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imamotherfuckingstar-lord · 2 years

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just you

eddie munson x reader, smutty

summary: while the group stops for supplies, eddie confesses to you that he's a virgin.

a/n: mature content, minors do not interact - unprotected sex, loss of virginity. in this fic, he never dies...

The RV was quiet, Lucas and Dustin sat at the kitchenette table; their eyes peeking through the blinds of the window, watching every person that went by. Eddie and you sat at the back of the trailer; curtains closed shut as you relaxed for a moment. He sat desperately close, mumbling something about his Uncle Wayne. He looked upset and worried, but his face softened when your hand touched his shoulder.

“We’ll get in contact with him soon, it’s going to be fine – we’re going to be fine.”

“Nice try,” he smirked, slumping against the seat. “Even I can see through your dramatics – we’re screwed, aren’t we?”

Glancing over to Dustin then Lucas, a lump started to form in your throat; the fact that you all almost loss Max was sending waves of panic through your system but for her sake, hell, for everyone’s sake – you wanted to keep hope. Giving Eddie a smile, you asked he could have any meal what he would have; trying to change the subject, anything to get your mind off the current dire situation.

“In this very moment?”

“Yeah,” you grinned, leaning back; the two of you shoulder to shoulder, legs sprawled out before you. His boots rang heavy as they settled against the floor and your eyes trailed up from them to his eyes. Eddie smirked, hands resting behind is head and he thought for a moment before declaring he’d like a well-done steak.

“…and some potatoes, tons of beer too.”

Rolling your eyes at the predictable meal, you asked if he also wanted a hooker on the side. He laughed and pointed out you were making it sound like his last meal. “I mean, it very well could be.”

“Don’t say that” you scowled, dread filling your stomach as his face grew serious. His eyes went to the two young boys at the table before he sighed and asked if he could confess something. “Anything…”

He sat up and used both hands to brush away hair from his face; his body leaned into your side and his head dipped closer to yours. “I’m…well, I’m a virgin.”

Your eyes snapped up at his, his body heat radiating against you. He looked for a reaction, maybe a laughter from you but all you did was squint your eyes and stated he was lying. “I mean…you’re in a band, Eddie.”

This notion made him laugh and he relaxed back into a slump position, giving a shrug. He explained that the opportunity just never came up, “…believe me, if it did, I would have… The thought of me not making it out of this and never having the…pleasure…is killing me.”

You sat quietly for a moment, thoughts going to the time you unceremoniously loss your virginity; visiting family in California, you had gone out with your cousins and hooked up with one of her friends…in the back of a 76’ Nova. He was nice enough, but it was nothing spectacular – you had better sex since then. Looking over at Eddie, who was now staring down at his nails, avoiding your gaze, you noticed the line of his jaw. The baby fat that separated boys from men was nearly all gone from his cheekbones and his bottom lip was a little full and pouty. His hair, a little too long for your liking, suited him perfectly and when his dark brown eyes met your gaze – the hair didn’t seem so bad.

“You’re going to be fine, Eddie,” you assured him.

“If you say so…but maybe…”

His sentence was cut off by RV door opening and a wave of urgency hit the air as Steve jumped into the driver’s seat. Erica explained that Lucas’s ‘friends’ had spotted them, and Robin hollered for everyone to take a seat. Eddie held you back as Steve pulled out of the parking lot, screaming to hold on. Robin crashed down next to you, causing your body to push further against Eddie. You mouthed a ‘sorry’, but he just smiled and said no problem, looking away as your hand settled on his thigh for the RV made a hard turn. Your heart pounded from the chaotic driving, but then Eddie’s fingers fell onto yours and he gave a shrug. “You better hold on.”

Saying nothing, you allowed his hand to remain on yours; everyone too busy to notice, anxious chatter filled the RV as Steve drove on.

….

The rolling hills were secluded, no car in sight as Steve parked the RV in its valley. Everyone stepped out of the RV, making their own stations to build their weapons and get ready. Since Nancy and you were the only ones with actual gun experience, she had gotten two and was with Max, adjusting the weapons to her likening. You stayed inside the RV, resting on the back bench– Steve asked if you were okay, but you said a headache was coming on, but you just needed some quiet. Eddie, who had been with Dustin, making shields out of trash can lids, came into the RV after twenty minutes. He tugged off his leather jacket and wiped his forehead with the sleeves of his long-sleeved Hell Fire Club tee.

“Feeling better?”

He sauntered over to the back of the trailer, and you sat up, patting the spot next to you. He eyed you curiously but sat down and leaned back. His fingers drummed against his jeans, and you asked if he was feeling up for a fight. “It’s going to be something we’ve never experienced.”

“…yeah,” he laughed nervously; his voice faded as did the smile from his face. Eddie turned to you and mumbled something that you couldn’t understand. Asking him to repeat what he had said, his face went flush. “I know you’re really pushing the ‘have hope’ propaganda, but I’m getting nervous here.”

You thought of his confession earlier and noticed the tense look in his eyes, and for a moment, you understand what he is feeling – impending doom. Eddie, more than anyone in the group, had plenty to fear. Even if everyone came out of this unscathed, a murder accusation was serious and how would they even prove he didn’t kill Chrissy? Who would believe the whole Vecna ordeal when the government loved covering up its offenses? Eddie’s future was looking dim, everyone knew this, but no one said it out loud.

