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missmaywemeetagain · 9 months

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Paisley Dreams Part 1 🏵 is available for Early Access NOW on Patreon!

Paisley Dreams, Part 1 🏵💛🔥: Elvis encounters Pepper, a no-nonsense, practical Vegas showgirl, in a precarious situation. Despite Pepper's need to appear strong and capable, Elvis helps her realize she may not be as alone in the world as she thought.

Click HERE to join and read now with early access! (It'll be posted here on the weekend!🎉)

Why support me on Patreon? 💗 You'll get awesome benefits, like early access, exclusive stories (Scarf Universe, anyone?), my upcoming blog, and news/snippets of my novels AND you get to support your one of your favorite authors for the price of a coffee or ebook a month! Please consider joining our community! 💫

Patrons are seriously a huge help towards reaching my dreams to be a successful, professional writer while still being able to get content like this out to you on a regular basis! 💗

SNEAK PEEK:

...

This night is turning out to be incredibly strange, Pepper thinks as she shakily unlocks the door to her apartment. She hates that she can’t seem to stop shivering after the whole ordeal in the alley. No matter how many deep breaths she took in the car, she is still shaking like a leaf and she can’t decide if the fact that Elvis Presley is at her elbow is making it better or worse.

Finally jimmying the door open, she nearly falls inside, feeling all too unsteady in her high heels. Exhausted, it doesn’t help matters that she can’t remember if she ate today, between her waitressing shift at the diner and her showgirl gig at the Palace. She forces herself not to cry the stupid tears that pool stubbornly in her eyes. No, she doesn’t think she ate today and she’s cursing the fact because she’s quickly turning into an embarrassing pile of weepy nonsense, in front of Elvis Presley, no less.

This isn’t like her. She is no damsel in distress. She’s a strong, capable young woman who’s been dealt a bit of a shit hand, but she’s got it under control. She’s always got it under control.

Liar.

Pepper turns in the doorway to say goodnight and thank you to the man who so annoyingly but luckily had her back in that alley. She doesn’t want to think too hard about what could have happened if Elvis hadn’t appeared when he did, like some sort of movie star hero. Unfortunately, the spin towards him makes her dizzy and her wobbly knees start to give way.

“Hey now, little one, let’s get you settled, huh?” Elvis drawls out at her as he puts an arm around her waist and effortlessly ushers her into the apartment. She’s suddenly too exhausted to protest. It’s not often that anyone takes care of her. Honestly, she can’t remember the last time someone did, or the last time there was a man in her apartment.

He deposits her on her secondhand couch and its one of the many things tonight that has her embarrassed. Then again, she wasn’t expecting an incredibly handsome superstar to be gracing the walls of her tiny, dingy apartment.

Elvis stares down at her for a moment and his gaze is heavy and all-encompassing. It’s not what she expects—she’s used to the heated, horny looks she attracts from men—because it’s as if he’s surveying the situation, reading her with an intuitive intelligence she is not prepared for. She knows how to deal with men gawking at her—but treating her kindly with no expectations in return? This is unfamiliar in every way.

He nods to himself, making some sort of decision. His stance, one hip jutted out, hands on his hips and looking off to the side with his pouty lips parted, makes her feel a little funny in her belly.

Or maybe that’s just the hunger talking.

Her pride wants him to go, to not survey her poor existence and pity her. But the rest of her, the weak part of her desperate to have someone take care of her for once, wants him to stay.

Surprisingly, his face is devoid of judgement of her circumstance when his oceanic blue eyes meet hers again. There seems to be only concern and a bit of humor there. This confuses her.

“I’m starvin’,” he declares suddenly. “What would you say to some hamburgers?” His eyes sparkle—actually sparkle—when they look at her for approval.

...

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 2 months

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High school students contribute to exoplanet discovery

The high school students’ involvement in this research underscores the potential of hands-on science education to motivate and engage young minds

In a project aimed at democratizing science and fostering educational enrichment, a group of high school students from the Galaxy Explorer program at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California, made contributions to the field of exoplanet research. Researchers from the SETI Institute worked with the students to use backpack-sized digital smart telescopes provided by Unistellar; these young citizen scientists played a role in observing and confirming the nature of a warm and dense sub-Saturn planet, known as TIC 139270665 b, orbiting a metal-rich G2 star.

“By using new technology available with digital smart telescopes, we can take large steps towards the democratization of modern astronomy and education since the outcomes of initiatives like this can contribute to both astronomical research and education with easy-to-use and increasingly accessible technology,” said Dr. Dan Peluso, SETI Institute Affiliate. “In such endeavors, participants are ‘learning by doing’ and the doing is not some meaningless task. Instead, the ‘doing’ is the astronomical data collection, which in the past has been mostly left to professional astronomers and their observatories, or with highly skilled citizen astronomers with technical telescope setups. With TIC 139270665 b, our high school students had a challenging but meaningful task—capture the second transit of an exoplanet with a poorly understood orbital period. These students were engaged, inspired, and were easily able to setup and control the Unistellar telescopes with very little training. Citizen science opportunities like this and new technology with digital smart telescopes represent a fundamental shift and revolution for how we can approach and perform astronomical research moving forward.”

The discovery of TIC 139270665 b, the densest known warm sub-Saturn within the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) family, marks a milestone in exploring exoplanets. The initial clues of TIC 139270665 b’s existence was initially discovered by a citizen science group inspecting TESS photometric data, highlighting the role of public engagement in advancing scientific knowledge. Through further study by analyzing radial velocity data from the Lick Observatory, Peluso and Dr. Paul Dalba and their team were able to confirm that TIC 139270665 b is indeed a planet and even has a sibling planet, TIC 139270665 c. The photometric data from the global Unistellar Citizen Science Network, including the Galaxy Explorers, was not able to definitively confirm a second transit with 100% confidence, however, their data was useful for the exoplanet study since it helped to rule out times when a transit was not happening and because it helped the scientists to learn valuable lessons about how to approach citizen scientist campaigns such as this in the future.

The SETI Institute is the scientific partner of the Unistellar network, known for its global distribution of citizen astronomers. Citizen astronomers with Unistellar telescopes collected data that furthered the understanding of this exoplanet’s orbital period and characteristics as part of the Unistellar Network Investigating TESS Exoplanets (UNITE) program, a NASA citizen science project that is part of the Unistellar Transiting Exoplanets campaign. This effort, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and NASA, contributes to the scientific community’s knowledge of planetary formation and evolution and is an educational initiative integrating young students into astrophysics data collection.

The high school students’ involvement in this research underscores the potential of hands-on science education to motivate and engage young minds. Through their participation, students gained real-life skills and insights into the scientific process, from planning and conducting observations to analyzing data and contributing to a scientific publication, on which they are all co-authors. This experience demonstrates the power of blending educational empowerment with research, allowing students to contribute to our understanding of the universe.

“This experience further propelled my fascination with the subject of astronomy, specifically in regard to exoplanetary science,” said Serina Jain, student at San Francisco University High School. “Working on this observation fueled my joy of engaging in astrophysics research and my plans to pursue this as a major in college, as well as my love of sharing astronomy with others. Since helping Dr. Peluso with this observation, I have been able to bring even more passion and knowledge to my role as co-founder and leader of the San Francisco University High School Astronomy Club. This past summer, I went on to partake in a 7-week lab internship with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Mawet Astrophysics Lab, researching in exoplanet detection by way of direct imaging, using coronagraphy and spectroscopy. My inspiration to seek this involvement largely stemmed from my overwhelmingly positive experience working on this observation with Dr. Peluso.”

This initiative is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the scientific and educational communities. It showcases how integrating citizen science and education can lead to discoveries and inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. The high school students' enthusiasm for this project is a beacon of hope for the future of scientific inquiry and education, proving that young minds can contribute to our understanding of the cosmos when given the opportunity.

As we continue to explore the vast expanse of space, the contributions of these young citizen scientists remind us of the pivotal role of education and public engagement in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. The future of astronomy and space exploration is bright, with students like those in the Galaxy Explorer program leading the way toward new horizons and uncovering the mysteries of the universe.

This research was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (#10561) and NASA Citizen Science Seed Funding Program grant (Goddard-80NSSC22K113), with additional funding from the NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (AST-1903811) and the 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship, courtesy of the Heising–Simons Foundation.

TOP IMAGE....Students set up telescopes on the observation deck of Chabot Space & Science Center Credit SETI Institute

CENTRE IMAGE....The array of 9 Unistellar eVscopes tracking the exoplanet target, TIC 139270665 b at the Chabot Space & Science Center in February 2023. Eight of the eVscopes were controlled 100% by student teams, whereas the remaining one was controlled by Dr. Peluso with student help. Credit SETI Institute

LOWER IMAGE....Comparing the mass, radius, and “year” length of this new planet (labeled with the arrow) to those of other known planets. It is an especially valuable discovery because there are few known planets with sizes and masses similar to this new one. Planets larger in radius (size) are towards the top and more massive planets (containing more matter) are towards the right. Those that orbit their stars more quickly are colored green and slower planets are blue. Solar system planets are in magenta for comparison, with Saturn being the most similar. Credit SETI Institute

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics

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findinghopepdx · 6 months

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Blog Deliverable #3

As illustrated in earlier posts, the mental health crisis in Portland has far-reaching consequences. Thousands of unhoused civilians are dying in the streets, there are dozens of fatal police encounters with people experiencing mental health crises, and exponential drug use are just some of the traumatic experiences occurring every day in the city of Portland.

One stakeholder in this issue are business owners who are concerned about the effect that people living on the streets will have on their businesses. Many businesses have completely moved out of Downtown Portland in hopes of improving their business in different locations (Dooris, 2023). Jessie Burke, co-owner of the Society Hotel, commented to the New York Times that violence in and around her hotel has led her to favoring treatment methods such as encampment removals and camping bans (Corkery, 2023). While many business owners, along with the city bureaucrats of Portland, believe that camp sweeps and camping bans are the solution to this problem (Zielinski, 2023), other main stakeholders in this issue hold different beliefs.

A New York Times article discussing the challenges of the fentanyl epidemic and homelessness crisis in Portland features Irida and Kaetly Wren, a couple from Tennessee who were shunned by family members for their gender identities. They were forced to sleep in their car and saw little hope for the future (Corkery, 2023). Hoping to find community and services, they drove over 2000 miles and relocated to Portland. While living on the streets, they discovered the issue of "infighting." People on the streets were paranoid that the fentanyl supply was limited, despite its massive availability. On April 18, a man cut through their tent and stabbed Irida six times. They planned to return to Tennessee, saying, "Portland is definitely not what I expected" (Corkery, 2023). Friends and family of addicts or recovering addicts in Portland, nonprofits and community organizations, and people experiencing homelessness themselves are voices that are critical in uncovering the truth behind this issue, and hopefully, a way to redemption and recovery.

Interview

I was fortunate enough to receive a response to my interview request from Jason Renaud, the founder and convener of conferences for the Mental Health Association of Portland who also happens to be an alumnus of Portland State University.

What is your name and position at the Mental Health Association of Portland?

I'm Jason Renaud. I've been the convener of conferences for the Mental Health Association of Portland since 2003.

What inspired you to pursue this line of work and this organization specifically?

