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pandorasword · 1 year

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Chaeri as the 8th and youngest member of BTS.

Chaeri's masterlist

❒ members: OT7

❒ genre: Hurt/Comfort

❒ words: 5k+

❒ summary: In which Chaeri realizes that she took the wrong choice

❒ notes: Hi! Thank you very much for the request (which you can find here). I hope all this is not too much. I tried to write about something I haven't read about. Let me know if you enojoyed it somehow

❒ warnings: Yandere!Sasaeng fan; obsessive behavior; stalking; being locked up; lots of swearing; panic attack; mentions of pandemic; If you are uncomfortable with any of this topics please don't read

2020, pandemic period

She threw yet another tissue into the garbage can.

It had been days since she was unable to recover from that damn flu, even more damned because it had hit her at a time when humanity was so afraid of contracting any kind of virus, with good reasons, that she had been isolated immediately.

The dormitory usually shared with the rest of the members was now huge, silent and empty.

As soon as signs of the flu began to show (headache, hoarse voice, dripping nose) the managers and staff of the company were alarmed as never before.

They immediately arranged a hotel for the boys to stay in for the next indefinite period of time.

They had had the dormitory sanitized and reserved covid tests for everyone.

From that day on, every morning, the only person she saw was the nurse who, bundled head to toe in protective and safety gear, tested her to check her health.

And, like each day, that too had yielded the same result: Negative.

Although she was convinced it was a simple cold, precautions were never enough in times like those, so until she was recovered, she could not leave the apartment building where her dormitory was located.

The boys, in their own way, continued to take care of her and keep her company: They were often on video calls, texted her, watched movies together on 'Netflix Party' and always provided her lunch and dinner.

In Korea, fortunately, apartment buildings in more luxurious neighborhoods like theirs had actual lockers as mailboxes.

Generally these were used by deliverymen to drop off packages despite the residents' absence, but it had seemed like a good idea for everyone to use it for that other purpose.

They had several pairs of keys to open the mailbox, and on a daily basis, they left food, medicine, and little gifts there that they knew would lift her spirits.

All in all, the cold was better. She kept sneezing insistently after getting the covid test but then it would calm down through the day; what still plagued her was the burning in her throat that had resulted in a noticeable lowering of her voice.

By email, her doctor had reassured her: It was more than normal to lose her voice from a strong flu, especially if the vocal cords are already stressed due to external factors.

Of course her vocal cords were stressed, since she spent most of her life singing.

That morning she had felt well enough to shower as soon as she woke up, wash her hair and even curl it naturally with the hair dryer. Looking in the mirror, with her hair so wavy she almost didn't recognize herself. Since she joined the entertainment industry she kept getting it straightened, as Korean standards deemed girls prettier that way.

It was almost lunchtime, her stomach was beginning to claim a decent meal other than a bowl of cold milk and cereal, plus she had finished her supply of paracetamol the night before, the only pill that gave her a chance to feel her throat less sore and the fever low. She hoped with all her heart that the boys had brought her another package, as of that morning she had yet to hear from them, probably too busy with some project she would be behind on.

Wearing her mask and putting the keys of the dorm in her pocket, she approached to go out and walk down the stairs that would take her to the ground floor.

She avoided the elevator. As much as she knew she was tested negative and was wearing the mask, she did not want to risk leaving any germs in such a small, enclosed space.

Before she could reach her destination, a guy not much older than her, also wearing a mask to cover his mouth and nose, removed the earphones from his ears and twisted them around his cell phone, which he placed in the right pocket of his uniform. Then he left the broom in his hand, leaning it against the wall closest to him, "Excuse me, Miss Chaeri?"

Chaeri failed to recognize him immediately, but then realized: He was the janitor of the condominium. Before her arrival, he was probably busy cleaning the floor below the one she had come down from.

He had only been working there for a few months, as far as she knew, and, of course, had not had a chance to interact with him that often due to her busy schedule.

She cleared her throat before speaking, "Yes?"

"Sirs came by this morning. They were in hurry, miss, and left me a medicine packet to give you."

Oh, then her assumptions were true: The boys had been too busy to call on her.

She smiled and hoped that from her eyes the guy in front of her could notice "Thank you"

"No problem"

Chaeri was glad to see that the medicine packet the boy pulled out of his pocket was just what she needed.

As she reached out to get it, the broom that had been resting on the wall next to them fell, causing Chaeri to flinch backward and slam into the stair railing.

"Oh my God, are you hurt? I'm so sorry, I'm such a clumsy person" The janitor's eyes were the mirror of shame and mortification. He bent over and over in apology before picking up the tool from the floor.

"Don't worry about it! I'm not hurt, really" Chaeri's voice, due to her flu-like condition, was little more than a whisper, but she tried to let it out confidently enough to reassure the condo employee "Really, it's okay"

She politely waved to him before returning to the front door of the dorm. The boys had been nice to stop by even if quickly; she could not complain about not getting lunch. They were busy and had done far too much for her in those days. She would cook herself something with what she had in the fridge.

When she touched the pocket where the keys should have been, she went pale: empty

Could she really have left it inside? No, she could remember carrying it with her.

Maybe she had dropped it earlier when she had hit her hip.

──────

Downstairs, however, the janitor's heart was beating so fast he could even feel it in his throat.

A mixture of excitement and fear, admiration and love. He held his hand tightly around the keys in his pocket, which he had picked up from the ground when he had taken up the broom. The idea that soon Chaeri would notice and most likely ask for his help made him thrilled.

Helping Chaeri, protecting Chaeri, loving Chaeri.

There was nothing else he wanted to do in life.

──────

As Chaeri rummaged through her pockets, the janitor watched her intently. He knew that this was his moment to shine, his moment to show her that he could be the one to take care of her, to protect her from anything that could harm her.

He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to face him. The look on his face was one of concern and care

"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice soft and husky as he took a step back "Sorry I tapped you without permission, I tried to call you but you didn't hear me" false, but Chaeri, so caught up in her thoughts about the keys, thought it was quite possible that she hadn't heard him.

"I seem to have lost my keys," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The janitor smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll help you find them" he said, leading her back down the stairs.

──────

"How is this even possible" Chaeri complained.

They searched down all the stairs, all the floors, even the upper ones despite the fact that she had not gone there, but there were no sign of her keys.

She had no phone with her to alert someone of the staff to help her.

Taken by stress, by the trembling that was returning to shake her from the end of the effect of the previous night's medication, she sat on the stairs

"I'm sure we'll find the keys, miss."

"I'm sorry, I don't even know your name and I'm causing you a lot of trouble."

"No problem, and by the way, I'm Kyong."

"Kyong, thank you for what you're doing to help me"

He could not help but blush, yet he hoped to hide it as best he could. His name spoken by Chaeri sounded so good.

"I see you are not well, do you want to rest in the porter's lodge? You can take the pill, I'll bring you something to eat while you wait for someone who can open the door for you."

"Aren't you afraid of covid?"

"Do you have covid?

"No, I'm negative."

"Then nothing to fear" That reassuring smile on his lips again.

"I'd love to."

But she wouldn't love it at all

──────

As she followed Kyong to the porter's lodge, Chaeri couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had never spent time alone with a stranger before, and she didn't know if she could trust him. But her flu-like symptoms were worsening by the minute, and she knew she needed to rest and take her medication.

Kyong was kind enough to bring her some soup and water, which she gratefully accepted.

She mentally told herself that she was a fool to think that someone in his position, the janitor of such an upscale apartment building, could be dangerous in any way...Right? She promised herself not to let the past make her prejudiced about people, that was probably what made her feel tense.

So she tried to be as relaxed as possible and enjoy the warmth of the room in which she was.

"Thank you for the soup, Kyong"

"It's my pleasure, Miss Chaeri"

Without being asked, the guy sat down next to her, right by her side.

"You might catch a cold if you stay this close to me" was the first thing she thought of saying, to try to put some distance between them.

Kyong could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he sat next to Chaeri, trying to control his emotions. He knew he had to be careful, to not reveal his true feelings for her too soon. He wanted to take care of her, to be the one to make her feel safe and loved. But he knew that he had to earn her trust first.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable" he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay, and that you have everything you need."

