Good morning, Dodgers!

• Team Website
• Wikipedia Article of the Day: Category:Los Angeles Dodgers owners - Wikipedia

⚾ Dodgers @ Reds ⚾

First Pitch: Wednesday, Jun 7, 2023 4:10 PM Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio

Starters

Team	Starting Pitcher	IP	K/9	BB/9	H9	ERA
LAD	RHP Noah Syndergaard	52.1	6.02	1.55	1.72	6.54
CIN	LHP Brandon Williamson	21.0	7.71	4.71	1.29	4.29

Team Offense

Team	G	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	AB/HR	G
LAD	61	.242	.330	.459	.789	19.86	5.56
CIN	61	.254	.333	.390	.723	42.90	4.62

Top Performers

Dodgers	Pos	OPS	Rank	OPS	Pos	Reds
Freddie Freeman	1B	.967	1	.861	1B	Spencer Steer
J.D. Martinez	DH	.947	2	.784	2B	Jonathan India
Mookie Betts	RF	.895	3	.780	LF	Jake Fraley

On this day in 2019...

Dodgers @ Giants, LAD 0 SF 2, top 8, 1 out, Chris Taylor facing Tony Watson... Chris Taylor homers (5) on a fly ball to center field. VIDEO
Win Probability Added: 9.9

MLB Upcoming Dates

• End of the 1st Half - Sun 09 July 2023
  
• All Star Game - Tue 11 July 2023
  
• Start of the 2nd Half - Fri 14 July 2023
  

Questions of the Day

1. What are common misconceptions about your job?
   
2. What are you best at?
   
3. Was there ever an event in your life that defied explanation?
   

Have a great day, Dodgers.

Wilcox and Chelsea, along with contestants Frances and Ricky, had to guess the names of celebrities who are AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego), from clips played by Woody. In honor of this day in 1968 when the first Legoland opened.
Result: Chelsea and Ricky win 3-1
Highlight: To no surprise, Chris Pratt is an AFOL. But so are Britney Spears and David Beckham.
Facebook video

In recent years, businesses such as accounting and CPA firms (https://www.entigrity.com/) that are heavily reliant on skilled professionals have faced significant challenges in attracting and retaining talent. The consequences of talent shortages are straightforward but impactful: they impede business growth. According to PwC, approximately 25% of CEOs have had to cancel or postpone critical strategic initiatives in the past year due to a lack of qualified personnel.
Fortunately, there is time to address this issue proactively. Let's explore a few strategies firm owners can employ to navigate the skills shortage and benefit their businesses and financial performance.
**An overview of the worldwide shortage of accounting talent:**
There is a notable global talent shortage, which has reached its highest level in 16 years across various industries. The ongoing phenomenon known as the "Great Resignation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Resignation)" shows no signs of slowing down.
The ManpowerGroup's (https://workforce-resources.manpowergroup.com/accelerate-your-talent-strategy/q3-2022-employment-outlook-survey) 2022 Global Talent Shortage Survey has identified the most challenging skills to find in today's job market, and it reveals that accounting and finance positions (such as certified accountants, auditors, and financial analysts) rank among the top seven most challenging roles to fill globally. Moreover, these roles are anticipated to be the second-most in-demand positions in over 40 countries in the upcoming quarters.
**The origins of this talent shortage can be attributed to two primary factors**
The two primary drivers affecting the talent shortage in the accounting industry are: **technological advancements** and **evolving needs**.
**1. Technological Advancements:**
In the past, the primary requirement for accounting firms was the ability to perform numerical calculations. However, with technological advancements, this requirement has evolved. Today, applications and automation can process numbers significantly faster than any human worker.
Consequently, accounting firms are now seeking candidates who possess a greater ability to derive meaning, identify trends, and detect patterns in data. Moreover, these candidates should be able to apply their findings within a broader business context.
This shift in demand highlights the increasing importance of data science and analytics skills, which accounting professionals may have yet to develop extensively due to limited time and resources.
**2. Evolving Needs:**
In today's job market, candidates have clear preferences regarding their desired positions. While competitive compensation and benefits are undoubtedly important factors, the findings of the Manpower (https://web.manpowergroup.ca/hubfs/Campaign%20or%20Program-Specific%20Assets/MPG%20-%20Talent%20Shortage/manpowergroup-2020-canada-talent-shortage-report.pdf?hsLang=en-ca)survey indicate that candidates are more likely to accept a job offer and remain committed if the role also provides flexibility, a sense of purpose, and personalized opportunities.
Additionally, candidates value access to career insights, educational support, diverse experiences, and exposure to new opportunities as significant considerations in their decision-making process.
Indeed, it is possible to address the talent shortage by understanding employee needs and effectively meeting them. By doing so, accounting firms can combat the loss of valuable talent and gain an advantage in the ongoing competition for skilled professionals. While finding a balance may require compromises, the long-term benefits are rewarding.
**1. Objective:**
To provide employees with a meaningful sense of purpose, being transparent and genuine about your organization's mission is essential. Clearly communicate this mission on your website, through marketing materials, and during candidate interviews.
**2. Upskilling/Training:**
According to the Manpower (https://workforce-resources.manpowergroup.com/accelerate-your-talent-strategy/q3-2022-employment-outlook-survey)survey, *“81% of employees expect training programs from their employers to help keep skills up to date”*. Meeting this expectation increases the likelihood of retaining employees in the long term, providing your firm with greater confidence in retaining the skills it has invested in through training and development.
**3. Adaptability:**
In 2020, a significant shift towards remote work took place, leading professionals to recognize the time saved from commuting and the increased autonomy over their schedules. Candidates are expected to inquire about job flexibility during interviews, seeking a clear response that can ideally meet the needs of both parties involved. Therefore, it is crucial to have a well-prepared response that can address these inquiries and satisfy the mutual requirements.
**4. Company ethos:**
Take a moment to contemplate how outsiders perceive your firm. If you were to assess it objectively, what would your conclusion be? The stereotype of buttoned-up professionals often characterizes how accounting firms are viewed.
While elements of formality may still exist in many firms, the importance of image must be considered in a highly competitive market. It is crucial to tailor your firm's image and proudly display your brand, effectively conveying the authentic experience of working within your organization. This approach allows you to differentiate yourself and attract top talent.
Employees are no longer just working for a 9-5 paycheck. They want to work with a brand that they believe in. Understanding how to make the most of your brand can make the difference when it comes to attracting and retaining team members.
**5. Feedback:**
Recognize the significant impact of offering regular feedback to your staff, as it holds great importance to them. People have a natural desire to be heard and acknowledged. According to ClearCompany (https://blog.clearcompany.com/mind-blowing-statistics-performance-reviews-employee-engagement), global talent management specialists, employees who receive regular feedback and performance reviews become up to three times more engaged in their company. Furthermore, their survey reveals that engaged individuals are 87% less likely to leave the organization. Hence, prioritizing regular feedback can enhance employee engagement and significantly reduce turnover rates.
**6. Offshore accounting:**
Alternatively, you can leverage the services of an offshore staffing provider like Entigrity to access qualified offshore talent with minimal hassle. As a leading offshore accounting service provider, Entigrity takes care of the entire recruitment process, carefully curating candidates based on your requirements. With our expertise, you can save valuable time, energy, and uncertainties.
By partnering with Entigrity, you benefit from nearly a decade of experience managing offshore accountants and bookkeepers across Australia, New Zealand, and North America. This ensures you receive expert guidance and advice tailored to your specific market.
Choosing offshore accountants through Entigrity offers a proven and efficient solution that addresses multiple firm needs. Our experienced on-the-ground team members give you access to a broader talent pool, allowing for easier diversification and streamlined onboarding. **Read More** (https://www.entigrity.com/)
​

