#Sector wise performance

[knowstockinsights]

India’s defense sector is booming with rising government investments and self-reliance initiatives. Stocks like HAL, BEL, BDL, and Mazagon Dock lead the charge in aerospace, defense manufacturing, and naval systems. With strong order books and growth potential, these stocks are worth considering for long-term investors.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Penguin Random House, AI, and writers’ rights

NEXT WEDNESDAY (October 23) at 7PM, I'll be in DECATUR, GEORGIA, presenting my novel THE BEZZLE at EAGLE EYE BOOKS.

My friend Teresa Nielsen Hayden is a wellspring of wise sayings, like "you're not responsible for what you do in other people's dreams," and my all time favorite, from the Napster era: "Just because you're on their side, it doesn't mean they're on your side."

The record labels hated Napster, and so did many musicians, and when those musicians sided with their labels in the legal and public relations campaigns against file-sharing, they lent both legal and public legitimacy to the labels' cause, which ultimately prevailed.

But the labels weren't on musicians' side. The demise of Napster and with it, the idea of a blanket-license system for internet music distribution (similar to the systems for radio, live performance, and canned music at venues and shops) firmly established that new services must obtain permission from the labels in order to operate.

That era is very good for the labels. The three-label cartel – Universal, Warner and Sony – was in a position to dictate terms like Spotify, who handed over billions of dollars worth of stock, and let the Big Three co-design the royalty scheme that Spotify would operate under.

If you know anything about Spotify payments, it's probably this: they are extremely unfavorable to artists. This is true – but that doesn't mean it's unfavorable to the Big Three labels. The Big Three get guaranteed monthly payments (much of which is booked as "unattributable royalties" that the labels can disperse or keep as they see fit), along with free inclusion on key playlists and other valuable services. What's more, the ultra-low payouts to artists increase the value of the labels' stock in Spotify, since the less Spotify has to pay for music, the better it looks to investors.

The Big Three – who own 70% of all music ever recorded, thanks to an orgy of mergers – make up the shortfall from these low per-stream rates with guaranteed payments and promo.

But the indy labels and musicians that account for the remaining 30% are out in the cold. They are locked into the same fractional-penny-per-stream royalty scheme as the Big Three, but they don't get gigantic monthly cash guarantees, and they have to pay the playlist placement the Big Three get for free.

Just because you're on their side, it doesn't mean they're on your side:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/12/streaming-doesnt-pay/#stunt-publishing

In a very important, material sense, creative workers – writers, filmmakers, photographers, illustrators, painters and musicians – are not on the same side as the labels, agencies, studios and publishers that bring our work to market. Those companies are not charities; they are driven to maximize profits and an important way to do that is to reduce costs, including and especially the cost of paying us for our work.

It's easy to miss this fact because the workers at these giant entertainment companies are our class allies. The same impulse to constrain payments to writers is in play when entertainment companies think about how much they pay editors, assistants, publicists, and the mail-room staff. These are the people that creative workers deal with on a day to day basis, and they are on our side, by and large, and it's easy to conflate these people with their employers.

This class war need not be the central fact of creative workers' relationship with our publishers, labels, studios, etc. When there are lots of these entertainment companies, they compete with one another for our work (and for the labor of the workers who bring that work to market), which increases our share of the profit our work produces.

But we live in an era of extreme market concentration in every sector, including entertainment, where we deal with five publishers, four studios, three labels, two ad-tech companies and a single company that controls all the ebooks and audiobooks. That concentration makes it much harder for artists to bargain effectively with entertainments companies, and that means that it's possible -likely, even – for entertainment companies to gain market advantages that aren't shared with creative workers. In other words, when your field is dominated by a cartel, you may be on on their side, but they're almost certainly not on your side.

This week, Penguin Random House, the largest publisher in the history of the human race, made headlines when it changed the copyright notice in its books to ban AI training:

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/penguin-random-house-underscores-copyright-protection-in-ai-rebuff

The copyright page now includes this phrase:

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems.

Many writers are celebrating this move as a victory for creative workers' rights over AI companies, who have raised hundreds of billions of dollars in part by promising our bosses that they can fire us and replace us with algorithms.

But these writers are assuming that just because they're on Penguin Random House's side, PRH is on their side. They're assuming that if PRH fights against AI companies training bots on their work for free, that this means PRH won't allow bots to be trained on their work at all.

This is a pretty naive take. What's far more likely is that PRH will use whatever legal rights it has to insist that AI companies pay it for the right to train chatbots on the books we write. It is vanishingly unlikely that PRH will share that license money with the writers whose books are then shoveled into the bot's training-hopper. It's also extremely likely that PRH will try to use the output of chatbots to erode our wages, or fire us altogether and replace our work with AI slop.

This is speculation on my part, but it's informed speculation. Note that PRH did not announce that it would allow authors to assert the contractual right to block their work from being used to train a chatbot, or that it was offering authors a share of any training license fees, or a share of the income from anything produced by bots that are trained on our work.

Indeed, as publishing boiled itself down from the thirty-some mid-sized publishers that flourished when I was a baby writer into the Big Five that dominate the field today, their contracts have gotten notably, materially worse for writers:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/19/reasonable-agreement/

This is completely unsurprising. In any auction, the more serious bidders there are, the higher the final price will be. When there were thirty potential bidders for our work, we got a better deal on average than we do now, when there are at most five bidders.

Though this is self-evident, Penguin Random House insists that it's not true. Back when PRH was trying to buy Simon & Schuster (thereby reducing the Big Five publishers to the Big Four), they insisted that they would continue to bid against themselves, with editors at Simon & Schuster (a division of PRH) bidding against editors at Penguin (a division of PRH) and Random House (a division of PRH).

This is obvious nonsense, as Stephen King said when he testified against the merger (which was subsequently blocked by the court): "You might as well say you’re going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house. It would be sort of very gentlemanly and sort of, 'After you' and 'After you'":

https://apnews.com/article/stephen-king-government-and-politics-b3ab31d8d8369e7feed7ce454153a03c

Penguin Random House didn't become the largest publisher in history by publishing better books or doing better marketing. They attained their scale by buying out their rivals. The company is actually a kind of colony organism made up of dozens of once-independent publishers. Every one of those acquisitions reduced the bargaining power of writers, even writers who don't write for PRH, because the disappearance of a credible bidder for our work into the PRH corporate portfolio reduces the potential bidders for our work no matter who we're selling it to.

I predict that PRH will not allow its writers to add a clause to their contracts forbidding PRH from using their work to train an AI. That prediction is based on my direct experience with two of the other Big Five publishers, where I know for a fact that they point-blank refused to do this, and told the writer that any insistence on including this contract would lead to the offer being rescinded.

The Big Five have remarkably similar contracting terms. Or rather, unremarkably similar contracts, since concentrated industries tend to converge in their operational behavior. The Big Five are similar enough that it's generally understood that a writer who sues one of the Big Five publishers will likely find themselves blackballed at the rest.

My own agent gave me this advice when one of the Big Five stole more than $10,000 from me – canceled a project that I was part of because another person involved with it pulled out, and then took five figures out of the killfee specified in my contract, just because they could. My agent told me that even though I would certainly win that lawsuit, it would come at the cost of my career, since it would put me in bad odor with all of the Big Five.

The writers who are cheering on Penguin Random House's new copyright notice are operating under the mistaken belief that this will make it less likely that our bosses will buy an AI in hopes of replacing us with it:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/09/ai-monkeys-paw/#bullied-schoolkids

That's not true. Giving Penguin Random House the right to demand license fees for AI training will do nothing to reduce the likelihood that Penguin Random House will choose to buy an AI in hopes of eroding our wages or firing us.

But something else will! The US Copyright Office has issued a series of rulings, upheld by the courts, asserting that nothing made by an AI can be copyrighted. By statute and international treaty, copyright is a right reserved for works of human creativity (that's why the "monkey selfie" can't be copyrighted):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/20/everything-made-by-an-ai-is-in-the-public-domain/

All other things being equal, entertainment companies would prefer to pay creative workers as little as possible (or nothing at all) for our work. But as strong as their preference for reducing payments to artists is, they are far more committed to being able to control who can copy, sell and distribute the works they release.

In other words, when confronted with a choice of "We don't have to pay artists anymore" and "Anyone can sell or give away our products and we won't get a dime from it," entertainment companies will pay artists all day long.

