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dchan87 · 1 year ago

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Don’t screw this up, Jerry

The White Sox are negotiating with developer Related Midwest about the possibility of building a new ballpark on the South Loop parcel known as “The 78.” Sources familiar with the talks, all speaking on the condition they not be named, told the Chicago Sun-Times the negotiations for a baseball-only stadium are “serious.” The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the government agency that owns and financed Guaranteed Rate Field, has not been involved in the discussions, according to the authority’s CEO Frank Bilecki. At some point, the stadium authority would need to get involved in determining the future of Guaranteed Rate Field and possibly in building a new ballpark if it is publicly funded. The potential site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street is owned by Related Midwest. Company President Curt Bailey wouldn’t comment. Nor would Sox spokesperson Scott Reifert or Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson and Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a joint, written statement in response to questions: “We met to discuss the historic partnership between the team and Chicago and the team’s ideas for remaining competitive in Chicago in perpetuity.” They didn’t mention the possibility of moving the Sox from Guaranteed Rate Field to the South Loop tract, which the developer named for its potential to become Chicago’s 78th neighborhood.

Guaranteed Rate Field sits in the middle of 70 acres of stadium parking. (Getty)

One-of-a-kind site in prime location

At 62 acres stretching south to 16th Street, The 78 is one of Chicago’s largest undeveloped parcels — and the most strategically located. But it has eluded development for decades.

Once owned by convicted political power player Tony Rezko, it was one of several sites in the running for a Chicago casino now planned for River West.

Rezko’s partner in the South Loop land deal was Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire living in London who was once convicted of accepting illegal commissions in an oil deal in France. Auchi was fined and sentenced to probation.

As of 2019, Auchi still owned the site after taking on Related Midwest as a new partner. It’s unclear whether Auchi still owns a piece of the site.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to use at least part of the property for a University of Illinois tech research center known as Discovery Partners Institute. That’s the only concrete project on the drawing board for The 78. Discovery Partners has been expected to use about 4 acres at the southern part of the site. Bill Jackson, executive director, said he has heard the White Sox could be interested and would make a great neighbor.

A rendering shows the view from the Chicago River of the new Discovery Partners Institute building planned at The 78. It is unclear how the possibility of a new ballpark being built on the same site would affect the institute. Provided

“A new Sox park could bring the infrastructure we need” for the institute, Jackson said. “I think it would be great.”

Jackson added that the institute has a firm commitment to staying at The 78. “Our game plan doesn’t work without being there,” he said.

A spokesperson for the institute said it expects to break ground on its project this year. She said bids for the construction are expected to go before the state’s capital development board in a few weeks.

Could Sox share new site?

But a Chicago developer familiar with the property, who requested anonymity, said the institute has been “trying to get out of that deal for a couple of years.”

The site isn’t big enough to accommodate both Discovery Partners and a baseball stadium with its parking lots, the developer said: “They’ll have to move elsewhere.”

An aerial shot looking north at the Loop shows the undeveloped 62-acre site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street that has become known as The 78. Provided

Sources said mass transit access — the nearby Roosevelt station serves the CTA’s Red, Green and Orange lines — could reduce the need for stadium parking. With the Chicago River just west of the site, sources also noted the possibility of water taxi service for game-day crowds.

Ganis called The 78 the “best undeveloped site” in Chicago and said he’s not surprised the Sox might be considering it.

“If the White Sox are to stay in the city proper, that is an excellent location,” Ganis said. “It’s a clear site that has mass transit and highway access around it. It is one of the very few locations in the urban core of Chicago that could have a well-situated stadium on it.”

Railroad tracks bisecting the land make it “even more” attractive as a stadium site, Ganis said.

“When you have an active railroad line or railroad stations going through a location, there are only so many things you can do with that property,” he said. “Housing is challenging. Commercial development is challenging. A sports facility that is operated only at certain times, and, when it’s operating, noise is expected anyway, is well-located there.

Railroad tracks run through The 78, a large undeveloped parcel just south of downtown Chicago, but the tracks shouldn’t be a deterrent to a new White Sox stadium, should the team choose to move there, one local consultant said. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times_

Ganis likened the Sox quest for a new home to the stadium development in suburban Atlanta known as The Battery. Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is a stadium-anchored mixed-used development that includes hotels, restaurants, shopping and other entertainment and business uses within walking distance of the stadium.

“It’s been very successful. There are lots of teams in baseball that are looking at emulating what the Atlanta Braves have done,” Ganis said.

1988 deal stopped Sox move to Florida

Guaranteed Rate Field opened in 1991 across the street from the team’s old home, the now-demolished Comiskey Park. Financing for the new stadium came together in an eleventh-hour deal that prevented the Sox from moving to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Then-Gov. Jim Thompson stopped the clock to lobby lawmakers, who approved the deal after the session’s midnight deadline in 1988.

The initial lease was highly favorable to the Sox. For the first decade, the team paid no rent if annual attendance fell below 1.2 million. Under its current lease, the team pays $1.5 million in annual rent. The Sox control revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking and merchandise operations.

The lease has been amended in recent years to allow the Sox to open a team store and a restaurant on state-owned land across the street from the ballpark.

The White Sox have a fan store and bar built into one of the ballpark’s access ramps on the other side of 35th Street, but there is little other development in the immediate vicinity. (WBEZ)

At the same time the Sox are pondering a move, the Bears are continuing their search for a new Chicago home after spending $197.2 million to purchase the site of the Arlington International Racecourse, then running into a property tax roadblock from suburban school districts.

The 78 could be a possible site for a Bears stadium, but sources said the team isn’t interested. And if the team were to build in Chicago, sources said Bears President Kevin Warren is focused on a site such as Soldier Field’s south parking lot.

A White Sox move to the South Loop also could affect the Chicago Fire. Sources said the soccer team, which plays at Soldier Field, could move to Guaranteed Rate Field if the baseball team moves out.

“We have not engaged with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority about playing at Guaranteed Rate Field,” Fire spokesman Jhamie Chin said, adding that the team has focused on starting construction of its performance center for training and team offices on the Near West Side.

The soccer team’s lease at Soldier Field has two more years to run, and the club has extensions that could cover another five years.

Reinsdorf has called the 2023 White Sox season, his 43rd in baseball, “absolutely the worst season I’ve ever been through.”

At the time, Reinsdorf was asked if the experience was so bad that he considered unloading the team.

“I’m going to couch this so nobody writes that I thought of selling,” he said with a chuckle.

The view south from Roosevelt Road at The 78, a parcel of undeveloped land stretching from Roosevelt south to 16th Street, between Clark Street and the Chicago River. It is being viewed as a potential site for a new White Sox stadium. Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

#chicago white sox #chicago #chicago sun times #south loop chicago #baseball #stadiums #news

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wyattbusinesscollege1 · 26 days ago

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Why Choose Wyatt Business College for Your Studies?

Ever wondered what truly sets an educational institution apart from the rest? In a world where career advancement hinges on the right qualifications, picking the right college can make all the difference. Wyatt Business College delivers more than just a diploma — it’s your gateway to a global career.

About Wyatt Business College

At Wyatt Business College, education meets opportunity. Known for nurturing leadership and management talent, the college’s mission is to empower students with real-world knowledge and tools to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.

Their focus? Helping students not just learn, but lead.

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management

The BSB60420 — Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management is one of Wyatt’s flagship programs. Tailored to equip professionals with advanced skills, the program is aligned with the latest in enterprise and industry demands.

It’s designed for individuals ready to step into senior leadership roles, combining theoretical insights with hands-on experience.

Course Duration and Format

This isn’t just a short-term crash course. The program stretches over 65 weeks (2140 hours) and is conducted face-to-face, making learning immersive and interactive.

Classes run for 20 hours per week, across 2.5 days, allowing flexibility for working students.

Course Content and Units

Core Units

Apply critical thinking for complex problem solving

Lead and manage organisational change

Provide leadership across the organisation

Develop and implement business plans

Manage innovation and continuous improvement

Elective Units

Contribute to learning and development strategies

Provide leadership for the program

Develop organisational strategies

Develop organisational marketing strategy

Manage organisational finances

Each unit is meticulously designed to boost both strategic thinking and operational capability.

Real-World Relevance

The course goes beyond textbooks. It’s hands-on, with real industry challenges and scenarios. Perfect for those already in leadership roles and ready to level up.

It’s also ideal for professionals wanting formal recognition of their current skills or aiming to transition into new industries or markets.

International Student Focus

Studying abroad can be daunting — but Wyatt makes it simple. With support for visa processing, orientation programs, and cultural integration, it’s a smooth transition from your home country to classroom leadership in Australia.

Language and Academic Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be 18 years or older

Meet English proficiency requirements (e.g., IELTS 5.5 overall)

Have prior education (Diploma/Advanced Diploma) or 2 years’ leadership experience

Modern Learning Infrastructure

Students need access to:

A laptop or digital device

Word processing software

A reliable internet connection

Wyatt ensures students are equipped with modern tools for digital-age learning — whether inside or outside the classroom.

Affordable Investment in Your Future

Let’s talk money — because studying shouldn’t cost you a fortune.

Domestic Students: AUD 5,500

International Students: AUD 10,400

Scholarships? Yes — just reach out to the administrative office for eligibility.

Career and Study Pathways

Graduate with confidence, knowing that your diploma opens doors. Career pathways include

Area Manager

Business Analyst

Executive Director

CEO

Senior Executive

Managing Director

Or you could take the next academic step and enroll in a university degree program.

Recognised Qualification

This qualification is nationally accredited in Australia. There are no additional licensing or regulatory hoops to jump through — once you graduate, you’re ready to lead.

Location and Lifestyle

Why study in Australia? Think world-class education, vibrant student communities, and unmatched career opportunities.

Studying at Wyatt means more than classes — it’s about building a global network while enjoying a high-quality lifestyle.

Why Wyatt Stands Out

Here’s what makes Wyatt different:

A student-centered approach

Experienced, industry-savvy faculty

Programs tailored to professional goals

A focus on practical outcomes, not just theory

Testimonials and Success Stories

Many Wyatt grads have gone on to lead in corporate sectors, start their own businesses, or pursue further studies at top universities.

Their stories prove one thing — Wyatt delivers results.

Conclusion

Wyatt Business College isn’t just another name in education. It’s a launchpad for future leaders. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a recent graduate looking to build an international career, this is your chance to lead from the front.

🌐 Visit Us Online: https://wyatt.nsw.edu.au/

#WyattBusinessCollege #Australia #leadership #students #Best college #diploma #visit our website

#WyattBusinessCollege

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odljharkhand · 2 months ago

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B.Com Graduate Success Story: From 12th Standard to 6-Figure Salary

Banking officers can earn up to ₹2 Crore per year with the right career choices after 12th grade. This might seem like a stretch, but the ever-changing banking sector makes it possible. B.Com graduates now command starting packages between ₹4-10 Lakhs annually.

My experience began as a commerce student chasing similar dreams. Today, I share my path from a 12th-standard student to a thriving professional. My B.Com experience taught me to pick the right specialization and develop skills that employers value. Strategic collaborations and smart career moves helped me reach the six-figure salary bracket.

This piece stands out because it reflects my ground experience of navigating the commerce field. It shows how I made career decisions that worked in the professional world. My story offers a practical roadmap to professional success for students who think over B.Com or are already on this path.

Choosing Commerce After 12th: The Foundation of Success

The classic dilemma hit me after 12th standard. Like many students, I stood at a career crossroads wondering which path would bring both personal fulfillment and professional success. The commerce stream offered several options. B.Com caught my attention and ended up being my choice for some compelling reasons.

Why I chose B.Com over other courses

My choice wasn't random at all. The numbers spoke volumes - over 43.22 lakh students in India were pursuing B.Com, and women made up nearly half of this number. These statistics showed me something important - B.Com was creating opportunities for countless students.

B.Com's versatility compared to specialized courses sealed the deal for me. The program gave me a complete foundation in business fundamentals. It didn't narrow my focus like other programs. Instead, it gave me the knowledge of accounting, finance, economics, and management – the complete toolkit I needed to navigate the business world.