I'm a person in long-term recovery and I've been about people who help people get sober and sane for most of my life. It's an intriguing problem on several levels; the complexity of the illnesses themselves, the social stigma that is extraordinarily strong among clinical professionals, the generations-long history of discrimination and oppression, the alcohol and drug industry's stalwart maintenance of the problem, lazy and stupid legislators - the list goes on. The problem is both political and personal, and oscillates back and forth rapidly. The organization came about because other advocates in Oregon ceased advocacy work to pursue service contracts with local governments.

Will you share your insights into the current landscape of mental health and substance abuse in Portland? What are some major challenges you’ve observed?

We don't use the term substance abuse; the term addiction is more accurate. Either measured nationally or internationally, Oregon's public addiction and mental illness service system is bare and fragile. It often requires skilled navigators to find access points, which may be long distances from where the individual lives.

How do you think mental health health and substance abuse issues impact homelessness in Portland?

We'll have over the winter about 10,000 people who are homeless and unsheltered - some briefly, some for the full duration. We have under 2,000 places for them to stay - which are all already filled. About 50%-60% are addicts, some in remission because of poverty. The remainder are almost all people with trauma disorders, intellectual disorders, personality disorders, and neurodivergent disorders. Homelessness is a natural consequence of not providing effective treatment for people who have these illnesses.

What are some key barriers that individuals who are struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues face when seeking treatment?

The primary barrier is there is not sufficient or effective treatment for these illnesses available. We're short about 5000 skilled and licensed workers in Oregon. And because of a long-stalled workforce, there isn't likely to be sufficient or effective treatment in the next decade or so. The result, as it has been for decades before us with the same conditions, misery, and death.

Lastly, is there any advice you would offer to individuals looking to get involved in their community to make a positive impact?

Volunteer at St Francis Dining Hall or Blanchet House or with JOIN. If you do not have time to volunteer, write a check to any of the dozens of public mental health agencies.

Hearing from Jason was meaningful and exposed me to some of the real-world statistics and experiences that are occurring in my community due to a gross lack of resources and action by government agencies. His words highlighted the absolute necessity of advocacy groups in combating these deeply entrenched issues.

Jason’s Renaud currently manages the Mental Health Association and its projects. 37 years into his own recovery, he advocates for people experiencing addiction and homelessness. From the website of the Mental Health Association of Portland: “In 2010 he ran for Portland City Council on a police reform platform. In 2014 Renaud produced the award-winning documentary film Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse. He has been amicus curiae to US DOJ v City of Portland since 2018. He is a former Crisis Intervention Team trainer and a community engagement trainer for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Currently, he serves on the board of the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation, Multnomah County’s Transforming Justice Steering Committee, and Portland’s Police Accountability Commission, and was an advisor to the TRANSFORM911 Project at the University of Chicago Health Lab in 2022” (Renaud, 2023).

If you’re interested in looking into his past and current projects, they are linked below. I have also attached the organizations that Jason recommended pursuing volunteer work at below.

Jason's information and projects:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrenaud/

https://twitter.com/renaud_pdx

Recommend organizations to volunteer for:

References

Budnick, N. (2018, April 3). Assault reports spark concerns about mental health facility. PortlandTribune.com. https://www.portlandtribune.com/news/assault-reports-spark-concerns-about-mental-health-facility/article_d86e9175-9229-575a-81d1-05ff65954308.html

Corkery, M. (2023, July 29). Fighting for Anthony: The Struggle to Save Portland, Oregon. Nytimes.com; New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/29/us/portland-oregon-fentanyl-homeless.html?unlocked_article_code=dmlSM8I6Xz3QigxMt48PoRS9hs58FA91GnN81CZb6TtoShlZy3gIokXZC1x22xc-ZXHe0csS9o7ArT7XiXH4Tcref9-sp42Nto1YuBN6P3_3boItBdlDMN00ftE-r68V0AO6Qf8DZ-uORlkitfyFGGauhoOAqgtK4CLzuRON-fdDwJbJsVxPVmVk9phWJm1u53Qgg11xwjTlLnfI58YXE3NuOnTJmceLKvc3wxJAsiwkQ3GenfWjSz_OmCIqku4X8HaWjFcEAWR66BpaGrAaPdKS9HZCKUte1llWITt6sNA6O2GfnBiNPVVATs21DHjN7Lh_aaqndHxRLQHMBc6AHruNjtY06w&smid=tw-share

Dooris, P. (2023). Downtown Portland’s resemblance to a dead mall. Kgw.com. https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/downtown-portland-rei-vandalism-theft/283-87c9ac7d-fe93-40dd-b81b-7ee1688b1f0a

KOIN 6. (2020, October 2). Downtown Portland businesses: How many open, closed or empty. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlAT8GQ3SYs

Renaud, J. (2023). Jason Renaud – Background – Mental Health Association of Portland. Mentalhealthportland.org. https://www.mentalhealthportland.org/background-jason-renaud/

Zielinski, A. (2023, March 22). In enforcing Portland camping ban, Mayor Ted Wheeler wants help from people who have experienced homelessness. Opb. https://www.opb.org/article/2023/03/22/ted-wheeler-portland-oregon-camping-ban-help-from-people-who-were-homeless/

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johnolivia2541 · 2 years

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What Is Cricut Design Space And How Does It Work?

Cricut Design Space is the designer companion application you'll need to make designs using your cricut.com/setup electronic cutting machine. If you're a frequent Cricut user, a novice, or just thinking about purchasing a cutter, Cricut Design Space is the must-have software you'll need to work with Cricut. Below is a short guide to getting into Cricut Design Space to help you open the box and start making with Cricut!

Before we get started, we'll take a look at: cricut.com/setup Design Space has many options for making your own projects and modifying them. There's simply not enough time to learn everything in one go. We'll begin with a brief overview of its features so you can start making your own designs right away. This is a sponsored post. I have partnered with Cricut to make this post available and all content is my own opinions.

Keep reading for an introduction to Design Space features. I'm hoping you'll finish this article with an improved comprehension of the features of the application. You can try all the choices, or choose a focus to delve deeper into areas that appeal to you.

What Is Cricut Design Space?

Cricut Design Space can be described as an online design program which allows you to create and lay out designs to create on the Cricut machine. Cricut Design Space(tm) includes a set of tools to make, modify and personalize all Your Cricut projects. cricut.com/setup provides a large collection of fonts, images and pre-designed designs. The application is available for use on PC in addition to a number of tablets and mobile phones such as iPhone and Android devices.

If you're an Cricut Joy user (that adorable little turquoise Cricut machine that easily fits into your backpack) There's also an exclusive Design Space app for Joy!

Take note that if you're new to using any design software, don't fret as there are lots of simple projects to help you get started. Design Space has a lot of options that will help you get creative right away. You don't have to be a design professional to create with Cricut.

What Is Changing In Design Space?

Cricut announced the change from a website app to a desktop application and launched a beta in the middle of 2019. I was one of the users who downloaded Design Space for desktop the very first day it was available and have been using it nearly completely since.

The best part is that next to nothing changes within the app itself. But, there's one fantastic new feature. Design Space for Desktop, you can now create online and make cuts! (You still require an Internet connectivity to install the app the first time and to use certain features, like accessing pictures from Cricut Access.)

The biggest change happening in the location for the software. For the past few years, Design Space has been hosted online as part of Cricut's website. Cricut website. In the future you'll have to download the software to your computer before you can make use of it. It's just like any other application or software that you've downloaded, such as Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Word.

Cricut made the decision to change to the desktop app because there are several browsers that cannot support the online version, and also in order to release new features that may not be supported by web browsers. While there were browser requirements to run the web version, you will also have also system specifications that your computer has to meet in order in order to be capable of running the desktop application.

How does Cricut Design Space work?

The program allows you to create designs using the Cricut machine online as well as offline.

What Can You Do with Design Space?

Create pre-designed graphics and fonts into layouts for your project.

Editing and creation of final projects.

Create original designs using simple shapes.

Create layouts that are text-only using different fonts.

Create the design concepts that you've come up with and add them to an Access account.

Connect with other projects in Cricut's community. Cricut community.

Customize and design projects that have been created by other members of the community.

Cricut Design Space - An Introduction

"Cricut Design Space" is a dedicated and intuitive interface in the integrated application package for using your Cricut device. This "canvas area" is technically the space where all the beautiful imagination can be seen in patterns, shapes, and dimensions. All the creative magic in The Cricut Project happens in the design space.

The design area is a design studio where templates can be further customized, tweaked or organized. This area lets you download all the images and a font you'll need to create your project and also offers a variety of high-quality photos from Cricut's standard image gallery. Users also have the option for purchasing high-quality Fonts individually in case they are required for a project.

How can I download the Cricut Design Space app?

It's simple to download Cricut Space Design app. Cricut Design Space offers an app for free that permits you to download the library of Cricut designs and layer the designs to create your own projects. You can download Cricut Design Space for Windows and Mac, as well as iOS, Android, and Amazon devices. cricut.com/setup app download is also accessible as a free download on Mac and Windows.

How to use Cricut Design Space for PC?

Cricut Design Space download for PC: after you have been logged in, you will be able to start creating your own images. The application offers a variety of Cricut mats that will aid you in selecting the kind mat to use. You can either choose one of the mats, the regular or premium. The premium mat includes several more options. Once you've chosen one of the mats, you are able to begin editing your image.

The app includes a wide range of functions that assist you in creating custom designs. You can use the cricut.com/setup application to create images that have labels, text, and shapes. You can also apply borders to your pictures. But, the application does not permit you to create borders when making use of the Cricut mats.

It is also possible to frame images. If there is a logo you would like to incorporate into your projects, you are able to design it using the software. You can pick different fonts available in the application. If you do not want to create your personal fonts, you can also use the app to pick from a variety of fonts available within the app. After you've come up with the designs of your choice, you can submit these to Cricut Design Space app. You can also post your design through social networks.

What can I do to get Cricut Design Space for laptop?

After you've got the Cricut Space Design application installed on your computer, you are able to use it to access the Cricut Design Space library on your desktop. Also, it is possible to connect the Cricut Design Space library on your laptop via Cricut Design Space for Mac.

To utilize to use the Cricut Design Space app with your laptop:

Make sure that you are running Cricut Design Space installed on your desktop.

Start to the Cricut Design Space app on your laptop.

Click Connect to continue.

Please enter the Cricut Design Space account information to log in.

You'll be able to access through cricut.com/setup to download a free access to your library from your laptop.

Exploring the Insert Area to Use Shapes (such as Rectangles) in Your Design

The menu bar on the left that is also referred to as the "Insert Area", is the one you'll use to add a rectangular design to the canvas area. If you take a look at the layout of the left pane default, you'll see a "+ New" button at the top, followed by icons for templates and projects, images, text, shapes, and downloads, in that order. Starting from the top and ending at the bottom.

We'll use the Shapes tab on the left side to display an in-app submenu which displays the graphic representation of the available shapes. Be aware that the rectangle is not visible among the options available initially. Be assured that it is a simple matter to select "Square" in the selection of shapes (click the icon to create the shape of a square) and continue.

A square will now be visible on the canvas. It is possible to resize an part by simply dragging the vertex edges, or by clicking on the item and altering its length in Edit menu.

