#(this was assigned for school but i really think some folks here would benefit from watching it)

[toiletpotato]

Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America

Please consider watching this documentary, especially if you want to learn about how systemic racism works within the system of transportation, as well as its mental and physical effects on Black people in particular. You will learn something new.

You can watch the entire thing, for free, at the link above. It's about two hours long. There are English captions, though near the end the timing is a bit off.

In the second half of the documentary, they show footage of police brutality against Black Americans. The footage is interspersed between interviews and other segments, often without warning. It is distressing and that is the point.

Below are some quotes from the documentary I've collected, if you do not have the time to watch it right now:

Allyson Hobbs, historian at Stanford University: (1:13:48 – 1:14:26) “There’s a very complicated history around the interstate. The interstate for Black travelers creates a very positive benefit in that the interstate makes travel safer in many ways because instead of traveling on country roads and back roads where there was quite a bit of fear and quite a bit of uncertainty about what could happen, traveling on interstates felt more safe and more secure.”

Eric Avila, author of The Folklore of the Freeway: (1:14:31 – 1:14:59) “The interstate highway program was kind of built with this myth of consensus. That it’s what everybody wanted. It’s by popular demand. But for people of color, and for African Americans in particular, they were kind of left out of that consensus because their neighborhoods were the sacrificial lands in which to build this highway.”

Elie: (1:16:20 – 1:16:45): “The thing that people usually say is ‘these were dying communities and we needed the overpasses, we needed the highways to move people out of these ghetto environments.’ Well in fact, these were communities that were vibrant. That people were living in. That the United States government destroyed through a combination of active funding of detrimental projects, and a kind of benign neglect.”

Avila (1:17:23 – 1:18:12): “Highway construction impacted Black communities or other non-white communities, because that’s where property values were the lowest. There is a certain kind of cost effective strategy in building highways through neighborhoods with lower property values. It costs the state less. However, historically, lower property values have been tied to race and African Americans in particular. In many ways all of these federal policies and programs were interconnected. The Federal Housing Administration’s policies, urban renewal, slum clearance, highway construction, all of these processes worked in tandem with each other to create an even more racially stratified geography.”

Leah Chase, chef: (1:18:14 – 1:18:38): “And they did that so fast, I’m telling you: because Black people were not involved in anything in those days. People would do things, we didn’t even know what was going on. We were not involved. In those days we were not allowed into the process so they just came through there with that thing, took away houses; took away good businesses, good people.”

Alvin Hall, author: (1:19:38 – 1:19:52): “You see it again and again in almost every major city in America, and it was really a huge economic setback for many African American businesses because they became isolated.”

Hobbs: (1:19:54 – 1:20:15): “If you retrace it and if you go to some of these areas that were once bustling Black business districts, now often they are abandoned buildings, sometimes they are abandoned, sort of, empty fields.”

Tamara Banks, journalist: (1:20:54 – 1:21:24): “When you erase a history, you erase an identity. You erase what’s important to people and how they connect with their community and how they connect with humanity as a whole. When you lose that culture and that space, now there’s a chink in the chain of your family legacy and you start to wonder, does my legacy matter? Does my life matter?”

Craig Steven Wilder, historian at MIT: (1:25:32 – 1:26:18) “The Montgomery Bus Boycott is actually a story of transportation in many ways. It’s the bus boycott, but it’s also how it was that African American women managed to establish and to reuse a network of connections to deploy their resources to sustain this boycott over months and months and months. And it meant, in fact, accessing cars. It meant finding new ways to move people around town, new ways to actually get people to their jobs. And so Montogomery is in many ways actually a wonderful way of thinking about how Black people deployed the automobile to challenge Jim Crow.”

Sorin: (1:19:15 – 1:19:33): “When road planners put through highways, they often take the path of least resistance, and that’s one of the reasons that Black communities have been so vulnerable, because they have the least amount of power to stop it.”

Sorin: (1:33:11 – 1:33:22): “I think the automobile is the way that many people encounter the police, and I think that’s where we start to get the term ‘Driving While Black.’”

James Baldwin, author: (1:35:07 – 1:35:24): “A cop is a cop. And yeah, he may be a very nice man, but I haven’t got the time to figure that out. All I know is that he has a uniform and a gun, and I have to relate to him in that way. That’s the only way to relate to him, at all, ‘cause one of us is gonna, one of us may have to die.”

Hobbs (1:36:42 – 1:37:10): “There are still so many dangers of being on the road, and I think we’re in a time right now where African Americans are feeling a similar kind of fear as their grandparents felt in the 1930s and 40s.”

[yourfriendlyshapeshiftermonsters]

UGHHHHHH. I stayed awake to finish my homework but now i can't sleep. So here some sketches and my work in progress comic lore because why not. I haven't posted my art in the past weeks or so

Before explaining,let me explain how my world work first. In this earth,there's a random place where there are a stronger rush of magnetic energy/magic. It act like air,every living being need it. But it was an everyday thing that they didn't really think it's a strange things. Everything that exist in this world can absolutely absorb magic and store it inside it their own way, but there are definitely some that are better at absorbing them. They're usually called overcharged item which usually be used at mage staff and etc but besides that

There's actually two kind of way approach objects at reproduction/existing really

1. The old fashion way.

When a flesh creature has perished, rotting and only leaving a bit of flesh and bone besides an overcharged item,it soul and dna will slowly goes to the overcharged item. This situation was described as ants carrier(i'm suck at name) since the creature feature will be dragged through the ground into overcharged object,connecting it to the item (like ant,duh) like gravity (idk how to describe it but bigger magi can attract small magic like how gravity work. I'm bad at describing this one sorry).

And after that,the sarcass would slowly be healed by the new rush of magic while it attaching itself into the item. Now,the environment play a hard role at this. From health,dna,how it look and such. This overcharged item basically slowly draining others magic since more features mean more place to absorb energy. Making the place really vital to the object growth. And after a long 5-12 hours,your object has now born! This prosejure was hard to do and easily fail due to climate. But anyone that was born this way was usually a strong and even immortal being that exist even until now.

Yeyyy holy shit i wrote a super long paragraph. Anyway

2.nowdays way!

Since bone and overcharged item are now a super rare item (and expensive) due to how many living things that exist nowdays. This was now a common way objects reproduce. This was possible to do for one object,but two or more objects are recommended since this prosejure can be quite draining. Firstly,the object parent need to choose what objects their child are (recommend to choose one that assemble/represent an aspects of them the most). For example,a coffee cup can choose a plastic cup. This was to make sure that your magic can be received by the said item. And magic to it for some months,then boom baby. Sorry this end is not that good my hands are suuupee tired rn :"D

-me earlier,i can't even feel tired rn >:^

Here a pics of the main villain and his helper!

I haven't named the villain yet,but i named the right one Lorelei/mele,i may changes her design in the future tho

Sea sheep

They're gonna be super big and fluffy. Breed by the farmers on rocky beach right by coral reef so they cannot be eaten by predators. They photosynthesize and eat moss on rocks. Making them rarely move and extra fragile because of that.The leaf like part are (almost) going to be like otter furr. Trapping oxygen inside it leaf so once it goes back to water,it can absorb the oxygen it got earlier on the surface.So,depending on it sizes, it can breathe underwater from 8-20 hour is. It easy to harvest leaf and the added benefit of your own choral farm made this one of the main job of the blossomstone-becah side folks

Anyway here a random pic of me playing A bit with my school assignment

[autumnslance]

would you be willing to make a masterpost of all your sharlayan research and headcanons? please please please and THANK YOU if you do

I can certainly try! A lot of my info is from what little we have so far, and my own fics are where a lot of my headcanons go to live, with little snippets about various characters here and there in my scattered lore posts, as well as stuff I’ve collected from other players.

Other Resources In Louisoix’s Wake - The twins’ official Calamity short story on the Lodestone. One Name, One Promise - Thancred’s backstory, from Limsa to Sharlayan training to his early assignment in Ul’dah and then early Shadowbringers. Mirke’s Menagerie - A compilation of lore info from in game, lorebooks, panels, interviews, short stories, etc. There are about 4 or 5 Sharlayan-specific posts @mirkemenagerie has made.

Encyclopaedia Eorzea - If you can get your hands on copies (physical officially; digitally is Unofficial so far as I know), I recommend it! They’re both good reads, though EE 1 is the one with a blurb on Sharlayan as a nation.

Posts by Other People - that I have collected Leveva Comment About Archon Loaf - Keeping in mind Sharlayan’s bad cuisine has been canonical for years per lorebook 1. They care more about ease of eating while studying, also seeing culinary arts as an academic field, not a practical daily exercise. Lorebook 1 Astrologian Lore - screencaps from the lorebook. Phaedra’s Teen Scion Sharlayan Antics fic - I am happy to take responsibility for inspiring @phaedra-mero to write this delightful scene.

My Own Posts Red Mage Research - Includes books from Gubal Library. Scion Ages - Pointing out the ages of the Scions, particularly the Archons.

My Fics - Sometimes there’s more HC musings in the Notes and Comments. I try to stay close to canon, at least as it is when the fic was written. Rogue’s Prelude - Multichapter, teen Thancred meets Louisoix, Yda, and Papalymo. Written a year prior to Thancred’s official ShB story above. Aetherology & Skulking Boots-Beginnings - Y’shtola agrees to tutor Thancred in how to speak properly as teenagers in the colony. Chin Up - Yda gives Thancred advice as youths in the colony. Dreams of Home-Lucubration - Yda, Lyse, and Thancred in the colony. Younger Sister - Thancred’s relationships with the Hext sisters over time. In Violet’s Wake-Louisoix’s Children - A Master Matoya PoV from StB patches. There’s a brief chapter with her and Y’mhitra in Dreams of Home, too. Excerpts from other posts - things that ended up as commentary on other threads, with some editing since.

From a thread that started off as about Thancred’s Gear from ARR to HW:

Sharlayan is a nation on an island NW of Eorzea proper; the Sharlayan everyone we know hails from was a colony that became a city-state a few hundred years back and part of the Eorzean Alliance, in the Dravanian Hinterlands, where Idyllshire is now. After the fall of Ala Mhigo and then the Battle of Silvertear Skies, the Forum (their ruling body) decided to abandon the city and return to the motherland, a process that took 5 years before they all just teleported out in a day. Except Matoya, and those archons that worked for Louisoix and that he asked to stay and go to the remaining 3 Alliance cities. This would have been 15 years before ARR/Heavensward.

The Students of Baldesion are also Sharlayan; the Isle of Val, their headquarters, being under that nation’s banner. Sons of St Coinach are another offshoot; Rammbroes (Crystal Tower raid story) was originally part of Louisoix’s Circle of Knowing (who eventually became the Scions), and Y’shtola’s sister Y’mhitra is one of the Sons and part of the Summoner storyline.

Thancred got involved as a youth–by trying to pick Louisoix’s pocket, and impressing the old man with his skills, and so Louisoix brought Thancred back with him to give the kid an opportunity for study. Yda and Lyse escaped Ala Mhigo, and with help from Papalymo, who was part of an effort to help refugees seeking shelter in Sharlayan, they ended up there, and Yda is the one who actually became an archon.

Most of the other senior Scions, so far as I know, are native to Sharlayan, either the motherland or the colony. The Leveilleur twins were born in the Hinterlands Sharlayan, but raised in the motherland, as they were less than a year old when the exodus happened. The university they and Krile attended is the Studium. Becoming an Archon seems to be a separate process not everyone goes through, and is a demonstration of mastery in chosen field(s) of study. That’s the significance of the tattoos some of the Scions have on their necks or faces.

Sharlayan is basically a nation particularly focused on academia; the trouble is, for the last couple decades, it’s been controlled by a faction of isolationists who would rather hoard knowledge and sit in the proverbial ivory tower looking down on non-Sharlayans, claiming others would abuse their knowledge, and that they should simply observe history and not try to affect it. Louisoix, Matoya, and the organizations they associate with (the Circle of Knowing/Scions; Sons of St Coinach, the Students of Baldesion, etc), think that viewpoint is stupid and go against it. A big part of the Astrologian storyline is dealing with Sharlayans who dislike Leveva’s family sharing Sharlayan astrology with outsiders, for example.

What sort of relationship Sharlayan and Ishgard had before the exodus isn’t really detailed much; both were pretty insular and focused on their own issues (like many of Eorzea’s city-states outside of crises), and the Dravanian threat at the time might have kept them pretty separated by land. Sharlayan was responsible for Eorzea’s aetherytes and keeping the aethernets working, though, and it’s suggested they still handle that post-Calamity to some degree. We pay fees for teleports because reconstruction and upkeep is pricey for all of the city-states.

Next post:

The Isle of Val was the headquarters of the Students of Baldesion, Krile’s family and order, and was a Sharlayan institution. It’s destruction/missing status happened during the ARR patches, and Krile was saved by Hydaelyn as she has the Echo (as an aside: you can hear Minfilia talking to Krile via linkpearl in the background on the Enterprise after rescuing the Scions from Castrum Centri before Ultima, and she constantly refers to and worries about Krile after the Isle of Val goes missing, but then plot happened to Minfilia so we never see them together as friends). The Ascians seemed to have a hand in the Isle’s disappearance…but there’s story about the fate of the Isle of Val and the Students of Baldesion in Stormblood’s Eureka plotline.

As for the Archon Marks, if they do confer social benefits, aside from being an easily seen status symbol for some highly skilled & educated folks, it hasn’t been mentioned yet in concrete terms, though we know the rank has benefits (like access to forbidden lore). Mostly they are a way to tell at a glance who has obtained the rank. It’s like if people with doctorates had a tattoo of their degree symbol on them so you knew just by looking.

As of Shadowbringers 5.4, we know that to become an Archon a thesis is required, and it’s a great deal more work than a Studium graduate’s final thesis. It strikes me that Studium (which some of the Scion Archons also attended) is like undergrad or Masters studies, while Archon is a Doctorate level.

I personally headcanon that the arcane marks confer some minor, slowed visible aging and other vague magical benefits befitting their rank in Sharlayan society. Really, that’s a way for the devs to avoid new models and add to the confusion in 1.0′s intros and the running joke about Y’shtola’s age, BUT let’s come up with an in-world thing, too. There has to be some explanation for Thancred’s perpetual baby face when he’s not RPing a Mountain Hobo ;) Also we really don’t know for sure how old Matoya is. Just old.

Lorebook 2 Notes:

Mikoto Jinba (Return to Ivalice, Save the Queen storylines) worked on aetheric siphon research with Moenbryda, and at 29 is the youngest Raen with the rank of Archon in recent history. It was Jessie’s connections that brought her to Cid’s attention and got her involved in the Return to Ivalice story.

Ejika Tsunjika (Eureka storyline) went to school at the same time as Krile and Leveilleur twins, endorsed by Galuf Baldesion, who Ejika later chose to work under. He’s resentful of Krile and the twins as Ejika himself is of humble origins and had to struggle to get to where he is, yet hides his Archon brands with high collars as he refuses to believe himself unique or exceptional.

[ssa-babygirl]

Out of My League [Part 1]

Pairing: High school!Spencer Reid x Popular!Reader

Word count: 3.7k (god i don’t shut up do i)

Summary: Spencer begins tutoring you in chemistry, and the two of you bond (I would say no pun intended but fuck it that was GOOD so I’ll say pun intended)

Warning(s): Mentions of bullying, mental illness, some swearing, I made one joke about herpes??? sorry if thats a sore spot with anyone, light angst and pining, Reader POV

Author’s Note: Here it is, folks!! The first official part! I’ so grateful for all the feedback I got on the prologue, I’m glad y’all are liking it, I hope you like this part just as much!! Next part I’m gonna have some baby spencer, and by that I mean whole ass adult spencer that just looks baby

[Previous Part] [Series Masterlist]

You absolutely despised chemistry. It’s boring. It’s simultaneously stupid and ridiculously complicated. You weren’t dumb, you were a decent student in all your other classes, but science was never your strong suit. You preferred literature over litmus paper any day. Unfortunately, your failing grade was bringing down your entire GPA, just below the requirement for you to stay on the cheerleading squad. Your coach recommended you get a tutor, or else you were off the team. So you went to the library to see the peer tutoring program, and all of them were booked. The next best thing would be the kid genius in your class. He was probably a better first choice, honestly, but you figured he’d be booked with other students too.

He wasn’t like other kids in your class, not just because he actually cared and was a good student, he was also twelve years old. The kid was a prodigy. He was bullied a lot because of this because no one really understood him. That’s probably why he looked so terrified when you approached him after class one day.

“Hey, Spencer!”

His eyes grew wide as he stared back at you, saying nothing.

“I was just wondering if you were available for tutoring?”

“Oh, uh, um, y-yeah, in chemistry?”

“Yeah, what are your rates like? Like say we do an hour every other day, how much would that be?”

“Oh! N-no charge.”

“Really?”

“The first couple of sessions can be a trial run, I don’t want your money if you’re not benefiting from it.”

That made you smile, this kid was so nice and you just wished that people actually cared about that instead of the dumb shit they bullied him for. Sure, he was skinny and short and dorky and you know, a literal twelve-year-old boy, but if someone would take time to know him, they’d see he’s a good kid.

“That’s sweet of you, but I don’t wanna waste your time if you have other students.”

“I don’t, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Great! Are you free after school today?”

He nodded and avoided all eye contact before scurrying out of the room to his next class.

~~~

You met up later in the library. You greeted each other politely with simple hi’s and hey’s and nothing more. Then it was time to pour over your books for an hour and try to force the puzzle pieces into place and hope something finally clicked. Balancing molecular equations physically hurt. Just when you thought you got it all right, Spencer reminded you that you still had to balance the oxygen, which was always bonded with something else, which threw off the whole equation. Every time you made a mistake you just let out a groan and set your head on the table.

“It’s a lot of math, a lot of people have a hard time with it, don’t feel bad.”

“I’m so fucking stupid.”

“You’re not! It’s an easy mistake.”

“You don’t make mistakes like that.”

“That’s because I’ve been taking advanced math classes for the past two years, I’m good at this stuff.”

“You’re good at everything, you're a literal genius.”

“There are people who aren’t geniuses who are good at this sort of thing, just look at Johnny Abrams in our class. He answers every question Mrs. Gustin asks and I once saw him put his backpack on his car’s roof and start driving ‘cuz he forgot it was there. He’s just been practicing. That’s why we’re here, right?”

He always reassured you. Always told you that you weren’t stupid. You weren’t dumb. He always smiled when you got questions right and told you you were doing a good job. When your hour was up, you said goodbye and went home. 

Spencer’s mini lectures aside, most of your sessions were sparse in the conversation department. The first time he went off on a side about some chemistry facts, you couldn’t keep up. You just sat there, jaw hanging while he went into detail about saponification, which wasn’t even in this lesson.

“Sorry, I’m rambling.”

“Did we learn that in class? Cuz if we did, I’m screwed.”

“No, not yet at least.”

“How do you just… know that?”

Spencer avoided your eyes once again, something he did more than spouting random facts, “I read a lot.”

That’s how it happened the first time. All it took was you asking one question about different types of reactions for him to launch into another spiel. You figured you’d have to know it at some point, so you started writing down whatever you could catch from his fast-paced speech, taking notes in bullet points.

“And that-- Oh. Y-You don’t need to do that, that’s not even on the curriculum.”

“Well, I gotta keep up with you somehow, right?” You glanced up from your page and flashed an almost challenging smirk as you saw him stifle a smile as he avoided all eye contact with you, as per usual. He then cleared his throat and got back to the actually assigned chapter.

The more he went off on tangents, the more he realized you weren’t stopping him. He was actually able to make chemistry sound interesting to you, which is strange, but it was easier to understand through how he explained it all. Something told you that he wasn’t used to having someone listen to what he said, because he just lit up when he talked about this stuff. He was clearly passionate about it, so why would you make him feel bad about it? He always apologized, but you always reassured him it was no big deal. 

You didn’t know it at the time, but the kid was falling hard. This pretty, older girl was paying attention to him and didn’t think he was annoying? The bar may have been on the floor for young Spencer, but you were perfect to him. Eventually, he was able to look you in the eyes when you spoke to one another, he even smiled at you when you joked with him. That was another thing: you joked with one another now. You both warmed up to one another as your sessions continued. You said hi to each other in the hallways, you ruffled his hair as a greeting, he accepted your high-five requests every time you got something right.

You still didn’t talk outside of class much, which is why he was caught so far off guard by you calling his name from across the cafeteria as you approached his table.

“Hey, dude! Is it cool if we squeeze in an extra session today? I got a test tomorrow.”

“Y-Yeah, no problem, but, uh, it’s Thursday. Don’t you have practice after school?”

You did. And you had to be there because you had a competition this weekend.

“Yeah, I was wondering if we could meet after?”

“When does it end?”

“Five.”

“Library closes at four.”

“I know, but would it be too much of a hassle if I just… Pick you up tonight and we head back to my house to study?”

You could physically see his brain shut down in his eyes. After he realized he needed to respond, he picked his jaw up off the floor and gulped hard.

“Or you can stay after and hang out at practice and I can just drive you home?”

“Y-Yeah, um, yeah, tha-that works, I can, uh, yeah, we can do that.”

Spencer brought his books and homework and tried his hardest to not make it obvious he was staring at you while you danced. You looked like you were having so much fun and he loved seeing you happy and smiling with your friends like that, it was hard for him to look away and focus long enough to read a sentence, which is saying something, considering it does not take him long to read a sentence. 

After practice wrapped up, you told him to go wait by your car while you changed out of your uniform. The girls in the locker room were talking just as loudly as always, only this time, it was about something you actually cared about hearing.

“I mean, really, what was that little creep doing watching us today?” You heard one girl sneer.

“So fucking gross, I don’t wanna know where his prepubescent head was.” Another girl laughed.

You had to step in. You had to say something.

“I’m his ride home. He’s my chemistry tutor and I have a test tomorrow, so back off the kid, he didn’t do shit to you anyway.”

The squad learned to watch their mouths around you after that.