There's another reason that made perfect sense - ground application. B.Com offered practical business knowledge I could use right away, whatever industry I chose to enter.

Understanding B.Com course scope and benefits

The benefits of B.Com after 12th amazed me as I looked deeper. This three-year program covers vital subjects like accounting, economics, business law, finance, and marketing. These subjects build skills that industries value, going beyond just theory.

Career opportunities really caught my eye. B.Com graduates thrive in various roles:

Finance and accounting (financial analysts, accountants, tax consultants)

Banking and insurance (customer service, operations, financial analysis)

Marketing (sales, advertising, market research)

Government sectors (various departments and administrative roles)

B.Com also creates a solid base for higher education. Many students move on to MBA, CA, CS, or specialized master’s programs that boost their earning potential by a lot.

The money made sense too. B.Com graduates start at ₹2.2 LPA, grow to about ₹5 LPA mid-career, and can reach ₹9 LPA in senior positions. These numbers showed me that this education would pay off well.

My original career goals and expectations

My expectations mixed ambition with practicality. I wanted to build strong skills in financial analysis and business management – these skills never go out of style.

My plan started with an entry-level accounting or finance position and grew from there. The salary growth matched industry standards – modest at first but increasing with experience and extra certifications.

Internships would add practical experience to my degree. Major organizations like ICICI, HDFC, SBI, PNB, RBI, LIC, and KPMG actively seek B.Com graduates, which gave me confidence about job prospects.

My future plans included specialization through additional certifications. The choice between CA, CS, CFA, or an MBA could wait - B.Com would give me the perfect foundation for any of these paths.

Navigating the B.Com Curriculum: First Year to Final Year

My B.Com experience was a steady build-up of knowledge. It started with simple concepts and led to specialized expertise. Looking back, each year was carefully planned to develop different parts of my business skills.

Key B.Com subjects in 1st year that shaped my thinking

The first year of my B.Com degree gave me strong foundations with core subjects that influenced my business understanding. Financial Accounting taught me how to prepare and analyze income statements and balance sheets—these skills became valuable throughout my career.

Business Organization and Management showed me how companies work from the inside out. It covered everything from organizational structures to management principles. Business Law was eye-opening as it introduced me to the legal frameworks that govern commercial activities.

Simple subjects like Business Mathematics and Statistics turned out to be significant tools. These quantitative subjects gave me analytical skills that employers value consistently. Environmental Studies helped me understand the growing connection between business and sustainability.

My first year wasn't just theory—it built practical skills that improved my employability. I learned Excel and data analysis, critical thinking, and simple communication skills. These skills gave me an edge right from the start.

Building on foundations in 2nd year

The second year of my B.Com program built on what I learned in year one. Corporate Accounting expanded my financial knowledge with complex concepts like corporate financial reporting. Corporate Law took a closer look at legal aspects of company operations and compliance.

Cost Accounting was one of the most practical subjects. It taught me to analyze and control business expenses—a skill I used in my first job. Business Communication improved my ability to explain complex financial information clearly.

Income Tax Law and Practice taught me taxation principles, while subjects like GST broadened my understanding of indirect taxation. This detailed taxation knowledge helped me especially during job interviews, as employers wanted graduates with practical tax expertise.

The second-year curriculum went beyond theory and included more case studies and ground applications. This approach helped me develop advanced analytical abilities and get ready for specialization choices in my final year.

Specialization choices in 3rd year that opened doors

The third year showed various specialization options that lined up with specific career paths. After thinking it over, I chose Accounting and Finance, which changed the direction of my career. These specialization areas offer strong career prospects:

Accounting & Finance: Focuses on financial analysis, wealth management, and international finance

Banking & Insurance: Develops expertise in financial activities related to banking and insurance sectors

Taxation: Concentrates on tax laws, regulations, and compliance—highly demanded by corporations

Computer Applications: Combines commerce fundamentals with technology skills

Investment Management: Provides knowledge of capital markets with emphasis on stock markets

My specialization studies covered advanced topics like financial reporting, investment analysis, and corporate governance. These subjects prepared me directly for my first job in financial analysis. Each specialized paper included practical projects that helped me develop industry-relevant skills before graduation.

The best part of third-year specialization was connecting with industry professionals who taught specialized courses. Their ground insights and networking opportunities helped me get my first job through campus recruitment.

Beyond Academics: Skills That Employers Actually Value

My B.Com program taught me an important lesson – textbooks alone won't lead to career success. A newer study, published in the U.S., shows businesses lose about INR 101.26 trillion each year because employees don't communicate well. These numbers made it clear that I needed skills beyond academics to stand out after graduation.

Developing financial analysis abilities

Strong financial analysis skills became the life-blood of my professional growth. I focused on learning complex data interpretation, which now ranks among the top 5 sought-after skills worldwide in LinkedIn's 2023 report. Extra hours went into mastering advanced Excel applications like pivot tables and VLOOKUP formulas – basic tools every financial analyst needs.

Learning financial statements became my priority. Balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow analysis gave me a solid base. Employers look for graduates who can:

Review financial performance accurately

Give informed decisions

Use ratio analysis to check company health

My internships let me use these skills on ground financial challenges. Employers valued this practical experience much more than theory.

Communication skills that set me apart

My communication skills made me different from other B.Com graduates. I found that good communicators participate, think over others' views, and listen well. I worked on active listening and asked questions to show understanding instead of just sharing my views.

Different situations needed different communication styles – something many people miss. This flexibility helped me connect better with colleagues and clients. During presentations, I maintained eye contact, spoke at the right pace, and used visual aids well.

Written communication played a vital role. Every job application showcased this skill first, showing its importance even before I started working.

Leadership experiences through college activities

Campus organizations gave me strategic leadership opportunities. These roles weren't just for my resume – they let me shape my skills based on career goals.

Student leadership positions filled the experience gaps in my resume. I picked organizations that lined up with my career interests. This choice helped me connect with faculty experts and industry professionals. Planning events and managing budgets improved my project management skills.

These leadership experiences translated well to my workplace. Employers wanted people who showed initiative, worked well in teams, and took responsibility – qualities I could prove through my campus activities.

Strategic Career Moves: From Entry-Level to Management

My professional trip started right after my B.Com degree as I moved from classroom to cubicle. This transition brought its own set of challenges and learning curves that shaped my career path.

Landing my first job: expectations vs. reality

Fresh out of graduation, I entered the job market with grand expectations to apply all my academic knowledge right away. I found that there was a gap between first job expectations and reality. Rather than hitting the ground running, I learned simple workplace protocols and adapted to company culture.

A substantial realization hit me – my college-learned skills weren't all relevant in my original role. My degree helped me land the position, but my actual daily work needed skills I hadn't expected.

My salary expectations needed a reality check too. I had imagined financial independence, but my first pay package was modest. This pushed me to become skilled at negotiation for future opportunities.

Key promotions and how I earned them

I earned my first promotion by showing several qualities that managers value consistently. I focused on solving problems instead of just pointing them out. This approach showed leadership potential beyond my regular duties.

My promotion timeline moved faster because I:

Made my boss shine by staying organized and moving quickly

Showed exceptional work ethics and reliability

Measured and documented achievements that helped business growth

Built skills through cross-departmental project volunteering

My path wasn't always straight up – I made strategic sideways moves to set myself up for future advancement.

Transitioning to higher-paying roles

Higher salary brackets needed careful career planning. B.Com graduates can see substantial salary growth – from ₹4-5 LPA at entry-level to ₹10-20 LPA annually with experience and extra qualifications.

Investment Banking offered particularly good money, with positions paying up to ₹8-15 LPA. Business Development Manager roles commanded ₹7-15 LPA.

Extra certifications boosted my earning power dramatically. My MBA raised my management prospects, while specialized financial certifications opened doors to better-paying positions.

Location played a big role in compensation – metropolitan jobs typically paid better than roles in smaller cities. This geographical factor became part of my career planning as I built experience and maximized earning potential.

Financial Growth: Breaking the 6-Figure Salary Barrier

Breaking the six-figure salary barrier was a game-changer in my B.Com career trip. The path to financial success didn't happen overnight—it needed careful planning, smart negotiation, and constant learning.

Salary progression timeline

My salary grew in a steady and positive way. I started at about ₹3 lakh per year as a fresh B.Com graduate. My pay kept growing in the early years. By mid-career, I earned around ₹5-8 lakh yearly, which matched what experienced B.Com professionals typically made.

The biggest jump happened after five years when I crossed ₹9 lakh. Many people see this as the stepping stone to six-figure earnings. This growth shows how B.Com graduates typically move up—starting small and earning more as they gain experience.

The money really started flowing in senior roles. My expertise earned me between ₹12-20 lakh yearly. Data shows that B.Com experts with solid experience can make up to ₹30 lakh per year in accounting and finance.

Negotiation strategies that worked for me

Data-backed salary talks worked best. I did my homework before each negotiation using Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary Insights. This gave me the confidence to talk numbers with solid facts.

I found that the "non-offer offer" technique worked wonders. Instead of saying "I deserve ₹X," I would mention "People with my qualifications typically earn between ₹X and ₹Y." This smart approach sets the right range without sounding pushy.

Of course, showing my worth made a difference. Rather than talking about years of work, I showed real results—how I made things better or brought in money. This helped employers see me as an asset rather than an expense.

Additional certifications that boosted my income

Smart certification choices sped up my income growth. I picked qualifications that consistently paid well:

CPA (Certified Public Accountant): This opened new doors right away, leading to roles paying ₹6-10 lakh yearly.

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst): This proved really valuable, with certified experts earning ₹15-40 lakh at senior levels.

FRM (Financial Risk Management): This special qualification led to risk management roles paying ₹10-18 lakh.

Without doubt, each certification needed time and money. In spite of that, the payoff was huge—my income jumped 40-60% with each new credential. This smart way of constant learning helped me break through the six-figure barrier.

Conclusion

My trip from a fresh B.Com graduate to earning a six-figure salary shows how smart planning and constant learning pay off. I started with a basic ₹3 lakh package and climbed up the corporate ladder with calculated moves and extra certifications that helped me reach the six-figure bracket.

Three key factors made this possible. I developed hands-on skills beyond what textbooks taught, which made me stand out from others. Smart career moves and negotiation skills helped me earn more. Getting targeted certifications like CFA and FRM opened new doors to better-paying roles.

B.Com students can speed up their growth by doing this. Those interested in B.Com can explore the detailed program details at JSO University, which offers flexible options that line up with what companies need.

Note that reaching a six-figure salary takes time, hard work, and wise career moves. The path might seem tough, but mixing academic excellence with practical skills and professional certifications builds a strong base to succeed in commerce.

#bachelor of commerce #bcom distance #bcom courses #bcom program #bcom distance education

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alliance00 · 2 months ago

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Top Executive Recruiters in Houston: Finding the Right Talent for Your Business

Finding the right set of leaders is one main step for some businesses if they ever want to make it in the long run. This is especially in a budding, competitive city like Houston, where businesses must look for the cream of the crop to bring innovation, efficiency, and growth. This is where executive recruiters emerge in Houston.

Hiring executives is not a matter of merely filling an empty seat; it is about finding those people who fit into your company culture and can help elevate the company to new heights. Surrounded by so many candidates, it may seem daunting to pick one. Nevertheless, expert executive recruiters in Houston simplify the entire process further with their knowledge of industry dynamics, networks, and specialized recruitment skills.

What Are Executive Recruiters in Houston?

Executive recruiters, or headhunters in layman's terms, look to identify, lure, and recruit high-caliber executive talent for senior-level positions. Headhunters focus their energies on developing candidates with requisite leadership experience, specialized skills, and a proven track record of success. Whether an organization would require an executive-level position such as CEO, CFO, or similar, a Houston-based executive recruiter has the training and resources to find the right candidate.

Why Should You Work with Executive Recruiters in Houston?

