#OFFSHORE CHALLENGES

[jamesxaviers23]

How to Hire Offshore Developers for Your Business in 2022

Offshore development trend is increasing at a rapid pace, especially in IT sector not only because it is cost-effective but one can hire the best group of talent from different parts of the world. Asia is known as a silicon valley in IT field because of its contribution on IT sector and majority of them work for countries like US, Australia and the European region.  But choosing the right partner is not an easy task as the employees are in different location and have different time zone, so it become difficult to evaluate them. Here is a checklist to look at when you hire an offshore developer

1 Project Details 2 Check Transperancy 3 Track Record of Company 4 Workflow of Organization 5 Management Tools

These were the basic overview that one has to look when the want to hire an offshore team, this post will give you detailed information that one has to look for when choosing an organization for offshore development, it will also guide you on all challenges that one face during the process and how to overcome them so there is a minimal disturbance in the project.

[trankock57]

7 Use Cases of AI in Accounting Transforming the Industry

AI is not a new kid around the block anymore and so is the case with AI in Accounting. But if you haven’t discovered the use cases of artificial intelligence accounting then you are missing a big time. AI integration has transformed the accounting industry. The profession involves many tedious tasks, which firms use to offload to offshore partners. Now, automation and AI has changed the game. Modern firms still partner with offshore partners, but they prefer offshore accounting partners who are familiar with implementing AI in accounting and invest in learning and development of employees equipping them with necessary AI Accounting functionalities. AI in accounting is changing the industry a big time. And to stay ahead of your competition, you need to get familiar of the capabilities that AI in Accounting holds. AI automates and enhances various accounting processes, boosting efficiency. Additionally, AI-powered document review platforms have improved accuracy and decision-making. Excited to learn how you can implement the exciting combination of AI and accounting in your accounting firm? Let’s dive in. Here are seven compelling use cases of AI in accounting: Regulatory Compliance Regulatory compliance is a critical aspect of accounting, ensuring that all financial activities adhere to relevant laws and regulations. AI technology revolutionizes this process in several ways: Continuous Monitoring: AI can continuously monitor transactions, automatically flagging any activity that deviates from compliance standards. This proactive approach prompts further investigation by human accountants, helping to prevent regulatory breaches before they become significant issues. offshore accounting services for accounting firms, : AI uses machine learning algorithms that are trained on vast datasets of financial regulations, accounting practices, and historical transaction data. These algorithms can help us to identify patterns and anomalies within financial data. By implementing AI in accounting, accounting firms can identify patterns or trends that might indicate non-compliance. This enables accountants to focus their efforts on areas of higher risk, ensuring that their time and resources are used most effectively. OCR with AI Invoices used to be a paper nightmare for accountants. But thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and optical character recognition (OCR), this tedious task is getting a major upgrade. OCR acts like a digital camera, capturing all the text and formatting on an invoice. Here's where AI steps in as the super-smart reader. accounting outsourced, interprets the scanned information, recognizing invoice numbers, dates, and amounts. AI also acts like a proofreader, catching any errors the scanner might have missed. The beauty of this duo is that they constantly learn and improve. Even if invoices have messy handwriting or unusual layouts, AI can often adapt. With each processed invoice, the AI-OCR team gets better at working together, leading to faster, more accurate invoice processing. This frees up valuable time of accountants to focus on other important tasks. 3. Cash Flow Forecasting Accountants use past financial data to identify patterns and project future cash flow. Collecting and analyzing this data takes time, but AI in accounting solves this problem. Automated Data Analysis: AI automates data gathering and analysis, saving accountants time and effort. Advanced Pattern Recognition: AI identifies complex patterns in historical data that humans might miss, leading to better forecasts. Real-Time Data Integration: AI incorporates real-time data like upcoming bills and inventory levels, giving a dynamic cash flow picture. Improved Accuracy: Combining historical data with real-time information, AI generates more accurate cash flow forecasts. 4. Tax Law Databases AI in accounting can constantly monitor vast databases of tax regulations and legislation. This eliminates the need for accountants to manually search for updates. Targeted Research with AI: Keyword recognition and filtering allow AI to pinpoint new tax regulations relevant to specific client industries or situations. This saves accountants significant time by focusing their research on the most impactful updates for their clients. Proactive Client Service with AI: AI can analyze the potential impact of new tax rules on different client scenarios. This empowers accountants to proactively advise clients about upcoming tax filings and prepare them for potential changes, fostering stronger client relationships. 5. Credit Scoring and Risk Assessment Assessing credit risk is a complex process that benefits greatly from AI's analytical capabilities: Comprehensive Analysis: AI can analyze a wide range of data points about a potential borrower, including credit history, income, and business performance, for a more comprehensive risk assessment. Machine Learning Models: AI uses machine learning algorithms to develop credit scoring models that continuously improve by analyzing past lending decisions. This leads to more accurate credit risk assessments and better lending decisions. 6. Faster Audit Preparation AI is transforming audit preparation. AI and Accounting, automates document collection and analysis using OCR technology, reducing manual effort and errors. AI can also flag potential compliance risks, ensuring adherence to regulations. By generating detailed transaction reports, AI streamlines communication with auditors. This translates to faster, more accurate preparation and reduced stress for accounting teams. 7. Expense Management Effective expense management is crucial for maintaining financial health. AI enhances this process by automating and improving accuracy: Automatic Categorization: AI can automatically categorize expenses based on pre-defined rules or by learning from past spending patterns, saving time and improving the accuracy of expense reporting. Fraud Detection: AI identifies unusual or suspicious spending by comparing expenses to historical data or flagging transactions that fall outside of normal parameters. This helps accountants detect potential fraud or errors promptly. By embracing AI, accounting firms can: Increase profitability: Reduced workload and improved accuracy lead to cost savings and efficiency gains. Enhance client satisfaction: Faster turnaround times and improved communication with clients through AI-powered insights. Gain a competitive edge: Stay ahead of the curve by adopting innovative AI solutions. While AI cannot replace the expertise of accountants, it acts as a valuable assistant. It keeps them informed, helps them analyze the trends, and allows them to focus on providing strategic tax advice to their clients. Keep on learning how you can benefit from artificial intelligence accounting.

