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fordblog02 · 5 months

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How to Express My Feelings to My Best Friend: Quotes That Speak Volumes

Expressing our feelings to our best friend can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether it's gratitude, love, or a simple appreciation, finding the right words can be a challenge. In this article, we'll explore the power of quotes as a tool to convey our emotions to our closest confidants. Dive into a collection of heartfelt expressions that resonate and learn how to use them effectively.

1. Why Quotes Matter

Quotes have a unique ability to encapsulate complex emotions in a few words. They act as a bridge between our innermost feelings and our ability to express them. Explore the power of quotes in articulating sentiments that may be challenging to put into words.

2. Choosing the Right Quote

Not all quotes are created equal. Learn the art of selecting quotes that align with your feelings and effectively communicate your message. Consider the personality of your friend and the nature of your relationship to make the perfect choice.

3. Setting the Mood

Understanding the importance of the right setting can make a significant difference in how your message is received. Discover the impact of environment and atmosphere when sharing your feelings through quotes.

4. Adding a Personal Touch

Quotes can be a canvas for your personal touch. Learn how to customize quotes to make them more meaningful and relevant to your friendship. Personalization adds authenticity and sincerity to your expression.

5. When Words Fail, Quotes Prevail

In moments where words seem inadequate, quotes can fill the gaps. Explore how quotes become a powerful tool when articulating intense emotions that may be challenging to convey verbally.

6. The Impact of Authenticity

Authenticity is the key to any meaningful expression. Uncover the importance of being genuine when using quotes to express your feelings. Authenticity creates a deeper connection and fosters trust in your friendship.

7. Expressing Different Emotions

Friendship is a rollercoaster of emotions. Delve into quotes that cater to various feelings – from joy and laughter to gratitude and even vulnerability. Understand how each emotion can be beautifully articulated through well-chosen words.

8. Making Memories with Quotes

Quotes have the power to create lasting memories. Explore ways to incorporate quotes into shared experiences, turning them into cherished moments that both you and your friend will remember.

9. Overcoming Fear of Rejection

Fear of rejection can hinder our ability to express feelings. Learn strategies to overcome this fear and embrace vulnerability, understanding that a true friend will appreciate your honesty.

10. The Art of Timing

Timing is crucial when expressing emotions. Discover the delicate balance between spontaneity and thoughtful consideration. Learn when to seize the moment and when to patiently wait for the right time to share your feelings.

11. Quotes That Stand the Test of Time

Certain quotes have timeless appeal. Explore a collection of quotes that transcend the limitations of time, making them relevant and impactful regardless of when they are shared.

12. Turning Quotes into Actions

Quotes are a starting point, but actions speak louder than words. Learn how to turn the sentiments expressed in quotes into tangible actions that reinforce the depth of your friendship.

13. Navigating Friendship Dynamics

Friendship dynamics vary, and understanding them is crucial when expressing emotions. Explore how to navigate different types of friendships and tailor your approach accordingly.

14. Handling Different Responses

Not every friend reacts the same way. Learn to navigate different responses – whether it's reciprocation, surprise, or even initial hesitation. Understand that each reaction is unique and valid.

15. Conclusion

In conclusion, expressing your feelings to your best friend through quotes is an art that requires thoughtful consideration and authenticity. Embrace the power of well-chosen words, and let your quotes become a testament to the depth and beauty of your friendship. Remember, the journey of expressing emotions is as important as the destination, and with the right quotes, you can create lasting memories that strengthen the bonds of your friendship.

#star wars #michael cera #across the spiderverse

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personalised-gift-zone · 8 months

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Dive into Personalized Bliss: Swimming Photo Collage — The Perfect Thank You Gift.

Are you in search of a truly unique and heartfelt way to express your gratitude to a swim coach or teacher? Look no further than CollageMasteco’s personalized swimming photo collages. These customized creations make for exceptional gifts that combine the personal touch of a photo collage with the appreciation you want to convey.

Personalized Swimming Poster: A Dive into Memories

Swimming isn’t just a sport; it’s a journey of dedication, hard work, and countless cherished moments. Our personalized swimming posters capture this journey beautifully. Select your favorite swimming photos, and we’ll transform them into a stunning collage that tells a story of dedication and achievement. Whether it’s a collage of triumphant races or serene moments in the water, our posters celebrate the swimmer’s passion and accomplishments.

Photo Gifts for Swim Coach: A Token of Appreciation

For swim coaches and teachers who have inspired and guided you or your loved ones, saying thank you can sometimes feel inadequate. That’s where our photo gifts come in. Show your gratitude with a unique and personalized gift that speaks volumes. Create a collage that combines the swim coach’s wisdom, leadership, and the unforgettable moments shared with the team. It’s a gift that will be treasured for a lifetime.

Swim Gifts: More Than Just Presents

While our swimming photo collages are ideal as thank you gifts, they’re also perfect for birthdays, end-of-season celebrations, or any occasion where you want to celebrate the love of swimming. These personalized gifts are a testament to the dedication and hard work that swimmers, coaches, and teachers put into their craft.

In conclusion, CollageMasteco’s personalized swimming photo collages are the perfect way to express gratitude and celebrate the love of swimming. These collages combine the personal touch of a photo gift with the memories and moments that make swimming special. Whether you’re thanking a coach, celebrating a swimmer’s achievements, or simply sharing your passion for the sport, our personalized gifts are the perfect choice. Dive into personalized bliss and create a gift that will be cherished for a lifetime. Choose a swimming photo collage as your next personalized gift, and make a splash with your thoughtfulness.

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early20sfailingplenty · 2 years

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i love your writing so much !! it’s beautifully written. could you do something where the reader asks Bo to read to them ? thank you !!

Aaaa thank you so much!!!😍💗 That means a lot to me!!! The Sinclair brainrot is too strong😭😭😭🌸🌸🌸I'm in hell and loving every second🤡😍

Just a quick unedited blurb! (All I have time for these days😭💔)

Word count: 534.

"Hey, uh, Bo?"

You stand awkwardly in the doorway of Bo's bedroom, your mind racing and thoughts screaming at you, a hurricane not of your own making but originating from you all the same ripping through you and leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

He's sat leaning up against the headboard, an old murder mystery in his hand. The spine is cracked in so many places that the lettering is almost entirely flaked off and you can't see the title from it, nor can you see it from the front cover, too dark are the shadows cast by the harsh artificial light coming from the bedside lamp. His ankles are crossed under the duvet and he's wearing his usual long sleeved black shirt, minus the trousers. His devastatingly blue eyes move from the page, to you and back again before he speaks.

"Hey, uh, Y/N?" The upward tilt of his lips mocks you just as his tone does and you try to smile, but your chin trembles and Bo's face falls just as your facade crumbles. "Oh, darlin', wha's th' matter wit' you?" He pats the space next to him and folds the duvet down, "C'mere and tell me all about it, yeah?"

You shake your head to tell him no - you don't want to talk about it. But you're at the bed before you consciously decide to move, because you do want Bo. You want him so bad that it hurts you to think of being away from him, but you're sat beside him so fast that it's dizzying. You don't remember crossing the room.

"What're you reading?"

Bo raises an eyebrow at you but humours you all the same, telling you the title. It piques your interest and you snuggle in closer, making Bo have to wrap an arm around your shoulders just to make sure that you both stay upright and balanced on the bed. You press tighter and tighter into Bo and though he hums appreciatively, you don't miss the look of concern on his face as he moves to rest the side of his face against the crown of your head. "Y'gonna tell me wha's eatin' at'cha, darlin'?"

The fact that he's asked twice tells you the true depth of his concern, but you shake your head again. "Can you read to me, Bo? The sound of your voice, it... it helps me. You help me."

Bo gives you another strange look but he does as you ask him to, rolling his shoulders as he begins to speak the words; enunciating each word with care. As he does, you hear a little bit of a much younger, more carefree Bo who used to read bedtime stories to Vincent and Lester in order to help them sleep, his accent thicker on certain words. It makes your heart hurt, your soul ache, and you lean up to press a kiss to his cheek, trying to convey all of your love and gratitude into one gesture. It seems inadequate but it's all you have, and the way Bo's cheek lifts against your lips as he smiles into your kiss returns all of that love back to you and then some.

#bo sinclair #bo sinclair x reader #house of wax x reader #house of wax blurb #slasher fic #slasher x reader #slasher community

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bailey-reaper · 3 years

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Hi! I don't know if you've done this already, but I'd love to see you write about Barok's SO helping him through the dark time of Klint's death. It makes me sad to think how alone he must felt during that time and I wanted him to have someone through it.

Headcanons (Shadow of Death)

Notes: Hello anon! I haven't done this already, and oof -- I wholly agree. It's so heartbreaking to think of all the things he was shouldering at that time and also that there were people around him exploiting that grief. I wonder how much of a difference it would have been for him if his whole world had not revolved around Klint; if there had been other important people... I hope you enjoy your request!

S/O is gender neutral (they/them pronouns). Barok refers to them using petnames.

Content Warnings: angst; grief; death; mourning; GAA spoilers

They'd known them both: Klint, the sunny elder brother who brightened a room with his very presence, and Barok, the more reserved but still kind-hearted young man who often followed his brother like an adoring puppy.

Both had been family friends, though they had found more of a connection with the young brother through common interests and a shared, subdued disposition. It had taken time, but the two had eventually found a soulmate in one another.

Then, the unthinkable happened: Klint died-- murdered by the most notorious serial killer in London's already gory history. The day they heard about it they wondered if this was just some nightmare that they would wake up from; but it was far from a bad dream. It was real. He was gone.

Instantly their thoughts turned to Barok, and they rushed from their home in search of him. Of course, they found him at home cradling his brother's signature scarlet jacket and sobbing into it.

At first he asked them to leave, but when they asked if that was what he really wanted all Barok could muster was a soft "No," before he was wracked by sobs once more. The last thing he wanted was to be alone; he didn't know what to do with himself. What was he supposed to do?

So, they neared him and wrapped their arms around him from behind; just holding him as he trembled and sobbed into Klint's coat. Words seemed wholly inadequate; after all, what could one say?