u/TheKingOfTheBees
How does the Bible define "Man" and/or "Woman"?
The Bible does not give a formal definition for man or woman.
How did they know who was a man and who was not?
By common sense based on their external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics. Males and females had distinctive cultural and legal roles. It was very much binary.
Outside of the Bible, particularly in the AD era, gender was more fluid. The following is from Wiki:
Jewish law, or halacha, recognizes intersex and non-conforming gender identities in addition to male and female.[5][6] Rabbinical literature recognizes six different sexes, defined according to the development and presentation of primary and secondary sex characteristics at birth and later in life.[7] Jewish literature describes what today would be referred to as intersex such as the concept of a Tumtum being a person of ambiguous gender and/or sex as is the concept of the androgynos, being a person characterized with elements of both sexes.

• Zachar (זָכָר): This term is derived from the word for memory and refers to the belief that the man carried the name and identity of the family.[citation needed] It is usually translated as "male" in English.
• Nekevah (נקבה): This term is derived from the word for a crevice and probably refers to a vaginal opening. It is usually translated as "female" in English.[18]
• Androgynos (אנדרוגינוס): A person who has both "male" and "female" physical sexual characteristics. 149 references in Mishnah and Talmud (1st–8th centuries); 350 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes (2nd–16th centuries). According to Rabbi Meir in the Mishnah, it is "a unique creature, neither male nor female".[19]
• Tumtum (טומטום): A person whose sexual characteristics are indeterminate or obscured. 181 references in the Mishnah and Talmud; 335 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes. Rabbi Meir contrasts it with the androgynus, saying it is not a unique creation, "sometimes a man and sometimes a woman".[19] Unlike the Androgynos, the Tumtum's gender can be revealed to be either male or female and as such has different roles under Jewish Law.[20] Some Rabbi believe Abraham and Sarah were described to be Tumtum, unable to conceive before God intervened.[21]
• Aylonit (איילונית): A female who does not develop secondary sex characteristics at puberty and is assumed infertile.[22]
• Saris (סריס): A male who does not develop secondary sex characteristics at puberty or has their sex characteristics removed. A Saris can fall under two categories: One can be "naturally" born a saris (saris hamah) or one can become a saris through human intervention (saris adam).[23]

This is a serious question so please take a minute to hear me out. This is in no way a post to take sides or judge but to analyze human behaviour.
What happened during the baptism but also the media coverage afterwards.
Group conformity mechanics are mechanics where individuals conform to a group, and this can also supersede reason
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The asch experiment did tests around this mechanic and the tests have been redone several times over the years and everytime it yielded similar results
There is a wiki page but this 2 minute youtube video explains it quite simple.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRh5qy09nNw
Milgram also did a test around this mechanic, but more specifically to authority. Just to be clear in no way I'm trying to establish intent here of any sort by mentioning this experiment
Still it does show what sort of power authority can have. This is also a 2 minute video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzd6Ew3TraA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course these mechanics will have had influence on the baptism itself they could also have had influence on the media reaction afterwards.
Herbert A. Simon won the Nobel prize for his theory that people are cognitive misers. Meaning that people, regardless of intelligence, will try to find the simplest way to reach to a conclusion, especially when confronted with mass information.
This is the wiki page about it , but it covers everything from propaganda , you will have to scroll down to persuasion in social psychology to find the part that covers this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda
Combine this mechanic with group conformity on intertwined networks (the internet) and it might be an explanation why it's hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Because there is mass information and people also conform around it.
Authority plays also a role here, not only that certain people might follow a figure with authority, but also that people don't want to respect information from a figure just because he has authority, because they are aware of the power that comes with authority.
​

What's going on?

