#building workforce capability

[biosssa]

Comprehensive Guide to Employee Competency Evaluation

Understanding the Capability Assessment Model

In modern organizational contexts, employee competency evaluation is a critical process that determines the skills, knowledge, and potential of individuals within a workforce. A well-structured capability assessment model goes beyond routine performance reviews, aiming to assess not only current skills but also future potential and developmental needs.

What is Employee Competency Evaluation?

Employee competency evaluation involves a systematic approach to assessing the capabilities and competencies of employees. It encompasses various methodologies such as skills assessments, behavioral interviews, and performance evaluations to gain a comprehensive understanding of an employee's strengths and areas for improvement.

Importance of Work Capability Assessment

Enhancing Workforce Capability

A robust work capability assessment is pivotal in identifying gaps in skills and knowledge within an organization. By evaluating workforce capabilities, organizations can strategically plan for training, recruitment, and development initiatives that align with business objectives.

Building Workforce Capability for Future Challenges

The process of building workforce capability involves not only identifying current skills but also preparing employees for future roles and responsibilities. This proactive approach ensures that organizations are agile and ready to adapt to changing industry demands.

Key Components of Employee Competency Evaluation

1. Assessing Core Competencies

Effective employee competency evaluation begins with defining and assessing core competencies relevant to each role within the organization. This includes technical skills, soft skills, and leadership qualities essential for job performance.

2. Identifying Developmental Needs

An integral part of capability assessment is identifying developmental needs based on current performance and career aspirations. This enables organizations to create personalized development plans that foster continuous improvement and career progression.

3. Aligning Assessments with Organizational Goals

Aligning work capability assessment outcomes with organizational goals ensures that talent management strategies are strategically aligned with business objectives. This alignment maximizes the impact of competency evaluations on overall organizational performance.

Conducting Effective Employee Competency Evaluations

Establishing Clear Evaluation Criteria

To ensure consistency and fairness, it's crucial to establish clear evaluation criteria that reflect the specific requirements of each role and the organization's strategic priorities. This clarity helps in making informed decisions about performance and development.

Involving Stakeholders in the Assessment Process

Engaging stakeholders, including managers and team leaders, in capability assessment processes enhances the credibility and relevance of evaluations. It also provides multiple perspectives on an employee's performance and potential contributions.

Providing Constructive Feedback and Development Plans

Effective workforce capability assessment includes providing constructive feedback to employees based on assessment outcomes. This feedback should be actionable and accompanied by development plans that outline steps for improvement and growth.

Benefits of Employee Competency Evaluation

1. Enhanced Performance Management

By understanding and evaluating employee competencies, organizations can implement targeted performance management strategies that optimize productivity and employee engagement.

2. Strategic Workforce Planning

Employee competency evaluation supports strategic workforce planning by identifying skill gaps and future talent needs. This foresight enables proactive recruitment and succession planning initiatives.

3. Personalized Career Development

Capability assessments pave the way for personalized career development plans that align individual aspirations with organizational goals. This personalized approach boosts employee morale and retention.

[i-have-stolen-endless-names]

The Devil In Love - Prologue

Possible Trigger Warnings

>>Alucard is a Warning on his own.<<

Overall Yandere Themes

Mentions of: Manipulation, Stalking, Alucard is thinking of biting you and drinking your blood, the beginning of obsessive and possessive behavior

Minors please do not interact!

Content

Reader is working at the Hellsing manor as a housekeeper

Story is set before the happenings of Hellsing - Still Spoilers ahead

Reader is gender neutral, no pronouns are used but "you"

Age, ethnicity, height, weight and any other physical attributes are never mentioned. You are free and encouraged to imagine yourself or an OC in this scenario.

Index

Next Chapter: The First Step

Follow me for more!

The vampire king was a rather lonely man. He was always looking for attention. Often he would manifest out of the shadows just to delight in the shock of people around him. It was also a regular occurrence that he eavesdropped on other peoples conversations. Occasionally there would be even something interesting in those endless halls.

It was harmless, really, his desire to get involved in everything. Of course, no one agreed with that. No one wanted a dangerous vampire to know everything about them.

Mind you, he never knew everything about someone. That would simply consume too much time and it would not be worth it. Yes, humanity intrigued him but his curiosity rarely bordered on interest or even adoration. The people he took a liking to could be counted on one hand - and even there he had never expected the number to grow. At least so he firmly believed until you came along.

Oh, you really should not have come here. Hellsing was no place for you. Not because you lacked the qualifications. No, he was certain that you were as capable as any other human working in this old building.

But no one of them had caught his interest like you did. It was a curse, not a blessing, did you understood that?

Any drop of attention you gave him. Every glance that you shot him. It all made his skin burn in the most delectable painful way. He was dead. Not even a corpse in the traditional sense. Alucard was nothing but sin taken form. A devil in disguise. But you made him feel hot-blooded. Hunger was something he was painfully familiar with. But such longing? You were in deep trouble. No matter if you understood it or not.

On his best days, he was still a dangerous, foul beast that loomed in the shadows. Million of eyes were focused on you alone, teeth aching to be buried in your neck.

On his worst, he would watch you sleep. His mind flooded with dark thoughts of how vulnerable you were. How weak... It would be so easy to make you drop into his arms, willing and ready. You would bare your throat to him and beg him to be bitten.

But for some reason, he felt almost appalled at the thought of using his abilities on you. He rationalized it with the knowledge that someone might find out, that Integra would be beyond furious if he toyed with her workforce more than he normally did.

Besides, he had seduced so many people already. He did not need to influence you mentally to make you swoon for him.

So he got... busy. It was better than rotting away in his basement, at least so Integra thought. This might be one of the reasons why she did not intervene when he reportedly appeared around you. To the point of distracting you from your work.

But keeping Alucard from being a menace was still work worth paying. The other servants of the manor felt a bit torn on this whole situation, especially those you had been close with. At least your presence kept Alucard busy enough to not terrorize them.