Chaeri looked up at him, her eyes clouded with fever. "That's kind of you, but please don't sit so close to me. It makes me feel a little claustrophobic"

Kyong quickly stood up, apologizing for his intrusion.

Chaeri sighed with relief as Kyong retreated to a corner of the room, giving her some space. She sipped her soup, feeling grateful for his kindness, but also wary of his intentions. She thought maybe it would be better to finish eating, ask for his phone to call someone of the staff, and get out of that room.

The door to the porter's lodge, however, was open. There was nothing he could do to her.

As she finished her soup, Kyong couldn't help but watch her every move, his eyes filled with longing. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, that he should respect her boundaries and keep his distance, but he couldn't help himself. Chaeri was just too beautiful, too perfect to resist.

"Would you mind lending me your cellphone? I'd like to call someone so they can open the door for me."

The boy's face became serious, or rather sad. His eyes reflected disappointment

"Sorry, I forgot my cellphone at home this morning."

When he saw Chaeri's eyes widen in realization, he knew he fucked up.

He did remember only after that she saw him with his headphones on not long before.

He got up quickly before she could and slammed the front door, locking it fast. He could not risk losing his chance with her, not because he told her an innocent lie

──────

Oh no, no, no. Not again.

She couldn't be locked in a room again with a man who wanted to hurt her.

Her senses were slightly dulled by the illness, but she tried to keep calm despite the panic quivering to take over.

'Be smart this time,' she repeated to herself, 'Don't make him suspicious'

“I’m so sorry Chaeri. I didn't mean to lie to you” The boy was desperate "I only did it so I could spend more time with you. I-I think I've been in love with you for a long time."

Although tears were pressing to leave her eyes, she tried to smile at him in a convincing way "Really?" she sounded a little choked up

Kyong moved from the door, took steps toward her "Yes, Chaeri. I know a lot of people tell you that but ... I really feel it. I've been watching you since I got here, I took this job for you! Do you really think I wanted to mop the floor in my life?" His voice began to rise a few tones "No! But I did it for you. For you."

"I am so lucky to..." a tear of fear slid down her face, she could not hold it back "to have such a person in my life."

Kyong took another step toward her, "From my window I can see the balcony of your house. I think it's the kitchen, although the glass is a little too dark to be sure. I saw that every morning you eat the same cereal: kellogg's choco krave. Don't you?"

"Yeah, I like them a lot"

"I had guessed it. I started eating them every morning too. I'm allergic to chocolate but nothing an epinephrine shot can't fix."

He was fucking insane.

She wished she could have slapped herself for the shitty decision she had made in following him. She had asked for it. That's what her mom would have told her. She asked for it.

Chaeri tried to sound interested in what he was saying, hoping to buy herself some time.

"That's interesting, Kyong. I didn't know you were allergic to chocolate. That must be tough."

Kyong's eyes lit up with delight. "Yes, it is. But for you, I'll do anything."

"Would you unlock the door, too, if I asked you to?"

"Why?

"You're my fan, did I get that right?"

"Your biggest and most devoted fan."

"So you must know that I am claustrophobic and need a lot of space and ..air"

He thought about it for a few seconds, as if digging through his memory to find the information Chaeri had just told him

"No, you're not"

"Yes. I am."

"You are not, Chaeri. Are you trying to get away from me? I gave you medicine, I fed you, I treated you well. Are you not satisfied? Do you want me to do more? I mean, what more do I have to do to show you my love!?" She tried to push him away as he clung to her, bringing his hands around her waist. "Do I have to kiss you to make you understand? Do I have to make you feel..do I have to make you feel how aroused I am to have you here locked with me?"

──────

Meanwhile, all 7 of the boys had completed their morning activities. Since it was early afternoon and they were familiar with the girl's habits, they had dropped by a bakery to buy her some sweet honey bread.

Divided into three different cars, which would patiently wait in front of the apartment building, the boys broke into it to drop off the dessert to the female member of the group.

"Maybe we should have bought her more," said Jimin, who was holding the bag. The only noise was his voice and everyone's shoes crunching along the mopped and waxed floor.

"Jimin-ah, it's a pound of bread, I think it will be enough for more than a day."

"Well, when she's sick Chaeri finds comfort in food so I wou-" the guy's voice froze when, opening the dormitory mailbox, he saw that the envelope with the medicine and lunch they had left that morning for Chaeri was still there

"What's going on?" Hobi stepped forward, getting himself next to his friend, and he too was amazed by what he saw

"What?!" Jungkook asked impatiently.

"Chaeri didn't pick up her lunch today."

The boys exchanged worried glances. They knew Chaeri well enough to know that she never missed a meal, especially when she was sick.

"We should call her" Namjoon suggested.

"No, I tried calling her when we were in the car. She didn't answer" Jin replied, his voice laced with concern.

"Maybe she's just sleeping," Taehyung offered optimistically.

But the uneasy feeling in the pit of their stomachs wouldn't go away. They knew something was wrong.

Jimin grabbed the bag of honey bread and made his way to their apartment, followed closely by the others.

They knocked only once before deciding to come in to notice that all the rooms were empty. Chaeri's phone was on the bed still undone, her unfolded pajamas on the pillow, and a half-full glass on the nightstand.

Definitely a house that had not been planned to leave

"Before we panic, we could ask the janitor if he saw her come by. She can't be just vanished" Yoongi said, trying to keep calm.

Everyone agreed except on the 'before we panic' because, by then, they were all panicking.

──────

While Chaeri's fear completely froze her, making her forget the self-defense lessons she had taken, a sound from across the room brought more tears to her eyes.

Someone was knocking on the door. She would have screamed if only her voice allowed it, to let whoever was on the other side know that she was there, in the arms of a fucking psychopath

Kyong quickly covered her mouth with his hand "Don't make a sound. I want to spend more time with you"

The knocking grew louder, more urgent

"Please" she managed to say despite his hand

"Shh, it's just someone at the door. They'll go away soon," he whispered, stroking her hair.

But the knocking didn't stop.

"Is there anyone in? Please, we just need to talk for a minute."

Namjoon's voice called out like a beacon of hope, so loud and powerful that Chaeri felt it down to her core. With newfound strength and courage, she instinctively grabbed Kyong's hand and bit hard into one of his fingers, tasting the metallic tang of blood on her tongue.

He moved his hand away abruptly, gripped by pain. In his eyes she could see all the disappointment he was feeling at that moment. The Chaeri he knew (who thought he knew) was kind, polite, and sweet. She would never hurt him. She would never try to run away from someone who loved her.

"Namjoon!" She strained her voice as much as she could to be heard by the boy on the other side of the wall.

He was there, and probably the rest of the boys, Chaeri thought.

She was not alone.

"This is not you. You would not be so ungrateful. They are the ones influencing you am I r-"

"Go fuck yourself, you creep." Chaeri interrupted Kyong's speech, her voice now filled with anger. "You don't know me. You don't know anything about me. I am not some object for you to possess. You have no right to keep me here like this, get a goddamn life of your own."

Kyong's expression shifted from disappointment to rage. He lunged at her, but Chaeri was prepared this time. With a quick movement, she dodged him and ran towards the door. The knocking had stopped, but she could hear voices from the other side.

"Open the door! Namjoon, open the door!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Kyong caught up to her and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back. "After everything I've done for you," He also seemed to have tears in his eyes "But I'm not angry with you. I couldn't. You just have to be a good girl and tell your friends that you are here by your own will. You don't want anything bad to happen to me, do you?"

The blood from the finger bitten by Chaeri now smeared her hair, Kyong though did not seem to want to let go of her.

The girl's vision was clouded by tears, but she could clearly hear the voices of the worried boys and the jostling they were doing at the door to enter. "Say it" He commanded her in a more authoritative voice, clenching his fist of curly hair tighter

"I am not here by my own will and someone call the fucking police" she said loud enough to be heard.

"You ungrateful bitch," he spat out, raising his hand to strike her.

But before he could make contact, the door suddenly burst open, and all 7 boys rushed into the room, their expressions a mix of anger and relief.

It wasn't quite clear to her what happened in those moments immediately after the door was opened.

