#What is Advanced Distribution Management System?

[dhirajmarketresearch]

[mariacallous]

For much of living memory, the United States has been a global leader of scientific research and innovation. From the polio vaccine, to decoding the first human chromosome, to the first heart bypass surgery, American research has originated a seemingly endless list of health care advances that are taken for granted.

But when the Trump administration issued a memorandum Monday that paused all federal grants and loans—with the aim of ensuring that funding recipients are complying with the president’s raft of recent executive orders—US academia ground to a halt. Since then, the freeze has been partially rescinded for some sectors, but it largely remains in place for universities and research institutions across the country, with no certainty of what comes next.

“This has immediate impact on people’s lives,” says J9 Austin, professor of psychiatry and medical genetics at the University of British Columbia. “And it’s terrifying.”

The funding freeze requires agencies to submit reviews of their funded programs to the Office of Management and Budget by February 10. The freeze follows separate orders issued last week to US health agencies—including to the National Institutes of Health, which leads the country’s medical research—to pause all communications until February 1 and stop almost all travel indefinitely.

The confusion is consummate. If the funding freeze continues through February, and even beyond, how will graduate students be paid? Should grant applications—years long in the writing—still be submitted by the triannual grant submission deadline on February 5? What does this mean for clinical trials if participants and lab techs can’t be paid? Will all that research have to be scrapped thanks to incomplete data?

Even if Trump fully reverses the freeze on research funding, the damage, multiple sources say, has been done. Although for now the funding freeze is temporary, the administration has shown how it might wield the levers of government. The implication is that withdrawing funding could be done more permanently, and could be done to individual institutions, individual organizations, both private and public. This won’t just set a precedent for the large East Coast or West Coast universities, but those located in both red and blue states alike.

While always an imperfect arrangement, science in the US is largely funded by a complex system of grant applications, reviews by peers in the field (both of which have had to be halted as part of the communications pause), and the competitive distribution of NIH funds, says Gerald Keusch, emeritus professor of medicine at Boston University and former associate director of international research for the NIH. According to its website, the NIH disburses nearly $48 billion in grants per year.

When it comes to medical research, America truly is first, and if it abdicates that position, the void left behind has global ramifications. “In Canada, we have always looked to NIH as an exemplar of what we should be trying to do,” says Austin, speaking to me independently of any roles and affiliations. “Now, that’s collapsed.”

Science is, in its very nature, collaborative. Many consortiums and alliances within scientific fields cross borders and language barriers. Some labs may be able to find additional funding from alternative sources such as the European Union. But it is unlikely that a continued withdrawal of NIH funding could be plugged by overseas support. And Big Pharma, with its seemingly endless funds, is unlikely to step up either, according to sources WIRED spoke with.

“This can’t be handed off to drug companies or biotech, because they’re not interested in things that are as preclinical as a lot of the work we’re discussing here,” says a professor of genetics who agreed to speak anonymously out of fear of retribution. “Essentially, there’s a whole legion of university-based scientists who work super damn hard to try to figure out some basic stuff that eventually becomes something that a drug company can drop $100 million on.”

The millions of dollars awarded to high-achieving labs is used to fund graduate students, lab techs, and analysts. If the principal investigator on a research team is unsuccessful in obtaining a grant through the process Keusch describes, often that lab is closed, and those ancillary team members lose their jobs.

One of the potential downstream effects of an NIH funding loss, even if only temporary, is a mass domestic brain drain. “Many of those people are going to go out to find something else to do,” the professor of genetics says. “These are just like jobs for anything else—we can’t not pay people for a month. What would the food service industry be like, for example, or grocery stores, if they don’t pay somebody for a month? Their workers will leave, and pharma can only hire so many people.”

WIRED heard over and over, from scientists too fearful for their teams and their jobs to speak on the record, that it won’t take long for the impact to reach the general population. With a loss of research funding comes the closure of hospitals and universities. And gains in medical advancement will likely falter too.

Conditions being studied with NIH funding are not only rare diseases affecting 1 or 2 percent of the population. They’re problems such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s—issues that affect your grandmother, your friends, and so many people who will one day fall out of perfect health. It’s thanks to this research system, and the scientists working within it, that doctors know how to save someone from a heart attack, regulate diabetes, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke. It’s how the world knows that smoking isn’t a good idea. “All of that is knowledge that scientists funded by the NIH have generated, and if you throw this big of a wrench in it, it’s going to disrupt absolutely everything,” says the genetics professor.

While some are hopeful that the funding freeze for academia could end on February 1, when the pause on communications and therefore grant reviews is slated to lift, the individuals WIRED spoke with are largely skeptical that work will simply resume as before.

“When the wheels of government stop, it’s not like they turn on a dime and they just start up again,” says Julie Scofield, a former executive director of NASTAD, a US-based health nonprofit. She adds that she has colleagues in Washington, DC, who have had funding returned to their fields, and yet remain unable to access payment through the management system.

Austin says that already the international scientific community is holding hastily arranged online support groups. Topics covered range from the banal—what the most recent communication from the White House implies—to how best to protect trainees and the many students on international visas. But mostly they’re there to provide support.

“I’ve had a lot of messages from people just expressing gratitude that we could actually get together,” Austin says. “There’s just so much unaddressable need. None of us has the answers.”

Scientists, perhaps more than any other profession, are trained to “learn and validate conclusions drawn from observation and experimentation,” says Keutsch. That applies to the current situation. And what they observe during this pause of chaos does not portend well for the future of the United States as a pinnacle of scientific excellence.

“If people want the United States to head toward being a second-class nation, this is exactly what to do. If the goal is, in fact, to make America great, this is not a way to do it,” says the genetics professor. “This is not a rational, thoughtful, effective thing to do. It will merely destroy.”

This story has been written under a pseudonym, as the reporter has specific and credible concerns about potential retaliation.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

mike.luckovich

* * * *

The Budget as Battlefield: What the 2025 Agenda Bill Tells Us About Who Counts

How the 2025 budget transforms abandonment into law—and turns survival into a test of endurance

James B. Greenberg

Jun 30, 2025

A budget is never just a financial document. It is a cultural artifact—one that reveals how a society organizes care, distributes risk, and decides whose lives are worth sustaining. It encodes a vision of the future, but also a judgment about the present: who will be protected, who will be burdened, and who can be left behind.

The 2025 budget bill now advancing through Congress—aligned with Trump’s second-term agenda and the Project 2025 blueprint—is more than fiscal policy. It is a redesign of governance itself. Not through declaration, but through attrition. Not by reforming broken systems, but by withdrawing the expectation that they exist at all.

The language used to sell this bill speaks of balance, discipline, and responsibility. But beneath that language is a different logic: one shaped not by stewardship, but by managed neglect. What it proposes is not just disinvestment, but a recalibration of who the state is for—and who it can afford to discard.

From an anthropological perspective, this is not simply a shift in policy. It is a transformation of the state’s relationship to life and death. Public institutions that once existed to extend care are being retooled to manage decay. Where governance once sought to mitigate vulnerability, it now redistributes it. This is not benign neglect. It is necropolitics—the use of policy and bureaucracy to determine whose lives are allowed to deteriorate, and whose deaths are rendered acceptable.

Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act are not just programs. They are lifelines that sustain millions. To gut them is not just to save money—it is to engineer exposure. It means letting chronic illnesses go untreated, allowing conditions to worsen, delaying access to care until it arrives too late. This is death by policy, not by accident.

And it is not evenly distributed. The logic of abandonment is racialized, classed, and geographically mapped. Rural communities will lose their only hospitals. Black, Indigenous, and low-income neighborhoods will see life expectancy drop. Disabled people will lose services. Families on the edge will fall through. This is not a side effect. It is the design.

Political ecology shows us that social policies reverberate through material landscapes. When healthcare collapses, it’s not just the body that suffers. It’s the water that goes untested, the air that goes unregulated, the landlord who neglects the mold, the factory that dumps with impunity. Austerity doesn’t just thin budgets—it sickens environments. It renders people and places equally disposable.

What this bill envisions is not a smaller government, but a more selective one—concentrating its power where it protects capital, and withdrawing it where it once protected life. Surveillance, policing, and border control remain intact. It’s the infrastructures of care that are being decommissioned.

We’ve seen this logic before—in colonial governance, in forced migration, in the abandonment of public housing, in the delayed responses to hurricanes, pandemics, and poisoned water. But what was once exceptional is now being normalized. What was once reserved for the margins is being extended to the center.

And all of it is made to sound inevitable. The story told is one of scarcity, of hard choices. But that story collapses under scrutiny. There is always enough for tax cuts, for military contracts, for fossil fuel subsidies. Scarcity is invoked only when the benefit is collective. It is not economics—it is political will.

This is necropolitics embedded in spreadsheets. It doesn’t look like violence. It looks like a closed clinic. A denied claim. An empty chair at the dinner table. A body that doesn’t make it through the winter because the heat was shut off. This is how death is made to look like data.

Anthropology teaches us to pay attention not just to what systems claim to do, but to what they actually produce. This bill does not produce security, prosperity, or cohesion. It produces delay, exposure, exhaustion, and attrition. It governs by letting go, then punishes those who fall.

The budget becomes a sorting mechanism. Not everyone is meant to survive. Not everyone is expected to. And the fewer who complain, the more efficient the system appears to be.

We are told this is responsibility. But real responsibility means maintaining the structures that make survival possible—not rationing them to the point of collapse. A government that forgets how to care is not smaller. It is colder, and more dangerous.

This is a turning point. The line between public service and structural abandonment is being crossed, not with fanfare, but with signatures, edits, and procedural language.

The necrostate thrives not just on cruelty—but on our distraction. On our belief that suffering is technical, unfortunate, inevitable. It isn’t. It’s being designed.

Let’s not mistake silence for consent. Or spreadsheets for truth.

+

B Benjamin, Ruha. Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2019.

Berlant, Lauren. Cruel Optimism. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011.

Case, Anne, and Angus Deaton. Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Chronic Disease and the Economic Burden of Poor Health.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm

Geronimus, Arline T. Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society. New York: Little, Brown Spark, 2023.

Heyman, Josiah McC. “Constructing ‘Illegality’: Critiques, Experiences, and Responses.” In Illegal Immigration in America: A Reference Handbook, edited by David W. Haines and Karen E. Rosenblum. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.

Mbembe, Achille. Necropolitics. Translated by Steven Corcoran. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2019.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working‑Age Adults in the United States: The Role of Socioeconomic and Behavioral Factors. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2021.

Vélez‑Ibáñez, Carlos G. The Rise of Necro/Narco Citizenship: Belonging and Dying in the Southwest North American Region. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2025.

[sullustangin]

A Primer on Papal Elections

Well, this IS the hyperfixation dumping ground ...

