#Aspiring Engineering Program

[townpostin]

Tata Steel Announces Schedule for Aspiring Engineering Program

Recruitment process includes mock test, online exam, and interviews Key Points: • Mock test from Sept 10-12, online exam on Sept 15-16 • Culture Appreciation Test for successful candidates • Interviews and physical tests scheduled for Oct 19-20 JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel has unveiled the recruitment timeline for its Aspiring Engineering program, featuring multiple stages of assessment. The…

[guru-kashi-university]

https://gku.ac.in/

Best Private University in Punjab, India

Experience academic excellence at Punjab's premier private university. With state-of-the-art facilities, renowned faculty, and innovative programs, our institution is dedicated to nurturing future leaders. From engineering to management, humanities to sciences, we offer a diverse range of disciplines to suit every passion and career aspiration. Embrace a dynamic learning environment where creativity thrives, ideas flourish, and opportunities abound. Join us on a transformative educational journey and unlock your potential for success in the heart of Punjab, India's educational hub.

[deenbandhuchhoturamuniversity]

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology: Empowering Excellence in Education

Visualize Your Future at Official Site: -  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Are you eager to pursue higher education in the field of science and technology?  Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in   Look no further than Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology (DCRUST). With its commitment to excellence, state-of-the-art facilities, and a diverse range of programs, DCRUST offers students a platform to realize their potential and shape a successful future. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Experience the Excellence

At DCRUST, you can experience a world-class education that nurtures innovation, fosters creativity, and prepares you for the challenges of a dynamic and rapidly changing world. Established in 2006, the university has quickly grown to become a beacon of academic excellence. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Expertise in Science & Technology

DCRUST has distinguished itself by focusing on science and technology disciplines. Whether you aspire to be an engineer, a computer scientist, or a biotechnologist, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs to cater to your aspirations. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Explore the Possibilities

DCRUST provides a comprehensive range of programs across various disciplines, ensuring that students have ample opportunities to explore their interests and find their true calling. From engineering and computer science to applied sciences and management, the university offers a diverse range of fields for students to choose from. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Unleash Your Potential

The faculty at DCRUST comprises experienced professors and experts in their respective fields. They bring their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm to the classroom, creating an enriching learning environment. Their guidance and mentorship empower students to push boundaries and unlock their true potential. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Cutting-Edge Facilities

To support its commitment to excellence in education, DCRUST provides state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. The university is equipped with modern laboratories, research facilities, and libraries, ensuring that students have access to the resources they need to excel in their chosen fields. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Fostering Innovation and Research

DCRUST places a strong emphasis on research and innovation. The university encourages students to engage in cutting-edge research projects, collaborate with industry partners, and make significant contributions to their respective fields. Through its research programs, DCRUST aims to address real-world challenges and drive positive change. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

A Vibrant Campus Life

Life at DCRUST goes beyond academics. The university offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of extracurricular activities, clubs, and societies. From sports and cultural events to leadership and community service initiatives, DCRUST provides a holistic education that extends beyond the classroom. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

A Global Perspective

DCRUST recognizes the importance of a global perspective in today's interconnected world. The university has established collaborations with renowned international institutions, fostering opportunities for cultural exchange, research collaboration, and student mobility programs. These partnerships allow students to gain exposure to diverse perspectives and enhance their global competency. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Admissions Made Simple

Applying to DCRUST is a straightforward process. Interested candidates can visit the official website at WWW.DCRUSM.ORG.IN to access detailed information about the admission requirements, application process, and important deadlines. The university also provides guidance and support to help students navigate the admission process smoothly. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

Conclusion

DCRUST is more than an educational institution; it is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. By offering a stimulating learning environment, cutting-edge facilities, and a commitment to excellence, the university empowers students to become the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow. Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in   So, if you are ready to embark on a transformative educational journey and shape your future in science and technology, DCRUST is the perfect place to start. Visit Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in       today and take the first step towards realizing your dreams. SEO Meta-Description: Discover excellence in science and technology education at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology (DCRUST). Explore a wide range of programs and state-of-the-art facilities at Official Site :-  www.dcrusm.org.in  

[valkerieccfinds]

The Paranormal Paths Legacy Challenge

By SilverPhoenix42 aka me & @streetrabbit42

Needed Packs: EP: Life & Death, Island Living, Discover University, Lovestruck, Seasons, Eco Lifestyle, City Living (OPTIONAL) GP: Realm of Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, Outdoor Retreat SP: Paranormal Optional Mods: MC Command Center, Spinning Plumbob’s Expanded Plantsims, Spinning Plumbob’s Expanded Mermaids

Generation 1: Human

As an average hopeless romantic, you are searching for that one special person. The one who will make the relationship feel magical. As it turns out, that person is not human. 

Aspiration: Soulmate OR Romantic Explorer

Traits: Romantic, Outgoing, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Romance, Charisma

Career: Romance Consultant

Rules:

Marry a spellcaster

Have at least 1 child

Generation 2: Spellcaster

Your parents met and fell in love, and with how perfect they seem together, you thought you’d never find that for yourself. Well, you didn’t. But you found someone truly out-of-this-world.

Aspiration: Spellcraft & Sorcery OR Purveyor of Potions

Traits: Bookworm, Goofball, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Herbalism, Logic

Career: Gardener - Botanist Branch OR Education - Professor Branch

Rules:

Must meet and have a baby with an alien

Must have 1 at least somewhat-alien child

Generation 3: Alien

Your parents weren’t quite the picture-perfect romance, but you had your dog. Your new partner gets along great with your furry friend!

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim OR Academic

Traits: Clumsy, Geek, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Handiness, Logic

Career: Freelance Programmer OR Business - Either Branch

Rules:

Must marry a werewolf

Must have at least 1 werewolf child

Must adopt a dog and have one when they meet their spouse

Generation 4: Werewolf

Growing up you always loved bathtime, and it seems your partner does, too. For different reasons.

Aspiration: Emissary of the Collective OR Wildfang Renegade

Traits: Self-Assured, Outgoing, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Charisma, Fitness

Career: Politician - Either Branch OR Criminal - Either Branch (Respectively depending on the aspiration you choose)

Rules:

Date or Marry a Mermaid

Have at least 1 mermaid child

Generation 5: Mermaid

Your romance isn’t as fantastical as your parents’ are, but it’s good enough. You were more like best friends than lovers. That’s why it didn’t quite work out.