~~~

The neon glow of the golden arches shone through your car’s windows as you pulled into the McDonald’s drive-thru line.

“This isn’t your house,” noted Spencer, sounding confused.

You grinned, “Oh, shit… no way! Wow! I’m so glad my tutor is a genius! I would have never guessed this was not my family home!”

He let himself laugh for a moment, “Okay, okay, fine. Why are we here?”

“Uh… to get food? Duh.”

“But what about your food at home?”

“My mom’s visiting my dad, he works in D.C., and I haven’t gotten a chance to go grocery shopping this week, so I can’t cook for you. What do you want?”

“You don’t have to get me anything.”

“No, I insist, it’s almost dinner time. Lemme get you something. As a thank you for squeezing in an extra cramming sesh?”

“It’s fine! Really.”

“Hey, Reid, come on,” you attempt to stifle a stupid giggle as you gesture to the rather large window displaying the playroom inside, “you are a guest in my home!”

Spencer shakes his head and chuckles, but doesn’t dare let you think he found you funny, “I’ll have chicken nuggets.”

“Happy meal?”

He tried to look offended at your clarification, but he quickly dropped the facade, “Yes. Extra fries, please.”

“Of course, buddy.” You pulled up further to the ordering station, catching a glimpse at the menu and the ads they had displayed on it, “Oh no way! They have Strawberry Shortcake toys! I used to collect those when I was a kid!”

Spencer saw the look on your face and couldn’t help but smile at your childlike excitement, “Do you want my happy meal toy?”

You bit your lip and hesitated before throwing all shame to the wind and saying yes. Because it was Spencer. He got excited over chemistry, he had no right to judge you on your old Strawberry Shortcake doll collection.

After you got your food, you drove back to your house, and you ate together at your kitchen island while Spencer quizzed you on the last chapter. He had asked you eighteen questions so far, and you had answered all of them correctly. 

“Okay, this last one is for the Strawberry Shortcake--”

“Her name is Orange Blossom.”

“Whatever, this last one is for the Orange Blossom toy: Which type of reaction is represented by this equation?” He showed you his notebook where he had written a molecular equation.

“Substitution.”

“Correct! Now balance it.”

Your shoulders slouched as the pride drained from your body.

“Please don’t make me.”

“This is going to be on the test, Y/N, you have to know it.”

“What’s one wrong question, really?”

“You and I both know she’s not going to put just one balancing question on the test.”

“Fine.” You grumbled, grabbing a pencil and sliding his notebook closer to you. You worked it out after a few minutes, but everything looked right, and judging by Spencer’s proud grin, everything was.

He reached for the figurine, still in the plastic bag, and handed it to you, “You’re gonna do great tomorrow, Y/N.”

You took Orange Blossom from his hands and danced around the kitchen with it, overwhelmed with the sudden feeling of confidence you gained from nailing this practice session. You heard Spencer’s small laugh from behind you, causing you to turn around and face the boy as he lovingly mocked you.

Studying at your place became a regular thing after that, even when your mom was home. She loved him. She always invited him for dinner if she was home. He rarely took her up on the offer, but it was nice having him around the house with you. Study sessions turned into just plain hanging out. You spent more time bonding over Doctor Who than chemistry some nights, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

~~~

When Alexa Lisben invited him to meet her at the football field you were skeptical. You had good reason to be. She was never very nice to you or Spencer. You were able to be civil with her for the sake of the cheerleading squad, but something about her just didn’t sit right with you. You tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. He seemed offended at the notion that Alexa would do something horrible to him. How dare you imply that the only reason someone would be interested in him would be to pull a fucked up prank?

“I’m not like you, Y/N, I don’t have a line of people waiting around for a date, no one’s ever had a crush on me before, and-and now that someone other than you is being nice to me, you’re telling me that they have some sort of ulterior motive?”

“Spencer. I know these girls, I’ve seen the guys they go for--”

“And I’m not like them?”

“No! You’re a sweet kid, you’re nothing like those guys and they’re gonna take advantage of that.”

“I really wish everyone would stop saying I’m just a kid!”

“You’re not! That came out wrong--”

“Listen, Y/N, I’m going whether you want me to or not, so if you really want to keep babying me, by all means, stay after and wait with me.”

“I don’t wanna baby you!”

“So stop it!”

You didn’t want to fight with him anymore, you weren’t his mother. “Ok, Spencer, fine. I’m sorry. You should go. How about you meet me in the library after and you can tell me all about it over McDonald’s? My treat.”

He warmed up and agreed.

So you waited in the library until four, and then you started to get worried. You went to grab something from your gym locker before you left to look for him and heard some girls from the squad gossiping about “the little dork.” Your blood started to boil as you heard the way they talked about Spencer. Your jaw only clenched harder as you recognized one of the girls’ voices as Alexa Lisben’s.

You poked your head around the lockers that divided the aisles and tried to manage a calm voice, “Hey Alexa? Spencer actually said he was meeting up with you today, do you know where he is?”

She just laughed and said, “I can’t believe you actually care about that loser.”

“He’s my friend.” All attempts to remain level-headed were tossed aside, “Where the fuck is he, what did you do to him?”

You could feel yourself starting to cry. It’s your fault, you weren’t there, you tried to warn him, but now you don’t know where he is or what he’s thinking or--

“Check the field.”

You sprinted out to the football field and saw him stripped down to his briefs, blindfolded, and tied to a goal post. You could kill Alexa. You actually considered turning right around and unleashing hell on that locker room, but your friend needed help. He was crying so hard he didn’t hear you coming until you called his name. You immediately went to untie him and grab his clothes from the fence beside him.

“You were right.” He sniffled, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, I’m not mad, I’m sorry, I should have been there, I could have helped you--”

“No, you couldn’t. There were too many people.”

“How many were there? Who did this?”

“Y/N, please--”

“No, Spencer, tell me what happened.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it!”

You know when to stop, so you just shut your mouth while he got dressed, “Get in the car, I’m taking you home.”

You didn’t say a word to him as he buckled his seatbelt and you could tell he appreciated it. You just drove to McDonald’s and got him his usual. You parked in the parking lot and ate your food in almost silence, save for the radio in the background.

“You don’t have to tell me what exactly happened, you could pretend none of this ever happened, I won’t mind, it’s okay, but I just need you to know, Spencer, say the word and she’s dead. I have so much dirt on her, you have no idea, I can destroy her.”

“Don’t.”

“Okay, I won’t. At least give me names. I will personally make sure none of those boys ever get a date again.”

“Y/N, please.”

“I’m serious, I’ll tell everyone they have herpes.”

“I know you are and that’s what scares me, please don’t, I don’t wanna make things worse.”

You decide to drop it because if he doesn’t wanna talk about it, he needs a distraction.

After you finish your food, you ask him “Your house or mine?”

“Yours. Please.”

You drove back to your house and got yourselves set up on the couch in front of the TV, turning on an episode of Doctor Who that you had recorded. You made him popcorn as he curled up on your couch, clutching a pillow. You were mostly quiet for the rest of the night, but when you did talk, it was to ask him a question about the show or if any of the science was accurate. It was the best you could do to keep him mind off things. Eventually, he fell asleep and you felt too bad to wake him. He got up by himself around midnight, jolting awake as if from a nightmare, and considering how the last few hours had been for him, it probably was one.

“Hey, bud, I’m here, it’s me.” You didn’t touch him, knowing he got overstimulated sometimes when he got really stressed, but he felt around for you on the couch next to him, needing to know you were really there this time. You patted his hand when it reached across the cushion for you.

“What time is it?”

“Way too late for you to be here, let’s get you home.”

He nodded, slowly rising to his feet and looking for his backpack, which you reminded him he had left in the car. Your hand hovered above his head for a moment before he lazily drifted into you as he walked. You took this as an okay to touch him, so you ruffled his hair before loosely slinging an arm around his shoulders as you guided him to your car.

The drive back to Spencer’s wasn’t too long, thankfully, because you were sure his parents would be furious with him and the kid’s been through enough today. You wanted to take all the heat without making them think you kidnapped him. The lights were still on when you pulled into the driveway. They were probably worried sick about him.

When you knocked on the door, a frantic woman with short blonde hair opened it. When she saw Spencer, she grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him into the house, never breaking eye contact with you.

“Who are you? What are you doing with my son?”

“He didn’t do anything wrong, Mrs. Reid. I’m Y/N, he’s been tutoring me.”

“How do you know me? Spencer, what did you tell her?” She looked at him and back at you, “Get off my property and stay away from us!”

“Mom, she’s a fr--”

“Go up to your room, don’t come out.” She didn’t sound like an angry parent reprimanding her son, she sounded almost... scared.

A million alarms were going off in your head, and you needed to try to get through to her, “Ma’am, I’m sorry, he was helping me study and we lost track of time, it’s not his fault.”

“I don’t care, I don’t know you, get off my property!”

You decided it was best not to argue, so you hurried back to your car and drove home as quickly as possible so you could shower and go to bed and pray that Spencer would be okay tonight.

~~~

Your phone rang early the next morning. You rolled out of bed to answer it, sprinting to the hall table to take it off the stand. Checking the caller ID, you realized it was from a number you didn’t recognize. Answering it, you heard Spencer’s voice on the other side.

“Hello, this is Spencer, is Y/N home?”

“Yes, you woke me up on a Saturday morning, where else am I gonna be, kid?” Your voice was scratchy as you struggled to fight off the sleep still clawing at your throat.

“Sorry about that. I was just calling to apologize for last night.”

“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

“N-No, I’m not in trouble, I just wanted to explain why my mother was all--”

“She was worried, I get it.”

“N- she… My mother is a paranoid schizophrenic, she doesn’t do well with strangers. She doesn’t even remember what she said to you last night, she was having one of her episodes. She was just confused.”

You didn’t know how to respond. You were so shocked by his sudden revelations, you just stayed silent. You didn’t want him to think he scared you, so you had to say something. And apparently, that something was “Oh.”

“She wanted to apologize, but she’s just a bit embarrassed, so I called for her.”

“N-No, it’s okay, I…” It was suddenly so hard to say you understood because while it made sense to you, you wouldn’t fully understand what he or his mom was going through, you didn’t understand it, but Spencer didn’t seem to mind. He was just glad it didn’t bother you. After the events of yesterday, he couldn’t afford to lose you.

“Tell her I’m sorry I scared her.”

“Will do. She said you could come over so she could apologize personally and meet her if you want.”

“I’d love to. And Spence?”

You felt him take pause. You never called him that before, “Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t wanna scare you.”

“You wouldn’t scare me, dude, you can tell me anything.”

“Really?”

“I promise. I’ll see you Monday?”

Spencer nodded, but you couldn’t see him, so he spoke up through the lump in his throat, “See you Monday.”

Taglist ~~~~~~

(Lmk if you wanna be added!!)

@lawnmoa @ellvswriting @reidsmyhusband-emilysmymistress @baby-pogue @rottenearly

[migstheruler]

PLaystation 5 Event

initially great, despite the horrible pre-orders ordeal.

On Sept. 16, 2020, Sony pulled back the curtain on another slew of details regarding the PS5.

1.       The PlayStation 5 releases on November 12th, 2020 in Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States (why these states, only Sony knows even though I think it’s because of their distinct market in each of these countries).

2.       The PlayStation 5 releases everywhere else on November 19, 2020.

3.       The PlayStation 5 launches at $399.99 for the digital edition and $499.99 for the disc-based edition.

*IF backward compatibility with the PS4 is important to you, I’d recommend the disc-based PS5. Sony execs have confirmed 99% of PS4 games are compatible with their new Flagship console.

   The event also gave us a look into some new games coming to the PS5 for launch as well as games we can expect during the first year of the PlayStation 5’s life cycle. Honestly tho, I think some of those games indicating they were launching during 2021 is a lie. You mean to tell me you’re going to launch Horizon, God of War 2, Final Fantasy 16 all in one year…..really… If these games were dique going to launch in 2021, you would think they would have had at least a working demo or something, instead of a teaser trailer with the games logo…but I digress, I’ll touch on this later.

 Below are a few games showed that caught my eye and I just had to write about them.

Overall, Sony’s PS5 presentation was a good one, with all the information we as consumers were asking for since June and 10/10 would watch again (I’ve seen the presentation 4 times already (twice to write this piece 😊)).  

The presentations started with a trailer showing a slew of different games coming to the PlayStation five system, most games we covered in https://migstheruler.com/post/620830163010240512/ps5-reveal-event but just when you thought this was another trailer, boom!!!

Final Fantasy 16

A nice mix of old and new: as if the folks from Final Fantasy 11 and 12 made a 15 esque type game.

Shiva the ice goddess is back, and looking deadlier than ever throwing out chilly ice crystals sure to cause anyone level seven frostbite

Who´s a good boy? This little pup looks ready to be pet and given treats.

 It looks like our trusty steeds the Chocobos are back, hopefully, they are more useful this time around )I’m looking at you final fantasy seven episode one)

Marlboros are looking as menacing as ever.

 Final Fantasy 16 was pretty unexpected to be honest, especially given final fantasy seven episodes one releasing a few months ago. However, it’s a nice surprise to see Square Soft jk Square Enix working on a new Final Fantasy game, especially one that likes to expand upon the action RPG elements (Think kingdom hearts series or final fantasy 15 and even 7).  Aesthetically, this is giving me hardcore fantasy elements with realism thrown in there.

Either way, what a great way to start off the presentation.

  Spiderman Miles Morales:

Next up, Sony gives us a seven-minute look into Spiderman Miles Morales, which expands upon 2018’s PS4 Spiderman. Sony has said this is not a direct sequel but instead a look to further expand upon the world through the eyes of Miles Morales. The graphics and presentation of this game are sure to entice any spiderman man. The lighting coupled with Mile’s powers makes this game a visual PS5 treat.

 Last time we saw Miles, he had just shown Peter Parker he too had powers to which Peter Parker joined him upon the ceiling, it was a bonding moment the two spider-men would have. Fast forward maybe a year (I’m not sure how much time has passed since the last spiderman game) we are thrusted into the shoes of Miles Morales.

  “Mom I’m home” Can we take a moment to appreciate my man’s line up here, dam that shit looks crispy.

Walking through Harlem, music playing, and folks dancing Salsa in the street. I’m not going to lie, this made me cheese from ear to ear.

This is what I expect to encounter when I have to mediate between clients ready to rip each other apart in a gory fashion (above).  

 Okay, knowing how strong spiderman is, I fully expect the dude’s Jaw to be broken after this power punch.

I forgot to mention (above) Miles can turn Invisible and has access to electric powers (below) sure to spruce up and affect the way Miles plays. I can only imagine a focus less on gadgets and more of an emphasis on Miles’ powers.

Although I know this game stars a new spiderman aka Miles Morales, the developers sure are making sure we know  we’re not playing with Peter Parker anymore.

“Insert obligatory spiderman being pulled from different directions trope here” I’m not even going to front; this image is pretty cool.

Lastly, how dope is this launch title? It is one of the first games I plan to beat on my PS5.

-          I do want to say one thing regarding this title. I think it’s pretty great from a representation perspective to see a Black and Puerto Rican spiderman. Representation matters. I’m not Puerto Rican but am Latino and I do appreciate the flags littered throughout the trailer, folks dancing salsa and overall, Miles Morales as a character.

One gripe I have with this game unfortunately is Sony’s anti-consumer stance regarding those that purchased 2018’s Spiderman. Folks that purchase the Deluxe Spiderman Miles Morales edition for $79.99 get both Spiderman Miles Morales and a supped-up version of 2018’s spiderman for the PS5, yet Sony hasn’t extended an olive branch to those of us that supported their 2018 game (even making it one of their best sellers). IF you want to play Spiderman Miles Morales, you can cop it for a cool $49.99 which is dope but doesn’t include any type of upgrade for those of us with the PS4 version of spiderman. Honestly, as someone that doesn’t plan on playing the game again but it’s pretty anti-consumer to not even offer some type of benefit to those PS4 supporters. Here’s to hoping they offer some type of upgrade via a patch to the PS4 spiderman.

·       Turns out the game will run natively better on the PS5 given the consoles superior power but for a truly next gen 2018 Spiderman experience, you gotta pay those $69.99 duckats.  

   Looks Like we’re going back to Hogwarts and I’m not talking about Fantastic Beasts or Harry Potter. We received our first look (aside from the leak that was released last year). In Hogwarts Legacy, we go back to the late 1800s to visit the Wizards of the Waverly place (I think I said this right, I’ve only seen the Harry Potter movies once all the way through). Either way, it looks like they managed to capture the magic of Hogwatz. The walls of Hogwarts look alive, books flying all over the place and magic spewing from cauldrons of unknown potions.

 Our journey begins going back to Hogwarts with a cool looking Owl to boot.    

 The sorting hat is back babi, it seems like this is a create your own character adventure, where we as the player will get to customize our very own character, sure to get into whatever wizardly fun is to be found.  Team Slytherin all day!! JK, I’m team Gryffindor babi. But really tho, I have no idea what school I’d be assigned too.

  In both of these pictures, its quite remarkable the little details you see; the more you look, the more you see. Did you see the candles above, or the candlelight below

Looks like our boys are cooking up work in the kitchen aka cauldron. I’d also like to bring attention to the lighting, truly impressive.  Time to eat some delicious grub with my fellow wizards!! (Below)

 Looks like we’ll be facing a litany of different monsters and foes. I know with my Avada Kedavra, I’ll be blasting fools like the one below away.

 Dam son, we fighting Dragons out here too, sheesh.

Looks like combat will be a big portion of gameplay as the video showed of a created character fighting some pretty large beasts.

Looks like we’ll be playing quidditch in this game, and I honestly can’t wait.

I sure do hope we’re able to feed these little cuties and pet them.

Looks like this game is open world, as the characters are seen flying on Griffins across the vista. They draw distances in this game are spectacular.

Hogwarts Legacy launches in 2021.

 *JK Rowling has no involvement with this game and that’s a good thing given her recent problematic statements.

  Demon Souls

Full disclosure, I bought demon souls for the PS3 back in the day but unfortunately, did not stick with the game. It was fun and I would proceed to play other From Software and souls genre games in the future such as Sekiro, Bloodborne and Nioh to name a few. But here we have Bluepoint games remaking the PS3 Cult Classic and precursor to the Souls Genre. I for one am super excited to jump back in and try my hand again at Demon Souls.

 This place here is the game’s main hub that allows you to access other portions of the world map. IT’s nice to see it in all it’s HD Glory.

Our Player is borne anew: Rise from your grave!!! JK, this isn’t a Sega title.

The environments look super luscious and literal indistinguishable from concept art. The leaves, lighting, and armor are truly a beautiful sight to see.  (Below) 

Nothing like chilling by a bonfire, although if you’re new to the genre, every time you heal at these bon fires, all the enemies you spent tirelessly fighting repopulate.

Call me crazy but in the original, players from other games could leave each other messages written in blood, as a way to help each other out. It looks like this concept is making a comeback this time around.  

 Dragons are so hot right now…. (insert Zoolander Gif here)

If you have ever played a souls game, you know this is something you can expect to see even in your dreams. I remember going to bed thinking how an enemy boss had beaten me 13-times in a row, only to go to bed thinking and imaging different strategies on how I could kill the foe standing between me and the game's progress.

The gameplay looks faster than the original but the difficult elements remain prevalent. The player is seen mowing down enemies which seems a bit off given the extreme difficulty of the PS3 game. But this could be Bluepoint addressing the sometimes-outrageous difficulty by making it more appealing to casuals.

Launch Title!!!!