Connection with Premier:

Talent Executive recruiters in Houston have deep connections within the competitive job market of the city. They usually communicate with the best professionals, many of whom are not seeking work. Arms through which the recruiters find access to the hidden talent that firms may have missed.

Knowledge of the Industry:

Different industries have their base in Houston, such as energy, healthcare, technology, and finance. Specific skill sets, experiences, and leadership qualities define every industry. Executive recruiters in Houston may specialize in a certain industry, and therefore, they understand the specialties and requirements of that sector. They know people with precisely the skills that your company needs.

Time-Saving:

The recruitment of an executive position stretches from the time to the resource base of the organization. Executive recruiters handle the sourcing, screening, and vetting of candidates well, freeing your internal team to concentrate on core business functions. Their experience assures that only the qualified candidates are presented for consideration, saving your business in terms of valuable time.

Objective Perspective:

On hiring decisions, one may be entitled to feel personal biases-even unconsciously. The objective hiring recruiters do a much better job. They focus on each applicant's skills, experience, and cultural fit, ensuring that decision-making is purely through merit and not personal preferences. Their training to evaluate prospective candidates brings them nearer to matching the right person with your business's needs and goals.

Executive Search Confidentiality:

Executive searches are sensitive undertakings for which even the most ambiguous of references are not advisable in filling very senior positions. The good executive recruiter in Houston must also ensure that your sensitive requirements are met with confidentiality. It becomes all the more necessary if you are looking to replace an incumbent executive or are undergoing considerable changes in an organization.

How to Choose the Right Executive Recruiter in Houston?

When selecting executive recruiters in Houston, it’s essential to consider a few key factors to ensure you find the right fit for your business:

Experience and Reputation: Search for recruiters who have proven successful within your specific industry. Reputable, experienced recruiters attract the best talent, often the best suited for your needs. Consider reviewing references or reading reviews from companies that have used them in the past.

Specialization: Most recruiters provide general services; however, employing one with specialization in your area can actually put you ahead. It is natural for the Houston economy to be diverse; therefore, a recruiter aware of the particular challenges and demands of your industry should be in a better position to help you recruit successfully.

Consultative Approach: The learned executive recruiter knows that before commencing any search, an understanding of the culture, the mission, and the specific needs of the organization must be realized. The recruiter must be very consultative and lend insight and advice to help mold job descriptions as well as a candidate profile. This philosophy sustains a strategic search process that eventually leads to top talent hiring.

Network Strength: A good network is mandatory for any executive recruiter. Houston is itself a business hub. Thus, through an extensive network, one is able to get access to both active and passive candidates. They are in a position to know and network with the professionals functioning in leadership roles who could be good prospective candidates for the organization.

The Benefits of Hiring Executive Recruiters in Houston for Your Business

Streamlined Hiring Process: Houston executive recruiters are making the hiring process easier and faster, focusing on the most qualified candidates. This translates to less stress and workloads for your HR team.

Long-Term Success: Hiring effective executives can boost productivity and profitability, into the long-term growth of the company. Thus, having an effective leadership team propels a business forward, adapts to changes within the industry, and outsmarts the competition.

Reduced Turnover: Find an executive recruiter who can hire someone who suits the culture and values of your organization. This will ensure better employee retention, especially for executives, as they'll retain a longer tenure with the organization.

Market Insight: Executive recruiters typically are informed about compensation trends and market conditions, as well as industry developments. They can advise on how competitive your compensation packages and organizational structure are compared with competitors to ensure that your company remains attractive to talented people.

Conclusion

Hiring the most appropriate executive is one of the important decisions that would probably dramatically affect the future destiny of one's business. Executive recruiters in Houston offer you entry to employment talent, business knowledge, and a streamlined hiring process. With the right recruiter, you put your organization in secure hands, setting your leadership team in place for growth and success for the long haul. If you want that perfect leader for your organization, it is time to act and partner with reputable executive recruiters in Houston, such as Alliance Recruitment Agency. They will help you search for just that perfect match. Contact us now. View source: https://alliancerecruitmentagency.hashnode.dev/top-executive-recruiters-in-houston-finding-the-right-talent-for-your-business

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iconsofchange · 2 months ago

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Icons of Change Awards 2025

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Excellence in Leadership, Economic Empowerment, and Community Development

ROSALINA “SALLY” DE LA PAZ - MAGAT

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A Woman of Enduring Impact

For over five decades, Ms. Rosalina “Sally” de la Paz-Magat has devoted her life and career to shaping the Philippine financial system, strengthening public institutions, empowering communities, and mentoring future leaders. She is widely respected as a professional economist-banker, scholar, writer, educator, newspaper columnist, consultant, and civic leader, with an enduring influence that stretches across government, business, academe, and civil society.

A remarkable blend of financial expertise, strategic leadership, and social responsibility, Ms. Magat has stood at the forefront of nation-building and institution-strengthening, leaving a legacy of integrity, wisdom, and excellence wherever she served.

Distinguished Banking and Financial Leadership

Ms. Magat’s exceptional career in the banking and financial sector has left an enduring positive change on several of the country’s most important financial institutions.

At the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) — one of the largest government financial institutions in the country — she rose to the rank of Senior Vice President. During her tenure (1998–2009), she held multiple leadership positions such as:

- Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Compliance Monitoring

- Chief Risk Officer and Head of the Risk Management Office

- Head of Corporate Planning, Budget, and Special Projects

- Head of Strategic Planning and Research, and Chief Economist

- Acquired Assets Marketing Team Leader for Northern Luzon, overseeing the management and disposition of strategic bank assets

At Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) (1992��1998), Ms. Magat served as Vice President for Treasury and Planning, responsible for fund management and treasury operations during economically crucial times for the country. She also served as Assistant Vice President for Corporate Planning and Communications, where she directed institutional communication strategies and business planning initiatives.

Earlier, at the Land Bank of the Philippines (1981–1992), she progressed through key leadership roles — from Department Manager to Assistant Vice President, heading the Corporate Planning Department and overseeing programs and special projects that directly supported agricultural financing, cooperatives, and countryside development.

Her earlier work at the National Development Company (1980) and Central Bank of the Philippines (1974–1980) as Chief Economist gave her valuable exposure to the management of economic policies, financial regulations, import monitoring, and trade policy research — experiences that shaped her as a seasoned economist and public financial manager.

An Educator, Mentor, and Advocate of Good Governance

Ms. Magat has long believed in the power of education and public service as tools for national development. Since 2013, she has served as a Professorial Lecturer in Business and Economics at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP), where she has mentored and inspired a new generation of public administrators, business professionals, and civic leaders.

Her academic contributions also include teaching engagements in:

- Assumption College

- International Academy for Management and Economics (I/AME)

- De La Salle University Graduate School of Business and Economics

- University of the Philippines Manila

- Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business

- International University Foundation

As an author and columnist, Ms. Magat brings critical national conversations into public discourse through her widely-read “Veritas” column in The Manila Times (2017–present), tackling issues on governance, economy, finance, and nation-building.

Civic Service, Institutional Advocacy, and Women’s Empowerment

Ms. Magat’s dedication extends far beyond the boardroom and classroom. A respected community leader and civic advocate, she has held numerous positions in public and private organizations in Pasig City and beyond:

- Consultant, Pasig City Local Council of Women (2023–present)

- Director, Pasig City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2024–2025)

- President, Pamilya Pasigueño Inc. (2023–present)

- Board Member, Bankers Association of the Philippines Institute of Banking (BAIPHIL) Special Projects Committee (2020–present)

She has long advocated for women’s rights, social protection, urban development, public safety, and community empowerment — having served for many years in:

- Pasig City Peace & Order Council

- Pasig City Development Council

- Pasig City Dangerous Drugs Board’s Anti-Nuisance Administrative Board, representing NGOs

Nationally, she continues to lead and serve as:

- Vice Chairman of the Board, Land Bank’s Countryside Builders Multi-Purpose Cooperative

- Chairman, Business Development and Investment Committee (BDIC), CBMPC

- Chairman, Advocacy Committee (ADVOCOM), Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC)

- Board of Trustees Member, UP School of Economics Alumni Association

- Board Member, Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of the Philippines

- Council of Past Presidents, UP MBA Alumni Society

International Exposure and Consultancy Work

Ms. Magat’s expertise has reached international development institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, where she rendered consultancy services on economic policy, project finance, and strategic management, contributing to programs that uplift emerging economies and strengthen governance systems in Asia.

She has also extensively traveled around the world for conferences, trainings, and advocacy missions, bringing home valuable global perspectives that have enriched her work in governance and economic development.

Accolades and Honors

For her lifelong dedication and outstanding service, Ms. Magat has received numerous awards and recognitions:

- Dangal ng Pasig (Outstanding Pasigueño) — 2000

- Rizal High School TEODORA Award (Outstanding Alumna) for her excellence in economics and banking — 1995

- TEODORA Life Achievement Award (Most Outstanding Alumna) — 2018

- Lifetime Associate Award, Bankers Institute of the Philippines

- Outstanding Club President, Rotary International — 2000

- Outstanding Club President, Zonta International — 2010

- 2024 UPAA Distinguished Alumna in Community Empowerment - Social Development

- BRU Digital TV - 20 Most Inspiring Modern Day Heroes

These honors reflect the respect, admiration, and gratitude of her peers and the communities she has served with wisdom and integrity.

A True Icon of Change

Ms. Rosalina de la Paz - Magat embodies the very ideals of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions through her leadership, advocacy, scholarship, and civic service. Her visionary leadership in the banking and public sector, commitment to financial integrity, advocacy for good governance, and passion for nation-building make her a true pillar of Philippine society.

Through decades of unwavering public service and community leadership, she has inspired a culture of integrity, civic responsibility, and inclusive growth. The Icons of Change Awards 2025 proudly honors Ms. Rosalina “Sally” de la Paz-Magat as a shining example of leadership excellence, economic empowerment, and community development — a woman whose lifetime achievements continue to shape the country’s future.

#IconsOfChange2025#MetroManila#SDG16#PeaceJusticeStrongInstitutions#LeadershipExcellence#EconomicEmpowerment#CommunityDevelopment#GoodGovernance#NationBuilding#FinancialIntegrity#PasigIcons#WomenInLeadership#PublicService#PhilippineBanking#IconsOfPasig#StrongInstitutionsPH#EmpoweredCommunities#IconsOfChangeAwardee

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leilanibradford · 3 months ago

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The Power of Women Collaborating in Business

Collaboration has always been a cornerstone of success in business, but when women choose to work together intentionally, the results go beyond the bottom line. You don’t just build companies—you build ecosystems of support, creativity, and growth. Whether you’re co-founding a venture, mentoring another entrepreneur, or simply exchanging ideas with someone who understands your journey, collaboration offers real advantages. As a woman in business, you’ve probably already seen how lifting each other up opens doors that might otherwise stay closed. This article explores how collaboration among women drives innovation, strengthens leadership, and amplifies results across industries. And if you’re not already investing in collaboration, this is your signal to start.

Stronger Networks Lead to Bigger Opportunities

You already know how valuable a solid network is. When women collaborate, they create connections that are rooted in more than professional gain—they're built on trust, shared values, and lived experience. That kind of connection lasts. It’s one thing to hand someone a business card. It’s another to follow up, make an introduction, or offer your help because you genuinely want to see someone win.

As you build your own network, look for opportunities to join women-led organizations, mastermind groups, and digital communities. These spaces make it easier to connect with like-minded professionals, share strategies, and find partners who align with your vision. The relationships you invest in now can evolve into partnerships, joint ventures, referrals, or even friendships that carry your business further than you imagined.

Collaboration Sparks Innovation

When you collaborate with other women, you bring together a mix of experiences and ideas that rarely come from working solo. You might approach a problem one way, but someone with a different background or industry focus brings in a fresh angle—and together, you find a solution that neither of you would’ve seen alone. That’s the power of shared thinking.

If you’re developing a new product, building a brand, or solving a customer challenge, you can gain an edge by collaborating with others who complement your strengths. Don’t just look for people who think like you. Look for those who challenge you, expand your perspective, and help you stretch your creative boundaries. In a competitive market, innovation is currency, and collaboration fuels it.

