#efficient document creation

[pdqdocs]

Simplified Document Creation with PDQ Docs: Streamlining Your Workflow

In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency and time-saving tools are essential in every aspect of business and personal work. When it comes to document creation, many professionals face the challenge of managing complex formatting, collaboration, and time-consuming revisions. With PDQ Docs, document creation has been made easier, faster, and more streamlined than ever before. This innovative software is designed to simplify the process of creating professional documents, enabling users to focus on the content rather than the format.

How PDQ Docs Simplifies the Document Creation Process

PDQ Docs revolutionizes the way documents are created by providing a user-friendly interface and an array of powerful tools that reduce the complexity traditionally associated with document formatting. Whether you are drafting a simple letter, preparing a business report, or putting together a legal document, PDQ Docs makes the task significantly less daunting. The software eliminates the need for extensive knowledge of formatting techniques and complex features found in traditional word processors.

One of the key benefits of simplified document creation with PDQ Docs is its intuitive interface. The software is designed to be accessible for both beginners and advanced users, making it easy to create polished documents without the steep learning curve associated with other tools. Whether you are creating a document from scratch or modifying an existing template, PDQ Docs ensures that the process is as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Efficiency in Document Formatting

One of the most time-consuming aspects of simplified document creation is formatting. Whether it's aligning text, adjusting margins, or selecting the appropriate font size, these details can quickly become overwhelming. PDQ Docs simplifies this process by providing pre-set templates and automatic formatting options that save time and effort. You no longer need to manually adjust settings every time you create a new document. The software handles most formatting tasks for you, allowing you to focus more on the content itself.

Security and Reliability

When creating and sharing documents, especially in professional settings, security is a top priority. PDQ Docs offers robust security features to ensure that your documents are protected. The software encrypts your documents and stores them in a secure cloud environment, making it easy to access and edit them from anywhere while keeping them safe from unauthorized access. The cloud-based system also ensures that your documents are backed up, so you never have to worry about losing important work due to a computer malfunction or data loss.

Conclusion

Simplified document creation is no longer a distant goal, thanks to PDQ Docs. With its user-friendly interface, collaborative features, efficient formatting tools, and top-notch security, this document creation software is designed to save you time, reduce stress, and help you produce professional documents quickly. Whether you’re a small business owner, a student, or a professional in any industry, PDQ Docs is the ideal solution for simplifying the document creation process and improving your workflow. Try PDQ Docs today and experience the future of document creation.

[winged-void]

can you show the world The Mage and its Maid

Memoirs of The Mad Mage

Society, our society, is, broadly speaking, (and so agreed upon by many experts) the outgrowth of systems which never needed interact. Magic and flesh, biology and intellect that was a gift we can never return. You are familiar with these effects if not their causes, but those things are of no concern here. 

This is to say. 

You would expect such a system of systems, to produce aberrant results. The gods did not predict this nor could they plan it. Outgrowth. Externality of their need for worshippers. 

The priorities of such a system would not bias towards aberrance. Shun it. Remove it. 

But is aberrance not progress? Nothing (by definition!) can move forward without change, and what is aberrance but unexpected change. 

A wise reader might have gathered that this expert speaks of the existence of the monstrous. The strange that lurks outside of our little societies and yet seems so much more powerful than it. Is something like leviathan, or a dragon, not much more powerful than any given person? Could it not level our towns? 

Such things lack a fabric binding them. Kill ten thousand people and you'll find only more wanting your head. That power is much more. Is that not the selfsame source of the power our little intelligences were created by the gods to provide them? That togetherness, that binding agent? 

It seems then, that our society would be safe. 

Unless. There were some part of it. Some bright burning star. Some loose stitch in the fabric. That would give that gift to the monstrous, knowing it as its own. 

And I-

tick tick tick tick 

The Mage's pen stilled. 

tickticktickticktick

The pen dropped from its burn-scarred hand. 

ticktick tick   tick ticktick

It looked up. 

Across from the desk at which she wrote, there was a creature of her own creation, one she called the only name she had for a thing such as it: maid. 

An animate suit of armor, wearing a simple black robe, with a white smock thrown over it. To the untrained eye it would seem the armor had an ornate texture across it. And while that is technically true, the more expert viewer would see that texture for what it is: countless runes, all engraved by the steady hand of only the most determined mage. 

When it moved, one could hear a mild sloshing, like it was full of a liquid, which, despite many gaps in the armor, never leaked. 

Right now though, all the Mage could hear was ticking. Uneven, unsteady, disorganized ticking. 

“Cease. Cease cease cease you insipid horrid wretched disgusting thing.”

The faceplate on the armor superheated, melting into the vague impression of a smile. 

The Maid replied, “Oh, my lady, my dearest and most wonderful lady. Please understand. It produces such a rhythmic noise because it has observed, and documented, an uptick in your writing efficiency when such noises are produced.”

It tilted its head to punctuate the statement. 

The Mage stood, and leaned over the table, matted hair draping itself over the ink and paper, and spoke. 

“No. NO. I know you can produce rhythm and that was not it. It was inconsistent. You know it to be inconsistent.”

The Maid tilted its head yet more. 

“Oh my lady, it apologizes so terribly. Your inquisitive spirit was instilled in its being.

“As such, it sought to conduct an experiment of sorts. It wished to see which rhythm would best benefit you. So it switched between them.”

Silence. 

The Mage began to laugh. 

Scrambling over the desk, it grabbed the Maid's arm and began to shake it. 

“How wonderful. How creative. How beautiful. You spite me despite all precautions put in place. I simply must see more. I must.”

She thought for a moment, and looked, not at the faceplate, but instead to where it knew the organism to be. 

“I will. Thank you.”

The Mage fell back into its seat, and began to write much more frantically than before, stopping only to look back up at its creation another time. 

“I will.”

[paper-mario-wiki]

It only recently occurred to me that the Garden of Eden Creation Kits, or G.E.C.K. devices in Fallout, stand as a karmic opposite to the symbol of the nuclear bomb.

The nuclear bomb is effective as a weapon is a two stage attack. First there's the boom. An invention the size of a small car, in a flash so short you wouldn't even be able to think about it before being vaporized if you were anywhere within 2 miles of where it was, and you'd be lucky to live longer than 10 minutes if you weren't at least 10 miles away. An unstoppable, unhaltable fire that burns hot enough to vaporize anything even remotely alive instantly, and it's the size of a city before you have enough time to say "oh my god look at that". And then, after this devastating, all consuming flame goes out, the decay left over from that little drop of metal leaves the earth, the water, the sky, and all other physical domains completely uninhabitable for YEARS. It instantly creates a domain so remarkably dangerous that it becomes a global landmark. I'd say that it is only slightly hyperbolic in a cheesey poetic way that what a nuclear bomb does is create the closest thing to literal hell on earth that humans are currently capable (whether by scientific limitation, or by moral unwillingness) of creating.

On the other hand, the G.E.C.K., a sleek silver briefcase the size of a 2005 laptop, acts as a compact seed to create a stable, healthy environment, with enough power in a hyper-dense coal fusion battery to power a city. A succinct utopia in a box. In early depictions this was described as hyper resilient seeds, chemical mixtures to create viable soil, instructions for how to disassemble and reuse shelters to become extremely resilient and powerful new world places of safety, as well as vast documents on the details and assembly of advanced and highly efficient technologies like force fields. In later games, it was increased to something of a mythical item, capable of literally terraforming miles of earth down to the molecular level to be safe for habitation, as well as the ability to replicate anything you might need in terms of rations or supplies. In its own way, it is mankind's best attempt (at least in the Fallout universe) to create a massive-scale utopia in as small of a box, that creates as close to a heaven on earth, as possible. And it's even got a biblical tie-in right in the name. I think that's very fitting.

[forestclan-clangen]

Lore Dive: Deep Root Entities and Hallucinations

[Image ID: An image featuring three entities; two are creatures with long, spider-like legs, while the third had a decrepit house with a root-like plant in front and a figure at a window. In the two bottom corners are frightened cats. In text are the words, "Deep Root Entities, or, What are Woodcrawlers, exactly?" End ID.]

Almost all of the creatures that will be introduced in ForestClan's story will borrow heavy inspiration from Gemini Home Entertainment (GHE for short), with some liberties taken for the sake of a compelling story. I will give a brief summary of all the creatures and relevant entities that will be a part of ForestClan's story. GHE doesn't have an official group name for all of these monsters, so for convenience sake, I've dubbed them Deep Root entities. The only exception will be the Well-Groomed Cats mentioned in Moon 2, which are best described as a dream entity or a hallucination.

