#Features of UPI

[suraudotco]

Inilah Sosok Syaiful Karim, Dinilai Menyimpang MUI Karena Salah Fatal Tafsiri Surat Al-Qariah

SURAU.CO – Debat publik mengenai sosok Syaiful Karim, dosen fisika yang juga aktif sebagai pendakwah, mencapai titik didih baru. Fokus utamanya adalah ceramahnya yang viral mengenai Surah Al-Qari’ah, di mana interpretasinya dianggap melenceng jauh dari pemahaman mayoritas ulama. Kontroversi ini bukan lagi sekadar perbincangan di media sosial, melainkan telah mengundang respons tegas dari…

[dailyfinancial]

Say Goodbye to Long Waits: EPFO 3.0 Promises Instant Access to Your Money

” Everything about EPFO 3.0, the latest update enabling ATM withdrawals of PF funds. Learn about its features, benefits, challenges, and how it transforms provident fund management. Stay informed with the latest data and SEO insights on EPFO 3.0 rollout, AI tools, UPI integration, and more! “ The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch its latest version, EPFO 3.0, which…

[martin-james2121]

Navigating the Digital Frontier: Protecting Yourself from UPI Scams

As we increasingly embrace the convenience of digital transactions, the prevalence of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) scams has risen as well. UPI, a revolutionary system that enables instant money transfers between banks through mobile devices, has become a target for fraudsters looking to exploit unsuspecting users. 

While UPI technology has revolutionized the way we conduct financial transactions, it’s essential to remain attentive in the face of evolving scam tactics. By adopting a proactive approach, staying informed, and following the recommended safety measures, you can protect yourself from falling victim to UPI scams.

Check out these details to understand the common tactics used by scammers and crucial tips to ensure safety.  

Understanding UPI Scams

1. Phishing Attacks

One of the most common tactics used by fraudsters is phishing. In a UPI phishing scam, users receive fake messages or emails that appear to be from their bank or a trusted service provider. These messages often contain malicious links that, when clicked, lead to fraudulent websites designed to capture sensitive information such as login credentials or OTPs (One-Time Passwords).

To Read More Click here...

[beardedmrbean]

May 21 (UPI) -- Activists, officials and defectors highlighted North Korean human rights violations at a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, with many directly tying Pyongyang's systemic abuses to its growing nuclear weapons and missile programs.

The meeting on the North's human rights violations, the first of its kind held at the General Assembly, featured testimonies by two escapees who shared harrowing stories of oppression and implored the world to hold North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accountable.

"Silence is complicity," said Kim Eun-joo, who was 11 years old when she fled with her mother and sister in 1999 to escape starvation in rural North Korea.

After crossing the Tumen River into China, Kim and her family faced years of human trafficking before finally making it to South Korea.

She pointed to North Korea's military cooperation with Russia, particularly its deployment of troops to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine, as a "new kind of modern-day slavery."

"[The soldiers] have no idea where they are, whom they are fighting against or why," she said. "Their lives have become a means for the Kim Jong Un regime to make money."

Pyongyang has deployed around 15,000 troops to Russia, Seoul's spy agency said last month. Some 600 of the soldiers have been killed and another 4,100 injured, the National Intelligence Service told lawmakers in a briefing.

Seoul and Washington also accused North Korea of supplying artillery and missiles to Russia. In exchange, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving much-needed financial support and advanced military technology for its own weapons programs.

Participants in the U.N. meeting highlighted the close link between North Korea's human rights abuses and the regime's growing arsenal.

"The regime preserves itself through producing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles," Greg Scarlatoiu, president and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, said.

"North Korea is no longer just a Korean Peninsula threat. The DPRK is no longer just a Northeast Asian threat," Scarlatoiu said.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

"The DPRK is exporting instability to the Middle East and to Europe," Scarlatoiu said. "And the root cause of this is the human rights violations that the DPRK perpetrates."

North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song condemned the meeting, calling it a "burlesque of intrigue and fabrication" staged by "hostile forces" including the United States.

Kim also slammed the invitation of the North Korean escapees, calling them "the scum of the earth who don't even care about their parents and families."

Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, told the General Assembly that North Korea has diverted resources toward militarization at the expense of human rights and basic necessities such as food, healthcare and sanitation.

"As the DPRK expands its extreme militarization policies, it exacerbates the extensive reliance on forced labor and quota systems, showing how peace, security and human rights are strongly interrelated," Salmon said.

She added that North Korea's border closures at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 worsened its human rights situation, as Pyongyang used the isolation to enact brutal new laws restricting access to information from the outside world.

A 2014 landmark U.N. Commission of Inquiry report documented North Korean crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, execution, deliberate starvation and forced labor, that were "without parallel in the contemporary world."

South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Hwang Joon-kook echoed calls to more closely tie North Korea's human rights violations to its nuclear ambitions, which he said were "deeply interconnected."

"For far too long the DPRK's human rights violations have been overshadowed by its nuclear threats," he said. "Their nuclear program is sustained by systemic repression, forced labor, diverted national resources and total control of its people."

Hwang called North Korea "a real-life version of George Orwell's novel 1984."

"However, the DPRK's horrendous crimes do not stop at the border," he said. "If human rights violations are stopped, nuclear weapons development will also stop."

[elvis1970s]

Fairytale, a Pointer Sisters cover, was recorded by Elvis in early 1975 and featured as an album track on Today, released in May of that year. It would remain in the live set right up to the end. This joyous version was captured in a good quality audience recording during Elvis' dinner show in Las Vegas on August 20th, 1975. He's in such great form that it's actually quite hard to believe that following the second show that night, the engagement would be abruptly cancelled (just three nights in) and Elvis would be flown back to Memphis and admitted to hospital.