Remember that dope everyone laughed at because he scammed his way into winning an art contest with some AI slop then got angry because people were copying "his" picture? That guy's insistence that his slop should be entitled to copyright is far more dangerous than the original scam of pretending that he painted the slop in the first place:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/artist-appeals-copyright-denial-for-prize-winning-ai-generated-work/

If PRH was intervening in these Copyright Office AI copyrightability cases to say AI works can't be copyrighted, that would be an instance where we were on their side and they were on our side. The day they submit an amicus brief or rulemaking comment supporting no-copyright-for-AI, I'll sing their praises to the heavens.

But this change to PRH's copyright notice won't improve writers' bank-balances. Giving writers the ability to control AI training isn't going to stop PRH and other giant entertainment companies from training AIs with our work. They'll just say, "If you don't sign away the right to train an AI with your work, we won't publish you."

The biggest predictor of how much money an artist sees from the exploitation of their work isn't how many exclusive rights we have, it's how much bargaining power we have. When you bargain against five publishers, four studios or three labels, any new rights you get from Congress or the courts is simply transferred to them the next time you negotiate a contract.

As Rebecca Giblin and I write in our 2022 book Chokepoint Capitalism:

Giving a creative worker more copyright is like giving your bullied schoolkid more lunch money. No matter how much you give them, the bullies will take it all. Give your kid enough lunch money and the bullies will be able to bribe the principle to look the other way. Keep giving that kid lunch money and the bullies will be able to launch a global appeal demanding more lunch money for hungry kids!

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

As creative workers' fortunes have declined through the neoliberal era of mergers and consolidation, we've allowed ourselves to be distracted with campaigns to get us more copyright, rather than more bargaining power.

There are copyright policies that get us more bargaining power. Banning AI works from getting copyright gives us more bargaining power. After all, just because AI can't do our job, it doesn't follow that AI salesmen can't convince our bosses to fire us and replace us with incompetent AI:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/11/robots-stole-my-jerb/#computer-says-no

Then there's "copyright termination." Under the 1976 Copyright Act, creative workers can take back the copyright to their works after 35 years, even if they sign a contract giving up the copyright for its full term:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/09/26/take-it-back/

Creative workers from George Clinton to Stephen King to Stan Lee have converted this right to money – unlike, say, longer terms of copyright, which are simply transferred to entertainment companies through non-negotiable contractual clauses. Rather than joining our publishers in fighting for longer terms of copyright, we could be demanding shorter terms for copyright termination, say, the right to take back a popular book or song or movie or illustration after 14 years (as was the case in the original US copyright system), and resell it for more money as a risk-free, proven success.

Until then, remember, just because you're on their side, it doesn't mean they're on your side. They don't want to prevent AI slop from reducing your wages, they just want to make sure it's their AI slop puts you on the breadline.

Tor Books as just published two new, free LITTLE BROTHER stories: VIGILANT, about creepy surveillance in distance education; and SPILL, about oil pipelines and indigenous landback.

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/2024/10/19/gander-sauce/#just-because-youre-on-their-side-it-doesnt-mean-theyre-on-your-side

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[mydeerbambi]

DEJA VU

SUMMARY: it’s the last night of your spa vacation that you and sylus went on, purely on the basis of being ‘overworked co-workers’. reluctant to develop your relationship any more with him, your spa attendants seem to notice a bubbling romance, even though you don’t see it yourself.

pairing: sylus x fem!reader word count: 2.7k

NOTES: - basically I had a dream of an (almost) intimate spa session with sylus and i don’t know why LMFAO. i wanted to elaborate on it but i’ve only seen edits and have never actually played the game so forgive me if i get anything wrong personality/lore wise!! (or otherwise just too vague) - i’m not really too comfortable writing smut rn so i guess the end is left up to the imagination (apologies) - kinda my first fic so criticism is always welcome! - the attendants are just random ass characters i came up with on the spot (bare w me) - sylus is hot as shit.

----------

Your vacation bedroom was colder than usual. After a while you concluded that the resort staff had just forgotten to turn the heating on, but it also could have been the impending feeling of nausea and deja vu that had crashed over you multiple times within the past ten minutes.

Sylus was the first person in a long time that you had to cooperate on a mission with. After the hurt and betrayal of the last partner you worked with a few years ago, a woman you considered your closest friend, the only thing you forced yourself to do was take on missions that only required one agent. That was until your mentors proposed the biggest gang takedown of a lifetime. You were excited, which was unusual for you, until you realised you had to cooperate with Sylus, a powerful man within your sector, though equally as skilled as you. The shell you encased yourself in against him during your training together was rock solid; the only intention you had was to perform the takedown successfully and move onto your next mission. Though, Sylus seemed to have other plans: perform the takedown successfully, just like you, while simultaneously trying to break down your shell as much as he could. To say the least, he was intrigued by you. Entranced by you. He wanted to know who you really were so he made it his prerogative to do so.

You, while doing your best efforts to avoid phatic communication, couldn’t avoid your unconscious mind taking over. It was only two days after meeting where your lust got the better of you, dreaming about the most romantic scenario of your life with Sylus, before it abruptly ended with heavy breathing and waking up in an uncomfortable cold sweat. Over time, you began to realise that you did actually enjoy his company, though at this point you were way too far into keeping up an image of wanting nothing to do with him. Little did Sylus know that he had already pretty much destroyed your shell and your core was just within his grasp.

So why were you sitting on the edge of your bed in a towel, fidgeting with the skin by your nails with your mind zoned out, watching the minutes tick by on the clock of your bedside table? Because everything that occurred in the past fifteen minutes had all happened exactly as they were in the dream, from the time of day, the organisation of your shared bedroom, all down to the thudding of Sylus’ feet on the floor as he paced around the room in his towel, preparing himself for his final spa session.

The vacation you were on was advertised as a couples getaway, though Sylus knew you were pretty adamant on not having any spa sessions together. So why did you ask him to come with you? Because by the gods and all possibilities in the universe, Sylus was the only person you knew who was available. It seems that going through the stress of completing a hard mission also comes with the benefit of a pretty long break from working.

‘Are you okay, y/n?’, you hadn’t even noticed that Sylus’ footsteps around the room had stopped. He was now sitting next to you on the edge of the bed, an expression like a lost puppy when you turned to him, scanning your face as he desperately tried to figure out what was wrong.

‘I should b- I mean I am’, a pathetic attempt at hiding your fear, truly. There’s no chance he’d leave you alone now.

‘I've not recognised you all day, y/n’, he said in that soft tone of his. ‘Is there anything I can-’.

You cut him off by turning away from him in shame, fighting the war in your mind of whether to tell him the truth or do your best attempt at a lie that he could see through better than a glass window. Taking in a deep breath, you stood up, facing him as he looked up at you. Even after all this time you still found it hard to make eye contact with him.

‘I had a dream’, you started, ‘a few months back’.

‘Hm?’, he questioned. ‘Was it a pleasant dream or a bad one?’

You met his eyes reluctantly. ‘You were in it’.

He relaxed slightly. ‘Well it must have been terrifying in that case’. His humour irked you but you had to admit he did make you laugh.

‘You know what, just forget it’. You were already regretting the conversation as soon as you opened your mouth, ‘it’s not important’.

He stood up, height surpassing you as he held your hands softly, drawing circles into your palms with the tips of his thumbs. ‘It’s you, y/n, it must be important.’

His reassurance really was effective on you.

‘You know how sometimes you'll dream things and they actually happen?’. You were trying to figure out what you could possibly say to not sound crazy.

‘I suppose, it happens quite rarely’.

‘Everything that happened in that dream has all happened in these past few moments, exactly as they were’.

Nope, still crazy.

‘Well if I was in it then shouldn’t it have ended by now? I mean, we’ll both be on our own in a few min-’.

You hopelessly looked up at him, hoping he’d catch on.

‘Hm’, he stayed silent for a few seconds. It felt like hours. ‘How did the dream end, y/n?’.

‘It didn't have an ending, I just kinda woke up in shock’.

The changing lights on the bedside clock caught the attention of your peripherals as it switched to 9PM. By now, your spa attendants would be waiting for you for one last time.

You didn’t want to waste any more time over something that was probably all in your head anyway. ‘Listen, you don't have to say anything right now, but I'll give you the option this time’. You became a lot more nervous. ‘You can either spend your last spa session on your own.. or you can join me if you feel the need to’.

You faced your back to him, dismissive of whatever he was about to say next and opened the door leading to your designated spa cabin.

You managed to get one last glimpse at his defeated expression. ‘The ending of the dream is up to you, Sylus’.

