#the people who put ia at risk was the ia | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

carriesthewind · 1 year

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Since I have wadded into the discourse, a few clarifications (below the cut b/c I've taken up enough of people's dashes):

I am not on the side of the publishers in this case. They suck too; in general, the IA is a good organization and the big publishers are the bad guys! In fact, the publishers are also (a) bad guy in this case - they are and will ABSOLUTELY try to use this case to increase the limits on libraries and digital lending. They are profit driven monsters who would destroy every library on earth if they could.

That's actually part of why I'm so mad about how this case is being talked about! Because by their own actions, the IA has put this case in a position where the IA literally cannot win unless their "National Emergency Library" (aka just stealing books) is held to be legal. That doesn't mean it's worse case scenario if they lose their appeal - for example, an appeals court could issue a narrow ruling on the facts of the case. It just means there is no good scenario where they outright win. But, if they appeal their very bad case with its very bad facts, that increases the risk of creating precedent that limits libraries and digital lending. If you think it's worth the risk, that's fine - but ignoring the actual risks and likelihood of success isn't "supporting libraries;" it's acting based on ignorance (at best).

Digital publishing and lending, as it currently legally exists, really really sucks. There is a reason why, although many authors and author organizations dislike the IA's "Open Library," other authors like it and have written in support of it!* There is a reason why, although I have linked to author criticism of IA and of its "Controlled Digital Lending" and stated that I think it clearly violates existing copyright law, I have not stated (and will not state) a personal opinion on whether I think CDL (as it exists in the one-to-one, owned to loaned theory, rather than how it was implemented in practice) is less undesirable as a copyright schema than existing digital copyright law. The IA and its supporters are right that current copyright law doesn't allow for the real ownership or preservation of e-books! They are right that publishers greedily limit libraries' and patrons' access to e-books, and they are right about how bad the current system is! (I do not endorse any praise for library e-reader apps and lenders in the notes of my posts. While I enjoy and support using them, from a library perspective, they also suck - specifically, the predatory charges for e-books lending suck libraries dry.) The IA is broadly on the right(er) side of this issue: but they still did a shitty, dumb thing, and they are deliberately misrepresenting the situation in an extremely offensive and potentially harmful way!

I already emphasized this in the original post, but just in case: I do not hate the IA. I do not want them to go away. I very much like a lot of the things they do and want them to keep existing! (Although I would add: if they actually believe their principles they should absolutely have set things up to preserve - at minimum - their archival functions as much as possible if they - as an organization - cease to exist.) But! I would also like, at a minimum, for them to stop deliberately misrepresenting the situation. Their stated mission is "universal access to all knowledge." If they cared about that mission - or if they really see themselves as librarians, and not just a database of products - they should maybe start making sure the public is getting accurate, useful, and meaningful knowledge about this case, instead of propaganda to inflate their own egos.

*Although I would be VERY curious to know what kind of briefing of the actual factual and legal situation some of the authors who signed onto that open letter received. Based on the snippets I read, some were clearly well-informed; many were just talking broadly about how great libraries are; and some indicated a serious factual misunderstanding of how both libraries, the IA, and digital lending in general work.

#libraries #author's rights #internet archive

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nanjokei · 7 months

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anyway i think its funny AHsoft's current golden goose is yuki, a vocal recorded from a(n anonymous) real life child who is now undebatably and adult nowadays. they did use a new voice source for the soft bank in v4, but i feel like if they try to update her with a different provider and put her on synthv, there may be a risk that she will not sound like how people are used to by now. using old samples are no go, her non-soft v4 is based on her v2 samples, and those are probably mid quality at best, it'd produce a subpar product and synthv is a very high quality engine.

if you put in very few samples, what you get is something as disastrous as IA cevio ai (i cant find the videos i wanted to link but if i find them. L M A O)

#rambles

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themadauthorshatter · 2 years

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This has been in my drafts for a while and sorry it took so long to post

RED QUEEN OTP SWAP PART 3!!

We begin with Cal being primmed and propered up for a ceremony after Kingstrial, as he is now made to marry Gisa.

Mostly, he cleans himself and dresses himself, but the servants make sure THEY wash his hair and remove all the grime before drying him off and painting him so he's outtake and dress him to the nines in Calore colors.

When they try to take some cheap metal bracelets Iris, Tiora, amd Maven chipped in to get him, he panics and recovers enough to order them to leave the bracets.

Good because, as Mare puts it, they suit him.

Cal panicks slightly, as he's alone with the crown princess, who he's also a little annoyed at because she can't do anything about his situation. Mare admits that she wants Cal to go home too, but she can't mainly because everyone knows about him now and most of them want him dead.

Speaking of dead, if anyone finds out about his being a Red and not a Silver, that's how he'll end up in a heartbeat, him and his family and friends. Can he write to them? No, too risked.

Mare apologizes and wishes him luck for the night because he'll need it.

She leaves, Cal suits up in red and black, and is escorted to the lift that leads him to Samson, who gives him the run down that he was born in the war and taken in by a Red man who'd lost his son and wife. He was raised without knowing who he is. The rest is history.

Cal asks what Samson wants with him, but Samson only tells him to not screw up or die, giving him an extra migraine for motivation.

Samson leaves Cal to stand with the royal family and Daniel stands before them all to give a grand speech on how the Kingstrial brought forth a miracle, one in the form of the long lost child of the beloved Tiberias Calore VI: one Tiberias Calore VII, who everyone watches as he descends the stairs and sits beside the Samos family.