His eyes, they knew it all.

They were pleading.

“Kiss me.”

His eyes drew over to your lips and not an ounce of hesitation graced his face as his hands drew to your face; he held it in place as his mouth brushed against yours, hungry and eager, fearful, and desperate. Your groaned as his fingers crawled into your hair, while his other hand touched your waist. His kisses slowed down as you pushed him back into the seat, getting up and kissing him once more before leaving him breathless as you walked to the door. Pulling back the curtain, you saw Steve and Robin making Molotov cocktails from the bottles of alcohol bought at a liquor store and a few found in the RV. They were conversing and didn’t notice you observing them, so you locked the door and closed the curtain.

Excitement and nervousness flooded Eddie’s face as you turned back to him, giving him a smile. He palmed his thighs when you moved back down to his level, this time kissing him softer as you began to unbuckle his belt.

“Whoa…whoa…” he whispered, pulling your hands away. The bewildered look in his eyes had you laughing softly, and you told him you wanted to – that you weren’t taking pity on him, like his facial expressions thought.

“I need this too,” you confessed, hands idled near the top of his jeans. He ran a hand over his face and looked out the window, a little bit of curtain was pulled back. The grass was this deep green that he was afraid he’d never get a chance to see again – who really knew what would happen? None of them did, he certainly didn’t. He glanced at you, facial features soft and inviting – it wasn’t like he wasn’t attracted to you. Shit, he thought you were a total babe. Funny, smart, loyal to her friends, protective – he was taken back by the fearlessness you showcased while trying to save Steve from the demon bats from hell, but also your willingness to be upfront and emotional. If this was going to be his last day on Earth, the possibility imminent in the background, spending this time with you – well, that wouldn’t be a bad hand dealt.

Eddie nodded then, content with his decision, pressing forward he kissed you again; allowing you to unbuckle his jeans. His fingers shook a bit as he touched your face, mouth on yours – he couldn’t contain the anticipation building in his body and when you pulled out his cock, he understood the yearning. A groan shook out of his throat when you palmed him, giving him slow and precise strokes. Eddie hung his head back, eyes closing as you stroked him over and over until he couldn’t handle it, he gripped your shoulder and begged you to stop – so you did. Letting go, you moved off the bench and stood in front of him. His eyes watched as you kicked off your shoes, unzipped your jeans, slipped them down and stepped out of them; your panties were next, and he asked if he could help.

“I’d like that,” you nodded, closing your eyes, skin reeling against his limber fingers, callouses from guitar playing; the tips stroking your thighs as they tugged down the panties to the floor. His eyes drew up, stopping right below your stomach; absented mindedly he licked his lips, and it made you laugh a little. Your playful laughing made him laugh and he wished to whatever God was out there that he’d lived another day, if only to press his lips against your thighs but he knew time was limited and he couldn’t do all the things he wanted in such a small timeframe.

“Come here,” he whispered, leaning back, and patting his thighs. Moving down onto his lap, your knees rested on the bench. Your hands went up as he began to pull off your shirt, gently placing it down next to him; then he reached out and cursed under his breath, embarrassed that it took way longer than he anticipated to unhook your bra.

“It’s basically a trap,” you explained, kissing his neck.

“You’re just saying that, so I don’t feel like a complete idiot.”

Eddie’s hands rode up the small of your back, coming back down around to your breasts. He cupped them gentle, leaning forward to press little kisses all over them; his mouth on one of your nipples sent chills down your spine and a pool of wetness formed between your legs. You wanted it to last forever, wishing it could, but time was ticking – someone was bound to come knocking, ruining the peaceful delusion Eddie and you had created.

“We don’t have much time,” you whispered regretfully, holding his chin up so his eyes met yours. His face looked pure for a moment and then his eyes narrowed, hand pulling you down by the neck for a longing kiss. His tongue pressed against yours and your thighs attempted to squeeze together, but Eddie’s waist blocked the attempt. Sensing your need, Eddie gave himself a few strokes and said he was ready.

Using your knees as leverage, you sat up and Eddie held you by the waist; reaching down for his cock, you positioned yourself above it and slowly, carefully, you felt him pushing into you. Crying out, you held onto Eddie’s shoulders as he shuttered, fingers grasping at your waist. Getting in a comfortable position, your hips started rocking against him, riding him slowly at first – allowing yourself to get used to the fullness. He reached up and grabbed a breast, giving it tight squeezes as your hips started to move even slower – wanting the moment to last as long as possible.

“Oh, fuck,” he groaned, mouthed a bit gapped open with shock. Your body against his, he never felt something so sweet and explosiveness in his life, he wanted the moment forever – he wanted to relive this moment for eons. So many emotions flooded his senses as you rode his cock, dragging out each thrust - the curves of your nude body against his, he was living an actual dream of his. He couldn’t stand how lucky he was and when you leaned down to kiss him, he captured your lips swiftly, eagerly.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whimpered, touching the side of your face with a hand. You leaned into the palm of his hand, riding him faster; Eddie cursed, pleasure ripping through every single cell in his body until you leaned back. His hands held you tight at the waist, your breast bouncing softly – a vision of pure beauty. Unable to hold off any longer, he exclaimed that he was nearly there, and you told him to let go.

