#Automated booking system

[precallai]

How an Automated Scheduling System Can Transform Your Business Revenue in 2025

Businesses are increasingly turning to technology to streamline operations and maximize revnue. Among the most transformative solutions available today is an automated scheduling system, which has emerged as a critical tool for companies seeking to optimize their operations and boost profitability in 2025.https://precallai.com/

Why Your Business Needs an Automated Scheduling System in 2025

The landscape of business operations has fundamentally shifted, with the global appointment scheduling software market projected to grow from $546.1 million in 2025 to $1,518.4 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 15.7%. This explosive growth reflects the increasing recognition that an automated scheduling system is no longer a luxury but a necessity for competitive businesses.

Traditional scheduling methods are plagued with inefficiencies that directly impact revenue. Manual scheduling processes consume valuable employee time, lead to double bookings, create scheduling conflicts, and result in missed opportunities. An automated scheduling system eliminates these pain points while creating new revenue streams through improved capacity utilization and enhanced customer experience.

How an Automated Scheduling System Drives Revenue Growth

The revenue transformation potential of an automated scheduling system lies in its ability to optimize multiple aspects of business operations simultaneously. By automating the scheduling process, businesses can increase booking capacity by up to 30% simply by eliminating the time gaps that occur with manual scheduling.

Customer satisfaction improves dramatically when clients can book appointments 24/7 through an automated scheduling system. This accessibility leads to increased bookings, particularly from customers who prefer to schedule outside traditional business hours. The system's ability to send automated reminders reduces no-show rates by an average of 40%, directly protecting revenue that would otherwise be lost.

Furthermore, an automated scheduling system provides valuable data insights that enable businesses to identify peak demand periods, optimize pricing strategies, and allocate resources more effectively. This data-driven approach to scheduling management translates into measurable revenue improvements across all business operations.

Key Features of a Modern Automated Scheduling System

Today's automated scheduling system solutions offer sophisticated capabilities that extend far beyond basic appointment booking. AI and machine learning algorithms are increasingly being integrated into employee scheduling software to offer predictive scheduling, automated shift assignments based on employee availability, making these systems more intelligent and efficient than ever before.

A comprehensive automated scheduling system includes real-time availability updates, ensuring customers always see accurate booking options. Integration capabilities with existing CRM systems, payment processors, and communication tools create a seamless ecosystem that enhances operational efficiency. Advanced systems also offer multi-location support, resource allocation features, and customizable booking rules that adapt to specific business requirements.

The user experience aspect of an automated scheduling system cannot be overlooked. Modern systems provide intuitive interfaces for both customers and staff, reducing training time and improving adoption rates. Mobile compatibility ensures that scheduling management remains accessible regardless of location, supporting the growing trend toward remote and hybrid work environments.

Implementing an Automated Scheduling System: Strategic Considerations

Successful implementation of an automated scheduling system requires careful planning and strategic consideration of business-specific requirements. The first step involves analyzing current scheduling processes to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. This assessment should include evaluation of booking volume, peak demand periods, resource availability, and customer preferences.

Choosing the right automated scheduling system requires evaluation of scalability, integration capabilities, customization options, and vendor support. The system should align with long-term business goals while providing immediate operational improvements. Implementation should be phased, starting with core scheduling functions and gradually expanding to include advanced features like automated marketing integration and analytics reporting.

Training and change management are critical components of successful automated scheduling system implementation. Staff members need comprehensive training on system functionality, while customers should be educated about new booking procedures. Clear communication about the benefits of the automated scheduling system helps ensure smooth adoption and positive reception.

ROI and Performance Metrics for Your Automated Scheduling System

Businesses increasingly adopt automation to streamline operations and improve efficiency, providing a total return of the initial investment of 172.73%. This substantial ROI demonstrates the financial impact that an automated scheduling system can deliver when properly implemented and optimized.