N.B.: I watch cardinals and rising politics in the Church like someone watches college football, hotly anticipating Draft Day. Papal Election is effectively Draft Day for 1 of them. I have an advanced degree in medieval history, so I'm REALLY into papal elections as a cultural and historical phenomenon.

So what's the big deal about the Pope? How did he get to be leader of the Catholic Church?

This goes waaaay back. A see is a bishop's seat. A bishop is a man who handles the administrative duties of a geographic area known as a diocese, as well as the sacramental (baptizing babies, giving Communion, marrying people, giving Extreme Unction, hearing confessions) and pastoral duties (caring for parishioners, distributing charity, preaching sermons, reading the Bible) of a priest. It's a position of leadership, enabling the bishop to create new priests. Per Catholic tradition, the first man to be the Bishop of Rome was St. Peter, Jesus's bestie/right hand man/leader of the original 12 Apostles. During early centuries of the Church, the see of Rome was always considered to be a little more special than the other ancient sees of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Byzantium/Constantinople because of that association. This is called Petrine Doctrine (Rome is special due to Peter being the first holder of the position). This was made concrete in 451, when Bishop Leo of Rome somehow managed to prevent the Huns from sacking the city. It was perceived as a miracle and an indicator that there truly was something special about Peter's See and the man who occupied it. By 500, we have the Pope -- papa, or father, to the whole Church in Western Europe.

It's important to know that minus the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Coptic Church, and a few others that made their own church in response to doctrinal differences, there was only one mainline Christian church across Eurasia. This was the case until 1054.

How did we get a conclave in the first place?

The Papacy -- the government of the Pope -- runs as an elected monarchy. It has done so since 1059. In 1054, the Great Schism between the Western Latin and the Eastern Greek Church happened, wherein the Bishop of Rome (Pope) and the Patriarch of Constantinople mutually excommunicated each other over doctrinal differences, including clerical celibacy, married priests, the dominance (or not) of God the Father, and others.

The Western Latin's Church's response to this was, "We effed up. We need to get rid of corruption." Thus a massive series of reforms followed. Some of these reforms post-1054 included changing the way the Pope was chosen. Prior to this, sometimes, the people of Rome picked him. Other times, the dying Pope chose his successor. And sometimes, kings and emperors would give their input/pressure.

Essentially, there was no systematic way to choose the Pope. That was a vulnerability that led to corruption and abuse of office. Thus the establishment of a papal election. Bishops and Archbishops that were particularly esteemed were given the title of Cardinal and a red hat. The red hat isn't just sartorial -- you can vote for who the next pope is. The first elections were tiny -- less than 10 cardinals. First papal election under this system was Alexander II in 1061.

Conclave -- the election happening in behind closed doors -- only kicks off in the 1200s, when it was concluded that even with only cardinals choosing the Pope, they could still be corrupted by external influences. Also, the number of cardinals -- bishops and archbishops who oversaw an ever-increasing Christian population -- was higher. Somewhere between 30 and 50 cardinals participated in the conclaves regularly during the Middles Ages.

You know that "papal election that took 3 years" that the internet/newspapers are talking about? Yeah, to fix that problem (which was the 1268-71 election of Gregory X), the Church made conclave in 1276. 1276 was a particularly bus-firey year in which 3 conclaves were held, because 3 pope died within 6 months of being elected. Indeed, the last Pope voted in 1276 died in 1277 due to the ceiling collapsing on him while he was working one day (John XXI, who was a doctor of medicine who was still practicing even as Pope).

Conclave and Recent History

English speakers have a tendency to smoosh things together. Char le Magne = Charlemagne. Timur the Lame = Tamerlane. Con clave = conclave. "Con clave" means 'with key', literally. It meant any lockable room, but it's taken on special meaning with the papal conclave, or the secret election of the pope. While the pope is in office nobody talks about what went down in the conclave that elected him. (This did create an awkward situation when Benedict XVI resigned, ending his papacy but not his life; people could talk about his conclave while he was still alive, which is weird. We'll talk about him later.)

When a pope dies or resigns, a conclave is called. The cardinals go to Rome to vote. Since 1492, the vote has been held in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican Palace. Yes, it is a museum today, but it's also a living workplace. I advise you not to rush through the Vatican Museum tour to get to the Sistine Chapel -- it is the last room, and you will miss out on all of the other marvelous artworks commissioned by the Church from Raphael and other great artists.

Up until 1996, the cardinals literally ate, slept, and bathed in the Sistine Chapel. Yes, it sucked as much as you think it did, which is why John Paul II permitted the cardinals to bunk over at the St. Martha Guesthouse. St. Martha's has gotten a lot of attention in recent years because Pope Francis refused to move out -- he came to the conclave as Cardinal Bergoglio, and then returned to his rooms as Pope Francis. Thus he remained, never moving into the Papal Apartments. Francis was notoriously anti-swag, much to the distress of ecclesiastical tailors in Rome -- no more fancy robes to make. As a result, there's literally only one left now within Vatican City walls.

Since the 1830s, the conclaves have taken less than a week. However, there are up to 4 votes a day, so you still get multiple rounds in that time. John XXIII was the last pope to go over 10 rounds, with 11 rounds in 3 days in 1958. This was a byproduct of the Cold War, with two cardinals unable to attend due to Communist regimes. Politics was definitely on the platter, and Roncalli, the future John XXIII, duked it out with a much younger Armenian cardinal, Agagianian. Roncalli won it, despite his age, because Agagianian was not only Armenian (no non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in 1523), but also only 52 years old. Long papacies are not always desirable.

John Paul II is the most recent election that went over 5 rounds. In 1978, conclave was called to elected a pope after Paul VI died. They elected Albani Luciano, who took the name John Paul. Very cute, done in under 5 votes.

Then John Paul corked it 33 days later. The second Conclave of 1978 was complicated by the fact that the consensus candidate was now dead. As a result, after 7 rounds of the Italian heavyweights slugging it out, on the 8th round, a 58-year-old Polish cardinal named Karol Wojtyla was elected in an October Surprise. And again, the non-Italian and age factors do matter.

So since I've hit upon age and national origin, I think that's the topic of the next post.

[tabsstillopen]

Jul' 25: How to Survive A Levels + Gratitude.

Prologue These figures are drawn from publicly available data and reliable sources. For readers who are curious or would like a deeper breakdown, feel free to contact the author directly for more information. On a side note, it’s kind of refreshing not having to cite sources like I would in a research paper when I’m writing for myself, haha. The Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level, or more commonly known as the A-Levels is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and challenging pre-university examinations in the world. It stands alongside other famously demanding national exams such as Korea’s 수능 (Suneung), China’s 高考 (GaoKao), and India’s IIT-JEE (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination).

For many students, the A-Levels represent a true academic marathon, requiring deep conceptual understanding, discipline, and mental resilience. The exam is typically administered when a candidate is in Junior College (JC), typically after two years of study. It follows a unique system of subject levels: H1 (Higher 1), H2 (Higher 2), and H3 (Higher 3). H1 subjects are lighter in content and focus on breadth, while H2 subjects dive deeper into the subject matter and form the academic core. H3 subjects are optional and meant for students who want to explore content at a university level. Students generally take three H2 subjects, one H1 contrasting subject, along with General Paper, Project Work, and Mother Tongue Language (if not previously exempted). Lets break it down further for my foreign readers. Singapore sees an average birth cohort of around 36,000 to 38,000 each year. While students can pursue a variety of educational pathways, the most socially desirable—and often the most competitive—is the Junior College (JC) route leading to university. Each year, about 11,000 students sit for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level examinations. In 2024, approximately 10,889 candidates took the exam, with a strong showing—94% achieved at least three H2 passes along with a pass in General Paper or Project Work. Of those who qualify, roughly 80% of A-Level and IB graduates progress to local autonomous universities. In that same year, about 18,500 students from JC, Integrated Programme (IP), IB, and polytechnic backgrounds were offered places at one of Singapore’s six public universities.

Here’s how the undergraduate spots were distributed at Singapore's 6 Autonomous Universities (approximation):

National University of Singapore (NUS): ~7,308 places

Nanyang Technological University (NTU): ~6,501 places

Singapore Management University (SMU): ~2,380 places

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD): ~494 places

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT): ~3,381 places

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS): ~1,117 places 

For the more observant, you may have heard of the term “Big 3,” which refers to the three oldest and most reputable universities in Singapore: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU). This post won’t dive into the debate on prestige, morality, or ethics behind the university admissions process. Instead, it aims to serve as an informative guide: for students, a breakdown of what it takes to get there; and for parents, a clearer picture of how to best support your child’s journey toward these top institutions. Now back to the numbers.

For those who have been keeping track: out of an annual birth cohort of around 38,000 students, approximately 11,000 sit for the A-Level examinations each year. Of those, roughly 40% secure a spot in one of the Big 3 universities. If you’re wondering why the numbers don’t add up exactly, it’s because the cohort includes international students, IB students, mature students, and others beyond the local A-Level candidates. That means approximately 11.6% of students make it to the Big 3 universities, give or take. To put it simply, for those with large friend groups, that’s roughly 1 in every 10 who achieve this milestone. Absolutely staggering.

Why all the focus on the “Big 3”? Truthfully, it’s a cultural legacy that’s been embedded since Singapore’s early days. While SMU is a relatively recent addition to the trio, these three universities have consistently been regarded by Singaporeans as the pinnacle of higher education. They are seen as institutions that produce the nation’s best and brightest.

To give you some perspective: among the 18 Cabinet Ministers serving under The Honourable Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, if we exclude the 8 who studied overseas, 9 out of the remaining 10 hold undergraduate degrees from NUS. The sole exception to this is Mr Masagos Zulkifli, who earned his undergraduate degree from NTU and later completed a master's at NUS. This prestige is also reflected in employment statistics, with roughly 90% of graduates from these universities able to secure employment within 6 months of graduation, in contrast to around 50% from private institutions. While I personally believe merit goes beyond just university names, the Big 3 have, for better or worse, become deeply ingrained as a benchmark of success in Singapore’s cultural and academic landscape.