ORIGINS

Deep Root entities came to Earth in a very strange manner. While the Iris was mutating Neptune, it used the "blue spot" of Neptune - an ice storm - as a lens to focus a light-like beam of energy containing a seed of itself towards Earth's surface. It landed in Moonlight Acres Camp in the human year 1935, where the Iris then began to invade the dreams of one of the humans living near there. It convinced them to feed and cultivate this seed into something larger - resulting in the spread of all kinds of alien menaces on ForestClan's territory.

For the most part, these creatures originate from sprawling, carved out tunnel systems made of roots, flesh, and other living matter. Most of these entities follow a consistent design scheme: they are brown, earthy, and root-like. Their tunnel systems on the other hand, are more ghastly - they are red, off-yellow, flesh-like and stretched out like shifted tendons.

The list of dangers are as follows:

Woodcrawlers - a creature with spider-like legs. No cat has survived a close encounter with one to describe if it has a face, or mouth of any kind. It kills and hides so quickly and efficiently that even a cat's StarClan spirit can barely recall anything other than a "proboscis". ForestClan knows that Woodcrawlers and the Nature's Mockery plant must be responsible for the creation of Fake Beings, but they haven't stuck around either entity for long enough to figure out how. Woodcrawlers seem to be avoidant of rainy weather, and are frightened by the sound of thunder. A good example of this creature would be its appearance in Moon 4.

Nature's Mockery - a plant-like entity with a triangular shape. It is extremely dangerous, as touching it is known to cause hallucinations, muscular paralysis, flesh decay, and death. The plants seem to be vulnerable to fire. Cats of ForestClan occasionally group Woodcrawlers and Nature's Mockery together, calling them both "mockeries of nature".

Fake Beings - so far, only humans and cats have been documented by ForestClan to exist. Possessed bodies covered in roots that constantly scream for help. Acts as a lure.

Luring Lights - known by humans (and in GHE) as "Lights in the Sky events". Bright balls of light that float listlessly above Woodcrawler dens. They are stationary, and do not move. Acts as a lure.

Infected predators - As mentioned by Iciclepool in Moon 3 - foxes, bears, and other predators can be infected by something coming from Deep Roots, making them behave erratically. They never seem to turn into Fake Beings, however. If an infected predator is found, it is recommended to avoid them until they leave the area, or die of whatever infected them.

Gardeners - some unholy cross between a Woodcrawler and a Luring Light - tall creatures with long legs and round, bright lights for faces. Surprisingly fast. It's rumoured that as per their namesake, they tend to the underground systems that other Deep Root entities use to navigate. Not seen often by ForestClan - and they're thankful for it.

Deep Root Disease (DRD) - a virus originating from the root-like structures that coat Nature's Mockeries and the underground tunnel systems. The roots seem to latch onto its host's flesh, and instead of fighting it, the cells welcome it. It is most analogous to a tumor at this time. It transforms any entity infected into...something else. Thankfully, ForestClan is unaware of its existence because it only infects humans...for now.

The Wretch - the monstrous creature of ForestClan myth that destroyed all the other Clans, except theirs. They believe this to be the source of all evil, and are convinced that if the woods are not fed, they risk this creature returning to destroy them. In truth, this creature is a massively mutated bear, created as a punishment when the human camp manager of Moonlight Acres tried to sacrifice it to the Iris instead of humans. The fact that the Clans were destroyed was the result of its sheer size, and the fact that the Wretch was indiscriminate in its absorption of living tissue. Somehow, it still exists, somewhere, in the woods. Waiting. It has incorporated the bodies of hundreds of animals and several humans into its form. Their former selves are no longer recognizable. It has lost all semblance to a bear.

Living Tendrils - the only original creature on this list, not originally from GHE. Since my modded Clangen rolls automatically for if a kit lives or is taken by the woods when they're created, I need a source for how the woods try to take the kits. None of the preexisting creatures seemed suitable, so I made my own. I'll improvise on occasion and have newborns die from sickness, stillbirth, etc. when I find this "mechanic" gets too much (aka repetitive and makes ForestClan look incompetent). Living Tendrils are tentacle-like vines that seep through cracks, walls, and all manner of terrain to try and steal kits...or a weakened queen or any injured warrior that dares get in its path. ForestClan fears these the most. Speaking their names are akin to inviting in a Boogeyman - they will sooner speak aloud about Woodcrawlers than speak about the tendrils. ForestClan, however, knows they fear two things: fire, and lightning strikes.

Well-Groomed Entities - these are explicitly NOT a Deep Root entity, as they are not corporeal. In GHE, these are known as the "Well-Dressed Men". For cats, they were mentioned by Iciclepool to Talonpaw in Moon 2 as the "Well-Groomed Cats with fur-less heads". These are hallucinations sent by the Iris to invade the dreams of its targets, in order to manipulate and trick its victims into performing acts that they normally would not do. For humans - a human was tricked into believing that angels were speaking to them. For the cats - they believed these were omens from the woods, and when they stopped appearing and gave way to the Wretch, the Clans believed these hallucinations had supernatural power beyond their understanding, even beyond StarClan. For all intents and purposes - Well-Groomed Entities ARE the Iris.

[absolutely-esme]

There is this trope where whatever thing the plot revolves around has been around and involved long enough to shape humanity's technological, cultural, or even evolutionary development, but human society is just the same as it is in the real world where that thing doesn't exist.

Which means that either whatever source this information comes from is lying, or the writer has decided to majorly nerf humans in this fictional universe.

"Humanity never could have invented cell phones without this crashed alien space ship!" Bitch, yes we could. We have the entire process from the discovery of radio waves to modern smart phones documented. Every step in that process is well within the capabilities of human beings, especially when you take our tendency to teach and learn from each other into account.

"Whithout this weird magical being's interference, humans would still be living in caves!" No we wouldn't. Humans will find ways to make stuff out of anything we happen to have on hand. I have seen a YouTube video of someone making a ballgown out of smartphone cases that needed a wooden framework on wheels for the skirt because it would have been way too heavy for a hoopskirt and a normal person's waist. You really think the species that did that can't work out how to build buildings without some outside force explaining it?

"Humans wouldn't even have those big brains without the intervention of..." I'm just gonna stop you right there. Dogs, cats, and fire were all major contributing factors in the development of big brains in humans. Hunting with dogs was more efficient and got more meat. Cats kept rodents at bay which allowed us to store more food. Fire allowed us to get more out of our food by cooking it to make the nutrients more available. All of this allowed us to dedicate more calories to brain function without starving. It wasn't an outside force of dubious intentions that made us the species we are, it was the companion species who made the journey with us and the fires we lit along the way.

Sometimes it's done in a way that actually works, but a lot of times I find myself thinking "damn, you really couldn't think of anything interesting to add to modern life?"

Like, in the live action transformers movies (which I could complain about plenty) they found and studied Megatron and the freaking Allspark itself and all they got was an alternate path to the smart phone? Not better prosthetic limbs, sentient robot companions, or even just stuff that folds up for travel better?

You're telling me that the species that raised wolf cubs despite knowing how dangerous wolves were to them and selectively bred the nightmares that hunted us for our meat into our beloved dogs looked at the scrappy little critters the Allspark generated and didn't think "but what if friend?" That they didn't see a the creation of a new life that was like a much tinier version of the bigger thing they found and think "Oh my goodness it's a baby!"

That's so boring. The Bayverse's version of humanity is boring and mean and sad.

If you want an example that I think works, Kyuubey from Madoka Magica claiming credit for humanity's progress works, because it would make sense for Kyuubey to lie about this. Kyuubey wants something and is demonstrably willing to mislead and withhold information to get it (the soul gem reveal was a pretty big deal).

Kyuubey deliberately targets children who haven't finished school and not, say, university students or graduates looking for work. Kyuubey claims it is because young girls produce the most emotional energy, but we don't have any evidence outside of Kyuubey's word regarding Kyuubey's reason for anything, and Kyuubey is not a reliable narrator.

Kyuubey's role in the story is something dangerous disguised as something nice, a wolf in sheep's clothing, if you will. Adding one more layer of deception that makes Kyuubey look better or, at least, more necessary to a kid who doesn't know better works just fine in the story that's being told.

[claudesdear]

FOR MY ASK GAMEEEEE

1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 15, 20, 21, 23.

- @brutally-loving

Hi Krue! I’ll answer these for Zandik <3

1. What animal does your F/O remind you of?

A raven - for its intelligence, eerie presence and ability to pick apart mysteries with a sharp mind. And a shark - for the predatory nature, sharp teeth and the way he never truly stops moving forward, always hunting for knowledge.

3. What is your favorite hobby to think about doing with your F/O?

Experimenting together, though not always in a traditional, clinical way. He’s lost in his work, scribbling calculations at an alarming pace, muttering theories under his breath, and I, his most valued assistant, creation, and his wife, stand beside him - sometimes helping, sometimes teasing him for overworking himself. Maybe I’m lying on the operating table, allowing him to study me more, unafraid of his scalpel.

