Hi all,
So I’m in the process of a big career change. I’ve been in the police for 12 years but I’m become totally disheartened with how the service is going and I want to leave and do something totally different. My grandad was a HGV driver in the army and then went into it as a civilian and my dad used to drive all over the UK and Ireland as a sales rep in a van. I can’t stand sitting in an office, I love to be out and about, on the move and I’m used to long hours/shifts. I’ve always liked the idea of HGV driving and so I’ve decided I’m going to go for it.
I’ve applied for my C+E provisional and once that returns I’ll sit my theories, have lessons and take my practical tests + obtain my CPC.
HGV driving is a totally different world from what I’m used to and aside from the occasional interaction with drivers through my current job I have very little insight into the industry. I don’t have any friends or contacts in the industry either.
For context I’m 32, male and in the South West. In terms of driving history I’ve had a class B and A licence since I was 17 and 25 respectively. I’ve been a police trained driver for my whole career for cars and vans, if that makes any difference. Before joining the police I did a year or so of single and multi-drop courier work in a van albeit that was many years ago now.
Are there any tips for getting started and for finding my first role? Ideally I’d like to drive Class 1 and my preference is a 4 on 4 off type pattern but I’m flexible, especially for my first role.

Pay close attention to this in people. why? because it’s going to show you a good insight as to the measure of a person’s character. which you wouldn’t of experienced otherwise. You’re ideally looking for qualities such as grace, discipline, groundedness, humbleness and humility here. someone who has been achieving success and remains collected, humble even is a positive sign in someone and a reflection of security.
This is a good scenario to discern of a person’s inner world, their psychological state and of course their ego. The ego grows with success for many. when those of poor character or harbouring insecurity experience success? they begin to run with the wind and experience a rather distasteful ego inflation coupled with arrogance and depending on what’s repressed within them? you may be shocked! for how quickly they suddenly switch up in their behaviours+attitudes and it’s almost never for the better with some people.
I wanted to share this with you as recently I had the unpleasant experience acknowledging this within an old face, whom I hadn’t seen in quite some time. This wasn’t confidence or a little cockiness either (it’s expected to exhibit a touch of this within us all achieving success.) we’re only human. This was really obnoxious behaviours and making fun of others. He showed me in full display this is how I behave and treat others when I’m winning.
I recognised for what it was and chose not to point out as would just be redundant. but I began to self reflect as whether I’m even compatible with this person? Had I outgrown him? had he outgrown me? was he really out of order? was I in fact just envious? I contemplated. he was out of order and not the same person. I digress, if they exhibit these qualities now? Imagine how they would behave when they REALLY achieved success? someone like this? would treat you like dirt from their shoe if they could. It is in their nature and character and they will revert to type.
So pay attention to this. because it’s 1 of many life event tells in those around you in which human nature will enter the equation and you may just notice something that you wish you hadn’t. It is disappointing when you have been sincere or held them in high regards.
pro vetting move; let people win at your expense in order to discern how they change/care and would then attempt to treat you. if they don’t grow in arrogance and are grateful and level headed. winner winner.

I've never been to the Valuation Expo in Vegas was thinking about it. I asked Chat for some appraiser jokes and here's what I got. Is humor and being an appraiser mutually exclusive?

1. Why did the appraiser bring a ladder to work? To reach new heights in property valuation!
2. What did the appraiser say to the homeowner who asked for a higher home value? "I'll have to raise the roof for that!"
3. Why don’t appraisers play hide and seek? Because good luck hiding something from them—they'll find the value in everything!
4. Why did the appraiser get promoted? Because they always knew how to add value to the team!
5. What's an appraiser's favorite type of music? Rock and re-roll!

Hope these brought a smile to your face!
Are there any funnier jokes than this or are appraisers just that boringChatGPT
Alright, let's give it another shot with some slightly more humorous appraiser jokes:

1. Why did the appraiser join a band? Because they have an excellent sense of measure!
2. How do you know if an appraiser is at your party? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you—about the market value of your home!
3. Why did the appraiser bring a pencil to the interview? To draw some conclusions!
4. Why did the appraiser cross the road? To evaluate the other side!
5. What do you call an appraiser who tells jokes? A laughraiser!

Appraisers might not be known for their comedy, but at least they have a strong sense of value!

I'm from India, where the supply voltage is 230 V. Last month, I faced severe voltage fluctuations for a week where it would drop as low as 130 V. Had to keep my inverter AC on (it has an operating range of 100-295 V) as it was > 40 °C at that time. It was providing minimal cooling. When I received the bill for the month, the number of units consumed were 2x of my highest consumption ever. Is it possible that during the low voltage period my AC consumed more power that usual, or somehow the low voltage affected my energy meter reading? (it is of rotating disc type)
Things I've ensured already:

1. The meter is measuring my consumption only.
2. The meter is working fine. This was tested by power company later with 230 V. Is it possible 130 V would have led to different results?
3. There has been no change in my load.

Hey guys!
I wanna practice making puzzles for ARGs! I have played many and currently making my own, and I will be offering my services on Fiverr and Freelancer for a very low price because I also want this to be accessible to you and get lots of practice making puzzles.
Because Fiverr has a bare minimum of $5 per commission, I can take multiple puzzles for one commission. Still setting up Fiverr and Freelancer, but DM me if you want me to make a puzzle for you.
ik this is a plug but the first 5 people who DM me for a commission get 1 free custom puzzle for them!
I can do:

• Encoded text (multiple layers and unique encryption)
  
• Image editing
  
• Website puzzles (discolored text puzzles, hidden links, etc.)
  