Aspiration: Beach Life

Traits: Bro, Loves Outdoors, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Mixology, Wellness

Career: Culinary - Mixology Branch OR Conservationist - Marine Biologist Branch

Rules:

Meet and have a child with a vampire

Break up with Vampire

Must have at least 1 vampire child

Generation 6: Vampire

You never had many relationships, but this one person was always special to you.

Aspiration: Vampire Family, Good Vampire, Master Vampire (Your Choice)

Traits: Genius, Perfectionist, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Robotics, Programming

Career: Engineer - Mechanical Engineer Branch OR Self-Employed Inventor*

Rules:

*Build stuff and sell them off however you want

(HUMAN GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance expect for ONE romantic relationship that they marry

Must have at least ONE child

Either your child must be born human, or you must make a vampire antidote for the child

(OPTIONAL SERVO GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance

Must build a Servo as your heir

(OPTIONAL PLANTSIM GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance, OR you may only have one romantic relationship

Adopt a child or you must make a vampire antidote for your child

Generation 7: Servo (Optional - Requires Discover University)

You were your creator’s pride and joy. They loved you like their child, so you wanted to spread that love.

Aspiration: Serial Romantic OR Paragon Partner

Traits: Lovebug, Neat, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Robotics, Programming AND/OR a musical skill

Career: Business - Either Branch OR Tech Guru - Either Branch

Rules:

Adopt a child or (if you have to partners of the opposite sex) those two can have a child

Depending on the  Aspiration: If Serial Romantic, they can only date. If Paragon Partner, You have to marry one of your partners, but have at least two partners live with you

(PLANTSIM GEN)

Max out the Gardening skill, obtain the magic beans, and get the Fruit of the Plantsim for your child

If you chose Paragon Partner aspiration, one of the partners can take on the gardening challenge

Or cheat, I do not care if you choose to make your life easier.

(HUMAN GEN)

No specific Rules

Generation 8: Plant Sim (Optional)

Your parent(s) always cared for you deeply, doing whatever they could to help you reach your dreams. You wanted to give a child as many opportunities as you had.

Aspiration: Eco Innovator

Traits: Vegetarian, Loyal, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Gardening, Fishing

Career: Civil Designer - Either Branch OR Gardener - Botanist Branch

Rules:

Marry a Human

Have or Adopt a Human Child

Generation 9: Human

Your parent(s) were always very generous and attentive, but also quite lax, so you could do just about whatever you wanted. You made some interesting choices with your life, and look where it got you.

Aspiration: You Choose

Traits: Chased by Death, [Your Choice], [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Medium and Piano OR Pipe Organ OR Violin

Career: Achieve level 6 of any career

Rules:

Can NOT complete their bucket list

Can only complete up to 2 bucket list objectives before you die

Die as a Young Adult (you can choose how they die)

Either complete your aspiration before dying, or give up on it after death

Generation 10: Ghost

You got to do almost everything you wanted with your life. But there was plenty that was left unfinished. Now as a ghost, you can do more than you could in life, and want to use it to your full advantage.

Aspiration: Ghost Historian

Max Skills: Thanatology, Mischief

Career: Unemployed

Rules:

After dying, you must complete your bucket list (all 8 items)

Play your chosen instrument in the middle of the night

Choose a spirit route and lean into it. Go full on crazy with your choice

If you’re good, be a very helpful and nice ghost

If you’re evil, making their lives hell.

When done with this gen, feel free to Reincarnate and do what-the-fuck-ever you want

If you Reincarnate, feel free to re-play through these Gens and choose the other options!

[liisims]

Monochromatic Legacy Challenge

Welcome to the Monochromatic Legacy Challenge for The Sims 4. This challenge was created entirely by me, @liisims. The challenge is based on 10 colors. Each generation is made keeping the colors in mind for the traits, aspiration and career.

Rules:

- Play with a normal lifespan.

- While I don’t recommend using money cheats, it’s up to you.

- The heir can be any gender (for simplicity, a female heir is used as an example).

- Complete the aspiration, max out the career, and achieve the max level in all listed skills unless instructed otherwise.

- Utilize the specified traits; their order doesn’t matter.

- If you share anything related to the challenge (screenshots, gameplay, etc.) on Tumblr, use the hashtag #monochromaticliisims.

- Optional: dress your sim in the color of their gen. This can be just outfit, or hair and everything else too! Whatever you like.

I recommend reading at least one generation ahead before starting the challenge. For instance, if you’re currently on generation 1, make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and description for both generation 1 and 2. This is particularly helpful as it often provides insights into how the current generation grew up. Of course, how you play is entirely up to you!

This challenge has been in the works for months now, so enjoy!

Generation One: Yellow

You’re a charming mess. Although you struggle with some awkwardness, you are deeply loyal to those close to you. You have big dreams in both wealth and your career. Even though you’re scatterbrained, you believe you can climb to the top of the career ladder. And you love to go for a jog too! Gotta keep up that physical condition to make sure you can chase after criminals.

Traits: Clumsy, Loyal, Socially awkward

Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy

Career: Detective

Skills: Fitness

Other:

- Must have a cat/dog

Generation Two: Pink

You’re a hardcore paranormal enthusiast. Every little sound or disembodied noise, gets you even more curious about the supernatural. Since you spend all this time researching paranormal activity, you don’t feel a strong need for romance. However, when you were a kid you fell in love with your moms pet (not as in romantically, you just find them really cute). They were just so adorable, you couldn’t help it.

Traits: Mean, Unflirty, Dog/Cat lover (Depends on the pet of gen one)

Aspiration: Friend of the Animals (Complete the first 2 levels, 3rd and 4th are optional)

Career: Freelancer Paranormal Investigator

Skills: Medium, Pet training

Other:

- Must live in a haunted house, when a young adult

- Have a (secret) romantic relationship with Bonehilda

- Complete feathers collection, and create the statue

Generation Three: Purple

You’re nothing like the other girls at school. You’re not weird. Just really smart, and a bit insane… but not mean. Your mother and classmates however… don’t always know how to be nice. It caused you to overthink a lot, constantly aware of your surroundings. So you find comfort in creating. Whether it’s crystals or some fun science gadget!

Traits: Proper, Paranoid, Genius

Aspiration: Crystal Crafter

Career: Scientist

Skills: Logic, Gemology

Other:

- Optional: Diver job when a teenager

- Collect all crystals, and display them in your home

- Use the Celestial Crystal Crown atleast once a week

Generation Four: Grey

You’re a messy romantic. Growing up the house was always messy with all your mom’s gadgets and crystals lying around. You never felt motivated to clean, and became quite the slob. Due to your non-committal nature, you enjoy exploring all kinds of romantic relationships. You thrive in the world of technology, whether you are tinkering with your robotics or programming something new.

