#tech schools in philadelphia

[pttedu]

Explore the impact of investing in youth empowerment as the Juvenile Justice Department allocates nearly $1 million to the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute. Learn how this substantial grant will catalyze life transformations, forge pathways to opportunity, and illuminate brighter futures for Philadelphia's youth.

[pttiedu]

Unlock Your Future: Career Week at Philadelphia Technician Training Institute

Take a trip down memory lane as we look back on the incredible Career Week at Philadelphia Technician Training Institute! From insightful workshops to engaging seminars, our past event was a whirlwind of opportunities for aspiring professionals. Participants delved into in-demand skills, connected with industry leaders, and charted their paths to success in diverse fields like engineering, healthcare, IT, and more. Relive the excitement and inspiration of Career Week - a pivotal moment where dreams took flight and futures were shaped!

[republicansaredomesticterrorists]

Jeff Yass just bought Trump. Here’s what he stands to gain.

The right-wing billionaire and TikTok investor is about to help the former president add billions of dollars to his net worth. This is what oligarchy looks like.

March 25, 2024, 4:42 PM EDT

By Ja'han Jones

Billionaire investor Jeff Yass is playing his Trump card.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday that the right-wing megadonor and major TikTok investor is a part owner of the company that merged with Donald Trump’s media company, which owns Truth Social, the former president’s struggling social media platform. The head-scratching deal stands to add billions of dollars to Trump’s net worth.

Yass’ name recently started popping up in news reports after Trump denounced legislation in Congress that could ban TikTok unless the social media outlet is sold from its China-based parent company. This was a major reversal of Trump’s previous opposition to TikTok and came after Yass met with Trump in Florida, with the backdrop of the former president’s mounting legal fees only adding to suspicion that Yass essentially could be purchasing a presidential candidate.

Trump claimed afterward that he hadn’t spoken with Yass about TikTok, and Yass is a major backer of efforts to promote school privatization, so I guess it’s possible that the right-wing billionaire didn’t say a thing about one of his most prominent investments. (Yass recently declined a request for comment from NBC News.)

But it certainly looks like Trump is under Yass’ thumb now.

It also looks like TikTok — or at minimum, one of its key investors — has just tried to one-up other social media companies in Big Tech’s ongoing battles over influence in Washington. Two years ago, The Washington Post revealed that Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, had waged a behind-the-scenes pressure campaign that involved trying to get media outlets and lawmakers to scrutinize TikTok more heavily. And although Meta can’t take total credit, that effort does seem to have helped get us to the present-day scenario, with a possible TikTok ban under consideration at the federal level and several other bans enacted at the state level.

With Trump, Yass appears to be employing the oligarchic approach to protecting an investment: transfer heaps of cash to a desperate presidential candidate and hope they do your bidding.

☝️😡🤬

[mariacallous]

Months out of law school, Yosef Weitzman already has a huge courtroom role in the biggest antitrust trial of the century. In a US federal trial that started last week, Google is accused of unlawfully monopolizing online search and search ads. The company’s self-defined mission is to make the world's information universally accessible, yet Google successfully opposed live streaming the trial and keeping the proceedings wholly open to the public. Enter Weitzman.

The fresh law graduate is among a handful of legal or antitrust geeks trying to attend most, if not all, of the public portions of the trial, fearing a historic moment of tech giant accountability will escape public notice. Some have pushed off day jobs or moved near to the Washington, DC, courthouse. All are obsessively documenting their observations through social media and daily email newsletters.

The trial is scheduled to run near-daily through November and few news outlets can dedicate a reporter to a courtroom seat for eight hours a day for the duration. Most reporters focused on Google are based in San Francisco. Legal and regulatory publications that can commit charge hundreds of dollars for content subscriptions. Any antitrust junkie—or frustrated Google Search user—wanting an affordable readout from the sparsely attended, era-defining trial, must rely on Weitzman, or a handful of others firing off tweets, skeets, and Substacks. “Regardless of your view on this trial and Big Tech, it will affect everyone, so it’s important that the public is aware of what’s going on as the trial unfolds and to record what happens,” Weitzman says.

Megan Gray, an attorney who has sparred with Google in various legal proceedings over two decades but isn’t involved in this case, has felt compelled to take the 30-minute train ride to the courthouse to capture nuances that don’t come through in summaries or transcripts. She has attended all but one day of the trial so far, pushing her legal work into the evenings. “We’ll see if I can go the whole 10 weeks,” she says.

Tim Wu, a Columbia University law professor and a former tech antitrust policy adviser to president Biden, stopped by the first day of the trial but like other interested scholars is otherwise stuck at his distant day job. “It seems obvious that the trial should be easier for the public to follow,” Wu says. “Unlike, say, the trial of a celebrity, there's no serious danger of something like this becoming a circus.”

Weitzman got his gig after Matthew Stoller, a noted critic of Google's power, decided to hire someone to attend every day of the trial and write about it for his email newsletter Big, which focuses on monopoly issues in tech and beyond and has about 100,000 subscribers. “You can’t cover anti-monopoly politics without recognizing how important this case is,” Stoller says.

A rare combination of experience as a sports section editor of his school paper at the University of Pennsylvania and a fascination with antitrust law helped Weitzman secure the gig. He packed up in Philadelphia and has signed a monthlong sublet within walking distance of the court, but has not figured out where exactly he’ll live for the remainder of the trial. Some new law graduates travel the world in the few months before starting their first job. Weitzman is making a muggy commute to an uncomfortable bench in the courtroom’s public gallery, working up to dozen hours a day. “I’m not complaining at all,” he says.

Weitzman’s write-up is summarized in Big occasionally and sent out in full each day in a temporary offshoot newsletter on Substack, Big Tech on Trial, which had about 2,700 subscribers after the trial’s first week. He is being paid by Stoller and the American Economic Liberties Project, a nonpartisan anti-monopoly advocacy group where Stoller is director of research.

The last major Big Tech antitrust trial, against Microsoft beginning in 1998, helped open the door to Google amassing the power it now holds over online search and ads. In the current trial, Google’s attorneys argue that the company became the dominant search engine because consumers prefer it—not because they are forced to use it by deals in which Google pays to be the default on phones and browsers, as the US Department of Justice alleges. Attorneys general for every state except Alabama are also involved in bringing the case.