I'm sorry for your loss? My condolences? It's a shock? It's not fair?

Nothing felt like it could convey what was made so evident by Barok's bitter sobs; in truth, there were no words or cliches that could properly express the loss that had befallen this young man. It would be arrogant to think otherwise. All they could do was hold him and rub his back soothingly.

They were here, that's all they could convey to him.

Yet that in itself was more helpful than they could realise. It was a profound comfort to know that he was not alone in that moment, and that he didn't have to hide his grief behind the thin veneer of lordly decorum. He'd have to spend the days leading up to Klint's funeral hearing tired apologies; he'd have to nod and thank people and express his sadness in socially acceptable ways.

Right now, however, he could be raw and vulnerable and they were there to hold him without judgement or distraction. It only compounded in Barok's mind how important they were to him.

Klint was gone, what an earth was he supposed to do with himself? How on the hell was he supposed to ever move again? To breathe? To speak? He couldn't begin to comprehend doing anything.

Why hadn't the world come to a halt? Why could he hear birds outside, chirping as if this were another ordinary day? Why could he hear the business of London streets just outside his Mayfair home? But, of course, why should anyone outside know? Why should anyone care? It stung to think of how his brother's passing would mean so little to the world at large.

Then he felt their hand, gently squeezing his, and it reminded him once more that he wasn't alone. They had known Klint too, and the tears in their eyes told him that they understood his grief. Yes. It wasn't only him who acknowledged the passing of a great man.

".... Thank you," his voice, hoarse and rusty as it was, came as barely a whisper but it conveyed all the gratitude they needed to know their presence was welcomed here; they'd give Barok all the support he needed to cope with this grief.

They would be there for him. Always.

#barok van zieks #Barok x Ors #angst #request

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wisdomrays · 3 years

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: What Happens to People Born and Living in Non-Islamic Countries?: Part 2

Today, Muslims cannot provide security even in a small area for just their own community. Given this, the achievements of early Muslim administrations can be seen in their true light and greatness. In return for their security, reliability, wisdom, subtlety of mind and piety, the doors of many castles and cities were opened to them-not as honorary title-holders or visitors, but as governors and rulers.

When the Muslims took over Syria and Palestine, the commanders asked for the keys to Masjid al-Aqsa. The Patriarch told them that he would give them only to the person described in their holy books, for only that man was worthy to receive them. While they were disputing, Caliph 'Umar and one of his servants set out from Madina. No one knew how he would travel. But the Patriarch and priests knew how the rightful holder of keys would come.

'Umar borrowed a camel from the state treasury, and he and his servant took turns riding it. When the Muslim commanders heard of this, they prayed that 'Umar would be riding when they had to cross the Jordan river. They thought that, as the Byzantines were used to pomp and magnificence in their rulers, 'Umar might shame himself if he were leading the camel upon which his servant was riding, and crossing the river with rolled-up trousers.

In fact, most political pomp is injustice and inequity, and 'Umar was trying to avoid it. What his commanders feared came to pass. 'Umar's garment, worn and battered by the journey, also had many patches on it. When the Patriarch saw 'Umar, he cried out: "This is the man whose description we have in our books! Now, I shall give him the key." Because of the special knowledge obtained from their books, the priests knew how 'Umar would look and how he would cross the river. Handing the key and Masjid al-Aqsa to the Muslims caused many people to embrace Islam.

With whole-hearted ardor, 'Uqba ibn Nafi' set forth to spread the word of Islam. The conquest of Africa fell to his lot. After successive victories, some people envied his fame and misinformed the Caliph about him. The Caliph was provoked, and 'Uqba was dismissed from his post, arrested, and kept from spreading Islam. Imprisoned for 5 years, his only sorrow and great longing were expressed thus: "I wish I could have spread Islam all over Africa. I was prevented from achieving this. That is the only thing I regret."

Freeing and then appointing 'Uqba governor of Africa, Yazid made it possible for him to relaunch the conquest of Africa and spread Islam. 'Uqba reached the Atlantic Ocean in a single campaign. He could not help riding his horse into the ocean and crying out: "O God! If this dark sea had not prevented me going further, I would carry Your Holy Name overseas!"

I relate these historical accounts to remind us of how Islam was represented in the past and how it is now. The early Muslims took present-day Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, North Africa, Bukhara, Tashkent, Samarkand-places that would produce Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Sina, al-Farabi, Biruni-within 25 years. These early Muslims carried Islam to almost every part of the then-known world, and made the glorious flag of There is no god but God, Muhammad is His Messenger wave over many lands.

As for ourselves, we scarcely can speak the Truth to our neighbors, let alone go to foreign lands and tell the people there. Some of our neighbors may be willing to listen, but we cannot persuade even them. Our words come back to us cold, as if from walls of ice. They leave our mouths but do not penetrate the hearts and souls of people.

We point this out only to draw attention to immeasurable distance between ourselves and the Companions. They conveyed Islam to all peoples and lived only to do this. When they could not do so, they felt sorrow and pain for the lands and people unaware of the Truth. By contrast, we cannot represent Islam fully in our individual lives, and still less can we convey its message to people abroad. We have neither abandoned our personal needs and preoccupations, nor given the highest priority to working in the way of God. We remember the ways to our homes, our jobs, and our worldly lives only too well. Those of us who went to non-Muslim countries did so for economic reasons, not to take the name of God to those lands. That is why we are so unable to spread Islam among them.

If non-Muslims are now lost in deviation, corruption, and unbelief due to our own ignorance, laziness, and incompetence, we shall be called to account for it. Giving lectures and organizing seminars and panels can be considered moving toward being on the way of God, not true service to Islam. If true service to Islam is likened to a great palace, we are still wandering around the first entrance. Because we have not yet entered upon the task, many people are going astray. Sometimes we speak to them of Islam, but we have not saved ourselves from futile internal disputes and conflicts.

We are nowhere near representing Islam at the level of 'Umar, 'Uqba ibn Nafi', and others of that caliber. Who knows how their opponents were struck with fear at seeing their determined courage, their indomitable devotion to God; or struck with wonder by their reliability, generosity, justice, and humanity, all of which moved them to wonder about and then embrace Islam. The fact that many of the countries in which Muslims now live were conquered by these early Muslims shows what absolute sincerity in the way of God can achieve.

Considered from this angle, the question of non-Muslims, especially those living in non-Islamic countries, takes on a different aspect. We need to see them with a greater tolerance, and say: 'Shame on us! We have not been able to convey Islam to them so that they can leave the darkness in which they live." It will help to narrate here the true story of a German family.

A Turkish worker lived with a German family. He paid great attention to his religious duties, and performed them sensitively. Except for working hours, whenever he was with the German family he told them about Islam. After a while, the father became Muslim. His wife said to him, as did the wife of 'Amir ibn Tufail: "We have always been together so far. Let's be together in the future, too, together on the Sirat Bridge and also in Paradise. If Islam really makes one reach heavenly realms, as you said, why should I stay back from such a blessing while you enjoy it?" So she embraced Islam. The children followed her, and the family group of Islam was completed and the home became an outpost of Paradise.

Several days later, the husband came and said these startling words to the Turkish worker: "I could not express my love and gratitude to you, because you have been an honored guest to us. However, sometimes I get very angry and wish to beat you up. You came and the Qur'an, the Prophet, and God followed you. My home became a heavenly abode. But I had a father. He was a very straight, good man. He passed away a few days before you came. Why couldn't you have come a bit earlier and told him of Islam as well?"

These words indeed represent the voice, the complaint, the rebuke of the whole non-Muslim world. We have failed to take Islam to them. Even in our own countries we have been unable to exert enough effort or support the cause of Islam to make our own people know it properly.

Another aspect of the question is this: Those who took us away from Islam always promised a Western standard of life. But 150 years later we are still beggars at the doors of the West. Little has changed, and we cannot say that we have progressed in any important sense. The West continues to treat us as servants who leave their countries in return for poor wages. Even if we presented its people with the golden principles of Islam, the message that will open the gates of Paradise for them, they will reject both Islam and us. In part, this is because we are despised laborers at their disposal. As usual, the rich have difficulty imagining that they need anything from the beggars at their doors.

Muslims have been defeated in so many fields many times over, and remain dependent on the West. Why should the West listen to us? Only if we can live and represent Islam thoroughly, go to the non-Muslims with a commanding confidence in our own honor, dignity, and greatness and only for the sake of God, can we hope that they will listen to us and accept Islam. We cannot continue to accept our negative image in their eyes, but how can we change this unless we regain and reassert our former identity?

In the Hereafter they will be asked why they did not embrace Islam, and we will be asked why we did not convey it to them. So, the responsibilities of both Muslims and non-Muslims should be considered equal. Any judgments about non-Muslims should be made justly and uprightly. We cannot condemn non-Muslims to Hell simply for being non-Muslims, nor can we dream that people will embrace Islam just because we ask them to do so.

We believe that the global balance will change in the near future. Especially in Turkey, Central Asia, Egypt, Pakistan, and some other places, Muslims will regain their consciousness and raise up strong individuals who will resemble the early Muslims in their desire to establish Islam and its high values in other lands. Only through sustained and sincere effort will Islam once again become a major and respected factor in the world, and will the voices of its followers be heard. This is not impossible. Those who will realize it will be Muslims of good character whose souls have bonded with Islam, not those inconsistent and inadequate Muslims who follow their bodily needs and desires and only concern themselves with Islam once in a while.

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namelessarcher · 4 years

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Been feeling pretty bad about myself lately, can I please get archer nobu comforting s/o who feels inadequate in battle due to not being able to fight like their servants do and just feeling unworthy of her attention in general even though they’re amazing? Your blog is amazing btw, really cheers me up when I’m feeling down about life :)

Nobu has only ever wanted to keep a smile on your face. She always thought that your smile lit up the entire room and it pained her to see you now. You hung your head low and you didn’t even look them in the eye after that hard mission. Honestly, you really wished you were able to do more for them. Your Servants were the ones who always put their lives at risk while you helplessly watched.

Nobu does do her best to cheer you up. It usually works really well. A few ridiculous jokes, some physical affection and squishing your cheeks. Usually that works. Usually. Yet today it didn’t. She saw how your lips slowly curved up into a weak smile, and she couldn’t stand how as soon as you looked away from her your smile dropped from your face.