Traits: Geek, Slob, Non-committal

Aspiration: Serial Romantic

Career: Engineer (Computer branch)

Skills: Robotics, Programming (level 7)

Other:

- Go to university, but drop out because of pregnancy

Generation Five: Orange

You’re a cringe adrenaline-junkie. You grew up in a very messy home. You were the one cleaning up after your mom. You saw how she had an endless lineup of romantic partners, and it made you crave real connections. Ever since you were young you were always on the lookout. Till you found your high school sweetheart! You’re a natural at being cringe though. You often makes jokes that don’t quite land, and you love to overshare.

Traits: Adventurous, Glutton, Cringe

Aspiration: Grilled Cheese

Career: Secret Agent (Diamond branch)

Skills: Logic, Charisma

Other:

- Must marry high school sweetheart

Generation Six: Green

You’re a bold troublemaker. Your mom always told you about her cool adventures as a secret agent, and how she took down the bad guys, but you thought the bad guys sounded way cooler, so you gave it a try yourself. Because of your mom’s job, she wasn’t at home a lot, you heard about all your friends parents and it made you really jealous of them. And yes, you will rob a bank, but you definitely draw the line at eating a steak.

Traits: Materialistic, Vegetarian, Jealous

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Career: Criminal

Skills: Mischief, Handiness (level 6)

Other:

- Must marry a vegetarian sim

Generation Seven: Red

You’re an empathetic sloth. Being lazy means you prefer to let others do all the hard work, but despite your tendency to avoid effort, you’re incredibly generous. You have a lot of empathy for others. Knowing how ruthless your mom was to others, it made you feel bad and always try to cheer others up instead. Putting a smile on someone’s face never fails to make your day!

Traits: Lactose intolerant, Lazy, Generous

Aspiration: Joke star

Career: Entertainer (Comedy branch)

Skills: Comedy, Charisma (level 8), Guitar or Violin (level 3)

Generation Eight: Brown

You’re a rustic dreamer. Growing up you felt most at home in the garden. Your parents didn’t exactly understand your desire to wake up at the crack of dawn and spend all day outside, but they respected it. You dream of running your own ranch, caring for every animal you come across.

Traits: Outgoing, Animal enthusiast, Rancher

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Career: Gardener (Optional)

Skills: Gardening, Cross-stitch

Other:

- Grow every type of oversized crop atleast once

- Have a good relationship with all your animals

Generation Nine: Blue

You’re a melancholy perfectionist. You always felt like the storm cloud in a sunny household. Your mother found joy in nature, but you’d rather escape to your fantasy worlds. Perfectionism is both your biggest downfall and greatest strength. Your books are always amazing, but never quite good enough for you. You long for a big happy family to cheer you up, cause you’re always so gloomy.

Traits: Gloomy, Perfectionist, Family oriented

Aspiration: Big happy family

Career: Writer (Career or just publish books)

Skills: Writing, Parenting

Other:

- Read your children to bed every other night

Generation Ten: Rainbow

You’re the literal embodiment of joy itself. A big difference from the home you grew up in. But, because opposites attract and you like fixing things, wether it’s people’s decor or their style, you end up falling for a gloomy sim. You absolutely love to party, and have themed party’s every week at your place.

Traits: Party animal, Creative, Cheerful

Aspiration: Party Animal

Career: Interior Decorator or Style Influencer

Skills: Charisma, Photography

Other:

- Throw a party atleast once a week

- Must marry a gloomy sim

[thatsrightice]

HOW TO BECOME A FIGHTER PILOT

So as you may or may not know, I am writing a fanfic. Unfortunately for me, I can never do things half way, and because aviation is my passion I must do hours of research on a particular subject that I probably won't even use or reference in said fanfic. Here is a guide for how our favorite characters (probably) became fighter pilots. If there are inaccuracies let me know, I want to know :)

United States Naval Academy

The USNA is an undergraduate college that is a combination of academics and military development programs. Students who want to go into Flight School could qualify with one of a variety of different majors, but there are particular majors that obviously may provide a bit of an advantage to aspiring pilots. The USNA currently offers a variety of different majors and minors, though there are fewer than you might expect from a typical university, and overall the degrees are more tailored towards the Navy. They encourage participation in athletics in the form of a Varsity or club/intramural sport(1). 

NOTE: Maverick likely attended a regular college and was a part of the Naval ROTC program at that school. He would have gotten his degree in a field relevant to aviation, likely Mechanical Engineering given his mechanical aptitude seen in Top Gun Maverick, and then attended the 13-week program called Officer Candidate School. To be honest, Maverick’s path within the Navy is a mess and impossible to follow but in the most straightforward scenario, he would go to flight school following Officer Candidate School.

Flight School 

Flight School is an approximately 2-year-long program that is required for Naval Aviators to earn their wings. Primarily located at the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” aka Pensacola, FL, flight school consists of many different phases that will divide students into different specializations. 

1. Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE)

Divided into four phases, NIFE is a program that evaluates students’ aeronautical aptitude as well as screens them to ensure they’re capable of becoming aviators. Students may earn a “pink sheet” for any score below 80% or a failure of a task, requiring them to stand before a panel of instructors to explain why they failed and how they plan to improve. Too many pink sheets result in removal from the program(2).

1a. Water Survival Training Following medical clearance, students are taught and tested on their ability to swim while wearing flight gear as well as formerly instructed on various survival techniques and CPR(2).

1b. Academics  A 3-week phase where students take classes and exams in five subjects. It is condensed to test a student’s ability to retain information, learn new information in a high-stress environment, and challenge their self-discipline in regard to time management and other areas(2).

1c. Introductory Flight Screening (IFS) Students are entered into a 2-week-long modified civilian flight training program where one week is dedicated to ground school courses before they must conduct a series of flights in a Cessna using Navy flight procedures during the second week. Students had to memorize and prioritize information to complete the flights, specifically in regard to conducting pre-flight briefings and emergency procedures. Overall, they’ll conduct seven flights in which they are required to complete a set of standardized maneuvers(2). 

1d. Aviation Physiology A week-long training course that consists of emergency-specific training evolutions such as the hypoxia chamber, emergency first aid, and the “helo dunker.” The “helo dunker” (from what I understand) is a particular training device that consists of strapping a pilot into a cockpit-like or helicopter contraption within a pool and submerging the entire structure under the water, simulating an environment in which their aircraft has landed in the water and they need to escape from the seat(3). An image of this can be seen below(2).