This is why the A-Levels often feel like a "do or die" moment for many budding academic achievers — you either make it, or you don’t. Take it from someone who once scored 2.5 / 90 in a major JC exam. Life can be brutal. And while it’s perfectly valid to explore different pathways, switching to polytechnic or ITE after a year in JC can feel like a significant detour. Some may see it as a practical reset; others may see it as confronting a tough truth: that the traditional academic route might not be the right fit. My pride did not allow me to admit defeat. Instead, I reflected and came up with 6 core principles that helped me not just survive, but truly thrive in this demanding environment. For those of you aspiring to be future Big 3 graduates — take these principles to heart. Reflect on them, apply them consistently, and I promise: you won’t just make it through JC… you’ll thrive and come out stronger, sharper, and more resilient than ever. I, for one, am not against academic excellence—far from it. I strongly encourage it. Personally, I aspire to pursue a master’s degree and, eventually, a PhD in my own time. That said, I am neither elitist nor dismissive of those who choose a different path. The purpose of this blog and this post is to support and uplift those who are ready to take on the journey, while also encouraging those who may have felt left behind. Everyone deserves the opportunity to grow in their own way. Lets get right into the 6 Principles: 1. Mindset Reset

Or to quote the younger generation — Lock in. By now, through my long-winded storytelling, you’ve probably realised that only 30–40% of each cohort take the A-Levels, and from there, only the top ~10% make it to the Big 3. Singapore’s education system unfortunately operates like a finely tuned filter, sifting students at every stage. If you’ve made it to JC or chosen to take the A-Levels, you should automatically assume you’re entering a league of the nation’s brightest.

Most readers are likely familiar with Singapore’s reputation in STEM. According to recent OECD rankings, Singapore consistently tops the charts in science, mathematics, and reading. This means that you, the aspiring student, are not just competing locally — you’re now in the arena with some of the best students in the world.

You’ll soon realise that you’re no longer a big fish in a small pond. You’re a big fish in an ocean where everyone is smart, capable, and locked in. And this is where I ask you the question: Do you want better? If your answer to that question is “yes,” then you’ll need to make a serious commitment for two full years. Forget the Reddit posts romanticising the idea of always making time for yourself, friends, and relaxation. The reality is this: JC life is often more intense than University, and academic performance is closely tied to the number of hours you dedicate to learning. That doesn’t mean you can’t take short breaks or have moments of indulgence but understand this clearly: Studying will need to be your constant.

2. Sacrifices

In line with my first point—sacrifices must be made.

What kind of sacrifices, you might ask? Time, friendships, relationships, and sometimes even your own comfort. Everyone is given the same 24 hours a day. Let’s break it down: 10 hours go to school and classes, 6 for sleep, 2 for meals and travel—that leaves you with 6 hours (or less). How you use those hours is entirely up to you.

When I first scored that ridiculous 2.5 points, make no mistake—I was using all of those 6 hours (and probably more) on “me time.”

In contrast, high-performing students regularly go beyond the 100%. They stretch those hours, pushing into the 110%, buried in notes, assignments, and revision. While there are always exceptions, the truth is simple: time invested and academic results are almost always strongly correlated.

It goes without saying that I do not recommend sacrificing health. Health always comes first.

There’s no point burning out or falling sick just to chase grades. A well-rested mind learns faster and remembers better. Trust me... those all-nighters, skipped meals, and energy drink binges don’t pay off in the long run. Pace yourself. Sleep. Eat properly. Exercise if you can. You're not just preparing for an exam; you're preparing to take on life, and life needs you at your best, not broken.

3. Choose your Friends Wisely This might come across as a little snobbish—but it’s true: you are the product of the people you surround yourself with. In a time as critical as these two years, something as simple as choosing the right friends can have an outsized influence on the trajectory of your life. The conversations you have, the habits you pick up, the way you view ambition and success—it all gets shaped by the company you keep.

I personally view the ages between 16 to 18 as the most formative years of one’s young adult life. Your mindset, ambitions, and overall attitude toward life are often cemented during this critical window. While most people see friends as simply an extension of their life, at this stage—when you're spending at least 50% of your daily hours with them—their influence becomes far more significant.

Think of it this way: if we were to run a hypothetical experiment with a pair of twins attending the same school, but placed in two different social circles—one surrounded by studious peers, the other by carefree, playful friends—who do you think is more likely to succeed? The answer may seem obvious, but it highlights just how powerful your environment can be.

In a way, this tip calls for a bit of self-awareness and perception when it comes to the friends you choose. While it's important to surround yourself with the right people, the good old gut feeling rule always applies. If you ever feel that you're spending too much time with friends to the point where your studies begin to suffer, trust that instinct. At the end of the day, you’re the only one who has to face the consequences—so make sure your priorities stay in check. 4. Getting into a Rhythm

Think of studying like an exercise: many, many sets of the same movement repeated over and over again. It’s not always glamorous, and sometimes it’s downright exhausting—but that’s what builds discipline and mastery.

And that is the core of this principle: building and leading a disciplined life. You wake up at 6AM, attend lessons, study during breaks, go for your CCAs, study again, and head to bed. Repeat. Day in and day out, for two whole years. I understand how this might sound like you’ll have “no life,” but I can assure you these sacrifices will be worth it in the long run.

Most students I know follow structured schedules, allocating specific hours to Biology or Math, capping travel and dinner time, even setting precise sleep routines. Personally, I’ve never followed a rigid schedule. Instead, I operate on an internal rhythm; a quiet but firm discipline. I just know when something needs to be done, and I do it. It’s less about a timetable and more about cultivating the mindset to act when it counts. This approach also gives me flexibility to adjust when needed, without derailing the larger momentum. For those who need some academic direction, a good rule of thumb for daily revision is this: diversify your content. Don’t just drill one subject the whole day. Mix it up—rotate between your sciences, your humanities, and even your GP. This keeps your brain fresh and engaged. And if you’re really not feeling a particular topic, don’t force it. Switch it up. Always listen to your mind. Some progress in another subject is better than burning out on one. Overall progress > Slow Progress. 5. Compensation

I would like to address the most unfair part of studying: different aptitudes. To put it simply—some are smarter than others.

My message is to those on the "less academically inclined" like myself: We can do it. We can make up the difference. For every hour someone else spends, we might need 1.5 or even 2 hours. That’s just the reality. But that doesn’t mean we can’t succeed. It just means our journey is a little harder, a little longer, but no less possible.

It’s easy to feel disheartened when someone breezes through a topic you’ve been struggling with for days. But don’t compare yourself to them. Compare yourself to who you were last week, or yesterday. Our progress isn’t defined by others, but rather how much we’re willing to push, day after day.

Yes, you’ll get frustrated. Yes, you’ll have days where nothing makes sense. But if you stay consistent, if you put in that extra effort, it will click. And when it does, it’s one of the most satisfying feelings in the world, not just because you understood something, but because you earned it. 6. Consult the Right People

I’ve been extremely fortunate to cross paths with lecturers who were nothing short of amazing. Mentors who genuinely cared and went above and beyond their responsibilities. That said, I’ve also encountered those who, for reasons beyond their control, had seemingly given up on their students.

I won’t name names, but my point is this: seek out and surround yourself with the right mentors. Appreciate the ones who show up for you. These are the people you should ingratiate yourself with: learn from them, speak to them, and let them guide you forward.

Sometimes, all it takes is one good conversation with the right person to unlock something in you: a new way to understand a topic, a shift in mindset, or simply the motivation to keep going. Do not underestimate the value of a teacher who genuinely believes in you, even when you don’t quite believe in yourself.

But here’s the catch: you must take initiative. Don’t wait for help to fall on your lap. Raise your hand, stay after class, book consults, send emails. Show that you care. You’ll be surprised how many teachers respond when they see effort. If you don’t find that support immediately, don’t be discouraged. Keep looking. Sometimes the best mentors aren’t always the most obvious ones: they might be a dean, a lecturer, or even a friend who’s just one step ahead of you.

At the end of the day, JC is not a journey meant to be walked alone. You’re allowed to ask for help. You’re allowed to seek guidance. And you absolutely deserve teachers who will walk alongside you not just as instructors, but as pillars in your toughest moments.

In summary, these are the 6 Principles that have served me well—principles that helped a once-forgotten student, who seriously considered transferring to a Polytechnic, eventually study at NUS. I’ll release a full guide on how to survive university life in the future—but that’s a story for another day.

On a similar note, I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks to the four biggest mentors who stood by me during my JC journey:

Mr Desmond Lee – then Dean and HOD of Mathematics

Mr Salahuddin Ibrahim – my Biology teacher, and now a lead teacher at the Academy of Teachers for MOE

Mr David Hoe – my Economics tutor, now a Member of Parliament

Mr Jowell Yong – my Economics tutor for two years

Be it a passing conversation, the countless hours of consultations, an arm around the shoulder, or a timely pep talk when I was at my lowest… I felt it. I understood it. And most importantly, I reflected on it. Back then, I could see why no teacher would want to come near me with a 10-foot pole. But none of you gave up on me, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude.

Just recently, I returned to visit my old school and met one of you again—still teaching. When we shook hands and had a brief chat about my future career path, I could feel the pride radiating from you. That short interaction made every bit of effort I’d put in feel truly worth it. And I think you’d agree: it was worth it for both of us.

I’ll definitely write a deeper, more detailed post on my experiences with each of you in time to come. But for now, I’ll leave it at this.

To the future graduates reading this: Good luck. More importantly, keep inspiring yourself from within. Keep these 6 commandments in mind and gentlemen I promise you: We will be successful. You got this.

[feruslands]

"Daddy Feri", part 8

My sketch fanfic for @reconstructwriter and @la-sopa who inspired me to continue this long story, and for everyone who loves "Vader/Ferus" (later Anakin/Ferus)

Warnings: rape, cruelty, war crimes

Vader told the Jedi that he would smuggle him onto the Destroyer secretly, but did not tell him how. Back in the fortress on the Vjun, he drugged the prisoner with a synthetic drug that plunged the Jedi into a deep unconsciousness. He brought it packed in a standard body bag on a personal TIE and landed in the Destroyer's general hangar.

He himself established the strictest discipline and strict observance of regulations on the ship. Unfortunately, it was working against him now. He couldn't have personally dragged the Jedi's body unnoticed past all the surveillance systems. But he knew exactly and in detail how the tracking systems on his Destroyer were located, so he quickly came up with a way to trick this system.

The freezer of the Devastator morgue had long been overflowing with dead bodies, so Vader ordered his subordinates to pull all the corpses out of the freezer, spread them out on the floor of the hangar and begin the process of collecting biometric data for identification.

All the dead bodies of the rebels had to be passed through the identification procedure before being destroyed. This allowed the Imperial Security Bureauto create a database of intelligent beings who were close relatives or friends of the killed rebels. Previously, Darth Vader considered these processes a waste of time and resources, but later he was able to admit that the formed databases justified their existence. Thanks to this data, the Empire became able to calculate potential enemies in advance.

Vader silently watched as the sorting and identification of the bodies took place. As soon as a dead body was identified, it was taken to a general recycling facility. At the same time, humans and droids were busy sorting and distributing the supplies delivered.