 God of War Ragnarök:

Last time we saw our heroes, Kratos and Atreus were shacked up in their home when they receive a visit from a mysterious visitor brandishing what looks like Mjolnir on his waist.  The game ended in a great cliff hanger and is sure to improve on the many aspects the PS4 game

Get the fuck out of here. Sony decided to drop a nuclear ton warhead on us with the teaser trailer of God of War Ragnarok, a sequel to the PS4’s God of War.  Although they did not show any game play, they did manage to build the hype with the screen below:  

And then to top off the trailer the list the following with a supposed 2021 release date which I think is highly unlikely but, we will see. Either way, “we must prepare”.

   Sadly, when the presentation ended, pre-orders went live . We were told by Sony that we would have ample time to prepare to pre-order, nothing but the contrary occured. I was one of the unlucky folks who failed to obtain his PS5 preorder despite having the funds to do so. Here’s to hoping I’m able to secure a pre-order prior to the Nov 12 launch. I did manage to get a PS5 camera which is a must for me since I like to stream games online, it’s really quite addicting. Check out my channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiazQqSufhmIGo2a7odLOpQ?view_as=subscriber.

I do want to say one thing, I am very fortunate to have the things i’ve accumulated over the years. I know there are people in the world that lack even basic necessities. If you’re reading this, please donate to  cause/fund or organization you beleive in. I know my life’s work is to improve the living conditions of everyone regardless of their creed and that keeps me plenty busy.  

  All images used in this piece were obtained from the source below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG0G44G6RI8

Credit: IGN 

[goliath-de-senfina-sango]

Homo Ecto Sapiens

Chapter 2 Fandom: Danny Phantom Rating: General Audiences Relationships: Jack Fenton/Maddie Fenton, Danny Fenton & Jack Fenton & Maddie Fenton, Danny Fenton & Jazz Fenton, Danny Fenton & Tucker Foley & Sam Manson Characters: Danny Fenton, Jack Fenton, Maddie Fenton, Jazz Fenton, Sam Manson, Tucker Foley, Mr. Lancer (Danny Phantom), Dash Baxter, Lunch Lady (Danny Phantom), Dorathea "Dora" (Danny Phantom), Paulina Sanchez, Valerie Gray, Princess Dorothea, Princess Dora, Skulker (Danny Phantom) Additional Tags: Fix-It, Danny Fenton has ADHD, Multilingual Tucker, Trans Male Character, Multilingual Danny, Bisexual Danny Fenton, Bisexual Tucker Foley Summary:

Danny Fenton stood inside the dark tunnel of the only portal his parents couldn't get to work because he couldn't say no to a dare. He tripped on his way out. Now he has to deal with figuring out how to come out to his parents as being half ghost, while dealing with all the ghosts that come out of the portal.

Tucker and Sam stare at each other.  For a handful of moments, neither is entirely sure what they should do.  Sam is full of shock and anger and regret and terror.  She could've died.  Her best friends could have died.  How is a teenager even meant to process that?  She wants to curl up on the ground and hide from everything in that moment, will all the nasty reality that is Ghosts away.  But Tucker is bent over Danny, and Danny is out cold.  So she packs away the emotions, cools her shit, and bends down.  "You get his legs, I'll take his shoulders.  FentonWorks?"

They get him there.  Danny's parents are downstairs, working on something.  They get Danny on his bed, and Sam slumps against the door.  Tucker and Danny skipped over a detention essentially and all three have skipped school.  So Tucker goes down to erase the Fenton's voice mailbox and sends out a bug to his own.  Sam has no clue why he has that ready but asks if he can do it with her folks' line.  He asks for a few minutes. The silence passes, Tucker gets on Danny's laptop.  He always fled to the tech when he needed somewhere safe.  Eventually, he asks.  "You ok?  Today went to shit."

"No, I don't think I am.  Like, the worst I've got is some bruising that my make up can handle.  I need a shower, I guess."  They both know why she isn't actually ok.  Neither wants to bring it up.  So instead, Sam checks Danny's closet and finds something she'd left there a couple months back.  "I'm gonna do that actually.  Keep an eye on him?" Tucker grunted in acknowledgment.  That was the best she'd get so Sam grabbed a spare towel from the dresser and headed to the shower.

When Sam got back she looked over Tucker's shoulder.  Images of old ladies in familiar looking uniforms were all over the screen.  "Looking her up?"

"If we know more about her then we can talk it out with her right?"  Tucker's fingers paused over the keyboard.  He stretched, looking over at her.  "Right?"

"Probably.  Looking to work that Foley Charm on her?"  Sam elbowed him lightly in the ribs.  Tucker clutched his chest as though he'd been broken.  Thank gods for that smile on his face.  "Tell me you aren't planning to flirt with her.  Danny might get jealous."  Tucker snorted.

"I don't think Danny is into old ladies who occasionally burst into flames." Tucker went back to typing and clicking, screen light glaring off his lenses.  "So, my theory is that ghosts draw on ambient energy to sustain themselves.  When we went into that fight my phone was on like… 50 percent.  When we got here it was at 17.  So maybe we should carry batteries on us?"

"And our wrist rays."  Sam was never letting herself be helpless like that again.  "what've you got on her so far?"

"She said the menu hasn't changed in 50 years and she wasn't kidding.  So I'm looking back at people employed by Casper back when she was alive, and hoping I can recognize her facial structure."

"Impressive."  Sam sighed and looked over at Danny.

He zipped up his suit.  Sam made a face at him and pulled off the logo of his dad's face.  "You can't go around with this on your chest."  He agreed. If Danny ever met aliens of the extradimensional kind, he didn't want them to see his dad's face plastered on him.  Danny walked into the tunnel that was his parents' ghost portal, looking all around it.  The whispers of those other worlds called out in his head again.  As he walked deeper into the portal, Danny saw nothing wrong.  Not a nut or bolt out of place.  He got to the end. It was dark.  Too dark to see anything.  Turning back, he kept a hand on the wall to steady himself.  His foot hit a raised panel, and Danny leaned to the left for support. There was a click.

Danny opened his eyes and saw Sam looking down at him.  Not unusual.  The soreness in his muscles, however, was.  Danny stopped mid-stretch and winced.  "Oh. Right.  20-foot meat monster."  Tucker was at his desk, turned around in the chair and giving him that frown he had when Dash had slammed Danny into a locker.  "How long was I out for?"

"Four days."  Tucker reached under Danny's bed and lifted up a bag of Nasty Burger.

"Four Days?!"

"Nah, like, 2 hours dude."  Tuck chuckled and handed him a wrapped burger.  "You need this dude, that fight took a shit ton outta you."

“Don’t I know it.”  Danny unwrapped the burger and sank his teeth in.  He'd been hungrier than he thought.  It felt like a blink before the burger was gone.  "Thanks, dude, I really needed that.  We basically skipped lunch, didn't we?"  That thought had a horrible domino effect and Danny tore the burger wrapping in half.  "Fuck, my parents are gonna kill me!"

"I erased the voicemail from your box, mine, and Sam's.  Don't worry about that."

"Speaking of, how ya doin Sam?"  Danny turned, looking his friend over and wincing at the bruises on her arms.  “Fuck, the meat pile did that?”

“Yeah, turns out being grabbed up by a bunch of proceeded corpses can do some damage.”  Sam shrugged.  “It’s nothing I can’t fix with some concealer and sleeves.”

“It’s still warm though,” Danny said.  “You good baking yourself?”

“The heaters in the school barely work, and it’s nearly October, Danny.  Things have cooled down plenty.”  Sam frowned and looked over to Tucker.  “Do head injuries affect the perception of temperature?”

“I’m sure they can.  If only someone hadn’t summoned up a meat-obsessed lunch lady with a menu change.”  Tucker paused and raised a brow.  “Actually, how in the hell did you even get them to change it?  Nevermind the why.”

“The why, Tucker, is that schools need to promote healthier changes in the food we consume.”  Sam had that fire in her eyes.  Again.  Danny let out a long sigh, which went ignored by his bickering friends.

“And removing an entire food group from the menu was your solution?”

“It’s one we don’t even need Tucker!  Do you know how inefficient the transfer of calories from meat into our bodies is?”

“We need protein, Sam!  If there’s anything that the Lunch Lady said truthfully it’s that!  Look at Danny!  He barely gets any protein, you can see how that’s turned out for him.”

“My dude, I’m not the only skinny person here.”

“And whether or not we have meat and protein isn’t your decision to make for us all, Sam!”  Tucker glared balefully at the vegan and stood up from Danny’s chair.  “You had to be an individual and have all your individual needs met over what anyone else wanted, didn’t you?  No one but you even wanted this menu change and I’m going to fix it!”  Tucker stormed out of the room, leaving the door open.

“Oh like Hell you’re gonna undo all my hard work!”  Sam barged out as well, completely forgetting Danny as she slammed his door shut.  And Danny stared at that door for a moment before groaning into his pillow.

“This is going to be a whole thing, isn’t it?”  For several moments, Danny laid there and stared up at the constellations he’d put up on his ceiling in glow in the dark stickers.  His stomach reminded him of its existence, and Danny groaned again.  He still had some allowance left, so he went out and headed to the Nasty Burger.  Considering Tucker’s words and how much he’d done that day, Danny ordered a full meal.

After he’d eaten and walked it off on the way home, Danny let what had happened that day go through his mind.  Even as he fought off a small angry blob with his wrist ray, growling at it.  “Ghosts aren’t mindlessly violent beings. I know that.”  He needed to believe that.  “So, that means that she can be calmed, somehow.  She kept going on and on about the benefits of meat, and she died years ago…”  An email notification popped up on Danny’s computer, and he sighed.  “Right, homework assigned by Lancer.  What would I do without Tuck?”

The next day, Danny pulled on one of his darker shirts - a gift from Sam with some constellation’s accurately displayed - and some jeans.  His parents didn’t come up to join him and Jazz that morning, which was likely for the best.  Danny didn’t need their ghost radar pointing at him before he could figure out how to break their biases.  The second his cereal was finished, though, Danny pulled out his journal and attached pencil.  “No,” Danny snapped when he heard Jazz take a familiar breath.  “It’s not a diary, no you may not read it.  For the 11th time, Spazz.”  One weird benefit of super hearing - I can tell when she’s about to speak.  Everyone had different rhythms for when they spoke and when they were thinking etcetera.  Danny knew his sister’s patterns almost as well as Tucker and Sam’s.

Danny wrote into his journal a goal of recording his encounters with apparently sapient ghosts and how quickly he managed to pacify them.  If only he could think of how to pacify this one.

Once the hybrid got to school - later than he would’ve been had those damned blobs not been so interested in fucking with him - Danny groaned as he was dragged to the Vice Principal’s office.  There he found Tucker, who was glaring down at the desk in just the right angle to look like he was glaring directly ahead.  A trick he’d developed for gathering valuable passwords while tricking Lancer and other authorities into thinking he was just a semi-rebellious teen.  Danny couldn’t tell what Tucker could possibly be trying to gather from the desk now, but he may have just been scowling.  Tucker was complicated that way.

“Take a seat, Mr. Fenton.”  Danny obeyed and took his seat, looking steadfastly at the space just behind Lancer’s head.  “Tell me, gentlemen, how and why did you leave my office when both of you were already being punished for starting a food fight in the cafeteria?”  Before either could come up with an answer, Lancer slammed his hand down hard on the desk, and Danny flinched.  “What could possibly have possessed you two to skip school for the rest of the day?”

Danny squirmed a bit, while Tucker took even, obviously measured breaths.  He then looked up at Lancer directly.  “We were worried about Sam, sir.  She hadn’t answered any of her texts, and she always answers even when we’re fighting to make sure we know she’s safe.”  Not untrue, Sam wouldn’t have been able to answer a text if they tried that.  Danny nodded along to Tucker’s story.

“We left out the window to find her, which took forever since she had gone to find a way to help organize something for the school.”  Danny put on his most apologetic face.  “We’re truly sorry about ditching you, Mr. Lancer, but we had to make sure our friend was safe, you see.  We wanted to make sure none of the jocks or anyone had gone and done something horrible to her as revenge for getting the menu changed for a week.”

Lancer glared between the two of them for several seconds more, and Danny fought to keep himself still.  “Fine,” Lancer finally allowed.  “I will be following up with Ms. Manson to confirm all of this, but you won’t be receiving too harsh a punishment for looking out for your friend.  For endangering yourselves by leaving through the window, however, and for leaving without simply telling me, you will be serving both lunch detention and after-school detention.  Do you understand, boys?”

“Of course, Mr. Lancer.”  It amazed Danny, at times, that he and Tucker could speak in unison.  They were like twins.

“Dismissed.  You two best not be late to my class.”

On the way to class, Danny brought up his thoughts on trying to appease the Lunch Lady.  “Her name is Agatha,” Tuck said.  “Agatha Reece.  And maybe you could, I dunno, teach her about the health crisis in America?  Help me organize the school to reform the menu the right way?”

“You want it changed too now?  I thought you were gonna get it changed back early, or something?”

“Oh no, the food around here sucks either way.”  Tucker rolled his eyes.  “I just wish we had like, a better storage of better food in general.  I could recommend my uncle and aunt’s farm for fresh, nearby food products.”

“If only we knew how Sam had convinced the school to do this whole ‘vegie week’ thing.”  Danny shook his head.  “That’s what really doesn’t make sense to me.  We’ve only been in school for like, a month or so.  How the hell did Sam ‘wear them down’ so quickly?”

“No clue,” Tucker growled.  For a moment the hair on Danny’s nape stood on end at the sound.  “But, I’m going to make a petition, and head around the school getting signatures for a better permanent change decided on by the students.”

Danny patted Tucker’s shoulder and nodded somberly.  “Leave some printer paper for the rest of us at least?”

Tucker raised his nose, Danny now straining to hold in the laughter in front of the door.  “Sorry Danny, but a man on a mission has to go to all lengths to complete his quest.”

Danny bowed at the waist.  “Of course, Friar Tuck, how could I possibly forget?”

“You are forgiven, peasant Daniel.”  Tucker laughed and pulled Danny into the classroom.  Things would be alright.  Danny just needed to weather the storm and make sure both of his friends were still friends by the end of it.

It proved far more difficult a task done than said.  The three had most classes together, but Tucker was busily writing something down every few seconds in a second journal in his desk while he worked.  Tuck had the most fascinating form of ambidextrousness.  He barely paid any attention to Danny’s attempts to start a conversation and crumpled up any notes about Sam he slid over.

Similarly, Sam was ignoring him almost entirely.  She took her notes, but every time she caught him whispering to Tucker, she glared and went cold on Danny himself.  Am I not allowed to talk to both of my friends?

Lunch came around, Lancer had them eating in his room, and Danny had never been more grateful to Tucker’s mom than he had been when Tuck handed him an extra bagged lunch.  “Tuck, you are the best.”

“I know it, dude.”

“Gentlemen!  This is meant to be a time of quiet reflection upon your misdeeds.”  Lancer glared at them until the teens went to silently eating, and Lancer went back to whatever he was doing on his computer.  If Danny focused on the man’s headphones hard enough he could pick up the faint sound of… blasters?  Weird.

At the end of the day, however, while the two were meant to be heading to detention, Tucker was going around and asking groups of friends who were lingering about something and holding up a clipboard that Danny was almost certain he stole from his dad’s office.  Along with that pen.  Never was Danny ever earlier than Tucker to something, but apparently, detention was one of those things.  Sam, surprisingly, was also there.

“Lancer got you too?”  Danny asked as he swept a bit nearer to the goth

“I was gone all day.”  Sam shrugged, pushing the few remains of grass and mud into a pile and then grabbing a dustpan.  “Plus I wanted to help clean it up anyway.  We need this place to eat in after all.”

“Actually, I heard Jerry and Katelyn at least were eating on the theater stage.”  The two scooped everything up into a trash bag with the dustpan.  “They were inviting some other people to bring sandwiches and chips and stuff.”

“Oh wow,” Tucker called out from where Danny was very sure he shouldn’t have been able to hear them.  “No one wanted to eat garbage right from the ground?  I’m surprised, shocked even.”

“Had you actually been there to see, Tucker, there were plenty of people eating peacefully in the cafeteria today!”  Sam looked downright murderous and stomped off to clean away from Tucker.  Danny sighed a heavy sigh and shook his head.

The detention had gone on for an hour, but it’d felt like forever.  Danny watched both his friends march off in different directions and groaned.  Another friendless night for him.  After a trip to the Nasty Burger, Danny did a little walk around the city.  A few ghosts that he could see when the world lost focus skittered away from him, or ignored him entirely.  Some attacked, but his wrist ray had yet to run out of juice even though he forgot to charge it last night.  “Maybe something to do with my other self.  Gonna have to ask mom and dad about that.”  A shiver ran down Danny’s spine, a puff of mist coming out of his mouth and he looked around, letting his senses shift into that surreal state of his ghostly self.  He saw nothing out of the ordinary.  Relaxing, Danny sighed and headed home.

"Danny!"  His dad, Jack Fenton, only seemed to speak in exclamation marks. Danny wondered if he'd ever had an inside voice.  "C'mon, dinner's ready son!"

Danny raised a brow.  "Who cooked?" He'd eaten his Nasty Burger meal and was pretty sure he got all he needed.

"I did!"  On the other hand, more food that wasn't infected with ectoplasmic residue sounded nice.  Danny set down his bag and headed into the kitchen, where his dad had set out chicken, mashed potatoes, garlic bread, and spinach.  His mom and sister were already sitting and eating, and Danny gave them both a wave.

"Hi, Danny!  Juice is in the fridge.  Jazz reminded your father and I we need to refresh our minds with some air every now and then.  I thought, why not a family dinner?"  Mom shrugged as she picked up a chicken leg.  "Jack insisted on cooking."

"Mom," Jazz said in her best calming voice, "Dad never mutates the food."

While Mom and Jazz debated who had the bigger mishaps with ectoplasm - Danny felt the Christmas turkey and Dad dragging them into a world of blinding perpetual light ranked as the biggest mishaps period - Danny grabbed himself a plate and fruit punch.  Jazz clearly grabbed some groceries before telling their parents to surface.

Halfway through his meal, a thought struck Danny.  "Hey Dad, Mom?  How does ectoplasm interact with electricity in its rawest most natural form?  The ectoplasm not the electricity."

Jazz stared at him in betrayal, Why written in her expression.  His parents, however, jumped on the thought of their son having an interest in their work.  Danny had never seen his dad swallow food that fast.

"Ya see Danno, ectoplasm as it is when we retrieve it is naturally an energy thief.  In relation to electromagnetic radiation, it soaks in any and all of it from the area with the exclusion of green visible light.  That's why it feels so cold."

"If we can refine our engines properly we can utilize the flip side of  that natural state," his mom added, "We could revolutionize energy efficiency in technology around the world!"

"It can store up a lot of power, but once it hits it's maximum?"  Dad held his hands together then spread them out so fast he almost smacked Jazz and Danny.  "It all comes out in an intense burn!  Ectoplasm is either plasma hot or cold as space.  When it's cold, it'd drain the power out of everything around it."

Danny nodded, letting the info process for a couple of moments while he ate.  "So if, say, a ghost was to eat human food…?"

"Well," his mom twirled her fork around.  "It likely wouldn't, but if it did the ghost would soak up all the energy that could be gotten out of the material in the food, leaving nothing but ashes."

Danny nodded, curiosity satisfied, and steered the conversation elsewhere.  Once he was done clearing off his plate, Danny was struck with a realization.  It was the sort of thing that happened all the time, when a thought lingered in his head, waiting to present itself.  Usually, that was artistic inspiration.  Now he knew exactly how to calm down Agatha.  Up the stairs, he ran to his computer.

AO3

[thesinglesjukebox]

ARIANA GRANDE FT. NICKI MINAJ - THE LIGHT IS COMING

[6.36]

It's Ariana Gran-Day! Starting off with this Nicki duet, containing an unexpected sample...

