#Study material service provider

[asestimationsconsultants]

Common Pitfalls in Industrial Estimating Service and How to Avoid Them

Industrial estimating service is a crucial aspect of project planning, helping businesses determine accurate costs for materials, labor, equipment, and unforeseen expenses. However, even experienced estimators can make costly mistakes that lead to budget overruns, project delays, and financial losses. Understanding these pitfalls and how to avoid them can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of cost estimates.

1. Inaccurate or Incomplete Project Data

One of the most common pitfalls in industrial estimating is relying on incomplete or outdated project data. Without accurate information on material costs, labor rates, and project specifications, estimators may produce unreliable cost estimates.

How to Avoid It:

Gather detailed project requirements, including material specifications, site conditions, and workforce needs.

Use up-to-date cost databases and historical project data to ensure accuracy.

Collaborate closely with engineers, contractors, and suppliers to obtain precise information.

2. Underestimating Material Costs

Material prices fluctuate due to market conditions, inflation, and supply chain disruptions. Underestimating these costs can lead to budget shortfalls and procurement issues.

How to Avoid It:

Monitor market trends and material price changes regularly.

Include a contingency budget to account for unexpected price increases.

Work with reliable suppliers to secure competitive pricing and reduce cost variations.

3. Overlooking Labor Productivity Rates

Failing to account for labor productivity variations can result in inaccurate labor cost estimates. Factors such as worker skill levels, site conditions, and project complexity affect productivity.

How to Avoid It:

Use industry benchmarks and historical data to estimate labor productivity accurately.

Adjust labor estimates based on the complexity and location of the project.

Consider potential delays caused by weather conditions, union regulations, and workforce availability.

4. Ignoring Project-Specific Risks

Every industrial project has unique risks, including regulatory compliance, environmental factors, and equipment failures. Ignoring these risks can lead to unexpected expenses.

How to Avoid It:

Conduct a thorough risk assessment before finalizing estimates.

Include contingency funds for unforeseen challenges.

Stay informed about industry regulations and environmental requirements.

5. Inconsistent Use of Estimating Software

Many companies rely on estimating software, but inconsistent or incorrect usage can lead to errors. Misinputted data or outdated software can affect cost projections.

How to Avoid It:

Ensure estimators are trained in using the latest estimating software.

Regularly update cost databases and software settings.

Cross-check manual calculations with software-generated estimates for accuracy.

6. Failure to Factor in Inflation and Supply Chain Disruptions

Inflation and supply chain issues can significantly impact industrial project costs. Overlooking these factors may result in underestimated budgets.

How to Avoid It:

Include an inflation adjustment factor in long-term projects.

Diversify supply chain options to mitigate material shortages.

Monitor global economic trends to anticipate cost fluctuations.

7. Not Revisiting and Updating Estimates

Cost estimates should not be treated as fixed numbers. Failing to revise estimates as the project progresses can lead to discrepancies between budgeted and actual costs.

How to Avoid It:

Conduct regular cost reviews throughout the project lifecycle.

Adjust estimates based on real-time project updates.

Maintain clear communication between project managers, estimators, and financial teams.

8. Overlooking Hidden Costs

Hidden costs, such as equipment maintenance, transportation, and compliance fees, can add up over time. Ignoring these expenses can cause financial strain.

How to Avoid It:

Break down estimates into detailed cost components, including indirect expenses.

Identify all potential cost factors, including permits, inspections, and logistics.

Account for additional site preparation or unforeseen environmental adjustments.

9. Lack of Collaboration Between Teams

Poor communication between estimators, engineers, contractors, and suppliers can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate estimates.

How to Avoid It:

Foster collaboration between all project stakeholders.

Organize regular meetings to align expectations and verify data accuracy.

Encourage transparency in cost estimation processes.

10. Unrealistic Schedule Assumptions

Underestimating project timelines can result in rushed work, increased labor costs, and missed deadlines. Delays can further inflate costs due to extended equipment rentals and idle labor.

How to Avoid It:

Develop realistic timelines based on past project experiences.

Account for potential weather disruptions, permitting delays, and supply chain issues.

Plan schedules with buffer time to absorb unforeseen delays.

Conclusion

Industrial estimating service is a fundamental part of project planning, but common pitfalls can undermine its effectiveness. By ensuring accurate data collection, monitoring market trends, integrating risk management strategies, and improving collaboration, businesses can enhance the reliability of their cost estimates. Avoiding these pitfalls will lead to better financial control, improved project efficiency, and reduced risk of budget overruns.

[no-passaran]

Spain lied about not selling weapons to Israel.

Even after October 7th, Spain has sold more than 1 million € of weapons to Israel. Norway and Finland make it possible.

In January, Spain made headlines word-wide when the government's Minister of Exteriors, José Manuel Albares (PSOE), claimed in Congress and later again in a radio interview that Spain had stopped selling weapons to Israel ever since October 7th. Israel's intensification of violence in Gaza following October 7th meant that, on top of decades of apartheid and ethnic cleansing, between October 7th and January 23rd Israel had already killed 28,000 people and forced 2 million out of their home. In this context, many people were demanding their governments stop arming and funding the genocide of the Palestinian people, and here on Tumblr and other social media sites like Twitter I think we all saw the many posts praising the Spanish government for this.

Well, it turns out it was a lie.

According to Albares, "Since October 7th there are no more weapons exportations [from Spain] to Israel". But in November alone, Spain exported weapons to Israel for 987,000€, as was published on the Spanish Government's official website dedicated to exterior commerce (Comex). A researcher from Centre Delàs (an independent centre for peace studies) found it and published it, and it has also been verified by newspapers such as elDiario.es.

This 987,000€ worth of weapons in November was not the only ammunition that Spain has sent to Israel in 2023. In 2023, Spain exported a total of 1.48 million € in war material to Israel.

All of the weapons sent in November come from the factory of Nammo Palencia (Castilla y León), a corporation that is 50% property of the Government of Norway and 50% owned by a public Finnish business. However, even if the owners are foreigners, the ammunition was sent from Spain and thus it had to be authorized by the an organism of the Spanish Government named Junta Interministerial de Defensa y Doble Uso, whose deliberations on whether a weapons exportation is accepted or denied are kept secret. The only cases where they have denied exporting weapons to Israel have been when they thought that Israel would re-sell these weapons to the Philippines.

Spain has had a close relation with Israel for years. As published by the Spanish Government, Spain has sold 20 million € of weapons to Israel between 2012 and 2022. Spain also buys weapons and military software from Israel (for example, the Spanish Intelligence Service has been using the Israeli software Pegasus to illegally spy on Catalan activists, journalists, politicians and civil society members and their relatives to attack the Catalan independence movement), and Spain has continued buying from Israel and allocating defense contracts to Israel even after the October 7th attacks. It is very difficult to track the concessions of public contracts such as buying weapons, but some contracts have been known. For example, on November 24th 2023, Spain bought 287.5 million € of missiles from Israel. This is not unusual: between 2011 and 2021, it is publicly known that Spain bought war material from Israel for at least 268 million €, but experts say that the real number could be two or three times as much.

Spain has also continued allocating concessions to Israel. For example, on December 15th 2023 Spain allocated a contract worth over 576 million € to Israel for a rocket launcher programme. On November 22nd, Spain allocated another another Israeli company to provide missiles for 237 million € at the same time as the Spanish army bought Israeli inhibitors for 1.4 million €. The very next day, November 23rd, Spain signed another military allocation to Israel for 82,600€. The following week, Spain signed yet another allocation with a different Israeli military corporation for 3.7 million €.

Spain also allows Israeli weapon manufacturing companies to produce weapons through their branches located in Spain. This way, Israeli weapons make their way to markets with which Israel doesn't have diplomatic ties but Spain does, like Saudi Arabia. And since Spain is a member of NATO, Israeli weapons produced in Spain are approved according to NATO standards and access it easily. In the same way, these Israeli weapons manufacturers also access European Union defense funds through their branches in Spain. (source).

As I said, I saw a lot of positive posts around when Albares said Spain was going to embargo, but I haven't seen any post about how they didn't do it. I also (personally) haven't seen anything on international media, and barely anything on Spanish media, which is already busy with the PSOE covid material corruption scandal. So I share this in the hope of helping put pressure on Spain to cut all ties with Israel immediately.

SHAME ON EVERYONE WHO GIVES ISRAEL THE MATERIAL AND MONEY THAT WILL BE USED TO MASSACRE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. SHAME ON SPAIN, NORWAY, AND FINLAND.

[stellarsecrets86]

Sun in houses of Fama(408) Persona Chart

Other related post you might like:

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Planets in houses of Union persona chart

Sun

Moon

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Astro observation 1

Astro observation 2

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Groom Persona Chart

Sun

Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Pluto

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Synastry/Composite Chart Observations 1

Review of my readings-1

-------*****----*****--------------*****--------

[PS: These are my personal observations. For entertainment purposes only. Have fun.]

1st House:

Your personal charisma and individuality are the focal points of fame. You are a natural-born leader whose confidence and presence draw attention. Fame is achieved through authenticity and being unapologetically yourself. People are inspired by your courage and personality, making you a trailblazer in your field. However, this placement can attract both admirers and critics, requiring a strong sense of self to handle the spotlight.

2nd House:

Fame comes from wealth, values, or material accomplishments. You may be popular for your capability to create income or for your special manner of handling money. Your talents, especially in creative or entrepreneurial endeavors, can bring fame. Stability and self-esteem are an important part of maintaining publicity. Fame may also be a result of advocating issues on financial literacy or sustainability.

3rd House:

Your fame comes from communication, teaching, or writing. You are popular because of your intelligence, wit, or ability to simplify a complex issue. Social media, public speaking, or journalism may be the source of your popularity. Relationships with siblings, neighbors, or communities will also contribute to your fame. This placement accentuates how your words have the power to inspire and influence the masses.

4th House:

Fame can be due to family history, property, or service to the family and community. You can also be noted for the conservation of traditional knowledge or service to the family or the environment. The fame is very personal and can happen later in your life. You must be very attached to your origins and be emotionally strong to carry your public persona.

5th House:

You are destined for fame in creative fields like acting, music, or art. Your playful, romantic, or dramatic nature captivates audiences. Fame might also come through children, teaching, or entertainment industries. Your ability to inspire joy and creativity in others is unparalleled. This is a highly favorable placement for widespread recognition, but it requires balancing indulgence with responsibility.

6th House:

Fame comes through hard work, service, or contributions to health and wellness. You might be recognized as a reformer in your workplace or as a healer. Your meticulous attention to detail sets you apart. Fame could stem from achievements in medicine, fitness, or other service-oriented fields. Although the spotlight may feel like a byproduct of your dedication, it ultimately serves a greater purpose.

7th House:

Your reputation may be connected with partnerships or marriage. You can be renowned through a partner, your teamwork, or by fighting for fairness and peace. The way you smooth things over can bring you fame, your appeal, or legal expertise. Partnership is one of your strong points, and people know you as a peacemaker in conflicts or arguments.

8th House:

Fame can come through transformation, taboo subjects, or working with other people's resources. You may be famous for your profundity, mysticism, or ability to uncover that which is hidden. You could even be famous in the realms of psychology, finance, or esoteric studies. Your mysterious nature and the fact that you are willing to discuss life's shadowy areas makes you memorable. This position often provides a transformative public journey.

9th House:

Recognition comes through travel, education, philosophy, or religion. Fame might be tied to teaching, writing, or promoting cultural or spiritual awareness. You are seen as a visionary or a guide who inspires others to expand their horizons. Fame here often comes with international acclaim or through ventures that connect different cultures.

