#financial services employment

[larcomelegallimited]

Solicitors in Waterlooville, Portsmouth | Larcomes Legal Limited

Specialist Financial Settlement Legal Advice

If you are looking for financial settlement advice or have questions regarding points raised in this article, our specialist family law solicitors in Portsmouth and Waterlooville can help. We have the knowledge and experience to help you and your family regardless of the complexity of your situation. We will explain all the options available to you and ensure you are aware of the costs involved, guiding, and supporting you through every step of the process.

Remember, you can talk to us in complete confidence and gain reassurance from speaking to someone who understands your situation.

Please note that this article is not intended as legal or professional advice. This is a general news article only and updates to the law may have changed since it was published.

[alliance00]

6 Easy Steps to Choose the Right Banking Recruitment Agency

Selecting the right banking recruitment agency can be a distinct advantage for both work searchers and banking foundations. The correct office can smooth out the employing system, guaranteeing that competitors with the right abilities and capabilities are coordinated with the right jobs. The following are six simple tasks to assist you with picking the best financial enlistment organization to address your issues.

1. Define Your Requirements

Before you start your advantage, it's squeezing to have a reasonable comprehension of what you really want from a banking recruitment agency. For work searchers, this recommends perceiving the sort of financial positions you're amped up for, for example, retail banking, experience banking, or cash related appraisal. For banks and monetary foundations, this integrates finishing up the particular positions you really want to fill, for example, credit specialists, consistence arranged specialists, or branch supervisors.

By framing your necessities, you can limit your rundown of expected organizations to those that have practical experience in your specific area of interest. For example, on the off chance that you're searching for significant level leaders, you could zero in on organizations with a solid history in chief hunt inside the financial area.

2. Check Their Industry Expertise

Banking is a specific field, so picking an enlistment office with profound industry knowledge is significant. Search for organizations that have a demonstrated history in banking recruitment and figure out the subtleties of different financial jobs. You can survey their aptitude by exploring their site, perusing client tributes, and requesting contextual investigations or examples of overcoming adversity.

A recruitment agency with a solid spotlight on financial will have laid out associations with industry experts and a superior handle of the abilities and capabilities expected for various jobs. This ability will be important in tracking down the right applicants or open positions.

3. Evaluate Their Recruitment Process

Understanding how an enlistment office leads its hunt and determination cycle can give you knowledge into their viability. Get some information about their way to deal with obtaining competitors, screening cycles, and how they guarantee that up-and-comers are ideal for the jobs they're filling.

For job seekers, ask about how the office coordinates your abilities and vocation objectives with accessible open doors. For bosses, it's crucial for know how the office surveys possibility to guarantee they meet your particular necessities and organizational culture.

An agency that uses a rigorous and transparent recruitment process is more likely to deliver high-quality candidates or job matches.

4. Consider Their Reputation and Reviews

Reputation speaks volumes about the effectiveness of a recruitment agency. Research online reviews, request references, and look for suggestions from associates or industry contacts. A respectable organization will have positive input from the two clients and competitors and a past filled with effective situations.

Pay attention to reviews that notice the office's correspondence, impressive skill, and capacity to comprehend client needs. These elements are significant in guaranteeing a smooth and fruitful enrollment process.

5. Assess Their Communication and Support

Effective communication is key to a successful partnership with a recruitment agency.  Assess how well the organization speaks with you during the underlying phases of commitment. Is it true that they are receptive to your requests? Do they give clear and opportune updates?

For job seekers, great help from the office remembers standard updates for requests for employment and useful criticism. For businesses, it includes straightforward correspondence about the advancement of the enrollment interaction and any difficulties experienced.

An agency that focuses on correspondence and backing is bound to give a positive and useful experience.

Conclusion

Choosing the right banking recruitment agency involves careful consideration and due diligence. By characterizing your necessities, assessing industry ability, understanding the enlistment interaction, really taking a look at notoriety and surveys, evaluating correspondence and backing, and exploring expenses and terms, you can go with an educated choice. The right agency like Alliance Recruitment Agency will assist with smoothing out your pursuit of employment or enlistment process, prompting effective results for the two up-and-comers and businesses. Carve out opportunity to follow these means, and you’ll be well on your way to finding a recruitment partner that meets your needs effectively.  Contact us now.

[in-sightpublishing]

Beijing Declaration Paragraph 165 (h)-(k)

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/07/20 Strategic objective F.1. Promote women’s economic rights and independence, including access to employment, appropriate working conditions and control over economic resources Actions to be taken By Governments: (h)  Review and amend laws governing the operation of…

[liberaljane]

Women's Not So Distant History

This #WomensHistoryMonth, let's not forget how many of our rights were only won in recent decades, and weren’t acquired by asking nicely and waiting. We need to fight for our rights. Here's are a few examples:

📍 Before 1974's Fair Credit Opportunity Act made it illegal for financial institutions to discriminate against applicants' gender, banks could refuse women a credit card. Women won the right to open a bank account in the 1960s, but many banks still refused without a husband’s signature. This allowed men to continue to have control over women’s bank accounts. Unmarried women were often refused service by financial institutions entirely.