Key performance indicators for measuring automated scheduling system success include booking conversion rates, customer satisfaction scores, revenue per appointment, and operational efficiency metrics. Research shows that 80% of organizations will adopt intelligent automation by 2025, indicating that businesses without automated scheduling systems risk falling behind competitors.

The time savings generated by an automated scheduling system should be quantified and translated into cost savings. Administrative staff can redirect their efforts toward revenue-generating activities rather than manual scheduling tasks. This reallocation of human resources often results in immediate productivity improvements and cost reductions.

Future Trends and Innovations in Automated Scheduling System Technology

The automated scheduling system landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities becoming increasingly sophisticated. By 2025, the global appointment scheduling software market is projected to grow from $470.7 million in 2024 to $1.55 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 16.1%, indicating sustained innovation and market expansion.

Predictive analytics capabilities within automated scheduling systems are becoming more refined, enabling businesses to forecast demand patterns and optimize resource allocation proactively. Integration with IoT devices, voice assistants, and other emerging technologies will create even more seamless scheduling experiences for customers.

The future of automated scheduling systems also includes enhanced personalization features that adapt to individual customer preferences and historical booking patterns. These systems will become increasingly proactive, suggesting optimal appointment times and services based on comprehensive data analysis.

Overcoming Common Automated Scheduling System Implementation Challenges

While the benefits of an automated scheduling system are substantial, businesses must navigate several common implementation challenges. Resistance to change among staff and customers represents the most frequent obstacle. This challenge can be addressed through comprehensive training programs, clear communication about system benefits, and gradual implementation strategies.

Technical integration challenges may arise when connecting an automated scheduling system with existing business software. Working with experienced vendors and conducting thorough compatibility testing helps minimize these issues. Data migration from legacy systems requires careful planning to ensure continuity of operations during the transition period.

Customer adoption of the new automated scheduling system may require incentives and education. Providing multiple booking options during the transition period, offering support for first-time users, and highlighting the convenience benefits helps encourage adoption and positive feedback.

Maximizing Your Automated Scheduling System Investment

To maximize the return on investment from an automated scheduling system, businesses should continuously monitor performance metrics and optimize system settings based on usage patterns and customer feedback. Regular system updates and feature utilization ensure that the automated scheduling system continues to deliver value as business needs evolve.

Staff training should be ongoing, with regular sessions covering new features and best practices. Encouraging staff feedback and suggestions for system improvements helps maintain engagement and identifies opportunities for enhanced functionality.

Customer feedback mechanisms should be integrated into the automated scheduling system to gather insights about user experience and satisfaction. This feedback drives continuous improvement efforts and ensures that the system continues to meet evolving customer expectations.

Conclusion: The Automated Scheduling System Advantage

The transformation potential of an automated scheduling system extends far beyond simple appointment booking. In 2025, businesses that embrace this technology will gain significant competitive advantages through improved operational efficiency, enhanced customer experience, and measurable revenue growth.

The investment in an automated scheduling system represents a strategic decision that impacts every aspect of business operations. From reducing administrative overhead to increasing booking capacity and improving customer satisfaction, the benefits compound over time to deliver substantial returns on investment.

As market trends continue to favor automation and digital transformation, the question is not whether your business needs an automated scheduling system, but rather how quickly you can implement one to start realizing these transformative benefits. The businesses that act decisively in adopting automated scheduling system technology will be best positioned to thrive in the competitive landscape of 2025 and beyond.

[quillvice]

"was there a reason you didn't cancel this" honestly I thought I had so no there wasn't a reason but also if clients are going to have Your personal number and reach out to You about canceling (when they Should be reaching out via email per our cancelation policy) then You should be canceling the appt anyway imo. all the other trainers cancel their appointments AND add their appointments to the system 🤪

[phonesuite]

The hotel industry is one that thrives on seamless communication. In this article, we’ll delve into how this technology benefits both the hotel phone system SMS and its guests, and why it’s becoming an indispensable tool in the hospitality sector. Learn More...