Ptolemus is not amused, btw, and it gets worse when Cal and Gisa exchange vows and swear themselves to each other. Cal is upset more than ever because now there ia no going home.

Unsurprising to ANYONE, Ptolemus is chosen as Mare's husband and they exchange their vows, though Ptolemus doesn't just threaten to cut Cal apart, no. He grabs his wrist and squeezes hard enough to cut off circulation, making a ring of metal that is razor sharp and almost slices of Cal's hand.

He lets go instead and Cal is all too relieved; healers be damned, he would not like to lose a hand, please and thank you.

Thankfully, Ptolemus decides to not cut his hand, or cut him, and the rest of the evening goes as it usually does, with dinner, though Cal actually makes himself eat and is laughed at by Ptolemus because he keeps using the cutlery wrong by switching his hands, he's slouching, and is eating loke a starved dog.

He also loses his mind for a moment after some alcohol that Gisa takes away and replaces with water, despite the objections from Cal.

She also apologizes for what's happened and admits that now she knows how Mare feels because she didn't have a choice in who she would marry.

Cal is not happy at the pity and tells her that she wouldn't know hardship even if it beat her and left her to rot. Gisa admits that, no, she wouldn't, but that doesn't mean Silvers have it totally easy, as proven by the Kingstrial.

The events continue as usual, but the king and queen actually share a room this time, and the princesses escort the boys the bed, though Cal is steadily going insane from the anxiety and Mare is of little comfort because she tells him to be a little careful because there are cameras everywhere excpt that bathroom, though it is wire tapped.

Gee, great. Thanks, Mare.

Cal does get a schedule, and does get picked on because he was raised in the dirt, and he gets etiquette lessons, and sees Mare and Gisa whoop ass in training. He is scolded for his untimely-ness and taught how to stand, walk, sleep, greet people, properly use cutlery, and what the high houses and their names are before luncheon.

A a few more Kingstrial contestants are there, and they're not happy to see him, i.e. Olover Laris and Stralian Haven, who are a little pissed to have not been as lucky as he was.

Also here is the Panther Ara Iral, who's visiting with her grandson Reynald, who sees Cal has bronze eyes as opposed the the previous Calore Lord's and Lady's silver-gray.

Thankfully, Daniel gets their attention and Ruth escorts Ara away.

Afterwards, Gisa assures him that there will be no trouble, and he's off to meet another mentor: Willis Farely(the colonel, for those wondering), who Cal is surprised to see, and for good reason because he's a bit of a surprise among Reds and Silvers due to being the child of a Red and a Silver.

He also knows Cal is a Red with powers and only wants to help him understand himself, thank goodness because Cal would like answers, please and thank you.

#red queen #otp swap #cal calore #tiberias calore vii #mare barrow #gisa barrow #'long post'

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outrunningthedark · 10 months

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if you look at tarantacticals Instagram which MG has worked for in some capacity for years.. they are also conspiracy theorists.. she liked a post about trump being the real president and Biden not being president that they posted around the time of the January 6th riots. Back in 2020 though when Biden was elected she liked a tweet from him about winning the election so I think her views are changing very very rapidly and it seems to coincide with her working more at tarantactical. I don’t think she was ever super liberal, but I think a lot of these crazier views are more recent. Her and Ryan’s fitness guy is also a trumpy conservative. She’s definitely becoming radicalized the past 2-3ish years

Okay, first of all, you made me go look at their page, and they have up some videos of her shooting where he is also tagged - I believe because he was there, in one I think it's his laugh from behind the camera? - and well...if that doesn't tell you he knows how to put out the image he wants people to see idk what will, because going by his instagram (which people use as the "real Ryan" to separate them as individuals), you'd think he hasn't been involved with that in quite some time... Secondly, I can't say I *knew* about the business's beliefs, but given that the place is run by/employs people who advocate for their second amendment rights...shouldn't come as much of a shock to anybody that they lean (very far) right. IA with you about views changing because I *do* remember reading twitter takes that were encouraging masking and distancing, but then she (like many) got to a point where the risks did not outweigh her need to get back to her sense of "normalcy", hence the reposts of stories questioning the effectiveness of vaccines and masking. (Ableist even when not in the gym. Big surprise there. /s) Add to that her decision to work around people that do not like "being told what to do", who put their own wants before the needs of others and...it's easy to be so drastically swayed when you have the privilege of not worrying about "hot button issues" on a regular basis...

#anonymous #tina speaks #xoxo gossip girl

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catalystalok · 11 months

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💥In India UPSC i.e. IAS exam results make every year tremendous buzz.. among youths.

After passing this exam the selected candidates get a chance to work in the government ministries and organizations at the top level of bureaucracy.

There, they execute the powers vest in them for the upliftment of the society or the respective field.

But very few people get a chance to work in the government department.

The middle class families of India consider this job very valuable and prestigious.

Many people join IAS after leaving their high paying jobs.

Here one thing to be noticed is that after joining the government job they get very less salary approx 70 to 80 thousands of rupees in hand ( 1000 Dollar Approx.)

That is the sole reason that many working officers in various departments are now leaving their job and again want to join their earlier corporate company or organisation where they were getting paid much.

In developing societies doing jobs are considered more important than running a business or startups.

In business there must be a RISK factor, but wherever there is risk there is a possibility of innovation and upgradation.

Being an employee is one of the most simple works in the world.

But, remember one thing jobs rarely give you a chance of innovation due to the fixed schedule and work environment.