United Press international (UPI) issued a syndicated report on the sudden cancellation;

“…He just got very tired and fatigued and we thought it would be best if he cut his show here short this time rather than run into complications," said Dr. Elias Ghanem, the singer's Las Vegas physician. "We can't find much wrong with him. One of the liver enzymes is elevated and what he needs is rest…”

Dr Ghanem (1939-2001) enjoyed an enviable lifestyle from his business activities and from billing a number of wealthy and undoubtedly generous Las Vegas entertainers for treatment of, amongst other things, ‘Vegas Throat’ – raspy soreness caused by a combination of the dry desert air and the air-conditioning (and passive smoking) within the hotels and casinos. He was also a proponent of the sleep diet; a regimen of weight loss that appeared to involve the patient being sedated for much of the time and consuming liquid nutrition during rare moments of consciousness. Elvis himself had availed himself of this regime on at least one occasion.

The Irish Times wrote an obituary for Dr Ghanem upon his death from renal cancer in 2001.

“…He was Elvis Presley's personal physician, as well as the doctor for Elvis's posthumous son-in-law Michael Jackson. Although his patient list also included Liberace, Bill Cosby, Ann-Margret, and Virginia Kelley (the mother of former President Bill Clinton), it was Ghanem's relationship with The King which first brought him under the spotlight of unwanted notoriety. When ABC's television programme '20-20' reported that he had supplied the drugs which essentially killed Presley, Dr Ghanem threatened to sue - but he never did…”

The article also noted that Ghanem had been the subject of an FBI investigation over billing, but never charged, and that Colonel Parker had a financial interest in Ghanem's clinic situated conveniently adjacent to the Las Vegas Hilton.

"...Ghanem expanded his practice to include a chain of clinics around Las Vegas, treating literally thousands of patients. He proposed innovative umbrella health-insurance schemes long before they came into vogue, and signed contracts with the Hotel and Casino Workers' Union, by far the largest group of workers in Nevada. The arrangement was obviously a profitable one for Ghanem, but union leader John Wilhelm, recalled that during a protracted six-year strike at the Frontier Casino, Ghanem treated every worker free of charge and delivered over a hundred babies for the striking workers..."

Following the cancellation, Elvis was flown back to Memphis where he was admitted to a private suite on the top floor of Baptist Memorial Hospital. His next professional engagement was back in Las Vegas in December making up for the cancelled shows.

[ohbo-ohno]

https://www.tumblr.com/ohbo-ohno/734938193886085120/hithis-is-my-first-ask-so-sorry-if-i-fuck-upi

oh oh Oh you just know that Simon and Johnny make blind reader touch them everywhere so she can “see” what they look like

she's shaky and scared, can hardly feel their features with the way her fingers are trembling, and ghost and soap have to guide her with tight grips on her wrists :( praising her and cooing, asking her to describe them as she goes :(

[snorky]

Hiiii! Could you write something for Ukko Pekka Luukkonen? Any type of story is fine! Thank you!!!

As We Grow, So Does Our Comfort

Hey y’all, and hiiii to the lovely requester! I decided to write a platonic, domestic, Upie fic because life isn’t all about romance, as fun as it is, but I appreciate the gentleness of soft friendships. I hope you all are doing lovely, wonderful, and amazing, and I hope you all enjoy this fic, and remember to take care of yourself!

Pairing: Platonic!Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen x GN!Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: None :) 

—

—

A gentle tip-tap and pitter-patter of the rain sang quietly against the window as they stood outside, hood pulled over their head to shelter them from the harsh Buffalo elements. Usually, the weather wouldn’t be this dreary, but the mix of spring and summer seemed to dance together like an innocent soul and the devil.

Their eyes scanned the road, hands fiddling with their sweatshirt sleeves as they waited for their new roommate to arrive, and hopefully, within the next few minutes. Why they couldn’t have waited inside was something they didn’t think of, but they justified it as wanting to help their roommate move and settle in smoothly.

Shortly after, the sound of a car could be heard pulling up to the curb, and the familiar blond hair and gentle features of their roommate could be seen as he stepped out of the car.

“Who are you waiting for out here?” he asked, voice baritone and laced with a slight accent, eyes searching the street for another person. “You’re going to catch a cold.”

His Bills jersey was starting to become slightly drenched in the rain, the athletic material turning a deeper shade of blue. In his hands, he held two duffel bags, with one they assumed he had his necessities, and the other, a much larger bag, hockey gear.

“Waiting for you, Ukko,” they simply stated. “Anything you need me to bring in?”

He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “That’s nice and very welcoming of you, but it’s just a few boxes. Nothing I can’t handle.”

Smiling softly, they motioned for him to follow them into their now, shared apartment, out and away from the relentless, yet comforting rain.

As the door to their apartment opened, the cozy interior welcomed the both of them, a couch with a soft throw blanket and pillows, the hum of a record player, and a dim-lit candle on the kitchen counter. 

The scent of warm chocolate chip cookies that were baking in the oven filled the air, causing him to realize that it had been a while since he last ate.

Setting the bags down against the wall in the main hall, he walked into the kitchen, looking into the oven. “You’re making cookies?”

“Yep, thought it would be a nice little welcome treat,”

He looked at them and smiled, already seeming to warm up to the atmosphere of the house, as well as their presence. “That’s lovely of you, I’ll enjoy a cookie later if that’s alright with you.” Turning around, he made his way to the entrance door, looking back at them for a brief moment. “I’m going to bring in the rest of my boxes, so I’m sorry if the knocking is going to make you sick and tired,” he laughed.

“Do you need any help?” they offered, following his steps to the door.

Shaking his head, he smiled at them, declining their offer. “I’m okay, I can handle it.”

He walked out of the apartment, down the creaky stairs and out to his car, grabbing a box from his backseat, and brought it back inside.

Meanwhile, they stood in the other bedroom of their apartment, walls blank, furniture vacant. They felt a little bad that they couldn’t have provided him with at least a bed or dresser, but they were trying to make ends meet at the moment, which is also why they sought out a roommate.

“Where do I put my stuff?” His voice snapped them back to reality, their head turning to face him, where they saw him standing there, holding one of his boxes.

Stepping aside, they loosely motioned to the empty space in the room. “Anywhere in here is okay—or anywhere in the apartment actually—make yourself feel welcome,” they shrugged. “I’ll bring in your other two bags from the hall if that’s okay?”