Features of Cricut Design Space

Downloading Cricut Design Space to your devices allows you to make amazing, creative designs with several options to personalize them using the colors of the images, fonts and fonts available inside the Cricut Design Space library.

You can submit your own designs for future use, or choose from existing templates to find one that you like the most.

You can create your own folders to store the saved projects. This way, when you're looking to utilize them, you'll be able discover them to work on.

Since the files you save are stored on the cloud you can access them on a variety of devices or computers.

You get editing options in Design Space. Design Space app, which allows you to edit your images as you can with other professional editing software.

The app features an open canvas that lets you begin making designs with drawings, images and even text.

The application also allows users to design multilayer designs.

How to Use Cricut Design Space

In contrast to other design programs like Photoshop as well as Illustrator, Cricut Design Space is easy to use especially for novices. It might appear overwhelming initially, but it's a breeze in comparison to the two design software mentioned earlier.

Under the My Projects section, select New Project in the My Projects section, or click the + icon. Start selecting a design template or search for designs that are already created.

You can begin designing or altering them to make them your personal.

You can also search for images that you can use for your projects. Just select the "Images" tab.

You also have the option to use your own fonts and images. Just download them and start designing.

Experiment with the software until you're able design every design and project you'll need. It's simple, fun, and enjoyable. Be sure to save your projects!

Experiment with the software until you can create every design and project you require. It's simple, enjoyable and rewarding. Make sure to save your project!

Important note: the majority of the images from the Cricut Design Space library are available for you to use however you like. While doing this, you will need to read the Terms of Use, as some images are for personal use only. You should ensure that you do not sell or give away images for others in order to avoid copyright issues.

How to Transform a Square into a Rectangle in Cricut Design Space (The Magic Step)

Once the image of the lock changes into an unlocked variation, you will notice that the Editing Menu allows you to manually enter different sizes and lengths to the same element. The process of playing around using these measurements to create the desired shape (Check our glossary on precise terms - Measurement made easy with Cuemath) can be a good method to get a rectangle fired up. Another method is to manually drag the edges with your mouse, then alter the shape to make a rectangle on your screen.

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freerentalassistance · 2 years

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What are the Benefits of Housing Assistance for Pregnant Women?

Housing assistance for pregnant women is an important part of your safety net. When you have a safe place to live, it’s easier to focus on everything else in your life. The Freerentalassistance website provides information about rental assistance for pregnant women. You can check it out and get free rent.

If you're a pregnant woman, you may be concerned about how your current housing situation could affect your health. Fortunately, there are programs that can help you stay healthy and safe during pregnancy and beyond.

Housing assistance is crucial for pregnant women, who may face financial restrictions during their pregnancy and parenting.

Housing assistance is crucial for pregnant women, who may face financial restrictions during their pregnancy and parenting. Pregnant women can be denied housing assistance if they are not receiving Medicaid or other forms of public assistance, even if they are not able to move into the new home until after the baby is born. This means that when a woman finds out she's pregnant and needs help finding a home, she's more likely to have already found one by then.

For many low-income families with children, there are few affordable housing options available in their communities—and these options often come with long waiting lists and strict income requirements that exclude those who need them most (such as pregnant women). Without any money set aside for emergencies or unexpected bills like child care or transportation costs, an unexpected expense could mean having to choose between paying rent or feeding your family—a choice no one should ever have to make!

Lack of access to transportation can keep a pregnant woman from getting to her prenatal appointments.

Pregnant women who do not have access to transportation can have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and lower birth weight for their infants.

Imagine that you are pregnant, but you don't have a car. In order to get to your prenatal appointments at the doctor's office, you will need help from friends or family members every time you want to go. If they're not available when you need them, then this could cause problems for your health and the health of your baby. You may end up missing important appointments because someone else can't drive you there on time or at all.

If this happens often enough, it can lead to complications in both the mother's body (like preeclampsia) and in her unborn child (such as low birth weight).

Housing assistance programs can help mothers to buy nutritious food.

Food assistance programs can help mothers and their children eat healthier, more nutritious meals. The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service provides the following benefits to pregnant women:

Food Stamps (SNAP) helps low-income people buy groceries by providing a debit card that can be used like cash at participating stores.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offers food assistance in the form of checks or vouchers to those who have little or no income.

The WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides coupons that can be redeemed at grocery stores or farmers markets; participants also receive nutrition education from health professionals who specialize in prenatal nutrition.

Stress and anxiety can harm the health of a mother and her baby during pregnancy, but it's often difficult for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity to find relief.

Stress and anxiety can harm the health of a mother and her baby during pregnancy, but it's often difficult for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity to find relief. Shelter spaces that provide care to pregnant women often have staff members who are experts on maternal health, making them more likely to keep up with the latest recommendations from obstetricians and midwives.

A recent study found that pregnant mothers living in public shelters were less likely to experience depression than their counterparts without stable housing options (48% versus 58%).

Shelter spaces that provide care to pregnant women often have staff members who are experts on maternal health and have resources that can help future mothers grow into parenthood.

Shelter spaces that provide care to pregnant women often have staff members who are experts on maternal health and have resources that can help future mothers grow into parenthood. Staff members might be able to provide emotional support, advice on how to navigate the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood, transportation assistance, prenatal and postpartum care, counseling services, and much more.

Financial issues often cause stress for low-income mothers and this stress can impact the health of their child up to six years later.

Financial issues often cause stress for low-income mothers and this stress can impact the health of their child up to six years later. Financial stressors can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, infant care, and childhood development.

The stress of financial insecurity may be associated with poor nutrition, poor health, substance abuse, anxiety and sleep deprivation. Pregnant women who are experiencing housing instability are at an increased risk for preterm birth as a result of poor living conditions or lack of access to healthy food choices.

There are many ways in which housing assistance helps pregnant women, both before and after childbirth.

There are many ways in which housing assistance helps pregnant women, both before and after childbirth. Here are some of them:

Pregnant women can rely on housing assistance to get to prenatal appointments, as well as to help them take care of themselves during their pregnancy.

Housing assistance can also provide a more stable home environment for pregnant women, making it easier for them to maintain healthy eating habits and avoid stress-related health problems that may be harmful for their unborn children.

Finally, housing support reduces the likelihood of domestic violence by providing safe shelter from violent partners or family members who might harm the mother or her baby directly or indirectly (through neglect).

Conclusion

Housing assistance can be a lifeline for the families of pregnant women, allowing them to focus on their health and the health of their children. Whether you are a student studying social work or an advocate for reproductive justice, it's important to understand how housing programs help mothers make ends meet during this vulnerable time in their lives. We hope this article has helped you learn more about how these programs can benefit pregnant women, so that when an opportunity arises within your community or organization we'll all be ready!

#Benefits of Housing Assistance #Pregnant Women

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jobrown7584 · 2 years

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What Is Cricut Design Space And How Does It Work?

What Is Cricut Design Space?

If you're an Cricut Joy user (that adorable little turquoise Cricut machine that easily fits into your backpack) There's also an exclusive Design Space app for Joy!

What Is Changing In Design Space?

How does Cricut Design Space work?

The program allows you to create designs using the Cricut machine online as well as offline.

What Can You Do with Design Space?

Create pre-designed graphics and fonts into layouts for your project.

Editing and creation of final projects.

Create original designs using simple shapes.

Create layouts that are text-only using different fonts.

Create the design concepts that you've come up with and add them to an Access account.

Connect with other projects in Cricut's community. Cricut community.

Customize and design projects that have been created by other members of the community.

Cricut Design Space - An Introduction

The design area is a design studio where templates can be further customized, tweaked or organized. This area lets you download all the images and fonts you'll need to create your project and also offers a variety of high-quality photos from Cricut's standard image gallery. Users also have the option for purchasing high-quality Fonts individually in case they are required for a project.

How can I download the Cricut Design Space app?

How to use Cricut Design Space for PC?

What can I do to get Cricut Design Space for laptop?

To utilize to use the Cricut Design Space app with your laptop:

Make sure that you are running Cricut Design Space installed on your desktop.

Start to the Cricut Design Space app on your laptop.

Click Connect to continue.

Please enter the Cricut Design Space account information to log in.

You'll be able to access through cricut.com/setup to download a free access to your library from your laptop.

Exploring the Insert Area to Use Shapes (such as Rectangles) in Your Design

A square will now be visible on the canvas. It is possible to resize an part by simply dragging the vertex edges, or by clicking on the item and altering its length in Edit menu.

Features of Cricut Design Space

You can submit your own designs for future use, or choose from existing templates to find one that you like the most.

You can create your own folders to store the saved projects. This way, when you're looking to utilize them, you'll be able discover them to work on.

Since the files you save are stored on the cloud you can access them on a variety of devices or computers.

You get editing options in Design Space. Design Space app, which allows you to edit your images as you can with other professional editing software.

The app features an open canvas that lets you begin making designs with drawings, images and even text.

The application also allows users to design multilayer designs.

How to Use Cricut Design Space

Under the My Projects section, select New Project in the My Projects section, or click the + icon. Start selecting a design template or search for designs that are already created.

You can begin designing or altering them to make them your personal.

You can also search for images that you can use for your projects. Just select the "Images" tab.

You also have the option to use your own fonts and images. Just download them and start designing.

Experiment with the software until you're able design every design and project you'll need. It's simple, fun, and enjoyable. Be sure to save your projects!

Experiment with the software until you can create every design and project you require. It's simple, enjoyable and rewarding. Make sure to save your project!

How to Transform a Square into a Rectangle in Cricut Design Space (The Magic Step)

An element that is square nothing but an element that is locked into a rectangle of predetermined proportions that are available in the Cricut.com/setup Space Design interface. To unlock these proportions and make it into a rectangle, all you have just click the tiny lock icon which appears at the bottom left corner of the element as you move your mouse over the square element. Once the image of the lock changes into an unlocked variation, you will notice that the Editing Menu allows you to manually enter different sizes and lengths to the same element. The process of playing around using these measurements to create the desired shape (Check our glossary on precise terms - Measurement made easy with Cuemath) can be a good method to get a rectangle fired up. Another method is to manually drag the edges with your mouse, then alter the shape to make a rectangle on your screen.

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resultsnahas · 2 years

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Vcds 12.12 clone

#Vcds 12.12 clone how to

#Vcds 12.12 clone install

#Vcds 12.12 clone software

#Vcds 12.12 clone plus

↳ MK10 and MK11 (AW/BZ) Polo (inc GTI) - Years 2018 onwards.I want to understand WHY it's like this.Īnswering "clone cables only make problems, etc." doesn't make any sense to me.

#Vcds 12.12 clone software

So, it's a software or hardware problem? Or both? Or could it be because of the chip of the clone cable that can't communicate correctly with car's modules? Why only few versions of VCDS can access the Engine module of my Polo?Ĭould it be because it's a clone software (so it's not really the same of the original)? I'm asking: why a newer version of a software has less. I perfectly know the support is only for those who bought the original cable and there is another forum for that. I even proposed to all my friends who have a VW if they wanted to buy the original cable as a group, but I can't find anyone who is so interested like myself (the same with Netflix. If I'd have the money, I'd immediately buy the original cable: I think it's pretty clear! Or are you more focused on the fact that I'm talking about a clone cable/software? It seems like by opening this topic I've become the cause of the (high) price of the original RossTech cable. (I know that there won't be problems like these, id I'd buy the original cable, but it's too expensive for my possibilities) Especially because, if my old version cable suddenly stops working (and it has just happened), I'd be obligated to buy an old version, which is becoming always more rare. I really want to understand the reason of this.