A dog on a leash could still bite. And his teeth were so very sharp. He gladly reminded you of them whenever he could. Often flashing you that wide grin that went way too far up his cheeks.

He would watch you work on hours before he chose to reveal himself. If he even chose to reveal himself. A few teasing remarks here and there - it was often unclear to others what he wanted aside from attention. But there was one thing he desired more at the moment than that. He wanted you. Although he had engaged in conversation with you a few times already, he was growing impatient.

There were many things he wanted of you. He would start with your blood. All he needed was your consent...

----------------------------------------------------------

Comments, likes, and reblogs are appreciated. Please engage with this post if you want me to continue writing. I hope you enjoyed it!

[the-hydroxian-artblog]

How much robots/ruppets and merch mimics are there? Hundreds, thousands, millions? Also is there a specific year where this world takes place in?

The Sentient Robot population is in the high-millions. In the US alone, for every five to seven cars there's one sentient-ish robot. There were several breakthroughs in analog neuromorphic computing, which allowed "robot-brains" to get produced as cheaply as cars, without the ridiculous performance costs current AI server farms have. Which isn't actually very cheap, but when companies can just build their workforce, and an aging population can just buy a robot to take care of them, people are willing to pay. "Sentient-ish" includes robots that are nonverbal but understand speech and are capable of learning things well beyond the capacity of an animal, but having certain limits, programmed or otherwise, that keeps them from fully matching human behavior. Add more sapient robots, usually caretakers and customer service-type people with.. improving rights, and you have a setting that's more or less like the Classic Megaman continuity.

Mimics on the other hand are tricky. For context, there's two eras in this setting; present day, and The Future, aka Kaita's Time, which is roughly 60 to 100 years later. Mimics exist in both of these time periods, and even way back to before human civilization, though Merch mimics specifically are a very recent phenomenon. They were simply golems made of metal, glass, stone, or wood before things like modern toys became a thing, and likewise they adapted to match with the times. There's roughly a million mimics out there, but about half of them are unstable and ghost-like, coming into existence and dispersing before they attain full, proper forms. The other half of all mimics persist for more than a year, but fewer still last any longer than a human lifetime, whether due to mimicking inert objects too well and forgetting to think, mimicking humans too well and dying due to that being The Thing Humans Are Supposed To Do, angel-culling, or trying to live forever but growing mad and lifeless from isolation anyway. But if a mimic does overcome these hurdles, they're basically going to last for eternity, albeit with at least a screw loose.

In the present day, we have guys like Victor running around, and the current cast will likely still be alive and kicking by the time Kaita and other robots are around. Happy Chatty is one of the only sentient, non-mimic robots that exists in the present day, possibly the first sentient human-made robot of this setting, so Victor and Vance could potentially meet 'em.

[det2x-fanfic-dump]

Teyvat Wonderland

TWISTED WONDERLAND x Genshin Impact Headcanons

This is inspired from the various Tumblr posts about Genshin x TWST

(A/N: THIS IS NOT A FULL STORY but it is written as one)

 Disclaimer: I am just a casual genshin player who don’t read its text lore too much nor an expert of having builds for DPS and such. This headcanon is just based on what I think they would have, idk how DPS, and support characters works)

Summary: What if TWST characters are in the world of Teyvat or the Twisted Wonderland works similarly to the world of Teyvat with their own visions (specific element) and  weapons as if they’re regular civilians in that world or both Teyvat and Twisted Wonderland merged into one.

CHAPTER 0: A TRAVELER FROM ANOTHER WORLD

Let’s say our twisted wonderland cast aren’t students but rather mere civilians living their lives. Yuu is still our isekai protagonist without a vision, Grim is our not floating Paimon who doesn’t fit to be a tour guide and Yuu’s mission is not to find their sibling but rather find a way to go home in their world and by doing that, they need to travel the seven countries/continents to find clues of a way home.

Yuu

Just your Average Traveler

 Rarity: ★★★★★                         Element: None          Weapon: Any(Your Choice)       Attack Type: --

Grim

Tuna loving Companion

 Rarity: ★★★★★                        Element: Pyro        Weapon: Catalyst       Attack Type: Atk Boosting, Healing

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

CHAPTER 1: THE QUEENDOM OF ROSES

This is pretty much like Fontaine. A culture of different sophisticated parties, the home of tea and pastries, the art of theater and the land of justice ruled by the Hydro Archon, Focalors.  Just like in the Twisted Wonderland plot where Yuu first met the Heartslabyul. This is Yuu’s first country to visit.

❤ Ace Trappola ❤

Trickster Knight of Hearts

   Rarity: ★★★★                       Element: Anemo            Weapon: Polearm       Support Type: Atk Boost

Ace Trappola is a rookie soldier in the Queendom under Rosehearts’ platoon. He’s very laid back as a soldier but can be responsible at times when there’s immediate danger or if there’s a senior nearby. He is the very first person Yuu met on their journey. He came across the duo after he got a report of a monster cat stealing a Strawberry tart.

 He caught Grim but Ace had enough temptation to eat it and so he did. Grim complained and Yuu caught the act. Ace, Yuu and Grim formed a mutual alliance to keep it a secret. They had a truce that Ace had to lie to the baker that the monster cat got away and Yuu to not tell anyone that he ate the tart or else his superiors will know.

♠ Deuce Spade♠

Reformed Knight of Cauldrons

   Rarity: ★★★★    Element: Cryo       Weapon: Claymore       Support Type: DPS  or Sub DPS

Deuce Spade is also a rookie card soldier from the Queendom but unlike Ace, he’s a serious soldier who followed the strict laws of the country. He met Yuu and Grim when he caught them talking secretly with Ace in the back alleyway.  He may be one of the enforcers of the law but he did know how the mind of a criminal and a rule breaker works since he was once one of them.

As a former delinquent trying to reform, despite being just a rookie, He’s the bad cop while Ace is the good cop in their partnership. He is capable of interrogation and swearing if he’s in a pissy and angry mood about it, for example if someone caught his nerves. 

