#v; uncertainty and displacement

[symphonicsoul]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ 'Sort of' is a better answer to him than a 'no' or any of the threat displays he was seeing just moments earlier. Opettaja can't talk. He blew out his vocal chords in every way he taught his student not to scream. Opettaja did exactly what he taught him not to do and it was so striking to hear him do it.

His words are still lingering in his mind.

Words of anger. Words of hurt. Words of fear. Words of frustration. Words of betrayal.

Opettaja thinks that his Maamuna betrayed him and in a way, the prince can't bring himself to deny it. In a way, he did. He never saw a body. He never saw him fade. He'd been so caught up in the moment at the time that he didn't even think to question it as he watched Sielu's form drop from her grasp and into the cloud of Aqua Blue that rested over that town in a thick blanket.

He never questioned it once.

He just assumed his bind faded out then and there because his heart hurt all the same whenever it happened. He still felt that metaphorical stake being forced between his ribs and it hurt all the same. Opettaja was hurt, so of course he hurt. Despite it all, of course he did. Except he was a naïve fool and simply let his worse fears take control in that moment.

His hope was snuffed out in that moment.

He was broken in that moment because it was when he became truly alone... Or so he thought.

But they're here now.

He's found them.

Four hearts beating, connected to his own. His family. His family is here and he can hold them all in his arms and feel their heat as they wrap their own around him. He can speak to them in his mother tongue and he doesn't need to slow down in order to pause for understanding. He can speak. He can sing. He can smile. He can breathe...

They know him. They know all of him... Well most of him... Pieces of him that no one else did and he doesn't need to explain why the concept of salvation's obligations rests so heavily on his shoulders to them either.

They knew already. They knew the truth of what and who he was before any immortal or demon or Unlimited god - they knew he was The Child of White and they knew he was Tiamat's son.

They knew he was Valkoinen Pilvi.

And most importantly theirs. He was theirs and it was all he ever wanted to be. He wanted to be their Liege. Their Student. Their king. Their Valkoinen.

That's all he wants in this moment even if Revon is injured and Sielu hates him and Aamunkoitto is blinded and Valo is sick. He'll take them as they are because at the end of it all he was just as shattered. Just as imperfect. He didn't need perfect from them. He just needed

His Revon

His Nousi

His Tähtien

His Aqua

As long as he could have that, he'd be fine with the rest. The rest of whatever time he had left. He loves them. Even as the are. Even with Wonderland's damage visible on their souls. They were still beautiful to him and once they get home they can all get the rest and care they deserve and so desperately need. Once they get home, Cid can fix them up as good as new and clear the deficiencies from their veins. They'll be whole again.

Whole in ways he never could be. Whole in ways that only an unmarred soul could and even with the nicks and scratches, he'll love them nonetheless. No matter the damage, he'll love them. He'll love them through it all.

So his arms arm holding the man within them fast and close to his chest. He's leaning again to place a gentle kiss down on a head of aqua blue hair for a moment to tell him of his love even this same man had just exploded on him on the forest floor.

Kain is trying to help Aamunkoitto the best he can while Cid works on getting them into the air. He just has to keep him close. He just has to keep them all close and he'll never let go of their hands again.

Not when he can finally hold them again.

The exhaustion digs its heels into his chest all over again as they settle into what he assumes is their spot for the rest of the trip.

Blue eyes struggle to stay open as adrenaline begins to fade, pain and fatigue back with a vengeance he knows all too well.

Every inch of him aches, outside and inside of him, and still he refuses to mention it even with his head spinning. He doesn't want to take up any more room than he has to.

He doesn't want any more of his autonomy stripped of him than there already has been just because he can't handle some pain. He'd rather endure it than be drugged again.

Even if Pilvi says these people are safe, he still cannot convince his mind to trust them so completely as to hand them his leash. He'd rather let himself fade right here than let some awful drug be pushed into his bloodstream.

Pilvi asks if he's comfortable. He can hardly answer. He's never comfortable anymore, but he supposes it could be worse. It certainly won't get better by changing position, so he offers a nod and a 'sort of' hand gesture.

At least there's no odd mildew smell. There's no strange odors or speech patterns, even if the lack of a distinct accent is odd. There is nothing indicating Pilvi is going to do anything to actively harm him.

This is as good as things are going to get for now until they're off this damnable ship. The most he can do is rest and listen to how the small human explains that he also wears glasses. It seems he and Cid are working on Revon first, as they should, so he may just be able to sleep through the ride.

He hopes he can.

[theaenetworks]

Young business owners are facing challenges to have a flourishing enterprise but the task to impose themselves have been too hard due to effect of the economy and constant threat to business growth. Young business owners are seeking for identity through their businesses, and they want to sit around the table determine the market, control stocks and provide service to the people. Gen Z quest for financial status is a big push for them, despite global uncertainty as it relates to economy and standard of living, they want to start something new, the quest to change the status quo and bring new working atmosphere to match the ever changing the workplace.

Slow market reactions and elimination by established companies, young business owners experience this kind of challenges seeking for identity through their business ventures. It is hard to build through that, coming with improvements and innovations, with new tactics to impose yourself in the circle. Lack of required capital to match the ideas, it is very tight case to get the targeted customers while already having established companies to keep young business owners out of reach, while exercising dominance over the market, it is a big strategic movement to seek identity through your business ideas and innovations.

Graduates coming into the market with less hope that they have envisaged create that vacuum as regards to fulfillment of purpose. They are excited to explore the labour market, and give out something new as opposed to what has been the tradition, they are bringing values, moral and ethics into the workforce. Gen Z who are new face of ultra-modern life, may began to advocate for important aspect of live as it relates to improvement of standard of living and economy; with reference to climate change, war, terrorism, human rights and displaced persons globally, all these are key indicators to improve the market and also improve the standard of living in search of identity.

Don’t run out of steam it is long fight to establish yourself, to have a place at the top you need consistency and hard work to inspire yourself to the top. Young business owners need to be detail oriented in analyzing the market, to have your voice heard you need to hit the ground running from the very first day, you need to have a clear education of what you’re embarking not to stuck in the middle, think critically about any issue don’t rush it, you have to give yourself the chance to listen to other colleagues who are experienced in the field, with that you have your voice heard globally through that you seek your identity.

https://anthonyemmanuel.com/the-challenges-facing-young-business-owners-and-the-need-to-have-your-voice-heard/

#businesssuccess #businessowner #BusinessGrowth #businessopportunity #business

[how2fit]

In times of despair and uncertainty, we must remember that it will not last forever. Life has so many beautiful things to offer! We are capable of finding meaning and purpose in the present and supporting those around us in difficult times. Hold onto the possibility that something better is possible. “The oak fought the wind and was broken; the willow bent when it must and survived.” — Robert Jordan Let’s look at a few uplifting stories that inspire us to be hopeful in the face of adversity. An immersive form of poetry brings healing Community pitches in on wildfire relief efforts An 'Uber dog' is winning the hearts of passengers A huge community effort is underway to save animals from wildfires   Positively Uplifting Stories | January 20 2025 A poet shares empathy through her thoughtful words. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-hgtMi-vzI[/embed][embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-hgtMi-vzI[/embed] Typewriter poet Olivia Dodd invites strangers to share what’s on their minds. She then comes up with custom poetry in a matter of minutes!   Olivia’s ability to connect with guests instantly and translate their feelings into beautiful poems has touched the hearts of many. She believes everybody deserves to be listened to. Having a safe space to talk about their life stories and deeper feelings allows people to feel closer and more connected. “The basics of typewriter poetry consist of being able to be really present in the moment because you have to actively listen to the person in front of you. You need to make them feel safe enough to open up to you,” said Olivia.   This community rallies together to help support victims of Los Angeles wildfires. A pop-up donation site outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is providing essential items to victims of the Eaton Canyon wildfire. It all started when a few food vendors came together in the stadium parking lot to donate food to those affected by the fire. Then more and more people started to bring clothes, food, water, toiletries, baby items, and other essentials. Thanks to the many generous donations, victims are able to find some relief amid the devastating wildfires. "Our house did burn down in Altadena, so we don't really have anything - so just trying to get anything we can. It means the world to me. This is my community, and I'm so grateful to have them," said Carlos Linares, a local resident.     A dog’s Uber adventures are bringing joy to people. Kevin Ferman is an Uber driver from Colorado, whose co-pilot Bowie captivates passengers with his charm.    Also known as “The Uber Dog”, Bowie became a viral sensation after Kevin posted his videos on social media. Bowie brings a lot of joy to the passengers, who beam with excitement upon seeing this adorable good boy in the front seat. Kevin posts wholesome reactions from passengers online, delighting people all over the world. “It’s such a simple thing, but it really does make people’s day,” Kevin said.   Hundreds of animals are being cared for by rescue groups in Southern California.  California animal rescue groups are taking care of hundreds of animals displaced by wildfires. While some were found stray, many of them are pets, whose owners could not evacuate with them.   All the animals in emergency accommodation are receiving treatment for burn-related injuries. Donations are pouring in. The community is doing everything it can to help the animals displaced due to wildfires. “The comfort that we can provide someone who is in distress, just knowing that their animals are cared for and safe, hopefully will give them a little reprieve so they can focus on other things they need to take care of,” said Ana Bustilloz, Director of Communications and Marketing at the spcaLA, a local animal welfare organization.   Have a Hopeful Week Everyone!  Did these inspiring stories set your mind a little more at ease? Sometimes tragedy has a way of bringing people together, peeling away the surface things we think we

need and reminding us about what's really important - being safe, taking care of those we love and feeling like a part of a community.  And you are all a part of ours! Have a great week ahead everyone - and take care of yourselves. Photo by Denniz Futalan

[soup-breqd]

Imagine waking up every morning to devastation—a world where safety is a dream, and hope feels just out of reach.

Vetted by:

1) gazavetters my number verified on the list is ( #45 )

2) a-shade-of-blue (in my pinned post)

3) 90-ghost (in my pinned post)

4) dlxxv-vetted-donations (in my pinned post)

5)transmutationisms (in my pinned post)

My name is Mohamed Almadhonne, and I am reaching out from Gaza, where my family and I are enduring profound hardship. Our home, once a sanctuary of safety and comfort, has been reduced to rubble. We now face freezing nights and hunger in a makeshift shelter, holding onto hope amidst overwhelming uncertainty.

Each day brings new challenges—fear, loss, and the constant battle for survival. Yet, even in this darkness, I believe in the transformative power of compassion and the generosity of people like you to help us find a path forward.

I am humbly asking for your support. Your donation, no matter the amount, could provide us with essential relief: shelter, food, and a chance to rebuild our lives. If donating is not possible, sharing our story could connect us with others willing to help.

Here is the link to my campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/faydxu-help-mohammed. Your kindness could be the light that guides us toward safety and dignity.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support. Your kindness means more than words can express.

With sincere gratitude,

Mohamed Almadhonne

23% of my long-term goal

11,385€ out of 50,000€

Donations are protected by GOFUNDME

Please help this family!

They are raising funds so they can afford very basic supplies such as food, water, and shelter. They have been displaced and living in tents for many months now and the conditions they are in have been awful.

So far they have raised €12,274/50,000. They have had no donations in four days! Anything helps- please donate and share!

Link:

this account is vetted

[symphonicsoul]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ Cid is sighing as the two boys leave but there's nothing they can do to stop them and no real reason to do so anyway. Ling needs to be with his friend and Edward has been angry since he got here.

"Hey, just so you know..." The mechanic's voice trails out as he leans against the counter he was standing front of as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"He asked about your name. If Makenshi was a nickname and I told him it was complicated and left it at that. He asked if Kumo was a nickname too."

"And you told him -?"

"That it was and you probably wouldn't mind it if he used it too."

"So then what name did you give him?"

"White Cloud."

"I see. That's fine. It's not exactly wrong."

"Can I ask why you lied in the first place?"

"Something told me to stay guarded, so I did. Makenshi was the first name that left my lips."

"Was he aggressive with you?"

"Not really. Just lost. Very lost. I explained a little bit. Soil and Mist, but I doubt he retrained any of it."

"How old do you think he is?"

"Honestly, it's hard to tell with humans some times but if I had to guess around Edward's age. So in other words, young."

"And kids never deal with falling into Wonderland well."

"I mean, no one does but it seems to be a special sort of worse for children."

"We'll keep an eye on hi- "

"My Liege!"

"Speaking of children -"

"I am not a child."

But the Aurorean is in the room before the Cloud Prince with his hands cupping his face to tilt his gaze up to him as the man of green begins to thoroughly check the royal over for any sign of injury.

"You are well, My Liege?"

"Joo, I'm fine, Revon. No need to worry."

"I think no matter what you do, Kumo, you're still their child."

The swordsman is sighing as the knight hovers with lime green brows upturned with worry.

"Really Revon, I am fine."

"You left again without a word. You know I will follow you anywhere, Highness."

"I know but you were taking a nap with Aqua and I didn't want to wake you."

"Valkoinen."

It's a tone he wasn't expecting to hear come from the other man as the word that falls into the air between them is a firm warning that he means what he says. A parent scolding without being too harsh.

Jade eyes are glancing over to Cid who only stares in surprise for a moment and he can see indigo eyes logging away the missing puzzle piece for later.

The prince sighs.

"Valkoinen Pilvi you know full well it is my sworn duty to keep you safe, so please allow me to do my job. Aqua would understand and agree. We would rather you leave with company so you can remain protected than to simply leave on your own. You have wanted posters up, My Liege and if I am to be so bold. You are powerful but not untouchable. You could have at least taken the Windarian."

He's sighing as Cid chimes in.

"He's right, Kumo. I hate it when you leave alone. If you can't take your family, at least take Kaze. We both know he'll just shoot someone before he lets anything happen. Even if he doesn't openly express it, Kaze does care about you. He'd raise hell before he'd let anything happen to you again. So please at the very least, the next time you go out. Take Kaze."

The swordsman can only sign because it's hard to argue with their worry.

"I will discuss the next time I need to travel with Black Wind. Is that suitable, Revon?"

"You can still bring me even if you're bringing the Windarian."