• Discuss your ARG project with me! (Comes free with my services)
  
• probably a lot more things that i forgot
  

I'm from India, where the supply voltage is 230 V. Last month, I faced severe voltage fluctuations for a week where it would drop as low as 130 V. Had to keep my inverter AC on (it has an operating range of 100-295 V) as it was > 40 °C at that time. It was providing minimal cooling. When I received the bill for the month, the number of units consumed were 2x of my highest consumption ever. Is it possible that during the low voltage period my AC consumed more power that usual, or somehow the low voltage affected my energy meter reading? (it is of rotating disc type)
Things I've ensured already:

1. The meter is measuring my consumption only.
2. The meter is working fine. This was tested by power company later with 230 V. Is it possible 130 V would have led to different results?
3. There has been no change in my load.

Hey everyone,
I wanted to share something that has been really beneficial for my mental health and might be helpful for others here who are struggling with issues around sex, kink, and finding a supportive community. Something most therapists won't touch...
For those who may not be familiar, FetLife is a social networking site similar to Facebook, but it's dedicated to the BDSM, fetish, and kink communities. While it might not be for everyone, I've found several positive aspects that have really helped me on my journey, and I wanted to share in case it might help someone else here too.
1. Building a Supportive Community
One of the biggest benefits of FetLife is the sense of community it provides. Many of us feel isolated when it comes to our sexual preferences, but FetLife connects you with people who understand and share similar interests. This sense of belonging can be incredibly affirming and reduces feelings of loneliness.
2. Normalizing Diverse Sexualities
Being part of a community that embraces a wide range of sexual preferences and kinks can help normalize what mainstream society often considers taboo. This can be a huge relief and can help reduce shame and stigma associated with one's sexual identity.
3. Educational Resources
FetLife has a wealth of information on safe practices, consent, and communication within kink and BDSM relationships. The forums and groups often host discussions on how to engage in these activities safely and responsibly, which can be crucial for anyone exploring these areas.
4. Mental Health Support
Many users on FetLife discuss mental health openly, and there are groups specifically dedicated to supporting members who struggle with mental health issues. It’s a space where you can find understanding and practical advice from those who have similar experiences.
5. Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance
Exploring your sexuality in a safe and supportive environment can lead to significant personal growth. FetLife encourages self-acceptance and helps individuals understand and embrace their desires, leading to a healthier relationship with oneself.
6. Event and Workshop Access
FetLife is a great way to find local events, workshops, and meetups. These events often focus on education, safety, and community building. They can be a great way to meet people in person and learn from experienced members of the community.
7. Anonymity and Privacy
While joining any online community involves some risk, FetLife allows for a level of anonymity that can make people feel safer when discussing personal and sensitive topics. You can control how much or how little you share about yourself.
Of course, like any platform, it’s important to approach with caution. Be mindful of privacy, understand that not everyone on the site will have your best interests at heart, and always prioritize your safety both online and in person.
For those who feel isolated, ashamed, or confused about their sexual desires, FetLife can offer a lifeline. It's provided me with a supportive network and helped me embrace my true self in ways I never thought possible.
If you’re curious or feel this might be helpful for you, consider giving it a try. Remember, your mental health and well-being always come first, and finding a community that supports you can make a world of difference.
Stay safe and take care!
TL;DR: FetLife can provide a supportive community, normalize diverse sexualities, offer educational resources, mental health support, and opportunities for personal growth. Always prioritize safety and privacy when engaging online.
Feel free to ask me any questions about my experience, and I’d be happy to help.