The adrenaline that had kept her alert up to that moment flowed out of her body in one go.

She did not know how, nor who followed her out first of that room into the lobby of the apartment building.

Her world was a blur. She couldn't focus on anything even though she tried to make her eyes see something, anything she could latch on to.

The sounds of the street outside were distant, but to her they were close and overpowering. And inside, the sounds of yelling and screaming were deafening, she imagined that the entire world was fucking screaming.

She trembled violently, her body curling in like she was trying to make herself as small as possible. Her arms hugging her body like a vice.

Her heart raced and her breathing was shallow and ragged as the panic attack took hold of her body, plunging her into a state of sheer terror.

Two heavy hands grabbed her shoulders, making her entire body shudder in fear. She staggered back and suddenly fell to her knees, screaming wildly at the top of her lungs, "Don't touch me! Get away from me!" Tears streaming down her face, she did not recognize the arms that wanted to wrap around her and comfort her were Hobi's and not Kyong's.

Hobi's heart shattered as he saw the state that Chaeri was in. Her body was convulsing, and her screams were endless. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, to tell her that everything was going to be alright. But he knew that he had to be patient. He had to wait for her to calm down before he could do anything else.

He knelt down beside her, his hand hovering above her shoulder, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. Chaeri's screams slowly faded into whimpers, and her body stopped shaking. Hobi took that as a sign and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay, Chaeri," he whispered softly. "You're safe now."

Chaeri's eyes slowly opened, and she stared at Hobi, her gaze vacant and lost. Hobi saw the fear and confusion in her eyes, and it broke his heart.

But instead of staying on him, her eyes wandered blankly among the faces around her. Some standing, some kneeling on the ground as she did. Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin were missing. She did not want to know what they were doing to Kyong.

"He knew. He knew I was sick, he bought me medicine saying that you came by and left it for me. He knew I would be locked out of the apartment, he knew I would follow him, because ... I asked for it" Chaeri spoke with a surrendered calmness that did not seem natural to that still frightened body "I asked for it," she repeated, looking at Taehyung. He who knew more about her past than anyone. He had to be disappointed.

Her mother had always been right, it had always been her own fault.

"I asked for it" the calm with which she had spoken vanished again, plunging back into panic.

Taehyung's heart broke at Chaeri's words. He knew she had a history of blaming herself for everything that went wrong in her life. He took Hobi's place in front of her, who moved only a step further. "Look at me, Chaeri"

Instead of the disappointment she expected, she saw only sadness in his eyes "It was never your fault" he spoke softly "I... I promised you that I would never let anything happen to you ever again."

"And you came"

"I did, but not as soon as I had to"

Jimin approached them, his hand reaching out to brush her hair away from her face "Let's go home, shall we?”

She nodded weakly, her senses numbed from the shock and sadness.

As tears streamed down her face, the ache in her throat intensified to an unbearable level. Her eyes met those of Jungkook - the only boy missing from the group not including the older ones -.

The intensity in his gaze searing into her soul; his fists white knuckled from the effort it took to stay still; the sadness and heartbreak written over his features as he was trying so hard to not cry.

“Jungkook," Hobi's authoritative voice cut through the silence to bring him to his senses "Let's take Chaeri home."

He could do nothing but nod, his throat too tight to speak.

──────

Jin put the hair dryer down and stepped back, surveying his work. Chaeri's hair was now straight and silky as she asked, shining under the light of the bathroom. He gave her a little smile

"There you go, all done"

"Thank you, oppa" Jin lowered himself just enough to leave a kiss right in the middle of her head.

She stood up from the chair and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying, but she felt a little better after the warm shower and Jin's hair styling. Even better in knowing that from that evening the boys would start staying at the dormitory again.

They expressly made it clear to the staff that if, unfortunately, any of them caught a virus then they would all be quarantined together. They were not going to leave her alone anymore.

"Hey, how is it going here? I hope he didn't burn all your hair with the straightener." Jimin walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bath.

Chaeri chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, it looks great"

"Of course it looks great! I was the one who styled it!"

They were obviously trying to make the atmosphere softer.

Namjoon joined them too, holding a bag of ice against his cheek. Chaeri could see that he had a bruise forming on his jaw "What happened to your face?”

"Kyong fought back."

Chaeri gasped "Is he-"

"He's in police custody," Yoongi interrupted, walking into the bathroom "We won't hear from him again, that's for sure"

"Okay, okay. What is this bathroom becoming? Where did the privacy go? Is this by any chance a cabinet meeting?"

"Oh my God Jin, that was sleazy"

"Awful"

"But where do you get such bad jokes?"

Chaeri felt her chest feeling lighter as she listened to the members, her family, bickering as always. She needed that sense of normality

──────

Jungkook had been sitting in the living room for what felt like hours, his mind racing with thoughts of Chaeri and what she had gone through. He couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt like that. In addition, in the lobby of the condominium he was so overwhelmed that he couldn't move a muscle toward her. He was tremendously ashamed of this.

He heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Chaeri walking into the room. She looked tired, but she forced herself to smile softly when she saw him. He took a seat next to him on the couch. "I don't think I will be able to sleep in my room tonight.- Or to just sleep, I guess."

"We.."He swallowed nervously. He failed to protect her and even looking into her eyes reminded him of how much he damned himself for that. "We can stay on the couch all night if you want."

Chaeri nodded, grateful for the offer. She scooted a little closer to him, feeling comfort in his presence. Silence hung over the room, the only sound being the faint hum of the air conditioning.

Jungkook's mind was racing, trying to come up with the right words to say to her. "You know," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "I never knew what it meant to feel truly helpless until I saw what happened to you. It broke my heart, Chaeri, to see you go through that. I wasn't there and I.. hate it"

"You're here now, and that's all that matters."

As the minutes wore on, the rest of the members began to filter into the living room one by one. Taehyung came in first, sitting on the floor, leaning his back against the couch. He looked up to smile at her.

Hoseok and Jin joined them next, settling in on the other side of Jungkook. Namjoon claimed the space next to Chaeri, at his side soon took his place Yoongi. Jimin was the last to come, loaded with blankets for everyone, which he distributed one by one. Only later did he go and sit beside Tae.

She leaned into Namjoon, who draped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close.

The night went on and she couldn't feel safer than that.

taglist: @alixnsuperstxr

#bts 8th member #bts imagines #bts female member #bts x reader #bts addition #kpop female member #kpop addition #kpop oc #bts 8th member au #bts au fic #bts scenarios

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mariacallous · 1 year

Text

This story is part of a joint investigation between Lighthouse Reports and WIRED. To read other stories from the series, click here.

Mitch Daniels is a numbers guy, a cost-cutter. In the early 2000s, he tried and failed to rein in congressional spending under then-US president George W. Bush. So when he took office as Indiana governor in 2005, Daniels was ready to argue once again for fiscal discipline. He wanted to straighten out Indiana’s state government, which he deemed rife with dysfunction. And he started with its welfare system. “That department had been rocked by a series of criminal indictments, with cheats and caseworkers colluding to steal money meant for poor people,” he later said.

Daniels’ solution took the form of a $1.3 billion, 10-year contract with IBM. He had lofty ambitions for the project, which started in 2006, claiming it would improve the benefits service for Indiana residents while cracking down on fraud, ultimately saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

But the contract was a disaster. It was canceled after three years, and IBM and Indiana spent a decade locked in a legal battle about who was to blame. Daniels described IBM’s sweeping redesign and automation of the system—responsible for deciding who was eligible for everything from food stamps to medical cover—as deficient. He was adamant, though, that outsourcing a technical project to a company with expertise was the right call. “It was over-designed,” he said. “Great on paper but too complicated to work in practice.” IBM declined a request for comment.

In July 2012, Judge David Dryer of the Marion County Superior Court ruled that Indiana had failed to prove IBM had breached its contract. But he also delivered a damning verdict on the system itself, describing it as an untested experiment that replaced caseworkers with computers and phone calls. “Neither party deserves to win this case,” he said. “This story represents a ‘perfect storm’ of misguided government policy and overzealous corporate ambition.”