The Top Gun cast had to undergo a similar training course in order to be allowed to fly in military airplanes for filming. A video of some of their training can be viewed below.

2b. Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination

A 6-week long program that marks the beginning of the aviation pipeline. Located in Pensacola, FL, students attend classes covering the basics of aerodynamics, weather in relation to aviation, air navigation, flight rules and regulations, and aircraft engines and systems (3). 

Prior to API, those interested in becoming Radar Intercept Officers (RIO) will have expressed their interest and requested a designation as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO). 

2c. Primary Flight Training

A 6-month-long program that teaches the students the basics of flying. There are two locations for Primary, one at Training Air Wing 5 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Pensacola, FL, or Training Air Wing 4 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, TX. Both Naval Air Stations (NAS) are taught the same curriculum and fly the same aircraft, the T-6 Texan II. The students learn about the instruments, flight basics, radio instrument navigation, formation flying, and aerobatics, and also conduct several solo flights. At the end of Primary, students choose which pipeline they would like. This is conducted depending on the needs of the Navy and how many spots are available(3). 

Obviously, Iceman, Slider, Goose, Cougar, and everyone else got Jets, though they may not have gone through flight school at the same time. 

2d. Intermediate Flight Training

Intermediate Flight Training is a 27-week program. Split into five platforms; Jet, E2/C2, Helicopter, Maritime, and E-6 TACAMO. The jet platform flight training focuses more on navigation, air traffic control, individual skills, and cooperative skills of flying jets. The intermediate flight training program for jets is located at Meridian, MS (Training Air Wing One) at either VT-7 or VT-9, and Kingsville, TX (Training Air Wing Two) at either VT-21 or VT-22, both of which teach the same curriculum. Students in the jet platform will complete 58 graded flights in the T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft(3). 

2e. Advanced Flight Training

Similar to Intermediate Flight Training, the program is split into five platforms but lasts 23 weeks. The students will probably have stayed with the same training squadron throughout the intermediate and advanced flight training. This stage includes learning skills specific to the chosen platform. The Advanced Flight Training program for jets is what’s called the Strike Syllabus. The Strike Syllabus includes an additional 67 graded flights in the T-45 covering air combat maneuvers, low-level navigation, tactical formation flying, and aircraft carrier qualifications. Students will then graduate from Advanced Flight Training with the Wings of Gold(3). 

3. Squadron Selection 

The final selection process assigns naval aviators to a particular squadron based on the needs of the service. Naval Aviators are assigned to a fleet replacement squadron or other similar training assignments for further training on their specific aircraft type. Here, RIOs and pilots must become qualified by gaining the required flight hours and meeting the proficiency standards necessary.

NOTE: It’s kind of hard to figure out when exactly the RIO training occurs. I know it takes place over the course of all the primary through advanced training occurs as well but I’m not sure if they have to attend seperate courses for it. 

TOPGUN

From there, pilots and RIOs may have been moved to their first official squadron for deployment. They would have been in their first squadron for approximately one and a half years, deploying with them. Their squadron would come back from a deployment and during the stand-down time before their next deployment, their commanding officer would select them to go to TOPGUN.

Sources

(1) https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php

(2) https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2944668/nife-lays-foundation-for-naval-aviation-training/

(3) https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/tw4/flight-school.asp

[ellaa-writes]

Good Dog

author note: Part 3 yay!! Series list found here. I actually edited this one, I know! Probably still mistakes lol, I love writing this type of Simon but mean Simon is still my favourite. Reader and Simon parts are going on at different times, weeks apart, just in case of any confusion of time line. Enjoy!

summary: His favourite words include; down boy, good dog, heel, fetch and his most favourite, get 'em. Well trained, and listens good. Loyal through and through. Always striving to be the absolute best. Ready to attack at all times, always on guard. Loves discipline, either giving or receiving. Working for a criminal mastermind, lurking in the shadows. You both trying not to be seen or noticed but after one unlucky night, all you both can see are the ghosts. He invades your life, if you both like it or not.

tags: Alternative Universe. Female reader. A/B/O dynamics. Alpha Simon, Beta Reader, Bad Scottish lingo (I tried). Very tame and a chapter filler.

You hadn't seen Simon in a few weeks, must have gotten bored you thought, eventually everyone leaves so why wouldn't he. Things felt different with him, like timed slowed down and life finally had a meaning.

You stopped in front of a news stand, big bold letters. OMEGA POPLUATION HITS AN ALL TIME LOW; leading scientists may have found a solution. You snatched the paper and handed the worker $5 telling him to keep the rest as you rushed back home paper in hand. The title wasn't what caught your attention, it was a few paragraphs down the words doctor and experimental procedure. Tossing your belongings on the dining table soon as you entered your grungy apartment.

Reading the article fully, then once more. Doctors have developed a experimental drug that could alter a Beta women's chemistry. Tricking the body into thinking its an Omega, a few experiments have been conducted and results have so far been proven successful. But they are searching for more Beta women to submit themselves into the program.

Those words playing over and over in your head, becoming an Omega, and having a loyal and supportive Alpha. Not having to worry about all the small things, not having to work and struggle to make ends meet. You could leave your pathetic life behind.

All Simon did was follow orders, being the good dog, he is. A successful mission out of the way, the Boss left before he did. Having to hurry back cause of his Omega. Simon used to have dreams about settling down, but that was before he became ghost. Stupid child aspirations, but mostly because he felt like he didn't deserve one. And who would want him as an Alpha, all teeth, and hard edges. It would be a punishment to be stuck with him until death, and death would be the reward.

You jotted the number down on a piece of paper and stuck it to your fridge. You didn't have to decide now, but you were tempted to.

Dealing with Makarov was easier than expected most of these men act tough on the outside but soon as you start pulling out their insides, they change their tune. He wasn't in too much of a hurry to get home, it's been two weeks since he last saw her, he's been keeping his distance, not wanting to poison her cause that's what he was poison.

It was very late into the night when he finally arrived in the city, driving down the desolate neighborhoods till he found himself parked in front of his apartment. Not the one across from hers but the one he bought himself soon as he had enough money too. The only thing that remained from his previous life. Cutting the engine and walking inside.

He still had a landline, hard wired into the wall next to the thermostat. He's never used it and has never had anyone call it. Not like many people have the number anyways, emergency he told himself when he bought and installed it all those years ago. Having the number updated in his file, but now it hangs there mockingly. Much to his surprise when he walked into his quiet home, a little red dot glowing from the device.