DAY: May 18 2024

• 5-18-2024 HAVE SMARTPHONES KILLED THE ART OF CONVERSATION? Once upon a time, human relationships unfolded without smartphones. The reality may be hard to recall, so profoundly have these devices transformed the way we relate to the world and others in fifteen years or so. As an anthropologist interested in modernity, I am particularly preoccupied by the impact of these devices on our conversations. In my book, “The End of the Conversation? Words in a Spectral Society” (French original: “La fin de la conversation? La parole dans une société spectrale”), I investigate the pernicious effects of this technology
• 5-18-2024 HOW TO REWARD EMPLOYEES FAIRLY AND IMPROVE TEAM DYNAMICS A recent study has shed light on how to reward employees more fairly and improve team dynamics. The study found that when less skilled employees report their performance voluntarily, they often exaggerate their achievements and ask for higher bonuses. These employees also tend to put in less effort and are less concerned about fairness when sharing their contributions voluntarily. Interestingly, the researchers discovered that requiring employees to explain their contributions leads to fairer decisions about bonus allocation and improves
• 5-19-2024 BILLIONS ARE SPENT ON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, BUT WE DON’T KNOW IF IT WORKS During the COVID lockdowns, schools and universities worldwide relied on education technology—edtech—to keep students learning. They used online platforms to give lessons, mark work and send feedback, used apps to teach and introduced students to programs that let them work together on projects. In the aftermath of school closures, the market for edtech has kept on growing. The value of the sector is projected to rise to US$132.4 billion globally by 2032. The problem is that we don’t know very much about how effective many edtech apps or programs
• 5-19-2024 STUDY FINDS CONSUMERS WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR NATURALLY COLORED COTTON CLOTHING Research has looked at consumer attitudes toward naturally colored cotton clothing. The study found that amid increasing concerns over the environmental impact of conventional cotton processing, consumers are willing to pay more for a greener T-shirt.
• 5-18-2024 HOW AI IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SALES STRATEGIES In the fast-evolving business landscape, artificial intelligence, or AI, is taking center stage in transforming sales processes, making them more efficient and responsive to the dynamic market demands. A new University of Alabama at Birmingham study titled “AI in Sales: Laying the Foundations for Future Research” highlights the pivotal role AI is playing in reshaping the sales sector.
• 5-18-2024 WHEN CONSUMERS WOULD PREFER A CHATBOT OVER A PERSON Actually, sometimes consumers don’t want to talk to a real person when they’re shopping online, a new study suggests. In fact, what they really want is a chatbot that makes it clear that it is not human at all. In a new study, researchers found that people preferred interacting with chatbots when they felt embarrassed about what they were buying online—items like antidiarrheal medicine or, for some people, skin care products. “In general, research shows people would rather interact with a human customer service agent
• 5-18-2024 NEW STUDY REVEALS THE POTENTIAL OF COACHING EMPLOYEES TO DRIVE NEW STRATEGIC IDEAS In the landscape of modern business, inclusion isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a strategic imperative. Companies like IBM, Volkswagen and Starbucks are moving to more participative strategy development approaches that reflect a growing understanding of the importance of diversity in fostering innovative and creative strategic ideas. Yet the outcomes of inclusive strategy processes often fall short of expectations. A new study in the Strategic Management Journal sheds light on why that may be. In their study of an inclusive strategy process in a large insurance company, Violetta Splitter, along with co-authors
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCHERS SHOW WAYS TO PROPEL PRODUCT SUCCESS New research explores the key strategies that firms should adopt when launching a new product. The researchers say that these strategies depend on the current market view of the product and the firm. Employing the correct one, which might sometimes be collaborating with overtly demanding reviewers or instituting rather challenging pilot tests, ensures that the product launch will go as successfully as possible.
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCHERS DEVELOP ALGORITHMS TO UNDERSTAND HOW HUMANS FORM BODY PART VOCABULARIES An example of the study’s language sample and the words for arm/hand and leg/foot in English and Wolof. Human bodies have similar designs. However, languages differ in the way they divide the body into parts and name them. For example, English speakers have two words for foot and leg, whereas other languages express the concepts foot and leg in one word.
• 5-18-2024 STUDY FINDS AVOIDING SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE AN ELECTION HAS LITTLE TO NO EFFECT ON PEOPLE’S POLITICAL VIEWS In the weeks before and after the 2020 presidential election, researchers ran a number of tests to try to understand how much Facebook and its corporate cousin, Instagram, may be contributing to the nation’s political divide. One of those experiments—led by Matthew Gentzkow and Hunt Allcott, economics professors at Stanford University—centered on more than 35,000 Facebook and Instagram users who were paid to stay off the platforms in the run-up to Election Day. There’s a lot that researchers could glean from the social media hiatus, including whether people’s political attitudes
• 5-18-2024 USING COMPUTER MODELS TO UNDERSTAND THE DEBATE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE Different types of noise and how they act inside or outside the social interaction process. Cognitive biases are among the most important factors that prevent people from changing their minds. Climate change deniers and climate activists often tend to accept only information that confirms their respective opinions on the matter. However, opinion dynamics are also influenced by a factor that the researchers call “ambiguity noise.” Unlike biases, ambiguity noise is variable, depends on many random factors, and leads to inconsistent judgment.
• 5-18-2024 FOR SOME INDIGENOUS SOUTHERN PLAINS TRIBES, AN ORIGINAL FLUTE SONG IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD MARRIAGE “Warrior with flute” by Timothy Tate Nevaquaya. Used with permission. Credit: Timothy Tate Nevaquaya Every love story is unique, and in traditional Indigenous Southern Plains culture, it begins with an original ballad performed on the flute. In order to win a lover’s affection, and respect among the tribe, each pursuer must compose one good flute serenade. Paula Conlon, a former music professor at the University of Oklahoma, has researched the history and cultural significance of the Indigenous flute since the 1980s. Conlon presents her work Tuesday, May 14, at 9:45
• 5-18-2024 WANT TO BE AN INFLUENCER? OUR RESEARCH SHOWS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST You’re hard at work, lying in a hammock, composing the perfect selfie on the beach. The turquoise sea sets off the idyllic sunset, and just visible though the fronds of a palm tree is the logo of the hotel which is paying you to promote it to your millions of followers on Instagram. Click. The perfect shot. And another typically perfect day in the life of an influencer. Or is it? Certainly a career as an influencer can seem appealing. The work generally involves promoting products or services through sponsored
• 5-18-2024 WHY STUDENTS CHEAT IN ONLINE EXAMS Media psychologists at the University of Cologne have studied how students’ individual needs, conceptions and reasons relate to cheating behavior in online exams. Online exams have become a more common type of exam at universities, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are advantageous because they save time and offer flexibility. However, cheating attempts present a big challenge for lecturers. This is why universities have been working on ways to thwart cheating in online exams by putting organizational and technical measures into place.