Prosecutors and Google chose to forego a jury, so judge Amit Mehta will decide who wins. He denied a request from groups that included Stoller’s American Economic Liberties Project to allow remote public access for the trial after weighing prosecutors’ support for streaming and Google’s opposition. Mehta cited his own “serious concerns” about unauthorized recording of witness testimony. He also worried about accidental leaks from portions of the trial that will be closed to the public to protect the trade secrets of Google and witnesses.

Stoller calls Mehta’s decision elitist. “This judge was persuaded that the risk that Google would have information it doesn’t want made public get out was too high, and so he only allows people who can take two months off and spend that time in DC to actually hear the case,” Stoller says. He argues that closing the courtroom for some testimony to protect Google’s secrets prevents the public from understanding fundamental details in the case.

The Judicial Conference, which oversees federal district court operating rules, just issued a policy permitting “public live audio” of court proceedings, but it doesn’t cover trials. The conference says it’s still studying whether it can extend access without raising the risk of witnesses becoming intimidated or altering their testimony because of the remote audience. Media and civil rights organizations say widespread streaming of cases during the pandemic, including witness testimony and antitrust trials, did not cause problems.

With the Google case limited to in-person viewing, Weitzman mostly watches from Mehta’s courtroom, where use of phones and computers is barred. For variety he can sit and work in a media room at the courthouse where journalists can watch a closed-circuit broadcast. A separate overflow room for non-media doesn’t allow use of laptops or other personal devices but offers perks over the courtroom including cushioned seats, ample space, and better air conditioning.

Weitzman’s daily dispatches recite and explain the significance of each day’s exchanges between attorneys and witnesses as well as the judge and the attorneys. Among the most striking revelations so far is that Google secretly maneuvered to try to increase search ad pricing without informing advertisers when sales were on pace to miss Wall Street expectations in 2019. Google declined to comment for this story. “My main goal has been to just be accurate and report on what’s happening inside in the courtroom … in a fair way that doesn’t distort what actually happened in favor of either side,” Weitzman says.

Weitzman’s reports flag when he couldn’t hear or understand some of the dialog and weave in references to trial exhibits. He’s called out internal Google emails and presentations, some of which the Justice Department was posting on its website until Google told the judge about the links earlier this week. Prosecutors pulled the uploads pending Mehta’s take on the practice.

The debate over the exhibits has featured in posts on X (formerly Twitter) from the courthouse by Gray, the independent lawyer. She also has tracked genders, age, and races of presenting attorneys. Based on her perceptions, the Justice Department has fielded four women and three persons of any gender under 45 years old, while Google’s team has featured none in either category; there have been no racial minorities on either side. “It reinforces how old and entrenched Google is,” Gray says. What she characterizes as the arrogant and obstreperous demeanor of testifying Google employees’ has spurred spirited laughter in the overflow room, she says. “You can’t get that through a 2D transcript,” she says.

Beside Gray, Weitzman and journalists at outlets including MLex and Reuters attending in person have all posted their reflections on X. But as people have decamped from the service during Elon Musk’s ownership, it doesn’t provide the definitive conversation on marquee tech events it once did. A Bloomberg journalist at the trial has been skeeting on Bluesky, and a one at Law360 has shared trial musings on Threads.

The dispersed conversation makes newsletters like Weitzman’s, which also aggregates information from elsewhere, more important. Luther Lowe, senior vice president of public policy at business reviews app Yelp, a long-time Google foe, turned his weekly note on Google antitrust news into a daily operation for the trial. He’s attending when he can, but mostly relying on instant transcripts, which cost $1.20 per page and run over 300 pages per day. “The cost of the transcripts by the end of trial will be in the tens of thousands of dollars,” he says. “I want to know what’s going on in real time.” But taking 10 weeks off to sit on his hands and observe everyday isn’t an option.

Even Google’s search rivals Microsoft and DuckDuckGo, which stand to benefit the most if the government wins, don’t have people watching the trial every day. Nor do advocacy groups such as the Tech Oversight Project or Chamber of Progress.

Closer to the courtroom but also missing are US lawmakers and their aides, who are occupied across the street at the Capitol trying to avert a government funding collapse that could suspend the trial next month. When lawmakers get back to considering how to regulate large tech companies, lessons from the Google trial could prove valuable. Congressman Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican, watched opening arguments from the courtroom to show support for the government’s case. Now, his spokesperson Victoria Marshall says he’s following the action through X—and hoping that future trials have greater access.

[mutenized]

Red String of Fate

Modern Rockstar Eddie Munson x afab photographer reader!

Not gonna lie to you guys, I was reading this fic (it’s 18+) and got inspiration based off of chapter 6……then I got carried away so I don’t even think I have a word count on this bitch. It’s currently 4 am and as I’m writing this part I’m not even done… so word count? LONG lmao! Thank you dolly for hyping me up

Enjoy!

Tags: fluff fluff fluff! Mutual pining, opposites attract

Also here’s a playlist for this fic! Listen if you’d like, a lot of sad girl pop mixed with pop punk! The series is named after Red String by Sweet Pill!

Fingers danced across your waist as you delve your toes into the soft sand that had cooled drastically due to the rise of the moon and fall of the sun pass the watery horizon. Peace. You were at peace. Any and all wars that currently played within your head, whether you knew it or not, ceased due to the absolute heaven you seemingly ascended to.

Eddie’s arms pulled you from your contemplative state, reminding you of the happiness, the thrill, you were living in. A vacation, together. That was something you never dreamed of happening when you two first met months ago. Yet, the tale of time and chemistry between two people proved to both you and the frizzy haired rockstar that anything could happen.