[terpcrowley45]

Offshore vs. Outsourced Accounting: What’s the difference?

In the accounting industry, both offshore teams and outsourced accounting teams can help in solving capacity issues, but there are key differences to consider. In this blog, we will compare both and discover why offshore bookkeeping services can be a better option for your accounting firm. Understanding the Basics What is Offshore Accounting? Offshore accounting means hiring accountants from outside your home country to perform specific accounting tasks. This can be on a contractual or full-time basis, with team members working remotely from different geographical regions. With the rise of remote work, offshore bookkeeping services has become attractive for many firms. It allows access to a global talent pool, often at reduced costs, without sacrificing quality. Offshore accounting teams handle tasks like bookkeeping and compliance, working closely with local teams to streamline operations and scale capacity, making it a cost-effective solution for modern accounting firms. What is Outsourced Accounting? Outsourced accounting is when accounting firms hire an external organization or expert to handle specific accounting tasks that are typically performed by their own staff. This external assistance helps manage business activities like filing returns, recording expenses, and reconciling statements and transactions. By outsourcing, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can focus more on serving their clients while ensuring that all accounting tasks are managed efficiently and professionally. Outsourcing can occur both within the same country and internationally, depending on the firm's needs. Analyzing Key Aspects: Offshore vs. Outsourced Accounting Cost Efficiency Offshoring: Imagine a mid-sized accounting firm in the US spending $5,000 per month on a full-time bookkeeper. If you Offshore bookkeeping services to a country like India, where salaries are fraction of cost. This significant cost reduction can free up resources for technology upgrades or staff training in specialized areas. Outsourcing: While outsourcing can be cheaper than hiring in-house, it's often more expensive than offshoring. Involvement and Monitoring Work Offshoring: Think of your offshore team as a virtual extension of your in-house staff. CPAs can directly train and manage them, ensuring they follow established workflows and maintain high-quality standards. This control allows for seamless integration into your existing processes. Outsourcing: Outsourcing to a third-party company means less direct control. You rely on their internal procedures and may have limited influence on how they complete tasks. Integrating them into your company culture can also be challenging. Staff Retention and Project Duration Offshoring: Building relationships with a dedicated offshore team fosters staff retention. This continuity is crucial for long-term projects, as the team gains a deep understanding of your firm's processes and client needs. Outsourcing: Outsourcing companies might assign different personnel to projects, leading to high staff turnover. This can be problematic for long-term engagements, as new staff require onboarding and may lack familiarity with your specific requirements. Team Integration Offshoring: Feels like an extension of your in-house team. Through offshore bookkeeping services, and established communication channels, offshore staff can become familiar with your company culture, workflows, and software. This fosters a collaborative environment with a high level of integration. Outsourcing: The team operates as an external provider; integration is often minimal. The outsourcing company manages the workflow, potentially limiting interaction between your internal staff and the outsourced team. Client Communications and Time Zone Management Offshoring: Time zones and potential language barriers can create communication challenges with offshore teams. Direct client interaction might be limited, requiring careful planning and training for offshore staff who interact with clients. Outsourcing: Communication might be easier if the outsourced team is located domestically. However, they may not have the same level of understanding of your firm's specific processes or terminology, potentially impacting client interactions. IT Security Offshoring: Data security requires careful consideration when offshoring. Strong security protocols and encryption measures are essential to ensure data integrity. Managing an offshore team requires more effort to ensure adherence to these protocols. Outsourcing: Security concerns can also arise with outsourcing companies. However, AI and Accounting, might have more confidence in their established security measures compared to setting them up yourself for an offshored accounting team. Ultimately, a thorough evaluation of the outsourcing company's security practices is crucial. Choosing the Right Fit Value long-term collaboration and a highly integrated team? Offshoring offers deeper integration and knowledge transfer through training, making it a good choice for complex or ongoing projects. There are certain challenges associated with offshore accounting, but they can be tackled. Need a quick solution with minimal upfront investment? Outsourcing provides a faster setup with a lower initial learning curve, ideal for short-term projects or basic tasks. Strategies for Smoother Integration (Offshore): Invest in Training: Train the offshore team on your software, processes, and company culture. Establish Clear Communication Channels: Utilize video conferencing, project management tools, and well-defined communication protocols to bridge time zone gaps. Facilitate Collaboration: Encourage interaction between your internal team and the offshore team. Provide Detailed Documentation: Clearly outline your processes, expectations, and terminology to minimize misunderstandings. Maintain Open Communication: Regularly communicate with the outsourcing company to provide feedback and address any issues. Choose a Reputable Provider: Select an outsourcing company with experience in your industry and a proven track record of quality service.