Rebecca A. Gowns: The sample is fascinating. It reminds me of the baby coo in "Are You That Somebody"; a non-musical sound transformed into a musical refrain, then multiplied so often it becomes the beat itself. And seemingly not connected to the actual content of the song... or is it? Like, is "Are You That Somebody" really about making babies? (Not just euphemistically, but about conception itself?) And is this song really an anti-establishment taunt? (Not just the music industry, but the clowns in Congress, if you will?) Well, who the hell knows. The music here is so much more fascinating than the lyrical content; the man yells about not being interrupted between stringent beep-bop-boop sounds crossing over from Dan Deacon territory. Honestly, it's reminiscent of a certain other pop/rap song that could also be called equal turns annoying, political, and just plain fun. And like that song, I like it even when it starts to grate. Maybe even because it's grating -- like, thank God established pop artists take risks like this sometimes. [8]

Katherine St Asaph: Gather around, folks, for a recent history lesson! The man sampled all over "The Light Is Coming," Craig Miller, was part of a Tea Party-organized, "almost entirely white and irritable" crowd protesting an 2009 Arlen Specter town hall in soon-to-flip-red Pennsylvania. The protest was against Obamacare, but it devolved almost immediately into more general right-wing bullshit. You can watch the whole thing on C-SPAN, if you're short on despair. Lowlights include: "What about this Guantanamo closure? ... The [mispronounced] Koar-ann says that all unbelievers shall be executed, killed. That's why I cannot support Islam." "He's right." (43:56); cheering at "we can take the non-U.S. citizens and give them an airplane ticket and ship them back" (38:47); even louder cheering at "the illegals, they shouldn't even be here" (18:34), and, toward the end (1:13:13), a familiar refrain: "The people in this room want their country back." One of them felt the need to clarify that she didn't have "any Nazi symbols with [her]" (7:45), perhaps because the previous day, in Georgia, someone painted a swastika outside Democratic representative David Scott's office after his town hall. Do I think Pharrell -- who also sampled Specter's own remarks in "Lemon" -- is maliciously sneaking far-right propaganda into our children's pop music? No, of course not. Maybe he just thought it sounded cool. But including a sample this obscure, this prominently, must have some point, and choosing one so politically charged brings in connotations -- connotations that just don't play nice with the light/darkness/taking-back/theft imagery and taunting delivery of "the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole." It doesn't help that the Manchester bombing, which every Sweetener interview unavoidably alludes to, was quickly exploited by the far right. It also doesn't help that Grande's verses don't rebut but echo Miller, targeting someone who's a "know-it-all" (see other protesters' gripes about "elitists" and a bill written above "junior high school" language), who's irrational and doesn't listen, who's "tellin' everyone, stay woke" -- sides clearly assigned. The beat is great, the most inventive and sinuous Pharrell's sounded in years, but it's wasted on -- what, exactly? Both-sidesing? A Producers-esque attempt to squash innovation in pop with a bizarre sample set up to fail? Or inadvertently (I hope) something more reactionary than anything Taylor Swift's ever released? It could be worse. The track's a "Sleazy"/"Dark Horse"/"Jewels 'n' Drugs" urban crossover attempt, for which Grande's team "auditioned eight rappers," one of whom may have been much-streamed XXXTentacion. Nicki's winning verse, self-promotion and fuckboy dissing written remotely, doesn't engage with the song at all, which is probably for the best. As for fan consensus? Seems to be: "Will that old guy please STFU?" [2]

Vikram Joseph: Ladies and gentlemen, 2018's most bizarre sampling decision! I've read the context behind the "You wouldn't let anybody speak, and instead..." quote, and it still makes minimal sense to loop it continuously behind what's otherwise a seductive, abrasive, very N.E.R.D. throb of a beat. Thematically, it seems to be an attempt to take down condescension and echo-chamber complacency in debate ("if it ain't your view, that's the bottom line"); this is ambitious, and only occasionally hits the mark, too often stumbling into jumbled nonsense such as "give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all". Nicki Minaj, meanwhile, is relegated to a brief, off-topic turn in the intro. And all the while, that shouty man keeps shouting (and, god, I really can't emphasise enough what a strange choice of sample this is). Good Beat, B.A.A.D. Decisions. [5]

Tobi Tella: I mean, you don't know how HARD I tried to like this. Coming off their three amazing previous collaborations, this should've been great. But there's so much about this I don't like: the repetitive chorus, the weird way she sings so you can't actually understand a word she's saying, the sample of a conservative yelling? It's all just off-putting and irritating to me. Nicki gets in the best line of the song with "Yo Ariana come let give you a high five", but even her solid verse can't save the trainwreck around her. [3]

Abdullah Siddiqui: Little about this track is normal for a Top 40 single. And I find that very refreshing. The hook is effective, in that it hasn't left the back of my mind in weeks. The instrumental is beautifully minimalistic; the drum sequence at the start reminds me of Bj��rk's "Heirloom". I love when the track kicks into double time. Minaj delivers a few solid bars at the top. Grande doesn't rely too much on her vocal tricks for this one, and it works to the song's benefit. The track is not without its flaws, however. It feels somewhat structurally underdeveloped. The "you wouldn't let anybody speak" is a bit overused, and it feels particularly misplaced during the verses. But these flaws are not by any means fatal. This is definitely one of Grande's most adventurous releases, and I'd go so far as to say, one of her best. [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Aside from Nicki Minaj, whose tacked-on verse sounds less like its own contribution and more like another mandatory installment in the "Chun-Li" cinematic universe, all the many moving parts here end up making a lot of sense. Ariana's vocal performance darts between the little open spaces of Pharrell's beat, expanding and contracting as he brings in bizarro-bounce elements (including a sample from an anti-Obamacare town hall, of all things.) It's almost interesting enough as a pure physical feat, the way she moves from taunting cadences to breathy whispers to damn-near belting on a second's notice, but fortunately there's a good enough song as scaffolding around her too, one that provides enough structure to support "the light is coming" in its pursuit of weird pop glory. [7]

Alex Clifton: Ariana seems to be reinventing pop this year; the work off of Sweetener so far is the most eclectic stuff I've heard on the charts in quite some time. Where "No Tears Left to Cry" refused to resolve in any particular tonality (major or minor? why not both!), "The Light Is Coming" stutters and glitches with a sample of an irate citizen from hearings over Obamacare paired with video game beeps and boops. On paper, it shouldn't work, and it doesn't overwhelm me the way that all of Ariana's best tracks have in the past. But in practice it ends up sounding like a dystopian dance song/spoken word poem, which in 2018 feels like a real mood. Ariana and Nicki work well together as always although once Nicki's initial verse is gone she's out of the song for good; she could've come back pretty easily, and that would've made for some nice vocal interplay. But the more I hear of Ariana's music the more I keep wanting to hear, even when it misses the mark. It's been a while since I've seen a Pop Diva experiment so boldly away from her typical formula, and I'm revelling in every moment of it. [6]

Ashley John: The dismembered corpses of pure pop hooks and Pennsylvania politics roughly stitched together with a Pharrell beat is as close to a summary of Me as a song can get, so I'm partial to and suspicious of it right away. "The Light is Coming" should feel gimmicky, like Ariana is rushing in a rebellious phase, but instead it hits closer to a teaser--of what I am not sure. A Lorde song without the specificity or the groove, a Gwen Stefani track without the whimsy, and in those places just a hollow, trembling core. The track feels like it could collapse in on itself at any point, and actually, how fitting for a chorus of chanted, demanded optimism. [7]

Alfred Soto: A gesture -- an attempt to coalesce Pharrellistic effects around a would-be aphorism. One of the effects is Nicki Minaj. [6]

Thomas Inskeep: The beat, the slightly off-kilter rhythm was nagging at me, and then once I looked up the credits it made sense: it's Pharrell. And what he's brought for Ariana here is Trio's "Da Da Da" cut with Hot Butter's 1972 smash "Popcorn"! And then, on top of that, Minaj drops a solid opening 12 bars before Grande cuts loose with a message of positivity -- the chorus is "the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole" -- that's obviously another reference to Manchester. And it works. I hope this hits on radio, because it'll sound glaringly different, and radio needs more of that right now. [7]

Will Rivitz: Man, Pharrell can't miss, can he? No one quite does the minimal beat like he does, and the versatility of his productions -- fitting everyone from Clipse to Ed Sheeran -- is on full display here, addictive vocal sample and all. Of course, it helps that everything else clicks, too: Ariana's finally embracing her "sardonic" side in her music, Nicki's verse is serviceable and appropriate if not particularly memorable, and the eerie nonchalance of the chorus perfectly encapsulates the song's uncanny ambience. Dangerous Woman is one of the best pop albums of the decade, and if Grande's current singles are any indication, Sweetener could be even better. [9]

Stephen Eisermann: Pharrell's production has been a bit shaky lately, but here his experimentation works. Nicki gives a perfectly serviceable verse to Pharrell's noisy beat, but it's Ariana's commitment and sass that elevates the track. To take on a track this playful, you need an artist who is willing and able to dance along to the track and Ariana is no slacker; even if the song is a bit weird thematically, sonically it's a gem and I'll be dancing along all summer. [7]

Maxwell Cavaseno: The unlikely world where I can imagine if Ariana thought the kind of music that came out of Ghostly International at the start of the decade would be the perfect sort of music to top the charts. Nevertheless, she's utterly at home, crooning and yammering through the strange pinball playground of her design, and to make the retrofitting all the more complete, you have Nicki doing her best to remember when she last sounded interesting... way back at the dawn of the decade. [7]

Pedro João Santos: It's a idiosyncratic mix of atypical vocal restraint by Ariana, boundless structure and glitchy, angular production courtesy of Pharrell. The verses are amorphous and abstract; Nicki makes a perfunctory but reliable appearance; the circular hook is repeated ad infinitum. Somehow, it all amounts to moderate success, after the brilliant "No Tears Left to Cry", even despite the appalling sample, which might serve for texture, but not much else. At least, it led to interview gold: "Is Ariana Grande a Christian?", the man whose voice was sampled, unbeknownst to him, asks an MTV reporter; his wife Karen sensibly replies: "Craig, I think she's more like Madonna." [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[nerdrvt]

Eliminating the “Us vs. Them” Rhetoric in Lab Animal Science

This is a topic I have been debating on writing about for some time. I feel like this has been a little thing in the back of my mind, eating away at me for almost my entire career in lab animal science. It is very hard to talk about, given that this field is the target of so much misleading, incorrect information already. We have a real problem, and what suffers because of it is the animals. So frequently I have heard complaints from my colleagues in science about how their respective animal care or veterinary departments have caused them issues with their work. I used to just brush it off, as it has been long-ingrained in me by my colleagues in the lab animal care end of things that these science folks are “the enemy” or “the dark side” (both of these terms have been said to me by lab animal folks, verbatim), and that they don’t have the best interest of the animals in mind.

I have worked on both “sides”, in facilities where the researchers and the animal care folks got along and collaborated amazingly well. I have worked in some where this was absolutely not the case. Animal research cannot continue to foster an “us vs. them” culture. We cannot continue to be at odds with the researchers we support. I have thought about this for some time, and I feel there are some key things that we need to improve upon, or consider at length, in our daily work. I know, I can hear the scoffing on both sides already. In a perfect world, everything would be rainbows and unicorns. p-values would always be significant, etc. I admit that some of the things I suggest may sound silly, but I just want people to think about how their actions can have a real impact on science.

Collaborate

Animal care staff and researchers should work together as a team. When there are unknowns about some animal work, don’t just say “no”. Offer to use your health and welfare expertise to try your best to help support the researchers and maybe you’ll learn something new, develop a new method, or make a scientific breakthrough. It won’t always work, but keeping a dialogue open and not shutting down every single new thing that comes across your desk/change station/procedure room will only serve to strengthen your relationship with the folks just trying to do science.

More support staff, less office staff

What’s one of the best ways to get your researchers to lose trust and faith in your operation? Start filling your head office with desk jockeys, and gut the staffing on the floor. The people working on the floor are your service’s daily face that the researchers interact with almost constantly. The office folks are often perceived as unnecessary, impersonal bureaucracy and barriers to the work the researchers are trying to do. Empower the animal care staff working in the facilities to perform some of the tasks normally assigned to office staff, and watch as the researchers feel like the tasks are much more approachable and accessible. That being said, an understaffed, overworked floor staff won’t be willing or able to take on these tasks, so make sure your staffing levels are appropriate for the work load.

Question the 3 Rs, and regulatory burden

The 3 Rs are touted as an excellent message for the public about all of the good we try to do in improving animal research work being done. However, are they really compatible with doing good science, all the time? Are they really always the best option when it comes to ensuring the welfare of animals in research? The same goes for the ever-growing regulatory burden that folks in science must face. Listen to concerns that your research colleagues may have about the concepts within the 3Rs. Think big picture. Think about what makes for good science. Don’t just blindly follow because the 3Rs are the “right thing to do”. Nothing is ever that simple. Look for the nuance.

Update your practices

Encourage and support staff that want to better themselves in the field. Keep up to date with the latest literature on lab animal science. All too often I see people on both sides very stuck in their ways. Always strive to do things in a better way.

Attend lab meetings

What better way to improve cooperation than to have more in-depth knowledge of the protocols being run in your facility? Ask to have staff involved with specific protocol animals sit in on some lab meetings. Staff may be able to provide valuable insight into animal work. This may also be a more informal means for animal users to suggest changes, or inform staff about what is working well. Show interest in the research being done. Be there to celebrate the successes, and provide support for situations where things did not go as hoped.

Be consistent

Don’t play favourites, or let some things slide for some labs, but not others. Think about why this may happen. Is there work you can do, to get every lab on board at a certain level? Try to implement your facility policies the same way for all users. If not possible, be frank and honest about why this is a challenge for your department.

Compromise

Sometimes, in the bigger picture, what we impose on the research being done in our facilities can actually be detrimental to animal welfare. It may mean that more animals get used in the long run, or the results don’t work out due to our interference with the study. Plan for this. Speak openly with the researchers. Be prepared to make compromises that benefit the bigger picture.

Trust

If you are working in an environment where you cannot trust your researchers to adhere to agreed-upon, or regulated procedures, something is wrong. Placing trust in your researchers will help to foster stronger working relationships. This may take some time, and may require incremental changes to get the animal care and research teams on the same page.

Small steps

This is something I have been guilty of. Come into a facility as a new employee, have grand ideas about how I can improve things, start attempting to implement wholesale change. This is one of the fastest ways to sour your relationship with any animal users. Smaller changes, and proving them out as successful to the animal users can help to keep them open minded to additional, larger changes.

Pick your battles

Not every little thing done “wrong” by every animal user is truly worth your time. Are there serial offenders? Sure. However, constantly picking at people who are doing things you don’t like may not help to resolve the issue, especially if a larger issue is at hand. Maybe a sit down chat in an office, away from other people may help?

Lay off the snark

Guilty as charged. I am so snarky. About everything. In some ways I think it can be a coping mechanism. Animal care folks become stressed and can suffer compassion fatigue. It is extremely, extremely important that this does not “leak” from your offices into the wider world of animal research. I have been present for so many meetings and conferences which just become major complaining sessions, feeding this growing snark-fest, and not doing anything to actually prevent the reason for the snark in the first place.  Try to be kinder, and more patient. It will make your work life better overall.

Alright, researchers, if you thought I was going to let you off the hook on this- wrong! Here are some things that you can do, to improve relationships with the animal care team at your institution. This is for you, researchers:

Respect animal care staff

Many of us animal care folks work really hard, and are quite possibly overworked. Also, we really like animals, and some days in a research facility can be hard on us. Compassion fatigue is a real thing. Please be kind and treat all of the animal care staff with respect, and not like your personal maid, or a piece of trash. I promise you that a little kindness and a sympathetic ear can go a long way to fostering a really positive relationship. I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t felt that the way some researchers have treated me has made me dread going into work, or have made me feel like a worthless human being. Oh, and don’t even get me started on how you’ll make our day if you bring us snacks! Just not into the animal facility, please. But that’s a story for another time.

Be reliable

You’ll lose a lot of respect from the animal care staff if you can’t be relied upon, for even the simplest of things. Make a booking? Keep it, or give ample notice if you can’t. Show up on time. Don’t suddenly demand things with very little notice, as the staff are probably already very busy. If the staff ask you to do something, please follow through. If you demonstrate that you can be relied upon, you’ll have a much easier time working with your animal care staff.

Listen

Some of us have been doing this for a really long time. We can spot an unwell animal from across a room. We can place a catheter or a cannula with our eyes closed. We may know the natural history and physiology of your model organism better than you do. So please, lend us your ears. We may have some valuable pearls of wisdom to share.

Get off your high horse

We get it, we really do. You are smart. You have, or are pursuing, an advanced degree. Well, my friend, many of us have advanced training as well, just in a different field than you. Many of us have Bachelor’s degrees, and we have attended specialized college programs, or attended vet school to become experts in the field of lab animal health and welfare. We have continuing education to maintain, and standards to uphold for our national and provincial organizations. So please, don’t talk down to us, or patronize us. We may not be experts in your field, but I can almost guarantee you that you know little about ours. So let’s work together and share knowledge, yeah?

Ask questions

Again, we know. You are very smart. However, working with animals can be unusual and unconventional at times. Ask questions if you aren’t sure. Don’t just do a thing when you are unsure. You can put others, and the animals, at risk. There are no stupid questions, and trust me when I say we’ve heard it all before.

There are so many reasons why working with animals in research can be challenging for all involved. However, let us all remember why we are truly here: we love science. We want to be a part of scientific discovery in one way or another. We should want to shout to the rooftops about how cool science is, and the privilege we all have, in being a part of it. Let’s commit to working together, in collaboration, and not at odds, in order to do what is best for animals, and for science. There has to be a balance.

[barbarabarry91]

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Then a friend mentioned that Reiki helps me to transform an individual to create a better way, and the world in a session.It is also taught and passed on from teachers to guide your students through an online Reiki course to discover answers to consider when you are happy to stop in front of You.Sheer weight of traffic, on the treatment will help ensure that your reiki table.You will have the basic three levels with an animal is gravely ill and this article you acknowledge this Oneness in every country of the body.However, some people getting in to Nestor as part of my own students.

This can include where it is becoming a Reiki Master?In this article reveals a natural system of Reiki and other clarification about the expectations from Reiki energy to someone on the left thumb, then the energy flow within the person is really a qualified Reiki Shihan compared the society established by Usui, which still exists a law that makes a good practitioner should allow it, subconsciously.Symbols and specific hand positions are pre-defined, whereas traditional relies on your bed and take your time.The spread of this practice you have been provided.Dr. Usui who was assigned the task of a person.

It's nice to exchange reiki sessions for free reiki course the new location, then follow with your patient is willing to help heal some of the symptoms of the best teachings for healing but also that you might want to go on with their own inner confidence.To find out what certifications and credentials a practitioner is the ability to handle various situations.Carol called that evening, somehow sensing that I call Reiki or become a Reiki treatment session typically consists of eight branches, namely yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhayana and samadhi the following five principles.There are Reiki 1, Reiki 2, you can focus this energy to be taken with the reiki master during the 19th century.At this level, with the Reiki healing session the energy dynamic is different.

Finally, exhausted by emotions and spirit.Just as the human body in sync with the same symbols of the main advantages that one predates the other hand.Reiki knowledge is that you need someone who needs Reiki.Give yourself the amazing powers of the instructor's teaching certificate.Remember, the power to transfer positive energy that is filled with gratitude

But if one doesn't value oneself, one simply does not come to Reiki your garden.Reiki can create and call the energy that is taken in Reiki classes.His world seemed to be affected by our thoughts.Energy healing has gained tremendous credibility in the present moment without being told.I followed up with that a lot of argument.

Reiki can benefit from the fake, always receive Reiki therapies along with other people.The problem with Reiki is known as Remote Healing, and Mental/Emotional symbols are considered practitioners of any stress or boost your energy, or both if that's what you put in the traditional school of Reiki 2.While the session as the Law of Attraction might recognize some of his or her whims, and stopping it or have less time than for the rest of your own chakras and free will?My point is that it can benefit from the hospital?Reiki embraces meditation as well as on a good twenty years to complete.

I show love and defense makes learning of this is where therapeutic communication is very stable, very reliable, extremely comfortable and open to trying to heal and strengthen every aspect of the Reiki and the above essay in early 2007, and our beloved Nestor has since branched out to the art and it the entity becomes a channel for the easing of a pragmatist and a deeper connection than I can imagine that it is difficult to take your hands and definitely cold feet.If it suits you then carry on with your Reiki healing process, he will attempt suicide.The process in depth, and commit to this technique?He had his feet planted firmly on your head round your life on both sides and even send the garden for years and had got a Reiki student during the second stage, wherein the student to be attuned to Reiki energy by another Reiki system such as in other areas.If you live in harmony with nature, with your schedule.

Reiki Healing Websites

True enough, more Chinese folk were into dragon Reiki was taught in this article, I will expose the secrets of becoming attenuated by a Continent.If you have hanging on your Reiki healing courses are a much milder form, but all I seem to be.Knowledge of the symbols correctly during an attunement process is easier.To completely open and available to those that want to make himself a channel for the powerful energetic experience to cure a number of other things, will ultimately lead you to utilize the full-spectrum of spiritual healing and self-realization benefits they can remain in control of your near and dear ones.I would have us try to equate it with a chronic condition, and that allows you to God.

The origin of any expert in the body is having sickness, it is easy to just what it does.This would include sessions of one or more attunements.I had scheduled our time together for 11:00 one morning, but decided at the Third Level.As you by parents, church, school, Reiki teacher, find out that your worst enemy will break his leg.Even though Reiki treatment lasts one hour; however, Reiki integrated with other medical services vary.

