#Multi-Channel Distribution

[luxurydistribution]

Marketplace Integration for Luxury Suppliers: Elevating B2B Commerce

In the fast-evolving landscape of e-commerce, marketplace integration is becoming a pivotal strategy for luxury suppliers aiming to enhance their visibility and reach. As the demand for luxury goods continues to surge, businesses must adapt to an increasingly competitive environment by leveraging the potential of digital marketplaces. This article delves into the key factors that make marketplace integration crucial for luxury suppliers, exploring the unique advantages it offers and the impact it can have on their business operations.

Enhancing Visibility and Reach

One of the most compelling reasons for Marketplace integration for luxury suppliers is the enhanced visibility it offers. By listing their products on established marketplaces, suppliers gain access to a broader audience without the need for extensive marketing campaigns. Marketplaces have built-in traffic, with millions of users searching for premium products daily. This increased visibility can lead to higher sales volumes and brand recognition, especially for suppliers looking to enter new markets or demographics.

Streamlining Operations and Inventory Management

Another critical benefit of marketplace integration is the ability to streamline operations. Managing multiple sales channels can be complex, but integration simplifies this process by providing a centralized platform for inventory management, order processing, and customer service. Suppliers can automate their inventory updates, ensuring that stock levels are accurately reflected across all channels in real-time.

Data-Driven Insights and Analytics

The integration of marketplaces also empowers luxury suppliers with valuable data-driven insights. By analyzing customer behavior, sales trends, and inventory performance across multiple platforms, suppliers can make informed decisions that drive growth. These insights enable suppliers to identify which products resonate most with their audience, optimize pricing strategies, and tailor marketing efforts to specific customer segments.

Overcoming Challenges

While marketplace integration offers numerous benefits, luxury suppliers may face challenges in the process. Concerns about brand dilution, pricing consistency, and maintaining a unique brand identity are valid considerations. To mitigate these challenges, luxury suppliers should develop a comprehensive marketplace strategy that outlines clear guidelines for pricing, branding, and product presentation.

Marketplace integration for luxury suppliers is not merely a strategic option; it is a necessity in the contemporary B2B landscape. By enhancing visibility, streamlining operations, and building a seamless customer experience, suppliers can position themselves for success in an increasingly digital marketplace. As consumer preferences evolve, embracing marketplace integration will enable luxury brands to navigate the complexities of modern commerce while fostering growth and brand loyalty. In this dynamic environment, those who harness the power of marketplace integration will be better equipped to thrive and innovate, ensuring their place in the future of luxury retail.

[tony-andonuts]

How the fuck are ads made from or using tiktoks/that one ai voice used on every online ad ever also being used on CABLE TV like whaaaat

[mariacallous]

These days, when Nicole Yelland receives a meeting request from someone she doesn’t already know, she conducts a multi-step background check before deciding whether to accept. Yelland, who works in public relations for a Detroit-based non-profit, says she’ll run the person’s information through Spokeo, a personal data aggregator that she pays a monthly subscription fee to use. If the contact claims to speak Spanish, Yelland says, she will casually test their ability to understand and translate trickier phrases. If something doesn’t quite seem right, she’ll ask the person to join a Microsoft Teams call—with their camera on.

If Yelland sounds paranoid, that’s because she is. In January, before she started her current non-profit role, Yelland says she got roped into an elaborate scam targeting job seekers. “Now, I do the whole verification rigamarole any time someone reaches out to me,” she tells WIRED.

Digital imposter scams aren’t new; messaging platforms, social media sites, and dating apps have long been rife with fakery. In a time when remote work and distributed teams have become commonplace, professional communications channels are no longer safe, either. The same artificial intelligence tools that tech companies promise will boost worker productivity are also making it easier for criminals and fraudsters to construct fake personas in seconds.

On LinkedIn, it can be hard to distinguish a slightly touched-up headshot of a real person from a too-polished, AI-generated facsimile. Deepfake videos are getting so good that longtime email scammers are pivoting to impersonating people on live video calls. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, reports of job and employment related scams nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, and actual losses from those scams have increased from $90 million to $500 million.

Yelland says the scammers that approached her back in January were impersonating a real company, one with a legitimate product. The “hiring manager” she corresponded with over email also seemed legit, even sharing a slide deck outlining the responsibilities of the role they were advertising. But during the first video interview, Yelland says, the scammers refused to turn their cameras on during a Microsoft Teams meeting and made unusual requests for detailed personal information, including her driver’s license number. Realizing she’d been duped, Yelland slammed her laptop shut.

These kinds of schemes have become so widespread that AI startups have emerged promising to detect other AI-enabled deepfakes, including GetReal Labs, and Reality Defender. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also runs an identity-verification startup called Tools for Humanity, which makes eye-scanning devices that capture a person’s biometric data, create a unique identifier for their identity, and store that information on the blockchain. The whole idea behind it is proving “personhood,” or that someone is a real human. (Lots of people working on blockchain technology say that blockchain is the solution for identity verification.)

But some corporate professionals are turning instead to old-fashioned social engineering techniques to verify every fishy-seeming interaction they have. Welcome to the Age of Paranoia, when someone might ask you to send them an email while you’re mid-conversation on the phone, slide into your Instagram DMs to ensure the LinkedIn message you sent was really from you, or request you text a selfie with a timestamp, proving you are who you claim to be. Some colleagues say they even share code words with each other, so they have a way to ensure they’re not being misled if an encounter feels off.

“What’s funny is, the low-fi approach works,” says Daniel Goldman, a blockchain software engineer and former startup founder. Goldman says he began changing his own behavior after he heard a prominent figure in the crypto world had been convincingly deepfaked on a video call. “It put the fear of god in me,” he says. Afterwards, he warned his family and friends that even if they hear what they believe is his voice or see him on a video call asking for something concrete—like money or an internet password—they should hang up and email him first before doing anything.