10th House:

This is the traditional placement of Leo for fame and a public career. There, you dazzle others with leadership roles, where accomplishments come out in big ways, including places like politics, business, and professional work that places a demand for visibility. You have won the confidence of all as an icon commanding respect and authority figures. There's a saying, "Your integrity and ethic ensure that this is remembered over the course of time."

11th House:

Fame comes through your associations with groups, organizations, or humanitarian work. You're hailed as a champion for social causes and new developments. You can also become famous through science, technology, or activism. The need to connect through networking and collaborations aids your impact. Your connection to people on a mass scale guarantees you mass recognition.

12th House:

Your fame is spiritual or mystical. You may become famous for spiritual or creative work that affects people's subconscious mind. You can also be considered famous after your death when your work is recognized after your lifetime. This placement typically indicates fame that is associated with retreat, healing, or sacrifice to a cause.

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for belconna behind the cut; “Damian gets a Pocket”. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

The rest of the school day passes uneventfully. Damian takes a math test and completes a science lab and turns in an English paper and draws several studies in art class and still does not encounter Beloved’s point of origin, and remains unsurprised. He did not expect to, after all. 

Beloved’s point of origin needs Robin; not Damian Wayne. 

And certainly not Damian al-Ghul. 

Beloved remains concealed for the duration of the day, and after classes conclude, Pennyworth picks Damian–picks them up, Damian supposes. Though it is not an occurrence that he will have cause to become used to, so it hardly matters. 

Or rather, it is–unnecessary, again. 

Obviously. 

Damian submits a request for a detour in their standard route. Pennyworth acquiesces. Damian continues to not understand the unneeded additional steps in a process that could be accomplished with a single order, but Father’s household is hardly as efficient as Damian had once assumed it must be. Unfortunately, a lack of efficiency does not change the standards of behavior currently in place, nor the manners considered appropriate, and so Damian currently must be “polite” by Father’s standards by wasting both his and Pennyworth’s time and energy. 

Damian does not comprehend how wasting finite resources and creating unneeded distractions can be considered polite by any standards whatsoever, but Father has proven to be uninterested in outside opinions of his household’s behaviors. When Damian has previously made requests of various household members to be presented with the logic behind Father’s standards and the application thereof, he has typically been addressed as if he is being deliberately difficult or purposefully misunderstanding, and the requested explanation is is either not provided or is delivered in unclear terms that do not, in fact, present any form of explanation. 

Damian has since moved on to independent research, given the subpar quality of available intel. His research has yet to yield any reasonable explanation of Father’s “polite” inefficiency either, but it is less irritating a process and he is confident in his ability to eventually deduce one. 

Though that is also a waste of time and energy, if again an unfortunately unavoidable one. 

The detour is to a small mid-end shop, its wares largely generic and inexpensive but generally acceptable. It specializes in Pocket-appropriate goods and services. Pockets of course have no true material “needs”, in the sense that they do not require food or water or environmentally-suitable clothing or protection; do not even require medical care or armor. They cannot starve or dehydrate or be injured, even by other Pockets. 

Yet Beloved showed up looking bruised and hungry all the same, and even if he had not . . . 

Damian would best arrange for his comfort either way, though he is certain Father will not approve of the indulgence. The . . . distraction. 

It is only temporary, so it will not matter, Damian tells himself. 

It will not. 

He uses the personal discretionary funds that Father refers to as his “allowance” to purchase a basic supply set of the sort that is traditionally exchanged between newly-recognized soulmates in several cultures, though most certainly not in the League. The practice is old-fashioned in America, but logical in Damian’s eyes as a provided demonstration of shared investment in the developed bond, and proof of both capability and willingness to provide. Typically Pockets manifest after the relevant soulmates have known each other for some time, so it is a natural enough method to display such investment and ability, in his opinion. 

Using his personal discretionary funds for this effort will, Damian presumes, at least make Father less disapproving of the indulgence. Father has attempted to encourage him to purchase other indulgent things with it, after all. Damian has not yet deduced which specific indulgences Father will consider to be acceptable, but the fact that he is making an effort to purchase something that qualifies as one may make Father less disapproving of just which one it is. 

That is not likely, but at least referring to Father’s previous statements is a reasoning that Damian can present if questioned. 

He cannot imagine Beloved’s point of origin being in a situation where he could perform the traditional exchange of supply sets, but it remains . . . unnecessary. Damian’s “allowance” is more than sufficient to provide for Beloved. 

He momentarily considered the appropriateness of purchasing a matched pair of supply sets, but . . . 

It is unnecessary. Whatever Pocket manifested from . . . him would have no need of nor desire for such supplies, and therefore Beloved’s point of origin need not supply them. Such a set would only prove an inconvenience to one clearly in a compromised position in life and likely unstable housing, either way. There is no purpose in Damian burdening his soulmate with such inconveniences. 

The Pocket will not last either way, and so it would be–disingenuous, Damian thinks, to present Beloved’s point of origin with such an item. 

Or more accurately it would be . . . unfair, perhaps, when their Pockets will only be temporary. Likely a civilian would have expectations upon manifesting a Pocket; expectations that Damian could not fulfill for them. Expectations that they would likely be–disappointed, to not see met. So it would be disrespectful to waste their time in such a fashion as pretending otherwise. 

Father can insist that he waste Pennyworth’s time, if that is his preference, but Beloved’s point of origin is . . . not of concern to Father. Beloved will only be a temporary presence, so nothing about his presence need be any concern of Father’s. 

Damian will handle the situation in the way that he is required to–Robin will handle the situation in the way that he is required to–and that is all. 

Beloved remains concealed for the duration of Damian’s time in the shop as well. He did not hide from Pennyworth or Drake in the manor, nor hide from Pennyworth in the towncar, but the school and shop both he kept himself hidden for. Damian observes and notes the information–recalls that he revealed Beloved to Drake deliberately after hiding him himself, and that Drake has Pockets of his own–but is less certain of why Pennyworth was an exception. 

. . . it may have been the drop scones, Damian reflects resignedly, and finds it outright depressing that Beloved came out for drop scones, of all things.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#RedForEd rides again in LA

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in CHICAGO with PETER SAGAL on WEDNESDAY (Apr 2), and in BLOOMINGTON on FRIDAY (Apr 4). More tour dates here.

The LA Teachers' Union is going on strike.

Fuck.

Yes.

The last time the LA teachers struck was in the midst of the 2019 #RedForEd wave, which kicked off during the last Trump presidency. All across the country, teachers walked out – even in states where they were legally prohibited from doing so. These strikes were hugely successful, because communities across the nation rallied around their teachers, and the teachers returned the favor, making community justice part of their goals.

This was true across America, but it was especially true in Los Angeles, where the teachers were militant, united, relentless, and brilliant. The story of the 2019 LA Teachers' Strike is recounted in Jane McAlevey's essential 2021 book A Collective Bargain, which recounts her history as a union organizer on multiple successful unionization drives and strikes, including that fateful teachers' strike:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/23/a-collective-bargain/

McAlevey learned her tactics from a lineage of organizers who predated the legalization of unions and the National Labor Relations Act. Accordingly, her organizing method didn't rely on bosses obeying the law, or governments sticking up for workers. She fought for victories that were won by pure worker power. The 2019 LA teachers' strike is a fantastic example, a literal textbook case about rallying support from the entire shop – including affiliated workers, like bus-drivers – and then broadening that massive support by bringing in related trades (the LA charter school teachers walked out with their public school comrades), and the community.

The LA teachers' community organizing was incredible. They worked with community groups to understand what LA families really needed, and made those families' demands into union demands. The LA teachers' demands included:

in-school social workers;

parks and green-spaces in or near every LA public school; and

a total ban on ICE agents shaking down parents at the school gates.

Environmental justice, immigration justice, racial justice – these issues were every bit as important to the LA teachers in 2019 as wages, working conditions and vacation pay. And. They. WON.

Not only did the LA teachers win everything they struck for, they built an enduring community organization that ran a massive get out of the vote effort for the 2020 elections and flipped two seats for Democrats, securing Biden's Congressional majority.

So now the teachers are walking out again, and while their demands include wage increases (the greedinflation crisis wiped out many of the gains won in the 2019 strike – though imagine how much worse things would be without those gains!), the demands also include a slate of bold, no-fucks-given, material measures to fight back agains the Trump administration and its fascism:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-26/l-a-teachers-union-pursues-salary-hike-progressive-goals-amid-trump-agenda

This time around, the LA teachers are demanding:

"targeted investment in the recruitment and retention of BIPOC, multilingual and immigrant educators and service providers" – that's right, the DEI stuff that makes Trump's incipient aneurysm throb visibly in his temple (keep throbbing, li'l guy, I believe in you!).

"support for, defense and expansion of the school district’s Black Student Achievement Plan and Ethnic Studies" – the same programs that make wrestling faildaughter Linda McMahon get the fantods.

“strengthened policies to support LGBTQIA+ students, educators and staff” – take that, Elon.

"increased support for immigrant students and families, with and without documentation, including support for newcomers" – up yours, Stephen Miller, you pencilneck Hitler wannabe.

Where'd all these demands come from? 665 meetings that solicited input from "students, parents and other community members." In other words, these are our demands – the demands of Angelenos.

Trump is a scab. Musk is a scab. They hate unions. They've put the National Labor Relations Board into a coma, illegally firing a board member so that the board no longer has a quorum and can no longer take most actions. But the tactics the LA teachers used to organize their victory under the last Trump regime didn't rely on the NLRB – it relied on worker power. That power is only stronger today. The NLRB exists because workers built power when unions were illegal. Killing the NLRB doesn't kill worker power. Worker power comes from workers, not the government:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/29/which-side-are-you-on-2/#strike-three-yer-out

Now that Trump has canceled labor laws, all bets are off. Trump is illegally breaking the contracts of federal workers, as a prelude to eliminating unions nationwide. As Hamilton Nolan writes, this is the time to take a stand:

It is unreasonable to run around demanding a general strike every time a single union gets in a hard fight. It is not unreasonable to demand a general strike when the very existence of unions is under direct attack by a government that cares nothing about us, and does not respect our contracts, and is attempting to throw in the trash the union contracts covering hundreds of thousands of our fellow union members, as a step towards doing the same thing to millions more of our fellow union members. This is the bombing of Pearl Harbor, against the labor movement. Will we say, “We are filing a lawsuit against this illegal bombing, and we will keep you all updated as it progresses?” Will we say, “Pearl Harbor is way out in Hawaii. I’m glad those bombs didn’t fall where I live.” These are the terms that the union world needs to be thinking in, right now. This is not an exaggeration. If we do not go to war, the husk of American unions that emerges at the end of the Trump administration will be, probably, about half as big as it was when the Trump administration started, and immeasurably weaker. That is not an acceptable outcome if you believe that increasing organized labor’s strength is the key to saving this country, which it is.

https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/they-are-going-to-take-everything

McAlevey – who died in 2024 – agreed with Nolan. She wrote vibrantly about how union organizing, and the solidarity it nurtures, was the key to a revitalized democracy and a nation that truly takes care of its people, rather than lining them up in billionaires' feedlots.

I gotta go. I'm on my way to a Tesla protest. Maybe you could find one near you to join, too:

https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/teslatakedown

But if I don't see you at this one, I'll see you on the picket line – with the LA teachers, the federal workers, and everyone else who's taking a stand against this scab presidency.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/29/jane-mcalevey/#trump-is-a-scab

[nellywrisource]

A writer’s guide to the historical method: how historians work with sources

In this post, I provide a brief overview of how historians engage with different types of sources, with a focus on the mindset of a historian. This insight could be valuable for anyone crafting a character whose profession revolves around history research. It may also prove useful for authors conducting research for their book.

Concept of historical source

The concept of historical source evolves over time. 

