#if you read this whole post you may be entitled to financial compensation

[aq2003]

almost forgot. ten's run episode ranking (nine ranking here)

some stray thoughts and opinions under the cut

my overall ranking for the series so far would be 4 > 1 >= 3 > 2. donna sweep babygirl

"i have brain damage" tier would've been called "the qpr meth has gotten to me" but then i remembered how absolutely glued to the screen i was for sound of drums <3 all of the other episodes there are either donna episodes or episodes where ten goes through horrors specifically bc donna isn't there and sound of drums is the exception lmao

by default i think simm!master is the best main villain in ten's run. he is still very goofy like the cybermen and the daleks (and 98% of the villains in this show really) but simm!master has that toxic doomed yaoi backing him and that means everything in the world. rtd drop your simm!master spotify playlist

it is SO CRAZY how an episode called "planet of the ood" can make me cry. but it did. and i love it for it. i love the ood so much. they are my little guys

stolen earth/journey's end was my least favorite arc in main series 4 - which is just a testament to how much i loved the rest of it lmao. like i still rly liked the finale, and the scene of davros pointing out that ten turned their friends into soldiers and how it was framed almost like they were being put on trial. Was so fucking juicy. but it felt overall like the story was doing that "trying to include everyone" thing and the pacing felt off as a result. like i rly needed the donna mind wipe scene to be longer it was goin so fast i couldn't process it

42 goes so crazy and i love it so much bc to me it is the defining tenmartha episode. you have that showcase of deep inherent trust, of swearing to save each other, of being the person the other needs bc is there anyone else. but you also have ten screaming at her to kill him so that he won't hurt anyone and then at the end, deflecting and refusing to talk w her about it. "burn with me martha" is like that previously-unspoken-now-brought-to-front undercurrent to their whole relationship and ten says it while being possessed by a rageful vindictive sun. waow

i really dislike the temporary companions (astrid and christina in voyage of the damned and planet of the dead respectively). not the characters themselves but the timing and role they have in the story and how they're framed. i do understand that part of ten's character is that he gets attached very easily and can't stand being on his own, but also for astrid this was directly post-martha where ten's realized he's been fucking up her life by acting the way he did. and for christina this was post-donna and pre-time-lord-victorious. forming a friendship that ends w/ tragedy or ten pushing them away i can see, but romantic tension is pushing it HARD. which leads me to my next deranged point

ten is aroace to me i'm so sorry society he clocked the aroace meter the minute the story decided to introduce donna and then in series 4 make them the soulmates of all time while there isnt a HINT of romantic tension between them. and there is something so narratively aspec about ten being created by and for love but sometimes his love isn't enough/isn't the right kind and everyone will leave or find someone else. being an alien can be a metaphor for being aroace if i'm crazy enough about it (and also if their humanity is a constant theme to their arc that is hammered in time and time again)

i forgot i was supposed to talk about the episodes hold on a second

one of the most out of body experiences i had was watching love and monsters, really quite liking it (despite finding the ending weird) because it's a grounded and solid episode w strong characterization and really great jackie and rose moments, only to find out this episode is nearly universally despised by the dr who fanbase. help girl

the human ten arc probably has the most underrated villains in the show. i just really love that concept of monsters that need to eat timelords in order to survive, and ten giving them one chance to be spared of his rage and die peacefully by turning himself into a human for a hot minute. it's just really neat idk.

time lord victorious my babygirl. like oh my god i was wondering for the entire time how the fuck does ten go from "vain/overconfident but at heart always driven by his love for others" to "god complex" and the answer to this question is "you take away everyone he cares about and make him watch more and more people die in front of him until he just fucking snaps". at the end of waters of mars i was almost expecting him to knock 4 times on the tardis door himself and was so glad it didnt happen. etc etc. i'm also really glad that it doesn't last for more than 5 minutes. what he does essentially haunts him for the rest of his (short) life and that's so so important

end of time part 2 doesn't get a ranking. it is simultaneously the best episode and worst episode. it made me cry my eyes out three separate times. like it's not even an episode anymore it's like an experience. specifically one akin to watching a good friend you made over the course of 16 days die in front of you. i felt my soul being sucked out and i wont ever feel anything again (until the 60th anniversary specials fix me). god fucking bless

but pairing up martha and mickey out of nowhere was so so fucking bad and i need to actually murder whoever made that decision

[2hlawfirm]

What Types of Personal Injury Damages Can I Recover?

If you’ve been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you may wonder what types of personal injury damages you can recover. The answer depends on the circumstances of your case, but in general, you may be able to recover economic and noneconomic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for quantifiable financial losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. These might include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. On the other hand, noneconomic damages are more difficult to quantify but can be just as important.

Read on to learn more about the types of damages you can recover in a personal injury case!

Punitive Damages Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct. They are awarded in addition to compensatory damages, which reimburse the plaintiff for their losses. Punitive damages are often awarded in cases of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. To recover punitive damages, the plaintiff must usually show that the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless or harmful. In some states, there are limits on the number of punitive damages awarded. For example, California caps punitive damages at three times the number of compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is greater. Punitive damages are not available in every personal injury case. Suppose you are entitled to punitive damages. In that case, you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who can evaluate your claim and advise you of your legal options. The most important thing to remember is that punitive damages are not intended to compensate the plaintiff for their losses but rather to punish and deter certain wrongful conduct.

Pain and Suffering If you’ve been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may wonder what damages you can recover. One type of damage that may be available to you is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is a type of damage intended to compensate the victim for the physical and emotional pain and suffering they have experienced due to the accident. It is important to note that pain and suffering are not intended to punish the at-fault party but to make the victim whole again. There are two types of pain and suffering damages: mental anguish and physical pain. Mental anguish includes anxiety, fear, depression, grief, and other emotional distress. Physical pain includes actual physical discomfort and pain experienced as a result of the injury. To recover pain and suffering damages, you must prove that the at-fault party caused your injuries and that you have suffered some emotional or physical pain. This can be done with medical records, testimony from friends or family members, or other evidence. Suppose you believe you may be entitled to recover pain and suffering damages. In that case, speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your rights and options is important.

Emotional Distress The physical and emotional anguish you experience can be overwhelming when you’ve been wrongfully injured. You may be left feeling scared, frustrated, and alone. But you don’t have to go through this tough time alone. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you might be able to recover damages for your emotional distress. This damage is intended to compensate you for the psychological effects of your injuries, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To win an emotional distress claim, you must show that the defendant’s actions were negligent or intentional and that those actions caused you severe emotional distress. Proving emotional distress can be difficult, so it’s important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you build a strong case.

Disfigurement and Disability If you have suffered a personal injury that has left you with a disfigurement or disability, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries. Disfigurement can refer to any type of physical change to your appearances that is not temporary, such as scars, burns, or amputations. A disability is any type of physical or mental impairment that prevents you from living your life the way you want. Disfigurement and disability can significantly impact your life, causing physical pain and emotional suffering. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you might be able to hold them liable for your damages. In many cases, disfigurement and disability are covered under personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policies. The number of damages you can recover will depend on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life. You may recover compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the person who caused your injuries acted recklessly or intentionally harmed you, you might also be able to recover punitive damages. Suppose you have suffered disfigurement or disability because of someone else’s negligence. In that case, it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights and options.

Lost Earnings and Earning Capacity A personal injury action may recover two economic damages: lost earnings and earning capacity. Lost earnings are the wages or salary you would have earned had you not been injured, while earning capacity is the amount of money you can earn now as a result of your injuries. To recover lost earnings, you must show that you would have earned income had you not been injured. This may be done through pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, or other financial records. If you were self-employed, you would need to provide documentation of your earnings, such as bank statements or invoices. An expert witness may also be called to testify about your expected earnings. Earning capacity damages are more difficult to prove, as they require evidence of how your injuries have affected your ability to work. A medical expert will need to testify about the nature and extent of your injuries and how they have limited your ability to earn an income. Vocational experts may also be used to testify about the type of jobs you are now qualified for and the wages you can expect to earn in those positions.

Healthcare Expenses Healthcare expenses are one of the most common damages recovered in personal injury cases. These expenses can include current and future medical bills and any required rehabilitation or long-term care. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover these costs from the responsible party.

Contact and Visit us at 2H Law.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you may wonder what types of personal injury damages you can recover. The answer depends on the facts of your case. However, there are generally three types of damages that may be available: medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

If you have been injured in an accident, contact 2H Law at (619) 374-9320 . Our experienced personal injury attorneys will review your case and help you understand the damages you may be entitled to recover. We will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

[tinyboxxtink]

"Doppelganger" *Part 24*

Alright I REFUSE to make this story any longer, so the next chapter IS the finale, I swear to you.

This is just one more little loose end I wanted to throw in, maybe it'll come back around the epilogue. Who knows?! I know.

I would have started the "Wedding Day" here but I really wanted it to be it's own chapter, so this is kinda short and I'm not gonna lie if I have to I will make the last chapter 20 pages long to fit the ending in. That being said I have some stuff to do tomorrow night and work the next night so I may or may not split up writing the last chapter between those and post it late Sunday or Monday.

It's worth it I promise! I'll make it worth it.

Part 23

Finale!!

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

@objection-argumentative

-------

The next day Rafael asked you to come by his office once again, making you nervous. Especially when you showed up to the Mayor and a Lawyer to greet you along with Rafael.

“Pinguino,” Rafael smiled as he met you at the door with his arms open wide pulling you into a kiss.

“....More interviews?” You whispered as you eyed the two other men.

“Actually, they haven’t told me what they’re doing here yet,” Rafael whispered back as you both walked over to the men sitting at Rafael’s desk. Rafael pulled another chair around to his side so you could sit next to him. He had a feeling this would take a while.

“So...gentlemen,” Rafael cleared his throat. “What’s this about?”

“Well Barba it’s about your wedding,” The mayor replied.

“...Why am I not surprised..?” He shook his head with a laugh.

“Actually Mr. Barba I think you’ll find this visit different from others the mayor here has sprung on you thus far,” His lawyer answered.

