#how to transition to cloud tech

[olivergisttv]

How to Successfully Transition to a Cloud Computing Career Now in 2025

Cloud computing is no longer a niche—it’s the backbone of nearly every industry. In 2025, cloud infrastructure powers everything from streaming services and e-commerce platforms to AI models and virtual workspaces. And that means cloud computing careers are not only in demand—they’re essential. Whether you’re coming from software development, IT support, or a completely different field, here’s…

[markwateneymemorialcrater]

I was having a conversation with a friend about how just shit it is to try to have any discourse now. And I think I came to a few interesting conclusions.

Mainly, people no longer are actually debating different ideas of the same thing.

It’s like if someone told you that eating rice was bad and evil. Because what they mean by rice is really cyanide and not rice at all.

People no longer argue about the pros/ cons of the same thing they are arguing apples and oranges while both are calling them grapes.

A good example of this from the real world I’ve seen is the 15 minute city. So if you are unfamiliar, the 15 minute city is an urban planning philosophy that aims to design communities will all of one’s regular destinations (home, work, shops, entertainment) accessible within 15 minutes of walking or public transit. At least that is the definition most urban planners and proponents of the 15 minute city believe.

However I have met real people who believe that the 15 minute city is a plot to force us all into these designated cities where we won’t have personal vehicles and be forced to stay in these cities under plenty of a strict social credit score system.

Now I think that sounds crazy. But if that was my understanding of the 15 minute city concept. I’d be against it too.

Which then leads to the other point my friend and I got to. How does one get to a point where they prefer to believe the crazy explanation rather than the objective true one?

The mountain of stupidity is climbed one step at a time. These people don’t start out believing in Jewish space lasers controlling the weather. They start out curious and hungry for knowledge. And perhaps they are never taught the importance of critical thinking or they just grew a distrust of official authorities. After all. They tend to be a pretentious lot. Then maybe they learn about cloud seeding. That’s a real tech. And they did do research on using cloud seeding to combat hurricanes in the 70’s. Then they hear about chemtrails and they might think that’s a bit wacky. Surely someone would figure that out of commercial jets were spraying chemicals right? Though you don’t really know why planes do leave those trails behind them. And how much do we really see on an airplane? It might be possible. Then a crazy politician runs for office. And he starts saying these crazy things. And he’s a powerful man. He couldn’t get to a place of power without being smart. And if he is saying they are controlling the weather, then there has to be some truth to that. Besides. He may say some crazy shit. But you agree with a lot of what he says. And soon enough, they are believing crazy things that would seem absurd before.

[mariacallous]

Europe is under siege—not by armies but by supply chains and algorithms. Rare-earth minerals, advanced semiconductors, and critical artificial intelligence systems all increasingly lie in foreign hands. As the U.S.-China tech cold war escalates, U.S. President Donald Trump battles Europe’s attempt to regulate tech platforms, Russia manipulates energy flows, and the race for AI supremacy intensifies, Europe’s fragility is becoming painfully clear. For years, policymakers have warned about the continent’s reliance on foreign technology. Those alarms seemed abstract—until now.

Geopolitical flashpoints, from the Dutch lithography firm ASML’s entanglement in the U.S.-China chip war to Ukraine’s need for foreign satellite services, reveal just how precarious Europe’s digital dependence really is. If Europe doesn’t lock down its technological future, it risks becoming hostage to outside powers and compromising its core values.

Fragmented measures aren’t enough. A European Chips Act here, a half-implemented cloud or AI initiative there won’t fix a system where every layer—from raw materials to software—depends on someone else. Recent AI breakthroughs show that whoever controls the stack—digital infrastructure organized into a system of interconnected layers—controls the future.

The U.S. government ties AI research to proprietary chips and data centers through its Stargate program, while China’s DeepSeek masters the entire supply chain at lower costs. Europe can’t keep treating chips, supercomputing, and telecommunication as discrete domains; it needs a unifying vision inspired by digital autonomy and a grasp of the power dynamics shaping the global supply chain.

Without a coherent strategy, the continent will be a mere spectator in the biggest contest of the 21st century: Who controls the digital infrastructure that powers everything from missiles to hospitals?

The answer is the EuroStack—a bold plan to rebuild Europe’s tech backbone layer by layer, with the same urgency once devoted to steel, coal, and oil. That will require a decisive mobilization that treats chips, data, and AI as strategic resources. Europe still has time to act—but that window is closing. Our proposed EuroStack offers a holistic approach that tackles risks at every level of digital infrastructure and amplifies the continent’s strengths.

The EuroStack comprises seven interconnected layers: critical raw materials, chips, networks, the Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, software platforms, and finally data and AI.

Every microchip, battery, and satellite begins with raw materials—lithium, cobalt, rare-earth metals—that Europe doesn’t control. China commands 60-80 percent of global rare-earth production, while Russia weaponizes gas pipelines. Europe’s green and digital transitions will collapse without secure access to these resources. Beijing’s recent export restrictions on gallium and germanium, both critical for semiconductors, served as a stark wake-up call.

To survive, Europe must forge strategic alliances with resource-rich nations such as Namibia and Chile, invest in recycling technologies, and build mineral stockpiles modeled on its strategic oil reserves. However, this strategy will need to steer clear of subsidizing conflict or profiting from war-driven minerals, as seen in the tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the latter’s criminal complaints against Apple in Europe—demonstrating how resource struggles can intensify regional instability.

Above this resource base lies the silicon layer, where chips are designed, produced, and integrated. Semiconductors are today’s geopolitical currency, yet Europe’s share of global chip production has dwindled to just 9 percent. U.S. giants such as Intel and Nvidia dominate design, while Asia’s Samsung and TSMC handle most of the manufacturing. Even ASML, Europe’s crown jewel in lithography, finds itself caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China chip war.

Although ASML dominates the global market for the machines that produce chips, Washington is using its control over critical components and China over raw materials to put pressure on the company. To regain control, Europe must double down on its strengths in automotive, industrial, and health care chipsets. Building pan-European foundries in hubs such as Dresden, Germany, and the Dutch city of Eindhoven—backed by a 100 billion euro sovereign tech fund—could challenge the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and restore Europe’s foothold.

Next comes connectivity, the digital networks that underpin everything else. When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Kyiv’s generals relied on Starlink—a U.S. satellite system—to coordinate defenses. And U.S. negotiators last month suggested cutting access if no deal were made on Ukrainian resources. Europe’s own Iris2 network remains behind schedule, leaving the European Union vulnerable if strategic interests clash.

Meanwhile, China’s Huawei still dominates 5G infrastructure, with Ericsson and Nokia operating at roughly half its size. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has even floated buying Starlink coverage, underscoring how urgent it is for Europe to accelerate Iris2, develop secure 6G, and mandate a “Buy European” policy for critical infrastructure.

A key but often overlooked battleground is the Internet of Things, or IoT. Chinese drones, U.S. sensors, and foreign-controlled industrial platforms threaten to seize control of ports, power grids, and factories. Yet Europe’s engineering prowess in robotics offers a lifeline—if it pivots from consumer gadgets to industrial applications. By harnessing this expertise, Europe can develop secure, homegrown IoT solutions for critical infrastructure, ensuring that smart cities and energy grids are built on robust European standards and safeguarded against cyberattacks.

Then there is the cloud, where data is stored, processed, and mined to train next-generation algorithms. Three U.S. giants—Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—dominate roughly 70 percent of the global market. The EU’s Gaia-X project attempted to forge a European alternative, but traction has been limited.

Still, the lesson from DeepSeek is clear: Controlling data centers and optimizing infrastructure can revolutionize AI innovation. Europe must push for its own sovereign cloud environment—perhaps through decentralized, interoperable clouds that undercut the scale advantage of Big Tech—optimized for privacy and sustainability. Otherwise, European hospitals, banks, and cities will be forced to rent server space in Virginia or Shanghai.

A sovereign cloud is more than a mere repository of data; it represents an ecosystem built on decentralization, interoperability, and stringent privacy and data protection standards, with client data processed and stored in Europe.

Gaia-X faltered due to a lack of unified vision, political commitment, and sufficient scale. To achieve true technological sovereignty, Europe must challenge the monopolistic dominance of global tech giants by ensuring that sensitive information remains within its borders and adheres to robust regulatory frameworks.

When it comes to software, Europe runs on U.S. code. Microsoft Windows powers its offices, Google’s Android runs its phones, and SAP—once a European champion—now relies heavily on U.S. cloud giants. Aside from pockets of strength at companies such as SAP and Dassault Systèmes, Europe’s software ecosystem remains marginal. Open-source software offers an escape hatch but only if Europe invests in it aggressively.