“It’s okay, Eddie, please.”

God, you were such a sweetheart, it was killing him.

“Whatever you want, princess,” he cooed, fingers brushing away dampened hair from your cheeks. You smiled down at him, hand tighter on his shoulders as your hips crashed against his. Eddie Munson had never been so speechless in his life, his cock springing deep into you as he came. His body shook involuntary, eyes closed, and you stroked his cheek with a thumb, allowing him to experience the release to the very end. Your hips slowly came to a stop when Eddie’s eyes fluttered open, breathing rapid and mouth ready to take the kiss you placed on his lips. He held your face in his hands and kissed you softly, taking in the taste until his body recovered and he could breathe regularly again.

“Jesus,” was all he could say as you slipped off his lap, collapsing next to him. He sat back not sure what to do next until you asked if he could find a napkin or towel.

“You spilled out a little.”

“Shit, sorry,” he apologized, zipping himself up. He stood up and nearly stumbled, looking back with a smile as you placed your bra back on. There were napkins in one of the drawers, so he brought it back to you and turned to give you privacy as you cleaned up and changed back into your clothes. Pulling your shirt down, you told him he could look.

“I – that was great,” he smirked, hands on your shoulder. Laughing, you agreed and held out your panties; Eddie looked a bit confused. “Why…”

“A keepsake, so when we all survive this shit, you can remember the girl you lost your virginity too.”

Eddie grinned and plucked the panties from your hand, tucking them into his front jean pocket. “Believe, I would never forget what you did for me…seriously.”

“I’m glad it was me,” you admitted, nodding to the door. “We better go outside.”

He agreed, but when you made a move to the door, he caught you by the elbow. His eyes were no longer pleading, but grateful and possibly filled with lust – the thought made you smile, and you touched his face, thumb caressing his chin. “I wouldn’t mind doing this again in the future, just so you know.”

You pressed a kiss onto his cheek and left the trailer, calling to Nancy about your gun. The door slammed shut and Eddie grabbed his leather jacket. He put it on and looked over to the back of the RV, his heart racing at the thought of you, not just nude and on top of him, but just you. Grinning to himself, he took a deep breath before exiting the RV – thinking, maybe, just maybe 1986 was really going to be his year.

#eddie munson smut #eddie muson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson is a virgin #he lives in this fic

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blorbo-from-the-cosmos · 1 year

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Just Some Random Things I’ve Manifested Since Entering the Void <3

Tickets to Disneyland

More specifically, available tickets to Disneyland. I actually had no idea about the new reservation system they have because I haven’t been to the park since 2012, and my grandparents are visiting us so my family had intended to go to Disneyland for the weekend since they’re from out of the country and have never been. Lo and behold, the website says they’re booked and the whole plan goes down the drain. Well, that’s what we thought until I remembered “hey! Im a master manifestor!” And I affirmed and lived in delusion the entire ride there. I successfully manifested openings for our group of 7 people for passes that lets us take my grandparents to Disneyland to live out their childhood dreams 😌

Winning Lottery Tickets

Like actual tickets I won from the scratcher cards slfkfkdkksls sorry I havent manifested millions of dollars yet. I just bought a couple of lotto scratchers on our way back from California because we don’t have them in the state I live, and I just decided they’d all be winners. Lo and behold, they all had a prize of a free lotto scratcher ticket. That one is on me for not being more specific, but hey free tickets are free tickets and at least now with my new ones I’ll actually have a cash amount in mind to manifest once I get them 💀

Crystals!

I’ve been obsessing over malachite and opalite since forever. I’ve been drawn to these stones for so long but I always put off buying them because Im not someone who strongly utilizes crystals in day to day life, I just think they’re pretty and that they offer good vibes yk? I want to a swapmeet the other day and literally found them at the stalls and so I got a malachite ring and a GORGEOUS piece of opalite. Im literally obsessed its so pretty and im manifesting that my aura shines just like it because it is just my favorite crystal in the world <3 (yes I know its a man made glass pls just let me enjoy my shiny rock)

Just a few random tidbits, all since awakening my power and realizing that of I can get into the void after 3 years of trying, I can do anything <3

#blorbo from the cosmos #blorbos rambles #blorbos posts #law of assumption #manifestation #reality shifting #affirmations #manifesting #shifting #self concept #shiftblr #loa #void state #void concept

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callmearcturus · 2 years

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When I was having a massive mental health crisis in 2014ish and had less than 80 bucks in my bank account and needed to go back to my family

It was a millionaire who helped me

Because I was friends with someone who worked in California and they had enough disposable income to give me some and that is the only reason I got out and that I'm here today

A million dollars is frankly not as much as we dream it is. It tricks us because it sounds like a "billion" and so we instinctively think they're the same thing, but they really, truly are not.

When my ~*millionaire*~ friend helped me out, that wasn't insignificant. That wasn't a drop in a barrel to them.