In every field, human beings always want to grow , upgrade and to achieve more success.

That is the reason behind changing their profession frequently.

But, sometimes, leaving their present job may put themselves in a position of uncertainty that is the whole reason behind their not leaving present job.

This is a general tendency of the human being to remain in their current situation.

Humans generally avoid being trapped in a risky environment.

Self preservation has been the most favorable and doable thing of humans.

But, the person, who takes the risk, is able to put himself in a position towards greater opportunity.

In my opening running a startup and working in a good corporate office may have the capacity to add more values and skills in you.

#business #work #innovation #success #opportunity #job #people #jobs #india #startup #startups #environment #society #dollar

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wufflesvetinari · 4 years

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IA copyright lawsuit, or “The Wayback Machine is Under Attack”

So, the Internet Archive copyright lawsuit thing is more complicated than it appears. This is a good rundown of the legal questions involved, while this NPR piece describes the reaction to “National Emergency Library” that pushed things to the brink.

TL;DR, the IA provides crucial archiving services (including the Wayback Machine), but they’ve recently started a large-scale illegal lending model that put their other services at risk. This is really disappointing to me and I’m going to write a long, dry post about it.

Essentially, the Internet Archive has historically only allowed books to be “lent out” digitally to as many people as the IA has physical copies stored. So if they have 2 copies of Mary Sue’s new book, only 2 people can be reading their PDF scans at a time. This was enough for many publishers and authors to look the other way (although groups like the Science Fiction Writers of America has been decrying the practice for years, since in many cases they were “lending” books they didn’t have licensing for.)

Because, while this is similar to the system used by libraries, libraries pay for each lending copy of their book (ensuring that the authors, artists, publicists, editors, etc are getting paid). the IA, from many accounts, did not pay for all of these books in the first place. but again, small-scale enough that nobody went after them for it.

Due to the pandemic, they removed the waiting list for these books, arguing it was in the national public interest to have access to knowledge. Great! I respect this ideology. Except that rather than paying ~$0 for two digital copies w/o author permission, they’re now paying ~$0 for unlimited copies w/o author permission. Writers who put years of labor into these books began kicking up a fuss (including Chuck Wendig, who’s receiving death threats because I guess he’s the most recognizable name involved?) and publishers sued.

So nobody’s goal is to get the Archive taken down entirely. Instead, the argument is that the damages claimed in the lawsuit could absolutely be large enough to cripple them. The IA ended the emergency lending program earlier than planned, so we’ll see if the suit goes through after all.

So, why is this complicated?

On the one hand, copyright law sucks right now and many are understandably infuriated at the idea of huge publishing companies suing a free library.

On the other hand, they were not operating as a library, and creators were failing to be paid for their work. with the new lending model, Mary Sue Author (who, as an average author, receives wages below the poverty line) is worried that this change is actively preventing her from making a living. If she’s a new author, an impact to her numbers is enough to ensure that the publisher doesn’t buy her next book.

If Mary Sue is a marginalized author, she’s especially at risk of economic insecurity. If Mary Sue and authors like her cannot afford to write books, writing remains a domain of privilege.

(Also, there’s some legal argument that if Mary Sue fails to actively protect her copyright, she could lose it. I’m not an expert and won’t weigh in on this.)

But wait! (Common Counterarguments swirling on the Twitters):

“Writing should be a hobby anyway. If you care about making money for your art, you’re not a real artist.” Hopefully we are all familiar by now with how shit this argument is; we see it a lot around here flung at visual artists. Pay people for their work! Also, again: this is how you get a bunch of WASP authors and nobody else.

“It’s actually the publishers screwing the authors, so this is a punishment for the publishers.” Except it is...not. It is not. The people most likely to suffer would be the writers, not the publishers.

“Libraries are closed, so what are we supposed to do about it?” This one is tricky right now, but I’d first check to see if your library participates in an e-lending service (many do). check out OverDrive or Audible, which do pay authors. Project Gutenberg has free classics in the public domain. Amazon has its own problems, but Kindle Unlimited allows access to many, many free books where the author is actually seeing payment.

“Okay, but why should the digital library of Alexandria go down because some authors are mad?” I honestly really want to ask this question to whoever was making these lending decisions at the IA, because I also am very pissed about it. I don’t know why they thought publishers would ignore this very blatantly illegal thing (not even “grey area”--just under current copyright law, completely illegal). Regardless of whether copyright law currently sucks ass, it was a weird move! And now bad things are happening.

“Fuck off, everybody mad about this writes YA and science fiction, not real literature. Who cares if those guys get paid?” Seriously. This is a very common rebuttal on Twitter right now. Burn Twitter.

“Honestly you’re right but I just want free shit.” is it weird that this is the response I most respect

In case you skimmed all that, my point isn’t “copyright law is good, actually.” It’s that the issue is more complex than donation drive posts have portrayed it as.

#publishing #internet archive

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protect-anthony-edward-stark · 3 years

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How Tony take care of the people around him

~ PEPPER

He loves Pepper so much and does everything for her. He always worries about her, he needs to know where she is and if she is okay. Keeping her safe is the most important thing to him.

He always looks at her with so much love and admiration since the very beginning.

He gives her gifts and does littles things for her, like the in-flight dinner in Iron Man 2. He compliments her, calls her by pet names, tells her that he loves her. He even explodes all his suits to make her happy. He always wants her to know how much he loves her.

He thinks that he doesn't deserve her and that she's perfect.

~ MORGAN

He's the best father, always attentive, present, loving, caring.