“You’re a generous and thoughtful person you know?” he replied with a slight chuckle. “Go ahead,”

They grabbed both of his bags that sat on the floor in the hallway, which were heavier than expected since he made it look so easy to carry. 

The bags dropped to the ground with a slight thud, and they cringed internally, hoping that nothing was broken.

“Crap, sorry!” they apologized, an embarrassed flush covering their face.

He looked at them, eyes sweet and forgiving, “It’s alright, probably just my skates,” he assumed.

Evening came by, and the sun was starting to set, the apartment dimming slightly. He had already sorted and unpacked all of his belongings, starting to make himself at home as he took a bite out of the chocolate chip cookie while leaning against the counter.

“These are really good, like as good as they smelled when I first walked in here,” he said, carefully wiping the crumbs off of his face.

They felt a sense of pride fill them, a smile beaming at his approval of their baking skills, which they had previously assumed were quite rusty since they only ever baked for special occasions. “I’m really glad to hear that,” they laughed lightly.

Enjoying the cookies together in a comfortable silence under the dim kitchen lighting, candle on the counter extinguished, they had already started to wind down, preparing for their own individual nightly routines. 

Falling into easy conversation, they continued to talk despite the cookies on the plate being all finished.

“Do you know any good restaurants in this area?” he questioned, following up with, “I’ve been around Buffalo and Rochester, but never around this area surprisingly,”

They sat there, across the counter from him, deep in thought. Not eating out often led to a not surprising consequence of not knowing much about the local area, despite having been around for quite some time. 

“I don’t—I don’t really know,” they admitted bashfully. “One day I’ll go out exploring and let you know what the best spots are.”

He smiled, hoping to start off his new chapter with a more bold approach. “One day, we’ll find a perfect spot that will be our go-to,”

It was strangely personal, yet comforting, hearing the “we” and “our” just settled into his words like that, but they smiled nonetheless, accepting this as a new start for them as well. 

As time passed, the shared apartment between the both of them felt more like home, less division and separation, and more co-existence, his stuff and theirs littered around each room, the foods in the fridge accommodating their different lifestyles, and even the furniture had their own say in terms of decoration. His Sabres hoodie was hung on the back of a chair, their books scattered on the coffee table, it was a comforting sight for the both of them when they returned from work.

“Welcome home, I got some alfredo cooking on the stove, if you want some,” he called out from the kitchen.

A wave of relief washed over them, their muscles easing from the tension it previously held as they hung their work bag up on a hook that Ukko had installed in the hallway a week or two ago. They walked into the kitchen, noticing the savory aroma of the food that he was cooking, which made them realize how hungry they actually were. 

Seeing him stand there in the kitchen over the stove top, stirring the sauce in a pan with a glow around his head like a halo from the kitchen light, they realized how really domestic and homey it felt for the both of them, as if they’ve known each other for years. 

“You okay? You’ve been staring at me like I messed up your recipe,” he chuckled.

“Oh—” Laughing, they shook their head. “No it’s not that, I’ve just been really hungry all day, and I just appreciate you cooking something up for us,”

Looking over his shoulder, he smiled warmly at them, “It’s no biggie,”

When the food was done, they helped him out with plating the bread and fettuccine alfredo, placing it down on the dinner table. They both sat down and ate in peaceful silence, enjoying the warming comfort food, savoring each bite and taste.

After they finished their food, they started to help him with the dishes, cleaning up the plates and silverware, as well as the pan and pot used to make the dish itself. It was a task they didn’t mind at all, finding it quite relaxing even as the warm water rushed over their hands.

Ukko’s head perked up at the sound of the dishes being washed, and felt guilty about them doing the dishes for him. “You don’t have to clean my messes up!” he panicked.

“I know that, silly,” they lightly sighed. “But I want to, since you made the food.”

Silence was between them for a brief moment. “That’s why I wanted to do the dishes,” he reasoned.

“I’ll let you do them next time, Ukko, promise.”

He got up from the table, having finished his plate, and walked over to the sink where they were standing, setting the plate down on the counter. They looked over at him, reaching out to grab the plate, but he pulled it away before they could get it.

An offended look appeared on their face, causing him to let out a laugh. “I thought you said I could wash them next?”

“No, Ukko,” they chuckled. “Like, the next time we eat. Now hand over the dishes and silverware,”

He reluctantly slid the plate and utensils over, allowing them to rinse it off with water before scrubbing with soap. “Only if I can wipe off the counter and table.” His hand grabbed a rag, running it under water for a brief moment before starting to wipe down the counter. “How was work?”

“It was okay, same as usual,” they responded. “How was practice?”

“Good.” He moved over to the table, starting to wipe the surface. “Stopped a good amount of pucks during scrimmage. I also had a nice workout to help with strength training and stuff,”

“Oh? That’s good to hear. It’s always smart to make sure your body is in good condition before doing the splits in full goalie gear y'know?”

He laughed at their words, bringing the towel back to the counter. “I appreciate the compliment on my skills.” Grabbing a drink out of the fridge, he turned to face them before taking a sip. “Can I tell you something? It might seem a little silly,”

“Go ahead,” they said, turning around to face him. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to say that I appreciate the little things here, I’m really glad I moved in with you.” His confession was not surprising, with them noticing his small smiles whenever they hung out or talked about the more mundane things in life. “And I also want to add that, I appreciate everything you do around here, it keeps the place running while I’m away,” he chuckled.

Their heart warmed at his gentle words, their actions being validated and effort noticed. “It’s nothing big, Upie, it’s a cooperative thing, we’re both trying our best,” they smiled.

[upismediacenter]

FEATURE: The “Love” in Revolution: To Love is To Want a Better World

“Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth. Only love can give us the strength to go forward in the midst of heartbreak and misery. Only love can give us the power to reconcile, to redeem, the power to renew weary spirits and save lost souls. The transformative power of love is the foundation of all meaningful social change. Without love our lives are without meaning. Love is the heart of the matter. When all else has fallen away, love sustains.”