That might have been an early death knell for the burgeoning business of welfare state automation. Instead, the industry exploded. Today, such fraud systems form a significant part of the nebulous “govtech” industry, which revolves around companies selling governments new technologies with the promise that new IT will make public administration easier-to-use and more efficient. In 2021, that market was estimated to be worth €116 billion ($120 billion) in Europe and $440 billion globally. And it’s not only companies that expect to profit from this wave of tech. Governments also believe modernizing IT systems can deliver big savings. Back in 2014, the consultancy firm McKinsey estimated that if government digitization reached its “full potential,” it could free up $1 trillion every year.

Contractors around the world are selling governments on the promise that fraud-hunting algorithms can help them recoup public funds. But researchers who track the spread of these systems argue that these companies are often overpaid and under-supervised. The key issue, researchers say, is accountability. When complex machine learning models or simpler algorithms are developed by the private sector, the computer code that gets to define who is and isn’t accused of fraud is often classed as intellectual property. As a result, the way such systems make decisions is opaque and shielded from interrogation. And even when these algorithmic black holes are embroiled in high-stakes legal battles over alleged bias, the people demanding answers struggle to get them.

In the UK, a community group called the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People is trying to determine whether a pattern of disabled people being investigated for fraud is linked to government automation projects. In France, the digital rights group La Quadrature du Net has been trying for four months to find out whether a fraud system is discriminating against people born in other countries. And in Serbia, lawyers want to understand why the introduction of a new system has resulted in hundreds of Roma families losing their benefits. “The models are always secret,” says Victoria Adelmant, director of New York University’s digital welfare state project. “If you don’t have transparency, it’s very difficult to even challenge and assess these systems.”

The rollout of automated bureaucracy has happened quickly and quietly, but it has left a trail of scandals in its wake. In Michigan, a computer system used between 2013 and 2015 falsely accused 34,000 people of welfare fraud. A similar thing happened in Australia between 2015 and 2019, but on a larger scale: The government accused 400,000 people of welfare fraud or error after its social security department started using a so-called robodebt algorithm to automatically issue fines.

Another scandal emerged in the Netherlands in 2019 when tens of thousands of families—many of them from the country’s Ghanaian community—were falsely accused of defrauding the child benefits system. These systems didn’t just contribute to agencies accusing innocent people of welfare fraud; benefits recipients were ordered to repay the money they had supposedly stolen. As a result, many of the accused were left with spiraling debt, destroyed credit ratings, and even bankruptcy.

Not all government fraud systems linked to scandals were developed with consultancies or technology companies. But civil servants are increasingly turning to the private sector to plug knowledge and personnel gaps. Companies involved in fraud detection systems range from giant consultancies—Accenture, Cap Gemini, PWC—to small tech firms like Totta Data Lab in the Netherlands and Saga in Serbia.

Experts in automation and AI are expensive to hire and less likely to be wooed by public sector salaries. When the UK surveyed its civil servants last year, confidence in the government’s ability to use technology was low, with around half of respondents blaming an inability to hire top talent. More than a third said they had few or no skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation. But it’s not just industry experience that makes the private sector so alluring to government officials. For welfare departments squeezed by budget cuts, “efficiency” has become a familiar buzzword. “Quite often, a public sector entity will say it is more efficient for us to go and bring in a group of consultants,” says Dan Sheils, head of European public service at Accenture.

The public sector lacks the expertise to create these systems and also to oversee them, says Matthias Spielkamp, cofounder of German nonprofit Algorithm Watch, which has been tracking automated decision-making in social welfare programs across Europe since 2017. In an ideal world, civil servants would be able to develop these systems themselves and have an in-depth understanding of how they work, he says. “That would be a huge difference to working with private companies, because they will sell you black-box systems—black boxes to everyone, including the public sector.”

In February 2020, a crisis broke out in the Dutch region of Walcheren as officials realized they were in the dark about how their own fraud detection system worked. At the time, a Dutch court had halted the use of another algorithm used to detect welfare fraud, known as SyRI, after finding it violated people’s right to privacy. Officials in Walcheren were not using SyRI, but in emails obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED through freedom-of-information requests, government employees had raised concerns that their algorithm bore striking similarities to the one just condemned by the court.

Walcheren’s system was developed by Totta Data Lab. After signing a contract in March 2017, the Dutch startup developed an algorithm to sort through pseudonymous information, according to details obtained through a freedom-of-information request. The system analyzed details of local people claiming welfare benefits and then sent human investigators a list of those it classified as most likely to be fraudsters.

The redacted emails show local officials agonizing over whether their algorithm would be dragged into the SyRI scandal. “I don’t think it is possible to explain why our algorithm should be allowed while everyone is reading about SyRI,” one official wrote the week after the court ruling. Another wrote back with similar concerns. “We also do not get insight from Totta Data Lab into what exactly the algorithm does, and we do not have the expertise to check this.” Neither Totta nor officials in Walcheren replied to requests for comment.

When the Netherlands’ Organization for Applied Scientific Research, an independent research institute, later carried out an audit of a Totta algorithm used in South Holland, the auditors struggled to understand it. “The results of the algorithm do not appear to be reproducible,” their 2021 report reads, referring to attempts to re-create the algorithm’s risk scores. “The risks indicated by the AI algorithm are largely randomly determined,” the researchers found.

With little transparency, it often takes years—and thousands of victims—to expose technical shortcomings. But a case in Serbia provides a notable exception. In March 2022, a new law came into force which gave the government the green light to use data processing to assess individuals’ financial status and automate parts of its social protection programs. The new socijalna karta, or social card system, would help the government detect fraud while making sure welfare payments were reaching society’s most marginalized, claimed Zoran Đorđević, Serbia’s minister of social affairs in 2020.

But within months of the system’s introduction, lawyers in the capital Belgrade had started documenting how it was discriminating against the country’s Roma community, an already disenfranchised ethnic minority group.

Mr. Ahmetović, a welfare recipient who declined to share his first name out of concern that his statement could affect his ability to claim benefits in the future, says he hadn’t heard of the social card system until November 2022, when his wife and four children were turned away from a soup kitchen on the outskirts of the Serbian capital. It wasn’t unusual for the Roma family to be there, as their welfare payments entitled them to a daily meal provided by the government. But on that day, a social worker told them their welfare status had changed and that they would no longer be getting a daily meal.

The family was in shock, and Ahmetović rushed to the nearest welfare office to find out what had happened. He says he was told the new social card system had flagged him after detecting income amounting to 110,000 Serbian dinars ($1,000) in his bank account, which meant he was no longer eligible for a large chunk of the welfare he had been receiving. Ahmetović was confused. He didn’t know anything about this payment. He didn’t even have his own bank account—his wife received the family’s welfare payments into hers.

With no warning, their welfare payments were slashed by 30 percent, from around 70,000 dinars ($630) per month to 40,000 dinars ($360). The family had been claiming a range of benefits since 2012, including financial social assistance, as their son’s epilepsy and unilateral paralysis means neither parent is able to work. The drop in support meant the Ahmetovićs had to cut back on groceries and couldn’t afford to pay all their bills. Their debt ballooned to over 1 million dinars ($9,000).

The algorithm’s impact on Serbia’s Roma community has been dramatic. Ahmetović says his sister has also had her welfare payments cut since the system was introduced, as have several of his neighbors. “Almost all people living in Roma settlements in some municipalities lost their benefits,” says Danilo Ćurčić, program coordinator of A11, a Serbian nonprofit that provides legal aid. A11 is trying to help the Ahmetovićs and more than 100 other Roma families reclaim their benefits.

But first, Ćurčić needs to know how the system works. So far, the government has denied his requests to share the source code on intellectual property grounds, claiming it would violate the contract they signed with the company who actually built the system, he says. According to Ćurčić and a government contract, a Serbian company called Saga, which specializes in automation, was involved in building the social card system. Neither Saga nor Serbia’s Ministry of Social Affairs responded to WIRED’s requests for comment.

As the govtech sector has grown, so has the number of companies selling systems to detect fraud. And not all of them are local startups like Saga. Accenture—Ireland’s biggest public company, which employs more than half a million people worldwide—has worked on fraud systems across Europe. In 2017, Accenture helped the Dutch city of Rotterdam develop a system that calculates risk scores for every welfare recipient. A company document describing the original project, obtained by Lighthouse Reports and WIRED, references an Accenture-built machine learning system that combed through data on thousands of people to judge how likely each of them was to commit welfare fraud. “The city could then sort welfare recipients in order of risk of illegitimacy, so that highest risk individuals can be investigated first,” the document says.