Howard raised Tony with violence. He was absent and never told him he loved him. He spent his time belittling him and compareing him to others.

But Tony raised Morgan with love and appreciation. He never scolded her or showed any anger or bad emotion.

How he looks at her. How he takes her in his arms. How he gets to her level when he talks to her. All he give her is love, support and kindness.

He just love her so much and is ready for anything for her. And she knows that he will always be there for her no matter what.

~ RHODEY

Tony and Rhodey are friends since they met at MIT. He's his best friend, even like his brother. He jokes with him, he cares for him, he worries about him.

He's ready to risk his life for him, when their cars are attacked in Afghanistan, Tony (in a deleted scene) doesn't hesitate to get out of the car, defenseless, to take a gun to protect Rhodey.

When he's paralyzed, Tony does everything to help him and always stays with him during his rehabilitation.

And he trusted him to wear the armor since the very beginning and always since.

~ HAPPY

He known Happy for years and always kept him with him. He supports him and reassures him, he cares about him and even asks Pepper if she knows anyone for him. He considers him more than his driver or bodyguard, he is one of his closest friends.

He knows and remembers personal things about him, like when he asks the nurse to put Downton Abbey in the tv for him, when he's in a coma, because he knows it's his favorite show.

He also asks Peter not to disturb him too much because he knows he doesn't like that.

~ HIS ROBOTS AND IA

They are important for him and he considers them like humans being and as part of the family.

At Christmas he makes Christmas socks for Jarvis, Dum-E and U, next to the one for him and Pepper. And he even makes a personalized one with code numbers on it for Jarvis.

He has known them for so long, he created Dum-e and U when he was 16 years old, and has kept them ever since. And Jarvis too has been by his side for years.

He always takes care of them and doesn't want to lose them. When his house exploded, he goes back to the debris to search for them in the ocean and save them and repair them.

He knows they will listens to him and understand him, they will never criticize him, hurt him, judge him or betray him.. like some people around him.

~ THE AVENGERS

The first thing he does just after the battle of New York is modified his tower into the Avengers Tower, with personalized floor for each one of them. He gave them a home and a family.

He protects them, gives them new suits and new tech, defends them publicly, and does everything to keep them all happy and safe.

He takes care of them, does little things like making them smoothies for the team after the missions, or when he fixed Clint's tractor.. He's always there to listens to them, help them and comfort them.

He treats the Avengers like his family.

And even after they betrayed him and abandoned him, he still creates things to protect them.

~ BRUCE

When they meet, Tony is the only one who treat Banner like a man and not a monster. And says he'll do anything to help him.

And he creates things for him like special pants for Hulk or helps him with Veronica.

He considers him as a friend, when he feels the need to talk about his past in Iron Man 3, Bruce is the one he trust and chooses to talk to.

When he sees him after a long time in Infinity War he immediatly sees that he looks scared and comfort him. Then he reassures him when he can't transform, telling him that it's okay so he doesn't feel bad. And he asks for others to protect him.

Tony is always there for him so when Banner is in space and panicking in Thor Ragnarok, the first thing he wants to do, is see Tony.

~ CLINT

When he returns from Sokovia, where he has just lived through a traumatic experience, the vision of his biggest fear, all his friends dead, the first thing he cares about back in the Quinjet is that Clint gets the care he needs.

~ STEVE

Tony considers Steve a close friend. He trusted him which makes Steve's betrayal even worse for him.

Tony was always there for him and took care of him, like in Avengers 2 where he make sure that Steve is fine and comfortable before leaving.

In Civil War he save him from jail and try to help him and Bucky. And even after all that happens at the airport he still goes to help him in Siberia.

~ BUCKY

He wants to keep Bucky out of jail and offers him medical care to help him instead.

~ WANDA

Tony did everything to protect Wanda. He saves her from jail too, and also saves her from the blame she might receive, knowing too well the harm it could cause.

And he made sure to ask Vision to stay with her because he noticed that she likes him and the two of them got along very well.

Then when he arrives at the airport, first of all he wants to rescue her out of this fights.

~ COULSON

He really likes Coulson.

He shows interest in his life, he offers him a ride to see his wife and remembers that she's a cellist from what Pepper said when he came to see them in the Tower.

He's the most affected of the Avengers when he dies.

After the fall of the SHIELD he hired Maria and she said herself that he would hire Coulson too in a heartbeat if he wanted to.

+ He helps the SHIELD with Banner and Ross and with the LMD even when they didn't accept him in the Avengers project.

~ PETER

During the whole Civil War he watches over him and makes sure that he's not hurt. Then even after all the traumas he's been through, he personally brings him home.

He protects him, saves him, he asks him to stay away from danger and wants him to concentrate on his studies. He scared for him so he creates him a suit with everything he might need, and even put an AI in it to help and support him.

He takes care of him, he often asks Happy how Peter is, and listens to the messages he leaves him. He believes in him, and supports him like his dad never did for him.

He teach him to take responsibility for his actions. He wants him to know that he can be a hero even without the suit. And he doesn't want him to live the suffering he's been through.

During Infinity War he always stay close to him and is ready to do anything to protect him. He would feel so guilty if anything happens to Peter.

He's the best mentor Peter could have had.

~ HARLEY

When he meets him he immediately realizes that he was not well and is being bullied, so he gives him something to help him.

He congratulates and comforts him. He makes sure that he knows that he's helping him and don't want him to feel bad.

And to thanks him for everything, he gives him so many gifts, including a car, a robot, a potato gun mark 2, and he even looks for a new limited edition watch for his sister.