Initially, the focus was mainly on written sources due to their obvious availability. However, as time has progressed, historians now consider a wide range of sources beyond just written records. These include material artifacts, intangible cultural elements, and even virtual data.

While "armchair historians" may rely on existing studies and secondary sources, true professional historians distinguish themselves by delving directly into primary sources. They engage in a nuanced examination of various sources, weaving together diverse perspectives. It's crucial to recognize the distinction between personal recollection or memory and the rigorous discipline of historical inquiry. A historical source provides information, but the truth must be carefully discerned through critical analysis and corroboration.

Here's a concise list of the types of sources historians utilize:

Notarial source

Epistolary source

Accountancy source

Epigraphic source

Chronicle source

Oratory and oral source

Iconographic source

Diary source

Electronic source

Example: a notarial source

These are documents drafted by a notary, a public official entrusted with providing legal certainty to facts and legal transactions. These documents can take various forms, such as deeds, lawsuits, wills, contracts, powers of attorney, inventories, and many others.

Here we are specifically discussing a lawsuit document from 1211 in Italy.

A medieval lawsuit document is highly valuable for understanding various aspects of daily life because in a dispute, one must argue a position. From lawsuits, we also understand how institutions truly operated.

Furthermore, in the Middle Ages, lawsuits mostly relied on witnesses as evidence, so we can access a direct and popular source of certain specific social situations.

Some insight into the methodology of analysis:

Formal examination: historians scrutinize the document's form, verifying its authenticity and integrity. Elements such as structure, writing style, language, signatures, and seals are analyzed. Indeed, a professional historian will rarely conduct research on a source published in a volume but will instead go directly to the archive to study its origin, to avoid transcription errors.

Content analysis: historians proceed to analyze the document's content, extracting useful information for their research. This may include data on individuals, places, events, economic activities, social relations, and much more. It's crucial to compile a list of witnesses in a case and identify them to understand why they speak or why they speak in a certain manner.

Cross-referencing with other sources: information derived from the notarial source is compared with that of other historical sources to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate view of the period under examination.

Documents of the episcopal archive of Ivrea

Let's take the example of a specific legal case, stemming from the documents of the episcopal archive of Ivrea. It's a case from 1211 in Italy involving the bishop of Ivrea in dispute with Bongiovanni d'Albiano over feudal obligations.

This case is significant because it allows us to understand how feudal society operated and how social status was determined.

The bishop's representative argues that Bongiovanni should provide a horse as a feudal service. Bongiovanni denies it, claiming to be a noble, not a serf. Both parties present witnesses and documents supporting their arguments.

Witnesses are asked whether the serf obligations had been endured for a long time. This helps us understand that in a society where "law" was based on customs, it was important to ascertain if an obligation had been endured for a long time because at that point it would no longer be contestable (it would have become customary).

The responses are confused and inconsistent, so witnesses are directly asked whether they consider Bongiovanni a serf or a noble. This is because (and it allows us to understand that) the division into "social classes" wasn't definable within concrete boundaries; it was more about the appearance of one's way of life. If a serf refused to fulfill his serf duties, he would easily be considered a noble by bystanders because he lived like one.

Ultimately, the analysis of the case leads us to determine that medieval justice wasn't conceived with the logic of our modern system, but was measured in oaths and witnesses as evidentiary means. And emerging from it with honor was much more important than fairly distributing blame and reason.

Other sources

Accounting source: it is very useful for measuring consumption and its variety in a particular historical period. To reconstruct past consumption, inventories post mortem are often used, which are lists of goods found in households, described and valued by notaries to facilitate distribution among heirs. Alternatively, the recording of daily expenses, which in modern times were often very detailed, can lead to insights into complex family histories and their internal inequalities - for example, more money might be spent on one child than another corresponding to their planned future role in society.

Oral source: in relation to the political sphere, it is useful for representing that part of politics composed of direct sources, that is, where politics speaks of itself and how it presents itself to the public, such as a politician's public speech. However, working with this type of source, a historian cannot avoid hermeneutic work, as through the speech, the politician aims to present himself to a certain audience, justify, persuade, construct his own image, and achieve results. This is the hidden agenda that also exists in the most obvious part of politics.

Iconographic source: it concerns art or other forms of "artistic" expression, such as in the case of an advertising poster. They become historical sources when it is the historian who, through analysis, confers upon them the status of a historical source. Essentially, the historian uses the source to understand aspects of the past otherwise inaccessible. The first step in this direction is to recontextualize the source, returning it to its original context. Examining the history of the source represents the fundamental first step for historical analysis.

Diary source: diaries are a "subjective" source, a representation of one's self, often influenced by the thoughts of "others," who can be close or distant readers, interested or distracted, visible or invisible, whom every diary author can imagine and hope to see, sooner or later, reflected on the pages of their writing. Furthermore, they are often subject to subsequent manipulations, and therefore should be treated by historians only in their critical edition; all other versions, whether old or new, foreign or not, are useful only as evidence of the changes and manipulations undergone over time by the original manuscripts.

Electronic source: historians use Wikipedia even if they often don't admit it out loud.

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[oftenwantedafton]

personal space | steve raglan x f!reader

The new hire is delivered right to the door of Steve Raglan’s office one rainy Monday morning. He can feel the nervous energy wafting from you. But he’s good at this. Used to dealing with anxious job applicants from less than ideal backgrounds.

He can handle some new college grad.

Explicit, 2.8k words, ongoing revision started 3/27/25

ao3 link

The problem with being good at one’s job is that everyone relies on that person. Got a question? Just ask Steve Raglan. He’ll tell you what form to use or find the phone number needed. A long term resident of the Hurricane area, he’s virtually a walking guidebook for directions. He knows all the roads. The best shortcuts. What stores to shop at. What establishments to avoid. Hell, he even has some great recipes. A throwback to when he’d been employed in some capacity in the food industry or something. It’s never been explicitly stated just what that former career had entailed, only vaguely rumored and politely deflected whenever he’s questioned about it a little too directly. Nevertheless, he is the go-to man. Everyone in the career guidance office at the Department of Social Services knows it.

So of course the new hire is delivered right to the door of his office one rare rainy Monday morning, looking like a drowned rat, carrying what has obviously been your school backpack for many years, a worn looking specimen with a chipped zipper and a blotchy ink stain marring the nylon material. You’re clad in cheap polyester office attire, a gray skirt and blazer that are off the rack, not quite fitting you properly. The hem of the skirt hits your legs at an awkward level. The sleeves of the jacket are too short. Your pinned hair is already falling out of place. He can feel the nervous energy wafting from you. But he’s good at these types of situations, accustomed to dealing with anxious job applicants from less than ideal backgrounds. He can handle some new college grad.

He’d rather not, of course; he prefers working alone. It’s more efficient. Faster. You’re going to make the day difficult, he can already tell. Still he plasters on a fake smile and drags one of the chairs intended for clients around his desk, still leaving room between his own leather specimen and the mustard yellow vinyl padded hardback that’s a relic from the 1970’s.

“Welcome. I’m Steve Raglan.” His hand shake is firm, confident. Your own is tentative, weak. You’re going to have to work on that. “You can put your things down over there.” He gestures towards a small table in the corner next to a spare ream of copy paper. Down goes the backpack and out comes a spiral bound notebook and a pink pen that looks to be decorated in rainbows and is that glitter? You sit stiffly in the chair and fold back the cover of the notebook, then lay the writing utensil on top of it. After an awkward pause you clear your throat, swiping at one of the stray damp hairs trailing across your cheek. The silence lengthens. Steve’s chair creaks as he leans forward. “Where did you study?”

“University of Utah.”

“You from that area?” You nod. “First time away from home?” Another nod. He suppresses the urge to sigh. Great. He was going to have to deal with you being homesick at some point, too. Salt Lake City was at the opposite end of Utah. A good four hour drive north, minimum. “What made you end up here?”

“I went online to see other social workers in the state. You have a great reputation. A lot of awards.” You nod in the direction of the framed papers on the walls. “So I thought: why not learn from the best?”

Raglan grunts. The praise means nothing to him. The job doesn’t either, if he’s being perfectly honest. It’s his former profession that’s his true passion. This is just…well, it’s just something to do for the time being, a reliable source of income with the added bonus of sometimes providing ideal recruits for work relating to said former profession. So yes, he’s good at it. But it doesn’t mean he likes it. “You might as well put that away. It’s not a lecture hall. You’re not going to be taking notes. You’re just here to observe. Pay attention to verbal cues. Learn the vernacular. Become accustomed to interacting with people.”

Your cheeks flush. You close the notebook and tuck it inside your backpack but leave the pen out, your fingers fussing anxiously with the rainbow and yes, that is indeed glitter encrusting the clip on the cap. He notices you staring at the things on his desk: the white rabbit’s foot keychain on the ring of keys set next to his eyeglass case; the powder coated rabbit shaped wire frame for sorting mail; the coffee stained coaster with the logo for Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza sitting on the desk blotter, a yellow bear and yellow rabbit standing side by side waving jovially, mouths stretched in toothy grins. “You like rabbits, huh?”

Another dismissive sound escapes the experienced career counselor. He’s not about to explain his fondness, that stubborn nostalgia, to someone like you. Silence descends on the pair once more, heavy and uncomfortable. The burden of conversation seems to have fallen upon his shoulders. “Do you drink coffee?”

You shake your head. “I try to avoid caffeine.”

The bearded man pushes back from the desk, walking over to the small coffee bar lining the wall beneath the solitary window in his office. He leaves the room long enough to fill the pot from the sink in the break room across the hall. Once he returns he fills the reservoir and presses the filter into place, then spoons out coffee grounds, the measurement imprecise, eyeballed from years and years of practice. Finally he flips the orange switch at the base of the machine and his gaze wanders to the window. His office faces the rear of the building. There’s a small pond out back. Trees. Benches. Even a little bit of grass, kind of a rarity in this traditionally arid, desert-like climate. Overall a nice place to have lunch when the weather is good. Not today, obviously. The surface of the pond ripples as each drop of rain strikes it. Everything looks very green. The coffee machine begins to chortle, coughing up angry sounding hisses and spits. Dark liquid emerges in a steady hot trickle. He fills a mug and settles back behind the desk, then takes a sip. Your attention seems to be focused on the awards covering the walls, or perhaps the framed district map nearby. The older man sighs and glances at the clock. It’s five past eight. Another twenty five minutes to go before his first appointment.

It’s going to be a long day.

***

The morning passes relatively uneventfully.

None of the first few clients are particularly problematic. It becomes an automatic reflex to introduce you, the same spiel given each time. You are a new employee, there to observe. Then Steve simply ignores you, pretending you aren’t there and conducting the discussion as he normally would. Mid morning he announces it’s time for a break. You remain sitting. He stands and stretches. He’s six foot four and being seated doesn’t do his body any favors. The crack of the synovial fluid being pushed between the spaces of his joints is loud. The joys of aging, he thinks bitterly. His eyes flick to your seated form. “Get up. Go somewhere.” The sharp tone clearly indicates this is not a suggestion. You jerk to your feet, stepping out into the hallway, and he sighs with relief. Alone at last. He makes his way back to the coffee pot, a little huff of disappointment escaping when he realizes he’s already nearly emptied it. Usually it lasts longer than this. It’s that new employee, setting his nerves on edge a bit, he decides. Perhaps he should wait on brewing another batch.

The voice of the orientee behind him interrupts his thoughts. “I…I don’t really know my way around. I don’t know where to go.”

