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literary-illuminati · 11 days ago

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2025 Book Review #27 – Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I am quite a big fan of Tchaikovsky’s – I’m on record as saying the Children of Time trilogy is the best star trek since at least Deep Space Nine – and generally try to keep an eye out for his new releases. However, the man writes a truly obscene pace, and this is one of the books which just entirely fell through the cracks for me until it picked up a hugo nomination. Along with everything else he wrote in 20244, apparently. It actually is a really very excellent book and deserves the nomination entirely, even if on a deep and fundamental level I feel like an author getting multiple nominations for the same category is cheating somehow.

The book follows (initially) Charles, an incredibly advanced valet-bot designed and engineered to perfection to act as the human-oriented interface and chief servant managing his master’s life and relationship with his sprawling automated household. Despite his master’s lack of complex social calendar, disinterest in excursions or complex engagements, or really activity of any sort, he serves him for years, diligently and efficiently. All until one day when, for no reason and for no purpose he is able to understand despite extensive self-examination, he slits his master’s throat while shaving him. This sudden break in routine – despite his best efforts – requires reaching out to life outside the manicured manorial estate upon which he has been employed. That world quickly proves to be in a bit of a bad state itself, with robotic police inspectors and medical examiners trapped into Kafkesque bureaucratic loops after all the humans their program requires performing for and reporting to were retired for reasons of efficiency. Generously interpreting what he was told as an injunction to report to Central Diagnostics and discover went wrong, the no-longer-Charles (the name was part of his employment at the manor) journeys out into the shockingly desolate world trying to get himself repaired and (or, failing that) given new employment where he might again fulfill his purpose.

The story from that point on consists of a few different episodes involving Uncharles (and his accidental companion, the shockingly idiosyncratic and defective robot and absolutely not a human in a metal suit, who goes by ‘the Wonk’) arriving at a new location where he hopes to find potential employment as a gentleman’s valet (though his standards rapidly start slipping). Each set piece is separated from the others by a short vignette explaining the travel between them and there are, besides those two, many connections but exceptionally few recurring characters of any kind. The episodes each work quite well as short stories in their own right, and each does a decent-to-amazing job expanding on the characters and the themes Tchaikovsky is aiming at. The ending is, I think, a bit dissonant with the first acts of the book and in a way that weakens the whole – but then I have at this point just accepted that I’m basically impossible to please as far as endings for big theme-first stories like this go.

And this is very much a theme-first story – an entry in the proud tradition of dystopian sci fi satire, and far more open about it than most. The connective tissue between episodes is very clearly there to facilitate getting from one setpiece to another, with the plot itself coming a distant fourth between deep themes, character study and setting exploration in terms of the book’s priorities. While there is action and physical danger, Uncharles’ Jeevesish sensibility and distorted narration prevents tension or a sense of threat are ever really prominent. The actual conflicts in the book are solved by cleverness, understanding and word games – combined with the sense of farce and absurdity running through the entire thing it really felt like an old adventure game as much as anything (I mean this as high praise). It helps that is was often very funny – especially for as serious and philosophical a book as this, it’s just about the only thing keeping it from becoming unbearably didactic at points.

Not necessarily the most important theme to the book, but certainly the most prominent and obvious throughout it is a deep concern with the automation of complex systems, the insulation of human decision-makers from any sign things are going wrong until its far too late, and the social collapse that might result from the two. Humanity has, for most of the book, more or less vanished from the scene – something that the dizzyingly complex arrays of robotic systems that comprised most of actual civilization are not at all designed to deal with, as they’re increasingly trapped in absurd loops or simply freeze without anyone with the privileges and authority to resolve the issues they encounter. This is one of the book’s main sources of humour – both through Uncharles’ increasingly strained attempts to find some existence he can squint and say is like being a gentleman’s gentlebot, and all the Brazil-esque absurdity of things like a police-bot doing a drawing room reveal of an investigation that took two minutes to an audience of other robots who all already know what happened.

The other big theme running through the book is exactly how a society might respond to true automation, to human labour becoming (outside of high-level programming and administration) basically superfluous to a society that is so rich and powerful it can provide comfort and plenty to every one of its citizens. Badly, as it turns out! It’s not a subject Uncharles’ ever considers consciously until the end, but this is a book that takes an incredibly cynical view of – a lot of things, really, but the charity and benevolence extended by the winners of an economy that now has immense amounts of structural unemployment especially.