[dideriksensheehan23]

Accounting Outsourcing to Solve the Accounting Talent Shortage

The accounting industry faces a significant capacity issue, struggling to handle an ever-increasing workload with limited resources. Finding solution to deal with Accounting talent shortage is one of the top priorities. Accounting firm owners are looking for a way out – automation and accounting outsourcing for accounting firms are the best solutions at the moment. This problem arises from several factors, including a shortage of skilled professionals, the branding of accounting as a profession, and the retirement of the baby boomers. As a result, many accounting firms struggle to keep up with client demands, leading to overworked staff, decreased productivity, and ultimately, lower client satisfaction. What's Marketing for accountants, in the Accounting Industry? accounting outsourcing for accounting firms, is grappling with accounting talent shortage, which intensifies burnout among professionals. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) reported that about 75% of CPAs were eligible for retirement by 2020. Additionally, over 300,000 accountants left their jobs between 2019 and 2021, according to the Wall Street Journal. Compounding this issue is a consistent decrease in the enrollment of students in accounting majors over the last six years. This problem is twofold which is intensifying the situation of shortage of accountants: there's a noticeable decline in new CPAs entering the field and an increasing number of seasoned professionals leaving for retirement or other career opportunities. Entry-level positions in accounting are often passed over for more appealing opportunities in other industries, while many experienced accountants are stepping away from their careers. This combination of factors highlights that shortage of accountants , rather than just cost, is the real issue in the accounting industry. With fewer new accountants joining the profession and many experienced ones leaving, accounting firms face significant challenges in maintaining their workforce. This accounting talent shortage makes it crucial for firms to find reliable solutions, such as offshore accounting services for accounting firms, to manage their workload and ensure continued profitability and efficiency. Impact of Accounting Talent Shortage The capacity issue in the accounting industry can have several negative impacts: Overworked Staff: Employees are forced to work long hours to meet deadlines, leading to burnout and high turnover rates. Decreased Productivity: Overburdened employees are less efficient, resulting in slower turnaround times and more errors. Client Dissatisfaction: When firms cannot meet client expectations due to capacity constraints, it leads to dissatisfaction and potential loss of business. Increased Costs: The need to hire temporary staff or pay overtime wages can increase operational costs. Solutions to the Capacity Issue Automate Routine Tasks Automation is a powerful tool for addressing capacity issues. By automating routine and repetitive tasks, accounting firms can free up valuable time for their employees to focus on more complex and strategic activities. Tasks like data entry, invoice processing, and payroll management can be automated using advanced accounting software. Automation not only increases efficiency but also reduces the risk of human error and best of all – aids in solving accounting talent shortage. Offshore or Outsource By opting for Accounting outsourcing or offshore accounting services, modern accounting firms are solving the capacity issues. With offshore accounting services, firms can leverage a global talent pool and build an extended team to handle routine tasks like bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial reporting. Accounting outsourcing allow your firm to access skilled professionals at a lower cost, increasing your capacity without the need for additional onshore staff. Outsourced Accounting and offshore accounting services are used interchangeably but there is a huge difference. Know the difference between Outsource and offshore in accounting industry to make the right decision. Outsourcing to a trusted third-party provider can also help manage peak workloads and ensure timely delivery of services. This flexibility allows your firm to scale operations up or down based on demand, maintaining efficiency and client satisfaction. Marketing for accounting firms, workflows is crucial for maximizing efficiency and addressing accounting talent shortage. Implementing efficient workflows involves mapping out each process, identifying bottlenecks, and finding ways to optimize each step. This can be achieved through project management tools, standardized procedures, and continuous process improvement initiatives. Efficient workflows ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner, reducing the strain on your team and improving overall productivity. Focus on High-Value Clients Prioritizing high-value clients can help your firm manage capacity more effectively. By focusing on clients who provide the most revenue and strategic value, you can allocate your resources more efficiently. This is a solution for accounting firms on a micro level. Accounting talent shortage on a macro level cannot be solved with this option. This may involve reducing or eliminating services for lower-value clients or implementing a tiered service model where clients are offered different levels of service based on their importance to the firm. Focusing on high-value clients ensures that your team can deliver exceptional service to those who matter most, enhancing client satisfaction and loyalty. Train and Develop Staff Investing in the training and development of your staff is essential for addressing accounting talent shortage. Providing ongoing education and professional development opportunities ensures that your employees have the skills and knowledge needed to perform their tasks efficiently. Cross-training staff in different areas of accounting can also provide flexibility, allowing your firm to reallocate resources as needed to manage peak workloads. A well-trained and versatile team is better equipped to handle capacity challenges, ensuring smooth operations and high-quality service. Conclusion The capacity issue in the accounting industry poses significant challenges, but with the right strategies, your firm can overcome them. By automating routine tasks, offshoring or outsourcing, implementing efficient workflows, focusing on high-value clients, and investing in staff training and development, you can increase your firm's capacity and efficiency. These solutions not only address the immediate capacity constraints but also position your firm for long-term success in a competitive industry.