Steve sets the glass pot back onto the burner and thumbs off the machine. So much for a respite. Now he’s to be a tour guide, too. He knows he’s being a little unfair. Unreasonable. Of course you can’t be expected to know the layout. The routine. It’s only your first day. But it doesn’t rankle any less. So inconvenient. Bothersome. Another sigh rushes from his lips. He doesn’t think he’s ever heaved so many regretful sounds in one day before. “Follow me.” He brushes past you without waiting to see if you’re trailing behind, beginning to point things out. “Restroom, copy room, break room. Emergency exit. The rest of the offices are down this hallway. Another restroom.” He turns and almost stumbles into you. You’re like a shadow, close and clingy. He really doesn’t care for it. “Personal space is something that people tend to respect in this profession.” Another flush. You take a step back. “Further.” Another. “A little more.” Still another. “Better.” You pass the break room again and he gestures towards it. “Why don’t you go spend some time there. Introduce yourself. Think of it as practicing your social skills. Come back in fifteen minutes.”

“I don’t have a watch,” you murmur.

He clucks his tongue. “You need to get one, then. Time is important. Yours. The clients’. You can hardly expect to keep appointments without it. There’s a clock on the wall in there.” The career counselor escapes back to his office. Honestly. They are really testing his patience with this one. He jerks the coffee pot free, his earlier resolve to wait shattering beneath his exasperation. He’s definitely going to need more caffeine to get through the rest of his shift.

***

The real trouble begins in the afternoon.

Steve can smell the alcohol long before the man ever finds his way into the seat across from his desk. His body automatically leans back, away from the applicant, the folder containing the man’s resume and background information clutched in his hands. He does his best to remain professional, keeping his expression neutral while focusing right on the heart of the matter: four terminated positions in as many weeks.

“‘S’not my fault. If my bitch wife hadn’t left—”

“—I’d prefer you not use that language, sir.” Steve interrupts firmly. “And your ex’s affairs are her own. We’re here to discuss you. Your employers state that you’ve been coming into work late, if at all. Poor attendance. Multiple complaints of being rude to customers. The most recent one says that you actually assaulted someone.”

“That’s a fu— a lie,” he corrects.

“Be that as it may. You’re going to need to complete a drug test and enter a rehabilitation program before you’ll even be considered for another position.”

“I don’t have a drinking problem,” he mutters. “You don’t even know me. Just because a few people lied…”

“I’m not here to judge you. I’m simply stating the facts. Our goals are the same. We want to see you employed successfully.”

The drunken man’s eyes shift to you, lingering a little too long on places that clearly aren’t your face. Steve wheels forward again, positioning himself a little in front of his companion as if to shield you from the client’s unsavory gaze.

“I can recommend an excellent local program.” Raglan pulls a drawer open and sets a pamphlet on the desk. “Give them a call. That’s the first step towards getting you back to work and getting your life back in order.”

The applicant makes no move to pick up the offering. “I’m not going.”

“Then I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do for you.”

“You’re supposed to be getting me a job.”

“You are supposed to be getting yourself a job. I can’t assist you in this current condition.”

“What about her? Maybe she can help me.” Another leer in your direction. You begin to stammer a response.

Steve rises to his feet and the words die in your throat. His fingers are curled tightly against his palms as he glares over the edge of his glasses. “I think you had better leave.”

“Or what?” The job hopeful lurches to his feet and you gasp. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Security will escort you out. Or I will. I really don’t think you want me to be the one to do it.” His voice is cold as he lifts the phone, waiting to see what choice will be made. The client hesitates, the bravado swiftly evaporating. Something terrifying lights the career counselor’s eyes. It’s not an idle threat.

His shoulders slump in defeat. “I’ll leave.”

Steve dials an extension. “Yes. Can you make sure the gentleman leaving my office makes it outside? And he’s not to return. Yes. Thank you.” He drops the phone back down and glances at you. Your eyes are wide, and he can see you shaking. “You alright?” You swallow and nod. “Not every aspect of this job is going to be pleasant. It’s just as well you get a lesson in that now. The key is to maintain control and de-escalate the situation.”

He settles back into his seat, smoothing his tie before shutting the folder and placing the pamphlet back in the drawer.

“What would you have done? If you went outside with him, I mean.”

Raglan flashes a grin that looks anything but friendly. “Don’t worry about it.”

You remain quiet for the rest of the afternoon.

***

The shift finally, mercifully draws to a close.

Steve unhooks the umbrella from the coat rack tucked in the corner, shaking it to dislodge any dust that might have accumulated. It’s unusual for Hurricane to have wet weather, especially prolonged dampness like this. The accessory doesn’t typically see much use, left there for rare occasions such as this one.

You, of course, haven’t brought one. You haven’t even brought a proper jacket, unless you count that ill fitting blazer as protection from the elements. He’s going to have to be a gentleman and walk beside you, shielding you from the inclement weeping of the heavens. Forced to be positioned closer to you than he’d like. The physical contact makes him uncomfortable. He’s used to keeping himself distant. It’s been years since he’s experienced any intimacy. And yet here you are, the imposing dictates of social politeness demanding his body brush against yours, walking you to your car which is quite far from his own. “You need to get here before seven if you want a decent parking spot.” The rain patters on the purple fabric tented above. You nod absently, digging in your backpack for your car keys. “Don’t you have a purse or something?”

“I do, I just didn’t bring it, I thought…”

“Bring it. You don’t need that bag. You’re not in school anymore. It’s not some clunky thing, is it?”

“I mean, it’s a mini backpack.” He glowers disapprovingly. “They’re in fashion right now,” you protest.

“You should have a wallet and car keys. That’s all you need.”

“What if it’s that time of the month?”

Now it’s Steve’s turn to look uncomfortable. “Fine. Just…bring whatever you have tomorrow.”

“Found them!” You withdraw your key ring, giving it a little shake. The disapproving stare hasn’t wavered. “Thanks for putting up with me today.” Your voice is quiet, barely audible in the downpour.

“It’s my job.” He shrugs, swapping the hand holding the umbrella.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waits until you’ve unlocked the car before stepping aside, keeping you covered for as long as possible. He doesn’t know why he’s making such an effort. Just the polite thing to do, he supposes. The interior of your car is alarmingly pink and bedazzled. Pink material lines the cup holders and covers the steering wheel and the seats. Little jeweled cat faces are clipped to the air vents and one larger specimen dangles from the rearview mirror. You notice him staring. “It’s Hello Kitty.”

”I’m aware.” His daughter had gone through that phase, though at a much younger age. He scowls but says nothing.

”Some people like bunnies. I like cats,” you offer a bit smugly.

You did kind of have a point. “It’s fine,” he says grudgingly. As if you needed his permission to like something. Of course you don’t. And he hardly needs to defend his own attachments. “To each their own. Until tomorrow.” He begins making the trek back across the parking lot to his own vehicle, a dark vintage sedan. He struggles to close the umbrella before settling behind the wheel of the Ford Fairmont. His Aviators are foggy and smeared with moisture. He lets the engine run for a few minutes, waiting for the windshield to clear while trying to find a dry surface to clear his lenses with.

A car horn startles him. He glances in the rearview mirror and recognizes your automobile behind his. You emerge hurriedly from the car and dive back into the deluge, that ridiculous book bag clutched above your head as an insufficient impromptu umbrella to shield you from the torrent. He groans, rapidly cranking his window down. No power controls here; everything was manual. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I forgot which way I’m going when I get out of here. My mind is totally drawing a blank. My apartment’s downtown, off of Main Street…”

Steve sighs. You really are testing the limits of his patience.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - August 21, 2023

🌊 - Discover the Ocean's Hidden Gem Deep down in the Pacific

1. Massachusetts passed a millionaire's tax. Now, the revenue is paying for free public school lunches.

Every kid in Massachusetts will get a free lunch, paid for by proceeds from a new state tax on millionaires.

A new 4% tax on the state's wealthiest residents will account for $1 billion of the state's $56 billion fiscal budget for 2024, according to state documents. A portion of those funds will be used to provide all public-school students with free weekday meals, according to State House News Service.

2. Plant-based filter removes up to 99.9% of microplastics from water

Researchers may have found an effective, green way to remove microplastics from our water using readily available plant materials. Their device was found to capture up to 99.9% of a wide variety of microplastics known to pose a health risk to humans.

3. Scientists Find A Whole New Ecosystem Hiding Beneath Earth's Seafloor

Most recently, aquanauts on board a vessel from the Schmidt Ocean Institute used an underwater robot to turn over slabs of volcanic crust in the deep, dark Pacific. Underneath the seafloor of this well-studied site, the international team of researchers found veins of subsurface fluids swimming with life that has never been seen before.

It's a whole new world we didn't know existed.

4. How solar has exploded in the US in just a year

Solar and storage companies have announced over $100 billion in private sector investments in the US since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) a year ago, according to a new analysis released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Since President Joe Biden signed the IRA in August 2022, 51 solar factories have been announced or expanded in the US.

5. Researchers have identified a new pack of endangered gray wolves in California

A new pack of gray wolves has shown up in California’s Sierra Nevada, several hundred miles away from any other known population of the endangered species, wildlife officials announced Friday.

It’s a discovery to make researchers howl with delight, given that the native species was hunted to extinction in California in the 1920s. Only in the past decade or so have a few gray wolves wandered back into the state from out-of-state packs.

6. Record-Breaking Cleanup: 25,000 Pounds of Trash Removed from Pacific Garbage Patch

Ocean cleanup crews have fished out the most trash ever taken from one of the largest garbage patches in the world.

The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit environmental engineering organization, saw its largest extraction earlier this month by removing about 25,000 pounds of trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Alex Tobin, head of public relations and media for the organization

7. The Inflation Reduction Act Took U.S. Climate Action Global

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) aimed to promote clean energy investments in the U.S. and globally. In its first year, the IRA successfully spurred other nations to develop competitive climate plans.

Clean energy projects in 44 U.S. states driven by the IRA have generated over 170,600 jobs and $278 billion in investments, aligning with Paris Agreement goals.

---

That's it for this week :)

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[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing an oc who's a prostitute? What's the job like? The measures they'll take? It might be lengthy, but stuff like virtual, brothel and escort work?

Writing Notes: Prostitution

Prostitution - the practice of engaging in relatively indiscriminate sexual activity, in general with someone who is not a spouse or a friend, in exchange for immediate payment in money or other valuables.

From the 1980s, the more neutral term sex worker was increasingly employed to describe those involved in commercial sex activities.

"Prostitute" and "sex worker" are shorthand for what is argued to be the more accurate term: “a provider of sexual services for material gain.”

“Pimp” - males who act as intermediaries between client and worker in the exchange of sexual services; he may or may not be in an additional relationship to the woman.

“Madam” - a female brothel-keeper.

The designations “pimp” and “madam” are charged terms. Their usage was common in some historic places and times.

Prostitution is a very old and universal phenomenon; also universal is condemnation of the prostitute but relative indifference toward the client.

Prostitutes may be female or male or transgender, and prostitution may entail heterosexual or homosexual activity, but historically, most prostitutes have been women and most clients men.

Prostitutes are often set apart in some way:

In ancient Rome they were required to wear distinctive dress;

under Hebrew law only foreign women could be prostitutes; and

in pre-World War II Japan they were required to live in special sections of the city.

In medieval Europe prostitution was licensed and regulated by law, but by the 16th century an epidemic of venereal disease and post-Reformation morality led to the closure of brothels.

International cooperation to end the traffic in women for the purpose of prostitution began in 1899.

In 1921 the League of Nations established the Committee on the Traffic in Women and Children, and in 1949 the UN General Assembly adopted a convention for the suppression of prostitution.

In the U.S. prostitution was first curtailed by the Mann Act (1910), and by 1915 most states had banned brothels (Nevada being a notable exception).

Prostitution is nevertheless tolerated in most U.S. and European cities.

In the Netherlands many prostitutes have become members of a professional service union, and in Scandinavia government regulations emphasize hygienic aspects, requiring frequent medical examination and providing free mandatory hospitalization for anyone found to be infected with venereal disease.