~ HIS PARENTS

He loves his father even after everything he did to him. He gave his name to Morgan and keeps pictures of him in his garage and in his house with the rest of his family.

He loves his mother so much. When he was a kid, one day where he sees that his mother was sad, he makes a lantern with fireflies to cheer her up. And he named the September foundation after her.

~ HIS FAN

He's nice with his fans, like with Gary, he spends time with them.

He makes personalized autographs for kids, with lines and the child's name. He jokes with them. And he keeps the drawings and fanmail to watch them with Pepper later.

~ THE POPULATION

He always pays attention to the people around him. He makes sure that nobody gets hurt. He always evacuates the places and he created the Iron Legion for that too. or he bring the danger towards himself to keep everyone safe.

Even when his biggest fear arrives, he always thinks of others first, he brings help to people who've been hurt.

He goes into the restaurant in Iron Man 3, so Ellen will follow him inside and she won't hurt anyone. He flies away from the Stark Expo in Iron Man 2, so the drones go after him and not the people and Rhodey.

He cares about damage. Since the first Avengers battle, he created organization to collect the damage, to protect people, and to ensure that the technology doesn't fall into the wrongs hands.

And after the fights he helps to repair and pay for the damage.

He can't stand the thought of people getting hurt or dying, he listens to the 117 countries, he listens to the people and recognizes the problems and signs the Accords to protect everyone.

He uses his money to help others. He gives scholarships to students so that everyone can have access to the same things. And makes various donations

He cares about the environment and nature and really cares about it. He is the first to pioneer green energy and lives in an eco lodge. Not to mention that he is willing to risk his life to save animals.

~ PEOPLE HE JUST MET

Even with people he has not known for a long time. He already cares about them and is ready to give his life for them. Even if most people just judge him without knowing him.

In Iron Man 3 he doesn't hesitate to removes his arc reactor, electrocutes himself several times, and knowing he risks dying doing so, to save the boy who was bullied Harley

In Infinity War he risks his life to save Strange. And when later Tony immediately sees that something is wrong with him, and he helps him, telling him what he himself needs to hear when he has an anxiety attack, he holds him, comforts him.