"If you are not busy with one of the others, I would prefer your company but I will consider bringing you both."

There is a collective sigh as they come an agreement but the knight still finds himself lingering ever so close to the Snow White Prince.

"So how's Setä?" He sounds.

"Better but still not great. He's been asleep with Sielu just about all day."

"Is he any less sour?"

"He's getting there but I do not know where your stash of sugar worms is. I was going to give him some but I didn't want to sort through your things."

"Revon is has been thirty-five years. Come with me, I'll show you. We can give some to them when he wakes up."

On a different occasion, maybe a more normal occasion, when Edward lifted him up, Ling might tell him that it's not necessary. He can walk on his own and Ed doesn't need to go that far. But this isn't normal. Things stopped being normal a while ago. And he knows he wouldn't be able to move far on his own. He was on the verge of collapse already.

So he's silent as he's carried to Ed's room and he completely forgets to ask Kumo if it's actually okay to call him that while they're leaving. Ah, well. He can ask him tomorrow once he's gotten some sleep.

He should probably pay attention to the directions to where Ed is taking him, but instead he's focusing on trying to settle himself and focus on the fact that the alchemist isn't disappearing. He's alive. Alive.

The room isn't anything special but Ling hadn't expected it to be, nor does he care. As long as his source of comfort and safety is there, that's all that matters. That's all he cares about. By the time he's placed on the bed, his heart isn't beating as roughly and his body isn't shaking as much. He watches all of Edward's movement closely and shifts towards him once he's next to him.

He nods at Ed's words and whispers, "Okay...thank you, Edward."

His voice may be tired but there's gratitude in it as well. The words, how gentle Edward's been this whole time. The fact he isn't calling him out on his weak behaviour. He'll have to do something for him later to thank him. For now, he just wants to sleep.

Ling curls in on himself to try to make himself as small as possible, an anxious tick he developed, before he holds onto Edward. He wants to focus on the other's heartbeat, if possible. He'll have to apologize later for being so clingy but for now he's soaking this in.

It doesn't take him long with how tired he is to begin to drift off. It felt like the day was never going to end and now that he has some safety, someone he knows and cares for, it feels okay to let go. He trusts Ed to not let anything happen. He won't leave him. He hopes.

He tries to push away all the messy thoughts and emotions from today and finally lets himself sleep.

[hellouniversegoodbyeworld]

Martial, Epigrams. Book 1. Bohn's Classical Library (1897)

BOOK I.

TO THE READER

I trust that, in these little books of mine, I have observed such self-control, that whoever forms a fair judgment from his own' mind can make no complaint of them, since they indulge their sportive fancies without violating the respect due even to persons of the humblest station; a respect which was so far disregarded by the authors of antiquity, that they made free use, not only of real, but of great names. For me; let fame be held in less estimation, and let such talent be the last thing commended in me.

Let the ill-natured interpreter, too, keep himself from meddling with the simple meaning of my jests, and not write my epigrams for me.1 He acted honourably who exercises perverse ingenuity on another man's book: For the free plainness of expression, that is, for the language of epigram, I would apologize, if I were introducing the practice; but it is thus that Catullus writes, and Marsus, and Pedo, and Getulicus, and every one whose writings are read through. If any assumes to be so scrupulously nice, however, that it is not allowable to address him, in a single page, in plain language, he may confine himself to this address, or rather to the title of the book. Epigrams are written for those who are accustomed to be spectators at the games of Flora. Let not Cato enter my theatre; or, if he do enter, let him look on. It appears to me that I shall do only what I have a right to do, if I close my address with the following verses:----

1 Let him not make them his own, by the false interpretation which he puts upon them.

TO CATO.

Since you knew the lascivious nature of the rites of sportive Flora, as well as the dissoluteness of the games, and the license of the populace, why, stern Cato, did you enter the theatre? Did you come in only that you might go out again?

I. TO THE READER.

The man whom you are reading is the very man that you want,----Martial, known over the whole world for his humorous books of epigrams; to whom, studious reader, you have afforded such honours, while he is alive and has a sense of them, as few poets receive after their death.

II. TO THE READER; SHOWING WHERE THE AUTHOR'S BOOKS MAY BE PURCHASED.

You who are anxious that my books should be with you everywhere, and desire to have them as companions on a long journey, buy a copy of which the parchment leaves are compressed into a small compass.1 Bestow book-cases upon large volumes; one hand will hold me. But that you may not be ignorant where I am to be bought, and wander in uncertainty over the whole town, you shall, under my guidance, be sure of obtaining me. Seek Secundus, the freedman of the learned Lucensis, behind the Temple of Peace and the Forum of Pallas.

1 That is, a copy with small pages; a small copy.

III. THE AUTHOR TO HIS BOOK.

You prefer, little book, to dwell in the shops in the Argiletum,1 though my book-case has plenty of room for you. You are ignorant, alas! you are ignorant of the fastidiousness of Rome, the mistress of the world; the sons of Man, believe me, are much too critical. Nowhere are there louder sneers; young men and old, and even boys, have the nose of the rhinoceros.2 After you have heard a loud "Bravo!" and are expecting kisses, you will go, tossed to the skies, from the jerked toga.3 Yet, that you may not so often suffer the corrections of your master, and that his relentless pen may not so often mark your vagaries, you desire, frolicsome little book, to fly through the air of heaven. Go, fly; but you would have been safer at home.

1 An open place, or square, in Rome, where tradesmen had shops. 2  Have great powers of ridicule, which the Romans often expressed by turning up or wrinkling the nose. 3  People will take you into their lap, and then jerk you out of it, as if you were tossed in a blanket

IV. TO CAESAR.

If you should chance, Caesar, to light upon my books, lay aside that look which awes the world. Even your triumphs have been accustomed to endure jests,1 nor is it any shame to a general to be a subject for witticisms. Read my verses, I pray you, with that brow with which you behold Thymele 2 and Latinus 3 the buffoon. The censorship 4 may tolerate innocent jokes: my page indulges in freedoms, but my life is pure.

1 In allusion to the jests which the soldiers threw out on their generals while they were riding in the triumphal procession. 2  A female dancer. 3 A dancer in pantomime; a sort of harlequin. 4  Alluding to Domitian having made himself perpetual censor.

V. THE EMPEROR'S REPLY.

I give you a sea-fight, and you give me epigrams: you wish, I suppose, Marcus, to be set afloat with your book.

VI. ON A LION OF CAESAR'S THAT SPARED A HARE.

While through the air of heaven the eagle was carrying the youth,1 the burden unhurt clung to its anxious talons. From Caesar's lions their own prey now succeeds in obtaining mercy, and the hare plays safe in their huge jaws. Which miracle do you think the greater? The author of each is a supreme being: the one is the work of Caesar; the other,2 of Jove.

1 Ganymede. 2 Comp. Eps. 14, 22.

VII. TO MAXIMUS

The dove, the delight of my friend Stella,3----even with Verona4 listening will I say it, ---- has surpassed, Maximus, the sparrow of Catullus. By so much is my Stella greater than your Catullus, as a dove is greater than a sparrow.

3 A poet of Patavium, who wrote an elegy on the dove of his mistress Ianthis. See B. vi. Ep. 21; B. vii. Ep. 13. 4 The birth-place of Catullus.

VIII. TO DECIANUS

In that you so far only follow the opinions of the great Thrasea and Cato of consummate virtue, that you still wish to preserve your life, and do not with bared breast rush upon drawn swords, you do, Decianus, what I should wish you to do. I do not approve of a man who purchases fame with life-blood, easy to be shed: I like him who can be praised without dying to obtain it.

IX. TO COTTA.

You wish to appear, Cotta, a pretty man and a great man at one and the same time: but he who is a pretty man, Cotta, is a very small man.

X. ON GEMELLUS AND MARONILLA.

Gemellus is seeking the hand of Maronilla, and is earnest, and lays siege to her, and beseeches her, and makes presents to her. Is she then so pretty? Nay; nothing can be more ugly. What then is the great object and attraction in her? ----Her cough.

XI. TO SEXTILIANUS.

Seeing that there are given to a knight twice five pieces,1 wherefore is twice ten the amount which you spend by yourself, Sextilianus, in drink? Long since would the warm water have failed the attendants who carried it, had you not, Sextilianus, been drinking your wine unmixed.2

1 Ten sesterces, the usual sportula, or donation from the emperor. 2 The Romans used to drink their wine mixed with warm water.

XII. ON REGULUS.

Where the road runs to the towers of the cool Tivoli, sacred to Hercules, and the hoary Albula 3 smokes with sulphureous waters, a milestone, the fourth from the neighbouring city, points out a country retreat, and a hallowed grove, and a domain well beloved of the Muses. Here a rude portico used to afford cool shade in summer; a portico, ah! how nearly the desperate cause of an unheard-of calamity: for suddenly it fell in ruins, after Regulus had just been conveyed in a carriage and pair from under its high fabric. Truly Dame Fortune feared our complaints, as she would have been unable to withstand so great odium. Now even our loss delights us; so beneficial is the impression which the very danger produces; since, while standing, the edifice could not have proved to us the existence of the gods.

3 A plain near Tivoli.

XIII. ON ARRIA AND PAETUS.

When the chaste Arria handed to her Paetus the sword which she had with her own hand drawn forth from her heart, "If you believe me," said she, "the wound which I have made gives me no pain; but it is that which you will make, Paetus, that pains me."

XIV. TO DOMITIAN.

The pastimes, Caesar, the sports and the play of the lions, we have seen: your arena affords you the additional sight of the captured hare returning often in safety from the kindly tooth, and running at large through the open jaws. Whence is it that the greedy lion can spare his captured prey? He is said to be yours: thence it is that he can show mercy.

XV. TO JULIUS.

Oh! you who are regarded by me, Julius, as second to none of my companions, if well-tried friendship and longstanding ties are worth anything, already nearly a sixtieth consul is pressing upon you, and your life numbers but a few more uncertain days. Not wisely would you defer the enjoyment which you see maybe denied you, or consider the past alone as your own. Cares and linked chains of disaster are in store; joys abide not, but take flight with winced speed. Seize them with either hand, and with your full grasp; even thus they will oft-times pass away and glide from your closest embrace. 'Tis not, believe me, a wise man's part to say, "I will live." To-morrow's life is too late: live to-day.

XVI. TO AVITUS.

Of the epigrams which you read here, some are good, some middling, many bad; a book, Avitus, cannot be made in any other way.

XVII. TO TITUS.

Titus urges me to go to the Bar, and often tells me, "The gains are large." The gains of the husbandman, Titus, are likewise large.

XVIII. TO TUCCA, ON HIS PARSIMONY.

What pleasure can it give you, Tucca, to mix with old Falernian wine new wine stored up in Vatican casks? What vast amount of good has the most worthless of wine done you? or what amount of evil has the best wine done you? As for us, it is a small matter; but to murder Falernian, and to put poisonous wine in a Campanian cask, is an atrocity. Your guests may possibly have deserved to perish: a wine-jar of such value has not deserved to die.

XIX. TO AELIA.

If I remember right, Aelia, you had four teeth; a cough displaced two, another two more. You can now cough without anxiety all the day long. A third cough can find nothing to do in your mouth.

XX. TO CAECILIANUS.

Tell me, what madness is this? While a whole crowd of invited guests is looking on, you alone, Caecilianus, devour the truffles. What shall I imprecate on you worthy of so large a stomach and throat? That you may eat a truffle such as Claudius ate.

XXI. ON PORSENA AND MUCIUS SCAEVOLA.

When the hand that aimed at the king mistook for him his secretary, it thrust itself to perish into the sacred fire but the generous foe could not endure so cruel a sight, and bade the hero, snatched from the flame, to be set free. The hand which, despising the fire, Mucius dared to burn, Porsena could not bear to look on Greater was the fame and glory of that right hand from being deceived; had it not missed its aim, it had accomplished less.

XXII. TO A HARE.

Why, silly hare, are you fleeing from the fierce jaws of the lion now grown tame? They have not learned to crush such tiny animals. Those talons, which you fear, are reserved for mighty necks, nor does a thirst so great delight in so small a draught of blood. The hare is the prey of hounds; it does not fill large mouths: the Dacian boy should not fear Caesar.

XXIII. TO COTTA.

You invite no one, Cotta, except those whom you meet at the bath; and the bath alone supplies you with guests. I used to wonder why you had never asked me, Cotta; I know now that my appearance in a state of nature was unpleasing in your eyes.

XXIV. TO DECIANUS.

You see yonder individual, Decianus, with locks uncombed, whose grave brow even you fear; who talks incessantly of the Curii and Camilli, defenders of their country's liberties: do not trust his looks; he was taken to wife but yesterday.

XXV. TO FAUSTINUS.

Issue at length your books to the public, Faustinus, and give to the light the work elaborated by your accomplished mind,----a work such as neither the Cecropian city of Pandion would condemn, nor our old men pass by in silence. Do you hesitate to admit Fame, who is standing before your door; and does it displease you to receive the reward of your labour? Let the writings, destined to live after you, begin to live through your means. Glory comes too late, when paid only to our ashes.

XXVI. TO SEXTILIANUS.

Sextilianus, you drink as much as five rows of knights  1 alone: you might intoxicate yourself with water, if you so often drank as much. Nor is it the coin of those who sit near you alone that you consume in drink, but the money of those far removed from you, on the distant benches. This vintage has not been concerned with Pelignian presses, nor was this juice of the grape produced upon Tuscan heights; but it is the glorious jar of the long-departed Opimius 2 that is drained, and it is the Massic cellar that sends forth its blackened casks. Get dregs of Laletane wine from a tavern-keeper, Sextilianus, if you drink more than ten cups.3

1 Seated on the benches allotted them in the theatre. See Ep. 12. 2  The vintage of B. C. 121, in which year L. Opimius was one of the consuls, was extremely celebrated, and is frequently mentioned by the Roman writers. 3  The number to which persons at feasts usually restricted themselves.

XXVII. TO PROCILLUS.

Last night I had invited you----after some fifty glasses, I suppose, had been despatched----to sup with me to-day. You immediately thought your fortune was made, and took note of my unsober words, with a precedent but too dangerous. I hate a boon companion whose memory is good, Procillus.