“...And that would be because…?” Rafael raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“Because Mr. Fenkell here says that I owe you financial compensation for all you’ve been doing for me,” The mayor replied rather gruffly as he crossed his arms like a petulant child being called into the principal’s office.

“...Excuse me?” Rafael looked at both of them with confusion.

“Well Mr. Barba, I’m surprised you haven’t either realized or brought up the fact that the situation that you’re in is called ‘quid pro quo’,” The lawyer explained.

“Yes I know what ‘quid pro quo’ is counselor, we went to the same law school,” Rafael snarked. “And I graduated with higher honors than you,”

“Barba I’m here trying to help you out, I don’t know why you’re lashing out at me,” The lawyer now crossed his arms.

“Baby,” You put a hand on his. “Just let the man talk,”

“Right,” He nodded reluctantly. “Go on,”

“Like I was saying,” Mr. Fenkell pulled out papers from his briefcase. “I assume you and your fiancée here have been going along with the Mayor’s requests for fear of losing your job, correct?”

“I mean, not mine per say,” Rafael shrugged. “THAT would be illegal,”

“Right,” Mr. Fenkell nodded. “But everything he’s done thus far involving you and your fiancé's likeness entitles you to royalties, and dues for services,”

“Well, that is true,” Rafael nodded. “I’ve been so preoccupied with everything else I haven’t even stopped to think--”

“Which is exactly why I’m here,” Mr. Fenkell cut him off. “I figured a competent lawyer like yourself would realize when all the dust settles, that you were indeed entitled to a sum of money, and would therefore sue the Mayor after the fact,”

“Wow, that’s a lot of assuming on your part sir,” You laughed softly. “You really think Rafael is that shit of a--”

“I mean he is right,” Rafael finished for you.

“...Or I’m just an idiot,” You muttered.

“No, baby you’re not an idiot,” Rafael took your hand. “But we are entitled--YOU are entitled for some kind of compensation for all that you’ve done for the mayor--for me,”

“I thought my compensation was getting to marry you,” You smiled sweetly.

“Aww,” Mr. Fenkell remarked, causing an eye roll from the mayor.

“Right so--” Mr. Fenkell began laying papers filled with legal jargon on the desk in front of you and Rafael.

“This contract states that once we settle on a number, you won’t try and collect more from the mayor with some random claim like ‘emotional distress’ during your wedding, or events thereafter due to all of this,”

“...Trauma?” You couldn’t help but laugh. “You think that after everything I went through, I would classify this as trauma?”

“I mean theoretically you could, Ms. Y/L/N,” He nodded. “The emotional stress of reliving your trauma and trying to plan a wedding while on display for the whole city must be taking a toll on you right now, is it not?”

“...Well it wasn’t until you said it like that,” You muttered.

“Dammit Maxwell I told you, they were perfectly fine with--” The mayor began to pitch a fit.

“Oh no no no,” Rafael wagged a finger at the mayor. “Just because she’s ignorant of the--”

“Excuse you?” You crossed your arms at Rafael’s condescending tone.

“I mean, just because she doesn’t realize or recognize the emotional stress she’s under doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have it, and doesn’t deserve compensation” He looked to you apologetically while he re-worded the statement. You gave him an approving nod.

“Right well this is what this is for--”

“And what kind of price tag have you put on my fiance's feelings, counselor?”

“Well if you’ll peruse the contract, counselor…” Mr. Fenkell pointed to the bottom of the paper.

“This contract blah blah blah, no further seeking monetary blah blah blah…” Rafael spoke out loud as he scanned the document. Then suddenly, his eyes widened and he stopped reading, looking at you then Mr. Fenkell then the Mayor.

“...A million dollars?” He raised his eyebrow, skeptical.

“...What?” You gasped.

“....Each,” He added with a smile as he handed you the paper. You didn’t know a lot of the words, but in plain black and white you read: “...In the form of one million dollars per plaintiff,”

“I’m sorry, WHAT?” You said louder than you intended, but that was insane.

“That’s insane,” You said out loud. “I don’t need that kind--”

“Baby,” Rafael stopped you and pulled you slightly away from the mayor and his lawyer. “I know that you get antsy when good things happen to you, but you deserve this,”

“For what?!” You hissed. “For taking a few photos? For letting a camera crew in a church? Rafael I just--”

“...But think of everything before that, carino,”

“What, Nevada? That--” You shook your head.

“Wasn’t your fault,” Rafael finished.

“...Well it wasn’t the mayor’s fault either, Raffi,” You nodded at the mayor.

“But he is exploiting you for it,” Rafael pointed out.

“....True,” You nodded.

“Excuse you two, but I--” The mayor began to rant again.

“And if I may add,” Mr. Fenkell jumped in. “While Mr. Barba was worried about his job, you also had reason to be worried about it as well. Being as he is your only means of support,”

“Right now,” You quickly added.

“....Right,” Mr. Fenkell gave you a side eye. “Currently,”

Clearly this douchebag thought what everyone else must be thinking. That you were just marrying Rafael for his money. So that you could be a ‘kept’ woman. Well, he was about to learn that was the furthest thing from the truth.

“Alright then,” You finally said. “Then I want my share to go to Rafael, if we’re going to be married it’s his anyway,”

“No no no no, Nuh-uh,” Rafael shook his head. “Your share is your share,”

“...But I don’t want you to think that I’ve got some... ‘escape money’,” You gave him a sad look.

“Escape money?” He laughed. “Baby I told you, I think the last thing I should be worried about is you leaving me,”

“....Also true,” You nodded with a soft smile. You sure as hell had not gotten this far working this hard to ‘get’ Rafael to just give him up. Ever.

“Okay then, do I tell you where I want the money to go or do I do it myself?” You asked Mr. Fenkell.

“...You already have plans for it?” Mr. Fenkell asked you. “...Didn’t you just say you didn’t want it? Why would you--”

“Just answer the question,” You said flatly.

“I mean Mr. Barba could just draw up the contracts and paperwork for you to transfer your funds wherever you--”

“But Mr. Barba is my husband, not my lawyer,” You cut him off. “...And I’d like to keep that way,” You looked over at who Rafael looked at you in confusion.

"Not Mixing business and pleasure," You smirked.

“Right,” Mr. Fenkell nodded as pulled out a legal pad and a pen. “Well I can make a list of where you want to divert the funds and we’ll go from there,”

“Okay,” You took a deep breath. “Well, first of all-- obviously,” You took Rafael’s hand. “I want to pay off the rest of my time at Julliard,”

“That’s unnecessary, carino--”

“Yeah I know you say that Rafael, but I was going there before I met you and it’s not your respon--”

“It’s already paid for, in full,” He spoke over you.

“...What?” You asked him with a breathy voice. When did he have time to do that?! WHY-wait.

“But I’m going to need an extra semester since I’m taking the rest of this one off,” You said softly as you glanced at the other two in shame. You still felt guilty about Rafael having to basically babysit you for the past few weeks.

“Yeah I figured that.” He nodded with a smile, stroking your cheek. “It’s all taken care of, carino,”

“...Alright fine then I want to pay it back,” You insisted.

“No,” He shook his head. “Absolutely not,”

“Rafael come on--”

“NO,” He repeated sternly. “I won’t take it,”

“....Alright, fine,” You rolled your eyes. “Then I want a chunk to go to abuela--”

“No I have them covered too,” He shook his head. “And they are definitely NOT your responsibility. And before you say next that you want it to go to Maria, she will never accept it. We're too proud of a people," He smiled teasingly.

“...Fine,” You sighed in frustration. “THEN I want a chunk of it to go to opening a drama center,” You crossed your arms and looked at Rafael. “Any objections to that, counselor?”

“...A drama center?” He looked at you curiously.

“Look,” You took both of his hands. “I know you couldn’t-- your mom didn’t want you---” You took another breath, trying to figure out exactly what to say. “...You had to give up your dream to take care of your family,”

“Carino…” He took your hand.

“And my parents, they spent all the money we had on dance lessons, acting lessons, all of it. On ME. Just so that I could live my dream,” You continued. “Kids should be able to dream their dreams without their parents having to worry about money to do so,”

“But...your dream, Y/N. You want to be on Broadway. How are you gonna fit--” He started to speak but you were nowhere near done with your speech.

“Baby my dream was selfish,” You shook your head. “I wanted to be famous for the wrong reasons. To be adored by the world, to be loved by everyone. But, now I know the only person’s love I care about, is yours,” You stroked his face.

“If I open this place then I can still use my talents as a teacher, helping kids like us. I told your mom that when I met you, you made me a better person, that you made me want to be better. I want that to be true. I need that to be true,” You finally finished with a small smile, tears lined Rafael’s eyes.

“You are the best person I know, mi amor,” He pushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “I think the center is a great idea,”

“Good,” You smiled. “And….I want to name it the Y/L/N-Barba Drama Center,”

“....Well obviously after you,” He nodded.

“No,” You shook your head. “After you. And my parents. Because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have found you, and you gave me everything I’ve ever wanted,”

“I love you,” He beamed at you as he kissed you deeply.

“...And on that note,” You turned back to Mr. Fenkell who looked wildly uncomfortable by your little cutesy side conversation.

“I want the rest to be split between a savings account for me, and the other half into a trust,”

“A trust?” Mr. Fenkell asked as he wrote down your wishes.

“A trust for our children,” You smiled at Rafael. “My parents spent so much money so that I could live my dream. I think it’s only fair I do the same for them; especially when I have the means to do it,”

“See those redneck shithead Jersians have no idea what they’re talking about,” He pressed his forehead against yours. “You are not selfish, not at all,”

“Thanks to you,” You pressed your own forehead against his like a love head butt.

“....Okay, so is there anywhere else you’d like it to go, Ms. Y/N?” Mr. Fenkell said rather loudly, trying once again to remind you there were other people in the room. People who were not amused with your disgustingly cute conversations.

“Um, no I think that’s good,” You nodded.

“Split up mine the same way, Max,” Rafael added.