And when he sees that Quill is not well and tries to calm him down.

~~~~

He always thinks of others before himself and takes care of literally everyone, even if he receive nothing in return. He wants them to feel safe and secure. His biggest fear is to lose his loved ones and he blames himself everytime something bad happens to them.

He deserves to receive as much care and love from others as he gives them 💔

---

#BringBackTonyStarktolife

#tony stark #iron man #bringbacktonystarktolife #tonystark #avengers #pepperony #endgame #pepper potts #morgan stark #marvel #mcu #tony stark defense squad #tony stark deserves better #tonystarkxreader #tonystarkfanart

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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years

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SEC vs private equity ripoffs

Like a lot of leftists, I’ve been profoundly disappointed and demoralized by the Biden administration’s unwillingness or incapacity to play hardball and get the “Biden Agenda” through Congress. But there is a ray of hope: some of Biden’s agency picks are astoundingly great and doing amazing work.

Take Gary Gensler, Biden’s SEC chair. Gensler is doing what no SEC chair before has dared to do: taking on the rotten, corrupt practices of the private equity sector, who rip off giant pension funds and trash the real economy, while making the ghouls who run them ridiculously rich.

Whenever I write about the private equity playbook, in which investor cash is used to buy up and debt-load productive companies, leaving behind drained, ruined husks, people always ask how this can possibly be profitable?

https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/04/a-mind-forever-voyaging/#prop-bets

Part of the story is the unbelievable favorable regulatory regime for PE. Not only does its leadership get to pocket trillions in profits that any other earner in America would have to pay tax on, they also get to operate with near-total opacity. The lack of any transparency requirement allows PE managers to skim billions for themselves, their firms and their cronies, often at the expense of large institutional investors.

Who are those institutional investors? Well, a lot of the money in PE comes from public sector unions — a remarkable truth that’s all the more remarkable when you consider that the first priority of any business colonized by PE investment is to eliminate its unions.

Enter Chairman Gensler, who has just proposed sweeping new transparency requirements (“Private Fund Advisers; Documentation of Registered Investment Adviser Compliance Reviews”) for PE management targeted at revealing and heading off the scams that make the industry possible.

https://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2022/ia-5955.pdf

That doc may seem intimidating, but that’s because so much of the grift in PE takes place behind the “shield of boringness” — the deliberate introduction of otherwise pointless, eye-glazing complexity that serves only to bore and confuse.

But thankfully, we have Yves Smith, who provides an invaluable breakdown of the rule and its context in today’s Naked Capitalism:

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/sec-set-to-lower-massive-boom-on-private-equity-industry.html

Fundamentally, the new rule requires PE companies to provide “information that any private businessman investing his own money would demand.”

An explanation of how the money was spent;

Whether the manager hired any cronies or relatives and on what terms;

A detailed performance accounting.

As Smith writes, it’s going to be hard for PE to come up with rationales for resisting such commonsense measures and even attempting it could be disastrous: “[The] industry runs a risk if they try to make too much of a stink that the great unwashed public may realize that lots of government pension dollars are going into investments with dreadful accounting and lots of grifting and self dealing.”

Smith gives the rule a good chance of passing. Investors have been demanding these disclosures from PE for years without progress. The PE industry’s self-regulatory system is a joke, wherein “at least half of the private equity fees and costs were not disclosed.”

The specifics of the rule are so commonsense that they’re eye-openers. A rule banning charging fees for services not rendered implies that fees are routinely charged for services not rendered!

The rule will also standardize PE reporting so that funds can be directly compared with one another. Not only will this help investors figure out where to put their money — it will also help detect cheating.

It’s not all about transparency. The rule also prohibits a bunch of activity that, again, is an absolutely wild list of total scams that are commonplace today.

“The proposals also would prohibit all private fund advisers from engaging in several activities, including seeking reimbursement, indemnification, exculpation, or limitation of liability for certain activity; charging certain fees and expenses to a private fund or its portfolio investments, such as fees for unperformed services and fees associated with an examination or investigation of the adviser; reducing the amount of an adviser clawback by the amount of certain taxes; charging fees or expenses related to a portfolio investment on a non-pro rata basis; and borrowing or receiving an extension of credit from a private fund client.”

Smith reminds us that we can all write in support of this rule. Simply email [email protected] with “File Number S7–03–22” in the subject line. Smith says that you can write, “The technical details are beyond my ken, but it’s clear the SEC’s initial private equity oversight didn’t go far enough, so it’s gratifying to see the agency take this important matter up again with such an detailed and apparently very carefully thought out set of rule changes.”

#pluralistic

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osamiiya · 3 years

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Pairing: Miya Osamu x Reader

-Enemies to lovers

Warnings: None

Summary: Just one night, where all you have to think about is the music, the people, and the grey eyes through the mask of the handsome stranger. All that's left is to avoid Miya Osamu and keep him from ruining your night.

A/n: the way I said this would get finished weeks ago

All around you the music swells, people dressed elegantly with delacate masks covering their faces, decorated beautifully to match their outfits.

But that was the fun wasn't it? Dancing with someone you don't know, while the music plays and people dance all around you.

It's like a fairytale, something straight out of a storybook.

And you do know some of the dancing figures, either close friends or people you've seen often.

Nothing could ruin your night, not even Miya Osamu.

Not even Miya Osamu, who picked fights as soon as he met you, pointing out little things as jokes that were taken too far.

Honestly, you couldn't even pinpoint the exact moment that the friendly rivalry you had turned into genuine dislike, when his face would contort into annoyance and disgust when he saw you, when the friendly arguments turned into genuine ones.

But what's the most annoying is how at one point you could see why Osamu was so popular, why he got love letters hand delivered to him.

In fact, maybe you could acknowledge how cute his smile was, how his eyes crinkle when he laughs, and how annoyingly good he smells.

Like pine, or maybe slightly minty.

Either way, Osamu was insufferable, a pretty face with the worst personality, but only towards you apparently, his friends and peers singing their praises about him when asked.

And so why should you care about him. Why should you look around the room, a slight spark of hope that you would catch his eye, but with the sheer amount of people, the electric atmosphere and the masks, it's hard to figure out who's who.