Philosophical debates over dinner are another hobby, an intellectual sparring that only strengthens the bond between us. And on rare, quieter evenings? Stargazing in the desert, lying on the cool sand, speaking of the fake sky, eternity, and how insignificant yet fascinating human life is. He'd scoff at sentimentality, but his gloved fingers would linger against mine just a second longer than necessary.

4. What chores would your F/O do around the house? Are there any they REALLY dislike?

Chores he would do around the lab:

organizing research notes and materials - Everything must be in its proper place for maximum efficiency. If a single document is misplaced, we can expect a dramatic reaction.

calibrating and maintaining equipment - If anyone else touches his machines, they’ll never do it right. Best to handle it himself.

overseeing test subjects (including myself) - Whether it’s monitoring data or making precise adjustments, he takes personal satisfaction in his work.

Chores he’d avoid like the plague:

cleaning up after experiments – Bloodstains? Shattered glass? That’s what assistants (like me) are for. He’s too busy refining theories to deal with the aftermath.

cooking and meal prep - If it isn’t something he can eat or drink quickly while working, it’s an inconvenience. He might forget to eat for hours, if not days, so cooking is my job.

laundry - He wears the same coat until it’s absolutely necessary to change it. One of his segments might handle laundry, but he certainly won’t.

Bonus: Chores he’d delegate to his segments:

“lesser” administrative work - One of his segments can handle mundane tasks like lab supply inventory, since he considers it beneath his time.

dealing with unimportant visitors - If someone dares to interrupt his work for trivial reasons, he has other versions of himself to shoo them away.

6. What kind of ringtone or notification sound would you have for your F/O?

Since I’m part of his hivemind, I don’t really need one, as we talk through telepathy a lot. Still, if my self-insert would have a phone, his voice saying “Ah… Did you think you could ignore me?” or something like that whenever he called would be funny (and make me a blushing mess).

12. What color do you associate with your F/O?

Light blue, like his hair!

15. What would your F/O get you for Valentine's day, if anything?

1) Zandik is all about his work and my relationship with him is no different - a gift that benefits us both is the perfect option. He might craft something personally tailored for me, like a specialized Geo-focused enhancement tool or a new experimental device that maximizes my powers (especially considering my sand abilities).

2) For him, the greatest gift he could offer would likely be knowledge. A private “lesson” on a forbidden or rare piece of research he’s been working on, something that could be either dangerous or highly advanced would be something he thinks would show me how much he cares. I’d learn more about his deepest interests this way.

3) He might also see the day as the perfect opportunity to “celebrate” by involving me in one of his most advanced and personal experiments yet - something that could challenge both of us, test the limits of my powers and deepen our bond in a scientific way. The experiment would be a way to bring us closer and prove the connection between us, perhaps by enhancing my abilities even further. “Gift” or not, it’s a test of love and intellect.

20. What're your F/O’s favorite personality traits of yours?

My intellectual curiosity, seeing that I’m equally interested in experimenting and expanding my limits, just like him. My ambition and determination to constantly improve and my dedication to furthering my abilities, especially considering how far I've come under his guidance, would be something he’s especially proud of. My independence, I don't simply exist as his assistant or test subject - I stand on my own and make my own decisions. I complement his need for control and precision. My ability to adapt and learn, as I’m the type who can absorb information, challenge him, and still stand firm in my ideas, which he’d view as a sign of strength. The fact that I've grown both emotionally and intellectually thanks to him makes him proud. My determination to challenge him - he’d find it incredibly stimulating when I challenge his views, question his methods or test the limits of his ideas. It shows that I’m not just a passive participant but someone who brings a unique perspective. It also means that deep down, I’m on his level, capable of thinking critically and independently. This appeals to his sense of superiority in a way that’s paradoxically flattering to him. He likes that I keep him on his toes.

The way I’ve survived his experiments and the resilience I show despite the pain and challenges I’ve faced also stand out to him.

21. If your F/O drew you, how would you describe the art piece?

If Zandik drew me, the art piece would likely reflect his meticulous nature and sharp attention to detail, with an almost clinical precision. I would be depicted with an air of otherworldly grace, perhaps standing amidst his laboratory's cool backdrop, with sand swirling at my feet or entwined around my form as a reminder of my powers. The lines would be clean and sharp, much like the precision with which he conducts his experiments. Every curve, angle and shadow would be deliberate, as though he’s trying to capture not just my physical form but the very essence of who I am - my power, my resilience and my complex bond with him. The color palette would be muted - greys, deep blues and maybe hints of warm sand tones.

23. What color would your F/O associate you with?

He’d likely associate me with a rich, deep shade of sand, a warm, earthy tone reflecting my Eremite desert heritage and connection to the sands. The sand, in his eyes, is a metaphor for my ever-shifting nature, how I can adapt, heal and even reform, much like the grains of sand that move and change shape yet remain a constant force in nature. He might see dark reds or crimson intertwined with that, representing my passion and the power he’s helped unlock!

[pdqdocs]

Streamlining Business Operations with PDQ Docs: The Ideal Document Generation Software for Small Business

As a small business owner, one of the key challenges you face is balancing productivity with efficiency. Time spent on repetitive tasks like document creation can take away from more strategic efforts, potentially stalling growth. That's where document generation software for small business becomes a game-changer. PDQ Docs is designed to help small business owners streamline document creation, ensuring that they can focus on scaling their businesses instead of getting bogged down in administrative tasks.

Why Small Businesses Need Document Generation Software

Small businesses often operate with limited resources, meaning time and efficiency are precious. Document creation tasks, such as drafting contracts, invoices, reports, and proposals, can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when done manually. These documents also need to be accurate, professional, and consistent to build credibility with clients, customers, and partners. Without the right tools, managing these tasks can lead to errors, delays, and missed opportunities.

By using document generation software for small business, such as PDQ Docs, you can automate much of the document creation process, freeing up time for more important tasks. The software provides an efficient way to generate professional documents quickly and accurately, all while maintaining high standards of quality.

How PDQ Docs Simplifies Document Creation

PDQ Docs is a highly intuitive and user-friendly document generation software for small business owners. It removes the complexity traditionally associated with creating business documents. Whether you’re drafting an invoice, creating a business proposal, or preparing legal contracts, PDQ Docs makes it easy to produce polished, professional documents in just a few clicks.

The software is equipped with pre-designed templates that cater to a wide variety of business needs. These templates are fully customizable, allowing you to add your business details and tailor the document to your specific requirements. This reduces the time spent formatting and ensures that every document is consistent with your business’s branding.

Collaboration Made Easy

For small businesses with a team, collaboration on documents can sometimes be a logistical challenge. With PDQ Docs, teams can easily collaborate on document creation in real time. Multiple users can edit a document simultaneously, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date version. The software automatically tracks changes, making it easy to see what has been added or altered, which is crucial when finalizing important documents.

This feature is particularly helpful when creating complex documents like contracts or proposals that require input from various team members. The ability to collaborate seamlessly reduces errors, speeds up the process, and ensures that no detail is overlooked.

Conclusion

PDQ Docs is an essential document generation software for small business owners who want to save time, reduce errors, and improve the overall efficiency of their operations. With its easy-to-use interface, customizable templates, collaboration features, and cost-effectiveness, PDQ Docs empowers small businesses to generate professional-quality documents quickly and easily. By using this software, small business owners can focus more on driving growth and less on administrative tasks. Try PDQ Docs today and experience the future of document creation for small businesses.

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Oh, hey, resume tip.

If the listing separates the job into different categories, set up your resume with those same categories.

So, I did one last week where the listing was broken into "Writing and Editing Experience," "Review and Release Management," and "Process Creation and Improvement."

So, under each, I wrote a couple of things I had done at different work places.

A very vague example:

Writing and Editing Experience

Did this many types of documents.

Created this document. Edited all these documents.

Converted all these documents, which included a full edit of each document.

Review and Release Management

Worked closely with [long list of professionals] to review and release all documents.

Tracked multiple documents across several projects, all with separate project timelines, to meet all necessary deadlines.

Kept track of who had completed reviews and who still needed to using [tool they want proof I know how to use].

Process Creation and Improvement

[Two sentences detailing how I was first hire for a whole department, so everything we were doing was because of me. You're welcome.]

In X process, found work could be completed more efficiently if Y was done, so implemented Y.

Improved processes by actually teaching people we have shit like templates and a style guide, which cut down on overall process time because we didn't have to unfuck everything before formatting it.

The end result is that reusing their own terminology should get you pushed past the automatic review that will reject you if you don't have the exact wording. Also, sprinkle in all the verbs and adjectives from the listing you can. If they call experts "stakeholders," then everyone you talk to is a stakeholder. If they say "juggle several projects," then do NOT say you "multitask." You juggle several projects.