But that same person explained it thus: a medical crisis will still leave a millionaire destitute. Especially for someone who lives in California or another high cost of living state, they have to work to live. Yeah, obviously they are more comfortable than people who aren't millionaires, but if our movement is to say "fuck everyone who is more comfortable than I am" then I don't want a part of it! Because I want to be comfortable someday and I want YOU to be comfortable someday, and you know what? When I have needed help in the past, it's those people who have reached back and helped me. Because a fucking lot of them also come from low class and low income, and they know wtf its like.

As someone who grew up in a trailer park and who lived under the poverty line for LITERALLY 80% of my life: I am fucking begging people to actually learn the difference between a millionaire and a billionaire.

Mainly: you can legitimately earn a million dollars. You cannot EARN billion dollars.

Enough stupid infighting already. The problem with our country is not someone who hires a maid to clean their house, it's the system that allows for a maid to be disgustingly underpaid. It's that we aren't taxing the shit out of the rich.

#fuck your exclusory bullshit #you all get a F in class consciousness pls see me after class

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usafphantom2 · 4 months

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Aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford will return from mission in defense of Israel

The largest aircraft carrier in the United States returns from the Mediterranean Sea, where it has been parked for almost three months.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/01/2024 - 08:27in Military, War Zones

The U.S. Navy has determined that its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), will return home after a nearly three-month mission to defend Israel in the Middle East.

The USS Gerald Ford has been stationed at a close distance of Israel's attack in the Mediterranean Sea since October, in an effort to prevent the country's war against Hamas from turning into a regional conflict. However, the U.S. Navy states that the ship will begin its journey back home "in the next few days" and will be replaced by the USS Bataan - an amphibious assault ship named after a battle fought in the Philippines during World War II.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is one of the largest aircraft carriers in the world and the latest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the United States. He was already in the Mediterranean - involved in naval exercises with Italy - before receiving orders to provide support to Israel's Defense Forces after the October 7 terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas.

“Immediately after Hamas' brutal attack on Israel, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was ordered to go to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended Ford's detachment three times in the hope that his presence would dissuade Iran and groups aligned with Iran, especially Hezbollah from Lebanon, from attacking Israel.

The ship, which carried about 5,000 sailors and more than 100 warplanes in eight squadrons, is now returning to its naval base in Virginia. However, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower will remain in the Red Sea to face the recent attacks on commercial ships perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

“The DoD (Department of Defense) will continue to leverage its posture of collective force in the region to dissuade any state or non-state actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza,” the Navy said.

At the end of October, a U.S. Navy warship located in the northern Red Sea shot down three cruise missiles along with a batch of drones that were launched from Yemen and appeared to target Israel, the Pentagon said.

Tags: Military Aviationaircraft carrierUSN - United States Navy/U.S. NavyWar Zones - Middle East

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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batboyblog · 3 months

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The IRS is testing out a free on-line direct tax filing system meant to replace for low and medium tax payers commercial tax preparation software, like TurboTax.

TurboTax in particular has long lobbied against this, and helped kill it under the Trump administration. But in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act President Biden signed the IRS was tasked with developing this system which mirrors what many of America's peers, like Japan and Germany do for taxes.

2024 will park a pilot program to test the system in a few states before going nation wide hopefully in 2025, if you live in Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Massachusetts, California or New York you may qualify, so check!

it almost doesn't need saying but I'll say it, this program will never make it nation wide if Trump is President in 2025.

#IRS #taxes #tax day #Florida #california #New York #turbotax #news #politics #US politics #good news #thanks Biden #Joe Biden

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emperorsfoot · 3 months

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The Walt Disney World Agreement is one of Equity’s largest contracts, covering actors, singers, dancers, comedians and stunt performers in shows around the Florida resort. In fact, almost every employee at every Disney park in the United States is unionized. The biggest exception is the Character and Parade performers at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA who have never been protected by a union contract.

We’re aiming to change that.

I’m so excited to share the news that the character and parade performers at Disneyland have decided to unionize with Equity as Magic United! Magic United includes around 1,700 Cast Members who perform as costumed characters, both structured and face/look-alikes, and dance and cheer in parades, as well as the whole system of workers who train, facilitate, accompany and stage manage this work across the entire Disneyland Resort – two theme parks along with the lodging, shopping, dining and entertainment areas connected to the parks.

Last week, members of Magic United began signing their union authorization cards to name Actors’ Equity Association as their union.

These Disneyland Cast Members started to organize themselves, and they reached out to Equity last year to see if we would be a good fit for them. Equity has a strong bargaining relationship with Disney, and Equity members who work at Walt Disney World have been supportive of their California colleagues as these efforts got underway. The Magic United team agreed that together, we could make this process positive and collaborative when it’s time to bargain that first contract.

So what’s next? Once we have more than a majority of cards signed, we will ask Disney for voluntary recognition and file with the National Labor Relations Board. We’re determined to get to the table as soon as we can to ensure that Disneyland Characters and Parade Cast Members get the workplace protections they deserve.

In solidarity,

Stefanie Frey National Director of Organizing and Mobilization

#unionize disney #disneyland #unions #disney union #cast member union #performers union #amusement park #disney corporation

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 8 months

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By: John Sailer

Published: Sep 9, 2023

What happens in California usually doesn’t stay in California — and that’s bad news for higher education.