Shared Resources Create Sustainable Growth

Running a business can feel isolating, especially when you’re juggling everything from marketing to customer service to finance. But when you team up with other women, you get access to tools, systems, and knowledge that save time and money. Maybe someone has a great graphic designer. Maybe they’ve already negotiated a vendor discount. Maybe they’ve built a client onboarding process you can adapt.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time. Sharing resources doesn’t just lighten your workload—it also boosts your capacity. You can take on larger projects, expand your reach, and serve your customers better when you’re not starting from scratch. And you don’t need formal partnerships to do this. A simple collaboration on a campaign, webinar, or cross-promotion can move the needle for everyone involved.

Mentorship Multiplies Growth

There’s no substitute for real-world experience, and one of the most powerful ways women collaborate is through mentorship. Whether you’re the mentor or the mentee, that relationship offers an ongoing exchange of ideas, accountability, and support. And it’s not just about senior professionals guiding juniors. Peer mentorship—working with someone at a similar stage—can be just as valuable.

If you’ve been in business for a while, make it a point to share what you’ve learned. Offer feedback, answer questions, and be honest about what worked and what didn’t. And if you’re earlier in your career, seek out women whose paths you admire and ask thoughtful questions. Most successful professionals remember what it’s like to be in your shoes and are willing to help when approached with sincerity and clarity.

Strategic Partnerships Expand Your Reach

Sometimes collaboration means forming something bigger together. You might join forces on a product launch, co-host a live event, or create an offering that combines your strengths with someone else’s. These kinds of partnerships work best when your audiences overlap and your values align. You get double the visibility and double the impact with less effort than trying to do it alone.

Strategic collaborations also build credibility. When customers see two respected professionals teaming up, it signals trust and authority. And it introduces you to new audiences without needing to spend extra on marketing. You’ll want to be selective—don’t say yes to every opportunity—but when the right one comes along, it can fast-track your business in a way solo efforts can’t.

Collective Voices Drive Change

When women collaborate, they’re not just growing businesses—they’re changing business. You’ve probably seen it in your own field. Conversations about equal pay, funding access, and inclusive hiring get louder and more effective when women speak together. Advocacy becomes stronger when it’s not coming from one voice but a collective chorus that’s consistent and confident.

You can use your platform to amplify others and lend support to initiatives that benefit everyone. That might mean contributing to a campaign, signing a joint letter, or spotlighting another woman’s work. These small actions matter. Over time, they shift the culture and create a better environment for the next generation of women entrepreneurs and executives to succeed.

Support Through Shared Highs and Lows

It’s easy to celebrate wins, but where collaboration really shines is when things get tough. A bad client, a product flop, or a funding rejection hits differently when you’re going through it alone. But when you have a community of women who’ve been there, or who are right there with you, those setbacks become survivable—and sometimes even funny in hindsight.

This kind of emotional and professional support keeps you grounded. You get advice without judgment, encouragement without platitudes, and solutions based on real experience. It makes the ride a lot less lonely. And when you win? Your collaborators are the first to cheer, not compete. That’s the kind of business culture that’s worth building.

Key Benefits of Women Collaborating in Business

Build stronger, trust-based networks

Drive innovation with diverse ideas

Share tools, knowledge, and systems

Support each other through mentorship

Form strategic partnerships to grow faster

Amplify collective voices for change

Find resilience in shared experiences

Collaboration Is a Strategy, Not a Side Effect

You don’t have to wait for the perfect opportunity to collaborate. You can start now—by reaching out, sharing knowledge, showing support, and asking for input. You’ll find that women who collaborate create more than just business results. They create momentum, loyalty, and a ripple effect that stretches well beyond a single project or launch. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, investing in collaboration is one of the smartest and most sustainable decisions you can make in your career. Because when women work together, business gets better—for everyone.

For more insights on leadership, collaboration, and women in business, visit Leilani Bradford’s Quora profile.

#leilani bradford #Women Collaborating in Business #The power of Women

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felassan · 3 years ago

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BioWare Blog post: Developer Story - Benoît Houle

“Follow your passions!” That’s the lesson we’re getting from the subject of today’s Developer Story, Director of Product Development Benoît Houle. See, Benoît has been with BioWare for over a decade and a half, which is an impressive stretch on its own. But before joining the studio, he spent nearly as much time doing something extremely different.

THE STORY SO FAR

“I spent 14 years developing personal-finance software,” Benoît says. “Don’t laugh, I know how to prepare my tax return incredibly well!” Yes, it turns out that a degree in computer science can lead down a number of different paths. But after all that time working as a project manager at a personal finance company you’ve definitely heard of, Benoît was looking for a change. “In 2006, a close friend of mine who worked at BioWare told me they were scaling up development,” he says. “I applied instantly. And I’ve been working here ever since—over 16 years now, mostly on the Dragon Age franchise.”

After starting as a principal project manager for Dragon Age: Origins, Benoît quickly moved up to the position of senior development director and co-director of production, then to director of production. In 2017, he took on his current role as director of product development for the studio.

Benoît explains this role as being sort of a holistic one. “I work with our amazing team of development directors and producers to manage how we make our games,” he tells us. “The mission is to balance the needs of our players, our employees, and the studio as a whole throughout the development practices. In other words, we’re continuously working to make the process more efficient while keeping key decision-makers fully informed across the project. At the end of the day, we want to foster an environment where our teams can create wonderful games that delight our players.”

ON DRAGON AGE

Benoît has been part of the Dragon Age franchise since the beginning, having a hand in every game and expansion in the series so far. So of course we wanted to hear his take on what makes Dragon Age so special. And here, too, Benoît takes something of a holistic view. “It’s the whole package,” he says. “A rich world, an immersive story, captivating moment-to-moment gameplay—and also emotional, memorable moments with your companions. There’s a great mixture of player agency, brilliantly sharp humor, and really weighty choices with real consequences—you know, those moments when you need to put down the controller for a bit and really think about your choices.”

When we ask about those emotional, memorable companion moments, Benoît cites Cassandra’s development in Inquisition as a prime example. “She starts off the game very guarded,” he tells us, “very focused on one thing: the mission. She comes across as standoffish, even a little hostile—it feels like she doesn’t care about you. But as you spend more time with her, you start to realize that the reason she’s so guarded is that she cares deeply about everyone around her. But caring is dangerous, and sometimes it hurts, and so she keeps you at arm’s length until you’ve spent enough time with her that she feels like she can let down her guard.”

And the fact that Cassandra is willing to let her guard down no matter what kind of character you’re playing points to one of the other things Benoît finds so special about Dragon Age. “I truly love how inclusive our games are,” he says. “This is something that’s very important to the leadership team, and I’m glad that fans appreciate that inclusiveness too.”

ON BIOWARE

That ability to let yourself get lost in the game, no matter who you are, is something that gave Benoît a feeling of kinship with BioWare even while deep in the finance mines. “Even before I got into the industry, BioWare was a tremendous source of escapism and immersion for me,” he tells us. “I spent so much time playing Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic…. To have an opportunity to work for a beloved game developer and be part of creating these amazing worlds and stories has been a dream come true. And I need to provide a huge shout of admiration to our Mass Effect team. They’ve been a constant source of inspiration and have created something truly amazing and remarkable!”

That dream, Benoît says, has come with more than its share of memorable moments—including how the game interacted with celebrities. “I was so thrilled when Inquisition won so many Game of the Year awards,” he says. “And I’ll never forget when we won the best RPG award for Origins at the 2009 Video Game Awards— I was so proud of the team and what we accomplished together…AND receiving the award from Snoop Dogg was definitely a bonus! And I have to say I also really enjoyed working with Thirty Seconds to Mars on the cinematic trailer for Origins.”

But it’s pretty clear that when it comes down to it, it’s not the celebrities or the accolades that drive Benoît, but something much closer to home. “You’re probably hearing this a lot, but it’s true: The thing that makes BioWare special is the people. We have an amazing pool of talent, people with the passion and the commitment to create something amazing—every day! The creativity on display here is just astounding!”

Benoît Houle is BioWare’s director of product development.

[source]

#dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #BioWare #video games #long post #longpost #mass effect #cassandra pentaghast #my lady paladin

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edie-k · 4 years ago

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Legally Ginger - Prologue (PG-13, Romione)

Now, for something totally different...

Title: Legally Ginger

Chapter 1/9

Rating: PG-13 (I use fuck more than the MPAA allows for PG-13 but that's a stupid rule - there's no explicit content)

Pairing: Romione endgame

Summary: When Ron Weasley's college girlfriend declines his proposal because he doesn't meet her standard for future husband, he decides comes up with a plan to let her see him in a new light.

Notes: This is an AU Muggle reimagination of Legally Blonde. It's very different than anything I have ever written - and my first chapter story. I intend to update each Monday.

Thank you to adnei for all of her beta feedback!

While I really enjoy Legally Blonde, it has some things that need a bit of updating or calling out in the year 2021. This fic will attempt to do those things but not lose the fun and fluffiness of the concept.

Also... I love the pop culture/time capsule references of the movie so plan to see that same vibe in this fic. If any of them are unclear to you, let me know in the comments because I love to talk pop culture!

Finally, lots of our favorites are scheduled to appear throughout the story - I eagerly anticipate all guesses as to who will be who!

Disclaimer: Neither Harry Potter or Legally Blonde or any of their characters are owned by me and are not being used for profit.

Link to AO3 or click below to read more.

“Hey Tim!” Ron Weasley shouted, raising his hand to greet the guy behind the coffee cart but not breaking his stride.

“Hey Ron! Thanks for that recommendation. She loved it!”

Ron grinned and kept on running his recreational route that wove through the Los Angeles campus of California University. Even though his cross country career had come to an end with the conclusion of his senior season this fall, he didn’t intend to let his personal records slip. In fact, he was almost working harder. If everything went according to plan tonight, he planned to be competing in the iconic Boston Marathon next April.

“Ron! We still on to study tomorrow?” shouted his chem lab partner Kelsey as he strode past her.

“Yep! We’re going to rock that test out!”

“Hi Ron!” he heard a few female voices chorus together as he passed the Zeta Beta house. Several girls were doing yoga out on the front lawn.

“Great form ladies!” he yelled back, grinning as he heard the giggles.

He grabbed his shirt to wipe his forehead and glanced at his watch. 4:30. He was approaching the house and he had time to do some cool down stretches, shower, check that they had enough brothers to cover the Animal Aid fundraiser tomorrow, send his Econ professor his problem set, and dress for dinner before he had to leave for the Delta Nu house.

He slowed to a jog as his feet hit the driveway. He took the porch steps two at a time before entering the house. Immediately, he was greeted by a snort.

“Pig! Good boy,” he greeted, scratching the pug behind his ears.

“Come on boy,” he said, starting up the house stairs to his room, Pig following dutifully behind. As president, he lucked out with his own room with an en-suite bathroom but as was typical for his life, it wasn’t empty.

“Hey brother brother!” two voices said.

Ron rolled his eyes at the twins. “That joke will never be funny.” Fred and George grinned, one sprawled on his bed and one in his desk chair.

“We just have this last semester to even make the joke. Afterwards, it’ll be pathetic,” Fred said.

“That 40k is so close I can taste it,” said George.

His twin brothers were two years older than him, however, they’d dropped out after their sophomore year to open a retail shop selling joke and novelty items. They quickly realized they were more interested in conducting their own research and development; manufacturing their own products to distribute and sell. It was certainly more profitable. In order to get the seed money, they returned to college after two years. Their schooling, like Ron’s, was financed by his Aunt Muriel and upon receiving their bachelors degree, Muriel also handed over a $20,000 cash gift. The crotchety old broad put a lot of value on their schooling.

“And little Ronniekins is going to spend his on a girl,” Fred teased. It was then that he noticed Fred was fiddling with the small gray ring box that had previously been hidden in Ron’s sock drawer. He moved to snatch it back but Fred tossed it across the room to George.