📍 Before 1977, sexual harassment was not considered a legal offense. That changed when a woman brought her boss to court after she refused his sexual advances and was fired. The court stated that her termination violated the 1974 Civil Rights Act, which made employment discrimination illegal.⚖️

📍 In 1969, California became the first state to pass legislation to allow no-fault divorce. Before then, divorce could only be obtained if a woman could prove that her husband had committed serious faults such as adultery. 💍By 1977, nine states had adopted no-fault divorce laws, and by late 1983, every state had but two. The last, New York, adopted a law in 2010.

📍In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, entered the Boston Marathon under the name "K.V. Switzer." At the time, the Amateur Athletics Union didn't allow women. Once discovered, staff tried to remove Switzer from the race, but she finished. AAU did not formally accept women until fall 1971.

📍 In 1972, Lillian Garland, a receptionist at a California bank, went on unpaid leave to have a baby and when she returned, her position was filled. Her lawsuit led to 1978's Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which found that discriminating against pregnant people is unlawful

📍 It wasn’t until 2016 that gay marriage was legal in all 50 states. Previously, laws varied by state, and while many states allowed for civil unions for same-sex couples, it created a separate but equal standard. In 2008, California was the first state to achieve marriage equality, only to reverse that right following a ballot initiative later that year. 

📍In 2018, Utah and Idaho were the last two states that lacked clear legislation protecting chest or breast feeding parents from obscenity laws. At the time, an Idaho congressman complained women would, "whip it out and do it anywhere,"

📍 In 1973, the Supreme Court affirmed the right to safe legal abortion in Roe v. Wade. At the time of the decision, nearly all states outlawed abortion with few exceptions. In 1965, illegal abortions made up one-sixth of all pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths. Unfortunately after years of abortion restrictions and bans, the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022. Since then, 14 states have fully banned care, and another 7 severely restrict it – leaving most of the south and midwest without access. 

📍 Before 1973, women were not able to serve on a jury in all 50 states. However, this varied by state: Utah was the first state to allow women to serve jury duty in 1898. Though, by 1927, only 19 states allowed women to serve jury duty. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 gave women the right to serve on federal juries, though it wasn't until 1973 that all 50 states passed similar legislation

📍 Before 1988, women were unable to get a business loan on their own. The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 allowed women to get loans without a male co-signer and removed other barriers to women in business. The number of women-owned businesses increased by 31 times in the last four decades. 

Free download

📍 Before 1965, married women had no right to birth control. In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Supreme Court ruled that banning the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy.

📍 Before 1967, interracial couples didn’t have the right to marry. In Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court found that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. In 2000, Alabama was the last State to remove its anti-miscegenation laws from the books.

📍 Before 1972, unmarried women didn’t have the right to birth control. While married couples gained the right in 1967, it wasn’t until Eisenstadt v. Baird seven years later, that the Supreme Court affirmed the right to contraception for unmarried people.

📍 In 1974, the last “Ugly Laws” were repealed in Chicago. “Ugly Laws” allowed the police to arrest and jail people with visible disabilities for being seen in public. People charged with ugly laws were either charged a fine or held in jail. ‘Ugly Laws’ were a part of the late 19th century Victorian Era poor laws. 

📍 In 1976, Hawaii was the last state to lift requirements that a woman take her husband’s last name.  If a woman didn’t take her husband’s last name, employers could refuse to issue her payroll and she could be barred from voting. 

📍 It wasn’t until 1993 that marital assault became a crime in all 50 states. Historically, intercourse within marriage was regarded as a “right” of spouses. Before 1974, in all fifty U.S. states, men had legal immunity for assaults their wives. Oklahoma and North Carolina were the last to change the law in 1993.

📍  In 1990, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) – most comprehensive disability rights legislation in U.S. history – was passed. The ADA protected disabled people from employment discrimination. Previously, an employer could refuse to hire someone just because of their disability.

📍 Before 1993, women weren’t allowed to wear pants on the Senate floor. That changed when Sen. Moseley Braun (D-IL), & Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) wore trousers - shocking the male-dominated Senate. Their fashion statement ultimately led to the dress code being clarified to allow women to wear pants. 

📍 Emergency contraception (Plan B) wasn't approved by the FDA until 1998. While many can get emergency contraception at their local drugstore, back then it required a prescription. In 2013, the FDA removed age limits & allowed retailers to stock it directly on the shelf (although many don’t).

📍  In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that anti-cohabitation laws were unconstitutional. Sometimes referred to as the ‘'Living in Sin' statute, anti-cohabitation laws criminalize living with a partner if the couple is unmarried. Today, Mississippi still has laws on its books against cohabitation. 

[borngeniusworld]

Institute of Professional Banking (IPB India)

Branches IPB Partners Subhas Yadav @The Best Career Coach Award by IPB Head Office Success Stories Akanshi Singh (Ballia, Uttar Pradesh) Bandhan Bank Pragati Singh (Mau, Uttar Pradesh) HDFC Bank Khushali Gujrati (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) HDFC BANK Riya Gupta (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) Bandhan Bank Akansha Singh (Mau, Uttar Pradesh) Bandhan Bank Himanshu Gupta (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)…

[thinkingonscripture]

Ministering with Integrity: Trusting the Lord to Provide

The apostle Paul was committed to the Lord and to the ministry to which he was called. The Lord was faithful to provide for him and to meet his basic needs. Sometimes others supported Paul and his ministry, and in this way, were conduits of God’s grace. At others times, Paul’s needs were met when God opened doors for him to have employment. Either way, God provided. And Paul trusted the Lord,…

[beingjellybeans]

Sun Life: Empowering Advisors, Promoting Sustainability, and Making a Difference in Communities

Sun Life, a leading financial services company, has been making significant strides in various areas, from empowering its advisors to promoting sustainability and making a positive impact in communities. Through a series of recent accomplishments, Sun Life has showcased its commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility. Empowering Advisors for Success Over 200 Sun Life…

[reasonsforhope]

Federal regulators on Tuesday [April 23, 2024] enacted a nationwide ban on new noncompete agreements, which keep millions of Americans — from minimum-wage earners to CEOs — from switching jobs within their industries.