In his latest piece for the New York Times, Michael Powell catalogs just how extensively the Golden State’s universities have embraced mandatory diversity statements when hiring faculty. From junior college to prestigious research university, scientists and scholars throughout the state must demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to remain in good standing.

By now, this should come as no surprise, but it is striking to see some of the most egregious ways the policy plays out. In 2016, the piece notes, at least five University of California (UC) campuses decided to initially screen faculty job applicants based only on diversity statements. For one large hiring initiative at UC Berkeley — the Life Sciences Initiative — the faculty search committee eliminated three-fourths of the applicant pool on the basis of diversity statements alone. Berkeley’s rubric for assessing diversity statements, moreover, dictates a low score for candidates who speak positively about diversity but in vague terms. Even more remarkably, it gives a low score to candidates who say they prefer to “treat everyone the same.”

All of this is especially notable because of what California represents to American public higher education. Out of any state, California best embodies the American vision of universal higher education — its promises and perils.

In 1960, UC System President Clark Kerr spearheaded the “California Master Plan for Higher Education,” an attempt to modernise the state’s system of higher education. The Master Plan institutionalised a rigidly tiered system for California’s colleges and universities, reserving the UC system for the top 12.5% of the state’s graduating high school students, the California State system for the top 33.3%, and the California Community Colleges system for everyone else.

The plan captured the country’s strong faith in higher education, its aspiration to send virtually every young person to college. Kerr once jokingly quipped that the mission of the university is “to provide sex for the students, sports for the alumni, and parking for the faculty” — an amusing, and functionally accurate, description.

No doubt, California set the example. Today, it remains a powerhouse; according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings, the UC system includes six out of the top 10 American public universities.

California still sets the tone for American higher education. And for that reason, we might add one more item to Kerr’s tongue-in-cheek summary of the university’s mission: “DEI initiatives for the administrators.” The trend Powell describes — whereby enthusiasm for DEI, whatever that might mean in practice, has become a virtual job requirement for scientists and scholars —has trickled down.

Berkeley’s Life Sciences Initiative, for example, was designed to test whether universities could use a method known as “cluster hiring” to advance the goal of diversity. Basically, the approach involves hiring multiple faculty at once with a heavy emphasis on DEI. In a forthcoming National Association of Scholars report, I describe how DEI-focused cluster hiring has boomed since Berkeley undertook its Life Sciences Initiative.

In 2020, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center carried out a cluster hire — hiring researchers in cancer, infectious disease, and basic biology — which heavily weighed DEI contributions. In 2021, Vanderbilt University’s Department of Psychology undertook a cluster hire; it eliminated approximately 85% of its candidates based solely on diversity statements. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has allocated $241 million in grant money for cluster hires at universities around the country — with the condition that every search committee must require and heavily weigh diversity statements.

Berkeley’s rubric — the one that gives a low score to anyone who espouses race-neutrality — is likewise ubiquitous. Two of the universities receiving NIH money for cluster hires are the University of New Mexico and the University of South Carolina. Through a public records request, I acquired both universities’ rubric for assessing diversity statements, which was published earlier this year. Both universities use the Berkeley rubric verbatim.

As a consequence of these measures, trust in higher education will likely continue to fall, owing in part to a sense that some views are simply not tolerated. But DEI litmus tests do not merely diminish the public’s trust in higher education. They degrade higher education itself. Clark Kerr knew that the mission of the university isn’t sex, sports, or parking. It isn’t social justice, either. It’s the pursuit of truth, which, following California’s example, all too many universities seem to forget.

There are still some people who say stupid things like, "how can you be against equality and diversity?" Except, we all know at this point that these are ideologically-charged words. The rubrics themselves tell you that liberal principles of equality are unacceptable; rather, contested and ideological notions about the world. This makes "DIE statements" ideological loyalty oaths.

It would be like saying something stupid like, "what, are you not against people being bad and doing bad things?" when people object to making commitments and oaths against "sin."

#John Sailer #diversity equity and inclusion #diversity statements #loyalty oath #DEI statement #DIE statement #wokeness #woke #wokeism #wokeness as religion #cult of woke #ideological corruption #DEI rubric #DIE rubric #religion is a mental illness

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luciferlaughs · 2 years

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On March 26th, 2018, an SUV containing a family of eight veered off a cliff in Mendocino County, California, plunging 100 feet into the Pacific ocean and killing everybody inside. The victims of this horrific accident were identified as Jennifer Hart, the driver, along with her wife, Sarah, and their six adopted children: Ciera (aged 12), Abigail (aged 14), Jeremiah (aged 14), Devonte (aged 15), Hannah (aged 16), and Markis (19). To all those who knew the Hart family, whether directly or indirectly, this was a tragic accident. Jennifer and Sarah, who were very public with their children on social media, often sharing their views on politics and social injustice, were the poster women for a modern-day progressive family. After years of being in the closet, the two finally came out in 2004 and got married in 2009. Just before they got married, they adopted six African American children from Texas. In 2014, a photo went viral of Devonte tearfully embracing a police officer during a BLM protest being held in Portland, Oregon, following the police shooting of Michael Brown. The photo was nationally dubbed ''the hug felt 'round the world''.