• 5-18-2024 WHY STUDENTS CHEAT IN ONLINE EXAMS Trust and distrust in social media coexisted in the study participants. Credit: Emmaline Nelsen Are anti-misinformation interventions on social media working as intended? It depends, according to a new study surveyed over 1,700 participants in the United States, revealing that anti-misinformation features increased users’ awareness of misinformation in social media; but did not make them more likely to share information on social media
• 5-18-2024 MOST CRIME HAS FALLEN BY 90% IN 30 YEARS—SO WHY DOES THE PUBLIC THINK IT’S INCREASED? Seventy-eight percent of people in England and Wales think that crime has gone up in the last few years, according to the latest survey. But the data on actual crime shows the exact opposite. As of 2024, violence, burglary and car crime have been declining for 30 years and by close to 90%, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)—our best indicator of true crime levels. Unlike police data, the CSEW is not subject to variations in reporting and recording. The drop in violence includes domestic violence
• 5-18-2024 MOST CRIME HAS FALLEN BY 90% IN 30 YEARS—SO WHY DOES THE PUBLIC THINK IT’S INCREASED? Can we truly assess whether someone finds us attractive? Cognitive psychologist Iliana Samara discovered that men, in particular, tend to overestimate the interest of their date. She explains why this may be. “Imagine you walk into a packed bar, looking for a date. Your eyes are naturally drawn to attractive faces. If you’re a man and find someone attractive, you’re more likely to assume they’re also interested in you. “Then, when you approach them, whether you’re a man or woman
• 5-18-2024 MOST CRIME HAS FALLEN BY 90% IN 30 YEARS—SO WHY DOES THE PUBLIC THINK IT’S INCREASED? Having more education has long been linked to better individual health. But those benefits are also contagious, say the co-authors of a new working paper. “It’s not just that the individuals who have more years of education are in better health,” said David M. Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics. “It’s that even people with fewer years of education—for example, people with just a high school degree—are in better health when they live around
• 5-18-2024 MOST CRIME HAS FALLEN BY 90% IN 30 YEARS—SO WHY DOES THE PUBLIC THINK IT’S INCREASED? Our research on children in early primary years, show they are better are writing with a pen or pencil than a keyboard. Children today are growing up surrounded by technology. So it’s easy to assume they will be able to write effectively using a keyboard. But our research suggests this is not necessarily true. We need to actively teach students to be able to type as well as write using paper and pen or pencil. Our research Our research team has published two recent
• 5-18-2024 MOST CRIME HAS FALLEN BY 90% IN 30 YEARS—SO WHY DOES THE PUBLIC THINK IT’S INCREASED? The provision of therapies for children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can be an affectively challenging, sometimes procedurally complex, process for the various stakeholders involved. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of this process, are crucial to various outcomes, in particular
• 5-18-2024 HOW DO MINDFULNESS, COMPASSION AND NEED FULFILLMENT AFFECT SATISFACTION IN MIDLIFE MARRIED COUPLES? Many people practice mindfulness or self-compassion techniques in their everyday life as part of their normal self-care routine. Although many studies support the individual benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, few have focused on romantic relationship outcomes. A new study published in Personal Relationships has examined how mindfulness, self- and other-compassion, and need fulfillment relate to relationship and sexual satisfaction in midlife married couples. The study involved survey results from 640 adults aged 40–59 years who were residing in Canada and were married. Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental attention and awareness to
• 5-18-2024 HOW ENTERTAINMENT BRANDS ARE ADAPTING TO GENERATION ALPHA Growing up, did you play with hyper-sexualized Barbie dolls, boys-only Thomas the Tank Engine trains, or slim, white Disney princesses? If so, you’re not alone, but this is no longer the case for Generation Alpha. Brands like Mattel, once criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and gender stereotypes, now portray themselves as feminist and progressive. The recent Barbie movie serves as a prime example of this shift. Millennial parents are actively seeking out toys, books and movies to educate their children about life and teach them values that align
• 5-18-2024 STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA FACE CHALLENGES TRANSITIONING TO THE WORKPLACE, BUT WITH SUPPORT THEY CAN THRIVE Transitioning from university to the workplace is a critical period in anyone’s life, but it can be especially challenging for students with dyslexia. While academic settings often offer accommodations for people with dyslexia, professional environments often fall short on such support systems. Fortunately, there are strategic interventions that can be established in workplaces to help individuals with dyslexia not only adapt, but excel in their careers. It is estimated that up to 20% of the population has dyslexia and 80% of people with a learning disability have dyslexia
• 5-18-2024 BUSINESSES UNINTENTIONALLY DISCOURAGE DIVERSE IDEAS, FINDS STUDY Businesses influence the ideas they receive from external contributors by unintentionally signaling which ideas they like, a research analyzed 1.44 million ideas to understand how organizations unknowingly shape the ideas they receive. Data came from organizations that asked visitors how they could improve their websites before choosing which ideas to use. Chosen ideas were communicated for all to see.
• 5-18-2024 WHAT’S IN A NAME? A LINGUISTICS EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY SOME BABY NAMES DOMINATE THE CHARTS YEAR AFTER YEAR What do names like Noah, James, Mateo, Mia, Evelyn and Luna all have in common? They’re not only some of the top baby names in the United States, but they also seem to flow off the tongue. And that’s exactly why parents love them. On May 10, the Social Security Administration released a list of the top baby names in the United States in 2023. Liam and Olivia maintained the number one spot in their respective categories for the fifth consecutive year while Noah and Emma also retained second place.
• 5-18-2024 ACCESS TO GARDENS AND CITIZEN SCIENCE HELPS ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION AMONG CHILDREN, STUDY SHOWS Access to gardens and citizen science projects at school can help promote pro-conservation behavior among pupils, a new study shows. Offering children the chance to take part in authentic scientific ecological work and gardening encourages an interest in plants. This can change behavior—to spend more time gardening or to pursue a botanical career—and fuels a positive attitude towards safeguarding the environment, experts found
• 5-18-2024 WHAT PROFESSIONALS EXPECT FROM FUTURE EMPLOYERS Employers who want to attract new talent should recognize diversity and enable inclusion. This is confirmed by a representative study by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), which surveyed more than 1,200 trainees and students across Germany. The results clearly show that 75.1% of prospective employees consider it very or somewhat important that companies implement measures to promote diversity and inclusion. This suggests that companies that communicate these measures openly and transparently
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCH LINKS VOTER BEHAVIOR IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO HOUSING MARKET PERFORMANCE If the 21st century has proven anything to the United States electorate, it is that presidential elections are notoriously unpredictable affairs. The seeming randomness by which the country’s electorate chooses its next president has only emboldened polling outlets, talking heads, and amateur psephologists to scrutinize every conceivable variable to give their respective electoral forecasting models a much-needed edge. However, Sherwood Clements, collegiate assistant professor of real estate in the Pamplin College of Business, had an electoral theory that, to the best of his knowledge, had never been explored with regards