-----

The thing that you assumed you’d miss most about the trip is the aroma of your spa cabin. For the times that you’d already relaxed in there, your designated spa attendants, Kliva and Whitney, would always make it smell like a deep mix of vanilla and cocoa butter; scents that you’d probably worship if they were gods. The routine was the same each time: you’d remove your towel, lower yourself into the warm water and spend around an hour there relaxing and chatting to your attendants, being offered silver-trayed fancy delicacies, massages or other things that made you feel like a pampered queen. This time, you had your shoulders massaged by Whitney, while Kliva asked you to smell interesting scents from different candles and oils.

‘Actually, you know what, try this one’, Kliva said, pulling a cylindrical tube from a case and lifting the contents up to your nose.

‘Lavender, hm?’, you replied as she twisted the cap back on the bottle. ‘The scent is strong but maybe if it was more subtle I’d like it more’.

‘That’s exactly what I was thinking!’, she replied enthusiastically.

‘The only thing I’m thinking is why that jerk of yours hasn’t spent a session with you yet’. You could feel the frustration within Whitney as she massaged your shoulders; a stern, professional grip, but definitely an angry one.

‘He’s not mine’, you laughed. ‘We came here as partners. My friend couldn't use her tickets and Sylus and I were the only ones who happened to be available. Nothing more'.

‘You know, y/n’, you looked up at Kliva as she set her box of scents aside, ‘there’s only so many times you can tell the truth before it becomes a lie’.

‘And what's that supposed to mean?’, you replied, slightly confused.

‘What I mean is that you’ve told us this story about you and him just being co-workers about a billion times but we’ve seen the way he looks at you!’.

‘He looks at me quite normally, thank you’.

Whitney tutted, ‘you know, for a spy, you’re awful at reading people’.

You turned around to meet her eyes in disbelief. You couldn’t tell if you should’ve been offended by her comment on your years of studying the psychology of your enemies or just simply hear her out.

You let her continue. ‘Listen, okay? When he looks at you it’s as if you’re the only woman in the world to him. The sparkle in his eyes when he sees you could be mistaken for the stars in the night sky themselves. You really don’t notice?’.

You thought of the fact that you only ever bothered reading the expressions of others if you knew there was a possibility they'd pull something on you in the next half second. A useful trick for dealing with the face of danger.

The face of love, however? You didn't really bother with that.

‘I don’t think we’ve had a couple in here with more chemistry than you two’, Kliva added.

‘You’re just saying that’, you dismissed their words of overly-sweet romance as you turned back around.

‘We are not!’, they dramatically shouted in concert. The laughter following from all three of you almost made you forget what you were talking about. You were definitely going to miss these two when you left.

After a short silence, Kliva blurted, ‘It’s your last time here! Are you sure he’s not going to accompany you tonight? Like he didn’t ask at all?’.

‘I mean, I gave him a choice. Whether or not he’ll accept it I’m not su-’.

Your words were suddenly cut off by a quiet knock at the door. In all your life a pit in your stomach didn’t form faster than that moment. While your body was overcome with fear, both women couldn’t help but unmask their giddiness as they looked at each other and rushed to the door. You weren’t sure Sylus even got a word in before either of them spoke.

‘It’s about time you showed up’, Whitney said, an attitude in her voice that could send even the strongest of men to the pits of shame. She opened the door wider so they both could usher themselves out. Kliva rushed to pick up her box beside you as she followed her partner out of the room. Leaving you both alone she whispered softly to Sylus, ‘be gentle with her’.

-----

As your spa attendants removed themselves skittishly from the room, while you were sure you heard slight giggles from both of them, you pushed yourself from the edge of the spa’s walls and gently walked towards the centre of the water, mentally preparing yourself for the events to come. The door clicked shut as Sylus stood a few metres behind you, his height towering over the edge of the coping of the spa’s rectangular shape. The presence of only him in here with you made you nervous. That, and the added fact you were facing away from him, unable to read his movements. As the water gently brushed your legs and lower back, you calmly parted the back of your hair in two, placing each section atop your breasts to cover them, cursing yourself that that was the only slight form of protection and decency you had over Sylus’ vision. As the silence seemed to grow, your eyes became heavy, focusing on the slight ripples and movements of the water while your ears focused on the padding of the raindrops outside as they landed on the wood of the cabin’s roof.

‘Am I expected?’, he asked you, his deep voice cutting through the silence that you were enjoying so much.

You knew the answer but remained silent, though you turned your head around ever so slightly to look up at him. The only thing his figure wore was a towel, draped perfectly across his hips, as beads of water highlighted parts of his hopelessly chiselled torso. You assessed him for a moment; everything about him was perfect. Your eyes made their way up to his face as he looked down at you. Everything about his gaze made you feel small, insignificant. Though to him, ‘insignificant��� was nowhere near the right word. Staring into his warm, crimson eyes for a few seconds, his face framed perfectly by wet strands of white hair, you decided to turn your head back around. Because at this very moment you wanted him to take control. Because this is the part where your dream ended and you woke up in a confused sweat a few months ago. Sylus took your gaze at him as an acceptance of his question, as you heard a light thud of his towel dropping to the floor in a pile.

The still movement of the water was slightly disrupted as he slowly walked down the submerged steps, lowering himself gently into the water, only about a metre behind you. He continued until he was only a few inches away, in which you could practically feel his energy radiate from his skin. His breathing was calm, giving you the sense of reassurance that you needed to tell your brain that you weren’t in any danger. You matched your breathing with his as best you could, calming yourself in the process. You could feel his gaze fixed on you, as if he had just captured the prey of a lifetime. Still, despite your newfound calmness, you found it hard to turn around, knowing that as soon as your eyes met he would finally be able to say he achieved his main mission: getting through to you.

His left hand cupped your upper arm ever so slightly, steadying you, as he used his middle finger on his right to lightly trace the scars on your back.

‘I didn’t know you had these’, he asked as you tried not to melt into his warm embrace and the touch of his fingers. ‘What happened? If you don’t mind me asking’. 

There was no point in avoiding the personal questions he asked you now.

‘..Betrayal’, though you still hesitated, ‘..the reason I wanted nothing to do with you’.

The small amount of anger still left in your heart caused you to finally turn and face him, ‘..the reason you never gave up on your interest in me’.

Looking into his eyes this close made you feel even weaker as he finished your statement, ‘the reason I’m here right now, right?’. Now that you were this close, you figured out what your attendants were talking about; he really did have a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at you. His presence, paired with his low, breathy voice hypnotised you and the only thing you could do was nod weakly, shyly breaking eye contact with him as you focused on the smooth skin of his chest and shoulders.

His middle finger on his left hand traced up your left arm, making its way up across your shoulder and collarbone, finishing with brushing your hair away from that side of your neck down your back, exposing part of your chest to him, though now you felt more comfortable than ever.

‘At which part did your dream end?’, he asked, scanning your perfect body with his eyes.

Your eyes focused slightly at the door he came through a few metres behind him, ‘I guess when you came in’. His soft touch across your skin made your voice weak, as if your heart was caving into his presence, craving all of him.

‘So I still have the opportunity to decide whether or not to give your dream a good ending?’.

You nodded.

‘And if I decide to walk out, to leave the beautiful deer in front of me with nothing?’.

As you hesitated with the fear he wasn’t joking, his right arm snaked around your waist, his strength grabbing you effortlessly, lifting you up and positioning your hips slightly above his. You held onto his shoulders and arms for stability, looking down at him as you giggled softly, meeting his eyes with a slight smile. ‘Then I suppose all of your efforts would have been worth nothing’.

[81pastrys]

There’s No Legacy

Part 5 / 10

Summary— She tops the times in the McLaren and earns praise while she overthinks her performance

Warnings— shock ; underestimating self worth?

A/N— how will this pan out?

Series List

Dividers @bernardsbendystraws

The next morning she showered and got ready for the practicing. Her and Nico head to the paddock. She did some stretching and training before the session starts. Zak and Andrea give her wise words of wisdom, and Lando tweaks it before she goes out.

“Radio check.” She heard.

“I hear you. What am I supposed to say?”

“Whatever you feel like saying, I just need to know we can communicate.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

The sessions starts and a few cars go out before the McLarens do. Lando goes out first. Then she went out. This car is so different from F2. She did a few slower laps to get a feel for it and mess with the controls.

“Good on your programmes, do you want to try a hot lap?” Her engineer asked.

“Sure I’m up for it.”

“Ok here are some of the settings Lando usually uses, tweak them as you please.” He said, followed by settings.

“I just start at the race line and take off?” She asked.

“Yes, we’ll start it when you pass the race line.” He said.