[jcmarchi]

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ganesh-shankar-ceo-co-founder-of-responsive-interview-series/

Ganesh Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder of Responsive – Interview Series

Ganesh Shankar, CEO and Co-Founder of Responsive, is an experienced product manager with a background in leading product development and software implementations for Fortune 500 enterprises. During his time in product management, he observed inefficiencies in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process—formal documents organizations use to solicit bids from vendors, often requiring extensive, detailed responses. Managing RFPs traditionally involves multiple stakeholders and repetitive tasks, making the process time-consuming and complex.

Founded in 2015 as RFPIO, Responsive was created to streamline RFP management through more efficient software solutions. The company introduced an automated approach to enhance collaboration, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency. Over time, its technology expanded to support other complex information requests, including Requests for Information (RFIs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and security questionnaires.

Today, as Responsive, the company provides solutions for strategic response management, helping organizations accelerate growth, mitigate risk, and optimize their proposal and information request processes.

What inspired you to start Responsive, and how did you identify the gap in the market for response management software?

My co-founders and I founded Responsive in 2015 after facing our own struggles with the RFP response process at the software company we were working for at the time. Although not central to our job functions, we dedicated considerable time assisting the sales team with requests for proposals (RFPs), often feeling underappreciated despite our vital role in securing deals. Frustrated with the lack of technology to make the RFP process more efficient, we decided to build a better solution.  Fast forward nine years, and we’ve grown to nearly 500 employees, serve over 2,000 customers—including 25 Fortune 100 companies—and support nearly 400,000 users worldwide.

How did your background in product management and your previous roles influence the creation of Responsive?

As a product manager, I was constantly pulled by the Sales team into the RFP response process, spending almost a third of my time supporting sales instead of focusing on my core product management responsibilities. My two co-founders experienced a similar issue in their technology and implementation roles. We recognized this was a widespread problem with no existing technology solution, so we leveraged our almost 50 years of combined experience to create Responsive. We saw an opportunity to fundamentally transform how organizations share information, starting with managing and responding to complex proposal requests.

Responsive has evolved significantly since its founding in 2015. How do you maintain the balance between staying true to your original vision and adapting to market changes?

First, we’re meticulous about finding and nurturing talent that embodies our passion – essentially cloning our founding spirit across the organization. As we’ve scaled, it’s become critical to hire managers and team members who can authentically represent our core cultural values and commitment.

At the same time, we remain laser-focused on customer feedback. We document every piece of input, regardless of its size, recognizing that these insights create patterns that help us navigate product development, market positioning, and any uncertainty in the industry. Our approach isn’t about acting on every suggestion, but creating a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends across a variety of sources.

We also push ourselves to think beyond our immediate industry and to stay curious about adjacent spaces. Whether in healthcare, technology, or other sectors, we continually find inspiration for innovation. This outside-in perspective allows us to continually raise the bar, inspiring ideas from unexpected places and keeping our product dynamic and forward-thinking.

What metrics or success indicators are most important to you when evaluating the platform’s impact on customers?

When evaluating Responsive’s impact, our primary metric is how we drive customer revenue. We focus on two key success indicators: top-line revenue generation and operational efficiency. On the efficiency front, we aim to significantly reduce RFP response time – for many, we reduce it by 40%. This efficiency enables our customers to pursue more opportunities, ultimately accelerating their revenue generation potential.

How does Responsive leverage AI and machine learning to provide a competitive edge in the response management software market?

We leverage AI and machine learning to streamline response management in three key ways. First, our generative AI creates comprehensive proposal drafts in minutes, saving time and effort. Second, our Ask solution provides instant access to vetted organizational knowledge, enabling faster, more accurate responses. Third, our Profile Center helps InfoSec teams quickly find and manage security content.

With over $600 billion in proposals managed through the Responsive platform and four million Q&A pairs processed, our AI delivers intelligent recommendations and deep insights into response patterns. By automating complex tasks while keeping humans in control, we help organizations grow revenue, reduce risk, and respond more efficiently.

What differentiates Responsive’s platform from other solutions in the industry, particularly in terms of AI capabilities and integrations?

Since 2015, AI has been at the core of Responsive, powering a platform trusted by over 2,000 global customers. Our solution supports a wide range of RFx use cases, enabling seamless collaboration, workflow automation, content management, and project management across teams and stakeholders.

With key AI capabilities—like smart recommendations, an AI assistant, grammar checks, language translation, and built-in prompts—teams can deliver high-quality RFPs quickly and accurately.

Responsive also offers unmatched native integrations with leading apps, including CRM, cloud storage, productivity tools, and sales enablement. Our customer value programs include APMP-certified consultants, Responsive Academy courses, and a vibrant community of 1,500+ customers sharing insights and best practices.

Can you share insights into the development process behind Responsive’s core features, such as the AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses?

Responsive AI is built on the foundation of accurate, up-to-date content, which is critical to the effectiveness of our AI recommendation engine and automated RFP responses. AI alone cannot resolve conflicting or incomplete data, so we’ve prioritized tools like hierarchical tags and robust content management to help users organize and maintain their information. By combining generative AI with this reliable data, our platform empowers teams to generate fast, high-quality responses while preserving credibility. AI serves as an assistive tool, with human oversight ensuring accuracy and authenticity, while features like the Ask product enable seamless access to trusted knowledge for tackling complex projects.

How have advancements in cloud computing and digitization influenced the way organizations approach RFPs and strategic response management?

Advancements in cloud computing have enabled greater efficiency, collaboration, and scalability. Cloud-based platforms allow teams to centralize content, streamline workflows, and collaborate in real time, regardless of location. This ensures faster turnaround times and more accurate, consistent responses.

Digitization has also enhanced how organizations manage and access their data, making it easier to leverage AI-powered tools like recommendation engines and automated responses. With these advancements, companies can focus more on strategy and personalization, responding to RFPs with greater speed and precision while driving better outcomes.

Responsive has been instrumental in helping companies like Microsoft and GEODIS streamline their RFP processes. Can you share a specific success story that highlights the impact of your platform?

Responsive has played a key role in supporting Microsoft’s sales staff by managing and curating 20,000 pieces of proposal content through its Proposal Resource Library, powered by Responsive AI. This technology enabled Microsoft’s proposal team to contribute $10.4 billion in revenue last fiscal year. Additionally, by implementing Responsive, Microsoft saved its sellers 93,000 hours—equivalent to over $17 million—that could be redirected toward fostering stronger customer relationships.

As another example of  Responsive providing measurable impact, our customer Netsmart significantly improved their response time and efficiency by implementing Responsive’s AI capabilities. They achieved a 10X faster response time, increased proposal submissions by 67%, and saw a 540% growth in user adoption. Key features such as AI Assistant, Requirements Analysis, and Auto Respond played crucial roles in these improvements. The integration with Salesforce and the establishment of a centralized Content Library further streamlined their processes, resulting in a 93% go-forward rate for RFPs and a 43% reduction in outdated content. Overall, Netsmart’s use of Responsive’s AI-driven platform led to substantial time savings, enhanced content accuracy, and increased productivity across their proposal management operations.

JAGGAER, another Responsive customer, achieved a double-digit win-rate increase and 15X ROI by using Responsive’s AI for content moderation, response creation, and Requirements Analysis, which improved decision-making and efficiency. User adoption tripled, and the platform streamlined collaboration and content management across multiple teams.

Where do you see the response management industry heading in the next five years, and how is Responsive positioned to lead in this space?

In the next five years, I see the response management industry being transformed by AI agents, with a focus on keeping humans in the loop. While we anticipate around 80 million jobs being replaced, we’ll simultaneously see 180 million new jobs created—a net positive for our industry.

Responsive is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. We’ve processed over $600 billion in proposals and built a database of almost 4 million Q&A pairs. Our massive dataset allows us to understand complex patterns and develop AI solutions that go beyond simple automation.

Our approach is to embrace AI’s potential, finding opportunities for positive outcomes rather than fearing disruption. Companies with robust market intelligence, comprehensive data, and proven usage will emerge as leaders, and Responsive is at the forefront of that wave. The key is not just implementing AI, but doing so strategically with rich, contextual data that enables meaningful insights and efficiency.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Responsive,

[spectralpixelsredone]

Comparison of Atlas (RWBY) vs. I-Island (My Hero Academia: Two Heroes)

1. Physical Description and Setting

Atlas:

Location and Structure: Atlas is a large metropolitan city atop a floating island above Mantle in the Kingdom of Atlas. It features a flat landmass with mountains on the northern "coast" and a central mountain hosting Atlas Academy (Page 3, Page 4). The city includes skyscrapers, residential areas, businesses, farmlands on the east and west, and a crescent-shaped airport in the Old Mantle district (Page 2, Page 4). Its architecture blends art deco and neo-classical styles with a blue color scheme, described as “futuristic New York City, if developed by Apple” (Page 2, Page 6).