Officials in Rotterdam have said Accenture’s system was used until 2018, when a team at Rotterdam’s Research and Business Intelligence Department took over the algorithm’s development. When Lighthouse Reports and WIRED analyzed a 2021 version of Rotterdam’s fraud algorithm, it became clear that the system discriminates on the basis of race and gender. And around 70 percent of the variables in the 2021 system—information categories such as gender, spoken language, and mental health history that the algorithm used to calculate how likely a person was to commit welfare fraud—appeared to be the same as those in Accenture’s version.

When asked about the similarities, Accenture spokesperson Chinedu Udezue said the company’s “start-up model” was transferred to the city in 2018 when the contract ended. Rotterdam stopped using the algorithm in 2021, after auditors found that the data it used risked creating biased results.

Consultancies generally implement predictive analytics models and then leave after six or eight months, says Sheils, Accenture’s European head of public service. He says his team helps governments avoid what he describes as the industry’s curse: “false positives,” Sheils’ term for life-ruining occurrences of an algorithm incorrectly flagging an innocent person for investigation. “That may seem like a very clinical way of looking at it, but technically speaking, that's all they are.” Sheils claims that Accenture mitigates this by encouraging clients to use AI or machine learning to improve, rather than replace, decision-making humans. “That means ensuring that citizens don’t experience significantly adverse consequences purely on the basis of an AI decision.”

However, social workers who are asked to investigate people flagged by these systems before making a final decision aren’t necessarily exercising independent judgment, says Eva Blum-Dumontet, a tech policy consultant who researched algorithms in the UK welfare system for campaign group Privacy International. “This human is still going to be influenced by the decision of the AI,” she says. “Having a human in the loop doesn’t mean that the human has the time, the training, or the capacity to question the decision.”

Despite the scandals and repeated allegations of bias, the industry building these systems shows no sign of slowing. And neither does government appetite for buying or building such systems. Last summer, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance adopted a decree authorizing the launch of an algorithm that searches for discrepancies in tax filings, earnings, property records, and bank accounts to identify people at risk of not paying their taxes.

But as more governments adopt these systems, the number of people erroneously flagged for fraud is growing. And once someone is caught up in the tangle of data, it can take years to break free. In the Netherlands’ child benefits scandal, people lost their cars and homes, and couples described how the stress drove them to divorce. “The financial misery is huge,” says Orlando Kadir, a lawyer representing more than 1,000 affected families. After a public inquiry, the Dutch government agreed in 2020 to pay the families around €30,000 ($32,000) in compensation. But debt balloons over time. And that amount is not enough, says Kadir, who claims some families are now €250,000 in debt.

In Belgrade, Ahmetović is still fighting to get his family’s full benefits reinstated. “I don’t understand what happened or why,” he says. “It’s hard to compete against the computer and prove this was a mistake.” But he says he’s also wondering whether he’ll ever be compensated for the financial damage the social card system has caused him. He’s yet another person caught up in an opaque system whose inner workings are guarded by the companies and governments who make and operate them. Ćurčić, though, is clear on what needs to change. “We don’t care who made the algorithm,” he says. “The algorithm just has to be made public.”

Additional reporting by Gabriel Geiger and Justin-Casimir Braun.

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raincode-archives · 7 months

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Chapter 4 Loading Screen Trivia

Note: Currently, I do not know which of these trivia may be general game trivia or Chapter 4 exclusives (if there is any). And there may be trivia I'm currently missing that I will add later on, if I find any more.

World Detective Organization (WDO) An extra-legal, extra-privileged organization devoted to eradicating the world's unsolved mysteries.

Detective Deed An identification card. These are granted by the World Detective Organization.

Master Detective Among the detectives belonging to the World Detective Organization, this is a detective with a specialized power called Forensic Forte that aids in their investigative activities.

Forensic Forte Those exhibiting innate talent for special powers like clairvoyance or mind-reading are trained by the WDO to develop a supernatural investigative ability called Forensic Forte or simply, Forte.

Amaterasu Corporation Many products are in development, some of which cannot be made public.

Amaterasu Peacekeepers A department of Amaterasu Corporation. They serve as a sort of police force within Kanai Ward.

Kamasaki District Crime generally isn't bad here, unless you venture deeper inside, that is.

Riverbank Due to polluted waters, fish are rarely caught.

Kanai Station The only train station in Kanai Ward. It's a magnificent building, but seldom has customers because of the city's isolation.

Kanai Ward Living Condition Perhaps because of the daily rainfall, some people in Kanai Ward don't mind getting wet.

TV Programs Nearly all the TV programs broadcasted in Kanai Ward are sponsored by Amaterasu Corporation.

Popular Sports Parkour is popular among the young men of Kamasaki District. New problems have arisen however, what will all the trespassing and running across the top of food stalls.

Means of Communication Most communications to people outside of Kanai Ward are tapped and monitored by Amaterasu. The phone at the Nocturnal Detective Agency uses a different type of line to prevent eavesdropping.

Pets Because of Kanai Ward's unending rain, indoor pets are popular. At the same time, there is increasing concern of many dogs and cats become feral after being abandoned by irresponsible owners.

Kanai Ward's Electrical Power Because of the perpetual rain, electrical power is derived predominantly from rainwater.

Flavor of Halara's Candy Depends on the mood. The worse the mood, the sweeter the taste; the better the mood, the lighter the taste.

Fubuki's Accessories Fubuki's necklace has a clock motif. The choker is decorated with video playback control symbols.

Vivia's Book Catalog Novels, columns, essays, all sorts of things. There's no particular preference for genre; he reads just to pass time.

Vivia's Garments There are just bandage-like wrappings beneath his coat, so it wouldn't be accurate to call it clothing.

Amaterasu Corporation The megacorporation controlling Kanai Ward. It deals in a wide variety of goods such as industrial products, electronic appliances, as well as pharmaceuticals.

Kanai Ward Currently, Kanai ward is isolated from the rest of the world. Few people enter and leave and very little information goes beyond its walls.

Kanai Tower Lease agreements are available, but the monthly rent costs as much as a luxury car.

Ama-Pal Different versions of Ama-Pal exist, but among the scarce limited edition releases, there is evidently a bear variant with differently colored left and right sides.

Ama-Pay An electronic payment system courtesy of Amaterasu Corporation. It can be used at almost any shop in Kanai Ward, but rumor has it the company collects personal data from each transaction.

Popular Appliances Indoor dryers are very popular in Kanai Ward. Amaterasu Corporation's new "Kagutsuchi" model is quite excellent, capable of drying any type of laundry in just two hours.

Amaterasu's Latest Products A drone car that will autonomously deliver you from departure...to tomorrow. "Amenotorifune." Coming soon from Amaterasu Corporation.

Amaterasu's Latest Products Fall asleep in an instant.... And slumber for eight hours without waking up...no matter what... "Snoozewell," coming soon from Amaterasu Corporation.

Amaterasu Lab Research facilities located in the underground section of the Amaterasu Corporation. Access to the lab is highly restricted, even among Amaterasu personnel.

Amaterasu Security Entry to the premises requires employee IDs, as well as biometric authentication via retinal scans, making it practically impossible for outsiders to infiltrate Amaterasu Corporation.

Blank Week Mystery A phrase considered taboo in Kanai Ward. The meaning of the phrase is unclear

Makoto's Masks The mask is different ever morning, depending on his mood. Sometimes it takes him more than 30 minutes to choose, to the chagrin of the people around him.

About Dr. Huesca He walks around barefoot in the lab. This isn't for anything health-related, he simply feel the time spent putting on shoes and socks is better used on research.

Robot Researcher Akira is his name. He's poured his whole being into Ama-Pal, his life dedicated to its development. His catchphrase: "When my time comes, I want it to be by Ama-Pal's hand."

Fink the Slaughter Artist A hitman predominantly active in Kanai Ward. It's rumored that he'll kill any target, regardless of difficulty, as long as the client can afford it.