— bell hooks

When we think of activism, we first think of the fight—the placards in red, the sea of people in rallies, and the violence that occurs when resistance starts. Truthfully, this has always been the way social change is achieved. Our generation has been more participant in activism, mainly due to the pandemic redirecting our attention online which led to increased exposure to movements and campaigns. To many, the lockdown was one of the key points that helped spark this will for social change (Asani & Juan, 2022). However, due to the fickleness of the internet and online discourse, it is crucial that we have a strong guiding foundation for what we stand for. Although online spaces have been a valuable source of information for social justice and politics—online activism is difficult to navigate due to its reactionary nature.  Internet discourse only serves to distract us by sensationalizing the performance of activism—giving us the illusion of change and progress. Anger rises much more than our compassion for each other, which ultimately distracts us from our goal: to be free, to liberate ourselves and each other. Not only that, as time passes and social justice becomes more and more immediate, we seem to forget the roots of our desire to change the world—we keep so much of our attention on those who oppress us that, in a way, we lose our sense of community and collectivism. 

If we empower our principles and motivations for change, we can avoid straying from what we are fighting for. To do this, we must look within ourselves—to go back to our core values.

You might already be familiar, but love is part of our school’s core values, along with truth, peace, justice, and freedom. Although, if we look closer, we will see that they are not necessarily independent of each other. In fact, these values are all interconnected, with love clearly at its center. UPIS has always expressed the importance of participating in social causes whether through our curriculum or events. Our school urges us to look at many different issues with these core values, but how about we hear from other important voices?

Come read further, and let us look at the various ways social critics and writers have proposed love as a solution to achieve a better world.

bell hooks (1952-2021)

bell hooks (stylized in lowercase) was an American author and social critic, best known for her writings and influence on intersectionality, race, and feminism—to name a few. The roots of her intellectual work came from her background as a Black woman experiencing segregation at its prime. Nevertheless, hooks credits the education she received in the segregated schools she studied in. To her, it cultivated her deep love for learning—the teachers who taught hooks were black women who she describes were “on a mission” to nurture their students’ intellect and transform them into thinkers and scholars. Eventually, this led to hooks’s career as a teacher and writer (Burke, 2024).

hooks’s works serve as an invaluable resource on love as a driving force for social change. One of her most famous and referenced works, All About Love: New Visions, is an intimate review about the ways love has cultivated itself in our lives while offering radical ways to think and act on love.

Love is an act of will:

“Love as ‘the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.’ Love is as love does. Love is an act of will–namely, both an intention and an action.”

– All About Love: New Visions

As hooks articulated above, our concern and eventual actions out of care for one another is love. By extension, the advocacies and movements we choose to participate in are caused by our love for our fellow human beings. Remember that practicing love as an act of will doesn’t have to be a massive gesture. It can just be offering a simple smile to a stranger you happen to meet eyes with, asking a teacher how their day was, or taking the time to read and learn about certain movements and global crises that are happening all over the world. That’s the thing about love—each effort, no matter how big or little, is an act of resistance.

Aside from this, hooks wrote an essay entitled “Love as the Practice of Freedom” which can be found in her book Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations, and it goes in-depth about how lovelessness is what keeps systems of oppression in power.

Love is a practice of freedom: 

“The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.” 

– Love as the Practice of Freedom

hooks clarifies that love is the first step we make when we move towards revolutionary acts. It is the flame that begins the first spark—and also the flame that keeps it alive. Love is a practice of freedom for it is not only the beginning of freedom, but by maintaining love, we begin to be conscious of the injustices around us—not only those that directly affect us, but also those that affect other people. We practice freedom through love because we start to collectively dream of a world that does not oppress us and other people. You are already doing this, just by reading this article  (thank you, by the way!), and even in other ways—by recognizing the oppression others are experiencing or just learning where someone is coming from. 

In the same essay, hook promotes an “ethic of love”, and emphasizes that love is an act of service—we center community in our lives and liberatory efforts:

“A love ethic emphasizes the importance of service to others.. Service strengthens our capacity to know compassion and deepens our insight. To serve another I cannot see them as an object, I must see their subjecthood.”

– Love as the Practice of Freedom

When we serve others, we start to see their humanness. We begin to see that they are individuals—with needs, with strengths and weaknesses, with hopes and dreams. We see all of what makes each other human—this is what fuels our compassion and eventual motivation to fight against injustice. 

James Baldwin (1924-1987)

James Baldwin was an African-American author and a founding voice of the civil rights movement in America. His novels, speeches, and essays have left a lasting impact on culture and civil rights discussions. 

In the short documentary, Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris, Baldwin—while being interviewed—says this most memorable quote:

“Love has never been a popular movement. And no one's ever wanted, really, to be free. The world is held together, really it is held together, by the love and the passion of a very few people. ”

– Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris [Film, dir. Terence Dixon]

Baldwin recognizes that the number of freedom fighters are only so little compared to how many people they fight for. Amidst hate, bigotry, and injustice, despite all odds, they have fought or have continued fighting for our liberty. This quote sticks with you, especially if you hear it in Baldwin’s despondent yet determined voice—truly if there were any explanation why freedom fighters endure, it would be because of the love and passion they have for the world and its people. 

Love is to hope:

"We've got to be as clear-headed about human beings as possible, because we are still each other's only hope." 

– A Rap on Race [Book, written by James Baldwin & Margaret Mead]

"I can't be a pessimist because I am alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So, I am forced to be an optimist. I am forced to believe that we can survive, whatever we must survive." 

 – I Am Not Your Negro [Film, dir. by Raoul Peck]

Each and every one of us has the capability to use the love we have within us to participate in social justice. The world doesn't have to be held by a few people—it could be you, your friend, your classmates, or the people you walked past today and yesterday. Baldwin emphasizes in the quotes above that we are personally responsible for having compassion for each other, and we have to hold on to hope because injustice relies so much on us to not be able to.

Virgilio Enriquez (1942-1994)

Virgilio Enriquez, also known as the father and founder of Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) defined Kapwa and Pakikipagkapwa—undying everyday terms in the Philippines.