Despite his newfound camaraderie with Ace, Yuu and Grim. He really can’t refuse his commander’s orders resulting to him being the one that spilled the beans and reports about the incident.

♦ Cater Diamond♦

Knight of Shuffled Faces

  Rarity: ★★★★

  Element: Water         Weapon: Catalyst       Support Type: Enabling, 

Cater Diamond is Ace and Deuce’s senior in the workforce. He works as a spy for the Queen of Roses with his specialty magic of making multiple doubles of himself. Like Ace, he’s pretty much laid back. He’s someone that you always see at the bar at night having a drink at some party. You would find him tending the rose gardens during his free time.

Cater is the Kaeya of the group. He’s pretty neutral to be honest and once hits on Yuu at their first meeting. When Riddle finds out about the truth about Trey’s stolen tart, he’s the one that helped Ace, Yuu and Grim find fake evidence and gather intel for their supposed innocence. 

♣Trey Clover♣

Knight of Sweet Roses

  Rarity: ★★★★★ in Standard Banner   Element: Dendro          Weapon: Claymore         Support Type: Healing, Battery, DMG-Boosting

Trey Clover is Riddle’s right hand man in the platoon. He’s very approachable and understandable. He’s the only one to calm Riddle down and the mediator between Riddle and his men. For example, the card soldiers would always approach him to file and receive reports instead of going directly to Riddle. 

Even though he’s childhood friends with his commander, he also has his secrets that he kept in regards to his relationship with Riddle. In truth, he really doesn’t want to be part of the Queendom’s military but he did due to his worry for Riddle’s wellbeing. In fact, he has a deep passion for baking.

It was Trey’s family bakery that was involved in Ace’s trial. Although he finds it ridiculous about the simple tart robbery that Ace and Grim got involved in. He was the one that insisted that Yuu would stand up as Ace’s lawyer, although Yuu have any legit credentials for it. With Cater’s help and his connections since he’s so popular,  Cater and Trey assisted Yuu for evidence and credentials in the trial. 

🌹Riddle Rosehearts🌹

Title: Red Rose Sovereign

Rarity: ★★★★★ in Limited Banner   Element: Fire              Weapon : Sword      Support Type: Crowd Control, Debuffing

Riddle Rosehearts is the adopted prince and head commander of the card soldiers for the queen of roses. He is a strict and unapproachable commander who finds difficulty in talking to his peers. The only people he would talk to are his mother, Trey and Cater. He doesn’t mind this since in his ideology, as long as they do things right, that’s what matters.  

Upon hearing the tart incident from Deuce. Even if it was just a common robbery of tarts, Trey’s family wasn’t the one that held the grudge but it was in fact Riddle.

A/N: I would love to read what your takes on this are.

[witchofanguish]

I've been tinkering around with this sci-fi setting for the past few months:

Basically, in response to continued freak out about declining birth rates, artificial wombs capable of ectogenesis are developed, and being that mass immigration has become a dead letter by this point, the government decides that the smart thing to do, if people won't have kids on their own, would be to produce tens of thousands of artificial wombs and raise the kids on their own. Over the cries about the obvious ethical concerns, the government builds massive complexes across the country consisting of the wombs, nurseries, classrooms, and anything else that might be needed to raise a large group of children from birth to 18.

Obviously, this runs into immediate issues. Nowhere near enough money for the program was allocated, so many complexes are left unfinished or improperly furnished, and once the first babies begin to be born, the facilities are left horribly understaffed. Most of the children are undersocialized, and even in the few facilities where there's enough nurses and caretakers, the reality of the situation with the funding issue means there's always going to be a revolving door of caretakers, so the children can never get attached to any given caretaker. With minimal oversight, the rates of child abuse in the complexes are through the roof, and a poorly motivated workforce means many common medical issues that would be caught early go undetected for years.

Things get worse as the kids age into grade school. Funding has continued at a steady rate, since everyone is motivated to tackle the "population issue," but it's nowhere near enough, and now that the program has been going on for years it's an open secret that a job in the facilities is one of the worst teaching jobs you could possibly take. Classroom sizes are high, teacher quality is low, and student motivation is... variable at best. Originally, there were plans to take children out to make sure they don't spend their whole lives isolated from the areas they're meant to economically stimulate, but being that the administrators don't want to humiliate themselves and the program as a whole, it's quickly decided that that idea should be scrapped. Most of these children live out their entire childhoods in the world of the complex, except for a few outstanding children who go to outside schools on scholarships. The rest are left in a nightmare of abusive caregivers, hostile teachers, and no connections except for what they have among themselves.

The story starts with our intrepid protagonist, from the first group of grown children, being kicked out the door on her eighteenth birthday with nothing but a few months worth of funding for housing, into a world she has next to zero familiarity with. Good luck!

[democracyunderground]

GOODBYE VOTE BY MAIL

"Louis DeJoy has resigned from his role as Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service, according to a source familiar with the matter. He told the USPS Board of Governors on Monday that it would be his last day on the job, naming Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino as his replacement until the Board names a permanent successor. Shortly after this story’s publication, DeJoy released a statement confirming his resignation.

His sudden departure comes after he struck an agreement earlier this month to allow Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency inside the USPS to cut costs and remove bureaucratic red tape. DeJoy’s allies fear that his absence will leave the agency vulnerable to a dramatic and disruptive takeover by the Trump Administration. Both President Donald Trump and Musk have recently floated ideas to reshape the beloved institution, such as privatizing the Post Office or folding it into the Commerce Department. “It’s been just a tremendous loser for this country,” Trump said."

In a letter to the agency’s 640,000 employees, DeJoy, 67, expressed confidence that Tulino and the organization could continue steering the USPS toward financial sustainability, saying “the entirety of the Postal Service will aggressively shape its future and become more efficient, capable, and competitive as it continuously changes and improves to best serve the American public.”