[certivo]

Supply Chain Compliance Platform – Book a Demo with Certivo Today

Looking for a powerful supply chain compliance platform? Certivo helps businesses across the USA, UK, and EU streamline regulatory monitoring, certificate management, and supply chain communication. Schedule a demo or start your free trial to explore how CORA, our compliance automation tool, simplifies your workflow. From real-time regulatory monitoring to centralized certificate management, Certivo ensures your supply chain stays compliant and efficient. Perfect for manufacturers, distributors, and global enterprises looking to modernize their supply chain software. Contact us now and see how Certivo transforms compliance into a strategic advantage.

[alesajhonsan]

Revolutionize Fast Food Ordering with Automation

Explore the future of quick-service dining with fast food automated ordering system, designed for efficiency and accuracy. This state-of-the-art technology streamlines ordering processes, reduces wait times, and enhances customer satisfaction. Empower your business with AI-driven solutions that take orders, manage payments, and handle customization effortlessly. The system’s intuitive interface ensures fast adaptation, optimizing operational flow and minimizing errors. With robust data analytics, gain insights to refine your menu and boost sales. Elevate your fast food service with seamless integration and smart automation. Ready to experience the next level of efficiency? Schedule a demo with eatOS and transform your dining experience today!

[smartsoftwareltd]

Hotel Management Software in Bangladesh | Hotel Management System & Booking Software

[swtechspecs]

Sienar Fleet Systems/Cybot Galactica TIE/D (Droid) Automated Starfighter

Source: The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Del Rey, 1996)

[michellesanches]

Book Summary - "Feel Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal

I loved this book! I’m generally a fan of Ali’s in any event. His YouTube Channel offers insightful and helpful guidance without being pushy or preachy. His book, “Feel Good Productivity” redefines the approach to productivity, advocating for FUN being part of the balance equation between efficiency and personal well-being. In the book, Abdaal proposes that true productivity comes from making…

[fare-api]

Automated Travel System | Travel Booking Engine

FlightsLogic provides an Automated Travel System and Travel Booking Engine to travel agencies, tour operators, and TMCs all over the globe.

What are Automated Travel Systems?

An automated travel system (ATS) is a type of computer software meant to automate different travel-related operations and procedures, such as booking flights, hotels, vehicle rentals, and other travel-related services.

An automated travel system typically includes several features and tools to aid users in planning, booking, and maintaining their travel arrangements. Online booking portals, mobile applications, travel expense management, automatic trip approvals, and other features are all feasible.

The Automated Travel Module allows you to manage customer requests efficiently and in a user-friendly manner. An automated travel system calculates all prices, discounts, and special offers and enables invoice generation and processing virtually without any human intervention. Once the customer confirms your booking, the software will automatically create and send them an invoice and voucher.

[clockwayswrites]

What is a nest without a flock? part 39

masterpost (pls no editing <3)

Over his years in Gotham, Danny had worked hard to make it a home. After years of constantly moving from community college to undergrad to his masters to doctorate to post doc to jobs he had just wanted to be settled. He’d chosen his apartment carefully. He had splurged too much of his first few paychecks on real, ‘adult’ furniture, and had worked hard and making sure his plants thrived. He had even considered a pet. He had filled his place with books and photos and trinkets and made it a home.

Stepping into his place again after his time with the Wanyes, the place just felt hallow.

Danny didn’t much care for the feeling. He hoped that it temporary and caused by the oddness of everything else. Maybe it would pass quickly, he told himself as he put away the clothing that Alfred had adjusted for him. Maybe it was just the quiet, he told himself, turning the tv as he watered his plants and refilled the automated system that the boys had turned on for him. Maybe he was just lonely, he admitted as he quietly ate dinner on his couch.

He tried not to think about it.

Work made things a little bit easier, though Lucius refused to let Danny work full time. Danny almost got angry about that until Lucius’ face softened in a way that said friend, and not boss.