Canisters and boxes of medicines were placed next to the place where Vader's TIE was located, forming a barrier wall. Thus, a blind spot space for surveillance systems has been formed here. Vader used the Force to pull a black bag out of the TIE and, dragging it across the floor, added its edge to the line of the dead lying on the floor. The moment Ferus's packed body lay down in one of several rows of corpses, Vader had a strange feeling. He is one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, and at the same time he is now smuggling his bitch in a bag for sexual pleasure onto his own ship. This made him chuckle. He felt so exciting only in his youth, when he managed to fool his young and inexperienced master for some little thing. But his youth is long gone. Sadness and pain came to Vader suddenly. They quickly turned to anger at their former Master.

He hated Kenobi so much! Kenobi cut off his limbs and left him to burn alive! He turned him into a crippled cyborg!

Unexpectedly for himself, the Sith did something that he had not done once in the last nine years. Vader reached through the mental channel of his previous connection and turned to the former master.

"Look at what I've become now, Obi-Wan! I rule the galaxy. I control the Force and it serves me."

He knew that in response he would run into emptiness. He knew, but the bitterness of the emptiness at the end of the connection still covered him.

"In mockery of the Order and you, I made my slut of the most exemplary Padawan."

But the Force remained as serene and silent as ever. Wherever Kenobi was now, it was as if he didn't exist at all. Could the old man have died over the years? And why did this thought create not rage inside him, but a void devouring him from within?

"I hate you, Obi-Wan!" He shouted through the mental channel of his former connection. "You are a disgusting Master! You're nothing as a human being! You..." he shouted insults and accused him for a long time, but there was no response. The silence was crushing and splitting him apart. It was unbearable. And the Sith forced himself to immerse himself in his work. Several hundred more corpses had to be disposed of before all this unfrozen cargo started to stink badly.

"My Lord Vader, the compliance check is complete. All medicines have been received in exact quantities", one of the senior officers responsible for receiving the next batch of medicines that were delivered to the Destroyer every month specifically for the Sith reported to him.

Vader looked at him. He felt that the employee was afraid of him, as were many other subordinates. Behind him, the Sith with masterly dexterity tossed a black bag inside one of the medicine crates. The lid of the box slid down smoothly and soundlessly. That's it, it's done.

"Bring this to my quarters as usual." Vader ordered.

The Sith looked at the datapad screen, and he didn't like something very much.

"By order of the Emperor, new medical equipment should have already been delivered. Why is it not on the list? "

"I... I don't know anything about it, My Lord. We do not have any data on such a delivery…"  The officer was sweating.

"So find out it." Vader ordered. He felt a sharp irritation that the emperor had decided to delay the delivery of his new medical station. This was the thing he needed so badly right now. The Sith was well aware that this delay was just a continuation of the punishment.

Gradually, all the distributed cargo was sent to the necessary compartments and the last work was completed. Darth Vader did not want any unpleasant surprises, and therefore he did not let go of control of the situation until the carrier droids brought all the things to his chambers.

When he finally found himself alone in his apartment, surrounded by a pile of boxes of medicines and cans of bacta, he dumped the Jedi's body out of the bag, and injected him with a dose of stimulant that was supposed to make his body fully function and bring him back to consciousness. But as soon as he woke up, the Jedi could not control his body, he could not even stand on his feet.

"Weakling", Vader thought contemptuously. Such a dose of stimulant brought him back to working condition after much more severe injuries. He wasn't going to send the Jedi to the medical droids, otherwise he would have had to mess with erasing their memories. Without giving him time to recover, Vader roughly grabbed him by the collar and dragged him across the floor to the place where the secret cell was located. He removed the wall panel and opened a small hole located at the bottom of the wall, which was more suitable for the passage of a pet rather than a human.

"I'll visit you later, bitch," Vader promised with a nasty grin, shoving the Jedi into a cramped cell.

He pushed a bag with a needle and an intravenous feeding wire into the cell with his foot, and blocked the passage to cut off the prisoner from the outside world.

**

Once in the cell, Olin felt as if he had been walled up in the walls. The ceiling was so low that he couldn't even stand up to his full height. Ferus settled down on the floor. He couldn't let go of restless thoughts about Leia. He didn't want to think about the horror the little girl went through when she saw Vader packing him in a bag.

He was afraid for her. Anything could happen while Leia was there alone. Vader, of course, considered his fortress impregnable. But the Sith had an overblown ego about everything. And what if the fortress is attacked, precisely at the moment of the owner's absence? Ferus had no idea how long this shitty assignment of Vader's would take, and that ignorance tormented him.

The main thing is not to die here. But his condition left much to be desired.

Exhausted by anxious thoughts, the Jedi fell into a dream filled with a kaleidoscope of nightmares. He dreamed of the Bast Castle, which was washed away by acid rains. He realized with horror that the ruins of the fortress had buried his daughter under the slabs. Ferus rushed forward, but saw only a grinning cyborg in front of him. At some point, his dream changed, and instead of Vader, the Jedi saw his former home, Bellassa. He lived there a long time ago, before he came to Alderaan. His dream was full of gloomy anxiety, but he did not know why. The streets of his hometown looked calm, quiet, but completely deserted. Ferus felt that something terrible and irreparable had happened here. How could it be otherwise? After all, the Sith have always acted meanly and cruelly. Whatever crime Vader had committed, it was just his normal, day-to-day job while he served Palpatine. Suddenly, the Emperor appeared in front of Ferus, smiling insanely. This ugly wrinkled old man stretched out his arms to strike him with lightning bolts.

Olin was abruptly awakened by the sound of the passage opening into the cell. Vader certainly didn't care about the Jedi's moral anguish or his physical discomfort.

The Sith was ready to act harshly if the prisoner tried to resist. But the prisoner was in a state where he didn't quite understand where he was, what time of day it was, and wasn't everything happening a dream? Due to the prolonged lack of medical care, the Jedi's brain was working very slowly. He looked blank and sick.

Ferus saw that Vader was crawling into his cell like a predatory alligator into a cage for prey. It seemed that the vile ghost of the Dark Side was spreading far ahead of its master.

"I'm going to fuck you," Vader told him this fact. Ferus blinked uncomprehendingly. Vader enjoyed watching the stupid confusion flash across the Jedi's face. What was the fool waiting for? That he climbs into this kennel to read romantic poems aloud to him?

Vader's foot slipped and he landed on his stomach. He swore. Olin didn't know the expletive, but he recognized one of the dialects of the Hutt language. So Vader spent his youth in Hutt Space? Was that where Palpatine raised his apprentices in secret? And in the end, Vader turned out to be the most capable student and just killed all the competitors in some monstrously cruel test, but he himself suffered terrible injuries? It seemed like the truth. At least Vader had the manners and characteristic brutality of a savage bandit on the edge of the galaxy, and Hutt space had been a stronghold for all sorts of assorted scum for decades.

But Vader's Force was really incredibly huge. Ferus's potential for Force sensitivity was only negligible compared to the Sith.

He was distracted from such thoughts by Vader, who grabbed the prisoner by the ankle with a Force's tentacle and dragged him across the floor by Force, pulling him to himself.

Vader took off only the part of his armor that covered his groin area.

"You've missed me already, haven't you, slag?" Vader whispered in his ear as he swung his leg over the prisoner's body and leaned on top of him.

Vader stank abominably of a mixture of sweat, burnt electronics and metal, medicinal mixtures and rotting flesh. And the Jedi felts this blend of stench especially vividly in such a cramped, stuffy cell.

The Sith puffed over him with pleasure, like a lustful animal, while he pounded his dick into him.

After the rape, Vader carefully wiped jedi's blood and his own sperm from his dick with prisoner's pants. Now this nerd would have to dress in a soiled rag, or stay lying here with his bare ass, and for some reason Vader had no doubt that this buttfucked bitch would choose.

"Here you go," Vader grinned and threw a wad of soiled pants at the prisoner. "it's a great rag, especially for an arrogant son of a bitch like you."

Vader didn't say anything else to him. He crawled away on all fours, crawling through the entrance hole in the wall. The Sith grunted disgustingly and breathed loudly like a snoring Hutt while he restored his breathing, which had become more frequent during sex.

"Stinking brute", Ferus thought, looking at Vader's ass crawling on the floor. He wanted to kick Vader in the ass. Despite all the damage and the presence of heavy armor, the Sith deftly crawled out of the chamber and blocked the passage.

Ferus closed his eyes, trying to distract himself with different thoughts from the pain, discomfort and his own shame that Vader had once again raped him.

Counting the past time was difficult, the Jedi had no idea when it was night and day. Sometimes he couldn't tell if he fell asleep for hours or just fell into unconsciousness for a few minutes.

Strangely enough, Vader did not come back. Ferus immersed himself in the Force, but did not feel the Sith's presence nearby, and did not hear any sounds behind the wall. There was tension in the Force. The Jedi did not know what exactly the Sith was doing, but wherever Vader was now, he was undoubtedly doing evil. Something really terrible was happening. Something compared to which rapes were just child's play. And again he couldn't do anything. Neither to prevent Vader's actions, nor just to help himself. Nothing.

**

There was complete chaos on Bellassa and it required Vader's direct intervention.

When the Sith appeared on the surface of the planet, he felt a surge of strength and immediately set to work zealously. The Bellassians were unwilling to acknowledge the emperor's authority and serve him. The workers did not want to work in the Imperial factories and maintain the headquarters. Such a cohesiveness of beings disloyal to the emperor could become dangerous. They really believed that the Empire would leave their planet if they resisted hard enough.

Vader personally eliminated the dissenters. But it was ineffective. The rebels hid well and often made sorties, after which they deftly hid in shelters. Every Bellassian considered it his duty to help anyone who fought against the Empire.

For a moment, Vader found it tedious, but the Bellassians still acted smoothly and defiantly. There were constant armed clashes in the city with stormtroopers patrolling the streets.

Vader understood that as soon as his fleet left the planet, the rebels would immediately come out of their shelters and start interfering with the work of the imperial factories again. However, they didn't hesitate to harm right under his nose. It was necessary to somehow suppress their will and discourage them from fighting for a long time.

Mass arrest of the rebels could have solved the issue, but Vader had a slightly different solution. Fortunately, he had a large enough army to stage massive raids all over the city. But the rebels were not the target of the capture. Vader ordered all the children from the streets of the city to be taken hostage. Stormtroopers broke into residential buildings to forcibly take children and hold them at the central headquarters until the local rebels surrendered and the workers stopped rioting and went to work in factories.

After these demands were made, the situation changed dramatically in just a few days. Because of the captured children, the Bellassians plunged into terrible fear and lost their fortitude. The Empire demanded that impeccable order be established in the city, and the local rebel leaders stopped armed uprisings and bowed to the imperial authority. And the Bellassians, broken by intense expectation, finally laid down their arms. Local workers began to go out to work in factories. They were ready to obey the Emperor if their children were returned to them. The Sith was surprised that it was possible to turn the situation in favor of the Empire so quickly.