Eddie’s band, Corroded Coffin, was on a small tour through dive bars and smaller venues throughout the east coast. You had been excited for the Philadelphia date because they were the main band at the small, two-story bar, Johnny Brenda’s, that sat on the corner between the Olde Kensington, Northern Liberties, and Fishtown districts. Bringing along your film camera as well as your digital one as well, you opened your case for the security detail before clambering the tiny stairwell to where the stage was set above the pool tables and larger bar and kitchen that rested at street level. Greeting your friends whom you came to support, you looked to the small table next to theirs where merchandise for the two other openers sat. “Corroded Coffin is a dope ass name!” You hear the drummer, Nick, rattle off to the two young adults who pinned up the rest of the band’s merch on the peg board.

“You think? Eddie and Gareth came up with it themselves between D&D sessions in like, middle school.” The one spoke, a smile on his face and his freckles cheeks making his eyes close. “Yea dude! Y’know Philly has an amazing punk music scene it’s like the origin-“ Nick’s rambling was background noise to you as you hug his girlfriend who just arrived with the last of their band’s shirts. Gem was true to her name, a gem. Guiding you to the small sectioned off area for the photographers, she wanted to make sure security didn’t give you a hard time as they have before.

Setting your case between one of the speakers and the wall, you were too into making sure your camera was properly formatted to notice two figures near you. One on stage on their knees, fiddling with their peddles and wires that ran to the guitar placed on a stand next to the microphone and the other behind you waiting for you to move a hair over to join you in setting up their tech.

“Excuse me, sorry!” The even toned voice didn’t seem angry or bitter as you quickly side stepped to let them beside you. A light brown bob greeted your sights before you saw the angular face and side smile that the voice belonged to. Tapered slacks, a Corroded Coffin shirt, and open vest paired with silver jewelry and a crystal hung on a string were the first things you took in as your eyes gazed from the screen of your camera to the pair of blue eyes looking towards you.

“Hey, you’re (y/n), right?! One, huge fan of your work, like seriously! Two, well, actually. No two. Just be wary that the guys like to grab equipment so you get good shots. I’m Robin, nice to meet you!” A happy yet awkward chuckle left the rambling girl as her ringed fingers expertly secured her lens to the body of her camera and snapping a few shots off the stage.

“Hey! Yes thanks! I’ve seen some of your work and it’s absolutely amazing!” A grin played on your features as Robin went through the three stages of honor; shock, disbelief, and flattery. You both hit it off, chatting haphazardly as the crowd formed behind the metal barricade you rested on and the balcony. Soon enough, lights dimmed and the steady beat of a bass drum filled the room. Screams and cheers followed suit, that was your cue to go into work mode. Forgetting about what was around you, you worked nimbly with Robin to make sure you both got high grade shots and didn’t run into one another.

It wasn’t until the third or fourth song of the set when you went to go switch to your film camera that you noticed the four men on stage in front of you. The frontman instantly got your attention as he donned a pair of ripped skinny jeans and chains, rings, a muscle tank which showed off the opal skin stained with onyx and ruby ink, and a black bandana wrapped around his forehead. The brown-black hair was what struck you, though. Wild and unruly, his curls seemed to make him look even more angelic while if that were anyone else, they’d look like they had no idea to take care of their appearance. He was effortlessly ethereal; put together while also not being put together at all.

Your eyes must have burned a hole into his face because his brown doe eyes caught yours as he roamed the stage before the next song. His stoney, rocker façade seemingly broke for a half-moment as he drank you in before returning to what task was at hand.

Both of you couldn’t deny the intensity that drew both of you in but you found yourself already overthinking like you were getting ready for a date as you photographed the rest of their set.

You see, while your friend’s band was in the pop punk genre, which you enjoyed thoroughly, over time you’ve become drawn to bedroom and indie pop. Phoebe Bridgers, Ethel Cain, The Japanese House, The 1975, just to name a few. Many called it sad girl pop since the songs were catchy and addicting while the message in the lyrics dealt with the heavy reality of life.

So to say you were out of place in a sea of leather and chains was an understatement. Your bell bottom jeans and black ankle boots paired with the babydoll top Gem had made just for you for your birthday that had the band’s logo of a jar of sugar next to a bottle of spilt pills couldn’t stand out even more than it already did. That didn’t mean you didn’t enjoy the music Corroded Coffin was playing but it wasn’t your usual flavor.

With the last song fading, the house lights came back up and you capped your lens after turning the camera off to preserve battery. “Oh my god, (y/n). I have the best photo of you and Eddie staring at one another! Oh dude he’s going to be so embarrassed!” Shoving the camera into your line of sight, your eyes drew to the tiny bright screen. Your lips pressed into a cheeky grin before you peered to Robin through your lashes. “Oh you can’t delete that! Send it to me!” Mischief laced both of your auras, making a deeper connection with the girl who reminded you so much of yourself.

Grabbing your wrist with a playful laugh, Robin guided you away from the security of safety before leading you to the bar where there was the frizzy mass of hair downing a glass of ice water. His side profile was something out of a distant dream you had had years before but that was something you didn’t care about. The same doe eyes that softened when they landed on you found you once more before playful fear filled them as he noticed Robin guiding you towards him.

[blazedrawsstuff]

Redrew (and slightly redesigned) my girl again! Bio under the "read more"

Full Name Blaze Marie Thorburn

Aliases/Nicknames "Blazie" (Nickname)

Relatives Ezra Thorburn (Mother, deceased) Johnny "John" Thorburn (Father) Ember Thorburn (Older Sister)

Relationships Kenji Sakubara (Senpai) (Boyfriend) Jacob Fairest (Boyfriend) (Friend) Amber Dearest (Girlfriend) (Friend) Dusk Evans (Friend)

(More to be added in the future, maybe)

Affiliation None/Unknown

Occupation Pharmacy Technician (Main Job) Freelance Artist/Animator (Side Job)

Orientation Asexual Biromantic (Male Preference)

Voiceclaim

Luci Christian (Chidori Kaname from Full Metal Panic)

Biographical Information

Age 18

Place of Birth Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Date of Death N/A

Physical Description

Species Fire Demon

Gender Female

Height 5'8

Weight 61.2 kg (134.9 lbs)

Eye Color Brown (Human form) White (Demon form)

Hair Color Brown (Human form) Fire (Demon form)

Personality

Blaze is kind, caring, fun-loving, and passionate. She values her friends and close ones greatly and is more than willing to sacrifice life and limb to keep them safe and happy. If you need someone loyal and headstrong to protect you, she’s your gal!