“You’re going through monumental physical changes,” Lucius said, eyes darting to Danny’s wings. “Ignoring the emotional and mental toll, your body is expending energy in ways that we cannot account for. Energy your body may not have. I will not have you risking yourself to put in full days of work.”

“But…”

“But nothing. You’re one of my best, Danny, and have put in more than your share of work over the years. Do some tinkering, dream up some ideas, hell, make some puzzles to torment the new batch of interns so we can see what they’re really made of,” Lucius said, “but take care of yourself first.”

Danny sighed, but nodded. “You make an annoying amount of sense.”

“I’m good at that,” Lucius said with a too pleasant smile. “And Danny?”

“Yeah, Lucius?”

“If you need anything, and I do mean any damn thing, you let me know, alright?” Lucius asked pointedly. “Beyond being one of my best, I’d like to think that you’re also a friend.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Fox,” Danny said with a grin.

Lucius rolled his eyes as he ended the video call.

Danny slumped back into his seat. He’d tied a pillow to it in an effort to make it more comfortable to sit with his wings, but it was a short term solution at best. Well, if he was going to to some tinkering, he might as well start with the practical. He’d done is best to not keep work at home, what with his childhood history of that, but it meant things would need to be gathered from work or ordered. About two thirds of the list went of to ‘his’ intern, and some of the more esoteric things he ordered himself for delivery. He also ordered some clothing from the tailor Bruce had gotten the name of as well as groceries to fill his fridge. At least he wonders of the modern world meant he didn’t have to leave his house with the wings, not yet at least.

[alesajhonsan]

Elevate Fast Food Service with Automated Ordering Systems

Discover the power of fast food automated ordering systems to elevate your customer experience and streamline operations. provides cutting-edge technology to ensure efficient order processing, reduce wait times, and enhance accuracy. This system integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure, offering customers intuitive interfaces for easy ordering. By automating order management, businesses can focus more on quality and service delivery. Our solution is designed to adapt to varying business needs, ensuring scalability and flexibility. With real-time analytics, stay ahead of customer trends and preferences for improved satisfaction. Visit our website to explore more about transforming your fast food business. Book a demo today and see firsthand how this technology can benefit your operations.

[julymusings]

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

because love is the stack of biographies on your nightstand with a bookmark near the end.

It’s no secret that Jason Todd loves to read.

More often than not, you can find him lounging on his couch during the day, or in bed before sleeping, with one hand resting behind his head and a paperback in the other. He reads everything— classical, romance, horror; you name it, he’s at least tried it. And there’s little you love more than wiggling your way into the space between him and the cushions, letting him lie his head in your lap so you can run your fingers through his hair while he reads. You’ve come to associate the smell of books with him; the rustic scent of old paper clings to his skin, is a permanent part of his apartment walls.

You were never much of a reader, but there’s something about the way he describes the stories to you. He eagerly retells the plots of his favorite novels; takes you to the plains of Hertfordshire and the hills of Switzerland. You don’t need to read his books to know the characters unequivocally, picture their faces, and hear their voices in your head. You tried to pursue it yourself, for him, because it’s something he loves, and you love him. But reading has never been your strong suit. It’s difficult to focus—you zoned out during audiobooks, the words didn’t make sense, and sometimes, it’s just plain boring. You were so determined at first, telling Jason how excited you were to read his favorite book. His genuine excitement warmed something inside you, but left another part hollow with dread— you could not disappoint him.

But it was hard. You’re not a reader, and you never have been. You really tried, resorting to more creative measures like SparkNotes summaries, fidget toys, reward systems, and on one hopeless day, an automated-voice summary recorded over a sped-up play through of Subway Surfers.

When you walked into his apartment this morning, praying that last night’s patrol was exhausting enough to push your promise to the back of his mind, the hopeful look on his face when he asked you how you liked the book sent your stomach plummeting down three floors.

You panicked.