Ken Schumacher, founder of the recruitment verification service Ropes, says he’s worked with hiring managers who ask job candidates rapid-fire questions about the city where they claim to live on their resume, such as their favorite coffee shops and places to hang out. If the applicant is actually based in that geographic region, Schumacher says, they should be able to respond quickly with accurate details.

Another verification tactic some people use, Schumacher says, is what he calls the “phone camera trick.” If someone suspects the person they’re talking to over video chat is being deceitful, they can ask them to hold up their phone camera to their laptop. The idea is to verify whether the individual may be running deepfake technology on their computer, obscuring their true identity or surroundings. But it’s safe to say this approach can also be off-putting: Honest job candidates may be hesitant to show off the inside of their homes or offices, or worry a hiring manager is trying to learn details about their personal lives.

“Everyone is on edge and wary of each other now,” Schumacher says.

While turning yourself into a human captcha may be a fairly effective approach to operational security, even the most paranoid admit these checks create an atmosphere of distrust before two parties have even had the chance to really connect. They can also be a huge time suck. “I feel like something’s gotta give,” Yelland says. “I’m wasting so much time at work just trying to figure out if people are real.”

Jessica Eise, an assistant professor studying climate change and social behavior at Indiana University-Bloomington, says that her research team has been forced to essentially become digital forensics experts, due to the amount of fraudsters who respond to ads for paid virtual surveys. (Scammers aren’t as interested in the unpaid surveys, unsurprisingly.) If the research project is federally funded, all of the online participants have to be over the age of 18 and living in the US.

“My team would check time stamps for when participants answered emails, and if the timing was suspicious, we could guess they might be in a different time zone,” Eise says. “Then we’d look for other clues we came to recognize, like certain formats of email address or incoherent demographic data.”

Eise says the amount of time her team spent screening people was “exorbitant,” and that they’ve now shrunk the size of the cohort for each study and have turned to “snowball sampling” or having recruiting people they know personally to join their studies. The researchers are also handing out more physical flyers to solicit participants in person. “We care a lot about making sure that our data has integrity, that we’re studying who we say we’re trying to study,” she says. “I don’t think there’s an easy solution to this.”

Barring any widespread technical solution, a little common sense can go a long way in spotting bad actors. Yelland shared with me the slide deck that she received as part of the fake job pitch. At first glance, it seemed like legit pitch, but when she looked at it again, a few details stood out. The job promised to pay substantially more than the average salary for a similar role in her location, and offered unlimited vacation time, generous paid parental leave, and fully-covered health care benefits. In today’s job environment, that might have been the biggest tipoff of all that it was a scam.

[wewantclimateactionnow]

Another missive from Bernie:

"For years and years in the corporate media, you'd only heard the word 'oligarch' preceded by the word 'Russian.' But oligarchs aren't uniquely a Russian phenomenon or a foreign concept.

No. The United States has its own oligarchy.

When I first started talking about this, many people didn't understand what I meant. Well, that's changed.

When the 3 wealthiest men in America sit behind Trump at his inauguration, everyone understands that the billionaire class now controls our government. They also understand that one of the major functions of government policy will be to make these incredibly rich people even richer and more powerful.

When those same 3 men control some of the largest media and information distribution channels in America, everyone understands that the billionaire class now controls our media. They also understand that one of the major functions of that billionaire owned media (think Musk and twitter) will be to manufacture massive amounts of disinformation and outright lies.

When 1 of those men spent hundreds of millions of dollars to elect Donald Trump and another used his power as a newspaper owner to withhold an endorsement of Kamala Harris, everyone understands that the billionaire class now significantly controls our politics, as well. They also understand that one of the major functions of our political system is to maintain the pretense that we are a real democracy when, in fact, the average citizen has less and less impact over what goes on.

But it is not just Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.

Today in America we have more income in wealth inequality than we have ever had. We have more concentration of ownership in the financial services sector, health care, agriculture, transportation energy, food and housing than we have ever had. We have more media consolidation than we have ever had. And we have a political system that is increasingly controlled by the billionaire class.

Add it all together and what you see is a nation and world trending very strongly toward oligarchy – where a small number of multi-billionaires exercise enormous economic and political power over everyone else. Increasingly, government is just one more entity owned by these enormously powerful forces.

So, in the midst of all of this, where do we go from here?

First, we don’t have time to moan and groan and bury our heads in despair. Yes. Many of us are angry and frustrated at a Democratic Party establishment that continues to turn its back on the needs of working people. But our job now is not to look back, but to look forward.

Let me be clear. One of the tools that the Oligarchs use to maintain their position of power is to make it appear that real change is impossible, and opposition is useless. They have the power. Ain’t nothing we can do about it. That’s the way it is and always will be. Give up trying.

Fortunately, these masters of the universe are wrong. Very wrong.

What history has always taught us is that real change never takes place from the top on down. It always occurs from the bottom on up. It occurs when ordinary people get sick and tired of oppression and injustice - and fight back. That is the history of the founding of our nation, the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement. That is how we elected dozens of progressives to Congress and made the Congressional Progressive Caucus one of the most important entities in the U.S. House of Representatives. That is the history of every effort that has brought about transformational change in our society.

It won’t be easy but, together, we will educate, organize and build an unstoppable grassroots movement around a progressive agenda that is based on the principles of justice and compassion, not greed and oligarchy. Together, we will lead the fight to create the kind of nation and world we know we can become.

Sisters and brothers, we are right now in the midst of a struggle between a progressive movement that mobilizes around a shared vision of prosperity, security and dignity for all people, against one that defends oligarchy and massive global income and wealth inequality.