Prostitutes are very often poor and lack other skills to support themselves; in many traditional societies there are few other available money-earning occupations for women without family support.

In developing African and Asian countries, prostitution has been largely responsible for the spread of AIDS and the orphaning of hundreds of thousands of children.

It is difficult to generalize about the background or conditions of prostitutes because so much of what is known about them derives from studies of poorer and less-privileged individuals, people who are more likely to come into contact with courts and official agencies.

Much more is known about streetwalkers, for example, than about the higher-status women who can be more selective about their clients and work conditions.

Based on available studies, though, it is reasonable to assert that female sex workers often are economically disadvantaged and lack skills and training to support themselves.

Many are drawn at an early age into prostitution and associated crime, and drug dependency can be an aggravating factor.

They frequently are managed by a male procurer, or pimp, or by a supervisor, or madam, in a house of prostitution.

Health hazards to prostitutes include sexually transmitted diseases, some of which may be acquired through drug abuse.

Male prostitution has received less public attention in most cultures.

Heterosexual male prostitution—involving males hired by or for females—is rare.

Homosexual male prostitution has probably existed in most societies, though only in the 20th century was it recognized as a major social phenomenon, and its prevalence increased during the late 20th and early 21st century.

Prostitution during the Victorian age gained an unprecedented amount of attention from both British society and their government.

Although issues of prostitution were, and are often still, seen in black and white, there were many cases where prostitution was either a supplementary activity or the only available avenue of employment.

It was an unsavory profession, and, unfortunately, it was often considered a necessary evil.

However, it is important to note that although it was an activity highly frowned upon by upper class women in society, these same women were the first to rally to the cause of those “fallen women” that were being exploited by the government.

The popularity of issues concerning prostitution eventually lessened over time, but the resulting influences sparked by feminist movements involved in prostitute’s rights created a ripple effect that can be seen even today.

Working & Living Conditions. Key factors have shaped the working and living conditions of sex workers across the globe since the beginning of the 17th century.

These include the degree to which women were bound or “free”, or were able to exercise power in relation to employers and clients. Related to this is the location of individual women within the sex industry—where they existed within any particular hierarchy based on the class of clients, ethnicity, and so on.

Market forces have also been major determinants of the pay and working conditions in the sex industry. Shifts in the economy have impacted sex workers as well as other workers, affecting both the demand for sexual services and the supply of women willing to sell sex.

A third major influence on sex workers’ lives has been the responses to prostitution of the community in which they worked. This has included both informal and official responses which often determined where and how women could sell sex and under what circumstances.

The formation, expansion, and disintegration of nations and empires have had a similar impact on the market for sex and have contributed to official responses to prostitution.

Finally, developments in technology and medicine, especially since the early 20th century, have contributed to significant changes in the ways in which sexual services are delivered and also impacted the health of sex workers.

Prostitution is considered to be a profession of high mobility; it is almost tempting to say that probably every prostitute migrates at least once in her lifetime.

Despite this fact, the share of prostitutes in the flows over and across the continents has been widely neglected in migration studies.

Migration is thought to be a “basic condition of human societies” and “central to the human experience [and] the major forces for historical change.”

Nevertheless, many studies focus solely on the movements of European male settlers. In particular, labour migration was long held to be a male domain, keeping up the idea of males as breadwinners and the main actors in history.

Hoerder offers up the critique that migration studies emphasize “the westward flow of agrarian settlers and neglect [the] moves of workers and of women”

Changing places is a lifetime experience of women involved in the sex sector, and in many cases, they travel far more than people in other sectors.

The Social Profiles of Prostitutes. There is no shortage of media portrayals of prostitutes. Yet the images that inform our opinions regarding sex workers tend to be largely negative, depicting them as either criminals or as victims.

Today, the latter perception prevails: sex workers are stereotypically seen as:

young,

migrant girls with

no education and

no alternatives.

The most conspicuous types of prostitutes tend to be overrepresented, while those operating in private have largely been overlooked.

In addition to which, the “facts” about the sex workers represented in the sources may not always be entirely correct, as they might have told their interlocutors what they believed would best serve their needs, rather than what was true.

The social profiles of sex workers have changed considerably over the course of the last 400 years.

Prostitute populations have become more heterogeneous in terms of their origin, race, age, family situation, educational level, and professional background—albeit at different paces.

Example: Migrants did not suddenly appear in the western European sex trade after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Rather, they were always present, and always overrepresented in the prostitute population. What actually changed over time are the distances covered.

Similarly, prostitutes’ ages have altered in tandem with developments in society at large, most notably lengthier childhoods and a later start to working life.

While it is definitely true that certain people have limited options for survival, the high degree of diversity among sex workers clearly shows that prostitution cannot be reduced to a profession of the destitute, or one which people passively end up in.

In fact, people who are not members of so-called “vulnerable” groups might be more numerous in the sector than anticipated because of their invisibility.

The sex industry is highly stratified, and individuals with better prospects take the places at the top of the hierarchy more often than those with limited possibilities.

These women have chosen to use their bodies to create a financial surplus, and they are thought to face fewer dangers than the prostitutes working at the lower end of the market.

It seems easier for people to accept that these women actively chose their profession, and harder to view them as passive victims.

However, their underlying reasons are not necessarily different from the masses employed at the industry’s margins.

Although some women are forced into prostitution against their will one way or another, this is certainly not the case for all sex workers, let alone the majority.

Most prostitutes are driven by opportunity, and the fact that most have fewer opportunities than their contemporaries does not change that.

Simply put, prostitution can be emancipatory.

It can be a positive choice, rather than just a negative one.

Profile characteristics do not explain why people use their bodies to earn an income, but they do explain why certain people end up in the most visible and least rewarding sectors of the profession.

Brothel - a building in which prostitutes are available; bordello

Bordello - (somewhat literary) a building in which prostitutes are available

Public brothels were established in large cities throughout Europe.

At Toulouse, in France, the profits were shared between the city and the university; in England, bordellos were originally licensed by the bishops of Winchester and subsequently by Parliament.

Stricter controls were imposed during the 16th century, in part because of the new sexual morality that accompanied the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. Just as significant was the dramatic upsurge of sexually transmitted diseases. Sporadic attempts were made to suppress brothels and even to introduce medical inspections, but such measures were to little avail.

By 1915 nearly all states had passed laws that banned brothels or regulated the profits of prostitution.

After World War II, prostitution remained prohibited in most Western countries, though it was unofficially tolerated in some cities.

Many law-enforcement agencies became more concerned with regulating the crimes associated with the practice, especially acts of theft and robbery committed against clients. Authorities also intervened to prevent girls from being coerced into prostitution (“white slavery”).

Prostitution is illegal in most of the United States, though it is lawful in some counties in Nevada.

In most Asian and Middle Eastern countries, prostitution is illegal but widely tolerated: Among predominantly Muslim countries, Turkey has legalized prostitution and made it subject to a system of health checks for sex workers, and in Bangladesh prostitution is notionally legal but associated behaviours such as soliciting are prohibited. In some Asian countries the involvement of children in prostitution has encouraged the growth of “sex tourism” by men from countries where such practices are illegal.

Many Latin American countries tolerate prostitution but restrict associated activities (e.g., In Brazil, brothels, pimping, and child exploitation are illegal).

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

This was a bit difficult to summarise, but I tried to include a wide range of information from different sources. In general, take into account the setting of your story so you can choose which of these references would be most appropriate to use as inspiration for your writing. Do go through the links above because there are details I wasn't able to include here that might be more suitable for your specific story. Hope this helps!

[aronarchy]

A copy of the reading list, if you dislike clicking on Google docs links:

The Popular University of the Palestinian Youth Movement Presents Our History of Popular Resistance: Palestine Reading List 

As Palestinians, we are bearers of a rich and beautiful history. Our history is not defined by Zionism, but by our people’s steadfast popular resistance to Zionist colonization and imperialism. For over 75 years, our people have faced Zionist ethnic cleansing and for over 75 years we have risen in struggle against it. Even prior to the 1948 Nakba, Palestinians consistently rose up against British imperialism and the Zionist movement, as exemplified in the 1936-9 Arab Revolt. Our history and struggle, therefore, cannot be defined by victimhood. Instead, they are defined by a relentless persistence toward liberation, even under the most brutal colonial conditions.

Today is no exception. In a moment when the word is rising up for Palestinian freedom, we must emphasize that popular uprisings across Palestine are deeply and firmly rooted in our history. For this reason, our recommended reading list offers historical context on Palestine through the prism of popular resistance, which continues to be our main resource in the fight for land, return, and liberation. We include sources in English and Arabic on popular resistance ranging from political histories, interviews, memoirs, poetry, films, and primary documents. By popular resistance we refer to all forms of resistance taken up by Palestinians: in the form of economic resistance, women’s organizations, unions and labor organizing, and military/armed resistance.

As the Popular University, a committee of the Palestinian Youth Movement, we believe that education must be wielded in service of struggle. Our viewpoint finds inspiration and guidance from the Popular University in Palestine, of which the martyred Basel al-Araj was a part. In our meeting with an educator in this project, Khaled Odeitallah, he emphasized how the political role of pedagogical strategies inspired the objective and vision of the Popular University. He asked: “What is the political role that knowledge production must play?” From this perspective we seek to motivate, engage and facilitate a robust engagement on the history and present of our struggle. Study and struggle are intimately tied to one another.  We do not learn and produce knowledge on Palestinian history for academic or careerist pursuits; we produce knowledge in service of our political struggle for Palestinian liberation.

We encourage you to use this reading list to educate yourself on the history of Palestine beyond the objective facts of colonial domination. This is a political responsibility for anyone concerned with Palestine’s liberation. Through engagement with our history of resistance, we may join the struggle armed with knowledge and a continued commitment not to our suffering, but to our collective strength.

Note: We included a number of texts in Arabic that offer analysis and context for this battle that is rarely offered in the English media outlets. Even if you do not read Arabic, we recommend copy pasting the texts in Arabic into Google Translate or another translation service. The translation, while imperfect, will provide you with an overall sense of the arguments and main points being made.