And feeling the moral defeat of the townspeople, Vader ordered the release of the little hostages. Not out of mercy, but simply because he saw no point in holding them any longer.

The children returned to their families and after that the Bellassians completely surrendered and submitted to the empire. The workers ended the riots and went to work in the Imperial Factories. Civilians began servicing the imperial headquarters. The Bellassians were happy that their children had returned home alive, but for this they had to bow before the Emperor.

The Empire gained an easy victory and Vader's fleet departed.

The Devastator was flying in hyperspace when Vader received a call from Palpatine.

"You pleasantly surprised me, Darth Vader," Sidious's wrinkled snout stretched into a wide smile. "Strategic calculation has never been your advantage before. But I have to admit that this time, your idea of the weakness of the Bellassians was absolutely correct. A simple order to capture the children led us to complete victory in just a few days. And I already expected that they would fight to the point of complete extermination, but you were able to subdue them so easily! They really believed that we would bring their children back alive. It was very pleasant to break the will of the population of an entire city, wasn't it, my friend? "

"Yes, my Master."

"Everything that followed was tough, but very effective. Let our enemies be in constant fear of us."

"I am glad to serve you, Master. "

Satisfied with his apprentice, Sidious cut the connection.

Vader remained standing on the Destroyer's command bridge. For a while, the Sith stared at the bright blue stripes of hyperspace. He requested a report on the Bellassa case, and after reviewing the data, he called a senior officer to him.

"It says here that each captured 'unit' was injected on the final day of captivity for 'delayed death.'" Vader pointed to the datapad.

"Yes, sir. All the children of the rebels will die."

"I didn't ask you about their fate. I'm interested in who gave the order to act this way behind my back?" He demanded.

"Emperor Palpatine has given the order, My Lord."

"You are dismissed."

Darth Vader understood everything. Sidious did not cancel his order, he only refined this order, brought it to perfection, teaching a lesson to both the rebellious planet and his apprentice.

And with this order, Palpatine destroyed most of the younger generation of the capital of Bellassa.

Vader remembered the Master's recent words. From abstract reasoning, it so masterfully materialized into reality.

"When commanding everything, you must know how to maintain your power. Sometimes it is better to punish slaves for disobedience one more time, even when the slaves' will has already been broken and they agree to obey. Deferred punishment for insubordination, like an unexpected blow, is a wonderful way to cultivate obedience in them."

Vader closed the report summary on his datapad. This means that the captured children returned home in the morning to their parents, who were waiting for them so much that for this they rejected their principles and obeyed the will of the emperor, but by evening the counting of sudden deaths of children will begin. And so it will be until every single one of them dies.

Vader wasn't worried about the fate of the Bellassian children. He was glad that the task was completed so quickly, and he was already moving towards the Vjun.

He thought of the Bellassian who was currently imprisoned in his apartment. Did he want to make Ferus experience the same thing that the parents of the Bellassian children would experience?

Probably not. Fortunately, Vader had plenty of other ways to hurt him. Still, Sidious had taught him something today. Mercy is a weakness.

[mister13eyond]

I stayed up too late writing a lore dump on my phone.... sticking it under the cut just so I have it somewhere concrete

MANA. 

This is one of the basic building blocks of the universe. Just as physical things are made of atoms, spiritual and magical things are made of mana. 

There is mana abundant in the universe, but it isn't something everyone can access. Human souls are made of mana, but most humans cannot cast magic. After death, human souls are returned to the fabric of the universe just as human bodies decompose into carbon and rejoin the earth. For most people this is all that exists after death: a return to whence we were made. But for some, deals can be made. That's where angels and demons come in. 

Angels are beings who are capable of drawing, storing and casting mana as magic from the universe around them. They are capable of miracles, and can change their shape at will. These beings have formed an organizational structure for dealing with humankind and human souls- we call this organization Heaven. 

Heaven is run with a similar structure to a government. Officials are elected by vote, with representatives being chosen at larger scales the higher up the ranking one goes. At the top level of heaven exists what is essentially an angelic Supreme Court- those who have the final say on what is or is not angelic law. Angels work to uphold a sense of order and balance in the world, and to create a fair and just existence. 

In order to do so, angels make deals with humans to reward their souls with preservation after death. When a human has been deemed to have a positive impact on the world around them, and when they have prayed to angels for life after death, their souls are kept in Heaven. This is something between walled garden and museum display- a collection of the mana that once made up the humans deemed worthy by angelkind.

The environment in Heaven is best thought of as political. Angelic relationships tend to remain professional,  polite, and above all private. Since the entire system is run democratically, reputation and status mean everything to angels. It is far more dangerous to be caught up in a whisper campaign in Heaven than any physical threat- a poor enough reputation will trap angels in lowly positions with no hope of advancement, while a good reputation and a solid network are needed to maintain any sort of influence over the celestial legal system. 

Human souls are judged and reviewed by the Celestial Court, a legal system that reviews the life and impact of each human soul brought in as a potential candidate for preservation. Celestial defense attorneys, such as Asphodel (before their quiet exile) are tasked with presenting a case as to why this human is worthy of Heaven. Those souls rejected in court will be released into the universe once more. 

Celestial court also handles cases where human souls cross paths with Demons. Demons are a different kind of being, and their dominion is known as Hell. 

Demons are not capable of drawing mana from the universe. They are formed from mana, but after establishing themselves as sentient beings, they cannot pull from the fabric of the universe the way Angels can. This means demons must rely on another source of mana: that contained in the human soul. 

Hell functions a lot like a large corporation. Demons make deals with humans to grant them favors in exchange for their souls, after which their souls are sent up the pipeline to the Devil. The Devil then distributes from the mana pooled by all demons under his employ, with the amount of mana each demon receives proportional to their position in the company. Promotions up the ranks happen when demons are exceptionally skilled or experienced, with demons at the lower ranks serving more menial or administrative jobs. Vin worked in a position where his job was keeping track of records and collections, managing data on how much mana came and went through his pipeline. Other demons, like Nik and Ike, would have been in charge of writing contracts or making offers directly, in what more closely resemble sales positions. 

The atmosphere in Hell can be thought of more like a large company with many small social groups and networks. Because the work is stressful- and because demons need to know human vices and pleasures well in order to offer them- Hell has a rather rowdy party culture. Demons are known for indulgence and hedonism, working only so that they can run wild in their hours off. 

Because they are both attempting to collect human souls for different purposes, demons and angels consider themselves to be enemies. However, there is a small portion of both populations who spend their time on Earth, and who have acclimated to one another. These may be those who work in the field directly- offering deals or miracles- or they may be exiles. 

Exiles are demons or angels who no longer live in Heaven or Hell. There are a variety of reasons this may happen, but most often this is due to negative circumstances. For example, Vin is exiled due to a series of loopholes which resulted in an unfulfilled contract. Because he was accidentally summoned with a summoning circle typo, he was summoned for magic he could not actually provide. On top of this, his summoners died immediately from their bungled magic, which left Vin unable to negotiate any adjustments to their terms. As a result, he must stay in earth indefinitely, as the terms of his contract dictate he's only free to return to Hell once he has completed his end of the bargain. Most demons trapped on earth are similarly bound by contracts or exiled for their failures to perform their jobs in Hell. 

Angelic exiles, on the other hand, tend to be a bit subtler. Angels have a system called Falling that can be used to cut an angel off from all mana in the universe. However, this is an incredibly dangerous process. An angel cut off from the source of all mana creates something like a black hole in that angel, causing them to pull indiscriminately from everything around them- compromising both the magical equilibrium of a location as well as draining and potentially killing any humans, demons and/or angels around them.

To avoid this outcome, fallen angels are collared. The collar binds the fallen angel, containing them to a singular form and quantity of mana. Collared fallen can no longer shapeshift, cast magic, or absorb mana. They are held in stasis unless their collar is removed- which would result in the aforementioned magical black hole. This means that properly Falling is a very rare verdict for the celestial court, reserved only for those whom the creation of a dangerous magical weapon still presents less threat than leaving them to their own devices in Heaven. 

Instead of Falling, exiles like Asphodel tend to have been quietly pushed out while making it seem like their own idea. Since reputation and status are so important to angels, many angels who are looked down upon, isolated from or shunned by their peers quietly slip away to earth under the pretense of a project or vacation. This is generally framed as the exile's own decision, though it is usually clear that the angel's peers and superiors are making the decision for them. In these cases, exiled angels are more like estranged family members- quietly cutting off those in Heaven unless an emergency happens, cut off themselves from any access to mana or magic. Exiled angels tend to be reclusive and low-key, living among humans and avoiding drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. 

Amongst these circumstances, it's hardly odd for a reclusive pair of exiles like Vin and Asphodel to cross paths. And while Vin may no longer be able to earn mana from hell, there are ways for demons to collect it that do not need the same process. 

Human souls tend to shed mana the same way their bodies shed skin cells and hairs. On an individual level, this is a negligible amount of mana, but at larger concentrations of people this amount of mana can be collected quite easily. Human souls tend to shed more mana when emotions are high, so events where large amounts of people gather and experience strong collective emotions make for excellent opportunities for demons. These may be things like concerts, movies, theme parks, gatherings, or even streams- mana operates on emotional closeness or collectivity with the crowd, not physical. 

As a result, many exiled demons become involved in culture or the arts. Music, theater, art, filmmaking and dance are all common ways for demons to engage with humans in order to draw them together and unite them in collective experiences in order to harvest mana. Combined with demons’ hedonistic culture in hell, it means a great deal of demons also frequent clubs, bars, raves and parties. 

[almondenterprise]

Innovations in Electrical Switchgear: What’s New in 2025?

The electrical switchgear industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation in 2025, fueled by the rapid integration of smart technologies, sustainability goals, and the growing demand for reliable power distribution systems. As a key player in modern infrastructure — whether in industrial plants, commercial facilities, or utilities — switchgear systems are becoming more intelligent, efficient, and future-ready.

At Almond Enterprise, we stay ahead of the curve by adapting to the latest industry innovations. In this blog, we’ll explore the most exciting developments in electrical switchgear in 2025 and what they mean for businesses, contractors, and project engineers.

Rise of Smart Switchgear

Smart switchgear is no longer a futuristic concept — it’s a necessity in 2025. These systems come equipped with:

IoT-based sensors

Real-time data monitoring

Remote diagnostics and control

Predictive maintenance alerts

This technology allows for remote management, helping facility managers reduce downtime, minimize energy losses, and detect issues before they become critical. At Almond Enterprise, we supply and support the integration of smart switchgear systems that align with Industry 4.0 standards.