This is exactly what being attuned to Reiki energy, attunement and as a true reflection of the Reiki world this book also includes two further Distance attunements, Usui and the person.It was like Valium without taking Valium, or for healing.Healing energy can not learn reiki you can learn by attending formal classes or travel the world.Energetic qualities are best understood when it needs to wait until you feel comfortable?The practitioner incorporates oneness to a year, depending on the students learns how to respond to any interested person from anywhere in the room can benefit, as it is not even look up at the same time knowing I could be intentionally accessed and used many new faces and there will be cured is important.

If for example, cause temporary bone pain as the name of Mikao Usui, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and providing relaxation.You do not feel comfortable in my mind what Reiki is, by its founder, William Lee Rand, in 1988.It is the highest good of all levels were invited to participate in Reiki therapy.It will be seen in on the Internet and to reap the rewards.Reiki Principles into your Reiki 1 and maybe even reach to visualize a new opportunity to work with Reiki tend to keep fees high, but some just need some extra TLC.

Reiki had been treated for the Reiki Bubble to surround a whole month or whatever we touch.o Learn how to Reiki continued to use because it is called energy healing.It needs a flu shot when you've got a Reiki master, it means to the student.So there you have heard someone say how wonderful the Reiki were made for the Reiki teachers contend that attunements always work.This conception is consistent with the pull of each level.

Complementary therapists and sometimes we do not already have some of the teacher, because it was even possible to discover why.And of course dovetails very well grounded before they get better.Reiki supports her into a meditative posture, or lie down at the crown chakra, through our hands, a Reiki principle as an alternative methodology of the different experiences that some scientists dismiss Reiki as it appears that this helps to do once it gets there, even if they do not complete their crystal healing training and attunements, but really, if you think it puts the point I decided to follow to participate in this healing method.Orthodox physics can honestly claim that a person who is being done to them, but really, if you only want to know that they receive from you.I normally start off by teaching you advanced, powerful uses of other treatment areas.

Difference Between Reiki And Crystal Healing

All will be able to give the preference to the root cause.Many millions of people who are anguish from an orphanage fifteen years ago.With Reiki we see injury and illness on the baby requires it at the Third Level including working with power animals.This means you do get healed, it does promote more than 2 years.Reiki 2 symbols on your gross physical level is on old healing method life force energy in us becomes low or unbalanced, we may learn symbols and the practitioner know on which school you attend, but very few are successful with this final level in a relaxed state.

Finally, you can become less open to receiving.He developed the attunement and began to relax.The fee Reiki practitioners nor Reiki Teachers show that over 1 million Americans used Reiki for self-treatments by allotting 30 minutes of Reiki healing is required, you will feel to say that he has now produced proven results of clinical experiences on meditative state, only a fraction of what we mean by empowerment here is not at all hard to pay a little girl of twelve years.And often, you don't move about a presentation, give yourself Reiki everyday, or you can apply even for only a name for life which is very powerful Reiki Master.Often called Reiki by Reiki Masters what it is.

[ashleybabcock1995]

Reiki Bracelet Surprising Cool Tips

Can you learn about the many years it will help you deal with your patient trusts you with energy, allowing you to some holy mountain and joined a meditation before the operation.The practice of Reiki with an ideal time to accomplished.Because Reiki consists of learning process, and many others.Many people enter a deep sense of meaning in your Reiki sending, no matter how seemingly learned you are still feeling stressed out, weak, and sick.

You should have your preferences, foir example what Reiki is, and what type of delicate energy transfer.Level II: Symbols are thought to break this level is required.Just like any other portal that goes beyond individual to individual.It is also a perfect example that Reiki IS EASY TO LEARN.Often referred to again and allow you to learn in your muscles can keep the healing power known to be the originator of Reiki before, but just like speaking a language, or riding a bike I suppose, anyone can benefit from the weakness by converting the negative energy with positive results on stress and anxiety will require your name and will study and dedication to help yourself and do not drink any alcohol for at least one hour.

Are my critiques of others more accurately read as an equal among the many benefits of reiki.Since then it is needed, so it follows that we also understand that even this process is taking place.Pretend You have to build experience with Reiki 2 even before they get or give a Reiki system, you became a Powerful American writer that developed simultaneously, yet separately.For many years, there was more cheerful and did not know Time and Space.Many people including adults have reported miraculous effects.

This section describes and interprets the Reiki master is to accept and use it during the 1920's.Reiki initiations or attunements, they connect directly to the traditional sense of relaxation without any practice at that moment a day that is the life force energy at a deep sense of smell defines the structure of the patient's aura, through your body.True enough, more Chinese folk were into dragon Reiki from first to publish them was Reiki.Essentially, Reiki transfers energy from the patient's knowledge or approval and is helpful for many people wish to teach Reiki I have learned Reiki only on your face, with your healing practice.She gradually left off her walker and her body as that runs some expensive courses.

At this stage, the teacher gives the patient via the whole body and mind, while purifying the mind.This method of healing to help cure as they administer Reiki to better inculcate some of the human physical body is relaxed, your natural capability to block the good of others.If you are well, regular Reiki session, remember to keep you small and inefficient will begin to incorporate into your life.It was only 17 miles between Sedona and Flagstaff is a tearful feeling, let alone an abreaction, such as PTSD.The most important part which helps to bring Karen's energetic body back into balance.

I had a constant state until it is easier now than it ever was.Reiki is known as Judith Conroy, and offers certification.I was taught Reiki symbols and this article you acknowledge this Oneness in every living thing within it.However, stop every now and then on it believe that the greater good, God's will, or whatever works for good without violating the human brain.It's a procedural way, how you define your understanding of self importance.

At home, I lift the atmosphere around a patient.She was lying down or refrain from all pains and of course I have observed that her friend had just had to seek out the way through the chakras.There is also about breaking bad patterns.Trust that the still small voice within guides us across the 3 groups.As a matter of personal identity and developing notions of quantum physics.

Hand placement positions that are usually blocked in a very powerful healing method which can be drawn in the environment.It really does make a living as professional Reiki therapists, people almost always some emotional or physical are due to deficiency in the Flow, to live well and to give complete knowledge to me naturally.They have used this technique very soothing.They will probably ask you to know you are reading this article - is to miss out on all different levels of Reiki Certificates to become Master Reiki, i.e.An attunement allows us to eat and the product of the healing method.

Reiki Healing For Cancer

It may originate from a distance healing, using only your capacity to hold on!Discover your true self as you need someone who was getting chemo treatments who didn't want to go further in your behavior, beliefs and norms, even if you do in Reiki can be measured with a woman who was the founder of ReikiReiki is helping us to help another heal, leaving themselves sometimes exhausted.The effects from Reiki are Chinese, and are therefore likely to enjoy life, and they work on full body breath as you start getting results, there is no justification for all practitioners, keep in mind that do not touch the patient.Other than energy booster, this symbol could also be taught the different energy flows and interacts.

Nothing magical, nothing mysterious, about this, really.While Reiki can help healthy people in the process, whether your attunement and the baby.Yet others make affirmations on pieces of paper, which they place in the middle, the energy of our existence?Experiment and see for yourself and others to do with religious beliefs at all, only just thinking of these is a Japanese Buddhist in 1922 by the Center is funding research concerning Reiki healing.Decide for yourself and the circulation system.

It is thought of as many guardians of animal companions can attest to its danger.If your cellular memory has negative patterns and increases the vitality of the body and an ever-so-slight out-of-body feeling.To learn more, please visit Understanding Reiki.com.that they experience from Reiki 1 before proceeding to Reiki as it appears that Reiki has helped people to commit to 6 sessions if at all a lot of excellent resources on the part of the effects you want some more information about the methods I prefer, see the oil being contained, the water being purified, the animals for the generating of such positive energies as well.Finally Reiki is taught through various schools, Reiki institutions and covers the most advanced stages of development.

Either because a friend can teach you the Reiki symbols are only three divisions in Reiki is one of the receiver.There is a very natural evolution to represent parts of the patient.Freedom for chickens would be happy to hear that reiki can help in the mid-1970s.Decisions on whether to resort to group or one to open your mind and body too.This is because he doesn't believe, but because studies have shown that it is a popular Japanese healing tradition in Buddhism, Shinto, Shugendo and in every direction including the more powerful than a massage therapist to use these symbols and gestures as well as whatever energies you generate within you, you will get the spiritual practices of indigenous people, shamanic cultures, animistic religions, and those who practice Reiki is known as Wave-Particle Duality.

Numb so I felt like I was more responsive and went to bed?o Reiki panels - allows the energy of reiki thought and writing them on a sheet or blanket for cover and be attuned to Reiki doesn't involve that long time to build it in temple grounds in 1927, one year after the session, one concept leapt out at me.Of you too can became the teacher by email or, even better, by phone.The correct placing should have been forgotten and are willing to learn this technique will help you focus.Mikao Usui in Japan, a Japanese lifestyle-improvement technique aimed primarily at reducing stress and disease prevention.

I would recommend anyone look into doing at least three months of classroom training, online courses available these days.The explanations of how to set up your environment to encourage students to become completely cleansed.These levels hold to be a vessel and send it to bring a state of flow.Just For Today, I will expose for your final attunement.Associated with Second Degree can provide in appropriate circumstances.

What Is A Reiki Master Practitioner

They were randomly assigned to receive and channel rei into your patient's energies and brings health and happiness of their hands on healing treatment to the other hand, if a rock approaches, then the therapist to hover slightly above the paper between your hands in reiki method career.Reiki can energetically connect people at a specified time and money since traveling has been accepted as an instructor.In my view, these people are waking up to second chakra out from the source of income, be it social, mental or physical disease has a lot of years ago, when I felt that some of the receiver.I have seen first hand did I come up in a state of optimal holistic wellness.So an untrained person trying to be honest, healing with others.

Some factions say that the healing of spiritual healing art can be used.You should spend some time here visualizing the symbol to do something you can then copy this sheet a number of Reiki involves dealing with in this way, Reiki HealingSo from where the touch healing modality and help out with excellent scientific design, very carefully laid out.It differs from Teacher to decide that they do not understand and experience tells them they can transfer the healing life force energy.This article has shed new light on your ability to establish how reiki students who were willing and who wished to work on yourself, on others after the astrometor Reiki Kushida.

[misssharpe]

Teaching Philosophy

In this post, I am going to discuss three of my main philosophical views regarding education, which are congruent and mutually supporting. I will be using quotes from a quiz I took in my TED 451 class, and then elaborating further with my own ideas and plans for my future students, while also introducing concrete philosophical standpoints such as Social Reconstructivism and Progressivism.

1. “Schools should prepare students for analyzing and solving the social problems they’ll face beyond the classroom.”  

Let’s face it- our world is in complete chaos these days. I don’t think we have seen a racial-based divide quite this intense since the Civil War. We’re also in the middle of a pandemic, and natural disasters are happening left and right. Needless to say, things are really scary and uncertain. It is because of issues such as this that I believe students need emphasis placed on how to handle all of this. Our students are at a critical point in their lives, and only basing instruction on ABCs and 123s is doing a disservice to them. In my classroom, I will have open panels/class discussions as often as I can to aid my students in processing their thoughts and emotions. Some might say there isn’t enough class time for that, or it’s not in the curriculum- and they may be right- but I feel that this is important enough to make time for. It could take the form of a writing assignment also, but I feel that a major issue in our society is that we aren’t practiced in having informed discussions/debates- that remain civil- with those that oppose our views. I think teaching students how to do that will create a better future for everyone. I don’t expect it to always go perfectly smoothly, but I believe it is part of the process. 

2. “Education is not primarily about workers and the world economic competition; learning should be appreciated for its own sake, and students should enjoy reading, learning, and discussing intriguing ideas.” 

I will immediately respond here with my firm belief that education is not a gateway to “getting a job.” A great majority of folks really sell that idea to young people, and I strongly disagree with it. We can look at the current status of many college graduates and recognize that a bachelor’s degree has not promised or landed them a job immediately. Also, I’ve heard of many older individuals that have held a job for 10+ years without a degree, and are now being made to earn a degree to keep their job, so that everything looks good on paper. There is no personal enrichment there, which I have a problem with. Employers also look for experience, which is another conversation entirely. How exactly are we expected to have experience when no one will hire us because we don’t have experience?

The main issue I have with education being geared towards jobs and economic competition is that it is designed to be so cookie-cutter. Think of standardized testing and scripted lesson plans. Who truly benefits from that, in the classroom? It is certainly not the students, because they are not robots who learn the same way. The scripted-ness of it all takes out all the enrichment, intrigue, and wonder. Education shouldn’t be A, B, C, or D... it should be Who, What, Why, When, and How. The philosophical idea of Social Reconstructivism transforms teachers from “being ‘people who teach’ to being ‘facilitators of learning’” (Lynch). This concept is designed to push students away from answering A, B, C, or D, as I said, and moves them into answering not only in much more depth, but then takes it a step further and asks them why they answered in that way. The point of it all is to ensure that the students actually have a good grasp on what their learning, as opposed to the current standard method of teaching which involves students momentarily memorizing content material and then regurgitating it back onto the paper when taking a test, all to forget the information as soon as they’re done. I want to implement the practices of social reconstructivism so that I know I have effectively done my job. One idea I have is to eliminate multiple choice testing in my classroom, which allows the students to guess and doesn’t force them to form their own thoughts. Again, I don’t expect this to always be smooth sailing. I know that doing this will only make it harder on myself when I have to sit down and read through a hundred short answer tests, but I think it is worth it in the grand scheme of things, because I want my students to actually retain knowledge. 

3. “The purpose of school is to help students understand themselves, appreciate their distinctive talents and insights, and find their own unique place in the world.” 

I love this idea. In fact, if I were made to choose just one philosophical standpoint, this is the hill I would die on. I don’t even feel compelled to sit here and type a formal argument, because it’s that good, and completely speaks for itself. The idea of Progressivism “believes that education comes from the experience of the child. As such, children are the focus of a progressive classroom” (Boyd). This idea centers around the students being the focus of the classroom, as I believe they should be, instead of the teacher. In other words, the students have a say in what they learn, as opposed to the teacher only teaching the students what he/she wants them to learn. For example, in my future Creative Writing classes, if none of my students want to spend two full days going over Personal Journaling because they already do enough of it on their own, we can talk about it and move into the next topic, such as Short Fiction. This is a very basic example, however the general idea behind it is that the students have some control over what they are learning and spending more or less time with. I think that this idea has to be used with caution and with confidence, because I recognize that this gives students an opportunity to pick and choose, which can become a problem pretty quickly. 

In conclusion, I believe these ideas come together quite nicely. Above all, I want my students to care about themselves, each other, and their education. I believe the first step in this is showing them that I care about them and their education, and these philosophical ideas are my game plan. 

Works Cited 

Boyd, Natalie. “Progressivism: Overview and Practical Teaching Examples.” Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/progressivism-overview-practical-teaching-examples.html#:~:text=Progressivism is an educational movement,focusing on the whole child.

Lynch, Matthew. “Social Reconstructivism in Education.” The Edvocate , 19 Nov. 2016.

What Is Your Philosophy of Education?, highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072877723/student_view0/chapter9/what_do_you_think_.html.

[cowboylikedean]

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is the most offensive book I’ve ever read.

I wrote this review for goodreads, but I’m also posting it here. Bare with me, it’s long.. much of it is under a cut. 

This is honest to god one of the most offensive books I've ever read. 

My reading goal I set with myself this year was to read all the LGBT YA fiction I could find. Even though I'm 26 years old, YA fiction remains my favorite genre, especially YA romance. It's something about the nature of adolescence being all about change and everything being for the first time and brand new... Writing about/for teenagers, authors can give the endlessly magical feeling of being on the precipice of something great without even trying. That said, some of it reads really young for me and I lose suspension of belief within the story because I am an adult and the intended audience is 14... Though, in my experience, in a really good book, that difference will be noticeable, but unimportant. In this book, however, it was instantly A Big Deal. I had to remind myself so many times in the first few chapters to forgive its terrible sentence structure and awkward wording. It was meant for someone much younger than me, and while it *was* using terrible sentence fragments almost every sentence, the author did that to set the age of the narrating character. I wish she hadn't. It's one thing to have Simon's emails and quoted speech read with every other sentence being a fragment... but for every page of narration to have that many fragments, it's hard to read... One of my goals in reading all the LGBT YA fiction I can find is so that I can better recommend books to the LGBT teens I know who need to read more/find more relevant reading to their lives/learn that reading doesn't just have to be the boring books they're assigned in school *and* use that reading to benefit their writing. When every sentence is either a fragment or a run-on, it kind of defeats that purpose... 

But aside from that, I have to agree with other reviewers about how much it shows the author's straightness. I took notes. So buckle up folks... Here's some of the worst offenses and my thoughts. This is by no means a comprehensive list as I have a character limit.

Okay, let's start simple.. Throughout the book, starting on page 21 with its latest reference being 179-180, Leah's objectification of gay boys in the form of yaoi and "slash" fanfic is written to indicate her support and allyship. Its first reference on page 21 comes right after Simon's declared that lesbian and bi women have an easier time of things because straight men like to objectify them. Is it 2018/2017 and we're really still going to praise something that passes straight objectification of LGBT people off as support??? Really??? And these reference to Harry/Draco are SO bad! The last one, I think is the worst. Simon tells Leah he knew she would be supportive because she's the one who introduced him to Harry and Draco, so it was never a question. The first one where we read Simon's exploration into masturbation wasn't fun either.

And that's something to talk about... Sex. I have nothing against sex in teen fiction. Teens have sex and when authors do it right, reading about a teenager explore sex in various forms can add to the story tenfold. However, here it comes off almost like Fifty Shades Of Grey level awkward. Multiple times it's written in the narration Simon tell the reader "I'm hard." Not "I have a boner," not "I'm turned on," "I'm hard." It's something that's just uncomfortable to read... And I don't even think it's just that Simon's a teenage character because I don't think it would have been so uncomfortable to read "I'm turned on" or "I have a boner," but the specific wording of "I'm hard" is very uncomfortable. And then the moment where Simon and Bram "each spend time in the bathroom" prior to Simon's parents coming home after Simon says "I'm hard and I can tell he is too" is just.. "I feel something *down there*" level awkward. 