Floating Mechanism: Atlas is kept afloat by the Relic of Creation, though the public believes it uses Gravity Dust (Page 5). It is surrounded by Hard-Light Dust shields, which also serve as climate control, projected by forked spires (Page 2, Page 3).

Accessibility: Access is primarily through the Old Mantle airport, with a sophisticated subway system and Hard-Light Dust rail rings for internal transport (Page 2, Page 4).

Environment: The island is urban and highly controlled, with climate systems and farmlands ensuring self-sufficiency, but it’s vulnerable to shield failure (Page 3).

I-Island:

Location and Structure: I-Island is an artificial, mobile island inhabited by over 10,000 scientists researching Quirks. It features four cities separated by water and foliage, with beaches, lakes, and urban areas (I-Island document). The Central Tower, a 200-story structure, is the primary hub, with other key areas like the airport and I-Island Academy.

Floating Mechanism: The island is described as a “moving island,” implying artificial flotation, likely powered by advanced technology (possibly related to its wind turbine energy system), though the exact mechanism isn’t detailed (I-Island document).

Accessibility: Access is exclusively via the airport on the outer ring, with strict security inspections (I-Island document). Internal transport details are less specified but include infrastructure supporting cities and events like the I-Expo.

Environment: I-Island balances urban and natural elements, with cities, beaches, and foliage. It’s designed as a technological paradise but built sturdier than bomb shelters for safety (I-Island document).

Comparison:

Similarities: Both are artificial floating islands with urban centers and advanced infrastructure. Both feature central hubs (Atlas Academy, Central Tower) and airports as primary access points. They integrate natural elements (Atlas’s farmlands, I-Island’s lakes and foliage) with high-tech environments.

Differences: Atlas is a single, densely packed city with a futuristic aesthetic, while I-Island comprises four distinct cities with a mix of urban and natural landscapes. Atlas’s flotation relies on a magical artifact (Relic of Creation), while I-Island’s is implied to be technological. Atlas’s climate control is explicit, whereas I-Island’s environmental management is less detailed.

2. Technology and Infrastructure

Atlas:

Technological Advancement: Atlas is the technological pinnacle of the RWBY world, using Hard-Light Dust for shields, climate control, and transport rails (Page 2). The Schnee Dust Company, a major Dust producer, is headquartered here, and the city hosts advanced military facilities like the Atlas Command Center and “Donut” (Page 3, Page 4). Pietro’s Lab and the Atlas Medical Facility (M3) support cutting-edge research and Maiden-related operations (Page 4, Page 5).

Transportation: A subway system with four lines and Hard-Light Dust rail rings ensure efficient transport (Page 2, Page 4).

Media and Communication: The Atlas Broadcast Network, alongside other services like Mantle Daily, provides news and shapes public perception (Page 2).

Military Infrastructure: The Atlas Military operates from the “Donut,” with facilities under the city, including landing bays and the Atlas Vault (Page 4). Mobsters like Amoncio Glass access military tech illicitly (Page 5).

I-Island:

Technological Advancement: I-Island is a global hub for Quirk research and Pro Hero support item development, funded by companies worldwide (I-Island document). The Central Tower hosts specialized floors, like the 80th-floor plant factory studying Quirk effects on plants, and is powered by a wind turbine system (I-Island document).

Transportation: The airport is the sole entry point, with gates for multiple airlines. Internal transport is less detailed but supports a population across four cities and events like the I-Expo (I-Island document).

Media and Communication: The island’s communication network is controlled by the security system, which can cut off citizen access during high alerts (I-Island document). No specific media outlets are mentioned.

Military/Security Infrastructure: The I-Island Security System, comparable to Tartarus Prison, includes drones, restraining devices capable of holding All Might, and control from the Central Tower’s top floor. The system manages communications, shutters, and elevators (I-Island document).

Comparison:

Similarities: Both islands are technological marvels, with Atlas leading in Dust-based tech and I-Island in Quirk-related innovation. Both have central hubs (Atlas’s “Donut,” I-Island’s Central Tower) for critical operations and robust security systems. Their transport systems (subways for Atlas, airport-focused for I-Island) support large populations.

Differences: Atlas’s technology is Dust-based and militarized, while I-Island’s focuses on Quirk research and Hero support, with a civilian scientific emphasis. Atlas has a broader media presence, while I-Island’s communication is security-controlled. I-Island’s security is more automated (drones vs. Atlas’s human military).

3. Societal Structure and Culture

Atlas:

Population and Society: Atlas is a bustling metropolis with a large, stratified population, including elites (Schnee family), military personnel, and mobsters like Amoncio Glass (Page 2, Page 5). It overshadows Mantle, reflecting social and economic divides (Page 6).

Culture: The city offers opera houses, clubs, and fine dining, indicating a sophisticated urban lifestyle (Page 2). The Atlas Broadcast Network shapes public opinion, and events like operas highlight cultural richness.

Governance: Governed by General Ironwood and the Atlas Military, with Atlas Academy doubling as a Huntsman training and military hub (Page 4). Political tensions arise, as seen in Ironwood’s conflict with Team RWBY over abandoning Mantle (Page 5, Page 6).

Key Figures: The Schnee family, Ironwood, Team RWBY, and Amoncio Glass drive the narrative (Page 3, Page 5).

I-Island:

Population and Society: I-Island houses over 10,000 scientists and their families, creating a research-focused community (I-Island document). It’s less stratified than Atlas, with a focus on intellectual collaboration, though scientists are restricted from leaving for confidentiality (I-Island document).

Culture: The I-Expo, a city-wide event showcasing technological advancements, is a cultural highlight, allowing public Quirk use and attracting Pro Heroes (I-Island document). The island lacks the entertainment venues (e.g., opera houses) of Atlas but has a vibrant scientific culture.

Governance: Governed by a scientific council and security system, with no explicit military leader like Ironwood. The Central Tower’s control room manages the island’s functions (I-Island document).

Key Figures: David Shield, Melissa Shield, and Samuel Abraham are prominent scientists, with Wolfram as the antagonist during the invasion (I-Island document).

Comparison:

Similarities: Both are elite, specialized societies—Atlas for military and Dust innovation, I-Island for Quirk research. Both host significant events (Atlas’s cultural venues, I-Island’s I-Expo) and have restricted access to maintain security.

Differences: Atlas has a stark class divide and military governance, while I-Island’s society is more egalitarian, centered on scientists with strict confidentiality rules. Atlas’s culture is entertainment-driven, while I-Island’s is research-oriented. Atlas’s governance is militarized, while I-Island’s is technocratic.

4. Security Systems

Atlas:

Security Features: Hard-Light Dust shields protect the island, projected by spires that also control climate (Page 2, Page 3). The Atlas Military, based in the “Donut,” uses advanced tech, but vulnerabilities exist (e.g., shield failure if one spire is disabled) (Page 2). Military facilities like the Atlas Medical Facility and Command Center are central to defense (Page 4).

Vulnerabilities: The shields fail when Salem destroys the generators, allowing Grimm to invade (Page 3, Page 6). Internal threats, like Amoncio Glass’s access to military tech, also weaken security (Page 5).

Response to Threats: The military fights invasions, but internal conflicts (e.g., Ironwood vs. Team RWBY) and external attacks (Salem’s Grimm) overwhelm defenses (Page 6).

I-Island:

Security Features: The I-Island Security System rivals Tartarus Prison, using countless drones, restraining devices strong enough for All Might, and control from the Central Tower’s fortified top floor (I-Island document). It manages communications, shutters, and elevators, with structures built sturdier than bomb shelters.

Vulnerabilities: The system is centralized in the control room, which Wolfram exploits during his invasion, taking over the island’s functions (I-Island document). No prior villain attacks occurred, indicating robust defenses until this breach.

Response to Threats: Security drones enforce order, but Wolfram’s control of the system turns it against inhabitants, requiring heroes like All Might to intervene (I-Island document).

Comparison:

Similarities: Both have advanced, centralized security systems (Hard-Light shields vs. drones/restraining devices) designed to protect against external threats. Both are vulnerable to single-point failures (spire disablement for Atlas, control room takeover for I-Island).

Differences: Atlas’s security is military-driven with human oversight, while I-Island’s is automated and technocratic. Atlas faces frequent external threats (Grimm), while I-Island’s first major threat is Wolfram’s invasion. Atlas’s security fails catastrophically, while I-Island’s is temporarily compromised but recoverable.

5. Narrative Role and Fate

Atlas:

Narrative Role: Atlas is a symbol of technological hubris and social inequality in RWBY, casting a literal and figurative shadow over Mantle (Page 6). It’s a battleground for conflicts over the Relic of Creation, involving Salem, Ironwood, and Team RWBY (Page 5, Page 6). Its floating nature underscores themes of detachment and ambition.