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday afternoon voted 3-to-2 to approve the new rule, which will ban noncompetes for all workers when the regulations take effect in 120 days [So, the ban starts in early September, 2024!]. For senior executives, existing noncompetes can remain in force. For all other employees, existing noncompetes are not enforceable.

[That's right: if you're currently under a noncompete agreement, it's completely invalid as of September 2024! You're free!!]

The antitrust and consumer protection agency heard from thousands of people who said they had been harmed by noncompetes, illustrating how the agreements are "robbing people of their economic liberty," FTC Chair Lina Khan said. 

The FTC commissioners voted along party lines, with its two Republicans arguing the agency lacked the jurisdiction to enact the rule and that such moves should be made in Congress...

Why it matters

The new rule could impact tens of millions of workers, said Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist and president of the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. 

"For nonunion workers, the only leverage they have is their ability to quit their job," Shierholz told CBS MoneyWatch. "Noncompetes don't just stop you from taking a job — they stop you from starting your own business."

Since proposing the new rule, the FTC has received more than 26,000 public comments on the regulations. The final rule adopted "would generally prevent most employers from using noncompete clauses," the FTC said in a statement.

The agency's action comes more than two years after President Biden directed the agency to "curtail the unfair use" of noncompetes, under which employees effectively sign away future work opportunities in their industry as a condition of keeping their current job. The president's executive order urged the FTC to target such labor restrictions and others that improperly constrain employees from seeking work.

"The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and to a competitive, thriving economy," Khan said in a statement making the case for axing noncompetes. "Noncompetes block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand."

Real-life consequences

In laying out its rationale for banishing noncompetes from the labor landscape, the FTC offered real-life examples of how the agreements can hurt workers.

In one case, a single father earned about $11 an hour as a security guard for a Florida firm, but resigned a few weeks after taking the job when his child care fell through. Months later, he took a job as a security guard at a bank, making nearly $15 an hour. But the bank terminated his employment after receiving a letter from the man's prior employer stating he had signed a two-year noncompete.

In another example, a factory manager at a textile company saw his paycheck dry up after the 2008 financial crisis. A rival textile company offered him a better job and a big raise, but his noncompete blocked him from taking it, according to the FTC. A subsequent legal battle took three years, wiping out his savings. 

-via CBS Moneywatch, April 24, 2024

--

Note:

A lot of people think that noncompete agreements are only a white-collar issue, but they absolutely affect blue-collar workers too, as you can see from the security guard anecdote.

In fact, one in six food and service workers are bound by noncompete agreements. That's right - one in six food workers can't leave Burger King to work for Wendy's [hypothetical example], in the name of "trade secrets." (x, x, x)

Noncompete agreements also restrict workers in industries from tech and video games to neighborhood yoga studios. "The White House estimates that tens of millions of workers are subject to noncompete agreements, even in states like California where they're banned." (x, x, x)

The FTC estimates that the ban will lead to "the creation of 8,500 new businesses annually, an average annual pay increase of $524 for workers, lower health care costs, and as many as 29,000 more patents each year for the next decade." (x)

Clearer explanation of noncompete agreements below the cut.

Noncompete agreements can restrict workers from leaving for a better job or starting their own business.

Noncompetes often effectively coerce workers into staying in jobs they want to leave, and even force them to leave a profession or relocate.

Noncompetes can prevent workers from accepting higher-paying jobs, and even curtail the pay of workers not subject to them directly.

Of the more than 26,000 comments received by the FTC, more than 25,000 supported banning noncompetes. 

[theborderupdates]

UK Immigration Rule Changes to Take Effect on 12 April

The minimum salaries that can be paid to foreign workers employed under sponsorship in the UK are to rise from 12 April.

Confirmation of the new salary thresholds for sponsored workers was set out by the Home Office in a statement of changes (185-page / 1.33MB PDF) to UK immigration rules published on Thursday.

Other notable changes announced in the policy paper, which also take effect on 12 April, include new rules that will make it easier for employers to sponsor workers under non-regular working patterns, and those that should reduce the need for formal sponsored visas to be obtained for seafarers. Further changes will enable more employers to bring young people from New Zealand, Australia and Canada into work in the UK, and the government has also confirmed that Qataris will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new electronic visa waiver scheme.

Immigration law expert Shara Pledger of Pinsent Masons said the changes in respect of salaries required for sponsored workers apply across a variety of immigration schemes – including the ‘skilled worker’ scheme, several ‘global business mobility’ schemes, and the less popular ‘scale-up’ scheme.