She got around the last corner and put full force onto the pedal. She slowed down beautifully at turns and got the fastest sector 1. Nothing for sector two but then she passed the racing line.

“Okay, fastest sector 1 and 3, currently P5. P5 Rosberg, good job.” He said.

“P5? Really? What’s Lando’s position?”

“P6, he’s half a tenth slower in turns.”

She did a few more recharge laps and then pit to swap to soft tires. She completed another hot lap and got up to P3. “Landos position?”

“P1 now.” He responded. “P3 is amazing for your first time though keep up the good work!”

She pits, not going out for the last 10 minutes. She was happy with her +.5s gap on Kimi in P4. She watched from the strategists screens how Lando is doing. Her manager shows her the results of her run. They’re honestly better than Landos. She could get P1 but didn’t want to go back out.

Lando pulls in and sees the screens as well. “That’s your stats?” He asked surprised. “Damn, you’re good Ros.”

“Thank you.” She said smiley. “You’re P1 though.”

“Ahh P1 is just a number, stats is what really matters, the consistency is what’s needed.” He said.

“I did a lot of slower laps though.”

“Your slower laps are faster than back markers Ros, that’s amazing work.” He said.

“I’m sure my dad would be happy, where is he? Probably on some side quest.”

“Who knows.” Lando laughed. “We’ve got about and hour and half until next practice.”

“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll see him at some point.” She shrugged. “What do you usually do on the meantime?”

“Look at stats and find ways to improve.” He said.

“Ahhh, okay.” She responded, nodding. She went to the stat wall and looked at hers. There’s a few minor tweaks, she takes them into account. She goes to the paddock and sees Nico doing Sky Sports commentary.

“Ahhh, Ros.” He said waving her over. She jogged over and he hugs her around her waist while sitting down. “How was the practice?”

“Good! I did amazing in my programmes and don’t have much to improve.”

“That’s good!” He praised. “We were just talking about the placements.”

“Yeah! I got P3!” She said excited.

“I know!” He said. “That’s crazy for a rookie.”

She walks off, back to the garage. It’s such a long wait. The next session comes up and they get in the cars. Her engineer gives tips on what she needs to improve on.

“Should I start on a flying lap?” She asked.

“You can, your improvements are on hot laps.” He said. “Let’s focus on that for now.”

“Ok so flying lap into hot laps?”

“Correct.” He confirmed.

She did the flying lap and then started a hot lap, she hit the improvement marks. Perfecting the programs and had the fastest lap.

“Fastest lap overall.” He said. “Very impressive stats.”

“Overall as in all lap times?”

“Overall as in today.” He said.

“Oh..” She responded shocked. “Should I box?”

“You can, perfect programs and perfect sectors.”

She boxed and sat in the car for a minute. The shock overtaking. She climbed out the car and took her helmet off looking at the screens. Ros, at the top of the screen. “Is that normal?” She asked, still in disbelief.

“For a rookie, no.” Zak said from behind, smiling. “You’re an amazing driver though.”

“That’s seriously my time? There’s got to be something wrong.”

“No, no, those are right.” Zak said pointing it out. “You have good stats, times, programs.”

She walked away, still not believing it. She ran a hand through her hair, causing it to come out of the suit. She put the helmet down and looked around. Someone taps her shoulder and she jumped, turning around to see Nico.

“You did amazing out there.” He whispered pulling her in for a hug. She was still.

“I’m dreaming right?”

“No, you actually did that.” He said smiling. “You’re still in shock.”

She looked at him and her eyes go wide. “I’m not dreaming? Holy shit.”

It hit her all at once. Nico talking snapped her out of the shocked daze. She smiles and hugged him while jumping. “I snapped you out I see.” He chuckled.

“Is anyone going to beat that? Oh god they’re gonna be so mad at me.”

“Mad?!” He asked. “That is amazing work!”

“They’re getting beat by a rookie dad, no one will be happy about that.”

“Once they realize that they’re going to be just as surprised as you!”

“Box, box.” They hear from Norris’s engineer over the tv.

“A rookie at the top of the time card, and her teammate is just tenths of a second off.” Jacques said. She looked up and Lando is around +.5s behind her times.

“This is going to be one hell of a season.” She laughed. “I can promise you that.” Ollie gets to 6th and Kimi in 3rd. What a season this’ll be.

Lando pulls in and gets out looking at the times and stats. His face contorts into confusion, then he pans to the Rosbergs. “How’d you do that?” He asked.

“I don’t know.” She said slightly laughing. “Look Ollie and Kimi are top 10 too.”

“What the hell are they feeding you in F2?” He asked laughing now too. “That’s insane.”

“You’re good at what you do Ros.” Nick said. “This is just the beginning.”

That last line has me in a chokehold like hello?!

@il0vereadingstuff @angelluv16 @pandabiiissh @kallanfiona @itznotsophia @widow-cevans

[charles-leclerc-official]

Monaco Qualifying: Mini Analysis

Just wanted to point out a few things about the field tomorrow with our top 10.

First is that Charles is in a league of his own, pole by more than 2 tenths, fastest qualifying lap of the session. Well deserved pole and he did it with a comfortable gap to P2.

The only other driver to break out of the 1:10.5 range was Oscar, who is a little over 2 tenths off Charles, and almost a tenth ahead of Carlos.

The next 4 drivers are all extremely close, as in they are off by hundredths not tenths. This really could have gone anyone's way. Slight variances and imperfections made the difference. No one is clearly ahead. So it really came down to a little bit of luck and also the skill in the little areas where it mattered.

Of this group of four drivers Carlos was ahead by the most, he was closest to cracking into the 1:10.4 territory, so the Ferrari's really were on top of it for this track.

After that between George and Lando it's a difference of literally 1/100th of a second, that is just down to luck, because it's essentially the same lap time. Like that margin is basically invisible. And Max is only off them by 20/100ths, which again is so small. Those three were basically matched and it was just down to the very little things with the car, the lap, and the conditions.

Lewis also wasn't too far off this group. Less than a tenth separating himself from Carlos, and about half a tenth off his teammate.

After Lewis the rest have a bigger gap to the rest of the pack.

I want to note that while this was an insane showing from Pierre, his best lap was actually his Q2 lap of 1:10.896.

This is certainly the most unusual starting order we've seen so far, for the whole grid and the top 10. Monaco will do that do you.

Quick look at comparing Charles' and Oscar's laps

What I am interested in is the fact that there isn't a clear point where Mclaren has the edge, I knew they'd be more evenly matched against Ferrari here but this is further off than I'd thought. These straights aren't even Mclaren's best sectors, where they were so strong at Imola it seems that significant lead didn't translate as well to the street track format. So good for Ferrari which overall was the strongest car on this track.

Also Charles really did bring it, no one really touched him when it came to that lap. He really did dominate.

Finally remember that Monaco is an extreme outlier of a track. So for drivers/cars that are not strong here it isn't a good metric to try to determine how things will go on other tracks. Yes Red Bull seem to be struggling, but on this track that's not as concerning for them performance wise as it would be at a more typical track. Similarly Alpine are doing well, which may or may not hold true in the future, same with Alex and Williams. An outlier track sometimes makes outlier results. One of the reasons Monaco is so cool.

Now we do know that Ferrari and Mclaren are strong, and these aren't outlier results for them, they've been fast and competitive, and they were here as well. So what this means for those teams is that their cars are very versatile and less track dependent than say some other top teams(Red Bull)

There is a lot more, but those were the things I noticed that were interesting to me from this session. But really all you need to know is that Charles put together a STUNNING lap.

[princessanneftw]

“Also playing a key role in the new reign, in her customary understated way, will be the Princess Royal. One look at the official Coronation photographs is proof of that. While the King has the Queen on his left, it is his sister who stands at his right-hand side. One of the three members of the family who regularly performs investitures, along with the King and the Prince of Wales, the Princess has also now been added to the roster of senior royal mourners. It means that she can attend important world funerals if the Prince of Wales is unable to attend (as happened after the death of ex-King Constantine of the Hellenes in January 2023).

Even more understated is her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. His distinguished Royal Navy career has been followed by multiple leadership roles in institutions ranging from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to private sector bodies like the Major Projects Association, often during periods of change. As the National Trust found itself caught up in the full force of the ‘culture wars’ through its handling of issues such as slavery and the sexuality of former stately homeowners, it’s main rival, English Heritage, did not. It, too, looks after hundreds of castles, monuments and swathes of countryside plus all the blue plaques on important buildings. In addition, it was also undergoing a fundamental transformation from government agency to national charity. As its two-term chairman, Laurence was at the helm throughout what could have been a turbulent - yet it proved not to be. While he has no official royal role, and has never sought one, he is widely respected across the Royal Household as a wise sounding board and the proverbial ‘safe pair of hands’. In September 2023, with a minimum of fanfare, he received his first patronage when he was appointed patron of the International Maritime Rescue Federation. With the Princess now enjoying an enhanced role, life is unlikely to slow down for this low-key, non-royal, royal consort.”