“Rafael you don’t need to--” You started to protest but he put a finger to your mouth.

“I have money,” He assured you. “I have enough money to take care of us for the rest of our lives. This money should go somewhere that represents the both of us, and our love,”

“Can we please for the love of God just end this, please?” The mayor groaned. “If I have to sit here and watch you word vomit your love all over this office, I might actually vomit,”

“Right,” Rafael rolled his eyes. “Well gentlemen you know where to find us,” He grabbed the pen and signed one of the contracts then handed it to you and you did the same.

“Now if you’ll excuse us we’re going to ‘love vomit’ all over each other now,” He smirked as he handed back the papers. Mr. Fenkell and The mayor nodded as they walked out.

“Well, what do you want to do now?” Rafael wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“As tempting as that sounds, I have another request mi amor,” You played with the hair on the back of his knuckles with a soft voice.

“Anything for you pinguino,”

“Well I mean, you have some pull over there,” You nodded outside towards the courthouse that was attached to the DA's office by a hallway.

“...Why, do you need parking tickets dismissed or something? Did I agree to marry a felon?” He teased you.

“No,” You giggled. “But I would like to skip the ‘name changing’ line,” You pulled him closer as his smile grew bigger.

“I don’t think that’s what they call it, but I appreciate the sentiment,” He kissed you as you both walked towards the door of his office and out into the lobby.

“We’ll be back, Tommy,” He told his assistant.

“Right sir,” He nodded.

“This way to the ‘name changing line’, pinguino,” He smirked as you walked down the hall towards the courthouse.

------

--An Hour Later--

You and Rafael walked out of the courthouse and down the steps hand in hand as you pulled the two papers from his hands. One was a marriage license, and one was a form that was filled with boring legal jargon but at the bottom was printed: “Legal Name: Mrs. Y/F/N Barba,” with your new signature on the dotted line.

“Mrs. Rafael Barba,” You smiled as you looked at the paper.

“Oh no no no,” Rafael shook his head with a laugh. “That sounds like you’re my property, pinguino,”

“True,” You nodded with a teasing smile.

“...So why the sudden urgency to change your name, carino?” He asked as you walked down the street hand in hand. “Not that I’m complaining. I'd be lying if I said just looking at your name with my last name makes me giddy,”

“Giddy?” You gave him a look.

“Yeah, I said it. Giddy,” He laughed.

“...I don’t know, it was something that my therapist said,” You shrugged.

“...And what did she say?” He asked you skeptically.

“She said,” You sighed and pulled Rafael out of the flow of traffic of people.

“She said that women who don’t take their husband's last names had one foot out the door of the marriage before even going in,” You looked up at him with soft eyes. “And I don’t want you to think that I am any less than 100% sure of my love for you, and the rest of our lives together,”

“Well, first of all I’d like to see her marriage to divorce ratios based on that assumption,” He rolled his eyes. “And second-- I appreciate the sentiment baby, I really do. Just as long as you did it for you, and not because your therapist guilted you into it,”

“She didn’t,” You assured him. “I did this for me. For us,”

“Well then Mrs. Barba,” He took your hand once again with a huge smile. “Let’s grab some dinner, shall we?” He asked in a melodramatic, fancy tone.

“We shall, Mr. Barba,” You answered in the same tone, making both of you giggle like school kids.

Now all that was left to do was actually get married!

[uselessheretic]

i think the post saying that you shouldnt read pdf copies of maus online and that if you cant afford maus and its not available at your library then you should suck it up bc youre not entitled to read maus is like... iont know man kinda missing the point of "maus is being banned in schools/libraries and children are losing access to this vital education resource"

maus has been in print for decades. most ppl who buy it are going to buy it secondhand. the author is doing perfectly fine financially and doesnt make the majority of his money from maus sales, and even then its currently a best seller and sold out p much everywhere.

idk like,,, the ppl most impacted by maus being banned cant buy it for themselves and also literally cant get it from the library bc of the whole being banned thing. its not a video game or superhero comic where ppl read it for entertainment. its a vital educational resource detailing his fathers experiences of surviving the holocaust which is crucial during a time of increasing holocaust denial and the erasure of jewish history.

idk the whole thing just feels kinda tone deaf and also privileged in terms of access to well stocked libraries or financial ability. saying that you need to "compensate the author for his generational trauma" feels? kinda gross?? and plays back into the mindset going on right now of liberals being like "maus may have been banned but we made it a bestseller! america wins!" when that does little to address the severe harm being done in these school districts

im also like djdjdjd when i read maus in school i didnt even read it from the book. my english teacher printed out copies of it for students who couldnt buy it themselves. do you know how hard it is to be a teen in poverty and trying to access literature when the library is not an option for you?

like for real, what you gonna say to a teen in tennessee who wants to read maus but cant? that theyre not entitled to it and should just hold off until theyre 18 and can afford to buy it themselves?

the point isnt to turn this into an issue solved by the individual where the focus is to pay the author (who again is doing FINE financially. not all comic artists are but he is and makes his money from things like artist panels and college appearances not book sales) the focus should be on the way that students are being denied critical access to stories about the holocaust and how to combat that. like djdjdj most ppl was gonna buy it secondhand anyways? if someones poor or without access to these resources then like sure read the pdf copy online im p sure the author is more concerned about access to education than whether six dollars gets sent to thriftbooks and would rather the 16 yo kid read maus online than just not bc they think they havent earned the right to

[askstorycrow]

ooc answer time

hi y’all! thank you so much for all your interest (and your questions)! i really appreciate all the kind words. i’m glad you’re liking the blog so far!

i’m gonna answer this one under a read more to spare those of you who aren’t interested. thanks again for following and liking and reblogging posts and sending asks and comments!  

If I may ask, what do you use,

i use mypaint for sketch/line/color and gimp for effects/compositing/animation. the only good thing about either is that they are free. i draw on an ancient wacom intuos tablet that i have just googled and discovered is currently reselling for less than $30. 

what's your process, 

usually i’ll figure out the answer first, loosely write it, maybe do a little thumbnail sketch, and then i’ll make the panels. here’s an example:

and here’s that post. 

and how long does a typical answer/reply take?

if i am having trouble with an answer or need to think it over with some help, i will yell about it at my partner, who is a fan of the scarecrow (and also is nearly complete with a phd in psychology). my partner would like me to note that they are the “executive creative consultant” of this blog. 

panels take anywhere from about 30 minutes to a few hours. depends on what i’m doing!

Also, what inspired you to start/have a Scarecrow blog? 

the last time i did an ask blog, it really helped me improve drawing, and i’ve been feeling very stuck lately. so! here i am. 

scarecrow specifically? i had a design in my head i liked, i’ve always wanted to try out a different batman rogue, i like jonathan’s whole thing... and also a very gentle nudge from @captainbaddecisions​ 

oh and this post. but we’ll get to that!

Do you have any prior experience with ask blogs or role playing?

it was a long, long time ago.

if you remember the swag riddler you are eligible for a veteran’s discount and may be entitled to financial compensation bby >B)

thanks again for the questions and all your responses. i’m having a great time, and i hope you are too!

[topweeklyupdate]

TØP Weekly Update #57: Thanks, Jay Z (8/9/2018)

Turns out last week was a pretty good one to take off. Very little of major note happened in the Twenty One Pilots sphere while I vacationed in the Canadian wilderness. This week, however... that’s a whole other story. 

New music. New music video. New track list. New merch. Let’s get into it. 

This Week’s TØPics:

“Levitate” and Trench Track List Leak, and Then...

“Levitate” Video and Trench Track List Released

“Jumpsuit” Drops Off the Hot 100 (But Still Gains At Radio...)

Mark Goes Off

AND MORE

Major News and Announcements:

On Tuesday, the streaming service Tidal briefly posted the third promotional track for Trench before realizing their mistake and taking it down. This still provided the Clique with plenty of time to record and post it in so many places across the Interwebs that Warner Music Group’s copyright bots couldn’t hope to catch up. The likelihood that Tyler and Josh leaked it themselves is honestly pretty low extremely high.

The track, entitled “Levitate”, is the most unmistakable hip-hop track in the band’s discography thus far. Running at a tight 2:20, Tyler delivers some truly impressive bars in what is essentially a single extended verse, constantly mixing up his flow against a slick trap drum beat and the eerie synth that was hinted at in the end of “Jumpsuit” (if the entire album flows from song to song like this... automatic 10/10). 

Lyrically, “Levitate” sees Tyler discussing the role of songwriting in his life, a form of expression that allows him to “fire-breathe” and “levitate” beyond his problems. The song is littered with gems (“we are not just graffiti on a passing train”) and jabs against the music industry for trying to rein him in or make him into something he’s not (“this culture is a poacher of overexposure, don’t feed me to the vultures”, “you’re the worst; your structure compensates, but compensation feels a lot like rising up to dominate”). The reference to Tyler getting back “what I once bought back in that slot, I won’t need to replace” is perfect, and I’m still emotional about it.

I do have a few minor quibbles with the song. I think the looped instrumental is a little too minimalistic to justify the length of the outro. “At least they all know what they hear comes from a place” and “you can levitate with just a little help” lack specificity and fall a little flat for me. And I’ve expressed before that I’m not overly interested in songs about the music industry that aren’t directly applicable to most people’s experience (sorry, "Fairly Local” and “Lane Boy”). 

All that said, the production and presentation is so slick. Plus, Tyler grounds the song in enough personal experience and relatable struggles that it succeeds in crossing over that gap of fame and success to actually hit home. Lines like “danger in the fabric of this thing I made,” “I thought I could depend on my weekends on the freezing ground,” and “don’t feed me to the vultures, I am a vulture who feeds on pain” show the same vulnerability and self-aware introspection that attracted me to the band in the first place.