A recent Reddit policy change threatens to kill many beloved third-party mobile apps, making a great many quality-of-life features not seen in the official mobile app permanently inaccessible to users.
On May 31, 2023, Reddit announced they were raising the price to make calls to their API from being free to a level that will kill every third party app on Reddit, from Apollo to Reddit is Fun to Narwhal to BaconReader.
Even if you're not a mobile user and don't use any of those apps, this is a step toward killing other ways of customizing Reddit, such as Reddit Enhancement Suite or the use of the old.reddit.com desktop interface .
This isn't only a problem on the user level: many subreddit moderators depend on tools only available outside the official app to keep their communities on-topic and spam-free.

What's the plan?

On June 12th, many subreddits will be going dark to protest this policy. Some will return after 48 hours: others will go away permanently unless the issue is adequately addressed, since many moderators aren't able to put in the work they do with the poor tools available through the official app. This isn't something any of us do lightly: we do what we do because we love Reddit, and we truly believe this change will make it impossible to keep doing what we love.
The two-day blackout isn't the goal, and it isn't the end. Should things reach the 14th with no sign of Reddit choosing to fix what they've broken, we'll use the community and buzz we've built between then and now as a tool for further action.
For more information, please visit Save3rdPartyApps

What can you do?

1. Complain. Message the mods of reddit.com, who are the admins of the site: message reddit: submit a support request: comment in relevant threads on reddit, such as this one, leave a negative review on their official iOS or Android app- and sign your username in support to this post.
2. Spread the word. Rabble-rouse on related subreddits. Meme it up, make it spicy. Bitch about it to your cat. Suggest anyone you know who moderates a subreddit join us at our sister sub at ModCoord - but please don't pester mods you don't know by simply spamming their modmail.
3. Boycott and spread the word...to Reddit's competition! Stay off Reddit entirely on June 12th through the 13th- instead, take to your favorite non-Reddit platform of choice and make some noise in support!
4. Don't be a jerk. As upsetting this may be, threats, profanity and vandalism will be worse than useless in getting people on our side. Please make every effort to be as restrained, polite, reasonable and law-abiding as possible. This includes not harassing moderators of subreddits who have chosen not to take part: no one likes a missionary, a used-car salesman, or a flame warrior.

What else can I do except browse Reddit?

Depending on subreddit, some will still be available for viewing, but not posting. One of the reasons for the protest is to damage Reddit's viewership to raise awareness among the upper management, so it is advised not to browse reddit, even if a subreddit is still viewable/not participating.
Here are some moderator's choice way to spend time:

• Touch grass
• Tachiyomi is a free (android only) software for reading comic books and manga. I can personally recommend titles like: Fables, The twelve, Gokushufudou: The way of a house husband, The flintstones (2016), Spider-man/Deadpool and Black hammer.
• Parsecis a free software you can install on your pone to remotely control your PC. A simple bluetooth mouse or a controller can allow you to play your PC games on mobile (Unfortunately, you connection might be too laggy to play ULTRAKILL depending on your connection)
• Mirhaze Ultrawiki is a recently created alternative to the Fandom ULTRAKILL wiki. It's still very early in development, but with it's more informative tone might be appealing to some readers. This gap in ULTRAKILL's activity might be a good opportunity to judge it for yourself.

Additionally, I will add any recommendations you might want to share in comments ^^

So I've been messing around with some Keplerian orbit simulation and was curious how KSP does it. In the cheats menu I see 6 parameters which I can map to the ones described here or here but there is a 7th parameter called OBT that I don't recognize. The weird thing is that this is also missing in the serialization of the orbit and instead the 7th parameter is called EPH aka Epoch which makes sense. Are these two the same just with a weird name or is it something else entirely?

Queen has 3 Forms:

1. Base Form
2. Brachiosaurus Form
3. Hybrid Form

Base Form Attacks and Weapons:

1. Queen carries 2 swords
2. Gatling gun loaded with Ice Oni Poison
3. Large Pistol
4. Machine Gun

​
Brachiosaurus Form Attacks and Weapons:

1. Double-barreled Gatling gun
2. Artificial fangs
3. Laser beam cannon equipped at the end of his brachiosaurus tail and hair braid, as well as inside of his mouth
4. His neck area is modified with an in-built mechanical cable that allows him to extend his already long brachiosaurus neck beyond its normal range
5. Retractable needles in his teeth
6. Voice activated rocket launchers in his sides
7. Brachiojaurus - Queen lifts his tail to ready himself for the technique, and from there, launches his inner, snake-like body from his torso and legs
8. Brachiotoguros - Queen coils around his opponent like a snake, exerting immense pressure on their bones and organs

​
Hybrid Form Attacks and Weapons:

1. Clawed tentacle appendages located on his tail and braided hair, which is also capable of firing lasers
2. His prosthetic left arm changes shape, sporting a claw similar to the aforementioned appendages
3. Ichiji's optic beams
4. Niji's lighting shocks
5. Sanji's invisibility
6. Yonji's extendable metal arm

​
Queen The Plague - Where the name comes from:
Befitting his epithet of "The Plague", Queen is a genius virologist. He has invented abnormal and deadly viruses and weaponized them through ammunition known as Excite Bullets, which instantly spread the disease upon striking their victims. Two of Queen's viruses have been seen so far, and both of them are able to easily spread through physical contact, meaning Queen and anyone with Excite Bullets can quickly infect an entire closed-off group of enemies with only a few hits. He has shown sufficient medical expertise to develop an antidote for one of his deadliest viruses as a safety measure.
Created Viruses:

1. Mummy) causes a high fever and constant bleeding. Not long after, its victims become shriveled and dehydrated and suffer everlasting pain.
2. Ice Oni covers its victims' skin in ice, which alters some parts of their bodies to make them look like oni. It also enhances their physical abilities. Victims are left freezing and seem to turn savage. The frost combined with the strength boost causes its victims to die after roughly one hour.