Introductory and Archival Materials

Decolonize Palestine 

(مكتبة سبيل (الصفحة العربية 

Sabil Library (English Site) 

Learn the Revolution

باب الواد - الجامعة الشعبية 

Revolution and Rebellion under the British Occupation:

The Revolution of 1936-1939 in Palestine: Background, Details, and Analysis, Ghassan Kanafani

(ثورة 1936- 1939: خلفيات وتفاصيل وتحليل.“ غس��ن كنفاني (1972”

Memories of Revolt: The 1936-1939 Rebellion and the Palestinian National Past, Ted Swedenburg (1995)

أبو جلدة والعرميط Abu Jilda & Al ‘Armit

“Abu Jilda, Anti-Imperial Hero: Banditry and Popular Rebellion in Palestine,” Alex Winder (2015)

“A century of Palestinian resistance: the legacy of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam,” The East is a Podcast (2021)

Palestine: A Modern History, Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali (1978) 

Palestinian Resistance 1948 - 1993

Palestinian history doesn’t start with the Nakba by PYM (May, 2023)

Armed Struggle and the Search for a State: The Palestinian National Movement, 1948 - 1993, Yezid Sayigh (1997)

(معنى النكبة“ قنسطنطين زريق (1948”

Palestinians: From Peasants to Revolutionaries, Rosemary Sayegh (1979)

(2006) “من التحرير إلى الدولة: تاريخ الحركة الوطنية الفلسطينية، 1948-1988” هيلغا بوبغارتن

Green March Black September: The Story of the Palestinian Arabs, John Cooley (1973)

“Interview with Fr. Shehadeh Shehadeh on the First Land Day Protest,” Sharif Hamadeh (2005)

Gender in Crisis: Women and the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Julie Peteet (1991)

“What the Uprising Means,” Salim Tamari (1988)

“The Stone and the Pen: Palestinian Education During the 1987 Intifada,” Yamila Hussein (2005)

Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment, Mazin Qumsiyeh (2011)

(وقع الانتفاضات الشعبية الديمقراطية - تاريخ المنظمة و الحر كات“ جميل هلال (2011”

“Fighting on Two Fronts: Conversations with Palestinian Women” Soraya Antonius (1979)

“100 Years of Palestinian Popular Resistance” by Nasreen Abd Elal (May, 2023)

Contemporary Palestinian Resistance 

Zionism in crisis: Palestinian resistance forges a new horizon (April, 2023)

“The Palestinians’ inalienable right to resist,” Louis Allday (2021)

“No Choice but to Break Free: An Interview with Ahmed Abu Artema,” Ahmed Abu Artema and Lara Sheehi (2019) 

Interview with Ahmad Saadat, Leading from Prison, Ending Negotiations, and Rebuilding the Resistance (2013) 

“Palestinian Resistance and Sheikh Jarrah,” Devyn Springer, Mohammed el-Kurd, and Abu Shuwarib, Groundings Podcast (2021)

Notes from the Great March of Return w/ Tareq Loubani, The East is a Podcast (2022)

(هبّة باب العامود: نصر جديد وتحدٍّ جديد 2“ خالد عودة الله (2021”

(حراك «طالعات» الفلسطيني: لا وجود لوطن حرّ إلّا بنساء حرّة“ حلا مرشود (2019”

Operation Sword Edge [2018] - Sayaret Matkal’s Covert Operation, Silah Report (2021)

Battle of Shujaiya - The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza

The Evolution of the Palestinian Resistance and Its New Strategy (October, 2022)

On the Joint Operations Room

Palestinian Institutions and Political Parties

PLO: History of a Revolution - Six-part documentary series about history of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (2009)

The PLO: The Struggle Within, Alain Gresh (1985)

“The Joy of Flying 1967-73” in The Palestinian Liberation Organization: People, Power, and Politics, Helena Cobban (1984)  

“The Palestinian National Covenant,” published in Basic Political Documents of the Armed Palestinian Resistance Movement, Leila Kadi (ed.) (1969)

“PLO Institutions: The Challenge Ahead,” Jamil Hilal (1993)

“A New Hamas Through Its New Documents,” Khaled Hroub (2006)

Worker Mobilization, Labor Movements, and Economic Resistance 

“When pickles become a weapon: Economy of the first Intifada,” Palestinian Journeys

(أداء المؤسسات الاقتصادية في المناطق المحتلة قبل الانتفاضة وخلالها“ عادل سمارة (1990”

“Developing a Palestinian Resistance Economy through Agricultural Labor,” Rayya El-Zein (2017)

Resistance in Zionist Prisons

(2021) كلام الأسرى.. عيون الكلام 

Video: Steadfastness and Resistance — the Palestinian prisoner’s movement and the case of Ahmad Sa’adat

“One Man as a Whole Generation: The Unfinished War of Zakaria Zubeidi,” Ramzy Baroud (2021)

“Liberating a Palestinian Novel from Israeli Prison,” Danya Al-Saleh and Samar Al-Saleh (2023)

“The Prisoner Walid Daqqah: a stubborn conscience that cannot be seared,” Wisam Rafeedie (2023)

“Freedom or Martyrdom: Walid Daqqah’s fate is in our hands,” PYM (2023)

“Resistance and Revolutionary Will: Soha Bechara and Nawal Baidoun’s Testimonies of Khiam Prison,” Mary Turfah (2023)

Role of Palestinian Women in the Resistance

Interview with Samira Salah (2013)

Behind the intifada: Labor and Women’s Movements in the Occupied Territories, Joost R. Hiltermann (1991)

Palestinian Women and the Intifada, Rana Khoury (1995)

“The Palestinian women’s autonomous movement: Emergency, dynamics and challenges,” Rabab Abdulhadi (1998)

“Women of the Intifada: gender, class and national liberation,” Nahla Abdo (1991)

Women, War, and Peace: Reflections from the Intifada, Nahla Abdo (2002)

Palestinian Women’s Activism, Islah Jad (2018)

Memoirs and Personal Profiles 

“Committed to Liberation: Remembering Soha Bechara’s Clandestine Mission” (includes chapter 7 of Resistance: My Life for Lebanon by Soha Bechara)

My People Shall Live, Leila Khaled (1971)

Liberation, Wonder, and the “Magic of the World”: Basel al-Araj’s I Have Found My Answers, Hazem Jamjoum (2021)

(وجدت أجوبتي: هكذا تكلم الشهيد باسل الأعرج“ باسل الأعرج (2018”

(مذكرات نجاتي صدقي“ ،تقديم وإعداد حنّا أبو حنّا، (2001”

“I Went to Defend Jerusalem in Cordoba: Memoirs of a Palestinian Communist in the Spanish International Brigades,” Najati Sidqqi (2015)

“Two Portraits in Resistance - Abu ‘Umar and Mahjub ‘Umar,” Jehan Helou and Elias Khoury (2012)

My Life in the PLO: The Inside Story of the Palestinian Struggle, Shafiq al-Hout and Jean Said Makdisi (2019)

Lightning through the Clouds: ‘Izz al-Din al-Qassam and the Making of the Modern Middle East, Mark Sanagan (2020)

جيفارا غزة - القصة الكاملة لبطل فلسطيني حارب الاحتلال ببسالة

جيفارا غزة - وثائقي الميادين 

Historical fiction, literature, and poetry 

The Trinity of Fundamentals, Wisam Rafeedie

“Live Like a Porcupine, Fight Like a Flea,” A Translation of an Article by Basel Al-Araj

“Here We Will Stay,” Tawfiq Zayyad (1966)

Poetry of Resistance in Occupied Palestine, translated by Sulafa Hijjawi (Baghdad, Ministry of Culture and Guidance, 1968)

Returning to Haifa, Ghassan Kanafani (1969)

الأدب الفلسطيني المقاوم تحت الإحتلال 1948ـ1968“ ,غسان كنفاني”

“Resist, My People, Resist Them,” Dareen Tatour (2015) 

(نظرية اللعبة“ خالد عودة الله (2018”

Rifqa, Mohammed El-Kurd (2021)

“A Place Without a Door” and “Uncle Give me a Cigarette”—Two Essays by Palestinian Political Prisoner, Walid Daqqah (2023)

On Zionist Literature, Ghassan Kanafani (1967 original, 2022 English translation)

Films

Fedayin: Georges Abdallah’s Fight (2021)

Naila and the Uprising (2017)

Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory (2015)

When I Saw You, Lamma Shoftak (2012)

Slingshot Hip Hop (2008)

Leila Khaled: Hijacker (2005)

Jenin Jenin (2002)

Naji al Ali An Artist With a Vision (1999)

Tell Your Tale Little Bird (1993)

Everything and Nothing (1991)

They Do Not Exist (1974)

Palestine Books Library

To search for the book you’d like:

[mariacallous]

On Saturday, an Associated Press investigation revealed that OpenAI's Whisper transcription tool creates fabricated text in medical and business settings despite warnings against such use. The AP interviewed more than 12 software engineers, developers, and researchers who found the model regularly invents text that speakers never said, a phenomenon often called a “confabulation” or “hallucination” in the AI field.

Upon its release in 2022, OpenAI claimed that Whisper approached “human level robustness” in audio transcription accuracy. However, a University of Michigan researcher told the AP that Whisper created false text in 80 percent of public meeting transcripts examined. Another developer, unnamed in the AP report, claimed to have found invented content in almost all of his 26,000 test transcriptions.

The fabrications pose particular risks in health care settings. Despite OpenAI’s warnings against using Whisper for “high-risk domains,” over 30,000 medical workers now use Whisper-based tools to transcribe patient visits, according to the AP report. The Mankato Clinic in Minnesota and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are among 40 health systems using a Whisper-powered AI copilot service from medical tech company Nabla that is fine-tuned on medical terminology.

Nabla acknowledges that Whisper can confabulate, but it also reportedly erases original audio recordings “for data safety reasons.” This could cause additional issues, since doctors cannot verify accuracy against the source material. And deaf patients may be highly impacted by mistaken transcripts since they would have no way to know if medical transcript audio is accurate or not.

The potential problems with Whisper extend beyond health care. Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Virginia studied thousands of audio samples and found Whisper adding nonexistent violent content and racial commentary to neutral speech. They found that 1 percent of samples included “entire hallucinated phrases or sentences which did not exist in any form in the underlying audio” and that 38 percent of those included “explicit harms such as perpetuating violence, making up inaccurate associations, or implying false authority.”

In one case from the study cited by AP, when a speaker described “two other girls and one lady,” Whisper added fictional text specifying that they “were Black.” In another, the audio said, “He, the boy, was going to, I’m not sure exactly, take the umbrella.” Whisper transcribed it to, “He took a big piece of a cross, a teeny, small piece … I’m sure he didn’t have a terror knife so he killed a number of people.”

An OpenAI spokesperson told the AP that the company appreciates the researchers’ findings and that it actively studies how to reduce fabrications and incorporates feedback in updates to the model.

Why Whisper Confabulates

The key to Whisper’s unsuitability in high-risk domains comes from its propensity to sometimes confabulate, or plausibly make up, inaccurate outputs. The AP report says, "Researchers aren’t certain why Whisper and similar tools hallucinate," but that isn't true. We know exactly why Transformer-based AI models like Whisper behave this way.

Whisper is based on technology that is designed to predict the next most likely token (chunk of data) that should appear after a sequence of tokens provided by a user. In the case of ChatGPT, the input tokens come in the form of a text prompt. In the case of Whisper, the input is tokenized audio data.

The transcription output from Whisper is a prediction of what is most likely, not what is most accurate. Accuracy in Transformer-based outputs is typically proportional to the presence of relevant accurate data in the training dataset, but it is never guaranteed. If there is ever a case where there isn't enough contextual information in its neural network for Whisper to make an accurate prediction about how to transcribe a particular segment of audio, the model will fall back on what it “knows” about the relationships between sounds and words it has learned from its training data.

According to OpenAI in 2022, Whisper learned those statistical relationships from “680,000 hours of multilingual and multitask supervised data collected from the web.” But we now know a little more about the source. Given Whisper's well-known tendency to produce certain outputs like "thank you for watching," "like and subscribe," or "drop a comment in the section below" when provided silent or garbled inputs, it's likely that OpenAI trained Whisper on thousands of hours of captioned audio scraped from YouTube videos. (The researchers needed audio paired with existing captions to train the model.)

There's also a phenomenon called “overfitting” in AI models where information (in this case, text found in audio transcriptions) encountered more frequently in the training data is more likely to be reproduced in an output. In cases where Whisper encounters poor-quality audio in medical notes, the AI model will produce what its neural network predicts is the most likely output, even if it is incorrect. And the most likely output for any given YouTube video, since so many people say it, is “thanks for watching.”

In other cases, Whisper seems to draw on the context of the conversation to fill in what should come next, which can lead to problems because its training data could include racist commentary or inaccurate medical information. For example, if many examples of training data featured speakers saying the phrase “crimes by Black criminals,” when Whisper encounters a “crimes by [garbled audio] criminals” audio sample, it will be more likely to fill in the transcription with “Black."

In the original Whisper model card, OpenAI researchers wrote about this very phenomenon: "Because the models are trained in a weakly supervised manner using large-scale noisy data, the predictions may include texts that are not actually spoken in the audio input (i.e. hallucination). We hypothesize that this happens because, given their general knowledge of language, the models combine trying to predict the next word in audio with trying to transcribe the audio itself."