#Vcds 12.12 clone install

I'd be obligated to uninstall and install again the program to access the module again. All of the next times I run the program and I try to access the same module, the file. rod files, it is possible to enter into the desired modules ONLY on the first time I run VCDS. With all of the versions without the necessary. I understand that I'm talking about clone cables, but shouldn't they be "clones" of the original? How it's possible that an older version has more file. It seems that this specific problem is related only to Engine Control Module of Polo 6R with 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI and ABS Control Module (Bosch 9.0i). In its case, the only version that works perfectly is 15.7.1.

#Vcds 12.12 clone plus

All of the versions I tried can't enter in the Engine module of his Polo (like mine), plus they also can't enter in the ABS Module: the reason is always that the specific. One of my friends owns a 6R 1.2 MPI MY2014 and has a similar problem. I discovered that only 11.11.0 and 15.7.1 versions have this file and can access the Engine module of my Polo. I will continue to use a product that works for me and stands behind it in a wide variety of forums, sites and wiki's.I've always searched for an answer to this question: with no success. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit for reconciliation. You've expressed your opinion here, which is what a forum is for - I'd recommend taking it up with them on their site, in a professional, fact based fashion. I'm not shocked that a forum post attacking them in a forum they dedicate resources to support is not being met with eager responses to appease you. I'd be shocked that a reasonable approach with them expressing your dis-satisfaction was not satisfied. I respect your right to disagree and not be satisfied with their application - and there is even a place on their website to do so. You can find forum topics here and there for others - but nobody is more widely supportive of their app than RossTech - and that's not subjective. That said, the online availability of support and help with your car using an application THEY support is second to none. It is my opinion that this is a subjective review of an application. Others will provide a solution, for an additional cost - and if you've diagnosed properly - might fix the issue.

#Vcds 12.12 clone how to

If you spend a little time and investigate the issue as well as how to correct (which any mechanic worth their salt does) VCDS provides the information to support that diagnostic process and sometimes a solution. Others provide the same functionality - but make you pay for them incrementally. Click to expand.So, I dont consider myself a fanboy nor a sycophant - I have tried both Carista as well as TorquePro, DashCommander, and OBDEleven.

#Vcds 12.12 clone

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ownermap9 · 2 years

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Need To Have A Fantastic Motel? Try Using These Guidelines!

A hotel room may be for organization or for enjoyment, but in any case, you need to be comfy and satisfied with your stay. Selecting the wrong resort may be pricey and regrettable, in addition to not comfortable. Fortunately, the tips below are right here to help you stay away from the problem of any overpriced terror of your hotel. Get place assistance when you don't desire to abandon. The cost will certainly be a little increased, however, not needing to attire up and go out is going to be worth the cost. Use smart security and safety safeguards whenever you stay at a resort. Learn where by each of the blaze exits are in the event of an urgent situation. Also, be aware where close by fire extinguishers are situated. For those who have any valuables, have them from the secure on the workplace or in the room. Would you remain at a selected accommodation sequence reasonably frequently? Consider getting started with their commitment team. So long as it really is cost-free to accomplish this, you truly have nothing to drop. Supplying the hotel your contact info could suggest acquiring specific rewards which you can use the next time you stay there. To maintain from spending with the nasal area for dried up cleaning professional services from a motel, check with exactly what the pricing is before you decide to send your apparel out. If you need cleaning up completed, it's typically more affordable simply to walk across the street to your close by dried up cleaner. Those who are in the city on enterprise typically benefit tremendously from the financial savings.

If you're training for a marathon where you can weeklong business travel arranged, there's no reason to let your operating slip. Search online for community working teams within the metropolis where by you will keep, and be a part of them for his or her interpersonal runs. If there aren't numerous organizations, try to find community working shops, because they also offer societal jogs. Get every piece of information you will need just before reserving a accommodation. As well as making certain they assist your entire fundamental needs, you must also inquire if you can find any activities prepared at the hotel concurrently you will be there. A conference, for example, could mean you will certainly be in a loud, packed accommodation. Some time you publication your room changes simply how much you'll spend. Areas are priced based on supply. Try and book a unique space at least one day ahead of time, but it's much better when you publication months ahead of plan. This provides you the finest costs in booking rooms in hotels. When the hotel never ever rents the room they'll get absolutely nothing dollars for doing it, so quite often they will give you a steep discounted upon it. Use Twitter in your favor. Just before scheduling your accommodation, tweet the house and find out if there are any discounts available. Social media is gaining popularity than before, and lodges utilize this medium to get the word out concerning the special deals they already have around. In the event you aren't extremely acquainted with tweeting, you can simply utilize the research work on Tweets. Indication on to Facebook and look for the webpage in the accommodation you happen to be staying in. Publish just a little message on his or her page, and see if the staff responds. You will never know, they can provide you with a particular perk! If hardly anything else, keep up with what is taking place in the webpage in case any special offers are declared. To help keep your incidentals at least, particularly if you are staying at a hotel outside the US, ask about the price of wi-fi prior to check in, especially prior to deciding to log in at the first try. Some accommodations don't make known the high priced for each-min fees of Internet access, nonetheless they will surely show up on the monthly bill. If your seeking a great trip accommodation, ask around amid your mates. Make sure you accomplish this especially if you've received good friends that love to travel. They'll often times have exceptional tips to help you locate the best lodges with the best deals close to. In addition, they'll adore sharing anything they know! If you are a cigarette smoker, be aware of using tobacco policy for the resort for which you are keeping. Resorts ordinarily have spaces set aside for smokers. If this is the truth, you then shouldn't be bashful when seeking this type of place. Usually, you will probably find oneself spending a high fee for smoking within a place that may be designated as no-using tobacco. Learn how the hotel handles household pets. In case you are hypersensitive to domestic pets, stay away from pet helpful lodges. These accommodations may also come with an odour due to smells sinking inside the floor and linens. There could be an added fee to possess a pet remain. In reality, the extra charge for animals may well not even cover the expense of cleaning as a result, make sure you realize this all ahead of time. To keep yellow sand from your accommodation while you are keeping yourself by the beach, be sure that you and also the youngsters end at the hose or faucet in the front door of your respective motel about the beachfront. If there isn't a single in your motel, choose one close by, after which possibly dried out your feet away and glide them into the boots, or stroll without footwear to your accommodation. To be 블로그체험단 , look at your bathroom countertop and bed for a sign concerning how to keep the maids from consuming your bath towels out every day. Normally, should you dangle your linens up, they will likely keep within the room, but when you depart them on to the floor, the maids will take them and provide you with clear kinds. Keep in mind your choices in the event a hotel "walks" you. 블로그체험단 is the time a resort is overbooked and they have zero hotels for you personally. The hotel "walks" you to an alternative resort close by. Try to avoid this however, if it is necessary, ensure you are given using the same quality area or far better at the exact same value you might have compensated. Whether or not your keep is perfect for business or enjoyment, you need to possess a nice continue to be. In addition, you want the satisfaction of knowing that you got a good deal. So keep the ideas in the list above in your travelling bag of tricks as you guide your next stay. You will recognize that it pays away in conserving and in fulfillment.

#블로그체험단

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maxismatchccworld · 3 years

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Patch Notes

Update 9/7/2021

PC: 1.79.93.1030 / Mac: 1.79.93.1230

Console: Version 1.47

Hello Simmers!

We hope you are well wherever you are in the World.

Today, we have a special kind of update! As you now know, this is our first update that fully focuses on a previously released pack, giving it new life if you will. Today is the day for self-care for and with The Sims™ 4 Spa Day!

Spa Day is all about relaxation and getting some well-deserved personal Sim time and wellness. With this update, we are adding some features that will help enhance this wellness experience that we hope you enjoy.

Along with these enhancements, we were also able to fix a few issues that were live and needed some care.

Thanks again for your continued support and feedback!

Chaus!

-SimGuruRusskii

What’s New?

Spa Day Updates

Everyone deserves more time to refresh and more ways to renew! In this update, we added the following:

Three new Aspirations and a new Trait

The path to wellness is long but well worth it! Sims can now opt for three aspirational paths to achieve their own Zen:

Self-Care Specialists - For those Sims who would like to monetize their love of fitness and wellness.

Inner Peace - For the Sims that want to achieve ultimate harmony and learning tools to mitigate their negative emotions.

Zen Guru - For the Sims that want to share the power of wellness with the world…the whole world, for real. They also focus on seeking to train their successor to pass the knowledge along.

In addition to these new Aspirations, we added a new trait for those Sims that require a bit of extra work to keep their needs… properly aligned. High Maintenance will allow your Sims to experience mindful tasks that can help their sense of wellbeing. No trouble is trivial, no need is too much.

You can find these new Aspirations and the new Trait in Create A Sim. And don’t forget the Spa Membership included with these Aspirations - it’s a steal!

Manicures and Pedicures

Some people like having a massage to decompress - a valid option… pretty sure I need one - but my favorite thing is manicures and pedicures! Hear me out! There is something so relaxing about choosing your design, color, shape, and having someone prettify (yes, it is a word… to me) your nails with the utmost care. Now your Sims can get these nail enhancements or graciously give them to other Sims. You can choose a design, a shape, and voilà! Your Sims’ nails will be as fabulous as they feel!

And if you don’t want to get your nails done by a professional- tight budget, totally get it - Sims will have access to the same options in Create A Sim that you can instantly apply to your Sims nails - it’s like insta nails!! You can pick from a variety of swatches with color combinations, designs, or just a solid color for each fingernail. You can also choose a variety of one solid color choices for your Toenails. You can find them in the Accessories category in Create A Sim, where you will see a Fingernails and Toenails sort with the options.

We want to highlight that in this upgrade to Spa Day we have a design from the wonderful Ebonix that is featured in Create A Sim! Ebonix is a super talented Sims Creator, and we are happy we can feature one of her designs and share it with everyone.

About Yoga and Meditation

Yoga Classes can now take place outside of Spas and Gyms! You can hire a yoga instructor or teach your own class from the Instructor Yoga Mat. Speaking of teaching, Sims can also lead Guided Meditation sessions from Meditation Stools. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to mention that Children are able to practice and teach both Yoga and Meditation as well!

New Objects, Facial Masks… Oh my!

As part of this update, we also added a few new objects and swatches in Build Mode, these include a new luxurious massage table and a massage chair that can also be used for manicures and pedicures for a full relaxation experience. And as an added bonus, there is a new portable massage chair and table, so your Sims can give massages, manicures, and pedicures on the go to earn some Simoleons.

Besides these, we added as part of your Sims’ self-care routine the ability to purchase and apply Facial Masks. They come in a variety of benefits and designs; for ease of access, we recommend having in your preferred lot the Doc Sweet’s Luke-Warm Mini Dispenser. This mini version of the original refrigerator can hold your favorite beverages in a compact space, but as an added benefit, Sims can purchase Facial Masks from it. By the way, don’t forget to try the new Cucumber Power-Sip and cucumber slices for a tasty snack! Also available with this update.