Kapwa is the central value that Sikolohiyang Pilipino is constructed on, and is defined as a shared identity and inner self with others. Due to this sense of togetherness, there exists a moral obligation for us to treat each other with respect and dignity. This also refers to Pakikipagkapwa, in which we treat each other with empathy, compassion, and love due to our sense of shared identity.

Love is to have a shared self:

“Kapwa is a recognition of a shared identity, an inner self, shared with others. This Filipino linguistic unity of the self and the other is unique and unlike in most modern languages. Why? Because implied in such inclusiveness is the moral obligation to treat one another as equal fellow human beings. If we can do this – even starting in our own family or our circle of friends – we are on the way to practice peace. We are Kapwa People”

— Professor Virgilio Enriquez, On Kapwa

Kapwa is the way we practice peace and fellowship as Filipinos. As said by Enriquez—“even starting in our own family and friends”—even if you are too shy express love or kindness to someone you aren’t very close with, you can start out with those you are already familiar with. We are not necessarily individuals, much of our lives depend on the good will of others, this is what it means to have a shared self. Once you internalize this belief, your kindness will be sure to grow and you’ll be brave enough for it to reach a stranger. 

Love has always been the unspoken reason we continue to fight and try to survive. As we have learned from above—Love is an act of will, Love is a practice of freedom, Love is an act of service, Love is to hope, and Love is to have a shared self.  The thing that is great about love is that we already have it within us, we each have the capacity to participate in love-based justice. 

We all want the world to be a better place for us all. Somehow, we are convinced that it can only be achieved through force and violence. Despite all evidence, we struggle to hold the idea that the most radical acts are the most intimate and vulnerable ones. It’s the way bell hooks wrote relentlessly on how love and gentleness are what will save us despite experiencing the harshness of segregation and racism throughout her life, the soft urgency in James Baldwin’s voice whenever he is asked to speak about the state of the world, and how Virgilio Enriquez defined Kapwa—the phrase and mindset we always come back to during times of moral crisis.

As many social critics and writers try to tell us, love is the very heart of social transformation—our catalyst for a better world. A world which is held by not only a few—but every person who lives in it—with love.

//by Xia Mentes

References:

Asani K., Juan, F. (2022). Experiences of Online Activism amidst the Pandemic of Select Youth Organization Members in Metro Manila. 4th DLSU Research Congress. pp. 6. https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2022/paper_frs/3/

Baldwin, J., & Mead, Margaret. (1971). A Rap on Race. J. B. Lippincott Company.

Burke, B. (2004) ‘bell hooks on education’. The encyclopedia of pedagogy and informal education. http://www.infed.org/mobi/bell-hooks-on-education.htm

Dixon, T. (1970). Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris. [Film]. Solus Enterprises.

hooks, bell. (1999, December 22). All About Love: New Visions. Harper Collins.

hooks, bell. “Love as the Practice of Freedom”. Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations. Routledge. (1994). pp. 243-250.

hooks, bell. (2001, January 9). Salvation: Black People and Love. William Morrow Paperback.

Jenks, T. (2024, August 2). Where to start with: James Baldwin. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/02/where-to-start-with-james-baldwin

Lagdameo-Santillan, K. Roots of Filipino Humanism (1)”Kapwa”. Pressenza. https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/roots-of-filipino-humanism-1kapwa/#:~:text=Because%20implied%20in%20such%20inclusiveness,Enriquez%2C%20founder%20of%20Sikolohiyang%20Pilipino

Peck, R. (2016). I Am Not Your Negro. [Film]. Velvet Film.

[retropopcult]

Clearly trying to capitalize on the Willy Wonka craze (the movie had come out a year earlier), General Mills introduced "Mr. Wonderfull's Surprize" cereal in late 1972 in the test market of Buffalo, New York. It came in chocolate and vanilla flavors and boasted that it was the "only cereal with a creamy filling!" which featured corn puffs filled with, basically, frosting.

While it was a big hit with kids, it horrified parents, nutritionists and others who found it to be over the top with its sugar content, and the following article appeared in the New York Times in September 1973:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) —A group of nutritionists and consumer organizations criticized today a new cereal being test‐marketed by General Mills.

The critics called the cereal a sugar‐filled “junk food,” and urged the company to scrap it.

The product, called Mr. Wonderful's Surprise, is being sold so far only in Buffalo. It consists of about 30 per cent sugar and 14 per cent saturated fat, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a privately financed consumer group that hopes to get the product dropped before it gets out of Buffalo.

The cereal consists of hollow “puffs” with cream‐filled centers.

A General Mills spokesman, Graham Molitor, said, the attack was a case of “chasing ghosts with sledge hammers.”

Graham Molitor's colorful analogy aside, the popularity of the cereal simply meant the national launch would go forward; the cereal was available from coast to coast the following year. In apparent attempts to win over moms, the promo and marketing people at General Mills went to great lengths to portray the sugar bomb of a cereal as somehow nutritious or healthy, which was laughable and probably only made the controversy worse.

After continued protests, the company finally threw in the towel and pulled Mr Wonderfull from store shelves sometime in 1975.

[bennnharris]

What Is EV Charging Management Software?

Let’s get one thing out of the way EV charging isn’t just about plugging into a socket and walking away. Behind that simple user experience is a whole ecosystem that needs to run like a well-oiled (or should we say, well-charged) machine. That’s where EV charging management software steps in.

Think of it as the backend control room that powers everything from session tracking to billing, charger health, and even the queue at your nearest public station. Whether you’re managing a single station or hundreds across locations, this software is what keeps operations clean, trackable, and profitable.

Let’s break this down properly and make sense of what matters especially if you’re planning to get into the EV game with some business sense, not just shiny dashboards.

What is EV Charging Management Software, Really?

In simple words, EV Charging Management Software (CMS) is a centralized system that lets charging station owners, operators, and businesses manage, monitor, and monetize their EV charging infrastructure.

It does everything from:

Authorizing users and vehicles

Monitoring energy usage

Managing peak loads

Automating billing and invoicing

Handling remote diagnostics

And integrating with apps, wallets, and CRM tools

Without it, you'd be managing your EV chargers with spreadsheets, phone calls, and prayers.