After most of the Harts’ bodies were recovered, the coroner discovered that Jennifer was drunk at the wheel, and Sarah and three of the children had a toxic amounts of diphenhydramine in their systems. The police also found incriminating google searches made from Sarah's phone just before the family began their trip, such as, How easily can I overdose on over the counter medications? and Can 500mg of Benadryl kill a 125lb woman?, and How long does it take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car? It became very clear to police that this was not, in fact, an accident. Their deaths were ruled a murder--suicide. Police and the public began peering picking apart the façade of this supposedly perfect, happy, progressive family to find out what events led to the tragedy. It was soon discovered that the Harts had a history of child abuse and neglect documented by CPS, dating all the way back to 2008. The children were reportedly beaten with belts and starved on a regular basis. They were also not allowed to wish each other a happy birthday, laugh at the dinner table, or speak without raising their hand first. When school officials would catch on to the abuse, the Harts began homeschooling their children and relocating to new states to distance themselves from the abuse allegations. In 2017, Hannah escaped from her house and ran to her next-door neighbours, pleading for them to help. Around this time, Devonte began begging these same neighbours for food, revealing that their parents abuse them and withhold food. The neighbours reported the Harts to the authorities and CPS. CPS attempted to contact the Harts but nobody answered the door. The following morning, on what would be the last day of their lives, the Harts loaded all of their children into their SUV and drove off with them. They did not bring luggage, toothbrushes, or even lock their doors. Cruising down California State Route 1, they eventually parked at the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean and milled about for four hours before driving over the cliff, ending all their lives.

#true crime #murder #female killer #female killers #crime #homicide #murders #murderer #killers #california

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fenthebonebreaker · 12 days

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#0053 Yosemite Valley, California, USA.

Going to do a series of all 63 of the national parks in the US in chronological order that they were founded.

Yosemite actually started as a state park, it's creation laying the groundwork for the entire national park system (thanks John Muir). It was later converted from a state park, to a national one.

#yosemite valley #yosemite national park #landscapes #painting #ink and wash #watercolors #daily art #us national parks

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gladiatorplumbingrepipe · 22 days

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Explore San Jose: Top Things to Do and Where to Find a Reliable Plumber

Discover the Best of San Jose

San Jose, California, is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse culinary scene, and thriving technology industry. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor exploring the area, there's no shortage of exciting activities to enjoy in San Jose. From exploring world-class museums and parks to sampling delicious cuisine and attending live performances, there's something for everyone to experience in this dynamic city.

Top Things to Do in San Jose

Visit the Tech Museum of Innovation: Dive into the fascinating world of technology and innovation at this interactive museum, where you can explore hands-on exhibits, learn about groundbreaking inventions, and even participate in STEM workshops.

Explore Santana Row: Shop, dine, and unwind at Santana Row, a premier shopping and entertainment destination in San Jose. From upscale boutiques and gourmet restaurants to lively bars and cafes, Santana Row offers a unique blend of luxury and sophistication.

Discover History at the Winchester Mystery House: Step into the mysterious world of Sarah Winchester's eccentric mansion, known for its maze-like architecture, secret passages, and rumored hauntings. Take a guided tour to uncover the fascinating history and legends surrounding this iconic landmark.

Relax in San Jose Municipal Rose Garden: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. With over 3,500 rose bushes and various other flowers, this peaceful oasis is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a romantic picnic.

Catch a Game at SAP Center: Cheer on the San Jose Sharks or catch a live concert at SAP Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue in the Bay Area. With its state-of-the-art facilities and diverse lineup of events, there's always something exciting happening at SAP Center.

Need a Plumber in San Jose? We've Got You Covered

Amidst all the excitement and exploration in San Jose, plumbing problems can arise unexpectedly, causing inconvenience and frustration. Whether it's a leaky faucet, a clogged drain, or a malfunctioning water heater, having a reliable plumber on call is essential to ensure that your home or business runs smoothly.

Trust Our Expert Plumbers for Reliable Service

When it comes to plumbing services in San Jose, trust our team of expert plumbers to provide prompt and reliable solutions. With years of experience and a commitment to customer satisfaction, we have earned a reputation for excellence in the industry. From minor repairs to major installations, we have the knowledge, skills, and resources to handle any plumbing issue with efficiency and professionalism.

Don't let plumbing problems dampen your enjoyment of all that San Jose has to offer. Contact Gladiator Plumbing & Repipe today to schedule an appointment with our expert plumbers and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your plumbing system is in good hands. Whether you need routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or a major plumbing upgrade, we're here to help. Trust us to be your go-to plumbers in San Jose, and enjoy worry-free plumbing solutions for your home or business!

Gladiator Plumbing & Repipe 541 W Capitol Expy Ste 10, San Jose, CA 95136 (408) 444-2696

#plumber #plumbing company #San Jose

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voskhozhdeniye · 2 months

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For the last several months, a city at the heart of Silicon Valley has been training artificial intelligence to recognize tents and cars with people living inside in what experts believe is the first experiment of its kind in the United States.

Last July, San Jose issued an open invitation to technology companies to mount cameras on a municipal vehicle that began periodically driving through the city’s district 10 in December, collecting footage of the streets and public spaces. The images are fed into computer vision software and used to train the companies’ algorithms to detect the unwanted objects, according to interviews and documents the Guardian obtained through public records requests.