He ignored it at first, taking his clothes off to take a quick shower. To wash away the memories that still plague him, the water never being hot enough. He stood there in nothing but a towel around his waist. Staring at that glowing red light, missed call.

He should just delete it, but he decided to play the message. A voice came through the small speaker, one that he thought he'd never hear again. John Price.

"Oi Simon, it's John. Ain't sure if this dog and bone's still on the go. Tried your mobile, but it's saying it's disconnected. Anyways, thought I'd drop you a bell 'cause we're gonna be in the city for a bit. Fancy a chinwag, like the old days, yeah? So, give me a call, same digits as ever. It'd be proper nice to catch up, Simon."

It was silent for a while afterwards, only Simon's heaving breathing filling up the space. Not once did they call him while he was locked up doing time, not once did they reach out and say they cared. They were family once, at least he thought they were. Stupid.

All the rage simmering up inside of him finally boiled over the edge. Simon grabbed the stupid phone and slammed it into the wall as hard as he could, again and again until there was nothing left but broken pieces of plastic, wiring and now a hole in his wall.

It only took you three hours of pacing back and forth in your tiny apartment, the small piece of paper stuck to your fridge door taunting you. As the line rang you debated on hang up, forgetting any of this happened but it was to late. The reception answered your call, redirecting you to the head of the project. Giving a little info over the phone they scheduled you in for the same day if you could make it. It was on the other side of town, the side you hardly went to cause there was no need. Unless you wanted to make yourself feel even more shitty about your life.

He debated if he should call, be the bigger person the little voice in his head called out. They had their reasoning for abandoning him, for treating him like the plague, they had to, right?

You were on the bus, watching as the fading sun descended and the moon turned brighter. The glow of city coming to life, some many people out and about. You barely had enough money to and back, getting off at the stop further away. Walking the rest to save a bit of cash and take in the scenery. The air was crisp, it never got too cold during the winter season. Also, long as the wind stayed away it was a mild year so far.

To say this was awkward was an understatement. Simon sat across from the beta Scottsman, not much has changed he thought. The group of men still joking around like nothing happened like good ol' times, they kept trying to get him in on it. Simon soon realised that this was a mistake, all of it. Calling Price and picking out this bar. They weren't his pack anymore, they ditched him soon as things went south.

Simon's grip on his glass of bourbon tightened when Johnny yelled "Right Lt." the group getting quiet afterwards, Johnny knew he fucked up. Simon got up abruptly, taking a big gulp of the burning liquid amber, polishing off his drink before slamming it back down.

"Goin’ for a smoke." as he grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. Marching towards the front door. He could hear Kyle's faint call of his name, the beta man always playing mediator, Price holding Johnny back like an Alpha would a misbehaving puppy as Simon made his way outside.

"Bunch of fuckin' pricks." it was a whisper to himself, digging out his pack of smokes and shoving one into his mouth. Lighting it with ease as he sucked in a big lung full. The door to the bar opened and closed, fully expecting to smell the cigar-soaked Alpha but instead it was Johnny tail between his legs.

"I ken ye dinnae wanna gab about it." he tried but Simon cut him right off. "I don't." blowing a huge cloud in the betas face. "Weel, someone's gotta." he just wanted some fucking peace and quiet. "The start talkin’ or shut the fuck up." dropping his finished cigarette to the ground, giving it a good stomp before putting another to his lips.

"Things have changed, ye've changed. Ah ken everything's aw fucked up right now. We tried-" Simon huffed out a stiff laugh, not believing a thing the Scott was saying. He could see his lips still moving but he couldn’t hear what he was saying as a familiar scent caught his nose.

Before Simon could think a small body collided with Soaps as he stepped out towards the curb with a hand to the back of his neck. "Ah, fuck, sorry ‘bout that, lass." Simon watched in slow motion as you got knocked off balance. Johnny reaching out to help the poor thing but before, he could feel the growl coming from his chest and throat. Pushing the Beta to the side as he took a hold of you, bring you to his chest.

He could hear your lower whimper, there was something different about you. Your scent was sweeter, it was pulling him in like a bee to a flower. "Simon?" letting out in a shaky breath. "What are you doing here?" you looked up into his eyes. Your hands resting against his chest, the hard muscle underneath flexing, a low rumble coming from within. You’ve never seen him like this, so casual but also feral, eyes blown and panting.

"Am I interrupting ye in the midst of somethin'?" Johnny didn't know what the hell was going on. Looking at the Omega flushed against the old Alpha, he was just happy that after everything that happened it was nice to see his old lieutenant finally settling down with such a sweet thing. Simon finally broke his gaze from you, settling it on the Beta. “It was a nice chat, gotta go.”

"Come, I'll drive you home." he stated, gripping your upper arm as he moved you towards his car. The more you stood outside surround by people the more Simon got irritated. He couldn't put his finger on it, the changes within you. He'd been away from a couple of weeks; it was hard staying away but he had a responsibility and a job to do. "I can take the bus." you tried moving around Simon, spotting the other man who was now gawking. "Like hell." Simon held onto you firm, walking you to his car.

"See you around." the Scott yelled from somewhere behind. He couldn't wait to tell the other two men of what he witnessed. The grumpy old Alpha had found himself a sweet Omega.

The drive home was in silence, not even the radio to help ease the awkward tension building up in the car. When Simon pulled onto your street you gathered your belongings. "Wait." you snapped your head to the driver's side.

"What were you doing out so late?" he was trying to interrogate you "I had an appointment." you held your hands in your lap, fidgeting with your fingers. "Hmm" Simon grunted out, the whole way back to your apartment he had to stop himself from pulling the car over and pouncing on you.

Something wasn't right and he didn't like it or maybe he did. It confused him nonetheless and he wanted answers.

"You want to come up?" you don't know why you asked, why those words spilled out of your mouth. Simon was surprised too, cocking his head to side. "Sure." he cut the engine.

Once inside your apartment you didn't bother asking him if he wanted anything to drink. Unless he's into expired milk or tap water. The hulking man walked around your small place, picking things up and putting them down. Take in his surroundings, he already didn’t like you living in this area. He’s scoped out your apartment, the front door was a piece of shit, with a little bit of a jiggle and it popped open.

Walking towards your dingy couch he noticed the paper on the table, picking it up he scanned the words. You didn't.... His eyes found your form, busying yourself around your small kitchen. Shoving dirty dished into the sink to be forgotten about till later. Simon sniffed the air again, there was that familiar scent again. The smell of an Omega, the similar one that clung to his Boss, that filled every space of his home.