Since taking the helm in 2020, DeJoy launched a 10-year plan to remake the USPS and save it from insolvency. He built new processing centers and modernized the delivery network. He renegotiated contracts for air and ground transportation to eliminate billions in expenses. Most consequentially, he shepherded major legislation through Congress to rescind a 2006 law requiring the Postal Service to prepay the next 50 years of health and retirement benefits for its entire workforce—a rule no other federal agency was forced to follow. Those changes have been starting to bear fruit. In the final quarter of 2024, the USPS made $144 million, its first profitable period in years.

Still, DeJoy was always planning to step aside this year. Last month, he told the Board to start looking for a successor, ending a five-year tenure running the agency through a pandemic, three elections that relied heavily on mail voting, and his logistical overhaul. But he originally planned to stay in the position for several more months, helping the USPS transition to a new leader.

A source familiar with the matter tells TIME that DeJoy had clashed in recent days with DOGE representatives assigned to the Postal Service, whom he tasked with reviewing the agency’s structural problems that he ascribed to a law passed in the 1970s. Musk’s lieutenants wanted more control over the USPS than DeJoy was willing to allow, a source familiar with the matter says. DOGE officials complained that DeJoy was “uncooperative.” Some suspect that DeJoy stepped aside to prevent a larger conflagration.

For DeJoy, it’s a somber end to his government career. After making a fortune building a logistics firm worth more than $600 million, he became a GOP megadonor and helped to raise millions for Trump. He was set to serve as the official host of the 2020 Republican National Convention until the USPS Board asked him to become Postmaster General. Taking over in the thick of COVID-19, he initially struggled to transition from life as a corporate executive to a high-level bureaucrat. But, by his own admission, he grew to love the job and the arduous project of trying to rescue the agency from existential threats, even as Democrats and Republicans alike called for his removal. On his watch, the USPS struggled with on-time delivery and meeting its own service standards. But when the Postal Service turned a profit for the first time in years, it was a sign that his plan might be working for the only delivery service that reaches every American in every corner of the country. Yet for all his turnaround efforts—and his history as a Trump backer—it was not enough to withstand Trump’s war on Washington.

Now, he will be leaving the agency unsure of what will follow him. “It has been one of the pleasures of my life and a crowning achievement of my career to have been associated with this cherished institution,” he wrote to his colleagues on Monday, “the United States Postal Service.

A PURGE IS COMING

[hamdan-fazza]

11/05/2025 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, visited Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, where he inspected military units, assessed their operational preparedness, and reviewed efforts to boost the nation’s defence capabilities. During the tour, His Highness emphasised that the Armed Forces exemplify discipline and operational excellence across all units. Sheikh Hamdan also commended their professionalism, continuous development of capabilities, and adoption of cutting-edge technologies. His Highness also highlighted the dedication and efficiency he witnessed during his visit, noting the Air Force and Air Defence's significant efforts in building a robust defence infrastructure that ensures the protection of the nation and its resources. "The advancements in both human and technological capabilities, along with ongoing training and modernisation, prove that our Armed Forces are fully equipped to maintain battlefield superiority and readiness to tackle any challenge, at any time," His Highness said. He also praised the progress of the national workforce in mastering the latest military technologies, emphasising that the security of the UAE is a shared responsibility and requires constant preparedness. His Highness toured the base and its facilities, where he was briefed on the command and control systems in use, along with the logistical and technical support infrastructure, all of which reflect the advanced capabilities of the Air Force.

[most-definitely-human]

Logistics of food production in Angband

A worldbuilding detail that has bothered me for a while is how Morgoth created the vast amounts of food required to build and maintain his huge armies and captured thralls. Especially as a hallmark of his presence is the death of plant life, agriculture doesn't seem like his strong suit, and those under his control outside of this would have a pretty difficult time growing anything.

For quite a while after the Awakening of the elves, there was no light in Middle-earth but that of the stars, and even after the creation of the sun, Angband is situated in a horrible place for agriculture.

Any farmland to the south would surely be a key target for elves, even if his own forces didn't destroy it. To the north is frozen wasteland.

My starting assumptions are that Angband is a) primarily underground and b) a relatively closed system, with little opportunity for trade for a significant stretch of its existence

Ideas under the cut, warning for cannibalism.

And yeah, cannibalism is the most immediately obvious source of food, but it isn't particularly sustainable, especially when captured elves seem to be the primary workforce. Even with a high mortality rate, it's a cycle of diminishing returns to sustain a population, before you even consider the amount of flesh required to raise dragons.

Breeding livestock has very much the same issue without plants- you very much need something at the bottom of the trophic pyramid to support the life above it, and this is not particularly easy to fulfil underground.

A lot of people, though, are presumably going to be producing a lot of waste. Coprophilous fungi and insect larvae could potentially in turn be used to feed pigs, which is still a stopgap measure but is at least recycling some nutrients. Again though, diminishing returns.

Given the volcanic nature of Thangorodrim, it is entirely possible for there to have been ecosystems similar to those found at hot springs or hydrothermal vents. These generally consist of invertebrate grazers feeding off cyanobacteria mats, which may in turn feed larger animals. Getting these to exist at a scale or growing quickly enough to support a population of large mammals rules these out to me as being viable as a primary food source though. The accumulation of heavy metals in tissues would also likely present an issue, as would reliably harvesting anything from such a hot, toxic environment for anything other than maiar.

A potential source of external food could be found if the tunnels of Angband extended all the way west to the sea, though this has its own issues. Given the ships of elves seeking help were regularly torn apart for even attempting to sail, I highly doubt orcs would have better odds if attempting to go out in fishing boats. Tidal fish traps could potentially be used to safely provide food, as could harvesting coastal shellfish and seaweeds.

Assuming the environment of the Helcaraxë is similar enough to our polar regions, seals could also be hunted. Given how quickly our industrialised society almost wiped them out in pursuit of fur and meat, I'm not sure how long those colonies would last under sustained pressure from hunters trying to feed a vast, multiplying army.

This leaves us with the final option I could think of...

Magic

Given the split nature of elves into Fëa and Hröa, I don't think it is unreasonable to suggest that elves may be capable of at least partially sustaining themselves through interaction of Fëa with external sources of energy. The Eldar, living under the Light of the Trees, were visibly changed and strengthened from this exposure.