Haki:
Queen is able to utilize both basic Haki-types.
​
Devil Fruit:
Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Brachiosaurus, an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
​
Named Attacks:

1. Black Coffee - In his Full Beast Form, Queen fires a laser beam from his mouth or tail, while in his human-beast form he can fire it (individually or simultaneously) from either his mouth, mechanical arm, hair, or tail. The beam works similarly to the ones used by the Pacifista and Franky's "Radical Beam", generating an explosion after hitting a surface.
2. Bridal Grapper - While in Human-Beast Form, Queen heats up his mechanical hair claw and attempts to grab a target while burning them with it
3. Bry Pan - While in Human-Beast Form, Queen rapidly punches with his hair claw, tail claw, and left arm claw.
4. Brachio Launcher - While in Beast Form, Queen activates rocket launchers equipped to his torso via a voice command
5. Sparking Queen - Queen's variant of Germa 66's Sparking Red, Queen fires beams from his eyes.
6. Henry Queen - Queen's variant of Germa 66's Dengeki Blue, Queen electrifies his body and then extends his mechanized neck in order to bite and electrocute his enemy.
7. Winch Queen - Queen's variant of Germa 66's Winch Green, Queen extends his mechanical left arm, grabs his opponent, and swings them around, slamming them into various walls.
8. Brachio Bomber - Queen dives from a high place and lands headfirst on his opponent, crushing them under the immense weight of his full brachiosaurus form.

Durability:

1. Took a large amounts of Attacks from Sanji without taking much damage (pre awakening)
2. Fought Marco with King, Marco did a little bit of damage, he recovered quickly.
3. Took an attack from King without taking any damage while being distracted. That same attack sent Zoro flying.
4. Fought Big Mom, took some damage, but recovered quickly.
5. Took almost no damage from Chopper while playing with him

​
This is it. I probably have repeated myself quite a lot, but my point still stands. Respect the GOAT. Queen TOP 1 EOS, you ain't ready for him.
And i also have probably missed some attacks, since Queen is so awesome, and since he has too many of them.

Dobre doshli readers,
This is our monthly discussion of the literature of the world! Twice a month, we'll post a new country for you to recommend literature from, with the caveat that it must have been written by someone from that country (i.e. Shogun by James Clavell is a great book but wouldn't be included in Japanese literature).
June 2 was the Day of Hristo Botev; poet, revolutionary, and a national hero of Bulgaria! To celebrate, please use this thread to discuss your favorite Bulgarian books and authors.
If you'd like to read our previous discussions of the literature of the world please visit the literature of the world section of our wiki.
Thank you and enjoy!

I've developed a free browser extension that reads YouTube subtitles aloud on Edge, Chrome, and Firefox without any ads. It's designed with language learning in mind, as studies (linked below) have shown the benefits of passive exposure for language acquisition. Realistically speaking, for more than picking up some words and phrases (for example hearing “securidad” in subtitles, then hearing “security” in the content, and connecting, passively that it’s the same thing, but for way more words), it takes thousands of hours.
That’s also how I learned English, as a Slavic language native speaker – by consuming material even when I didn’t fully understand it, and or at faster playback rate, I learned from context, just as kids do when they learn their first language.
This extension can also benefit the blind community, offering easier access to foreign content and passive language learning. Personally, I use it to watch foreign videos, allowing me to focus on other activities while still absorbing the content.
After installation, voice selection/speed/volume sliders show when you click extension’s icon. To make it play "voiceover", one would need to select a checkbox next to language name underneath a YouTube video. It has to be a checkbox though, as above that field, the links will be just for downloading subtitles. If no subtitles are provided with the video, then it will be written underneath the video that no subtitles are available. Generally, some channels are better than others with providing subtitles.
Chrome Web Store link (will work with Edge browser too)
Firefox Browser Add-ons
For non-English languages, Edge offers high-quality AI voices, Chrome supports various Google Translate voices, and Firefox has a very limited selection. Additional voices installed on your system should also be detected.
If you try the extension, your feedback is highly appreciated. It took me loads of time to make it from a point where it was useful for me only, to the point to make it usable by other people.
I'm open to ideas. My goal is to create unique and useful stuff for my portfolio, enhancing my prospects of getting a software development job. Rather than cloning existing software, like many other people who also want to get a job, I would rather develop practical and beneficial tools, which definitely helps with motivation. Often, sadly I get an idea, only to find out that something like that had been already created.
Links to related scientific studies follow:

• Research demonstrated that systematic exposure to a foreign language enhances talker learning and perceptual learning, which precedes sentence comprehension.
• Another research study focused on the impact of controlled exposure in a classroom setting and found that systematic exposure had a positive effect on the acquisition of complex structures, such as passive voice sentences.
• A study conducted with intermediate Spanish students of English as a foreign language examined the potential learning effects derived from watching subtitled media. The study explored the impact of watching a TV drama with English, Spanish, or no subtitles and its effects on language learning.

Minimal Permissions and Open Source Code

I structured the extension to require minimal permissions and the source code is open for inspection. I believe in transparency. By keeping permissions to a minimum, we ensure that your browsing experience remains secure and protected.

Resource Efficiency

The code of this extension has been developed with resource efficiency in mind. I have some formal software engineering background, which allowed me to optimize the code for performance. For example, I employed binary search algorithm to enhance an array search functionality, minimizing resource consumption. I made sure the code does no more than is absolutely necessary.