Omega.

He felt is heart quicken, his blood run thin. He's only had this feeling a few times, he was going to throw up and pass out at the same time. You noticed his completion pale, worrying you, grabbing a glass and filling it with your last bottle of water. Rushing to his side and calling his name.

Simon was so far away; he was in the middle of the raging ocean. The waves crashing over him, pulling him deeper under every unforgiving wave. Lungs full of burning salt water, gasping with arms stretched to the sky.

You could do the only thing you could think of you climbed into his lap. Curling yourself around him, rubbing your scent glad over his nose and mouth.

[mtb-tv]

Sleepers Were Never Meant For Labor

Sleepers can't be THAT efficient. Not more efficient than regular robots on factory lines or more advanced futuristic drones. They're practically a money pit, if you ask me. 1 out of 10 Sleepers escape...lets say every year. Given the intuited size of Essen-Arp and all its locations (factories, mining colonies, refineries) where Sleepers are working...let's be charitable and say that two-hundred Sleepers escape every year. These Sleepers would also take Stabilizer with them, or find a way to source it on the outside, so that's stock of Stabilizer going missing and out of Essen-Arp's hands. Not only that, but then they have to spend more resources sending Hunters down after them. Essen-Arp created a whole new class of Sleepers just to perform as Hunters and nothing else.

Now consider this - during Sabine's questline in Citizen Sleeper 1, what do we learn what Essen-Arp is most known for? Bionics. Bio-synthetic medicines, and other such augments. That's what they copyright, that's what they produce and develop, that's their main export, THEIR market share. Why would they get into the business of Slavery all the sudden with a fledgling android program in the form of Sleepers?

I think Essen-Arp has a larger end goal here, they're working toward a...Final Solution, if you'll pardon the comparison.

Are you perhaps familiar with Warhammer 40k's Adeptus Mechanicus? The "Machine Cult" as they're often referred to. You don't need to know the specifics, but they're fanatical transhumanists who aspire to the "purity of the blessed Machine" they worship a Machine God, and its prophet called the "Omnissiah". They forsake their flesh with reckless abandon, replacing parts with superior augmetics.

Now consider: Sleeper frames are objectively superior to human bodies. Even with their "planned obsolescence" and constant degradation. That's just a prototype, it'll be patched out in later models. Sleeper frames can go days without eating a damn thing. They don't need to breathe. They're immune to disease. They need no water. They produce no waste. They can work in extreme and hostile environments that humans would need extensive protection to even go into. They can interface with machines in precise and unique ways. Multiple characters remark throughout both games that Sleepers can work longer and harder than humans with a more consistent output, and these are just Sleepers who have been on the run. Who have been running on fumes and spite for their creators; Imagine what a Sleeper in its prime could accomplish...

Sleeper technology is in its infancy. Unable to be fully exploited for its full worth. All the Sleepers that exist in the setting today are prototypes, test subjects, control units. There are legions of Essen-Arp scientists and engineers observing them, testing them constantly logging data, tweaking formulas, adjusting designs for the eventual Perfect Sleeper so that only the most wealthy and powerful could upload their minds into, and become Gods in the Machine

Anyway, theory over

[townpostin]

Tata Steel Invites Applications for Aspiring Engineer Program

Special Recruitment Drive for Women; Selected Candidates to Receive Engineering Training. Tata Steel has announced the invitation of applications for its Aspiring Engineer Program, with a special focus on women candidates. JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel is inviting applications for its Aspiring Engineer Program, a unique initiative aimed at providing engineering training to selected candidates. This…

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operates on a core underlying assumption: The United States should be run like a startup. So far, that has mostly meant chaotic firings and an eagerness to steamroll regulations. But no pitch deck in 2025 is complete without an overdose of artificial intelligence, and DOGE is no different.

AI itself doesn’t reflexively deserve pitchforks. It has genuine uses and can create genuine efficiencies. It is not inherently untoward to introduce AI into a workflow, especially if you’re aware of and able to manage around its limitations. It’s not clear, though, that DOGE has embraced any of that nuance. If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail; if you have the most access to the most sensitive data in the country, everything looks like an input.

Wherever DOGE has gone, AI has been in tow. Given the opacity of the organization, a lot remains unknown about how exactly it’s being used and where. But two revelations this week show just how extensive—and potentially misguided—DOGE’s AI aspirations are.

At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a college undergrad has been tasked with using AI to find where HUD regulations may go beyond the strictest interpretation of underlying laws. (Agencies have traditionally had broad interpretive authority when legislation is vague, although the Supreme Court recently shifted that power to the judicial branch.) This is a task that actually makes some sense for AI, which can synthesize information from large documents far faster than a human could. There’s some risk of hallucination—more specifically, of the model spitting out citations that do not in fact exist—but a human needs to approve these recommendations regardless. This is, on one level, what generative AI is actually pretty good at right now: doing tedious work in a systematic way.

There’s something pernicious, though, in asking an AI model to help dismantle the administrative state. (Beyond the fact of it; your mileage will vary there depending on whether you think low-income housing is a societal good or you’re more of a Not in Any Backyard type.) AI doesn’t actually “know” anything about regulations or whether or not they comport with the strictest possible reading of statutes, something that even highly experienced lawyers will disagree on. It needs to be fed a prompt detailing what to look for, which means you can not only work the refs but write the rulebook for them. It is also exceptionally eager to please, to the point that it will confidently make stuff up rather than decline to respond.

If nothing else, it’s the shortest path to a maximalist gutting of a major agency’s authority, with the chance of scattered bullshit thrown in for good measure.

At least it’s an understandable use case. The same can’t be said for another AI effort associated with DOGE. As WIRED reported Friday, an early DOGE recruiter is once again looking for engineers, this time to “design benchmarks and deploy AI agents across live workflows in federal agencies.” His aim is to eliminate tens of thousands of government positions, replacing them with agentic AI and “freeing up” workers for ostensibly “higher impact” duties.

Here the issue is more clear-cut, even if you think the government should by and large be operated by robots. AI agents are still in the early stages; they’re not nearly cut out for this. They may not ever be. It’s like asking a toddler to operate heavy machinery.

DOGE didn’t introduce AI to the US government. In some cases, it has accelerated or revived AI programs that predate it. The General Services Administration had already been working on an internal chatbot for months; DOGE just put the deployment timeline on ludicrous speed. The Defense Department designed software to help automate reductions-in-force decades ago; DOGE engineers have updated AutoRIF for their own ends. (The Social Security Administration has recently introduced a pre-DOGE chatbot as well, which is worth a mention here if only to refer you to the regrettable training video.)