Perhaps they could convert ambient energy into forms usable by bodies, like the radiosynthetic fungus growing in what's left of the basement of the Chernobyl reactor. Melkor poured a lot of himself into his creations, leaving a lasting presence.

Perhaps this is how orcs were created, elves born in captivity in those dark halls, with only the presence of a Valar for sustenance, gradually changing them into something new, better adapted for such a life.

If adult elves and orcs could be kept alive in this way, the other options for biomass become a lot more viable. Hell, it would expand it pretty significantly if there were fungi also capable of surviving in this way.

@outofangband what do you think?

[mareislandfoundation]

Industrial Powerhouse

In the decade prior to 1940, America's shipyards launched only 23 ships. In the five years after 1940, American shipyards launched 4,600 ships. San Francisco Bay Area shipbuilders produced 20 percent of warship tonnage and almost 45 percent of all the cargo shipping tonnage built in the entire nation during World War II. The war lasted 1,365 days. In that span of time Bay Area shipyards built 1,400 vessels--a ship a day, on average. In addition, ships arrived constantly for maintenance and repair, sometimes scheduled, but often battle damaged and in urgent need of repair. This incredible industrial effort depended on a combination of shipyards and workers that had not existed prior to the outbreak of war.

One astounding example was due to the U.S. Maritime Commission’s dire need for cargo ships, San Francisco’s Bechtel Company was approached on March 2, 1942, and asked to propose a new shipyard location that could be operational within a year. Bechtel proposed building a shipyard with 6 building ways in Sausalito and the site was approved on March 12, 10 days later. Six days after that dirt was being blasted and moved to construct what became Marinship. Construction of Liberty ships on the building ways began in parallel with construction of the ways. Keel blocks were added as every foot of the ways was built extending inland from Richardson Bay. Similar feats took place around the San Francisco Bay Area as shipyards sprung up in Alameda, Richmond, Napa, South San Francisco, Oakland, and Antioch, while at the same time Mare Island and Hunters Point Naval Shipyard facilities doubled and tripled in size.

Tens of thousands of workers of every type were required to support the construction and repair activities resulting in a huge influx of workers from around the country. That workforce overwhelmed the existing housing stock in the Bay Area. In 1942 Mare Island officials decried the fact that workers were quitting as fast as new ones could be hired to due to the lack of housing. Federal agencies and local governments mobilized and together found innovative ways to rapidly create the housing needed for the burgeoning workforce. Those agencies accomplished so much so fast because of unprecedented cooperation amongst them, readily available funds and the dearth of regulation.

San Francisco grew from a city of 634,000 residents in 1940 to 774,821 by 1950. In Contra Costa County, the little towns of Walnut Creek, Orinda and Concord saw their populations double, then double again. In Vallejo housing units were constructed by the Public Buildings Administration, the Farm Security Administration, and the newly formed Vallejo Housing Authority. Incredibly, during a time of war and scarce personnel and construction resources, housing developments in Vallejo were generally completed within 6 months of contract award and would eventually provide housing for over 27,000 people. But even that was not enough, Mare Island Naval Shipyard's workforce had swollen to over 40,000 workers that simply could not all be housed within Vallejo. That problem was solved with an around-the-clock bus Service that brought 14,000 workers to and from Mare Island from as much as 75 miles away 7 days a week. Those buses would travel the equivalent distance of the circumference of the earth every day.

The enabler for this incredible productivity was the existence of total war involving the entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities of our country. That threat to our freedom created a unity our nation had never experienced before or since. The San Francisco Bay Area with its over 30 shipyards, large and small, and scores of machine shops, and metal and wood fabricators joined together to create the world's largest combined shipbuilding complex. In all, 244,000 people worked in Bay Area shipyards and prefabricated components were shipped by rail to Mare Island Naval Shipyard from construction shops across the nation. The output from San Francisco Bay Area joined the stream of material pouring out of shipyards and factories throughout the country providing the force behind Franklin Roosevelt’s use of the slogan “America as the Great Arsenal of Democracy.” This was all accomplished with no satellites, no internet, no computers, and no cell phones.

Dennis Kelly

[rescuebabiesau]

Where Do Bots Come From in the GOTP AU?

There are multiple ways for new bots to come about in the GOTP AU, so today, we will be going into the frequency and (G-rated) details regarding them...

The Well of Allsparks

The Well of Allsparks in the most common method from which new cybertronians are born, about 70% of new bots entering registration come from this method. The frequency ebbs and flows week to week, but since Cybertron's revival, there hasn't been a full 7 days passing that some activity is seen. Guards are stationed at the well at all times, preventing vandalism, decepticons taking newborns immediately to be trained, and also to aid any newborns struggling to reach the surface.

Bots born from this method are typically born in the "mature" phase, their frames being the equivalent of their mid-teens to young adult. They are rounded up from the Well onto trains and then transported into the city for registration. It is also during registration that they are assigned a "guardian," an older bot that they live with and who takes the responsibility of teaching them all of the important skills of navigating life. (Keeping splitsparks/twins together under the same guardian is maintained as much as possible)

During this training period, the newborns receive their first alt mode and might start looking into potential occupations. They will often follow the occupation of their guardian, though this isn't always the case. This training period typically lasts about a year before they leave their guardian's home and start off on their own, though the bond between mentor and student tends to remain.

____________

Cold Construction

While still an active method of new cybertronians being born, "Cold Constructions" or CCs, are far less common and the practice is often frowned upon in post-revival Cybertron. It is often seen as a remnant of the caste system- the method of building a physical body and putting a spark in it- to make more workers in a certain workforce rather than letting the bot choose their path themselves.

It is mostly still practiced by lone sects and Decepticons looking to increase their ranks, and it can be hard for those bots to enter society should they choose to break away and forge their own path.

____________________

Budding

Budding is another less common method of reproduction, which occurs instead in the frame of another living, active bot. All cybertronians, even those constructed cold, have the programming and capability to undergo this method, though CCs have been known to have a significantly harder time carrying the sparkling to term.