[clearcheesecakeperfection]

[togetherweship]

Taming the CMS Migration Beast: A Guide for Agencies

Every agency knows the power of a well-timed CMS migration. It can breathe new life into a client's website, improve functionality, and boost user experience. But let's face it, migrations can be complex and fraught with challenges.

At [Agency Name], we've helped numerous clients navigate the CMS migration maze. Here, we'll share the top 5 hurdles you might encounter and how to conquer them – turning a potentially daunting task into a strategic win for your agency and your clients.

Challenge #1: Data, the Untamed Beast

Your client's website content is precious cargo. Images, text, videos – everything needs to be meticulously extracted and integrated into the new CMS. Here's where things can get messy:

Inconsistent Formats: Text is easy, but what about galleries, custom elements, or social media integrations? Different CMSes have different storage formats.

Structural Shuffle: The old CMS's way of organizing content might not translate perfectly, leading to broken links and frustrated users.

Missing in Action: Crucial details like publish dates, author information, or SEO tags can vanish during migration if not handled with care.

Taming the Beast:

Content Inventory is Key: Before packing your digital boxes, take a complete inventory of everything on the website. This ensures nothing gets left behind.

Migration Magic: Leverage the power of migration tools! Many CMS platforms offer built-in or third-party solutions to streamline data transfer.

Proactive Communication: Keep your client informed throughout the process. Discuss potential challenges and highlight the steps you're taking to mitigate them.

Challenge #2: Downtime Dilemmas

Website downtime translates to lost traffic and revenue for your client. Minimizing disruption is crucial.

Taming the Beast:

Phased Approach: Consider a phased migration, tackling sections of the website at a time. This allows you to minimize downtime and maintain a functioning website while the migration progresses.

The Staging Ground: Create a staging environment – a replica of the live website – to test the migration process before unleashing it on the real world.

Challenge #3: The SEO Sphinx

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the magic that keeps your client's website visible in search results. A bumpy migration can confuse search engines, leading to a drop in rankings.

Taming the Sphinx:

SEO Audit: Before migrating, conduct a thorough SEO audit to identify crucial elements like keywords and backlinks.

301 Redirects: Set up 301 redirects to ensure search engines understand where your client's content has moved to. This maintains their SEO ranking.

Transparency is Key: Communicate your SEO strategy to your client and keep them updated on any potential ranking fluctuations.

Challenge #4: The User Labyrinth

Your client's website users are accustomed to a certain way of navigating and interacting with content. A drastic change in the CMS interface can lead to confusion.

Taming the Labyrinth:

User-Centric Approach: Keep your client's users in mind throughout the migration process. Consider their needs and how they might interact with the new website.

Training and Support: Provide training materials and support options to help users adapt to the new CMS interface.

Challenge #5: The Resource Rascal

CMS migrations can be complex, requiring technical expertise and project management skills. If your agency's internal resources are stretched thin, it can become a roadblock.

Taming the Rascal:

Assemble the Avengers! Build a dedicated migration team with the necessary skills or consider partnering with a CMS migration specialist.

The Power of Partnership: Partnering with an experienced agency like [Agency Name] allows you to leverage our migration expertise and resources, ensuring a smooth transition for your client.

Don't Go it Alone: Partner with a CMS Migration Specialist

By understanding these challenges and implementing the suggested strategies, you can transform your agency's CMS migration services into a valuable offering for your clients.

Get a head start on your effortless migration with a trusted offshore partner: Effortless CMS Migration with Offshore Partners

Conquer common migration challenges and emerge victorious: Overcoming Challenges in CMS Migration

Master the art of cost-effective migration strategies: Mastering Cost-Effective CMS Migrations with Offshore Partners

Ensure your content is seamlessly transferred to your new CMS: Content Migration Support

Set sail for a successful CMS migration today!

[techsagaus-blog]

Workday implementation jobs involve configuring, deploying, and managing Workday software solutions for organizations. Professionals in these roles collaborate with clients to understand requirements, customize the platform, and ensure successful integration, supporting businesses in their HR and finance operations.

[ranjith11]

Quality Control for offshore staff | Future Accounts Proof

Welcome to an enlightening journey into the world of offshore excellence! In this video, we unravel the significant role of quality control for offshore staff in shaping a thriving future. With a keen focus on future accounts proof, we delve into strategies and insights that pave the way for seamless offshore operations. Join us as we explore how quality control acts as the linchpin in harnessing success and efficiency among offshore teams. Discover the core tenets that empower offshore staff to be future-ready and deliver exceptional outcomes in the dynamic landscape of tomorrow.

[jaideepkhanduja]

Unveiling the Shadows: Safeguarding Financial Transparency in a Shifting World

In an interconnected global economy, financial transparency plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity and stability of the financial system. It serves as a cornerstone for trust, accountability, and informed decision-making. However, as the world continues to evolve and new challenges arise, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing the emerging…

[jamesxaviers23]

5 Challenges of Offshore Software Development and their solution

Offshore development has many pros along with challenges. It reduces the cost and gives you highly skilled employees, but it comes with few challenges like:

1)  Communication 2)  Managing Project 3)  Cost Effective 4)  Technology 5)  Competition

This article will guide you on how to overcome these challenges, Many challenges can be solved by working with the right software outsourcing service provider like us, so why wait, connect with us today, and let’s build your project in a better way.