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCH LINKS VOTER BEHAVIOR IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO HOUSING MARKET PERFORMANCE If the 21st century has proven anything to the United States electorate, it is that presidential elections are notoriously unpredictable affairs. The seeming randomness by which the country’s electorate chooses its next president has only emboldened polling outlets, talking heads, and amateur psephologists to scrutinize every conceivable variable to give their respective electoral forecasting models a much-needed edge. However, Sherwood Clements, collegiate assistant professor of real estate in the Pamplin College of Business, had an electoral theory that, to the best of his knowledge, had never been explored with regards
• 5-18-2024 MECHANISTIC MODEL SHOWS HOW MUCH GOSSIP IS NEEDED TO FOSTER SOCIAL COOPERATION Gossip often has a negative connotation, but imagine you are part of a group deciding on a job candidate to hire or a local political candidate to back. Candidates who get a good reputation by helping others may be more likely to receive help in the form of a job offer or endorsement, a feedback loop known as indirect reciprocity. Gossip can facilitate cooperation. Previous research has shown that people tend to cooperate more when they think their peers are gossiping about their behavior, gossip
• 5-18-2024 SINGING RESEARCHERS FIND CROSS-CULTURAL PATTERNS IN MUSIC AND LANGUAGE Are acoustic features of music and spoken language shared across cultures? Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen have contributed to a global study of music and speech, published in Science Advances. An international team of researchers recorded themselves performing traditional music and speaking in their native language. In all 50+ languages
• 5-18-2024 NEW RESEARCH REVEALS JUST HOW FEW LGBTQI+ PEOPLE PLAY SPORTS The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research has rarely explored the impact on participation for LGBTQI+ people. Fresh research into the problem Our new research is one of the first pieces of academic research in Australia to document how many LGBTQI+ people play and engage with sport. We also explored current levels of discrimination across sport in Australia, and the barriers and enablers
• 5-18-2024 SWIPE RIGHT OR LEFT? HOW DATING APPS ARE IMPACTING MODERN MASCULINITY What it means to be a man is changing. Critical men or masculinity studies is an emerging robust research field that explores how men and masculinity are being transformed by shifting socio-economic, sexual and political conditions in our post-industrial world. Fascinating new male-identifying sub-cultures and communities have emerged, like mushroomcore and dandies. Yet heteronormative masculinity is typically framed as threatening, toxic or maladaptive, as in the case of fragile masculinity. In my years of swiping on dating apps, I encountered different kinds of masculinities, as well as some very offensive
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCHERS SAY AUTOMATED NEWS VIDEO PRODUCTION IS BETTER WITH A HUMAN TOUCH AI-generated videos for short messages are only as well received as manually created ones if they are edited by humans. News organizations—including Bloomberg, Reuters, and The Economist—have been using AI powered video services to meet growing audience demand for audio-visual material. A study recently published in the journal Journalism now shows that the automated production of news videos is better with human supervision. Technology providers like Wochit and Moovly are allowing publishers to mass produce videos at scale. But what do audiences think of the results? Researchers led by LMU
• 5-18-2024 HOW ‘ETHICAL INFLUENCERS’ ENGAGE THEIR AUDIENCES ABOUT SAVING THE PLANET Have a quick think back to the last time you scrolled through social media. Maybe it was this morning, last night or a few minutes ago. What do you recall? One thing you’re bound to remember is the continuous stream of influencers showing off their latest content. These could be videos of influencers discussing the latest skin-care products, the trendiest places to eat, their latest shopping haul or the PR packages they received from various brands. Much of social media influencing is about getting consumers to buy more products.
• 5-18-2024 ALLYSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO NEW MOTHERS RETURNING TO WORK, SAYS STUDY Returning to work after parental leave can be one of the most challenging experiences for any parents, especially mothers, to navigate. Fortunately, there are simple, kind and thoughtful ways in which organizational members—regardless of formal status, parental identity or gender identity—can help mothers feel supported as they return to work, which can also benefit job satisfaction and maternal well-being.
• 5-18-2024 STUDY FINDS SAYING ‘PLEASE’ MAY NOT BE SO POLITE IN EVERYDAY REQUESTS By kindergarten age, most children have been taught that “please” is a magic word. “Please” is an expression of politeness that shows courtesy and respect, turning a potential demand into a request that will—poof!—magically be granted. But a new study on the ways people make requests of one another suggests that “please” might not be an all-purpose marker of politeness, but rather a more focused, strategic tool to manage frictions or obstacles among family members, friends and even coworkers.
• 5-18-2024 MILITARY RANK AFFECTS MEDICAL CARE, OFFERING SOCIETAL INSIGHTS: STUDY Stock project from Pexels Human relationships are inherently shaped by power dynamics, yet quantifying their impact has remained a scientific challenge. Now, a large new study published Thursday in the journal Science reveals that military doctors give more attention to higher-ranked patients, providing concrete evidence about the privileges that come with elevated status, frequently at the expense of the less powerful. “One of the things we are trying to show is that this is not a military-specific analysis,”
• 5-18-2024 RESEARCHERS DISCUSS CURRENT STATE OF HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA Gender-neutral bathrooms, conversion therapy and Quebec’s advisory committee on gender identity have been in the news lately. These are polarizing, hot-button issues. While there have been legislative and social advances for LGBTQ+ rights, ignorance and discrimination persist and continue to negatively affect the lives of many. On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, UdeMNouvelles asked two Université de Montréal professors and researchers who are experts in the field to share their views.
• 5-18-2024 PICKLEBALL COURTS IN A LEGAL PICKLE OVER THE ASSOCIATED NOISE Experts recommend HOAs and communities consider the “popping” noise associated with pickleball when deciding to build courts near homes. Credit: AIP Pickleball Legal Consultant is a job title that likely did not exist a decade ago, but as pickleball courts infiltrate neighborhoods to satiate an appetite for a sport whose namesake is a snack, communities take issue with the resulting influx of noise. Now homeowners’ associations and city councils face litigation by those whose lives are disrupted by pickleball’s din. Charles Leahy, an attorney, retired mechanical engineer, and former HOA
• 5-18-2024 TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING HOW COMPANIES DO BUSINESS In the fast-paced world of modern business, technology plays a crucial role in shaping how companies operate. One area where this impact is particularly significant is in the organization of production chains—specifically the way goods are made and distributed. A new study from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business advances understanding of the U.S. production chain evolution amidst technological progress in information technology (IT), shedding light on the complex connections between business IT investments and organizational design. Advances in IT have sparked significant changes in how companies design
• 5-18-2024 HOW DOES THE US KNOW THAT FORCED LABOR IS HAPPENING IN CHINA? A SUPPLY CHAIN EXPERT WEIGHS IN The Biden administration has added 26 more companies to the list of Chinese textile traders and manufacturers whose goods are blocked from entering the United States because of their alleged ties to forced labor. The banned imports, known as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, names businesses that are said to be involved in exploiting