The process is asexual, requiring no mate or partner to engage. The exact details of how the programming is triggered is still under study, but it has been found that the Well of Allsparks sends out an energy signal that limits its activation on Cybertron's surface; why is unknown, but it does allow greater numbers of this method outside of its gravitational pull, especially on colonies lacking a sparking well of their own. (The planet of Telen is a great example)

The process begins with the parental bot's spark splitting off a tiny fragment of itself, called "The Ember" or "Starspark" by some. This triggers the parent's form to begin forming additional protomatter in preparation for forming the sparkling's frame. During this time, the parent will experience increased pressure under their armor, aches and limited range of motion, and will go through their normal rations of energon much quicker than normal. If the parent has a beast-mode, budding can also lead to them becoming stuck in their beast mode for the duration of the process, and the sparkling has a higher likelihood to inherit that beast-mode-capable frame.

The entire process usually lasts between 1-3 weeks, after which the tiny fragment will have formed a spark of its own and be enveloped by the additional protomatter, which the parent then expels. Within a few minutes, the protomatter will take on the physical form of the sparkling, and within an hour, the sparkling's processor will be developed enough to activate and the sparkling will begin to act on their own.

Budded sparklings (and the sparklings of our next method) represent the infant forms of their parent's form, and their level of development will vary depending on that form. (bot-mode sparklings will be like a newborn human, very dependent on their parent and will need constant watching after, while say, a deer-mode parent, will be able to stand and walk after their parent almost immediately)

Over time, the sparkling will forge their own protomatter as they grow, and most will be in their "mature" stage within 4 earth years.

__________________________

Spark-Trading

Spark-Trading starts off like Budding, but is typically seen in romantic couples. Because all bots possess the ability to carry, the "Passing" of the new spark is possible between partners.

One partner begins the process, but once the spark is stabilized, they are able to then pass the spark onto their partner's frame, allowing them to carry the sparkling the rest of the term (much like seahorses) The process of this requires the two parents' sparks to be in close proximity which requires them to be exposed, so it is typically a private affair, allowing their sparks' own gravitational pulls to mingle and allow one to pull the new spark into their own, before the process is triggered in the carrying partner. With the new spark's energy being fueled by two different sparks, this allows both parents to possess the inherited empathic link to the sparkling.

This process can also be performed with care to a surrogate, should neither parent be able to safely carry to term. However, the new spark's development must be slightly further to prevent the surrogate's own spark signature to bleed into the new spark.

[lizbethborden]

I said something to my dad the other night. I was trying to explain why I am really not putting my passion into this job, and why I do not feel pressured to be "on" all the time, or always grinding hard at some task or duty. In fact, when I am fully staffed I have a lot of downtime during the day.

I said, "I'm very good at my job. When I was a kid, in school I would be very good at a class, and I would coast. I never questioned why I was coasting or felt bad about coasting; I just accepted it as a sign that I was smart and capable. But when I got older and entered the workforce, I started thinking there was something wrong with me if I wasn't struggling every second; if I wasn't striving to achieve some goal. I want to go back to the way I was as a kid. I want to do something and do it well, and that's enough, and I'm not going to question it."

That is the mindset I'm working on. All of my previous jobs I had because they engaged my passion. I love people, problem-solving, and making good coffee. Solving puzzles like how I was going to operate 7-8 stores, how I was going to build a menu, how I was going to rejuvenate a struggling market, etc engaged my passions and intellect and made me grind hard to try to achieve something. But each one I had to leave because the demand was too great, or because I was being stifled and not allowed to engage my full powers. It was the activation of my passion one way or another that made or broke the roles.

I can't do that anymore. And certainly not as a middle manager for a massive corporation. I want to do all my little things that I enjoy: serve good coffee, manage people, organize stock rooms, crush inventory, send my perfectly dialed-in orders. But it can't have my heart and soul anymore. I'm glad I figured that out now because I can easily imagine a future where I didn't learn my lesson, and either got trapped in a toxic situation, or kept job hopping hoping I'd eventually find the magic, fairy tale location that would preserve my passion without abusing it. That doesn't exist. Even people who go into fields they deeply love and passionately want to work in end up used and abused. So I'll carve out my little space and I'm not going to worry. I did my time in this industry, burning myself out working 7 days a week to make money for someone else. Not doing that anymore. Now I'm coasting like I did in the fifth grade.

[biosssa]

Comprehensive Strategies for Workforce Capability Development

Understanding Workforce Capability & Planning

In the dynamic landscape of modern organizations, workforce capability development plays a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Effective workforce capability & planning involves strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the collective skills, knowledge, and capacity of an organization's workforce.

Building Organisational Capability

Building organisational capability requires a structured approach that aligns individual competencies with organizational goals. It encompasses a range of activities from employee capability assessment to targeted training programs and talent management strategies.

Key Components of Workforce Capability Development

1. Employee Capability Assessment

Employee capability assessment forms the foundation of workplace capability assessment. It involves evaluating individual skills, experiences, and potential contributions within the context of organizational objectives. This assessment provides insights into strengths, developmental needs, and future growth opportunities.

2. Strategic Training and Development

An integral part of workforce capability development is implementing strategic training and development programs. These initiatives are tailored to address identified skill gaps and enhance overall workforce competencies. By investing in continuous learning, organizations empower employees to adapt to evolving industry trends and challenges.

3. Talent Management and Succession Planning

Aligning workforce capability & planning with talent management practices ensures a steady pipeline of skilled professionals. Succession planning identifies and develops future leaders within the organization, fostering continuity and stability in leadership roles.

Implementing Effective Strategies

Establishing Clear Goals and Objectives

Define clear workforce capability development goals that support the organization's long-term vision and mission. These goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), providing a roadmap for strategic planning and execution.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation

Embrace technological advancements and innovative solutions to streamline building organisational capability efforts. From digital learning platforms to AI-driven analytics, technology enhances the effectiveness of training programs and performance evaluations.

