only seems to be going in, to a degree, the wrong direction.

Q: (Jordan Bianchi – The Athletic) For all three drivers: you returned to Vegas this year. A year ago, there was a lot of hype and excitement about this race. I'm curious, now that you come back here for a second time, what's the atmosphere like that you guys have kind of experienced so far? Kevin, let's start with you.

GR: Yeah, I mean, it definitely feels strange, this Grand Prix, just living in the night. And like Kevin says, the atmosphere builds up during the course of the weekend. So, yeah, let's see how it goes.

Q: (Anna Cordera – Momentum Racing) George, I'd like to ask you, you've been racing with Lewis for almost three years. What do you think is going to be different now you being the veteran of the team racing with Kimi, regarding the development of the car? GR: Yeah, I mean, ultimately, for most F1 teams, you have near on 1,000 people who are working towards building these two cars, yet you only have two drivers driving it. So, I think, let's say, in Lewis, in my case, it was never that Lewis had a stronger voice. The team listened to us both equally because both of our opinions were extremely important. And the same going into next year. You know, Kimi's new. He's fresh. And I'm sure he's going to have a lot of great ideas to bring to the table. So, you know, I am the more experienced of the two, but we will both get equal voices the same way, and we will both equally contribute towards the development the same way as it was with Lewis and I.

Q: (Ian Parkes – New York Times) Sorry, another question to you, George. George, is it that difficult to try and get a sit-down face-to-face meeting with the President of the FIA to discuss all these issues, that you have to go down the route that you did with that message? GR: It's definitely not difficult to get a sit down, but I think getting things to change or getting promises upheld seems slightly more challenging. So, it's maybe the FIA or the president didn't recognise how seriously we all felt. So I think that's why over the course of 20 races this year and also even last year we spoke about a number of topics, all of the drivers, we all feel pretty similar. We all know what we want from the sport and the direction it's been heading and we probably feel that we want to do a small U-turn on a number of topics and just want to work together with the FIA on this. And that's just what we've felt has not been happening at all, at least directly from the President.

[weaselle]

listen.

the problem with generative AI isn't that it exists. It's how it's being used. Just like GMOs

The same way that GMO organisms could include corn (was a grass similar to wheat before humans bred it into the corn of today, which is incapable of growing in the wild without people tending it) or sheep (zero sheep evolved into sheep in the wild, they all started as goats that humans turned into sheep through intense breeding programs)

Generative AI could include the "therapist" program that could (kind of) hold a conversation that i interacted with briefly out of curiosity in 1993, or the "gibberish machine" program that my brother used to use to write essays with when he suspected his high school teachers weren't really reading the essays they graded (this program wrote sentences that followed all the grammar rules of english, but made no actual sense when you read them)

and the same way GMO crops can be (and have been) used to do things like save entire starving countries, generative AI can be used for great things too.

The problem isn't that generative AI exists and is used, the problem is that there is no good regulatory laws for it and therefor giant immoral companies are using it in heinous ways

like iphone updates that automatically opt you in for sharing all your photos on your phone with AI learning programs that allow companies to do things we're not sure we like, such as being able to tell exactly where you are on the planet from the shadows being cast in any photo it sees. Or entertainment companies using it to undermine and topple entertainment worker unions.

Just like the problem with GMO crops isn't that they exist but what General Mills and Coke are trying to do with them, the problem with generative AI isn't that it exists but what Disney and Google are trying to do with them

And we really really need to stop having a knee-jerk reaction of "generative AI is the DEVIL" and start getting really specific about what we do and don't like about the way it's used because that's the only way we'll get the regulatory laws we need

Like even differentiating between generative and other kinds of AI seems to fall outside most people's willingness to actually think about what AI is.

Because (non generative) AI is used for things like diagnosing cancers that we can't detect in other ways, and sequencing ancient human genomes to discover how many species like neanderthal have contributed genes to our modern existence.

And even generative AI can be a great tool for all our benefit.

The issue isn't that evil AI exists and is bad.

The issue is that neutral AI exists and is so new that it's easy for big companies like Apple and Fox Entertainment to misuse it in ways we hate

And the way forward is to be specific about the ways we hate, so we can get laws in place that prevent AI from being used that way.