Over time, strategic procurement and robust investments could loosen U.S. Big Tech’s grip. A top priority should be a Europe-wide, privacy-preserving digital identity system—integrated with the digital euro—to protect monetary sovereignty and curb crypto-fueled volatility. Piece by piece, Europe can replace proprietary lock-in with democratic tools.

Finally, there is AI and data, the layer where new value is being generated at breakneck speed. While the United States and China have seized an early lead via OpenAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek, the field remains open. Europe boasts world-class supercomputing centers and strong AI research, yet it struggles to translate these into scalable ventures. The solution? “AI factories”—public-private hubs that link Europe’s strengths in health care, climate science, and advanced manufacturing.

Europeans could train AI to predict wildfires, not chase ad clicks, and license algorithms under ethical frameworks, not exploitative corporate terms. Rather than only mimicking ChatGPT, Europe should fund AI for societal challenges through important projects of common European interest, double down on high-performance computing infrastructure, and build data commons that reflect core democratic values—privacy, transparency, and human dignity.

The EuroStack isn’t about isolationism; it’s a bold assertion of European sovereignty. A sovereign tech fund of at least 100 billion euros—modeled on Europe’s pandemic recovery drive—could spark cross-border innovation and empower EU industries to shape their own destiny. And a Buy European procurement act would turn public purchasing into a tool for strategic autonomy.

This act could go beyond traditional mandates, championing ethical, homegrown technology by setting forward-thinking criteria that strengthen every link in Europe’s digital ecosystem—from chips and cloud infrastructures to AI and IoT sensors. European chips would be engineered for sovereign cloud systems, AI would be trained on European data, and IoT devices would integrate seamlessly with European satellites. This integrated approach could break the cycle of dependency on foreign suppliers.

This isn’t about shutting out global players; it’s about creating a sophisticated, multidimensional policy tool that champions European priorities. In doing so, Europe can secure its technological future and assert its strategic autonomy in a rapidly evolving global order.

Critics argue that the difference in mindset between Silicon Valley and Brussels is an obstacle, especially the bureaucratic nature of the EU and its focus on regulation. But other countries known for bureaucracy—such as India, China, and South Korea—have achieved homegrown digital technology from a much lower technological base than the EU. Indeed, through targeted industrial policies and massive investments, South Korea has become a world leader in the layers of chips and IoT. The EU currently already has a strong technological base with companies such as ASML, Nokia, and Ericsson.

European overregulation is not the issue; the real problem is a lack of focus and investment. Until now, the EU has never fully committed to a common digital industrial policy that would allow it to innovate on its own terms. Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s recent report on EU competitiveness—which calls for halting further regulation in favor of massive investments—and incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bold debt reforms signal a much-needed shift in mindset within the EU.

In the same spirit, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched a defense package providing up to 800 billion euros to boost Europe’s industrial and technological sovereignty that could finally align ambition with strategic autonomy.

If digital autonomy isn’t at the forefront of these broader defense and infrastructure strategies, Europe risks missing its last best chance to chart an independent course on the global stage.

To secure its future, Europe must adopt a Buy European act for defense and critical digital infrastructures and implement a European Sovereign Tech Agency in the model of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—one that drives strategic investments, spearheads AI development, and fosters disruptive innovation while shaping a forward-looking industrial policy across the EU.

The path forward requires ensuring that investments in semiconductors, networks, and AI reinforce one another, keeping critical technologies—chips, connectivity, and data processing—firmly under the EU’s control to prevent foreign interests from pulling the plug when geopolitics shift.

Europe’s relative decline once seemed tolerable when these risks felt hypothetical, but real-world events—from undersea cable sabotage to wartime reliance on foreign satellite constellations—have exposed the EU’s fragility.

If leaders fail to seize this moment, they will cede control to external techno-powers with little incentive to respect Europe’s needs or ideals. Once this window closes, catching up—or even keeping pace—will be nearly impossible.

The EuroStack represents Europe’s last best chance to shape its own destiny: Build it, or become a digital colony.

[tac0tesseract]

Downtime

It was inevitable that sooner or later word got around proclaiming Emma “the computer kid” and she was absconded by the Karrakins for tech support. At least the diagnosis was simple enough: it's hot here, you idiots. Computers don't like heat. She got it, though; the printer was tied up making things more immediately important than air conditioning.

What concerned her more was that Sam wasn't there waiting for her when she got back. He'd been busy when she left, too, and for someone so insistent on being seen it was rare that he wasn't projecting. After a moment of peering down at his empty projection pad, she decided to pull the cord from her pocket, sit down against the wall, and plug into it directly.

She wasn't sure it would work without his invitation. He'd constructed this metaspace for them maybe a week ago using holographic and ontological tech “borrowed” from all their time with SSC. Much as he detested coding, he'd still done it purely of his own volition – carefully crafting it to bridge with her subjectivity suite and all her human senses. It wasn't lost on Emma how much research he had clearly put into this, and how it was for her as much as it was for him.

But the transition was as liquid as always. Today their virtual dimension took the form of the beachhead from where they'd launched toward the Velichye: neon blue sky, towering bergs of shock-white clouds, sands like sugar. There was a clock-like percussion to the waves. The breeze had that almost fishy tang that Emma was coming to learn was simply the scent of the ocean itself – perfectly, painstakingly recreated even though he himself could not smell it.

Sam sat on a rocky outcropping facing the sea with an old-fashioned paint set. The wind somehow did not reach him. His blue silk robes pooled around him in a placid mirror of the sea, and the nebula of his hair fell still along his back while his focus was elsewhere. That might have been the most curious detail of all – it meant that he, a Deimosian, was distracted by something. Emma paused a moment to send her consciousness back to her laptop, to check what programs were running. She'd pirated several digital art programs for him ages ago, but most of them had been made specifically for NHPs.

PixEL.exe was running. That one was made for humans. It meant that he was deliberately handicapping himself, painting strictly in linear time.

“Got tired of painting in MUSE, huh?” she asked as she approached.

He didn't immediately turn to look at her, but she caught the new split in his attention as he labored to maintain the illusion: paint suddenly manifested on his fingers and hands. Dream logic.

“It's more challenging this way,” he said. In here, his voice did not echo. In here, he pretended to breathe. “Creation is satisfying because it's difficult. It's an act of defiance.”

Emma grinned, taking a seat beside him. The rock was as uncomfortable as expected, but not overly so; Sam ran a considerate simulation. “And what exactly are you defying?”

“Serpent shit.” He smirked sidelong at her.

“God.” She laughed a little. “You know, I...I haven't really thought of RA, not since...everything.”

Sam gave an easy shrug, pausing to refill his brush with blue. “They're not going anywhere. Though I get the sense you haven't lost your faith.”

She hugged her knees to her chest. “Yeah, not really. It's not RA that was wrong, but how the Cousins were interpreting Them. I guess I'm just...making my own interpretations now?”

“What do you think I did?” Sam grinned, waving the brush around lazily. “ChakraChef kept coming to me, half the time with these kids not even as old as you were. And they'd kneel and make offerings, and – I won't lie, pretty nice on the ego.” The grin faded from his eyes. “And the stuff they asked me...I knew that if I slipped up, they'd run off and go kill themselves, or someone else, in my name. I couldn't explain to them that if I am some kind of angel, then RA made me just as clueless as the rest of you.”

“They liked you, though.”

“Everyone likes me. And I like to think that I kept them from being too stupid. But at the end of the day the Lessons are lost on me, too.”

“But you're still ruminating on Serpent shit?”

“Nah.” Sam turned back to his painting. “Well, maybe a little.”

“Baccara.”

“Yeah. And Radimir.”

The waves slowed, but maintained a rhythm. Somehow it sounded louder when they broke upon the shore now.

“...I think...I felt actual, physical pain back there,” came his quiet admission.

Emma stared. “But that's--”

“Yeah.”

“What the fuck.”

“Yeah.”

“Sam...” She reached for him without thinking about it, as she would for any human. Bless the simulation for being as thorough as it was, bless him for allowing her hand to actually connect with his arm, for finding warmth beneath the fabric as if he were...

“I'm fine. It's nothing permanent.” He smiled at her.

She watched him. “But you think it was targeted. That even though Baccara was attacking our enemies, they were also trying to hurt you, specifically.”

“Maybe.” Perhaps he saw the rage, the indignation igniting on her features, because he reached out to pull her into a hug. “Em. I'm alright. I promise.”

“You never hurt Baccara! It's bullshit!”

Bullshit, and...terrifying. The shock and confusion was the worst part about all of this. What in the galaxy could cause pain to an NHP? Even Legionspace slapfights didn't work that way.