Promoting a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Foster a culture where workforce capability & planning is embedded into everyday practices. Encourage feedback, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among employees to cultivate a learning organization that thrives on innovation and agility.

Benefits of Workforce Capability Development

1. Enhanced Organizational Performance

By investing in employee capability assessment and development, organizations boost overall performance metrics. Employees equipped with relevant skills and knowledge contribute more effectively to achieving strategic objectives.

2. Improved Employee Engagement and Retention

Workplace capability assessment initiatives demonstrate a commitment to employee growth and career advancement. Engaged employees are more likely to stay with the organization, reducing turnover costs and maintaining continuity in operations.

3. Adaptability to Market Changes

A skilled workforce that undergoes continuous workforce capability development is better prepared to adapt to market fluctuations and industry disruptions. This agility enables organizations to seize new opportunities and mitigate risks effectively.

[enterprisewired]

Hyundai IONIQ 9 Enters Production at New Georgia EV Plant

Source: ajc.com

Hyundai Celebrates Opening of Its Advanced EV Facility

Hyundai has officially launched production of its highly anticipated three-row electric SUV, the Hyundai IONIQ 9, at its newly built EV plant in Georgia. The company hosted a grand opening ceremony for the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in its electrification strategy. The facility, which will manufacture Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric and hybrid vehicles, represents a key investment in the future of clean mobility. With the IONIQ 9 now in production, its official market launch is expected imminently.

The Georgia-based plant is part of Hyundai’s $7.6 billion investment in the state—the largest economic development initiative in Georgia’s history. The project is set to generate approximately 8,500 direct jobs by 2030. Additionally, Hyundai’s partnerships with battery manufacturers SK On and LG Energy Solutions, along with 18 associated suppliers, have contributed to over $12.6 billion in total investments. According to the Center for Automotive Research, these collective efforts will lead to nearly 40,000 new jobs across the state.

During the opening event, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation, stating, “Together with the talented workforce at HMGMA, we are building the future of mobility with America, in America.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz, and Kia CEO Ho Sung Song were also present at the ceremony, underscoring the significance of the new facility.

IONIQ 9 Rolls Off the Assembly Line

Although the official opening of the plant was celebrated this week, Hyundai has already begun vehicle production at the site. The first model to roll off the assembly line was the updated 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, which was produced in October. The latest version of the IONIQ 5 features an extended driving range of up to 318 miles, refreshed exterior and interior styling, and a new North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, enabling access to Tesla Supercharger stations.

With the production of the Hyundai IONIQ 9 now underway, Hyundai’s flagship three-row electric SUV is expected to be available for purchase in the coming weeks. Designed for spacious comfort and long-range capabilities, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is built with a sizable 110.3 kWh battery, offering an estimated range of up to 335 miles per charge. Like its smaller sibling, the IONIQ 9 will also include an NACS port for seamless charging accessibility.

A Competitive Entry in the Large EV Market

The IONIQ 9 is designed to compete in the growing market for large electric SUVs. It boasts a luxurious, “lounge-like” interior with a generous cargo space of up to 1,322 liters—exceeding the Kia EV9, which offers 1,233 liters. Measuring 5,060 mm (199.2 inches) in length, 1,980 mm (78 inches) in width, and 1,790 mm (70.5 inches) in height, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is slightly larger than Kia’s three-row EV9, positioning it as a premium choice for families and long-distance travelers.

Hyundai has yet to announce official pricing for the Hyundai IONIQ 9 but is expected to provide details closer to its release. Industry analysts predict that the model will start at around $60,000, placing it slightly above the Kia EV9’s price range. With the new Georgia plant ramping up production, Hyundai is positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the electric vehicle market while reinforcing its commitment to American manufacturing and sustainable innovation.

third-person form. Also, give an appropriate title to the news.

[vertebrae-entertainment]

04.11.2024 - Status update!

Hey!! You're being too quiet!! Whats going on over there!! Well, good question- lets get into that:

Things are going slow! There are multiple reasons for that. First, we took on a load of side work this year to keep the lights on. Second, we're moving apartments right now, with very sudden and short notice!! Third, we have two projects and half the team is absent because of sickness! Bad news for project productivity, indeed.

Other Projects

Theres some cool stuff going on here! People who keep up with our Facebook page may have seen that we're currently collaborating with Likestillingssenteret (The Centre for Equality), Ungdom og Fritid (Youth Work Norway) and streamer MarinaaD on the multi-year educational project Trygg Gaming (Safe Gaming) on how to build safe and equality-minded gaming spaces for youths and discourage hateful conduct! This is our second time collaborating with Likestillingssenteret and MarinaaD, and we are supplying the project with some gaming and game design expertise, as well as our knowledge on the queer subset of game and gaming culture. Additionally, we have had the honor of supplying the campaign with its visual design, much helped by the center's in-house media team!

Other than that, we have some updates on the game development scene in our hometown of Hamar! I was invited to participate in a small project group to map out the potential for establishing a new hub for game development studios in the region, alongside the capable hands and minds behind Sarepta Studio, Encircle Games, Raidho Games and Snowleaf Studios. Last week we presented our proposition to the other businesses in town. Big things are happening, and i advice any game developer in town to keep their ears open!

As well, Global Game Jam Hamar 2025 is right around the corner! Like '23 and '24, buying a ticket to the event ensures you an event t-shirt designed by yours truly. Operations here are now in the hands of the freshly established Hamar Game Events... which is to say, its the same group as before but under a new name! Its gonna be loads of fun, and i hope to see some of y'all there :D

Life and stuff

Earlier this year Åge got very sick, and has been unable to regularly join me in the office. This has affected development greatly, as i am unable to work on Fangst by myself- and i can only do so much graphical work before the pile becomes too much to implement for a two person team.

Then a month ago we got an email that our apartments are getting torn down in favor of a new block project!! Poor luck!! So in short, now we're moving. We should be relocated by December, hopefully before the snow starts setting in.

Teknokrat > Fangst

The main point of this blog post, really. So, given that half the team is sick for the unforeseeable future, what are my options? I have little chance of finishing Fangst in any defendable state by myself, and we do not have the means to hire or outsource.