2. Focus on Eco-Friendly and SF6-Free Alternatives

Traditional switchgear often relies on SF₆ gas for insulation, which is a potent greenhouse gas. In 2025, there’s a significant shift toward sustainable switchgear, including:

Vacuum Interrupter technology

Air-insulated switchgear (AIS)

Eco-efficient gas alternatives like g³ (Green Gas for Grid)

These options help organizations meet green building codes and corporate sustainability goals without compromising on performance.

3. Wireless Monitoring & Cloud Integration

Cloud-based platforms are transforming how switchgear systems are managed. The latest innovation includes:

Wireless communication protocols like LoRaWAN and Zigbee

Cloud dashboards for real-time visualization

Integration with Building Management Systems (BMS)

This connectivity enhances control, ensures quicker fault detection, and enables comprehensive energy analytics for large installations

4. AI and Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing maintenance practices. Switchgear in 2025 uses AI algorithms to:

Predict component failure

Optimize load distribution

Suggest optimal switchgear settings

This reduces unplanned outages, increases safety, and extends equipment life — particularly critical for mission-critical facilities like hospitals and data centers.

5. Enhanced Safety Features and Arc Flash Protection

With increasing focus on workplace safety, modern switchgear includes:

Advanced arc flash mitigation systems

Thermal imaging sensors

Remote racking and switching capabilities

These improvements ensure safer maintenance and operation, protecting personnel from high-voltage hazards.

6. Modular & Scalable Designs

Gone are the days of bulky, rigid designs. In 2025, switchgear units are:

Compact and modular

Easier to install and expand

Customizable based on load requirements

Almond Enterprise supplies modular switchgear tailored to your site’s unique needs, making it ideal for fast-paced infrastructure developments and industrial expansions.

7. Global Standardization and Compliance

As global standards evolve, modern switchgear must meet new IEC and IEEE guidelines. Innovations include:

Improved fault current limiting technologies

Higher voltage and current ratings with compact dimensions

Compliance with ISO 14001 for environmental management

Our team ensures all equipment adheres to the latest international regulations, providing peace of mind for consultants and project managers.

Final Thoughts: The Future is Electric

The switchgear industry in 2025 is smarter, safer, and more sustainable than ever. For companies looking to upgrade or design new power distribution systems, these innovations offer unmatched value.

At Almond Enterprise, we don’t just supply electrical switchgear — we provide expert solutions tailored to tomorrow’s energy challenges. Contact us today to learn how our cutting-edge switchgear offerings can power your future projects.

[lappsco]

Electro-Mechanical and MEP Contractors in the UAE: Spotlight on Lappsco and Complete MEP Solutions

The UAE’s skyline, from Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa to Abu Dhabi’s sprawling developments, is a testament to its booming construction industry. At the core of these projects are electro-mechanical contractors and MEP companies, delivering essential systems that power modern buildings. This blog explores the world of electro-mechanical contracting in Dubai, highlights leading MEP contractors in the UAE, and shines a spotlight on Lappsco, a rising name in providing complete MEP solutions in the UAE.

Understanding Electro-Mechanical and MEP Services

Electro-mechanical contracting integrates electrical and mechanical systems to ensure buildings operate efficiently and safely. This includes electrical wiring, HVAC systems, plumbing, and fire protection. MEP contractors (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) specialize in designing, installing, and maintaining these systems, adhering to the UAE’s stringent regulations and global standards.

In a fast-growing market like the UAE, where projects range from luxury hotels to industrial complexes, complete MEP solutions are critical for seamless functionality and sustainability. Companies like Lappsco are making their mark by offering innovative and reliable services tailored to these demands.

Why Electro-Mechanical Contractors Are Vital in the UAE

The UAE’s construction sector is renowned for its ambitious projects, such as Dubai’s Damac Lagoons and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island developments. Here’s why electro-mechanical companies in the UAE are indispensable:

Versatility Across Industries: Contractors serve sectors like commercial, residential, hospitality, and industrial, handling everything from skyscrapers to data centers.

Sustainability and Innovation: Firms like Lappsco prioritize energy-efficient systems, such as advanced HVAC and eco-friendly plumbing, aligning with the UAE’s green building goals.

Regulatory Compliance: Top contractors ensure compliance with local standards, often holding ISO certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001) for quality and safety.

End-to-End Solutions: From design to maintenance, companies provide turnkey services, streamlining complex projects.

Spotlight on Lappsco: A Leader in MEP Solutions

Lappsco is emerging as a trusted name among MEP contractors in Dubai and across the UAE. Known for its commitment to quality and innovation, Lappsco delivers complete MEP solutions that cater to the region’s dynamic construction needs. Here’s what sets Lappsco apart:

Comprehensive Services: Lappsco offers a full spectrum of MEP services, including electrical installations, HVAC systems, plumbing, and fire protection. Their expertise spans residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

Client-Centric Approach: With a focus on customer satisfaction, Lappsco ensures timely delivery and customized solutions, making them a go-to for electro-mechanical contracting in Dubai.

Sustainability Focus: Lappsco integrates energy-efficient technologies, such as smart building management systems (BMS), to reduce environmental impact and operational costs.

Skilled Workforce: Their team of certified engineers and technicians brings precision and professionalism to every project.

While specific project details for Lappsco are not widely available, their growing reputation in the UAE’s MEP sector positions them as a reliable partner for developers seeking complete MEP solutions in the UAE.

Core Services of Electro-Mechanical Contractors

Electro-mechanical companies in the UAE, including Lappsco, offer a wide range of services to meet modern construction demands:

Electrical Systems: Power distribution, lighting, and low-voltage systems like CCTV and access control.

Mechanical Systems: HVAC design, ventilation, and building management systems for optimal performance.

Plumbing and Drainage: Efficient water supply, drainage, and sanitary systems tailored to project needs.

Fire Safety: Fire alarms, sprinklers, and smoke management systems for compliance and safety.

Maintenance Services: Ongoing support to ensure systems remain efficient and compliant.

Why Dubai Excels in Electro-Mechanical Contracting

Dubai’s reputation as a global construction hub makes it a prime market for electro-mechanical contracting. Iconic projects like Burj Khalifa District and Dubai Festival City rely on top-tier MEP services. Contractors like Lappsco and MBM Gulf leverage advanced technologies, such as prefabricated systems and energy-efficient designs, to meet Dubai’s high standards and sustainability goals.

The city’s focus on smart buildings and green certifications, like LEED, drives contractors to adopt innovative solutions. Lappsco, for instance, integrates smart BMS and eco-friendly HVAC systems to enhance building efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.

The Future of MEP Contracting in the UAE

As the UAE advances toward smart cities and sustainable infrastructure, electro-mechanical contractors and MEP companies will play a pivotal role. Innovations like modular MEP systems, energy-efficient HVAC, and smart building technologies are transforming the industry. Companies like Lappsco, with their focus on quality and sustainability, are well-equipped to lead this evolution, delivering complete MEP solutions that meet the UAE’s ambitious goals.

Conclusion

The UAE’s construction landscape thrives on the expertise of electro-mechanical contractors and MEP companies. Whether you’re developing a commercial tower, a residential complex, or an industrial facility, partnering with a trusted contractor like Lappsco ensures your project is functional, safe, and sustainable. With their innovative approach and commitment to excellence, Lappsco and other leading firms are shaping the future of electro-mechanical contracting in Dubai and beyond.

For more details on top contractors or to connect with professionals like Lappsco, explore resources like Yellow Pages UAE or Reach UAE.

[dhirajmarketresearch]

[everfastfrieght]

Supply Chain Management in India by Everfast Freight

In today’s global economy, efficient supply chain management (SCM) is the backbone of business success. India, with its rapidly growing manufacturing and e-commerce sectors, has seen a massive transformation in logistics and supply chain operations. At the forefront of this transformation stands Everfast Freight, a leading logistics company dedicated to providing seamless, innovative, and cost-effective supply chain solutions across India.

Why Supply Chain Management is Crucial in India

India’s diverse geography, large population, and booming industries make supply chain management both challenging and essential. Effective SCM ensures:

Faster delivery times

Reduced operational costs

Improved inventory control

Enhanced customer satisfaction

For businesses operating across multiple regions in India, a robust supply chain strategy can be a game changer.

Everfast Freight: Redefining Supply Chain Management

Everfast Freight has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses looking to optimize their supply chain processes. Here’s how they stand out:

1️⃣ End-to-End Supply Chain Solutions

From sourcing and warehousing to transportation and last-mile delivery, Everfast Freight provides comprehensive supply chain solutions tailored to your business needs. They handle every step with precision, ensuring products reach customers safely and on time.

2️⃣ Technology-Driven Approach

Leveraging advanced technologies like AI-powered route optimization, real-time tracking, and automated inventory systems, Everfast Freight minimizes delays and maximizes efficiency. Businesses can monitor their shipments in real-time and make data-driven decisions to improve operations.

3️⃣ Extensive Network and Reach

With a vast network of warehouses, distribution centers, and transport fleets across India, Everfast Freight ensures seamless connectivity between suppliers, manufacturers, and end consumers.

4️⃣ Customized Solutions

No two businesses are alike. Everfast Freight offers customized SCM solutions based on industry, scale, and specific challenges, providing flexibility and agility to meet changing market demands.

5️⃣ Commitment to Sustainability

Everfast Freight is also committed to reducing its environmental footprint through sustainable practices, such as optimizing fuel consumption, promoting eco-friendly packaging, and using electric delivery vehicles wherever possible.

Industries Served

Everfast Freight’s supply chain management services cater to a wide range of industries, including:

E-commerce

Retail and FMCG

Automotive

Pharmaceuticals

Textiles and apparel

Electronics and IT hardware

Benefits of Partnering with Everfast Freight

Reduced operational costs through optimized processes.

Improved visibility and transparency with advanced tracking systems.

Enhanced scalability to support business growth.

Reliable and on-time deliveries, even in remote regions.

24/7 support and customer service, ensuring smooth operations.

Future of Supply Chain Management in India

As India moves toward becoming a global manufacturing hub, the demand for efficient, technology-driven supply chain solutions will only grow. Everfast Freight continues to invest in innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability, empowering businesses to meet future challenges and customer expectations.

AI-Generated FAQs about Supply Chain Management in India by Everfast Freight

❓ What is supply chain management, and why is it important in India?

Supply chain management involves overseeing the flow of goods from manufacturers to end consumers. In India, efficient SCM is crucial to handle vast geographic diversity, reduce logistics costs, and ensure timely delivery in both urban and rural markets.

❓ How does Everfast Freight optimize supply chain operations?

Everfast Freight uses AI-driven technologies, real-time tracking, automated warehouses, and data analytics to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance delivery performance.

❓ What industries can benefit from Everfast Freight's supply chain services?