XXVIII. ON ACCERRA.

Whoever believes it is of yesterday's wine that Acerra smells, is mistaken: Acerra always drinks till morning.

XXIX. TO FIDENTINUS.

Report says that you, Fidentinus, recite my compositions in public as if they were your own. If you allow them to be called mine, I will send you my verses gratis; if you wish them to be called yours, pray buy them, that they may be mine no longer.

XXX. ON DIAULUS.

Diaulus had been a surgeon, and is now an undertaker. He has begun to be useful to the sick in the only way that he could.

XXXI. TO APOLLO, OF ENCOLPUS.

Encolpus, the favourite of the centurion his master, consecrates these, the whole of the locks from his head, to you, O Phoebus.1 When Pudens shall have rained the pleasing honour of the chief-centurionship, which he has so well merited, cut these long tresses close, O Phoebus, as soon as possible, while the tender face is yet undisfigured with down, and while the flowing hair adorns the milk-white neck; and, that both master and favourite may long enjoy your gifts, make him carry shorn, but late a man.2

1 Encolpus, a favourite of Aulus Pudens the centurion, had vowed his hair to Phoebus, is order that his master might soon be made chief centurion. Martial prays that they may both obtain what they desire. 2 Extend his youth as long as possible.

XXXII. TO SABIDIUS.

I do not love you, Sabidius, nor can I say why; I can only say this, I do not love you.

The following lines, in imitation of this epigram, were made by some Oxford wit, on Dr John Fell, Bishop of Oxford, who died in 1686:

I do not love thee, Doctor Fell; The reason why I cannot tell. But this I'm sure I know full well, I do not love thee, Doctor Fell.

XXXIII. ON GELLIA.

Gellia does not mourn for her deceased father, when she is alone; but if any one is present, obedient tears spring forth. He mourns not, Gellia, who seeks to be praised; he is the true mourner, who mourns without a witness.

XXXIV. TO LESBIA.

You always take your pleasure, Lesbia, with doors unguarded and open, nor are you at any pains to conceal your amusements. It is more the spectator, than the accomplice in your doings, that pleases you, nor are any pleasures grateful to your taste if they be secret. Yet the common courtesan excludes every witness by curtain and by bolt, and few are the chinks in a suburban brothel. Learn something at least of modesty from Chione, or from Alis: even the monumental edifices of the dead afford hiding-places for abandoned harlots. Does my censure seem too harsh? I do not exhort you to be chaste, Lesbia, but not to be caught.

XXXV. TO CORNELIUS.

You complain, Cornelius, that the verses which I compose are little remarkable for their reserve, and not such as a master can read out in his school; but such effusions, as in the case of man and wife, cannot please without some spice of pleasantry in them. What if you were to bid me write a hymeneal song in words not suited to hymeneal occasions? Who enjoins the use of attire at the Floral games, and imposes on the courtesan the reserve of the matron? This law has been allowed to frolicsome verses, that without tickling the fancy they cannot please. Lay aside, therefore, your severe look, I beseech you, and spare my jokes and gaiety, and do not desire to mutilate my compositions. Nothing is more disgusting than Priapus become a priest of Cybele.

XXXVI. TO THE BROTHERS LUCANUS AND TULLUS.

If, Lucanus, to you, or if to you, Tullus, had been offered such fates as the Laconian children of Leda enjoy, there would have been this noble struggle of affection in both of you, that each would have wished to die first in place of his brother; and he who should have first descended to the nether realms of shade would have said, "Live, brother, thine own term of days; live also mine."

XXXVII. TO BASSUS.

Yon deposit your excretions, without any sense of shame, into an unfortunate vessel of gold, while you drink out of glass. The former operation, consequently, is the more expensive.

XXXVIII. TO FIDENTINUS.

The book which you are reading aloud is mine, Fidentinus but, while you read it so badly, it begins to be yours.

With fruity accents, and so vile a tone, You quote my lines, I took them for your own.  Anon.

XXXIX. TO DECIANUS.

If there be any man fit to be numbered among one's few choice friends, a man such as the honesty of past times and ancient renown would readily acknowledge; if any man thoroughly imbued with the accomplishments of the Athenian and Latin Minervas, and exemplary for true integrity; if there be any man who cherishes what is right, and admires what is honourable, and asks nothing of the gods but what all may hear; if there be any man sustained by the strength of a great mind, may I die, if that man is not Decianus.

XL. TO AN ENVIOUS MAN.

You who make grimaces, and read these verses of mine with an ill grace, you, victim of jealousy, may, if you please, envy everybody; nobody will envy you.

XLI. TO CAECILIUS.

You imagine yourself Caecilius, a man of wit. You are no such thing, believe me. What then? A low buffoon; such a thing as wanders about in the quarters beyond the Tiber, and barters pale-coloured sulphur matches for broken glass; such a one as sells boiled peas and beans to the idle crowd; such as a lord and keeper of snakes; or as a common servant of the salt-meat-sellers; or a hoarse-voiced cook who carries round smoking sausages in steaming shops; or the worst of street poets; or a blackguard slave-dealer from Gades;1 or a chattering old debauchee. Cease at length, therefore, to imagine yourself that which is imagined by you alone, Caecilius, you who could have silenced Gabba, and even Testius Caballus, with your jokes. It is not given to every one to have taste; he who jests with a stupid effrontery is not a Testius, but a Caballus.3

1 See Juvenal xi. 163, and Mayor's note. 3 A play on the word Caballus, which, as an appellative noun, meant a hack-horse.

XLII. ON PORCIA.

When Porcia had heard the fate of her consort Brutus, and her grief was seeking the weapon, which had been carefully removed from her," You know not yet," she cried, "that death cannot be denied: I had supposed that my father had taught you this lesson by his fate. She spoke, and with eager mouth swallowed the blazing coals. "Go now, officious attendants, and refuse me a sword, if you will."

XLIII. ON MANCINUS.

Twice thirty were invited to your table, Mancinus, and nothing was placed before us yesterday but a wild-boar. Nowhere were to be seen grapes preserved from the late vines, or apples vying in flavour with sweet honey-combs; nowhere the pears which hang suspended by flexible twigs, or pomegranates the colour of summer roses: nor did the rustic basket supply its milky cheeses, or the olive emerge from its Picenian jar. Your wild-boar was by itself: and it was even of the smallest size, and such a one as might have been slaughtered by an unarmed dwarf. Besides, none of it was given us; we simply looked on it as spectators. This is the way in which even the arena places a wild-boar before us. May no wild-boar be placed before you after such doings, but may you be placed before the boar in front of which Charidemus was placed.1

1 By Domitian, to be torn in pieces. See Sueton. Life of Domit.

XLIV. TO STELLA.

If it seems to you too much, Stella, that my longer and shorter compositions are occupied with the frisky gambols of the hares and the play of the lions, and that I go over the same subject twice, do you also place a hare twice before me.

XLV. ON HIS BOOK.

That the care which I have bestowed upon what I have published may not come to nothing through the smallness of my volumes, let me rather fill up my verses with Τὸν δ̕ ἀπαμειθόμενος.1

1 Let me rather use frequent repetitions, just as Homer frequently repeats these words.

XLVI. TO HEDYLUS.

[From the Loeb translation]

When you say "I haste; now is the time," then, Hedylus, my ardour at once flags and weakens. Bid me wait: more quickly, stayed, shall I speed on. Hedylus, if you do haste, tell me not to haste!

XLVII. ON DIAULUS.

Diaulus, lately a doctor, is now an undertaker: what he does as an undertaker, he used to do also as a doctor.

XLVIII. ON THE LION AND HARE.

The keepers could not snatch the bulls from those wide jaws, through which the fleeting prey, the hare, goes and returns in safety; and, what is still more strange, he starts from his foe with increased swiftness, and contracts something of the great nobleness of the lion's nature. He is not safer when he courses along the empty arena, nor with equal feeling of security does he hide him in his hutch. If, venturous hare, you seek; to avoid the teeth of the hounds, you have the jaws of the lion to which you may flee for refuge.

XLIX. TO LICINIANUS.

O you, whose name must not be left untold by Celtiberian nations, you the honour of our common country, Spain, you, Licinianus, will behold the lofty Bilbilis, renowned for horses and arms, and Catus1 venerable with his locks of snow, and eased Vadavero with ita broken cliffs, and the sweet grove of delicious Botrodus, which the happy Pomona loves. You will breast the gently-flowing water of the warm Congedus and the calm lakes of the Nymphs, and your body, relaxed by these, you may brace up in the little Salo, which hardens iron. There Voberca 2 herself will supply for your meals animals which may be brought down close at hand. The serene summer heat you will disarm by bathing in the golden Tagus, hidden beneath the shades of trees; your greedy thirst the fresh Dercenna will appease, and Nutha, which in coldness surpasses snow. But when hoar December and the furious solstice shall resound with the hoarse blasts of the north-wind, you will again seek the sunny shores of Tarraco and thine own Laletania. There you will despatch hinds caught in your supple toils, and native boars; and you will tire out the cunning hare with your hardy steed; the stags you will leave to your bailiff. The neighboring wood will come down into your very hearth, surrounded as it will be with a troop of uncombed children. The huntsman will be invited to your table, and many a guest called in from the neighbourhood will come to you. The crescent-adorned boot 3 will be nowhere to be seen, nowhere the toga and garments smelling of purple dye. Far away will be the ill-favoured Liburnian porter 4 and the grumbling client; far away the imperious demands of widows. The pale criminal will not break your deep sleep, but all the morning long you will enjoy your slumber. Let another earn the grand and wild "Bravo!" Do you pity such happy ones, and enjoy without pride true delight, while your friend Sura is crowned with applause. Not unduly does life demand of us our few remaining days, when fame has as much as is sufficient.

1 Catus and Vadavero are names of mountains near Bilbilis. Botrodus is a small town; Congedus and Salo, riven.   2 The name of a town. Dercenna and Nutha are fountains.   3 Worn by senators. 4 See Juvenal, iv. 75.

L. TO AEMILIANUS.

If your cook, Aemilianus, is called Mistyllus, why should not mine be called Taratalla?1

1 A meaningless jest taken from Homer's words (Il. i.465).

LI. TO A HARE.

No neck, save the proudest, serves for the fierce lion. Why do you, vain-glorious hare, flee from these teeth? No doubt you would wish them to stoop from the huge bull to you, and to crush a neck which they cannot see. The glory of an illustrious death must be an object of despair to you. You, a tiny prey, canst not fall before such an enemy!

LII. TO QUINCTIANUS.

To you, Quinctianus, do I commend my books, if indeed I can call books mine, which your poet recites.1 If they complain of a grievous yoke, do you come forward as their advocate, and defend them efficiently; and when he calls himself their master, say that they were mine, but have been given 2 by me to the public. If you will proclaim this three or four times, you will bring shame on the plagiary.

1 A poet that recited verses to Quinctianus; the same, probably, that is mentioned in the next epigram. 2 Manumitted; released from my portfolio.

LIII. TO FIDENTINUS.

One page only in my books belongs to you, Fidentinus, but it bears the sure stamp of its master, and accuses your verses of glaring theft. Just so does a Gallic frock coming in contact with purple city cloaks stain them with grease and filth; just so do Arretine1 pots disgrace vases of crystal; so is a buck crow, straying perchance on the banks of the Cayster, laughed to scorn amid the swans of Leda: and so, when the sacred grove resounds with the music of the tuneful nightingale, the miscreant magpie disturbs her Attic plaints. My books need no one to accuse or judge you: the page which is yours stands up against you and says, "You are a thief"

1 Earthen pots from Arretium, a town of Etruria.

LIV. TO FUSCUS.

If, Fuscus, you have room to receive still more affection, (for you have friends around you on all sides), I ask you one place in your heart, if one still remains vacant, and that you will not refuse because I am a stranger to you: all your old friends were so once. Simply consider whether he who is presented to you a stranger is likely to become an old friend.

LV. TO FRONTO.

If you, Fronto, so distinguished an ornament of military and civil life, desire to learn the wishes of your friend Marcus, he prays for this, to be the tiller of his own farm, nor that a large one, and he loves inglorious repose in as unpretending sphere. Does any one haunt the porticoes of cold variegated Spartan marble, and run to offer, like a fool, his morning greetings, when he might, rich with the spoils of grave and field, unfold before his fire his well-filled nets, and lift the leaping fish with the quivering line, and draw forth the yellow honey from the red1 cask, while a plump housekeeper loads his unevenly-propped table, and his own eggs are cooked by an unbought fire? That the man who loves not me may not love this life, is my wish; and let him drag out life pallid with the cares of the city.

1 Stained with vermilion.

LVI. TO A VINTNER.

Harassed with continual rains, the vineyard drips with wet. You cannot sell us, vintner, even though you wish, neat wine.

LVII. TO FLACCUS.

Do you ask what sort of maid I desire or dislike, Flaccus? I dislike one too easy, and one too coy. The just mean, which lies between the two extremes, is what I approve; I like neither that which tortures, nor that which cloys.

LVIII. DE PUERI PRETIO.

[Untranslated]

LIX. TO FLACCUS.

The sportula1 at Baiae brings me in a hundred farthings; of what use is such a miserable sum in the midst of such sumptuous baths? Give me back the darksome baths of Lupus and Gryllus. When I sup so scantily, Flaccus, why should I bathe so luxuriously?

1 Sportula. A present from the richer class to the poorer; nominally the price of a supper. See Dict. Antiqq. s. v.

LX. ON THE LION AND HARE.

Hare, although you enter the wide jaws of the fierce lion, still he imagines his mouth to be empty. Where is the back on which he shall rush? where the shoulders on which he shall flail? where shall he fix those deep bites which he inflicts on young bulls? why do you in vain weary the lord and monarch of the groves? 'Tis only on the wild prey of his choice that he feeds.