Ron frowned. “First, I’m not spending it all on a girl. Part of it will be for the wedding and the rest I’ll save for a down payment on a house. Maybe not in Boston because we may not stay there after she finishes law school.”

“Oh yes, Bah-stan,” George mocked in a truly terrible accent.

“Yes. She’s sure that it’ll happen. She’s a legacy or something like that. I hope so because I think Boston Beer Company is going to make me an offer.”

“Free Sam Adams? I’ll take it,” Fred nodded.

“Secondly,” said Ron. “She’s not just a girl.”

The twins groaned. “Ugh, Ronnie, there’s no free beer yet. I can’t listen to this sober.”

Ron rolled his eyes.

“I have to ask,” started George. “Are you sure about this? You’re so young and it hasn’t been that long. You could still go to Boston with her without getting engaged.”

While it was annoying to get another “you’re too young” speech, it wasn’t often that his brothers asked him a serious question. “I’m sure. She’s the one.”

“Well then,” said George, flipping the box to him. “Go get her.”

A few hours later, he was shifting nervously in his seat at their table at Chaudron Qui Fuitfont, playing with the same gray ring box in his pocket. The dinner course had been cleared and they were now waiting for dessert to arrive as well as the bottle of champagne he’d surreptitiously requested.

“Astoria, have I told you that you look absolutely breathtaking tonight?”

“Just three or four times,” she laughed.

“Well, I might tell you a few more,” Ron said.

“It’s not everyday that you put so much effort into a date. I had to deliver on my side as well,” Astoria replied.

“It’s appreciated,” Ron smiled. “I-I appreciate everything about you. How gorgeous you are, how driven… the past 18 months with you has really made me sit down and focus on what I want for my future, you know?”

“That’s great, Ron,” Astoria said, reaching across the table to give his hand a squeeze. She glanced around him. “I want another glass of Merlot.”

“Yeah. You know I’m in the final stages for jobs at three companies,” he said.

“Mmm,” she said distractedly.

“Including Boston Beer Company,” he added.

“That’s a reputable company. Although make sure the job isn’t on the Truly brand. They’ll never get the market from White Claw. Mark my words, they’ll fizzle in two years.”

“Astoria, I see my future with you.”

She looked up at him sharply. “What?”

“Yes. I love you. I’m ready to start the next stage of our relationship. Astoria - ” Ron stood up, pulling the ring box out.

“No.”

“Will you marry me?” Ron asked, kneeling next to her.

“No, now get up.”

Ron’s blood suddenly ran cold. “Wha-what?”

“I said, no, now sit down.” He numbly followed her direction.

“Ron,” Astoria sighed. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.”

“But… why?”

Astoria gave him a pitying look. “Look, we have had so much fun. You’re a great guy.”

“Great guy? You told me you loved me,” he hissed, trying to keep his voice low to avoid more embarrassment.

“And I do. As a college boyfriend. You are a great college boyfriend. You’re president of the second best fraternity on campus so you get all the best party invites. You’re on the cross country team so I can tell everyone I’m dating a Division I athlete, but you aren’t in one of those sports where it like, takes up all your time. You had a cool internship, everybody on campus loves you because you volunteer and help and you’re nice to everyone, even the janitors. You’re sweet and you’ve got a great body and you… you know,” she dropped her voice now “always deliver on what’s promised. You’ve been the perfect person to spend the last few semesters with.”

“I… I don’t understand what the problem is. I sound great from what you’re saying,” Ron seethed, frustration clear in his tone.

“I need a man for the next part of my life. Not a frat boy, not even if he doesn’t exactly fit the stereotype. I’m going to Harvard Law School in the fall. Do you understand how big of a deal that is?”

“Yes! That’s why I am pursuing a job in Boston. To be with you.”

“At a beer company.”

“I’m not opening a bar with my buddies. It’s a research and development role at a major corporation!”

“You have a degree in food science,” Astoria replied, rolling her eyes.

“It’s not like we spend all our time eating. It’s a real field. I got an A in Organic Chemistry.”

“Org Chem with Murphy. The serious students take it with Professor Kettle.”

Ron just gaped at her.

“If I’m going to be a federal judge by the time I’m 40, I need to stop dicking around. And I’m sorry, you’re not a Marty Ginsberg.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not an Armie Hammer either. Feels like there’s some wiggle room between those two extremes.”

“You’re a great guy. And I’m sure you’ll be a great husband to a marketing specialist or a pharmaceutical sales rep. And maybe if I was going to go to Wayne State or Northwestern, things would be different. But this is Harvard Law. There are just… expectations that any potential spouse meet a certain intellectual bar. Or at least a social bar. I mean, my sister is engaged to a Kennedy!”

At that point, the waiter approached the table with their desserts. Astoria stood up. “I’m really sorry. I’ll just call an Uber.” She paused and kissed him on the cheek before exiting the dining room.

“Uh, should I wrap these to go?” asked the waiter as Ron watched Astoria leave.

#au romione #romione fanfic #romione #ron x hermione #ron and hermione #ron weasley #ron weasley defense squad #hermione granger #muggle au #hp fanfic #fanfic

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challiscapitalweb · 5 months ago

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Stretched Senior Construction Finance

Stretched Senior Senior Construction Finance up to 75% of GRV. Flexible terms, competitive pricing. Stretched senior debt makes your equity go further.

#Joint Venture Equity Funding #Commercial Loans 85%#Stretched Senior Development Finance #Development Finance

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amphtaminedreams · 4 years ago

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COVID-19, Negligent Manslaughter, and a Timeline of Tory Indifference

“I feel sorry for Boris Johnson. He is doing the best he can in the situation and I don’t think anybody else could have done a better job.”

[exhibit A: a gem somebody that I’m Facebook friends with reposted earlier]

It’s a sentiment that I cannot quite wrap my head around. I sit here hopeless and furious and trying to hold back tears because it’s been almost a year since England first went into lockdown and yet here we are, almost 100,000 dead, in an even worse position than we were before whilst other countries begin to slowly return to normality. It is clear to me who is to blame for this, however there are a large proportion of people who don’t want to “politicise” the actions of the PRIME MINISTER with regards to his approach towards handling a virus sweeping the country he GOVERNS.

Typically, these kind of posts making the rounds on social media will be accompanied by some kind of photo of Boris Johnson looking somber as if to suggest that the way things have played out were beyond his control and that he is some kind of broken man beleaguered by the suffering he has, despite good intentions, inadvertently caused.

This one in particular of Johnson with his head in his hands is a staple. In reality, this is a photo taken back in 2018 whilst he was receiving flack from party members for comparing Theresa May to a suicide bomber (for her handling of Brexit, ironically) as well as from the papers due to his rumoured (now also proven, in a completely non-surprising turn of events, to be true) affair with his former aide, Carrie Symonds.

So let’s shut this narrative-where we should feel for Boris because he’s doing his best, and apparently a better job than anybody else could’ve done in his situation- down right here. In a supposedly developed country with one of the world’s largest economies, if we’re talking by proportion, our COVID-19 death toll is up there with the worst of them. It seems that every other state figurehead (bar a small handful), and I mean almost every single one of them, is doing a better job. People love to throw figures out there about how densely populated we are to combat damning statistics as if we haven’t got just as many factors playing to our advantage, as if it’s unfair to compare our response to Germany’s or Japan’s or Singapore’s (both of which are far more densely populated) or New Zealand’s or Vietnam’s, but we are an ISLAND with world-leading technology and infrastructure and healthcare equipment and professionals and a relatively high standard of living. In what world is almost 70,000 dead in a country with abundant time and means to prepare a response reflective of said country’s leaders doing a good job?

Apparently we’re supposed to believe that Johnson feels some sense of moral responsibility for this astronomical failure. A man who refuses to acknowledge the multiple children he has fathered outside of his marriages and who has had repeatedly engaged in affairs and one-night stands throughout said marriages. A man who continued to cheat whilst his most recent wife was receiving treatment for cervical cancer, for fuck’s sake. Yep, a real stand-up guy.

So where does this idea that Johnson must feel remorseful for this catastrophe come from? We haven’t seen a second of remorse or a hint of accountability for the lives lost from him nor any members of his cabinet. That much is really no surprise; I have this hypothesis, and it’s not a stretch, that these people do not have an ounce of empathy in their bodies. These ridiculously privileged, privately-educated individuals who have had everything handed to them their entire lives simply cannot put themselves in the shoes of the average working person and that is the problem. Unable to recognise that what distinguishes them from most others is little more than the luck of being born into wealth and the abundance of recourses and connections that has entailed throughout their lives, they see us as beneath them-as less intelligent, less driven, and thus less deserving of the status and respect they enjoy. They see us as a bunch of whining, unmotivated idiots who do not recognise the chokehold they have over our media nor the fact that everything they do is a desperate grab to keep money and power within the hands of a select group of people, an exclusive members club from which most of us are barred (just take a simple Google search and watch Jacob Rees-Mogg’s opinion of the Grenfell victims or the buried Johnson speech where he talks about how inequality is essential). They know that we will squabble amongst ourselves about who is to blame rather than wising up to the truth which is that every decision they make is fuelled by cronyism and the inability to make and follow through with difficult choices, the pandemic being no exception. The supposedly self-made elite see the life of the average working class person as having far less value than their own, and their parties actions over the last 10 years have made that very clear.

It was in December 2019 that the first case of COVID-19 was declared to the World Health Organisation and on March the 11th that they announced they considered it as a pandemic. In Wuhan, people were dying of pneumonia in their clusters. And what was Boris Johnson doing in this time? Well for starters, here in the UK we didn’t even have a pandemic committee-Johnson had scrapped it six months before. If years of benefits cuts and defunding of the NHS in favour of funding nuclear weapon programs, keeping British troops on other people’s lands, and tax breaks for the mega corporations that donate to their party didn’t convince you that the Conservatives have little regard for human life, them getting rid of this committee-whilst a pandemic has been declared year after year as the greatest threat to mankind-should have been the first sign of trouble. As if that wasn’t enough, he also skipped five of the COBRA (meetings are made up of a cross-departmental committee put together to respond to national emergencies and PMs routinely attend those pertaining to crises on the scale of COVID-19) meetings addressing the situation. Whilst other countries were closing their borders and stocking up on PPE, Johnson and his ministers were selling PPE abroad and simply telling people to wash their hands to the length of the tune of happy birthday. Their only policy was one of “herd immunity”, which was in fact not a policy but just an abandonment of their party’s public duty disguised as one, intentionally obfuscated with pseudoscientific jargon.

Even thinking the absolute worst of politicians you would hope that when it came to the point where the UK’s non-response to COVID-19 was becoming an international disgrace, Johnson and his ministers would take proper protective measures if only to save face. But when they eventually seemed to do so, it became clear that the priority was not the safety of the ordinary people affected by the virus. Outsourcing their test and traces system to companies such as Serco, Sitel, Deloitte and G4S rather than public health services, Conservative ministers could not resist attempting to line the pockets of their friends and benefactors in the process. According to the Guardian, instead of reaching out to the experts or using publicly funded services to handle COVID containment measures, the Conservative party has awarded a disgusting £1.5 BILLION WORTH of contracts to businesses with explicit connections to its MPs and donors, the majority of which lack any relative experience of the tasks they’ve been trusted to carry out. Unsurprisingly, the National Audit office found that when awarding contracts relating to the production of COVID-19 protection measures and treatment needs, there was a “high-priority lane” for suppliers referred by senior politicians and officials; companies with a political referral were 10 times more likely to end up winning a government contract than those without. On top of this, it is not hard to draw a link between the late initiation of lockdown measures and preemptive openings of pubs and restaurants against scientific advice to the interests of frequent donors such as Wetherspoons owner Tim Martin. Even if one chooses to ignore the blatantly obvious correlation between the owners of the businesses whose profits were prioritised over safety concerns and the number of those owners who donate to the Conservatives, party officials at the very least were reluctant to follow the lead of many other countries in financing furlough schemes themselves and instead avoided this responsibility by using loose lockdown measures to leave it down to the discretion of small business owners, who couldn’t themselves afford to furlough staff, whether or not to stay open.