Unfortunately, like all flames, warm as she can be, she can also be quite volatile. Blaze can quickly become aggressive and irritable when put under stress or otherwise ticked off. She’s also not above getting physical (though thankfully never towards her loved ones, certainly not towards Kenji). 

She also has the mouth of a sailor. The only time she doesn’t swear (outside of “damn” or “hell”) is if she’s around kids.

To say this rage comes from a place of insecurity and hostility would be an understatement. Her unfortunate upbringing thanks to her heritage and powers made her rather dependent on the praise, approval, and affection of others and develop this aggression as a defense/coping mechanism.

This ties into her desire; To be loved and accepted despite her flaws and despite her demonic blood. To have someone who will have her back just as much as she has theirs. Which Kenji does and then some, as such, Blaze loves Kenji dearly, and if need be, she will fight tooth and nail to make sure he is safe and happy.

Biography

Early Life Blaze was born to two fire demons: Ezra and Johnny Thorburn, two years after her sister was born. The family's life was pretty normal, aside from having to hide their demon identities. However, an incident happened when Blaze was 8 years old where they failed to do this, causing Ezra to be exorcised by priests, essentially erasing her from existence. Blaze and her family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (where I imagine FNF takes place in) to get away from the demon-hunts  happening in their home  of Phoenix, Arizona that resulted from the incident. Blaze was bullied in school before the move (and even a bit after), causing her to develop a low self esteem.

Blaze didn't have any friends in school, she shunned humanity and stayed away from social interaction out of fear of future harassment and possible death. After getting enough money from her pharmacy tech job, she moved out of her home into an apartment. 

"Friday Night Funkin: Inferno"* One day, Blaze snaps. It's not exactly known what caused her to snap, but it was probably due to the repressed feelings of anger towards humanity. In her demon form, she set forth to burn down the entire city, which she did succeed in setting ablaze an entire city block. In was in her rampage she met Boyfriend and Girlfriend, who, naturally, challenged her to a rap battle. Blaze was hesitant, but agreed, saying she'll have fun "entertaining your attempt to stop me". 

After "Inferno" Blaze, having lost some of her energy, reverts to her half-demon stage of her form (the human form, but having demon features like tail, white eyes, hands and feet and horns). But still determined to defeat Boyfriend, she continues with "Embers". 

After "Embers", Blaze reverts to her human form and cries, having successfully been talked (or rather "rapped') down from attacking further. After the fire dies down and she explains why she attacked the city. After being forgiven, she and Boyfriend sing "Cinders" as a symbol of their newfound friendship. 

After FNF Inferno Fortunately Blaze was not caught, but she still volunteered to fix the city after her attack. After which, her life pretty much went back to normal, but now with two new friends. Boyfriend and Girlfriend decided to give her a gift that would help her feel less lonely, so they gave her GF's copy of "Dating Simulator". After a bit of tinkering getting the game to work on her laptop, she was able to meet and converse with the now-self-aware Senpai (he became self aware after Week 6). Blaze later released Senpai from the game (cause, again, demon powers) and that's how they officially started dating. 

Abilities

Human Form Blaze can switch between her human and her true demon form on the fly. 

Partial Transformation Blaze can transform parts of her body into their demon form counterparts and vice versa, as shown by her "halfway form" in Embers. 

Pyrokinesis In her demon form, she can control, create, and manipulate fire, as she is a fire demon.

Immortality Naturally, as a demon, she is immortal to aging. While she can still be killed, aging is not a concern for her. 

Supernatural Strength Even in human form, Blaze can pick up things triple times her weight. And her demon form can carry things even heavier than that.

Flight  In her demon form, Blaze can fly at fast speeds like a rocket. 

Lava and Fire Immunity As a fire demon, Blaze cannot be harmed by lava or fire in her demon form.

Songs

Inferno Embers Cinders

[agentnico]

BlackBerry (2023) Review

I have never owned a BlackBerry myself. Instead I had the enjoyment of having a Vodafone phone - a cheap rip-off that looked, felt and played like a BlackBerry only for less money. Turns out, I saved a heck of a lot as that phone lasted me all through my sixth-form and university days. Less can be said about the reliability of the BlackBerry evidently.

Plot:  A company that toppled global giants before succumbing to the ruthlessly competitive forces of Silicon Valley. This is not a conventional tale of modern business failure by fraud and greed. The rise and fall of BlackBerry reveals the dangerous speed at which innovators race along the information superhighway.

We’ve had plenty of techy origin film come and go, and many good ones at that such as The Social Network and Steve Jobs, and even the recent Tetris lent itself more to be a solid commentary on the communist regime of the Soviet Union and a study into the legal drama behind the game rather than some cheesy parody featuring tetrominoes in the style of The Emoji Movie. So I went into BlackBerry with a very open mind, as even though I’m aware of the phone’s existence, I never really knew the story behind how this popular mobile device all of a sudden vanished from the public eye so quickly. Back in the 2000s this device was all the rave, and all the kids at school would go out of their way to persuade their parents to get them one so that they can show it off to their classmates as if they were some rich businessmen. Now however this phone is all but forgotten. I checked prior to writing this review and in fact you can still purchase some models from Amazon, so if you’re feeling strangely nostalgic about your school days, feel free to waste your money. Anyway, back to the movie...

BlackBerry is a perfectly acceptable history lesson. It’s very informative and plays out more so like a visual guide of a Wikipedia page. You’re given the detailed journey of how the company Research In Motion came to create such an iconic device, and then there eventual downfall. We’ve seen this kind of tale of fraud and greed many times before, however if you’ve enjoyed similar movies before, BlackBerry is an easy watch, and again, if you’ve ever been interested in the mobile phone’s backstory, you have it here loud and clear.