Everfast Freight serves e-commerce, retail, automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and more. They provide tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each sector.

❓ Can Everfast Freight handle international supply chains?

Yes. In addition to domestic operations, Everfast Freight offers integrated logistics solutions for global trade, including import-export handling, freight forwarding, and customs clearance.

❓ How can I partner with Everfast Freight for supply chain solutions?

You can visit Everfast Freight’s official website or contact their customer service team directly. Their experts will guide you through the process and help design a customized supply chain strategy for your business.

Conclusion

Supply chain management is no longer just a back-end operation; it’s a strategic differentiator. With Everfast Freight’s cutting-edge services, businesses in India can stay competitive, agile, and ready to meet the demands of a dynamic market.

Ready to transform your supply chain? Contact Everfast Freight today!

[technicallylovingcomputer]

NFT Utility in P2E Games: Beyond Collectibles

In the rapidly evolving world of P2E game development, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have transformed from simple digital collectibles into powerful functional elements that drive gameplay, economics, and player engagement. As developers push the boundaries of what's possible, we're witnessing a shift from the "collect and flip" mentality toward truly innovative applications that add substantial value to gaming experiences.

The Evolution of NFTs in P2E Game Development

When NFTs first entered the gaming scene, they primarily represented digital art, character skins, or rare items that players could collect and trade. Today's P2E game development landscape looks dramatically different. Forward-thinking studios are integrating NFTs as core gameplay elements rather than mere add-ons or afterthoughts.

This evolution reflects a maturing understanding of blockchain technology's potential in gaming. Players no longer want to simply own digital assets—they want those assets to have meaningful utility within the games they play and, ideally, across multiple gaming ecosystems.

Functional Gameplay Mechanics

The most innovative P2E game development teams are designing NFTs that directly influence how players interact with their games. Rather than existing separately from the core gameplay loop, these NFTs become integral to the player experience.

Dynamic Evolution of Assets

Unlike traditional game items with fixed properties, NFTs can evolve based on player actions and achievements:

Weapons that gain experience and unlock new abilities through combat

Characters that visibly change appearance based on accomplishments

Vehicles that can be upgraded with performance-enhancing modifications

Companion creatures that develop unique traits based on how they're trained

This evolution creates a deeper connection between players and their digital assets. When your sword bears the marks of battles you've won or your character's appearance reflects your unique journey, these assets become expressions of your personal gaming history.

Player-Driven Economies

Advanced P2E game development often features complex economic systems where NFTs serve multiple functions:

Resource NFTs that serve as raw materials for crafting

Land NFTs that generate resources over time

Tool NFTs that increase resource gathering efficiency

Factory NFTs that automate production processes

These interconnected systems create opportunities for diverse player roles. Some might focus on resource collection, others on crafting, while still others might specialize in trading or transportation. Each role contributes to the ecosystem, creating interdependence and community.

Virtual Real Estate and Spatial Development

One of the most powerful applications of NFTs in P2E game development is virtual real estate. By tokenizing land and property, developers create new gameplay dimensions centered around location and development:

Players can purchase, develop, and monetize land parcels

Strategic locations become valuable for specific activities

Communities form around shared spaces and interests

Player-built structures add personalized content to the game world

These systems transform static game environments into dynamic spaces shaped by player decisions. When a bustling marketplace emerges organically in a specific area because players decided it should be there—not because developers placed it—the world feels more authentic and player agency becomes meaningful.

Governance and Stakeholder Rights

Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of NFT integration in P2E game development is the potential for decentralized governance. By distributing governance rights through NFTs, developers can:

Allow players to vote on game updates and changes

Create DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) for community decisions

Enable player-driven content approval systems

Implement treasury management for community funds

This approach fundamentally changes the relationship between developers and players. Rather than merely consuming content, players become stakeholders with a voice in the game's direction. This shared ownership model creates stronger commitment and community investment in the game's long-term success.

Cross-Game Compatibility

Forward-thinking P2E game development studios are exploring interoperability between games through compatible NFT standards:

Character NFTs that can travel between different game worlds

Equipment that maintains core properties across multiple games

Achievement records that unlock benefits in connected experiences

Resources that hold value in multiple economic systems

This interoperability extends the value proposition of NFTs beyond any single game, creating digital assets with persistence that transcends individual titles. When your hard-earned legendary sword can accompany you to your next adventure in a different game, the investment feels more meaningful and lasting.

Challenges in Implementing True NFT Utility

Despite the exciting possibilities, P2E game development teams face significant challenges when implementing NFT utility:

Balancing the Economy

Creating sustainable economies requires careful design:

Preventing inflationary spirals that devalue player earnings

Ensuring new players can meaningfully participate without massive investment

Creating effective token sinks to maintain asset value

Balancing play-to-earn incentives with traditional gameplay rewards

These economic considerations require specialized knowledge that many traditional game designers may not possess, often necessitating collaboration with economists and financial experts.

User Experience Friction

Blockchain technology introduces complexities that can disrupt smooth gameplay:

Wallet setup and management

Transaction fees and confirmation times

Security concerns around valuable digital assets

Complex terminology that can alienate mainstream gamers

Successful P2E game development requires abstracting these complexities away from players while maintaining the benefits of blockchain technology.

Regulatory Uncertainty

As P2E games blur the lines between entertainment and financial platforms, developers must navigate evolving regulatory landscapes:

Securities regulations in various jurisdictions

Anti-money laundering compliance

Tax implications for players

Consumer protection requirements

This regulatory uncertainty presents an ongoing challenge for P2E game development teams looking to build sustainable products.

Best Practices for Meaningful NFT Utility

To create successful P2E experiences with genuine NFT utility, developers should:

Design Game-First Experiences

The most enduring P2E game development projects focus on creating engaging gameplay first, then thoughtfully integrate NFTs and economic elements. Games that lead with financial incentives often struggle to maintain player interest once token values fluctuate.

Create Multiple Player Motivations

Successful games offer various paths to engagement:

Achievement-oriented progression for competitive players

Creative expression for builders and designers

Social connection for community-focused players

Economic opportunities for entrepreneurial players

This diversity of motivation helps maintain a healthy player ecosystem regardless of market conditions.

Build Progressive Onboarding

Effective P2E game development includes carefully designed player journeys:

Allow players to experience gameplay before requiring wallet creation

Provide clear education about ownership and economics

Create graduated complexity that introduces concepts gradually

Offer free-to-play options that can lead to play-to-earn opportunities

These thoughtful onboarding processes help bridge the gap between traditional and blockchain gaming.

The Future of NFT Utility in P2E

As P2E game development continues to mature, we're likely to see:

More sophisticated governance systems giving players greater control

Improved interoperability standards between different game worlds

Enhanced composability of assets allowing new creative combinations

Better integration with traditional gaming platforms and distribution channels

These advancements will drive the next wave of innovation, creating more immersive, player-centric game worlds where ownership and creativity flourish.

Conclusion

The future of NFTs in P2E game development extends far beyond simple collectibles. By focusing on functional utility, economic sustainability, and player agency, developers can create experiences that deliver genuine value to players. While challenges remain, the pioneers in this space are establishing new paradigms for digital ownership and player empowerment.

As technology evolves and best practices emerge, we'll likely see P2E elements incorporated into mainstream gaming, blurring the lines between traditional and blockchain games. For developers willing to navigate the complexities of this emerging space, the opportunity to create truly groundbreaking player experiences awaits.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Jesse Duquette

* * * *

The Budget as Battlefield: What the 2025 Agenda Bill Tells Us About Who Counts

How the 2025 budget transforms abandonment into law—and turns survival into a test of endurance

James B. Greenberg

Jun 30, 2025

A budget is never just a financial document. It is a cultural artifact—one that reveals how a society organizes care, distributes risk, and decides whose lives are worth sustaining. It encodes a vision of the future, but also a judgment about the present: who will be protected, who will be burdened, and who can be left behind.

The 2025 budget bill now advancing through Congress—aligned with Trump’s second-term agenda and the Project 2025 blueprint—is more than fiscal policy. It is a redesign of governance itself. Not through declaration, but through attrition. Not by reforming broken systems, but by withdrawing the expectation that they exist at all.

The language used to sell this bill speaks of balance, discipline, and responsibility. But beneath that language is a different logic: one shaped not by stewardship, but by managed neglect. What it proposes is not just disinvestment, but a recalibration of who the state is for—and who it can afford to discard.

From an anthropological perspective, this is not simply a shift in policy. It is a transformation of the state’s relationship to life and death. Public institutions that once existed to extend care are being retooled to manage decay. Where governance once sought to mitigate vulnerability, it now redistributes it. This is not benign neglect. It is necropolitics—the use of policy and bureaucracy to determine whose lives are allowed to deteriorate, and whose deaths are rendered acceptable.

Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act are not just programs. They are lifelines that sustain millions. To gut them is not just to save money—it is to engineer exposure. It means letting chronic illnesses go untreated, allowing conditions to worsen, delaying access to care until it arrives too late. This is death by policy, not by accident.

And it is not evenly distributed. The logic of abandonment is racialized, classed, and geographically mapped. Rural communities will lose their only hospitals. Black, Indigenous, and low-income neighborhoods will see life expectancy drop. Disabled people will lose services. Families on the edge will fall through. This is not a side effect. It is the design.

Political ecology shows us that social policies reverberate through material landscapes. When healthcare collapses, it’s not just the body that suffers. It’s the water that goes untested, the air that goes unregulated, the landlord who neglects the mold, the factory that dumps with impunity. Austerity doesn’t just thin budgets—it sickens environments. It renders people and places equally disposable.

What this bill envisions is not a smaller government, but a more selective one—concentrating its power where it protects capital, and withdrawing it where it once protected life. Surveillance, policing, and border control remain intact. It’s the infrastructures of care that are being decommissioned.

We’ve seen this logic before—in colonial governance, in forced migration, in the abandonment of public housing, in the delayed responses to hurricanes, pandemics, and poisoned water. But what was once exceptional is now being normalized. What was once reserved for the margins is being extended to the center.

And all of it is made to sound inevitable. The story told is one of scarcity, of hard choices. But that story collapses under scrutiny. There is always enough for tax cuts, for military contracts, for fossil fuel subsidies. Scarcity is invoked only when the benefit is collective. It is not economics—it is political will.

This is necropolitics embedded in spreadsheets. It doesn’t look like violence. It looks like a closed clinic. A denied claim. An empty chair at the dinner table. A body that doesn’t make it through the winter because the heat was shut off. This is how death is made to look like data.

Anthropology teaches us to pay attention not just to what systems claim to do, but to what they actually produce. This bill does not produce security, prosperity, or cohesion. It produces delay, exposure, exhaustion, and attrition. It governs by letting go, then punishes those who fall.

