#cloudtalk

[pumpkaaboo]

also there was one day recently that i went to boston and got dunkin and sat down at a public park to eat it but the wind blew my donut away. which i think is the most massachusetts thing to ever happen to me.

[winterxgardener]

I hope Courtney gets the opportunity to dive into her creativity in music. Come on, she's a good singer, can compose songs. More importantly, she can direct music videos. 💚

Here are some videos showcasing her talents, if you would like to watch. ⬇️

Making a Song from Scratch Challenge

Let Me Love You w/ Cloudtalk

Gravity | Smosh Karaoke

This is Me | Smosh Karaoke

Puberty: The Musical

[freddynossa]

Revolucionando la Experiencia del Cliente: IA y Automatización en Plataformas de Soporte

Introducción: ¿Por qué son Clave la IA y la Automatización en la Atención al Cliente Moderna? En la era digital actual, la atención al cliente se ha convertido en un pilar fundamental para el éxito y la reputación de cualquier negocio. Los clientes esperan respuestas rápidas, personalizadas y efectivas a través de múltiples canales, y a cualquier hora. Satisfacer estas expectativas a escala puede…

[pumpkaaboo]

All this stuff is good, I'd just like to make a couple additions.

First of all, if the plot/character aspect of Sonic 06 appeals to you but you don't feel like playing a game that will test your patience in ways it has never been tested before, you may want to try out Project 06, which is a fan project that improves the actual gameplay experience immensely. You can find links to download it in the description of the video here (don't ask me why the developer releases updates like this, I could not tell you). It does have some issues, though, which I'll outline below.

Pros: - Once you get over the learning curve, the controls feel amazing. - Despite its flaws, Sonic 06 actually has some of the best level design in the entire series, and this project allows you to appreciate that in a way that the base game just can't.

Cons: - Significantly less accessible than other options even though it's free, because it's pretty much unoptimized, so you'll need a decently powerful PC to even run it. - There is no story mode of any kind, and no plans to add one. You will need to pull up a video of the cutscenes, watch up until a level begins, pause it, play the level, and then go back if you want to see everything in order. - Currently unfinished as of July 2025. While all the levels of the three main campaigns are all there, the boss fights and the true ending level have not yet been implemented (though progress is being made!)

The other recommendation I'd like to make is Sonic Adventure 2. While I don't know if this is the best game for a beginner, it is definitely the most iconic game in the series (aside from the original of course, but the original's cultural presence is mostly surface-level). I know you mentioned that you played it as a kid, but given you said that it was mostly the Chao garden, I'm going to assume you didn't finish it.

Pros: - This is the game that will do the most to help you understand what people are talking about when they talk about Sonic. Many of the game's most iconic songs, characters, levels, and story arcs have their origin here. - Gameplay is (mostly) fun, and there's a good amount of variety. It can have a pretty steep learning curve though. - Like 06, it also embodies this very stark clash between colorful animals going on adventures and genuinely dark plot points that it takes 100% seriously. It is a game that is totally unafraid to be "cringe", and it goes insanely hard as a result. - This is the game where somehow Eggman manages to get a fully functional space shuttle and launchpad into one of the Egyptian pyramids without anyone noticing, and that's somehow nowhere near the most absurd thing that happens. It's great.

Cons: - As a game that came out in 2001, parts of it can be rather dated. - In particular, it was designed for a system which only had one analogue stick. As a result, the camera controls are nonexistent at worst and actively unhelpful at best. This isn't a huge deal in the levels that are relatively linear, but if you suffer from motion sickness as I do, you may want to look up guides for Knuckles and Rouge's levels. - You spend a lot of levels playing as characters other than Sonic, in different gameplay styles that are slower and less interesting than Sonic's. Personally, I didn't mind Tails and Eggman's levels, and wouldn't have minded Knuckles and Rouge's levels if it weren't for the aforementioned motion sickness.