“Levitate” wasn’t all we got from the leak. An updated version without the yellow duct tape over the track list was included as the background, revealing the names of the other eleven songs that we’ll hear sometime between now and October 5th. The track list is as follows:

Didn’t think that I’d struggle with a song title more than “Bandito”, but “Pet Cheetah” and “The Hype” are really gonna have to go the extra mile in ways that no other song from the band has before to justify those artistic choices. (That said, “Neon Gravestones” sounds rad as hell.) We’ll save picking apart the meaning for all of these titles for a later date; we’ve still got another two months before the album is out, and I don’t think we’ll be getting any new songs or videos until late September at the earliest, so we’ve got time.

ln the wake of the leak (much like with “Heathens” two years ago), the song and video for “Levitate” were pushed out the following day, two days earlier than originally planned if the date on Tidal is anything to go buy. The third installment in this Trench trilogy features Tyler and Josh performing the track at the Bandito camp while vultures fly around looking cool. At the video’s conclusion, Tyler is snatched away from a campfire by a bishop and dragged without a struggle back to Dema. One Bandito looks frightened by this, but another just ominously states “Welcome to Trench”.

I must confess that this music video didn’t fully do it for me. While the production value remains stellar, the “Car Radio” call-back with shaving Tyler’s head is great, and I love any opportunity to see the boys perform together, “Levitate” as a song is frankly too short and moves at a too breakneck pace to make a truly compelling video out of the song alone. I’m honestly shocked that there wasn’t a longer extended scene attached to the end of the video to provide a stronger narrative conclusion to the pieces laid in the last two videos, especially considering that “Jumpsuit” opened with such a scene. As it is, the video moves by so quickly and shares so many aesthetic qualities with its two predecessors that it didn’t leave much of an impression on me.

There is, however, one (potentially unintentional) aspect of the “Levitate” video that really resonated with me. Tyler enjoying himself while performing and being with people only to be yanked out of the group once the energy dies down a little is a perfect representation of anxiety and depression, which so often sets in without warning in circumstances where one would think are supposed to feel happy and safe. The fact that this story ends on such a down note reads as an honest reflection on the nature of mental illness, even if it is perhaps narratively unsatisfying. Besides, I highly doubt this will be our last exploration of the Trench universe; we’ll just have to see where else Tyler and Josh take us when the album drops.

With the initial wave of promo singles out of the way, the marketing team has moved ahead with the business of actually selling the album. Trench is now available for pre-order on iTunes. The Twenty One Pilots webstore is now full of various bundle packages for pre-order that include t-shirts, hoodies, a dope bandana, a 10′’ vinyl EP with the three promo tracks, CD and cassette versions of the full album and (if you order before the end of the month) a neat little patch, all at pretty reasonable prices.

Other News and Shenanigans:

There isn’t too awful much to report outside of the mountain of major developments (thank God). Andrew Donoho posted some dope behind the scenes pics starring Clifford the Vulture. Josh is still occasionally tweeting and posting pictures of hanging out with Debby, his brother, and other cool people. Tyler is still quiet as ever, and I’m not sure why that shocks people. It bears repeating that he was rarely on social media pre-hiatus, that this is probably going to be a regular thing, and that stepping back from social media is honestly one of the better decisions one can make for your mental health and overall leisure time.

The only really notable thing that I missed during my vacation was Mark clarifying on Twitter that the Trench music videos have all been in chronological order and that he’s been happy to be giving Andrew Donoho creative control over how the videos have developed. With how cryptic things have been surrounding this album’s release, it’s refreshing to have a voice of reason to tell it like it is. Thanks Mark.

Chart Performance:

While the new song has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind, its predecessors have still been putting in work... but perhaps not as much as might have been expected based on the last album cycle’s success.

In spite of the release of the new music video two weeks back, “Nico and the Niners” slipped off the Hot 100 after its first week and has declined in all metrics. This week, “Jumpsuit” also fell off the Hot 100 and has also been steadily sinking in sales and streaming. There are plenty of reasonable explanations for this: the too-heavy-for-Top-40 rock sound, the constant stream of other TØP content drawing focus away from any one song, the lack of promotional appearances from the band itself on TV and radio.

Many hopeful fans have pointed to the performance of “Stressed Out” as a hopeful sign that “Jumpsuit” may mount a future comeback, but I have my doubts about that comparison. 2015 was a very different time for the band- “Stressed Out”, like “Fairly Local” and “Tear In My Heart”, debuted on the Hot 100 because the Clique was as ravenous then as it is now, but the band still had next-to-no mainstream recognition. Those songs thus debuted low and fell off pretty quickly. It wasn’t until months later that the Clique’s grassroots support and the band’s rising esteem within the industry resulted in “Stressed Out” getting picked up at radio and being shared with new audiences, creating a snowball of promotion that launched Twenty One Pilots into the popular consciousness. When “Heathens” was released, the band’s profile was big enough to ensure it debuted at #14 and remained in the Top 40 for months. Compared to that performance, “Jumpsuit” is flopping commercially, no question.

However, there is still a glimmer of hope for the song’s future. While it is falling off pretty hard in most categories, it is still gaining spins at radio. It took #1 on the Rock Airplay chart for this last week. That means that more casual music listeners are hearing it than ever, which could make for another snowball where these listeners go back and search for the song themselves in the weeks to come. We will have to wait and see how the band and Fueled By Ramen decide to market the song and promote the album as it gets closer to its release date.

One thing is for sure: the band is not in any financial trouble. Even if “Jumpsuit” never returns to the Hot 100, even if “Levitate” is rejected by both lovers and haters of hip-hop and fails to chart, even if Trench somehow fails to match the Week 1 chart-topping sales of Blurryface even after the band picked up millions of new fans over the last three years, two things remain true: Blurryface made them more money than any individual will ever reasonably need, and they’ve already sold tens of thousands of tickets for their next tour. The days of worrying about this band are over for the foreseeable future; for now, we can just enjoy the music.

Power to the local dreamer.

|-/

[alightwhendarknessfell]

ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION

“Unless it’s a verified profile with a blue check mark, myself and the other dudes in my band are not talking to anyone. We don’t give our phone numbers out, and we don’t talk to fans secretly or anonymously. That’s the whole reason we have verified profiles so people can’t impersonate us. Anyone claiming to be us, and it’s from a phone, or a profile that’s not with a blue verification badge, IT IS NOT REAL!! Stop being so naive and gullible believing every damn thing. If someone says they know us and talk to us on the phone it’s 100% not true. If it comes from a verified source meaning a verified profile then and only then is it legit.  Thanks…PS, use some common sense.”

Oh Jake. So close. That was almost a professional, yet firm message to fans. Until you insulted them and scolded them. Do you know the age demographic for your band at all? Your band’s age demographic is roughly 13 to early 20’s. According to Ofcom, a fifth of children aged 12-15 will believe things they find online with unquestioning faith. They’re often unable to tell what is a legit piece of research or factual information and what’s a scam, lie or something created for money or personal gains when compared with reliable sources. This means a lot of teens are quite naive when it comes to the online world and when it comes to taking things at face value. Ofcom made a report in 2015 called ’ Children and parents: Media and Attitudes’ and in it, reported that children between 8-15 believe information on social media websites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube is ‘all true’. Ofcom’s findings challenge widespread assumptions that the generations who have grown up with the internet – so-called ‘digital natives’ – are automatically savvier about the online world.

The prefrontal cortex is associated with judgment, decision making, and mental flexibility—or with the ability to change plans when faced with an obstacle is undergoing a lot of changes in a teenager, it’s developing as they grow and as such, the teenage brain is much more vulnerable and it means they can be more naive and easily taken advantage of.

There is direct evidence to show that teenagers can be naive when it comes to things online. You don’t need to be a scientist to know this or have a general understanding that teenagers are quite gullible. It’s ‘common sense’. The thing Jake is telling teenagers to have when it comes to online gossip coming from non verified sources. So is it any wonder when teenagers take gossip at face value? Add in that many teens like drama and gossip.

Secondly, Inna threatening lawyers. The First Amendment allows for a lot of free speech, and secondly, unless Inna can prove that the gossip online has directly affected her career in a negative way and it’s directly hindered her on a personal level, she’s got no case to sue a bunch of young people online gossiping. The law only protects your reputation. It does not protect you from personal insults or from hurt feelings. So, if a person publicly calls you an asshole or immature, then you will probably have to suck it up and get over it.But if someone says something like the below then there’s potential for a lawsuit:

1: Accuses you of a crime.

2: Accuses you of having a serious contagious disease like HIV or AIDS.

3: Makes negative comments about your business which impact said business.

4: Accuses you of cheating or adultery.

Then potentially you could sue them over it. But lets face it, what lawyer is going to take that case? 'Oh um could you sue these young kids online who are gossiping about me please?’ She’d probably end up having to pay the legal fees for both parties and if she’s looking for financial compensation, what’s she going to get out of a bunch of young people? Candy? Makeup? $20? Also know that these types of comments/remarks must be made to someone else (and not just to the person that the statement is about). Otherwise, there is no lawsuit.

Lawsuits are expensive,especially defamation lawsuits. They must be commenced in supreme court and not in a small claims court. So it’s not cheap to take someone to court over mean things they say online. And ultimately, Inna would put herself into substantial debt, just to sue some people online and get nothing out of it.

Similarly, you can’t sue someone if they say your music is bad, your dress sense is bad, they don’t like your makeup, they think you’re ugly, etc. Most opinions don’t count as defamation because they can’t be proved to be objectively false. Inna can’t, for example say 'Someone said my music sucks, I want to sue them’ because a court can’t go 'Well…we think it’s great so yeah, sure.’ because it’s subjective. The whole point of defamation law is to take care of injuries to reputation. If you want to sue for defamation you need to prove that what was said/written has damaged your reputation or career or personal relationships with family/friends etc. Someone saying 'I think she smells’ or whatever is not defamation. But someone saying 'Inna did [insert crime here]’ would be classed as defamation.

So simply cutting and pasting the definition of defamation isn’t going to cut it. People are entitled to talk and gossip as they see fit so long as it’s not false shit. Also the law treats private citizens and public figures differently. The standard for libel against a public figure is higher. You have to prove not only that the information is false but that the tabloid intended “actual malice” and that is very hard to prove. Specifically, for the public figure you have to demonstrate malice, whereas the falseness of the statement is what matters for the little people. Inna and Jake are public figures, so the law changes when it comes to defamation.