[webmethodology]

With the increasing number of IoT devices, we have to face challenges. So, overcome those challenges by following best practices given by leading offshore software development services providers.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Working class Dems who campaign on economics beat Trumpists in elections

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me FRIDAY NIGHT (Mar 22) in TORONTO, then SUNDAY (Mar 24) with LAURA POITRAS in NYC, then Anaheim, and more!

The Democratic Party Pizzaburger Theory of Electioneering is: half the electorate wants a pizza, the other half wants a burger, so we'll give them all a pizzaburger and make them all equally dissatisfied, thus winning the election:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/16/that-boy-aint-right/#dinos-rinos-and-dunnos

But no one wants a pizzaburger. The Biden administration's approach of letting the Warren/Sanders wing pick the antitrust enforcers while keeping judicial appointments in the Manchin-Synematic universe is a catastrophe in which progressive Dem regulators (who serve one term) are thwarted by corporatist Dem judges (who serve for life):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/14/making-good-trouble/#the-peoples-champion

The Democrats – like all parties in two-party systems – are a coalition; in this case, a "progressive" liberal-left coalition with liberals serving as senior partners, steering the party and setting its policies. These corporate dems like to color themselves as "neutral" technocrats with "realistic, apolitical" policies that represent what's best for the country:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/05/not-that-naomi/#if-the-naomi-be-klein-youre-doing-just-fine

This sets up the left wing of the party as the starry-eyed, unrealistic radicals whose policies are unpopular and will lose elections. But for a decade, grassroots-funded primary challenges have made it possible to test this theory, by putting leftist politicians on the ballot in front of voters, especially in tight races with far-right Republicans (that is, exactly the kinds of races that the corporate wing of the party says we can't afford to take chances on).

The 2022 midterms included enough races to start testing these theories – and, unlike traditional midterms, these races enjoyed high voter turnout, thanks to the unpopularity of GOP positions like abortion bans, book bans and anti-trans laws. Jacobin teamed up with the Center for Working-Class Politics, Yougov and the Center for Work and Democracy at ASU and analyzed those races:

https://images.jacobinmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/11134429/CWCP-Report-2024.pdf

Their conclusion: candidates from working-class backgrounds who campaigned on economic policies like high-quality jobs, higher minimum wages, a jobs guarantee, ending offshoring and outsourcing, building infrastructure and bringing manufacturing back to the US won with a 50% share of the vote in rural and working-class districts. Dems who didn't lost with a 35% share of the vote:

https://prospect.org/politics/2024-03-18-how-actually-existing-democrats-run-for-office/

In other words, in the kinds of districts where Trumpist politicians are beating Democrats, running on "left populist" policies beats Trumpist politicians.

That's the good news: if Dems recruit leftist, working class politicians and put them up for office on policies that address the material reality of voters' lives, they can beat fascist GOP candidates.

Now for the bad news: the Democratic establishment has no interest in getting these candidates onto the ballot. Working-class candidates, by definition, lack the networks of deep-pocketed cronies who can fund their primary campaigns. Only 2.3% of Dem candidates come from blue-collar backgrounds (if you include "pink-collar" professions like nursing and teaching, the number goes up to 5.9%):

https://jacobin.com/2024/03/left-populists-working-class-voters

All of this confirms the findings of Trump's Kryoptonite, an earlier Jacobin/CWCP research project that polled working-class voters on preferences for hypothetical candidates, finding that working-class candidates with economically progressive policies handily beat out Republicans, including MAGA Republicans:

https://images.jacobinmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/08125102/TrumpsKryptonite_Final_June2023.pdf

Since the Clinton-Blair years, "progressives" have abandoned economic populism ("It's not a burning ambition for me to make sure that David Beckham earns less money" -T. Blair) and pursued a "third way" that seeks to replace half the world's of supply white, male oligarchs with diverse oligarchs from a variety of backgrounds and genders. We were told that this was done in the name of winning elections with "modern" policies that replaced old-fashioned ideas about decent pay, decent jobs, and worker power.

These policies have delivered a genocide-riven world on the brink of several kinds of existential catastrophe. They're a failure. The pizzaburger party didn't deliver safety, nor prosperity – and it also can't deliver elections.

Name your price for 18 of my DRM-free ebooks and support the Electronic Frontier Foundation with the Humble Cory Doctorow Bundle.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/20/actual-material-conditions/#bread-and-butter

[deadsetobsessions]

Spider in Gotham AU- Pt.2

[Pt.1]

Peter’s no stranger to memories that comes as nightmares. There’s something different to them, the taste of terror that’s tinged with a feeling of “that’s happened.”

Flashes of Aunt May, dying as he stood next to her while choosing the city over her? Old hat. Inky darkness surrounding MJ falling as Peter reached for her, over and over again? Been there, seen that, didn’t even get a sick scar out of it. Racing against the clock to defeat some bad guy or an unknown threat? That’s his Thursday.

But this?

This isn’t his. It’s real, Peter could tell that much. Sure, it’s wrapped up in silk hisses and heart crushing terror, but Peter could always tell whether a nightmare was a nightmare or whether it was a memory.