Who Needs It?

If you're a fleet operator, public charging station owner, commercial building manager, or even a residential society exploring EV readiness this software isn't a luxury. It's survival gear.

And yes, government projects, retail malls, parking lots, and logistics parks are all getting in on it.

You want uptime, transparency, and ROI? You need a CMS that plays nice with your hardware and grows as your needs change.

What Problems Does It Solve?

Here’s where we skip the fluff and talk about real issues.

1. Energy Load Management

Uncontrolled EV charging can blow up your utility bill or trip the local transformer. CMS helps you control how much energy flows where and when without causing grid panic.

2. Charger Downtime

No operator wants to get that “your charger isn’t working” call at 2 AM. A solid CMS alerts you before users complain. Remote diagnostics and health checks are baked in.

3. User Authentication & Payments

Want to let only subscribed users charge? Want to integrate UPI, cards, or in-app wallets? A proper CMS does all that without you writing a single line of code.

4. Revenue Leakage

Imagine running a business where you're not sure who paid, how much power was delivered, or how many sessions failed. A CMS gives you transaction-level visibility. No guessing games.

5. Scalability

Planning to go from 5 chargers to 50? From 1 location to 12 cities? Your CMS better be ready before your Excel sheet dies of stress.

Must-Have Features (Beyond Just “Dashboard Looks Cool”)

A good EV CMS isn't just eye candy. Here's what you should be checking for:

OCPP Compliance: Plays well with most hardware brands

Dynamic Load Balancing: Keeps your power use smart and optimized

Real-time Monitoring: Know what’s happening where, second by second

Custom Pricing Models: Per minute, per kWh, time-of-day rates you control the game

Fleet & Group Management: Especially if you're running EV fleets or shared chargers

User Access Control: Set roles, permissions, and access levels

White-label Option: Your brand, your logo, your rules

So, Who’s Doing It Right?

There are plenty of software platforms out there that’ll promise the moon until you actually plug them in. But a few players are doing it with serious focus on customization, clean architecture, and real customer support.

Stellen Infotech: Quietly Building the Backbone for EV Ops

While most are busy chasing investor buzzwords, Stellen Infotech is quietly building robust, scalable, and adaptable EV charging software solutions for businesses that actually need to function in the real world.

They’re not just slapping a UI on top of code and calling it a platform. Their stack includes features like:

Custom-built integrations for fleets

White-labeled dashboards

Load optimization modules

Billing and invoicing flexibility

API support for third-party logistics, CRMs, or payment apps

The vibe? Practical tech that doesn’t crash when you scale or cry when you run 100 sessions a day. You’ll notice they’re not trying to be the flashiest just the most dependable in the room. And that’s honestly what most businesses want when dealing with critical infrastructure.

Can’t I Just Build This Myself?

Sure, if you’re sitting on a dev team with grid logic, payment gateway knowledge, OCPP expertise, and UI chops. Otherwise, you’ll spend 18 months burning money, and still end up with something half-baked.

EV management is not just a software challenge it’s a compliance, connectivity, and customer experience challenge. You’re better off working with a team that already figured that out.

What About Hardware Compatibility?

The good ones like Stellen’s platform are built to support OCPP 1.6 and 2.0, meaning they work with a wide range of chargers. You’re not locked into one brand or vendor, which is great because EV hardware isn’t cheap and upgrading just for software issues is bad business.

Final Thoughts: Where This Is Headed

EV charging isn't a novelty anymore. With mandates, subsidies, and rising fuel prices, we’re going to see charging stations pop up like ATMs did in the 2000s. But here’s the thing the ones who’ll stay profitable aren’t the ones who bought the fanciest chargers. It’s the ones who run them smartly.

That’s where EV charging management software earns its keep.

Whether you’re just setting up or scaling across cities, having a solid CMS isn’t optional it’s your operational backbone. Platforms like what Stellen Infotech offers are making this easier for businesses that don’t want to get stuck figuring out load curves and session reports at 11 PM.

And honestly? That’s the kind of tech backbone more EV businesses need not another flashy dashboard with no substance.

[quickpay1]

Benefits of Fast Online Payments — Quick Pay

In today’s digital economy, fast online payments are no longer just a convenience—they are a necessity. From e-commerce stores to freelancers and service providers, everyone is shifting toward quicker, safer, and smarter payment solutions. Among the many options available, Quick Pay has emerged as a leading platform offering seamless online payment experiences for both businesses and customers.

If you're a business owner or entrepreneur looking to scale your operations and improve customer satisfaction, understanding the benefits of fast online payments is crucial. And when it comes to delivering these benefits efficiently, Quick Pay stands out with its cutting-edge features and reliable service.

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

The first and most obvious benefit of fast online payments is an improved customer experience. Today’s consumers expect instant transactions. A slow or complicated checkout process can lead to cart abandonment and loss of revenue.

With Quick Pay, customers can complete payments in just a few clicks. The user-friendly interface, minimal redirects, and fast processing ensure that your clients enjoy a hassle-free payment journey, increasing the chances of repeat business.

Quick Pay Advantage:

One-click checkout

Mobile-optimized experience

Multiple payment options: UPI, cards, wallets, net banking

2. Faster Cash Flow for Businesses

One of the major benefits of fast online payments is accelerated cash flow. Unlike traditional bank transfers that may take days, fast payment systems like Quick Pay ensure that your money reaches you quickly—often on the same day.

For small businesses and startups, this is a game-changer. You no longer have to wait endlessly for payments, allowing better cash management, investment in growth, and operational efficiency.

Quick Pay Benefit:

Same-day settlements (T+0 and T+1 options)

Instant payment notifications

Transparent tracking of incoming funds

3. Higher Conversion Rates

Online businesses thrive on conversion rates. A complicated or slow payment process can discourage potential customers right at the final step. By offering a quick and secure payment gateway like Quick Pay, businesses can increase their checkout success rate dramatically.

Speed combined with security builds trust and reduces the bounce rate.