Pledger said: “The general salary threshold for ‘skilled workers’ will increase from £25,600 to £26,200 – up to £20,960 for new entrants – and the hourly rate rises to £10.75 per hour. Going-rate salaries for individual roles will also be changing – some up, some down. There is a similar story in respect of the ‘global business mobility’ scheme: the ‘senior’ and ‘specialist’ worker thresholds will increase to £45,800 and £24,220 respectively. The threshold under the scale-up scheme will also rise to £34,600.”

“We'll also see a change in the calculation of example annual salaries, basing these on a 37.5-hour week rather than the less likely 39 hours. None of these changes is retrospective, so something to focus on moving forward,” she said.

Pledger said the new rules announced will help employers sponsoring workers on irregular work patterns.

She said: “Post-Brexit, the UK has a wider breadth of roles suitable for sponsorship, and with it has come a mix of workers who do not work a standard ‘9-to-5’ day. This has proved problematic due to the strict prohibition on salary calculations for work exceeding 48 hours per week. New rules from 12 April will allow greater flexibility for this, allowing work rotation patterns to be aggregated to reach a more representative salary figure. While this has been permissible under guidance in the past, it is welcome to see clarity within the rules.”

Extensions to the ‘youth mobility’ temporary visa scheme, also outlined in the new rules, reflect the outcome of recent international trade agreements the UK has reached with other countries in the Commonwealth, Pledger said.

“Hot on the heels of India's new ballot for allocated scheme places, New Zealand nationals will now be eligible up to the age of 35 and they will be entitled to extend the usual two years in this route by a final third year in-country,” Pledger said. “In addition, 2023 will see Australia allotted 5,000 extra places within the scheme, and Canada an extra 2,000 places.”

Further new rules that will take effect on 12 April offer clarity on the application of immigration controls to seafarers, and extend the permissions they benefit from, Pledger said.

“The new rules clarify that workers within the UK's territorial waters are subject to immigration control; something that has been a source of some confusion post-Brexit,” Pledger said. “In addition, seafarers will now have specific permitted paid activities under visitor rules, allowing for delivery or collection of goods or passengers from a port outside the UK, and limited permissions to visit UK ports. This is useful, and hopefully will restrict the regularity with which seafarers will need a formal sponsored visa.”

Pledger also highlighted that workers from countries in the Middle East will be among those to benefit first from the UK’s new electronic visa waiver (EVW).

“The UK continues its move towards EVW for all nationals without a visit visa with the introduction of the new scheme from 25 October,” Pledger said. “This will initially only apply to Qatari nationals, with the scheme then extending to those from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia from 2 February 2024. We expect news on how the EVW will spread to other travellers in due course.”

Further immigration rule changes could follow aimed at addressing the skills shortage in the construction sector, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Pledger said: “Construction, like other shortage sectors such as hospital and social care, has been disadvantaged by the categorisation of many of its roles as ‘low skilled’, excluding them from sponsorship. Social care saw a slight reprieve through the addition of care workers to the shortage occupation list (SOL), allowing them to be sponsored regardless of assessed skill. There are now reports that construction roles will be added to the SOL, but it is not clear if this will have the same effect of opening up sponsorship opportunities.”

“The roles referenced in the article, for example bricklayers and plasterers, are already suitable for sponsorship, so the only benefit of addition to the SOL will be a slight reduction in visa application costs, though not sponsorship fees. It would nonetheless be interesting to see formal recognition of recruitment difficulties in another sector, and how the Home Office reacts,” she said.

Source: https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/uk-immigration-rule-changes-take-effect--12-april

[slyandthefamilybook]

since we now know that all those "my blog is safe for Jewish people" posts are bullshit, here are some Jewish organizations you can donate to if you actually want to prove you support Jews. put up or shut up

FIGHTING HUNGER

Masbia - Kosher soup kitchens in New York

MAZON - Practices and promotes a multifaceted approach to hunger relief, recognizing the importance of responding to hungry peoples' immediate need for nutrition and sustenance while also working to advance long-term solutions

Tomchei Shabbos - Provides food and other supplies so that poor Jews can celebrate the Sabbath and the Jewish holidays

FINANCIAL AID

Ahavas Yisrael - Providing aid for low-income Jews in Baltimore

Hebrew Free Loan Society - Provides interest-free loans to low-income Jews in New York and more

GLOBAL AID

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - Offers aid to Jewish populations in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in the Middle East through a network of social and community assistance programs. In addition, the JDC contributes millions of dollars in disaster relief and development assistance to non-Jewish communities

American Jewish World Service - Fighting poverty and advancing human rights around the world

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society - Providing aid to immigrants and refugees around the world

Jewish World Watch - Dedicated to fighting genocides around the world

MEDICAL AID

Sharsheret - Support for cancer patients, especially breast cancer

SOCIAL SERVICES

The Aleph Institute - Provides support and supplies for Jews in prison and their families, and helps Jewish convicts reintegrate into society

Bet Tzedek - Free legal services in LA

Bikur Cholim - Providing support including kosher food for Jews who have been hospitalized in the US, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Israel

Blue Card Fund - Critical aid for holocaust survivors

Chai Lifeline - An org that's very close to my heart. They help families with members with disabilities in Baltimore

Chana - Support network for Jews in Baltimore facing domestic violence, sexual abuse, and elder abuse