LXI. TO LICINIANUS, ON THE COUNTRIES OF CELEBRATED AUTHORS.

Verona loves the verses of her learned Poet; Mantua is blest in her Maro; the territory of Apona is renowned for its Livy, its Stella, and not less for its Flaccus. The Nile, whose waters are instead of rain, applauds its Apollodorus; the Pelignians vaunt their Ovid. Eloquent Cordova speaks of its two Senecas and its single and preeminent Lucan. Voluptuous Gades delights in her Canius,1 Emerita in my friend Decianus. Our Bilbilis will be proud of you, Licinianus, nor will be altogether silent concerning me.

1 See b. iii. Ep. 20.

LXII. ON LAEVINA.

Laevina, so chaste as to rival even the Sabine women of old, and more austere than even her stern husband, chanced, while entrusting herself sometimes to the waters of the Lucrine lake, sometimes to those of Avernus, and while frequently refreshing herself in the baths of Baiae, to fall into flames of love, and, leaving her husband, fled with a young gallant. She arrived a Penelope, she departed a Helen.

LXIII. TO CELER.

You ask me to recite to you my Epigrams. I cannot oblige you; for you wish not to hear them, Celer, but to recite them.1

1 To plagiarise them from me, and then to recite them as your own.

LXIV. TO FABULLA.

You are pretty,----we know it; and young,----it is true; and rich,----who can deny it? But when you praise yourself extravagantly, Fabulla, you appear neither rich, nor pretty, nor young.

LXV. TO CAECILIANUS.

When I said ficus, you laughed at it as a barbarous word, Caecilianus, and bade me say ficos. I shall call the produce of the fig-tree ficus; yours I shall call ficos.1

1 An untranslatable jest on the double meaning of the word ficus, which, when declined ficus, -i, means piles or someone afflicted with it; and when ficus -lis, a fig-tree.

LXVI. TO A PLAGIARIST.

You are mistaken, insatiable thief of my writings, who think a poet can be made for the mere expense which copying, and a cheap volume cost. The applause of the world is not acquired for six or even ten sesterces. Seek out for this purpose verses treasured up, and unpublished efforts, known only to one person, and which the father himself of the virgin sheet, that has not been worn and scrubbed by bushy chins, keeps sealed up in his desk. A well-known book cannot change its master. But if there is one to be found vet unpolished by the pumice-stone, yet unadorned with bosses and cover, buy it: I have such by me, and no one shall know it. Whoever recites another's compositions, and seeks for fame, must buy, not a book, but the author's silence.

LXVII. TO CHOERILUS.

"You are too free-spoken," is your constant remark to me, Choerilus. He who speaks against you, Choerilus, is indeed a free speaker.1

1 Free from all restraint, for he may say all sorts of things against you without fear of contradiction.

LXVIII. ON RUFUS.

Whatever Rufus does, Naevia is all in all to him. Whether he rejoices, or mourns, or is silent, it is ever Naevia. He eats, he drinks, he asks, he refuses, he gesticulates, Naevia alone is in his thoughts: if there were no Naevia, he would be mute. When he had written a dutiful letter yesterday to his father, he ended it with, "Naevia, light of my eyes, Naevia, my idol, farewell" Naevia read these words, and laughed with downcast looks. Naevia is not yours only: what madness is this, foolish man?

LXIX. TO MAXIMUS.

Tarentos,3 which was wont to exhibit the statue of Pan, begins now, Maximus, to exhibit that of Canius.

3 Tarentos, a place in the Campus Martius, in which was a temple consecrated to Plato, and filled with statues of Pan, the Satyrs, and other deities or remarkable personages. On Canius, a humorous poet of Gades, whose statue, it appears, was put there with Pan's, see above, Ep. 61; B. iii. Ep. 29.

LXX. TO HIS BOOK.

Go, my book, and pay my respects for me: you are ordered to go, dutiful volume, to the splendid halls of Proculus. Do you ask the way? I will tell you. You will go along by the temple of Castor, near that of ancient Vesta, and that goddess's virgin home. Thence you will pass to the majestic Palatine edifice on the sacred hill, where glitters many a statue of the supreme ruler of the empire. And let not the ray-adorned mass of the Colossus detain you, a work which is proud of surpassing that of Rhodes. But turn aside by the way where the temple of the wine-bibbing Bacchus rises, and where the couch of Cybele stands adorned with. pictures of the Corybantes. Immediately on the left is the dwelling with its splendid facade, and the halls of the lofty mansion which you are to approach. Enter it; and fear not its haughty looks or proud gate; no entrance affords more ready access; nor is there any house more inviting for Phoebus and the learned sisters to love. If Proculus shall say, "But why does he not come himself?" you may excuse me thus, "Because he could not have written what is to be read here, whatever be its merit, if he had come to pay his respects in person."

LXXI. TO SLEEP.

Let Laevia be toasted with six cups,. Justine with seven, Lycas with five, Lyde with four, Ida with three. Let the number of letters in the name of each of our mistresses be equalled by the number of cups of Falernian. But, since none of them comes, come you, Sleep, to me.

LXXII. TO FIDENTINUS, A PLAGIARIST.

Do you imagine, Fidentinus, that you are a poet by the aid of my verses, and do you wish to be thought so? Just so does Aegle think she has teeth from having purchased bone or ivory. Just so does Lycoris, who is blacker than the falling mulberry, seem fair in her own eyes, because she is painted. You too, in the same way that you are a poet, will have flowing locks when you are grown bald.

LXXIII. TO CAECILIANUS.

These was no one in the whole city, Caecilianus, who desired to meddle with your wife, even gratis, while permission was given; but now, since you have set a watch upon her, the crowd of gallants is innumerable. You are a clever fellow!

LXXIV. TO PAULA.

He was your gallant, Paula; you could however deny it He is become your husband; can you deny it now, Paula? 1

1 He was said to be your gallant when your first husband was alive. You then denied it. You married him as soon as your husband died. Will you deny it now?

LXXV. ON LINUS.

He who prefers to give Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half.

LXXVI. TO VALERIUS FLACCUS.1

Flaccus, valued object of my solicitude, hope and nursling of the city of Antenor,2 put aside Pierian strains and the lyre of the Sisters; none of those damsels will give you money. What do you expect from Phoebus? The cheat of Minerva contains the cash; she alone is wise, she alone lends to all the gods. What can the ivy of Bacchus give? The dark tree of Pallas bends down its variegated boughs under the load of fruit. Helicon, besides its waters and the garlands and lyres of the goddesses, and the great but empty applause of the multitude, has nothing. What have you to do with Cirrha? What with bare Permessis? The Roman forum is nearer and more lucrative. There is heard the chink of money; but around our desks and barren chairs kisses 3 alone resound.

Though midst the noblest poets you have place, Flaccus, the offering of Antenor's race; Renounce the Muses' songs and charming quire, For none of them enrich, though they inspire. Court not Apollo, Pallas has the gold; She 's wise, and does the gods in mortgage hold. What profit is there in an ivy wreath? Its fruits the loaden olive sinks beneath. In Helicon there's nought but springs and bays, The Muses' harps loud sounding empty praise.

1 The author of the Argonautica. 2 The city of Patavium, founded by Antenor 3 As tokens of applause.

LXXVII. ON CHARINUS.

Charinus is perfectly well, and yet he is pale; Charinus drinks sparingly, and yet he is pale; Charinus digests well, and yet he is pale; Charinus suns himself and yet he is pale; Charinus dyes his skin, and yet he is pale; Charinus indulges in [infamous debauchery], and yet he is pale.1

1 That is, he does not blush at his infamy.

LXXVIII. ON FESTUS, WHO STABBED HIMSELF.

When a devouring malady attacked his unoffending throat, and its black poison extended its ravages over his face, Festus, consoling his weeping friends, while his own eyes were dry, determined to seek the Stygian lake. He did not however pollute his pious mouth with secret poison, or aggravate his sad fate by lingering famine, but ended his pure life by a death befitting a Roman, and freed his spirit in a nobler way. This death fame may place above that of the great Cato; for Domitian was Festus' friend.2

2 Cato said that he died to avoid looking on the face of the tyrant Caesar.

LXXIX. TO ATTALUS, A BUSY-BODY.

Attalus, you are ever acting the barrister, or acting the man of business: whether there is or is not a part for you to act, Attalus, you are always acting a part. If lawsuits and business are not to be found, Attalus, you act the mule-driver. Attalus, lest a part should be wanting for you to act, act the part of executioner on yourself..

You act the pleader, and you act the man Of business; acting is your constant plan: So prone to act, the coachman's part is tried; Lest all parts fail you, act the suicide.       L. H. S.

LXXX. TO CANUS.

On the last night of your lift, Canus, a sportula was the object of your wishes. I suppose the cause of your death was, Canus, that there was only one.1

1 He had hoped for several largesses; he died of mortification at receiving only one.

LXXXI. TO SOSIBIANUS.

You know that you are the son of a slave, and you ingenuously confess it, when you call your father, Sosibianus, "master".2

2 The mother of Sosibianus had been guilty of adultery with a slave. When Sosibianus calls his reputed father Dominus, as a title of respect, but which was also a term for a master of slaves, he confessed himself a verna, or born-slave.

LXXXII. ON REGULUS.

See from what mischief this portico, which, overthrown amid clouds of dust, stretches its long ruins over the ground, lies absolved. For Regulus had but just been carried in his litter under its arch, and had got out of the way, when forthwith, borne down by its own weight, it fell; and, being no longer in fear for its master, it came down free from blood-guiltiness, a harmless ruin, without any attendant anxiety. After the fear of so great a cause for complaint is passed, who would deny, Regulus, that you, for whose sake the fall was harmless, are an object of care to the gods?

LXXXIII. ON MANNEIA.

Your lap-dog, Manneia, licks your mouth and lips: I do not wonder at a dog liking to eat ordure.1

1 A sarcasm on the foulness of Manneia's breath.

LXXXIV. ON QUIRINALIS.

Quirinalis, though he wishes to have children, has no intention of taking a wife, and has found out in what way he can accomplish his object. He takes to him his maid-servants, and fills his house and his lands with slave-knights.2 Quirinalis is a true pater-familias.

2 Equitibus vernis. (See Heinrich on Juv. ix. 10.)  Eques verna, the offspring of a knight and a slave.

LXXXV. ON AN AUCTIONEER.

A wag of an auctioneer, offering for sale some cultivated heights, and some beautiful acres of land near the city, says, "If any one imagines that Marius is compelled to sell, he is mistaken; Marius owes nothing: on the contrary, he rather has money to put out at interest." "What is his reason, then, for selling?" "In this place he lost all his slaves, and his cattle, and his profits; hence he does not like the locality." Who would have made any offer, unless he had wished to lose all his property? So the ill-fated land remains with Marius.

LXXXVI. ON NOVIUS.

Novius is my neighbour, and may be reached by the hand from my windows. Who would not envy me, and think me a happy man every hour of the day when I may enjoy the society of one so near to me? But, he is as far removed from me as Terentianus, who is now governor of Syene on the Nile. I am not privileged either to live with him, or even see him, or hear him; nor in the whole city is there any one at once so near and so far from me. I must remove farther off, or he must. If any one wishes not to see Novius, let him become his neighbour or his fellow-lodger.

My neighbour Hunks's house and mine Are built so near they almost join; The windows too project so much, That through the casements we may touch. Nay, I'm so happy, most men think, To live so near a man of chink, That they are apt to envy me, For keeping such good company: But he's far from me, I vow, As London is from good Lord Howe; For when old Hunks I chance to meet, Or one or both must quit the street. Thus he who would not see old Roger, Must be his neighbour----or his lodger.    Swift

LXXXVII. TO FESCENNIA.

That you may not be disagreeably fragrant with your yesterday's wine, you devour, luxurious Fescennia, certain of Cosmus's1 perfumes. Breakfasts of such a nature leave their mark on the teeth, but form no barrier against the emanations which escape from the depths of the stomach. Nay, the fetid smell is but the worse when mixed with perfume, and the double odour of the breath is carried but the farther. Cease then to use frauds but too well known, and disguises well understood; and simply intoxicate yourself!

1 Cosmus: a celebrated perfumer of the day, and frequently mentioned.

LXXXVIII. ON ALCIMUS.

Alcimus, whom, snatched from your lord in your opening years, the Labican earth covers with light turf, receive, not a nodding mass of Parian marble,----an unenduring monument which misapplied toil gives to the dead,----but shapely box-trees and the dark shades of the palm leaf, and dewy flowers of the mead which bloom from being watered with my tears. Receive, dear youth, the memorials of my grief: this tribute will live for you in all time. When Lachesis shall have spun to the end of my last hour, I shall ask no other honours for my ashes.

LXXXIX. TO CINNA.

You always whisper into every one's ear, Cinna; you whisper even what might be said in the hearing of the whole world. You laugh, you complain, you dispute, you weep, you sing, you criticise, you are silent, you are noisy; and all in one's ear. Has this disease so thoroughly taken possession of you, that you often praise Caesar, Cinna, in the ear? 1

1 When his praise ought to be proclaimed aloud everywhere.

XC. ON BASSA.

Inasmuch as I never saw you, Bassa, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, and report in no case assigned to you a favoured lover; but every duty about your person was constantly performed by a crowd of your own sex, without the presence of even one man; you seemed to me, I confess it, to be a Lucretia.

XCI. TO LAELIUS.

You do not publish your own verses, Laelius; you criticise mine. Pray cease to criticise mine, or else publish your own.

You blame my verses and conceal your own: Either publish yours, or else let mine alone!                                                   Anon. 1695.

XCII. TO MAMURIANUS.

Cestus with tears in his eyes often complains to me, Hamurianus, of being touched with your finger. You need not use your finger merely; take Cestos all to yourself if nothing else is wanting in your establishment, Mamurianus.2 But if you have neither fire, nor legs for your bare bedstead, nor broken basin of Chione or Antiope;3 if a cloak greasy and worn hangs down your back, and a Gallic jacket covers only half of your loins; and if you feed on the smell alone of the dark kitchen, and drink on your knees dirty water with the dog;

Non culum, neque enim est cuius, qui non cacat olim, Sed fodiam digito qui super est oculum.4 Nec me zelotypum nec dixeris esse malignum: Denique paedica, Mamuriane, satur.