‘Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story’ by Robert Hardman (2024).

[greensolsikke]

After spamming y'all with my gig pics (haha), here's another try on a gig report:

Joker Out in Munich Strom, 26.03.24

- I arrived rather "late" for queueing, at 15 o'clock. Got nr. 50 general access, which was more than fine. The queuing people were really nice and lots of bracelets and fan art were exchanged.

- the weather conditions were so much better than in Cologne and the venue had way more infrastructure around (restaurants, shops with toilets).

- the venue itself is rather small. The stage was packed with the four boys in the front. Jure wasn't easy to spot ☹️ but no barricade!

- Sector 5 and JC Stewart were performing really well. People were singing along and cheered.

- Kris seemed to be on better terms health wise. He smiled and was more expressive with his face.

- they were given lots of gifts and crowns. Unfortunately, there's still people throwing stuff on stage. One item even hit Jan 😳 Guys, don't do it, please!

- besides the regular tracks, they played Omamljeno Telo (😍) and Barve Oceana. New songs were Sta Bih Ja and Schlager

- At some point, Nace circled around Jan and he kept on pirouetting

- Not to forget the ALMOST kiss of Kris and Nace: Kris was grabbing Nace's white button-down and shook him affectionately. While pulling him close, his face got super close to Nace's.

- UM was done without Bojan in the crowd. He tried keeping it short, kinda, but... Well... Lots of Slovenian versions, one from a child from the crowd, a Finnish one, German and Swiss-German.

- Jan and Nace were snickery hubbies again. In Cologne, Jan wore a white shirt, in Munich it was Nace. I'll just leave that information for you

- All in all, it was a good and joyous concert.

- After the concert, the boys had headed to the bus quite quickly. Jan was seen shortly, but other than that mainly Kiki and Dean. They have a gig in Milano today so they probably had/wanted to leave early.

- But that gave us time for a spontaneous Tumblr meeting. It was so lovely to talk and interact with you 🫶

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Olivia Troye at Living It With Olivia:

During my time on the National Security Council (NSC) staff, while serving as Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, I saw firsthand how vital the NSC is to the safety and stability of our nation. However, my relationship with the NSC didn’t begin there. I’ve worked closely with it throughout my career, starting in the early 2000s. Over the years, I’ve witnessed some of the most skilled, dedicated public servants in government walk those halls. It used to be that serving on the NSC staff was one of the highest honors in public service, a role reserved for the best of the best. The level of expertise was once unmatched. Regional specialists, career diplomats, intelligence professionals, military strategists, and legal and economic minds all worked in concert to ensure the President and Vice President were informed by real facts, grounded analysis, and strategic foresight. That's what the NSC was built for: to coordinate, not politicize; to unify, not divide; to protect, not perform. Now? That integrity is being gutted in real-time. According to CNN, over 100 NSC staffers were placed on administrative leave late last week. Many of them are career professionals who have served under multiple administrations. They're being pushed out and replaced by political loyalists who lack even the most basic qualifications for the roles they now occupy. This isn’t a restructuring. It’s a purge. And it will cost us.

What the NSC Actually Does

The National Security Council serves as the strategic hub of the American government during times of calm and crisis. It is the only entity designed to cut across every major department, ensuring unity of effort, speed of action, and clarity of purpose.

It:

Coordinates interagency policy across Defense, State, Homeland Security, Treasury, Energy, Justice, Commerce, HHS, and beyond.

Synthesizes intelligence and threat assessments from across the Intelligence Community.

Develops strategies on defense, foreign affairs, cybersecurity, disinformation, migration, terrorism, and disaster response.

Prepares and provides real-time situational awareness.

Guides diplomatic and military posture, manages crisis response and ensures continuity of government.

Tracks and responds to foreign and domestic threats to American lives and institutions.

The NSC doesn't just manage information; it orchestrates it. When it functions as designed, it gives America the ability to respond quickly, wisely, and proportionately. But strip out the expertise, and you're left with noise, dysfunction, and delayed decisions in moments that demand precision. Experience in national security can’t be faked. It’s forged in classified briefings, deployments, war rooms, and interagency planning sessions. The professionals who staff the NSC bring decades of institutional memory, regional knowledge, and cross-sector understanding. That matters. You cannot improvise your way through a missile launch alert. You cannot “wing it” through a global pandemic. I saw the cost of that firsthand. When COVID-19 struck, the coordination process was ignored, the experts were sidelined, and the federal response fragmented. People died who didn’t have to. That is what happens when the NSC is sidelined. And now, it’s happening again, with even fewer guardrails.

The Hypocrisy of the “Deep State” Narrative

And then there’s Marco Rubio. It’s rich to hear him claim it’s Trump vs. the “deep state.” Because I remember precisely what Rubio did during Trump’s first term: he hand-picked NSC senior directors for the Western Hemisphere because he wanted control over Cuba and Venezuela policy. Not based on merit. Not based on qualifications. Based on politics. [...] A newly declassified U.S. intelligence memo contradicted Trump’s latest fearmongering about Venezuela. It clearly states that President Nicolás Maduro is not directing Tren de Aragua, the criminal gang Trump claims is “invading” the U.S. This lie isn’t just baseless, it’s dangerous. It was crafted to stoke fear and justify extremist policies. And when professionals inside the government speak up to correct it, they’re smeared and silenced.

The National Security Council (NSC) is under major attack by the Trump Regime.

See Also:

MMFA: An intelligence report debunked MAGA media claims about Tren de Aragua and Venezuela. A Trump official is now under fire for reportedly ordering the report be redone.

[boxboxblog]

Saudi GP 2025: Q3 (The Big One)

Alright everyone, let's duke it out for pole. Expectations: Norris-Piastri-Verstappen. I could see Russell going for it too, but not Ferrari for sure. Who knows though, I love surprises.

The big news of last session was Hamilton being very very close to being dropped. Other than that, there were no major surprises. Lawson did outqualify Hadjar for the first time, so I suppose that is news. Oh, and for the second race Sainz has qualified ahead of Albon. Though in race last week, Albon did finish ahead because his teammate retired, so anything can happen tomorrow.

Red Bull seems to have improved something from Bahrain, and they have apparently found their second driver after so much trial and error. Tsunoda is performing quite well, makes you wonder why he wasn't pulled up from the beginning.

Green light!

Each driver will try to do two laps, and right now Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen are on fresh tires. The Ferrari's are on used which means they are saving it for their second lap. I am unsure if Red Bull and McLaren have an extra set of softs to use, if not that could be great for Ferrari.

Piastri first out, he puts it to the top.

Norris puts it into the barriers and there is a red flag! He is okay, but this is probably it for his session. That is absolutely insane, he was my expected pole and now most likely he will start in 10th. Unless McLaren can get a good turn around (minutes, and not happeening in my opinion) then this is it for him. Not great at Jeddah either, it is not an overtake heavy track. I expect some strategy intensity from McLaren tomorrow.

As it stands, my new prediction is Piastri-Verstappen-Norris. I knew something interesting would happen.

Beyond that. this could really effect strategy. The only driver who got a lap was Piastri, and we could possibly see everyone waiting and only doing one lap other than him. Which means it could be a straight, no mistake shoot out for the front row from everyone. Which is a lot of pressure. Maybe they have enough time for two though.

Green light, red flag is over. Eight minutes left, so actually I think they will be able to do two. Not all cars go out though, so it seems that Mercedes and Ferrari will be banking on one laps. Is that wise? I'm not entirely sure, especially with how unforgiving Jeddah is.

Verstappen out and begins his flying. His first sector is fastest, so far so good for him. He jumps to the top ahead of Piastri.

Sainz also goes and he goes behind Piastri. They so far are the only ones with laps, so it seems that everyone else is banking on the one lap. Interesting.

Other cars finally go on there outlaps.

Russell starts flying and has the fastest first sector. His middle sector is not fantastic. He goes up to top. Everyone else will go again, though.

Piastri on flying lap, and takes fastest first sector. Verstappen also starts and he takes fastest first sector. Leclerc finishes his and only takes it to fourth, and his teammate goes to 7th. Piastri jumps to top, but then Verstappen puts it into the top to take pole.