Community Alliance for Jewish-Affiliated Cemetaries - Care of abandoned and at-risk Jewish cemetaries

Crown Heights Central Jewish Community Council - Provides services to community residents including assistance to the elderly, housing, employment and job training, youth services, and a food bank

Hands On Tzedakah - Supports essential safety-net programs addressing hunger, poverty, health care and disaster relief, as well as scholarship support to students in need

Hebrew Free Burial Association

Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services - Programs include early childhood and learning, children and adolescent services, mental health outpatient clinics for teenagers, people living with developmental disabilities, adults living with mental illness, domestic violence and preventive services, housing, Jewish community services, counseling, volunteering, and professional and leadership development

Jewish Caring Network - Providing aid for families facing serious illnesses

Jewish Family Service - Food security, housing stability, mental health counseling, aging care, employment support, refugee resettlement, chaplaincy, and disability services

Jewish Relief Agency - Serving low-income families in Philadelphia

Jewish Social Services Agency - Supporting people’s mental health, helping people with disabilities find meaningful jobs, caring for older adults so they can safely age at home, and offering dignity and comfort to hospice patients

Jewish Women's Foundation Metropolitan Chicago - Aiding Jewish women in Chicago

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty - Crisis intervention and family violence services, housing development funds, food programs, career services, and home services

Misaskim - Jewish death and burial services

Our Place - Mentoring troubled Jewish adolescents and to bring awareness of substance abuse to teens and children

Tiferes Golda - Special education for Jewish girls in Baltimore

Yachad - Support for Jews with disabilities

[nationallawreview]

IRS and Treasury Department Release Initial Guidance for Labor Requirements under Inflation Reduction Act

IRS and Treasury Department Release Initial Guidance for Labor Requirements under Inflation Reduction Act

On November 30, 2022, the IRS and the Treasury Department published Notice 2022-61 (the Notice) in the Federal Register. The Notice provides guidance regarding the prevailing wage requirements (the Prevailing Wage Requirements) and the apprenticeship requirements (the Apprenticeship Requirements and, together with the Prevailing Wage Requirements, the Labor Requirements), which a taxpayer must…

[botanicalsword]

North Node in Natal Chart ☜ life purpose and area of focus

Our inner aspirations - Talents ; Potential

The North Node is associated with our sense of fulfillment, representing our deepest desires that inspire our quest for satisfaction.

North Node signifies the potential that an individual can develop. The North Node represents a harmonious relationship between us and the collective soul, thus bringing about breakthroughs in our social sphere.

When the North Node aligns with different houses in our birth chart, offering valuable guidance for our lives. Each house represents a specific area of focus and provides insights on how we can navigate and grow as individuals.

On the other hand, the South Node is connected to our need for security. The South Node represents our habits, responses, situations, and experiences that provide us with a sense of security. The South Node refers to a person's past patterns and tendencies. It represents the disharmonious aspects between us and the collective soul, resulting in obstacles in our social relationships.

➻ • ➻ • ➻ • ➻ • ➻ • ➻ • ➻ • ➻ •

1st House

Look inward, understand their own needs, and independent

good to pursue self-employment

learns how to share with others since they cannot rely on others or intimate relationships

rely on themselves - they have to be independent

they are forced to do things on their own and end up doing better than before because they have the ability

2nd House

Accumulate wealth and enhance self-worth; success will naturally follow

focusing on improving yourselves and your financial situation

can earn wealth through their skills

have a specific expertise

have the ability to excel in their profession

resources are not something they possess and must be shared with others

Cultivate strong motivation to accumulate wealth

3rd House

Transform the abstract into the concrete, simplify complex ideas

master effective communication

learn to communicate with people and become messengers of information, sharing their original ideas with those around them

4th House

a stable and harmonious family life provides a solid foundation for our career pursuits

find a balance between our personal and professional lives

learn to balance their family and career by developing their family life

let go of the strong attachment to power as they were power-holders in past lives

Seize the opportunity to play important roles on the social stage

5th House

Develop your talents and boundless creativity to reap abundant rewards

that will bring immense benefits and fulfillment.

well-suited to leading major projects

they need to be mature and objective

avoid spontaneous and childlike behavior

overlook present joys in pursuit of long-term goals

6th House

Emphasis the importance of choosing the right career path

align your work with your goals

strive for efficiency and effectiveness in your professional endeavors

step out of their imaginary world

engage in tangible service work every day

7th House

highlights the significance of interpersonal relationships and collaboration

let go of self-centeredness, learn to compromise

cultivate positive connections with others

learn to let go of themselves and not focus on how others perceive them

8th House

emphasizes trust and sharing

adopting a selfless mindset

being open to collaboration that can bring you numerous rewards and opportunities

need to undergo the destruction of their ideology in order to transform and liberate their souls

9th House

look beyond worldly distractions

explore profound truths and philosophical ideas

venture into new territories, both physically and intellectually, in our quest for knowledge and enlightenment

learn to find the logical reasoning behind all common knowledge and allow it to form more complex and sophisticated structures

spend more time studying profound knowledge

expose themselves to diverse cultures, as it allows them to make comparisons with their own culture

10th House

prompts us to take on social responsibilities and strive for professional success

embrace independence

make a positive impact in our chosen career path

develop a sense of social responsibility

fulfill some social responsibilities through their work and do meaningful things on the social stage