"Wow, you look nice." There's a hand extended to you, an invitation to dance, and you take it.

The stranger spins you once, laughing softly with you, and pulling you close, staring into your eyes.

And his eyes are grey, the colour of thunderclouds clouds dark with rain, and his hand fits perfectly in yours, the other comfortable on your waist as he leads.

"So, having fun?" His voice is soft and it's hard to not melt in his arms at the kind tone it carries.

"Of course, It's not everyday that you get to dance with someone wearing a mask."

He smiles fondly, like he knows a secret you don't.

"What about you?" You can't help the flirty tone in your voice, and it looks like he picks up on it as he spins you, mischievous smile resting on his lips as me pulls you back in.

"I'm dancing with the prettiest person in the room, what do you think?"

The conversation flows easily between the two of you as you waltz around the room, eventually coming to sit shoulder to shoulder on a marble staircases just outside the ballroom, where sits quieter and calmer, and all you can hear is the strangers soft laughs as you talk.

"Wouldn't it be funny if we knew eachother?" Your hands come to rest on your knees in front of you, dusting off your legs as if they got dust on them.

"Well, maybe I can take you out on a date after this is over y/n."

Your eyebrow peaks in interest at the sound of your name tumbling off his lips so sweetly.

"I don't recall telling you my name."

He just smiles wistfully and stares in front of him.

"It's hard not to know you, I was just the first to get to you tonight."

You nod in understanding and take a risk, leaning your head against his shoulder breathing in his cologne.

"Are we close?" Grey eyes come to meet yours, a sad smile on his face as his hand takes yours and squeezes it slightly.

"I wish we were close."

"Well, I don't see how I couldn't like you. I think I'm falling for you just by dancing with you tonight." Your head comes up to look at him as you feel his body tense.

"You mean it?" His eyes are filled with hope and a bittersweet smile comes to rest on his lips. He had been smiling the entire night around you, and it looked genuine, like he loved being near you.

"Of course I do." It comes out a soft chuckle as he leans in, and the alarms in your brain go off as familiar pine and mint fill your senses. But it's intoxicating and your brain refuses to put the pieces together, refusing to see what's right in front of you.

"Can I kiss you?" His eyes flicker between your lips and your eyes as he whispers his question, the breath fanning across your lips and sending tingles up your spine.

"Yes."

And with that, soft lips capture yours, and you feel yourself get drunk on his lips, eyes closing heavily as he kisses you.

There's a soft cry of protest from your lips as he pulls away gently, smiling and bringing his hand up to caress your cheek.

"Take the mask off, I want to see you." Your demand has your heart racing, before dropping when familiar facial features click into place, when everything clicks into place and your legs move on autopilot as you get up and race down the stairs, throat tight and head full of static.

There was no way you fell for Osamu.

Your heart screams at you to turn back, to go and kiss him senseless, while your brain yells at you to run, run before you get hurt.

You're almost at the door when your name is called out, body on autopilot as you whip around to the sound of Osamu, running towards you, tie loose and suit disheveled.

And it feels like your heart has started to crack, moments away from shattering into a million pieces as he takes a step towards you, mask in hand and face contorted into an expression you can't decipher.

"Anyone, anyone else but you. It can't be you." Your voice is thick with emotion as you back away, eyes catching the way Osamu's hand lifts slightly toward you.

"I'm sorry"

That's all it takes for your heart to shatter, spiderwebs of cracks as your heart drops, like a wine glass shattering on the very marble floor you stood on.

"You hate me, and I hate you." What used to seem obvious and unchangeable seems like a distant thought.

"I never hated you." Osamu's words just cause you to shake your head, memories of expressions of annoyance and disgust playing in your mind.

"Yes you do. You're always looking at me like you hate me, and picking fights and-"

Osamu cuts you off with a sound of protest.

"It's cause you're always with Atsumu, how's someone going to feel when the person he's been in love with for years' best friend is his twin brother!"

It's quiet for a beat, you with shock and Osamu with anticipation of your next move, the sound of classical music sounding far away from where the two of you stood.

"You're in love with me?"

Osamu groans and nods, running and hand over his face as his ears go pink.

You suppose a part of you has always liked Osamu, finding him attractive and catching yourself staring as he laughs with friends.

And your time with him tonight could be what it's like with him, when you don't pick fights or roll your eyes when the other speaks.

"You don't hate me?" It feels like you're in a different reality, maybe it's the ballroom clothes, and the fact that the perception that Osamu has hated you for years is wrong.

"I never hated you."

That's all it takes for tears of frustration to roll down your cheeks, Osamu's eyes going wide with shock.

"Why're you crying, it's not a joke, I'm not teasing I promise." Osamu's jacket is off his shoulders in a second, him using it to wipe your tears away.

"You're telling me we could've been dating and in love if it wasn't for Atsumu?" Osamu freezes before letting out a relieved laugh.

"Yeah, but now I'm all yours."

You let out a watery chuckle and tug on his shirt collar to bring him closer.

"Kiss me right now."

---

Taglist:

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#miya osamu #miya osamu x reader #miya osamu fluff #osamu x reader #osamu fluff #haikyuu x reader #miya osamu x y/n #miya osamu x you #miya osamu imagines #miya osamu scenario

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fighterkimburgess · 3 years

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Lover Chapter 7 - Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince

Summary: Chapter 7/18 - With their relationship public, Hailey faces gossip from most of the 21st. A friend returns, and Intelligence supports their own. Series Masterlist here

Words: 1.5k

Warnings: mentions of healing injury, language, alcohol

Wanna join my taglist?

They put the paperwork in on a Thursday afternoon, and took vacation days until Monday to get some time to themselves before being plunged into the rumour mill that was the 21st Precinct of the Chicago Police Department. Regardless of Platt’s iron fist on her patrol officers, gossip was a currency there, and the two detectives in Intelligence being in a HR sanctioned relationship was the big bucks.

Their long weekend was spent in Milwaukee, wandering around a new to them city and enjoying good food. They got to spend time where nobody would know them, and it suited them both so well. But it passed too quickly, and Sunday afternoon they were driving back to Jay’s apartment to spend the night before work the next morning.

They’d decided that nothing would change with their work relationship. They’d do their final kiss before leaving home, squeeze hands before leaving the truck, and refuse to hold hands or do any form of PDA in work. They’d be professional to the core. Jay was her entire world, and she wasn’t going to risk losing him in work.