Base Game Updates

For those who don’t own Spa Day, we wanted to give you a treat as well. For Base Game Simmers we added the nail options for fingernails and toenails in Create A Sim for you to enjoy. Same as mentioned previously, there will be choices under the Fingernails and Toenails sort in Create A Sim, there will be a variety of solid one-color nails and color combination nails available for the Base Game itself.

Bug FixesConsole

We fixed an issue in which some of the controls when players are in the Game Options menus were a little off, it should work correctly now.

The Sims 4

New games should no longer experience the automatic generation of empty households, and the ensuing save size increase and performance lag that this causes. The team is still investigating how to safely fix existing saves that have this issue.

We fixed an issue that affected Custom Content Chairs that when slotted with certain objects it created Sims routing issues.

Sometimes, in certain saves, Sims would lose their names when visiting some Lots - most notoriously the Goth’s Lot but it could happen anywhere. If a Sim has no name… does that Sim exist? I can assure you that the Goths were not involved, but this issue should no longer occur.

Ever had the need to order food or drinks but you just couldn’t be bothered? Been there, however the issue of Sims and NPCs not being able to order food and drinks autonomously has been fixed. Order away!

Have you noticed that your Sims had been doing Fitness things or Dancing if they Disliked those things? Strange no? It should no longer happen as long as they continue to Dislike them of course. As a note, unfortunately (for those affected), Sims are subject to choose music they Dislike still from any stereo so they can still torment other Sims (and Simmers) around them.

We fixed an issue in which the Mega Window (Double Budget Grand Deluxe DeLite) in build Mode was missing a few swatches and displayed them as empty.

Let’s talk about Unibrows! Are they in? Are they out? No matter, every brow is welcome! We have fixed an issue that didn’t make the thicker unibrow available for female frame Sims and that didn’t make the thinner unibrow available for male frame Sims. So all the unibrows for both frames!

Did you ever notice an invisible slot under the All of the Things table? We sure did, and while I think that if it is called “all of the things” it could have all the things, everywhere… I guess? This was not acceptable so we fixed that.

Get to Work

The hairstyle yfHair_EP01TwistLow has been tagged correctly in the Updo Hairstyle category. Is it still an Updo even if the bun is low and not up high? These are the questions I ponder sometimes.

Eco Lifestyle

If you noticed the Community Voting Board missing from venues across packs in Build Mode, never fear. It has been found and should be safely back in Build Mode.

Dream Home Decorator

Ever had such good-looking décor that you can’t just sleep because you have to look at it? As much as we want your Sims to love their décor and their style, we thought it was a bit too much that they would not sleep and just look at it, so this should no longer happen.

#s4cc #s4 patch notes

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vkelleyart · 3 years

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Thoughts on fandom: inclusion and engagement.

(Art credit to the kindhearted @penpanoply!)

There’s been some stuff floating around on Tumblr about strife in the CO/WS fandom, and though I haven’t been explicitly named-dropped on anything public, my DMs have been... active. lol Rather than rehash what’s been said already, I just want to impart a little wisdom and perspective in the hopes it may soothe frayed feelings and offer a way ahead for cultivating a respectful community. As someone who has been an active participant in online fandoms since the mid-’90s, which was the advent of online fandom content creation (shout out to my fellow X-Philes!), and who has also spent a chunk of her professional life managing social media for the federal government and for activist groups, I can promise you it’s all gonna be okay.

Here’s some context for why strife happens and what we can do to create a more inclusive and communicative fandom environment.

1) It sounds cliché, but fandoms go through growing pains.

In the case of the Simon Snow fandom, what was once a small and cozy space untouched by cataclysmic events (such as the release of *gasp* a sequel) has grown exponentially in a relatively short amount of time following the release of Wayward Son. Newcomers are eager to find a home in this space at the same time as folks who’ve been here a while may be consciously or unconsciously wary about widening their circle, and It’s important to remember that this is not necessarily an expression of bad behavior on either side but just human psychology doing its thing.

The byproduct, however, is that tension and stress builds over time from the lack of meaningful communication across the divide, which subsequently fuels misunderstandings. Ironically, the interfaces we use to communicate don’t help with this because any existing communication about the tension happens in tiny vacuums until a trigger goes off and bad feelings go public.

Way Ahead: These moments of destabilization are opportunities to see where we can be more self aware about how we engage with fandom and the kind of community we want to be. Can you promote, support, or befriend someone trying to gain a foothold? If yes, please do! Each person must reach their own decision about what they can do within the confines of their available energy, health, and time, but a little self awareness goes a long way as long as you’re honest with yourself and others if applicable about what you can contribute. Anyone who judges you for it isn’t worth the strife.

2) In a fandom comprised of vulnerable/marginalized people, it’s more accurate to say that cliques are “bubbles of trust.”

This one's important. Just by nature of the source material, the CO/WS fandom includes fans with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences, especially when it comes to those who identify with the characters’ queerness, mental illness, and/or trauma. I really believe––based on individual conversations/group chats––that the difficult lived experiences that so many of our fandom peers have endured has produced one of the most open, aware, and accepting fandoms I’ve had the pleasure of participating in. Our vulnerability is, in a real way, our strength.

That said, a community of survivors also has the side effect of cultivating small circles of engagement that I call “bubbles of trust.” When you’re a survivor of abuse, marginalization, mental illness, fill-in-the-blank, it’s often quite hard to risk casting a wide net and expanding your circle to include new faces––which can subsequently be internalized by equally sensitive and vulnerable newcomers as rejection, judgement, or inadequacy.

Way Ahead: First of all, there may indeed be gatekeeping and exclusion going on. But before internalizing someone’s cagey behavior as gatekeeping or purposely exclusionary, ask yourself if you have all the information. Many people are private (I include myself in this assessment) because life has regrettably taught them to be this way, and so they may insulate themselves to a small group of people who have earned their trust. Some people might also triggered by certain content (case in point: smut triggers my anxiety) so they don’t engage with it. Others might have something in their pasts that define how they handle certain subjects (for example, a person of color should not be tone policed for getting angry when confronted with a racialized microagression, however accidental it was). You just don’t know what you don’t know.

The solution here is to regularly check your privilege and ask questions in a private space if you sense you’re being treated unfairly by someone. If you go public with your grievances in hopes of mobilizing the mob, you may accidentally find yourself stepping into the role of the aggressor instead of the victim.

3) Social Media is not built to help you get engagement. It’s built to help itself make money off of you.

Repeat after me: Hits/likes are not a measurable indicator of talent or worth. There are ridiculously talented folks on Tumblr and elsewhere who, for whatever reason, haven’t had their viral moment, and it’s not their fault. Loads of factors come into play where things like likes, reblogs, and comments are concerned, among them being posting frequency, subject matter, the time of day, the day of the week, the week of the month, the month of the year, the current administration, the stock exchange, the concentration of middle class users, who just won the Superbowl, a madman trying to steal an election and undermine the democratic process, a PANDEMIC, do you get where I’m going with this?? lol

At the end of the day, my humble successes have been helped along by good luck, good timing, high profile signal boosters, and an absurd amount of work. (This is why I try to signal boost new work whenever I get a chance over at @vkelleyshares.)

So while you cannot control Tumblr’s interface, trends at large, or your fellow users, here’s what you can do to ensure you give your work the best possible chance of exposure.

Have an image ready to go with your post. Tumblr is a visual platform (no matter what it says about being good for text). Not good with images? Set up a Canva.com account and get access to free graphic software with a gazillion templates to create whatever attractive image you want to attach to your post.

Keep the outward facing text brief and easy on the eyes. Too long and eyes will glaze over. Put excess text behind a “read more.”

You may think you’re being cute when you do this, but don’t put yourself down in your posts. (Don’t put yourself down in general, of course.) Doing so acts as engagement repellant. If you don’t believe in your work, no one else will.

Related: Be your best cheerleader. Confidence is a magnet, and if you don’t have it, go ahead and fake it until you start to convince yourself you are worth the buzz. So promote yourself! You have gifts that only you can impart. Use that knowledge to fuel everything you do from your art/fiction writing to your outreach with other content creators, and by golly, if someone’s done it already, acknowledge that contribution and then tell the world that this is YOUR unique take on it.

Treat your fellow fandom creators as human beings, not art/fiction/content boosting machines. I cannot count how many times I’ve had folks slide into my DMs with offers of friendship only to disappear once they realize I’m not available to draw a picture for their fic. It hurts because it’s manipulative and it makes me want to hole up and not signal boost anyone. Creators who truly support each other will not give off a transactional vibe. I want to help you reach more people, but not if that’s all I’m good for in your eyes.

The long and short of it: Lead with compassion, do your best with the opportunities at your disposal, and remember that fandom belongs to everyone in it. ❤️

What saves a fandom made of sensitive and vulnerable souls from imploding when it goes through growing pains is radical compassion from those who can offer it. Begin with the assumption that your fellow fandomers are not trying to harm you, and wade into the water knowing that your insight into the lives of your peers is limited by default and you may need to temper your words or actions accordingly. If you’re a content creator, save compassion for yourself as well, as there are indeed challenges to gaining an audience, and lack of engagement does not mean you lack talent or skill. Be your best advocate, and if you have the bandwidth to lift up a fellow creator and make a new friend, please, go ahead do it!

And finally, fandom belongs to everyone, and no one has a monopoly on characters, tropes, or themes. Create and consume what you love (with respect for your more vulnerable peers), and bask in the variety, my friends!

That’s all I’ve got in my head at the moment, although I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting. Thanks so much to @penpanoply for letting me use her art for this and to everyone else, hang in there and try not to judge each other too harshly. These are unprecedented times, and most of us are doing our best in circumstances that are pushing us to our limits.

As always, if you have questions or want to sound off on anything, shoot me a message or an ask, or ping me on Discord. It might take me a second to respond (thanks, Covid) but I’ll get to it! Love, love, and more love to all.

#fandom stuff

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thesims4blogger · 3 years

Photo

The Sims 4: New Game Patch (September 7th, 2021)

There’s a new Sims 4 update available for PC/Mac and Consoles.

PC: 1.79.93.1030 / Mac: 1.79.93.1230 / Console: Version 1.47

Remove all MODS and Custom Content before updating your game

Hello Simmers!

We hope you are well wherever you are in the World.

Along with these enhancements, we were also able to fix a few issues that were live and needed some care.

Thanks again for your continued support and feedback!

Chaus!

-SimGuruRusskii

What’s New?

Spa Day Updates

Everyone deserves more time to refresh and more ways to renew! In this update, we added the following:

Three new Aspirations and a new Trait

The path to wellness is long but well worth it! Sims can now opt for three aspirational paths to achieve their own Zen:

Self-Care Specialists – For those Sims who would like to monetize their love of fitness and wellness.

Inner Peace – For the Sims that want to achieve ultimate harmony and learning tools to mitigate their negative emotions.

Zen Guru – For the Sims that want to share the power of wellness with the world…the whole world, for real. They also focus on seeking to train their successor to pass the knowledge along.