But malice doesn’t mean “because you disliked the person” in a legal context, but rather “did you know it was false, or were you at least reckless with regards to determining whether it was false?”

In regards to this whole 'Stop bullying us thing’. I’m assuming Jake and Inna read this blog. You’re a popular Tumblr, Ren, and I’ve no doubt that some people have screen capped a few anonymous posts and sent them to Inna and Jake.

Jake, Inna, you need to grow thicker skin. That’s the whole part and partial. You need thicker skin. You are both public figures, you’re in the public eye to a point, you’re in careers where you are letting people see you, you post a lot on social media, you are quite open about certain aspects of your personal lives. As such, you need to be prepared for people to comment, criticise and generally be douche bags.

Thin-skinned people often care more about avoiding disapproval than with getting approval. The touchiness, irritability, and defensiveness of people who are thin-skinned often result in silent disapproval by others. Sometimes the disapproval is not silent. Thin-skinned people can become very upset and preoccupied with internal focusing on slights from others. This interferes with their ability to experience the approval and support of significant others. When the Dalai Lama was asked “After the massive destruction the Chinese communist government has wreaked on your country and people, why aren’t you angry?” He replied, “If I got angry, then I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night or eat my meals peacefully. I’d get ulcers, and my health would deteriorate. My anger couldn’t change the past or improve the future, so what use would it be?” (T. Chödrön, 2001).

Have a better sense of who you are and not how you think others think you are. Learn to be more comfortable with yourself and you will slowly be more desensitized by other’s judgments. “Thick skin” = Unapologetic. You may say things like 'I’m who I am, sorry haters’ but you obviously aren’t too comfortable, because of this insane need to react to 'haters’. They are young kids, young adults. They probably have nothing better to do than discuss gossip about band members. They probably enjoy it. At the end of the day, as adults beyond 20, you should be the mature ones and learn to let it go over your heads and stop reacting to it. You cause yourselves more stress when you start yelling and being passive aggressive to a bunch of kids online. If you put yourself out there and aren’t a pissy hard-headed little shit, you’ll attract people like yourself and can enjoy that. If you look you can find people for whoever you are, so why not be what feels best (assuming what feels best isn’t being off putting)? Derive your sense of self worth from how well you’re living your life for you, not from what others say. Realize you have control over yourself and your own thoughts and feelings. Upon realizing these things, you have much better control on how they affect you emotionally. You can then make the choice to subject to those emotions or let them go.

I have a personal rule when it comes to people making fun of me, insulting me and so on online: If I’m not mad enough to physically fight someone, I’m not mad at all.

You choose to let things said online bother you, you choose to go on these huge blocking sprees and witch hunts. You essentially hurt yourselves by doing so. Stop getting people to send in screenshots, stop going on witch hunts for young adolescents and grow thicker skin, and act more professional. You can be intimate with fans in the sense of sharing photos and vlogs, but you can also show them where the limit is, without lowering yourself to a gossipers level and insulting fans. BVB, with the exception of Jinxx and Cc, are all guilty of encouraging drama, by being secretive and letting little bits of info slip to fans. This whole business with Ashley supposedly leaving the band, that fact that Jake has said Ashley doesn’t do bass and that he himself tracks the bass, things like that cause drama. If you don’t want drama, don’t toss titbits of gossip to fans like you toss scraps to starving dogs.

You can either be 'best friends’ with your fans, or treat them as fans and keep them at a distance. If you want to be buddy buddy with your fans, then keep going as you are, and you’ll get a buddy buddy situation where half of them love you, half of them gossip about you, like you get in all friend situations. Or you can keep them as fans and control the info they get by keeping your mouth shut in public circles where fans can readily get the info (This is honestly not hard, lots of bands do this.). In which case. BVB and Jake and Inna need to stop using fans like minions and using them for personal gain and witch hunts. Because when you start giving fans liberties, they start to take advantage and start to treat you like they might treat their own friends. In which case the thin line between fan and 'idol’ is gone and you have the situation BVB and Jake and Inna have on their hands right now. Which is unruly fans who gossip and suck up to them, like you get in all clique friend circles.

Also, a lot of this boils down to a loss of respect from both parties. BVB, Jake and Inna all have an issue in that they have lost respect for fans and in turn, fans have lost respect for them. When you insult, scold and belittle your fans, they are going to be offended. When you do what Andy did and dismiss your fans and insult them, they’re going to be hurt and angry. When you constantly do what Jake and Inna do with fans, they’re going to be offended and treat you like a joke.

Mutual respect on both sides needs to be key in fan and band interaction, and BVB and Jake and Inna just do not have that anymore. They’ve lost the respect of their fans and they have lost respect for their fans.

[tipco613]

New Post has been published on http://cryptonewsuniverse.com/ai-blockchain-issued-groundbreaking-patent-for-cryptographic-digital-asset-ledger-solutions/

Ai-Blockchain Issued Groundbreaking Patent for Cryptographic Digital Asset Ledger Solutions

Ai-Blockchain Issued Groundbreaking Patent for Cryptographic Digital Asset Ledger Solutions

HOBOKEN, N.J., May 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NetworkWire – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent on private blockchains to Ai-Blockchain (“AiB”). Ai-Blockchain is a leading provider of custom artificial intelligence driven and blockchain solutions to clients such as financial exchanges, hospitals, media content providers and supply chain platforms for nearly a decade. Experts consider AiB’s patented platform to be the most efficient, secure, and scalable blockchain technology.

U.S. Patent No. 10,579,974, entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A DISTRIBUTED DIGITAL ASSET NETWORK WITH RAPID TRANSACTION SETTLEMENTS,” was issued on March 3, 2020. The patent is directed to AiB’s core technology which enables private blockchains to transact digital assets quickly between parties such as digital rights management for media companies, financial exchanges and customers, healthcare institutions and physicians, and supply chains and retailers. AiB’s combination of leading software technology with foundational computing elements is so unique that the US Patent and Trademark Office has now recognized its innovative components.

Founders Stephen L. Reed and S. Drew Hingorani have created a game-changing approach to security and encryption, transactional speed and client service. For example, AiB developed a HIPAA-compliant data payment platform which can be used by health facilities and hospitals to compensate physicians. In some healthcare organizations, physicians are paid using relative value unit (RVU) based compensation agreements, which are complicated. In these situations, RVU-based formulas are the most critical part of a physician’s compensation plan and it is a labor-intensive process which leads to an insurmountable loss of productivity thereby reducing the amount of time devoted to patient care. AiB’s solution has solved this challenge. For more information on how to work with AiB, please visit http://aiblockchainalliance.org This new proprietary blockchain smart contract is built upon the recently open-sourced high-performance Kafka blockchain technology, which is available on GitHub today via the following link: https://github.com/ai-coin/KafkaBlockchain. Anyone interested in a free architecture diagram tutorial to enhance their existing infrastructure enterprise technology should contact AiB immediately.

Stephen Reed, developer and AiB’s Chief Scientist, says, “Our platform has significant application in the healthcare industry and financial institutions where all stakeholders demand continual improvement of security and efficiency. With this issued patent, Ai-Blockchain can deliver its source code across all industry standards in managing digital asset transfers between two parties or multiple parties. AiB’s patented platform is the most efficient, secure and scalable blockchain technology in the world.” Confluent’s Kai Waehner, Technology Evangelist, Enterprise Architect, and Global Field Engineer said, “I am really excited about AiB’s Kafka add-on, “KafkaBlockchain” to build tamper-evidence into scalable streaming applications using Kafka and its whole ecosystem, including Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams and KSQL. This allows customers to build mission-critical and secure applications on top of battle-tested Kafka infrastructure; without the complexity and immaturity of other blockchain products.”

The AiB platform operates seamlessly with Apache Kafka. KafkaBlockchain is a java library for tamper-evidence using Kafka. Messages can be encrypted and made tamper-evident at a rate exceeding 2 million messages per second per topic. AiB’s smart contract blockchain product operates efficiently yet consumes a fraction of the energy required by competing blockchains. The architecture also features tamper-evident security, accountability, and transparency with the lowest costs and highest scalability. Potential use cases include: developing digital identity structures for use with vulnerable populations; enhancing cyber-security to better protect the privacy of all personally identifiable information; securing personal data across financial services; healthcare, real estate, supply chains and other important industries that are migrating to cloud-based solutions.

Ai-Blockchain’s CEO, Drew Hingorani, states, “We truly appreciate the USPTO issuing our patent as we showcase our healthcare solutions enabling physicians to spend more time with patients and demonstrating our blockchain payment cloud platform for a variety of uses across multiple industries. We continue to develop and enhance our private and public blockchain technology and both the cloud and the on-premise solutions are available for companies to collaborate, deploy, evaluate, study and test. Stephen Reed is a respected technology professional with a strong track record of building and creating originative products while leading engineering teams for over four decades using all technologies. Working with him and the team has been educational and uplifting along with meeting interesting people worldwide.”

Joe Bacon, best known for his years of service to Rolls-Royce in the UK, recently stated, “Having researched and conducted proof of concept studies for the industrialization of blockchain technology over several years, a few areas of concern consistently arose: transaction speed, energy consumption, security, data tenancy, and lifecycle costs. I am pleased to say having worked with Ai-Blockchain since 2016, they have addressed all of these issues with their patented technology stack, which utilizes the robust and secure Amazon AWS cloud services for scalability to meet all of the demands of global businesses. I would highly recommend engaging and working with AiB to explore how they can help your business succeed in transforming the way you work, whilst reducing through-life costs compared to Ethereum or other blockchains. I am sure they won’t mind me saying that from a return on investment point of view they significantly outperform larger organizations. The AiB team applied sound architectural designs and provided technology product demonstrations that no other Blockchain or software company did in the same way. I will be pleased to see more people working with AiB in 2020.”