Time and time again, as the government flounder and fuck about, favouring personal desires to keep their powerful, high-paying jobs and to satisfy the corporate allies who make this possible, blame has been shifted from the public to care homes to NHS workers and back again whilst we, the public, make the biggest sacrifices of all under the illusion that we were being guided out of this pandemic rather than lied to and thrown under the bus. Whilst the elite continue to pick and choose what rules apply to them, it’s students and the elderly and the vulnerable paying the fines and scrabbling to afford basic living costs and hoping that they don’t lose someone dear to them.

Don’t get me wrong, a large proportion of the public have contributed to the spread too with their selfishness and entitlement and the arrogance it takes to develop a sudden refusal to acknowledge basic science from experts who have studied in the field their whole lives so that they can justify their need to go to the pub (speaking of, it’s absolutely HILARIOUS how many “mental health advocates” are suddenly coming out of the woodworks on football avi Twitter after they’ve spent years calling people on mental health Twitter attention seekers). And don't get me wrong, there were inevitably going to be casualties of this pandemic. But it didn't have to spread to this many people, and there didn’t have to be so many deaths due to a lack of preparation, and this wouldn’t have been the case if it weren’t for the inherent apathy of the Conservative party towards the lives of people of lesser status than them, the reluctance to put those lives before party interests. I wish I felt like there was an end in sight, I wish there was some positive takeaway from all of this, but even now, we continue to see corners being cut with the vaccine lauded as our saving grace and anti-maskers gathering outside hospitals to chant about how “oppressive” it is to be urged to wear a bit of cloth over their faces for the short periods of time in which they leave their houses and all I can think of is the selfishness that runs like poison through our country. It makes me sick and leaves me to question desperately where we go from here. I don’t like unanswered questions, I don’t like feeling politically directionless, and I don’t like the growing fear I have about the state of the world which seems to intensify every single day. In the UK at least, it’s starting to feel like nothing will ever change-we’re told we live in a democracy and yet mainstream media is owned by the people whose interest is to keep their Conservative friends in power. The stronghold they have over print media in particular allows them to continually get away with smearing and defaming every person who comes along and seems to want to actually help ordinary people, without being challenged, to the point where the only kind of “opposition” we’re left with promises nothing but a big boss approved tactical reshuffling of the status quo (which they call “electability”); it doesn’t feel like democracy when the majority of the country are being fed misleading information and convinced against voting in their best interests.

This is the result of that. The state we find ourselves in is the inevitable result of being manipulated into helping the elite build their protective wall whilst the rest of us scrabble to get in and step on each others heads along the way, the people inside shouting over that it’s those even more vulnerable than ourselves that are taking our places. Outside the wall, the earth is falling from beneath our feet, and instead of throwing over the ropes to help us out, the people inside are stockpiling them so they can secure their firm place above ground and then later flog the rest. How many more people have to die before we reach some kind of widespread realisation of that? Where do we go from here and what do we do? Well for one, we can stop spreading those god-fucking-awful textposts on Facebook and get our heads out of our arses. Wear our masks over and wear them over our fucking noses. Have some fucking consideration for others. Don’t wait til an issue affects you personally to give a fuck about it. AND START HOLDING THE FUCKING PRIME MINISTER AND HIS MINISTERS AND HIS ENTIRE PARTY AS WELL AS THE OPPOSITION MPS THAT HAVE SAT BY THE SIDELINES AND ALLOWED THIS TO GO ON WITHOUT PROTEST ACCOUNTABLE. That would be a good start.

I’m so tired. Things didn’t need to be this way, and yet because of the selfishness of the few, thousands upon thousands are dead. It’s not about “throwing around blame”, it’s not about “throwing around” anything, it’s about expecting a leader to do his best to protect lives. If that is “throwing blame”, let’s get things clear, I have no issue with hurtling it torpedo style at those who handed out a death sentence to so many in this country rather than do anything that might compromise their own privilege. Honestly, pass me the shovel after and I’ll happily bury the wreckage in the ground. Who wants to join?:-)

#rant #politics #anti capitalism #anticapitalist #covid-19 #covid #england #labour #socialism #fuck the tories #fuck the torys #fuck boris #rant post

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ts4cyberpunk-followtherabbit · 4 years ago

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( Send me suggestions for new roles!)

LEGALLY EMPLOYED

Politician: is active in politics, holding or seeking office in government. Politicians propose, support, and create laws or policies that often include how much Corpo control is involved in the city’s government.

Attorney: There are lawyers for corporate law, international law, space law, entertainment law, warfare and military justice, and federal and local law. Rates vary on the firm.

Collar: Corpo Employees like Clerks, Secretaries, and junior Executives are commonly known as collars. Usually a low-level employee of a megacorp they don’t have much pull in Corpo biz but benefit from Corpo job perks.

Suits: Senior Corpo executives find themselves higher up in the ranks with more lucrative benefits and higher risk responsibilities usually involving shady Corpo deals. A suit’s front-line is still usually in an office.

Netcop: Sometimes they uncover Corporate treachery or deadly secrets. But that’s not why they Netrun. Working for Netwatch makes them equipped with very powerful software to move through the Net, every Netrunners dream.

Corpo Engineer: create profitable weapons, devices, security systems, and cyberware. They often have access to dangerous and expensive equipment that they can work with at their leisure for personal gain.

Consolidated Agriculture: direct ownership or leasing of farmland by major corp industry in order to mass produce the world with high quality food.

Social Worker: A particularly underfunded sector of the government, social workers are in charge of human resources and financial aid, most often in the form of kibble card distribution and foster care services.

Scientist: conducts research mostly funded by Corpo to provide corporations with the latest in Cybernetics, Biotechnology, Systems biology, Nanotechnology, Synthetic Engineering, and Metascience.

Medical Technicians: doctors in a specific field. They could be general practitioners, cardiologists, dentists or more elite members of the Trauma team. Most are impossible to afford without a Corpo insurance plan.

Educators: demonstrate effective learning, teaches, informs, instructs, or inspires about general or specific subjects. Anyone with a marketable skill can educate on it.

Accountant: responsible for keeping Corpo’s or crime rings’ financial records. Most accountants are responsible for a wide range of finance-related tasks, but mostly its about making sure acquired income looks legal.

NCPD Badges: Underfunded police that stretches their authority and use procedural abilities as far as they can to get their job done. Most Badges want to make the city a safer place, others just like having authority to abuse.

MaxTac: sometimes referred NCPD Psycho Squad, they are a specialized sub-group of the Night City Police Department. As a cybersquad, MaxTac specializes in dealing with cyberpsychos.

Private Investigators: law enforcement that works for private clients. They interview people, conduct surveillance, find missing persons, and solve crimes. Wages earned vary by the investigator, some are famous, ergo expensive.

Bounty Hunters: catches criminals and brings them to NCPD badges in return for a reward. Even though they are legally employed with NCPD and Militech corp. BountyHunters are not against working solo gigs to catch criminals.

Firefighters: a rescuer extensively trained to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the city. There is a recruitment drive in the armed forces, suggesting assault-style situations.

Dog Tag: Any individual on active duty with the United States Armed Forces, led by the Department of Defense. The D.o.D consists of four branches: the Army, Aerospace Force, Navy, and Marines. Inactive dog tags are called ex-tags.

Construction Worker: work makes up almost 70% of available work for civilians. Full body conversions like the NovelTech Samson make workers tireless, incredibly strong, and capable of surviving almost any accident.

Janitors: There aren’t enough janitors in Night City to clean the filth off her streets but all the same companies still hire people to clean their office buildings and shops. Its often nasty work for bad pay.

Binman: a worker who collects and hauls away garbage and municipal solid waste and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial for further processing and waste disposal.

Farmer: raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or gene-buddy livestock.

Owner: a privately owned business with a storefront where legal business is conducted. Many owners are under the protection of gangs depending on their location but some owners are perfectly capable of protecting their own store.

SPIRITUALISTS

Paranormal Investigator: the paranormal is a lucrative business. Most gigs tend to be the work of tech being used to simulate experiences but they are paid to resolve the paranormal activity.

Cultist: A charismatic leader or a follower of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society. Some Cultists are prone to acts of terrorism or unorganized violence for their spiritual or religious cause.

Religious Leader: The duties of a religious leader vary from faith, but usually include encouraging people to make a commitment to their faith and live according to its teachings and explaining the meaning of scripture.

ENTERTAINMENT BIZ

Glitters: Doors open for Glitters that are closed for others because they can bring exposure and popularity. Public icons, fashion gurus, famous investors are all glitters whose only job is to write checks and shine.

Braindance Artist: An actor or actress that works primarily with Diverse Media Systems Braindance Studios. The artist is wired up with the neural feeds and starts recording. The BD artist usually has no script. The art of Braindance recording is spontaneity.

TV Star: From talk shows to “reality shows” TV stars still fill daytime TV channels with drama, action, and comedy. Braindance might be the next best form for the movie cinema and video game industry but TV stars still dazzle the small screen.

Rock stars/Lazrpop Star: Singers that are sponsored by recording companies or other Corp. and are paid to be apolitical so their music creates no discourse, They make beats and lyrics and their income is relative to the size of the audience that idolizes them.

Radio Jockey: A radio jockey hosts a radio show that may take calls from listeners; interview celebrities or gives news, weather, sports, or traffic information.RJ’s can be swayed monetarily to broadcast political leaning content. In between, they play music of preferred genres.

Performative Dancer: From Ballet to Kabuki Theatre, performative dancers are marveled upon in media by more artistic or refined members of society. Many performative dancers utilize cosmetic and athletic cyber to add authenticity to their performance.

Performative Musician: composes, conducts, or performs music on instruments. They are not concerned with conflicts of political interest since their music seldom includes vocals. They are still often sponsored by Corpo though.

Comedian: seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, acting foolish or employing prop comedy. Comedians get the most heat in the industry for crossing apolitical lines.

Writer: Most Corpo employed writers are writing scripts for TV stars, comedians, songs for rockstars, and speeches for politicians but some still work the competitive field of novels, they also compete with AI software in creative writing.

Preem Mannequins: Models that work their way up a brutal and competitive industry to stand out for their physical beauty in some way. Most get featured in advertisement billboards and high fashion magazines and most are obsessed with their physical appearance.

Superstar: do it all, record BDs, release songs, dance,and have had their face on billboards. They are masters of the entertainment industry and produce eddies and audiences where ever they go. Most Superstars are completely entitled.

Professional Athlete: Athletes compete in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed or endurance Most professional athletes have particularly well-developed physiques obtained by extensive modification, strict training, and dietary regimen.

Celebrity Agent: represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with Corpo sponsors. They handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients. They also headhunt for new talent to bring in.

Fashion Designer: design clothing and fashion ranges. They may work in high fashion or designer ready-to-wear fashion, as well as in high-street fashion. Most fashion designers that achieve recognition for their designs assist Corpo techies in producing more creative code in Fashion Ai’s.

Aesthetic Artist: those in the entertainment biz are concerned about their appearances to the media and public. Aesthetic artists’ job is to make sure they look their best. Focused on make-up, hair, and outfit they keep those in the entertainment biz styling.

Creative Craft Artisan: a very rare breed mostly replaced by 3D design and printing companies, CC Artisans create unique sculptures, woodwork, or pottery made out of the finest materials, and their creations are afforded only by the super-wealthy.

Illustrator Artisan: Illustrators are painters, sketchers, and digital drawers that create original images for a range of printed and digital products. They work closely with marketing teams to turn ideas and printed media into inspiring illustrations.

MEDIA

TV News Reporter: always somehow on the scene in the thickest of action to get first hand news delivered to the citizens before other networks. It can be a high-risk job.

TV News Anchor: Once reporters work up in ranks they can earn opportunities to become a TV news anchor, a lower risk job with higher pay than TV news reporter. Many TV news anchors gain enough popularity to be considered a glitter media.