Quick Pay Features That Help:

Secure payment environment (PCI DSS compliant)

Optimized checkout for mobile and desktop

Auto-fill and tokenized payments for returning users

4. Increased Trust and Credibility

When customers notice that your website or app uses a reputed and fast payment solution like Quick Pay, it instantly boosts your brand’s credibility. Shoppers feel more secure transacting on your platform, knowing that their personal and financial data is in safe hands.

This trust translates into higher engagement, more referrals, and long-term brand loyalty.

Quick Pay Security Standards:

End-to-end encryption

Two-factor authentication

Fraud detection and chargeback control

5. Support for Recurring Payments

Many businesses today rely on subscription models—whether it's digital services, SaaS platforms, or fitness memberships. A major benefit of fast online payments is the ability to automate recurring billing.

Quick Pay makes recurring payments smooth and effortless. Customers don’t need to re-enter their details every time, and businesses enjoy predictable revenue without delays.

With Quick Pay, You Get:

Automated recurring billing setup

Smart invoicing and reminders

Custom billing cycles

6. Lower Operational Costs

Handling cash or bank transfers manually involves time, risk, and additional staff. Online payments automate this entire process, reducing overhead costs. Quick Pay’s all-in-one dashboard helps manage your transactions, analytics, and customer data in one place.

Over time, businesses save money on labor, reconciliation, and administrative tasks.

Quick Pay’s Business Dashboard Offers:

Real-time transaction tracking

Sales reports and analytics

Easy refund and dispute management

7. Wider Customer Reach

Fast online payments open up a global customer base. Whether you're selling in your local city or shipping products across the world, a payment gateway like Quick Pay ensures that you never miss a sale due to geographical or banking limitations.

Quick Pay supports multi-currency payments and international cards, making it easier to scale your business globally.

Quick Pay Global Features:

Support for major global currencies

Acceptance of Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and more

Integration with international platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and others

8. Seamless Integrations with Online Platforms

The benefits of fast online payments are amplified when your payment gateway easily integrates with your website, mobile app, or POS system. Quick Pay offers ready-made plugins and robust APIs for smooth integration.

This reduces developer time, lowers setup costs, and gets you live faster.

Quick Pay Integration Highlights:

Easy plugins for WordPress, Shopify, Magento

Android/iOS SDKs for mobile apps

API documentation and 24/7 tech support

9. Better Customer Retention

A smooth payment experience not only helps you close a sale but also encourages customers to return. Fast refunds, saved payment options, and friendly interfaces make users feel valued.

Quick Pay includes customer retention features like:

Smart retry on failed transactions

Branded payment pages

Custom thank-you messages and emails

10. Real-Time Analytics and Insights

Understanding how your customers pay can guide better business decisions. Quick Pay’s powerful analytics tools offer deep insights into payment trends, user behavior, and settlement reports—all in real time.

This data can be used to optimize your marketing campaigns, identify high-value customers, and plan inventory.

What Quick Pay Analytics Offers:

Dashboard with payment trends and patterns

Conversion rate tracking

Refund and dispute summary

Why Choose Quick Pay?

When it comes to maximizing the benefits of fast online payments, Quick Pay checks all the boxes:

✅ Fast and secure transactions ✅ Same-day settlements ✅ Easy integrations ✅ Scalable for small to enterprise businesses ✅ Exceptional customer support

Whether you're a growing startup, a large enterprise, or a freelancer, Quick Pay empowers your business to accept payments quickly, securely, and with minimal friction.

Final Thoughts

The world is moving fast, and so should your payments. Embracing the benefits of fast online payments can revolutionize your business operations, boost customer satisfaction, and drive consistent revenue.

With its reliable technology, business-friendly features, and unmatched customer support, Quick Pay is the ideal partner for modern businesses looking to thrive in the digital age.

Ready to Get Started?

Visit www.usequickpay.com to create your free account and start accepting payments within minutes.

[d-criss-news]

Julie Andrews, Rita Ora join Dick Van Dyke 98th birthday special

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- CBS has announced a star-studded lineup for its Dick Van Dyke 98th birthday special. Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, a new special honoring and celebrating actor and performer Dick Van Dyke, will air Thursday at 9 p.m. EST on CBS and stream on Paramount+. ----------- The special will travel back in time to the iconic set of The Dick Van Dyke Show and feature music and dance spectacles, performances, special guests and a holiday number, along with songs and archival footage from Van Dyke's career. ----------- In addition, Julie Andrews, Judd Apatow, David Archuleta, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Stephen Colbert, David Copperfield, Darren Criss, Ted Danson, Roma Downey, Brad Garrett, Mark Hamill, Tony Hawk, Derek Hough, Ken Jeong, John Lithgow, Jenny McCarthy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Penn + Teller, Rob Reiner, Craig Robinson, Jane Seymour, William Shatner, Martin Short, Harry Shum Jr., Mary Steenburgen and Stanley Tucci will make appearances.

[beardedmrbean]

July 24 (UPI) -- Meta said Wednesday it removed tens of thousands accounts based in Nigeria in a crackdown on sextortion schemes stemming from the country.

The company said it took down 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria, including a smaller coordinated network of roughly 2,500 accounts linked to 20 people.

"Financial sextortion is a horrific crime that can have devastating consequences. Our teams have deep experience in fighting this crime and work closely with experts to recognize the tactics scammers use, understand how they evolve and develop effective ways to help stop them," Meta said.

Meta also removed Facebook accounts, Pages and Groups it said were run by Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized group of cybercriminals operating largely out of Nigeria. Those accounts are banned under Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy.

According to Meta those accounts were trying to "organize, recruit and train new scammers."

The removed Nigerian Instagram accounts targeted primarily adult men in the United States. Those accounts were identified using new technical signals Meta has developed to spot accounts engaging in sextortion.

Meta also removed approximately 7,200 Facebook assets, including 1,300 accounts, 200 Facebook pages and 5,700 Facebook Groups based in Nigeria that were allegedly providing tips for how to conduct sextortion scams.

"While these investigations and disruptions are critical, they're just one part of our approach," Meta's statement said. "We continue to support law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting these crimes, including by responding to valid legal requests for information and by alerting them when we become aware of someone at risk of imminent harm, in accordance with our terms of service and applicable law."