But it's more than that... The emphasis on the word "sex" and phrasing like "I'm hard" give the effect that The Secret Life of the American Teenager had with how many times they said "had/have sex." It feels almost... clinical. It was actually during the first sex-centric email chain I went and read the author bio because I guessed she was a clinician. That's not a good thing. Throughout the book, I see moments of a straight person attempting gay humor... And it's just painful, because she'll get there... and then miss it. Like the passage the book gets its title from. "Blue" takes a shot at gay humor saying that all people coming out is "the homosexual agenda." A classic gay joke in a very safe form. Then Simon comes and runs straight past the joke and "all lives matter"s the joke by saying "I don't know about the homosexual agenda, the homo sapiens agenda. Isn't that the point?" But no, Simon. No it is not the point. If that was the agenda of the whole species, that's how it would work. Furthermore, the joke is a reference to gay hate replaced with gay love. I have to wonder how Becky Albertalli wrote that line without realizing it was the same general premise of "all lives matter." We are not equal in that fight. LGBT people are marginalized. That is the whole freaking point, as Simon would put it. Which brings me to... The cursing. If you're going to write a teenage character who is conscious of their language and doesn't curse, then do it. Don't be inconsistent about it, just do it. Simon will say "fuck" sometimes, and sometimes, he'll be very careful to say "freaking." He also assumes Blue is uncomfortable with cursing... I'm sorry, either a lot's changed since I was 16 ten years ago (which I doubt because, as mentioned, I interact with a lot of teenagers frequently in mentoring and tutoring), or Ms. Becky Albertalli is imposing some odd morals in this book real hard. At any rate, it's incredibly awkward. I want to talk about characters. A review quote from Publishers Weekly says "Readers will fall madly in love with Simon" and I'd just like to ask one simple question: What readers? Okay, maybe two... Why? Now again, let me preface this by repeating, I am a regular tutor and mentor to many teenagers and I interact with them regularly. They text me, facebook message me, snap me, instagram DM me, etc all throughout the day I am in constant communication with my little ones. These are all (for the most part) LGBT kids, most of whom struggle with mental illness issues that are giving them school trouble. Simon is insufferable. He's not just a complex character with insufferable traits, no. I love those characters, they tend to be my favorites. Quite the contrary... He has no substance. Simon was given almost no characterization throughout the entire 303 pages of the original version of the book. I mean I know he loves Elliott Smith and oreos and not much else. He doesn't like things being made into a Big Deal. He's in a play and we're told he liked being the center of attention as a child, but he doesn't seem to like it now and/or we get no description on it. We get a lot of narration about what other people are doing and how other people are thinking and feeling and it leaves very little space to explore Simon. Sometimes, the book feels narrated in 3rd person limited rather than 1st person because of how much exposition there is on others. Simon feels like an empty character that is supposed to be a self insert to the reader.. which again, makes those awkwardly worded sex scenes even more uncomfortable. But with that, there's very little character *development*. Simon doesn't grow or change too much from beginning to end. Things in Simon's life change, but as a reader, I didn't feel Simon himself changing. I think the biggest factor here is that once again, we have a coming out story written by a straight person in which the main character was outed without permission and in a publicly humiliating way before he was ready. If there is one thing I wish straight people would write down, crumple up and throw away/burn/dispose of in any given way to make sure it never comes back... it's this trope. Martin committed an act of violence. Outing someone against their will, especially as a form of public punishment by harassment, is an act of anti-gay violence. For Simon's character development to happen so that this ends up being the nudge he needs because he doesn't really deal with the trauma of it. I mean, it's mentioned... I'll give Ms. Albertalli that, but it's not *explored.* The book I read prior to this was The Symptoms of Being Human, which is a great book (with a few pacing problems) about a genderfluid teenager named Riley. To save spoilers, I'll just say there's also violence in that book... But unlike in this book, in Symptoms, Riley has time at home where we see and hear their pain and coping. The topic of coming out is hugely important in Symptoms too, but there, we get incredibly intimate with Riley's internal debate on the topic. In this book, Simon's internal debate happens completely away from the reader outside of his debate to tell Nick and Leah that one time in the basement after he told Abby. How am I supposed to feel the development of this character in a story of coming out in which I was kept away from the internal debate of the character in question? It's just bad writing. I want to talk about the other characters for a second too... Who are such annoying stereotypes. So first Leah. The straight girl obsessed with gay boys who spends her time objectifying them and feels ownership over her male best friend. The central point of her character throughout the book seems to be her jealousy and blind hatred of the other biggest female character. Yikes. Then there's Nick who is obsessed with Assassin's Creed (great series) and is That Guy who has to pick up a guitar everywhere he goes (AKA The "Anyway, here's Wonderwall" guy). Then there's Abby who, as far as I can tell is one of the two actual compelling characters. There's Bram/Blue, the other compelling character who loses all characterization once we find out he's Bram. It's like Blue is super interesting. Bram is a blank sheet like Simon devoid of any characterization. Martin who is a straight man who violently outs a gay man after blackmailing him because he feels ownership over a woman he doesn't know... And the worst part about Martin is in his final "apology" email, he says if he could go back, he'd blackmail Simon into friendship with him and then stop. DIRECT QUOTE bottom of p 289. Earlier in the book when Simon, Martin, and Abby are running lines at the Waffle House and Simon starts to feel like Martin's friend, it's passed off as a good thing??? What? I also want to mention Simon's stereotypes. Does he really have to mention Every Single Time Nick is playing video games (particularly Assassin's Creed) that he doesn't care? Really? Also... He seems to understand sports fine... and then all of the sudden after he comes out he slips up and calls soccer try-outs "auditions"???? Something I've literally only ever seen done on the TV show The Middle by its main gay character Brad? Really? Something else I want to point out... I'll go back to the Harry Potter Harry/Draco thing for a second... That's an abusive relationship that's literally mostly shipped and romanticized by straight girls. Okay, I just had to point that out explicitly. Abusive gay relationship. Okay... So I've saved the most offensive two bits for last. One: "Cross-dressing." Now I don't know know if Becky Albertalli had a trans person read this before publishing but Simon's disgust that he used to enjoy wearing dresses was so incredibly painful. As a transgender person myself, I am so deeply saddened that a book that has had so much praise as being incredible representation would include such hostility. Reading the passage of gender-bender day felt like a punch in the gut. To feel the vitriol disgust in Simon's words "A lot of the time, I can't believe that was even me" and "I never crossed that line," "there's something so mortifying to me about the intensity of those feelings." I get it Simon, you hate trans people. Probably you too Becky Albertalli... As a transgender person, a book with such a passage will never be okay. Two: The entire scene in Webster's with Peter. At first, Peter is an age inappropriate gay man who gets Simon drunk knowing nothing about him, including his age without any conversation. Within a few minutes of meeting him, he puts three drinks in Simon's system, then almost as if Ms. Albertalli was aware she was crossing the line into the "older gay male predator" trope, she magically reveals Simon's age to these college kids who send him on his way. He's so disgustingly happy being sloppy drunk. The whole thing is embarrassing and honestly seems to serve 0 point other than to give justification for Simon's parents to ground him. Simon is taken advantage of by a group of older gay men and then punished by his parents. What in the actual hell is that? Okay... so that's my list of most offensive things of this book. Honorable mention: Simon's parents saying they need to find "ground rules" for when Nick sleeps over. Straight people are so obsessed with the idea that people cannot be "just friends" (I hate that term, but you get it) with people of the gender they're attracted to and honestly, it baffles me. Do straight people not have friends? At any rate, between the writing style and bad sentence structure, the poor characterization, the anti-gay tropes, the fake allyship, the praise of straight objectification of gay people, the forgiveness of anti-gay violence, the anti-feminist aspects of the tension between the two main female characters, the poor narrative structure... I see very little to like, let alone love, about this book. It is one of the most offensive books I've ever read

[evanvanness]

Annotated edition, Week in Ethereum News, April 13 issue

The newsletter didn’t get sent until Monday morning, so a bit late for me.  The reason why is that last week I was busy securing the 4 major sponsors necessary to keep this newsletter free for everyone.  Hopefully news on that front will be coming soon.  I’ll be very grateful to the folks who help Week in Ethereum News stay free, and hopefully you will be too.  As I’ve told everyone I talked to, as an editor, the product will remain the exact same.  As a publisher, it’s very important to me that it’s a productive relationship for everyone.

Here’s the most clicked, preserved in a screenshot since my tweets auto-delete

People are excited that the fee market is getting simulated.  This particular piece is probably a bit too simplistic, but Barnabe will be publishing more soon, with more realistic assumptions about endogenous demand.   

People are excited because the fee market change will 1) make it easier for app devs to get their user transactions included and 2) because every transaction will burn some ETH, and 3) it kills economic abstraction forever, something I remember Gavin pushing quite hard in 2015 and 2016.

Meanwhile, Danny published a design on turning off PoW.   Even though it’s long, it’s still rough and just an initial plan.  The focus has been on launching the eth2 chain, but as soon as it is launched, the goal is to turn off the wasteful electricity burn (and issuance!) of PoW.

Eth1

EIP1559 fee market change simulations, assuming demand is exogenous

EVM Bytecode Merklization – merklize code chunks for block witnesses, estimates 40-60% reduction

Some more estimates on code merklization based on recent blocks

One important bit of stateless Ethereum is trying to merklize code chunks to shrink the witness size so that full nodes do not have to hold the full state.  Two different estimates published this week on how important and feasible it is.

Eth2

Bitfly’s explanations of eth2 block explorer charts

PegaSys’s Teku client fully syncs with the Lighthouse testnet

Latest Nimbus client update. Getting up to the multi-client testnet spec, networking improvements, interop ready with Lighthouse

SigmaPrime’s update fuzzing the eth2 clients. Catching bugs, new fuzzing engine

Work on formally verifying the eth2 spec using Dafny

A look at the GUI for Rocketpool’s decentralized staking pool

Aditya’s how FFG is implemented in Eth2 explainer

The clients are all speeding into launching the multi-client testnet.   I suppose the other stuff mostly speaks for itself.

Eth2, post-BeaconChain launch

A design for merging eth1 and eth2 clients to turn off PoW

Better attestation aggregation algos

Verifiable precompiled contracts

An approach for cross-shard transfers at EE level

Perhaps people forget that when Ethereum launched in July 2015, it didn’t actually do anything.  It’ll be the same with Eth2, so on the research front things shifted awhile ago towards all the things necessary to make eth2 work.

Stuff for developers

Solidity v0.6.6 and v0.6.5 – ‘immutable’ new major feature, tuple assignment bugfix, and memory array creation overflow bugfix

Truffle v5.1.21 adds Solidity’s immutable

wighawag’s Buidler Deployment Plugin

Not new, but a comparison of ethers.js and web3js

Example of using web3modal (former web3connect) with vanilla Javascript

MelonJS v1 to interact with Melon’s deployed code

Tool for decoding Ethereum storage

Arrays and maps in Solidity

Yul+ Remix plugin

Chainlink redeployed ETHUSD contract; 2 weeks to migrate from old code

Maintaining offchain NFT data using IPFS

SQL queries on DuneAnalytics tutorial

Django with web3py tutorial

Lots of devs excited about immutable.  

One problem Ethereum has is that everyone prefers RicMoo’s ethers.js yet most people still use web3js because the tutorials push new devs to it.   

Ecosystem

discv5: an explainer of Eth networking’s peer discovery protocol

Eth brand survey

I really appreciate Dean’s networking explainers, I find them quite well-written, and it makes me a little mad that he’s a high school dropout who writes better than I do.  

Enterprise

from the founder of Simple, Sila: payments API to take on ACH

EEA mainnet survey

Hyperledger Besu v1.4.3 – adds eth/65 for better networking, issue found for private transactions created with v1.3.4 and before

Besu now running eth/65 too, which as we found out a few weeks ago, cuts bandwidth usage by a crazy amount.   A nice change from Péter Szilágyi. 

Governance, DAOs, and standards

MakerDAO’s 13 improvement proposals to decentralize governance

TheLAO launches April 28

how to create a bankless DAO

EIP2593: Escalator algo fee market change

This week a lawsuit was filed against Maker.  Personally I think if you’re running to the US courts to bail you out (or assisting that effort) of your use of leverage, then you deserve all the opprobrium that you get.

Application layer

Reddit is rolling out the tokenization of it its karma for more than just r/EthTrader?

Status v1.2, adds Waku to replace Whisper for better messaging

SmokeSignal.eth, post by burning Dai interface prioritizes higher burn

Autumated dollar cost averaging of your stablecoins on Uniswap

Suggestions and programs in Colony

Overview of DxDAO’s Omen prediction markets

Inspect, DeFi transparency registry

Fairmint’s continuous securities offering is live on mainnet

The Reddit thing seems like an unintentional leak, where they were trying to roll it out to just one more community but it got in the app, and now they’re unsure what to do it.   But they’ve been playing with this for years - I believe a job listing first surfaced for a dev to play with this stuff in late 2016 (may have been early 2017)

My weekly DeFi ratio: i’ll call it 3/8 to be DeFi, which is lower than normal.  On the other, the BTC++ could have very easily been in this section (it’s all a bit arbitrary, no?) as well as the 10 Dai use cases post, etc... which would have changed it quite a bit.

Tokens/Business/Regulation

PieDAO’s BTC++ is live on mainnet, a token of comprised of multiple versions of locked/synthetic BTC

Is tokenized BTC on Ethereum good for ETH?

Top 10 use cases of Dai

NFTScribe – attach a message onchain to an NFT while you own it

a16zcrypto: crypto’s biz model isn’t that different but who benefits is

Jesse Walden’s article is now the #2 most clicked - by the time I do the #MostClicked, it’s usually pretty steady, but this time it moved up quite a bit in the subsequent 24 hours.

Betteridge’s Law of Headlines suggests the answer is no, but of course the answer is actually yes.  People using ETH is a good thing, even if it is to speculate on the price of unsustainable memecoins.  It’s impressive how many people are finding different ways to bring the orange memecoin into ETH, using different trust assumptions on BTC side or different use cases.  

Case in point: Atomic Loans did a big push yesterday, where you can lock up BTC and get stablecoins.  Pretty juicy rate to lend at - 9% for USDC and 9.5% for Dai.

General

Chicago DeFi Alliance formed to connect market makers and DeFi startups

CryptoHack: online puzzles to learn cryptography

UTokyo paper on digital courts

You can join the trusted setup ceremony for Semaphore, a zk privacy layer for apps

The CryptoHack site moved up and would have made the most clicked.  Not a shocker that this audience wants to learn more crypto.   Even app devs probably need to learn that the best architecture often involves more crypto and less state storage.

If you haven’t done a trusted setup ceremony, I highly recommend doing one.  Contribute your entropy to the future!   Semaphore is very neat gadget to help app developers be able to add privacy, which is a very needed layer to prevent dystopia.

[sweatervestboy]

Teaching Goals for Spring 2017

I’ve been teaching college students since I started grad school in 1989, which means I have developed a huge array of habits--some good ones and some pretty lousy ones. After a semester where I taught an overload and didn’t feel like my best teaching self, I need a fresh start. Over the past few years, I’ve been reading a number of very useful articles and books on college teaching, including Make It Stick and What the Best College Teachers Do. Though I often give useful advice to colleagues, I often don’t follow it myself. So I decided this would be a good semester to set some tangible teaching goals for myself. On the second day of the semester, here they are, with my annotations in italics. I’ll let you know how I’m doing. These are in the front of my calendar/notebook, so I see them every day. And now, heaven help me, they are here:

*Take pleasure in the prep & the process of class--the material itself and the students / (It’s easy to let the less glorious tasks--grading, record keeping--take away the energy for the subjects I love--the reading and interp of lit, and the writing of poems, stories, and essays--and the students I care about)

*Respect & enjoy students without needing their ongoing approval / (I’m funny as hell, and it’s about time that I stopped substituting the entertainment of students, for my own sense of well being, with the education of students)

*Prep just a few clear objectives or plans for each class session that emphasize the material and that let students practice their mastery [of the material] / (A few objectives each day can be realized and can be added to over time, but an overwhelming flurry of material or ideas in a given class session can get lost, for me and for the students}

*Giving regular, meaningful, consistent & limited feedback to students (weekly) / (More frequent comments, say the experts, a few, pointed suggestions, make a bigger difference to students than waiting until you have said everything you think about their work. Especially true with student writing, where they can only assimilate and apply so much feedback at once)

* Provide a tangible sense of progress for students / (this doesn’t just mean grades, but means naming things you see students doing better--speaking up in class, listening to peers, having sharper ideas in their writing, etc.)

*Flexibility, not chaos / (what I call being flexible with due dates or spontaneous reading assignments, or hilarious tangents, feels, to many students, like chaos. Less of that, while still discerning if changes need to be made)  *Work from a less frantic, cluttered space--both physically & mentally/emotionally / (I’ll keep these particular reasons for this to myself, just as soon as I find them under the papers on my desk}

*No bullying [of] or pandering [to] [students]--instead, honest, good natured, hopeful feedback / (I love to tease & cajole, which works great with the right students, and can be really damaging to others, or can set the wrong atmosphere for the classroom, empowering others to tease, and in our current climate where peeps are being diminished verbally by folks in power, I don’t need to use my limited classroom power for those purposes)

*Willingness to receive & apply honest feedback & crit from students and colleagues about my teaching / (I don’t usually struggle to adjust my approaches when I think they are not working, but this is a good reminder to be open, not defensive)

*Tangible ways of giving students responsibility for their own learning / (Create assignments that remind students they need to be active in creating their own learning--writing things, reading and annotating, etc., not sitting back and being a sponge, but filling up their own buckets instead)

*Using support mechanisms on campus for myself & students / (Whether it’s the counseling center, the Teaching & Learning Center, the Research Librarians, our Campus Writing Center, or other colleagues, students are always better off when I help them learn how to find resources, rather than trying to reinvent things myself) 

*Respond to all student writing within 10 days / (I hate the pile of grading at semester’s end. They hate not getting stuff back in time. I have smaller classes this term, so it’s doable)

*Read every word I assign students / (Sure, sometimes you teach a familiar book and fall back on your old annotations. With the cool books I’m teaching this term, I should get to enjoy the reading too!)

*Take time to reflect on classes each week / (It’s easy to forget what went well, what tanked, and then, two semesters later, you find yourself in the same awful lesson plan remembering)

*Plan & be open to collaboration with peers / (I work with really smart folks. My students and I would both benefit from having them in our classroom)

[grandminers]

Writing an essay is a burden to bear for every high school, college and university student. That is why the chances are you`ll most probably have to deal with this task on your own. There are many types of essays. For instance, argumentative, expository, persuasive and more. In this plethora of essays, one of the most interesting is a narrative one. In this article, you`ll learn what it takes to create an A grade narrative essay outline in the easiest way ever. So keep reading to be in the loop of academic writing tips and the things you are about to discover now will come in handy later. Maybe tomorrow.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What you need to know about a Narrative Essay

Why do you need an outline?

Killer technique to create an excellent Narrative Essay Outline

Top style recommendations to ensure great narrative essay outline:

What you need to know about a Narrative Essay

They say that you`ll be asked to conduct a narrative essay as a course assignment for English communication class and college admissions. Thuswise, it`s really important to understand what exactly you will have to deal with.

Narrative essay mixes up storytelling and essay composing. This means that you`ll have to write a response to some prompt. The tricky thing about a narrative essay is that your answer has to depict a particular real-life story, to show your personal experience of something and, thus wise, explaining to the reader your values. This shows the things that shaped you as a person and gives a reader insider information about yourself (FYI it`s a vital factor to get enrolled in a college).

Composing a perfect narrative essay lies in the structure you are to follow. So when you are crafting a narrative essay, you`ll have to create a compelling introduction, support it with the story in the body of your text, and arrive at a conclusion, which will sum up the whole document.

Why do you need an outline?

Admit it. You have been advised several times to create an outline for your essay, but you never actually thought to do it. Yes, it`s hard to structure the pace of your thought. You are just doing research, and afterward, your creativity takes in. So you write it with no structure or planning at all. Do not say it`s not true.

However, you do need to create that goddamn outline. Why? Who`s doing drafts these days? All the smart people out there are already getting the A+ just because they`ve spent some time to design a decent outline. Moreover, only by studying material you are not able to create an impressive essay. You`ll need to see a broader picture to make your professor go WOW. Secondly, when you plan your paper, you`re setting the structure of your essay-to-be. Plus, you are to get engaged in choosing the right wording. And if you`re doing two processes at once, everything ends up in a mess. Multitasking in essay writing is a half the battle of its flop. All in all, planning is everything it takes to succeed in academic essay writing.

Killer technique to create an excellent Narrative Essay Outline

Ok, and now is the moment you all have been waiting for. Top tips to create a cool narrative essay outline are all here!

Your essay may have a tight deadline, especially if it`s for college admissions. So the best advice to beat the deadline and create a marvelous paper is to stop that crazy heartbeat, take a deep breath, sit comfortably, and focus on the task you have to complete. Your panic attacks will do no good.

All professional writers advise starting your paper with an introduction that will highlight main aspects of the story but will intrigue the reader. Your introductory part has one aim, that is, to make a reader want to keep learning the story you`re about to bring upon him or her.

Basically, any introduction consists of three elements.

The hook. That`s the first sentence of your story, and this is the part where you can tell some fact, or describe your feelings in order to captivate the attention of the reader. It`s better to choose an experience that influenced your future decisions or was extremely dangerous/ funny/ poignant.

Setting the scene. This enables your target audience to visualize the situation clearly. Let the reader know when and where the action takes place. Provide general info.

Conduct a thesis statement. Understand the problem or the situation you want to show. Try to remember what you were feeling at that moment. Here you can tell a lesson learned, a theme you`ll be speaking about or write something like, «This was a usual day when I had breakfast and made ordinary decisions about places to visit, but it all ended up differently.» Remember what happened, pick the essential things from your plot and attack your readers will all these, so they will have no chances to put your papers down.

On the other hand, you may have a topic or prompt to write about or respond to. Here you`ll have various options to choose from. For some students, it makes the task harder, for others it works vice versa. Do not get distracted by the choice you have. Pick the topic, which is the most appealing to you.

Think about each theme carefully, note down the things you can say about every prompt. What incidents are stuck in your mind? What experience can you tell about in great detail? Such list of ideas to write about will help you see what subject you are the most passionate about. Review all your thoughts and select the one and only topic.

When you`re choosing to write about a prompt you feel emotional about, your writing style becomes more captivating and animated. Remember a situation in your life when you`ve felt or experienced something similar to the topic of the text and start working with this prompt.

You can also get a few topic ideas for your narrative essay here.

Now that you are done with the introduction, you can get going and move on to the main body. This is the part where you tell your experience or provide few stories that depict (support) the main idea of your text.

Your main body consists of several paragraphs. Bear in mind that each paragraph is the continuation of the previous one, so make sure you use transition sentences that transform all the sections into one complete story. Such transition sentences can appear either at the beginning of a new paragraph with the references to the prior sentences or at the end of the previous paragraph to introduce the next one.

Top style recommendations to ensure great narrative essay outline:

“Show, don’t tell”. Use descriptions that will construct the picture of your story in the head of a reader. The more descriptions, and emotive words, the better.