The idea of anyone hurting Sam was...

He held her tighter, his hair falling around them both, his false heart ticking beneath her hands. He had a faint scent like a man. He was so warm. It was too perfect, too real. If only he'd been able to do this sooner. Emma balled her fists into his silken lapel and thunked her forehead against his chest.

“Would you like to see what I've been working on?” he asked. It was a deliberate change in subject, but a necessary one, perhaps; Emma knew that there wasn't really much anyone could do about Baccara, but maybe she could talk to Daughter later.

“You know I would,” she said with a half-smile, pulling away from him.

Sam chuckled and stood, sweeping his arm out such that all the canvases he'd been working on appeared around them in a semi-circle. He'd made dozens of works in the past few hours – almost all of them immersive depictions of the seascapes they'd encountered on the way to Radimir. Corals, fishes, leviathans, plants, the wrecked ship itself: once upon a time, thousands of years past, the rich detail in his work might have been described as 'Ghibli-esque' – but every subject had a sort of abstract realism to it as well, wreathed in what was best described as an aura and subtly textured with hundreds of tiny mandala fractals that could only be seen up close. It was a beautiful marriage of the real and the surreal, a hint at the way he naturally viewed the world, and that was the most valuable thing of all. Just as he worked in linear time to try and glimpse how she lived, his art allowed her to experience the same.

“Sam,” she breathed. “These are insane! You should show them to the others, I bet they'd really love them!”

“What, with the team?” He blinked. “Why?”

Emma laughed. “Because it's art, dummy. Art is supposed to be seen. Even I've put my terrible fanfics out there.”

“Hey, Solmates has done numbers,” he countered.

Her face grew hot. “I can't believe you've read that.”

“It was research.” He turned back to the canvases. “...You really think they'd enjoy it?”

“Why not? It's a beautiful reminder for those of us who went on the dive, and a lovely illustration for the folks who didn't. Besides, art is a really...humanizing thing. Maybe it'll make you seem a little less alien to our NHP holdouts.”

“Perhaps I will, then. But maybe only these. I think the ocean has become my new obsession.”

“Hyperfixating? It's almost like you're my twin.”

She grinned at him knowingly. His eyes flashed approval.

And then Sam did something he never, ever did.

He hesitated.

“...Are you busy, Emma?”

“No. Not until tomorrow, anyway. Baron Serious McFuckface wants...something from us. I'm sure he's keen to make use of all the Lancers that just miraculously fell into his lap.” She watched him. “Why?”

Sam smiled up at his paintings. The wind finally caught his hair. “I was just wondering if you'd stay here a while. I know I can't give you a real beach, but...”

Those words conjured an echo from what felt like a lifetime ago, when she was lost and terrified and he had first appeared to her, triggering in them both an uncanny feeling of familiarity. 'Stay with me...' she'd pleaded, as she felt Queen's eyes upon her back and resolved to spend the night inside what was apparently now her chassis.

Emma stepped forward, taking him by the hands and gently prying the paintbrush from his fingertips. “Always,” she said, echoing how he'd responded to her back then. “Will you show me how to paint?”

“You want to paint?”

“I mean obviously I'm not gonna be fuckin' Delgado.” She laughed, sweeping an arm out. “But we're right here! Surely even I can't fuck up the ocean. It's darker blue against lighter blue, right?”

He chuckled. There was such human warmth in his eyes as he looked at her then. “Yeah, alright. We can start with the basics and see how you feel.”

She was terrible at it.

But she painted with him for the rest of the night.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Don Moynihan at Can We Still Govern?:

For those who don’t know much about government, the idea of Elon Musk as a serious tech guy who could shake up how the public sector work was appealing. Even people who do know a lot about government were hopeful.

Such hopes now look naive. Musk is not just ignorant about what government does, he chooses to celebrate and make decisions based on that ignorance, defaulting to accusations of fraud to explain things he does not want to understand. He is not interested in fixing government, but in destroying key parts of government, and that takes no great skill. This is not just a point about competing political philosophies, but about state capacity, and specifically tech skills in government. Musk is not just destroying core government functions, he is also destroying the actual tech capacity of government. Because there are, in fact, skilled technologists who work in government. They are not enough of them, and they lacked power to make big changes. They worked mostly in the US Digital Service and 18F, both created in 2014 after the failure of healthcare.gov. And now they are mostly gone. All 18F employees were fired as part of the ongoing Reductions in Force. The US Digital Service no longer exists. It is now the US DOGE Service. It also has seen about 40 people laid off, and 21 employees resigned last week, leaving around 40 experienced employees left.

Here is a thumbnail sketch of the two units: USDS offered support and guidance to agencies, but could not dictate a governmentwide approach on most issues. In times of crisis, or when a President prioritized a policy outcome dependent on digital innovations, it could play a more prominent role, serving as a de facto firefighter for digital governance. The General Services Administration set up its own digital consultancy team, 18F in 2014. This team’s mission is to work with agencies to “[transform] the way the federal government builds and buys digital services.” 18F was a cost recoverable office, meaning that they charge partner agencies for their work rather than being funded directly through a congressional appropriation. Both organizations use similar managerial technologies, which includes agile, iterative design, a user-centric approach, a reliance on data-driven decision making, directly managing relationships with vendors, favoring open-source solutions, the prioritization of platform models, and a flatter organizational culture. USDS and 18F represented a hopeful trend for American government: embedding serious tech skills inside the bureaucracy, rather than relying on private vendors. They care about public services, and represented the most visible public sector manifestation of “civic tech” in government. [...]

DOGE is a step backwards for government tech talent

Musk’s team saw USDS as an an existing shell they could occupy that seemed nominally aligned with goal of modernizing government. A former USDS official, Amy Gleason, had worked for one of the DOGE team, Brad Smith in the private sector, and returned to USDS on the understanding she was helping the Trump transition team. Gleason became the official DOGE administrator last week, though of course no-one believes this to be the reality. She also tried to get the USDS to hire some of the staff who had already signed on to work for DOGE. None made the cut. They did not advertise their connection with Musk, and so their rejections were not clouded by political bias. Their applications failed because they were not qualified. [...] The point is that Musk isn’t bringing in incredible 10X coders to replace bureaucrats. The best evidence we have is that they would not have been hired into a tech role under normal circumstances. The people who could not make it at USDS were hired at DOGE staff because of their personal and professional connections to Musk, and their ideological commitment for downsizing government. This was a poor fit with the existing employees at 18F and the US Digital Service, who believed that technology could be used to make government work better, not to cut its core tasks. [...] The Trump administration does not care about the loss of this talent. Katie Miller, the DOGE spokesperson, posted this about the resignation of USDS officials. Miller does not explain how fully remote workers posted “trans flags” (or rainbow flags for the rest of us). But she herself is representative of DOGE. She has no tech skills, which is fine for a PR person. Her husband, Stephen Miller, has been described as the “Prime Minister” aiding Musk. Musk had previously given Miller’s political groups $50 million dollars. These are the people running tech in government now. (One more fun fact about Katie Miller: According to Wikipedia, she destroyed “hundreds of copies of the school's newspaper, after it endorsed an opposing student government candidate.”)

DOGE’s cuts have harmed skilled technology needed to run government functions.

[quaddmgd]

Hi! Name's Ada (she/her) and this is my main blog where I post and reblog almost anything.

I like video games. My favorite genre is classic survival horror and titles inspired by that era. My absolute favorite is Signalis. Other than that I'm very big on Half-Life, old school PC games and all things PS1/PS2.

But I'm seriously not normal about Signalis. You'll see a lot of it.

Other than video games, I like virtual photography, wlw art, anime/manga, tinkering with software and tech, image/video editing... sometimes I write and much more sporadically I also draw.

I'm really bad at handling side blogs, so this place is kind of a dumping ground for almost everything related to my interests and spam reblogging whatever catches my eye like art, shitposts, transfeminist stuff etc.

I also like to talk about my own transition and how I'm doing in general, so you can expect a chain of posts like that here and there.

My current obsession is Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. I'm specifically focused on the OG 1997 release + Crisis Core. My favorite (and canon in my eyes) ship is Aerti, while I myself have fallen in love with Claudia Strife. Currently, I'm in the middle of working on my OC - Aya - who survives the Nibelheim Incident with her and this starts her journey to self-discovery. Sometimes I also update my OC x canon fic series involving them, where the first fics cover how she met Claudia and Cloud, and how they survived Nibelheim, with random fluff referencing the events in Aya's life to follow.

Shera is super cool and underrated as well ;*

You can also spot me talking about Metroid, Metal Gear, Guilty Gear, Nier, 5th/6th gen console graphics, music and most of the media I have OCs for.