Yomi's Cane Yomi's cane transforms into a whip and can be used to strangle people he isn't fond of.

Shinigami's Secret Depending on Shinigami's emotional state, not only can horns and a tail sprout out, but her entire body can take on a fiery form.

Amazing Physique Number One of the WDO may look wizened, but beneath his robe is a muscle-bound body, compared to that of a youth's. It's littered in scars following encounters with a variety of criminals.

Invention Detective A Master Detective whose Forte allows for on-the-spot assembly of inventions useful for an investigation. This detective was not summoned to Kanai Ward.

#mdarc #master detective archives rain code #rain code #raincode #rain code archives #makoto kagutsuchi #dr huesca #yomi hellsmile #shinigami #number one

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fractallogic · 1 year

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Ah dammit setting this in ABQ was a mistake. Now all I want is to go back to New Mexico. Fuck. And every time I drove down to Pueblo I’d be like “I could just keep going for another 3-4 hours and I could be in Albuquerque instead and wouldn’t that be better” (which I think is also what I told my mom when she told me she was moving to Pueblo after my brother graduated high school) (sorry Pueblo you’re fine but man. If the choice is Pueblo vs basically anywhere in New Mexico? NM wins about 85% of the time)

Also not me walking to the writing “retreat” this morning thinking “you know if it were Tucson it would already be like 85 degrees now and these jeans and tennis shoes would be unbearable… man I miss Tucson” completely sincerely and unironically

Scone, my sweet scone, pastry whom i love who has wanted so badly to live in portland again since he left in like 2014? 2015?, I am so sorry but I need both of us to get into industry to have the experience on our resumes and then I need us to gtfo of the PNW. Or like, I need to spend a significant amount of time in the southwest. Because after moving out of Tucson I didn’t *really* think I’d miss it being 105 on a daily basis but oh my god I want to cry because at least I could self soothe with good yoga and blasting AC and all the Mexican food I could stuff into myself. I miss the monsoon season and the truly oppressive heat that feels like you’re walking into a hair dryer. I miss people speaking Spanish. I miss all of the cafes and restaurants and all of my friends. I miss the saguaros and the lizards and the ocotillos.

I know it’s literally hotter in Tucson than it is where he’s living in Saudi Arabia and he hates it and arizona is his “anywhere but there” place to live, but… wah :c

#moving away from Tucson broke my fucking heart #if for some reason the worst case scenario happens and scone isn’t able to get here #I am taking a very long trip to Tucson #and then I’m taking a very long trip to Denver #I just want to live in the desert again :(#remember when we went to ten thousand waves in Santa Fe for MF’s birthday? :(((#ughhhhhggghhhhh #anyway I clearly need to stop filling up the romance novel Pinterest board with ~setting inspo~#all I want is good green chile #I want a bathtub full of green chile #I am so sad and so bereft of green chile

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grouchythefish · 11 months

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So I saw your reblog about truckstops, and as someone uniquely qualified to answer your rhetorical questions, this excited me. My qualifications include living within fifteen minutes of and having two family members who currently work for the Iowa 80 Truckstop, having worked there for six months after high school, and then having a parent who worked there for seven years before working for the other truckstop across the road.

The truckstop I worked for, Iowa 80, is located in Walcott, Iowa, is the world's largest truckstop. They almost lost that title to their sister location and had to expand their square footage. Inside this truckstop is a 24-hour restaurant, a laundromat with at least fifteen washers and dryers (I haven't counted), a dentist (who I highly recommend for dental emergencies), full scale showers for purchase that include private restrooms (some are fully wheelchair accessible), a small movie theater, a hair salon, a chiropractor, a small office that's used as a church/worship space for truckers with resources for local actual churches and advocacy groups, a food court rivaling our local mall, a game room, a gift store, and finally, the showroom. There's also a small truckers lounge with free internet access and lots of space to sit and converse.

The only thing missing from the post is places to sleep. You could technically sleep there. It is a 24-hour business, and I have seen people take their dogs inside during storms and camp out on the floor of the showroom before. But there's not like... beds or anything. There are a few hotels nearby, but as can be expected due to the nature of the trucking industry, they're all motels and cheap places to sleep that's not the bed inside your truck.

The showroom is large enough to house a full semi with trailer (used for storage), with an electronics section, chrome department, and a small graphics printing section called the custom shop, where you can have embroidered t-shirts and vinyl stickers made of your company's logo, or whatever you want. For sale on this floor includes all kinds of accessories and electronics for truckers, as well as a small media selection of DVDs, CD's and audio books. They also have a section for mattresses for your semi, as well as they used to have a small spot to buy musical instruments.

The foot court and convenience store are a huge room with a Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, combination Einstein Bros Bagels and Caribou Coffee, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius. There is also a full-scale convenience store, with every soda, snack, and candy you can imagine.

In the gift shop, you can buy your normal stuff. T-shirts and such. But you can also buy katanas. For some reason. And I used to have to sell those at 3am. They also at one time sold a whip. But no guns or alcohol, thank god. That would've been too much for the family-friendly label that the family that owns the company has.

There's also a service center, with access to truck diesel, DEF, etc. It has a Chester's Chicken, a Blimpie, and a smaller little gas station selection of candy and drinks and such.

Now, if you want alcohol or lottery, you gotta go across the road, to Pilot.... which is where my mom defected to after like six years of working for Iowa 80. They sell booze. But there's not only one, there's TWO of them, across the road, and across the interstate from Iowa 80. One has an Arby's, and the other has a Subway.

In this small section of town, there's also a McDonalds, but it's not part of everything else. It's just there, between the little Pilot store and one of the aforementioned motels.

You now know everything there is to know about my weird situation with Iowa 80/Pilot.

But there is one thing I gotta say, this is pretty unique. Most rest stops, and gas stations are like Pilot. Located off the interstate, a little shop to get gas and snacks, a restroom, and some space to stretch your legs. Iowa 80 is a big ass building and part of a family owned business with multiple sister locations. In the US, most rest stops and such are just a gas station, maybe a bathroom with a place to get out for vending machine snacks and a spot to hide from bad weather.

Okay that's all bye~

Omg thank you so much for sending me this!

No place to sleep does make sense since most transport trucks have beds built in anyways.

Most truck stops here are basically just roadside food courts with a gas station outside and sometimes with a tiny gift shop that might have t-shirts and keychains. I pass 5 on my way to and from work (god my commute is far too long) and all except one are owned by the same company (OnRoute) and are pretty boring.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure the only truck stops I've been to with anything more than that have all been in the US on roadtrips. Though obviously none as exciting as the one you are describing (Jesus Christ a movie theatre and a dentist??)

I kinda wanna own a truck stop katana now.

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girlhorse · 1 year

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i think a lot of dog daycares/kennels, and tbh some shelters and vet offices, fail to consider, on the level of construction, the importance of using material that is both sturdy and easy to clean and easy to replace. Dogs are nasty and also capable of incredible amounts of destruction.

No wood, no brick, nothing with a large surface area (like grates or fences with hard to clean gaps), nothing porous; the facility must have drainage on the floors, must have multiple water sources for sanitation purposes, if play areas are indoors there must be a way to keep water and piss out of the drywall/gaps between wall and floor (caulk is not good enough lmao), must store all food appropriately (using large totes for example) to prevent pests, should invest in artificial turf if outdoors, must use easily sanitized flooring if indoors (personally torn on indoor play areas that have slippery floors bc that can be horrible for a dog's joints and can cause injuries, but it is very cleanable and manageable so i dunno), should absolutely have an industrial grade dishwasher (having ur employee hand wash everything is idiotic and a waste of time and water, and sink water will not get to a high enough temp to kill germs), should have at least one if not multiple washers and dryers, should prevent rodent infestations by managing trees on the property and keeping them several feet from the building as well as making sure there are no gaps or small entryways where rodents may enter, should have an area where sick dogs can be quarantined, should have showers/sanitation stations/eye wash stations for employees in the event that caustic chemicals are used or an employee happens to come in contact with a zoonotic disease, absolutely needs to require all dogs to be vaccinated (NO PUPPIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VACCINATED! FR!), and needs to have an appropriate waste manangement system in place, poop scoops tbh are so much easier for employees than making them bend over and bag up each individual piles of shit, but they do also need to be washed; this includes removing all fecal matter and food waste from the building every night or as often as possible to prevent flies esp in the summer. So on and so forth.

taking at least some of these measures will absolutely improve employee QOL as well as the health and safety of dogs and employees alike. Ive been in so many filthy facilities that look clean outwardly but are just fucking disgusting and unsafe bc the owners cut corners during construction.