Main highlight of this film are the two central performances, both of whom are very much outside their comfort zones. It’s nice to see Jay Baruchel in a serious role, taking a break from training dragons, as Mike Lazaridis, the main creative mind behind the creation of the titular device. Baruchel is very good at portraying socially-awkward personas, however in previous films he did this for comedic purposes, however as Mike he manages to find the depth in the character as a tech genius who knows his craft and is being forced to speed run his creations when in reality he wants to take his time to create the best product. Glenn Howerton, who thus far has only been known as the narcissistic self-absorbed Dennis from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, is Jim Balsillie, the guy who takes over Mike’s company for his greedy means. Howerton definitely gets the more showy performance, and does a solid job at being constantly angry with everyone. Howerton also decided to go full bald for this role and you got to give the guy props for the dedication.

I’d say the primary negative I have for this film is its cinematography and direction. Director Matt Johnson evidently seems to have been inspired by Adam McKay’s The Big Short, as he chooses to have the camera repeatedly pan left and right quickly as if all the events are being captured by a hidden camera, however this effect of chaotic shaky-cam can come as very jarring and dizzying, and overall was very distracting. Characters would be having some serious discussion about technology yet I’d be busy wondering if the cameraman’s been spooked by Blair fricking Witch. But overall BlackBerry tells an interesting story behind the scenes of the phone drama, and if anything else I came out of it having learnt something. Kind of feels like being back at school when in class the teacher would stick some film on for educational purposes and then afterwards I may have learnt something, but have never had the motivation to want to see that movie again.

Overall score: 6/10

[wilderhockey]

nhl teams as school clubs/student orgs

the result of a 15-minute conversation with lil @wymgreenteam this afternoon. based specifically on our experience in hs (also note that I’ve been out of hs for four years now so some of this might be misremembered but whatever it’s about the vibes).

this is not necessarily kind to all (or really any) teams but it is light-hearted and in good fun.

I put it under a readmore because 32 teams is a lot of teams

~

anaheim ducks: theater (actors specifically) - dramatic as fuck. loud as fuck. endearing in spite of it [see sharks/kings]

arizona coyotes: not a club. they’re the guys who show up to school in their tractors from october to march because the weather is fucking terrible and they’ve gotta get there somehow (thanks mn)

boston bruins: key club - self-important for no particular reason. also this is a club where you pay to do community service, which is just fundamentally wrong in the same way I feel when I see the bruins’ meth bear

buffalo sabres: swim team - wet. no I will not elaborate.

calgary flames: garden club - I didn’t even know we had a garden club until lil suggested this

carolina hurricanes: model UN - super well-run, they’ve got some nice kids involved, but I dislike them on principle

chicago I’m not writing out their team name: lacrosse - universally hated except by themselves and often take insults as compliments. also the worst punishment I can think of for a hockey team is telling them they remind me of lax bros

colorado avalanche: empowering women’s club - mostly performative but sometimes (when they can get the whole group together) they do fun things

columbus blue jackets: student section - they’re all college kids sorry it just fits

dallas stars: gender and sexuality alliance - listen. I don’t know what’s going on down there, but I can tell you it’s definitely gay

detroit red wings: cross-country - sometimes the rookies are good but everything else about them is forgettable

edmonton oilers: knowledge bowl - connor mcdavid reminds me of kb kids. leon draisaitl would be that guy who knows fuck-all answer-wise but can hit the buzzer super early and always knows what the question is asking. they just have neatly partitioned tasks for everyone and it sometimes works. yes I did kb for 7 years can you tell

florida panthers: FCA (fellowship of christian athletes) - the combination of donuts and christian rock at every meeting leveled out to a net zero

la kings: theater (tech crew specifically) - black and white outfits and idk sneaky vibes? they feel like a variety show in the same way tech does [see ducks/sharks]

minnesota wild: marching band - they’re dumb. they love each other. pranks are inevitable. some gay shit is happening. the director has very little control

montreal canadiens: magic the gathering club - just some kids hanging out. j chillin. one-sided feud with costco. vaguely hostile but in a blatantly self-defensive way

nashville predators: baseball - they were good for a while one time but now they’re just sad and middling

new jersey devils: speech - it’s fun when you’re not worried about winning, it’s a great group, but the moment you start paying attention to numbers you will cry

new york islanders: volleyball - bitchy vibes. and mat barzal’s tiny shorts

new york rangers: quiz bowl - to quote lil, they “aren’t smart enough for [knowledge bowl]” but also zero teamwork despite individual prowess

ottawa senators: robotics (FRC specifically) - they’re constantly falling apart but when it works it Works. also lots of freaks of many varieties (affectionate)

philadelphia flyers: that one political club a couple of my friends started junior year. pac or something? - it was going fine and then it changed management and now. hm.

pittsburgh penguins: student council - overachievers (affectionate). somewhat ineffective but they’re putting the effort in

san jose sharks: theater (pit specifically) - oft forgotten, but generally chill [see ducks/kings]

seattle kraken: chess club - to quote lil, “good vibes. don’t do anything, just here for fun.” I agree

st. louis blues: choir - rancid vibes. (I was a choir kid I’m allowed to say the vibes were rancid bc they were)

tampa bay lightning: honor society - overachievers (derogatory)

toronto maple leafs: lettuce club - for anyone unfamiliar, this is a club where every year, everyone interested sits at a table and simultaneously consumes an entire head of lettuce. whoever does it fastest is the Head of Lettuce for the next year. I have no fucking clue what they did at the rest of their meetings. leafs vibes

vancouver canucks: anime club - what the fuck is going on over there don’t look pretend you don’t see them and it’ll be fine (affectionate)

vegas golden knights: debate - this is for nolpats specifically I know he’s in LTIR hell but this is for him

washington capitals: that’s just the teacher’s union

winnipeg jets: football - they were never good but people go for the social aspect not the score

[diedblonde]

The Cases that Haunt, have Haunted Me For Years.

1.  Elizabeth Short (‘The Black Dahlia’)

“The Black Dahlia” was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short (July 29, 1924 – ca. January 15, 1947), an American woman and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder. She acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly colorful. Short was found mutilated, her body sliced in half at the waist, on January 15, 1947, in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California. Short’s unsolved murder has been the source of widespread speculation, leading to many suspects along with several books and film adaptations of the story.

2.  Tara Calico & The Polaroids

Tara Leigh Calico (born February 28, 1969) disappeared near her home in Belen, New Mexico on September 20, 1988.