How to find channels which have non-auto-generated subtitles (which are of better quality than the auto-generated ones:

https://filmot.com/captionLanguageSearch?titleQuery=&channelID=&detectedLanguage=en&captionLanguages=en%20es%20&&category=33&country=217 (try it for various languages)

Nagpur is a city in India that has a lot to offer when it comes to banquet hall. From intimate and luxurious venues to large and modern spaces, there are plenty of banquet halls in Nagpur that can accommodate any kind of event. Whether you are planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, these banquet halls provide the perfect backdrop for your special occasion. Now you can discover some of the best banquet halls in Nagpur and make your event memorable.

Map in which you can access from inside the game. Go commune with a statue > travel > check the bottom right for the button for the Antique Map.
Welcome back to the mad ramblings of someone who has probably done too much exploring of the game to ever get gud. Now, onto the topic of the Dragonspring River and how its flow and direction has ensured the second (?) Divine Heir was born in Hirata Estate. TL;DR at the end.
First, let's talk about the first(?) Divine Heir. The only reason why I put question marks around the 'first' and 'second' designation is that because technically, we don't know how many Divine Heirs there has been. But I'm calling the previous Divine Heir the first one for simplicity's sake and because we only know of two of them.

The first Divine Heir of Ashina: Lord Takeru

Lord Takeru, according to in-game item descriptions of the two Everblossom branches, came from the Divine Realm.
https://preview.redd.it/sj3wzhcr9k4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18b1b525987efec8d46201364b90841a10a47845
(I'm in NG + 2, if you are wondering)
As far as I can tell, there is only one Everblossom tree at the Divine Realm: the one that the Divine Dragon is resting on.
​
Source: https://www.ign.com/wikis/sekiro-shadows-die-twice/Divine_Dragon
Side note for those who like to read: >! There is a theory that the Divine Dragon lost one of their arms when Owl cut off the Aromatic Branch and made the Everblossom tree at Ashina Castle die. This is because the Divine Dragon's Japanese name is Sakura-Ryu (桜竜) (translated: Dragon of Sakura). In other words, the Dragon is connected to all the Everblossom trees. If one of those trees die, they lose a body part. !<
It can therefore be inferred that Takeru is the Heir to the Dragon, whatever that means. Why is a human heir to a dragon? Turns out, in Japanese mythology, dragons can shapeshift into humans. The most famous example of this would be Ryūjin (龍神). He apparently is the ancestor of all Japanese emperors through his daughter Toyotama-hime (Japanese: 豊玉姫). The bigger question is why Takeru has chosen to remain a human and not a dragon. Unless...he could also be the son of one of the brides of the Dragonspring pilgrimage. Makes you wonder how many Divine Heirs are actually running around at any given time and whether Takeru was the first to leave the Divine Realm.
(Side note: according to this definition of species, it is possible that dragons and humans are the same species due to the presence of fertile offspring. Which goes to show, again, Japanese mythology is...unique).
So, Takeru somehow leaves the Divine Realm and ends up in Ashina with his shinobi, Lady Tomoe. He ends up living there for a little while, probably causing the first Dragonrot epidemic, and presumably dies from it.
https://preview.redd.it/9n0fikg6fk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e4bc8d665c87f4a05aeab521c7dabc88250eed7
Both Takeru and Tomoe are buried at the Old Grave in Ashina Castle, where Ashina's Everblossom used to be.
Source: https://holdtoreset.com/how-to-get-the-purification-ending-in-sekiro-shadows-die-twice/. Note the fencing where the tree used to be.

And what does this have to do with Hirata Estate???

There is a reason why I showed you the antique map right off the bat.
The blue arrow shows you the rough flow of the Dragonspring river. I could be wrong.
The game wants you to know that the river running next to Hirata Estate is the Dragonspring river. Like, really really wants you to know.
The arrows are mine but come on
What do I mean by "really really wants you to know"? Well, the name of the Sculptor's Idol is a little weird. Usually, in a given area, there is an Idol that is named just the area. Cases in point.
https://preview.redd.it/q5tvqklvhk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d722f4d13be58c0ee69c7a476b70c33ea2e0048
https://preview.redd.it/2otznsczhk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1edaf26e927e70ea6d7c1b5269826917a7ad85b
https://preview.redd.it/bkttvea7ik4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=282de9f3f193eff9fe5a2d88286e20f002ee3852
So to put the Dragonspring preface on the name of the Idol that is supposed to be named after the area...well..the Developers wants you to notice in a subtle way. And how do I know that the Dragonspring river that runs through Hirata Estate comes from the Fountainhead Palace, and therefore its ultimate source is the Divine Realm? Well, it's called the Dragonspring. Like a spring that sprang from a dragon. Then there is the Dragonspring Pilgrimage, which is implied by the Mibu balloons to follow the Dragonspring river to the Fountainheads.
https://preview.redd.it/dzptxzjqlk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81a45318ef6b5307b3a7121a5013544a1e9adc53
https://preview.redd.it/r5vvit9rlk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=366b0ecf401c71413cd81db9cccaa3ac2af432ae
And lastly, the corrupt priest of Mibu village complains the water of Mibu is too diluted for him to become a Palace Noble, and he needs pure water from the Fountainhead Palace itself.
https://preview.redd.it/ys4lzpp0qk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=103370cee98af719479eeff66c69eed67dd7c1c2
https://preview.redd.it/5a4ajc91qk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f85c219a4bad23f7694ba1dedd1a3dded8d4389d
https://preview.redd.it/k8tsxp32qk4b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbb8e9fc85540b6a3ea86f946350e061d888a8ec
This implies that at least part of the water from Mibu village, and hence Dragonspring River comes from the Fountainhead Palace.
Ergo (I really hope I'm not stretching this out like taffy), it is implied that there is a river of water that flows from the Divine Dragon to the Fountainhead, then onto Sunken Valley (as confirmed by detritus from the Fountainhead Palace at the bottom of the waterfall and of course the dead Carp Noble), then Mibu Village, and Ashina Castle, before finally reaching Hirata Estate.

