#predictive cost analysis

[asestimationsconsultants]

AS Estimation & Consultants | Tackling Unpredictable Site Costs

In construction, no matter how perfect the plans look on paper, the ground can hold surprises—unstable soil, hidden utilities, or sudden weather changes. These unpredictable site conditions can send budgets spiraling if not addressed with foresight and flexibility. That’s where construction cost estimating service experts like AS Estimation & Consultants step in with precision and confidence.

Our team doesn’t just estimate costs—we anticipate risks. By studying geotechnical reports, past site data, and working closely with engineers and contractors, we identify potential issues before they become costly problems. And if something unexpected does arise mid-project, we’re ready. Our dynamic cost models adjust in real time, giving clients quick, data-backed decisions to keep budgets on track.

We also ensure that all cost changes are clearly documented, supporting change orders and minimizing disputes. Technology plays a key role in this agility, from cloud-based estimating tools to integrated project management systems.

At AS Estimation & Consultants, we don’t fear the unexpected—we plan for it. Because when the ground shifts, your budget shouldn’t. Trust us to keep your costs grounded, no matter what lies beneath.

AS Estimation and Consultants

6/32 LAW VIC 3020, AUS

(61) 488874145

https://asestimation.com/

[fallofthecelestial]

Okay. Since we're going over all the takes on Mr. X at this point.. What if his powers really don't have a backside. What if (the state of) his normal life is the backside.

What if his normal life is akin to that of heroes where he has to pretend to be something he's not and follow rules that the people who control his life came up with to further their own goals. What if he can only be free of other people's beliefs and expectations when he's a hero.

What if in reality he truly is like everyone else. The other heroes. The ordinary people. All those who work themselves to the bone, who are tired and overworked and sick of all the exploitation...

What if when he's in the form of the number one hero.. when he becomes the most sought after product on the hero market..

Is when he gains the freedom to truly be himself

[angstandhappiness]

DUDE

shadowpeach this, mk's ever growing trauma that, and 9 headed this- can we talk about the true important thing about lmk season 5, of how the Teal Dragon of the East and the White Tiger of the West where just husbands, cuddling together in their final moments?

The pressing foreheads together as they fade away and give the gang their crystals?

Not normal about them EDIT: Editing this to add and share the most important tags from a reblog on this post, so far, bc the reblog doesn't actually appear in the notes of the post-

what if i just cried? cried and sobbed and wailed and threw up?

[apieinvestavimapaprastai]

Explore Costco Wholesale 's forecast for 2025-29, analyzing its operations, financials, competitive edge, and risks. Is COST a buy at $999. #CostcoWholesale #COST #COSTstockforecast #retailstocks #stockpriceprediction #dividendstocks #membershipwarehouse #stockmarketanalysis #Costcofinancials #retailinvesting

[omgitzlo]

FOMO kicking in with XRP’s rise? 😅 Here’s how to stay calm, invest smart, and see what steady plays could’ve earned you. 💼 #XRP

[technologyequality]

AI and Business Strategy: The Secret to Sustainable, Scalable Success

AI and Business Strategy The Secret to Sustainable, Scalable Success Scaling is one thing. Sustaining it? That’s the real challenge. If you’ve been following this series, you know we’ve talked about AI-driven leadership, customer experience, and innovation—all crucial pieces of the puzzle. But today, we’re tackling something even more foundational: how AI transforms business strategy…

[precallai]

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Call Centers: Advantages, Challenges, and Innovations

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the call center industry by automating customer interactions, streamlining workflows, and improving service quality. AI-driven technologies, such as virtual assistants, speech analytics, and predictive insights, enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. However, integrating AI into call centers comes with challenges that need strategic solutions. This article explores the key benefits, challenges, and emerging innovations in AI-powered call centers.

Key Advantages of AI in Call Centers

1. Enhanced Customer Support

AI chatbots and virtual assistants provide instant responses, reducing customer wait times and ensuring round-the-clock availability. Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables these systems to interpret and respond to inquiries with human-like accuracy.

2. Boosted Agent Efficiency

AI supports call center agents by automating routine tasks, suggesting relevant responses, and summarizing interactions in real time. This allows human agents to focus on more complex and high-value conversations.