In general, here are my one-sentence summaries of all of the listed recommendations: - IDW: You just want to see a fun story with good writing. - Sonic x Shadow Generations: You want the smoothest onboarding experience possible. - Sonic 06: I'm going to be real, sending a new driver out onto the freeway is a better metaphor than I could ever come up with. - Project 06: You're interested in Sonic 06 but would rather not play a game that fights you every step of the way. - Sonic Adventure 2: You want to understand what people are talking about as quickly as possible.

your sonicposting has compelled me, but my only experience with the franchise is spending hours in the sonic adventure 2 chao garden as a kid. i dont think i could even name 5 sonic characters. do you have recommendations for like... baby's first sonic media?

ahh I'm glad I've gotten you interested, anon! I really enjoy writing Sonic posts that are at least semi-accessible to non-fans, because it's such a fun and bizarre franchise, and I think a little window into an oddball series like this can be entertaining all on its own. I'm happy my rambling has been engaging enough to get you curious! <3

I have three recommendations for accessible first Sonic media, depending on which facets of the franchise you're interested in! with pros and cons:

- the Sonic comics published by IDW if you find the characters and lore appealing, this is where I'd start! it's a series of comics that began its run in 2017, with new issues still dropping monthly. though technically a spinoff series, the comic puts effort into being accessible to newcomers in a way most other Sonic media doesn't; every character from the games is given a little introduction, and major events from the games are usually summarized in brief if they're relevant to the plot. it's likely you'll miss a lot of references/character nuance as a first time reader, because it is in close continuity with the games, but nothing that will harm enjoyment, I think. plus, it's easy to find the full comic online, no game systems required (feel free to message me if you need help finding them). not to be confused with the Sonic Archie comics, or any of the other Sonic comics published over the decades, you specifically want the IDW series. pros: - will catch you up on all relevant characters and lore when needed - spotlights every major character in some way so you can get to know them - has some of the strongest writing in the series (in my opinion, it's the best-written entry in the franchise, no contest) - has a lot of excellent self-contained plots/arcs you won't need to play a bunch of older games to understand - the art is just so cute !! cons: - it does introduce a lot of new characters who are not in the games, and while I think many of them are fantastic, it might distract from gaining an understanding of the overall franchise - the quality of the writing is miles ahead of 99% of the rest of the franchise, so it's not the best indicator of whether you'll like the games or other media - while it happily plays into intentional cheesiness, the comic does lack the absolutely bizarre unintentional tone-and-genre whiplash the games are (in)famous for, so if you, like me, are fascinated with the at times impressively bad writing and creative choices of the franchise overall, that's something you'll miss out on here. - there is an arc toward the beginning of the comic's run (issue #13-#32) that gets super bleak, which is not indicative of the series' general tone. as a long-time fan, I think it rules and shows off some choice character depth and relationships, but it might feel like a bit too much too soon for a newcomer. I wouldn't skip it or avoid it, but just keep in mind that if you enjoy the first arc (#1-#12) but don't like the super depressing one, just know that later stories are more similar to the first arc and hang in there.

- Sonic X Shadow Generations if you want to play a genuinely excellent game that really nails what's so appealing about the series, Sonic X Shadow Generations is both accessible to newcomers and one of the most beloved Sonic games of all time! it's essentially a compilation of two different games: Sonic Generations, which is a simple story about Sonic saving his friends from a time traveling monster, and Shadow Generations, which is an extremely lore-heavy continuation of some of the older games from the 00's. I think the Sonic Generations portion of the title would be a great first experience, because it'll give you a brief introduction to the main game cast and also the levels are sort of a "best of" compilation, as Sonic travels across time to different levels from past games. Shadow Generations comes with its own video summary of all the lore needed to understand its story, and then it'll throw you directly into the deep end of strange, convoluted, super-dramatic plot that takes itself insanely seriously with no shame. it'll be an absolute surprise ice bath of an introduction, but it's fun and it rules, and it's a great showcase of why so many people love this series. a couple things to note if you pick this one up: first, the Sonic Generations half of the game is an updated re-release of an older game, so make sure you get the one with the "X Shadow" part in the title for the best/full experience! secondly, after watching the lore summary video for Shadow Generations but before starting the game proper, make sure to watch the "Dark Beginnings" animated short on youtube - it's an official prequel to Shadow Generations and it adds SO much to the story and characters, so don't miss it! anyway, pros and cons for Sonic X Shadow Generations: pros: - some of the best gameplay in the series - probably the best writing in any of the games, almost up there with the comics - quick and easy introduction to the cast and some of the lore, including a character gallery that summarizes each character and what they do - plays heavily into exactly what's so charming about the series and will give you a good idea of whether you want to see more - Sonic Generations covers the "cute, upbeat, silly little game that just puts you in a good mood" aspect really well, while Shadow Generations is a perfect summary of the "campy, convoluted, over-the-top dramatic game that's firing on all cylinders unashamed and is lovable because it's cheesy, interesting and sincere" aspect, both of which are vital to the experience, IMO - no chao garden, but they do have collectable chao !! cons: - as with the IDW comics, its quality does not reflect on the rest of the franchise, it's very much eating the dessert before the main course - while Shadow Generations delves deeply into the character of Shadow and the supporting characters that orbit him, Sonic Generations is very light on plot, so you won't actually get to know Sonic himself or the other main characters outside of Shadow all that well by the end of it.

- Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (AKA Sonic '06) this is like telling someone who wants to learn how to drive a car to go play on the interstate, but if you want to see the absolute pinnacle of "weird unhinged story that makes no sense, but the characters are really lovable, but also the gameplay experience fully sucks, and what on earth was the creative process like for THIS to come out of it", the game simply titled Sonic the Hedgehog, released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2006, is the trial-by-fire for you. it's often called "the worst Sonic game", or with an equal amount of affection and sarcasm, "the best Sonic game." in short, it's a highly ambitious, lore-heavy, dramatic, character-driven epic saga of a game that is infamous for also being a glitchy, undercooked mess that feels awful to play and is just generally bizarre. I think this would be a great first game if you're interested in the meta elements of the franchise like I am; the strange, clashing genre mashups, the wonky script, the genre-blind trend-hopping and confused target demographic, the attempt at a dead serious fantasy epic with funny little cartoon animals going through HELL, that is somehow also genuinely emotionally gripping if you happen to be on its wavelength. if you're charmed by the interplay between "wow this sucks" and "wow this might be the coolest thing ever" like I am, this might just be the place to start if you just want a concentrated psychic blast of Sonic Being Weird. pros: - it's the epitome of the "so bad it's good" aspect of the franchise - if you're built in a very specific way, the plotlines following the characters Shadow and Silver are genuinely emotionally evocative - while it doesn't go out of its way to help you get to know the cast, the plot is mostly self-contained and tells an epic story start-to-finish - YMMV on this one, but in my opinion, even though the script is shoddy, the characterization for most of the cast is some of the best the series has ever seen (again, particularly in Shadow and Silver's plotlines). it also goes hard on the character relationships - the gameplay is so awful it's really, really funny - and again, if you're interested in the meta elements of Big Franchise, there is so, so much to dissect here, it is a FASCINATING culmination of the time it was released and the franchise installments that came before it, and it continues to echo across time and space to this day, both within the franchise and outside of it. it's a BIG DEAL in gaming history and for good reason! cons: - it hurts to play - it's so glitchy it's difficult to progress, and unless you are very determined, you might get burnt out/stuck trying to wade through a very long game that will fight you every step of the way and takes ages to load even the simplest missions - it explains nothing about the series overall, so you're likely to be as confused coming out of it as you were going in - it is a bit of an oddball even for its era, as it's a lot more serious and grounded than other games, which tend to be more intentionally campy and silly. - while Shadow and Silver's plotlines are some of the best in the series, Sonic himself really gets the short end of the stick. his plotline is boring and mostly centers a romance that sucks bad with a new female character who is poorly developed and was never seen again after this game - you'll need a PS3, Xbox 360 or an emulator to play

I hope this summary wasn't too overwhelming, and that one of these sparks your interest! the IDW comics are definitely the easiest entry point, but all three of these are good options, depending on what you're most interested in and have access to.

and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask, explaining Sonic to people makes my neurons fire like crazy, so you'd be doing us both a favor LMAO

have fun!! <3333

[cloud-player]

not to be a shipper but... this is literally aventurine and veritas

[cl0udstrife]

omg come check out my video on the himuro mansion of fatal frame fame ... wow it's alliterative !