AI is like any other useful tool we've ever had. Just like fire, it is too useful for too many things to just hate outright, you have to be focused on things like "let's make it illegal to light other people and/or their belongings on fire" and "let's say you have to follow safety laws about when and where and how you can have a campfire" etc

It's not going away, so we'd better get focused on the controls we want as soon as possible. The longer we sit around yelling that AI is evil, the longer we go without the regulations we need, because you can't make a law that just says "AI is evil"

end rant

[politicalprof]

Helping versus Hurting, government edition:

So, roughly speaking government has two modes of operation: helping, and hurting.

By helping I mean those government actions that, in intent, are aimed at supporting people live decent lives. Think education, welfare, Social Security and Medicare, food and drug inspection, air traffic control, and much more. They don't always work as intended, and people dispute how helpful they are, but by design the aim is to assist people live the lives they want to lead.

By hurting I mean those programs that, by design, use coercion and/or violence to achieve their goals. The programs may be broadly helpful -- e.g., winning wars or imprisoning dangerous people -- but the mode of action is coercive.

These modes exist in every government, and are always in some in tension. In liberal democracies we try to balance this difference by shaping how easily these modes can be accessed and employed. For the "helpful" mode, one typically only has to fill out some forms to prove you live in a given school district or paid into Social Security sufficiently before enjoying the benefit. For "hurting" mode, in contrast, we establish higher standards: trial by jury, Congressional declaration of war, etc. More coercive = harder to do.

For the Trumpizoidal maniacs, however, this is all wrong. Coercion is to be employed quickly and easily, while "helping" is just a cover for corruption, fraud, and abuse. Hence their defense of summary detention or fantasizing about deploying troops to US cities to quell "anti-American" riots all while gutting food safety or vaccination or social support programs.

We'll see if "ordinary" Americans put up with this forever. So far, the "hurt" has been felt more by "them" (an amorphous term deployed all too often in our political world) than whoever "ordinary" Americans think of as "us." Accordingly, the hurt hasn't hurt that much, broadly enough to transform the Susan Collins' of our world (not just the Maine Senator) from "concern" to "resistance." But who knows. Who. Knows.

[odinsblog]

While his so-called Department of Government Efficiency is laying waste to the federal government, unelected White House advisor Elon Musk has massively benefited from government contracts propping up his business over more than 20 years.

As the Washington Post reports, Musk and his businesses have collected at least $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits.

The entrepreneur's EV maker Tesla and space company SpaceX, in particular, have relied greatly on cash infusions, especially when facing existential crises — a perfect example of how the government spending that Musk is now ripping apart can help innovative businesses thrive.

The investigation paints a dire picture of the current state of the US government. Despite Musk receiving huge amounts of government funds over the last two decades, his DOGE is slashing federal spending and firing thousands of government workers. It's also laying waste to federal grant programs and other initiatives that could help nascent businesses compete with Musk's established enterprises.

Put simply, it's a sign that Musk has no interest in furthering the interest of taxpayers — it's his own bottom line that matters, and little else, even if it comes directly at the cost of the American people and their social safety net. He got wealthy off the taxes others paid, and now he's slamming the door in everyone else's face.

The majority of the $38 billion we know about went from NASA and the Defense Department to SpaceX. Tesla accounts for less than a third, and includes federal and state programs designed to boost EV adoption.

And given the many classified defense and intelligence contracts, the total amount of funds Musk has extracted from the government is likely even higher. According to the WaPo, many grants and reimbursements didn't include specific amounts of money.

"Not every entrepreneur at this scale has been this dependent on federal money — certainly not Nvidia, not Microsoft, nor Amazon, nor Meta," Yale School of Management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld told the newspaper. "With DOGE, there does seem to be a paradox there. He has been a big beneficiary of national industrial policy, especially Democrat industrial policy, through government funding."

Musk has also been gutting key government agencies that have investigated his companies in the past, showing a clear willingness to abuse his power to benefit his business interests.

After greatly benefiting from government payouts, Musk has attempted to pull the ladder up behind him, effectively trying to shut out the competition.

(continue reading)