I did the exam yesterday. I was disappointed to be honest with the listening part. It’s not like I haven’t prepared well, in fact, the listening part was the MOST part I prepared for. I did tons of practice tests and got at least 7.5 in all of them. When I entered the exam and wore the headphones, the sound was soo low, I thought that everyone had this level of sound on their headphones and it was regular; but it turns out that it isn’t! I missed a couple of questions and unfortunately I think I had at least 5 mistakes but not more that 11. Next, I did well on my Reading part, I think i’ll get at least 7.5. Writing was good, i did Task 2 perfectly, it took me about 45 minutes to write a perfect essay and included all requirements. Then, I had about 15 minutes for Task 1, I paraphrased the question in the introduction paragraph, then I wrote a good overall paragraph, but I didn’t include specifics on the 2 details paragraphs due to the shortage of time. I really hope I could get a band 7 on writing, do you think that’s possible? (Keeping in mind that I messed up including details in Task 1)

This is a strange ask but I have been trying to contact a place to make my cupcakes and cookies for my wedding but they haven’t been responding…
I can find a different place for the cupcakes and was thinking about making tons and tons of cookies on my own (with help of cooking guru mother-in-law and others from the bridal party) for the wedding as I feel good about being able to pull it off. I make small cookies usually, about 2-2.5 inches in diameter and thin, I would guess maybe 1/4 or so inches thick. (Small so we can eat more)
How many cookies would fit in a 2Gal cookie jar? Or a single gallon etc. I know I could calculate it with some effort so I am also asking if this would even be a good idea considering the weight of the cookies and hoping to preserve the cookies on the bottom… I could get smaller cookie jars if needed.

In the ever-volatile world of cryptocurrency, making substantial returns often seems like a privilege reserved for the lucky few. The truth, however, is that it's not just luck—it's about having the vision and the patience to hold on. HODLing, the practice of holding onto your cryptocurrency investments for an extended period, is the secret weapon that has turned many into millionaires. Yet, only the top 0.1% manage to do it. Why? And how can you become one of them?
The Challenge of HODLing
The cryptocurrency market is notorious for its volatility. Prices can skyrocket, making instant millionaires, or plummet, causing panic and despair. In this high-stakes environment, the temptation to sell at the first sign of profit or to cut losses is immense. This emotional roller coaster is why most people fail to hold onto their investments long enough to see substantial gains.
Vision and Conviction
The 0.1% who succeed in HODLing share a common trait: vision. They see beyond the daily price fluctuations and understand the long-term potential of their investments. They recognize that true wealth in cryptocurrency isn't made in days or weeks, but in years. These investors have conviction in their chosen projects and trust in their own research and instincts.
The ICE Opportunity
This is where ICE (Ice Open Network) comes into play. With a current market cap of $35 million and an FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation) of $100 million, ICE is positioned as a fundamentally strong project with immense growth potential. Unlike high-FDV projects that offer limited upside, ICE provides an accessible entry point for retail investors looking for significant returns.
The Frostbyte Advantage
Getting involved in Frostbyte, a platform for bandwidth sharing, can significantly increase your chances of becoming a successful HODLer. Frostbyte allows you to earn rewards in ICE or USDT by sharing your unused internet bandwidth. This passive income not only incentivizes you to hold onto your ICE tokens longer but also increases your overall returns over time.
Emotional Strength and Community Support
To HODL successfully, emotional strength is crucial. Being part of a supportive community like ICE Network - Unofficial group on Telegram can make a world of difference. Engaging with like-minded investors, sharing experiences, and getting support during market downturns can help maintain your resolve. The ICE Network - Unofficial community is built on the principles of mutual support and shared success, providing a safety net during turbulent times.
A Call to Action
If you’re tired of being on the losing end of quick trades and want to be part of the 0.1% who see real, life-changing returns, it’s time to change your strategy. Invest in projects with strong fundamentals like ICE, and leverage platforms like Frostbyte / ICE Network on Telegram to enhance your HODLing capabilities. By committing to a long-term vision and surrounding yourself with a supportive community, you can break free from the cycle of short-term thinking and achieve financial freedom.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a successful HODLer isn’t easy, but it’s within your reach. It requires vision, conviction, emotional strength, and the right opportunities. ICE and Frostbyte offer a compelling combination of strong fundamentals, growth potential, and community support. By getting involved now, you’re not just investing in a token—you’re investing in your future.
Telegram Link
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In Telegram search
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TL;DR: My Facebook account was hacked, linked to a fake Instagram, and then suspended. Despite having strong security measures, I can’t retrieve my account and need advice. Can I hire a cybersecurity expert to help?
I’ve recently experienced a really strange security breach on Facebook, and I’m hoping someone here can help shed some light on it or offer advice. Here’s what happened:
I tried to log into my Facebook account only to be met with a message saying, “We suspended your account.” The reason given was that the “linked Instagram account” doesn’t follow the rules. But here’s the weird part: a hacker somehow accessed my Facebook, unlinked my legitimate Instagram profile, linked a fake spam Instagram account, and then this spam account violated Meta’s rules, causing my Facebook to get suspended.
All of this happened in less than an hour. My password wasn’t changed, I didn’t get any suspicious login alerts, and I have two-factor authentication enabled. I’ve read about something called session hijacking, which might explain how they logged in without triggering any security alerts.
Right now, Facebook is giving me no options to retrieve my account. They say I need to appeal through the linked Instagram account, but that account doesn’t exist anymore when I search for it. I’ve tried contacting Facebook through every possible channel, even getting verified on Instagram to speak with an agent, but they’ve been incredibly unhelpful.
Here’s an article discussing the issue that others and I facing: https://siliconangle.com/2023/05/28/facebook-users-lose-accounts-due-unknown-linked-spam-instagram-accounts/
So, my questions are:

1. How is this even possible with all my security measures in place? 2. What could the hacker gain by doing this? 3. Does the hacker still have access to my account or data now that it’s suspended or should I worry ?… I read somewhere that he could be running pages running ads linked to my account even if my account is suspended ? 4. Does anyone have advice on how I can retrieve my account? 5. Can I hire a cybersecurity expert to help get my account back? If so, how? 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This whole situation has been incredibly frustrating.

Hey guys,
I currently work as a workplace safety consultant for a large geo-environmental engineering firm and wish to dip my toe in the world of small business, I originally looked at changing career, but the tech market took a massive dive and here I am.
I had an initial idea, that came to me when I was just starting out, and the idea is that there are a lot of SME's that perhaps don't have the resource (financial, need, risk) for a full-time workplace safety professional, but would benefit from tailored advice for a specific set of circumstances.
My idea was to create a website with bookable meeting slots (landing page + Calendly) at 30 or 60 minute intervals with a price range of $30-60 respectively. This would not be to turn this into a consultancy or upsell, this would be purely for me to make some side cash and get some exposure.
To outline a few scenarios;

1. Opening a food truck. Food safety, compliance, paperwork, machinery safety etc
2. Car detailing. Chemical safety, storage of chemicals and hazardous materials, fumes, vapours, musculoskeletal exercises and risks.
3. Coffee shop. Complaints, insurance questions, customer safety, fire and legionella awareness.
4. Those working alone, perhaps singular HSE professionals that would like to bounce ideas around confidentially or are looking for a sounding board (hence the name).
5. Accident Investigation assistance and preventative measures help.

These are just a few potential scenarios, and the advice given would heavily be asterisked with the information being able to be given on the call. I would then have GDPR policies, T&C's etc that would ensure data privacy and confidentiality.
Would anyone be interested in this? Do you feel it would be useful, beneficial to you or your business?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Hi all! I recently came across an opportunity to switch from big law to a small, solo practitioner’s law office as an Associate. While I did not do immigration while in big law (1 year), I do have approximately 3 years of immigration experience from my time in law school.
The attorney offers health insurance, 401k, etc. and the offer is for $80,000. The attorney had a very successful practice. Any tips on how much I could ask fonegotiating tips? How does it typically work in smaller settings with bringing in my own clients? Should I ask for a percentage of the work I bring in? 50%? And is $100,000 too much to ask for for a newer immigration associate? It is a HCOL area. I really think $80,000 is a low ball.
Thank you for any advice! I am a newer attorney, so I appreciate all the insight.

I’m in 8th grade and I can’t even talk with my friends. I’ve known one of my friends for seven years and I still don’t know how to talk to him. My mind just goes completely blank when I’m talking to people and it usually ends in awkward silence where one of us walks away or starts doing something different. I feel comfortable around me friends, I just don’t have anything to say. Do I practice conversation starters in my head or something else? The only people I can talk to without having my mind go blank are my sister, Dad, and Mom. What do people talk about? I don’t have any funny situations to talk about because I spend most of my time outside of school alone and if I do have a story to tell, it usually ends in under a minute.

https://archive.is/1DQJp
From 9 a.m. Saturday, when families began making their way to the Second Congregational Church’s front lawn, to the unveiling of Greenfield’s 12th bee sculpture, “Fearless,” outside the Greenfield Fire Department’s new station on Main Street at 12:30 p.m., more than 1,000 people of all ages stopped by this year’s Bee Fest — the largest attendance the event has seen since its inception 14 years ago, according to its founder Sandy Thomas.
“It’s off the charts, we’ve never had this many people. We clicked in [counted] 500 just a few minutes ago, but its got to be more than that now,” Thomas said at 10:30 a.m. “These people came from Wrentham specifically for this because they’re new beekeepers, they heard about it and they just came. It’s wonderful, they keep coming and they want to learn about bees.”
The roughly three-hour festival honored the Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, the sixth minister of Second Congregational Church who is known as the father of modern beekeeping. Langstroth patented the bee hives with movable frames in 1852, a design still commonly used by bee keepers today, according to Franklin County Beekeepers Association President Art Canterbury, who manned a bee education table with a live beehive demonstration at this year’s festival.
Canterbury engaged with curious festival-goers, educating them on bees and beekeeping, and answering questions ranging from best beekeeping practices, to general inquiries about the nature of bees and their colonies.
“My grandfather kept bees and I worked with him when I was a little kid. Now it’s just the easy attachment to go right back to and enjoy it and develop it,” Canterbury said. “This community loves the idea of bees in general and pollinators like to have that exposure and understanding of the bees [...] The colony of bees itself is a super organism. Everything that they do is for the colony. There’s not a bee in there that’s only doing something for itself.”
Children, many sporting elaborate bee costumes, marched through the farmer’s market for the Pollinators Parade and took turns swinging at a bee pinata. Families also centered around the beehive painting station, putting their unique marks on beehives that will be used at apiaries across Franklin County. Thomas said since bees are capable of sensing color and design, the practice of hive painting could make it easier for bees to find their hives.
The festival also featured a silent auction of bee-related products, bee-related games for children, a pollinator plant giveaway table and a 214th birthday cake for Langstroth. Katie Rozenas-Hanson and Rick LeBlanc of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources also operated an informational booth, where they distributed sunflower seeds and informed the public on best practices for planting pollinator plants at home. Rozenas-Hanson said she was pleased to see how effectively the festival engaged children.
“This event is so wonderful because it’s evolved from a festival that’s mainly for the general public, to being really kid-focused and having a bunch of free activities for kids to do to engage with bees, learn about beehives and best apiary practices — I just can’t think of a better event for them to go to,” Rozenas-Hanson said.