[pumpkaaboo]

[spookysphereswarm]

Direct Inward Dialling (DID) 2025: The Direct-Dial Number Guide

In the fast-evolving telecommunication industry, Direct Inward Dialling (DID) remains the pillar of efficient business communication. As we step into 2025, the need for DID is not only not lost—it's evolving to fit the hybrid offices, worldwide teams, and future-proof VoIP systems of today.

Whether you are a scaling startup expanding overseas or an enterprise simplifying its customer journey, knowing how DID works and what it can do in 2025 can unleash massive advantages.

🔍 What is Direct Inward Dialling (DID)? Direct Inward Dialling (DID) is a telephony feature that allows companies to assign dedicated phone numbers to every department or employee without the need to assign a dedicated physical phone line to each. It forwards incoming external calls directly to an internal PBX or VoIP system.

For example, a business can have a single master trunk line but provide hundreds of direct lines for each of the team members—no switchboard required.

📈 Why DID Still Matters in 2025

DID has changed, but the essence of it remains the same: efficient, scalable, and affordable communication. Here's why it's more important than ever in 2025:

Remote-Ready Communication: With teams from remote locations working wherever they are, DIDs give local presence in most countries without offices.

Cost Effectiveness: Eliminate multiple phone lines and reduce international call charges with VoIP DID solutions.

Scalability: Easily add or drop direct numbers as your business grows or restructures.

Personalisation: Customers can reach the right person or department directly, improving customer experience and response.

🌍 DID Number Types in 2025 Up to 2025, the availability of DID numbers has grown:

Local Numbers: Provide a local presence in cities across the globe.

Toll-Free DIDs: Perfect for customer support and promotions.

Mobile DIDs: Popular where mobile-first business communication is the norm.

Virtual/Digital DIDs: Assigned via cloud-based platforms, with dynamic monitoring and routing.

🔧 How DID Works Today

Modern DID layouts typically exist in this format:

Service Provider: Allocates a block of phone numbers (DIDs).

PBX or VoIP System: Routes the incoming calls to the respective user/device based on the dialed DID.

Call Handling Rules: These can be call forwarding, voicemail, IVR menus, or SMS routing.

With cloud PBX, DID is more available, more flexible, and more combined than ever.

📱 DID and VoIP: A Winning Combination

The unification of DID and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is revolutionizing how businesses deal with calls. Most firms will possess Hosted VoIP PBX systems that offer by 2025:

Unified Communications (UCaaS) with voice, SMS, video, and CRM integrations

Global DIDs from over 100 countries

Advanced Analytics and Call Monitoring

This VoIP-DID package supports remote work, improves scalability, and lowers legacy telecommunication costs dramatically.

🛡️ Security and Compliance in 2025 With increasing cybersecurity concerns, modern DID systems are built with:

End-to-end encryption

Number masking

Multi-factor authentication

GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulatory models

Selecting an approved provider with authentic compliance credentials is crucial, particularly in compliance-intensive sectors.

🤔 How to Choose a DID Provider in 2025

Some of the most important things to observe are:

Global coverage with availability of local numbers

Transparent pricing

Real-time monitoring and call routing

Integration with help desks and CRMs

Real uptime and support

Major 2025 vendors include Twilio, RingCentral, Dialpad, and CloudTalk, but several smaller niche vendors also offer tailored solutions.

📚 Final Thoughts

With emerging communication technology, Direct Inward Dialling continues to be a vital solution for fast, customer-focused businesses. Are you streamlining call routing, cutting telecom expenses, or establishing an international presence? DID is not an extension number—it's a strategic tool.

In 2025, adopting a new, secure, and scalable DID solution can elevate your business communications to a whole new level and fortify customer relationships.

[cragsys]

Flexible Telecom Plans for Startups in the UAE: What You Need, When You Need It

Starting a business in the UAE is exciting—but also filled with decisions that can affect your growth trajectory. One of the most overlooked, yet crucial, choices you’ll make early on is your telecom setup.

From mobile lines and high-speed internet to cloud communications and virtual numbers, today’s startups need more than just a basic phone plan. They need flexibility, scalability, and cost control.