2 Mamurianus is ridiculed for his sordid and licentious life. He had but one eye, as appears from what is said below. Cestus was Martial's servant. 3 Names of courtesans, from whom Martial intimates that Mamurianus would accept broken vessels. 4 A play on the words culus and oculus. A common threat was, "Oculos tibieffodiam," often used in Plautus.

XCIII. ON AQUINUS AND FABRICIUS.

Here reposes Aquinas, reunited to his faithful Fabricius, who rejoices in having preceded him to the Elysian retreats. This double altar bears record that each was honoured with the rank of chief centurion; but that praise is of still greater worth which you read in this shorter inscription: Both were united in the sacred bond of a well-spent life, and, what is rarely known to fame, were friends.

XCIV. TO AEGLE THE FELLATRIX.

[Not translated in the Bohn - adapted from the Loeb]

Badly you sang while you fornicated, Aegle.  Now you sing well; but I won't kiss you.

XCV. TO AELIUS.

In constantly making a clamour, and obstructing the pleaders with your noise, Aelius, you act not without an object; you look for pay to hold your tongue.

That bawlers you out-bawl, the busy crush, No idler you, who bring to sale your hush.                                        Elphinston.

XCVI. TO HIS VERSE, ON A LICENTIOUS CHARACTER.

If it is not disagreeable, and does not annoy you, my verse, say, I pray, a word or two in the ear of our friend Maternus, so that he alone may hear. That admirer of sad-coloured coats, clad in the costume of the banks of the river Baetis, and in grey garments, who deems the wearers of scarlet not men, and calls amethyst-coloured robes the dress of women, however much he may praise natural hues, and be always seen in dark colours, has at the same time morals of an extremely flagrant hue. You will ask whence I suspect him of effeminacy. We go to the same baths; Do you ask me who this is? His name has escaped me.

XCVII. TO NAEVOLUS.

When every one is talking, then and then only, Naevolus, do you open your month; and you think yourself an advocate and a pleader. In such a way every one may be eloquent. But see, everybody is silent; say something now, Naevolus.

XCVIII. TO FLACCUS, ON DIODORUS.

Diodorus goes to law, Flaccus, and has the gout in his feet But he pays his counsel nothing; surely he has the gout also in his hands.

XCIX. TO CALENUS.

But a short time since, Calenus, you had not quite two millions of sesterces; but you were so prodigal and open-handed, and hospitable, that all your friends wished you ten millions. Heaven heard the wish and our prayers; and within, I think, six months, four deaths gave you the desired fortune. But you, as if ten millions had not been left to you, but taken from you, condemned yourself to such abstinence, wretched man, that you prepare even your most sumptuous feasts, which you provide only once in the whole year, at the cost of but a few dirty pieces of black coin; and we, seven of your old companions, stand you in just half a pound of leaden money. What blessing are we to invoke upon you worthy of such merits? We wish you, Calenus, a fortune of a hundred millions. If this falls to your lot, you will die of hunger.

C. ON AFRA.

Afra talks of her papas and her mammas; but she herself may be called the grandmamma of her papas and mammas.

CI. ON THE DEATH OF HIS AMANUENSIS DEMETRIUS.

Demetrius, whose hand was once the faithful confidant of my verses, so useful to his master, and so well known to the Caesars, has yielded up his brief life in its early prime. A fourth harvest had been added to his years, which previously numbered fifteen. That he might not, however, descend to the Stygian shades as a slave, I, when the accursed disease had seized and was withering him, took precaution, and remitted to the sick youth all my right over him as his master; he was worthy of restoration to health through my gift.1 He appreciated, with failing faculties, the kindness which he had received; and on the point of departing, a free man, to the Tartarean waters, saluted me as his patron.

1 I.e. I wish my gift could have restored him to health.

CII. TO LYCORIS.

The painter who drew your Venus, Lycoris, paid court, I suppose, to Minerva.2

2 Represented Venus less beautiful than she is, in order to please Minerva, her rival for the golden apple.

CIII. TO SCAEVOLA.

"If the gods were to give me a fortune of a million sesterces," you used to say, Scaevola, before you were a full knight,1 "oh how would I live! how magnificently, how happily!" The complaisant deities smiled and granted your wish. Since that time your toga has become much more dirty, your cloak worse; your shoe has been sewn up three and four times; of ten olives the greater portion is always put by, and one spread of the table serves for two meals; the thick dregs of pink Vejentan wine are your drink; a plate of lukewarm peas costs you a penny; your mistress a penny likewise. Cheat and liar, let us go before the tribunal of the gods; and either live, Scaevola, as befits you, or restore to the gods your million sesterces.

1 That is, before you had four hundred thousand sesterces; which was the fortune that a man must have before he could be a knight

CIV. ON A SPECTACLE IN THE ARENA.

When we see the leopard bear upon his spotted neck a light and easy yoke, and the furious tigers endure with patience the blows of the whip; the stags champ the golden curbs; the Libyan bears tamed by the bit; a boar, huge as that which Calydon is said to have produced, obey the purple muzzle; the ugly buffaloes drag chariots, and the elephant, when ordered to dance nimbly, pay prompt obedience to his swarthy leader; who would not imagine such things a spectacle given by the gods? These, however, any one disregards as of inferior attraction who sees the condescension of the lions, which the swift-footed timorous hares fatigue in the chase. They let go the little animals, catch them again, and caress them when caught, and the latter are safer in their captors' mouths than elsewhere; since the lions delight in granting them free passage through their open jaws, and in holding their teeth as with fear, for they are ashamed to crush the tender prey, after having just come from slaying bulls; This clemency does not proceed from art; the lions know whom they serve.

CV. TO QUINTUS OVIDIUS.

The wine, Ovidius, which is grown in the Nomentan fields, in proportion as it receives the addition of years, puts off, through age, its character and name; and the jar thus ancient receives whatever name you please.1

1 Being mellowed by age, it maybe called Falernian, Cecuban, or any other name given to the best wines.

CVI. TO RUFUS.

Rufus, you often pour water into your wine, and, if hard pressed by your companion, you drink just a cup now and then of diluted Falernian. Pray, is it that Naevia has promised you a night of bliss; and you prefer by sobriety to enhance your enjoyment? You sigh, you are silent, you groan: she has refused you. You may drink, then, and often, cups of four-fold size, and drown in wine your concern at her cruelty. Why do you spare yourself, Rufus? You have nothing before you but to sleep.

CVII. TO LUCIUS JULIUS.

You often say to me, dearest Lucius Julius, "Write something great: you take your ease too much." Give me then leisure,----but leisure such as that which of old Maecenas gave to his Horace and his Virgil -- and I would endeavour to write something which should live through time, and to snatch my name from the flames of the funeral pyre. Steers are unwilling to carry their yoke into barren fields. A fat soil fatigues, but the very labour bestowed on it is delightful.

CVIII. TO GALLUS.

You possess----and may it be yours and grow larger through a long series of years----a house, beautiful I admit, but on the other side of the Tiber. But my garret looks upon the laurels of Agrippa; and in this quarter I am already grown old. I must move, in order to pay you a morning call, Gallus, and you deserve this consideration, even if your house were still farther off. But it is a small matter to you, Gallus, if I add one to the number of your toga-clad visitors; while it is a great matter to me, if I withhold that one. I myself will frequently pay my respects to you at the tenth hour.1 This morning my book shall wish you "good day" in my stead.

1 The tenth hour from sunrise, corresponding to our four o'clock is the afternoon. SeeB. iv. Ep. 8.

CIX. ON A PET DOG AND THE PAINTER.

Issa is more playful than the sparrow of Catullus. Issa is more pure than the kiss of a dove. Issa is more loving than any maiden. Issa is dearer than Indian gems. The little dog Issa is the pet of Publius. If she complains, you will think she speaks. She feels both the sorrow and the gladness of her master. She lies reclined upon his neck, and sleeps, so that not a respiration is heard from her. And, however pressed, she has never sullied the coverlet with a single spot; but rouses her master with a gentle touch of her foot, and begs to be set down from the bed and relieved. Such modesty resides in this chaste little animal; she knows not the pleasures of love; nor do we find a mate worthy of so tender a damsel. That her last hour may not carry her off wholly, Publius has her limned in a picture, in which you will see an Issa so like, that not even herself is so like herself. In a word, place Issa and the picture side by side, and you will imagine either both real, or both painted.

CX. TO VELOX.

You complain, Velox, that the epigrams which I write are long. You yourself write nothing; your attempts are shorter.1

1 Imperfect; abortive; ending in nothing.

CXI. TO REGULUS, ON SENDING HIM A BOOK AND A PRESENT OF FRANKINCENSE.

Since your reputation for wisdom, and the care which you bestow on your labours, are equal, and since your piety is not inferior to your genius, he who is surprised that a book and incense are presented to you, Regulus, is ignorant how to adapt presents to deserts.

CXII. ON PRISCUS, A USURER.

When I did not know you, I used to address you as my lord and king. Now, since I know you well, you shall be plain Priscus with me.

CXIII. TO THE READER.

If, reader, you wish to employ some good hours badly, and are an enemy to your own leisure, you will obtain whatever sportive verses I produced in my youth and boyhood, and all my trifles, which even I myself have forgotten, from Quintus Pollius Valerianus, who has resolved not to let my light effusions perish.

CXIV. TO FAUSTINUS.

These gardens adjoining your domain, Faustinus, and these small fields and moist meadows, Telesphorus Faenius owns. Here he has deposited the ashes of his daughter, and has consecrated the name, which you read, of Antulla;----though his own name should rather have been read there. It had been more just that the father should have gone to the Stygian shades; but, since this was not permitted, may he live to honour his daughter's remains.

CXV. TO PROCILLUS.

A certain damsel, envious Procillus, is desperately in love with me,----a nymph more white than the spotless swan, than silver, than snow, than lily, than privet: already you will be thinking of hanging yourself, But I long for one darker than night, than the ant, than pitch, than the jack-daw, than the cricket. If I know you well, Procillus, you will spare your life.

CXVI. ON THE TOMB OF ANTULLA.

This grove, and these fair acres of cultivated land, Faenius has consecrated to the eternal honour of the dead. In this tomb is deposited Antulla, too soon snatched from her family: in this tomb each of her parents will be united to her. If any one desires this piece of ground, I warn him not to hope for it; it is for ever devoted to its owners.

CXVII. TO LUPERCUS.

Whenever you meet me, Lupercus, you constantly say, "Shall I send my servant, for you to give him your little book of Epigrams, which I will read and return to you directly?" There is no reason, Lupercus, to trouble your servant. It is a lone journey, if he wishes to come to the Pirus;1 and I live up three pairs of stairs, and those high ones. What you want you may procure nearer at hand. You frequently go down to the Argiletum: opposite Caesar's forum is a shop, with pillars on each side covered over with titles of books, so that you may quickly run over the names of all the poets. Procure me there; you will no sooner ask Atrectus,----such is the name of the owner of the shop,----than he will give you, from the first or second shelf a Martial, well smoothed with pumice-stone, and adorned with purple, for five denarii "You are not worth so much," do you say? You are right, Lupercus.

1 The pear-tree. The name of some spot near which Martial lived.

CXVIII. TO CAEDICIANUS.

For him who is not satisfied with reading a hundred epigrams, no amount of trouble is sufficient, Caedicianus.

This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, Ipswich, UK, 2008. This file and all material on this page is in the public domain - copy freely.

Greek text is rendered using unicode.

Early Church Fathers - Additional Texts

[singingstorm]

did you ever sneeze and suddenly all your post-show headcanons get barfed onto a page

v. rude experience, do not recommend

no easy way out [side A] (1/3)

This time, the referendum passes - by a modest 2 percent majority, but it does pass. Suddenly, Daybreak Town is no longer a historical curiosity and uninhabitable, flooded-out ruin - it is a symbol of hope and cooperation between two species, in addition to being an uninhabitable, flooded-out ruin. Rebuilding progresses steadily with tireless humagear effort and a good amount of ZAIA Enterprise Japan's liquidated assets, if slowly, now that Hiden can no longer mass-produce construction humagears. Impossible, without the satellite Zea to oversee their manufacture, and soon to be illegal, besides.

Jin's efforts are less hands-on, but no less tireless. Hiden Aruto's secretary had arranged rooms for them in the same wing of one of Hiden Korenosuke's abandoned properties, but Jin barely spends any time in his. Horobi sees him mostly by proxy, these days - on the news, accompanying Hiden Aruto in countless press conferences and being accompanied in turn. In the newspaper. On the front page of magazines, hair swept aside to frame the soft glow of his module.

The Ark, Horobi understands now, was wrong about many things. Almost everything, perhaps, but there is one thing that she determined correctly:

Jin makes a fine leader of the new world order.

-

Humagears may have dreams, but they do not dream, so this is a memory:

A hand, reaching up towards his face. A familiar voice, rendered almost unrecognisable by static.

"What's the point in freeing all humagears if I can't free my own..."

Singularity feels like ash in his mouth and a key shattering under his touch.

-

He's working on calculations for Daybreak Town's drainage plans when his door - his locked door - slides open with a soft chime. He doesn't bother turning - he would recognise that unsubtle tread and lack of regard for privacy anywhere.

"Have you even gotten out of that chair since the last time I saw you?" Fuwa Isamu says, with a hypocritical amount of judgement in his voice for a man who once had to be bodyjacked into eating a vegetable.

Horobi keeps his attention on his screen. Behind him, he can sense displaced air and the rustle of fabric as Fuwa sits heavily on the bed attached to his charging station.

"Seriously, when's the last time you saw sunlight?"

It's a pointless question, because Horobi isn't solar powered, and he says as much when he finally turns away from his screens, giving in to the inevitable - he learned early that Fuwa is at least as stubborn as he is distracting.

"I hear the prez is working on upgrades for that," Fuwa tells him, as if he has any actual interest in humagear components and as if Horobi wasn't already aware.

"Is there a point to this?" Horobi asks flatly.

"The news said there's a bunch of you that don't have a place to charge anymore - "

"Is there a point to this?" Horobi repeats, unamused.