About Ai-Blockchain:

AiB technology and blockchain solutions bring a new class of products to the world. Ai-Blockchain is a privately held technology company that developed a patented blockchain platform on the cloud. Private and public blockchains are proposed for multiple business uses. AiB consultants and employees work remotely to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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https://bitsonline.com/ai-blockchain-issued-groundbreaking-patent-for-cryptographic-digital-asset-ledger-solutions/

[siva3155]

300+ TOP SAP ESS MSS Interview Questions and Answers

SAP ESS MSS Interview Questions for freshers and experienced :-

1. What Is Sap Ess ? Collection of services designed to provide individual employees access to view and maintain their own data ESS today Currently in its third generation Runs within the SAP Portal Has become a defacto requirement for business where a sizable percentage of employees have computer access. 2. What Is Manager Self-service (mss)? Integrated applications that give managers information and process initiation capability for their staff Currently in its second generation and Runs within the SAP Portal but not as prevalent due to change management challenges 3. How Does The Business Package For Manager Self-service Fit Into The Sap Enterprise Portal Product Offering ? Apart from portal technology, SAP Enterprise Portal offers a wide range of premium content packages.SAP ERP Financials Portal Solutions fall under the category of premium content and is offered in Business Packages, e.g. in the Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service. 4. Does The Business Package For Sap Manager Self-service Cover All Mdt Functions ? All the fundamental functions of MDT are available in the Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service. The Business Package for Manager Self-Service offers new services for the individual subject areas, such as Employee Data, Appraisals, Compensation Adjustments, and Cost Center and Budget Information. 5. What Are Phases Of Manager Self-service ? Manager Self-Service (MSS) provides an intuitive interface for Line Managers based on the SAP Enterprise Portal (SAP EP) technology. In the area of Compensation Administration, a single scenario will help Line Managers plan salary adjustments, bonuses and grant LTI awards. Compensation reviews in Manager Self-Service can be split into two steps: The planning phase, during which the Line Manager performs the necessary adjustments and submits them for approval to his/her higher manager. The approval phase, during which the higher manager either approves or rejects the submitted adjustments. 6. How Do I Run Reports Within Mss ? Instructions for running reports in iTrent 7. How Can I Authorize Multiple Tasks ? Login to MSS. In the out of office, you can select multiple tasks by selecting the tick box on each task. Click on Actions and then select authorize, then click Save. 8. How Do I Add Carryover To An Employee’s Leave Entitlement ? Subject to agreement with their manager, employees are able to carry up to a maximum of 36.5 hours leave from one leave year to the next (pro-rated for part time staff). Managers can administer the carryover via Manager Self Service. Instructions 9. A Part-time Member Of Staff Prefers To Work Another Day During The Week In Which A Bank Holiday Falls ? To avoid deducting all Public Holidays and discretionary days, part-time employees may request to work extra hours during a week that includes such a day. They will in effect be working the hours that they would otherwise have been required to deduct from their total leave figure. Employees that wish to explore this option must discuss this with their line manager who will make a decision as to whether this is operationally possible. 10. How Do I Get Access To Mss ? Access to MSS will have to be requested by the individual’s manager

SAP ESS MSS Interview Questions 11. What Is The Definition Of A Line Manager ? We have defined a line manager as the post holder who is responsible for the performance and well-being of a member of staff in the University. This may or may not be the post-holder who carries out the SDPR / performance review for the member of staff. There are important responsibilities and requirements for line managers accessing information through MSS. If there is any doubt on who is the line manager, it is advised that the more senior role is applied. 12. What Are The Components Available In Employee Self-service (ess) Applications? The ESS provides information about the applications (services) that are available in the Employee Self-Service component. The individual applications are assigned to the following areas: Address Book Working Time Benefits and Payment Personal Information Career and Job Procurement Work Environment Travel Life and Work Events Corporate Information 13. Does The Business Package For Sap Manager Self-service Cover All Mdt Functions? All the fundamental functions of MDT are available in the Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service. The Business Package for Manager Self-Service offers new services for the individual subject areas, such as Employee Data, Appraisals, Compensation Adjustments, and Cost Center and Budget Information. 14. What Is The Difference Between The Manager’s Desktop (mdt) And The Business Package For Sap Manager Self-service ? The main difference between Manager’s Desktop (MDT) and the Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service is that in MDT you can access information and services within one R/3-system. The Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service, however, is an Internet-based solution that combines information and services from different systems on one interface (for example different R/3 systems, BW system, Outlook, Web Content Manager, and so on). Within a portal the information can be put together in a much more flexible way. Guidelines or specific Web Content Manager help can be displayed as well as the actual services. In MDT the manager can use the standard transactions and standard reports, whereas in the portal the services are tailored to managers’ needs. The Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service is MDT’s successor and is seen as a new, Web-compatible solution for managers. Continued support for MDT will be ensured, but further development of this tool is not planned. The Business Package for SAP Manager Self-Service can be seen as an evolution and therefore as the next generation of manager self-services. 15. What Is Manager Self-service Applications ? Manager Self-Service: A Self-Service Application is an application that uses the Floor Plan Manager. However, a Self-Service Application must be easy to use, since the users must be able to start working with the application immediately. Self-Service does not imply one’s own data – that is, applications that manipulate the personal data of the user. You can also access data for a team member – for example, when recording an absence of a subordinate or company data as a whole, when checking your departmental budget. Some of the tasks covered by self-service applications are: Managing personal profiles (employee) Communicating with a manager (employee) Tracking and recording personal working time and vacation time (employee + manager) Viewing company expectations and comparing them to individual data (employee + manager) Managing individuals belonging to the team (manager) Entering specific data for other employees (manager) Aggregating key values (manager) Read the full article

[anxious-spacetart]

hehehehehehehehe ur turn as well. whole ask meme. go. >:3c

Well...Heck.

1. Coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

I like coffee mugs, just because.

2. Chocolate bars or lollipops?

Chocolate bars! 

3. Bubblegum or cotton candy?

I don’t really like either, but if I was forced to chose...I would go with bubblegum.

4. How did your elementary school teachers describe you?

Don’t really remember, but I think I was ok.

5. Do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

Soda bottles.

6. Pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear?

Pastel!

7. Earbuds or headphones?

Headphones. Earbuds just fall out of my ears.

8. Movies or tv shows?

Movies are nice.

9. Favorite smell in the summer?

Rain, barbecue, and chlorine at the pool.

10. Game you were best at in p.e.?

Dodge ball. Haven’t played in a while.

11. What you have for breakfast on an average day?

Cereal, poptarts, or waffles.

12. Name of your favorite playlist?

Songs that I’ll bop to.

13. Lanyard or key ring?

Lanyard.

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

Lemonheads! Love the sour taste.

15. Favorite book you read as a school assignment?

The Hate U Give.

16. Most comfortable position to sit in?

Levitating

17. Most frequently worn pair of shoes?

Bright pink pair.

18. Ideal weather?

Sunny with a chance of rain.

19. Sleeping position?

On my stomach, I guess?

20. Preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

I don’t really write, but I do it on my laptop on a Google Doc.

21. Obsession from childhood?

Dragons!!! I love those big fire lizards.

22. Role model?

My friends!

23. Strange habits?

Staring of into space.

24. Favorite crystal(s)?

Moonstone, fluorite and opal!

25. First song you remember hearing?

eery - Her

26. Favorite activity to do in warm weather?

Swimming!!!

27. Favorite activity to do in cold weather?

Haha. Stay inside and do nothing.

28. Five songs to describe you?

MinM - My Dream feat. Bebe

Shawn Wasabi - OTTER POP (ft. Hollis)

Metrik - Dawnbreaker

Khamsin - Plastic Dreams (feat. Kidswaste)

Leon Lour - Conscious

29. Best way to bond with you?

Idk. Talk about our likes, act wacky, say hi?

30. Places that you find sacred?

My house, my room, and the woods?

31. What outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

Anything?

32. Top five favorite vines?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0qbv8AatAU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y9HwVa3Znc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maoqXdt8hZQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bjy5YQ5xPc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunaZVRxHcs

33. Most used phrase in your phone?

Only memes

34. Advertisements you have stuck in your head?

Attention: If you or a loved has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you may to entitled to financial compensation. 

35. Average time you fall asleep?

About 10:00

36. What is the first meme you remember ever seeing?

I’m not really sure?

37. Suitcase or duffel bag?

Suitcase. Easier to carry things.

38. Lemonade or tea?

Lemonade!

39. Lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

Haven’t had these, but I’ll go with lemon cake.

40. Weirdest thing to ever happen at your school?

me.

41. Last person you texted?

My dad.

42. Jacket pockets or pants pockets?

Jacket pockets are better.

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket?

Hoodies are nice.

44. Favorite scent for soap?

Orange citrus.

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero?

I love fantasy! It’s full of adventure!

46. Most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

Loose clothing.

47. favorite type of cheese?

Cheddar cheese lol.

48. If you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

A...Grape???

49. What saying or quote do you live by?

“Don’t let yesterday take too much of today.“ - Will Rogers

50. What made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

Probably a vine, idk. I laugh a lot.

51. current stresses?

School.

52. Favorite font?

Megrim!

53. What is the current state of your hands?

Fine?

54. What did you learn from your first job?

I don’t have a job yet?

55. Favorite fairy tale?

The golden goose.

56. Favorite tradition?

Thanksgiving

57. The three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

School, my fear of talking to people and being anxious.

58. Four talents you’re proud of having?

I’m not really sure lol.

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

uh.

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

I don’t really watch anime.

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

“The past is gone, and cannot harm you anymore. And while the future is fast coming for you, it always flinches first and settles in as the gentle present.” ― Cecil Baldwin

62. seven characters you relate to?

Idk. 

63. five songs that would play in your club?

A bunch of songs from WTNV.

64. Favorite website from your childhood?

Club Penguin.

65. Any permanent scars?

Nope, not yet,

66. Favorite flower(s)?

Sunflowers and Night Sky Petunias.

67. Good luck charms?

Don’t really have a charm.

68. Worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

Honey lemon.