Regurgitated the only line from the Subway Surfers summary that stuck with your brain. You should have known better, thinking you could successfully lie to a trained detective, someone whose life depends on reading body language and carrying out successful interrogations.

Now, spread out on the couch with a thick bandage around his ribs, he has a funny look on his face—a tiny crease between his eyebrows, his head cocked to the side like a puppy. You wring your hands together while fighting to keep the flat, pained smile on your face.

“You thought it was…” Jason’s eyes narrow, and the corner of his mouth quirks down. “Say that again, sweetheart?”

Your skin feels damp as you struggle to keep eye contact; a classic sign of suspicion— something Jason taught you.

You keep your voice even, fighting against your mouth’s urge to drag your smile down into a grimace. “It was very relevant to the current political climate. Very…poignant.”

“Poignant?” He raises his eyebrows, nodding. “What’s poignant about it?” His eyes glint under the dimmed apartment light, amusement coloring his features.

Your lips press together.

“Babe?” He prompts after you take too long to search for an answer.

“Hm?”

“The book?”

Jason slings one arm over the back of the couch, the other absentmindedly rubbing over his bandages. Your face burns.

After another few moments of silence, and your artificial eagerness locked into a stalemate with his goading smirk, Jason relents.

His hand thuds against his thigh, tapping it twice to beckon you to come closer from your seat at the other end of the couch. Reluctantly, you obey.

“Baby,” he says kindly. He pushes a strand of hair behind your ear. “It’s okay if you don’t like it.” 

You busy yourself with picking at a piece of lint on your sleeve.

“It’s…not that I don’t like it,” you say, finally. “I just can’t. Every time I try to sit down and read—and I really tried—it doesn’t work. I don’t know what it is.”

Jason smiles so warmly, it melts away all your worries. “You don’t have to read it just because I like it.”

Your lips purse into a pout. “But you were so excited when I asked to borrow it.”

“I was excited because you were excited. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“But I do want to,” you groan, dropping your head onto his shoulder. He kisses the top of your head, and his lips stay there. “It’s your favorite, and it sounds so good when you talk about it. I want to know about the things you like. But I just— I can’t focus.”

You sigh into his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” you mumble.

He smiles into your hair. “It’s okay. Thank you for trying, though.”

Your response is a non-committal whine that gets muffled by his skin.

“Why don’t we try something else?” He asks.

You lift your head to look at him.

“Hand me the book?” Jason motions across the couch.

You reach for your bag, fishing out the worn, soft-cover novel, and gingerly place it in his hands, as if it were a delicate piece of crystal—to him, it probably is.

“Can I read to you?” Jason’s voice is soft, eyes gentle and forgiving.

You nod.

As he flips it open to the first page, you settle into his side. He begins to read;

“When I stepped out into the sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind…”

His rocky, baritone voice reverberates through his body, humming against your skin.

This time, the words stick.

divider

hey guys. how y'all doing. i don't love how this turned out. it feels ooc and too short but i am having bad writer's block rn so i made myself write something and this is what i could manage, and it's better than nothing and was also not proofread sorry man idk what to tell you :/

It's common to write Jason x reader with a reader who also likes to read (myself included, it makes for a great meet cute/icebreaker/etc), but I wanted to write something for the girlies who don’t like reading too!! It fits for someone who either has trouble reading, or just doesn’t like it, whichever fits your fancy. Hope u enjoyed

also ofc i'm a jason jane austen fan truther but i do hc his fave being the outsiders. it just fits, i feel

quote is julia nicole camp from nyt tiny love stories <3

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Every complex ecosystem has parasites

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me at NEW ZEALAND'S UNITY BOOKS in AUCKLAND on May 2, and in WELLINGTON on May 3. More tour dates (Pittsburgh, PDX, London, Manchester) here.

Patrick "patio11" McKenzie is a fantastic explainer, the kind of person who breaks topics down in ways that stay with you, and creep into your understanding of other subjects, too. Take his 2022 essay, "The optimal amount of fraud is non-zero":

https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/optimal-amount-of-fraud/

It's a very well-argued piece, and here's the nut of it:

The marginal return of permitting fraud against you is plausibly greater than zero, and therefore, you should welcome greater than zero fraud.