The Polaroid:

Is this Tara Calico?

On June 15, 1989, a Polaroid photo of an unidentified young girl and boy, both bound and gagged, was found in the parking lot of a convenience store in Port St. Joe, Florida It was theorized that the girl in the photo was Tara Calico. The Zuni mountains are about 75 miles from where Tara disappeared. Nonetheless, her mother believed the girl in the photo was indeed her daughter due in part to what appeared to be a scar on the girl’s leg, similar to one Tara received in a car accident. However, the FBI was unable to conclusively prove that it was Tara in the photograph.

Two other Polaroid photographs, possibly of Tara, have surfaced over the years, but they have yet to be released to the public.

 3.  Morgan Dana Harrington

Morgan Dana Harrington (July 24, 1989 - October 17, 2009) was a 20-year-old Virginia-Tech student whose disappearance touched off what is believed to be the largest search in Charlottesville, Virginia history.  Although her body was found three months after she went missing from a Metallica concert, her death remains a mystery as no suspects have been named.

4. The Keddie Resort Murders

The Keddie Murders is an unsolved 1981 American quadruple-murder that took place in Keddie, a former resort town in the foothills of Northern California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. The murders took place in cabin 28, during the late evening of April 11, 1981, and/or early morning of the 12th. The victims were Glenna Sharp, known as Sue (aged 36), her daughter Tina (aged 12), her son John (aged 15), and his friend Dana Wingate (aged 17). Tina, the final victim, was missing when the crime was first discovered. Part of her skull was recovered in 1984 in Feather Falls, in Butte County.Sue’s oldest daughter, Sheila, had stayed with next-door neighbors in cabin 29 that night, and discovered the murders the morning of April 12.Sue’s two youngest sons and their friend, who were having a sleep-over at cabin 28 that night, were found, uninjured, in the boys’ bedroom that morning.

5.  The Boy In The Box

The “Boy in the Box” is the name given to an unidentified murder victim, approximately 4 to 6 years old, whose naked, battered body was found in a cardboard box in the Fox Chasesection of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 25, 1957. He is also commonly called “America’s Unknown Child”.

6.  Kara Kopetsky

Kara disappeared from Belton, MO on May 4, 2007.  She was last seen leaving Belton High School.  Kara does not have a car, so she would have either been on foot or someone was there to pick her up.

Kara is 17 years old and would have just finished her junior year in high school.  She is 5’ 5”, with brown hair and hazel eyes.  She is known to change her hair color.

7.  Colonel Philip Shue

Colonel Philip Shue is an Air Force colonel who was killed in a car accident, but his death gives rise to questions and controversy about the bizarre circumstances surrounding the crash when he is found with duck tape around his ankles and wrists and without one of his fingers and both nipples.  Suicide, really?!

8.  Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald

Jeffrey Robert MacDonald (born October 12, 1943), is an American convicted in 1979 for the murders of his pregnant wife and two daughters in February 1970. At the time of the murders, MacDonald was an Army officer, medical doctor and practicing physician. MacDonald maintains that a group of Charles Manson-type hippies committed the crimes and has filed several unsuccessful appeals attempting to overturn his convictions.

9. Regina Kay Walters

This image shows Regina Kay Walters who’s boyfriend was killed by Rhoades before he imprisoned her for a considerable amount of time, torturing and raping her repeatedly. The image shows him having cut her hair short and forced to wear the black dress and heels. Regina was 14 years old at the time.

The Photo.

10.  Jack The Ripper

“Jack the Ripper” is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the media. The letter is widely believed to have been a hoax, and may have been written by a journalist in a deliberate attempt to heighten interest in the story. Other nicknames used for the killer at the time were “The Whitechapel Murderer” and “Leather Apron”.

#Crimes#Murders#Black Dahlia#Morgan Harrington#Keddie Murders#Jack The Ripper#Kara Kopetsky#Tara Calico#Tara Calico and the polaroids#The Boy in the box#Unsolved Mysteries#Unsolved Murders#Serial Killers

[nuklearis-sutotok]

1, 9, 12, & 40?

1) How do you feel about this life?

9) What movie would you love to sneak onto the set of or be a background character in?

Quite a few and yet none immediately stick out in my head. I prefer being on tech.

12) What would you use The Force™️ for?

Good question. Levitating/"flying" would be awesome.

40) Have you ever given a speech? What was it on? Do you even remember? Was it in school? Was it serious? A comedy routine? I gave several actually, my first was in front of over 120 people in a psych class. I discovered I do better in front of larger crowds. Topics ranged from neuroscience and neurodiversity, disability rights and ableism, WW2 and the July 20th plot, and various music topics. I wanted to do one on the Philadelphia Experiment as my instructor worked on the case but the college had a disappointing lack of materials and I didn't have a lot of time.

Thank you! <3

[pttedu]

Explore the impact of investing in youth empowerment as the Juvenile Justice Department allocates nearly $1 million to the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute. Learn how this substantial grant will catalyze life transformations, forge pathways to opportunity, and illuminate brighter futures for Philadelphia's youth.

[pttiedu]

PTTI, your gateway to excellence in skilled trades. Where your journey begins with the best mentors and hands-on training. Discover the path to a successful career in the trades at PTTI today!

[luckyswilliams]

Full Name: Lucky Williams.

Nicknames: Lucky Luciano.

Pronouns and Gender: He/Him, Cis Male.

Birthday: November 3rd, 1997.

Birth place: Philadelphia.

How long have they been in town?: His whole life / on and off in recent years.

Sexuality: Bisexual.

Housing: Midtown Village.

Occupation: Software Developer.

Family: Two older brothers and a younger sister.

BIOGRAPHY:

The first big scare Lucky Williams had given his parents was silence in the seconds that followed his birth. It wasn't just them who felt the terror of it, the doctor who had delivered him and the nurse present too also felt it -- until eventually a cry left his little body. It was then that he was jokingly nicknamed the quiet one in contrast to his older brothers, which he seemed to embody tenfold as he grew up. With both little interest and little skill in most sports, he only ever found himself partaking in them because his brothers or his friends were. He could kick a football, catch a basketball and swing for a baseball, but there was never a guarantee that it would advance his teammates in any of the games he was playing, which was why he never found himself playing for any sort of team. His mind had always been the muscle he liked to work the most, and he was drawn to anything with a screen from as early as he was allowed access one.