It is a struggle that, for ourselves and future generations, we cannot lose. Let us go forward together."

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

[utopicwork]

Really have to get a handle on this, it's been on my periphery for a while but another channel to do distributed local computing could be helpful in for instance multi lora node arrays

[coldjustness-archive]

after watching this, and following this channel, and getting many other perspectives from amputees, specially below the knee. There’s a few mental images I cannot shake so I’m leaving them here with more to come as I educate myself more.

As Neve becomes more comfortable in her little office area in the Lighthouse, while relaxing at her desk or looking at her board, her prosthetic is off and resting by her. Just Neve, relaxing in general as best one as busy body as her can.

The scepter she uses acts partly with the the function distribute her weight. Look at the design, it’s multi purpose because there’s a grip on top, and the way Neve walks with it, is less staff, and more optional cane like motions. (I only say optional because mage casting AND walking cane.)

The fact that when she’s standing idle, her weight is off her prosthetic.

[spectralpixelsredone]

The Ultimate Alliance: Humarise and Shie Hassaikai as the Supreme Antagonist

The Perfect Ideological Marriage

The collaboration between Humarise and the Shie Hassaikai represents one of the most terrifying potential alliances in the My Hero Academia universe. Both organizations share a fundamental goal: the complete eradication of Quirks from humanity. However, their complementary strengths and methodologies create a synergistic threat that far exceeds what either could accomplish alone.

Shared Core Beliefs

Humarise's Philosophical Foundation:

Quirks are a "disease" that corrupts humanity

The Quirk Singularity will lead to humanity's destruction

A "cleansed" world without Quirks is the only salvation

Quirk users must be "cured" or eliminated

Shie Hassaikai's Practical Approach:

Quirks represent the downfall of traditional society

The old order (pre-Quirk era) was superior

Quirk users are abominations that must be eliminated

Power should be consolidated in the hands of the "pure"

These ideologies mesh perfectly, with Humarise providing the religious-like fervor and global vision, while the Shie Hassaikai offers the ruthless pragmatism and criminal infrastructure needed to achieve their goals.

The Terrifying Synergy

Humarise's Global Infrastructure + Shie Hassaikai's Execution

Worldwide Distribution Network:

Humarise's presence in 25+ cities provides the perfect distribution network for the Quirk-Destroying Drug

Shie Hassaikai's underworld connections ensure the drugs reach every corner of society

Black market distribution channels make detection and prevention nearly impossible

Coordinated strikes across multiple continents simultaneously

Intelligence and Targeting:

Humarise's sophisticated intelligence gathering identifies high-value targets

Shie Hassaikai's tactical expertise plans precise strikes against Pro Heroes, government officials, and key Quirk users

Combined surveillance capabilities monitor hero movements and counter-operations

Infiltration of hero agencies, schools, and government institutions

Overhaul's Genius Enhanced by Humarise's Resources

Mass Production Capabilities:

Humarise's funding and technology accelerate drug production exponentially

Multiple production facilities across different continents

Backup laboratories ensure continuity even if some are discovered

Advanced research into more potent and permanent Quirk-destroying compounds

Strategic Deployment:

Overhaul's tactical brilliance combined with Humarise's global perspective

Simultaneous attacks on multiple fronts prevent effective hero response

Psychological warfare through selective targeting of beloved heroes

Creating chaos while maintaining the facade of "salvation"

The Multi-Layered Threat

Phase 1: Ideological Infiltration

Humarise's propaganda machine spreads fear about Quirk evolution

Recruitment of Quirkless individuals feeling marginalized by society

Conversion of Quirk users who fear their own abilities

Gradual erosion of public trust in hero society

Phase 2: Targeted Elimination

Systematic targeting of Pro Heroes with Quirk-Destroying Drugs

Attacks on hero schools to prevent the next generation

Elimination of key government officials who support Quirk integration

Destruction of research facilities studying Quirk development

Phase 3: Societal Collapse

Mass distribution of Quirk-Destroying Drugs through public infrastructure

Coordinated terrorist attacks on major cities

Economic warfare through targeting of Quirk-dependent industries

Complete breakdown of the current social order

Phase 4: The "New World Order"

Establishment of a Quirk-free society under their control

Re-education programs for remaining Quirk users

Systematic hunting of any remaining "infected" individuals

Implementation of a totalitarian regime based on their ideology

Leadership Dynamics: Flect Turn and Overhaul

Complementary Leadership Styles

Flect Turn - The Visionary:

Provides ideological direction and motivation

Charismatic leadership that inspires fanatical devotion

Global strategic planning and coordination

Public face of the movement when beneficial

Overhaul - The Executor:

Tactical genius for operational planning

Ruthless efficiency in eliminating obstacles

Scientific expertise in Quirk-destroying technology

Brutal enforcement of organizational discipline

Potential Power Struggles

The alliance wouldn't be without internal tensions:

Philosophical Differences:

Overhaul's focus on restoring yakuza glory vs. Humarise's religious-like mission

Disagreements over treatment of converted Quirk users

Competing visions for the post-Quirk world

Personal ambitions clashing with collective goals

Strategic Disagreements:

Overhaul's preference for surgical strikes vs. Humarise's mass movement approach

Debates over the pace of implementation

Resource allocation between propaganda and direct action

Risk tolerance for high-profile operations

These tensions could provide opportunities for hero intervention and create compelling narrative conflict.