So in that sense, Whisper "knows" something about the content of what is being said and keeps track of the context of the conversation, which can lead to issues like the one where Whisper identified two women as being Black even though that information was not contained in the original audio. Theoretically, this erroneous scenario could be reduced by using a second AI model trained to pick out areas of confusing audio where the Whisper model is likely to confabulate and flag the transcript in that location, so a human could manually check those instances for accuracy later.

Clearly, OpenAI's advice not to use Whisper in high-risk domains, such as critical medical records, was a good one. But health care companies are constantly driven by a need to decrease costs by using seemingly "good enough" AI tools—as we've seen with Epic Systems using GPT-4 for medical records and UnitedHealth using a flawed AI model for insurance decisions. It's entirely possible that people are already suffering negative outcomes due to AI mistakes, and fixing them will likely involve some sort of regulation and certification of AI tools used in the medical field.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

S. Baum at Erin In The Morning:

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s anti-trans military ban, including “Executive Order 14183—Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” as well as a similar policy issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “The cruel irony is that thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed—some risking their lives—to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them,” wrote Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, in her opinion published today. “In the self-evident truth that ‘all people are created equal,’ all means all. Nothing more. And certainly nothing less.” The court affirmed the President’s ability to discern who can serve the military, but emphasized the high standards needed to do so. “Leaders have used concern for military readiness to deny marginalized persons the privilege of serving,” she wrote. “First minorities, then women in combat, then gays.” Today, trans people are the target — Trump’s executive order from January declared that being trans “conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle,” and that it “is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” The order was accompanied by Hegseth’s anti-trans memo to the Pentagon on Feb. 7. To categorically ban trans people from the military, the government would have to show that trans inclusion has resulted in tangible, material harm.

The court ruled that this is not the case. Even more, Reyes says that neither Trump’s executive order nor Hegseth’s directive seemed to have received input from military rank and file. “Neither document contains any analysis nor cites any data,” Reyes writes. “They pronounce that transgender persons are not honorable, truthful, or disciplined—but Defense counsel concedes that these assertions are pure conjecture.” The plaintiffs, Reyes continues, have cumulatively provided over 130 years of military service. “They have served in roles ranging from Senior Military Science Instructor to Artillery Platoon Commander to Intelligence Analyst to Satellite Operator to Operations Research Analyst to Naval Flight Officer to Weapons Officer,” she writes. “They have deployed around the globe [...] One is presently deployed to an active combat zone. They have earned more than 80 commendations.” The ban was not only discriminatory, Reyes says, but also unscientific. “Who considered the information [...] is anyone’s guess. [Trump officials] do not know. Maybe no one, because one study is eight years old and the other two support Plaintiffs’ position [of opposing a trans military ban].” She characterizes the ban as “soaked in animus and dripping with pretext.”

Judge Ana C. Reyes rules in Talbott v. Trump that Donald Trump’s transphobia-laden ban on trans people serving in the military is “soaked in animus.”

See Also:

The Advocate: BREAKING: Federal judge blocks Trump's transgender military ban

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - December 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles for 50% off this month!

1. These high-tech windows fight climate change – and will save you money

“[“Vacuum-insulated glass”] insulates five times better than double-paned glass. The Enthermal product line holds energy about as well as fiberglass wall insulation[…. T]he energy bill savings offset the upfront cost of the upgrade in two to seven years, depending on the building[….]”

2. Doulas test ways to curb Memphis’ Black maternal, infant deaths

“Research shows they are key to better health outcomes. […] Free of charge, [parents enrolled in this pilot program], in addition to being paired with a doula, get access to free yoga classes, diapers, breastfeeding starter kits, nutritious food and other tangible help that can measurably boost well-being.”

3. Scientists find feeding grazing cattle seaweed cuts methane emissions by almost 40%

“This is the first study to test seaweed on grazing beef cattle in the world. […] Most research to reduce methane emissions using feed additives has taken place in controlled environments with daily supplements. But Kebreab noted in the study that fewer than half of those methods are effective for grazing cattle.”

4. Success for local residents as Florida council toppled over sewage plant plan

“A citizens’ revolt in a small Florida city ousted an entire slate of councilors who were pushing for a new sewage plant to be built close to one of the state’s most pristine and treasured rivers.”

5. Beaver survey aims to show the urban benefits of Chicago's 'ecosystem engineers'

“Urban Rivers is installing [“artificial floating gardens”] along the river to restore native wetland habitats, which provide food and shelter for wildlife, as well as natural spaces for humans.”

6. The future of plastic: Biodegradable, durable, and even edible

“[… T]he composite plastic proved not only sturdy but also more malleable than its core component, hydroxyethyl cellulose. Additionally, since both cellulose and tyrosine are edible, the biodegradable composite plastic can technically be consumed.”

7. Limestone quarries could be vital for wild bee conservation

“Quarries provide valuable habitats for wild bees and other animals and plants that occur on the now rare calcareous grasslands," explains lead author Dr. Felix Kirsch[….]”

8. New England wedding vendors offer help to same-sex couples before Trump inauguration

“Marriage equality isn’t immediately at risk. Trump has said he considers it settled law, but of course it’s hard to take him at his word […] so vendors in the region are offering free or discounted services to queer couples and noncitizens in a rush to marry.”

9. The indigenous women saving India's endangered giant yams

“Since their formation in 2022, the 10 members of the Noorang group have planted and brought back to the community 180 varieties of wild tubers[….] The project is part of [… a] farming initiative to eradicate poverty, provide agricultural training and empower women in vulnerable tribal communities.”

10. The US is making and deploying more solar panels than ever before

“[… D]omestic solar module manufacturing capacity has nearly quintupled since 2022[….] Solar is the cheapest source of new power generation by far, and it’s an increasingly large employer in the U.S., particularly in Republican-led states.”

November 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[responsivethoughts]

The Grumman X-29 Experimental Aircraft

The Grumman X-29 was an experimental aircraft developed by the United States in the 1980s, aimed at testing advanced aviation technologies. One of its most unique features was its forward-swept wings, which improved maneuverability and reduced drag. However, this design introduced significant aerodynamic challenges, such as the tendency of the wings to twist under stress. To address this, the X-29 utilized advanced composite materials, which provided the necessary strength without adding excess weight.

The X-29 was inherently unstable due to its forward-swept wings, necessitating a sophisticated digital fly-by-wire control system. This system allowed a computer to continuously make adjustments to keep the aircraft stable during flight. Additionally, the aircraft featured canard control surfaces, located in front of the main wings, which enhanced control and maneuverability, particularly at high angles of attack.

Another key feature of the X-29 was its variable-geometry engine inlets, designed to optimize airflow into the engine across different flight conditions. This design allowed the aircraft to maintain efficiency at various speeds and altitudes. Together, these innovative design elements made the X-29 a complex and advanced aircraft for its time.

The X-29 first flew on December 14, 1984, under the management of NASA and the United States Air Force. Two X-29 aircraft were constructed, and they accumulated over 400 test flights. These tests focused on exploring the aircraft's unique aerodynamic and flight control characteristics, providing valuable data on how forward-swept wings performed under various conditions.

The primary objective of the X-29 program was to investigate technologies that could be used in future fighter aircraft, with a particular focus on improving maneuverability and control at high angles of attack. Although the X-29 was never intended to enter production, the insights gained from its development contributed to future advancements in aircraft design.

While the X-29 did not see operational service, its legacy is significant. The technologies it explored, including forward-swept wings, composite materials, and digital flight controls, paved the way for innovations in fighter aircraft. Today, the X-29 is remembered as an important milestone in the study of unconventional aircraft designs and aerodynamics.

An interesting and lesser-known fact about the Grumman X-29 is that, despite its radical design, the aircraft reused components from existing fighter jets to save on development costs. Specifically, the fuselage of the X-29 was derived from the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter, and its landing gear was taken from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. This blending of cutting-edge technology with proven components from earlier aircraft helped keep the project within a more manageable budget, demonstrating a creative approach to experimental aircraft design during that era.

[inkafterdark]

Alexander Hamilton's Astrology Chart

Yeah we're doing this I know this isn't academic, but I just find this fun and I enjoy indulging my spiritual side from time to time. Please don't get mad at me I see him as an Aries Ascendant based on intuition, and I think it makes sense for reasons that will hopefully be illustrated below. I've set his birth date and time as Jan. 11th, 1755, at 12:00 pm (St. Kitts and Nevis). I'm using Tropical placements and Whole Sign houses. Might do a compatibility reading between him and Laurens if anyone is interested. Or even Laurens's chart by itself?? Warning: This is long as shit.

As an Aries Ascendant, Hamilton presents himself as bold, direct, and driven. He commands attention; borderline belligerent. Aries is also the natural ruler of the First House (Ascendant usually marks the beginning of the native's First House). This means the rest of his houses are in the signs of their rulership; the houses are in the signs most comfortable for them. Firstly, we can see a cluster right in his Medium Coeli (his 10th House/Midheaven). Five. Fucking. Planets. All in one sign. That's a RIDICULOUS stellium. It makes him very unbalanced in terms of his personality. Such a stellium makes Hamilton's entire personality about order, pragmatism, production, and legacy. The 10th house rules career and public image, and Capricorn naturally rules this house- it's the CEO of the zodiac. Now, we know that already having studied him, but lets break things down by planet and how each of them act in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn Sun: Hamilton's core ego. Though Capricorn is an earth sign (pragmatic, material-focused, 'stable'), it is also a cardinal sign, which refers to the 'mode' or energy of the sign. Cardinal signs are about initiation, while fixed are about inertia, and mutable is adaptability. We already know that he's practical, ambitious, and extremely hard-working. Earth signs are known to be more quiet and focused on practical things, but cardinal energy gives more passion and an urge to move (he also has other placements that make him more passionate, but we'll get to that later). Hamilton wants a public image, he wants success, glory, and legacy. He also wants stability and predictability- he was the revolutionary who was afraid of revolution.

Capricorn Moon: The moon rules our emotions, vulnerabilities, how we nurture, and mother. A Capricorn moon is very hard to pry open, and Hamilton kept his cards close to his chest. Unless there is something he recognizes in someone else, or he feels comfortable around someone, he's going to keep his emotions tucked away. In terms of nurturing, this is a very practical moon, and tends towards acts of service. He deeply values loyalty, and wants people who show up for him- that makes him feel that he can depend on someone, and that helps him open up. When it comes to mother, Capricorn moon may indicate a mother that focused on structure, responsibility, discipline, and providing essential needs for her children. Not overly warm.