69. A fun fact that you don’t know how you learned?

 Mitochondria is the powerhouses of the cell.

70. Left or right handed?

Right!

71. Least favorite pattern?

Pattern with a bunch of color that don’t work well.

72. Worst subject?

Math. 

73. Favorite weird flavor combo?

Hot coco and ice cream?

74. At what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen?

5

75. When did you lose your first tooth?

When I was like...6.

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)?

French Fries. 

77. Best plant to grow on a windowsill?

A flower.

78. Coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

Coffee from a gas station.

79. Which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

I don’t have a license so I’m going to go with my id.

80. Earth tones or jewel tones?

Jewel tones are nice!

81. Fireflies or lightning bugs?

I call them fireflies!

82. Pc or console?

I prefer console only because I’m used to it.

83. Writing or drawing?

Both?

84. Podcasts or talk radio?

Podcasts.

84. Barbie or polly pocket?

I don’t like dolls but I’ll go with Barbie.

85. Fairy tales or mythology?

Mythology.

86. Cookies or cupcakes?

Cupcakes all the way.

87. Your greatest fear?

Heights.

88. Your greatest wish?

To be a better person.

89. Who would you put before everyone else?

My friends and family!

90. Luckiest mistake?

Grabbing somebody’s bag and realizing it before they leave.

91. Boxes or bags?

Boxes.

92. Lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights?

Fairy lights are pretty!!!

93. Nicknames?

I never really had nicknames.

94. Favorite season?

Summer!

95. Favorite app on your phone?

Youtube.

96. Desktop background?

A galaxy.

97. How many phone numbers do you have memorized?

Only one.

98. Favorite historical era?

The Middle ages!

[thegloober]

Dear wedding vendors: photographers don’t owe you images

On episode 65 of The Secret Life of Weddings Podcast (listen on iTunes, Spotify) we chat about a major hot topic amongst wedding photographers these days. We get a little heated, and felt it was important enough to write here as well. There is something happening making wedding photographers very angry. Most photographers are afraid to say anything because we never want to be seen as difficult or egotistical, but it has become such an issue that private Facebook groups of photographers are exploding with frustrations. We’ve all had enough. It’s with tired hearts and 10 years of giving away our work for free that we say this to you:

Dear wedding planners, florists, venues, DJs, limo companies, make-up artists, hair stylists, dress shops, decor designers, cake artists, officiants, musicians, etc. Here is the hard truth:

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS DO NOT OWE YOU IMAGES.

Just stop #WeddingVendorEntitlement

… this hashtag was inspired by an on-going issue and we as members of the wedding photography community have decided finally speak out.

The sense of entitlement that has been expressed across the wedding scene is in a word – appalling. The attitude of wedding vendors has spiralled out of control and images are too often demanded instead of respectfully requested. Is money offered for the photographer’s time spent preparing and sending these images? No. Is a photo credit offered or given? Maybe. Will that photo credit feed our families? Absolutely not. What are the odds we will receive a new wedding client referral from said vendor? In spite of the best intentions – extremely low.

Therefore we are standing up to join the ranks of the frustrated wedding photographers in hopes that this is not only seen but heard … and heard LOUD!

Long gone are the days of “please”, “thank you” and any respect or any kind gesture to obtain images for use, whether it be a florist, DJ, venue, planner, etc. Instead of “When you have time, may I please use some of your images in my portfolio? I will be sure to link back to your website & provide photo credit” we hear “So how do I get these photos?” Even more rare is an offer of payment to use our work for their own company’s advertising.

A personal anecdote for you from our lives: A popular Toronto wedding venue once approached Lisa asking for a photograph to print in a full page Wedluxe advertisement. She was young but knew at the very least she should receive printed credit on the image and some money, and if the company wanted to remove the credit entirely, she should be paid more. This venue makes hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in revenue and was easily paying thousands of dollars for this upcoming print ad that repeats monthly in Wedluxe. Lisa quoted usage of her image (dependent on the client’s sign-off first) at $250 with print credit and $500 without the credit. The venue said they had been “burned” by a photographer in the past and therefore were hesitant to offer any sort of credit or payment. She never heard from them again and they are still running the same print ad as years ago. That about summarizes the amount of respect photographers get, even from very financially massive businesses.

“We don’t pay for image usage, that’s not how this works.”

Often these vendors even assume they can pay thousands of dollars for print ads and simply “get the high resolution file” they “need” and don’t expect to pay us for our intellectual property, OR get the sign off from the client who paid them for their work in the first place! Our mutual client may not even be cool with us sending you these photos they paid for of their private event to promote YOUR business. Photographers cover this privately with the client in our contracts, but that photo release doesn’t extend to other vendors.

If it takes so much time then ask for payment, you say? Guess what? We have.

Way too often photographers have heard the reply “We don’t pay for image usage, that’s not how this works.” This is now what we are faced with when we “mistakenly” think we should be financially compensated for our work. Too often photographers spend the time to give other wedding professionals free images and receive nothing in return. No new client referrals. No money. Shockingly, no written credit (if we’re lucky maybe we can get a TAG on Instagram that nobody will SEE unless they tap the photo!) It’s just awful and we are sick of it.

If you’re a wedding vendor reading this – be honest with yourself. Have you treated a photographer with respect and kindness throughout the whole pre-during-post wedding process? Or did you only come up to me at the end of the reception, after not saying a word to me all day, and ask me for free promotional content for your business?

Wedding photographers have been left wondering when courtesy for fellow vendors went completely out the window. When did sharing our work go from a kind favour between wedding vendor friends (or “friendors” as we often call each other) in exchange for promised photo credits (despite a 99% chance of no new business for us) – to instead becoming a default expectation? Taking advantage of photographers’ work has become a wedding industry standard and it’s not okay.

Business gurus often say “If you don’t value yourself and your work, how can you expect others to?” Yet when we DO value ourselves and say we are uncomfortable with the expectation of free images (of our clients’ likenesses no less) we are met with confused faces and snarky remarks about how the industry does not run this way and about how this photographer and that photographer “always sends us photos.” It’s time to recognize that the industry has changed for the worse. There is no longer kindness and courtesy – there is only expectation of free photography for your business. That arrangement is simply unfair to hardworking photographers. We – along with our work – becomes devalued by the sharing of images with fellow vendors without any compensation for our time or talent.

If you’re a vendor who is guilty of only befriending the photographer when it’s time to ‘get images’ – perhaps we can be seen as a valuable part of the industry instead of your personal portfolio builder. Photographers are there for the client. We are there to build OUR portfolios. We are not there to build your brand and get you more business and therefore money in your pocket.

So, let’s put it this way:

Would you would be willing to work 25+ hours per year for free?

No? Because this is what you’re asking us to do every time you as how you can “get the images” for your own advertising. You are literally making money off our work. Not only that, it actually takes a lot more time than you probably realize to edit and make galleries for vendors so they can have free images for their portfolio, advertising & social media posts. Yet we are regularly expected to do this for about 3-6 separate vendors, every single wedding, every year, no questions asked. It takes so much time to select photos, edit, re-size, watermark and publish these galleries for every vendor, not to mention throwing in free commercial usage.

We get it – you didn’t mean to be rude, right?

You just figured since the work is already done, why can’t you just have copies of the images, right? Well it’s not that simple, as outlined above. It’s also simply not fair.

So instead, how can we actively work to change the industry’s attitude toward images for portfolio usage?

It comes down to The Golden Rule: Treat others how you want to be treated. It’s kindergarten, people. If you begin to treat photographers as people and friends and not simply free content machines, you might be pleasantly surprised at what we will gladly share with the sweetheart friendors in our lives. We won’t just do that – we will also be happy to cross-tag you in OUR social media posts because guess what? Photographers are almost always booked long before florists, dress shops, officiants, videographers, DJs, wedding planners & more. If your photographer has a follower who sees your business mentioned, there’s an even higher chance you’ll get business from that. So there’s simply more value in being kind, offering compensation to photographers when reaching out, and maintaining a valuable friendship with us. It’s so much better than ignoring us all day and then cornering us and your first words in my tired face after a full wedding day are basically “so how can I get something from you for free?’

… and to those vendors who are not the majority, we thank you.

We love those vendors who befriend us in a real way and help us to produce the best work we can on the wedding day. You were the one to respectfully ask if it would be possible to please have a quote on licensing the use of our images for your portfolio after they were delivered to the client. WE LOVE YOU. And ironically many photographers will probably end up sharing their images with fellow small business owners in exchange for credit. This isn’t wrong, but it’s a PERSONAL business decision of the photographer, and NOT INDUSTRY STANDARD, because to be honest, that’s complete bullshit.

Want to help be an active participant in ending #WeddingVendorEntitlement?

Step 1. Offer to pay to use our images. It immediately shows the photographer that you respect our work and our time.

Step 2. Ensure our mutual client is comfortable with your intended usage. Some people may not want their images made public. This can often be the case with sensitive professions such as law enforcement.

Step 3. Never ask our mutual client for the files. Going around the photographer to obtain photographs to use is wrong – and illegal! We own the copyright to our images, not the client. You are not allowed to use our images without our express permission.

If a photographer decides share their images with you, here are some thoughtful ways to say thank you:

A heartfelt note of thanks. Do you know how often we have prepared and delivered free images, as requested, to vendors and they NEVER EVEN REPLY?

Send a thank you card with a gift card or drop off a bottle of wine. Show your appreciation in some way.

Offer compensation when you ask for our photographs. You could offer money or even an offer of a floral arrangement from a decor company, or help with a future event from a wedding planner. There are so many ways to trade a skill. What would you like to trade us for our expertise, time and finished photographs?

Actively send us referrals & add us to your preferred vendors list! This is huge! It’s an easy way to show photographers you appreciate and respect us and hope to repay us with actual new business. Unless you’re a venue or a wedding planner, unfortunately having us on a referral list isn’t super effective in actually generating new business for wedding photographers because we are usually booked very early in the wedding planning process, but we appreciate the effort! It shows us respect and that you want to have an on-going vendor friendship with us.