This was a memory. Not his. His. It’s complicated.

“Your father, papito, he-,”

Then, it’d be the ruffle of his hair, brown eyes. It reminded him of his mom. But the crease of these eyes were different. Hardened, mean. Even towards him.

“Well, he said no, but I knew what he really wanted.”

The base of Peter’s neck always crawled when he remembered that line. His spider-sense warned him that whatever he’s remembering, he would not like.

“Ey, Peter.”

“Huh?” Peter blinked, looking up from where his arms were elbow deep in wires.

“Don’cha need gloves with that?” Frank asked, munching on some jerky. They were sitting in the living room, repairing a TV and a washer Frank had somehow managed to lug back to the apartment. It’s a toss up between Frank’s network of orphans (Peter included), street rats (these things are not mutually inclusive), or his own slightly higher than average strength. Not that they needed to thrift broken things, considering Peter’s funneling money from offshore bank accounts belonging to this America’s 1%. They just made it so easy! He and Ned had been hacking into government bases in middle school back on his world. This world? Not even a challenge. Regardless, this was kind of like… Frank’s version of those fancy sensory boxes for Peter.

“Oh, no. It’s not plugged in, see?”

“How’re ya gunna know it works then?”

“Plug it in after I’m done. Turn it off and on, you know?”

Frank stared at him, then rolled his eyes towards the ceiling.

“If you burn down that portion of the house, at least we’ll be warm for a bit.”

“Thanks. Your confidence in me is astounding.”

“You talk like an old man.”

“I do not! Excuse you! If I’m old, you’re the expired knock off cup ramen in the back of a convenience store!”

“Yo, shrimpy, that’s rude, ya hear?” Frank snickered, impressed at the quip. The Alley kid turned brother stood up to plop next to Peter.

“So… you gonna go…?” Frank made a whooshing sound and held his hand in a web shooter position.

“Tonight? Prolly. Anything I should look out for?”

“You’re gunna get yourself killed, but yeah, heard the gang’s back up north.”

Peter flashed a smile, dimples coming out. “I’ll try not to. Thanks, Frank.”

“Anytime, Spidey.”

Frank, though little (to Peter), was a good friend. Then again, considering Peter saved his ass both in mask and out of it, it’s to be expected. One would think that after eight years of hiding his identity, Peter would be better at it. Then, he got punted into a different world and got made by a child.

To be fair, the circumstances all but screamed Parker Luck, so Peter’s not counting this instance.

See, the first few days of this sudden cohabitation, Peter had asked Frank to find them furniture. Both because he was getting real sick of eating on the floor and because Peter needed to fix his suit to match his much younger body. Then, once he readjusted the shrinking nanotech and the spider legs to fit him in a way that wouldn’t break him, Peter had promptly swung out of the building and went patrolling. He stuck with the wandering Frank, taking out muggers and robbers and everything in between and past that around the area where Frank is.

Looking back, Peter realized how lucky he was when he decided to go on the “helping joyride” at the beginning of the evening. His spider-sense activated way later in the night, the moment where he began seeing and sensing the cameras that kept pointing towards him. He ducked and dodged out of the way, and eventually, the feeling left. Somebody was watching. And he doesn’t know where they stood on the moral side of things.

Anyways, it happened after three weeks and a half of going out and just… settling into life in Gotham. He had already been struggling to find a way home, scouring the libraries around Gotham on any subject that would aid in his multiversal travel. Peter would like to know which emo kid named this city.

Eventually, Parker Luck decided to strike once more.

“Get back, freak!” The lady brandished a wicked knife.

Talk about deja vu.

“Oh no! Knives! My greatest weakness!” Spider-Man yelled, sticking to the shadowed windows as he let his voice echo in the alley. Gotham had a lot of nice hiding places. Spider-man dropped down on her head like a bat out of hell and webbed the knife out of her hands. He webbed the mugger up onto the alleyway above normal reach, and told the man to call the police.

Frank screamed, just as Spider-man wrapped it up, loud enough to reach his enhanced hearing.

“Wait-!” The man tried to stop him, but Peter, small, trained, and having readjusted his reach, slipped away.

“What’s your name?!” The guy he saved yelled at his back.

Spider-man, distracted, yelled back, “SPIDEY!”

He shot webs upwards and used them to slingshot his way towards where Frank was. And… car! Peter used his webs to swing up, up, and let himself fall to gain momentum. At the last moment, Peter shot a web to the top of the car and pulled himself to it.

Shit, shit, shit. He’s stupidly attached to the kid, and he was stupid enough to let Frank go out into Gotham looking both well-fed and well clothed.

The world slowed as he locked eyes with a terrified Frank, who was getting dragged into a car.

The world narrowed to speed and Spider-Man landed on top of the car roof, sweeping his leg out and thankfully remembering his much shorter reach. His foot collided with the kidnapper’s face with the equivalent force of a grown up, slightly annoyed Peter Parker who’s letting his strength go a bit unchecked. Basically, they went flying, blood spewing out of the undoubtedly broken nose Spider-Man had just given them.

Standing on business, the shorter webster promptly flipped down wards as he all but glued the would-be kidnapper to the curb.

“You alright?”

“You’re- You’re that new mask.” Frank whispered, scuttling away from the car where he’d been dropped.