It’s not until after dinner and the two of you were preparing for bed that Nobu finally decides to talk to you. As soon as she hears what is that is pulling you down, she’s at a loss for words. She couldn’t believe that you thought yourself unworthy of her and the other Servants. She couldn’t believe it. She ends up cutting you off mid-sentence to say that she actually really thinks that you are more than what you’re truly worth.

While Nobu understands that you may believe that you are less than the Servants that you have summoned, you are not. After all, you are yourself and no one else. No one can ever replace you, and no one can ever be who you are. What you’re doing now is something that only you can do. She really wishes that you could see yourself the way that she sees you. To Nobu, you’re a wonderful significant other, a talented Master, and such a kind person overall. It ends up bringing you to tears, and while you didn’t tell Nobu just how much you needed to hear those words, you conveyed your gratitude in the hug you gave her afterwards.

#oda nobunaga #fate grand order #fgo #mod jenn #headcanons #Anonymous

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theresnosafeharbor4myships · 5 years

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Chapter 3 of my Caryl fic Through the Storm is here! This fic takes place during ep 9x16 “The Storm.” Chapter 1 can be found here, chapter 2 here.

Through the Storm: Chapter 3 - Seeing Something Real (also on 9L)

“The only thing I know is this: I am full of wounds and still standing on my feet.” – Nikos Kazantzaki

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Carol waited until everyone had exited, then, with Ezekiel, closed the gates of the Kingdom for the last time.

The clang echoed in her soul, a strained and hollow final note closing the curtain on the life she’d had as Henry’s mother.

It sounded hauntingly familiar, a resonating cadence that thrummed in accord with the exit from a Georgia farmhouse where a grave stood, now long forgotten, the Cherokee roses they’d placed on the mound of dirt surely one with the dust of the ground.

Without a single glance back, with a sordid mixture of regret and relief, Carol walked to her horse, mounted, and followed the caravan of people out into the cold.

She didn’t turn to Ezekiel, who lingered with a long look goodbye, no doubt heartsick at the loss of all he’d once had but ever hopeful as they all pressed on to a new life.

Staying the past several days hadn’t been difficult, merely busy. From sunrise to long after its setting and often during the midnight hours when she couldn’t sleep, Carol had helped plan, pack, coordinate, prepare, and gear up for the long, cold trek ahead of them. They’d radioed Alexandria and Hilltop to ask for assistance, and Michonne and Aaron had arrived a few days ago, with Yumiko and Magna, now living comfortably at the Hilltop, following a day later. The presence of such skilled allies accompanying them allayed some of the people’s fears, and Carol realized—always too late, she berated herself—how isolated they’d all become.

Having Michonne and Daryl so close again felt comforting, and spending time with them, even just packing up and working around the compound, caused something long hidden inside of her to awaken. Gratitude filled her—for their friendship, the longevity of it, despite their fractured living, and for all that they’d come to mean to each other throughout the long years of running, hiding, fighting, and surviving—but she couldn’t express it. Could barely express much of the tumult inside of her, but she pressed on, ever mindful of the people under her watch and care.

They drifted along in front of her now, so much like her at the beginning of it all, so little like her since then. Weathered, fractured, lost, and aching in a way no warm blankets, no respite from whatever fresh hell awaited them, could provide.

She spurred her horse on, catching up to the group at large, wondering what their future would look like. Many of them skilled and willing to work hard, though uncomfortable outside of the walls, they’d fit nicely into the Kingdom and would likely contribute to the council. And numbers couldn’t hurt.

Could she count herself among them?

The pounding of her heart told her no. She needed a fresh start, one where the people didn’t look to her as their leader or treat her as royalty—royalty, she inwardly scoffed. How did I let that happen?—or think that she and Ezekiel could somehow work things out.

And they would. Jerry had always adored her, refusing to let her stand outside of the royalty, always reminding her of her place next to Ezekiel as a queen, enjoying teasing her about it. Though loyal and always one for levity, which she’d come to appreciate, she knew he represented the community of those who’d bought into the fantasy. And she needed to face her reality.

It’d been far too long.

Perhaps Alexandria would work. Michonne and Judith lived there. She’d lived there once. It had RJ and Aaron and Gracie. Hope for the future.

It also had Negan.

She sighed, the eternal war within her stomping along like her horse’s feet. Lydia would live there too now. Could she see the face of the girl her son had cared about so much that it’d gotten him killed? Would it ever get easier to see her and be reminded of him? Of a once happy, if unrealistic, life?

They’d circled each other since the funeral, giving each other a wide berth, Carol not sure how to treat the girl she felt sorry for now that she knew the extent of horror she’d lived with. Still, seeing Lydia and not Henry made the ache acute, the grief raw, the vision of his demise fresh in her mind. She couldn’t move past it, didn’t know if she could face her every day.

Her thoughts jumbled, Carol offered her steed to Michonne and got off to walk with the others. She saw Ezekiel watching her give up her royal horse, and something flashed in his eyes, but he continued leading the caravan with Jerry next to him.

Her feet felt heavy, but she listlessly kept an eye on Lydia and trudged on, remembering all the roads she’d traversed before when she thought she couldn’t take another step. Back then, she’d had others who knew the depth of pain and despair, who’d felt too much, seen such horrors, felt the curse of spilled blood on their own hands. This was altogether different, a road she walked alone.

She felt more than heard Daryl fall into step beside her.

Maybe not alone, she considered. He’d witnessed both losses with her. Not as their father, not even as someone who’d spent a lot of time with either of them, but damn if he didn’t crumble right alongside her, didn’t live with the ghosts of them, didn’t see them, both living and gone, in his nightmares, if his arms hadn’t caught her, held her together, picked her back up.

They shared a morbid tether they couldn’t break, though the cords that linked them by so much more than the loss held tighter and more comforting than any other.

With him, the road still felt long but a little less lonely.

“Henry wanted her here,” Daryl stated without preamble. “When no one else did.”

His voice held conviction, a tinge of pride in his tone, and Carol realized it was the first time she’d heard Henry’s name spoken aloud in weeks. Everyone else used titles when speaking of him, which they tried to avoid altogether. ‘I’m sorry about your son,’ they said, or ‘I wish we didn’t have to leave the prince behind’ or ‘he was a brave kid.’ Even Ezekiel lately had taken to saying, ‘I miss our son too.’ Rarely did anyone speak Henry’s name. As if doing so was a curse.

She missed him, dammit. She missed Henry. There was something healing in hearing Daryl speaking his name. He didn’t tiptoe around the hurt, didn’t speak in sympathy-code, wasn’t afraid to face the raw.

One of the reasons she trusted him so much, she concluded. He was real. Real about the pain and loss, authentic with people and about those that’d died, genuine with his words and about the ugliness of life. Nothing superfluous or fanciful.

Real in a way she missed being.

He kept glancing at her, but she couldn’t face him just now. Not with this revelation. Not when she felt like such a fraud.

“She’s a good kid.”

She hoped some day she could see what Daryl saw when she looked at Lydia, but right now it only sent slivers of ice through her heart. “Every time I look at her, all I see is him,” she admitted through the pain.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him look up at the sky. Not in frustration or disgust, but something else. She felt the tension in him suddenly.

“What do you see when you look at me?” he ventured.

It was a bold question for Daryl, the type of query she never could have imagined him making, not with such curiosity and conviction. He’d grown so much over the years; she’d watched him blossom into a loving, caring, generous, fiercely protective man who knew how to stand against the evils of this world. A man of honor. A man who’d never failed her.

Carol slowed her steps a bit and turned to look at him, a bit surprised. Though she knew him by heart, her eyes skipped over his form a few times, briefly taking in the tattered clothes of a man who didn’t care about pretense, the strong hands gripping the strap of his crossbow, both fierce weapons she’d relied on, the face of someone who didn’t see a shattered mother but a trusted friend with oceans of history that forged a bond no time or distance could sever. A man of substance and his word. Eyes that saw too much but that she always found herself drawn to when she needed the truth.

How could she tell him all the things she saw when she looked at him? “I see you,” she stated simply, her resolve nearly breaking at the honesty of his question, the limit of her answer.

She reached up to grip his arm, hoping to convey what she saw, what she felt, through her touch and the look she gave him, instead of her inadequate words.

The left side of his mouth tilted up a bit and he gave her a single nod, seemingly content with her answer, and they picked up the pace again.

Still mulling his question over, she realized he feared she’d see Henry when she looked at him too. After all, he’d crowded her space the instant she’d spotted her son on that spike. He had every reason to wonder if she identified him as a harbinger of death.

They’d helped each other through too much for that to be the case.

They walked on in silence, the muted sunlight, the stretch of her muscles, the friends around her all making her feel momentarily alive. It also felt exhausting.

Grief made everything so stark and clean, and simultaneously muddied and confusing.

Jerry passed water around to them and the others who walked, and she watched Daryl make sure Lydia got some. He really had taken her under his wing, and she wondered at the connection they shared. The girl was squirrely, always curling in on herself, and suddenly she recognized the actions of a victim. She should’ve seen it before now. Then again, her focus had been everywhere but at Lydia.

No wonder Daryl had become her protector. She was one of them.

Daryl stepped ahead of her, and she followed his gaze to the footprints that crossed the road just as the horses began whinnying. Ever alert, he swung the bow off his shoulder, surveying the ground around them, the tree line just off the road.

She heard the growl of the walkers just as he did, and she readied her bow, letting the arrow fly seconds after Daryl’s hit its mark. He moved down the ditch to retrieve his arrow, glancing at her as he moved around the car she hadn’t noticed.

She took a step forward, intent on following him, but Ezekiel’s commanding voice behind her surprised her.

“Keep going. We’ll catch up.” He determinedly barreled after Daryl, passing her without so much as a glance.

Carol considered following anyway, but she didn’t have the energy it took to disagree, to find out what he was on about. Or to play referee.

She’d said everything she needed to say to Ezekiel the past few days. Keeping up appearances until they arrived at the Hilltop. Going through Henry’s things. Working together to tie up the fairy tale he’d believed in and she’d let herself run away with. She didn’t want to hurt him.