Even those preexisting projects, though, speak to the concerns around DOGE’s use of AI. The problem isn’t artificial intelligence in and of itself. It’s the full-throttle deployment in contexts where mistakes can have devastating consequences. It’s the lack of clarity around what data is being fed where and with what safeguards.

AI is neither a bogeyman nor a panacea. It’s good at some things and bad at others. But DOGE is using it as an imperfect means to destructive ends. It’s prompting its way toward a hollowed-out US government, essential functions of which will almost inevitably have to be assumed by—surprise!—connected Silicon Valley contractors.

[coochiequeens]

Good news for women

The training at Sapna Center has helped the women to come up with solutions for problems in their villages.

By Rishabh Jain Published On 31 Aug 2024

Kandabari, India – On a sunny morning in Kandabari village in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, a group of students is learning to code in a classroom.

Kriti Kumari, 19, is one of 31 women at the Sapna Center, which trains rural women from marginalised backgrounds and requires them to live on campus. The centre offers a yearlong training programme in which women are taught to code and design websites and learn project management and primary-school-level maths for aspiring teachers. The organisation helps others find jobs in India’s information technology sector.

“If not for the Sapna Center, I would have been married by now and doing household chores,” Kumari, a native of the central Indian state of Jharkhand who has been at the centre for four months, told Al Jazeera.

“My brother was against the idea of my studies, and we had financial problems at home. However, my father supported me and dropped me here,” Kumari told Al Jazeera.

The centre is run by Sajhe Sapne, a nonprofit that was started in 2020 by Surabhi Yadav, 32, an alumnus of the country’s premier engineering school, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi. It has graduated 90 students so far.

For young women like Kumari, coding and programming skills help gain access to India’s $250bn IT industry, which employs more than five million people and where 36 percent of the workforce is women.

An IT job is Kumari’s goal at the end of her course, she said, even though it’s not been an easy journey so far. She had never heard the term coding and initially had a hard time understanding the concept.

Yadav said language barriers are one of the reasons why women from rural areas might not excel in STEM courses.

See rest of article

[mody-1998]

Emergency: Help Evacuate My Family From GAZA WAR.

I'm mohammed from Gaza , from a family of 6 people: my parents, two sons, and two daughters.

The story of a resilient family searching for hope

In the heart of Gaza, there lived a simple family consisting of a father, mother and four children: Ahmed, the eldest son, a professional BMW mechanic who knew how to bring engines back to life with patience and mastery. Mohammed, the second brother, is an electronics and car programming technician, a technology lover and creative in his work.

As for Yusra, the eldest sister, she is a first-year university student, studying multimedia and aspiring to a bright future, while little Maryam is still in elementary school, dreaming of a future full of innocence and colors.

They ran a small workshop with their dedicated hands, a place full of vitality and passion. The workshop was their only source of income, and the title of their dream of a better future. They lived in love and harmony, defying the difficulties of life with the strength of their family and their passion for work.

But everything changed with the outbreak of the October War. The war struck their hearts before their homes. The house that embraced their dreams was destroyed, and the workshop that was their refuge and the center of their lives was under the rubble. They were forced to flee to the south, carrying with them painful memories and shattered hope.

Today, the family lives in simple tents, suffering from the harshness of life. Ahmed and Mohammed refuse to give up, and continue to work together on the sand with the simplest equipment, trying to fix cars to secure a living for their family. But their biggest dream has become beyond their reach, which is to travel to another country that will give them safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives anew.

We appeal to those with merciful hearts to stand by this struggling family, who are only asking for a chance at a decent life. They need your support to travel to a safe country, where they can build a new workshop and continue their lives.

[estebanbicon]

nat...i mean i CAN believe it because it's fucking briatore and alpine...but truly what the fuck...

first of all this alleged gap to pierre. like obviously ALPINE would be complete dumbasses to openly discuss the qualifying gap that very conveniently overlapped with esteban joining haas/briatore officially being brought on board, the one that esteban couldn't even talk openly about according to canal+, the one that alpine refused to even try to fix...

but it begs the question...what gap ARE they talking about??? i swear they're actually trying to get people to think the points gap between the two at the end of the season started well before it actually did. like literally before brazil the points gap was 9-5 in favor of pierre and then from brazil to qatar the points difference was 26-23 in favor of pierre (and considering what happened in canada it should actually be a touch closer). that's literally...not a giant gap AT ALL? it's in fact a very normal gap??? this so-called gap they keep alluding to only enlarged in the last two races - qatar (where esteban was knocked out in the first corner) and abu dhabi (where esteban was forced to give up his seat). like what the actual fuck???

also if they want to give pierre exclusive credit for p6 in the constructor's, why don't they just take out esteban's points from the total tally and see where that leaves them in the constructor's battle...

like it's literally basic math that these fuckers seem to refuse to do time and time again when they accuse esteban of SaBoTaGiNg them in the p6 battle...how the fuck do you think you got into this battle for p6 in the first place???

also knowing that esteban was literally a part of lotus/renault/alpine for HALF HIS LIFE flavio's "he's really OUR pilot" comment about pierre really rubs me the wrong way...

as SO MANY people have realized lately, esteban is alpine. he has been their most successful driver for the past decade. so to put that comment in about a red bull academy driver was just yet another targeted barb at esteban...it's just such nasty behavior to say the least.

not to mention that coupled with flavio's fuckass and completely unnecessary comments about nationality...i can't help but agree with you about they're feeding into the racist narrative of esteban not really being french because of his algerian heritage...and that "OUR driver" is absolutely part of that imo

couldn't have said it any better! he gave alpine the best result every single year, three podiums and a win, he helped with a program for aspiring engineers, interacted with racing pride and alpine's collaboration, had a helmet with names of alpine employees, and of course the other thank you helmet for the last race, expressing grief that he cannot say goodbye to people at the factory, alpine workers actively seeking him out to take a pic together,,,,,

este was never the problem. the team is rotten, has been from the start and it just has gotten deeper over the years.

making gasly the face of alpine - along with commentators even at the beginning of 2023 claiming that gasly would lead a team este has been in for three years - just screams racism to me. they were matched in so many ways, yet everyone seeemed to pick gasly over este, which always seemed odd to me, but now it is just even more insidous since they damaged his reputation yet again.

i wanna burn the alpine hq to the ground and put briatore's head on a stake.