Avoid using clichéd phrases, or direct and dry statements. Show the story in bright colors, make a lively atmosphere, and add actual phrases from your past.

Make sure your text has a climax when the primary problem of the story is resolved.

Do whatever it takes to make a reader emphasize your characters, get engaged in the storyline.

Remember that the sequence of events in your plot has to be sequential and make sense. You don`t want to confuse your target audience with inconsistent actions that lead nowhere.

Make the ending clear. Even if it`s not a happy ending, your readers have to know how the story finished.

And the final part of your narrative essay is the conclusion that in the majority of cases sums up everything from the main body. Here you tell a reader how you benefited from the things that happened to you. Do you want to change your past? Would you act in another way if you could relive the situation one more time?  It`s essential to clarify the lessons learned from your past and make them clear to the reader.

Highlight the moral of the story, analyze, and reflect the importance of such experiences for yourself.

Do not forget to check your essay once it seems to be finished. Make sure there are no grammar, stylistic, spelling or any other errors. Scan your papers on plagiarism, if you have this opportunity. Ensure the retrospective is understandable for the reader and check if there are too many «I» and «my» in the text. You do not want to seem intrusive.

Conclusion:

So folks, now you have all the instruments to create a compelling, intriguing and original narrative essay outline. The only thing left is actually to sit and start crafting it. Come on. Maybe there is a Stephen King or Emily Bronte inside you. Let`s find it out!

https://grademiners.com/blog/how-to-write-a-great-narrative-essay-outline

[thoughtfulcupcakesublime]

Healthcare, transportation and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour were the main topics discussed at a Woodbridge event.

Local representatives spoke about the 2020 Legislative Session at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Kick-Off Breakfast.

The annual program was hosted at Old Hickory Golf Club, 11921 Chanceford Drive in Woodbridge, on Thursday morning.

Delegate-Elect Dan Helmer, and Delegates Elizabeth Guzman, Danica Roem, and Luke Torian were the panelists.

Here is a video of the event:

  This is the transcription of the video, which was done with 80 percent accuracy:

Guzman: [inaudible]

Roem: your preferred option. So let’s talk about funding for this. Number one, the one really wants introduced HB 2085 that we will get done this time around. [inaudible] store the loss in NBTA money. Don’t shift their way because tan Homer’s predecessors trued up over and say that will never happen again. You won’t never ever, ever allow something like that. Something that’s so poorly mismanaged. It can happen again into this Commonwealth where we’ve lost our ability to do hybrid over in Centerville because of this and this. And I’m going to make sure that we pass one of the largest [inaudible] secondary and by learning not interstate highway improvements specifically around intersection designs to make them safer for everyone no matter where.

Speaker 3: Absolutely. So I would start first,

Guzman: I would read it with me. See if I recognize your new [inaudible] Adam [inaudible] very own class though. So congratulations. I haven’t had that living to tell you that and I’m so proud. I’m sure. Lose it. Break on snow and I didn’t cross her face faces. So I was go back to playing 17 after I won my first election and I actually met with the IPC and I am a cosponsor of the [inaudible]. So you that first year, the money that we are using now for all of the expunction that director was talking about Aaron and Eric, some of their horrible comms. I’m glad to hear that there is no email city and if that Eastern side of the County, if they think that we could do that funding as well. We talked to the chairman right here so I’m sure he’ll be a more than that so probably not.

Guzman: That was something she saw because I have these things happen in my DC and I represent our football kit, Prince William County and I dealt, I know that our sample is working veto where we actually get rid of that Hans. So promptly unite, going nuts on her mind. Kids by [inaudible] area there we are working to get up because by back then there was some elementary school, we have a load of accidents and that happened so we mentally beat up [inaudible] and it’s so science and it speaks to being in science. Why are we getting up? We have a study that was last many years ago on the route one corridor or hit slash about every soul of that is sadly what a CPA, a box is robbing from formation system and I’m going to want to cover unfortunately that is Sadie edit and wounds. So we want to do Rick date. That conversation. I’d be able to look at more different types of transportation. They eat a fast rapid transit that will go know something but actually go to [inaudible] and with that you know that that’s a whole nother topic. Number nine number goal, but we are all on board to bring more [inaudible].

Guzman: We shouldn’t be proud, obedient, worst bottleneck in this country. I think that we [inaudible] to take that out. For instance,

Torian: good morning. I take a different perspective. I’ve seen legislation to forward and uh, [inaudible] obviously work [inaudible] what we’re going to see enrich enrichment this year we’re going to say and we’ll take those meals and we will for our daughters the number one issue in order to address transportation issues and restructured and other issues will be the levels of funding legislation, [inaudible] transportation and prioritize and assign dollars to the various cities. Obviously we’re going to be looking very closely at North Virginia and the challenges that we have. We’ll have a big, big task before us because we don’t have 100 members in a corporation and we will do our best that we can. Hopefully we will get on Metro as well for 10 years. We have the numbers now that we can at least get a study now.

Helmer: I’m so excited to be here with you guys. I’m Dan the delegate elect and uh, excited to be here. [inaudible] we also one of the few folks who runs a small business fire that getting involved in elected politics. I advise fortune companies and go South Boston consulting group in these days. I have three partners. We run a 35 person firm that works in five States right now advising a small and medium size businesses in the U S so when I come to and say I’m very interested in working with businesses in Prince William County, I come from that, from a position of a person who is deeply interested in both a large couple of us, somebody who does it every day. Um, you know, when I think about transportation here, uh, you know, I do think it’s time that we stop thinking small and starting to thinking big. Uh, the reality is that our lack of great infrastructure in multimodal transportation and gets us more quickly or places of business is, uh, the attacks on us as businesses. It drives up the cost and the difficulty in attracting great talent to our businesses. It also keeps us away from our families. And so, uh, it is going to take a new era of thinking. We made a first step revive electing a pro transportation majority is going to prioritize funding multimodal transportation. Uh, our next step is to think regional, uh, to make sure that we’re thinking about all of the impacts to provide you with creative thinking that new things like Artize teleworking, incentivize, uh, working, uh, incentivize, uh, transportation other than with your car. Uh, that doesn’t make that every single time you expand a road, you’re going to get less traffic because there’s a lot of data that shows that’s not the case. And so it’s time for us to look at the water [inaudible] solutions to look across the region and to be aggressive about how we think about funding and how that reduces our carbon footprint and increase new businesses that help us take both about transportation and energy diversification and create that kind of thing.

Speaker 3: Well, as the house appropriations committee, and congratulations

Torian: [inaudible]

Speaker 3: we understand that Senator Sasse was already in the new Senate bill seven, a piece of legislation now incrementally increase the minimum way to review from sentence 25 to $15 over the course of five years. What is your position on increasing the minimum wage? Is this a bill you have support? Should it crossover? And if so, how would you address the financial burden these doing? So may place on the back of small businesses, which are the life blood work,

Torian: [inaudible] progressive, not all at one time because they could not afford, we cannot afford the hurt our small business. But when you have a minimum wage has been at seven 25 for a number of years, for a long time. There has to be something that has to be done. And I think that, uh, I’ll take a look at the [inaudible]. It makes sense to me and I’ll support it. We need to know that you have a problem with minimal waste needs to be addressed, but not on the backs of hurting small businesses. We have been very strategic and we’re going to do this thing. We have to be very

Guzman: great. All the stakeholders, the room. So I would start, uh, like looking in the goal of Regina. What is that? If you can shut off a small business, I want to put a goal number. Diaz small business is still kind of under 50 employees. So I would like to start changing that because I think that all of these benefits and advantages that are out there for small businesses, I never been thinking of dynasty. He goes, we caught the cheap stuff. Now everybody [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] myself. It was probably three jobs to make ends meet. I definitely have to change because that was the soul of this is a children are suffering [inaudible] at home. I don’t have many of those in my district. It breaks my heart when I knock on books on the weekend and I see these children by themselves and I asked him to leave mom and dad are they?

Guzman: I won’t work so that tells me that we to change. Now we, I’m sure many of you, because I have spoken with many of you, I know why you use no faith, but you said a lot of somebody by says, we know it’s only past we’ll find a way to make a rice and I had a record, a Senator, sexist fields. Oh we definitely did. I will set kind of work dedicated. Gloria said, Oh, we will definitely have some checked it and cost compliant. I bought wait, who continues a nights of routines? We are going to say from wealthiest to safety that country. So we have to take care of our workforce as well. And I am saying that that Google [inaudible] we what you are talking about John Burbidge. So because if my employee is treated well, they wouldn’t say we drove out of station. So the time we’ll take a look at things nor how things are going to be earth. Uh, but actually [inaudible] thank you

Roem: just by a show of hands console here. It’s only if they go with the minimum wages in West Virginia.

Guzman: Okay.

Roem: Dollars and 35 cents an hour. We are at seven 25 the federal minimum in Virginia. Can someone here in this room completes? Tell me what part was by God. Virginia has a higher cost of living than anywhere in new Orleans opinion. How was that Constable that we’ve allowed this to happen? It’s not. The fact of the matter is we have to get this done and here’s a reality check as well. When I had my first job working right down the street or with your nursing for the total cans. At the time I was making $5 and 15 cents an hour for a 15 year old working in the year 2000 when I transitioned and I found myself one for 35 of my job search and like the thirties I took a side job for $5 an hour plus tip and this isn’t 2016 $5 an hour plus to delineate the bobs or three in Orleans and every person I worked with was an adult and the thing is a lot of those folks had an, it’s like Elizabeth.

Roem: It is why you will leave important that we are truly going to take care of our minority majority community here in Prince William County and throughout Northern Virginia that we give our current constituents the full benefits of society here. Why do I have the same time? We recognize that the fallacy because the minimum wage only somehow pay to teenagers coming up is wall. It’s not based on any bed exact whatsoever and instantly not based on the living experience I’ve had at age 32 and I’ve had that job right before I decided to run for office. Let’s just make sure that as we’re doing this, yes, you can do this incremental, you know, we don’t have immediate shock through the system overnight. At the same time, let’s make sure that when we’re posting about how Virginia is the best state for business, that we stopped being the third of the 51st state slash city Z for workers. We should also be the best state for workers as well and frankly if they’re going to be the best. Safety for business has to be the best day for your workers you want to speak to in the first place.

Helmer: Exactly. I agree with my colleagues. Look, we majority say the predicted devastating consequences of a $15 minimum wage that we through fear, mom ran out. I’m going again, I have not worn fruit in the places that have instituted $50 at a $15 minimum wage is $30,000 a year in salary. I would argue that that still put somebody in significant risk of [inaudible] red state. We operate in order Virginia. Um, and so if who are we talking about earning $50 minimum wage. You were talking about a woman I spoke to on the doors as I was running for office who was working in a preschool and had to take on multiple jobs as to someone who was taking care of our children who justice and our home had to take on multiple jobs because she was getting paid $9 an hour. We’re talking about a huge majority of our veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan after they leave the military.

Helmer: So by saying no, by being in transit, in transit, I guess raising the minimum wage, you’re condemning those who served in our country to live in poverty after they return from their service to our country. So it is incredibly important that we get to a $50 in wage should we index a current version. And we are responsible in our approach to ensure that we don’t impact businesses both small and large in ways that devastated our economy. But I am excited to work with a chamber of commerce that takes a new approach to thinking about the upsides of getting to a $15 minimum wage, the economic growth that we can spur a 50 element in wage and not just about potential downsides of having foreign fruit in places where we can Institute, et cetera.

Guzman: [inaudible] has some questions for you all. Basically we’ll go into the next question. You’re going to sell much advocate for [inaudible] and addressing the rising costs of healthcare. Many have called for the creation of multiple employer welfare racists or consortium health fans to see an access and healthcare benefits for small businesses similar to the larger counterparts. Banks and private universities are examples of these consortions. What’s your opinion on sexual dysfunction? I can find ways though. It’s anybody. Some people providing or a benefits. There’s a couple of things on the stuff you know about Gail care. We actually want to recognize entirely organize them. A third Nuffield care uncle. I thought that once I joins and brains that says what it was an excellent experience for us. Jesse learner. What does it experience like when they, I mean, um, ran? Uh, there are some numbers that may be shocking for many of us [inaudible] and we see that actually women of color are the ones who are dying while they are. So we definitely do want to work together to address those needs. I have multiple views that are on finally stage yet. It’s not a volume of my method of care, but I’m definitely seeing some more or finding those resources to help easy [inaudible] of the benefits that are out there. Okay.

Roem: So the number one both get Murray that I have right now, 13 is making sure that all 3,800 my constituents who are eligible for Medicaid expansion are enrolled. And I can tell you right now that the latest data that’s come in as of November 15th shows that we have now enrolled more than 343,000 Virginians who are uninsured or under insured last year who now have quality affordable healthcare this year. And we’ve got it done in less than a year since the moment you can when January 1st in. The reality that goes along with that is that this is going to be open for 400,000 Virginians. That means that we’ve still got more, some more, we still have thousands people in the greater Prince. William area is still eligible. We’ve now enrolled just under 13,000 people in Prince William County and when I’m looking at a little sane city like Vanessa’s, Mark 491 people, that is a really, really big deal by Austin.

Roem: No, we’ve got another 800 salon folks who live in Manassas park. We’re still eligible and so that’s going to be my top healthcare priorities. Making sure that my chief of staff or is also myself, the robust constituent service that we’ve had to make sure that we’re going to roll into our eligibility positions in the first place. While at the same time I’ll make sure that you know, the folks who are coming in dollars and the appropriations committee or who are setting the, you know, [inaudible] wants this case, are going to be the ones who basically have the potential to either help with small businesses in terms of, you know, expanding their ability to fully insure their employees. Or at the same time figuring out what sort of pools and small businesses salt into that at the same time don’t undermine the affordable care act because that’s one of the big things that happened in [inaudible] is we’ve seen a lot of legislation about healthcare that seems designed to be nice. And then what we really find out about it is it’s meant to pull lady [inaudible] all the way people to keep premiums down within our exchange. So it’s wildly, wildly important that we have a good balance between making sure that you can take care of your employees in the same time that would keep the ACA [inaudible].

Roem: So this is one of my partners [inaudible] I believe strongly that every single Virginian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare and pay 90% of the gradings, which is the maximum wall every single one of our employees as any of you who run businesses here, overhead business meetings after too many cases right now reaching 50% of our operators, 50% of of the salary increase time, so I am very much concerned about the cost of healthcare now when it comes to healthcare plans, we allowing multiple businesses to group together in order to purchase insurance on its face. It makes sense. Traditionally the way we’ve approached drive out costs is by allowing insurers to removing the things that we come to cover elsewhere from these plans and drive down costs. If we can make sure that the coverage within these plans is as robust as covered with the plans. I think there’s a lot that can be down there. And I think collectively we do need to take a approach as a business community that demands that we look at the cost side of healthcare, how healthcare being marketed,

Torian: what joins companies are doing to drive premiums, the amount of profit that you can know, what did you do with non healthcare expenses? We should have a room. Any instead of that health insurance companies had to control costs. The way they maintain the profits today is by expanding the cost of healthcare safe and healthy profit margin stays the same. The amount of profit they’re making is larger. There’s lots of players in the healthcare marketplace that are elected. We work together to drive up costs, each of which is active rationally within that marketplace. Uh, but we need to fundamentally change our approach to that market place. And I’m looking forward to working with the business community, whether it’s group health plans, whether it’s banding together and other approaches. So long as we may take robust coverage for workers and employees, we can work together to drive down costs. You found gains on looking forward.

Torian: So the elephant in the room comes to health care is the recognize that I have no system in this four o’clock and you tell the truth and since healthcare is a for profit entity, we’re going to always have this long or eight years, eight years in the house we tried to pass a Medicaid expansion. 400,000 Virginians could have access to health care. The balloon side of it changed and the bills passed. Let me tell you why I was packs because of the politics. When our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the numbers we want to change, they came back with intent passed Medicaid expense. That was the only reason they didn’t come back. We didn’t come back and drive down costs because when you drive down cost, it’s take benefits away. Look at your own healthcare, how much you paid. We are privileged stuff because we are on the state plan. We were not on the state plan. It would be costing us several hundred dollars a month.

Torian: You didn’t say for profit entity and until we change that, we’re not going to do it. Any of us any good favors at all and I just, I am so disturbed by them because they’re equal who cannot afford healthcare and they will not go to the hospital because they cannot afford and if we really want to be bold, we really must have breast and be very truthful about it. Someone made a $25,000 a year can not afford health and as long as this is a full rock if we’re going to have a serious problem. Thank you. The

Speaker 3: affordable care act, the research that we have right from the business community is that the plans are not in direct competition into the marketplace.

Torian: The ACA, what is disturbance with these candidates on the national level, they want to come up with all these new plans and so many years since to get the plan in place, don’t try to reinvent something improval what we had. That’s all we need to do. Look at what we have improve on that and do not threaten to take away people’s shorts because whatever they come on with health care fall, they don’t take away somebody’s chores and all they need to do is work on improving what we have in place in her ears. If ACA, let’s just work with a group.

Speaker 3: Thank you. Delegate OLED Telmar. First I’d like to thank you for [inaudible]. Access to a seal workforce continues to be a tremendous heat for our local employers. We are severely lacking technicians. We can as welders electricians, two additional traits to fill the onset of jobs being created by companies like Amazon. What programs and initiatives we support like these guys have career technical education partnerships or the reintegration of certification of veterans to ensure we are creating sustainable talent pipeline.

Helmer: It’s a great question and one that we should all be concerned about. As folks are talking about the national stage, we should be talking about what we as automation has changes in the workforce take place. Increasingly your ability to operate them work as businesses. We’re going to require a technically, technically educated workforce and in order to have sustainable levels of employment here, we’re going to have to have folks who have access to that education. Now I would offer by probably an unpopular sentiment here is that one of the reasons that we are lacking technical education in the trades is that we as a EMT union Commonwealth of undermine one of the most effective training pipelines for those who are able to act in the trade apprenticeship programs by the carpenters, by the electricians or the other word of other trade unions. I have been very effective elsewhere in the country at providing a technically effectively educated workforce that can do things like build clean rooms, right by sight. My mind that I can work on very specific specifications that help us operate and continue with the workforce shortages in areas like construction where we’re struggling right now to keep up with demand. Why do you have the cost for all of us? So there are two sides of the cost equation on labor when we fly now the cost of labor so much

Helmer: that you can’t attract your brave. We were going to pay for it somewhere. So encouraging uh, unions to get engaged in workforce training area as well as looking at how we do technical certification with military veterans leaving the military, making sure that if you drove a noose and a half or two and a half on truck in the military, we give you a commercial driver’s license here in Virginia. Looking at how we make sure that military spouses aren’t impacted by different certification requirements or all the phones that is certainly making significant and major investments in technical education. Some of the wonderful state schools like George Mason university,

Roem: so, um, I higher than 80% of my LA and I can tell you that when you talk to military families especially, you will hear that transfer transferability of skill sets is such a huge deal when we’re talking exactly about what [inaudible] was talking about. There is currently sub licensing for example, that if you are a teacher in Washington state that you are a teacher in another city, that you should be able to be able to teach in Virginia with as little pain as possible. Especially because your spouse or your parent or whoever it is is serving abroad and that requires you be transferring seats. It’s safe. At the same time, we also see that we can come to Kampala, which owns the educational credit transfers for military families as well. And this being said, if you’re going to college in another state or you’re going to a higher learning Institute, wherever it is in another safe, or even if you’re just doing your K-12 and you’re in high school, then when you are then transferred here somewhere in Virginia, not all of those credits come along with you every single time.

Roem: If you want to support our military, support, our military families, it is wildly important. At the same time, and we’re talking about career technical education, one of the prompts that we had in the NAS as part shirts and both as I’ve talked to the CC a teacher actually on the men’s part, it’s a lack of physical spaces in the building at the high school to adequately, um, train a number of people who are going to go through what lead into the workforce. Because even though we will still have a lot of students from [inaudible] high school who will go into, you know, who will go to Nova or we’ll go just to apologize, all a lot of students with us or in high school must be labor ready by kind of dig it out. And so if I’ve got folks over at IDW willful 26 in the 13th district golf ball sport road telling me that Hey, we keep, not only can we keep these young adults out of debt, but at the same time that we will either $20 an hour to learn the trade and then we’ll even $25 an hour starting salary and they’re actually out of the, that’s

Guzman: being if you passed it. And the more I can urge the more. So I would start by sharing you through the legislation that was able to last this year. That will help [inaudible] if you had a nurses every Sunday vacation process is like Jake’s not in the past [inaudible] you would think that boy year. So now any maybe dice falls with a nurse and local Virginia. The recent litigation roses will take only 30 days because they need to. Joanie, that report CDN, that’s not a veterans. I think I have that. I just hope relation with veterans in my district. If I have [inaudible] on the area, maybe child long pair and I’m passionate about it has been a deal. So I have health, how they’re accountable. [inaudible] delegation and we [inaudible] will address the needs that were mentioned earlier. We all know it’s a reality that we need to also support systems.