Some of the capabilities the pilot project is pursuing – such as identifying potholes and cars parked in bus lanes – are already in place in other cities. But San Jose’s foray into automated surveillance of homelessness is the first of its kind in the country, according to city officials and national housing advocates. Local outreach workers, who were previously not aware of the experiment, worry the technology will be used to punish and push out San Jose’s unhoused residents.

City employees are driving a single camera-equipped vehicle through sections of district 10 “every couple weeks”, said Khaled Tawfik, director of the San Jose information technology department. The city sends the training footage to participating companies, which include Ash Sensors, Sensen.AI, Xloop Digital, Blue Dome Technologies and CityRover.

Some of the areas in district 10 targeted by the pilot, such as Santa Teresa Boulevard, are places where unhoused people congregate, sometimes with the city’s encouragement. The light rail station on Santa Teresa Boulevard, for example, is home to the city’s only designated safe parking location for RVs, often used as homes.

There’s no set end date for the pilot phase of the project, Tawfik said in an interview, and as the models improve he believes the target objects could expand to include lost cats and dogs, parking violations and overgrown trees.

“If the City were to productionize this technology, we envision the cameras to be on our fleet motor pool vehicles that regularly drive throughout city limits,” a city employee wrote in a 22 January email.

Ken Salsman, chief technology officer for Ash Sensors, said his company, which specializes in sensors that monitor the structural health of buildings, had not explored homelessness detection before learning of San Jose’s pilot. The experiment provided an opportunity to create potentially marketable technologies by solving challenging computer vision problems, such as distinguishing an empty RV parked outside a home from an RV that is a home. He said the company was training its algorithms to detect proxy signs of habitation.

“Are the windows covered inside the vehicle? Are there towels to provide privacy? Is there trash outside the vehicle, suggesting they’re using food and having trouble getting rid of the waste?” Salsman said. He added that successful detection of lived-in vehicles would probably require frequent scanning of city streets in order to establish whether the vehicles have moved.

A report from the company Sensen.AI shows that its system detected 10 lived-in vehicles in footage collected from two streets on 8 February. Several of the vehicles pictured in the report have tarps spread across windows or rolled up and tied to them. Another has traffic cones next to it. Sensen.AI did not respond to a request for comment.

Tawfik said the goal of the pilot was to encourage companies to build algorithmic models that could detect a variety of different objects from car-mounted cameras with at least 70% accuracy. The participating companies are currently detecting lived-in RVs with between 70 and 75% accuracy, he said, but the accuracy for lived-in cars is still far lower: between 10 and 15%. City staff are following the route of the camera-equipped car and confirming that the vehicles are occupied.

‘We’re not detecting folks. We’re detecting encampments’

City documents state that, in addition to accuracy, one of the main metrics the AI systems will be assessed on is their ability to preserve the privacy of people captured on camera – for example, by blurring faces and license plates. Tawfik said that the city did not “capture or retain images of individuals” through the pilot and that “the data is intended for [the city’s housing and parks departments] to provide services”.

The data use policy for the pilot states that the footage cannot be actively monitored for law enforcement purposes, but that police may request access to previously stored footage.

“We’re not detecting folks,” Tawfik said. “We’re detecting encampments. So the interest is not identifying people because that will be a violation of privacy.” However, in its report identifying lived-in vehicles, Sensen.AI wrote that its system included optical character recognition of the vehicles’ license plate numbers.

Tawfik said San Jose had delayed its release of a citywide AI policy in part to allow the department to examine its proposed guardrails through the lens of the object detection pilot.

Residents have complained to the city’s 311 phone line about homeless encampments 914 times so far in 2024. They reported illegal dumping 6,247 times, graffiti 5,666 times, and potholes 769 times last year. The goal of the surveillance pilot is to address these complaints more efficiently, according to Tawfik.

According to Tawfik, the city’s response might include sending outreach workers to visit a single tent before it can grow into an encampment, he said. The San Jose housing department and non-profits providing aid to unhoused people said they had not been involved in the pilot.

“Our ability to help the individuals directly is not really part of the pilot,” Tawfik said. “We’re still learning what can be done. And then once the program is mature, then we can look at the data and see what makes sense.”

That approach worries people like Thomas Knight, who was formerly unhoused and now serves as executive member of the Lived Experience Advisory Board of Silicon Valley. The group, made up of dozens of current and formerly unhoused people, has recently been fighting a policy proposed last August by the San Jose mayor, Matt Mahan, that would allow police to tow and impound lived-in vehicles near schools.

“If their whole purpose is to better provide responses to calls to 311, then that means that this computer system is going to identify tents and lived-in vehicles that are in places that the city has deemed they shouldn’t be,” Knight said. “The truth is, the only people you’re going to be able to give [that data] to to fix the issue is the police department.”

San Jose is one of the least affordable housing markets in the country. In order to afford the average effective monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city, a renter would have to earn $96,000 a year, according to the latest available data. The city’s unhoused population has grown from approximately 4,200 people in 2009 to more than 6,200 in 2023. More than two-thirds of those people are living outdoors and in vehicles rather than the city’s overwhelmed shelter system.

Amid a lack of temporary shelter beds and permanent affordable housing, San Jose officials have cracked down on tent encampments and people living in cars and RVs. Housing advocates fear that identification of encampments by roving AI would add to those efforts.