“Yeah, man. You okay?” His voice modulator came in clutch.

“Fuck. Fuck, I gotta-” Frank stumbled. The kid looked like he was one bad break away from snapping. Peter hated it when kids got that terrified look on their faces, it reminded him of himself, helpless as Ben bled out because they should never have to fear something that much.

Something’s wrong, though. As much as Peter wished otherwise, Frank was a Gotham bred and true alley kid, through and through. These kids don’t spook easily. Peter already stopped a couple of kidnappings and at least two of the kids had yelled at him to stay out of the way before unloading a rain of nut kicks on their kidnappers that left Peter wincing for days in sympathy. Frank being this spooked? Something’s going on.

“Woah, easy there, I’m not gonna hurt you,”

Frank shot him a half hysterical, half condescending look. Yeah, that’s more like it.

“Ob-obviously. I have to go before more of them comes,” Frank muttered.

“More of them? You know what they want?”

Frank stared at him, looking up and down at his blue, red, and gold ensemble.

“I can help,” Peter promised.

“What’re your thoughts on metas?”

Suspicious.

“Uh, they’re fine? Depends on the person, why?”

Frank sighed. The skinny teenager, barely 14, tugged at his hair. “They’re traffickers. Meta kids, mostly, so the Bats don’t do nothing. I- uh, I got caught.” He held up a thin wrist, showing Peter his new accessorie, a think metal bracelet that was beeping red.

Peter cursed in his head. Fuck, of course he’d stumble into a-

“Caught? You’re a meta?”

Frank nodded. “Strength. This is an inhibitor, illegal kind, you know?”

Well, that explained how he got all of those furniture without struggle.

“Right. Hey, don’t stress, kid, I’m a meta too.”

Frank blinked.

“What?”

Peter walked up the side of the car and did jazz hands.

“You’re a meta?! But- but you’re a mask operating in Gotham!”

“Yeah…? Is that weird?”

Before Frank could reply, Peter’s sense screamed and Spider-Man shoved Frank away from the spray of bullets.

“Move, Frank!”

Peter flipped away, vaguely aware of Frank’s gaping realization. He took down the shooters in quick succession, stopping the speeding car with his bare hands and some webs.

“Shooters, no shooting!” He yelled, liberally applying force he tended to keep under wraps. Frank was like a brother to him, and there is no universe where Peter Parker would hold back when his family was in danger.

When he got back to Frank, who had oddly stayed instead of running, Peter found out why the kid stayed.

“Peter?!” Frank hissed lowly, looking more pissed off than terrified. “Are you fucking insane?! Why are you running ‘round as a mask?!”

“Shhh!” Shit, he got made. “Come on, get back to the apartment and we can talk there. I’ll get rid of this-”

Peter casually snapped the bracelet in half, tearing the tracker out, and tucked it away to study later.

“Fuckin’- shit, fine, but you’re explaining everything, motherfucker!”

They split, Peter guessing correctly that he was in another lecture of a lifetime.

——

“Your vigilante name is Spiderman?”

“Hey, I can hear you say it without the hyphen! There’s a hyphen in there!”

“You’re not a man! You’re a twerp!”

“I’ll show you twerp, you-”

Five minutes of tussling later, in which Peter did not try to bite Frank’s arm off, thank you very much, Frank leaned back on the couch.

“Besides. People in the streets are calling you Spidey, anyways.”

“Spidey?”

“Some dude you saved from a mugging said you told him.”

Peter slammed his head on the floor where he was laying face down.

“Ughhhh.”

——

“He could have been great. I saw his potential.”

Anger. But he shouldn’t be afraid. The woman loved him.

“Hey, Peter. You’re up here again.”

“Hi.” Peter stayed curled up. His mind had refused him sleep for the last three nights, causing dark circles to appear underneath his eyes. The memories of what he assumed to be this world’s Peter was merging with his. What he’d seen so far did not fill him with confidence of a happy childhood. Flashes of wielding weapons, the sterile smell of a metal dissection table, and hundreds and hundreds of spiders crawling over him, getting startled into biting down. Plus, the stress of tracking down the meta trafficking circles in Gotham was no joke. He doesn’t know Gotham nearly as well as he knew New York, and he had to be extra careful running around and trying to catch every bit of the circle before making any moves. Frank was helping with his network of homeless Meta kids, but the traffickers were everywhere except for Crime Alley.

He should be dead. They sold his body to an organ harvester who dumped his venom filled corpse on the side of Gotham. At least he didn’t have to worry about killing his alternate version.

“Everything all right?” Red Robin clambered down to sit next to him, cowl hiding the concerned scrunch of his brow. He’s never seen Peter like this.

Peter grumbled, staring down at another alleyway. He knows his alternate died. His shit excuse for another sold his body to an organ harvester, when he seized on the operating table, who dumped his venom filled corpse on the side of Gotham. At least he didn’t have to worry about killing his alternate version. He does, however, have to worry about missing vital organs.

“I… remembered something.” Peter remembered a lot of things. And pretty much none of them were good. This Peter suffered a lot in his short life.

Red Robin nodded. The issue of Peter’s spotty memories had come up in their discussions over the past month.

“Ah. Something unpleasant?”