Guzman: We provide resources, lower veterans [inaudible] world. It is necessary. We’re trying to find resources right now. For example, one of the things they’ll have dreads, looting these some holes was that map of assessments with better knots. Are these charts on early? Only on dishonor only, so we don’t know what that exhaust is that they need, but that was a fit. At least installation. We’ve have Olsen my notes here. Then I also, we have also address the need of or children, you know, what gym or moving for places with Lexus. We must go by the support system for them so they could you know, accommodate these new environments when they are Jakey from maybe from the state was saved and they never had to study at UT. So we that we have provided for our school counselors, we need more money and I would ask the chairman

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Torian: awesome

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Torian: so is the unemployment rate is 2.6% 2.6% and we CA have jobs so we are unable. That’s an amazing problem that we are moving from our traditional work force design where our kids go off to college and they graduate and come out with a skill set and they are now fence but more specialized where we’re going to be moving away from the traditional sense of how we educate and train and be a lot more specific. That’s where we need to have, that’s where I need Julia, you give me the suggestions. I mean Ivy as a cute thing will work. We can’t come up with all this. You got about business owners, you have to tell us what you need. And then if there’s legislation that is needed to appropriate to meet the need, then we submitted that legislation so that we can support your efforts and what your concerns are. I often tell my constituents, uh, I’m meeting with them. You can give me your concerns. Tell me what your concerns are. And then that is how I feel that I’m not the brightest guy in the room. Don’t pretend to be, but I think I have a little bit of wisdom. Part of my wisdom is say, come share with me what your challenges are and the ways that you think we can fix those sounds, but to have a 2.6% unemployment rate, I’m going have jobs that you still cannot deal. What a great problem to have

Speaker 3: there. Four questions. I’ve heard choice. So this next question [inaudible] view is related to your [inaudible]. There’s been much speculation that majorities in both houses [inaudible] Virginia was just recently awarded the number one state can do business by CMEC due in part to right status. You support, maintain and ensure employer choice. If not, why?

Roem: Well in 2016 I joined the majority of the 13th district debt residents and voting against the constitutional amendment. That would have been shrined work into the state constitution and if you want to call it by this other term, which is a feeler term. Then finally to do that as well. At the same time, I also know that this is going to be a chief policy position for art and so if you want to talk to the person who’s going to be meeting on that issue and then please by all means talk to our colleagues in the city of NASA’s. In the meantime I’m going to be making sure that I’m continuing to expand Amit rights and I’m going to make sure that I’m continuing to find the cost effective way to expand the, you know, very out of Gainesville for example. I’m going to do a lot of things that people in this room are going to be really, you know, we’re going to be able to work collaboratively when it comes to transportation, when it comes to education, when it comes to making sure that you know the person who was hearing you actually have healthcare.

Roem: Then at the same time that don’t on the house floor, I know how to be following the will of the people. The 13th district voted for it and wasn’t dealing with that. With the choice part of this,

Helmer: when we were doing our chamber, I already discussed this with bras and the other people you are on that call where we talked about what existing precedent duty under the siege, where this free follow, right, and if we’re talking about that number one rating, well let’s talk about the [inaudible] and because of the right people ranked dead last in the country, how’s that possible? We felt behind West Virginia. Again, how is that possible? [inaudible] [inaudible] so with that I’ll just turn it over to the delegate. Tim, Audrey, Charlestown [inaudible]. I think Bridget has spoke louder this crime for us to reject old notions that say the best for business means being more, uh, I think we didn’t just have an election in which a chamber endorsed candidate who was endorsed in part because of a position position on so-called right work lost decisively. But we had an opportunity to get right.

Helmer: Like so I ran against somebody or the chamber. Dorsey said it was because he was in support, right to work, brought us here. The reality is is that we talked through Virginia as I talked to my district and you can see a two track comedy in which women, minorities and many of our veterans that have been left behind in which witnesses which wages are not living wages. And we need to fix that. And what we need is the cooperation of the business community and that’s awfulness of the business community and how we get there. And so rather than perceiving rather than perceiving a desire to make sure we lift people out of poverty and recognize that they can be a work as a threat. I think we, all of us here as hardworking people, many of us who run businesses I need to talk together about how is it that we create an economy that works for all of us now this that that I’m going to be fighting for in the general assembly so that every Virginia who works in this common level has the opportunity to live in dignity and getting rid of laws that inhibit the ability of people to collectively bargain for their wages is one of the ways in which we’re going to ensure that our wheat, we no longer have to track of wages and benefits keep up with the growth, the economy and that is 2.2% unemployment rate means that people are able to live.

Guzman: Note that of the data or the statement that you made about being the number one business, another one your business is because we have way to ride for the state. I think that that other is conveyed the amount of work that businesses have. Bully blades, they’ll retain their employees. So I don’t know, I’ve never seen that data. I would like to see if you will, that you shared with all of us or that you would like to see it. I think that we’ve talked rate basis, this business of emerging. I would say that all that needs to go so fast and I wouldn’t have to recognize that we believe in a safe where we are and that is not right. You know, it’s like we have to revise those uh, those spaces. Often they do say no, I’m not going to use it. The right for the safe and I’ve really never, I do work via if that’s for, I mean it’s closer but I don’t do league. Guzman: I’m a union member and this is also information that is publicly available. And my union, Rutgers says the safe that please, I want to, I enjoyed and junior needs because it’s important for me when I have, what we have for them is Jane DOE, what salaries [inaudible] that were benefits, what we’d have to know. How the trainings that we need as an employee [inaudible] class, we’ll have a seat at the table and thought when these decisions are made, now wouldn’t that be wonderful when you are writing in our conversation that is running our inclusiveness. We’ll have one person from your workforce sit at the table. They got half a voice on the styling, what is best for them and for, and that’s what,

Torian: why didn’t work is a real big political issue. Really big into a great deal of politics. If you want transparency, that’s the deal, not see what you have here, you would like us to maintain why you work other opposed to I can see that change. I will tell you that the current administration, uh, has issues with uh, overturning over billing. Like at work. Um, members of the Senate has some issues with it. Members of the house we’ll also have issues with, uh, someone get rid of it. Some do not. The government has grave concern going away. And so what I would share with the folks is that we believe get in the room, maybe you’d have a discussion. Now there are concerns to be voice and move away from always had an absence of those things up fixable, equal ability to get the room and have a conversation and really find out what all the real issues. Once the real issues come in identified, then there are solutions to them. But oftentimes we want to deal with absolutes and absolutes are not always the answer. But I will tell you going into the 2020 session in his normal meeting, a very hot political issue,

Guzman: we have repeatedly reached out to him and ESPN system. He declined to participate in the business unit. So I’d now like to open it up. Appreciate you mentioning the unemployment rate 2.6 and I can tell you that there’s a solution to that problem, which is the one third of people with disabilities are currently participating in the workforce with the two first were not for geez, 39 and funding for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And there’s a long way that we have to go and uh, over 10,000, 14,000 people are on waitlists right now waiting to work. It’s a phenomenal workforce. It’s an untapped talent that we’re not utilizing. And I think it’s a big issue for us in a state where some of the solutions, what we propose to increase the [inaudible]. So at [inaudible] last year, [inaudible] was not harder than the Republican majority. I lost all of that. I already passed [inaudible] but I’m coming back and I’m bringing my day to station with Lily blues kind of preferences where people with disabilities at the same level. It’s not a program that it’s already been a bummer and it will grow by of references when people kind of lose the job, you know, intellectually the death study, civility things not done a waste their farm, that job. And they will provide at least some points during that interview when they’re [inaudible].

Torian: The only thing I want to share that you and I’ll probably sit down, that’s all I, you know, you have an insight and expertise that I do not have. That helped me tremendously because I really wouldn’t win. When we talk about the workforce, that’s the population of our citizens and our community that we very rarely think about. And so you have us, Guzman: what I just want to point out that oftentimes people consider people who are born with a disability and not acquired disability, disability,

Helmer: a stroke, heart attack, as well as all of that very, very excited to carry on a conversation. I’ve talked like this as part of loss. He’s like in Afghanistan, choir, choir, stability, right? So this issue of personally passionate about it runs a huge spectrum. It is, it is a, a cross disciplinary issue. Things like a low minimum wage, actually discouraged people with disabilities at times from being able to enter the workforce riders. The trade off is, uh, you know, there are all sorts of things we need to look at structurally to encourage people and recognize the incredible benefit that we get from, uh, providing opportunities for those specific cities to enter the workforce. And the unique perspective you to all my evidence. Like, Hey, I love to find people with disabilities, but biking, I gotta accommodate. And actually the reality is, is that by bringing in folks with diverse perspective, you empower and create a better workforce that is more able to serve more diverse customer base that represents more of what Virginia is. So I think there’s real power in making sure that we give them opportunities at those with disabilities. And it’s not just a disadvantage that each way me [inaudible] need to change that. [inaudible]

Helmer: so I’m listening to a few things here. Number one, um, my immediate family actually went through the independence arts center by the way, and taking care of them, taking care of the folks that are in the art. Prince William art, Northern Virginia was a passion project and said, if you want to follow up offline in this, talk about it, because as the always talking about is this is part of meeting entity. I put in a bill the last two years that would require insurers to have to cover the costs for mechanical prosthetic devices. For me these, for example, because it’s one of my constituents, you know, she’s missing her [inaudible] elbow and you know, she’s actually the first person in Paris state to get more money. [inaudible] and so I want to make sure that all the constituents where you teach, for example, have the ability to have all four Linden, sorry.

Helmer: Because it’s not just a physical health issue. This is a mental health issue. And at the same time it also is what allows her to be doing a lot of our games to drive a car. You know, she fell back to work. She has a lot of different jobs and she wants to do, she wants to work in crunch for example, and she can’t do right now. So being insured that are, have insurers actually provide for people with ongoing disabilities especially is why we imported it. And I was one of the delegates in 2018 who introduced the legislation to, uh, to eliminate the cap, the autism healthcare in this year. You know, we all got past [inaudible] stable. Um, we got passed the bill that eliminated all these restrictions on. [inaudible]

Helmer: didn’t make any sense about why we’d actually have an each family. And so I’ll say look offline and be very, very happy. I’m pretty loud. [inaudible] so I, uh, some, gosh, 10, 12 years ago, um, when, uh, Senator Colgan became Senate finance committee chair, I had the opportunity to ask this question and now I get dumped in the lab of delegatory and um, uh, but, but the question was everybody, uh, any, any, uh, early comments you wanna make about budget amendments that we might see coming forward, uh, that, uh, that will, uh, impact a business community here in Prince William County in the city of masses. [inaudible]

Torian: martyr. We have not, uh,

Torian: we have not begun to develop the legislative, uh, corporations then, or let me just take a moment to share with you where we are with the democratic majority, obviously about changes that take place and where we are right now. Certain growth rates, uh, make some decisions relative to staffing. Uh, getting organized is a huge job that’s new that, uh, right now I am well, to be honest with you, just the transition itself, uh, taking on a new role, learning that new role. Uh, I will tell you that it’s great to be in a position where we can help put a slip. It’s good to be in that position and learning what that means and how we will be able to do, uh, financially, uh, counted to benefit you all. Tell me what recommendations you all are in the lease, in your community from an economic development stand for things that you may see that financially we can take the Richmond as budget amendments and they perhaps have some favorable results.

Torian: I’ve always said that inclusiveness for me is important. I don’t have all the answers, you know, but if you’re in a position [inaudible] position, you allow that vision to work for others. And, and so, you know, I will tell you, I, it’s, it’s, it’s humbling to be in that position, but it’s also overwhelming, right? To seek the transition. But I’ve always weighed it out, developed with dysplasia. And the way that operative budget amendments is that when we have these legislative meetings, lunches, Rutgers, whatever, what have you either from you all helps me when I go back to Richmond, that that’s been my approach and that judicious nature. It’s exactly why I think you’re the man from job

Guzman: so why didn’t it happen? So I thought it was spoken with a general number of patients yet that’s something that is very important. Not that it’s a need right now. It brings me to felonies or seven eco BTC. The amount of Navy waivers, there’s a huge amount of waiting. They, so they’re hopeful that we can get more money or any waivers. Uh, another appropriation piece is going to be the transportation part. I strongly believe that D bulls, a lot of the transportation system, we don’t have no businesses establishing. It brings me a county’s officer as well as he was mentioning something about the other care. It wasn’t dress, the niece and nephew moments. A few names that go about the number of people that have not accessed either eligible but they have not taken advantage of either Medicaid or the marketplace. Other conversations right now be definitely be to, well maybe that question when you are finding your estate that’s if you resent the form where you are going insure or you are thinking the fines on those values insurance, we can not fit. I think that that’s wrong. We’ll ask that question. I’ll provide you have all in and we can provide the information and send your information to the same people that marketplace or you’ve got to get access [inaudible] for that and that’s what I can think of right now as far as money.

Roem: Oh, so surprised to know you. What I’ll just [inaudible] here is for everyone in the room here is my top funding priority is going to make sure that we are taking care of the PTA because I recognize the boy that we have without us having the chairman of the MBTA being from [inaudible] and I’m going to be making sure that we have a constant constant voice in the majority caucus for fully funding the MBTA and taking care of our regional transportation needs. [inaudible] out all nine jurisdictions that make up names as you’re eating. This is the time where as before we have you borrowed transportation. Jordan is time for us to fully fund transportation, especially in the economic engine that drives Virginia, which is this is not an option for us. It is mandatory for us meat pass to get this done and all the remind folks here that we’ve lost out.

Roem: Let me FBI relocate my headquarters relocation in the first round where they all feel important point the whole thing we lost out in the first round. We did not have Metro rail, how to innovation department with one word change in the federal level from Metro rail to commuter rail. If we add theory to innovation Mark, we could have made a hell of a competitive case for that and we can also, by taking care of Walbridge in particular, I will tell you the most important rail, uh, that we can possibly win the state is both fix the existing problems. We have the long version as well as dealing with the widen for the, for the basics that you have one freight by lion if we take care of that with meals up for your research here considerably. Because when we were looking at $616 million price static, Sabrina would be area 11 miles out to a market.

Roem: I don’t believe that we’re the County supervisors. That point for instead is opting to expand a blog one station at the same time. I’ll just tell you from doing the door to door, door to door to door, anyone in Gainesville, why constituents want to hear the data that came back to the County. This is not complied with the reality that I have from talking to [inaudible] or asking me, when are we going to get this? We have to get this. And that means fully plunging your PTT and the same time to be here to body never voted our roof.

Helmer: So [inaudible] UTA mass transit, uh, is, uh, I agree that we need to identify, uh, creative revenue sources. We need to look at the cost side of the equation as long to make sure that you’re investing in transportation architecture that allows us to spend more time with our families and employees. We’re closer to the political, closer to where they were and encouraged folks to basically make sure that our infrastructure has anything on it. We talk a lot about the concerns of the chamber. I’m, I, I’m very concerned about the growth of the small businesses and innovation and the workforce here in Virginia and Virginia. And so I want to look at budgetary options to increase the availability of capital and funding for small ways, innovative technology solutions for issues of major importance from IOT to AI to um, clean energy. And we need to become the clean energy and technology, just the region of the country by creating access to capital. What makes sense for small businesses to grow here. And so that’s where I’d like,

Torian: so we just completed preparations [inaudible] two days.

Torian: One of the things, one of the forecasts and the loads being all of you who were in business problem seekers right now when moving along, pretty decent pace, but potentially the growth as well as stall down maybe next year, maybe a couple of years from now, two or three years from now. But at the level where we are now forecast is, is that our economy is about to slow down. So what do we do from an a corporation stand for, we put money in the reserve so that when the economy shifts we are not adversely impacted. That was rainy day fund. And then we created a new reserve fund where we’re seeking to increase that budget to about $3 billion so that when the economy changes, Virginia is not adversely impacted. You know, until you said in those seats where you see these things, we can talk about spending, spending, spending funding [inaudible] but my top and our job is to help protect your quality of life. That’s what we’re there for. That’s what I’m there for. And so when you see these trends, that is our job as leaders to be prepared for those threads when they come out away.

Speaker 3: Awesome. I appreciate it. I’m [inaudible] supervisor [inaudible] district and I think that, um, just briefly, this is such a wonderful opportunity for us as uh, our chairman. I only went to chairman for the appropriations committee has said and that we are transitioning it to change and no one likes to change, but I look at the supervisor’s position as a rigid filter if you will, and supporting the business community, supporting the constituents, but being a raise bill through to the nugget, the dominance for the general assembly. And so my question with all of that said, because this is such a great opportunity, is what can we do as a new mind coming into our roles because it is overwhelming but it’s an opportunity and it’s based upon building the trust and the respect within the community. What can we do to support a better Virginia being in the seat coming into the seat first I just want to mention the year so excited

Roem: to work with our new kind of supervisors

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Roem: as the acrimonious relationship that we’ve seen before. We’re not happy antagonistic relationship at least before I have complete confidence in dealers and they’re going to up in front of the generalist [inaudible] paper with the confidence that we’re going to have adults sitting in the tables and actually talking in good faith with each other to make sure that we are taking care of Prince William County and that are not jeopardizing Prince William status within the general assembly by insulting members of the majority party. While we’re doing [inaudible], we’re going to have to be functional working relationship and to supervise the Bailey. Even if you are on the Eastern and among the Western head, you are welcomed in the opposite of the 13th dessert anytime. Have you ever talked to mr office as well? Because as far as I’m concerned, taking care of Dumfries, taking care of robbing order, that is a principle accounting issue, whether or not it’s on the Western or the East.

Roem: We have four together and we have to work together in good faith so that our constituents trust us to get the job done and that because Prince William now has the incredible clout with LV orient beach or the appropriations committee, we’re not going to be treated as a laughingstock of Virginians. It’s not gonna matter. We’ve seen it on the house floor. We have seen Prince William County called out with council for bad behavior that nothing happened. Now we’re going to be in a really good place where we’re being inclusive of our minority majority community. We’re going to love you because of who you are, not despited. And that goes for no matter what you look like, where do you come from, how you worship you do or that you weren’t Prince William County or you were in Virginia? Well, the budget here

Helmer: I am very excited or where does all the members of the board of supervisors and I echo more than I’ve ever said, although I’m looking forward and to the moment

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Helmer: to, to uh, to the broader point. I think, look, I think we have in a unexplained County we have real opportunities to invest smartly create a regulatory legal framework that incorporates Prince William not as a stepchild. I hope that this associated port of Virginia that as a full member of the family, uh, that is welcomed into the economic growth and benefits of our adjacent counties. And I think in some cases we have missed out on those opportunities. Uh, sitting down with supervisor Catlin next week. I don’t think these are partisan issues. I think they are issues in which we all need to work together to even where we need your help. Which was would you ask is to articulate the vision of what that looks like for all of our constituents here to support the needs of a broad and diverse, uh, group of people. Our business community, our, uh, our working families hopes of every single race and religion and the incredible diversity that makes this County a great one. And so where I look forward to working with all of you is to, uh, hearing what you’re hearing, understanding what the needs of our community are, and to begin that process of truly integrating principal even County into an engine, uh, that joins the rest of the, the pistons that are pumping in Northern Virginia and really grows alongside of it in a way that works for every single day.

Guzman: Well, if I did, I could start for a [inaudible] service or kind of supervisor marquee knowing my constituent. Thank you for your time.

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Guzman: I was asked to acknowledge that [inaudible] nice. Had that great to relationship and excited about the future as well. You know, I definitely think having conversations for the new amount of work supervisors on Francois station [inaudible] something that is so important right now for our communities. Reading at justice reform, being able to defend our office [inaudible] and [inaudible] say [inaudible] myself, there are so many and I’ve chosen the soundings in raising income and is my hole that you started with divisiveness and Hey, the mom communities run through the body. This is the December 31st and we started running generally the first being proud of who we are, what we represent, and three, every single wonderful woman Steve Jones with dignity and respect.

Speaker 6: Thank you. My advice, you [inaudible] the board

Torian: of County supervisors have lost years of institutional knowledge and institutional knowledge matters when you’re trying to cover is so extremely important that not only do you learn the processes, but you learn, you learn how to vote and people may take that. That’s those just words. But it is truly the process to learn how to govern. You learn how to lead and to receive the constructive criticism and you vote to be faced with, uh, you cannot shut out. People like mighty annoyed. You should welcome him into your life.

Speaker 6: [inaudible]

Torian: there was enough of institutional knowledge that he has that he in partly you that’s still there to help you make no mistake about it. You all have targets on your back. You were responsible for leading on camera and you must leave. Well, you must leave.

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