** Sculpture unveiling**

Bee Fest wrapped up with the unveiling of the city’s 12th bee sculpture “Fearless,” depicting a bee dressed in a firefighter’s uniform, in front of the new fire station on Main Street. Before the unveiling Fire Chief Robert Strahan announced that the department will begin moving into the station this week before a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 10.
Designer Rachael Katz, an artist and owner of The Greenfield Gallery, produced the original “Beatrice” bee sculpture prototype. Over the past three years, her first 11 bee sculptures have been installed along Main and Federal streets, at Court Square, and at the John W. Olver Transit Center. She said that while the other bee sculptures took identical forms with unique decorations, she and the sculpture’s painter Andrew Easton wanted to give the “fearless sculpture” a unique character and form.
“For most of the other bees, the form just served as a canvas, and the artists painted images upon it. And this one we really wanted to make a character in and of itself — it’s not decorated with pictures of fire engines, it’s an actual character [...] it’s our firefighters, they’re there for us. They’re heroes and they charge into danger and it just seemed right to honor them,” Katz said.
Easton, who said he spent roughly 160 hours painting the “fearless” sculpture, put significant work into not only painting the bee, but arranging various elements, such as the oxygen tank on its back and its “343” fire helmet, which he said was a tribute to the 343 New York firefighters who were killed during 9/11.
“This is a special honor for us. There is a personal story that goes along with this bee, and we are humbled to have it at our new headquarters,” Strahan said.
Mayor Virginia Desorgher, who joined Strahan and the artists as they removed the tarp from the Fearless sculpture, said she was pleased by how the annual festival has evolved and grown over the years.
“It gets better and better every year, there were more people from out of state this year than I’ve ever seen,” Desorgher said. “It’s very exciting.”

Hello there
today I am looking for someone to rp in the world of fallout with me. I'd love to build a story set in the world of fallout together. Please be familiar with the games also, not only the tv show. I'm looking for adventure and romance.
About myself, you can call me Des, I am 25 F and from Germany. When writing Rp I really like a back and forth with shorter messages (1-2 Paragraphs) when in dialogue and longer posts for exposition. I also like to get to know each other ooc.
What I am looking for is someone who will !work with me! I have no interest in dm'ing a story for someone neither do I want someone to do it for me! I would like to write npc's in equal measure and build a story together.
Please be 20+ also.
I'd love to hear from you.
Cheers!

I hate school being autistic. I always am made fun of for wearing the same clothes every day, stimming, being "weird", and stuff like that. I have 3 "Friends" lets call them F, B, and L. F always makes fun of how I look, and act. I never realized this until I talked to my therapist about F and found out that she's making fun of me. L always crosses my boundaries; I tell her I'm not comfortable with her hugging me and just physical contact in general and she still hugs me and grabs my shoulders. B I feel like is my only true friend. She never comes to school though. I have never been the kind of person to just be able to make friends easily. I became friends with F when we were paired together for an project. I never spoke but slowly she was able to make me talk a bit, then I met L and B through F.
I am just overall burnt out. I wake up go to school for 8 hours, then I go to practice for 2 hours, then I study for 2 hours, eat dinner 1-hour, free time 1-hour, and go to bed. School is so exhausting; I don't understand anything. I go nonverbal the second I have to talk to someone its terrible. I need help just to write notes. It's so embarrassing. I have meltdowns and people make fun of me for it.
I never care to even get a gf or bf because I'm ugly and nobody likes me. The girl I have a crush on, lets call her A is also autistic, but shes more of the smart autistic. I just want to be normal. I'm not smart anymore. I used to be in gifted classes and now I'm not. The only thing I am good at is reading/writing and I'm not even that good at it either. My grades are terrible, and my parents scold me for it.
Is anybody else feeling like this?

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I'm a relative beginner in electronics and decided to try to build an waveform generator based on a Raspberry Pi Pico. I've built a prototype circuit and it works, but the time to reach the set value is really-really slow, I can't push it beyond 8 kHz without cutting off the signal early, even tho the Raspberry Pi would be perfectly capable of going into the megahertz range. This leaves 2 culprits: the DAC chip, which is a DAC0800, or the op-amp, which is a TL072.
Here is a picture of the test circuit (and test setup) I've built.
And this is a pic of the oscilloscope measuring a square wave, where you can see how the signal is really trapezoidal, even at these low speeds.
I've tried reading the datasheets, but admittedly I might not understand important parameters. For the DAC0800 for example, it says "Fast Settling Output Current: 100 ns" (since it's a current output DAC), which in my head would translate to 1 000 000 000 ns in a second, so 1 000 000 000 = 10 000 000 (= 10 MHz) output current sets.
For the TL072, it says "High slew rate: 20 V/μs", which in my head would translate of "being able to follow a 20 volts of change in a microsecond", so following at least up to 1 MHz of voltage changes. Since the amplitude is around 15 volts, that seems to be way in range as well.
So theoretically, both components should do way-way better, unless I'm missing something very important. The datasheets of both components:

• DAC0800: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/dac0800.pdf
  
• TL072: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tl072.pdf
  

Any advice would be welcome here. It might be that the DAC0800 is simply old and slow, I'm not sure to be honest. It was a simple enough chip with a simple enough interface and it was what I had at home. I'm open to reasonably priced recommendations, in case the problem was my selection of components. It is also very possible that I'm misusing these components.