Starting Grid (Provisional):

Verstappen

Piastri

Russell

Leclerc

Antonelli

Sainz

Hamilton

Tsunoda

Gasly

Norris

Albon

Lawson

Alonso

Hadjar

Bearman

Stroll

Doohan

Hulkenberg

Ocon

Bortoleto

Alright, very interesting! I will see you all tomorrow after the race.

Cheers,

-B

[1250px]

Action Stage 「Helios Rising Heroes」 -SUMMER FESTIVAL-

Awesome news! They finally showed the new stage key visual and added more to the story, so I figured I could finally post about it!

STORY

Raise the Curtain!! ~Come what may, let the show begin!!~

The city of New Million, where a million dreams come true, has flourished thanks to the efforts of its heroes―― In this city that welcomes visitors from all corners of the world, a dome-shaped stadium has been built on the water: the 'Grand Sea New Million.' The plan is to kick things off with a summer festival, and the stadium management is asking the 'heroes' for their help. In the interest of the city, 【HELIOS】 is fully committed to collaboration. The 'heroes' will not only take the stage at the festival, but they'll also assist in managing the event, collaborating across different sectors to kick off the festival. Nonetheless, problems keep occurring one after the other――. To make things worse, Eclipse's schemes are quietly unfolding behind the scenes of the event.

Will the curtain rise on the "Summer Fes" without any issues!?

─────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────────────────

CAST

South sector Brad Beams: Ryouma Baba Oscar Bale: Masafumi Yokoyama Will Sprout: Naoki Kurata

North sector Marion Blythe: Sousho Tomimoto Victor Valentine: Shuji Kikuchi Gast Adler: Masataka Kimura

West sector Keith Max: Seiya Inagaki Leonard Wright Jr: Jun Noguchi Faith Beams: Gaku Takamoto

East sector Jay Kidman: Juri

Nova Summerfield: Shojiro Yokoi Dino Albani: Yuya Asato

Sirius: Kento Ono Shin: Yuta Osumi Siams: Taishi Sugie

Live part Special guest appearance at the Tokyo shows:

08/08 14:00 Billy Wise: Naoya Iwaki

08/13 13:00 Akira Otori: Yojiro Itokawa

Special guest appearance at the Osaka shows:

08/23 18:00 Ren Kisaragi: Yugo Sato

─────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────────────────

Comment from the director, Kotaro Yoshitani:

The live show of HeliSta is a captivating experience, akin to a theme park filled with everything HeliSta has to offer. Despite being a live show, HeliSta Live is anything but peaceful. Where there are heroes, there is Eclipse, which naturally leads to incidents and fascinating human drama. From a thrilling and suspenseful storyline filled with excitement, we transition into an electrifying live performance. As mentors join forces, rookies give their all, and Eclipse implements its schemes all while running around the venue, we will present a performance that transcends the Action Stage, reimagines a live performance, breaks down sector walls, and challenges the distinctions between allies and enemies! As a huge fan of 'HeliosR', I'm excited to share the finest entertainment with all the commanders. Get ready for the hottest summer in HeliSta history!

✦ As confirmed by this post, the live part will include both old songs from past stages and new songs!

[sunshinesmebdy]

Asteroid Wage Enters Gemini: Tips for Thriving in the Whirlwind

Brace yourselves for a celestial shift that’s set to shake up the market: asteroid Wage is setting foot in the nimble, ever-curious sign of Gemini. Buckle up, because the next year promises volatility, adaptability, and yes, even potential financial gains for those who navigate this transit wisely.

What is Asteroid Wage in Gemini?

Think of Wage as the cosmic paymaster, highlighting areas of earning potential and value exchange. In Gemini, the realm of communication, information, and versatility, Wage gets supercharged. Expect dynamic shifts in labor markets, evolving payment models, and a renewed focus on skills and flexibility over tenure.

Impacts for Businesses:

Embrace the gig economy: The Gemini Wage favors agile operations and independent contractors. Consider outsourcing tasks and diversifying your workforce to adapt to changing demands.

Ditch the nine-to-five and hello, dynamic duo! Gemini Wage thrives on adaptability and short-burst projects, so tap into the gig economy to fuel your flexibility. Outsource tasks, embrace a diverse team of independent contractors, and watch your business pirouette through changing demands with the grace of a celestial ballerina. This isn’t just cost-effective, it’s a cosmic recipe for agility and growth.

Invest in communication: Clear communication is key to attracting and retaining talent. Streamline internal processes, refine your marketing message, and invest in technology that facilitates collaboration.

Make your message a megaphone under Gemini Wage! Crystal-clear communication is your golden key to talent, both attracting new stars and keeping your current team in orbit. Polish your internal processes to gleaming, hone your marketing message to a razor-sharp point, and invest in tech that fosters collaboration like a cosmic chatroom. Remember, in this whirlwind transit, the loudest, clearest voices soar highest.

Upskill your team: Be prepared for rapid changes in technology and market trends. Encourage continuous learning and invest in retraining programs to keep your employees relevant.

Equip your team for the cosmic roller coaster! Gemini Wage craves adaptability, so prioritize continuous learning and upskilling programs. Encourage tech-savvy side hustles, invest in retraining that flexes with market trends, and watch your employees morph from cogs in the machine to versatile, innovative problem-solvers. Remember, in this whirlwind, the sharpest minds reap the richest rewards.

Rethink traditional compensation: Bonus structures, profit-sharing models, and performance-based incentives become more attractive under Gemini Wage. Consider adopting alternative salary structures to motivate and retain talent.

Toss out the dusty old salary spreadsheets and embrace the dynamic dance of Gemini Wage! This transit demands agility, and that extends to how you compensate your team. Think beyond the rigid monthly wage. Bonus structures that reward quick wins and innovative ideas become gold under this celestial influence. Consider profit-sharing models, where your team’s success directly translates to their pockets, fostering a culture of ownership and shared goals. Performance-based incentives, tailored to individual strengths and contributions, light a fire under even the most seasoned employee. Remember, in the whirlwind of Gemini Wage, a little creative compensation can go a long way in attracting and retaining top talent. So, ditch the one-size-fits-all approach and get ready to tango with a compensation system that’s as adaptable and exciting as the cosmic twins themselves!

Investing and Finance:

Focus on agility and diversification: Gemini favors short-term, high-growth investments and sectors like tech, media, and communication. Don’t be afraid to experiment and spread your bets.

Ditch the tortoise, embrace the hummingbird! Under Gemini Wage, agility reigns supreme. Invest in short-term, high-growth ventures, particularly in the tech, media, and communication galaxies. Spread your bets like cosmic confetti, experimenting with diverse projects and sectors. Don’t be afraid to pivot and adapt, for in this whirlwind market, nimbleness is your golden ticket to stratospheric returns. Remember, diversification is the secret sauce, so keep your portfolio a constellation of possibilities, ready to catch the next supernova of opportunity.

Stay informed and adaptable: Be nimble enough to react to sudden market shifts. Embrace news apps, financial forecasts, and astrological timing (yes, even!) to make informed decisions.

Become a cosmic chameleon under Gemini Wage! Stay nimbler than a celestial ninja, ready to dodge and weave through sudden market shifts. Embrace financial forecasts and news apps like your personal oracle, but don’t underestimate the whispers of the stars. Align your investments with astrological timing, tuning into energy shifts for informed decisions. Remember, under this whirlwind transit, knowledge is power, and a sprinkle of celestial awareness can be the secret weapon that sets you apart from the herd. So, keep your ear to the ground, your eyes on the charts, and your mind open to the whispers of the cosmos — it’s the recipe for navigating the financial galaxy with grace and prosperity.

Look for the hidden value: Gemini’s sharp eye can uncover undervalued assets and innovative opportunities. Think outside the box and explore emerging markets and disruptive technologies.

This transit sharpens your eye to spot undervalued assets lurking in plain sight, like diamonds in the rough. Think beyond the obvious, explore emerging markets where innovation ripples like a sonic boom, and embrace disruptive technologies that could rewrite the financial rulebook. Remember, under Gemini’s curious gaze, the unconventional can become your goldmine. So, ditch the herd mentality, channel your inner maverick, and unearth the treasures waiting just beyond the edge of the financial map. The rewards for the adventurous investor are written in the stars!

Tips for Thriving with Gemini Wage:

Sharpen your communication skills: The more effectively you communicate your value, the more opportunities you attract. Honing your negotiation and presentation skills will pay off.

Network like a pro: Gemini thrives on connections. Build relationships with potential partners, clients, and collaborators. Your network is your net worth under this transit.