You can find these new Aspirations and the new Trait in Create A Sim. And don’t forget the Spa Membership included with these Aspirations – it’s a steal!

Manicures and Pedicures

Some people like having a massage to decompress – a valid option… pretty sure I need one – but my favorite thing is manicures and pedicures! Hear me out! There is something so relaxing about choosing your design, color, shape, and having someone prettify (yes, it is a word… to me) your nails with the utmost care. Now your Sims can get these nail enhancements or graciously give them to other Sims. You can choose a design, a shape, and voilà! Your Sims’ nails will be as fabulous as they feel!

And if you don’t want to get your nails done by a professional- tight budget, totally get it – Sims will have access to the same options in Create A Sim that you can instantly apply to your Sims nails – it’s like insta nails!! You can pick from a variety of swatches with color combinations, designs, or just a solid color for each fingernail. You can also choose a variety of one solid color choices for your Toenails. You can find them in the Accessories category in Create A Sim, where you will see a Fingernails and Toenails sort with the options.

About Yoga and Meditation

New Objects, Facial Masks… Oh my!

Base Game Updates

Bug Fixes

Consoles

We fixed an issue in which some of the controls when players are in the Game Options menus were a little off, it should work correctly now.

The Sims 4

We fixed an issue that affected Custom Content Chairs that when slotted with certain objects it created Sims routing issues.

Sometimes, in certain saves, Sims would lose their names when visiting some Lots – most notoriously the Goth’s Lot but it could happen anywhere. If a Sim has no name… does that Sim exist? I can assure you that the Goths were not involved, but this issue should no longer occur.

We fixed an issue in which the Mega Window (Double Budget Grand Deluxe DeLite) in build Mode was missing a few swatches and displayed them as empty.

Get to Work

The hairstyle yfHair_EP01TwistLow has been tagged correctly in the Updo Hairstyle category. Is it still an Updo even if the bun is low and not up high? These are the questions I ponder sometimes.

Eco Lifestyle

If you noticed the Community Voting Board missing from venues across packs in Build Mode, never fear. It has been found and should be safely back in Build Mode.

Dream House Decorator

#news #the sims 4 #ts4 #sims 4 #sims 4 update #sims 4 game patch

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itsclydebitches · 3 years

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Here's a quandary I've suddenly found myself in: where do you stand on writers deleting their own works, fanfiction or otherwise? I've had this happen to me on more than one occasion - I go to look for an old favorite and find it's since been deleted from whatever site I read it on.

On the one hand, I'm inclined to think that, "Sure. The author wrote it, it's their call. I don't own the work - I certainly didn't pay for it. It's their decision, even if it's disappointing."

But at the same time I can't help but consider the alternative - if I believe in death of the author (and I do), that an author's work fundamentally isn't solely theirs once it's been published, posted, etc., then it also seems wrong to have a work deleted. Stories aren't the sole property of their creator, after all.

But then I circle back. D'you think there are different obligations between authors and readers and the works being made in fandom space? I know if I had bought a book and the author decided they wanted it back, I would feel pretty comfortable telling them no, given I'd paid for it and whatnot. But that's a different world from fanfic and fandom space generally.

So. You're insightful Clyde, I'm curious as to what you'll have to say here (and to all y'all thinking about it, don't flame me. I haven't decided where I stand here yet - haven't heard a good nail-in-the-coffin argument for or against yet).

Val are you a mind reader now? I’ve been thinking about this exact conundrum the last few days!

(And yeah, as a general disclaimer: no flaming. Not allowed. Any asks of the sort will be deleted on sight and with great satisfaction.)

Honestly, I’m not sure there is a “nail-in-the-coffin argument” for this, just because—as you lay out—there are really good points for keeping works around and really good points for allowing authors to have control over their work, especially when fanworks have no payment/legal obligations attached. In mainstream entertainment, your stories reflect a collaborative effort (publisher, editor, cover artists, etc.) so even if it were possible to delete the physical books out of everyone’s home and library (and we're ignoring the censorship angle for the moment), that’s no longer solely the author’s call, even if they have done the lion’s share of the creative work. Though fanworks can also, obviously, be collaborative, they’re usually not collaborative in the same way (more “This fic idea came about from discord conversations, a couple tumblr posts, and that one headcanon on reddit”) and they certainly don’t have the same monetary, legal, and professional strings attached. I wrote this fic as a hobby in my free time. Don’t I have the right to delete it like I also have the right to tear apart the blankets I knit?

Well yes… but also no? I personally view fanworks as akin to gifts—the academic term for our communities is literally “gift economy”—so if we view it like that, suddenly that discomfort with getting rid of works is more pronounced. If I not only knit a blanket, but then gift it to a friend, it would indeed feel outside of my rights to randomly knock on their door one day and go, “I actually decided I hate that? Please give it back so I can tear it to shreds, thanks :)” That’s so rude! And any real friend would try to talk me out of it, explaining both why they love the blanket and, even if it’s not technically the best in terms of craftsmanship, it holds significant emotional value to them. Save it for that reason alone, at least. Fanworks carry that same meaning—“I don’t care if it’s full of typos, super cliché, and using some outdated, uncomfortable tropes. This story meant so much to me as a teenager and I’ll always love it”—but the difference in medium and relationships means it’s easier to ignore all that. I’m not going up to someone’s house and asking face-to-face to destroy something I gave them (which is awkward as hell. That alone deters us), I’m just pressing a button on my computer. I’m not asking this of a personal friend that is involved in my IRL experiences, I’m (mostly) doing this to online peers I know little, if anything, about. It’s easy to distance ourselves from both the impact of our creative work and the act of getting rid of it while online. On the flip-side though, it’s also easier to demean that work and forget that the author is a real person who put a lot of effort into this creation. If someone didn’t like my knitted blanket I gave them as a gift, they’re unlikely to tell me that. They recognize that it’s impolite and that the act of creating something for them is more important than the construction’s craftsmanship. For fanworks though, with everyone spread around the world and using made up identities, people have fewer filters, happily tearing authors to shreds in the comments, sending anon hate, and the like. The fact that we’re both prefacing this conversation with, “Please don’t flame” emphasizes that. So if I wrote a fic with some iffy tropes, “cringy” dialogue, numerous typos, whatever and enough people decided to drag me for it… I don’t know whether I’d resist the urge to just delete the fic, hopefully ending those interactions. There’s a reason why we’re constantly reminding others to express when they enjoy someone else’s work: the ratio of praise to criticism in fandom (or simply praise to seeming indifference because there was no public reaction at all), is horribly skewed.

So I personally can’t blame anyone for deleting. I’d like to hope that more people realize the importance of keeping fanworks around, that everything you put out there is loved by someone… but I’m well aware that the reality is far more complicated. It’s hard to keep that in mind. It’s hard to keep something around that you personally no longer like. Harder still to keep up a work you might be harassed over, that someone IRL discovered, that you’re disgusted with because you didn’t know better back then… there are lots of reasons why people delete and I ultimately can’t fault them for that. I think the reasons why people delete stem more from problems in fandom culture at large—trolling, legal issues, lack of positive feedback, cancel culture, etc.—than anything the author has or has not personally done, and since such work is meant to be a part of an enjoyable hobby… I can’t rightly tell anyone to shoulder those problems, problems they can’t solve themselves, just for the sake of mine or others’ enjoyment. The reason I’ve been thinking about this lately is because I was discussing Attack on Titan and how much I dislike the source material now, resulting in a very uncomfortable relationship with the fics I wrote a few years back. I’ve personally decided to keep them up and that’s largely because some have received fantastic feedback and I’m aware of how it will hurt those still in the fandom if I take them down. So if a positive experience is the cornerstone of me keeping fics up, I can only assume that negative experiences would likewise been the cornerstone of taking them down. And if getting rid of that fic helps your mental health, or solves a bullying problem, or just makes you happier… that, to me, is always more important than the fic itself.

But, of course, it’s still devastating for everyone who loses the work, which is why my compromise-y answer is to embrace options like AO3’s phenomenal orphaning policy. That’s a fantastic middle ground between saving fanworks and allowing authors to distances themselves from them. I’ve also gotten a lot more proactive about saving the works I want to have around in the future. Regardless of whether we agree with deleting works or not, the reality is we do live in a world where it happens, so best to take action on our own to save what we want to keep around. Though I respect an author’s right to delete, I also respect the reader’s right to maintain access to the work, once published, in whatever way they can. That's probably my real answer here: authors have their rights, but readers have their rights too, so if you decide to publish in the first place, be aware that these rights might, at some point, clash. I download all my favorite fics to Calibre and, when I’m earning more money (lol) I hope to print and bind many for my personal library. I’m also willing to re-share fic if others are looking for them, in order to celebrate the author’s work even if they no longer want anything to do with it. Not fanfiction in this case, but one of my fondest memories was being really into Phantom of the Opera as a kid and wanting, oh so desperately, to read Susan Kay’s Phantom. Problem was, it was out of print at the time, not available at my library, and this was before the age of popping online and finding a used copy. For all intents and purposes, based on my personal situation, this was a case of a book just disappearing from the world. So when an old fandom mom on the message boards I frequented offered to type her copy up chapter by chapter and share it with me, you can only imagine how overjoyed I was. Idk what her own situation was that something like scanning wouldn’t work, but the point is she spent months helping a fandom kid she barely knew simply because a story had resonated with her and she wanted to share it. That shit is powerful!

So if someone wants to delete—if that’s something they need right now—I believe that is, ultimately, their decision… but please try your hardest to remember that the art you put out into the world is having an impact and people will absolutely miss it when it’s gone. Often to the point of doing everything they can to put it back out into the world even if you decide to take it out. Hold onto that feeling. The love you have for your favorite fic, fanart, meta, whatever it is? Someone else has that for your work too. I guarantee it.

So take things down as needed, but for the love of everything keep copies for yourself. You may very well want to give it back to the world someday.

#fandom #fic things #mymetas #never any easy questions on this blog huh? lol

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fa-by · 3 years

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Hellooo babies and dear Anons 👋🏼🤗 Welcome to a new ‘Q&A’ post. Enjoy 🙃

Here, dear Anon. I spoke and gave my interpretation of Find U Again here: https://fa-by.tumblr.com/post/648195009382842368/2-%C9%9F (sixth question).

Here, dear Anon. I talked about Michael Clifford here: https://fa-by.tumblr.com/post/648194217526640640/%C9%9F (Point n° 2).

Nope and nope, dear Anon. Camila was in a relationship before they got together. May I advise you to listen to their songs with a little more attention, dear?

They were certainly more distant, dear Anon. As for the not speaking, it was a bit impossible not to do it work-wise speaking, but they certainly didn't talk about them and their situation. Not until Laur finally got her head out of her ass.

1) Of course I do, dear Anon. 2) She didn't hide it very well as you say. 3) Yes, because Lauren, but also Camila, are anything but subtle when they're jealous.

Thank you so much, dear Anon 🤗 and forgive me, but I don't think I understood what you mean. Do you mean if they were angry at each other? Because if they were angry at each other, then I don't think they shared a room 🤷🏻‍♀‍

Hiii to you too, baby CS 👋🏼😄 Lauren created her Tumblr at 14, so, no, I'm sorry, dear. It has nothing to do with Camila.