In other words, if you allow some fraud, you will also allow through a lot of non-fraudulent business that would otherwise trip your fraud meter. Or, put it another way, the only way to prevent all fraud is to chase away a large proportion of your customers, whose transactions are in some way abnormal or unexpected.

Another great explainer is Bruce Schneier, the security expert. In the wake of 9/11, lots of pundits (and senior government officials) ran around saying, "No price is too high to prevent another terrorist attack on our aviation system." Schneier had a foolproof way of shutting these fools up: "Fine, just ground all civilian aircraft, forever." Turns out, there is a price that's too high to pay for preventing air-terrorism.

Latent in these two statements is the idea that the most secure systems are simple, and while simplicity is a fine goal to strive for, we should always keep in mind the maxim attributed to Einstein, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." That is to say, some things are just complicated.

20 years ago, my friend Kathryn Myronuk and I were talking about the spam wars, which were raging at the time. The spam wars were caused by the complexity of email: as a protocol (rather than a product), email is heterogenuous. There are lots of different kinds of email servers and clients, and many different ways of creating and rendering an email. All this flexibility makes email really popular, and it also means that users have a wide variety of use-cases for it. As a result, identifying spam is really hard. There's no reliable automated way of telling whether an email is spam or not – you can't just block a given server, or anyone using a kind of server software, or email client. You can't choose words or phrases to block and only block spam.

Many solutions were proposed to this at the height of the spam wars, and they all sucked, because they all assumed that the way the proposer used email was somehow typical, thus we could safely build a system to block things that were very different from this "typical" use and not catch too many dolphins in our tuna nets:

https://craphound.com/spamsolutions.txt

So Kathryn and I were talking about this, and she said, "Yeah, all complex ecosystems have parasites." I was thunderstruck. The phrase entered my head and never left. I even gave a major speech with that title later that year, at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference:

https://craphound.com/complexecosystems.txt

Truly, a certain degree of undesirable activity is the inevitable price you pay once you make something general purpose, generative, and open. Open systems – like the web, or email – succeed because they are so adaptable, which means that all kinds of different people with different needs find ways to make use of them. The undesirable activity in open systems is, well, undesirable, and it's valid and useful to try to minimize it. But minimization isn't the same as elimination. "The optimal amount of fraud is non-zero," because "everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Complexity is generative, but "all complex ecosystems have parasites."

America is a complex system. It has, for example, a Social Security apparatus that has to serve more than 65 million people. By definition, a cohort of 65 million people will experience 65 one-in-a-million outliers every day. Social Security has to accommodate 65 million variations on the (surprisingly complicated) concept of a "street address":

https://gist.github.com/almereyda/85fa289bfc668777fe3619298bbf0886

It will have to cope with 65 million variations on the absolutely, maddeningly complicated idea of a "name":

https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-believe-about-names/

In cybernetics, we say that a means of regulating a system must be capable of representing as many states as the system itself – that is, if you're building a control box for a thing with five functions, the box needs at least five different settings:

http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/REQVAR.html

So when we're talking about managing something as complicated as Social Security, we need to build a Social Security Administration that is just as complicated. Anything that complicated is gonna have parasites – once you make something capable of managing the glorious higgeldy piggeldy that is the human experience of names, dates of birth, and addresses, you will necessarily create exploitable failure modes that bad actors can use to steal Social Security. You can build good fraud detection systems (as the SSA has), and you can investigate fraud (as the SSA does), and you can keep this to a manageable number – in the case of the SSA, that number is well below one percent:

https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF12948/IF12948.2.pdf

But if you want to reduce Social Security fraud from "a fraction of one percent" to "zero percent," you can either expend a gigantic amount of money (far more than you're losing to fraud) to get a little closer to zero – or you can make Social Security far simpler. For example, you could simply declare that anyone whose life and work history can't fit in a simple database schema is not eligible for Social Security, kick tens of millions of people off the SSI rolls, and cause them to lose their homes and starve on the streets. This isn't merely cruel, it's also very, very expensive, since homelessness costs the system far more than Social Security. The optimum amount of fraud is non-zero.