Peter thought back to the voice who, despite all of the other, highly traumatic memories, haunted his brain like nothing else.

“He didn’t live up to it. He refused to kill. So I made the decision for him.”

“Yeah. Not for me, but unpleasant that I know about it.”

“Yeah, I get that. You wanna talk about it?” Peter hid a small smile. Even though Red Robin kept his tone light, the concern still bled through. Warm. It made Peter feel warm. Even if it appeared that the Bats don’t really care about the trafficked meta kids… maybe Red Robin would come save normal kid Peter if he got kidnapped. A backup plan to consider. For now…

“Sure,” he said. Red Robin waited patiently.

“I think, I remember someone. Maybe, maybe my…” Peter grimaced. “My mom? She… told me something. And uh, I think I’maproductofrape.”

“Oh,” Red Robin said, so awkwardly that Peter had to crack a small smile despite the gravity of the topic. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too. Not myself, but for…” Peter waved a hand. “You know.”

“Yeah.”

“She wasn’t a good person,” Peter whispered and hated how he missed the browns of her eyes- her middle name was Marie, and god, Peter wished he hadn’t known that because he gets why her eyes reminded him so much of his own mother- and she besmirched everything Mary Parker stood for.

“You have our combined potential, Peter. Make sure not to be like him too much and live up to it, papito.”

“It’s okay, to love her even if she hurt other people,” Red Robin said, gently ruffling his greasy hair. Peter’s spidey-sense tingled and he ducked away. Red Robin withdrew his hand. “Because you can’t really help that. Trust me, I’ve tried. You just have to make sure they don’t get the chance to do what they did again.”

Cold, cold voices and his voice gave out from screaming. “You really are your father’s son. Never being able to do what’s necessary.”

And Peter wondered what happened to Red Robin and who hurt him. Peter would just like to talk. Red Robin reminded him of himself, way back when being Spider-Man meant finding out Harry became Green Goblin. Pained. Tired.

“Yeah,” Peter agreed. But that’s not really a problem, considering the last thing the organ harvester said before dumping him in an alley. “She’s dead in a ditch in Siberia or something. I’m not really worried she’ll do it again.”

“Uh.”

“It’s cool,”

“Right. Have you… remembered your dad?”

“Yeah. He’s in Gotham,” Peter unfurled a little.

“You want help tracking him down? I’m good at that kind of thing.”

Peter glanced at Red Robin. “I think you just admitted to being a stalker.”

“Vigilante,” Red Robin shrugged, like it explained everything. And yeah, it kind of did. Peter snorted.

“Nah, it’s okay. I don’t want to meet him anyways.”

“Why not?”

“He doesn’t know about me,” Peter ticked off his fingers. “I’m a literal walking, talking, breathing reminder of his trauma. And I don’t need a dad.”

Red Robin looked at him silently. Peter doesn’t think about it.

He never wanted to see his parents suffer. An alternate version of his dad, hurt so irrevocably by an alternate version of his mom?

Peter hated that this Catalina dirtied his mother’s name, and went against the most fundamental parts of what the spider symbol was meant for. And considering he’s been doing this longer than her, he had first dibs on defining it. He’ll look after his dad, as long as he’s stuck in Gotham. It’s only right.

“His name? Oh, my son, it’s Richard Grayson.”

——

Peter, who Trusts his instincts: no head rubs?? awwwww

Tim, who’s been trying to get a dna sample for the last month: how does he keep evading me?? He must be a genius or a spy or- *spirals down the conspiracy board*

——

Tim: I’ve connected the dots!

Peter: you’ve connected jack shit

——

Listen, the moment I learned Catalina Flores’ middle name, the pieces clicked, okay? Like legos. It’s like, former FBI agent in this one and former CIA agent in Peter’s home universe? Wow. Middle name Marie? Mary Parker? Incredible. Spider themes run in the blood apparently?? They both have brown eyes!! Trying to do good with no qualms about murder!! (I’m assuming since Mary Parker was SHIELD and I don’t think SHIELD cared much for the sanctity of human life if it threatened the country or something)

[reasonsforhope]

"China is on track to double its wind and solar energy capacity and hit its 2030 clean energy targets five years early, a new report has found.

The country is expected to produce 1,200 gigwatts of solar and wind power by 2025 if all prospective plants are built and commissioned, according to the study from the non profit Global Energy Monitor.

Solar capacity in China is now greater than the rest of the world combined. Its onshore and offshore wind capacity has doubled since 2017, and is roughly equal to the combined total of the other top seven countries, according to the report.

Dorothy Mei, project manager at Global Energy Monitor, said China’s surge in solar and wind capacity was “jaw-dropping.”

The country’s renewable energy boom is the result of a combination of incentives and regulations, according to the report. China pledged in 2020 to become carbon neutral by 2060...

China’s reliance on coal poses a significant challenge to global green energy targets, but the pace of wind and solar development is a positive sign, Byford Tsang, senior policy adviser at climate think tank E3G told CNN.

“China is rapidly and successfully scaling up its deployment of renewable power and has become the largest investor into renewables globally. This is both a cause and consequence of rapidly falling costs of renewable energy as compared to coal power,” he said.

Tsang hopes that relative cheapness of renewable energy will persuade China to kick its coal habit."

-via CNN, June 29, 2023