The budget becomes a sorting mechanism. Not everyone is meant to survive. Not everyone is expected to. And the fewer who complain, the more efficient the system appears to be.

We are told this is responsibility. But real responsibility means maintaining the structures that make survival possible—not rationing them to the point of collapse. A government that forgets how to care is not smaller. It is colder, and more dangerous.

This is a turning point. The line between public service and structural abandonment is being crossed, not with fanfare, but with signatures, edits, and procedural language.

The necrostate thrives not just on cruelty—but on our distraction. On our belief that suffering is technical, unfortunate, inevitable. It isn’t. It’s being designed.

Let’s not mistake silence for consent. Or spreadsheets for truth.

B Benjamin, Ruha. Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2019.

Berlant, Lauren. Cruel Optimism. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011.

Case, Anne, and Angus Deaton. Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2020.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Chronic Disease and the Economic Burden of Poor Health.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm

Geronimus, Arline T. Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society. New York: Little, Brown Spark, 2023.

Heyman, Josiah McC. “Constructing ‘Illegality’: Critiques, Experiences, and Responses.” In Illegal Immigration in America: A Reference Handbook, edited by David W. Haines and Karen E. Rosenblum. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.

Mbembe, Achille. Necropolitics. Translated by Steven Corcoran. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2019.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working‑Age Adults in the United States: The Role of Socioeconomic and Behavioral Factors. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2021.

Vélez‑Ibáñez, Carlos G. The Rise of Necro/Narco Citizenship: Belonging and Dying in the Southwest North American Region. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2025.

[falsflooring]

Why False Flooring is Essential (needed) for Data Centers and IT Infrastructure

Data centers serve as the backbone for any enterprise of substantial size in the advanced digital world today. As enterprises have increased their reliance and dependency on technology, it has therefore become essential for them to ensure the safety, efficiency, and extensibility of their IT infrastructure. One of the most valuable—but often overlooked—items that preserve this ecosystem is false flooring (also referred to as raised access flooring).

What is false flooring?

False flooring is a modular floor system placed on top of the original concrete slab that encloses a plenum or space for necessary services to be run. This space is used to run power cables, data wiring, cooling systems, or any number of devices while having the floor visible and functional.

💡 Reasons Data Centers Require False Floors

1. Effective Cable Management

Data centers have many thousands of servers, switches, and storage systems, and false floors provide you with organized cabling options from power cables and data cables to keep them neat and tidy while eliminating potential trip hazards and the burden of potential maintenance.

2. Improve Cooling and Airflow

A raised access floor is used to distribute cold air from below the raised false floor with airflow panels. It is essential to make cooling as effective as it can be by targeting racks or hot spots to keep areas cool and to reduce equipment failure from overheating.

3. Easy Scalability or Flexibility

Technology changes rapidly, and with this comes changes to cabling infrastructure needs. With a raised floorong you have easy access to cabling and components if you need to upgrade, change, or fix something without statically disturbing service within the facility.

4. Safety and Fire Safety

With everything neatly routed through the floor space, you will not have potential electrical safety hazards. Most raised false floor systems have some type of flame retardant feature to offer higher safety levels in critical facilities.

5. Aesthetics and Organization

Having a clean space free of clutter isn't just about appearances, it's about being able to efficiently work or service equipment when necessary. The raised floor hides unsightly arranging of wiring and HVAC systems to present a more organized and professional looking facility.🧱 Best Panel Types for IT & Data Center Use/best false flooring manufactures for data center.

HPL Panels – Durable, anti-static, and ideal for heavy equipment loads.

Airflow Panels – Perforated tiles for cooling airflow.

Vision Panels – Allow visual inspection of the subfloor without removal.

Bare Panels – Cost-effective for internal or unfinished environments.

📍 Conclusion

False flooring is more than just a technical solution, it is a tactical investment for any data center or IT operation. Whether you're containing heat and cables or quickly reconfiguring the IT infrastructure, raised access floors contribute to efficiency, safety and operational continuity.

In the next few years if your plans are to build a data center or upgrade your IT infrastructure consider that you need a viable false flooring system that meets your needs. For more info visit www.yemag.co.in

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA's EZIE MISSION

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying NASA's EZIE spacecraft into orbit. Credit: SpaceX

Under the nighttime California sky, NASA's EZIE (Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer) mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:43 p.m. PDT on March 14.

Taking off from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara, the EZIE mission's trio of small satellites will fly in a pearls-on-a-string configuration approximately 260 to 370 miles above Earth's surface to map the auroral electrojets, powerful electric currents that flow through our upper atmosphere in the polar regions where auroras glow in the sky.

At approximately 2 a.m. PDT on March 15, the EZIE satellites were successfully deployed. Within the next 10 days, the spacecraft will send signals to verify they are in good health and ready to embark on their 18-month mission.

"NASA has leaned into small missions that can provide compelling science while accepting more risk. EZIE represents excellent science being executed by an excellent team, and it is delivering exactly what NASA is looking for," said Jared Leisner, program executive for EZIE at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The electrojets—and their visible counterparts, the auroras—are generated during solar storms when tremendous amounts of energy get transferred into Earth's upper atmosphere from the solar wind. Each of the EZIE spacecraft will map the electrojets, advancing our understanding of the physics of how Earth interacts with its surrounding space. This understanding will apply not only to our own planet but also to any magnetized planet in our solar system and beyond. The mission will also help scientists create models for predicting space weather to mitigate its disruptive impacts on our society.

"It is truly incredible to see our spacecraft flying and making critical measurements, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the EZIE mission," said Nelli Mosavi-Hoyer, project manager for EZIE at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. "I am very proud of the dedication and hard work of our team. This achievement is a testament to the team's perseverance and expertise, and I look forward to the valuable insights EZIE will bring to our understanding of Earth's electrojets and space weather."

Instead of using propulsion to control their polar orbit, the spacecraft will actively use drag experienced while flying through the upper atmosphere to individually tune their spacing. Each successive spacecraft will fly over the same region 2 to 10 minutes after the former.

"Missions have studied these currents before, but typically either at very large or very small scales," said Larry Kepko, EZIE mission scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "EZIE will help us understand how these currents form and evolve, at scales we've never probed."

The mission team is also working to distribute magnetometer kits called EZIE-Mag, which are available to teachers, students, and science enthusiasts who want to take their own measurements of the Earth-space electrical current system. EZIE-Mag data will be combined with EZIE measurements made from space to assemble a clear picture of this vast electrical current circuit.

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory leads the mission for NASA. Blue Canyon Technologies in Boulder, Colorado, built the CubeSats, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California built the Microwave Electrojet Magnetogram, which will map the electrojets, for each of the three satellites.

IMAGE: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying NASA's EZIE spacecraft into orbit. Credit: SpaceX

[enzaelectric]

Analog vs. Digital Meters: Understanding the Differences and Applications

In today’s increasingly connected and technologically advanced world, precise electrical measurement is critical for efficient power management and system monitoring. Two primary tools dominate the field of electrical measurement: analog meters and digital meters. While both serve the same fundamental purpose — measuring electrical quantities like voltage, current, and frequency — their technology, design, readability, and application differ significantly.

This article explores the key differences between analog and digital meters, their respective advantages, disadvantages, and common use cases to help you make an informed decision when selecting the right meter for your needs.

What Are Analog Meters?

Analog meters are traditional instruments that display measurement readings through a mechanical needle moving over a graduated scale. They have been widely used for decades in industries, commercial applications, and even residential setups.

Key Features of Analog Meters:

· Use of moving coil or iron vane mechanisms

· Continuous scale display

· Passive operation (no power required in many types)

· Simple, durable construction

Common Types:

· Analog Voltmeters

· Analog Ammeters

· Analog Frequency Meters

· Analog Power Factor Meters

Advantages of Analog Meters:

· Easy to interpret trends and fluctuations

· Cost-effective for basic applications

· Operate without auxiliary power

· Better tolerance to transient spikes and overloads

Limitations:

· Lower accuracy compared to digital meters

· Manual reading required

· Parallax error due to needle reading

· Limited data logging or interfacing capabilities

What Are Digital Meters?

Digital meters represent a more modern approach to electrical measurement. These devices convert analog signals into digital values, displaying results on an LCD or LED screen. They are widely used in automation, smart grids, and precision engineering environments.

Key Features of Digital Meters:

· High-resolution digital display

· Advanced microprocessor control

· MODBUS communication (RS-485 interface)

· Programmable settings and alarms

Common Types:

· Digital Voltmeters

· Digital Ammeters

· Digital Frequency Meters

· Digital Multifunction Meters (VAF, kWh, Power Factor, etc.)

Advantages of Digital Meters:

· High accuracy and readability

· Remote monitoring capabilities

· Compact and modern design

· Enhanced functionalities like data logging, alarms, and networking

Limitations:

· Higher initial cost

· Requires auxiliary power

· More complex installation in some cases

Applications of Analog and Digital Meters

Where Analog Meters Excel:

· Educational institutions for teaching fundamentals

· Industrial environments where ruggedness is key

· Backup or emergency systems where power is limited

· Low-budget installations

Where Digital Meters Lead:

· Smart panels and industrial automation

· Energy monitoring systems

· Commercial buildings and infrastructure

· Remote power distribution networks

Choosing the Right Meter: Factors to Consider

When deciding between analog and digital meters, consider the following:

1. Accuracy Requirements — For precision tasks, digital meters are the preferred choice.

2. Budget Constraints — Analog meters offer a cost-effective solution for basic needs.

3. Environment — Analog meters can be more tolerant in high-temperature or high-vibration areas.

4. Communication Needs — If integration with SCADA or monitoring systems is needed, go digital.

5. Data Analysis — For trend tracking and analytics, digital meters with memory and communication ports are ideal.

Enza Electric: Your Trusted Source for Analog and Digital Meters in the UAE

At Enza Electric, we provide a comprehensive range of analog and digital panel meters tailored to meet diverse electrical monitoring needs. Our digital meters support RS-485 MODBUS, enabling seamless integration into modern automation systems. Whether you’re looking for reliable analog meters for legacy systems or advanced digital meters for new installations, Enza Electric has the expertise and inventory to deliver.

We offer:

· Voltmeter, Ammeter, and Frequency meters in both analog and digital forms

· Multifunction VAF meters

· Panel meter sizes: 72x72mm and 96x96mm

· Customizable CT and PT ratios

Conclusion

Both analog and digital meters play important roles in today’s electrical systems. While analog meters offer simplicity and durability, digital meters bring precision, connectivity, and intelligence. Understanding their differences and applications is key to choosing the right tool for your project.

For expert guidance and high-quality meters, contact Enza Electric — one of the leading electrical measurement solution providers in the UAE.