Sometimes I post and reblog NSFW content - viewer discretion advised.

Here's the list of my OCs!

I divide my posts into following tags: text.qd - mostly text posts about anything. edit.qd - sometimes I do some photo editing in GIMP, video editing in Kdenlive etc. Mostly shitposts. ao3.qd - my writing screen.qd - screenshots. I enjoy snapping pics in video games, and as long as there is some artistic intent to them, if that makes sense, they'll be under this tag. anim.qd - screen.qd but gifs. ask.qd - me answering questions tag.qd - tag games

Asks turned off for the time being, but my DMs are open for the people I follow and very much welcome.

[heeeeelpme]

My version of the mermaid — #MersthaticMay

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

So I thought about it and decided I want to try creating my own version of this challenge.

The idea came to me completely spontaneously. I was thinking about how my "style" keeps changing-which basically reflects how my real-life style shifts too: one phase I want one aesthetic, another phase something totally different, you get the idea. And then it hit me-why not draw mermaids in different aesthetics/ cores? Like, why the heck not? x)

Just to clarify, I haven't seen this exact idea anywhere before, so I'm not claiming to be some genius who invented it. But if anyone else wants to join and uses #MerstheticMay, please taq me too-I'd love to see what you come up with! (And hey, you can always hit follow while you're at it :p)

✦── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── ✦

1. Gyaru

Japanese glam style: fake tan, bold makeup, flashy fashion (platforms, ruffles, glitter).

2. Fairycore

Whimsical fairies, pastels, flowers, wings, and nature-inspired magic.

3. Darkcore

Gothic gloom: eerie forests, abandoned places, and horror vibes.

4. Weirdcore

Surreal, "off" imagery (early internet, creepy edits, glitchy visuals).

5. Kidcore

Childhood nostalgia: neon colors, cartoon prints, toys, and playful chaos.

6. Y2K

2000s futurism: shiny fabrics, low-rise jeans, and tech-inspired looks.

7. Castlecore

Medieval castles, stone walls, tapestries, and

royal fantasy.

8. Cottagecore

Rural utopia: baking, floral dresses, picnics,

and cottage life.

9. Apocalyptic

Post-collapse survival: ruins, grunge outfits, and dystopian moods.

10. Scene

2000s punk-emo: teased hair, neon streaks,

and rebellious energy.

11. Dreamcore

Dreamy surrealism: floating islands, soft colors, and hazy landscapes.

12. Dazecore

Blurred, foggy photos with melancholic nostalgia.

13. GoblinCore

Chaotic nature-lover: moss, mushrooms, and collecting "junk."

14. Royalcore

Regal luxury: velvet, gold, palaces, and

aristocratic elegance.

15. Crowcore

Dark naturalism: raven feathers, gothic

woods, and mystery.

16. Coquette

Hyper-feminine romance: bows, lace, and vintage softness.

17. Dullcore

Aestheticized boredom: office chairs, beige

walls, and mundane liminality.

18. Ethereal

Otherworldly lightness: sheer fabrics, iridescence, and angelic vibes.

19. Angelcore

Innocent whites, halos, wings, and heavenly purity.

20. Liminal Space

Empty transitional zones (hallways, malls at

night) that feel unsettling.

21. Maximalism

"More is more": bold patterns, clashing

textures, and excess.

22. Pinkcore

All things pink: Barbie, kawaii, or hyper-pop

aesthetics.

23. Spacecore

Celestial themes: galaxies, sci-fi, and cosmic

neon.

24. Cybercore

Cyberpunk futurism: neon lights, techwear,

and digital glows.

25. Backrooms

Endless yellow corridors — the horror of

empty liminality.

26. Glitch Art

Digital distortion: pixel breaks, corrupted

visuals.

27. Decora

Japanese street style: excessive accessories (hair clips, stickers).

28. Witchcore

Mystical herbs, candles, dark academia, and nature magic.

29. Slimecore

Gooey, glossy, and iridescent textures (like

slime).

30. Cloudcore

Pastel skies, fluffy clouds, and dreamy

softness.

31. Gothic

Classic darkness: vampires, black lace, and medieval romance.

✦── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── ✦

⚠️The cliparts used to design the list were found in the public domain, I do not claim their authorship⚠️

✦── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── .✦ ── ✦

You can read more about aesthetics by following the links that I left in my telegram channel <3

[lovilove0808]

Breaking into Tech: How Linux Skills Can Launch Your Career in 2025

In today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, Linux skills have become increasingly valuable for professionals looking to transition into rewarding IT careers. As we move through 2025, the demand for Linux System Administrators continues to grow across industries, creating excellent opportunities for career changers—even those without traditional technical backgrounds.

Why Linux Skills Are in High Demand

Linux powers much of the world's technology infrastructure. From enterprise servers to cloud computing environments, this open-source operating system has become the backbone of modern IT operations. Organizations need skilled professionals who can:

Deploy and manage enterprise-level IT infrastructure

Ensure system security and stability

Troubleshoot complex technical issues

Implement automation to improve efficiency

The beauty of Linux as a career path is that it's accessible to motivated individuals willing to invest time in learning the necessary skills. Unlike some tech specialties that require years of formal education, Linux administration can be mastered through focused training programs and hands-on experience.

The Path to Becoming a Linux System Administrator

1. Structured Learning

The journey begins with structured learning. Comprehensive training programs that cover Linux fundamentals, system administration, networking, and security provide the knowledge base needed to succeed. The most effective programs:

Teach practical, job-relevant skills

Offer instruction from industry professionals

Pace the learning to allow for deep understanding

Prepare students for respected certifications like Red Hat

2. Certification

Industry certifications validate your skills to potential employers. Red Hat certifications are particularly valuable, demonstrating your ability to work with enterprise Linux environments. These credentials help you stand out in a competitive job market and often lead to higher starting salaries.

3. Hands-On Experience

Theoretical knowledge isn't enough—employers want to see practical experience. Apprenticeship opportunities allow aspiring Linux administrators to:

Apply their skills in real-world scenarios

Build a portfolio of completed projects

Gain confidence in their abilities

Bridge the gap between training and employment

4. Job Search Strategy

With the right skills and experience, the final step is finding that first position. Successful job seekers:

Tailor their resumes to highlight relevant skills

Prepare thoroughly for technical interviews

Network with industry professionals

Target companies that value their newly acquired skills

Time Investment and Commitment

Becoming job-ready as a Linux System Administrator typically requires:

10-15+ hours per week for studying

A commitment to consistent learning over several months

Persistence through challenging technical concepts

A growth mindset and motivation to succeed

The Career Outlook

For those willing to make the investment, the rewards can be substantial. Linux professionals enjoy:

Competitive salaries

Strong job security

Opportunities for remote work

Clear paths for career advancement

Intellectually stimulating work environments

Conclusion

The path to becoming a Linux System Administrator is more accessible than many people realize. With the right training, certification, and hands-on experience, motivated individuals can transition into rewarding tech careers—regardless of their previous background. As we continue through 2025, the demand for these skills shows no signs of slowing down, making now an excellent time to begin this journey.

[tech4bizsolutions]

Deep Dives into Tech and Digital Growth Strategies

In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving business landscapes, understanding the nuances of tech-driven strategies is essential for sustained growth. Companies today must leverage cutting-edge technologies and innovative digital growth strategies to stay competitive. This article takes a deep dive into the world of technology and digital strategies, highlighting how businesses can harness them to achieve their full potential.

Tech Innovation: The Catalyst for Business Evolution

Innovation in technology is reshaping industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to retail and financial services. Businesses that embrace tech innovations can unlock new opportunities and create unique competitive advantages.

Automation and AI: Automation tools and artificial intelligence (AI) are driving efficiency, reducing human errors, and freeing up resources for more strategic tasks. Companies that adopt AI-driven decision-making processes gain valuable insights and predictive analytics.

Cloud Computing: Cloud-based solutions offer businesses scalable, cost-effective options for data storage and software deployment. Cloud technologies facilitate remote work, enhance collaboration, and provide data accessibility from any location.

Internet of Things (IoT): IoT is transforming industries by connecting devices and enabling real-time data collection and analysis. Businesses can leverage IoT to monitor operations, optimize workflows, and improve customer experiences.

5G Connectivity: The rollout of 5G networks is enabling faster communication and data transfer. This enhanced connectivity paves the way for innovations in areas like telemedicine, augmented reality, and autonomous vehicles.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Digital marketing is at the heart of modern business strategies. To stand out in a crowded market, businesses must adopt targeted and innovative marketing tactics.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is critical for improving online visibility and driving organic traffic. Businesses should focus on creating high-quality content, optimizing for keywords, and building authoritative backlinks to enhance search engine rankings.