She didn’t want anything from him anymore.

She stared after them, stepping absently out of the way of the people behind her, then continued on. Whatever he wanted to get off his chest, Daryl could handle it. Maybe she’d ask about it. But later.

Right now she just didn’t have the energy to handle a fitful king still holding on to what was already gone.

#caryl #caryl fanfiction #caryl fanfic #carol x daryl #daryl x carol #personal #my writing #through the storm

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death-burst · 5 years

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A 3-paragraph rambling about 3 little words.

@flavoracle, I’ve noticed that you use “I’m honored” quite often. And it felt a little weird / over-the-top at first, you know, like those old grandiloquent knights. But the more I see you use it, the more I’m coming to like it. And here is why.

(Sorry for overanalyzing that so hard, but even if it looks like a small inconsequential detail at first glance, it really made me think deep about how I interact with other people.)

For me, words often feel inadequate, it’s hard to convey emotions in a way that feels genuine without being exaggerated. Like, how do you express gratitude for a life changing moment versus gratitude for answering a simple question? Repeating “thank you” more times doesn’t cut it, and saying “thank you” in a flowery way only convey your charisma, not the depth of your gratitude. In the flesh world, tone and body language help a little, but on a screen especially, I find that super hard.

And conversely, when you’re on the receiving end, I find just as hard to respond to those emotions adequately. Like, are you writing 3 pages just because it’s your style, or are you really feeling that hard? (I’m exagerrating a little here to make the example clearer, I hope you still get what I mean.) I have no fucking idea. Replying “yeah, you’re welcome, no big deal” feels kinda dismissive if you are writing 3 pages because it was really that important to you, it WAS a big deal. But on the other hand, assuming it was really a life-changing moment for you sounds awfully pretentious.

So what’s the right middle ground? What’s the proper reception? Well, I feel like your “I’m honored” comes pretty close to it. I understand it as: I acknowledge the relationship between us, and I’m glad we are both parts of the same web of people living together (and I’m not sure what’s the strength of that relationship yet, but it’s not that important).

But so, let me ask you: what do YOU feel, when you’re writing “I’m honored”?

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goldenhemmings · 6 years

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Rivals (Part One)

AU where Shawn and Y/N are working on opposing political campaigns. They meet and tension ensues. Enjoy bitches.

“Y/L/N! Where’s Y/L/N?” you picked your head up from where it was dutifully bowed over your computer screen and forced your fingers to stop flying across the keyboard as you heard your boss’s familiar call. You stood up to walk out from behind your desk, adjusting your dress as you went. You poked your head out of the doorway of your small office to find Mr. Clark speed-walking down the hallway, flanked by a harsh looking middle-aged woman with her hair in a tight bun, pad and pencil tightly in hand. Mr. Clark smiled as he locked eyes with you, smoothing down his navy blue suit and red tie. “Ah, there’s my favorite personal assistant! Y/N, meet Rebecca Carter, Rebecca, meet Y/N.” You stuck your hand out for the woman to shake, and she returned the gesture with a kind smile, which seemed out of place on her otherwise harsh features.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Carter.”

“Pleasure’s all mine,” she replied. “From what Mr. Clark has told me, you’re quite the young woman.”

You smiled. You were fresh out of college and had somehow managed to land a job working as the primary assistant for one of the most reputable politicians around. One of the biggest elections of the decade was coming up, and Mr. Clark was one of two names left on the ticket. The other, of course, being the infamous Dr. Robinson, a woman so loved by the people yet feared by her council. She was a walking paradox, but if anyone could beat her, it was Mr. Clark. His policy ideas were revolutionary, and he only hired the best of the best to work on his campaign. Your youth and energy somehow seemed to fit the bill. You knew how wonderful of an opportunity it was to be in such close council with Mr. Clark--after all, you had worked your way to be so high up in the campaign that most of the people answering to you were longtime political vets at least twice your age.

“What can I do for you, Ms. Carter?”

“Please, call me Rebecca. I’m with the Daily Tribune. I have a few statements here from your opposing campaign that I’d like a response to. I asked Mr. Clark to personally respond, but he is obviously a very busy man.”

Mr. Clark joined in. “I told her the only other person I’d trust to speak on my behalf was my lovely right-hand-woman Y/N. And here we are.” He turned to face you, clearly in a hurry. “Now, I’ve gotta run. Just respond to the statements as well as you can, and don’t say anything that will get me in trouble. You’ll do great, kid!” You returned his smile as he bounded off back down the hallway, in awe of how he remained so upbeat with everything he had on his plate. The election was less than two weeks away, and the whole office was buzzing nonstop. You turned to Rebecca, gesturing for her to follow you into your office.

The questions were fairly standard: How would Mr. Clark respond to Dr. Robinson’s claim that such-and-such policy would be detrimental to the economy? What will his response be to Dr. Robinson’s new campaign strategy? But it was the last one that stuck with you and put you slightly on edge: How do you respond to the claim that Mr. Clark’s campaign is poorly staffed and managed?

When Rebecca finished the question, you were quite taken aback. Poorly managed? The campaign staff members were putting in crazy hours just to stay two steps ahead on the unofficial to-do list. Clark’s campaign manager and strategists were brilliant leaders and organizers, so you just couldn’t seem to wrap your head around the merits of that claim. You denounced the statement articulately, but couldn’t help yourself from asking where it came from.

“May I ask who said that, Rebecca?”

“I really shouldn’t say,” she replied, shooting you an apologetic smile.

“Please,” you insisted, “It’s only to satisfy my curiosity.”

“Well, I spoke earlier with Dr. Robinson and several of her staffers, but I believe that particular statement came from a…” she trailed off, reading back through her scrambled notes. “Ah. A staffer by the name of Shawn Mendes.”

You frowned. For someone making such bold claims, you didn’t recognize his name. “Thank you, Rebecca. Now,” you began, taking out a sticky note and a pen, “Here’s my phone number.” You scrawled your cell on the yellow paper, folding it once and handing it to the reporter. “If you need anything at all, even if it’s just another series of statements, don’t hesitate to call.” She accepted the paper, smiled graciously, and let herself out of your office while thanking you.

Still bothered by Rebecca’s final question, you decided you were going to confront the source. Your work for the day was essentially done, and you trusted the other staffers to be fine without you. Besides, if Mr. Clark did desperately need you for whatever reason, Robinson’s campaign headquarters were only a few minutes away.

After getting in your car and driving a couple minutes down the road, you pulled up and parked in front of Mr. Clark’s opposing campaign’s office. You grabbed your small tan purse from the passenger seat of your car and smoothed your dress as you got out, locking the car behind you as you started for the main entrance. Once inside the main lobby, you noted that it was just as sleek and well-kept as Mr. Clark’s. There were a few couches and chairs on the left side of the lobby, and the right side held a small refrigerator right next to the receptionist’s desk. You started to walk past the desk towards the offices, ready to hunt down this Shawn Mendes’s office, when the receptionist called after you.

“Excuse me.” You stopped in your tracks and turned to face the young receptionist as she leaned over the side of the desk to catch you. “Can I help you with something?”

You smiled, taking a few steps back towards her. “I’m here to see Mr. Mendes.”

“Do you have a meeting?”

“He’s expecting me,” you lied, and the receptionist looked uneasy. She clearly didn’t recognize you, and why would she? You’d had no reason to step foot inside Dr. Robinson’s office until now.

“Well, why don’t you sign in on the clipboard and I’ll go tell him someone’s here to see him.”

“That’s not necessary,” you said kindly, hoping to ease her into letting you go yourself. You wanted to confront this man; not have it the other way around. “Like I said, Mr. Mendes will be expecting me, and I’m already running a bit behind schedule. I’m perfectly fine to escort myself.”

“O-Okay,” the receptionist stumbled, confused, but you could tell she wasn’t going to argue with you. Having just come from work, you looked like you meant business, and you did. “Just down the hall and to your left. Mr. Mendes’s office is the second door on the right.”

“Thank you,” you smiled, hoping to convey your gratitude. “Have a nice day.”

You followed the receptionist’s directions, walking down the corridor and to the left until you found the second office on the right. The door was open, and you were met with a young man in a gray suit, his feet up on a mahogany desk, tapping along to the soft sound of a John Mayer song coming from a speaker on top of the desk. His hands were behind his head as he reclined in his office chair, his eyes closed.

You tapped twice on the open door, stirring the man from his trance as he opened his eyes to see the source of the knocking. “Hard at work, I see,” you scoffed, quite amused at the irony of the state you found him in. Whose office is poorly staffed now?

He smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. He slowly retracted his feet from the top of the desk and lowered the volume on his speaker, turning again to face you. “I’ve actually finished all of my work for the day, but I’m sticking around for a little while in case my boss needs me for anything.”

“How diligent of you, Mr. Mendes.”

“Shawn,” he corrected, cocking his head to the side, eyebrows slightly furrowed as he took you in. “And who might the beautiful stranger in my office be?”

You smiled, leaning against the doorframe. To your dismay, his words made your stomach twirl, but you tried not to show it. “Y/N Y/L/N. A member of the campaign staff you so eloquently denounced as inadequate.”

He let out a little laugh, suddenly understanding. He couldn’t hide his amusement at the fact that someone had actually shown up at his office to call him out. “Now let’s not get carried away, sweetheart. I didn’t say that.”

“No, you didn’t. Not exactly, anyways. It meant the same, nonetheless.”

“You know, I thought you looked familiar when I saw you,” he said, standing up from his desk and crossing to the front of it, leaning back against it with his arms crossed over his chest. “Never thought I’d be face to face with Clark’s go-to girl. You look better in real life than you do in all the pictures.”

“So you do know who I am, then. Funny, because I’ve never even heard of you.”

He smirked. “Ouch.”

Up close, you couldn’t deny that he was gorgeous. You hadn’t expected him to be so...your age. And attractive. His gray suit fit his broad shoulders perfectly, and he was tall, maybe 6’1” or 6’2”. His brown curls were just the right amount of messy, styled up off of his forehead with one loose strand hanging down over his eye. You sighed. It was always the hot ones that were the biggest assholes.