“The approach to homelessness is to treat unhoused people as blight consistent with trash or graffiti,” said Tristia Bauman, directing attorney for housing at the non-profit Law Foundation of Silicon Valley.

Last fall, the city cleared dozens of people out of tents and vehicles along a half-mile stretch of the downtown Guadalupe River trail and then announced plans for a “no return zone”. This year, police distributed 72-hour notices ordering people to leave a nearby encampment in Columbus Park in order to clear space for the opening of a five-acre dog park.

San Jose: a technological bellwether

In addition to providing a training ground for new algorithms, San Jose’s position as a national leader on government procurement of technology means that its experiment with surveilling encampments could influence whether and how other cities adopt similar detection systems. The city’s IT department is leading a national coalition of more than 150 municipal agencies working to develop policies for “responsible and purposeful” deployment of AI technologies in the public sector.

Tawfik said his staff had discussed the object detection pilot with coalition members and hoped that other agencies would participate in the review process. Companies participating in the pilot have also expressed interest in the “scalability” potential the coalition represents, according to emails they sent to IT department staff.

“As we see more interest from other cities to participate, we’re sharing notes and hopefully that advances the program faster,” Tawfik said.

Knight, from the Advisory Board, said the city’s focus on perfecting a technological solution ignored the root cause of the housing crisis in San Jose.

“If you have no place to put people, it’s pretty much useless,” he said.

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popculturelib · 9 months

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Today, August 7th, is National Lighthouse Day in the US! The event was established during the bicentennial of when the US government created the US Lighthouse Establishment in 1789.

To kick off a week of lighthouses, we're starting with a book by the National Park Service and the Cabrillo Historical Association about the Old Point Loma Lighthouse (1978), located in San Diego, California. Included here are two pages about how the lighthouse was lit. Image transcripts below the cut.

For more information, check out these links:

National Lighthouse Day history from the US Lighthouse Society

The Lighthouses of Point Loma by the National Park Service

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse in our catalog

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States. Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

Image caption

Fresnel (fra-nel) lighthouse lenses came in seven different "orders," or sizes; first, second, third, three and a-half, fourth, fifth, and sixth. The first order were the largest, and the sixth the smallest. Generally, the larger the lens the greater its range. The larger lenses could be seen from further away than the smaller ones. Also, if a lens was high above sea level, it could be seen from further away than if it was at the water's edge. The ranges given in the illustration are median distances for a lens with a 1,000 watt bulb.

Lenses and Illuminants

Until the 1850's, nearly every lighthouse in the United States used a number of Argand lamps and parabolic reflectors for illumination. These lamps were placed "side by side around the circumference of a circle," and the number of lamps used depended upon the arc of the horizon it was desired to illuminate. For years a bulls-eye magnifying lens was used on each lamp, but these lenses were practically useless, and in 1840 they were removed, leaving the reflectors.

This system, which had become known as the American system, had but one virtue—the lamps were inexpen-sive. But their faults were legion: They were complicated, they used a vast amount of oil, they required constant attention, and, most important of all, they produced relatively little light.

In 1822 Augustin Fresnel, a French physicist, developed a lens apparatus which was to revolutionize lighthouse illumination. A Fresnel lens is like a glass barrel whose outer surface is made up of prisms and bulls-eyes. In a revolving or flashing light, the bulls-eyes are surrounded by curved, concentric prisms, concentrating the light of a central lamp into several individual beams, radiating like the spokes of a wheel. In the fixed, or steady light, the bulls-eyes become a continuous "lens belt," with the prisms [next page] parallel to it, producing an uninterrupted, horizontal sheet of light. Fresnel lenses were classified into seven orders. The order was determined by focal distance—that is, the distance from the illuminant to the lenses.

The United States was slow to adopt the Fresnel lenses, and for years a controversy raged in this country over the merits of the old and new systems. Finally, in 1841, the United States purchased its first Fresnel lens and installed it at Navesink Light, New Jersey, to test the new system. The Fifth Auditor conducted the experiment with all deliberate speed (the accent being on deliberate); 10 years later there were only three light stations in the country which had Fresnel lenses. On March 3, 1851, Congress expressed confidence in the new system by approving an appropriation bill which included permission for the Secretary of the Treasury to place the Fresnel lens system in new lighthouses, in lighthouses not having lenses, and in lighthouses requiring new ones.

Image caption

In the fall of 1855 craftsmen installed a third order, fixed light lens in the lighthouse lantern. Made in Paris, it stood over five feet high and three feet wide. In the center, a lamp with three circular wicks, one inside the other, produced a flame of 168 candlepower. The finely ground and highly polished prisms, and the bulls-eye that encircled the lens, captured the light from this flame, focused and magnified it to about 19,000 candlepower, and sent it out in a horizontal sheet of light. According to the 1862 edition of the "Directory for the Pacific Coast of the United States," the lens of the Point Loma light which is 462 feet above sea level "illuminates the entire horizon, and in clear weather should be visible—From a mast height of 20 feet above the sea, at a distance of 28 miles."

#bgsu #national lighthouse day #lighthouses #old point loma lighthouse #point loma #san diego

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