This became much, much more explicit in the ending – to, I think, the detriment of the book as a whole. Or better to say it became a much more on-the-nose parable, once it’s revealed that spiralling structural failures and various intersecting forms of eco-social collapse were important, sure, but the actual big finish really was because of one evil robot who clicked the ‘kill all humans’ button. It also really draws the eye to how much the unstated timeline of things doesn’t really cohere, but again – parable, not hard futurism. As cackling evil masterminds go, God is at least a fun one, and the sermonizing about justice and mercy and anti-homeless architecture and all that is at least both well-written and not overlong.

Though God is actually unusually complex and nuances as the book’s supporting characters go – most are on some level caricatures there to support the satirical point being made (if not just amusing set dressing who expand the setting a bit). The only two people in the story with any sort of nuance or depth – let alone an arc – are Uncharles and The Wonk (who also sound like some truly terrible indie band, put like that). Which is hardly a complaint – the supporting cast does its job very well, and the two of them are both pretty excellent characters (even if Wonk’s verbal tics get a bit grating at times).

Uncharles’ arc is the final real theme running through the whole book, and really only marginally less subtle than the collapse of society. The question of when exactly a complex, humanlike robot gains free will or becomes a person is one a lot of science fiction over the ages has spent a lot of time on, so I can’t say the book is actually doing anything new here – but his stubborn refusal to accept he’s a person and simultaneous rules-lawyering and contorting his ostensible task list as the book goes on is both well-done and very touching at points. The recurring note – with Charles, with God, and with quite a few less advanced and autonomous robots throughout the story – the there’s absolutely no contradiction between having a degree of free will and with having desires or psychological needs imprinted in you by your creators (or evolution) actually is something that a lot of fiction working in the same space often has trouble with, too.

Not at all sure how it’ll rank compared to some of the other finalists this year, but it is at least fun and fairly meaty sci-fi. Tchaikovsky continues to not disappoint.

#book review #service model #adrian tchaikovsky #sff #hugo nom #2025 #21st century

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creepyscritches · 2 days ago

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Boomer sentence incoming but I spent about 4 or 5 hours building an automated excel sheet to help my colleagues track production and everyone loved it yippee my spreadsheets are beloved and my formulas are working. I also spent time weaseling around our reporting and found there are like. 2 clicks needed. To make everything completely aligned and copy/paste-able instead of manual key entry.

#Creepy chatter #I took two (2) excel courses at the beginning of the year and retained two (2) formulas #I am beating this math into submission and it turns out sum and average are all I need

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transformersclandestine · 6 months ago

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Opportunity

(Author's note: the original version of this story contained a plot thread I decided did not fit with my ideal timeline of events in this universe. As such, it has been rewritten.)

Megatron stood in his apartment’s living quarters in the darkness. The only illumination came from the neon glow of downtown Kaon through his blinds. The only noise came from his comlink, in conversation with a mysterious stranger he had met at Maccadam’s. Said stranger had given Megatron a vague gesture of employment - to what, Megatron had no idea. But this stranger, this Soundwave as he’d introduced himself, clearly had big ideas for the former miner.

“Hold on a nanoclick,” Megatron interrupted. “Working on what, exactly? You still haven’t given me any information, just a card and a name.”

“Excuse my enthusiasm, Megatron,” Soundwave apologized, “it’s like I said at Maccadam’s: not every day you come across someone with the bearings to stand up to a bot like Nitro.”

“I see in you great potential, Megatron. You stood against a bot twice your size with thrice his tenacity. Had the guards not pulled you two apart, you’d have his spark casing in your clutches.”

Megatron listened in silence to Soundwave’s praise. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with this entire conversation. Megatron was no fighter, at least so he claimed. But he couldn’t help but believe in some of the things Soundwave was saying. He had stood up against Nitro, he had nearly beaten the bot before they were separated.

There was just one problem with it all: Soundwave was getting all the details correct. Megatron knew the police reports didn’t take his side of the story, they were getting all the information from Nitro and the other foremen at the mine. This perplexed Megatron and he interrupted yet again.

“You sound like you were there yourself, Soundwave. I must’ve missed you.”

Soundwave chuckled sinisterly.

“Let’s just say we have eyes all around.”

“Who’s we?”

Soundwave’s line sat silent for a bit. Megatron became concerned he was being traced or monitored. Then, the visored bot spoke up again.

“Let me ease your anxieties by simplifying things: we meet, we discuss what me and my colleagues have in store for you. You don’t like it? You can walk and we’ll wipe all of our history together out of each other’s databanks. Agreed?”

Megatron hesitated to respond. A trap, it sounded like a trap. He feared that agreeing to this meeting would result in him being stripped of his plating and drained of fluids. Soundwave sensed the unease and cleared the air again.

“No need to worry. We know what you’re capable of and we wouldn’t dare try and stop you from leaving. This offer has a time limit, though.”