Embrace change and flexibility: Don’t get stuck in outdated models. Be open to new ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and adapt quickly to market shifts.

Focus on learning and adaptability: Invest in personal and professional development. Hone your skills, upgrade your knowledge, and stay ahead of the curve in your field.

So, entrepreneurs and financiers, are you ready to dance with the whirlwind? Let’s see what fortunes await under the sign of the twins!

[knowstockinsights]

The Nifty 50 index represents the top 50 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India, offering a glimpse into the country’s economic health. These stocks span diverse sectors such as IT, banking, energy, FMCG, and healthcare, making the index a benchmark for the Indian equity market.

[realinspirations]

Environmental Conservation: Protecting Our Only Home

At its heart, environmental conservation manner defensive natural assets like air, water, soil, plants, and animals. It's approximately ensuring that nature’s systems keep to characteristic for all lifestyles paperwork, together with human beings.

6 Importance Of Environmental Conservations

There are  fundamental aspects to conservation:

Preservation: Keeping ecosystems untouched and wild (like country wide parks and natural world reserves).

Sustainable use: Using natural assets wisely so that they aren’t depleted (like accountable farming and fishing).

Both tactics are necessary to keep the sensitive balance of the Earth’s ecosystems.

🏞️ Why is Conservation So Important?

Nature is not just "obtainable" someplace. It’s woven into every a part of our daily lives.

Clean Air and Water: Trees filter out pollution from the air. Wetlands purify water certainly.

Food Security: Healthy soils and pollinators like bees are vital for growing food.

Climate Stability: Forests, oceans, and grasslands soak up carbon dioxide, assisting regulate the Earth’s temperature.

Biodiversity: Every species performs a role in keeping ecosystems resilient.

When we wreck nature, we harm ourselves. The upward thrust in floods, wildfires, and extreme weather is a loud caution from the planet itself.

Saving the surroundings is not just about shielding flora and fauna; it’s about securing our own survival.

🌎 Major Environmental Challenges We Face

Even even though consciousness is developing, our planet faces serious threats:

Deforestation: Forests are reduce down for timber, agriculture, and urban growth. We're dropping vital lungs of the Earth at an alarming fee.

Pollution: Plastic waste clogs oceans. Toxic chemicals poison rivers. Air pollution chokes towns.

Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, factories, and agriculture entice warmth, causing global warming.

Biodiversity Loss: Thousands of species cross extinct each year, weakening environment health.

Each of these demanding situations is interconnected. Tackling them calls for each man or woman motion and global cooperation.

You might wonder, “Can one man or woman certainly make a distinction?

The answer is really sure. Collective action starts with person steps. 

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Cut down on unmarried-use plastics.

Recycle paper, glass, steel, and electronics.

Repair items rather than changing them.

2. Conserve Water and Energy

Fix leaks and turn off taps.

Switch to LED bulbs.

Unplug electronics while now not in use.

Embrace renewable energy where feasible.

Three. Support Sustainable Brands

Choose products made with green substances.

Support organizations that use moral practices.

Four. Eat Mindfully

Eat extra plant-based meals.

Buy nearby and organic produce.

Reduce food waste with the aid of planning food carefully.

Five. Plant Trees and Create Green Spaces

Trees clean the air, provide color, and help biodiversity.

6. Educate and Advocate

Talk approximately conservation with friends and circle of relatives.

Support rules that protect the environment.

Volunteer for cleanups or nearby conservation projects.

Small behavior stack up. Millions of small moves create huge ripple results.

🐝 Conservation Success Stories That Inspire

Amidst the demanding situations, there are remarkable memories of desire:

The Bald Eagle Recovery: In the U.S., bald eagles had been almost extinct within the twentieth century because of pesticide use. Thanks to conservation efforts and a ban on harmful chemicals, bald eagles have made a effective comeback.

The Greening of Rwanda: After years of deforestation, Rwanda released competitive tree-planting campaigns. 

Ocean Sanctuaries: Countries round the sector are putting apart large marine regions as covered sanctuaries, giving fish and marine life a hazard to recover and thrive.

These memories remind us: while we care, we will heal what’s damaged.

🌍 The Future is in Our Hands

Environmental conservation isn't always a luxurious; it’s a necessity. 

Imagine a destiny in which:

Rivers run clean and full of existence.

Forests hum with birds and bugs.

Cities breathe sparkling air.

Children climb bushes in preference to listening to about them in history books.

[cococreativesg-blog]

Elevate Your Professional Image with COCO Creative Studio's Headshot Photography in Singapore

Gone are the days when you used to picture a friendly (in most cases) headshot of an individual simply because such a course was obligatory. In today’s business environment, accurate headshot photos are playing an important role in the negative space in as much as one wants to impress at the first meeting. Corporate headshots mean a lot in the representation of one’s life, both socially and career-wise, and so it’s a major need for working professionals in Singapore. COCO Creative Studio is one of Singapore's leading photo studios that focuses on headshot photography, helping business people to look appealing, confident and competent. COCO Creative Studio established a quality of performance in providing headshots that are simple photos. This is not content which showcases the personal brand of the individual alone, but rather seeks to marry professionalism required in serving industries such as finance, technology, health care and creative sectors. A focus on leaving no stone unturned in the quality of services offered has propelled the company to emerge as a leading provider of corporate headshot photography in Singapore.

One of the reasons COCO Creative Studio is so good at professional headshot photography is that it always attempts to understand the client’s needs. When it comes to mass company-wide photo-session requiring consistency among all employees photographs or to personal headshots that focus on branding oneself, COCO Creative Studio practices such methods. The professionals work with utmost care to the details of every photo-session. Therefore, the outcome suits the brand or individual in achieving certain objectives.

What is more, the professional photographers of the COCO Creative Studio are very efficient in making the best of any lighting, angle and composition of the subject. They make use of the best technology and care for details in the images to achieve the best in the ocean of images found online. They can be found in various professional contexts, including LinkedIn, company websites, business cards and other advertising. Such pictures are particularly helpful to companies and individuals in improving their image and in impressing their prospects and associates positively.

As it is in an Urban City like Singapore, hardworking professionals may need a good headshot to make a difference in the competitive and active corporate world. Therefore, COCO Creative Studio appreciates this need. Their headshot services include taking pictures limits of the studio, and ad-hoc outdoor photography to meet the requirements of the customer. Their team also makes sure that the person’s skin feels warm and the confidence is seen as it reflects on the images, which are more real and compelling.

One of the unique aspects of COCO Creative Studio’s services is its emphasis on post-production. Careful editing of the image is undertaken such that it is of great importance and meets the highest standards of quality. Whether it’s light retouching which is adding to the picture but not removing the subject’s native overall beauty or changing the intensity and direction of light to the most suitable mood for the image, the union dealing with post-production has it well delivered.

Outside of individual headshots, COCO Creative Studio specialises in external group corporate headshots as well. They have partnered with some leading corporations in Singapore to devise coherent sets of team portraits that match the company’s visual identity. In such assignments, they make sure that every individual’s headshot follows the same style in terms of the background, facial expression, etc to create a perfect cohesive image of the organisation. This level of precision is especially necessary for companies that prefer their clients, partners and investors to see them as organised and sophisticated.

COCO Creative Studio also offers extensive headshot photography services that concentrate mostly on the office environment. Other than this, they also portray professionals working in a creative field, like actors, artists, and musicians, who need images that are more interesting and lively. Be it a plain black-and-white photo of the face or a colourful and artistically fully loaded photo, COCO Creative Studio is ready to work with various clients and make their business portraits effective and corresponding to the individual’s inner world.

COCO Creative Studio is among the top photography studios in Singapore, and it constantly seeks ways to improve the quality of its services. They have several headshot styles for different professions so that every client would go home with a product that complements the brand. It is also loyalty to clean, contemporary, and professional, with a hint of approachability as the coverage centres on the client. This is such a style that many professionals have adapted, especially those who intend to look more assertive, dependable and competent.

Apart from offering corporate headshots for clients, COCO Creative Studio also offers consultations on hair, wardrobe, styling, and the overall concept of the photoshoot. This great deal of assistance is useful, especially to those who may be taking photographs on a professional basis for the first time or those who do not know how to go about it. COCO Creative studio has a team of knowledgeable people who consult with the customers so that they tell them how to get ready for the session: what attitude, what facial expressions, what clothes help convey the message effectively. This guarantees that all the final images will flatter the models as much as is humanly possible.