Capricorn Mercury: Mercury rules our thoughts and communication, how we process information. Hamilton wants to learn things and get information that is useful to him. He's not one for learning random facts or passion subjects- he wants to learn information that will be helpful for his long-term goals. His contemporaries also described him as very frank. He's probably capable of keeping a lot of details in mind- the way he was able to account for all the money in the Treasury and hand it in early? Seriously what the fuck is wrong with him wha tt he hell

Capricorn Venus: This is somewhat similar to the Capricorn moon, because Venus, as the planet of love, also has to do with relationships and care. Hamilton's love language again comes up as acts of service. He shows his love by providing stability (or trying to, at least). Being in the 10th House, his love also becomes filtered through status. When we look at his letters, he definitely wanted someone with money (not that he didn't love Eliza for who she was; he seemed prepared to love her in poverty). Although he's concerned with status, this is also the type of Venus that doesn't just let go. It has staying power. Capricorn Venus wants a relationship that will stand the test of time. Though he might not necessarily be faithful, he wants to be a permanent fixture in his lover's life; he will always come back. Hamilton is slow to attach, but once he's there, you're stuck with him (unless you really piss him off). He's also very attracted to serious, mature people (Laurens). Capricorn Saturn: Saturn is in the sign of its rulership here, making it behave in a more 'Saturn-like' way. Yay. Saturn is about discipline, responsibility, authority, and work- it's father time. Saturn doesn't like short-cuts or short term planning. This only exacerbates Hamilton's obsession with long-term planning, legacy, structure, order, and permanence. With all the other planets, this might give him a mild authoritarian streak. He is perpetually focused, perpetually moving and striving. Hamilton also greatly appreciates a good work ethic in others. Capricorn Chiron: Chiron symbolizes our core wound. Having it in the 10th House, in Capricorn, suggests a core wound around not being enough. Hamilton genuinely struggles with feeling that he is enough just as he is. This man desperately wants to feel safe, that he doesn't have to prove anything, but he can't believe it. He feels that he has to earn love, respect, and acceptance; that these things can't possibly be freely given. Jupiter in Virgo: Jupiter is a little awkward in Virgo– Jupiter likes expansion, philosophy, travel– he's the Santa Claus of the zodiac. Virgo is about structure, health, and daily routines. With Jupiter's expansive nature, I suppose this manifests as Hamilton essentially structuring everything in his daily life to an obsessive degree. It also might make him bite off more than he can chew (thanks to Jupiter's optimism and expansive qualities). He was known to over-schedule himself, apparently. Hamilton might find enjoyment in service roles with this placement, which is kind of strange to think about, but might lend itself to his love language. This placement might have to do with his enjoyment of serving his country, in terms of helping it become structured and strong. There's an interesting nurturing energy here. He was known to be actively involved in his children's lives as a father, and gave his son, Philip a schedule for his daily routine and development. It's care through structure. I think his 5th House Neptune in Leo (which we'll get to in a moment) also tied in with his child-rearing, making him protective, deeply loving, and patient.

Mars in Sagittarius: Mars is where our passion, sexuality, instincts, and defenses lie. This is where we get some fire. It makes Hamilton bold, provocative, and philosophical. He fights over beliefs, ideals, reputation, honor. He doesn’t just want to win—he wants to be right. With it being in the 9th House, every duel threat wasn’t just ego—it was about defending what he believed defined his legacy. His Capricorn stellium just adds fuel to that fire. This man cannot calm the fuck down. Pluto in Sagittarius: Pluto rules the darkest parts of our personality. It represents sex (yes, more sex), death, rebirth, power, debt, inheritance, trauma, and obsession. As a generational planet, most people around Hamilton's age would have also had Pluto in Sagittarius, so the sign is less personal– what makes it personal is the house placement in the chart. Hamilton has his Pluto in the 9th House, with his Mars (though they are far enough apart not to be conjunct). This combination of his Capricorn stellium in the 10th with his Sagittarius Mars and Pluto made him incapable of letting slights slide, especially if they happened in the public or political sphere. It was like a compulsion—he couldn't stop himself. Every attack was deeply personal; an attack on his very identity.

Neptune in Leo: Neptune is considered the higher octave of Venus- love and art becomes spiritual and transcendent here. Neptune is the planet of illusion, delusion, dreams, fog, spirituality, and our undoing. Hamilton has this dreamy planet in his 5th House, which is the House of romance, self-expression, fun, and children (he loves his babies). Leo rules the 5th House, and essentially makes Hamilton's sense of romance and self-expression very grandiose and theatrical. This is a very, very, intensely romantic placement, and is definitely at odds with his pragmatic Capricorn nature. Neptune here can lead him to idealize lovers and romance, which tracks, given how often he would flit from woman to woman during his youth. When it comes to self-expression, Hamilton's writing is very ostentatious, bordering on pretentious, in classic Leo style. He also gesticulated a lot, emphasizing his points, and likely did so in regular conversation. When he's in the throes of romance...he's really fucking dramatic:

"A spirit entering into bliss, heaven opening upon all its faculties, cannot long more ardently for the enjoyment, than I do my darling Betsey, to taste the heaven that awaits me in your bosom. Is my language too strong? It is a feeble picture of my feelings: – no words can tell you how much I love and how much I long – you will only know it when wrapt in each others arms we give and take those delicious caresses which love inspires and marriage sanctifies..." Now if we want to get into Hamilton's sexuality (which I know you all do), these placements make him interested in people who challenge him. I do see him as someone whose frustration could turn to eros, but that might just be me. His Mars craves intellectual stimulation and ideas. Mars governs libido, and in Sagittarius, it turns debate, vision, and ideological combat into desire. So...we can probably speculate that he's sapiosexual in some way. Pluto here makes him want transformational sexual experiences. His sex drive is powerful, passionate, and intellectually infused. This, paired with his entire Capricorn stellium makes him someone who craves control. He wants someone to be devoted to him; it feeds his ego and makes him feel wanted. This is some serious Dom energy, if he ever had the space to be one. His Aries Ascendant and Leo Neptune in the 5th House add a flair for flirtation and make him a bit more sexually forward, even if he's emotionally closed off. He gives sex freely, but his love has to be earned. My personal addition: I think that Hamilton may have been capable of polyamory. I think he loved Eliza dearly, and he also deeply loved Laurens. They just affected him in different ways. I think if he'd been in a situation and society where polyamory was tolerated, he absolutely would have said yes to having both of them. Whether they would have agreed to it is another story. Uranus in Pisces: Uranus represents sudden shocks and surprises, innovation, humanitarianism, and enlightenment (in a universal sense). In Pisces, it takes on a more confusing, dreamy tone (since Pisces is rule by Neptune). His Uranus lays in his 12th House, which is the house of loss, imprisonment, spirituality, dreams, and our undoing. It's a very mysterious house. This natal placement creates a life of sudden changes, losses, and confusion. edit: Forgot to add his North Node: North Node in Libra: Our North Node indicates the lesson and skills we are meant to cultivate in this lifetime; skills that are foreign to us. His North Node was in Libra, landing in his 7th House, which is the house of relationships and partnerships. This means his South Node was in Aries, the opposite, landing in his 1st House— the house of the Self. Hamilton's soul’s evolutionary journey was about partnership, diplomacy, and balance. He was meant to learn how to collaborate and not dominate. Which...I'm not sure he succeeded at. I don't really have a conclusion prepared here. Hamilton was both intensely pragmatic and romantic, and I think this chart explains his personality pretty well, illustrating all the contradictions within him. This man was very tortured and conflicted. What he really needed was for someone to tell him that he didn't need to burn himself out or earn love; that he was worthy of it just by virtue of being a human being.

Idk if I'll delve into this again— perhaps I can do deeper analysis in the future, but for now, this is it!

[betterillusionist]

Acting Professor Ashthorn

Malorn sucks in a deep breath, his shoulders rising high to mirror his internal tenseness. It's a wild pitch under these circumstances, but if he leaves this unsaid, he doesn't know if he'll get another chance to ask.

"Headmaster," he says, "I would like to become an acting Professor."

Headmaster Ambrose raises his head, his furious rummaging through his stacks upon endless stacks of papers ceasing momentarily. His bushy eyebrows rise high on his head, though it's hard to tell if he's intrigued or surprised.

"Hmmmmm," the old wizard drones. A hand rises to his long white beard and runs his fingers through it thoughtfully. His glass eye stares off into the distance. "Hmmmmm..."

Malorn clasps his hands behind his back, puffing his chest out to appear more confident than he is. It was nerve-wracking enough to have been called in over Bartleby's missing eye. We had nothing to do with it was the general gist of the conversation on that topic. And it's the truth, no matter what the other students might whisper about.

"There are still Death students here at Ravenwood," Malorn speaks up. "They deserve some kind of teacher, I believe. I've already been leading study sessions with Duncan, though without proper resources we can only learn so much by ourselves."

His words don't seem to affect the Headmaster's listless stare. Behind his closed lips, he grits his teeth, preparing for the worst. It'd be great to be given some sort of temporary Professorship role. While the Death School took many Necromancy books with it, there's still some materials inside the school library that he'd be able to access if he were to be considered a Professor or even a Professor's Assistant. Not that him and Duncan are anywhere near exhausting what the library already has available to students and the public, but their usefulness is certainly starting to dwindle.

The Headmaster finally begins to nod, turning his attention back to Malorn. "Indeed, it will benefit the remaining students..." He shuffles around his desk some more, his sight finally set on something clear. And from one of the stacks he withdraws what he was searching for. He waves his hand in the air, and a quill comes flying through the air from one of the messy corners of his office. With a few quick strokes, he slides the paper and quill forward for Malorn to see.

From the desk of Headmaster Merle Ambrose, Henceforth from the signing of this document, wizard Malorn AshThorn will assume the position of "Acting Professor"; to be treated as a Professor, given permission to access and borrow from faculty resources as needed, and held to account for all regular responsibilities. ~ Class is to be held once a day for a minimum of seven (7) hours but no longer than ten (10) hours, within the Ravenwood campus. ~ A comprehensive syllabus and full student progress report is to be provided to the Headmaster regularly each school quarter. This agreement will be held in effect until one or more of the following are met, ~ A new Professor is assigned to the Death School. ~ There is failure to remain within the parameters of the contract. ~ There is no longer a need for service.

Below is the Headmaster's signature in a mass of elegant scribbles, along with a line for Malorn to sign on as well. He can't help but take a deep breath as he reads it over a few more times, making sure he understand it in its entirety.

Finally, he takes the quill with a firm nod and signs his name at the bottom. Not long after he finishes his final flick, a wave of relief washes over him, and finally he feels like he's able to relax, if only for the moment. He's got quite a lot of work ahead of him if he's to keep to this agreement, but he's determined.

And now he's an Acting Professor.

"Thank you, Headmaster," he beams.

The Headmaster nods back and gives him a little shooing motion, his cheeks puffing out as he gives the student a smile. "Now run along. I look forward to seeing what you put together for your students."

In his happy daze, Malorn staggers outside. The fresh air is cool and welcoming. He takes a moment to stand there in front of the door and take it in, collecting himself.

"Well?" Duncan's voice asks, drifting to his ears on the wind. His vision returning to reality, Malorn spots his friend posted up by the front gate to the Headmaster's office/house, staring at him expectantly.

"I got the Bartleby accusations cleared up," he reports. Though he can't hide his smile as he adds, "But, I'm now-" he raises a hand to tug at his robe, "-Acting Professor Ashthorn."

Duncan's face takes a moment to light up at the news, though his smile is somewhat strained. Malorn suspects he already knows the reason as to why.

"Relax, I'm not replacing him," Malorn reassures the troubled student. "I just think that we're getting to a point where we need someone in a teaching role, and we can't keep waiting to see if Malistaire is going to return. Besides, it's only a temporary position."

Duncan scowls, his gaze searching the ground for a way to organize his thoughts. A reluctant sigh passes through his lips, and finally he offers a genuinely supportive smile.

"You're the only other wizard I'd trust to teach Necromancy," he says with an approving nod.

"Thanks," Malorn replies. It's not quite what he was expecting to get, but he'll take it. So long as he's still able to keep Duncan's head above water...

He rubs his hands together, his mind quickly turning to other matters at hand. It's late in the day. He's got a lot to do and not much time left to do it, though it's more an issue of somehow putting the ideas that have been stewing in his head all this time into practice. "I got to go now. I have a lot to prepare for tomorrow. Class will start early by the hole."

"Early?" Duncan groans.

Malorn only nods back. "I expect you to be on-time, Dunc. No exceptions." He gives Duncan a pat on his shoulder as Malorn passes him by, eager to get to the library before it closes for the day. He leans in close and mutters into his ear, "Your IOU will double every time you're late."

He catches a brief glimpse of Duncan's face going pale before he dashes off.