You turned your head to the left side of his office, finding a spot on the wall right next to the door where his diplomas and several awards were hung in matching frames. “Harvard,” you noted, running your fingers over the glass frame that contained his Bachelor’s degree. “Impressive.”

“Wanted to get out of Canada for a little while, get my degree in the States. You seem surprised,” he laughed, never taking his eyes off of you.

“Not surprised. Just...impressed,” you reiterated.

“Is there something I can actually do for you, sweetheart?” he asked, licking his lips as he tilted his head to the side again, never losing his smirk.

You smiled back, standing up straight so that you were no longer leaning on the doorframe. “Just wanted to see if you were as bold off paper as you sound on it.”

“And what’s the consensus?”

“I’ll let you know.”

He smiled smugly at the ground before looking back up at you, taking a step closer. “Hmm. Well, why don’t you let me take you to dinner? Maybe it will aid in the decision making.”

You were surprised by how shamelessly forward he was. “Probably not a good idea, considering we’re kind of working against each other.”

He grinned, seeming unphased by your rejection. “Well, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you anyways, especially with the debate coming up. I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

“I’m flattered,” you teased, though his overconfidence got slightly under your skin. You adjusted your purse strap over your shoulder and turned your back to walk out of his office. “Have a nice night, Shawn,” you said over your shoulder.

You could hear the smile in his voice as he called, “You too, sweetheart.”

#shawn mendes #shawn mendes imagine #shawn mendes fanfiction #shawn mendes au #shawn mendes imagines #shawn mendes oneshot #shawn mendes fanfic #shawn mendes series #imagines #fanfiction

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nathanwilson-indn341-2019 · 5 years

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Project 2 - Rethinking My Project Idea

After putting together the presentation, presenting and getting feedback I began to realise that my idea was pretty unachievable, considering people are currently working on sign language translation using Xbox Kinect technology and have been so for years, it would seem that I wouldn’t achieve anything near what I wanted to in the time we have available. Further in researching sign language I discovered that the face and body are essential aspects of the language, it is not just finger position but hands in relation to the body and facial expression as well. So my solution would also be an inadequate tool to use for anything meaningful.

Thinking about other avenues for me to pursue I started to think about touch as a communication tool. Our current digital communication tools mostly focus on text, voice and video. When talking to distant loved ones we often do so via video chat I feel this is because being able to hear the person’s voice and see their face not only lets us tap into facial and vocal cues, but also makes us feel as if they are present, helping us to feel closer to them. The digitization of touch has the potential to add a lot in this realm of digital communication, in being able to transfer touch we have the ability to make our distant loved ones feel more present than they have before.

David Rose an MIT Media Labs researcher in talking about digital haptic interfaces claims they have some key advantages “ 1) they are very fast to “read”; 2) they can be embedded in everyday objects and gestures; and 3) our sense of touch may be the best modality to convey human emotion.“ He goes on to speak about a Berkeley psychological experiment where pairs of strangers were tasked to communicate 12 emotions through touching their partners forearm through a curtain. “The results indicated that participants could decode anger, fear, disgust, love, gratitude, and sympathy at above-chance levels. […] For example, sympathy was associated with stroking and patting, anger was associated with hitting and squeezing, disgust was associated with a pushing motion, and fear was associated with trembling.” Touch has the ability to communicate quickly and non-verbally, our sense of touch is designed to work quickly, the skin processes subconsciously. “When I’m holding hands with my daughter, I unconsciously sense her state even when we aren’t sending squeezing patterns to each other.”

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/16/communicating-through-touch/

Lili Golmohammadi currently a PhD student attached to the In-Touch program at the University College London is looking at the relationship between touch, loneliness and digital communication technologies. She feels that digital technologies have made us touch each other less as we touch digital technology more, this is making us lonelier, and speaks to the contemporary loneliness epidemic reported on in the UK. Lili is looking at anti-loneliness tech design and is seeking answers to the questions of how digital touch tech can help to alleviate these loneliness problems. She sees a real value in the digitization of touch as a communication tool.

Source: https://in-touch-digital.com/doctoral-research/

There are also examples of how a digital touch can improve the lives of the visually impaired.

youtube

The Ford Feel the View project allows blind users the ability to ‘see the view’ through touch. An image is taken put into greyscale and the different values vibrate a different frequencies as the user runs their hand over it, allowing them to see the scenery through touch.

Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/06/fords-feel-the-view-smart-window-blind-passengers-technology/

youtube

The Mobile Lorm glove was designed to help the deafblind persons communicate. The gloves translate the hand-touch alphabet Lorm, to text and vice versa. Users of the glove can write Lorm on their hands (read by pressure sensors) and either send it to another glove user or send it via mobile where it is translated into text. Text can be sent from mobile and the user will feel the translated text through haptic feedback devices on the back of the glove. This helps the deafblind to communicate over a distance where before they had to rely on physical contact for communication.

Source: http://www.design-research-lab.org/projects/mobile-lorm-glove/

So I want to make a wearable device that can digitize and send touch over a distance. I feel such a device could impact how we communicate thus impacted our quality of life.

The visually impaired don’t get the same experience we get from video calls, they do not get to see the face of their far away loved ones. I feel that by introducing touch as a form of person to person communication can allow them to feel closer in the way that seeing a person’s face through video does for the non-visually impaired.

Further I feel that there is a real value for anyone to use digital touch communication. A personal example is when my girlfriend was studying in Paris a few years ago, we would often talk over skype especially the times where she was feeling anxious and overwhelmed, being able to digitally hold her hand in those times would have greatly impacted my ability to connect with her and make her feel better. This would work for a variety of people such as parents away from their children being able to touch them or hold their hand. Human to human contact has a profound effect on us and our relationships.

So I want to make a pair of gloves that connect to your phone via bluetooth, one is a sensor glove, using pressure sensors across the hand to gather touch data, the other is the response glove that will likely use haptic feedback devices to relay that touch data. In this we will get the digital transfer of touch from one user to another, allowing for two someone at a distance to feel what their partner feels or by two people using both a sensor and feedback glove allowing them to virtually hold hands.

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pope-francis-quotes · 7 years

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3rd April >> Pope Francis sent a message to OSCE human trafficking conference calling for an end to the 'worsening tragedy' of human trafficking