Conservatives hate complexity. That's why the Trump administration banned all research grants for proposals that contained the word "systemic" (as a person with so-far-local cancer, I sure worry about what happens when and if my lymphoma become systemic). I once described the conservative yearning for "simpler times," as a desire to be a child again. After all, the thing that made your childhood "simpler" wasn't that the world was less complicated – it's that your parents managed that complexity and shielded you from it. There's always been partner abuse, divorce, gender minorities, mental illness, disability, racial discrimination, geopolitical crises, refugees, and class struggle. The only people who don't have to deal with this stuff are (lucky) children.

Complexity is an unavoidable attribute of all complicated processes. Evolution is complicated, so it produces complexity. It's convenient to think about a simplified model of genes in which individual genes produce specific traits, but it turns out genes all influence each other, are influenced in turn by epigenetics, and that developmental factors play a critical role in our outcomes. From eye-color to gender, evolution produces spectra, not binaries. It's ineluctably (and rather gloriously) complicated.

The conservative project to insist that things can be neatly categorized – animal or plant, man or woman, planet or comet – tries to take graceful bimodal curves and simplify them into a few simple straight lines – one or zero (except even the values of the miniature transistors on your computer's many chips are never at "one" or "zero" – they're "one-ish" and "mostly zero").

Like Social Security, fraud in the immigration system is a negligible rounding error. The US immigration system is a baroque, ramified, many-tendriled thing (I have the receipts from the immigration lawyers who helped me get a US visa, a green card, and citizenship to prove it). It is already so overweighted with pitfalls and traps for the unwary that a good immigration lawyer might send you to apply for a visa with 600 pages of documentation (the most I ever presented) just to make sure that every possible requirement is met:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/2242342898/in/photolist-zp6PxJ-4q9Aqs-2nVHTZK-2pFKHyf

After my decades of experience with the US immigration system, I am prepared to say that the system is now at a stage where it is experiencing sharply diminishing returns from its anti-fraud systems. The cost of administering all this complexity is high, and the marginal amount of fraud caught by any new hoop the system gins up for migrants to jump through will round to zero.

Which poses a problem for Trump and trumpists: having whipped up a national panic about out of control immigration and open borders, the only way to make the system better at catching the infinitesimal amount of fraud it currently endures is to make the rules simpler, through the blunt-force tactic of simply excluding people who should be allowed in the country. For example, you could ban college kids planning to spend the summer in the US on the grounds that they didn't book all their hotels in advance, because they're planning to go from city to city and wing it:

https://www.newsweek.com/germany-tourists-deported-hotel-maria-lepere-charlotte-pohl-hawaii-2062046

Or you could ban the only research scientist in the world who knows how to interpret the results of the most promising new cancer imaging technology because a border guard was confused about the frog embryos she was transporting (she's been locked up for two months now):

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/horrified-harvard-scientists-ice-arrest-leaves-cancer-researchers-scrambling/ar-AA1DlUt8

Of course, the US has long operated a policy of "anything that confuses a border guard is grounds for being refused entry" but the Trump administration has turned the odd, rare outrage into business-as-usual.

But they can lock up or turn away as many people as they want, and they still won't get the amount of fraud to zero. The US is a complicated place. People have complicated reasons for entering the USA – work, family reunion, leisure, research, study, and more. The only immigration system that doesn't leak a little at the seams is an immigration system that is so simple that it has no seams – a toy immigration system for a trivial country in which so little is going on that everything is going on.