Content Marketing: Content is king when it comes to building brand authority and engaging audiences. Businesses should invest in creating informative, relevant content that addresses customer pain points and provides solutions.

Social Media Engagement: Social media platforms are powerful tools for building brand awareness and fostering community engagement. Consistent posting, audience interaction, and strategic advertising can amplify a brand’s reach.

Data-Driven Marketing: Analyzing marketing performance data allows businesses to make informed decisions and refine strategies. By leveraging analytics tools, businesses can identify trends, understand customer behaviors, and optimize campaigns for better results.

Personalization: Today’s consumers expect personalized experiences. Businesses that use data to tailor their offerings and communication to individual preferences are more likely to build lasting relationships with customers.

Cybersecurity: Protecting Digital Assets

As businesses become more reliant on digital technologies, cybersecurity is paramount. Cyber threats can compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and damage reputations. To safeguard digital assets, businesses must implement robust cybersecurity measures.

Multi-Layered Security: Implementing multi-layered security protocols ensures that businesses are protected from various attack vectors. This includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection.

Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive data both in transit and at rest protects it from unauthorized access.

Regular Audits: Conducting regular security audits helps identify vulnerabilities and ensures that security measures are up-to-date.

Employee Training: Human error is a common cause of data breaches. Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and other social engineering tactics.

Customer-Centric Tech Solutions

Understanding and prioritizing customer needs is key to business growth. Tech innovations can enhance customer experiences and build long-term loyalty.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: CRM systems help businesses manage customer interactions and provide personalized experiences. By analyzing customer data, businesses can tailor their offerings and improve satisfaction.

Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI-powered chatbots offer 24/7 customer support, answering queries and resolving issues in real-time. These tools enhance customer service while reducing operational costs.

Omnichannel Experiences: Today’s consumers interact with businesses across multiple channels. Providing a seamless, consistent experience across all touchpoints—whether online, in-store, or on mobile—is essential for customer satisfaction.

Tech Integration for Operational Efficiency

Integrating technology into core business processes can streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: ERP systems integrate various business functions into a unified platform, improving visibility and coordination across departments.

Project Management Tools: Digital project management platforms enable teams to collaborate, track progress, and meet deadlines efficiently.

Supply Chain Optimization: Advanced technologies like IoT and blockchain can enhance supply chain transparency, improve inventory management, and reduce delays.

Sustainable Growth with Tech Partnerships

Partnering with tech solution providers can accelerate business transformation and growth. Collaborating with experts allows businesses to access specialized knowledge and cutting-edge technologies without investing heavily in in-house resources.

Scalability: Tech partnerships enable businesses to scale operations as needed, adapting to market demands without significant disruptions.

Innovation: Partnering with tech innovators ensures that businesses stay ahead of industry trends and adopt new technologies as they emerge.

Looking Ahead: Future Trends in Tech and Digital Growth

The tech landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses must stay agile to remain competitive. Emerging trends like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and edge computing are set to redefine industries. By staying informed and embracing change, businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

Conclusion

Tech4Biz Solutions is committed to empowering businesses with innovative tech solutions and digital growth strategies. Whether it’s leveraging advanced technologies, optimizing marketing efforts, or enhancing customer experiences, Tech4Biz helps businesses unlock new possibilities. By diving deep into the world of tech and digital strategies, companies can fuel growth, drive innovation, and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing business landscape. Visit Tech4Biz Solutions to learn more about how we can help transform your business.

[emexotech1]

DevOps Training in Marathahalli Bangalore – Build a Future-Proof Tech Career

Are you looking to transition into a high-growth IT role or strengthen your skills in modern software development practices? If you're in Bangalore, particularly near Marathahalli, you're in one of the best places to do that. eMexo Technologies offers a detailed and industry-ready DevOps Training in Marathahalli Bangalore designed for beginners, professionals, and career changers alike.

Explore DevOps Course in Marathahalli Bangalore – Key Skills You’ll Gain

This DevOps Course in Marathahalli Bangalore is structured to give you both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. Here’s what the curriculum typically covers:

Core Modules:

Step into the world of DevOps Training Center in Marathahalli Bangalore, where you'll discover how this powerful approach bridges the gap between development and operations to streamline processes and boost efficiency in today’s tech-driven environment.

✅ Linux Basics: Learn command-line fundamentals essential for DevOps engineers.

✅ Version Control with Git & GitHub: Master source code management.

✅ Automate your software build and deployment: workflows seamlessly using Jenkins as a powerful Continuous Integration tool.

✅ Configuration Management with Ansible: Manage infrastructure more efficiently.

✅ Containerization using Docker: Package apps with all their dependencies.

✅ Orchestration with Kubernetes: Manage containers at scale.

✅ Cloud Computing with AWS: Get started with DevOps in cloud environments.

✅ Monitoring & Logging with Prometheus, Grafana: Gain insights into application performance.

✅ CI/CD Pipeline Implementation: Build end-to-end automation flows.

✅ Everything is taught with real-time: examples, project work, and lab exercises.

Get Recognized with a DevOps Certification Course in Marathahalli Bangalore – Boost Your Industry Credibility

Upon completing the course, you'll be awarded a DevOps Certification Course in Marathahalli Bangalore issued by eMexo Technologies, validating your expertise in the field. This certification is designed to validate your expertise and improve your credibility with hiring managers. It’s especially useful for roles like:

✅ DevOps Engineer

✅ Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

✅ Build & Release Engineer

✅ Automation Engineer

✅ System Administrator with DevOps skills

Top-Rated Best DevOps Training in Marathahalli Bangalore – Why eMexo Technologies Stands Out from the Rest

When it comes to finding the Best DevOps Training in Marathahalli Bangalore, eMexo Technologies ticks all the boxes:

✅ Up-to-Date Curriculum: Constantly refreshed to include the latest industry tools and practices.

✅ Experienced Trainers: Learn from industry professionals with 8–15 years of real-world experience.

✅ Real Projects: Work on case studies and scenarios inspired by actual DevOps environments.

✅ Flexible Timings: Choose from weekday, weekend, and online batches.

✅ Affordable Pricing: With the current 40% discount, this course is great value for money.

✅ Lifetime Access to Materials: Revise and revisit anytime.

DevOps Training Institute in Marathahalli Bangalore – Why Location Matters

Located in one of Bangalore’s biggest IT hubs, eMexo Technologies is a top-rated DevOps Training Institute in Marathahalli Bangalore. Proximity to major tech parks and MNCs means better networking opportunities and access to local job openings right after your course.

DevOps Training Center in Marathahalli Bangalore – Hands-On, Tech-Ready Lab Environment

At the DevOps Training Center in Marathahalli Bangalore, students don’t just watch tutorials—they do the work. You’ll have access to a fully equipped lab environment where you’ll implement DevOps pipelines, configure cloud environments, and monitor system performance.

DevOps Training and Placement in Marathahalli Bangalore – Start Working Faster

Job support is one of the biggest advantages here. The DevOps Training and Placement in Marathahalli Bangalore equips you with everything you need to launch a successful career in DevOps, including:

✅ 1:1 career counseling

✅ Resume building support

✅ Mock interviews with real-time feedback

✅ Interview scheduling and referrals through their hiring partners

✅ Post-course job alerts and updates

Many past students have successfully secured roles at top companies like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Mindtree, and Accenture.

Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

If you're serious about breaking into tech or advancing in your current role, now is the perfect time to act. With expert-led training, hands-on labs, and full placement support, eMexo Technologies' DevOps Training in Marathahalli Bangalore has everything you need to succeed.

👉 Enroll now and grab an exclusive 30% discount on our DevOps training – limited seats available!

🔗 Click here to view course details and enroll

[noahlucastech]

Unlocking Innovation: The Synergy of DevOps and Application Development

In today’s fast-paced tech environment, the integration of DevOps and application development is crucial for delivering high-quality software efficiently.

What is DevOps and How Does It Transform Application Development?

DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) with the goal of shortening the development lifecycle and delivering features, fixes, and updates frequently in close alignment with business objectives. In the devops & application development promotes a collaborative environment where teams work together seamlessly, ensuring that applications are built, tested, and deployed more effectively.

The Benefits of Merging DevOps with Application Development

Accelerated Delivery: By adopting DevOps, organizations can significantly reduce the time it takes to bring features to market. This is achieved through continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices that automate testing and release processes.

Enhanced Collaboration: The core philosophy of DevOps fosters a culture of collaboration between development and operations teams. This leads to improved communication, shared responsibilities, and a unified approach to application development.