#gab gabs #of course this is a huge expense to start out with but it will go a long way and save people so much grief #this is long but my god knowing what i know my dog will never be boarded or in dog daycare lmao

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foodtechprojects · 1 year

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Drying is one of the oldest preservation methods. It helps in lowering the water content in perishable foods. Refractance window drying equipment is different from other conventional drying methods.

#Refractive window food drying systems #Industrial food dryer machine

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photonsfood · 11 months

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Advancing Food Industry Efficiency with Photons Food's Industrial Measurement Equipment and Rice Mill Dryer

The ever-evolving food business has made innovation and technology essential. The leading supplier of cutting-edge industrial measurement tools and solutions for rice mill dryer is Photons Food, a pioneering business. In this article, we look at how Photons Food modernizes the food processing industry by reducing processes and improving product quality.

Industrial measurement technology is revolutionizing efficiency:

The industrial measurement equipment from Photons Food delivers a paradigm shift in the way the food processing industries track and regulate numerous crucial parameters. These high-tech devices combine cutting-edge sensors and data analytics to deliver in-the-moment information on important variables, including temperature, humidity, moisture content, and grain quality. With this level of accuracy, food producers can streamline their operations, cut waste, and preserve a constant level of product quality.

Industrial measurement equipment benefits include:

Precision Monitoring: The equipment's accurate measurements guarantee that food processing activities uphold the strictest quality requirements, leaving no space for speculation or mistakes.

Process optimization: Food producers can spot bottlenecks and inefficiencies and improve productivity and cost-effectiveness by continuously monitoring and analyzing data.

Quality Control: Regular monitoring allows for the early identification of any irregularities, ensuring that only top-notch products are sent onto the market and enhancing the brand's reputation.

Using a rice mill dryer to increase rice drying efficiency:

Effective drying is essential for preserving the quality and shelf life of the finished product in the rice processing sector. In this regard, Photons Food's Rice Mill Dryer is a game-changer, utilizing cutting-edge drying technology to guarantee uniform and quick moisture removal from freshly harvested rice.

Rice mill dryer's main characteristics:

Uniform Dying: The rice mill drier uses cutting-edge temperature and airflow controls to produce consistent drying, lowering the danger of spoiling by uneven moisture distribution.

Energy Efficiency: By minimizing energy usage throughout the drying process, the rice mill dryer offers rice processors a practical option that is also low-cost.

Maintaining Nutritional Value: Rice's nutritional value is maintained during gentle drying, giving consumers access to tastier and healthier foods.

Utilizing Photons Food in Sustainable Ways:

Sustainability is a fundamental concept that underpins all of Photons Food's offerings in terms of both goods and services. The Rice Mill Dryer and Industrial Measurement Equipment's energy-saving features help lessen the food processing's environmental impact. By implementing these strategies, businesses can support sustainability initiatives and encourage environmentally friendly practices in the food sector.

Conclusion:

The Industrial Measurement Equipment and Rice Mill Dryer from Photons Food are innovative leaders in the food processing sector, providing strong instruments to improve productivity, product quality, and sustainability. Photons Food is dedicated to providing food makers with cutting-edge solutions that will help define the future of the global food business. As technology advances, the company remains at the forefront of this field.

Company Name:- Photons Food

Visit our Website:- https://photonsfood.com/

Call:- +91-8610167937, +65-91684326

Email:- [email protected]

Address:- Brahmanagudem Village, Nidadavole, 534 302, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh 534301 India.

#industrial food machinery #food processing machinery #paddy dryer machine #paddy cleaner #photons food #food machinery manufacturers in india

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elizmanderson · 1 year

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15 mutuals*, 15 questions

*if I can come up with that many mutuals' handles when my brain is doing like. dial-up noises rn. can I even answer the questions? let's find out!

thanks to @vcaudley for the tag!

there are (as you have probably noticed) more than 15 questions, so feel free to pick and choose (or just not play, because a tag is not an obligation)

I did 15 plus a bonus question about whales

Are you named after anyone?

my maternal great-grandmother on my grandma's side, who lived to be a hundred

2. When was the last time you cried?

oops, at the end of my yoga class this morning, for no discernible reason :,) just suddenly got the Big Sad and had to go stand in the bathroom for a couple minutes until I calmed down

3. What’s your eye color?

hazel

4. Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings, we are too soft for scary things in this household

5. Any special talents?

6. Where were you born?

7. What are your hobbies?

8. Have you any pets?

halloween the cat, who enjoys a basket of warm laundry fresh from the dryer and wants to know why you're looking at him all funny when he is simply making use of what is currently the coziest place in the house

9. What sports do you play/have played?

lol under duress, basketball and track. under my own steam, archery.

10. How tall are you?

shorter than the internet thinks I am, apparently

11. Favourite subject in school?

art

12. Dream job?

gonna echo @vcaudley's "the honest dream is to have enough money to not need to work"

like I don't have a dream job really? obviously I want to have a career as a writer, but...I would rather not depend on it for my income, given how fickle the industry is even IF you manage to sell multiple books, which at this point in my career is no guarantee

so for a day job I'm doing admin work. after a decade of working in grocery stores, I'm happy just to have a full-time job that pays sort of halfway decently, actually has benefits, and doesn't leave me exhausted or keep me constantly working outside my scheduled hours. the millennial dream lolsob

13. Do you prefer owls, capybaras, or flamingos?

(d) all of the above

14. What is your favourite soup?

a tomato-basil soup that in the family we just call winter soup. it's like an extra-hearty tomato-basil soup with carrots and onions and a roux, and you eat it with croutons and sour cream and parmesan

15. What is your favourite…rock (idfk)?

16. Choose a familiar: 1) very dumb, very loving disobedient dog. He loves you but will never listen to you ever 2) a raven that speaks but it only ever shrieks the name of various fast food restaurants 3) a toad that screams like a teenage boy instead of croaks

I will take the dog and simply always tell him to do bad things so he never does bad things because he disobeys my every word. if he loves me I will get cuddles and also I will not have to deal with shrieking.

17. Which planet do you feel like would be kind of an asshole if you met them?

uranus, obviously

actually that was mean

sorry, uranus

18. if you were a worm would you love me? this worm question courtesy of ✨ @/legiomiam✨

no bc I don't know you but I'm sure you're a lovely person

19. Least favourite type of clothing?

20. You are now in a horror movie—so sorry. Chance of survival?

probably zero since I'm very soft and also have to investigate every noise bc it's better to get up and find out what's making it than lie in bed being scared of an unknown noise 😅

21. Would you rather: the ability to instantly grow a perfect mustache, or ability to talk to vegetables?

22. What do you think of whales?

I think they're neat

tagging for optional gameplay: @victoriacbooks, @mslanna, @erinfulmerwrites, @avery-ames-personal, @amarajlynn, @wordsofrablack, @chatterboxprotocol, @danaiwrites, @doom-inique-writes, @gryffindorkswin, @luv3horse, @lucymason217, I think this is less than 15 but oops I'm also tagging you, if you're reading this and waiting for someone to tag you so you can play

#tag game #halloween the cat #questions

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my-name-is-mysteryxx · 2 years

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Class 1-A plan a coffee/bake sale event (based off my Italian class)

Aizawa: we'll be raising money for a charity but we need to pick which one—

Bakugo: Nah I think I should get all the money.

Aizawa: Bakugo— no we need to pick a charity

Sero: why don't we get all the profit!?

Aizawa: Guys i said a charity

Kirishima: we can start a charity that's literally just us in disguise—!

Aizawa: we're picking a charity!

Bakugo: Nah I should get 100% of the profit.

---

Aizawa: you need to think about what kinda coffee and foods you'll sell so push all the desks together and talk.