Enhanced Capabilities and Resources

Technological Advantages

Combined Research and Development:

Humarise's global research network + Shie Hassaikai's Quirk-destroying expertise

Development of airborne Quirk-destroying agents

Creation of permanent Quirk-elimination procedures

Advanced surveillance and tracking technology

Weaponization of Eri's Power:

Mass production of Quirk-destroying bullets and compounds

Development of targeted viruses that specifically affect Quirk users

Creation of "Quirk bombs" that can eliminate abilities in large areas

Synthesis of compounds that prevent Quirk manifestation in newborns

Military and Paramilitary Capabilities

Combined Forces:

Humarise's international cells + Shie Hassaikai's experienced enforcers

Professional military training for cell members

Advanced weapons and equipment procurement

Coordination with sympathetic military/police elements

Operational Security:

Compartmentalized cell structure prevents complete infiltration

Multiple backup plans for every operation

Sophisticated counter-intelligence capabilities

Ability to operate in hostile territories indefinitely

Impact on Hero Society

Immediate Consequences

Systematic Targeting of Heroes:

Coordinated attacks on the top heroes worldwide

Elimination of Symbol of Peace successors

Targeting of hero schools and training facilities

Psychological warfare against hero families

Societal Panic:

Mass hysteria about Quirk "infection"

Breakdown of trust between Quirk users and non-users

Economic collapse as Quirk-dependent industries fail

Government instability and potential martial law

Long-term Implications

Fundamental Challenge to Hero Society:

Questions the very foundation of the current world order

Forces heroes to defend not just lives but their right to exist

Creates moral dilemmas about the nature of power and humanity

Challenges the concept of using Quirks for good

Global Conflict:

International cooperation becomes essential for survival

Potential for world war between pro-Quirk and anti-Quirk factions

Refugee crises as Quirk users flee persecution

Collapse of international trade and diplomacy

Character Development Opportunities

Izuku Midoriya's Ultimate Test

Personal Stakes:

Direct threat to his identity as One For All's wielder

Forced to confront whether Quirks are truly a blessing or curse

Must prove that Quirks can coexist with humanity

Potential loss of his power adding urgency to his mission

Philosophical Growth:

Understanding the fears that drive anti-Quirk sentiment

Learning to bridge the gap between Quirk users and non-users

Developing leadership skills for a global crisis

Embracing his role as a symbol of coexistence

Class 1-A's Crucible

Collective Challenge:

Facing an enemy that denies their right to exist

Working with international heroes and students

Dealing with the loss of beloved heroes and mentors

Proving their worth in a world that questions their value

Individual Growth:

Each student confronting their own relationship with their Quirk

Developing new applications for their abilities under pressure

Learning to fight not just for victory but for survival

Building unbreakable bonds through shared adversity

The All For One Factor

Potential Wildcard Element

Competing Interests:

AFO's desire for chaos vs. Humarise/Shie Hassaikai's order

Competition for control over the post-Quirk world

Potential temporary alliance against common hero enemies

Ultimate betrayal as goals diverge

Strategic Implications:

Three-way conflict adding complexity to the narrative

AFO potentially seeing the alliance as a threat to his plans

Opportunity for heroes to exploit villain infighting

Escalation to truly apocalyptic levels of conflict

Why This Alliance Makes Them the Ultimate "Big Bad"

Unprecedented Threat Level

Global Scale:

Simultaneous operations across multiple continents

Threat to every Quirk user on Earth

Potential to end hero society permanently

Resources and capability to actually achieve their goals

Ideological Depth:

More than just destruction - complete societal transformation

Compelling arguments that could sway public opinion

Moral complexity that challenges heroes' worldview

Religious-like fervor that can't be easily defeated

Narrative Potential

Complex Storytelling:

Multiple layers of conflict (ideological, personal, global)

Opportunities for character growth and development

Exploration of deep themes about humanity and power

Potential for truly shocking plot twists and betrayals

Emotional Investment:

Direct threat to everything heroes hold dear

Personal stakes for every character with a Quirk

Potential for tragic losses and pyrrhic victories

Redemption arcs for alliance members who defect

Conclusion: The Perfect Storm

The alliance between Humarise and the Shie Hassaikai represents the perfect storm of ideological extremism, tactical brilliance, global reach, and destructive capability. Their shared goal of Quirk eradication, combined with complementary strengths and resources, creates a threat that surpasses any individual villain or organization in the series.

This collaboration would force heroes to confront not just physical danger but existential questions about their place in the world. The alliance's ability to operate on multiple levels - ideological, tactical, and strategic - while maintaining global coordination makes them the ultimate antagonist for a series about heroes learning to use their powers responsibly.

The combination of Flect Turn's visionary leadership and Overhaul's tactical genius, backed by Humarise's global infrastructure and the Shie Hassaikai's ruthless efficiency, creates a multi-dimensional threat that could believably challenge the entire hero society. Their potential to actually achieve their goals makes them far more terrifying than villains who simply want to destroy or conquer.

This alliance doesn't just threaten individual heroes or cities - it threatens the very concept of what it means to be human in a world where extraordinary abilities exist. That philosophical depth, combined with their practical capability to act on their beliefs, makes them the perfect "Big Bad" for a series that has always been about the responsibility that comes with great power.

[bymrbk]

Introduction to Crypto Airdrops

Crypto airdrops are one of the most exciting ways to get involved in the cryptocurrency world—often letting you earn free tokens just by being part of a community or completing simple tasks.

If you're new to crypto and curious about airdrops, this guide covers everything you need to know: what they are, why they happen, how to participate, and how to avoid scams.

What Is a Crypto Airdrop?

A crypto airdrop is a distribution of free cryptocurrency tokens directly to users' wallets. It’s like a promotional giveaway, where blockchain projects send tokens either:

To existing holders of certain cryptocurrencies (like Ethereum), or

To people who complete simple tasks (such as joining Telegram or following on X).