Luckily, telecom providers in the UAE are catching on—and offering plans built with startups in mind.

Let’s explore how your startup can benefit from flexible telecom solutions in the UAE and what to look for in a provider.

🚀 Why Startups Need Flexible Telecom Plans

Startups move fast. Your team might grow from 2 to 10 in a month. You could go from co-working space to a full office—or shift fully remote.

A rigid telecom plan just won’t cut it. Here’s what startups actually need:

No long-term contracts – You don’t want to be locked in before you find product-market fit.

Scalable plans – Add or remove users, devices, or features as your team changes.

Remote-friendly solutions – Work from anywhere, anytime.

Bundled services – Combine internet, voice, and cloud tools to save time and money.

Pay-as-you-go options – Control your cash flow in the early stages.

📡 Telecom Providers Offering Startup-Friendly Solutions in the UAE

🟢 Etisalat by e& – Business First & CloudTalk

Modular plans that let you choose voice, internet, and cloud add-ons

Offers eSIM for dual-line usage (great for founders on the go)

CloudTalk enables professional phone systems without hardware

5G business packages and unlimited data options for teams

🔵 du – Start-Up Bundles & Business Voice Plans

No upfront investment on select packages

Flexible internet + mobile + fixed voice combos

Free .ae domain, email, and website tools for new businesses

Dedicated SME support via WhatsApp and phone

🌐 Other Options

Yalla Business, Cisco Webex, and 3CX VoIP for remote collaboration and virtual PBX

Cloud-based services like Zoom Phone and RingCentral (note: check TRA compliance if using third-party platforms)

📊 What to Look for in a Flexible Telecom Plan

Here’s a quick checklist for choosing the right plan: FeatureWhy It Matters for StartupsContract-Free PlansAvoid long-term commitments early onAdd/Remove Users AnytimeScale quickly as your team growsIntegrated Cloud ToolsWork from anywhere, collaborate betterVoIP or Cloud PBXLook professional without office infrastructureBundled DiscountsSave money on combined internet, phone, and hosting24/7 Business SupportImmediate help when things go wrong

💡 Startup Tip: Don’t Just Go for the Cheapest Option

Cheap doesn’t always mean value. A slightly higher plan with:

Better uptime guarantees,

Faster response support,

And more inclusive features (like business email, static IP, or cloud storage)

…could save you time, hassle, and hidden costs later.

Always match the telecom solution to your business model:

Are you remote-first?

Are your customers international?

Do you rely on video conferencing or cloud-based platforms?

Let your answers guide your choice.

📍 Flexible Plans in Free Zones

If your startup is based in a UAE free zone like:

Dubai Internet City (DIC)

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)

DMCC

Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park (SRTIP)

…you may already have tailored telecom packages built into your business license. These often include:

Office internet

IP telephony

IT support

Discounted mobile and cloud services

Always ask your free zone authority what’s included or available for upgrade.

🧾 Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Scale Fast

The UAE is one of the best places to launch a startup in the MENA region. With its high-speed internet infrastructure, 5G rollout, and government support for SMEs, you have the tools to build big—if you start smart.

Flexible telecom plans give you the freedom to grow, pivot, and communicate without limits.

So don’t get stuck in rigid contracts or overpriced plans. Choose a telecom strategy that moves as fast as your startup does.

[takesuhigher]

That’s not very good #CloudTalk 😤

[pumpkaaboo]

personally i always saw quickening as an extremely practical invention. much like @/abronzeagegod, i also saw it as briefly shifting into a different layer of reality. but if you think about it, when you're fighting beasts who are much larger than you, who have fingers the size of your entire body, maybe can breathe fire or shoot lightning... no matter how strong and agile you are, it might be physically impossible for you to dodge out of the way of certain attacks. but if you can blip out of reality for a split second, that might be all you need to survive the worst of the fire or clip through that beast's claws.

in other words, quickening is the in-universe explanation for invincibility frames.

Okay so what's the deal with the Art of the Quickening being named That? Bloodborne has a lot of birth related metaphors and such but why is Quickstepping called that???