Moreover, the COCO Creative Studio is highly praised for the completion of the tasks efficiently while still retaining the required standards. The process of engaging professionals is seamless, where a session can be booked and final images obtained in between busy schedules that professionals experience. This is very useful for organisations that have headshots for a large number of employees or for experts who need their images in a short period.

To sum up, headshot photography is no longer an option; rather, it is a need in the present world of work. For the professionals in Singapore, solutions come in from COCO Creative Studio, where there is depth of know-how & commitment to deliver headshot quality. By understanding the requirements of each client, individual or corporate, or in this instance, headshots which enhance personal & corporate brands and evoke a response are produced. Whether you are searching for a standard business headshot, a stunning portrait, or consistent images of your team, gone would be the days when you waste time searching for a headshot photograph in Singapore – sorcery is the answer that has the best edge in headshot photography in Singapore.

Winning accolades and awards, maintaining a contemporary design, and being customer centric have not made COCO Creative Studio complacent. It still remains a trendsetter in headshot photography and enable individuals to improve their status and compete effectively in the modern environment.

Conclusion:

Given how aspirational the professional environment is in Singapore, we cannot underestimate the significance of a headshot. COCO Creative studio delivers high-end head shots professionally with their loyal customers emphasizing the use of the best shots to sell their image professionally. They provide headshot photos that are targeted and appealing by understanding their customers’ needs and using modern approaches to deliver more than just a headshot. COCO creative Studio is still the best place for stunning professional headshot of individuals and corporate teams.

[bestwindowtinterpalatka]

Curtis Gore, Window Tinting: Palatka's Top Window Tinting Expert

As the leading expert in window tinting Palatka Florida, Curtis Gore, Window Tinting marks the gold standard for exemplary service and unmatched expertise. With 25 years in operation, this top-rated window tinter in Palatka, Florida combines unparalleled craftsmanship, innovative solutions, and a wealth of experience to meet-and often exceed-customer expectations. Serving areas like East Palatka, Bostwick, and Interlachen, Curtis Gore delivers both residential and commercial tinting solutions that resonate with clients looking for quality and affordability. Let's delve deeper into what makes Curtis Gore the go-to name in window tinting.

Unmatched Experience and Expertise

Extensive Knowledge of Tinting Techniques

Curtis Gore's journey in the field began over two decades ago, amassing invaluable knowledge in automotive, residential, and commercial tinting. Each sector requires unique skill sets, and Curtis's extensive experience enables him to navigate these with ease. He has mastered the nuances of each market, from adjusting shades and materials based on client preferences to executing meticulous installations.

Versatile Client Solutions

Whether you are interested in enhancing the privacy of your luxury vehicle or optimizing energy efficiency in your office, Curtis offers a solution tailored to your specific needs. This flexibility not only meets the demands of diverse clients but also positions Curtis as an experienced window tinter near Palatka, Florida. Transitioning from mastery over technique, let's delve into how high-quality products further elevate client satisfaction.

Commitment to Quality Products

Premium-Grade Window Films

Curtis Gore refuses to compromise on the quality of products used. Offering only premium-grade window films, Curtis ensures optimal results such as superior heat rejection, and UV protection, and minimized glare, crucial for Floridians who battle intense sunlight.

Enhanced Client Comfort and Energy Efficiency

The use of top-tier films results in enhanced comfort and energy efficiency, making them a wise investment. Curtis Gore's selection of high-performance films guarantees long-lasting satisfaction, reinforcing his reputation as the most trusted window tinting company in Palatka. Transitioning from superior products, let's explore some innovative techniques employed by Curtis to ensure flawless installations.

Innovative Installation Techniques

Precision and Detail-Oriented Installations

Window tinting is both art and science: Curtis has perfected both. His technique minimizes the risk of bubbling, peeling, or discoloration while ensuring precise film alignment. Whether dealing with car windows or large home surfaces, Curtis's meticulous attention to detail delivers results that are nothing short of flawless.

Client Satisfaction Through Precision

Curtis's refined approach ensures unparalleled customer satisfaction, which significantly contributes to repeat business and growing referrals. This focus on precision bolsters Curtis's position as a top window tinting expert in Palatka. As we wrap up installation techniques, it's essential to emphasize Curtis Gore's commitment to exceptional customer service.

Unrivaled Customer Service

Transparent Communication

Curtis Gore values transparent discussions, offering clients a clear understanding of tint options suitable for them. This communication framework assures that projects align perfectly with budget and expectations, securing confidence in every decision.

Building Lasting Relationships

Through transparency and attentiveness, Curtis has built lasting relationships within the community, demonstrating why he's perceived as the best home window tinting service in Palatka, FL.

Transition to Conclusion

From his relentless dedication to craftsmanship to customer-centered services, it's clear why Curtis Gore stands as a pillar of excellence in window tinting.

Conclusion

Curtis Gore, synonymous with window tinting Palatka, delivers groundbreaking craftsmanship and customer-focused solutions. Capabilities span a variety of tinting projects, positioning him as Palatka's most sought-after expert. Whether boosting a vehicle's aesthetic appeal or contributing to energy savings in homes, clients can rely on Curtis for impeccable service. Are you ready to experience the best in window tint Palatka FL? Reach out at [Curtis's Contact](https://www.facebook.com/curtisgore) today to embark on a transformative window tinting journey with Curtis Gore, Window Tinting. https://medium.com/@tinterinpalatkawhoisthebestwin/curtis-gore-window-tinting-palatkas-premier-tinting-expert-c43955b05087

[georgegraphys]

Warning : Heavily opinionated as I speak from my experience (which may be lacking) as someone who worked and studied in PR/Marketing sector so please take it lightly as this is just for a fun agree-to-disagree discussion

Okay let's talk about it

To some grussell sprouts, the development of George's "meme" persona to the general fans might be an annoying phenomenon because we often see George being reduced to nothing but memes and people just talk about his funny moments, like him for his looks or underrate him.

But what if I said it wasn't all that negative? Career wise.

F1 is a sport where you have to establish a personality or strong branding to shine there. It's not only about skills and talents sadly (let's face reality). We all know that not all F1 figures decide to go down this road but at the very least, they all do and they must do especially the current ones. After his Sakhir 2020 performance and pre-Mercedes era, I'd rank George's marketability somewhere around 6-10 on the grid. People know he is talented but often times, they do not know him enough to know about his personality. Very different from the likes of Norris or Ricciardo (in a good way). I won't blame anyone and their moms for this because George is in a Williams back then, which may lack some spotlight to it compared to the Williams nowadays.

Then he came to Mercedes. And he acts like usual. Like what he did in Williams. He has always been George the way he is since forever. But people are shocked when they know more and start to come to their own conclusion and stereotype him as "bitchy", "tory", etc. Why does this happen? Because they know he is there on the grid, he is famous but they don't know him enough to know his personality. And so he got stereotyped and people got the wrong idea of him.

But George's personality starts to show more to the general fans eyes as the "george russell is the type of guy..." memes appear and the intro pose soon follows. People are getting to know him through liking his "new" funny personality. It isn't anything new actually. George is being George but they just got to know him aside from his radio, race personality, and face. They just got to know more of George through his personality that is "goofy" for them even though it is honestly nothing new.

Then the hair part rolls in. Believe me, hair theory exists and works. It is a part of marketing and PR sometimes. George's hair made him look friendlier than before to the general public as it was a style they are more familiar with. Me and you, as George's fans, honestly do not care whether he wants to use 100 gels or go bald (We'd still like him) but to the general public that doesn't really know him? It matters. So you need to understand that even though those don't matter to you. They matter to the general fans and help them to like him more.

There's also the part where the sponsors actually start to know the direction they'll take with George. This is shown clearly by the way Tommy, Ritz, Marriott, Puma, etc produce/direct his recent ads/photoshoots/etc. If you are able to notice, they seem to have a clearer perspective of the direction where they are taking things with George and trust me, it is a very positive sign. A brand who knows what to do with its client is a sign of longevity and new strength in their partnership. They have these visions because they are starting to see the market and buzz building up, alongside with more chances that he gets to show his personality off-track through interviews, events, etc that he is invited to. This is actually a very good form of personal branding. And honestly, the trend is going upwards and this is actually helping him career wise because with the way he is and the more people get to know the real him and his personality, he will attract a lot of sponsors that fits him too. Not only team sponsors but also individual sponsors in the future as well 👀

I understand that some grussell sprouts might not view this favorably because there are some people who will only like him for their looks, are toxic, etc but there are some positives to take from this "seemingly new but nothing new" boom that he got from the past 6-10 months. For the real grussell sprouts out there, let's root for him the way we always do! 🩵💓🩵💓