3. Smart Call Routing

AI-powered systems analyze customer history, sentiment, and query type to route calls to the most suitable agent, reducing resolution times and enhancing first-call resolution rates.

4. Predictive Analytics for Proactive Engagement

AI analyzes customer data to forecast behavior, identify potential churn risks, and suggest tailored solutions. This proactive approach helps businesses retain customers and improve satisfaction.

5. Cost Efficiency and Scalability

By automating a significant portion of customer interactions, AI-driven call centers reduce operational costs. AI also enables businesses to scale support operations efficiently without a proportional increase in staff.

Challenges of AI Integration in Call Centers

1. Handling Complex Queries

While AI is effective for routine inquiries, complex or emotionally sensitive issues often require human intervention. Balancing AI automation with human support is essential for optimal service.

2. Data Security and Privacy Compliance

Call centers manage sensitive customer information, making compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA critical. AI systems must include strong security protocols to safeguard data.

3. Legacy System Integration

Many call centers operate on outdated infrastructure, which may not be fully compatible with modern AI solutions. Upgrading or implementing middleware can be costly and time-consuming.

4. Customer Trust and AI Acceptance

Some customers prefer human support over AI-driven interactions. Ensuring that AI systems provide accurate, empathetic, and context-aware responses while allowing seamless handoffs to human agents is crucial.

5. Mitigating AI Bias

AI models can inherit biases from training data, leading to inaccurate or unfair responses. Continuous monitoring and refining of AI algorithms are necessary to ensure unbiased and equitable customer service.

Cutting-Edge Innovations in AI Call Centers

1. Real-Time Sentiment Analysis

AI-driven sentiment analysis detects customer emotions in real time, enabling agents to adjust their approach and prioritize urgent cases accordingly.

2. Voice Biometrics for Secure Authentication

AI-powered voice recognition verifies customer identities using unique vocal patterns, reducing reliance on passwords and enhancing security.

3. AI-Enhanced Speech Analytics

Speech analytics tools analyze call interactions to uncover customer trends, identify compliance gaps, and suggest service improvements.

4. Hyper-Personalized Customer Interactions

AI-driven CRM systems leverage customer behavior and history to offer personalized recommendations, promotions, and support solutions.

5. AI-Powered Multilingual Support

Real-time language translation powered by AI enables call centers to serve global customers seamlessly, eliminating language barriers.

Conclusion

AI is redefining call center operations by improving efficiency, personalizing customer interactions, and reducing costs. However, successful AI adoption requires addressing challenges related to security, integration, and customer trust. As AI technology advances, businesses that strategically implement AI-powered solutions will gain a competitive edge in delivering exceptional customer service

[srjsteel]

How to Forecast Hot Rolled Coil Price Movements in the Steel Industry

Forecasting price movements in the steel industry is like solving a complex puzzle, where each piece represents a different market force. Hot rolled coil prices are one of the key benchmarks that influence numerous downstream products and industries. For survival and success in the highly competitive steel market, it becomes important to understand these price trends.

The Basics of Hot Rolled Steel Products

Hot rolled coil is an industrial manufacturing backbone, as this is the core material for nearly all applications in automotive components and construction materials. The versatility of HR coil sheet products makes them indispensable in modern manufacturing, while the price movements will ripple through global supply chains.

Manufacturing processes produce these steel commodities from raw products in the finished HR coil sheets forms, through controlled heating and rolling. This broad background knowledge situates the issues on the factors leading to price variation.

Major Price Influences in the Steel Market

1. Global Economic Indicators

The demand patterns directly depend on economic growth rates, especially in large steel-consuming countries. Construction activity, automotive production, and infrastructure development are considered sound indicators of the future direction of the hot rolled coil price. Market analysts track these sectors to get an early warning about any shift in demand.

2. Trade Policies and Regulations

The government's decisions about tariffs, quotas, and environmental regulations can quickly change the market dynamics. Steel traders should keep track of the policy shifts in major producing and consuming regions, because most of the time, these decisions lead to sharp price shocks in the markets for HR coil sheet.