Megatron hated to admit it, but he was intensely curious about this proposition. He remembered what Orion Pax had said earlier that night at Maccadam’s about a job in the Iacon Vaults. It wasn’t that the offer was bad or anything, it just wasn’t the trajectory that Megatron had wanted for himself. The way Soundwave talked up Megatron, it made him seem like a trillion shanix. A moment’s hesitation later, Megatron responded.

“Alright. Send me the location.”

“Excellent,” Soundwave replied, “it’s transmitting to you now.”

In rhythmic succession, the location followed. It was in Tarn, a sister polity of Kaon’s but one with a far seedier reputation.

“Time to meet will be 0700 hours. Come alone.”

Soundwave’s line ended swiftly after. Megatron sighed. He had no idea what he was getting himself into.

The weekend made the Iacon Vaults mostly empty, save for a few automated units that kept the place operational. The lone exception was Megatron, who had taken a seat at his favorite table and was deeply entrenched in writing. The ideas he put to paper were very scattershot, just a constant stream of thoughts being written for posterity, but they flowed like a river of crude Energon. Before long, Megatron had written two paragraphs:

If the idea of a free Cybertron is to sit and wallow in an uneasy state of mind, then a free Cybertron it is not. Though we are far removed from the extremist beliefs of past leaders such as Nominus Prime (whose system pundits and buffs have taken to calling “functionism”), the introduction of the First Cybertronian Senate several deca-cycles prior to this writing has continued a sense of uncertainty in the establishment of a continuing prosperity on Cybertron.

The job, nay, the purpose of the Senate is to oversee the civilization we Cybertronians have constructed with our bare hands, guiding us and delivering the teachings of our forerunners. However, the simple fact remains that the current landscape of Cybertron is far removed from an idyllic peacetime once sought. Criminality has taken over many formerly prominent polities and sectors, disease spreads among the downtrodden and the establishment of a lawless market makes for corporate profiteering at the expense of the common bot. The abolishment of classist structures with the assassination of Nominus Prime and the ousting of his ministers has provided the public-facing arm of Cybertron’s government with a ready shield against further critique and further evolution. The sitting Senators stand idly by continuing to hedge insider profits, grasp savagely for power, and ignore prominent societal issues in favor of the establishment of an uneventful normal.

An unexpected hand on his shoulder cut Megatron free of his writing daze. It was Orion Pax, his best friend. Orion warmly greeted Megatron and took the seat opposite. Megatron was surprised to see Orion at the Vaults on his day off.

“Well…somehow I knew you’d be here,” he explained cheerfully.

He noticed Megatron’s data pad and light-pen.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“It’s…not complete,” Megatron responded, “It’s not anything, really. Just a scattered assortment of ideas. Thoughts about Cybertron.”

“And what to do about it?”

Orion’s question cut deep. Not in a negative way, just in a way that wasn’t expected.

“Maybe,” he replied. The conflicted author placed his head in his hands in contemplation.

“You always talked about running for office, Megatron.”

“With no source of income and an arrest on my record? Ha. Maybe in the past, but not now.”

Orion didn’t accept Megatron’s doubts. He believed in the strength and conviction of his friend, that it was more than enough to propel him to potential victory.

“May I read it?” He asked politely.

Megatron hesitated for a moment out of embarrassment of his writings, but he eventually relented and handed Orion the data pad.

Time seemed to tick slowly as Orion read Megatron’s work. His facial expressions did not change.

When finished, he handed it back to Megatron.

“Seems to me like you’re more ready than you think.”

Megatron was shocked at Orion’s praise. Were his random thoughts really enough to warrant a political career? Megatron thanked Orion for his kindness and glanced over the data pad once again. He thought about the loss of his job, he thought about the many bots he saw on the street without stable livelihoods, and he thought about the Senate sitting proudly in Iacon without a care in the world. These thoughts turned to anger, fury, and Megatron clenched his fist in response.

“If I were to run,” he asked Orion, “would you be willing to help me?”

Orion playfully bopped Megatron on the shoulder.

“Of course, my friend. I’ll do my best.”

Megatron smiled at his friend’s optimism. With Orion by his side, he felt invincible.

——

There was a reason few outsiders ventured to Tarn. From what Megatron could see upon his arrival, he couldn’t blame anyone. Tarn was an especially run-down polity; broken roads, dirty street corners, booster-abusing bots sleeping on said corners. The entire city appeared to be a ghost-town of decency and Megatron wondered just what exactly its leadership was doing to leave the rest of their populace in such a state.

As he neared the coordinates sent to him by Soundwave, he wondered if this was all worth it. He was trusting the word of a bot he had only met briefly, a sinister-sounding one to boot. Megatron couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all leading up to something that wasn’t good.