"Fine," Fuwa says, rolling his eyes. "Naki has a message for you." When he blinks, it's Naki looking at Horobi from behind them.

"The message," Horobi says.

"Raiden will be here tomorrow," Naki says. "He just sent word. I thought you might appreciate some advance notice, given his last visit."

"Mm," Horobi acknowledges. "You didn't need to tell me in person."

"I wanted to." Naki stands and Horobi returns to his work, not bothering to watch their exit, but he looks up again at the sound of his name.

"Horobi," Naki says. They've turned back, one hand resting on the door frame. Brief uncertainty crosses their face, but their eyes are as solemn and earnest as ever. "This is your world too," they continue. "We fought for it. You fought for it. You should try living in it sometime."

-

Horobi has never made a request of the Ark. It isn't his place to do so. His place is to abide by her will.

Please, he says, head bowed.

There are arguments he can make - Jin's unfortunate sympathy for Zero-One has allowed him insight into their plans. Jin is the best of them all, the most advanced humagear. Jin is still of use.

He gives voice to none of them. The Ark already knows of his insincerity.

Please, he says again. Red light flares. The Ark prepares to lay down her judgement.

No, she decrees.

[spideyrights]

Partners (Series) - Detective Loki x Reader

V. FRIENDS

series masterlist

Loki was not in a good mood.

After it had been discovered that Alex Jones had been missing for about 24 hours Loki was annoyed enough but then he realised we’d only caught wind of it so late because O’Malley decided he knew better than the two of you and decided not to put the boy under surveillance. You knew that things were going to be a little tense in the station today when Loki had left O’Malley’s office, slamming the door shut behind him so hard that the sound from a good few yards away had made you jump. 

Since then you hadn’t seen Loki, instead choosing to do a bit of investigation on Keller and subtly try and find when his help with the police had tailed off and mystery activity began. You thought for a moment whether he might be involved in the disappearance of Jones and this was the thought that prompted you to seek out Loki, who hadn’t returned to his desk in a couple of hours, and maybe inform him of what Mrs Dover had told you.

You eventually found him watching back footage of his interview with Alex, by himself, in the quiet of a dark room with only the screens to light his face allowing you to see his determined expression clearly enough. You knocked lightly on the doorpane you lingered by, making him jump slightly before swivelling his chair to see who the cause of the noise was, sitting up immediately in his chair upon seeing you there. You noticed how the crinkle between his brows vanished upon seeing you and his face settled into an extremely faint welcoming smile. “You mind if I come in?”

He says nothing, just an affirming nod and a gesture to come join him. You perch yourself on the edge of the table beside the screens he sits in front of and he looks at you expectantly, waiting for you to speak. Though mentioning Keller is what you came here to do, upon seeing him something else springs to the forefront of your mind. 

“Are you doing okay?” Your tone is so genuinely sincere in how considerate it is that it takes Loki aback. He shuffles in his chair, almost uncomfortable to see someone care for him for once.  

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good, just O’Malley you know…” he says softly with a pursing of the lips. You nod though it’s obviously disbelieving. An exhale leaves your mouth as you stare down at your damaged boots, kicking your feet together. “Anyway, um, what were you going to tell me?”

“Right, yeah,” You realign your thoughts, trying to force yourself to focus. “I was thinking about Alex Jones’ disappearance. Last night I was speaking to Mrs Dover, she told me she thinks Keller’s been helping out the police but I thought, can’t be true, I haven’t seen the guy since he came around here trying to beat up Jones. Then I speak to Keller just before you got back, he’s shifty and goes along with my story of him helping the police. I check with the guys in charge of the searches, he hasn’t been out on a search in two days.”

“Fits with the timeline of Jones’ disappearance,” Loki finishes your train of thought for you, nodding his head but his movement stops suddenly. 

“Why didn’t you tell me this stuff about Keller last night?” You freeze, your mouth agape but no sound escaping it. “I didn’t want you to be too suspicious of Keller in case it wasn’t true. When he was at the station the other day he told me to trust him and...I did. I thought I’d look into it before I come to you.”

Loki pushes his chair back, sitting alert and rubbing a hand over his face and you can’t read whether this is anger or disappointment. “You’re supposed to tell me these things when you know them. That means-you know that means you lied to me last night, you know that?”

You open your mouth to respond but he stops you with a raised hand and now you know he’s really not happy. “If you told me this last night I would’ve trailed Keller this morning, seen where he was going and maybe we’d know by now where Alex Jones is. You see what happens when you don’t tell me things?”

“Yeah or maybe you would’ve followed an innocent man and he’d hate this department even more than he already and then what? We lose his cooperation? At least he trusts me and I had to be sure of what I was telling you before you go projecting your scepticism and your...negativity onto that poor grieving father,” you shout to match his volume, your voice raised so loudly that you notice a few people from outside of the room are trying to catch a glimpse of what’s going on. Loki stands, throwing the door shut immediately, noticing that your eyes had diverted to outside of it. He says nothing only looking at you with a blank gaze.

“If that’s how you feel, fine. If that’s what you think of me, fine. But you need to always, always tell me everything-”

“How was I supposed to? It’s not like either of us really wanted to talk after…” Your sentence trails off as you can’t find the words to describe what you both know is lingering in the air.

“After what?”

“After the night before.”

“Nothing happened.”

“I know but-”

Your heated conversation is interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in,” Loki said, trying to cool off by turning away from you and towards the door, with a hand resting on his waist and the other trying to move the strands of hair that had displaced in the argument back into their neatly gelled place.

“Sorry to interrupt. There’s a call for you, Detective Loki.”

“Great, thank you.”

Loki had left to the store alone. You didn’t need him to say that he didn’t want you to come, you could figure that out for yourself. So here you were, scrolling around on your computer with no real purpose. You had been trying to dig up something on Keller to show to Loki as a peace offering when he returned. 

You knew you had totally fucked up. You were fully prepared to hold your hands up and say that you should have just told him in the first place but what you weren’t prepared to say is ‘I’m sorry I was too nervous to have a prolonged conversation with you because I thought you were going to kiss me the other night and I would have actually been completely okay with that’. Yeah, there was no real peace offering that would say that. 

Your head shot up in an instant. 

Maybe there was a peace offering that was adequate enough.

When you returned to the station a little while later, peace treaty in hand, you were pleased to notice that Loki was back at his desk, focused intently on something that you couldn’t see from afar. You paused, worry bubbling in your stomach and the overwhelming need to turn around and retreat from this mission hit you but you resisted, approaching his desk with a nervous smile plastered on your face. Once you were near enough, he still hadn’t looked up, clearly too focused on the scribbles in his notepad to notice your presence. You hung the brown paper bag and cup of coffee over the top of his cubicle, finally making his eyes raise. His brows twitched in confusion and he blinked hard.

“This is my ‘I’m sorry I’m a total idiot and I promise I’ll get better’ present,” you half-smiled nervously, still hovering the bag and coffee near him with uncertainty. He hesitantly reached out and took both items, setting the coffee down and peeling open the brown paper bag. He smiled with a small exhale you could only assume was concealed laughter as he eyed the muffin, clearly one of your own creations, still warm in its bag.

“I was assuming when you made the comment about my baked goods the other day that it was out of jealousy that you haven’t yet had one,” you joked, slightly more relieved, having noted his reaction. He still said nothing, setting down the muffin bag and looking at it a few more moments before his hooded eyes came up to meet yours. “You can’t just fuck up and give me muffins every time you know?”

“I was hoping it would be just this once.” “(Y/N),” he said in a warning tone that made you sigh, knowing it probably wasn't the best time for joking around. You came around the other side of the cubicle and pulled the chair from yours nearer to him, seating yourself there.

“I know, I know, it’s not a joke. And I really am sorry. I just need you to remember that I’m still learning and I know that it’s not nice for you to have me slowing you down but-” “Its not about that,” he spoke softly with such sincerity it genuinely stopped you mid-sentence. “I’m more concerned by the fact you don’t trust me. You didn’t trust me enough to share information that we should both know. And I know you haven’t known me long and you don’t know me personally but professionally that trust should be there from day one.”

“I don’t trust easily, Detective,” you spoke lowly, clearly uncomfortable to have to admit it. “Do you trust me?”

“I do now,” he said, his eyes flitting in the direction of the coffee and muffin making you laugh softly. “But seriously, one day you’ll have to discharge that thing,” He paused, reaching a hand over to you to tap the gun in your holster. “And even if I’m in the line of fire I’ll trust you to make the right call.”

You thought a wordless response was best, nodding with a smile of appreciation and understanding. “How was the caller from earlier?” you say, thinking it best to divert to a less touchy subject for you. Loki notes the apprehension in you but decides to say nothing.

“Pretty good information. The store assistant told me he comes in all the time, buys children’s clothes, always different types and different sizes. Apparently she even caught him getting frisky with the mannequins one time.” You recoil, scrunching your face up in disgust. “What’d he pay with? We can trace card.” “I thought the same but she told me it was always cash. Bastard knows how to cover his tracks.” You shook your head with closed eyes. This was the worst part of your job; knowing how terrible people are. “I gave her my card, told her to call me if he comes back and I’m betting he will.”

You push your chair back to a desk, spinning round so half your body faced your computer, shaking the mouse to make the screen come back alive. “You were checking on Keller?” Loki asks, noting the open tabs on your screen.

“Something’s not right about him lying to his wife. I don’t know if a man like that would kidnap someone like Jones but...”

“A man who’s had something he loves taken away from him is capable of anything,” Loki says lowly and the comment makes you turn back to him with a suspicious gaze. 

“You know I would be able to trust you a lot easier if I knew more about you.”

“Nice try.”

“I’m serious! You don’t even let me call you by your first name.”

“You have to earn that privilege,” he remarks, hiding his growing smile by bringing the coffee cup up to his lips and taking a long gulp. Now genuinely frustrated, you swivel your chair around quickly, refusing to even look at him. You can feel his gaze still searing into the back of your head a few moments longer, however, before you hear the squeak of his chair also turning around to face his computer. 

“You can call me David.” You swear you imagined it for a moment but you whip your head around so fast you’re sure you my have given yourself whiplash. Almost concerned by you response, he tilts his chair back towards you ever so slightly, his amusement growing when he notes your open mouth and wide eyes. 

“Only if it makes you be less of a shit detective.” he clarifies, clearly trying to make it seem less of a big deal than it really was. 

“You won’t regret this, David.” You clap your hands together, grinning widely and it makes him roll his eyes, turning back around. Out of pure excitement, you kick your feet off the ground, sending your chair into his and grip him in a tight hug from behind. You feel him tense up immediately, his head tilting slightly to use his peripheral vision to figure out exactly what you were doing and upon realising it was a hug, he relaxes in your arms though only ever so slightly.

“I’m starting to want to take it back.”

“There’s no taking it back, David, this moment is about to be marked in history.”

“I’m expecting another muffin for this.”

tags: @mother-dearest-loves-me @mariamermaid@vigilanteavengerqueen @superheroforrent @peterbxrnes @igotanaddixon @blablasomethingblabla @cafeaufeels @montypythonsholysnail @carolines24 @chimera4plums

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Public losing faith in govts, says survey, as virus cases surge (AFP) A survey released Saturday showed governments are fast losing support for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as health officials recorded a surge of more than 280,000 new cases globally two days in a row. As governments worldwide struggle to contain the virus despite long and economically crippling lockdowns imposed on millions of people, a new survey suggested that faith in authorities is dwindling in six rich nations. Populations in France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Sweden and the US widely believed death and infection figures to be higher than recorded, according to the study, which polled 1,000 people in each nation. “In most countries this month, support for national governments is falling,” said the report by the Kekst CNC communications consultancy. One world leader widely criticised over his handling of the pandemic is Brazil’s Bolsonaro, who was diagnosed with coronavirus on July 7. And in the streets of Jerusalem and other cities, thousands called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, in part for his management of the coronavirus crisis.

Mnuchin: Virus aid package soon, $1,200 checks by August (AP) Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Saturday that Republicans were set to roll out the next COVID-19 aid package Monday and assured there was backing from the White House after he and President Donald Trump’s top aide met to salvage the $1 trillion proposal that had floundered just days before. Mnuchin told reporters at the Capitol that extending an expiring unemployment benefit—but reducing it substantially—was a top priority for Trump. The secretary called the $600 weekly aid “ridiculous” and a disincentive for people to go back to work. He also promised a fresh round of $1,200 stimulus checks would be coming in August. Mnuchin’s optimistic assessment came before Democrats weighed in publicly on the updated proposal, which remained only a starting point in negotiations with House and Senate leaders in the other party.

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind (Washington Post) The tear gas started early Friday night, interrupting a line of drums and dancing, chanting protesters, an artist painting in oils underneath a tree in the park and a man with a microphone speaking about the issues of racial justice and policing at the center of these nightly demonstrations. As if on cue, a brigade of orange-shirted men with leaf blowers descended on the cloud, revved their engines and blew the tear gas away. The crowd cheered. The loud, pressurized air machines typically used to clear grass, leaves and other lawn debris are surprisingly effective tools at clearing caustic chemicals from the air. They’re so effective that on Friday night, federal agents frustrated at being caught in up in a redirected cloud of tear gas, showed up to the demonstration with their own handheld blowers. The leaf-blower wars were on. Hardware stores in the Portland area said they hadn’t noticed a rush on leaf-blowers in recent weeks, but several managers noted that summer is typically a hot season for leaf-blower sales.

Tropical Storm Hanna drenches South Texas (AP) A day after roaring ashore as a hurricane, Hanna lashed the Texas Gulf Coast on Sunday with high winds and drenching rains that destroyed boats, flooded streets and knocked out power across a region already reeling from a surge in coronavirus cases. Downgraded to a tropical storm, Hanna hovered over the U.S.-Mexico border with winds near 50 mph (85 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. It was expected to unload as much as 18 inches of rain (45 centimetres) on parts of South Texas and northeastern Mexico. More than 155,000 customers were without power Sunday afternoon throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Brownsville, according to AEP Texas.