Get on with it. What does this have to do with Kuro? (TL;DR)

Thanks for being a champ and reading this mess of a deep dive. Now that we have confirmed that the geographic link between the Divine Dragon, Takeru, and Kuro is the Dragonspring River, I propose the theory that the reason why Kuro was chosen to be the second Divine Heiis potentially a reincarnation of Takeru is because Hirata Estate is downriver from Ashina Castle. The essence of the Divine Dragon has flowed downwards via the Dragonspring river from Ashina Castle, where Takeru was buried. Either the next kid born at Hirata Estate after Takeru's death was always destined to be the next Divine Heir, or somehow Takeru's spirit travelled along the river to the next destination. Or the whole thing is just symbolic, and the river is a metaphor. Or I'm rambling mad again.
What do you guys think?

Portée par M. Edouard Courtial (Les Républicains - Oise)
La ZAN (zéro artificialisation nette), précédemment abordée dans la Gazette les 2 mai et 6 décembre derniers1, continue de susciter de nombreux débats. Pour rappel, le sénateur de l’Oise M. Édouard Courtial interpellait le Gouvernement sur les modalités de mise en œuvre de l’objectif « zéro artificialisation nette » introduit par la loi sur la lutte contre le dérèglement climatique et le renforcement de la résilience face à ses effets (dite loi Climat et résilience, promulguée le 22 août 2021).
Selon lui :

• la méthode serait trop centralisatrice et s’opposerait au « bon sens des élus de terrain » ;
  
• l’État ne proposerait pas d’accompagnement en ingénierie aux territoires pour mettre en œuvre la ZAN ;
  
• les décrets seraient plus restrictifs que la loi, entretenant un flou juridique.
  

Mme Bérangère Couillard, secrétaire d’État auprès du ministre de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires, rappelle que le Gouvernement s’est engagé à :

• garantir à toutes les communes rurales la possibilité de construire, en particulier lorsqu’elles l’ont peu fait par le passé ;
  
• prévoir un décompte des projets d’envergure nationale à l’échelle nationale ;
  

*renforcer l’offre en ingénierie locale en étendant les missions des établissements publics fonciers, des agences d’urbanisme et de l’Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires (ANCT) en faveur de la sobriété foncière.
Il convient de mettre ces propos en perspective avec l’adoption en première lecture le 16 mars 2023 par le Sénat d’une proposition de loi visant à faciliter la mise en œuvre des objectifs de « zéro artificialisation nette » au cœur des territoires2.

La loi Climat et résilience

La loi Climat et résilience vise deux objectifs : une réduction de moitié du rythme de l’artificialisation nouvelle entre 2021 et 2031 par rapport à la période 2011-2021 (donc – 50 % en 10 ans) et l’atteinte de zéro artificialisation nette (ZAN) à horizon 2050 (c’est-à-dire autant ou plus de surfaces « renaturées » que de surfaces artificialisées). Ces objectifs sont traduits par des obligations applicables aux collectivités territoriales, qui devront intégrer à leurs documents d’urbanisme et de planification d’ici 2027 des objectifs de réduction de l’artificialisation des sols, définis pour chaque période décennale3. Par ailleurs, à compter de 2031, une nomenclature des sols artificialisés entrera en vigueur, qui servira de base de calcul à l’artificialisation intervenue dans le périmètre de chaque collectivité4.

La proposition de loi du Sénat pour faciliter la tâche des élus

La proposition de loi du Sénat vise notamment à répondre aux inquiétudes de nombreux élus locaux quant aux difficultés de mise en œuvre de la ZAN, liées à l’inadéquation des textes d’application et à des difficultés pratiques mal anticipées.
Elle propose5 d’abord de prolonger le dialogue entre échelons territoriaux et de renforcer la gouvernance décentralisée de la ZAN, en allongeant d’un an le délai de modification des documents régionaux et en adaptant les étapes de la procédure de modification des schémas régionaux d’aménagement, de développement durable et d’égalité des territoires (Sraddet)6 , ce qui paraît plutôt opportun au regard des nombreuses interrogations d’élus.
Le Sénat y propose aussi d’accompagner les projets structurants de demain en prévoyant une comptabilisation séparée pour ces derniers afin qu’ils ne pèsent ainsi pas sur les enveloppes des collectivités, et en facilitant la mutualisation des projets d’ampleur régionale, avec un droit de proposition pour les communes et les EPCI7. L’approche paraît de nature à mutualiser habilement les intérêts.
La proposition de loi vise à mieux prendre en compte les spécificités des territoires et les efforts de réduction de l’artificialisation et de renaturation de la part des collectivités dès 2021. Elle garantit à chaque commune une surface minimale de développement communale d’un hectare en sanctuarisant une part réservée au développement territorial, pour les projets d’intérêt général non anticipés ou qui ne rentreraient pas dans les enveloppes initiales affectées aux communes et aux EPCI : il s’agit là de deux souplesses qui séduiront les élus, mais dont il conviendrait cependant d’encadrer l’emploi. La proposition de loi s’efforce aussi de mieux protéger les espaces verts et la nature en ville, de prendre en compte l’impact du recul du trait de côte et les spécificités des territoires de montagne et ultramarins.
Enfin, la proposition prévoit des outils de transition : données d’artificialisation complètes et fiables à fournir par l’État, « droit de préemption ZAN », etc.
La proposition8 sera examinée en première lecture en juin 2023 par l’Assemblée nationale. Elle devrait apporter des réponses aux inquiétudes et interrogations de nombreux élus locaux, rapportées par M. Édouard Courtial.