As soon as she arrived into the Precinct she heard the conversation stall. They both waved at Platt, who greeted them as “Chuckles, Detective Goldilocks.” before they went upstairs. There was no case on the board, so they both got stuck into the paperwork that surrounded them. Their unit supported them, but every time Hailey had to go downstairs for something the conversation around her stopped. Finally she went downstairs with a hoodie over her head, trying to hear what they were saying.

“Maybe that’s the key to get into Intelligence, fuck someone there. Burgess got brought up because she and Ruzek had their thing, now the detectives?” One patrol officer said, and Hailey forced herself to breathe slowly so they didn’t notice her.

“I mean, I wouldn’t turn Atwater down. I’m surprised Voight even lets them be together, didn’t Halstead sleep with his old partner too?”

“Yeah, then she had to leave before IA fired her. Maybe it’ll happen to the new one too.”

Hailey had heard enough, and grabbed the bottle of water from the vending machine and turning to go upstairs. Before she did she stopped to talk to Platt.

“The two officers who are on break at the vending machines, who are they?”

“Davis and James. Is there a problem, Detective?” Trudy raised one eyebrow, and Hailey nodded carefully.

“I know it’s not official, but if you can keep them away if Intelligence needs patrol backup for the next while?” The younger woman pulled the hood off her head as she saw movement in her peripheral vision, almost enjoying the surprise on the patrol officer’s faces when they recognised her.

“Definitely. The gun buyback program is essential, you’re right. Davis, James, new assignment. Come here.” Hailey smiled tightly at Platt before going upstairs, listening to the gossiping pair being sent to the buyback.

The rest of the week continued, and Hailey did her best to ignore it. She could deal with gossip, could deal with the looks. But more people saying she didn’t deserve her job? That she’d slept her way into her team? If it had been that easy she and Jay would have crossed the line years ago. But finally Friday arrived, and she could leave the murmurs of her spreading her legs and being a “bad girl” (and Adam had had to restrain Jay from going after the Homicide detective who made that comment in the parking lot one afternoon). Instead the six of them went to a cop bar Voight knew about, a chance to unwind after the week that had been. Somehow they’d swung two days off in a row, and Hailey was not complaining about it.

Jay drove them the ten minutes, holding hands in the truck.

“You good?” She smiled at the phrase that had become their tagline ever since they were partnered together.

“I’m good. Just glad for this week to be over, and a few days away from the gossip. I thought Voight’s reputation might have stopped people talking about us, but oh well.”

Jay let out a huff of laughter, squeezing her hand. “I think his reputation is stopping the gossip about him and Miller. Kev had to come back to pick something up, he heard something from inside Voight’s office.”

“NOPE. I don’t even want to consider that. Just nope, no, no.” Hailey squeezed her eyes shut, glad she hadn’t been the one there. “Poor Kev though, I know he’s still pining over Vanessa.”

“Yeah. It’s been six months, I thought this UC op was only going to be two or three?”

“So did I. I’m her external contact but I haven’t heard anything else. She’s still got a key to my condo though. I think I’m nearly hoping one day I’ll arrive home and she’ll be there waiting for me.”

“She will. You know what it’s like, no news is good news when it’s UC work.” Jay pulled into a spot, and they kissed briefly before getting out and entering. It was quiet and dark, the perfect place Voight would pick. Jay bought a round of beers, leaving them on the table for when everyone arrived.

Kim was first, with Adam and Kev close behind. Voight was the last, and he gave Jay a nod for the drink.

“It’s been a tough week, but we got through it. Well done on some fantastic work, folks.” They raised their bottles and drank in a comfortable silence. Small conversations picked up between them, ignoring when the door to the bar opened and closed. This time someone stood over the table, looking at them. Hailey turned to see Miller standing there, a small smile on her face.

“Superintendent! Didn’t expect to see you here.” Everyone turned, and Hailey spotted the smile on her Sergeant’s face.

“Sam. Any reason for a visit? We’re all off the clock.” Voight offered her a seat, but she stayed standing.

“I wanted to let you know in person that your request for a sixth member of your unit was approved. And I’ve got someone ready to start on Monday.”

“I make hiring decisions for Intelligence.” Voight’s voice was low, and the five sitting around the table looked at each other, waiting for the answer. Before Miller could speak, the door opened again and a familiar woman walked in.

Vanessa had a bruise on part of her face, and stitches above her eye, but she was there and she was alive and Hailey couldn’t stop herself from standing up and wrapping her arms around her friend. Vanessa did the same, and they held onto each other tightly for a moment, both soaking in each other. They separated, letting Vanessa greet each member of the team. Voight gave her a firm handshake and a smile, but everyone else hugged her in welcome. Hailey watched as Kev put his hand at the small of her back, almost not believing she was there.

Everyone started leaving soon after, the exhaustion of the week winning out over the excitement of seeing Vanessa.The younger woman had an apartment and she insisted she wanted to go back to it, but Hailey watched as she got into Kev’s Dodge.

“They’re going home together, aren’t they?” She asked Jay, who just smiled.

“Definitely.”

When Monday came Hailey felt better. She could deal with the staring from people, she’d proven her worth in the unit. She knew she deserved to be there, she knew she deserved her spot. Walking in she kept her head up, chatting with Trudy and ignoring the murmurs in the locker room as she put her bag away. The murmurs stopped quickly, and she assumed someone had realised she was there.

Instead when she walked out into the narrow hallway she saw the patrol officer from the week before, James, being glared at by the twin forces of Platt and Voight. Hailey stepped back into the locker room, listening to what was being said.

“Now I’m under the impression that your Sergeant told you to stop spreading gossip about one of my detectives? Is that correct?” Voight was using his low voice to full effect.

“Yes Sergeant, she did.”

“And you’re still spreading rumours about the Intelligence unit? After being given a direct order by your Sergeant to stop?”

“I didn’t mean—“

“It doesn’t matter what you meant. This stops, right now. The petty arguing over people in relationships. You’re representing the city of Chicago every time you walk out those streets, not being high school tattle tales. If I hear you talking crap about anybody else in this precinct, or in this department, I’ll personally request your transfer to somewhere else. It’s a lack of respect for your fellow cops, and a complete lack of respect for your Sergeant. Understood?”

“Yes Sir.” She heard James leave, his voice slightly higher when he agreed with Voight.

“Goldilocks, you can come out.” Hailey appeared, a small smile on her face.

“Thanks, Sarge. Means a lot.” She said, heading up to the bullpen.

“You’re part of the team, Upton. We stick together.”

Chapter 8>>

Taglist: @abbyscameron @amazingbutterflyes @chicagoames @blonde-freckles @morganupstead @brookerz122493 @mnt2live4more @redpoodlern @alkadri-layal @stephanie708 @tuxieboy101-blog @thelittlepterophyllum @gsophie43 @angelsjedi @planecrazylex

#Upstead #upstead fic #jay Halstead x Hailey Upton #Hailey Upton x jay Halstead #Hailey x jay #jay x Hailey #Hailey Upton #jay Halstead #Cíara writes #chicago pd fic #chicago pd fanfic

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catalystalok · 11 months

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