11th House

Step into the public sphere

pursue career opportunities

gain recognition, respect, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution

learn not to be too selfish and to value the importance of the socials

achieve balance through socialising

12th House

cultivate self-understanding and inner growth

focus on our spiritual development

help others achieve their goals that can find deep fulfillment and purpose in life

avoid busyness and overwhelming attention

engage with activities like meditation retreats that allow them to quiet down

>> Masterlist | explicit contents Exclusive access : Patreon • artist’s updates

[catboybiologist]

Fuck, man. It's hard to say how much this saddens me. Yosemite has it's own pride. Fucking Stonewall itself is protected by the NPS. From people I've worked and volunteered with in the past, the NPS is an amazingly queer friendly organization to work for.

I think you can also guess that seeing queer people active and out in nature has been a massive inspiration for me.

My first reaction here is to consider the NPS victims, not instigators here. I need more info before jumping to conclusions, and I encourage people to individually research and form their own opinions on this. To be blunt, the NPS is in a sorry state financially. Their budget hasn't increased at a rate that keeps up with inflation, much less visitation, and as someone who's visited national parks throughout their life, it has visibly shown in their infrastructure, public facing services, and employment opportunities. Being the target of a culture war could be terrifying. This is apparently a "reminder" of existing, universal government policy on the conduct of uniformed government officials being banned from participating in events showing political sides on issues unrelated to their organization.

But it's very, very telling that cops are still allowed to attend pride events in uniform.

This is a decision from a scared government institute, I think.

If that's all apologetics, please call me out on it. I'm queer (no shit). I also love the NPS. I'm going to wait until their official statement to jump to conclusions. But fuck.

[dilatorywriting]

Heroes vs. Villains : Octavinelle [Part 2]

Gender Neutral Reader x Octavinelle vs. Rielle Word Count: 2.6k

Summary: Woe to the Ramshackle Prefect, being caught up in the drama between the Disney Villains and their respective heroes. Octavinelle Version, Part 2 ie. Your red-headed hero arrives at Night Raven College and your other aquatic friends are less than enthused.

[PART 1] [PART 2]

The VDC is going to be one of the biggest events in Night Raven College’s history. It’s going to be spectacular, awe-inspiring, one for the history books. And somehow, by the grace of the Gods (or, well, Vil and Professor Crewel) you have tickets.

So naturally, Azul wants you to work through the entire thing.

“I know you don’t like people,” he’d smiled, as if he was offering you salvation on a silver platter. “And just think of it—all those crowds of sweaty, screaming, humans running around. It only seems right that I, as your employer and friend, do my due diligence to keep you safe during all of it, hmm?”

“We’re just thinking of your wellbeing,” Jade had piped in, a gloved hand pressed to his chest all innocent-like. You weren’t fooled for a second.

“And think of all the extra Thaumarks you’ll earn in tips!” Azul chirped. “I know being in a new world has been difficult for you in more ways than one, and that the financial burden in particular has been terribly unpleasant. So really, we’re just doing everything we can to assist you!”

Lies about being considerate for your ‘delicate mental health’ aside, money was good. Money was great. And besides, all you really cared about was the Choral Competition. As long as you could sneak away for that one, camping out in the Lounge didn’t actually seem like the worst idea in the world. The food was excellent, the atmosphere soothing, and the company was—

…Well.

‘Less than desirable’ would probably be an understatement. But Azul always let you take home the leftovers at the end of the night, and sometimes on colder nights Jade would make you a cup of cocoa with no mushrooms in it or anything. So maybe you could excuse a bit of sadism here and there.

So the VDC came and little, poor, you were squirreled away behind the gilded doors of the Mostro Lounge. Aside for the influx of costumers (and subsequent ‘event price hikes’), it was hardly different than any of your other shifts. The one notable difference was how often Azul swapped your station. Normally you were on door duty, or acting as part of the wait staff. But every time a group of RSA students strutted by in their fancy white uniforms, the Octo-Mer would shuffle you off to the kitchens. Or the bar. Or even his office sometimes, demanding assistance with clerical work.

Someone called your name and you lifted your head from your cloud of misery and menial labor—only half paying attention to the people you were ushering in towards the seating area. But instead of another unfamiliar blob waving you down, you actually recognized this guy. Him and his brilliant shock of red hair that you wouldn’t be able to miss from a mile away.

Lo – it was fork dude.

Or, well, Prince Rielle Tidal of Atlantica. But whatever. Man had pushed a utensil into your hands and told you to brush your hair with it. There was no coming back from that.

Your sun-kissed savior swerved through the line to greet you, nearly bowling you over in his enthusiasm. His RSA uniform was a blotch of bleached brightness against the sea of Night Raven’s black ensemble. Normally your rival academics seemed to travel in packs—safety in numbers and all that. But Rielle was weaving through the mass of grumpy NRC faces like he was perfectly at home.

“I decided to pop by to see Azul and his business—because, you know, he was always so smart and pragmatic so I knew it’d probably be really cool and whatever—but wow! It’s really you!”

“It’s really me,” you repeated, fighting to keep the chirp in your customer service voice. “So, would you like a table or—"

“Wait a second—Azul has you working during the festival?!” Rielle gawked, as if he was just realizing that he had stepped into a place a of business, and that you were wearing the uniform of said establishment. “That’s so cruel!”