Fate: Atlas plummets when Team RWBY uses the Relic of Creation to create a new body for Penny, crashing into Mantle and flooding both cities (Page 6). This fulfills the “Chekov’s Floating City” arc, planned for destruction (Page 6).

Symbolism: References the Titan Atlas and Atlantis, symbolizing the burden of power and inevitable downfall (Page 6).

I-Island:

Narrative Role: I-Island is a utopian hub for Quirk research in My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, representing human ingenuity and collaboration. It’s the setting for Wolfram’s invasion, testing the heroes’ resolve and exposing vulnerabilities in its security (I-Island document).

Fate: The island survives Wolfram’s attack, with heroes restoring order. No permanent damage is detailed, and the island presumably continues its research post-incident (I-Island document).

Symbolism: I-Island symbolizes a technological utopia, with its name evoking “AI” and innovation. Unlike Atlas, it avoids a catastrophic fall, emphasizing resilience.

Comparison:

Similarities: Both are central to their stories as technological marvels facing significant threats (Salem for Atlas, Wolfram for I-Island). Both explore themes of hubris and the risks of advanced technology.

Differences: Atlas’s narrative is darker, ending in destruction due to internal and external conflicts, while I-Island’s is optimistic, with heroes averting disaster. Atlas’s fall is a planned tragedy, while I-Island’s survival reinforces My Hero Academia’s hopeful tone.

6. Key Similarities

Artificial Floating Islands: Both are man-made, floating structures reliant on advanced technology (Relic of Creation/Dust for Atlas, implied tech for I-Island).

Technological Hubs: Both are centers of innovation—Atlas for Dust and military tech, I-Island for Quirk research and Hero support.

Security Vulnerabilities: Both have robust but exploitable security systems, compromised by external (Salem, Wolfram) and internal (Ironwood’s decisions, control room access) factors.

Narrative Significance: Both serve as critical settings for their stories, highlighting the dangers of overreliance on technology.

7. Key Differences

Purpose and Tone: Atlas is a militarized capital with a grim narrative of division and downfall, while I-Island is a scientific utopia with an optimistic resolution.

Population: Atlas has a diverse, stratified population, while I-Island is a smaller, scientist-focused community.

Fate: Atlas is destroyed in a catastrophic fall, while I-Island survives its crisis intact.

Technology Base: Atlas uses Dust and magical Relics, blending fantasy and tech, while I-Island’s tech is purely scientific, tied to Quirks.

Conclusion

Atlas and I-Island are strikingly similar as artificial floating islands and technological powerhouses, but their differences reflect their respective worlds’ tones and themes. Atlas, with its Dust-based tech and militarized society, embodies hubris and inequality, culminating in its tragic destruction. I-Island, focused on Quirk research and scientific collaboration, represents hope and resilience, surviving its narrative threat. Both face vulnerabilities in their advanced systems, but Atlas’s fall underscores RWBY’s darker exploration of power, while I-Island’s recovery aligns with My Hero Academia’s emphasis on heroism.

[ticworks-world]

How AI is Revolutionizing Work Efficiency and Speed in 2025

As we navigate through 2025, artificial intelligence has become as commonplace in our workplaces as morning coffee and Monday meetings. Yet, unlike that familiar cup of joe, AI’s effects on our professional lives are far more complex and nuanced. While some herald it as the ultimate productivity booster, others warn of its potential pitfalls. The reality, as with most transformative technologies, lies somewhere in between.

The Acceleration Revolution: How AI is Supercharging Workplace Efficiency

The most immediate and tangible benefit of AI in the workplace is its ability to handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks with unprecedented speed. In 2025, we’re seeing AI systems that can process thousands of documents in minutes, analyze complex datasets in real-time, and generate initial drafts of reports faster than any human could type. This isn’t just about replacing manual labor; it’s about freeing up human cognitive resources for more strategic, creative work.

Consider how AI has revolutionized customer service operations. Chatbots now handle 80% of routine inquiries, allowing human agents to focus on complex problem-solving and relationship building. Similarly, in content creation, AI tools can generate first drafts, suggest improvements, and even optimize content for different audiences, transforming writers from creators to curators and editors.

The impact on internal communication has been particularly striking. AI-powered platforms now summarize lengthy email threads, schedule meetings based on everyone’s availability and preferences, and even translate messages in real-time for global teams. These systems have eliminated much of the administrative overhead that once bogged down collaborative work, allowing teams to focus on actual collaboration rather than coordination logistics.

The Creative Catalyst: AI as “The Storyteller”

One of the most fascinating developments in 2025 is AI’s emergence as “the storyteller” in business contexts. Beyond simple data analysis, AI systems now craft compelling narratives from raw information, helping organizations communicate complex insights to stakeholders. Marketing teams use AI to generate personalized content at scale, while executives rely on AI-generated executive summaries that don’t just present facts but weave them into coherent, actionable narratives.

This storytelling capability has proven invaluable in industries ranging from healthcare, where AI helps doctors explain complex diagnoses to patients, to finance, where AI transforms dense market data into accessible investment stories. The speed at which AI can generate these narratives has accelerated decision-making processes across organizations.

The Productivity Paradox: When Speed Becomes a Trap

However, the AI revolution isn’t without its shadows. The very speed that makes AI so attractive can become a double-edged sword. The pressure to match AI’s pace has led to what researchers call “productivity anxiety” �� a condition where workers feel constantly pressured to perform at machine-like efficiency levels.

Moreover, the rapid output of AI systems can overwhelm human decision-makers. When an AI can generate dozens of reports, hundreds of content pieces, or thousands of analysis points in a single day, the bottleneck shifts from creation to evaluation. Many organizations are discovering that having too much AI-generated content can be as problematic as having too little human-generated content.

The Human Element: What We Lose in Translation

Perhaps the most significant concern about AI’s impact on work efficiency is the potential erosion of human skills and intuition. As AI systems become more sophisticated, there’s a risk that workers may become overly dependent on these tools, leading to a decline in critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities.

The phenomenon is already visible in various fields. Accountants who rely heavily on AI for analysis may lose their ability to spot anomalies that don’t fit algorithmic patterns. Writers who depend on AI for ideation might find their own creative muscles atrophying. Even in “internal communication” Over-reliance on AI mediators can reduce the authentic human connections that often drive innovation and team cohesion.

The Quality vs. Quantity Dilemma

AI’s ability to produce work at breakneck speed has created a new challenge: maintaining quality while maximizing quantity. While AI can generate content, analysis, and solutions faster than ever before, the nuanced judgment required to ensure quality often still requires human oversight. This has led to a new type of workflow where speed is balanced against the need for human verification and refinement.

Organizations are learning that the most effective approach isn’t to let AI run unchecked but to create hybrid workflows where AI handles the heavy lifting while humans provide strategic direction and quality control. This balance is crucial for maintaining both efficiency and excellence.

The Skills Evolution: Adapting to an AI-Augmented Future

The workforce of 2025 is rapidly adapting to this new reality. The most successful professionals are those who have learned to work alongside AI rather than compete against it. This means developing skills in AI prompt engineering, understanding how to effectively collaborate with AI systems, and maintaining the uniquely human abilities that AI cannot replicate — such as emotional intelligence, creative thinking, and ethical judgment.

Training programs are evolving to focus on these hybrid skills. Companies are investing in “AI literacy” programs that teach employees not just how to use AI tools but how to think critically about AI outputs and maintain their own professional judgment.

Looking Forward: The Sustainable AI Workplace

As we progress through 2025, the key to harnessing AI’s benefits while avoiding its pitfalls lies in creating sustainable AI integration strategies. This means designing workflows that leverage AI’s speed and efficiency while preserving human creativity, intuition, and well-being.

The most successful organizations are those that view AI not as a replacement for human workers but as a powerful tool that can amplify human capabilities. They’re creating environments where AI handles routine tasks, freeing humans to focus on strategy, creativity, and relationship building — the areas where human intelligence still reigns supreme.

The future of work efficiency isn’t about choosing between human and artificial intelligence; it’s about finding the optimal balance between speed and thoughtfulness, automation and creativity, efficiency and humanity. As we continue to navigate this AI-augmented workplace, the organizations and individuals who succeed will be those who can harness the power of AI while maintaining the essential human elements that drive innovation, empathy, and meaningful work.

In this new landscape, the question isn’t whether AI will continue to transform work efficiency and speed — it’s how we’ll shape that transformation to serve not just our productivity goals but our human values and aspirations as well.

[niuttuc]

Archmage, might I trouble you for a minute?