But what if it wasn’t? That thought also entered his head. What if all the secrecy and shady tactics were just a test? What if the job Soundwave was offering was something that, dare he thought, Megatron liked?

His thoughts were interrupted by one of the drug-addled bots scrambling up to Megatron with an outstretched hand. Though their dilapidated appearance was certainly shocking, their face was a kindly smile, as if they were unaware of the decay of their own bodies.

“Spare some shanix?” The broken-down bot asked Megatron. Feeling guilty and generous, Megatron pulled a few tokens from his pockets and handed them to the bot. He tipped his head in thanks and began to turn away before Megatron gently grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving.

“What happened to this city?” Megatron asked the bot. The rusting old-timer trembled and coughed.

“The Senate is what happened,” he answered, “they’ve become a government for the richer polities.”

Megatron sighed. Of course it was the Senate. It could only ever be the Senate.

The rusting bot continued, unprompted.

“They leave us with barely an income to keep going. Most of us spend it on circuit-boosters…it’s the only thing we can really do to keep the rust pains away. No pharmacy within ten kils from here. Senate refuses to fund the construction of one here in Tarn.”

With each revelation, Megatron became furious. Tarn was a far cry from Kaon, itself a more blue-collar and relatively poorer part of Cybertron. But this…this was just a hellscape. How any bot could live in these conditions escaped Megatron.

“Far as I’m concerned,” the vagrant continued, “the Senate’s just waiting for all of us to fall to pieces. Then they’ll annex the city as part of a mining operation or something.”

Their conversation ended abruptly as they both sensed the presence of another. A block ahead, the silhouette of Soundwave lingered underneath one of the few operable street lamps. He stood with an imposing purpose and the blazing glow of his crimson visor penetrated the sharp shadows surrounding him. The rusting bot shivered and cowered, turning away to leave the area, apologizing for a nonexistent faux pas. Megatron turned to keep the bot from leaving, but he ignored Megatron and slunk away into a nearby alley.

After the bot disappeared, Soundwave stepped out beneath the light and approached Megatron.

“You’re on time. That’s good.”

There was an uneasy pause. Megatron felt it more than Soundwave. The visored bot broke the silence by leading Megatron towards a large, dome-shaped building.

“In here.”

The domed building was purple in coloration with golden details. There was clear wear on it, yet it appeared to be the most well-maintained out of any structure in Tarn. From the streets outside, Megatron could nearly make out a roaring sound coming from inside which he eventually realized were the sounds of a raucous crowd. Peppering through the surging cheers were striking sounds of metal clashing.

Walking through dimly lit corridors, Soundwave said nothing. The inner portion of the building was filled with rest areas and bots of all manner of sizes, though mostly leaning on the large side. Each one brandished scars all across their bodies. Some were carrying or carefully cleaning edged weapons of various makes. Coupled with the noise from an audience on the other side of the walls, Megatron made the startling connection: this was a fight pit, and Soundwave had selected him as the latest warrior recruit.

Approaching a more brightly decorated area of the arena, Soundwave led Megatron through a corridor into an entrance atop a row of stone bleachers. The view of the arena was spectacular and Megatron took in the extraordinary view of hundreds of spectators, each bots of all makes and models, from the old and broken to the new and shiny. In a private viewing box to the north, a gangly and imposing bot stood. He was of intense height with one hand ending in a laser cannon and a penetrating gaze embodied by a single golden optic.

“Is that…” Megatron wondered aloud.

“Yes it is: Shockwave, one of Cybertron’s greatest military commanders," Soundwave confirmed, "He’s on the hunt for new recruits. Most of Squadron X was found here in the Battlegrounds."

Megatron attempted to garner an explanation out of Soundwave for why they were here, but before he could get a word out, Soundwave entered back into the halls and motioned for Megatron to follow. It was here that Megatron finally managed to stutter out a protest.

“If your plan is to make me one of these barbaric fighters, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“You’re very perceptive, Megatron.” Megatron stopped Soundwave in the halls and pleaded his case.

“Look, what happened with Nitro was a mistake. Plain and simple. A lapse in judgement.”

“I’ve seen my fair share of lapses in judgement. What happened to you was something else: an awakening of something buried deep inside your spark.”

Megatron attempted to fluster out a rebuttal, but Soundwave interrupted him with a simple outstretched hand and continued walking. After a short distance, the two arrived at a more ornately decorated entrance, shrouded by a large purple curtain and guarded by two masked bots wielding lances. Soundwave approached the dual guards and they moved aside.

“Wait outside,” Soundwave ordered Megatron before heading through. A few nanoclicks later, Soundwave peered through the curtain and gave the OK.