Hello to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄 When they stopped communicating again. It became painful when they stopped sharing with each other moments, situations, feelings, desires, opinions, fears, and everything that is enclosed in communication. But this happened after their first breakup. Their real first breakup lasted very little and led to their rings, dear. Sooo.

No, dear Anon, they weren't fighting. That was a soundcheck, not the concert. Can't you see they didn't have their white stage costumes? Can't you see they were all lazily rehearsing the steps? And then, I'm sorry, dear, but have you ever seen Camila angry? Does it look like she's angry here?

That's just Mila being Mila, dear Anon 🤣

No, dear Anon. That rumor was created as soon as the video of Camila singing the ‘The Hills/Crazy in Love’ mashup cover came out on July 3, 2015. It's just that. A cover like many others she's done. Mila at the time still didn't have the possibility and the access to record in a professional studio outside of 5H, so let alone if she could write and sell a song. And another proof I can give you about this is the fact that she hadn't even written I Know What You Did Last Summer yet. Camila, Ally, and Troy (Ally's ex-boyfriend) went to Taylor's ‘1989 Tour’ concert on July 10, 2015 (Shiseido was one of the opening acts, and that was the day ‘they wrote’, sure, Jane, a part of IKWDLS backstage). Exactly 7 days after that video. So, dear Anon, my answer is no. I don't believe at all in the possibility that it happened.

Hello to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄 Yes, I read it, and no, dear. The story was written in 2014, so even though we can find coincidences today, it means absolutely nothing. They're just that: coincidences. The girl who wrote it, Jazmin, is from Germany, and that alone should make you realize she's not an insider. She's just a really talented and brilliant girl who has been able to write stories like Do I Wanna Know, CC7, and LJ10.

Of course I've seen/heard that video, dear Anon. I also talked about it in my last post, about the kiss more specifically. And to answer your questions:

1) neither. You can hear someone say: “This is weird. I missed you so much”. And honestly? I find this part of the audio so incredibly strange. You wanna know why? Because the video starts with screaming fans, right? One of them even screaming Lauren’s name. Then there's this sentence said at the same time as the kiss. That alone proves they didn't say it, but that’s not even what makes that sentence weird for me. It's the fact that I believe it was inserted into the video. I mean, I can't hear what Lucy and Nando are saying who are much closer to the camera than Camren, but I can clearly hear this sentence which is should supposedly have been said by one of them in a low voice from inside the van? Like, whaaaat? Come on, now. Look and listen for yourself if you don't believe me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAZS1QhEgoU.

2) Surprised by what? And why are you so sure they slept together?

I hope you're having a good day too, dear Anon.

Hello to you too, dear Anon 👋🏼😄 To me, Camila explains in a brilliantly sarcastic and sassy way, how she doesn't need a guy. Like “Cinderella never asked for a prince”, in this case, her.

If you think about it, all Disney princesses are beautiful, well-dressed, thin, with long hair, often naïve, and especially in the first movies, white. And all of them always follow the same basic model: they wait for the intervention of prince charming to solve the problems of their existence. Disney has luckily evolved over the years, but do you realize that they’ve made us grow up with the idea that to save us from our troubles and to change our lives, will be the encounter with ‘the right man’? That finding the love of one's life is the goal for a woman, and that beauty is the means to conquer it?

Disney movies, undoubtedly, convey a lot of positive messages. They can spur us on to being altruistic and optimistic, to commit ourselves to what we do, to try to change our own destiny, etc., etc. But they also have negative aspects and messages like, indeed, a Cinderella. The poor and beautiful maid, forced to work as a scullery maid by her stepmother and evil stepsisters, envious of her beauty. An unhappy housewife who doesn’t lift a finger to change the bad situation she’s in. And what's the only way her life changes? When the handsome and rich prince she met for only five minutes, marries her. I mean, what? Sis, you danced for a couple of hours at a party with him! You basically know nothing about him, but you marry him? Okay...

Disney animated movies are rites of passage, and although it may not seem from what I said, I really love animated movies. Although they have messages that may or may not adversely affect, they're also beautiful and fun. I grew up seeing them, and I am who I am today. I watched the videotapes every day and knew them all by heart. But then growing up, I realized that not everything they show is right. So, I advise you, dear Anon, and whoever is reading this, if you have a little sister, a little cousin, or are dealing with little girls, please, explain the differences to them as you watch those movies with them. Explain to them that beauty isn't everything. Explain to them that they don't need to be blonde and blue-eyed like Cinderella. Because they are and will be beautiful as they are, and that especially when they're older, this will not have to become a requirement to be socially accepted.

But anyway. Sorry if I dwelt, dear Anon 😅 I believe Camila used this song as her own unique way to dispel the stereotype of the classic Disney princess. Sentences like “She said ‘a dream is a wish your heart makes’, and he's a sad reality”, “Us twenty first century girls need chivalry too”, and “I'm still a damn princess to you” make us understand this. She didn't need a guy, and that's all the song stands for. Hope you have a good day too, dear 😊

🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍🤸🏻‍♀‍

Aaand I'm done 😛 I hope I was helpful in this case too 🙃 Thank you all for your asks and as usual, know that I'm available for those who have questions, so feel free to ask 😊

Always remember to be kind, to others and to yourselves. Be a good example. Be patient. Be safe and take care of yourselves. Don't let our ship sink. Keep shipping them, but please respectfully 🙏🏼 Sending you virtual love and hugs 🤗🤗🤗 I love you, babies. Always with love, F ❤️

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xhxhxhx · 4 years

Text

Barack Obama's 2000 primary run against Bobby Rush for Illinois's first congressional district was the only race he ever lost.

Although Obama won the Hyde Park precincts around the University of Chicago and the white suburbs around Evergreen Park and Mount Greenwood, Representative Rush dominated in the Black precincts in this majority-Black district on Chicago's South Side.

“Nobody sent me,” Obama had said at his campaign kickoff, on September 26, 1999. “I’m not part of some long-standing political organization. I have no fancy sponsors. I’m not even from Chicago." The primary results underlined that.

As Ryan Lizza later reported, the results made Obama rethink some things:

Obama learned the exact nature of his appeal, as well as his handicaps. Unlike Obama’s State Senate district, where the University of Chicago and the multicultural Hyde Park produced most of the votes, Rush’s congressional district extended deep into black neighborhoods where Obama was unknown. His academic background was a burden, too. Will Burns explained, “Even though the University of Chicago is one of the largest employers on the South Side of Chicago, it is seen by some, particularly black nationalists, as a bastion of white political power, as a huge entity that doesn’t take into account the interests of the community, that doesn’t have a full democratic partnership with the community, and does what it wants to the community in maintaining clear boundaries about where black people are. It’s seen as an expansive force, trying to expand into Bronzeville and into Woodlawn”—historically black neighborhoods adjacent to Hyde Park—“and put poor blacks out of the area. The University of Chicago is not a brand that helps you if you’re trying to get votes on the South Side of Chicago.”

Obama’s fund-raising success and his professional networks were also viewed with suspicion. Chicago is still a city of villages, and Obama was adept at gliding back and forth between the South Side, where he campaigned for votes, and the wealthy Gold Coast, the lakefront neighborhood of high-rise condominiums and deluxe shopping, where he raised money. One day in Hyde Park, I mentioned the name Bettylu Saltzman (the Project Vote supporter and daughter of a Bulls owner) to Lois Friedberg-Dobry (the South Side operator). “I don’t run in those circles,” she said. Later, over lunch with Saltzman at a café in a gourmet supermarket on the Gold Coast, I mentioned the Dobrys and Obama’s Independent Voters of Illinois friends, and she said, “You know, the North Side and the South Side of Chicago—it’s like two different worlds.”

A South Side operator named Al Kindle, a large man with a booming voice, was a field operator for Obama’s race against Rush. He had helped elect Harold Washington, and he saw Obama’s congressional campaign from the street level. We met one evening at Calypso Café, a Caribbean restaurant that Obama has said is his favorite place to eat in Hyde Park, and Kindle described some of the worst moments in the campaign. “The accusations were that Obama was sent here and owned by the Jews,” Kindle said. “That he was here to steal the black vote and steal black land and that he was represented by the—as they were called—‘the white man.’ And that Obama wasn’t black enough and didn’t know the black experience, the black community. It was quite deafening in terms of how they went after Alderman Preckwinkle and myself. People would say, ‘Oh, Kindle, man, we trust you, you being fooled. Obama’s got you fooled.’ And some people called me a traitor.”.

The loss taught Obama a great deal about the components of his natural coalition. According to Dan Shomon, the first poll that Obama conducted revealed that the demographic he could win over most easily was white voters. Obama, who hadn’t shown any particular gift for oratory in the race, now learned to shed his stiff approach to campaigning—described by Preckwinkle as that of an “arrogant academic.” Mikva told me, “The first time I heard him talk to a black church, he was very professorial, more so even than he was in the white community. There was no joking, no self-deprecation, no style. It didn’t go over well at all.”

But, as he had in his 1996 campaign, Obama had attracted a young and zealous corps of campaign workers. “I remember one of the candidates in the race used to talk about how crazed our volunteers were, because they were passionate, energized,” Will Burns said. “You’d come by the office on Eighty-seventh Street and there’d be a bunch of guys with no teeth waiting to get their next Old Grand-dad and then these Shiraz-drinking, Nation-reading, T.N.R.-quoting young black folk. It was a random-ass mix. It was beautiful, though. When I see the crowds now, they’re very reminiscent of what was happening then.”

Emil Jones told me that, after 2000, Obama moved decisively away from being pigeonholed as an inner-city pol. During one debate with Rush, he noted that he and the other candidates were all “progressive, urban Democrats.” Even though he lost, that primary taught him that he might be something more than that. “He learned that for Barack Obama it was not the type of district that he was well suited for,” Jones said. “The type of campaign that he had to run to win that district is not Barack Obama. It was a predominantly African-American district. It was a district where you had to campaign solely on those issues. And Barack did not campaign that way, and so as a result he lost. Which was good.” Meaning, it was good for Barack Obama.

After the State Senate was redistricted in 2001, Obama's district looked very different:

One day in the spring of 2001, about a year after the loss to Rush, Obama walked into the Stratton Office Building, in Springfield, a shabby nineteen-fifties government workspace for state officials next to the regal state capitol. He went upstairs to a room that Democrats in Springfield called “the inner sanctum.” Only about ten Democratic staffers had access; entry required an elaborate ritual—fingerprint scanners and codes punched into a keypad. The room was large, and unremarkable except for an enormous printer and an array of computers with big double monitors. On the screens that spring day were detailed maps of Chicago, and Obama and a Democratic consultant named John Corrigan sat in front of a terminal to draw Obama a new district. Corrigan was the Democrat in charge of drawing all Chicago districts, and he also happened to have volunteered for Obama in the campaign against Rush.