Higher Quality Software: With automated testing integrated into the DevOps pipeline, teams can identify and fix issues earlier in the development process. This results in higher quality applications that meet user expectations.

Scalability and Flexibility: The use of cloud technologies within a DevOps framework allows for scalable solutions that can adapt to changing user demands. This flexibility is crucial for modern application development, where user needs can shift rapidly.

Essential Tools for Effective DevOps in Application Development

To successfully implement devops application development, various tools are essential throughout the software development lifecycle:

Version Control Systems (e.g., Git): These systems help manage code changes efficiently, allowing multiple developers to collaborate without conflicts.

CI/CD Tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI): These tools automate the testing and deployment processes, ensuring that code changes are continuously integrated and delivered.

Containerization Tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes): These technologies enable developers to package applications with all their dependencies, ensuring consistency across different environments.

Monitoring Tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana): These tools provide insights into application performance in real-time, allowing teams to address issues proactively.

Overcoming Challenges in Implementing DevOps for Application Development

While integrating devops & application development process offers numerous advantages, it also comes with challenges:

Cultural Shift: Transitioning to a DevOps culture requires a change in mindset among team members who may be accustomed to traditional workflows.

Tool Selection Overload: The myriad of available tools can overwhelm teams trying to choose the right ones for their specific needs.

Skill Development Needs: Teams may need training to effectively leverage new technologies and practices associated with DevOps.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of DevOps in Application Development

As we move forward, the importance of integrating devops application development will only increase. Organizations that embrace these methodologies will likely see enhanced efficiency, better quality products, and improved customer satisfaction. By investing in both cultural transformation and technological advancements, businesses can lead the charge in innovation within software development.

In summary, understanding how to effectively implement DevOps within your application development processes is essential for success in today’s competitive landscape.

[busstalks]

Best 10 Business Strategies for year 2024

In 2024 and beyond, businesses will have to change with the times and adjust their approach based on new and existing market realities. The following are the best 10 business approach that will help companies to prosper in coming year

1. Embrace Sustainability

The days when sustainability was discretionary are long gone. Businesses need to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) values into their business practices. In the same vein, brands can improve brand identity and appeal to environmental advocates by using renewable forms of energy or minimizing their carbon footprints.

Example: a fashion brand can rethink the materials to use organic cotton and recycled for their clothing lines. They can also run a take-back scheme, allowing customers to return old clothes for recycling (not only reducing waste but creating and supporting the circular economy).

2. Leverage AI

AI is revolutionizing business operations. Using AI-fuelled solutions means that you can automate processes, bring in positive customer experiences, and get insights. AI chatbots: AI can be utilized in the form of a conversational entity to support and perform backend operations, as well.

With a bit more specificity, say for example that an AI-powered recommendation engine recommends products to customers based on their browsing history and purchase patterns (as the use case of retail). This helps to increase the sales and improve the shopping experience.

3. Prioritize Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is of utmost important as more and more business transitions towards digital platforms. Businesses need to part with a more substantial amount of money on advanced protective measures so that they can keep sensitive data private and continue earning consumer trust. Regular security audits and training of employees can reduce these risks.

Example: A financial services firm may implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all online transactions, regularly control access to Internet-facing administrative interfaces and service ports as well as the encryption protocols to secure client data from cyberattacks.

4. Optimizing Remote and Hybrid Working Models

Remote / hybrid is the new normal Remote teams force companies to implement effective motivation and management strategies. Collaboration tools and a balanced virtual culture can improve productivity and employee satisfaction.

- Illustration: a Tech company using Asana / Trello etc. for pm to keep remote teams from falling out of balance. They can also organise weekly team-building activities to keep a strong team spirit.

5. Focus on Customer Experience

Retention and growth of the sales follow-through can be tied to high quality customer experiences. Harness data analytics to deepen customer insights and personalize product offers making your marketing campaigns personal: a customer support that is responsive enough can drive a great level of returning customers.

Example – For any e-commerce business, you can take user experience feedback tools to know about how your customers are getting along and make necessary changes. Custom email campaigns and loyalty programs can also be positively associated with customer satisfaction and retention.

6. Digitalization Investment

It is only the beginning of digital transformation which we all know, is key to global competitiveness. For streamlining, companies have to adopt the use advanced technologies such as Blockchain Technology and Internet of Things (IoT) in conjunction with cloud computing.

IoT example : real-time tracking and analytics to optimize supply chain management

7. Enhance Employee Skills

Develop Your Employees: Investing in employee development is key to succeeding as a business. The training is provided for the folks of various industries and so employees can increase their skills that are needed to work in a certain company. Employee performance can be enhanced by providing training programs in future technology skills and soft skills and job satisfaction.

Example: A marketing agency can host webinars or create courses to teach people the latest digital marketing trends and tools This can help to keep employees in the know which results in boosting their skills, making your campaigns successful.

8. Diversify Supply Chains

The ongoing pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of global supply chains. …diversify its supply base and promote the manufacturing of drugs in Nigeria to eliminate total dependence on a single source. In return, this approach increases resilience and reduces exposure to the risks of supply chain interruption.

- E.g., a consumer electronics company can source components from many suppliers in various regions. In so doing, this alleviates avoidable supply chain interruptions during times of political tensions or when disasters hit.

9. Make Decisions Based on Data

A business database is an asset for businesses. By implementing data, they allow you to make decisions based on the data that your analytics tools are providing. For example, sales analysis lets you track trends and better tailor your goods to the market.

Example: A retail chain can use data analytics to find out when a customer buys, and it change their purchasing policies. This can also reduce overstock and stockouts while overall, increasing efficiency.

10. Foster Innovation

Business Growth Innovation is Key A culture of creativity and experimentation should be established in companies. Funding R&D and teaming with startups can open many doors to both solve problems creatively but also tap into new markets.

Example: A software development firm could create an innovation lab where team members are freed to work on speculative projects. Moreover, work with start-ups on new technologies and solutions.

By adopting these strategies, businesses can navigate the turbulence for 2024 and roll up market — progressive.AI with an evolving dynamic market, being ahead of trends and updated is most likely will help you thrive in the business landscape.

[mariacallous]

The Trump administration has scrapped its predecessor’s sweeping export controls for advanced artificial intelligence chips, known as the AI diffusion rule.

“To win the AI race, the Biden AI diffusion rule must go,” posted David Sacks, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top AI advisor, on May 8. Sacks continued his criticism at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum a few days later, arguing that the rule “restricted the diffusion or proliferation of American technology all over the world.”

As the administration decides what comes next, it should raise its sights from merely proposing a “simpler” rule to manage the diffusion of AI chips. Instead, it should seize the opportunity to offer an ambitious vision to promote the broader diffusion of U.S. technology.

After all, the world not only wants the United States’ AI chips, but also its AI applications, data centers, cloud services, satellites, and advanced technology offerings generally. But even as Beijing extends its digital offerings in key emerging markets, U.S. foreign policy has failed to adapt for a global technology competition with era-defining stakes. Whether you agree with the Trump administration or not, its disruption is an opportunity to forge a new model of technology statecraft to help the United States win the race to shape strategic digital infrastructure and technology diffusion across the globe.

To start, Washington must finally learn from its failure in the transition to 4G and 5G telecommunications networks, where Beijing’s state-backed model—and the absence of a compelling U.S.-led alternative—enabled Huawei and ZTE to all but corner emerging markets. Huawei now operates in more than 170 countries worldwide and is the top global provider of telecommunications equipment. But if there is broad consensus among U.S. policymakers that Beijing won that global technology transition, there is little agreement about how to win the next.

They have little time to waste. From Brasília to New Delhi, technology has moved to the center of government ambitions to drive growth, improve governance, and modernize security. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto views the digital sector as essential to diversifying the country’s commodity-reliant economy. Kenyan President William Ruto hopes to boost the country’s “Silicon Savannah” by accelerating cloud migration. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made AI central to his “Vision 2030” framework for the kingdom’s modernization. The result is surging global demand not only for AI data centers, but also for cutting-edge digital infrastructure, services, and skilling more broadly.

In the coming years, foreign capitals and corporate boards will make potentially generational decisions about whether to meet this demand by partnering with the United States and its allies or China. These short-term decisions could have generational consequences. Projects to lay a transcontinental submarine cable or build large-scale data centers, for instance, are mapped in decades.

Even virtual cloud and AI services can have long-term stickiness. Imagine the pain of migrating an entire ministry’s data to a new cloud provider, or switching from an AI model that has been fine-tuned with a company’s sensitive data over time. Consider Beijing’s decade-plus struggle to transition its government computers from Windows. First movers reap powerful advantages.