In April, two people in Nigeria were arrested and charged in the sexual extortion case of an Australian teen who died by suicide.

The boy took his own life after threats that intimate pictures he shared online with someone he thought was a female would be sent to family and friends.

The term sextortion refers to the act of getting victims to create and send sexually explicit material, then demanding money for not releasing that material.

Also in April, Meta tested new features to fight sextortion by automatically blurring nude images in Instagram by default on accounts for users younger than 18.

Meta said then that it had spent years working closely with experts to understand how scammers use sextortion to find and extort victims online.

[bigassbowlingballhead]

the fuck is a mubi

[yashvishah810]

Kotak 811 – A one-stop destination for all your banking needs.

Simplify your finances with Kotak811, the ultimate app for easy money transfers, UPI payments, and account management! With our feature-rich mobile banking app, you can enjoy quick and secure UPI transfers to any account, instantly check your account balance, view transaction history, and grow your savings account faster with High-Interest Fixed Deposits!

[xettle-technologies]

What are Payout Solutions and How Do They Simplify Business Payments?

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, businesses are constantly looking for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective ways to manage payments. Whether it’s paying employees, suppliers, or customers, seamless and error-free payment processes are critical for operational success. This is where payout solutions come into play. A payout solution is an advanced payment processing system that automates and simplifies bulk payments, ensuring businesses can send funds securely and quickly.

What are Payout Solutions?

Payout solutions refer to platforms or systems that enable businesses to distribute payments to multiple beneficiaries seamlessly and efficiently. These beneficiaries can include employees, vendors, freelancers, customers, or even stakeholders. By leveraging modern technology, payout solutions allow businesses to process bulk payments through a single interface, eliminating manual processes and reducing the chances of errors.

Payout solutions are particularly essential for businesses that deal with large volumes of transactions daily. Sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, gig economy platforms, and other industries rely heavily on streamlined payout systems to ensure their financial operations run smoothly.

For example, companies can use a payout solution to disburse salaries, refunds, commissions, incentives, or vendor payments at scale with minimal human intervention.

How Do Payout Solutions Work?

A payout solution works as a bridge between a business and its payment recipients. It integrates with the business’s financial system or software and streamlines the process of transferring funds. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how payout solutions operate:

Integration: The payout system integrates with the business’s existing financial software or banking platform to access required data, such as payment amounts and recipient details.

Bulk Upload: Businesses upload payment details, including beneficiary names, account information, and amounts, into the platform. This can often be done via a file upload or API integration.

Payment Processing: The payout solution processes the payments using multiple payment modes, such as bank transfers, UPI, NEFT, IMPS, wallets, or card-based systems.

Verification and Approval: Before releasing funds, the system verifies all recipient details to avoid errors or payment failures. Businesses can also set up approval workflows to ensure security and compliance.

Disbursement: Payments are disbursed instantly or as scheduled, depending on the system’s configuration and business requirements.

Notifications: Once payments are completed, recipients are notified via email, SMS, or other communication channels. Additionally, businesses receive confirmation reports to maintain records.

How Payout Solutions Simplify Business Payments

Payout solutions offer a variety of features that help businesses simplify their payment processes. Some of the key benefits include:

Automation of Payments One of the most significant advantages of payout solutions is automation. Businesses no longer need to process payments manually, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Automated solutions allow bulk payments to be processed quickly and accurately.

Multiple Payment Modes Modern payout systems provide businesses with flexibility by supporting various payment methods, including bank transfers, UPI, mobile wallets, and more. This ensures payments can be sent according to the preferences of recipients.

Real-Time Processing Traditional payment methods often involve delays, especially when dealing with bulk transactions. Payout solutions offer real-time or near-instant payment processing, ensuring recipients receive funds promptly.

Cost and Time Efficiency Manual payment processes require significant time and resources, leading to operational inefficiencies. By using a payout solution, businesses can reduce administrative costs and save valuable time that can be allocated to core operations.

Improved Accuracy and Security Errors in payment processing can cause delays, mistrust, and additional costs. Payout solutions use robust verification mechanisms to minimize errors and enhance security. Additionally, many systems comply with financial regulations, ensuring safe transactions.

Seamless Reconciliation Payout solutions simplify the reconciliation of payments by providing detailed transaction records and reports. Businesses can easily track completed, pending, or failed transactions, making financial management more transparent and organized.

Enhanced Customer and Vendor Experience Fast and error-free payments improve the overall experience for customers, vendors, and employees. For instance, e-commerce platforms can use payout systems to ensure quick refunds, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Payment Solution Providers and Their Role

Payment solution providers play a crucial role in the success of payout systems. These providers offer the technology and infrastructure needed for businesses to handle complex payment processes efficiently. By offering robust platforms, they enable organizations to send bulk payments with speed, accuracy, and security.

Companies like Xettle Technologies are leading players in the payout solutions ecosystem. They provide advanced payout platforms designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring streamlined payment operations and financial management. With such providers, businesses can focus on growth while leaving their payment challenges to trusted experts.

Key Industries Benefiting from Payout Solutions

Several industries rely heavily on payout solutions to manage their financial operations, including:

E-commerce: Automating refunds, vendor payments, and cashbacks.

Fintech: Handling instant disbursements for loans and digital wallets.

Gig Economy Platforms: Paying freelancers, contractors, and service providers seamlessly.

Insurance: Disbursing claim settlements quickly to enhance customer trust.

Corporate Sector: Managing salaries, incentives, and reimbursements.

Conclusion

Payout solutions have revolutionized the way businesses manage their financial transactions. By automating and simplifying payment processes, businesses can save time, reduce costs, and improve accuracy while ensuring recipients receive funds promptly. Whether it’s paying employees, vendors, or customers, payout solutions offer a scalable and secure way to handle bulk payments effortlessly.

As payment solution providers like Xettle Technologies continue to innovate, businesses can look forward to more efficient and seamless financial operations. For organizations aiming to streamline their payouts, adopting a reliable payout solution is a step toward achieving operational excellence and enhanced financial management.