The only garden without weeds is a monoculture under a dome. The only email system without spam is a closed system managed by one company that only allows a carefully vetted cluster of subscribers to communicate with one another. The only species with just two genders is one wherein members who fit somewhere else on the spectrum are banished or killed, a charnel process that never ends because there are always newborns that are outside of the first sigma of the two peaks in the bimodal distribution.

A living system – a real country – is complicated. It's a system, where people do things you'll never understand for perfectly good reasons (and vice versa). To accommodate all that complexity, we need complex systems, and all complex ecosystems have parasites. Yes, you can burn the rainforest to the ground and planting monocrops in straight rows, but then what you have is a farm, not a forest, vulnerable to pests and plagues and fire and flood. Complex systems have parasites, sure, but complex systems are resilient. The optimal level of fraud is never zero, because a system that has been simplified to the point where no fraud can take place within it is a system that is so trivial and brittle as to be useless.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/24/hermit-kingdom/#simpler-times

[friendlyneighborhoodshark]

"How to Life" Masterlist

Cleaning and Tidying

Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it's worth it.

Reset to zero each morning.

Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.

Have a 'drop-zone' box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.

Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it once the timer is up, finish the task you're on and leave it for the day.

Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they're still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.

Clean your footwear regularly and you'll feel like a champ.

Organisation and Productivity

Learn from Eisenhower's Importance/Urgency matrix.

Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.

Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that's more your thing.)

Try bullet journalling.

Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.

Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It's brutal, but it works.

Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don't overload your to-do list or you'll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.

If you're in a slump, however, don't be afraid to put things like "shower" on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that's okay.

Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.

Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.

Try timeboxing.

Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.

Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP's details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.

Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.

Money

Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.

Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)

Have a 'money date' each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.

Pack your own frickin' lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.

Food and Cooking

Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.

Simple, one-pot meals ("a grain, a green, and a bean") are a godsend.

Batch cook and freeze. Make your own 'microwave meals'.

Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance.

Consider Meatless Mondays; it's healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)

Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.

Misc

Have a stock email-writing format.

Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.

Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.

Update your CV regularly.

Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)

[princeofcloudcity]

CALLING ALL FANDOM LOVERS! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!

✨🚨 KOSA has been reintroduced to the House! 🚨✨

The following text is from StopKosa.com:

KOSA uses two methods to “protect” kids, and both of them are awful.

First, KOSA would allow the government to pressure social media platforms to erase content that could be deemed “inappropriate” for minors. The problem is: there is no consensus on what is inappropriate for minors. All across the country we are seeing how lawmakers are attacking young people’s access to gender affirming healthcare, sex education, birth control, and abortion. Online communities and resources that queer and trans youth depend on as lifelines should not be subject to the whims of the most rightwing extremist powers and we shouldn’t give them another tool to harm marginalized communities.

Second, KOSA would ramp up the online surveillance of all internet users by expanding the use of age verification and parental monitoring tools. Not only are these tools needlessly invasive, they’re a massive safety risk for young people who could be trying to escape domestic violence and abuse.

As LGBTQ and reproductive rights groups have said for months, the fundamental problem with KOSA is that its “duty of care” covers content specific aspects of content recommendation systems, and the new changes fail to address that. In fact, personalized recommendation systems are explicitly listed under the definition of a design feature covered by the duty of care in the new version. This means that a future Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could still use KOSA to pressure platforms into automated filtering of important, but controversial topics like LGBTQ issues and abortion, by claiming that algorithmically recommending such content “causes” mental health outcomes that are covered by the duty of care like anxiety and depression. Bans on inclusive books, abortion, and gender affirming healthcare have been passed on exactly that kind of rhetoric in many states recently. And we know that already existing content filtering systems impact content from marginalized creators exponentially more, resulting in discrimination and censorship.

Dozens of LGBTQ+ and civil rights groups agree that KOSA is dangerous and updates to the bill haven’t addressed the core concerns advocates have about its impact on already often censored content and resources.

If you believe in a free and open internet, send a message to your lawmakers right now and tell them to reject KOSA!