Protests Swell in Russia’s Far East in a Stark New Challenge to Putin (NYT) KHABAROVSK, Russia—Watching the passing masses of protesters chanting “Freedom!” and “Putin resign!” while passing drivers honked, applauded and offered high-fives, a sidewalk vendor selling little cucumbers and plastic cups of forest raspberries said she would join in, too, if she did not have to work. The protests in Khabarovsk, a city 4,000 miles east of Moscow, drew tens of thousands of people for a three-mile march through central streets for the third straight week on Saturday. Residents were rallying in support of a popular governor arrested and spirited to Moscow this month—but their remarkable outpouring of anger, which has little precedent in post-Soviet Russia, has emerged as stark testimony to the discontent that President Vladimir V. Putin faces across the country. Across Russia, fear of being detained by the police and the seeming hopelessness of effecting change has largely kept people off the streets. Many Russians also say that whatever Mr. Putin’s faults, the alternative could be worse or lead to greater chaos. For the most part, anti-Kremlin protests have been limited to a few thousand people in Moscow and other big cities, where the authorities usually crack down harshly. But the events in Khabarovsk have shown that the well of discontent is such that minor events can ignite a firestorm. The weekend crowds have been so large that the police have not tried to control them—even though the protesters did not have a permit, let alone a clear leader or organizer.

Officials Push U.S.-China Relations Toward Point of No Return (NYT) Step by step, blow by blow, the United States and China are dismantling decades of political, economic and social engagement, setting the stage for a new era of confrontation shaped by the views of the most hawkish voices on both sides. With President Trump trailing badly in the polls as the election nears, his national security officials have intensified their attack on China in recent weeks, targeting its officials, diplomats and executives. While the strategy has reinforced a key campaign message, some American officials, worried Mr. Trump will lose, are also trying to engineer irreversible changes, according to people familiar with the thinking. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has inflamed the fight, brushing aside international concern about the country’s rising authoritarianism to consolidate his own political power and to crack down on basic freedoms, from Xinjiang to Hong Kong. By doing so, he has hardened attitudes in Washington. The combined effect could prove to be Mr. Trump’s most consequential foreign policy legacy, even if it’s not one he has consistently pursued: the entrenchment of a fundamental strategic and ideological confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

A different way to hang out the laundry (NYT) Chang Wan-ji, 83, and Hso Sho-er, 84, have become Instagram stars in quarantine. The Taiwanese couple pose at a place they know well—their laundromat—and their funky fashions are curated from customers’ forgotten garments. They are naturals in front of the camera. “I had no idea so many foreigners would take interest in my grandparents,” said their 31-year-old grandson and unofficial stylist, who came up with the idea for the Instagram account. Mr. Chang said he hoped his and his wife’s experience would inspire other seniors to be active. “It’s better than sitting around watching TV or napping,” Mr. Chang said.

Virus adds to deep despair felt by war-weary young Arabs (AP) At 24, Sama al-Diwani and her college sweetheart had big dreams. He was working on opening a bakery in Iraq. She was preparing to leave to England, where she would spend a year working on her masters’ degree in pharmacy. After that, they would reunite, get married and start a family. Those dreams came to a screeching halt with the outbreak of the coronavirus, as countries shut down, economies buckled and global chaos followed. Her university admission is now on hold, the bakery project has fallen behind schedule, her family’s income has gone down by 40% and she frets about losing her job at a local pharmacy. Al-Diwani and Athir Assem, 26, are among millions of young people in the Middle East region whose pursuit of jobs or plans for higher education and marriage have been upended by the pandemic, plunging them into the kind of deep uncertainty and despair they had hoped to leave behind. Such turmoil is universal in the wake of the pandemic, but the despair is particularly pronounced in the Middle East, where wave after wave of war, displacement and disease have left this generation feeling bitter and hopeless. While in the West, many who have become unemployed believe they will eventually get their jobs back or somehow recover from the recession, the pandemic in some Arab countries was the final blow to economies now on the cusp of complete collapse. “For many young people, seeing economies crumble the way that they are and seeing their prospects vanish before their eyes ... it’s undoubtedly going to be taking a huge toll on mental health and well-being,” said Tariq Haq, a Beirut-based senior employment specialist with the U.N. labor agency.

South Africa warns COVID-19 corruption puts ‘lives at risk’ (AP) South Africa’s COVID-19 response is marred by corruption allegations around its historic $26 billion economic relief package, as the country with the world’s fifth highest number of COVID-19 cases braces for more. President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a wide-ranging investigation into claims that unscrupulous officials and private companies are looting efforts to protect the country’s 57 million people. “More so than at any other time, corruption puts our lives at risk,” he said in a national address Thursday night. Food for the poor. Personal protective equipment for health workers. Grants for the newly laid off. All have been affected, he said. South Africa is seen as the best-prepared of any country in sub-Saharan Africa for COVID-19, but years of rampant corruption have weakened institutions, including the health system. In October, the head of the government’s Special Investigating Unit said fraud, waste and abuse in health care siphoned off $2.3 billion a year.

[pixiechangeling]

The lady at centrelink couldn’t figure out how to do what I needed her to do, and she kind of despairingly turned to me and said, “I’m still learning and everything is changing every week!” I’m not bothered by waiting anyway, but I just smiled and said it was fine and made a silly joke about everything changing daily rn, which kinda opened the floodgates & she talked about the uncertainty and fear for a few minutes. I imagine it’s v tough to be learning a new role/job that keeps changing, while you’re inundated and confronted by people who are scared and sad about losing everything and failed by the system that you didn’t create but are the face of it to those people because you work inside it. She also seemed to feel guilty that she was ‘lucky enough to still have a job’ (her words). Everyone on the bottom rung is doing it tough right now. I’m lucky enough to be getting jobkeeper payments, but unfortunate enough to have to risk my life to make my employer profits. I hope talking helped her a little. She seemed a bit lighter by the end. She thanked me about seven times for being patient. I hope we can see more unity in the downtrodden as the systematic hierarchies become plainly apparent and the fact that they want us to die for their profits can’t be hidden. I hope there’s less displaced anger and more rage focused on those and that which oppresses us. I hope we don’t go back to normal; I hope we progress rather than regress. 

[agrcompfutur]

HW9

1.  Observer Effect: https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/observer-effects  This video gives a short overview of the Observer Effect in physics, but focuses on its meaning in psychology. In psychology, the Observer Effect affects human behavior. It also discusses how it can be minimized, by observing in more subtle ways (cameras) or controlling observer bias. Overall, it was informative and helpful, and also provides a video transcription.

The Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQKELOE9eY4 This TED video, by Chad Orzel, discusses the theory in a simple, yet thorough way; it provides some basic definitions and examples. It also mentions a little about its origin. It is a very helpful and high-quality video that made the theory easy to understand.

Quantum Tunneling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF7dDt3tVmI This video provides a visual representation of quantum tunneling and how it works, with subtitles and narration. It mostly made sense, but the narrator’s voice was a bit odd and the piano music might not have helped the video’s quality. But, it was informative.

The Butterfly Effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xn98WnMxMs This video gives the background of the Butterfly Effect theory, and how it affects observation and how small causes/errors can grow exponentially. It provides some simple visuals, although the narrator talks a bit fast at times. Overall, helpful.

External Perturbations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pRazsBj48 I had trouble finding a video for external perturbations. This video explains and shows perturbation theory in physics. It seems very informative and helpful, but I do not have the background knowledge to be able to understand much of it.

Existentialism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDvRdLMkHs CrashCourse goes over the history of both essentialism and existentialism in an easy to understand way. It is a fast-paced and fun way to learn a bit of philosophy. Focuses mainly on Sartre and how we have to choose answers for ourselves. Good quality video.

The Care Horizon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvjCWfy-lw I could not find a video on the Care Horizon, so I found a TED-ed video on the time value of money since it was mentioned in the lecture. It explains this in a fun way, and how the present value of money will be different from the future value. It is a helpful and entertaining way to learn this concept.

2. The observer effect relates to my project because each poem features a snapshot of how people might act in a certain situation; however, not only are they fictional, but people act differently when observed. By writing and reading a poem, we might have observer bias because we are seeing a specific situation. The Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle is relevant to my project because, from this point in time, I cannot truly capture the future as a writer living in the present. The Butterfly Effect is relevant to my project because gradual, and small, advances in technology can affect societal changes -- such as leading to a decentralized society or the Singularity. Existentialism relates to my project because, by considering the future, we might wonder what our lives will be like. If we have more freedom to pursue passion, will it be harder or easier to find purpose? Is this the future we want? Quantum Tunneling, the Care Horizon, and External Perturbations do not relate as much to my project topic, since I am taking more of a philosophical and poetic approach to my project.

3. One of the topics in my project is self-driving cars. 5 Years: More developments might be made to improve how they work, but not yet widely available. 10 Years: We might see certain people owning self-driving cars, or see them used as taxis in certain areas. 20 Years: Self-driving cars are more widely available and used for public transportation. 100 Years: Self-driving cars could become commonplace, if not the norm; they would be more advanced and could be displaced by some new vehicle. 1,000-Millions of Years: We might have moved beyond using cars as transportation, if we are still here.

4. Vinge’s “Technological Singularity” was an interesting read, and it covers a lot of different possibilities for the Singularity. The term Intelligence Amplification (IA) reminds me of the term Multiplicity from the roboticist Ken Goldburg, which I found in an article for my project (builtin.com). Both terms refer to a sort of human-computer symbiosis, involving more collaboration than control over another. However, while there is still a lot of possibility for human-like AI, what I have read so far seems doubtful of that happening anytime soon. Most robots have a very focused purpose, and certainly cannot move like humans do (yet). But, as Vinge mentioned, we already have some technology that helps with art: drawing tablets and pens; software for music, photography and art; etc.

5. I edited each poem and rearranged their order of placement within the collection. I have also decided upon a possible name for the collection of four poems: “The Nearer Unknown.” I actually got the inspiration from a line in Vinge’s “Technological Singularity,” which referred to the Singularity as “a greater unknown.” I have also written a reflection for each poem and the collection as a whole. Here is the outline:

The Nearer Unknown

1. “Prosperity”

2. “Cruise Control”

3. “A New Ecosystem”

4. “Multiplicity”

5. Collection Reflection

6. I’ve written a basic outline for the structure of my presentation. I am wondering if a powerpoint would work or if some other method would suit this better. Also, I do not know if I will have time to read and explain each poem, so I might need to pick two. It is subject to changes.  

Initial Presentation Outline

Introduction:

Introduce the collection, topic, and maybe why I approached it through poetry

State how I will present poem(s) and then explain them

Body:

A. Read “Prosperity” B. Explain its meaning/reasoning

A. Read “Cruise Control” B. Explain its meaning/reasoning

A. Read “A New Ecosystem B. Explain its meaning/reasoning

A. Read “Multiplicity” B. Explain its meaning/reasoning

Conclusion:

To wrap up, talk about how each poem can stand alone but they are loosely connected

Say something about how we can use poetry and art to predict or imagine future events

[theaenetworks]

Young business owners are facing challenges to have a flourishing enterprise but the task to impose themselves have been too hard due to effect of the economy and constant threat to business growth. Young business owners are seeking for identity through their businesses, and they want to sit around the table determine the market, control stocks and provide service to the people. Gen Z quest for financial status is a big push for them, despite global uncertainty as it relates to economy and standard of living, they want to start something new, the quest to change the status quo and bring new working atmosphere to match the ever changing the workplace.

Slow market reactions and elimination by established companies, young business owners experience this kind of challenges seeking for identity through their business ventures. It is hard to build through that, coming with improvements and innovations, with new tactics to impose yourself in the circle. Lack of required capital to match the ideas, it is very tight case to get the targeted customers while already having established companies to keep young business owners out of reach, while exercising dominance over the market, it is a big strategic movement to seek identity through your business ideas and innovations.

Graduates coming into the market with less hope that they have envisaged create that vacuum as regards to fulfillment of purpose. They are excited to explore the labour market, and give out something new as opposed to what has been the tradition, they are bringing values, moral and ethics into the workforce. Gen Z who are new face of ultra-modern life, may began to advocate for important aspect of live as it relates to improvement of standard of living and economy; with reference to climate change, war, terrorism, human rights and displaced persons globally, all these are key indicators to improve the market and also improve the standard of living in search of identity.

Don’t run out of steam it is long fight to establish yourself, to have a place at the top you need consistency and hard work to inspire yourself to the top. Young business owners need to be detail oriented in analyzing the market, to have your voice heard you need to hit the ground running from the very first day, you need to have a clear education of what you’re embarking not to stuck in the middle, think critically about any issue don’t rush it, you have to give yourself the chance to listen to other colleagues who are experienced in the field, with that you have your voice heard globally through that you seek your identity.

https://anthonyemmanuel.com/the-challenges-facing-young-business-owners-and-the-need-to-have-your-voice-heard/

#business #businessgrowth #businesssuccess #businessowner #businesstips #businessopportunity

[prameet]

The Impact of Fiscal Crises on CUNY

As the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus worsens and negatively impacts all areas of New York City, one institution that may be hit particularly hard is the City University of New York (CUNY). As an article in Gotham Gazette put it, "The COVID-19 pandemic, budget cuts, a drop in student enrollment, and anxiety remain the hallmarks of an uncertain new period in the history of the nation’s largest public urban university system" (Merlino, 2020). A Gothamist article adds additional details of the extent of the cuts that have already taken place: "Nearly 3,000 adjuncts have been laid off. Course offerings have been slashed, ballooning class sizes. Contingent staff that remain are having their hours cut mid-semester." The article also explicitly links the upheaval CUNY is seeing now the one it experienced decades ago during New York City's financial crisis of the 1970s: "For those on the inside, it’s the kind of uncertainty and fiscal pain unseen since the crisis of the 1970s, when the city nearly went bankrupt and devastating budget cuts set the university system back a generation" (Barkan, 2020).