Les recommandations du Shift Project

Il est important de rappeler que toutes les parties prenantes (l’Assemblée nationale, le Sénat, le Gouvernement, les élus locaux) sont alignées sur l’objectif crucial de réduction de l’artificialisation des sols. Le Sénat le rappelle dans des termes sans équivoque : « l’incontestable urgence climatique et environnementale doit engager l’ensemble de la Nation dans une démarche commune de sobriété foncière. »9
Dans cette optique, le Shift Project, dans sa publication « Climat, crises : comment transformer nos territoires ? » d’octobre 2022 propose de nombreuses pistes d’actions aux élus.

• Inventer de nouvelles manières de conjuguer logement et espaces agricoles et naturels. L’enjeu est d’élaborer de nouvelles stratégies d’urbanisation privilégiant les projets en zones déjà artificialisées ou sur les terres et les espaces naturels les moins riches : intensification des usages dans les bâtiments existants, réhabilitation du bâti, réaménagement de friches, densification et réduction de l’emprise au sol des projets, maximisation des surfaces de pleine terre, installation de hameaux légers, caractérisation des fonctions des sols…. Ces mesures sont indispensables pour préserver les espaces naturels, agricoles et forestiers et leurs fonctions de régulation du climat. L’élaboration de cette stratégie de sobriété foncière doit passer par un travail à l’échelon intercommunal afin de mutualiser les efforts des collectivités territoriales et garantir leur cohérence. L’association Intercommunalités de France recommande également de généraliser les PLUi10 : les territoires qui en sont dotés auraient déjà réalisé davantage d’efforts de sobriété foncière que les autres.
  
• Rénover et redynamiser les centre-bourgs afin de proposer une offre de logements attractifs et de haute qualité (rénovation énergétique, adaptation au vieillissement, adaptation au changement climatique…). Il s’agit aussi de renforcer le lien social et de mettre fin au modèle de l’habitat dispersé, fortement consommateur en foncier. Le développement d’une nouvelle offre de logements temporaires et de nouveaux usages pour les bâtiments publics et touristiques (hors des périodes de fréquentation) est également de nature à réduire les besoins en foncier.
  

En conclusion, l’objectif « zéro artificialisation nette » doit conduire à élaborer des stratégies foncières adaptées à la spécificité des territoires et largement transversales, qui seront porteuses de nombreux impacts positifs. De telles stratégies peuvent ainsi viser à améliorer l’autonomie alimentaire locale et la qualité de l’alimentation, réduire les risques liés aux inondations et aux sécheresses, grâce à la préservation des zones humides et à l’évolution des pratiques agricoles vers l’agroécologie. Elles sont indissociables des efforts d’amélioration du cadre de vie des habitants, du renforcement du lien social, de réduction des besoins en déplacement, etc.

Des outils toujours plus nombreux

De nombreux acteurs publics et privés sont déjà mobilisés pour accompagner les collectivités territoriales dans la prise en compte de l’objectif ZAN.

• Les agences d’urbanismes regroupées au sein de la FNAU (Fédération nationale des agences d’urbanisme) proposent de nombreux outils et publications sur la question11, les CAUE également.
  
• Le CEREMA publie des retours d’expériences et informe sur les dispositifs d’accompagnement à destination des collectivités territoriales12.
  
• L’IGN développe une base de donnée, l’OCS GE, qui décrit l’occupation du sol du territoire métropolitain et des départements et régions d’outre-mer (DROM) à horizon 202413.
  
• Le portail de l’artificialisation des sols14 propose un suivi chiffré de la consommation d’espaces naturels, agricoles et forestiers, ainsi que des analyses de ces données.
  
• The Shift Project a développé l’outil Shift My Town, qui permet aux collectivités territoriales de visualiser gratuitement et rapidement un grand nombre de données, afin de faciliter le dialogue et la mobilisation à l’échelle locale autour des enjeux de transition écologique{15] , qui incluent évidemment les enjeux fonciers.
  

Sources:
1Gazette du Carbone du 2 mai 2023 & Gazette du Carbone du 6 décembre 2022
2www.senat.fbasile/visio.do?id=d0149584&idtable=d170724-113578_3
3 L’essentiel sur la proposition de loi visant à faciliter la mise en œuvre des objectifs de « zéro artificialisation nette » au cœur des territoires, commission spéciale zéro artificialisation nette (ZAN), Sénat. www.senat.fdossier-legislatif/ppl22-205.html
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid et www.vie-publique.floi/288650-proposition-de-loi-zero-artificialisation-nette-au-coeur-des-territoires
6outil2amenagement.cerema.fle-schema-regional-d-amenagement-de-developpement-r403.html
7 Établissement public de coopération intercommunale — Wikipédia (wikipedia.org) – fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89tablissement_public_de_coop%C3%A9ration_intercommunale
8www.assemblee-nationale.fdyn/16/dossiers/DLR5L16N46880
9 L’essentiel sur la proposition de loi visant à faciliter la mise en œuvre des objectifs de « zéro artificialisation nette » au cœur des territoires. www.senat.fdossier-legislatif/ppl22-205.html
10www.banquedesterritoires.fmise-en-oeuvre-du-zan-les-intercommunalites-appellent-generaliser-le-plui
11www.fnau.org/fpublications/ressources-sur-le-zan/
12www.cerema.ffmots-cles/zero-artificialisation-nette
13geoservices.ign.focsge
14artificialisation.developpement-durable.gouv.fsuivi-consommation-espaces-naf
15territoiresaufutur.org/
Liens utiles :
➤ The Shift Project - « Climat, crises : comment transformer nos territoires ? » - Octobre 2022