Yes. Yes it was. But Azul was nothing if not cruel. And if this guy actually knew anything about him at all, he should be perfectly aware of that.

“Someone has to do it,” you shrugged. “Anyways, can I get you something to—”

“Wah, look at this! Shrimpy’s slackin’ on the job!”

Maybe you could put your head through the wall. That would probably be less painful.

Floyd, Jade, and Azul materialized behind you seemingly out of thin air. The terrible trio greeted your dour frown with varying degrees of spiteful glee. And… something else? There was a sort of tension about them that didn’t mesh with their usual haughtiness. It had cropped up for the first time a few weeks ago—that day at the beach. And subsequently the hours after when Jade had pulled Azul into his office to whisper all kinds of nonsense that was apparently ‘too delicate’ for you and whatever tolerance you’d built for these sociopaths.

“Actually, it’s my fault!” Rielle blurted, stepping smoothly in front of you with all the chivalry of a knight. You wanted to warn him that dipping into Floyd’s bite radius was a terrible idea, but at the same time, you were tired, and hungry, and very curious to see how this would all play out. “And I was just wondering—well… I—I mean…”

The young Prince was starting to splutter, his cheeks burning that same, hot, pink that they had all those weeks ago at the beach. He took a moment to clear his throat, compose himself, and then grasped your hands with both of his very neatly manicured ones.

You thought you heard someone gasp. Like in a period novel.

“I actually heard that you were at Night Raven too! And I’ve been looking all over for you! So—I—Would you—” More throat clearing. Floyd’s teeth were grinding together so loudly it almost sounded like a buzzsaw. “Do you want to get something to eat with me?”

There was a deafening crack and you watched as Jade nearly put Floyd through the floor in an attempt to keep him from lurching forward. You observed the scene before you with pleasant sort of surprise as the trio across from you erupted. Or, well, Floyd had erupted. Jade just had that perfectly polite smile on his mouth that let you know he was planning someone’s murder. And Azul looked like he’d just taken physical damage.

Huh. Interesting.

Then again, you’d known they were a proprietary bunch. And you also knew that you were the favorite chew toy around these parts. No one else was sturdy enough for the role, apparently.

“Oi, Princey,” Floyd snarled from behind Jade’s gloved fingers. “What do you think you’re—"

“I—” you interrupted, stepping between the rabid Merfolk and the would-be-mincemeat. “—would love to.”

Silence.

“…What?” Azul squawked.

“I’m due for my break anyways,” you shrugged, enjoying the horrible little surge of satisfaction warming your gut. Take that, you obnoxious fucks. You weren’t sure why Rielle and his crimson-monstrosity of a hairdo had set the three of them off so terribly, but you’d been on your feet for hours now. And missing all the food stalls, and your other friends, and you were going to take this petty revenge where you could.

You turned to Rielle with a polite little smile that you hoped looked more demure than scheming, and his eyes sparkled.

“You don’t mind eating here, do you?” you asked before shooting Azul an award-winning grin. “I’m sure having a Prince dining in would be great advertisement.”

“But of course,” he grit out. “Who would I be to turn down such a ringing endorsement.”

Rielle tossed an amiable arm across your shoulders and laughed that tinkling, church-bell, laugh of his. Floyd’s lip twitched and Azul snagged his arm quicker than a snake could strike. The snarling behemoth was promptly dragged off into the depths of the Lounge—Azul muttering something frantically under his breath that you couldn’t make out. He looked hunched, panicked. And whatever he was saying must have been serious enough to snag Floyd’s fickle attentions, because the too-tall henchman stayed firmly at his boss’s side. The pair of them vanished into the kitchens, the door slamming behind them.

“Just this way then, if you’d please,” Jade beamed, positively glacial.

“This’ll be great!” the Prince preened, keeping a loose grip on you as you both trailed a very stiff Eel through the front parlor. “I get to see all of Azul’s awesome accomplishments and have lunch with you at the same time!”

“The Mostro Lounge is a lovely place to dine,” you chirped, repeating your familiar, scripted, server prompts from memory. “There’s something for everyone.”

“Is that so?” Rielle hummed, as if in deep thought. “That’s very considerate of them.”

Plenty of people at this school liked to insult your intelligence, and you in turn liked to remind certain someones (Ace. Sebek.) that it was best not to throw stones in glass houses. But this was—you may have really found an actual, factual, ditz. Was this how Azul felt all the time? Looking down at you mere mortals with his superior IQ and cunning? Listening to Rielle’s innocent rambling made you feel like Einstein. It was… sort of nice.

My God, you were going to have be responsible for him, weren’t you? Is that was parenthood felt like?

Jade led you to a quiet booth in the back—the one with a direct line of sight to both the kitchens and Azul’s office. The one reserved for problem customers. You folded yourself neatly onto the cushioned bench and Rielle followed, sitting at your side rather than across the table. Something in Jade’s jaw twitched.

“What do you recommend?” Rielle asked you cheerfully, practically radiating enthusiasm. “I’m sure everything is fantastic!”

“Hmm… How about the Mixed Seafood Platter to start I think,” you grinned, turning your polite beam back on your unfortunate server. “With the Unagi, please.”