Journalist: Journalism in night city means gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information via screamsheets, magazines, or the net. Unlike TV news reporters, journalists are freelance, the job is high risk.

Combat Correspondents: provide perspective on what it’s like inside the U.S. armed forces. These soldier media gather information for news and feature articles much as civilian journalists do , often against military protocol.

Sensationalist: sensationalism is a type of editorial gig. Events and topics in news stories are selected and worded to excite the greatest number of readers and viewers.

Celebrity Hunter: Journalists that focus on the who’s who are usually found chasing down the hottest glitters for interviews that will produce the best ratings. They have a low-risk job but sometimes find themselves in high-risk situations.

Clicker: a freelance photographer or can be employed by photo agencies, magazines or local newspapers. Their job is to shoot the best photo for the best story. Journalists and clickers work as a duet.

Sport Jockey: to make sure you know every score from all the most important games worldwide. It’s a low-risk job with sports celebrity access perks.

Media Techie:In media, there is equipment like cameras, recorders, Braindance, media techies are hired to maintain, repair or purchase and all equipment for best-produced media in the biz.

Shutterbug: vagrants of media, shutterbugs are out to get any quote, photo, or story that will garnish any eddies for personal gain. They don’t care about truth or ratings, they simply chase whatever sells quickest.

STREET TRASH

Sharks: have eddies to give away, but interest rates are known to be extreme. consequences of defaulting on a loan shark is often a higher price to pay. only desperate people go to sharks, and they capitalize on it.

Bookie: a person whose business is accepting and paying out money risked on a particular result of something, esp. fighting, racing and competitive activities.

Black Marketeer: a person who trades illegally in officially controlled commodities such as illegally obtained Corpo weapons, Illegal cyberware, BDs, and extreme drugs.

Juicers: work for sharks almost exclusively and aren’t hired to kill but instead hired to squeeze eddies owed to the shark from poor s.o.b’s that are overdue on their debts. They are quick to use extreme force and torturous tactics.

Pushers: SynthCoke,Boost,Blue Glass,Smash,Dorph,Black Lace -pushers sell it all.Pushers only care about moving drugs for eddies. They are prone to using the drugs they push some can be dangerous.Ex-tags and joytoys are common customers.

Cookers: SynthCoke,Boost,Blue Glass,Smash,Dorph,Black Lace- Cookers make it all.They have a dangerous job just from being exposed to lethal chemicals during the cooking process to avoiding the ncpd Vice unit.Cookers use pushers to distribute.

Street Punk: Gang posers,dophers,zoomers, and dregs of society are weak nobodies that get themselves or other people killed during careless acts of petty crimes and gigs. They have a low threat level but are still a nuisance, mostly to the NCPD.

Scavengers: known for kidnapping people and forcibly harvesting their cyberware.Despite all of them pursuing the same distasteful trade, scavengers tend to operate in small groups with no official hierarchy to unite them.

Con Man: night city’s cheats and swindlers who cheat or trick someone by gaining their trust and persuading them to believe or buy something that is not true. Con man are responsible for a lot of disappearances and deaths.

Gangbanger: Gangbangers are the ultimate rules of the city streets. From small gangs like Moxes or Divine Dragons to mega gangs like Tyger Claws each gang in Night City is as diverse as the street itself all thrown together in a lethal cocktail.

Street Scribbler: Wannabe street artisans take to scribbling opinions, quotes, and sig tags over public property as a form of protest and vandalism. Scribblers are not extremely creative and don’t respect gangbanger tags.

Street Artisans: create graffiti as form of activism and expression but follow strict code and respect gangbanger territory. This respect of code encourages gangbangers to protect some artisans’ artwork from scribblers defacing their work.

Buskers: the jesters of night city from acrobatics, drawing caricatures, comedy, dance, singing, living statue, poetry, street theatre, these citizens earn gratuities by entertaining the city streets on all corners.

Street Vendor: Offers goods or services for sale to the public with a mobile stall. Goods they sell are often second or even third hand, may or may not be stolen or salvaged.

Disc Jockey: DJs, play off the cuff or pre-recorded mixes at nightclubs and at private and public street events. They engage and entertain their audience and incorporate requests into their music line-up.

Fixer: Well-connected information brokers who apply their trade on the black market. They locate, acquire and sell info about desired persons, places or things within their areas of operation. Most gigs solos do come from Fixers.

Nomads: were once corporate wage-slaves, who got fired from employment, and now they roam the highways in motor-gangs.They maintain strong family bonds and have a hard time trusting anyone outside of the family. They despise Corpo.

Ripperdoc: is a medical practitioner who can install a variety of cybernetic prostheses. There are many that operate legally, but some conduct illicit deals, such as installing military-grade cybernetics for the right price.

Deckjockey: is an expert netrunner, usually a specialist at covertly accessing and stealing from corporate databases, buying, trading and selling their deepest secrets and information to Fixers and other Deckjockeys.

Techie: range from technicians to cybernetic specialists. They are usually introverted and “underground’ who do “off-the-record” work and make their living building, fixing and modifying anything from vending machines to weapons.

Bartender: Night City drags dangerous individuals in pretty much every bar, club and pub so many bartenders tend to be ex-gangbangers, ex-cons, ex-tags, and ex-solos.and are accustomed to violence and high-stress environments and how to handle them.

Bouncer: tend to come from backgrounds of violence but also have the body and modifications to execute more aggressive methods of peacekeeping. A bar’s success can sometimes completely rely on how good the bouncer is at their job.

Smuggler: facilitate entry into a desired location and smuggle a package to be delivered at a predecided destination.They may traffic persons or merchandise and are quick to abandon a package if they suspect they will be caught.

Runners : a driver for hire that has three rules: all deals are final, no names, and never look at the package. Runners don’t abandon packages at the first sight of risk, This makes them more expensive.

Highrider: a pilot for hire who will fly anyone to their destination under any conditions as long as they get half their payment before take-off and the rest when they land. Most highriders die in a flame of glory.

SOLO

Solo Mercenary: is the jack of all trade in the solo biz not particularly a master in one thing a solo merc takes jobs From bodyguard to thief, to assassin. But the point is they get the job done, even if its a bit…messy.

Shinobi: trained shadow solos have finesse. Their proficiency is in katanas, martial arts and stealth so have a great skill-set suited for silent stings and assassinations. They get the job done quietly and you pay extra for it.

Solo Thief: have exceptional skills at stealing and have mastery over all kinds of lock picking and hacking.To the simple pickpocket to the most difficult heist, a solo thief always nabs their target possession.

Solo Assassin: don’t have time for petty thievery and are not in the biz of “protecting’ anybody. Their set of skills is good for one thing: finding and killing a target. Their contracts are usually very expensive.

Solo Bodyguard: are tanks, physically strong and unyielding they use their physical advantage to guard and protect persons or places. solo bodyguards often have contracts with fixers, celebs, politicians, and even Corpos.

Corporate Samurai : Solos that are hired to protect Corporation property and carry out violent and illegal gigs for Mega Corps.The Corporate Samurai will associate and works for or possibly as a Corrupt Corporate Executive.

Ronin: Previously corpo Samurai are now freelance are called Ronin and are seen as untrustworthy in the solo bizz because of their Corpo past however this past gives them an edge in succeeding against Corpo gigs.

Street Samurai: fight against the Megacorps and follow their own personal codes of honor which is to bring down the society in which they live in order to make a better one so they take Any gig that sticks it to Corpo.

Shinobi: are elite trained and have mastery in espionage and deception hired by Corpos executives, celebs, and politicians for protection. Shinobi are usually against using cyberware and prefer to rely on their own strength.

EROTICA WORK

Joytoy: Licensed prostitutes that work the street.Their biz is selling sex.joytoys have a high risk gig so they often seek out pimps for protection which depending on the pimp can help or complicates a joytoys job and life.

Pimp: a joytoy’s manager. They sometimes bring joytoys clients and deal with problematic customers but mostly they hover around their joytoys and berate them for not bringing enough eddies.Most pimps only ‘manage’ a handful of joytoys.

Doll: A step up from street prostitutes Dolls use neural implants to remove themselves from the experience and implant a fantasy for the customer and the doll doesn’t remember the interaction when it’s over.Dolls are employed by dollhouses.

Caretaker: owners of dollhouses. They employ dolls, provide health care as needed as well as protection for dolls . Caretakers can employ dozens of dolls at one time and dolls work hard for them for higher positions in the dollhouse.

Mannequin: are a dancer that perform in a window box, usually wearing a fashion brand they are hired to be still, poised, and perfect like a real mannequin, others are hired to perform lavish dances to sell the brand they are wearing.

Stripper: is a person who earns eddies by stripping their clothes off.However, its not as easy as just standing on a stage naked. They are excellent dancers and masters at visual teasing. Some strippers are also joytoys,but not always.

Erotica: are a dancer that performs for braindances. synaptic acting a-listers. Pure bi-based ecstasy.All eroticas are in a catalog where you ask for their pre-recorded BD. Eroticas don’t generally engage in physical sexual activity.

Black Widow: has a more lucritive and lethal way to use their body .Black widows target Glitters use sex to get closer to the target and murders them before making off with an exceptional score of eddies or merch to sell.

Hooker: an unlicensed sex worker generally wants to avoid STD screenings which would make any sex work they do illegal if they fail the screening.Unlicensed sex workersoffer way cheaper services but with much higher risk of STD spread.

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the-11-doctor · 4 years ago

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| The New Growing Pains of Henry Wall Street Grady | [ @holmestheheart ] |

Wesley Rush Patrick Junior Bateman, in other words; the child of Patrick Bateman who unfortunately became a prodigy in the field rather than finance. Patrick took Wesley from the wing of his mother at the tender age of t w o, giving them the smallest time to bond (they didn’t), so he grew up with the looming danger of disappointing one of the finest businessmen to have left Wall Street. Ambitiously, he moved out to the suburban streets, giving Wesley the opportunity to meet and bond with a team (Brad, Dad, Lad, Tad, Chad, Mad – you get the gist). Through years of kindergarten, eating sand together and things they definitely shouldn’t, Wesley developed into somewhat of a “normal” boy who happened to have two hearts – with one opposition; he was a little DUMB. He definitely wasn’t in the IQ range of somebody fit to become CEO of an investment company one day.

The majority of his reputation was based on how far he could throw a ball, his strength, and the varsity jackets Patrick couldn’t replace with a suit, no matter how he tried, he HATED Wesley’s crying about the itchy fabric. Through grade and middle school alike, Tad was his beacon of hope to passing academically, they studied together amongst playing ferociously – there were a few broken bones here and there – Wesley miraculously healed from HIS. They soon developed a little team and (thanks to Brad’s mom calling them this) creatively called themselves The Little Devils. They made the leagues and played competitively through middle school, and it helped them avoid most of the trouble that came with high school – they were each other’s rocks, through thick and thin – although most resembled rocks by the time high school came into the equation.

High school was the Team’s worst nightmare. They had no trouble going into competitive leagues in football, because people KNEW who they were, but going individually into such a big environment where everybody was in a contest to be The Best was even slightly intimidating to someone like Wesley. He wasn’t the best with change, he had a few slights about losing control of things that transpired from witnessing the bloody loss of his mother at such a young age. The physical side of things worried none of the team, they were all at least the height of the sophomores and punching above their strength for their percentile, for Wesley, it was finding his ground in the rampant cliches and pungent halls full of hormones.

He could feel them itching his skin with people who sneezed carelessly and leaned against the lockers with the oil under their clothes BREATHING the fabric to life like MOSS; he had a touch of compulsion to AVOID people at first. Until it was impossible, he IMPOSED being an asshole was the way to establish his place in with the Jocks, a n d he took great delight in finally having lockers big enough to shove people into – a few sophomores genuinely believed he was a fresh-faced transfer senior. He wasn’t, he was TIRED, and sick of being in that gray area of moving up to high school. Nobody mentioned this side of it. His aggression and avoidance of those he deemed “unclean” quickly did grant him a reputation that WASN’T good, it did make people wary of him until Tad tried to tarnish his name. That didn’t bother his year group, they all knew and understood Wesley, from the time he established the entire classroom in military fashion of the desks because if he DIDN’T keep it in order, he swore his mother would show up from the grave and he didn’t want to see her again. That was an interesting counselor visit for Patrick. It scarred some of the kids.