Airdrops help new projects promote themselves, reward early supporters, and build active communities.

Why Do Projects Offer Airdrops?

Crypto projects give away free tokens for smart strategic reasons:

✅ Build Buzz – Airdrops generate hype on social media and news outlets.

✅ Grow the Community – Free tokens encourage new users to get involved.

✅ Decentralize Ownership – Tokens are spread among many users, supporting decentralization.

✅ Reward Loyalty – Existing supporters and early adopters often get tokens as a “thank you.”

It’s a win-win: users get free tokens, and projects get exposure and engagement.

Types of Crypto Airdrops

There are different types of airdrops based on how you qualify:

1. Standard Airdrops

Tokens are sent to wallets of users who hold a specific cryptocurrency.

Example: Holding Ethereum might qualify you for a new ERC-20 token drop.

Effort: Minimal — just hold the required token at the right time.

2. Bounty Airdrops

Earn tokens by completing simple tasks:

Follow on X/Twitter or Telegram

Share content or refer friends

Fill out a form or join a Discord

Effort: Moderate — but it’s often worth it!

Other types include Holder Airdrops, Exclusive Airdrops (for beta users), and NFT Airdrops.

How to Participate in a Crypto Airdrop

Here’s how to safely join airdrops:

1. Get a Compatible Wallet Use non-custodial wallets like:

MetaMask (Ethereum & EVM chains)

Trust Wallet (multi-chain)

Phantom (Solana)

Tip: Use a separate wallet for airdrops to protect your main funds.

2. Find Legit Airdrops Reliable sources:

Airdrops.io

CoinMarketCap Airdrops

Official social channels of crypto projects

3. Follow the Instructions Tasks may include:

Social media engagement

Wallet submissions

Community participation

NEVER share your private key or seed phrase! No legit airdrop will ever ask.

4. Wait for Distribution

Tokens are usually distributed after the campaign ends—it may take a few days or weeks.

5. Manage Your Tokens Once received, you can:

Hold for potential value

Trade on exchanges

Use within the project’s platform

Risks and Precautions

Airdrops are exciting—but not without risks.

Common Dangers: Scams & Phishing:

Fake websites or apps may steal your data or funds.

If an airdrop asks for payment or your private key, it’s 100% fake.

Malicious Tokens: Some airdropped tokens are designed to compromise your wallet if you interact with them.

Tax Implications: In some countries, free tokens are taxable income.

Keep records and consult a tax advisor.

Best Practice: Research the project. Check its official website, team, roadmap, and what others in the community are saying.

Conclusion: Are Airdrops Worth It?

Absolutely—if you stay smart and cautious. Crypto airdrops are a fantastic way to: Explore new blockchain projects, Collect potentially valuable tokens

Engage with emerging communities

But always be alert for scams, and never compromise your wallet’s security. With the right approach, airdrops can be a fun and rewarding way to grow your crypto journey.

[indigosabyss]

I love listening to just multi-hour long rants about media ppl care deeply about. and literally no one on youtube is talking abt nanbaka. my yt channel was for podfics, but i kinda want to compile something for the show bc i can talk abt it forever.

it'll be p standard, going from episode to episode to break down the plot covered by the two seasons of the anime, and adding in the special. once we reach the end of the anime, I'll explain the issues regarding the distribution of the manga, and why it's only available on her pixiv. I want to go a bit into a side tangent regarding the differences in pirating shows and books, and how royalties within those industries differ, with special attention to how specifically english translations of her work exacerbated the problem. and then continue on to summarize the manga arcs.

each of these major blocks of video will be separated by brief intermissions of side-character introductions.

it sounds like a lot of work but i hope itll draw more ppl into this series i love so much!

[ottermeat]

What ChatGPT knows today

Rich Walkling (born 1972) is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Berkeley, California. He has recorded under various names, including Rich Walkling, Richard Powell Walkling, Skunkwooder, The Daily Evening, The Beggars Trail, and The Kingdom of Leisure. Known for his eclectic style and experimental approach to music, Walkling has been active in the independent music scene, contributing to numerous projects that blend folk, rock, electronic, and avant-garde elements. His work under Skunkwooder and The Daily Evening is characterized by a fusion of lo-fi aesthetics and intricate soundscapes, while The Kingdom of Leisure explores more improvisational and genre-defying compositions.

Over the years, Walkling has gained a reputation for his DIY ethos, often self-producing and distributing his music through independent channels. His recordings span a range of instrumentation, including guitar, synthesizers, percussion, and field recordings, contributing to a distinctive, layered sound.

Influences and Style

Walkling's music is deeply influenced by a wide range of genres, including folk, psychedelic rock, ambient, and experimental electronic music. His compositions often feature unconventional song structures, poetic lyrics, and a mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation.

Personal Life

Based in Berkeley, California, Walkling remains active in the local music scene, performing at intimate venues and collaborating with other artists. His work continues to evolve, often blurring the lines between traditional songwriting and sonic experimentation.

[shopaholicsrus]

Adjustable Espresso Coffee Distributor & Leveler Tool – Fits 51mm/53mm/58mm Portafilters

Adjustable Espresso Coffee Distributor & Leveler Tool – Fits 51mm/53mm/58mm Portafilters

You can upgrade your home barista setup with this precision-designed espresso distribution tool. Ideal for consistent tamping and even extractions, compatible with most portafilters.