Deku: uh.. I have literally no idea—

Jiro: guys let's sell milkshakes.

Bakugo: yeah just copy McDonald's.

Kaminari: lets sell industrial washing lacchines.

Jiro: what—

Ashido: yeah let's!

Iida: guys can we please do the work—!

Shoji: may as well sell them car insurance too

Bakugo: sell them life insurance!

Kaminari: we need to sell industrial washing machines.

Uraraka: why don't we throw in dishwashers too while we're at it!?

Deku: at this point let's just sell them whole apartments!

Kaminari: industrial washing machines—!

Aizawa: Kaminari I swear to god this is like the fiftieth time I've heard you say "industrial washing machines." We're not selling any damn washing machines now shut up about them or I swear.

Kaminari: ....

Kaminari: right so industrial dryers—!

---

Aizawa: who wants to be in charge of taking donations—!

Kirishima! Me! Definitely me!

Aizawa: okay—!

Bakugo: I WANNA DO IT WITH HIM!

Kirishima: yeah me and Bakugo! And Kaminari too if he wants..

Aizawa: you literally just stand with a bucket we don't need three of you on donations..

Bakugo: can't there be three buckets!?

Aizawa: No– there's one bucket!

#mha scenarios #based on irl #this is how my italian class went today #my hero acedamia #boku no hero academia #kaminari x industrial washing machines #that is a joke-#legit all of this happened in that class

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palvichemical · 2 years

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Some Important Facts About Manganese Sulfate

It is common knowledge that manganese sulphate monohydrate functions as a micronutrient in plants. The fact that it is essential to the process of photosynthesis makes it one of the most fascinating aspects of the molecule. Manganese sulphate is an essential component in the production of all plant-based products. The therapy of nutritional deficiencies frequently involves the use of manganese sulphate manufactured and supplied by one of the popular Manganese Sulphate exporters in Ecuador. The human body requires very minute amounts of the mineral known as manganese, which is classified as a trace element. It is necessary for the brain, the neurological system, and a good number of the enzyme systems in your body to operate normally because of this. Even while your pancreas, liver, kidneys, as well as bones, may store up to roughly 20 mg of manganese between them, you still need to obtain it from your diet in order to maintain healthy levels. The mineral manganese is regarded to be an essential nutrient and may be found in a variety of foods, particularly seeds and whole grains. It is also present, albeit in lower concentrations, in legumes, tea, leafy green vegetables, as well as nuts.

Uses:

The chemical known as manganese sulphate manufactured by the most reliable as well as one of the noted Manganese Sulphate suppliers in Ecuador - Palvi Chemicals, has a wide variety of applications. It is a chemical that is utilised in industry, and one of the most prevalent applications for it is in the agricultural sector.

● Animal husbandry and farming both make use of Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate that contains more than 30%.

● It plays a vital role in animal nutrition, hence included in animal feed.

● The majority of the time, it is utilised in the production of ink and paint dryers.

● It plays a role in the synthesis of synthetic fatty acid as a catalyst.

● In addition to that, it is a necessary step in the manufacture of a manganese compound.

● Electrolyzing the metallic form of manganese is one of its applications.

● The colouring of manganese oxide is another application for manganese sulphate monohydrate.

● During the process of creating paper, it is printed on and dyed using this substance, as it is utilised in the paper business.

● It plays an important role in the production of porcelain as well as ceramic paint.

● The pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement industries make use of it in the production of various medicinal medications and nutritional aids.

● It is utilised in the production of a variety of agricultural chemicals, including fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, amongst others.

● As a fluid property modifier, it is utilised in applications such as foaming agents, coagulating agents, antifoaming agents, viscosity adjusters, dispersion agents, flotation agents, emulsifiers, and much more.

● As a flavouring and colouring agent, it is utilised in the food industry as a component of additives.

● It plays an important role in the production process as well as the treatment of metals.

● Additionally, it is utilised in the production of non-metallic minerals and goods derived from minerals.

Is it Safe?

Because it is a poisonous chemical, manganese sulphate is typically regarded as a hazardous substance. Acute impacts on one's health can result from contact with this substance. The Material Safety Data Sheet for Manganese Sulfate states that it has the potential to cause severe infections in the eyes. If exposed to it over an extended period of time or repeatedly, it could cause organ damage. The effects of its toxicity on aquatic life are long-lasting as well. For the purpose of preventing any unintended consequences, it is essential to make sure that manganese sulphate is both properly stored and disposed of.

Manganese is an element that is produced specifically for use in agriculture. It plays an important role in a number of different metabolic processes, most notably in photosynthesis and as an antioxidant co-factor in enzymes. However, an excessive amount of this vitamin is detrimental to the health of plants. It would indicate that people can ingest up to 11 mg of manganese on a daily basis without any adverse effects. Or less than 9 mg per day is the maximum safe dosage for adolescents younger than 19 years old.

An individual who is healthy and has kidneys and a liver that are working properly should be able to excrete extra manganese from their diet. However, people who have diseases of the liver or kidneys need to exercise caution.

Importance of using Manganese Sulfate for Plants:

Agricultural manganese sulphate manufactured by one of the excellent as well as promising Manganese Sulphate exporters in Ecuador is crucial for numerous plant processes, including photosynthesis. Symptoms of manganese sulphate deficiency in plants include chlorosis of the leaves and stunted development. Yellow spots could be an indicator of iron deficiency in some cases. Even if the plants seem unaffected by the fertiliser, there is still a risk that they will be exposed to hazardous quantities of manganese. Toxic plants cause the elder leaves to develop reddish-brown patches and the tips and margins of the leaves to burn.

Verify first that your plant's manganese treatment is actually needed to compensate for the iron shortfall. Soil or plant amendments containing manganese sulphate should be used only if tests reveal a manganese deficit. Soil testing through your county extension service can reveal whether or not your plants need manganese treatment. You may proceed with the prescribed application of manganese sulphate once you have received the results of the tests. If you want to keep your tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc. healthy, you need to apply manganese sulphate manufactured and distributed by one of the most distinct Manganese Sulphate distributors in Ecuador once a month at least.

● It helps in assimilating carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis.

● It supports the process of synthesis of chlorophyll as well as nitrate

● It helps in activating fat-forming enzymes.

● It helps in forming carotene, ascorbic acid, as well as riboflavin.

● It helps in transporting electrons during the process of photosynthesis.

● It has a crucial involvement in the Hill Reaction during the process of photosynthesis.

Directions to Use Manganese Sulfate produced by one of the trustworthy Manganese Sulphate suppliers in Ecuador:

Like newborn infants, plants require constant attention. You should read the fertilizer's directions and follow all of the precautions listed on the packaging before beginning any project. Take all necessary precautions by wearing protective clothing and covering your hands and eyes before applying this fertiliser, and always remember to thoroughly wash your hands afterwards. Reducing the use of fungicides is facilitated by a rise in plant resistance to a wide range of diseases. Abiotic stress tolerance is enhanced by manganese, especially in times of drought and high temperatures. Manganese sulphate increases agricultural output dramatically. Seeds can be soaked, dressed, or sprayed directly on the leaf surface to apply.

Benefits of Manganese Sulphate in Humans:

1. Improves Bone Health:

When paired with the nutrients copper, zinc, as well as calcium, bone mineral density can be supported by the trace element manganese. This is of critical significance in people of advanced age.

2. Reduce Risk of Diseases:

The antioxidant enzyme known as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) contains manganese as an essential component as well as it is considered to be one of the most significant antioxidants in your body.

3. Reduce Inflammation:

There is some evidence that taking manganese in conjunction with chondroitin as well as glucosamine can help alleviate the discomfort associated with osteoarthritis.

4. Regulates Blood Sugar levels:

It would appear that manganese is involved in the process of controlling blood sugar. Animals suffering from deficiency of manganese may have glucose intolerance as compared to diabetes. However, the outcomes of studies conducted on humans are contradictory.

5. Improves Metabolism:

Manganese is necessary for the activation of a large number of enzymes that are involved in the metabolic process. It is also involved in a wide variety of chemical activities that take place in your body.

#Manganese Sulphate exporters in Ecuador #Manganese Sulphate suppliers in Ecuador

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