My research treatise on Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa has hit a bit of a snag and Master Malzra has been no great help, as I'm sure you can imagine. Already, I have incorporated the major players of Mishra's side of The War, as well as many of their most famous inventions, schematics, and exploits (per Bin Kroog's The Antiquities War). However, I still find myself lacking that extra umph when it comes time to report on my findings. To what areas of study would you recommend I turn my investigations? Deeper cuts would be much appreciated. Additional themes I have begun incorporating are forced combats, reanimation, and powerstones. Anachronistic elements are discouraged, lest my peers in brackets 1 and 2 disqualify my research.

Many thanks in advance, Professor, and send my regards to Lady Rayne

Ah yes, Master Malzra can get... Distracted, when it comes to this area of study.

My first question pertaining your treatise would be how strictly your research mirror the historic reality. For an example...

While it is indubitable that Mishra sailed to Argoth and established a foothold on the island to further his campaign, there is little documentation on what kind of ship he boarded to do so. It was almost assuredly not on anything resembling a galleon. Yet the design of those resonate in some ways with the Tamer's sensibilities, repurposing the ship on land into a fortress, and thus even if the voyage left it on the verge of collapse.

Similarly, while the work on this Familiar is uncredited, it is possible that it's creation was at the hands of Ashnod, some of her trademark work with necro-artifice comes through in this efficient design.

As far as impactful artifacts from the time, I assume you're already pretty well-equipped with the war machines of Mishra's design (or that he claimed from Phyrexia.) Some of the more powerful artifacts of the time, Monoliths for example, are also infamous for their resonance with others amplifying their power, which I'm led to believe research brackets 1 and 2 do not approve of. And some of the self-sufficient ones likely didn't slip your attention, like the Thran's Dynamo.

Of course, the Gixians' influence cannot be understated, and they worked more closely with Mishra than with his brother, claiming whatever Thran artifacts he unearthed and they wished for for greater power.

Even back then, they preached the same mechanical scriptures as they do now across planes. They're dangerous, but they might be worth including in your research for additional context.

If you want to demonstrate forced combat during the period, these could do the trick. This interpretation of the Showdown is definitely not fitting the time period, but I do not think anyone could argue the final battle between Mishra and his brother did not qualify as a Spectacular Showdown, between Gix's involvement and... Well, you know. It is on occasion an effective way to end wars, though one can only wish for lesser consequences.

[abdulrahman-family]

A point of contention between communists and their opponents is whether or not the Ukrainian Famine, also called the holodomor, was an intentional act of genocide carried out by Joseph Stalin.

Most historians agree that the Ukrainian Famine killed between 3.9 to 5 million Ukrainians. This was a tragedy. There is no debate about whether a disaster with that kind of death toll is devastating. The problem is, though, that the narrative we learn as Americans regarding the Ukrainian Famine is deeply flawed.

What Is Missing From Conversations about the Ukrainian Famine/Holodomor?

An important piece of background is that, in 1922, Russia, Ukraine, the Transcaucasus, and Belorussia signed the Treaty on the Creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A part of this treaty was the ability to withdraw from the USSR or join another Republic. 6 years later, in 1928, Joseph Stalin initiated the first 5 Year Plan, which was intended to last from 1928 to 1932. The 5 Year Plan was intended to rapidly industrialize the Soviet agriculture system and hasten the transition towards collectivization.

Ukraine (the UkrSSR, at the time) was in a unique situation in regards to Stalin's 5 Year Plan. In 1930, two years prior to the famine, Ukraine produced 27% of the grain exported throughout the USSR. The Republic itself was nicknamed "the breadbasket of Europe", referring to its uniquely fertile soil and ability to produce grain at a superior rate to other Republics and regions.

Before looking into the actual famine, let's go back one year, to 1929. One of the priorities of the 5 Year Plan was for the UkrSSR to undergo "dekulakization". The “kulaks" were a class of wealthy peasant farmers who employed other peasants to work for them. For obvious reasons, they resisted collectivization. Their methods of doing so would be one part of why the famine was so devastating. The kulaks killed their livestock and burned/hid the grain that they produced to avoid collectivization. They were eventually eliminated as a class, with most of them being executed or sent through the Gulag system.

It is important to note that famines were frequent in the now-Soviet region of Eastern Europe, with these crises having the capacity to kill up to 1/3 of the population--which one did, in 1601. Famines occurred semi-regularly and were immensely devastating to the populations that they affected. In 1931, a delayed spring and massive drought decimated the UkrSSR's ability to produce grain efficiently. This, alongside the fact that many of these farms were effectively "starting over" due to the destruction of pre-existing farming equipment, livestock, and fields, would spell disaster for Ukraine the following year.

Nonetheless, the 5 Year Plan continued. From the spring of 1932 to the summer of 1933, 3.9 to 5 million Ukrainians died. Even with a total of 501,200 tons of grain being provided as relief to the UkrSSR (1933), the death toll was still massive. More grain was being exported from the UkrSSR than it could handle at the time due to the pre-existing drought, poor weather, and the lack of resources that occurred as a result of kulak resistance. Reports of mass starvation did not emerge from Ukraine (specifically Uman) until January 1933. The Ukrainian Weekly, an English-language Ukrainian newspaper, reported difficulties in communication between the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) and the central government in Moscow.

A lot of anti-communists will claim that communists “deny that the famine happened”. This is false—what we challenge is the idea that it was an intentional mass-extermination of Ukrainians conducted by Joseph Stalin to eliminate that ethnic group. There is no documentation or strong evidence for this claim, despite the fact that it is so pervasive in conversations about the famine.

The famine itself had a high death toll, with the majority of deaths being Ukrainians. This is a fact. However, what is missing from these conversations is the context behind how the famine occurred in the first place. Poor planning, shit communication between the UkrSSR CP and the kremlin, pre-existing drought, and kulak destruction of farmland and equipment overwhelmingly contributed to the famine, rather than intentional hatred.

Even immediately after the famine, the term "holodomor" (translating to "death by hunger" or "killing by starvation") did not appear in UkrSSR publications until 1988, and nor did references to it as a genocide. Even amongst the Ukrainian diaspora that emerged from the UkrSSR as a result of the famine used a different version of the term. The word we hear now, “holodomor”, was not widespread until about 1978, where it was primarily used amongst Ukrainian diasporic populations in Canada and the US.

The holodomor was not recognized as a genocide, even by Ukraine, until 2007. It is incredibly important to note that the horrors of the Ukrainian Famine/holodomor are seldom brought up in conversion UNLESS it is to downplay the events of the Holocaust and equivocate the intentional mass-extermination of European Jews to the famine in Ukraine. Both events are horrific and disturbing—but their reasons for having occurred are very different. Even before the world was made entirely aware of the Nazis’ war crimes against Jews and other populations, it was clear that Hitler had the intention of exterminating “undesirables”. Even if Hitler never said outright, “I am actively carrying out genocide against Jews”, the signs were there, and it was not a secret.

The fact that the holodomor was not recognized as a genocide until 2007 by the country it occurred in should immediately be a red flag, especially considering that Ukraine had been independent since 1991. If you look at movements within modern Ukraine that have the intention of crushing their own communist party (made illegal in 2015) and silencing communists, you can see that the motivations for referring to it as a genocide are part of a larger anti-communist movement.

A 2013 poll found that 33.7% of Ukrainians fully agreed that the famine was caused by collectivization/Joseph Stalin alone. The rest either partially agreed or disagreed. 45.4% of respondents believed that the famine was an intentional action to cause the destruction of Ukraine, while the other 54.6% disagreed.

My parting words will be that yes, the famine was a terrible crisis that took millions of lives. Was it intentional? Most scholars say no. The consensus is, for the most part, that it was the result of mismanagement, pre-existing weather conditions, drought, and sabotage by the kulaks. That does not mean the famine was not horrible or could not have been handled FAR BETTER��all that means is that it was not an intentional genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Sources

*note that some of these sources are anti-communist. However, they still manage to provide evidence that the famine was not a genocide, which really says something.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Holodomor

https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine

https://www.prlib.ru/en/history/619858#:~:text=The%20Treaty%20on%20the%20Creation%20of%20the,the%20USSR%20for%20other%20Soviet%20Socialist%20republics

Davies, Robert W.; Wheatcroft, Stephen G. (2010). The Years of Hunger: Soviet Agriculture 1931–1933. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 470, 476

Conquest, Robert (1987). The Harvest of Sorrow: Soviet Collectivization and the Terror-famine (paperback ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. p. 159

https://cmepr.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Naumenko_ukr_famine_compressed.pdf

Davies & Wheatcroft 2004, pp. 479–484

Reisenauer, Troy Philip (2014). "The Great Famine in Soviet Ukraine: Toward New Avenues of Inquiry into the Holodomor" (PDF). North Dakota State University. pp. 26–28

https://holodomormuseum.org.ua/en/recognition-of-holodomor-as-genocide-in-the-world/

https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/175778.html

[beardedmrbean]

Drawing on lessons and experiences from the war in Ukraine, the Russian government is determined to ensure technological and industrial readiness for the large-scale adoption of drone technology in both military and civilian sectors, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service says in its annual report published on Wednesday.