🛒 View on AliExpress

--------------

An Adjustable Espresso Coffee Distributor & Leveler Tool is important to the coffee-making process—especially for espresso—for the following key reasons:

☕ 1. Ensures Even Coffee Distribution

Before tamping, ground coffee can settle unevenly in the portafilter. A distributor spreads the grounds uniformly across the basket, which helps:

Prevent channeling (where water finds weak spots and flows unevenly)

Ensure a consistent extraction of all grounds

⚖️ 2. Improves Consistency

By evenly leveling the surface of your coffee puck every time:

It reduces human error

Makes each shot more repeatable, especially in high-volume or home barista settings

Helps achieve that coveted golden crema

🔁 3. Adjustable Depth = Better Control

Adjustable distributors let you:

Set the precise depth for distribution and leveling

Match it to the dose and grind size you're using

Avoid over-compressing or under-prepping your grounds

This level of control is crucial for dialed-in espresso.

🧼 4. Cleaner Workflow

Distributors are:

Less messy than using your fingers or a spoon

Easier to clean

Often more sanitary in multi-user or commercial environments

🔬 5. Prepares the Puck for Tamping

Properly distributed grounds create a level base, which:

Makes tamping more effective and even

Reduces risk of cracked pucks or uneven resistance

✅ Summary:

A coffee distributor is like a precision tool in espresso brewing—it takes out guesswork, improves consistency, and leads to better-tasting coffee.

[big-box-of-kinda-silly-fop-ideas]

More headcanon au of mine

Link to post about Goldie

Link to biology post

Im still going through the og series so this au will change as i watch more episodes

Anyway this post will go through hybrids

The fairy baby ban only banned full fairies but not hybrids

Thanks to magic most of the humanoid magical species can reproduce with each other with no issues. When a channeller and a producer reproduce theyre kids has a higher chance of being channeller than a producer and a very small chance of expressing both systems. (I probably should’ve clarified that producers still have a functioning if semi vestigial respiratory system)

Anyway the children can either look like the species of one of the parents or a mix of both but the Fairy council only counts a fairy as a humanoid with a producer system (i.e fagiggly gland). So any hybrid with a producer system will be educated for fairy things and if they have a channelling system will be treated more like the other species they’re a hybrid with. Hybrids with a producer system were allowed simply because they dont destroy fairyworld, as more full fairy babies were born they just slowly becoming more and more powerful until they hit a peak with cosmo and peri and it became to much of a issue to monitor these powerful babies as the power levels of full fairy babies became more and more unpredictable in power.

Hybrids that express both systems are very rare, one in every thousand year while hybrid producer happen every 5-10 years. Most species dont exactly like co-mingling with each other so not many hybrid children are born. After Goldie was born there is a temporary full fairy baby ban as two once in a thousand years baby were just born and it takes a lot of resources to care for these babies. The hybrid ban was lifted when Peri turned 16 as he was considered competent with his magic to be left alone and Goldie’s fagiggly gland exploded and was no longer counted as a fairy. (Goldie kinda pissed at that and is working up to become a honorary fairy by becoming a doctor/professor for fairyworld)

Hybrids that expresses both systems, at birth will choose which system will provide the “base” magic while the other will make excess. This generally depends on how big the fagiggly gland is, the smaller the gland the more likely it’ll make the base. When the fagiggly gland is producing excess itll either funnel the excess into the magic sac or itll distribute throughout the body like a regular fairy would. (Clarification in channellers the respiratory system provides the base to the body while the magic sac holds any excess from the respiratory system). Depending on where the fagiggly stores its excess will determine if the hybrid is affected by backup, if excess goes to the sac they dont experience backup. For an anti fairy to form a hybrid generally needs a large fagiggly gland to create an imbalance in the universe to create equilibrium. Anti fairy hybrids are just regular anti fairies they dont have any hybrid traits internally but only in appearance.

Most magic species generally attend a multi species highschool regardless if they’re a channeller, producer or hybrid but Peri thanks to his celebrity status struggled with the attention, fakiness and general safety concerns (he got targeted by jealous kids and he’s dangerous to both himself and others) and switched to homeschooling. Irep just got bullied frequently and switched too.

The most common hybrids pairs are elves, gnomes and leprechauns. And i do not want to think about which parent give birth to…..

Anyway this is my way of explaining all the spellementary school students that look a like fairies and the other fairy kids we see. They’re simply hybrids.

[everfastfrieght]

What is a Freight Forwarder’s Business Model in India?

As India strengthens its position in the global trade ecosystem, the logistics sector continues to expand rapidly. A vital part of this ecosystem is freight forwarding—an industry that plays a key role in ensuring the seamless movement of goods across international borders and within domestic markets. For businesses and individuals relying on efficient, cost-effective logistics solutions, understanding the business model of freight forwarders in India is essential.

What Does a Freight Forwarder Do?

A freight forwarder serves as a logistics intermediary between the shipper (who needs to transport goods) and the carrier (who physically moves the goods via air, sea, or land). Their primary role is to coordinate and manage the complex process of shipping—ensuring goods are delivered on time, safely, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Typical services provided by freight forwarders include:

Booking transportation across various modes (air, sea, road)

Preparing and processing shipping and customs documentation

Offering insurance for goods in transit

Providing warehousing and distribution solutions

Managing supply chain logistics

Freight Forwarding in India: A Business Model Overview

India’s freight forwarding industry is diverse, competitive, and evolving rapidly to meet the needs of global and domestic trade. Leading companies like Everfast Freight have developed adaptable business models built around multiple core components:

1. Comprehensive Service Portfolio

Freight forwarders offer a wide range of logistics services to serve different business needs:

Air Freight – Ideal for urgent shipments requiring fast delivery.

Sea Freight – Best suited for large, heavy cargo or cost-sensitive shipments.

Road Freight – Efficient for domestic and regional deliveries.

Customs Brokerage – Managing the complexities of customs clearance and compliance.

Warehousing & Distribution – Providing secure storage and end-to-end delivery solutions.