Beneath all that bubbling irritation, something in those bi-colored eyes gleamed with the barest hint of respect.

“But of course. If you’ll excuse me.”

Once Jade had retreated, Rielle relaxed back into his seat with a theatrical sigh. He brushed his neat swoop of hair off his forehead, like he was wiping away sweat from a workout.

“Phewf! Not that Azul’s friends aren’t nice and all, but they always give me a bit of the heebie-jeebies.”

That was the kindest word for ‘intense murderous aura’ that you’d ever heard.

“A bit, yeah,” you agreed easily enough. “So how do you know Azul?”

“Oh!” he perked right back up. “We were classmates! When we were younger. He was always really quiet, but also really smart! Is he still like that? Quiet—I mean. Reserved.”

A memory struck you then—of standing at Azul’s side in the lobby of the Atlantica Memorial Museum. You remembered his hesitant determination as he replaced his old class photo on the wall. The picture of a tiny, rounder, Azul standing off to the side—hunched, grey, and miserable amidst a sea of laughing faces. You couldn’t remember if there had been a brilliant slash of red mixed in there anywhere. You hadn’t even bothered to check. Because why would you have even deigned to look at the faces of a group of bullies?

Something soured in your gut.

“I wouldn’t say that, no,” your smile sharpening a bit at the edges. “He’s actually very talkative. It’s hard to get him to shut up most of the time.”

“Really?” Rielle gaped. “Wow! That’s awesome!”

Jade slithered by to drop off your appetizers, and if he noticed the slight drop in your mood he didn’t mention it. He was in and out in a flash. You could just see the whisps of his teal hair disappearing back into Azul’s office.

“Enough about Azul though,” Rielle waved off, reaching for the platter. “Tell me about you!”

“Me?” you echoed, bland. “But isn’t Azul your old friend?”

The Prince waved you off once more, cheeks pinkening all over again. “I can talk to him whenever. I’d much rather hear about you! You’re—You’re interesting!”

Now, that was probably a genuine compliment. You doubted Rielle actually meant to slight your friend companion boss by implying that the most ambitious, intelligent, cunning, and well-dressed merman on campus wasn’t interesting enough to converse about—that all of Azul’s efforts to bring himself out of the shadows and onto center stage were still wanting. But that bitter thing in your stomach was raring for a fight.

So you ruffled around in your uniform pocket and pulled out the little notebook you used to tally orders. You shot Rielle the brightest, sweetest, smile you could and watched his stupidly pretty face light up redder than his hair.

“Actually,” you giggled—giggled. Like a freak. “I’d love to hear about you.”

.

.

.

“He’s going to say something!—”

“What doesn’t Shrimpy already know, huh?” Floyd griped. “And I mean, didn’t you steal Ramshackle? You really think bubble-butt out there can do anything to make the Prefect hate you?”

Azul paced. And paced. And paced.

“It’s not about hating me,” he hissed, fighting the urge to wring his hands. “It’s about realizing there are better options out there, and—”

“Bubble-butt is a better option?!” Floyd cackled.

“Stop interrupting me!”

“Then stop whining,” the eel droned, flopping his head back against the couch. “You shoulda just let me squeeze ‘em.”

“We do not need to spark an international incident in my restaurant,” Azul repeated. Though it sounded less like he was trying to convince Floyd than himself.  “Rielle Tidal is a Prince—”

“—a shitty, turd, leftover, Prince—”

“—who we must treat,” Azul grit out, “as such.”

There was a firm rap against the door and Jade slipped inside. Azul had to fight the reflex to pounce on him immediately. Instead he took a moment to pause and straighten his suit jacket. His fingers were shaking and he was sure that Jade would have seen, but thankfully there seemed to be a single shred of mercy left in his Vice-Warden’s cold, withered, heart, and the trembling limbs were not mentioned.

Jade cleared his throat and Azul leaned forward, anxious.

“I think you may be overthinking things,” he said, calm as a cucumber, and Azul wanted to scream.

“It’s not paranoia, it’s being prepared,” he snipped. A pause. “But why do you say that? What happened? Did something happen?”

Jade smiled that placid smile of his. “No.”

“No?” Azul repeated, flabbergasted.

“No,” Jade shrugged.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Floyd piped in.

Azul was just about to turn and remind his wonderful subordinate just how terrible he could make his existence when there was another knock at the door—lighter than Jade’s but just as familiar. Not a moment later, your head popped through the crack and you peaked inside wearily.

Azul hastily cleared his throat and Jade’s grin turned smug.

“Pr-Prefect! Can I help you with something?”

Floyd snickered under his breath and Azul mentally added another three hours onto the bastard’s nightly dish duties.

You stepped inside and tossed a tiny notebook down onto his desk.

“Here,” you said, with a grumpy sort of frown on your face. “All of Prince Rielle of Atlantica’s stupid wants, hopes, and dreams. You better be able to put this to good use you stupid mafioso wannabe, because I’ve been listening to this guy ramble on about himself for ages now, and I’d rather get drowned by Jade and Floyd again.”

You turned without another word and slammed the door behind you.

Azul gaped wordlessly at the pile of tiny pages splattered across his desk, and the familiar curl of your handwriting filling each and every one of them.

“Oh,” he breathed.

“Oh indeed,” Jade grinned.