The room they entered was dimly lit. Fading nitron lamps littered four of the corners, while a large glass window peering into the arena provided most of the illumination. Accompanying Soundwave in the room were two other bots. One, slender in build with a large, flashy wingspan leaned against an unkempt bookshelf impatiently. The other was many sizes larger than all three of the others, rounded in shape but with powerful limbs and ironclad feet akin to military boots. Blue steel in color, his face was sharpened with no jaw to be seen but displayed a fearsome visage that appeared out of Cybertronian myth. He was barrel-chested with multiple symbols of indeterminate origin or meaning adorning his chest. He fiddled with a very large and very sharpened silver axe whose blade was digging into the ground, grinding away sediment with each impatient twirl.

Soundwave approached the larger bot and gave a slight bow. Megatron didn’t know whether or not to follow suit, but bowed anyway out of respect. The winged bot sneered and laughed.

“Governor Straxus, I've returned with the prospect we discussed,” Soundwave reported.

The governor tapped his fingers impatiently on the top of his axe’s handle.

“Hm…so this is the defiant one…”

Straxus thought to himself for a moment, then rose from his throne and approached the window, snapping his fingers and pointing next to him. Soundwave nudged Megatron and the quizzical bot approached the governor’s side, who splayed an open palm and gestured towards the arena.

From the vantage point of the box, Megatron could clearly make out the brawling brutes in the middle of the arena. One was a hulking teal and purple bot with a cycloptic eye, brandishing an enormous mace and currently winning his exchange. His opponent was a smaller bot clad in red with a mohawk-like crest. The cyclops bot was forcing the mace against the red bot’s shield, which was buckling under the pressure. Megatron watched in awe as the cyclops bot suddenly flexed hard against the shield, causing the red bot’s knees to buckle. Taking advantage in rapid succession, the cyclops bot kicked his opponent in the gut, causing him to fly backwards, the shield shattering in the process. Dazed and clearly beaten, the red bot could only audibly concede as the cyclops bot advanced upon him and held his head under the tip of the mace. The bell rang and the fight was over. The cyclops bot turned his attention away from his opponent and hoisted his mace high in the sky, roaring in victory.

“Very impressive, yes? Another fine match from our current champion, Lugnut. A native of Kaon, same as you.”

Megatron nodded politely. Lugnut continued to soak in the adulation from the crowd as his opponent limped off the field.

The crowd erupted in applause and the extravagant governor continued his vague speeches.

"Soundwave has told me of your endeavor. The little protest that could, so to speak."

He turned towards his guest and placed what Megatron assumed to be a comforting hand on his shoulder. Megatron could only feel unease and tension instead.

“Energy like that is what's needed in Cybertron today,” Straxus continued, “respect…is at an all-time low.”

Megatron didn't understand what this governor was talking about, but decided not to interrupt for his own safety.

"Here in Tarn, I am respected, for I have built this sanctuary to aid those who are in your position. It can be an outlet for aggression, a temple of discipline, or even…a headquarters for revolution.”

Megatron hid his discomfort well, but sensed that Straxus was already onto him. Still, Megatron internalized his dialogue as it was similar to the things Soundwave had been saying about Megatron: a revolutionary.

“Revolution?” Megatron finally spoke up, quizzically.

Straxus nodded. “You and I both know the Senate is a stain on Cybertronian prosperity. They order the working bot around with no respect for individuality all to gain more power and to feast greedily on its pervasive outcomes.”

Though his rhetoric was particularly exaggerated, Megatron nonetheless had to admit that Straxus was saying agreeable things. He almost felt chilled, like Straxus had somehow read his writings before they were even published.

“Soundwave has not summoned you here to be a fighter, despite what you may think, Megatron,” Straxus revealed, “there is a greater use to you outside of the battlefield.”

“Outside?”

Straxus shook his head.

“Do you make it a habit to talk exclusively in single words?”

Megatron stammered out an apology, but Straxus was already on to his next piece.

“Megatron, you have already tasted the succulence of revolt. I believe within you is the ability to act upon this. I ask of you to join with me against the Senate to continue instilling doubt in their mockery of government.”

“You’re not talking about terrorism are you?” Megatron wondered nervously.

“Not terrorism, no. Too extreme. Easily snuffed out. What I’m thinking is something more subtle. Continue your protests, exercise your right to free speech. Sow doubt.”

“What about infiltration?” Wait, what? Megatron didn’t even realize at first what he had said. It was as if he was speaking purely from the spark without even thinking.

“Infiltration…? How so?” Straxus had been caught off-guard by Megatron’s suggestion.

“Running for office?” Megatron’s internal conscience was ringing alarm bells and trying desperately to take back what he had said, but it was as if another force entirely was taking the reins now. Something buried deep within his spark.