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis' message to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s “17th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference,” taking place in Vienna. The message was read by Fr. Michael Czerny, SJ, Under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The Holy Father called the problem “a form of slavery, a crime against humanity, a grave violation of human rights, and an atrocious scourge” and said that in some instances, “evidence brings one to doubt the real commitment of some important players.” Please find below the full text of the message: 17th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference “Trafficking in Children and the Best Interests of the Child” Vienna, 3 April 2017 CHILD TRAFFICKING: SOME URGENT CONCERNS Michael Czerny S.J. Under-Secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section: Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development MESSAGE It is my honour to begin this keynote with a warm greeting from Pope Francis to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and to everyone involved in this important Conference: For the Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons to gather for a 17th Conference in Vienna is a welcome sign of the OSCE’s determination to eradicate what must be among the most shameful dynamics to scar the face of modern humanity. Most believers of any faith and people of all persuasions are shocked, indeed scandalized, when they discover that trafficking occurs in every country and that it represents a most prosperous business on the planet. It is a form of slavery, a crime against humanity, a grave violation of human rights, an atrocious scourge, and it is all the more to be condemned when it takes place against children. Therefore I very much welcome your deliberations about “Trafficking in Children and the Best Interests of the Child”. Let us indeed do everything we can to raise public awareness and better coordinate governmental, legal, enforcement and social efforts to rescue millions of children, as well as adults. Just as urgently, let us do even more to prevent them from being trafficked and enslaved. I earnestly pray for the successful and fruitful work of the Conference, I invoke upon all the participants, organizers and staff the Blessing of the Almighty, which I also ask you to convey to all those who are engaged in helping the victims of human trafficking and ending this terrible crime in the OSCE countries. These words of Pope Francis are addressed to all people, believers or not, who hold human life precious and want everyone to flourish. Let me add my own gratitude for your welcome to this Conference and for giving the Holy See the opportunity to propose some fundamental terms of reference at the start of our two days of deliberations. INTRODUCTION The 17th Conference aims at enhancing the coherence and synergy of the responses to the challenges posed by child trafficking in the OSCE region, seeking solely the best interests of the child. When spelling out the mandate of the Section for Migrants and Refugees within the Holy See’s new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Francis asked that special attention be paid to the victims of human trafficking and, among them, to children. Today’s complex migration scenario is sadly characterized by “[…] new forms of slavery imposed by criminal organizations, which buy and sell men, women and children.” Accordingly, Pope Francis dedicated his Message for the 2017 World Day of Migrants and Refugee to “Child Migrants, the Vulnerable and the Voiceless.” He felt “[…] compelled to draw attention to the reality of child migrants, especially the ones who are alone” because “[…] among migrants, children constitute the most vulnerable group.” In 2014, during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem, Pope Francis expressed his burning concern for the situation of “great numbers of children [who] continue to live in inhuman situations, on the fringes of society, in the peripheries of great cities and in the countryside. All too many children continue to be exploited, maltreated, enslaved, prey to violence and illicit trafficking. Still too many children live in exile, as refugees, at times lost at sea, particularly in the waters of the Mediterranean. Today, in acknowledging this, we feel shame before God.” This powerful appeal joins those addressed by previous Popes to intergovernmental and international organizations, to civil society, to citizens everywhere. But the tragedy of trafficking persists and is indeed worsening. We can only conclude, sadly and indeed penitently, that all such efforts have so far proven insufficient. In some situations, evidence brings one to doubt the real commitment of some important players. This moved Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to affirm: “While the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that the best interests of the minor shall always be safeguarded (cf. Art. 3, 1), […] unfortunately this does not always happen in practice. Although there is increasing public awareness of the need for immediate and incisive action to protect minors, nevertheless, many are left to themselves and, in various ways, face the risk of exploitation.” METHOD Our 17th Conference intends to foster the well-known approach of the three pillars or P’s: to prevent, to protect and to prosecute. To these dimensions of effective action against trafficking, we add to partner. Let us apply these four perspectives in order to see and understand the phenomenon of child trafficking and to judge the immediate and wider causes, in order to undertake action against this continuing scourge. 1. PREVENTION In 2015, Pope Francis stated that modern slavery is “[…] rooted in a notion of the human person, which allows him or her to be treated as an object. Whenever sin corrupts the human heart and distances us from our Creator and our neighbours, the latter are no longer regarded as beings of equal dignity, as brothers or sisters sharing a common humanity, but rather as objects.” Our first step, therefore, must be a cultural transformation that restores the human person to the centre. “Benedict XVI reminded us that precisely because it is human, all human activity, including economic activity, must be ethically structured and governed (cf. Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, n. 36). We must return to the centrality of the human being, to a more ethical vision of activities and of human relationships without the fear of losing something.” Where human beings are objectified, children can be trafficked according to a perverse market logic of supply and demand. From the “supply” side, in communities of origin, several factors increase the vulnerability of the child victims, namely endemic poverty, inadequate child protection, ignorance and cultural constraints. It should be acknowledged that very little has been done to address the “why” of many young people being tricked or sold into trafficking and slavery. From the “demand” side, in the communities of destination of this tragic trade, one cannot but note the evident paradox between the unanimous and absolute condemnation of child trafficking on the one side and, on the other, the increasing demand for children to be enslaved, exploited and abused. This is possibly the nastiest illustration of how modern capitalism at its amoral extremes is able to commoditize absolutely everything, even young lives. In his 2017 Message, Pope Francis strongly underlines these observations: “[T]he most powerful force driving the exploitation and abuse of children is demand. If more rigorous and effective action is not taken against those who profit from such abuse, we will not be able to stop the multiple forms of slavery where children are the victims” Demand and supply, in turn, are deeply rooted in the three great issues of conflicts and wars, economic privation and natural disasters, or what the victims experience as extreme poverty, underdevelopment, exclusion, unemployment and lack of access to education. OSCE, with its 57 well-developed member States, surely has a unique opportunity to address these root causes of human trafficking. Our response, therefore, should not be “We cannot” nor “We don’t want to”. 2. PROTECTION The second pillar is “protect”. It is increasingly difficult nowadays to protect children from well-organized and unscrupulous criminal networks. Situations of great vulnerability have multiplied dramatically in recent years, partly as a result of forced massive displacement that have affected some regions of the world. In 2007, referring to unaccompanied children, in 2007 Pope Benedict XVI pointed out that “[…] these boys and girls often end up on the street abandoned to themselves and prey to unscrupulous exploiters who often transform them into the object of physical, moral and sexual violence.” In 2016 Pope Francis added that “[…] the dividing line between migration and trafficking can at times be very subtle.” There are many remarkable initiatives, undertaken both by States and by civil society organizations, to ensure better protection of child victims of trafficking. In line with the title of this conference, let me emphasize the ultimate objective: the best interests of the child, in which the family dimension occupies a place of greatest importance. Protection of children requires the protection of families; therefore, policies and programs must provide families with the essential tools to protect and nurture their children in situations of vulnerability. Among these essentials – all well within reach of OSCE member-states – are decent housing, healthcare, the opportunity to work, education … In this regard, an appropriate international legal framework has been established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 3. PROSECUTION As for “prosecution”, the complexity of the global human trafficking scenario makes prosecuting traffickers very difficult. The nefarious action of international criminal organizations, motivated by the lure of lavish profits, begins through underhanded trickery and kidnappings in the victims’ home communities,. The action then continues in the countries of transit and countries of destination, thanks to corruption that ensures invisibility and impunity for traffickers. This is so serious that Pope Francis has stated: “[S]ince it is not possible to commit so complex a crime as human trafficking without the complicity, by action or omission, of States, it is evident that, when efforts to prevent and combat this phenomenon are insufficient, we are again facing a crime against humanity. Moreover, should it happen that someone who is appointed to protect people and guarantee their freedom, instead becomes an accomplice of those who trade in human beings, then, in such cases, the States are responsible before their citizens and before the International Community.” While acknowledging the efforts of some countries to punish those responsible for such crimes, we must sadly note that there are still too few cases where “consumers” have ended up in prison. While perhaps not the masterminds, they are definitely the real authors responsible for such heinous crimes. 4. PARTNERSHIP The establishment of effective networks to prevent the trade, protect victims and prosecute traffickers is a real key to success, as Pope Francis stated in 2016: “It is important that ever more effective and incisive cooperation be implemented, based not only on the exchange of information, but also on the reinforcement of networks capable of assuring timely and specific intervention; and this, without underestimating the strength that ecclesial communities reveal especially when they are united in prayer and fraternal communion.” Here the Holy Father is pointing towards “partnership” as an important addition to the conventional 3 P’s of prevention, protection, prosecution. This suggestion has arisen from experience in the field. The formation of partnerships to fight trafficking must be based on recognition of the contribution that each partner can offer according to its abilities and skills, coupled with deep respect for the principle of subsidiarity. Let us not forget that different partners have distinct attributes. Many victims turn to civil and religious organizations because they have learned to mistrust public institutions or are afraid of being punished (retribution). That is why it is important that the institutions collaborate regularly with such organizations in the formulation and implementation of effective programs and the provision of the necessary tools. Encounter, networking, social media and spirituality are among the useful means exercising partnership. CONCLUSION At Bethlehem, Pope Francis expressed this vision: “Today too, children are a sign. They are a sign of hope, a sign of life, but also a ‘diagnostic’ sign, a marker indicating the health of families, society and the entire world. Wherever children are accepted, loved, cared for and protected, the family is healthy, society is more healthy and the world is more human.” Let this be our firm purpose during this 17th Conference and in the courageous actions to which it subsequently leads. Thank you.

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personalised-gift-zone · 8 months

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Dive into Personalized Bliss: Swimming Photo Collage — The Perfect Thank You Gift.

Personalized Swimming Poster: A Dive into Memories

Photo Gifts for Swim Coach: A Token of Appreciation

#photocollage #personalised gifts #gifts #unique gifts #giftideas

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bethestaryouareradio · 5 years

Text

Flames of Gratitude

Miracle Moment®

“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.” Carl Jung, psychologist

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

October was a frightening and challenging month for residents of California. Rampant power black outs and raging fires throughout the state required thousands of people to evacuate their homes. After producing our radio broadcasts, I went to bed on a Wednesday night and at 2:15 am, my husband and I were awoken by firefighters pounding on our door shouting “evacuate now!” We were given 60 seconds to leave as the fire was flaming near our fence less than 100 feet away. Feeling immense gratitude for surviving the inferno, I quickly penned what I had learned during that frantic flee: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1317/One-Minute-to-Evacuate-a-personal-perspective-from-the-Oct-10-fire.html .

November is the month to express our thanks. First responders deserve major credit and gratitude for saving property and lives. Both fire and police personnel have been working tirelessly throughout California during these unprecedented times.

Climate change is rapidly fueling natural disasters. Be the Star You Are!® continues to spearhead Operation Disaster Relief and we encourage you to contribute. No longer can we start a campaign only when tragedy strikes. Disasters have become a part of daily life and Be the Star You Are!® must be ready to assist at a moments notice. All donations are greatly appreciated to help us help those in need. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504.

Or send a check to BTSYA, PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556. Give to this favorite 501(c)(3) and receive a deduction on your 2019 taxes if you itemize.

The power black outs continued throughout the month and it may be wise to take the steps to be self-sufficient or off the grid as we are living in a new environment. I’ve published two important articles for the newspaper where I work to help others know how to prepare for an emergency. Make sure to read these as they may save your life and that of your family and friends. Send these links to those you love to help them prepare for whatever disaster lurks in our future.

Safety first: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Safety-First-Emergency-Preparation-and-the-Go-Bag.html

Scary, scary night: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Scary-scary-night.html

As we prepare for the holiday season of gifts and giving, we want to introduce you to books that will inspire and thrill you. Make sure to check out our Spotlight book, I am Me, a powerful book by teens with original art and poetry expressing the importance of being your authentic self. Also, order copies of our three signature books in the Be the Star You Are!® series for true stories, adages, and exercises to help you live, laugh, learn, and love more fully with 100% of the profits benefiting this charity. Giving Tuesday is December 3rd this year, so please mark your calendar and ask your company to match your donation.

Thank you to everyone for your patience, understanding, checking in, and love. We are very appreciative. Be safe and sound. Let’s hope no one has to walk through the fire to have a great life,

“Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate!” Join us! Thanksgiving is TODAY and EVERYDAY!

Blessings and Gratitude,

Cynthia Brian

Founder/Executive Director

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

[email protected]

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

RECOGNITION FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

Be the Star You Are!® Receives Congratulations from California Legislature

Recently, we received a lovely letter and Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature congratulating Be the Star You Are!® on 20 years of service to the community. What an unexpected honor for which we are grateful to Assembly member, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan . We share this commendation with all of our dedicated volunteers and supporters. With your assistance, Be the Star You Are!® continues its imperative mission to empower women, families, and youth through increased literacy, positive media messages, and tools for living.

SPOTLIGHT

I Am Me: Teen Artists and Writers Speak Out on Being Yourself

This is a powerful book that helps young people believe that you don’t have to achieve “perfection” to be “perfect.”

“Edgy, powerful, insightful, and honest.”

The pages in this book pairs award winning art and writing to empower teens to shake off negative influences to realize it is okay to be themselves. Each piece of art is skillfully matched with writing to reflect the attitude of a generation of teens who want to fit in but feel inadequate due to societal pressures.

www.i-am-me-teen.com or order on Amazon.

Listen to Editor, Tom Worthen, Ph.d interviewed on Express Yourself! Teen Radio about this poignant message. https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118745/optimism-with-i-am-me

SUCCESS AT PEAR AND WINE FESTIVAL

Our Teen Event Director, Siri Phaneendra, did a fabulous job of putting on the BTSYA booth at the recent Pear and Wine Festival. Her mother and sister helped her with the new henna activity. Express Yourself!® radio hosts Kenneth Jeon and Jack Pawlakos were on hand to work in the booth. Thanks to Lamorinda Weekly newspaper for sponsorship and lending us the great canopy. What a fantastic family day of fun!