«Under the national drone development project, drones are being developed and produced based on standardized types, sizes and functions, for example light, medium or heavy drones of the airplane, multirotor or helicopter type designed for transport, training or reconnaissance purposes,» the report says.

To ensure standardized production and development, the project aims to establish 48 research and production centers across Russia. These centers will provide shared laboratory and production equipment, along with facilities for development, testing and production, as well as support personnel for participating enterprises.

Russia plans to allocate on average one billion euros annually to this project until 2030, with the aim of creating one million jobs for experts in the sector, who will be registered in a national electronic database. The project also includes the goal of integrating drone-related education into 75 percent of Russian schools.

According to the report, the national drone development project likely reflects both economic ambitions and an intent to emulate China's model, where civilian initiatives for new technologies and production capacities also facilitate rapid and cost-efficient transfers to the military sector.

By centralizing the integration of private enterprise with this state-led project, the Russian government likely aims to establish complete control over development and production resources, specialist personnel and the resulting technologies.

Research and development centers are envisioned as innovation hubs designed to help Russia achieve «technological sovereignty» and reduce its dependency on Western technologies and imported components.

The creation of an electronic database of industry experts mirrors the practices across Russia's broader military-industrial complex, where cross-sectoral databases enable the identification and allocation of critical personnel as required.

These initiatives, combined with lessons from the war in Ukraine, will likely secure a strong position for the Russian armed forces in the long-term deployment of drone technology.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has extensively deployed one-way attack drones (NATO designation: OWA UAS) in its war against Ukraine. These drones merge loitering munitions with unmanned aerial strike systems, creating a precision-strike platform capable of serving both tactical and strategic purposes, depending on their application.

As of January 2025, Russia has used over 11,000 Shahed, Geran and Garpiya drones in Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure in massive waves combined with other precision weapons, such as ballistic and cruise missiles.

This terror tactic aims to undermine Ukrainian morale. From Russia's perspective, targeting civilian infrastructure also increases the likelihood that Ukraine will expend its limited stock of air defense resources to intercept drones. Thus, one-way attack drones can also serve as saturation decoys for Ukraine's air defenses so that Russia's more expensive and capable ballistic and cruise missiles can reach their intended military targets.

The Shahed series of one-way attack drones, produced by Iran, has been sold to Russia in large quantities. The extensive use of Shahed drones against Ukraine has been well-documented through video evidence and physical remnants; however, a key source of information emerged on Feb. 4, 2024, when the PRANA Network hacker group leaked the email servers of Sahara Thunder, a purported front company for Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to the report.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, the leaked documents revealed that Iran initially offered Shahed-136 drones to Russia at a price of 375,000 US dollars per unit. Following negotiations, the parties agreed on a reduced price of 193,000 dollars per drone for a bulk purchase of 6,000 units, or 290,000 dollars per drone for a batch of 2,000 units. The price quoted by Iran is vastly higher than the estimated production cost, indicating that, for Iran, the Shahed drone sales were primarily an economic transaction. For Russia, accepting such a high price reveals its urgent need for these drones.

Russia also produces a modified version of Iran's Shahed-136 drone under the name Geran-2 in Tatarstan's Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Compared with the original, the Geran-2 incorporates several modifications, including the use of more advanced materials. It features an improved navigation and control module assembled in Russia, which includes the adaptive Kometa antenna to enhance its resistance to Ukraine's electronic warfare systems. Reports estimate the production cost of one Geran-2 drone in Russia at 48,800 dollars, which is significantly less than the cost of importing a Shahed-136 from Iran.

In late 2022, a group of Russian defense industry companies, led by the Almaz-Antei conglomerate, began developing a domestically produced one-way attack drone, the Garpiya A1. This drone shares many components, including its engine, with the Iranian Shahed-136 drone and its Russian-manufactured version, the Geran-2, produced in Alabuga. The Garpiya A1 is nearly identical to these models in appearance and technical specifications. It is highly likely a case of reverse engineering the Iranian Shahed-136 in Russia, with the apparent goal of lowering the costs of acquiring one-way attack drones.

The Garpiya is undergoing upgrades, including new targeting systems to improve autonomy, accuracy and lethality. Plans for a jet-powered version promise greater speed and altitude, making it a more challenging target for Ukrainian air defenses. The advancement of one-way attack drones, particularly jet-powered versions, blurs the line between drones and cruise missiles and offers similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost, almost certainly enhancing the scale and effectivenes of precision-strike campaigns in future conflicts. After the conclusion of active hostilities in Ukraine, Russia will likely use its drone warfare experience and insights into Western air defense systems to shape the development of its forces along Estonian and NATO borders, according to the report.

The Kometa controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA), widely used in Russian armed forces equipment, ensures resilience against jamming and spoofing of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. Various versions of the Kometa antenna are fitted on virtually all Russian weapon systems that rely on GNSS signals, including ballistic and cruise missiles, glide bombs and drones such as the Geran-2 and Garpiya A1.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, each element of the CRPA receiver processes signals with specific delays and phase shifts based on the direction and wavelength of incoming signals, as well as the relative positioning of the elements. This enables the system to identify and counteract interference by adjusting the antenna's reception pattern to avoid disruptive signals.

The Kometa CRPA receivers very likely enhance the resilience of Russian weapon systems, including one-way attack drones, against Ukraine's electronic warfare efforts to disrupt GNSS signal reception. This capability enables Russia's armed forces to carry out more accurate and devastating strikes. The reduced effectiveness of electronic warfare in disrupting navigation signals heightens the need for alternative capabilities, such as kinetic strike options, within air defense systems.

Additionally, Kometa's proven performance and operational experience during Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a factor Estonia must consider when acquiring precision munitions and drones, as well as when developing countermeasures. The mass production of Kometa antennas will enable Russia to equip both new and existing systems with this technology, reducing the impact of adversary electronic warfare measures on its operational capabilities.

«The Russian Ministry of Defense set an ambitious target to reach a production rate of 100,000 drones per month by the end of 2024 to support its so-called special military operation in Ukraine. To achieve this, numerous federal and regional support initiatives and funding schemes were launched. Most of the drones produced are FPV (first-person view) light multirotor drones with military functionality. It remains unclear whether Russia achieved this goal in 2024, but available information indicates that monthly production volumes grew several-fold over the year. Furthermore, Russia is likely capable of scaling up its one-way attack drone production faster than Ukraine can strengthen its countermeasures,» the report says.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia's drone industry remains reliant on imported components, particularly electronics and drone motors and engines, for which no domestic alternatives exist. These components are largely sourced from Western manufacturers. However, manufacturers' ability to monitor end users is limited, as components are sold in bulk to electronic wholesalers, who then distribute them to end users and retailers worldwide. Russia has built procurement networks to exploit these supply chains, constantly seeking opportunities to acquire sanctioned items by involving companies from various countries as intermediaries to conceal Russia's role as the end user. As a result, the burden of ensuring compliance with sanctions falls more heavily on wholesalers than on the component manufacturers themselves.

«Sanctions have had a limited impact on Russian drone production. Russia's military-industrial complex continues to access critical components via intermediaries. Estimates indicate that up to 80 percent of sanctioned Western components reach Russia through China, suggesting that representatives of manufacturers, wholesalers and intermediaries within China are almost certainly a weak link in the supply chain. China has made some efforts to restrict its state-owned and state-associated entities from supplying sanctioned goods to Russia. It has also tightened existing restrictions and introduced new ones, such as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's export controls on certain drones and drone components imposed on 1 September 2023. Despite this, covert supplies from Chinese private companies persist, with Beijing remaining Russia's primary hub for importing high-tech and dual-use goods,» the report says.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, dependency on imported components, including drone motors and engines, has been one of the most significant challenges to developing Russia's domestic drone production. Potential transfers of drone technology from China to Russia through private-sector collaboration could significantly decrease Russia's dependence on foreign suppliers. Although the Chinese government likely seeks to avoid the direct involvement of its state institutions in supplying sanctioned goods to Russia, it facilitates bilateral cooperation and covert transfers of dual-use components through private companies. This approach will likely decrease Russia's dependency on Western components and, in the long term, could undermine the West's ability to leverage influence in this domain.

[hostpyters]

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[pdqdocs]

Document automation software for law firms: Faster Document Creation and Multi-client Support

Efficiency and accuracy are critical in today’s fast-paced legal industry. Solo practitioners and small law firms often struggle to manage an extensive volume of legal documents while maintaining exceptional client service.

PDQDocs is a powerful and user-friendly document automation software for law firms designed specifically for law firms and legal professionals. Automating document creation, streamlining workflows, and centralizing document management allow legal professionals to focus on what matters most while serving their clients effectively.

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