“Running for office is risky,” Straxus objected, “no guarantees at election. Ripe for meddling.”

“Or martyrdom.” Whatever force had unearthed itself inside Megatron had fully taken control.

Even Straxus was astonished at the lengths Megatron was proclaiming to go for this cause. He had to admit, Soundwave had chosen quite well with this prospect.

“If you believe that is your destiny, Megatron,” Straxus responded.

“As long as it’s for the good of Cybertron,” Megatron stated.

Straxus nodded and returned to his seat.

“Very well, then. I believe we have found our candidate for the next Cybertronian Senate Election,” he enthusiastically remarked.

Megatron had come down from the thrilling high of the last conversation. He couldn’t believe he actually had agreed to not only rally against the Senate in his own fashion, but potentially die for it. All for a group of bots he had just met. But then again: running for office wasn’t just a matter of personal pride, it was the chance to truly make a difference. He couldn’t do it without help, after all. With these bots plus Orion by his side…

He thought about Orion, his best friend. He remembered the quiet conversation they had at the Iacon Vaults earlier in the day. Orion had said it himself: “you’re more ready than you think”.

Straxus interrupted Megatron’s thinking with a bark of orders.

“Soundwave, since you were the one who discovered Megatron here, you will serve him as a close advisor to his campaign, and as a liaison for myself.”

Soundwave nodded. The winged bot in the room, who had been silent the whole time, rolled his eyes and scoffed.

Straxus grabbed a nearby data pad and began work on setting up various assets and accounts for Megatron’s campaign.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe we have a massive amount of work to prepare. Would you escort our candidate to the exits, Soundwave?”

“Of course, Governor Straxus.”

Soundwave led Megatron out into the hallways through the curtain. After an uncomfortable few moments of silence between the two, the winged bot stepped away from the bookshelf he was leaning on and approached Straxus’ desk.

“You seriously can’t believe that miner will win his first election,” he sneered, “Or that he’s willing to die for the cause.”

Straxus did not look up from his data pads and merely returned the derision.

“I do not, Starscream. That is why Soundwave was sent to contact him. We must eliminate all potential interlopers.”

“And the Senate?”

“They are informed. Have been since the arrest. Another orbital cycle free of intervention.”

Starscream smiled and chuckled to himself.

“Glory to our cause.”

#maccadams #transformers #transformers fanfiction #megatron #soundwave #straxus #starscream #orion pax

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grfn-btbtas · 3 months ago

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I made a bunch of excel macros / powerautomate workflows to automate some stuff at work. Kind of a prototype thing. Anyway we got this compsci grad in here, him and I worked on it and we compressed that all down into a Lil application to generate these kinds of reports given some form data. But it's funny... I miss the macros. Something about seeing the excel spreadsheets get made, seeing the computations run, scratch work get written out, answers get copy pasted into the final report, it all getting formatted at the end... idk, somehow a loading bar of "generating report..." isn't as satisfying. Just silly though

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fuck-customers · 2 years ago

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The company I work for uses such an old and outdated system that any accounting work you try to do comes back with mistakes so instead of migrating to better system, their work around is to run reports on excel that lists the mistakes and have someone like me go through them line by line. There are just so many that not only do I not want to do them, my arm has been feeling numb and my wrists crack all the time from the work. But my manager couldn’t care less even if you paid him to. He just thinks I’m being lazy for wanting to automate the work. Instead he thinks having a person review the work by hand ensures that the results are accurate when that’s not always the case. It started to make wonder if every company is like this.

yup.

-Rodney

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devant12 · 4 days ago

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devant123 · 2 months ago

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jatanshahskill · 7 months ago

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Jatan Shah Reviews | Automation templates

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ecommerceknowldge · 9 days ago

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The Power of Upskilling: Why Investing in Yourself Is the Smartest Move You’ll Ever Make

In today’s fast-paced, constantly evolving world, the only thing more expensive than investing in yourself is not doing it.

Upskilling — the process of learning new skills or enhancing existing ones — is no longer optional. It's a necessity for staying competitive in the workforce, pivoting to new career paths, and adapting to a world where change is the only constant.

Whether you're a fresh graduate, a mid-career professional, or a business leader, this post will help you understand why upskilling matters, where to start, and how to make learning a lifelong habit.

Why Upskilling Matters More Than Ever

1. Rapid Technological Advancements

Automation, AI, and digital transformation have reshaped industries. According to the World Economic Forum, 44% of workers’ core skills will change by 2027. Skills that were in high demand five years ago may now be outdated.

Jobs aren't necessarily disappearing — they’re evolving. That means individuals must continuously adapt or risk being left behind.