We have been honored with a Top-Rated Award for 2019 from GreatNonprofits! We appreciate all of your contributions! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc

RADIO BROADCASTS TO INSPIRE

Cynthia Brian was thrilled and honored to be a guest on Dr. Davon James LIVE radio broadcast on Veteran's Day focusing on passion. Cynthia and Dr. James share how everyone can create success by living and working with passion. You are enough! Listen now! https://www.unityonlineradio.org/everyday-peace/living-and-working-your-passion

Express Yourself!® Teen Radio (https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio) host Henna Hundal (also host of syndicated The Henna Hundal Show, https://www.thehennahundalshow.com) facilitated an impressive broadcast about the critical importance of mentorship and coaching. Nicholas Donzelli, a ten year veteran of volunteering coaching of an award winning water polo team shared his insights along with Be the Star You Are!® founder and StarStyle® coach, Cynthia Brian. Having a coach and/or mentor in your life can help you launch your dreams. Be authentic. Tune in https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118595/mentoring-with-henna-hundal-nick-donzelli-and-cynthia-brian

GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3, 2019

GivingTuesday started as a day for anyone, anywhere to give, and it's grown into the biggest giving movement in the world. Celebrated each year on the Tuesday following U.S. Thanksgiving, and fueled by the power of social media, GivingTuesday inspires millions of people across the globe to show up and give back to causes and issues that matter to them. The goal is to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day, and touches every person on the planet. GivingTuesday takes place on December 3, 2019 this year. Create a fundraiser and ask your employer to match donations. Be the Star You Are!® will use your contributions for our ongoing outreach programs, disaster relief (https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-hurricane-fire-disaster-rel), and positive message radio broadcasts. Donations can be made to Be the Star You Are! via PAYPAL GIVING FUND with no fees. https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504. You will receive an instant tax receipt.

Then, continue being kind and doing good all year round.

VISIT WITH SANTA IS DECEMBER 14TH

Mark your calendars for a jolly journey to the north pole on December 14th. Be the Star You Are!® volunteers once again collaborate with 5 A Rent a Space in Moraga to bring Santa and his elves to the neighborhood. Kids can write a letter to Mr. Claus, get a FREE photo sitting on his lap, get creative with festive art projects, and enjoy hot chocolate and special treats. Holiday cards and books will be available for sale as a donation to BTSYA. The event is FREE for the entire family. 11am-3pm. Come enjoy holiday cheer with all of us.

HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE?

By Karen Kitchel

You know the feeling deep within. Someone just came to your door with a basket of warm cookies because they know you’re having a tough day. You narrowly escape your burning home while a firefighter goes back in to save your puppy. Or maybe it was a stranger who picked up all the spilled candy that your little darling scattered on the supermarket floor.

Sometimes we wish we had a word much stronger than “thanks” to convey our heartfelt appreciation. Perhaps by adding a sincere look or a tap on the arm, we can transfer our feelings of gratitude.

What else can we do to say thanks? I once gave a co-worker a post-it note with a word of thanks, and ten years later she told me it still could be seen on her refrigerator. Think back to a time when you really felt thanked for something you said or did. Why do you still remember that feeling?

While we celebrate one special day of giving thanks this month, we can enjoy the power of thanking someone every day.

BTSYA volunteer Karen Kitchel serves meals to the homeless, is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. She wrote the chapter, The Gift of Adoption, in our book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. www.scatteringkindness.com

SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? ENJOY DISCOUNTS & MORE

Other easy ways that assist our mission and don’t cost you a penny!

1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882

2. Discounted books at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity

3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash back at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA :https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores.

4. Search and Shop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too!http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/be-the-star-you-are

5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

6. BTSYA Logo Store: http://btsya.rylees.net

7. Buy or Sell on EBAY:http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/be-the-star-you-are-501-c-3/1504/?favorite=link

8. Designer Clothes to Buy or Sell: https://www.unionandfifth.com/charities/be-the-star-you-are-moraga-ca/shop

9. Buy “Read, Lead, Succeed” T-shirts and tanks $19.99 at StarStyle® Store: https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store

10. Are you a gamer, lover of new software, or other digital content? Buy all of your favorites at Humble Bundle. http://ow.ly/cYs130iN6n4

We appreciate a direct donation most of all via PAYPAL GIVING FUND at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Checks can be sent to PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556

___________________

Direct Links you can use for Be the Star You Are!®

Positive Results: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results

About Us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us

Programs: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs

How to Help: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help

Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1

Events: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/events

GREAT NON PROFITS REVIEWS: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/be-the-star-you-are-inc/

GUIDESTAR: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3333882

We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

____________

Classified Ads:

If you’d like to advertise your service or product while supporting Be the Star You Are!®, we are now accepting approved ads that will benefit readers. Contact [email protected] for details.

A NOTE WE LOVED!

”I admire you because despite your fears you face destiny as a beast and manage to reverse the worst situation. You don’t believe in dramatic forecasts and wake up every morning wanting to give the world the best. Thank you!” Nico Ficarelli, Decendiente de Manuel Creador De Argentina

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

[email protected]

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

All donations are 100% Tax Deductible according to law. Thank you!

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Read our newsletter: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/672296/fe82bef3f1/288055965/ac7221bc2f/

#gratitudefiresbtsyabethestaryouarecynthiabrianstarstylepearfestival20yearsofservicethanksgiving

0 notes

goddessgardener · 5 years

Text

Fire of Gratitude

Miracle Moment®

“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.” Carl Jung, psychologist

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

Or send a check to BTSYA, PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556. Give to this favorite 501(c)(3) and receive a deduction on your 2019 taxes if you itemize.

Safety first: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Safety-First-Emergency-Preparation-and-the-Go-Bag.html

Scary, scary night: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Scary-scary-night.html

Thank you to everyone for your patience, understanding, checking in, and love. We are very appreciative. Be safe and sound. Let’s hope no one has to walk through the fire to have a great life,

“Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate!” Join us! Thanksgiving is TODAY and EVERYDAY!

Blessings and Gratitude,

Cynthia Brian

Founder/Executive Director

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

[email protected]

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

RECOGNITION FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

Be the Star You Are!® Receives Congratulations from California Legislature

SPOTLIGHT

I Am Me: Teen Artists and Writers Speak Out on Being Yourself

This is a powerful book that helps young people believe that you don’t have to achieve “perfection” to be “perfect.”

“Edgy, powerful, insightful, and honest.”

www.i-am-me-teen.com or order on Amazon.

Listen to Editor, Tom Worthen, Ph.d interviewed on Express Yourself! Teen Radio about this poignant message. https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118745/optimism-with-i-am-me

SUCCESS AT PEAR AND WINE FESTIVAL

We have been honored with a Top-Rated Award for 2019 from GreatNonprofits! We appreciate all of your contributions! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc

RADIO BROADCASTS TO INSPIRE

GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3, 2019

Then, continue being kind and doing good all year round.

VISIT WITH SANTA IS DECEMBER 14TH

HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE?

By Karen Kitchel

Sometimes we wish we had a word much stronger than “thanks” to convey our heartfelt appreciation. Perhaps by adding a sincere look or a tap on the arm, we can transfer our feelings of gratitude.

While we celebrate one special day of giving thanks this month, we can enjoy the power of thanking someone every day.

SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? ENJOY DISCOUNTS & MORE

Other easy ways that assist our mission and don’t cost you a penny!

1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882

2. Discounted books at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity

3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash back at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA :https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores.

4. Search and Shop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too!http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/be-the-star-you-are

5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

6. BTSYA Logo Store: http://btsya.rylees.net

7. Buy or Sell on EBAY:http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/be-the-star-you-are-501-c-3/1504/?favorite=link

8. Designer Clothes to Buy or Sell: https://www.unionandfifth.com/charities/be-the-star-you-are-moraga-ca/shop

9. Buy “Read, Lead, Succeed” T-shirts and tanks $19.99 at StarStyle® Store: https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store

10. Are you a gamer, lover of new software, or other digital content? Buy all of your favorites at Humble Bundle. http://ow.ly/cYs130iN6n4

We appreciate a direct donation most of all via PAYPAL GIVING FUND at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Checks can be sent to PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556

___________________

Direct Links you can use for Be the Star You Are!®

Positive Results: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results

About Us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us

Programs: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs

How to Help: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help

Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1

Events: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/events

GREAT NON PROFITS REVIEWS: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/be-the-star-you-are-inc/

GUIDESTAR: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3333882

____________

Classified Ads:

If you’d like to advertise your service or product while supporting Be the Star You Are!®, we are now accepting approved ads that will benefit readers. Contact [email protected] for details.

A NOTE WE LOVED!

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

[email protected]

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

All donations are 100% Tax Deductible according to law. Thank you!

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Read our newsletter: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/672296/fe82bef3f1/288055965/ac7221bc2f/

#gratitudefiresbtsyabethestaryouarecynthiabrianstarstylepearfestival20yearsofservicethanksgiving

0 notes

mobikefed · 6 years

Text

Pedestrian pushing bicycle is first person killed by fully automated self-driving car; "Technology companies should freeze their race to field autonomous vehicles" says expert; MoBikeFed joins nationwide call for greater safety, accountability

An Arizona woman who was crossing the street pushing her bicycle became the first person to be killed by an autonomous vehicle operating in self-driving mode.

Current self-driving vehicle technology falls short when it comes to detecting people who walk and bicycle--and Sunday's tragedy showed all too clearly

In recent weeks, with legislation pending in Congress and the US Department of Transportation set to release new driverless car regulations, the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation has been working with a national coalition of roadway safety groups to push for greater oversight of driverless vehicles, which have a well known blind spot when it comes to tracking and operating safely around people who walk and bicycle.

We feared that allowing autonomouse vehicles to operate on our roads and highways, when they have a known issue dealing with people who walk and bicycle--who are frequent users of our public roads--would inevitably lead to tragedy.

Sunday's pedestrian fatality showed that day came all too soon.