It had been Lucky that had inadvertently become live in tech support for his family, always eager and willing to take whatever device was malfunctioning and see if he could teach himself how to fix it. It was a skill that only flourished more in his teen years, and seemed to work in tandem with the subjects he excelled at it in school -- namely math and sciences.

It was clear to everyone around him that it was a thread he would follow into a career, which was how he found himself accepting an offer to study Computer Technology at the California Institute of Technology. Despite his joy at the offer and the assumption from all around him that it would be the path he would follow, there was still some apprehension on his part about what the next stage of his life was going to look like and if he was ready to navigate it alone. The move to Cali was a difficult but necessary one for him, and he missed his family dearly -- or at least he missed the idea of his family, the one that existed before a bitter divorce had changed the landscape of it.

That shift led to him surprising himself with his own spontaneity and opting to travel for two summers of his studies rather than return to Philly, with one stretch being two months spent backpacking around Europe and the second being the same but in Asia. It was these travels that showed him that he was at his best when in motion, and that realization would seep into his career choices after university with how he negated a traditional office job.

Once he had found a solid friend group in his new spot, Lucky flourished, so much so he considered a permanent move to California after his degree but by the time his qualification was in hand, he decided a return home to work for a year or two was best. He may have flown the nest successfully, but there was some part of him that was still a home bird.

PERSONALITY.

+ self-sufficient, intelligent, thoughtful.

- introverted, melancholic, unsure.

FUN ADJACENT FACTS.

lucky by britney spears is his go to karaoke jam.

he brings home a goofy or tacky trinket from every place he's ever travelled to. he has a whole collection of location specific ugly key rings that are his pride and joy.

is learning High Valyrian on Duolingo.

huge lara croft/tomb raider fan. is usually fighting in subreddits about it.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS.

couch host / accidental roommate of @marley-callahan

SPECIFIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

tba.

GENERIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

connections wise he’s pretty much an open book right now, but some baseline ideas that can be springboarded off are:

friendly.

a best friend / ride or dies / close friends / childhood friends / pseudo-siblings / friends / drunk friends / new friends / former roommate / people from cali he was close to.

romantic

flirtationship / friends with benefits / one time hook ups / tinder matches / unrequited crush (can be either way) / exes from high school / exes on good terms.

antagonistic.

enemies / former (best) friends / exes on bad terms / frenemies / rivals / negative influence.

[mceproductions]

Best of 2022 TV Shows #9: Abbott Elementary (ABC)^

For the years best new show we look at something new, yet familiar.

The state of education.

Through the eyes of an optimistic teacher at an elementary school.

Quinta Brunson plays Janine Teagues a second grade teacher at Philadelphias Willard R Abbott Elementary. This school while underfunded, sees the day to day lives of her and others as they give hope and guidance to the students.

Others include Greg Eddie a substitute turned full time first grade teacher who applied for the principal. Jacob Hill who joined at the same time as Janine, Barbara Howard a veteran of the school who is wary of modern tech, Mr. Johnson the Janitor who can be seen as a source of levity for the school and the students, and Melissa Schemmenti the goofball who has methods that go beyond the traditional academic model.

All under the watchful gaze of Ava Coleman, the principal only via extortion as she sees the job only as a means to an end.

Now as this has many style similarities to the office, this does win out with giving a look at the modern state of the education system with its emphasis on productivity compared to inspiration as Janine seeks to improve the lives of her students all the while making Ava run around her helpful ideals with realistic backbreaking truths.

But what Quinta Burinson does here is nothing short of wonderful seemingly blending old assumptions with modern education winning many over.

The pilot just has her wanting to get a new rug for one of her students and this was somehow one of the years best tv moments.

Downright hilarious and inspiring to say the least.

SUM 22: Quinta Brunson brings us 2022s best new show thanks to her optimistic lead and equally funny look at the modern education system.

[marryslittlelambs]

Avenues Early Learning Centre in Shenzhen

The educators at avenues early learning centre create a warm homely atmosphere and welcome families. They believe that children learn best through strong connections with their family and the community. They also provide opportunities for family involvement and park excursions.

Students come from a wide range of backgrounds. Their parents include hedge-fund managers, entrepreneurs and tech millionaires, as well as celebrities like Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom and Katie Holmes.

Play Spaces

Designed to connect students with the natural avenues early learning centre, the Early Learning Center is located on the edge of an urban village surrounded by existing banyan trees. A bridge and elevated walkways weave through the lush canopies of these trees, creating a ‘top-of-the-world’ environment for children to explore and learn.

The concept of connections is central to the design, from physical connections in the form of bridges and walkways, to visual connections enabled by precise cuts in the existing building. The main atrium is centered in the middle of the floor plate and allows for diagonal views throughout the entire three-story building. Pods are arranged around the atrium with writable glazing that creates a fun and interactive learning surface. Thresholds and niches provide children with the duality of partial seclusion and visual connectivity, while bringing them more aware of their space and how they interact with other students.

The center is a training site for Gateway Community College students in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Psychology, Nursing and other programs and provides a quality childcare option for Philadelphia parents. This is a unique way for students to learn about child development and apply theoretical concepts in a realworld setting.

Library

Avenues Shenzhen Campus is a re-imagined educational environment located in the Tanglang Industrial Zone of Shenzhen, an urban village in Nanshan district. The adaptive reuse master plan transforms a cluster of existing buildings into a vibrant campus for Nursery through Grade 12 and accommodates 1,600 students.

The school’s library is a gathering place for both quiet and social learning and reading. It features a collection of audio and video materials, a spacious children’s room on the second floor and a reference department, reading area and local history room on the third.

Teachers at Avenues are encouraged to build strong, nurturing relationships with the children in their care and emphasize the importance of a partnership between home and school. They are also encouraged to incorporate physical play and exercise into the curriculum, as these are key habits that help children develop a healthy body and mind. Integrated shade structures and multi-functional tiered seating are positioned on roof terraces to provide comfortable outdoor spaces.