Wesley had built a good in reputation for the team with the girls (because the spread of his asshole ways met the asshole girls who were based on You Are What You Wear), and though his grades befell him and Patrick was insistent that he did better, friends like Chad and Dad and Lad were grateful that they had better looking girls sitting with them at the bleachers – when they weren’t lost – they were still NEW. Wesley didn’t lack confidence; he didn’t have to – nobody approached Wesley, Wesley approached people. It would have been better if he h a d, he wouldn’t have gotten in so closely with Madison; close – but not close enough to call her a girlfriend.

“Where do we need to be?” Wesley was extra tired this morning, although it had been a few months now they’d been in high school (he was still having growing pains), he’d lost his timetable ten times and was once again relying on Tad to guide him to class. He was still HAPPY to see Tad, though, glad he wasn’t going to be marked as tardy again. Wes approached the lockers, helpfully placed by the front entrance, watching Patrick LEAVE swiftly out front as Wesley stretched the sleep out. He rested his hands in his pockets, avoiding touching ANYTHING here. The hall was teeming with germs – we call them people – it was too early to consider them anything else in his head. Madison was missing, they had a late night last night. Tad could tell. “Don’t tell me it’s MATH.”

“We have a meeting in the hall, first, then we have to hit the gym. Don’t worry.” Tad SHUT his locker, making himself and Wesley jump; for two different reasons, Lad was half-asleep against the locker beside Tad’s and didn’t SHIFT when he shut it, almost collapsing to the ground. He would have hit if Tad didn’t CATCH him.

Wesley just got a rude wake up call, a little like waking up to Madison’s face, and while he watched everybody march off to their classes, he noticed there was a new c a r riding up in front of the school, but he didn’t have long enough to sleepily STARE before he was being dragged off, arm in arm with Tad and Lad to the assembly. “Wait-”

#ic.#holmestheheart #imagine one lining shit like this #wow #could not relate

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mariacallous · 4 years ago

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Today, China is suffering from widespread air, water, and soil pollution. For starters, China is addicted to coal in energy production, still accounting for half of the global consumption of coal. In 2020, China built three times as many coal power plants as the rest of the world combined. By 2018, carbon dioxide emissions per capita had increased sixfold from 1978. In 2019, China emitted more greenhouse gases than the entire developed world combined. The pollution exacerbates the problem of freshwater scarcity. As a result of soil pollution, over 20 percent of farmland soil from grain-producing regions do not meet soil quality standards.

The Chinese Communist Party is stretched between the desire to maintain economic growth as a source of domestic legitimacy and the risk of environmental degradation, with all the economic, health, and political risks it entails. The latter is becoming a hindrance for the regime’s political stability as environmental protests are becoming common. Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, called this phenomenon “toxic politics” in his latest book.

To alleviate these challenges, the Chinese leadership is taking steps, including internationally. Indeed, one of the motives behind the Chinese Belt and Road project is outsourcing pollution and environmental degradation to poorer, distant countries with a dire need for infrastructure financing and socioeconomic development, whose governments will ignore the environmental risks. This is already happening in East Africa, where Chinese projects are upgrading the regional coal-related infrastructure but increasing the region’s dependency on coal and environmental hazards that accompany coal consumption.

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athela-3 · 5 years ago

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mankai company: cyberpunk

I never asked for this. But that’s just how ideas work, ain't it? One minute you’re mindlessly going through the daily grind, and the next moment it hits ya like a sucker punch to the gut. Then your mind’s racing, and you think: Why not? Whaddaya have to lose? You’ve rambled your way through semi-coherent flashes of inspiration before. Why should this one be different?

Note: everyone is aged up, oh, let’s say at least five years. Also, long post is long. I’m not joking. The page break is there for a reason.

Mankai Company is a modest-sized corporation specialising in biotechnology and cybernetics. But operating beneath its public face is a semi-covert band of mercs, private eyes, and fixers called Kaga Solutions, fully-equipped to navigate the mean city streets on command. Their founder and CEO, Yukio Tachibana, has recently disappeared; as per his express wishes, the company leadership is transferred to his estranged daughter, Izumi.

Izumi Tachibana: the new CEO, more experienced in programming than in biotech, she wants to lead Mankai in a new direction focused on augmented reality and fluid human-machine interfacing, while also investigating her father's disappearance with its covert Kaga operatives.

Isuke Matsukawa: Yukio's—and now Izumi's—personal assistant who also handles most of the day-to-day finances, a seemingly bumbling man with hidden talents. He has more connections than you'd expect, and his loyalty is bone-deep.

Yuzo Kashima: a major shareholder in the company whose investments helped Yukio jump-start his dream into reality. Initially skeptical of Izumi's direction, he slowly grows to believe in her vision, even if he's still brutally honest about many things. He's aware of Kaga and the hidden side of Mankai, and is implied to have once partaken in it more personally.

Tetsuro Iwai: the local hardware genius. If you need something built, he'll figure out how to do it in record time. He's happy to work with the old boss' daughter, even if her ideas can stretch him to his limits sometimes.

Ken Sakoda: nobody's really sure what his official job is. He's just always there, usually appearing out of nowhere to do whatever Sakyo asks him to (there's rumours of a personalised cloaking device). This ranges from coffee runs to, ah, semi-legal inventory procurement.

Kamekichi: a robot parrot Yukio personally built as a pet project. Originally a prototype for robotic therapy animals, his code gave birth to his own emergent sassy personality.

Sakuya Sakuma: head of Engineering, what he lacks in experience he makes up in talent and dedication. Has politely declined playing a more active role in Kaga's assignments, declaring his current job to already be his dream job anyhow.

Masumi Usui: a tech prodigy, a quick learner who's always keen to impress Izumi for reasons which may not be strictly professional. Built his own memory implants from scratch, and is always willing to help with Kaga if ever asked.

Tsuzuru Minagi: the top dog when it comes to programming and software. Tends to overwork himself, especially at crunch time, but he writes top-notch code that leave Mankai's competitors scratching their heads. Also helps oversee and plan Kaga's missions, especially when it comes to concocting cover stories and identities.

Itaru Chigasaki: yet another punch-clock worker whose only skills lie in testing and bugfixing… or so he'd have you believe. In reality, he's one of Kaga's most reliable operatives, using his salaryman persona to relieve suspicion and gain people's trust. By the time his targets notice the "GG EZ" hacked onto every screen, it's too late.

Citron: another Kaga operative, people see him and think he's the expat office worker who struggles to string a coherent sentence together, so they don't always pay attention to what they say around him. Big mistake. If he can't evade you in conversation, then he'll evade you the traditional way and vanish seemingly into thin air.

Chikage Utsuki: formerly Itaru's senior at their old job, who followed him to Mankai for reasons of his own. He does minor coding for them now, but his primary focus is on being a field agent for Kaga, where his charm and covert investigative skills really come into play.

Tenma Sumeragi: a former child actor, now the company's face, appearing in advertisements and endorsements. He's great at both presenting Mankai's personable, human-interest agenda and selling Kaga's sharp professionalism to potential clients.

Yuki Rurikawa: hired fresh out of university, his sharp sense of aesthetics led Izumi to trust him with practically all of their product design. Every concept has to have his seal of approval before moving to the production stage. He also handles disguises for Kaga's operations.

Muku Sakisaka: formerly slated to compete in the Olympics before an accident, he now provides another public face for Mankai alongside Tenma. He writes a good deal of the company's promotional material, and has a strong sense of what would affect their clients.

Misumi Ikaruga: officially, he tests the more physical cybernetics, such as Sakuya's impact-dampeners or Tasuku's mountain-climbing legs; his videos performing literally superhuman parkour feats often end up as promotional material. Under the table, he's Kaga's go-to operative for situations requiring speed and agility.

Kazunari Miyoshi: head of the PR department, in charge of keeping their public image in the positive while also keeping Kaga’s activities mostly out of attention. He keeps everyone in the loop with current affairs, often feeding intel to his old friend Tsuzuru for planning.

Kumon Hyodo: baseball's new rising star, he started doing sponsorship and endorsement deals after Muku and Juza introduced him to Izumi. He's enthusiastic about working with them and often helps coming up with ideas for reaching into the sports demographic.

Banri Settsu: a bio-augmentation enthusiast and grey hat hacker, he once breached Mankai's firewalls basically out of boredom; when Izumi tracked him down, she decided to offer him a job in her cybersecurity division, and he agreed. Of course, as soon as he hears about Kaga, he all but jumps into it headlong.

Juza Hyodo: wanted to be a cop as a kid; that was before the city's corrupt police force disenchanted him of the idea. His cousin Muku convinced him to work for Mankai, so he thought he'd give the corporate samurai gig a chance. His earnest dedication quickly wins him a spot on Kaga, as do his excellent combat skills.

Taichi Nanao: initially a mole from Godza, sent to tear Kaga apart from within, he went turncoat within months and is now their primary source on Godza's methods and internal affairs. He balances quick and dirty combat tactics with his boyish charm and knack at appearing harmless.

Omi Fushimi: former military, honourably discharged after a terrorist attack took out his best friend and left him heavily injured. Now he works for Mankai as head of security, with a bit of unofficial HR thrown in there. Unlike the rest of Akigumi, he isn't part of Kaga, as he believes his focus should be on keeping the company safe and secure.

Sakyo Furuichi: head of Kaga, and its oldest member still on active duty. These days he mostly sticks to mission control, but occasionally lends support on the field if he deems it necessary. His sharp mind and eye for patterns makes him particularly good at planning missions, exit strategies, and backup plans.

Azami Izumida: the son of a yakuza boss who decided to leave the family business behind to strike out on his own, he still keeps a number of his old underworld contacts. Officially an intern, he's also eager to get into fieldwork with Kaga, putting his years of swordsmanship lessons to use.

Tsumugi Tsukioka: head of biotech, his research on how cranial implants can be used to treat sleep disorders turned him—and Mankai—into a household name. He infrequently lends a hand to Kaga by developing and fine-tuning their cybernetics.

Tasuku Takato: a former member of Godza, he quit his job to work for Mankai instead, and is now a valued member of their biotech team. He specialises in developing prosthetics for their more athletic clients, and like Tsumugi, focuses on his R&D most of the time.

Hisoka Mikage: formerly working for a similar fixer/PMC group, a near-fatal neuro-implant malfunction caused him to forget everything that happened since its installation. As Mankai found him, removed the bad implant, and nursed him back to health, he thought it's just apt to repay the debt by working for them. One of Kaga's most well-rounded operatives, he is strongest in stealth and wetwork.

Homare Arisugawa: an eccentric professor to his core; his studies range from urban to agrarian, sprawling across fields and topics, but his passion project lies in developing ocular implants that can read micro-expressions on the fly, allowing its owner to identify and record people's emotional reactions easily.

Azuma Yukishiro: the face of the biotech divison, he works closely with Mankai's clients to help them find the perfect cybernetics for their personal needs. He also often gleans information and gossip from his endless well of unsuspecting acquaintances and old contacts, passing them on to Kaga for their missions.

Guy: a friend of Citron's from his homeland; extensively cybernetically augmented after a major accident years ago, he claims to be more machine than human by this point. Ostensibly Homare's research assistant, he is a field agent for Kaga, equally skilled in hacking as he is in hand-to-hand combat.

#a3!#a3! au #mankai x kaga #that's what imma call it #not gonna tag everyone bc hoo boy #a3! act! addict! actors!#it started from an icon #then a header #then a whole bloody au #also #in which azami is kinda genji shimada #hisoka owes inspiration from morgan yu #guy and omi bears the adam jensen legacy #and homare's backstory has a random mordin solus reference #don't mind me explaining my own jokes lol #ari's stuff

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