This is the nightmare all of us working in this domain always worried about

In the aftermath of Sunday's autonomous vehicle fatality, Raj Rajkumar, head of Carnegie Mellon University's leading self-driving laboratory, issued a statement that echoes many of our concerns with the current state of driverless vehicle technology:

"This is the nightmare all of us working in this domain always worried about."

Carmakers and technology companies should freeze their race to field autonomous vehicles because "clearly the technology is not where it needs to be" . . .

"This isn't like a bug with your phone. People can get killed. Companies need to take a deep breath. The technology is not there yet." . . .

Rajkumar said that ordinary people in addition to automakers and tech companies have developed far too much trust in self-driving technology simply because the cars have driven hundreds of thousands of miles with only one fatality before this . . .

Too many driverless vehicle designers have seen the essential problem as "car vs car"--with people who walk and bicycle an afterthought at best

The new driverless vehicle technology has tremendous promise to improve roadway safety for all road users.

But it is very important to realise that right now, this is only a promise for the future.

Right now, reality is that the existing state-of-the-art technology does not adequately recognize or deal with people who walk and bicycle on our roads.

Like many of our road and highway designers, too many of the driverless vehicle designers have seen the essential problem as "car vs car"--with people who walk and bicycle an afterthought at best.

This must change.

People who bicycle and walk should not be made guinea pigs in an experiment

Tech companies commonly follow the "release early and often" methodology--essentially treating customer as an experimental or beta test group. This is a great way to roll out new mobile phone apps, where the risks and stakes are low.

It is, however, and completely unacceptable way to operate in the real world, where peoples real lives are at risk.

Until driverless vehicle technology shows clearly that it can handle pedestrians and bicyclists with, minimally, a greater degree of safety than human drivers do, the technology should not be allowed to operate on our roads and streets.

It is important to understand that, as the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, we do not fundamentally oppose autonomous vehicle technology. When it is proven safe and effective, including for the hundreds of millions of Americans who walk and bicycle regularly on our public roads and streets, it should be implemented.

But in the meanwhile, Americans who walk and bicycle should not be made guinea pigs in a massive experiment on human subjects by big tech companies.

MoBikeFed signs on to national letter asking for improved safety and oversight for autonomous vehicles

Today, the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation joined a large, diverse, nationwide coalition who signed the letter below asking the Senate to delay the AV Start Act, which would implement very weak national guidelines for the rollout of autonomous vehicles across the U.S., and to include much-needed safety measures for autonomous vehicles when the Act is taken up.

It is very clear that our current guidelines for autonomous vehicles are inadequate.

Organizations and groups that would like to join the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Coalition that is working on this issue can join the Coalition mailing list here.

March 19, 2018

The Honorable John Thune, Chairman

The Honorable Bill Nelson, Ranking Member

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson:

We are writing to convey our support and gratitude for your leadership in convening tomorrow’s hearing, “Update on NHTSA and Automaker Efforts to Repair Defective Takata Air Bag Inflators.” The growing death toll on our Nation’s highways and the record number of vehicle recalls due to serious safety defects combined with lackluster agency oversight and insufficient industry responses deserve the attention and focus this hearing will provide. As you continue to examine safety problems and remedial actions related to defective Takata airbags, we urge you to also recognize that consumers will likely be victims once again of industry misconduct and government missteps with the mass deployment of experimental autonomous vehicles (AVs) unless Congress acts. The unfortunate news that a pedestrian was killed late Sunday in a crash with an Uber being driven in autonomous mode should serve as a startling reminder that there are real world consequences to prematurely deploying AV technology. We urge you to take heed of this fatal incident during tomorrow’s hearing and request that you delay consideration of the AV START Act (S. 1885) until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed its investigations of this recent Uber crash in Tempe, AZ that killed a pedestrian as well as the California crash involving a Tesla and a parked fire truck this past January. The NTSB may have findings and recommendations that should be incorporated into the legislation in addition to our proposals for legislative improvements. We respectfully ask that this letter be submitted into the hearing record.

In 2016, approximately 925 recalls involving more than 53 million vehicles were issued – the largest number in history. This includes deadly defects such as exploding Takata airbags, which have killed at least 20 people worldwide, faulty General Motor (GM) ignition switches that have claimed the lives of over 120 more and many others. Unfortunately, these are not the only high profile examples of serious problems and cover-ups. Yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) still lacks crucial authorities and resources to serve as an effective “cop on the beat.” Furthermore, NHTSA’s budget is woefully underfunded and the agency is in desperate need of both a more robust budget and staff. The agency should be provided with imminent hazard authority to immediately intervene against widespread safety defects. The agency should also be given enhanced penalty authority including removing the cap on civil penalties and adding criminal penalties to ensure manufacturers do not willfully put defective cars into the marketplace. Additionally, there is no requirement that used cars under open recall for a defect be remedied before being sold. With 38.5 million used cars sold in 2016, this is a huge and terrifying loophole that should be closed similar to congressional action related to rental cars.

We should not allow history to repeat itself especially one replete with industry malfeasance affecting millions of consumers and needlessly causing deaths and injuries. Now the same industry is asking the public and the government to “trust them” as they develop and deploy new driverless car technology. Alarmingly, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has been complicit in this approach. By issuing only “voluntary guidelines,” which are grossly inadequate and lack any sort of enforcement mechanism, the U.S. DOT has shirked its safety mission and regulatory duty. The stage is now set for what will essentially be beta-testing on public roads with families as unwitting crash test dummies.

It is for these reasons that it is critically important that improvements be made to the AV START Act. While some changes were made during the Committee markup, the bill still lacks essential safeguards that will assure sufficient government oversight, industry accountability and public safety. This legislation will set AV policy for decades to come. As such, it is imperative that strong protections for consumers and the public be included. We strongly urge the Committee to make the following modifications to the bill.

The size and scope of exemptions from federal safety standards must be narrowed. The AV START Act would allow for potentially millions of unproven AVs to be exempt from current federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and sold to the public. The number of AVs that will be permitted to be exempt from FMVSS should be reduced and the time period between exemption “tiers” should be extended from 12 to 24 months to allow for adequate time to assess the real-world impact on the road safety performance of exempt vehicles. Further, any exemption from FMVSS that would diminish the current level of occupant protection should be prohibited. Moreover, the AV START Act would allow manufacturers to circumvent the exemption process and “turn off” vehicle systems such as the steering wheel and brakes without review and approval by NHTSA. This provision gives unfettered discretion to the industry to unilaterally make safety systems inoperable and should be eliminated.

Minimum performance requirements must be set to address critical issues with AVs. Significant safety vulnerabilities need to be addressed through basic safety rules, and the AV START Act should direct NHTSA to issue the following standards.

Cybersecurity: Given the recent record of high-profile cyberattacks, protections must be put in place to curb potentially catastrophic hacks of AVs. A plan, as currently required by the bill, is insufficient and should be replaced with a directed rulemaking to be completed within three years.

Electronics: Motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment are powered and run by highly complex electronic systems and will become even more so with the introduction of autonomous driving systems. As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has carried out for aircraft, NHTSA must require minimum electronics standards for all cars. This will be essential to ensure that the electronics that power and operate safety and autonomous driving systems function properly.

Driver Distraction and Engagement: In Level 2 and Level 3 vehicles that require a human to take control back from the AV system, the driver must be kept engaged. This need was underscored by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the fatal 2016 crash of a Tesla Model S, which found that the Autopilot system facilitated the driver’s inattention and overreliance on the system. NHTSA must be directed to establish a minimum performance standard to address this problem.

Vision Test: AVs will need to be able to properly detect and respond to other vehicles, roadway infrastructure, pedestrians, bicyclists, law enforcement, and other common encounters during any given trip. NHTSA should require that AVs pass a “vision test” to guarantee that it can sufficiently “see” and react to its surroundings.

Consumers need basic safety information about AVs. As driverless cars are sold to the public, it is necessary that consumers know what they can, and cannot, do. Further, consumers must know from which vehicle safety standards their vehicle may be exempt. While the bill includes a rulemaking for consumer information at the point of sale and in the owner’s manual, the final rule may not be issued for years. Consumers should immediately have access to basic safety information. Additionally, Level 2 vehicles must be included in the consumer information and safety evaluation report (SER) provisions, and the SERs should require documentation of manufacturers’ assertions, not just descriptions, to ensure that NHTSA has enough information to accurately assess the technology. NHTSA should also be directed to establish a website that the public can use to find out safety information about AVs. And, all crashes involving an AV should be reported to NHTSA and that data should be made publicly available.

The varying needs of disabilities communities must be addressed. Though AVs are often touted as a panacea for mobility issues facing disability communities, they are certainly not a one-size fits all solution. Specifically, there is nothing in the AV START Act that would remove barriers to wheelchair users such as cost or vehicle design. The way that most vehicles are currently designed do not allow for the integration of a ramp or lift system or for a wheelchair to be properly or safely stored. Simply removing a driver or installing an automated system will not overcome these factors that inhibit mobility. Moreover, in the event of a crash or malfunction, people with certain disabilities may be particularly vulnerable.

States should not be preempted from acting to protect their citizens. The bill would preclude states from undertaking regulatory action even though the federal government has not yet done so. This is an unprecedented approach to preemption that should be rejected. Until U.S. DOT issues standards and regulations, states must retain their traditional legal authority to maintain public safety.

Compared to the complex systems that will be used in driverless cars, an airbag inflator is a relatively simple technology. As the Committee focuses on the deadly consequences of the failure of just one vehicle component, we urge you to make significant changes to the AV START Act to protect public safety. This Committee has already held five hearings on vehicle defects in the past four years that have revealed critical information about numerous NHTSA mistakes, repeated industry wrongdoing and the unacceptable but frequent breach of public trust. We urge you to act to ensure that future tragedies like exploding Takata airbags are not repeated with the development and deployment of technology that is still in its infancy. Unfortunately the mistakes of recent history are all too fresh and should not be pushed aside in an inappropriate rush to limit NHTSA’s authority to oversee the safety of autonomous vehicles.

Sincerely,

Cc: Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Improving safety for all road users is one of the four primary goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Ensuring that self-driving automobile systems are safe for all road users, including those who walk and bicycle, is one of the ways we work towards that goal.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!

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