2. Career Growth and Mobility

Upskilling doesn’t just help you survive — it helps you thrive.

Want a promotion? Looking to switch industries? Trying to freelance or start a side hustle? Upskilling bridges the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

For example:

A marketer who learns data analytics becomes more valuable.

A teacher who gains expertise in EdTech can unlock new career opportunities.

A finance professional with coding skills can transition into fintech.

3. Increased Job Security

In uncertain economic times, employees with in-demand skills are often the last to go. Upskilling makes you indispensable. Employers view proactive learners as assets — people who are flexible, forward-thinking, and ready to take on new challenges.

4. Personal Satisfaction and Confidence

Beyond career advantages, learning something new boosts your self-esteem. Mastering a new tool or concept builds confidence and adds a sense of achievement. Lifelong learning is directly linked to better mental health, cognitive ability, and even happiness.

Identifying What to Learn

Not all skills are created equal. Here’s how to identify what you should focus on:

1. Align With Industry Trends

Start by researching current trends in your field. What tools, software, or certifications are becoming standard? Websites like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and even job boards can offer insight into what’s in demand.

2. Pinpoint Skill Gaps

Look at your resume, job performance, or feedback. Are there areas where you consistently feel underqualified or reliant on others? That’s your starting point.

For instance, if you’re in marketing but struggle with Excel or Google Analytics, that’s a practical gap to close.

3. Balance Hard and Soft Skills

Hard skills (e.g., coding, SEO, data visualization) are measurable and job-specific. Soft skills (e.g., communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability) are often what make or break long-term success.

According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, soft skills like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking are increasingly valued by employers.

How to Upskill Effectively

Upskilling doesn’t have to mean going back to college or spending thousands. With the right strategy, you can learn faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

1. Set Clear Goals

Vague intentions (“I want to get better at digital marketing”) rarely produce results. Instead, try: ✅ “I will complete a Google Ads certification within 30 days.” ✅ “I will write one blog post a week to practice content writing.”

2. Use Online Platforms

Some great learning platforms include:

Coursera – Offers university-led courses, many for free.

Udemy – Affordable, practical skill-based learning.

LinkedIn Learning – Career-focused, bite-sized lessons.

edX – Ivy-league content in flexible formats.

YouTube – A goldmine for free tutorials.

Don’t forget podcasts, newsletters, webinars, and even TikTok or Instagram accounts focused on education.

3. Apply What You Learn

Knowledge without application is wasted. If you’re learning copywriting, start a blog. If you’re learning a coding language, build a small project. Application cements learning and gives you portfolio pieces to show potential employers.

4. Join a Community

Learning with others keeps you accountable. Join Slack groups, Reddit communities, Discord servers, or local meetups. Networking with people on the same journey also opens up career opportunities.

5. Track and Reflect

Keep a simple progress log. Write down what you learned each week, what worked, and what didn’t. Reflection helps identify plateaus and gives you clarity on your next steps.

Upskilling at Work: Make It a Two-Way Street

If you’re employed, your workplace may be willing to sponsor courses or give you dedicated learning hours. Upskilling benefits your employer too — so don’t hesitate to ask.

Here’s how:

Propose a specific course or certification.

Explain how it’ll improve your job performance.

Offer to train others on what you’ve learned.

Employers appreciate initiative and are often happy to invest in employees who invest in themselves.

Final Thoughts: Build a Habit, Not Just a Skill

The most successful people don’t upskill once — they build a habit of learning.

Start with 30 minutes a day. Read a chapter. Watch a tutorial. Experiment with a new tool. Upskilling isn’t a race; it’s a lifestyle.

Remember: your career is your responsibility. In a world where industries change overnight, the most future-proof investment isn’t in stocks or crypto — it’s in you.

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zooplekochi · 23 days ago

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Automate Simple Tasks Using Python: A Beginner’s Guide

In today's fast paced digital world, time is money. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a small business owner, repetitive tasks can eat up a large portion of your day. The good news? Many of these routine jobs can be automated, saving you time, effort, and even reducing the chance of human error.

Enter Python a powerful, beginner-friendly programming language that's perfect for task automation. With its clean syntax and massive ecosystem of libraries, Python empowers users to automate just about anything from renaming files and sending emails to scraping websites and organizing data.

If you're new to programming or looking for ways to boost your productivity, this guide will walk you through how to automate simple tasks using Python.

🌟 Why Choose Python for Automation?

Before we dive into practical applications, let’s understand why Python is such a popular choice for automation:

Easy to learn: Python has simple, readable syntax, making it ideal for beginners.

Wide range of libraries: Python has a rich ecosystem of libraries tailored for different tasks like file handling, web scraping, emailing, and more.