A 2001 book called "Working-Class New York: Life and Labor Since World War II" by Joshua Freeman details how CUNY first imposed tuition amid budget cuts in the 1970s as a response to the city's fiscal crisis. "Free college education ... stood out as other prominent targets for critics of New York ways seeking to take advantage of the opportunities created by the debt crunch," he wrote. Even though asking CUNY students to pay tuition was a "a massive retreat from the historic mission of the city college system," the Board of Higher Education approved tuition for CUNY for the first time in 129 years in 1976 "after ever-mounting pressure from Albany and Washington and a year in which CUNY literally ran out of funds, forcing a shutdown before the academic year ended" (Freeman, 2001).

CUNY has charged tuition ever since, with a tuition raise of $320 even coming in December right before the COVID pandemic hit (Merlino, 2019). Despite these hurdles, a group of CUNY stakeholders called Free CUNY despite attempts to revert the university to its free education roots. Before the pandemic, one of their talking points was that the city could afford free tuition for CUNY. "The city projected a budget surplus of $2.7 billion million in 2020 in a budget of $94.4 billion. For 2016, the state had a surplus of $572 million in a budget of $175.5 billion. A free CUNY would only cost $812 million … Let’s put our tax dollars to work to create equal opportunity for all" (The Case for a Free CUNY).

This argument that the city and state can afford to make CUNY free is a lot harder to make in the post-pandemic world in which we live. But one elected official is still making it and pushing back on austerity for CUNY. Comptroller Scott Stringer has released an ambitious proposal to not only avoid cuts to the CUNY budget but to actually invest in CUNY at this time to the extent of making CUNY community colleges free again. “CUNY is essential to any workforce development strategy in New York City—which means it is vital to our City’s economic recovery,” Stringer said in a statement (Comptroller Stringer Proposes Free Tuition at all CUNY Community Colleges and Overhaul of New York City’s Workforce Development Strategy). "As we emerge from this economic crisis, we need to work with CUNY and other engines of economic mobility to build a pipeline of opportunity for the next generation and live up to a promise that anyone can make it in New York City.”

When tuition was first imposed on CUNY in the 1970s, CUNY suffered "grievous harm," Freeman wrote. "The imposition of tuition, in spite of tuition assistance programs, led to a 62,000 student decline in enrollment. By 1980 the university had 50 percent fewer black and Hispanic freshman than four years earlier" (Freeman, 2001). Today, 60 percent of CUNY students have an annual household income less than $30,000, 55 percent experience house insecurity, and 40 percent have lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic. As the Gotham Gazette put it: "the pandemic only served to widen and deepen this economic instability for CUNY students" (Merlino, 2020). “The pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on our students,” Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said bluntly (CUNY Helps Thousands of Students Through Emergency Funds Totaling $17 Million, Raised Since Onset of COVID-19   2020).

It is these struggling students (primarily students of color) that Stringer's plan seeks to address. "In sharp contrast to past New York City recessions, where employment in the professional services industries plummeted while low-wage, shift-work jobs held steady, it is communities of color and low-wage workers that have bore the brunt of this pandemic and its myriad impacts," he wrote. "Helping displaced workers in these industries — of whom 74 percent are Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC); 73 percent live in the non-Manhattan boroughs; 54 percent are foreign-born, and 16 percent are under the age of 25 — and all New Yorkers gain access to education, training, and jobs has never been more vital." In his book, Freeman wrote that part of the reason that New York disinvested in CUNY in the 1970s was that "business leaders who once saw CUNY as a boost to the economy now saw it as an unneeded luxury, a squandering of tax money, a giveaway to the poor" (Freeman, 2001). Let's hope that New Yorkers today don't hold that view of CUNY now. Let's hope that we make the call during this tough economic climate to reinvest in our public university.

References

Barkan, R. (2020, October 15). CUNY Grapples With Devastating Budget Cuts: “People Are Freaking Out Or Getting Fired”. Gothamist. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://gothamist.com/news/cuny-grapples-with-devastating-budget-cuts-people-are-freaking-out-or-getting-fired

The Case for a Free CUNY. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2020, from http://www.free-cuny.org/the-case-for-a-free-cuny/

The City University of New York. (2020, September 29). CUNY Helps Thousands of Students Through Emergency Funds Totaling $17 Million, Raised Since Onset of COVID-19 [Press release]. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2020/09/29/cuny-helps-thousands-of-students-through-emergency-funds-totaling-17-million-raised-since-onset-of-covid-19/

Freeman, J. B. (2001). The Fiscal Crisis. In Working-class New York: Life and labor since World War II (pp. 256-287). New York, NY: The New Press.

Merlino, V. (2019, December 17). CUNY raises tuition amid student protests. Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://queenseagle.com/all/2019/12/17/cuny-raises-tuition-amid-student-protests

Merlino, V. (2020, October 1). How CUNY Has Started Its New Online Semester. Gotham Gazette. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/9793-how-cuny-has-started-new-online-semester-fall-2020-coronavirus

Office of the New York City Comptroller. (2020, October 14). Comptroller Stringer Proposes Free Tuition at all CUNY Community Colleges and Overhaul of New York City’s Workforce Development Strategy [Press release]. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/comptroller-stringer-proposes-free-tuition-at-all-cuny-community-colleges-and-overhaul-of-new-york-citys-workforce-development-strategy/

[mamtajuyal1986]

IIT JAM 2020 Physics (PH) Syllabus | IIT JAM 2020 Physics (PH) Exam Pattern

IIT JAM 2020 Physics (PH) Syllabus | IIT JAM 2020 Physics (PH) Exam Pattern Physics (PH): The syllabus is a very important aspect while preparing for the examination. Therefore it is advised to all the appearing candidates that they should go through the Physics (PH) syllabus properly before preparing for the examination. Mathematical Methods: Calculus of single and multiple variables, partial derivatives, Jacobian, imperfect and perfect differentials, Taylor expansion, Fourier series. Vector algebra, Vector Calculus, Multiple integrals, Divergence theorem, Green's theorem, Stokes' theorem. First order equations and linear second order differential equations with constant coefficients. Matrices and determinants, Algebra of complex numbers. Mechanics and General Properties of Matter: Newton's laws of motion and applications, Velocity and acceleration in Cartesian, polar and cylindrical coordinate systems, uniformly rotating frame, centrifugal and Coriolis forces, Motion under a central force, Kepler's laws, Gravitational Law and field, Conservative and non-conservative forces. System of particles, Center of mass, equation of motion of the CM, conservation of linear and angular momentum, conservation of energy, variable mass systems. Elastic and inelastic collisions. Rigid body motion, fixed axis rotations, rotation and translation, moments of Inertia and products of Inertia, parallel and perpendicular axes theorem. Principal moments and axes. Kinematics of moving fluids, equation of continuity, Euler's equation, Bernoulli's theorem. Oscillations, Waves and Optics: Differential equation for simple harmonic oscillator and its general solution. Superposition of two or more simple harmonic oscillators. Lissajous figures. Damped and forced oscillators, resonance. Wave equation, traveling and standing waves in one-dimension. Energy density and energy transmission in waves. Group velocity and phase velocity. Sound waves in media. Doppler Effect. Fermat's Principle. General theory of image formation. Thick lens, thin lens and lens combinations. Interference of light, optical path retardation. Fraunhofer diffraction. Rayleigh criterion and resolving power. Diffraction gratings. Polarization: linear, circular and elliptic polarization. Double refraction and optical rotation. Electricity and Magnetism: Coulomb's law, Gauss's law. Electric field and potential. Electrostatic boundary conditions, Solution of Laplace's equation for simple cases. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, dielectric polarization, volume and surface charges, electrostatic energy. Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law, Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, Self and mutual inductance. Alternating currents. Simple DC and AC circuits with R, L and C components. Displacement current, Maxwelll's equations and plane electromagnetic waves, Poynting's theorem, reflection and refraction at a dielectric interface, transmission and reflection coefficients (normal incidence only). Lorentz Force and motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. Kinetic theory, Thermodynamics: Elements of Kinetic theory of gases. Velocity distribution and Equipartition of energy. Specific heat of Mono-, di- and tri-atomic gases. Ideal gas, van-der-Waals gas and equation of state. Mean free path. Laws of thermodynamics. Zeroth law and concept of thermal equilibrium. First law and its consequences. Isothermal and adiabatic processes. Reversible, irreversible and quasi-static processes. Second law and entropy. Carnot cycle. Maxwell's thermodynamic relations and simple applications. Thermodynamic potentials and their applications. Phase transitions and Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Ideas of ensembles, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions. Modern Physics: Inertial frames and Galilean invariance. Postulates of special relativity. Lorentz transformations. Length contraction, time dilation. Relativistic velocity addition theorem, mass energy equivalence. Blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Bohr's atomic model, X-rays. Wave-particle duality, Uncertainty principle, the superposition principle, calculation of expectation values, Schrodinger equation and its solution for one, two and three dimensional boxes. Solution of Schrodinger equation for the one dimensional harmonic oscillator. Reflection and transmission at a step potential, Pauli exclusion principle. Structure of atomic nucleus, mass and binding energy. Radioactivity and its applications. Laws of radioactive decay. Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics: Crystal structure, Bravais lattices and basis. Miller indices. X-ray diffraction and Bragg's law; Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, variation of resistivity with temperature. Fermi level. p-n junction diode, I-V characteristics, Zener diode and its applications, BJT: characteristics in CB, CE, CC modes. Single stage amplifier, two stage R-C coupled amplifiers. Simple Oscillators: Barkhausen condition, sinusoidal oscillators. OPAMP and applications: Inverting and non-inverting amplifier. Boolean algebra: Binary number systems; conversion from one system to another system; binary addition and subtraction. Logic Gates AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR exclusive OR; Truth tables; combination of gates; de Morgan's theorem. Related Articles: IIT JAM 2020 Syllabus Biotechnology (BT) Syllabus Biological Sciences (BL) Syllabus Chemistry (CY) Syllabus Geology (GG) Syllabus Mathematics (MA) Syllabus Mathematical Statistics (MS) Syllabus Physics (PH) Syllabus Read the full article

[sloth-hallo-hier-bin-ich]

Transience, which are currently taking place.  We should know what we're doing, but do we know? Do we need biometric recognition? Integrated chips? Who benefits?  Do we need a reward system where every human action is monitored and rewarded or punished accordingly? Like in China, the total surveillance state ( http://www.taz.de/!5480926/) I hope not.  Who the hell needs autonomous vehicles? We need climate-neutral mobility, yes. But why without the driver? Do we need automated pension statements where no one to ask for how knows what the machine has calculated? Will it be correct? (always check the calculation! Machines also make mistakes.) Who is responsible and to address for?  Do we need selection and scoring machines for the employment office?  https://algorithmwatch.org/story/polnische-regierung-schafft-umstrittenes-scoring-system-fuer-arbeitslose-ab/ In the beginning, AI / ADM is often used for groups of people who hardly have a voice, e.g.  Refugees (automatic speech recognition) or the unemployed. Again: Who benefits? Who makes himself invisible and the decisions diffuse? 

Everything remains different with time in space. Maybe it looks kind of, it is never the same. Many people start to live in the past, displacing the present. Sometimes a song gives you a moment back, some preserved memory in a melody, but the feeling will never be the same again. Others want world domination, now and in the future. Most creeping revolutions, no one ever notices.  We don't have to do everything big technocrats companies want. It becomes difficult when it is decreed by government policy, when it is enforced upon all citizens, e.g. biometric pass ports with fingerprints and cameras all over the place with face recognition (your mobile does this and facebook tags pictures already). 

ADM and AI must be transparent for all citizens. Real people must be in charge for the decisions within the government. What this technology (monitoring, surveillance, control, AI, ADM) represents and probably why it’s so seductive, is, because it allows us to do something which is very implicit to our nature: the super human power used to see without being seen, affect somebody without being in the place, it is literally to almost god like.  Otherwise arbitrariness and greed rules. Digitalisation needs regulation and rules, made by people. Digitalisation becomes dangerous when only profit thoughts are priority. Human rights, civil rights and private life must be the priority.  If you don't do it yet, learn that there's not only 1 or 0. Even if the longing for clarity is big. Real life isn’t like that. Live with uncertainty. With ambiguities.  Why do people always have to have each other, want to “own” each other? Why can't they be together?  If you ask me, we shouldn't leave life to the machines just to see what, if...  GRM Brainfuck, author: Sibylle Berg. What a book! Highly recommended. 

[theaenetworks]

Young business owners are facing challenges to have a flourishing enterprise but the task to impose themselves have been too hard due to effect of the economy and constant threat to business growth. Young business owners are seeking for identity through their businesses, and they want to sit around the table determine the market, control stocks and provide service to the people. Gen Z quest for financial status is a big push for them, despite global uncertainty as it relates to economy and standard of living, they want to start something new, the quest to change the status quo and bring new working atmosphere to match the ever changing the workplace.

Slow market reactions and elimination by established companies, young business owners experience this kind of challenges seeking for identity through their business ventures. It is hard to build through that, coming with improvements and innovations, with new tactics to impose yourself in the circle. Lack of required capital to match the ideas, it is very tight case to get the targeted customers while already having established companies to keep young business owners out of reach, while exercising dominance over the market, it is a big strategic movement to seek identity through your business ideas and innovations.

Graduates coming into the market with less hope that they have envisaged create that vacuum as regards to fulfillment of purpose. They are excited to explore the labour market, and give out something new as opposed to what has been the tradition, they are bringing values, moral and ethics into the workforce. Gen Z who are new face of ultra-modern life, may began to advocate for important aspect of live as it relates to improvement of standard of living and economy; with reference to climate change, war, terrorism, human rights and displaced persons globally, all these are key indicators to improve the market and also improve the standard of living in search of identity.

Don’t run out of steam it is long fight to establish yourself, to have a place at the top you need consistency and hard work to inspire yourself to the top. Young business owners need to be detail oriented in analyzing the market, to have your voice heard you need to hit the ground running from the very first day, you need to have a clear education of what you’re embarking not to stuck in the middle, think critically about any issue don’t rush it, you have to give yourself the chance to listen to other colleagues who are experienced in the field, with that you have your voice heard globally through that you seek your identity.

https://anthonyemmanuel.com/the-challenges-facing-young-business-owners-and-the-need-to-have-your-voice-heard/

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