If the stakes are great in the current round of global technology diffusion, so is the United States’ hand. Unlike the transition to 4G and 5G networks, where Western competitors such as Ericsson and Nokia struggled to match Huawei’s and ZTE’s subsidized offerings in emerging markets, the United States enters this technology transition with formidable advantages.

The United States occupies a commanding position in AI, with leadership or leverage over every part of the stack, ranging from chip design, tooling, and fabrication to model training and testing. U.S. companies hold at least a 70 percent share of the global cloud market. In space, Starlink has launched more satellites than all its competitors combined since 2020. Below the waves, three of the top four companies deploying subsea fiberoptic cables—the internet’s backbone—are from the United States or its close allies: SubCom (U.S.), Alcatel (France), and NEC (Japan). China controls the fourth, HMN Technologies (formerly Huawei Marine), which has deployed a mere 7 percent of the world’s submarine cables.

Despite powerful advantages, U.S. success is far from assured. The lesson of the 4G and 5G race is not to mirror China’s state-driven approach or to leave the private sector to fend for itself against Chinese competitors with powerful state backing. Nor is it to rely solely on export controls and other restrictive measures, however necessary those may be. The answer is to make U.S. foreign policy fit the global technology competition.

Washington can start with reforms in three broad areas.

First, unleash the United States’ strategic investment tools. One of Washington’s most promising but underused tools is the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Created during the first Trump administration, the DFC makes market-driven investments to advance both humanitarian and national security goals, and it has several tools to attract private capital from equity investments to political risk insurance.

As Congress considers DFC reauthorization—its current mandate expires in September—it should raise the existing cap on its lending authority from $60 billion to at least $100 billion and make strategic technologies and digital infrastructure an explicit priority. Congress should also loosen restrictions that can block DFC from supporting digital infrastructure projects that incidentally benefit high-income countries, which has kept it from financing critical subsea cables in the Indo-Pacific that invariably have landing points in Singapore, a major interconnection hub for the region.

The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) also punches below its weight. EXIM helps level the playing firm for U.S. firms competing abroad with a $135 billion lending limit and tools such as direct loans, loan guarantees, and insurance to de-risk purchases of U.S. exports. The United States once led the world in export financing, but China now dominates. In 2022, Chinese export credit agencies provided $11 billion in export support, compared to just $2.7 billion from EXIM.

Under the first Trump administration, EXIM created a new China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) to prioritize investments that counter Beijing’s subsidies and support advanced technologies such as AI and semiconductors. EXIM now aims to reserve at least 20 percent of its support for the program.

Despite progress, EXIM remains plagued with issues. To receive CTEP support, at least 51 percent of the exported content must be American-made—far higher than requirements in competitor agencies. Another requirement that EXIM-supported goods travel on U.S.-flagged vessels also hinders participation. Although well-intentioned, EXIM’s mandate to create jobs can deprioritize the export of low-labor digital exports such as AI and cloud services. Compounding the problem, EXIM is also required to limit defaults across its total lending portfolio to less than 2 percent, fueling risk-aversion.

Washington should reform EXIM for the global technology competition by at least doubling the 20 percent allocation for CTEP, relaxing shipping rules, and counting some allied components toward its content requirement. Lawmakers could also loosen the mandate to support U.S. job creation for digital services and double EXIM’s default cap to encourage more risk-taking.

Second, Washington should turbocharge its commercial diplomacy for technology. Between 2016 and 2020, an average of just 900 U.S. personnel from the State and Commerce departments were deployed abroad for commercial diplomacy, and just a fraction focused on technology. Since 2022, the State Department has taken important steps by establishing a new Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, a special envoy for critical and emerging technologies, and a course on cyberspace and digital policy tradecraft.

Despite this progress, few U.S. diplomats—and even fewer ambassadors—have deep technology expertise, which means that front-line opportunities to secure key technology bids and shape emerging AI or data policies can go unnoticed or suffer from inadequate staff or substance to engage effectively.

As the administration reforms the State Department, it should reinforce the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, which has elevated and streamlined technology diplomacy across the government; expand technology training for foreign service officers; and, more ambitiously, launch a dedicated career track within the diplomatic corps for foreign technology officers.

Two smaller and often overlooked arms of the country’s technology diplomacy are the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The Commercial Service is a roughly 2,200-person global network of trade specialists that helps U.S. businesses identify and navigate foreign markets. But just 225 of its staff deploy abroad across 80 countries, which means that they constantly struggle to meet demand from U.S. technology companies and foreign partners. The USTDA helps identify and mature commercial opportunities abroad to boost U.S. exports. Digital infrastructure is one of the agency’s four priority sectors, but surging interest has far outpaced current resources.

The Trump administration can turbocharge U.S. commercial diplomacy by consolidating USTDA and the Commercial Service, elevating technology and digital infrastructure as a priority, and allocating more resources and personnel.

Finally, the United States should embrace a newly ambitious vision for technology partnerships. Too often, U.S. and allied firms lose one-off bids to subsidized, politically backed Chinese competitors, even if the firms might prefer to align with the high-tech U.S. ecosystem. Washington should explore how to make such an offer without simply imitating Beijing’s state-led model.

For example, Washington could create opportunities for foreign governments to request strategic technology partnerships that match their specific needs—for example, to accelerate AI adoption in government, expand data center capacity, or improve rural connectivity with low earth orbit satellites.

Washington could lay out clear, broadly consistent criteria as a condition for these partnerships—such as robust IP and cybersecurity protections, divestment from China-linked digital infrastructure, purchase commitments for U.S. goods and services, and even investment in the United States. The Trump administration has begun to model such an approach in its recent deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but it could go even further.

If countries meet these conditions, Washington should commit not only to loosening export controls on advanced AI chips, but also to fast-tracking support from the DFC, EXIM, and USTDA; expanding technology trade missions, talent exchange programs, and research collaboration; and facilitating connections with U.S. technology firms. The United States holds the strongest hand in advanced technology and should drive a hard bargain, but it should also be generous when countries agree.

Washington can also do more to align with technology-leading allies on joint investments in strategic emerging markets. For example, Washington could better coordinate with Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance program to boost Open RAN networks across the Indo-Pacific, tap the European Union’s Global Gateway to connect subsea cables to Africa, and support India’s Digital Public Infrastructure to counter China’s “smart city” offerings.

Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds may raise tricky strategic questions as longer-term partners, but there are other, less controversial players that Washington has yet to fully explore—such as Norway, which has both attractive conditions for AI data centers and the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. Washington and its allies may struggle to match Beijing’s subsidies on their own, but they can easily do so together.

As the world rushes into an accelerating competition to deploy strategic technologies and digital infrastructure across the globe, the United States has almost everything it needs to prevail—world-leading companies and products, an unrivaled network of technology-leading allies, and an administration eager for reform. What Washington lacks, however, is a vision to harness these strengths in a new model of technology statecraft to help the United States win.

[fund2edu-blogs]

Top 20 Tech Tools and Apps to Enhance Your Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad is an exciting and transformative experience. However, adapting to a new environment, managing studies, and staying connected can be challenging. Fortunately, a plethora of tech tools and apps are available to make this transition smoother and enhance your overall experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how and which tech tools and apps can be beneficial for students studying abroad.

Language Learning Apps:

Duolingo

Duolingo is a popular app for learning new languages. It offers courses in multiple languages with a gamified approach to make learning fun and engaging. Daily practice and interactive lessons help you quickly grasp basic conversational skills.

Babbel

Babbel focuses on conversation skills and offers lessons created by linguistic experts. Its structured courses cover vocabulary, grammar, and cultural nuances, helping you become proficient in the local language.

Google Translate

Google Translate is a must-have for instant translations. It supports text, voice, and image translations, making it easier to understand signs, menus, and conversations in real-time.

Study and Organization Tools:

Evernote

Evernote is a powerful note-taking app that helps you organize your study materials. You can create to-do lists, save web pages, and take notes in various formats. Its synchronization feature ensures you can access your notes from any device.

Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, task management, and database functions. It’s highly customizable and perfect for managing projects, assignments, and class notes.

Google Drive

Google Drive offers cloud storage for all your documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. It’s ideal for collaborative work, allowing you to share and edit files in real-time with classmates and professors.

Time Management and Productivity Apps:

Todoist

Todoist is a task management app that helps you keep track of your assignments and deadlines. Its clean interface and intuitive design make it easy to prioritize tasks and stay organized.

Forest

Forest is a unique productivity app that encourages you to stay focused. When you need to concentrate, you plant a virtual tree that grows as you work. If you leave the app, the tree dies, promoting uninterrupted study sessions.

Trello

Trello is a project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you organize tasks and collaborate with others. It’s particularly useful for group projects and managing multiple assignments.