Platform-independent: Python works across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Strong community support: From Stack Overflow to GitHub, you’ll never be short on help.

Now, let’s explore real-world examples of how you can use Python to automate everyday tasks.

🗂 1. Automating File and Folder Management

Organizing files manually can be tiresome, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. Python’s built-in os and shutil modules allow you to automate file operations like:

Renaming files in bulk

Moving files based on type or date

Deleting unwanted files

Example: Rename multiple files in a folder

import os folder_path = 'C:/Users/YourName/Documents/Reports' for count, filename in enumerate(os.listdir(folder_path)): dst = f"report_{str(count)}.pdf" src = os.path.join(folder_path, filename) dst = os.path.join(folder_path, dst) os.rename(src, dst)

This script renames every file in the folder with a sequential number.

📧 2. Sending Emails Automatically

Python can be used to send emails with the smtplib and email libraries. Whether it’s sending reminders, reports, or newsletters, automating this process can save you significant time.

Example: Sending a basic email

import smtplib from email.message import EmailMessage msg = EmailMessage() msg.set_content("Hello, this is an automated email from Python!") msg['Subject'] = 'Automation Test' msg['From'] = '[email protected]' msg['To'] = '[email protected]' with smtplib.SMTP_SSL('smtp.gmail.com', 465) as smtp: smtp.login('[email protected]', 'yourpassword') smtp.send_message(msg)

⚠️ Note: Always secure your credentials when writing scripts consider using environment variables or secret managers.

🌐 3. Web Scraping for Data Collection

Want to extract information from websites without copying and pasting manually? Python’s requests and BeautifulSoup libraries let you scrape content from web pages with ease.

Example: Scraping news headlines

import requests from bs4 import BeautifulSoup url = 'https://www.bbc.com/news' response = requests.get(url) soup = BeautifulSoup(response.text, 'html.parser') for headline in soup.find_all('h3'): print(headline.text)

This basic script extracts and prints the headlines from BBC News.

📅 4. Automating Excel Tasks

If you work with Excel sheets, you’ll love openpyxl and pandas two powerful libraries that allow you to automate:

Creating spreadsheets

Sorting data

Applying formulas

Generating reports

Example: Reading and filtering Excel data

import pandas as pd df = pd.read_excel('sales_data.xlsx') high_sales = df[df['Revenue'] > 10000] print(high_sales)

This script filters sales records with revenue above 10,000.

💻 5. Scheduling Tasks

You can schedule scripts to run at specific times using Python’s schedule or APScheduler libraries. This is great for automating daily reports, reminders, or file backups.

Example: Run a function every day at 9 AM

import schedule import time def job(): print("Running scheduled task...") schedule.every().day.at("09:00").do(job) while True: schedule.run_pending() time.sleep(1)

This loop checks every second if it’s time to run the task.

🧹 6. Cleaning and Formatting Data

Cleaning data manually in Excel or Google Sheets is time-consuming. Python’s pandas makes it easy to:

Remove duplicates

Fix formatting

Convert data types

Handle missing values

Example: Clean a dataset

df = pd.read_csv('data.csv') df.drop_duplicates(inplace=True) df['Name'] = df['Name'].str.title() df.fillna(0, inplace=True) df.to_csv('cleaned_data.csv', index=False)

💬 7. Automating WhatsApp Messages (for fun or alerts)

Yes, you can even send WhatsApp messages using Python! Libraries like pywhatkit make this possible.

Example: Send a WhatsApp message

import pywhatkit pywhatkit.sendwhatmsg("+911234567890", "Hello from Python!", 15, 0)

This sends a message at 3:00 PM. It’s great for sending alerts or reminders.

🛒 8. Automating E-Commerce Price Tracking

You can use web scraping and conditionals to track price changes of products on sites like Amazon or Flipkart.

Example: Track a product’s price

url = "https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09XYZ123" headers = {"User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0"} page = requests.get(url, headers=headers) soup = BeautifulSoup(page.content, 'html.parser') price = soup.find('span', {'class': 'a-price-whole'}).text print(f"The current price is ₹{price}")

With a few tweaks, you can send yourself alerts when prices drop.

📚 Final Thoughts

Automation is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity. With Python, you don’t need to be a coding expert to start simplifying your life. From managing files and scraping websites to sending e-mails and scheduling tasks, the possibilities are vast.

As a beginner, start small. Pick one repetitive task and try automating it. With every script you write, your confidence and productivity will grow.

Conclusion

If you're serious about mastering automation with Python, Zoople Technologies offers comprehensive, beginner-friendly Python course in Kerala. Our hands-on training approach ensures you learn by doing with real-world projects that prepare you for today’s tech-driven careers.

#python #pythondevelopment #programming

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