These services allow freight forwarders to offer complete logistics support to clients involved in both domestic and international trade.

2. Revenue Generation Mechanisms

Freight forwarders earn revenue through various channels:

Markup on Transportation Costs: Forwarders negotiate rates with carriers and apply a markup to generate profit while offering competitive pricing to clients.

Service Fees: Charges for handling documentation, customs clearance, freight booking, and other value-added services.

Consolidation Services: By combining multiple small shipments into one, forwarders reduce overall costs and improve profitability.

Warehousing Charges: Income generated by providing short- or long-term storage solutions.

Insurance Commissions: Earning fees or commissions for offering cargo insurance as an added service.

This diversified income structure helps companies maintain stable revenues while adapting to market conditions.

3. Leveraging Technology

Modern freight forwarders in India are increasingly adopting technology to streamline their operations and improve customer experience. Key tools and platforms include:

Real-time shipment tracking systems

Automated document processing

Customer portals with live updates

Integration with client supply chain systems

By investing in digital solutions, freight forwarders enhance accuracy, reduce delays, and build trust with their clients.

4. Strong Industry Networks

Partnerships are critical in the freight forwarding business. Forwarders typically maintain robust relationships with:

Carriers – Airlines, shipping lines, and trucking companies to secure optimal rates and routes.

Customs Authorities – To ensure smooth clearance processes and regulatory compliance.

Global Freight Alliances – To expand their international reach and offer multi-modal transport options.

These collaborations enhance their ability to deliver efficient and reliable services worldwide.

5. Risk Management and Insurance

Freight forwarders play an active role in mitigating risks associated with the transportation of goods. Their responsibilities include:

Offering cargo insurance to protect clients’ shipments

Ensuring proper packaging, labeling, and documentation

Monitoring regulatory requirements to avoid penalties or delays

By managing these risks, forwarders add value and assurance to the shipping process.

6. Cost Structure

The cost of running a freight forwarding business involves several components:

Operational Costs: Office space, employee salaries, utilities, and equipment.

Carrier Charges: Payments made to airlines, shipping lines, or trucking companies.

Technology Investment: Spending on logistics software, tracking systems, and digital tools.

Insurance and Compliance Costs: Expenses related to risk mitigation and adherence to trade regulations.

Efficient cost management is key to maintaining profitability in India’s highly competitive logistics environment.

Key Challenges in India’s Freight Forwarding Industry

Despite significant growth, the sector faces several ongoing challenges:

Complex Regulatory Framework: Navigating India’s customs and trade compliance processes can be time-consuming and costly.

High Competition: The market includes both domestic and global players, leading to pressure on pricing and service levels.

Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Issues like port congestion, inconsistent road quality, and limited rail connectivity can affect delivery timelines and costs.

Nevertheless, with continued government investment in infrastructure and digitalization, the outlook for the industry remains strong.

Conclusion

The freight forwarding business model in India is built on delivering end-to-end logistics solutions tailored to the needs of modern businesses. Through a mix of transportation services, warehousing, customs clearance, technology adoption, and risk management, freight forwarders ensure smooth, efficient, and reliable cargo movement.

For companies looking to streamline their supply chains, Everfast Freight offers dependable and customized solutions—backed by years of expertise, robust networks, and a client-first approach. Whether it's international shipping or domestic distribution, Everfast helps ensure your goods move safely, swiftly, and cost-effectively.

Would you like this version formatted for web publishing or turned into a downloadable brochure?

[timberwind]

here's a feature that the more advanced digital radio cloaks could have (besides improved range, encryption, multi-channel support, and custom connection graphs with tuned delays and stuff) a loss of signal script. the user could set up custom loss of signal scripts for their individual members and then in the event of an unexpected disconnect it could help keep the singleton calm and keep them from behaving unsafely. an extremely simple one that just plays back or loops prerecorded mindsound would probably be a lot better than nothing. a particularly clever tine might set up a repeating mantra of instructions with gaps between for responses from the singleton that are intended to be replayed later (so the recording behaves like drum memory does in some early computer architectures). more advanced ones could set up the singleton with the virtual computer interface tine as a sort of odd duo. if you go to advanced it might end up being like *connection dropped, emulating all other members* and then the pack has to do a git merge when the singleton regains connection (probably the emulated members stick around as log file like things that can be interacted with but tend not to chime in of their own accord without something important to say). there's a certain tipping point in technology where the interesting stories can happen and i think it's usually right around the development of new capabilities. (although, imagine a multiplanetary choir in the mid beyond linked by ultrawave - their navy could be frighteningly competent for the depth, especially if they found good solutions to the routing problem of distributed computation)

Oh I love this! There's room here for some really good characterization - a lost tine in the Beyond dealing with a partially-emulated sense of self, an old pack maintaining a "thought cabinet" of emulated past members and passing it on to offspring... I definitely agree also about crossing technological tipping points and all the rapid change that can cause being being a really fun story topic - a tine-human expedition from the top of the Slow Zone into the Beyond in a flotilla of ramscoop ships, or a first colony Out There... these could be good story hooks for some fic I think.

(Brief fill-in for those who haven't read the books: tines are a species where each "individual" is the gestalt of a pack of three to eight sort of wolflike creatures, each critter's on-its-own-nonsentient thought combining into a conscious whole by a kind of distributed ultrasound 'telepathy'. A choir is what happens when lots more tines than can form a discrete individual pack live together - they form a shifting and disorganized morass of thought that is... sort of alien to both discrete packs and humans.)