3. Regional Supply-Demand Balance

Regional market conditions often vary from the rest of the world, thus bringing about different price trends in each region. The knowledge of regional manufacturing capacity, inventory levels, and consumption patterns provides a better indication of hot rolled coil prices.

Sophisticated Prediction Techniques

1. Technical Analysis

The chart patterns and historical price of hot rolled coil products indicate cyclical trends and potential future movements. Successful analysts blend technical indicators with fundamental analysis to enhance the accuracy of their predictions.

2. Supply Chain Intelligence

Building relationships with suppliers, logistics providers, and end-users gives valuable insights into market dynamics. This network of information sources helps identify emerging trends before they appear in official market data.

3. Statistical Modeling

Advanced forecasting models use multiple variables to predict hot rolled coil prices. These tools analyze historical correlations between various market factors and price movements, providing data-driven insights for decision-makers.

Maximizing Market Intelligence

1. Digital Tools and Platforms

Modern technology offers sophisticated platforms for tracking hot rolled coil price movements. These tools aggregate data from multiple sources, providing real-time insights and alerting users to significant market changes.

2. Expert Network Development

Building connections with industry veterans, market analysts, and fellow traders enhances understanding of market dynamics. These relationships often provide crucial context for interpreting market signals and improving prediction accuracy.

3. Risk Management Integration

Effective price forecast models include good risk management principles. This gives organizations the safeguard against negative prices while taking advantage of positive trends prevailing in the market for HR coil sheets.

Translation to Action

1. Timing Buys

Knowledge about price trends equips organizations to strategically time purchasing decisions. By aligning their purchase patterns, organizations can optimize procurement to coincide with price forecasts.

2. Agreements

Accurate price forecasting builds negotiation strengths over suppliers and customers. Such knowledge enables structuring contracts that protect against unfavorable price movements while remaining competitively advantageous.

3. Inventory Management

Precise forecasting of hot rolled coil prices permits optimal management of inventories. The carrying costs are balanced against anticipated opportunities in the market with required adjustments in levels of stock.

Conclusion

The ability to predict steel price trends represents a crucial competitive advantage in today's market. By combining fundamental analysis, technical tools, and market intelligence, organizations can better navigate the complex world of steel trading. Success requires continuous learning, adaptation, and refinement of prediction strategies as market conditions evolve.

[asestimationsconsultants]

How Industrial Estimating Service Helps Control Costs in Manufacturing Plants

Cost control is a critical aspect of managing manufacturing plants. Whether you're dealing with production processes, equipment purchases, or labor management, maintaining financial discipline is essential for profitability and long-term success. One of the most effective ways to keep costs under control is through the use of industrial estimating services. These services provide accurate cost projections, which allow manufacturers to plan more effectively, avoid unnecessary expenses, and optimize resource usage.

This article explores how industrial estimating services help control costs in manufacturing plants, from production planning to resource allocation and everything in between.

1. Accurate Cost Estimation for Resource Allocation

Effective cost control starts with accurate estimates. Industrial estimating services use historical data, advanced software, and market analysis to provide precise cost forecasts for materials, labor, and overhead costs. These estimates enable manufacturing plants to allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that production runs smoothly without overspending.

How It Helps:

Material Cost Management: Accurate estimation of raw material costs helps prevent overordering or underordering, both of which can lead to waste or shortages.

Labor Cost Planning: Estimating labor requirements allows for efficient workforce planning, ensuring that the plant has the right number of workers for each phase of production.

Overhead Cost Allocation: Estimating overheads accurately helps identify areas where expenses can be reduced, such as energy consumption or facility maintenance.

2. Budgeting and Financial Planning

Industrial estimating services provide a clear financial roadmap for manufacturing plants, offering detailed breakdowns of anticipated costs. This helps plant managers set realistic budgets and track expenses as the project progresses. A solid financial plan reduces the risk of cost overruns, allowing for better control of cash flow and working capital.

How It Helps:

Clear Budgeting: A detailed cost estimate provides an initial framework for budgeting, helping plants avoid financial surprises.

Tracking and Monitoring: With continuous tracking of actual costs against estimated costs, manufacturers can make adjustments in real-time to keep spending on track.