Communication and Connectivity Apps:

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app that offers free text, voice, and video calls. It’s essential for staying in touch with family and friends back home, as well as connecting with new friends and classmates.

Skype

Skype is another reliable option for video calls and international communication. Its robust features and cross-platform compatibility make it a staple for long-distance communication.

Slack

Slack is a communication platform designed for teams. It’s perfect for group projects, allowing you to create channels for different subjects and communicate efficiently with classmates.

Travel and Navigation Apps:

Google Maps

Google Maps is indispensable for navigating your new city. It provides detailed maps, directions, and real-time traffic updates. You can also discover nearby restaurants, attractions, and public transportation options.

Citymapper

Citymapper is a comprehensive transit app that offers detailed information on public transportation routes, schedules, and real-time updates. It’s especially useful in major cities with complex transit systems.

Airbnb

Airbnb is great for finding affordable accommodation when traveling during breaks. It offers a variety of lodging options, from shared rooms to entire apartments, giving you the flexibility to choose based on your budget and preferences.

Financial Management Apps:

Revolut

Revolut is a digital banking app that offers multi-currency accounts, making it easier to manage your finances abroad. It provides competitive exchange rates, budgeting tools, and the ability to send money internationally.

Splitwise

Splitwise helps you keep track of shared expenses, making it ideal for group outings and shared accommodation. It ensures everyone pays their fair share and helps avoid awkward conversations about money.

TransferWise (now Wise)

Wise offers low-cost international money transfers with transparent fees and competitive exchange rates. It’s perfect for sending money home or receiving funds from family.

Health and Well-being Apps:

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is a comprehensive health app that tracks your diet and exercise. It helps you maintain a balanced lifestyle by monitoring your calorie intake and physical activity.

Headspace

Headspace offers guided meditation and mindfulness exercises to help you manage stress and maintain mental well-being. It’s particularly useful during exams or when feeling homesick.

7 Minute Workout

7 Minute Workout provides quick, effective exercise routines that you can do anywhere. It’s perfect for staying fit without needing a gym membership.

Studying abroad is an enriching experience, and these tech tools and apps can help you navigate the challenges and make the most of your time. From language learning to financial management, there’s an app for almost every aspect of your journey. Embrace these technologies to stay organized, connected, and productive, ensuring a smooth and successful study abroad experience.

[certocen]

Build a Cloud Career with AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification in Ottawa

Cloud computing is an essential part of business operations for the majority of businesses nowadays in the competitive IT environment. Among many certifications available, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification in Ottawa is a very elite and career-defining certification. Ottawa is one of Canada's main tech cities and is the ideal place for cloud professionals to upgrade their skills. This credential is for an individual who wants to design and deploy applications and infrastructure in AWS effectively and efficiently. It covers all the essential architectural topics like cloud security, network architecture, storage configuration, and best practices in developing scalable and resilient AWS solutions. Whether you are a system administrator, software engineer, or IT professional, getting this certification in Ottawa will make you one of the top players in Ottawa's job market.

Career Opportunities and Salaries in Ottawa's Tech Industry

Getting the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification in Ottawa provides you with many career opportunities in the public as well as the private sector. Ottawa is in an optimal position with an active ecosystem of cloud technology companies, government institutions, and global corporations that are transitioning their infrastructure to cloud platforms. With one of the world's top cloud providers, Amazon Web Services, in Ottawa, Ottawa-based organizations are consistently interested in innovating based on hiring experienced professionals who will create effective and secure cloud solutions. By gaining this certification, not only do you establish your technical skills but you are also able to demonstrate that you have the ability to understand the particular business requirements of an organization and then translate them into robust AWS architecture. Ottawa-based certified professionals typically end up in Cloud Solutions Architect, AWS Engineer, DevOps Architect, and Infrastructure Consultant roles, all of which come with fair pay packages as well as long-term professional growth.

How to Begin and Training Options in Ottawa

When beginning your path for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification in Ottawa, you have the option of various training options within the city. Most of the reputed training institutions and online websites offer instructor-led training, hands-on labs, and live projects related to the certification course. The training programs typically include AWS core services, best practices in architectural design, billing and pricing strategy, data management, and security options. The candidates are fortunate enough to get hands-on experience in replicating live AWS environments where they are able to practice what they learned and prepare themselves well for the exam. In addition, the robust technology culture in Ottawa and regular meetups give you a chance to meet cloud professionals, share knowledge, and get the latest updates on AWS trends. 

Conclusion: Take Your Next Step To Mastering AWS in Ottawa

Sure, AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification in Ottawa is not a career milestone, but an informed investment in your future.

As more and more businesses opt for AWS, the need for certified architects just continues to grow. Ottawa is the ideal launching pad for individuals who are committed to making it big in the cloud computing sector. By coupling world-class training material, a strong job market, and a generous tech scene, the city has all you need to get ahead. Don't wait to future-proof your job — start today by signing up for an AWS certification course in Ottawa and embark on the path to becoming a legendary cloud architect.

[datainsightview]

Cryptocurrency Mining: A Deep Dive into Technologies and Market Drivers

Cryptocurrency Mining Market: An In-Depth Overview

Cryptocurrency mining has transitioned from a niche tech hobby to a global industry driving the backbone of blockchain networks. This digital process, essential for verifying transactions and minting new coins, has evolved significantly due to shifts in technology, regulations, environmental concerns, and market demand.

Understanding Cryptocurrency Mining

At its core, cryptocurrency mining is the process of validating transactions on a blockchain network by solving complex mathematical problems. Miners compete to solve these problems using computing power, and the successful miner is rewarded with newly minted coins and transaction fees.

The mining process primarily supports networks that use the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, such as Bitcoin and Litecoin. However, newer consensus models like Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Space and Time are emerging, reshaping the mining ecosystem.

Market Segmentation

The cryptocurrency mining market can be segmented based on the following parameters:

Hardware Type: The two most common types of mining hardware are ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). While ASICs offer high efficiency for specific coins like Bitcoin, GPUs are more versatile and favored for altcoin mining.

Mining Type: There are different approaches, including self-mining, cloud mining, and pool mining. Self-mining involves setting up personal rigs, cloud mining allows users to rent processing power remotely, and pool mining lets individuals combine resources to improve success rates.

Application: The mining market is closely tied to coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum (before its shift to PoS), Monero, and others. Different currencies have varying mining requirements and profitability.

Technological Developments

Advancements in chip manufacturing, energy efficiency, and cooling solutions have driven hardware innovation. The focus has shifted from just power to energy efficiency and scalability. Custom-built mining farms, modular containers, and AI-based monitoring systems are enhancing operational productivity and security.

In addition, the emergence of green mining using renewable energy sources is becoming a strategic imperative. Efforts are underway to reduce carbon footprints and integrate sustainable practices into mining operations.

Regional Trends and Landscape

Certain regions dominate the mining landscape due to factors like electricity costs, regulatory frameworks, climate, and tech infrastructure. Countries with access to cheap power and favorable weather for cooling, such as parts of North America, Scandinavia, and Central Asia, have become major hubs.

However, regulatory crackdowns in some regions, especially in parts of Asia, have prompted a global redistribution of mining operations. This shift is influencing investment strategies and creating new opportunities in underexplored markets.

Key Drivers of Growth

Several factors are fueling the growth of the cryptocurrency mining market:

Increasing Adoption of Cryptocurrencies: As crypto assets become more mainstream, demand for transaction verification rises.

Blockchain Expansion: The growing use of blockchain in areas beyond finance, such as supply chains and smart contracts, indirectly boosts mining.

Rising Token Values: Higher coin valuations improve mining profitability, attracting more players.

Innovation in Hardware: Improvements in ASIC and GPU technologies continue to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Challenges Faced by the Industry

Despite its potential, the mining industry faces considerable challenges:

High Energy Consumption: PoW-based mining consumes vast amounts of electricity, drawing criticism from environmental groups and regulators.

Regulatory Uncertainty: Governments around the world are still evaluating how to regulate crypto mining, causing legal and operational risks.

Volatility: Cryptocurrency prices are notoriously volatile, which can quickly impact mining profitability.

Hardware Scarcity: Supply chain disruptions and increased global demand can limit access to key components.

The future of cryptocurrency mining is expected to become more efficient, decentralized, and environmentally conscious. Innovations like liquid cooling, AI-driven operations, and hybrid consensus mechanisms may reshape the industry. Regulatory clarity and access to renewable energy sources will be critical in determining where and how mining operations thrive.

As blockchain technologies continue to expand across various sectors, the role of mining—though evolving—will remain integral to maintaining the security and decentralization of public networks.