Hire the photographer for your own personal upcoming event / family portrait / baby portraits.

To photographers – if you are actively receiving new business from a vendor, then great. Keep doing what works for you. This blog post is for those of us longtime photographers who aren’t having this result. This post is also for any new wedding photographers who are looking to break into the industry. This is your reminder to value your work and above all, value your time. Time is priceless so be careful who you work for and what you’re actually getting in exchange for that time and effort. Receiving Instagram tags isn’t worth time you could be building your portfolio or spending time with your family.

Don’t forget – photo credits don’t pay the bills.

About the Authors

Lisa Mark and Rebecca Lozer are wedding photographers and co-hosts of Secret Life of Weddings podcast. Check out more of their work on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and their YouTube channel.

If you’d like to hear more on this topic, make sure to listen to Lisa and Rebecca’s podcast, episode 65 here. This article was also published here and shared with permission.

Source: https://bloghyped.com/dear-wedding-vendors-photographers-dont-owe-you-images/

[dr-arif-fadhel]

10 Thesis Statement Examples to Inspire Your Next Argumentative Essay

10 Thesis Statement Examples to Inspire Your Next Argumentative Essay July 14, 2014 Have you ever watched a great film trailer and thought, “I have to see that movie!”? A good trailer gives you the basic premise of the movie, shows you the highlights, and encourages you to want to see more. A good thesis statement will accomplish the same thing. It gives readers an idea of the most important points of an essay, shows the highlights, and makes them want to read more. A well-constructed thesis serves as a lighthouse for your readers, offering them a guiding light in the stormy sea of claims and evidence that make up your argumentative essay. It will also help keep you, the writer, from getting lost in a convoluted and directionless argument. Most importantly, a good thesis statement makes a statement. After all, it’s called a thesis statement for a reason! “This is an interesting statement!” you want your reader to think, “Let’s see if this author can convince me.” This blog post will dissect the components of a good thesis statement and will give you 10 thesis statement examples that you can use to inspire your next argumentative essay. The Thesis Statement Dissected Before I give you a blanket list of thesis statement examples, let’s run through what makes for a good thesis statement. I’ve distilled it down to four main components. thesis statement examples 1. A good argumentative thesis is focused and not too broad. It’s important to stay focused! Don’t try to argue an overly broad topic in your essay, or you’re going to feel confused and unsure about your direction and purpose. Bad ExampleDon’t write, “Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.” This statement is too general and would be nearly impossible for you to defend. It leaves a lot of big questions to answer. Is all fast food bad? Why is it bad? Who should avoid it? Why should anyone care? Good exampleDo write, “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because the fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.” In this example, I’ve narrowed my argument to the health consequences related to a diet of fast food. I’ve also chosen to focus on Americans rather than everyone in the universe. (Because, as we all know, inhabitants of the faraway planet Doublepatty 5 require the starches and fats inherent in fast food to survive). Stuck On Your Essay? Try the Thesis Statement Builder Try it now. It's free! 2. A good argumentative thesis is centered on a debatable topic. Back in the ‘80s, teens loved to say “that’s debatable” about claims they didn’t agree with (such as “you should clean your room” and “you shouldn’t go to that movie”). This age-old, neon-colored, bangle-wearing, peg-legged wisdom holds true today—in your thesis statement. thesis statement examples Bad ExampleDon’t write, “There are high numbers of homeless people living in Berkeley, California.” No one can argue for or against this statement. It’s not debatable. It’s just a fact. An argument over this non-debatable statement would go something like this: “There are lots of homeless people in Berkeley.” “Yes, there sure are a bunch of them out there.” “Yup.” As you can see, that’s not much of an argument. Good exampleDo write, “Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to services, such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities, because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.” Now that’s debatable. Opponents could easily argue that homeless people in Berkeley already receive adequate services (“just look at all those luxurious sidewalks!”), or perhaps that they shouldn’t be entitled to services at all (“get a job, ya lazy loafers!”). 3. A good argumentative thesis picks a side. I went into a lot of detail about the importance of picking sides in my post The Secrets of a Strong Argumentative Essay. Picking a side is pretty much the whole entire point of an argumentative essay. Just as you can’t root for both the Yankees and the Mets, you can’t argue both sides of a topic in your thesis statement. Bad ExampleDon’t write, “Secondhand smoke is bad and can cause heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking should be outlawed in public places, but outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so maybe non-smokers can just hold their breath or wear masks around smokers instead.” A wishy-washy statement like this will make your reader scratch his head in puzzlement. Are you for smoking laws or against them? Yankees or Mets? Mets or Yankees? Pick a side, and stick with it! Then stick up for it. Good exampleDo write, “Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and heart disease. What’s worse, people who inhale secondhand smoke are doing so without consent. For this reason, smoking in any public place should be banned.” 4. A good thesis makes claims that will be supported later in the paper. As I explained in my blog post How to Create a Powerful Argumentative Essay Outline, Your claims make up a critical part of building the roadmap to your argument. It’s important to first include a summary of your claims in your thesis statement. During the course of your essay, you will back each of your claims with well-researched evidence. Bad ExampleDon’t write, “Humans should relocate to Mars.” This statement doesn’t include any supporting claims. Why should humans move to Mars? What are the benefits of moving to a planet without oxygen or trees? Good exampleDo write, “It is too late to save earth; therefore, humans should immediately set a date for their relocation to Mars where, with proper planning, they can avoid issues of famine, war, and global warming.” This statement includes some thought-provoking claims. The reader will wonder how the author plans to defend them. (“Famine, war, and global warming can be easily avoided on Mars? Go on…”) Now that you understand the four main components of a good thesis statement, let me give you more thesis statement examples. 10 Thesis Statement Examples Stuck On Your Essay? Try the Thesis Statement Builder Try it now. It's free! Finally, I’ve come up with 10 debatable, supportable, and focused thesis statements for you to learn from. Feel free to copy these and customize them for use in your own argumentative essays. There are a couple of things to be aware of about the following examples: I have not done the research needed to support these claims. So some of the claims may not be useable once you dig into them. Be careful not to use these thesis statements word-for-word; I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble if your teacher did a copy/find Google maneuver on you! #1. Why Vaccinations Should Be Mandatory Inspired by this sample essay on vaccinations. Today, nearly 40% of American parents refuse to vaccinate their children due to a variety of unfounded fears. Vaccinations against diseases such as polio, rubella, and mumps, should be mandatory, without exception, for all children of the U.S. who wish to attend school. These vaccinations are critical to the control and eradication of deadly infectious diseases. #2. Government Surveillance Is Harmful Inspired by this sample essay on government surveillance. Government surveillance programs do more harm than good because they invade civil liberties, lead innocent people to suffer unfair punishments, and ultimately fail to protect the citizens that they are designed to safeguard. For these reasons, programs such as PRISM operated by the NSA should be discontinued. #3 Financial Compensation for Organ Donors Inspired by this sample essay on organ donation. People who sign up for organ donation freely give their hearts and other organs, but this free system limits the number of available donors and makes it difficult for recipients to access lifesaving transplants. Thus, organ donors should be financially compensated to produce more available organs and, at the same time, to decrease profitable, illegal organ harvesting activities in the black market. #4. Our School Is Too Dependent on Technology Inspired by this sample essay on technology dependence. Our school’s dependence on technology has caused students to lose the ability to think independently. This dependence has caused a greater prevalence of mood disorders, memory loss, and loneliness. Educators should combat these issues by requiring students to participate in regular technology detoxes. #5 School Officials’ Should Fight Cyberbullying Inspired by this sample essay on cyberbullying. Bullying has extended far beyond school and into cyberspace. Even though these acts of aggression take place outside of school boundaries, school officials should have the authority to discipline students who engage in cyberbullying without fear of reprisal. Doing so will help improve the online behavior of students and decrease incidences of cyberbully-related suicide attempts. #6 The U.S. Media Should Update the Depiction of Traditional Families Inspired by this sample essay on families. The U.S. media depicts the traditional family as being comprised of a mother, father, and children; however, this notion of the traditional family is outdated and can be harmful to children who look to this as the gold standard. The U.S. media should, therefore, expand and redefine the definition of the traditional American family to include divorced and remarried parents, extended families living together, and families with same-gender parents. This will increase the overall sense of happiness and well-being among children whose families don’t necessarily fit the mold. #7 Student Loans Should Be Forgiven Inspired by this sample essay on student loans. Crippling student debt is stifling the growth of the U.S. economy because it inhibits graduates from being able to spend money on consumer goods and home purchases. To alleviate this, lenders should be required to forgive student loans in cases where students are unable to repay their debts. Doing so would benefit the growth of the economy by increasing tax revenues, unfreezing credit markets, and creating jobs. #8 Marijuana Should Be Legalized Inspired by this sample essay on legalizing marijuana. Marijuana has numerous medical applications, such as treating symptoms of epilepsy, cancer, and glaucoma. Legalizing the use of marijuana in the U.S. will greatly benefit the medical sector by giving physicians access to this lifesaving drug. #9 Foreign Aid to Africa Does Not Work Inspired by this sample essay on foreign aid to Africa. Sending foreign aid to African countries is doing more harm than good, and it should be discontinued; the practice has caused African countries to become vulnerable to inflation, currency fluctuations, corruption, and civil unrest. #10 China’s One-Child Policy Should Be Reversed Inspired by this sample essay on China’s one-child policy. China’s one-child policy was intended to help control population growth. Instead, it has led to unintended and negative consequences, such as a diminishing labor force, an aging population, the neglect of basic human rights, and an unbalanced gender population. To improve China’s situation, the policy should be reversed. Any one of these thesis statement examples will get you started on the road to writing an awesome argumentative essay. Once your essay is finished, feel free to send it to a Kibin editor who can check it for grammar, sentence structure, and the strength of your thesis. Good luck with your essay! Naomi Tepper About the Author Naomi Tepper is the Kibin blog content manager, the Kibin operations manager, a former Kibin editor, and a self-proclaimed word nerd.