Music & Art Lessons

A wide variety of educational activities are provided throughout the day, including sensory experiences like play dough, goop and water play. Construction with blocks, magnets and recycled items encourage divergent thinking, while art lessons and open ended exploration develop creativity and imagination.

Children are involved in medium to long term projects, which develop their knowledge and understanding of concepts through an emergent curriculum. This learning is based on the interests of the children, and often leads to social investigations.

The centre provides a warm and caring atmosphere where each child and their family feel welcome and secure. Its staff foster within each child an awareness and acceptance of others, developing respect for those who may be different in terms of lifestyle, abilities or culture. The centre also runs a number of regular incursions and visits from community services such as Henny Penny egg hatching, Dental to You and Physi Kids. The in-house chef prepares a daily menu for all age groups, which is guided by Healthy Eating Guidelines. Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late afternoon snack are provided.

Local Excursions

The Avenues pre kinder program will come from a variety of neighborhoods, and students will have the opportunity to explore different cultures in their classrooms. Students will learn the fundamental lessons of language immersion and interdisciplinary learning, laying the groundwork for lifelong benefits.

Students will be encouraged to develop healthy habits of eating and exercise during the formative years of childhood, establishing good habits for their lives as adults. Avenues faculty will also promote a healthy partnership between school and home to foster a positive learning environment for all children.

The professional onsite chef at Avenues Early Learning Centre Murarrie works closely with the management team and parents to provide a seasonal rotating menu guided by nutritional requirements. The centre regularly utilises family recipes and caters for allergies. There are a number of long term employed educators within the centres and this ensures familiar faces for children to arrive and depart with each day. The centre is rated Exceeding through the National Quality Standards.

[writemarcus]

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS Make Their New Jersey Premiere At Mile Square Theatre In April

The 24 Hour Plays are a non-profit theater company that bring creative communities together to write, rehearse and perform new plays and musicals in twenty-four hours.

By: A.A. Cristi

Mar. 27, 2024

On April 7th, The 24 Hour Plays make their New Jersey debut at Hoboken's Mile Square Theatre. Established in 1995, The 24 Hour Plays are a non-profit theater company that bring creative communities together to write, rehearse and perform new plays and musicals in twenty-four hours.

“Mile Square Theatre and The 24 Hour Plays honor an abiding belief in the power of creative collaboration to develop transformative multicultural voices for the theater,” said Kevin R. Free, Artistic Director of Mile Square Theatre. “We're thrilled to be a partner to The 24 Hour Plays for its New Jersey premiere and host to a delightful mix of talents from New Jersey and New York City to make the program really sing.” 

“The relationships artists build during formative theatre experiences like The 24 Hour Plays last their entire careers,” said producer Leo Layla Diaz. “We seek the very best cross-section of multi-generational and multi-cultural theater artists – and we arm them with what they need to hone their voices for this unique event."

Actors slated to participate include Gabriel Hernandez (Quarter Rican), Nirvaan Pal (School of Rock), Matt Lawler (“Station 11”, “Billions”), Kennedy Kanagawa (Into the Woods), Stephanie Kurtzuba (“The Irishman;” Wolf of Wall Street;” “Annie”), Joy Katharine Donze (Funny, Like an Abortion), DeAnna Supplee (B.R.O.K.E.N. code B.I.R.D switch.), Jason Yanto, Joelle Zazz, Maya Jeyam, Julia Way, Rich Frohman, David F. Gow (“The Girls on the Bus”), Jordan Ho, Grant Madison Stanton, Ross Cowan, Keivana Wallace (The Christmas Tree Farm) and Ian Lloyd Sanchez.

Writers include Susie Felber (Host/Producer "The Hawk"), DW Gregory (The Yellow Stocking Play, Radium Girls), Iraisa Ann Reilly (The Jersey Devil is a Papi Chulo), Pia Wilson (Black Bee), Marcus Scott (Sibling Rivalries), and Raakhee Mirchandani (JOURNEY TO THE STARS: KALPANA CHAWLA, ASTRONAUT). Directors include Julie Tucker, Rachel Dart (The Christmas Tree Farm) and Goldie Patrick (Paradise Blue). Musical Guests include Faye Chiao and Tasha Gordon-Solmon (Fountain of You). Additional artists to be announced.

Participating actors, writers, directors and production staff gather for the first time on the evening of Saturday, April 6th to introduce themselves and share prop and costume items they've been asked to bring. The writers will take inspiration from this meet and greet to write new plays overnight. In the morning, the actors and directors will receive the six new plays and team up with production staff to begin their rehearsal and tech process, with curtain at 7pm that night.

The 24 Hour Plays: Hoboken are produced by Leo Layla Diaz and Mark Armstrong in conjunction with Mile Square Theatre's Artistic Director Kevin R. Free.  The event will honor the long-standing contributions of the Rostan Family to Mile Square Theatre with the dedication of the naming of the gallery space. Proceeds from The 24 Hour Plays: Hoboken will benefit Mile Square Theatre's non-profit theatre making and educational programming.

About The 24 Hour Plays

The 24 Hour Plays (est. 1995) bring together creative communities to produce plays and musicals written, rehearsed and performed in twenty-four hours. Through our radically present approach to theater, we make work that responds immediately to the world around us, builds communities and generates new artistic partnerships. Our events include The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway and The 24 Hour Musicals, as well as productions in Athens, Denver, Dublin, Finland, Florence, Germany, Little Rock, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco, Savannah and more. Beginning March 17 2020, The 24 Hour Plays Viral Monologues series generated over 600 new free-to-view theater pieces, featuring over 1000 artists, viewed millions of times worldwide and archived in the Library of Congress. 

About Mile Square Theatre

Mile Square Theatre, a non-profit company, has been producing original and gently used theater since 2003 in Hoboken New Jersey. Located at 1400 Clinton Street in Hoboken, New Jersey, Mile Square Theatre enriches and engages the region through the year-round production and presentation of professional theatre and innovative arts education.