So for anyone who doesn't know, "quickening" is an old timey term for the moment when a fetus in the womb starts to move and the mother begins to feel it. Historically, this is when it was believed the soul of a person was enshrined in the body. This term has largely fell out of fashion.

Now this isn't what it's used for in Bloodborne obviously. The Art of the Quickening means to move the Hunter quick in-and-out for rapid kills in the Olden days when speed and efficiency were the Modus Operandi of the Hunt. Several hunters use this most of which are found within the Nightmare (other than Gehrman) but idk. There's something to be said that the main Actual Named Users (Gehrman and Maria) occupy similar roles in their respect Dreams/Nightmares with relation to the Great Ones there, and how they both raise their hands in the "Make Contact" gesture upon death. Maria is abandoned (I mean, she was just a Tool really, the Main Living Failure) but the Nameless Moon Presence seems to "hear" Gehrman's call and responds according to what the Hunter has done prior to the battle (she also abandons him, but for different reasons here). Idk there's something connecting the two here and I'm metaphorically spinning my pen in my hands trying to pierce together what though.

[cloud-player]

me watching my sanity crumble for the nth time this week (it's only wednesday)

[saif12tele]

Cost-Effective Connectivity for Businesses

Transforming the Telecom Industry for a Connected Tomorrow

In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, businesses demand more than just voice calls—they need seamless, cost-effective, and feature-rich communication solutions. Enter Mobile VoIP: the game-changer in modern business communication.

✅ Cut Costs: Say goodbye to expensive international calls and traditional phone systems. ✅ Boost Flexibility: Work from anywhere with internet connectivity. ✅ Enhance Collaboration: Enjoy features like video conferencing, unified messaging, and virtual numbers. ✅ Scale with Ease: Grow your business without worrying about infrastructure costs.

At Saif Telecommunications, we’re at the forefront of this revolution. Our Mobile VoIP solutions empower businesses to connect smarter, faster, and more affordably—helping you focus on what matters most: growth and innovation.

Did you know that the mobile VoIP market is projected to reach a staggering $327.5 billion by 2031? 😮 Such growth underscores a seismic shift in how businesses are reimagining communication in the digital age. The advantages of mobile VoIP are profound: - **Cost-effectiveness**: Slash phone bills and eliminate long-distance charges with internet-based calling. - **Advanced Features**: From voicemail transcription to video conferencing, VoIP systems are packed with functionalities unavailable in traditional systems. - **Global Reach**: Platforms like CloudTalk offer over 160 international numbers, enhancing customer engagement worldwide.

Connect Us on Social Media –

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/saiftelecommunicationspteltd

Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/saiftelecommunicationspteltd/?next=%2F

Twitter - https://x.com/saiftelecomm

[cl0udstrife]

this took me out

[cloud-player]

No NO NO FUCK I LITERALLY POSTED THIS LIKE 2 DAYS BEFORE THE 2.2 TRAILER DROPPED IM GONNA KMS (this is amazing art tho)

Sunday

[mauriciocassemiro]

Transforme sua comunicação com a CloudTalk! ☁️📞

Está pronto para elevar o seu atendimento ao cliente a um novo patamar? Com a CloudTalk ☁️📞, você tem tudo o que precisa para uma comunicação eficiente e integrada.

✨ Funcionalidades Incríveis:

☎️ Chamadas VoIP: Conexões nítidas e de alta qualidade, sem custos altos. 👦🏽 Integração com CRMs: Sincronize suas interações e tenha um histórico completo do cliente na palma da sua mão. 📈 Conheça seus clientes: Utilize ferramentas de analytics para entender melhor o comportamento do seu público. 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Atendimento Multicanal: Converse com seus clientes através de telefone, chat e e-mail em uma única plataforma. ⏺️ Gravação de Chamadas: Garanta que nenhum detalhe importante se perca e melhore constantemente sua equipe. 🪛 Facilidade de Configuração: Comece a usar em minutos, sem complicações técnicas.

Com a CloudTalk, você não apenas otimiza suas operações, mas também proporciona uma experiência excepcional aos seus clientes. 🚀

💼 Experimente agora e transforme a forma como sua empresa se comunica: https://get.cloudtalk.io/mauriciocassemiro