With the women's foils having a final World Cup and having skipped the foils two weeks ago, I'll do a last update of both the women's and men's foil standings.
I was finally made aware of the FIE's dedicated website for qualification: paris.fie.org. It's not perfect, but it's the best raw data source, so I'll link that. I would continue to also post Piste to Podium, because it is just visually much easier to follow, but they haven't updated the foils, so it's missing here.
Women's Foil
State of the Race done: 1 Grand Prix, 2 World Cups still to go: World Championships, Zonal Championships, 2 Grands Prix, 3 World Cups
The teams saw a kind of return to the norm with the USA, Italy, France and Japan making it to the semi-finals and now occupying the coveted Top-4 spots in the adjusted rankings. That currently leaves Canada in the 5-spot and the American zonal place for teams, as we expected. Argentina are currently hanging on in 16th, so there's a tiny chance for them, if Canada were to jump into the direct spots, but it's very, very unlikely they pull that off. The individual spot is currently held by Brazilian Mariana Pistoia on 2 points, but Proestakis and Rebolledo are right there on 1.75. Zonal Championships are going to be hugely important for that race.
The African Zone is a mystery to me, as it seems like no African teams have participated in the first two World Cups and I don't see any Egyptians and Moroccans on the individual adjusted rankings either. Accordingly, the team spot remains open for other nations (more on that later) and the individual spot is currently held by Maxine Isabel Esteban from Côte D'Ivoire. Again, Zonal Championships could be the decider here.
That brings us to Europe, which currently has four countries on quali spots, due to either Germany or Spain picking up the vacant African place. German and Spain are tied, as they both have one 8th place and one 10th place. Hungary has the same amount of points as those two, but currently is behind in a tiebreaker. As this tie will resolve itself, I won't go into it more than to say, it's a really, really close race for this 8th place. Poland is out front a bit and seems to be the most stable European team behind France and Italy at the moment. As so often in the European races, we have to wait a bit longer for the team picture to be clearer to better understand the individual picture. However, with a GP win and WC silver, Anne Sauer has already won a big chunk of the points you need to guarantee yourself a spot at the Olympics. If said in a comment before that 100 points is roughly the minimum you need and she's already on 78 with seven tournaments to go. If Germany take a team spot, Flora Pasztor from Hungary and Alina Poloziuk from Ukraine are next in line. If the Ukrainians have to withdraw, Great Britain's Carolina Stutchbury has a chance.
Finally, with Japan in the Top-4, China takes up the Asian Zonal spot. Given that they will most likely score more points at the Asian Championships than Hungary, Span and Germany will at the European Championships, Korea is also very much in that previously described battle for the 8th team spot. And if they finish ahead of China - or even win the whole thing - in Wuxi, they are also squarely back in the fight for the Asian spot. As they currently don't get a team spot, Oh takes one individual spot and the second goes to Chan from Hong Kong.
Men's Foil
State of the Race done: 1 Grand Prix, 1 World Cup still to go: World Championships, Zonal Championships, 2 Grands Prix, 4 World Cups
It's just one tournament, but the Top-4 look exactly the same as it does for the women with the US, Italy, France and Japan currently qualifying directly. The Egyptian men's team did take part in Acapulco and duly got an 8th place, putting them on the path towards the African team spot. Noe Robin from Senegal currently holds the individual spot, but only on 0.5 points, so again, the Zonal Championships will be very important.
As expected, it's going to be close between Korea and Hong Kong with Korea having won their bout for fifth in Acapulco and sitting 2 points ahead of HGK who are sixth but right behind a Zonal rival, which is the worst possible place to be. Obviously, nothing is yet decided there. With his team on the outside looking in Cheung Ka Long sits on one of the individual spots, with Xu of China (who also aren't out of the running as a team) taking the second. Kim is the highest ranked Korean, were the team to lose it.
As expected, Canada is en route to the American team spot. Servello is currently in the individual spot, but again on 2 points, so the PanAms and World Championships might prove decisive there.
And then in Europe, Poland held the favourite status I ascribed them with a sixth place in Acapulco, a few spots ahead of Spain, Germany and Hungary (where have I heard that before?). Llavador and Dosa are on the individual spots right now with Choupenitch and Mapstead having two pretty average tournaments so far. Dosa is the only one with a podium out of that foursome, but it's not out of the question for at least one of the other three to get multiple podiums and T-8s and catch up, plus Llavador or Dosa might get a team spot.

Hola!
I'm finally immigrating to Spain in 2 months, with "highly qualified worker" and hope to eventually become a citizen.
I've been reading about Spain constantly, and especially checking out this wiki https://wikitravel.org/en/Spain recommended on /Spain
However, I'd really like some insight into stuff maybe the wiki missed, or really anything Spanish people can let me know.
For context - I'm from the Middle East and I'm going to be living in Barcelona!

Revolt, Guilded, Element (Matrix Client), Matrix, Cinny (Matrix Client), Spacebar, Rocket Chat, Mikoto, Mattermost, TeamSpeak and Nertivia

I mean, when he retreated back to country) following the Chris Gaines experiment, there was a 50% drop in sales when compared to his previous country album). And after that, he wouldn't release another album for 13 years. By that time, you can argue that the music industry had radically changed and platinum albums were no longer a given for anyone — even him.
I know that people in the past, have suggested the Chris Gaines album as a future Trainwreckord. The main argument is that while it didn't end Garth Brooks' career did mark the end of his reign has the biggest country singer - maybe even the biggest music act, period - in the world. But others have argued that it can't really be a Trainwreckord in a traditional sense because Garth is still for the most part, beloved and sells out stadiums.
Garth Brooks probably hurt his legacy more by being so anti-streaming than the Chris Gaines album. Ironically, the Chris Gaines album served as the only time that Garth Brooks was able to cross over to the Billboard Top 40.