I decided i should focus on giving Fangst a fighting chance by releasing an self-driven project before it, which ended up being Teknokrat.

So here i am, making an unfiltered gay romance sci-fi visual novel. I write, code, make the art and the music. The rawer and raunchier the better. This should help us gain experience with a commercial release, and help us find our audience. Its lack of workforce and budget will be both its strength and weakness. And when its out, we will be readier for Fangst than we ever were earlier!

I'm very excited for this one- its currently resting at a comfortable 15k script length, soon in a demo-worthy state which will get an early playtest run in our Discord before being dropped on Itch and Steam.

If you havent heard about it before, its about class warfare, cyborgs and techno! I hope you'll look forward to it :3

In the meantime, consider Fangst on hiatus until Åge is able to rejoin full time. This doesnt mean their unmistakable creative flair will not be found in Teknokrat, however! Åge is helping me with design, marketing and planning- as well as lending me their video editing expertise. Get well soon, your presence is missed!

Twitter is dead!!

We moved that branch of our social media operations to Bluesky. Hit us up here! We're also here on personal accounts, and are really enjoying our time here so far. Live updates can as usual be found through our Discord.

_______________________________

OK! I think thats most of whats been happening lately. As always, i hope you're all well, and that you know we appreciate your patience and enthusiasm for our projects! Talk soon, when Teknokrat is looking more ready for sneak peeks!

-Hauk

[dissociacrip]

crip labor is so real lol. having to be in the workforce (though that's not all crip labor is about obviously and it is also about physically disabled people who can't work!) and stand out amongst your ostensibly able-bodied peers to avoid getting fired/maintain employment because since your body doesn't work correctly you have to make up for that in some other way that always pushes your limits. if you can even get that far because then also there's getting fired for your disabilities impacting your performance less due to not being able to do the relevant task and more due to lack of access to medical care and employers scapegoating you over the people who verifiably don't do their jobs correctly, right after offering you a promotion the week before.

semi-related there's this classmate of mine (ostensibly able-bodied) who said something during a class discussion like "well at some point you have to choose between living comfortably and getting to make art" in response to me saying something about having to choose between making art and like, putting food on the table, and i was mentally wanting to throw a fucking chair at her, because food security and access to adequate medical care is about 'survival' much more than comfort and when it comes to being disabled it's not a matter of "working hard enough." i'm already working hard enough. i'm already working harder much more than i should. i'm working harder than most people just walking to my classes, where my legs end up hurting and my gait gets wonky just going from one building to the other. if you're able to dedicate yourself to a craft while being a full-time student in addition to working like 3 jobs you and i are not on the same fucking level.

tired of having to clean up after other people's shit while exceeding my own capacity for labor because my muscles are working double time just to keep my body upright and other people will still bitch about me being slow or not trying hard enough. or imply that my priorities are wrong. as if there's even a choice or agency in the first place between "working jobs that i can barely manage physically and that are a risk to my health" vs. starving to death.

these aren't coherent thoughts about the concept i'm just bitter that the amount of effort it takes to function at a bare minimum level (for those of us who are even capable of that much) seems to virtually never be taken into account.

[gappeo]

Integrating Skill Assessments into Your Existing HR Systems

Introduction

As organizations strive to build a skilled and efficient workforce, integrating skill assessments into existing HR systems has become a crucial strategy. By embedding skill evaluations within HR workflows, companies can enhance hiring accuracy, streamline employee development, and make data-driven workforce decisions. This blog explores the benefits, challenges, and best practices of integrating skill assessments into HR systems, with insights on how platforms like Gappeo can facilitate the process.

Why Integrate Skill Assessments into HR Systems?

Integrating skill assessments within HR platforms offers numerous advantages, including:

Improved Hiring Accuracy: Objective skill evaluations help recruiters identify the most suitable candidates, reducing reliance on resumes alone.

Efficient Onboarding: Pre-assessed skills enable HR teams to tailor onboarding programs, ensuring new hires receive targeted training.

Employee Development & Training: Ongoing skill assessments allow HR teams to track employee growth and implement personalized training programs.

Workforce Planning: Insights from assessments help HR leaders identify skill gaps and plan for future workforce needs.

Key Considerations for Integration

Before incorporating skill assessments into your HR system, consider the following:

Compatibility: Ensure the assessment platform integrates seamlessly with your existing HR software (e.g., ATS, LMS, or HRIS).

Customization: Choose a system that allows tailored assessments aligned with job roles and industry needs.

Scalability: The platform should support growing workforce demands and adapt to evolving skill requirements.

User Experience: Both recruiters and candidates should find the system easy to navigate and engage with.

How Gappeo Simplifies Skill Assessment Integration

Gappeo, a leading talent and skill assessment platform, offers seamless integration with various HR systems. Key features include:

Pre-Built API Integrations: Easily connect with popular HR platforms.

Customizable Assessment Modules: Design skill tests specific to job roles.

Audio and Video Assessments: Enhance evaluation accuracy by analyzing verbal and non-verbal cues.

Comprehensive Reporting: Generate insights to support hiring and workforce development decisions.

Steps to Successfully Integrate Skill Assessments

Evaluate Your HR System: Assess your current HR software capabilities and identify integration points.

Select the Right Assessment Platform: Choose a solution like Gappeo that aligns with your HR objectives.

Customize Assessments: Develop skill tests that reflect the competencies required for different roles.

Pilot Test the Integration: Run a small-scale implementation to ensure seamless functionality.

Train HR Teams: Educate HR personnel on using the integrated system effectively.

Monitor and Optimize: Continuously track performance metrics and refine assessment processes.

Conclusion

Integrating skill assessments into HR systems is a game-changer for talent management, enabling data-backed hiring, employee development, and strategic workforce planning. With solutions like Gappeo, organizations can streamline skill evaluations while ensuring a seamless experience for both HR professionals and candidates.

Ready to enhance your HR processes? Discover how Gappeo can help you integrate skill assessments effortlessly!