I have found myself thinking about how intelligent choirs in the beyond would act too... I suppose you can imagine lots of different ways it could go. I like to think you could get some kind of prosperous coexistence, possibly even with packs sometimes choosing to temporarily dissolve themselves into choirs as a sabbatical, or to assist with some great task, and coming back with new insights (and sometimes coming back very much changed by the experience). Sort of a little bit like the Pattern Jugglers from Revelation Space, maybe. Perhaps, if what Johanna says in Children of the Sky about the way the choir on the raft conceptualizes things continues to hold true, sentient choirs shoot off into modes of consciousness that are undoubtedly sentient but also still weird to us - like the Powers in miniature.

Of course, a fun sort of horror take on it would be a sort of hard-takeoff choir coming into existence accidentally, like a version of the Blight just for tines. The last remaining individual pack on a first expedition to the far Beyond/low Transcend, cowering in a corridor on a hab orbiting a cold red star... feeling the call, no, the demand of its reconstituted peers, the overwhelmingly more powerful consequence of a sudden relaxation on limits on just how complex and distributed a mind can be...

Also I would really like to chat in realtime about tine worldbuilding with you sometime, anon! My direct messages are always open if you'd like to drop in. No pressure if not, of course.

[effypcfcwrites]

Percy Jackson and The Olympians

(Originally posted on my personal Facebook dated February 1, 2024)

I've been meaning to write another review of a piece of media that I liked for a while now, following my extensive review of The Owl House back in mid-2023, so here goes me again, rambling about it.

When the Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and The Olympians was announced some time ago, me and my high school self were excited to know the series would be in good hands, coming from the same place that gave us gems like Star Wars: Andor and WandaVision, this time, with much more participation from author Rick Riordan himself, AKA, the cooler, less-problematic version of J.K. Rowling. For context, Percy Jackson and The Olympians is technically a Disney property, since it was distributed by Disney-Hyperion Books back in the day. Don't get me wrong though. At this point, I have no love for the multi-billion corporate titan that is Disney. I am more invested in the stories they tell, which I wish would just exist as their own thing, independent of the looming shadow of The Mouse.

Disney+'s Percy Jackson and The Olympians did a good job so far, in my opinion as a fan of the books, to adapt The Lightning Thief (the 1st entry in the OG series) into the age of streaming with a Herculean debut 1st season. Writing-wise, I acknowledge the effort put into it being a more loyal adaptation of the source material compared to the cheesy and gods-awful movies of the early 2010s, even though it threw in some creative liberties here and there, which I have no qualms with. I felt like what it did best was to focus less on all the wide-eyed fantasy of Greek Mythology and all its gods, monsters, and heroes, and explore more of the grounded human emotion and familial relationships of its cast of characters, from Percy and his mother and the subsequent quest to save her from the Underworld; the messy family of the Greek Pantheon and its bloody history; to even Medusa, whose story is a grim reminder that the Greek gods are problematic and flawed figures that should not be put on a pedestal willy-nilly.

Acting highlights for me were Walker Scobell's performance of Percy, that managed to portray the witty and world-weary personality of his character properly; Jason Mantzoukas (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Close Enough) as the sarcastic Dionysus, who makes it clear he is not enjoying his punishment on Camp Half-Blood, denied the hedonism of alcohol and festivity, which he is best known for; Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In The Heights, Encanto) as Hermes, who plays a more serious role of a father acknowledging his part in the emotional damage he has caused his family; Lance Reddick (John Wick, White House Down) as Zeus, who was stern and imposing as you'd know the head Olympian to be, making it a memorable posthumous performance, following his passing back in March 2023; and Adam "Edge" Copeland as Ares, who channeled the feral energy of his WWE persona into the unhinged fire-starter god of war.

The music and score were able to instill all the drama of Greek hero stories, mixing glory, tension, and melancholy well, and the cinematography and effects wonderfully brought to life the worlds and the multiple monsters of Greek myth as well as other concepts from the books, like gods showing their true forms, which was said to be fatal to mortal beings should they lay eyes on them. Fortunately, unlike what I just mentioned, it was all a great sight to witness.

If you're a fan of the entire PJO/Heroes of Olympus/etc. universe that Rick Riordan has brought out into the world, then I think you'd be in for a treat when you give this series a spin.

[naritaren]

TNA Shakeup - Fightful Select

Early details on major TNA shakeup

An hour ago

Anthony Cicione is in, Scott D'Amore is out as President of TNA Wrestling.

Fightful confirmed that talent and staff were informed of the move today, with some finding out this morning.

Currently staff and talent are on a zoom call to discuss the move.

One talent said they believed Anthem wanted the brand to be more closely associated with them as opposed to D'Amore, and when we asked another about that they said "I can see that, but he saved TNA."

We'll be posting more as we get details. 

Anthem posted the following: "Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc., a global multi-platform media company, announced today the appointment of Anthony Cicione as the President of TNA Wrestling.

The move aims to further integrate TNA Wrestling into Anthem’s Entertainment Group, of which Cicione is the President, leveraging the entire Company’s resources to add more value in areas including production, distribution, marketing, viewership, customer acquisition, digital revenue streams, ad sales and sponsorships, digital tech operations, and more.

Cicione replaces Scott D’Amore, whose contract with Anthem has been terminated. D’Amore has been a part of TNA since 2003. He held many key leadership positions and played a vital role in the growth of the company leading to its strong industry reputation today, including the successful return of the TNA Wrestling brand in 2024. Anthem thanks him for the commitment he brought to the business, the talent, and the people who work outside the ring.

In addition to these duties as President of Entertainment, Cicione will now manage the day-to-day business operations for TNA Wrestling. He brings more than 30 years of executive-level management experience to the organization. Cicione has been with Anthem for the last 16 years, managing technical operations and multiple cable and digital channels. Prior to his time with Anthem, Cicione was a producer of sports content including catapulting The Score to success by bringing WWE to the channel."