Obama’s former district had been drawn by Republicans after the 1990 census. But, after 2000, Illinois Democrats won the right to redistrict the state. Partisan redistricting remains common in American politics, and, while it outrages a losing party, it has so far survived every legal challenge. In the new century, mapping technology has become so precise and the available demographic data so rich that politicians are able to choose the kinds of voter they want to represent, right down to individual homes. A close look at the post-2000 congressional map of Bobby Rush’s district reveals that it tears through Hyde Park in a curious series of irregular turns. One of those lines bypasses Obama’s address by two blocks. Rush, or someone looking out for his interests, had carved the upstart Obama out of Rush’s congressional district.

In truth, Rush had little to worry about; Obama was already on a different political path. Like every other Democratic legislator who entered the inner sanctum, Obama began working on his “ideal map.” Corrigan remembers two things about the district that he and Obama drew. First, it retained Obama’s Hyde Park base—he had managed to beat Rush in Hyde Park—then swooped upward along the lakefront and toward downtown. By the end of the final redistricting process, his new district bore little resemblance to his old one. Rather than jutting far to the west, like a long thin dagger, into a swath of poor black neighborhoods of bungalow homes, Obama’s map now shot north, encompassing about half of the Loop, whose southern portion was beginning to be transformed by developers like Tony Rezko, and stretched far up Michigan Avenue and into the Gold Coast, covering much of the city’s economic heart, its main retail thoroughfares, and its finest museums, parks, skyscrapers, and lakefront apartment buildings. African-Americans still were a majority, and the map contained some of the poorest sections of Chicago, but Obama’s new district was wealthier, whiter, more Jewish, less blue-collar, and better educated. It also included one of the highest concentrations of Republicans in Chicago.

“It was a radical change,” Corrigan said. The new district was a natural fit for the candidate that Obama was in the process of becoming. “He saw that when we were doing fund-raisers in the Rush campaign his appeal to, quite frankly, young white professionals was dramatic.”

Obama’s personal political concerns were not the only factor driving the process. During the previous round of remapping, in 1991, Republicans had created Chicago districts where African-Americans were the overwhelming majority, packing the greatest number of loyal Democrats into the fewest districts. A decade later, Democrats tried to spread the African-American vote among more districts. The idea was to create enough Democratic-leaning districts so that the Party could take control of the state legislature. That goal was fine with Obama; his new district offered promising, untapped constituencies for him as he considered his next political move. “The exposure he would get to some of the folks that were on boards of the museums and C.E.O.s of some of the companies that he would represent would certainly help him in the long run,” Corrigan said.

“In the end,” Lizza wrote, “Obama’s North Side fund-raising base and his South Side political base were united in one district.” And that made all the difference.

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thestralwatcher · 3 years

Text

So I’ve had to deal with the absolute worst customer in my entire working career ever this past week. (It’s Rose at the Notre Dame university bookstore in case anyone was wondering) apologies in advance, it’s going to be long

So for this school we have two “titles” that are basically just boxes of lab equipment. There’s a lock, goggles, a lab coat, a notebook, and an access card for the online book. These are shipped as individual boxes since there’s a good amount of materials. This is different from what we usually send to stores, which would be boxes of multiple notebooks. I mention this bc the store manager, Rose made such a damned big deal about it.

So the whole ordeal started at the beginning of the month when my boss CC-ed me on an email conversation with Rose letting her know that she was going to be out of town so to contact me with any questions or requests for her order of the two bundles we had for the school. She ended the email with “hopefully things go smoothly this year” so already I have a bad feeling that this is going to be difficult.

Rose emails me to let me know that this is a time when they receive a lot of deliveries at their store (she specifically mentioned receiving football equipment in addition to books and school supplies) so she wanted to make sure that their order of nearly 1000 bundles could be split into smaller orders with only one order arriving per day to make sure that they weren’t overwhelmed at the store. A bit of an annoying request, but not impossible for us to attempt to accommodate. The only thing being that once an order leaves our warehouse we have zero control over how long it takes to deliver or when it gets delivered so I told Rose that I was putting notes on her orders so that they would hopefully ship on different days and then be delivered on different days. And she again reminded me that they needed the orders to arrive just as she specified. Okay, fine, I’m doing what I can.

Now, unfortunately, we’ve been having delays it’s getting materials and books in stock on time this season bc our printers are all short staffed and they can only print and ship so much at a time. So the bundles are already going to be a little later than expected. We had a team of people putting the boxes together at our satellite warehouse last last week so we could get them shipped out last week.

So we finally get things together and get the first order shipped out Tuesday. This first order was for 85 boxes of one title (11181) and 150 copies of the other (11171) and the manager at the satellite warehouse gets it shipped out Tuesday last week. On Wednesday I send Rose an email with the tracking information (I had to wait for our regular warehouse manager to get me the info bc the satellite manager was out all of last week after Tuesday) and at 4:56 Wednesday evening I get the following email from Rose:

“Beth, do you realize we already got three skids today? You sent a skid of 11181 when we only wanted 85 and two skids of 11171. Please do not send any more of 11181 and I will write up everything tomorrow and you can arrange a call tag to pick up the others. This is a hot mess and the paperwork the driver had was wrong and we have damaged cases as well. Way to go..........................”

So I was about to lose my mind at this. Not only was it at the end of the day, but she was incredibly rude over something that was genuinely a mistake and moreso, not my fault! The editor in charge of the projects wanted to respond to her that evening, but I told her that, quite frankly, I was off for the day and Rose didn’t deserve any of my unpaid time. Plus i wanted to hear back from the warehouse to see their end in case something happened so they sent out more than they were supposed to or if Rose was just stupid and we did what we said we would and it just wasn’t exactly what she was expecting. So the editor sent Rose a message saying that I’d get back to her in the morning with more information and I went to dinner w my parents and papa so that I wouldn’t punch a hold thru a wall in anger

So Thursday morning I get in to an email from our main warehouse manager (since the satellite manager was out the rest of the week) letting me know that we had sent three skids for the order. Because each skid holds 96 boxes. So, since the order was for 235 boxes, it physically had to ship as three skids. I was fucking giddy as I typed my response to Rose, spelling out why she received three skids and letting her know that I would be holding her remaining four orders for 150 of 11171 each until I got the go-ahead from her that she was okay with the fact that the orders would be one and a half skids each.

Well, Rose emails back that we actually sent three full skids instead of one full and two partials. She included the phrase “believe it or not, I can count” and then after reiterating how she wanted her orders sent said, “My next suggestion would be to fulfill my orders as requested going forward.” And asked if they’d be getting another order that day. So I typed up a very off-color response to her informing her how obnoxious and cunty I thought she was being and how her attitude was helping exactly zero people and quite honestly making me feel less inclined to be helpful at all. And then I typed up a nicer response and asked my boss for read it over to make sure that it was professional and appropriate. In my email i let her know that we only had the paperwork to go off of as the warehouse manager who put the shipment out was out of the office, so we legitimately did not know that she received more than what was on her order and that, no I had held her other orders to make sure that she was okay with how they were going to be shipped, but I could put them in and hopefully get the next one shipped out that day or Friday.

At that point, she got the other manager at their store involved who emailed Friday morning to ask me to confirm they’d be getting the rest of their order that day as they had students arriving on campus who would need them. I informed her that no, we hadn’t shipped anything else yet and said that it was bc our satellite warehouse was short staffed (which is essentially true. There’s one person who works in that warehouse— the manager— and he’d been out all week) so Rose jumped back in to say “Just to make certain I understand correctly, there hasn't been another order shipped since the first delivery? We need to get on the ball with this order short staffed or not folks!!”

At that point i was beyond pissed. They were asking for something above and beyond what we do normally, and we were doing everything we could to keep them placated, including shipping the rest of their orders for free, but there’s literally only so much we can do with the staff that we have. So, after venting into an empty word doc, I responded with “That is correct. We wanted to make sure that we wouldn't overwhelm you with multiple orders in a day, like you asked, and since the first shipment went out incorrectly, we wanted to be sure that it didn't happen again. Unfortunately that means that we aren't able to schedule a pickup from the shipper until Monday as it took some time to confirm that the rest of the shipments were okay to go forward per your instructions. The remaining shipments will be going out all of next week, but if you need us to send more than one order at a time, please let me know and I can coordinate with our warehouse team to make sure that happens.” (Also I’m now realizing that rose never actually confirmed that we could/should ship the rest of the orders so that’s a fun thing) as this was going on, I was trying to coordinate with our warehouse manager to see if we could get the next order out and (as my dad who works in that warehouse told me) they were basically running around asking every shipper who came by that day if they could take the order bc the store’s preferred shipper wasn’t available to pick it up. But we finally managed to get it picked up and shipped around 1 Friday afternoon

So, Rose, in all of her Karen-ness responds “In what world would it be, as the buyer, my fault for making and having confirmation of shipping directions the reason why your company has failed??” Funnily enough, that email sent me passed pissed off to just calm and I’d started typing a response when a message from my boss (who had been CC-ed on the entire conversation) popped up saying “take a minute, step away from your computer, then respond” so I laughed to myself and explained to Rose that I wasn’t trying to blame her (yes I was) but that I was only trying to explain why I was being so cautious and why there would be a gap in their shipments. Of course, then I get an email from the other store manager saying that she wished we had communicated the delay in shipments ahead of time and that if that had happened they would have been able to tell us that it mattered more that they received the boxes on time, not that they were received separately as originally requested, ending with “I would have thought this would be a logical conclusion on your part, so the mistake was mine in thinking that.”

And that’s when I realized that this manager (Becky) hadn’t been informed of everything that actually had happened and most likely just got the bitching from Rose that we’d messed up and it was all our fault that they wouldn’t be getting the boxes on time. So I got to inform her that I had told Rose immediately that we were going to be holding the remainder of her orders until we got the ok from her to ship since she’d been so upset with how the first shipment had arrived.

So once I’d gotten that all explained and smoothed out, I got an email from the freaking Macmillan rep for the area who’s been “filled in” on the situation and wanted to make sure that we were going to be able to get the store what they needed and when 🙄 and she followed up this morning to make sure that we’d done what we said. So we got the order delivered today, another one that’s either been delivered since or is being delivered tomorrow, a third that’s either tomorrow or Wednesday, and the last order that’s shipping tomorrow being delivered Wednesday or Thursday depending on shipping times.

Behind the scenes, I wasn’t aware, but my boss’s boss and his (new) boss had also been filled in about the situation and my boss had explained our half of the story, so I got a message from my boss’s boss thanking me for handling the situation and that he thought it had handled the situation well and professionally and that it was “100% the fault of an extremely difficult customer”

I’m just so Done with this and I hope to God I don’t ever have to deal with this store in the future

#beth rambles about her life #Beth rambles about her job #I legit did a shot in the middle of the day Friday bc I was so fed up with everything #bc on top of dealings with this store #I’ve got like 50 other stores and schools placing orders and getting info all day long #on the other side of the coin #I have a different store that wanted to order a total of 1100 of our spiral bound notebooks over two orders #that they’d placed one two weeks ago one last week #but I’d been a little late in putting the first order in and by the time I got to it we were out of that notebook #which is another stupid story #so we were completely out of the notebook and won’t be getting more for at least a week probably more #but we do have another of the same binding and page count #just that the original copy is tear-out instead of the copy page #and she was so nice to me #saying that she’d be okay with the sub and that it’s not the end of the world that the shipments won’t go out until today #it’s like freaking night and day between her and how Rose handled things

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