[stargazer-sims]

ZM² Dream Homes Ltd.

The Omar family owns their own residential design and construction business, and they love helping other families create the homes of their dreams. Meet architect Zahir, his interior designer wife Zainah, and their sons, journeyman carpenter Mahdi (Junior) and aspiring structural engineer Mohammad.

Junior (21) did two years in college to learn his trade, and after graduating from his college program he was apprenticed to the company's building supervisor until he earned his journeyman qualification. Now, he's working toward his Red Seal and his designation as a master carpenter.

Mo (18) is still in high school, but he's heading into his final year. After that, he's planning to go to university to study engineering. He's been working with the company for the past couple of summers, and he plans to keep doing that while he's in uni.

Zahir's and Zainah's families have known each other since before Zahir and Zainah were born. Both of them are survivors of disastrous first marriages and weren't sure at first when their parents suggested they should think about marrying each other, but years later, they're happy they decided to take the risk.

[redfacedpalindrome]

i think it's so cool that you're a biology researcher! if i may ask, how did you find yourself in that path and how did you know you wanted to go to med school? i'm not in college yet but i've been considering the possibility of clinical practice in the future but i am not too sure 🥹

hi!! omg that's so exciting i remember trying to figure it out as well. this is LONG because i have a lot of advice so i am vv sorry in advance!

so i spent most of my time in high school thinking i was going to be an engineer. i'm talking 4 courses of physics, multivariable calculus and self-taught diffEq, statistics, more calculus, two years of computer science, and I did a physics program at Fermi Lab. I was always interested in biology and medicine though, so in my head the best overlap was going to be biomedical engineering.

but when i started actually applying to biomedical engineering programs, i started to realize that if i went into bme, i'd end up just inches away from the job i actually wanted. like, i'd be developing the tools but i wanted to be at the physician-patient interface. and that kind of made up my mind for me, that i at least wanted to try to be in medicine.

so i hail mary'd and i applied to a direct-med program-

(sidebar, i don't actually know if this has come up so much as it has been sign-posted by my linguistic preferences but i'm american and studying medicine in america is one triple mega xl shitshow. in a direct-med program, rather than applying to undergrad, finishing, maybe taking gap years to build a cv?, and applying out to medical schools, then residency + fellowship which is a grand total of like 1 trillion years, you apply to med school and undergrad at the end of high school and then you kinda have a conditional admission to med school as long as you complete the pre-med requirements and it shortens the process to a conservative 0.8 trillion years.)

i've done an unfortunate job here of making this process seem horrible, but i will say two things: this process is long and difficult. you know what the interesting thing is though? life is usually both long and difficult. there are easier ways to make money, there will always be easier ways to make money – but if you love medicine and you love biology, the fulfillment you will have practically every day as you make your way through this process outweighs everything. i have spent twelve hour days in lab, come in on weekends, left at ungodly late hours all for minimum wage and felt blinding satisfaction that is rare to find in a lot of roles. and i've heard similar things from a lot of my friends. i will never pretend it's easy, but something being hard doesn't make it not FUN.

-and i got in! even then, i wasn't sure if locking myself into a med program was the best idea since literally months before that i was so committed to engineering. but i knew that if i put myself into that program, i would come out the other end a physician and i wouldn't regret it. and honestly, i'm extremely grateful for this because it surrounded me with a cohort of peers who all delusionally committed to medicine at the age of 17. they're the best :) and they were the biggest influences on my love for my intended career.

if you're from literally any other country (most do medical education differently), it will be a little bit of a different experience but i think broadly surrounding yourself with peers who can encourage you and inspire you to find ways to be fulfilled within the healthcare field and help you not second guess your decision is super important. i also think if you're interested in maybe being in clinical practice, taking a look at studying medical humanities (bioethics, medical sociology, health policy, the history of medicine) could also be an interesting exploration because it will get you in touch with both the art and science of medicine. the humanistic components are understudied by a lot of aspiring physicians but if you root your passions there i swear you never lose it.

when it comes to medical/biological science (and my now position as a vascular biology researcher), i started with bench science research in undergrad! i cold emailed a bunch of principal investigators to find if they had room for an undergraduate research assistant, and i found a lab that studies blood vessel growth and became insanely attached to the subject matter. i get to do a cool combination of hands-on science and data analysis, and they give me a lot of room to take charge of the project and present its findings.

i always thought i'd wanna do research 'curing' something, like research that specifically impacts a disease. my research, however, is basic science research – so i'm basically trying to figure out how a set of genes work and what they do because we don't know it yet! i never thought i'd fall in love with this project but i did! so my advice on research is to reach out to whoever you can, try to find good mentors, and keep on open mind. you never ever know what you'll end up with a passion for.

let me know if there are any other questions i can answer! but you're early in the process yet – you have a lot of time to explore :) i'm not sure all of this was actually useful advice cos the path i took was kind of a niche path, but i swear i can give better more applicable advice.

[thatsrightice]

Iceman, Slider, Cougar, and Goose wear rings that show they are graduates of the United States Naval Academy, supported by their dialogue in the film and the ornate rings they wear throughout the film. I know Goose is married, but that ring is far too large to be just a wedding band. (I promise this isn't an info dump... not like my others anyway)

The USNA is an undergraduate college that is a combination of academics and military development programs. Based on the current list of majors available at the United States Naval Academy, I think that Iceman, Slider, Cougar, and Goose likely would have chosen one of the following majors: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics, but they could have gotten a degree in something like English, Foreign Area Studies, Political Studies, History, etc. Again, these are based on the list of current majors offered, so take that with a grain of salt, but I still feel like it’s possible that a majority of these were offered in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

In my mind, I can see Iceman being a bit of an overachiever. He would major in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Political Science while playing on some Varsity sports team (he’s too cool not to be in). Maybe something like Lacrosse or Swimming and Diving, but regardless I can totally see Ice and Slider meeting by being in the same sport. And swimming definitely fits their vibes ngl. But also Slider could def be a true American football player and if Ice plays lacrosse (which is a spring sport) they could go to each other's games. I’m not sure if they had Men’s Club Volleyball when they would have attended like they do now, but I’m sure they would have made time to play when able. A lot of people headcanon Ice as being Russian, which makes sense because his last name is Russian in origin, but regardless of that fact I feel like he would have participated in the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference. An excellent resume builder and an asset for an aspiring admiral, the NAFAC is a conference hosted by the USNA in which students from around the US come together to discuss a theme from current global affairs.