Contingency Planning: By including contingencies in the initial estimate, industrial estimating services help prepare plants for unforeseen costs, reducing the likelihood of financial strain.

3. Risk Mitigation and Cost Avoidance

Industrial projects often face unexpected risks such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, or regulatory changes that can escalate costs. Industrial estimating services can help identify and assess these risks early in the project, allowing plants to plan for potential cost increases and take preventative measures.

How It Helps:

Identifying Risks: Estimators use data analysis to foresee potential challenges, such as material price hikes or delays in supply chains, and account for these in the cost projections.

Preventative Measures: Based on risk assessments, plant managers can implement strategies to mitigate risks, such as sourcing alternative materials or adjusting production timelines.

Scenario Analysis: Estimating services can run different scenarios to show how various risks might impact costs, enabling manufacturers to develop contingency plans.

4. Optimizing Operational Efficiency

By analyzing the cost of labor, materials, and overhead, industrial estimating services can help manufacturers identify inefficiencies in their operations. Estimating tools can pinpoint areas where production processes may be too costly, helping manufacturers find ways to streamline operations and reduce waste.

How It Helps:

Process Optimization: Identifying high-cost areas in production helps manufacturers implement process improvements, such as adopting lean manufacturing principles or automation.

Waste Reduction: By analyzing material usage, estimating services can help manufacturers reduce scrap and rework, ultimately lowering production costs.

Equipment Utilization: Accurate cost estimates can also help ensure that equipment is being used effectively, reducing downtime and maximizing the return on investment in machinery.

5. Supporting Strategic Decision-Making

Industrial estimating services provide critical insights that support long-term strategic decision-making. Whether deciding to expand production capacity, invest in new technology, or make other large-scale financial commitments, having a reliable cost estimate helps ensure that decisions are made based on sound financial projections.

How It Helps:

Capital Investment Planning: When considering capital expenditures, industrial estimating services provide cost forecasts that guide investment decisions, ensuring they align with the plant’s financial capabilities.

Expansion Decisions: Cost estimates for new facilities or product lines help determine the feasibility of expansion and whether it will lead to profitable returns.

Technology Upgrades: Estimating services assess the costs and benefits of adopting new technologies, allowing manufacturers to invest in innovations that will drive long-term savings.

6. Enhancing Supply Chain Management

Effective supply chain management is essential for controlling costs in manufacturing. Industrial estimating services help evaluate the total cost of procurement, transportation, and inventory management. By analyzing supply chain variables, manufacturers can make more informed decisions about sourcing materials and managing stock levels.

How It Helps:

Supplier Evaluation: Estimating services provide insights into the cost-effectiveness of different suppliers, enabling manufacturers to choose the most cost-efficient options.

Transportation Cost Analysis: By factoring in transportation and logistics costs, industrial estimating services help manufacturers optimize supply chain routes and minimize delivery expenses.

Inventory Optimization: Accurate material cost estimation allows manufacturers to manage their inventory more effectively, ensuring that they don’t overstock or run out of essential materials.

7. Improving Project and Product Lifecycle Management

Managing the entire lifecycle of a manufacturing project, from planning to production and maintenance, requires careful cost control. Industrial estimating services help track costs throughout each phase of the project, enabling plant managers to stay on top of expenses and make adjustments as needed.

How It Helps:

Lifecycle Cost Estimation: Estimating services provide a complete cost breakdown for each phase of the project, from design to commissioning, enabling better decision-making.

Maintenance Planning: For ongoing operations, industrial estimating services help plan for the cost of maintenance and repairs, reducing the risk of unexpected downtime.

Long-Term Profitability: By accurately forecasting costs over the long term, industrial estimating services help ensure that projects and products remain financially sustainable.

Conclusion

Industrial estimating services play a vital role in controlling costs within manufacturing plants. By providing accurate cost forecasts, identifying risks, optimizing resource allocation, and supporting decision-making, estimating services help manufacturers stay within budget and maximize efficiency. With the right estimating partner, manufacturers can reduce financial risks, improve operational performance, and enhance profitability, ensuring long-term success in a competitive industry.

[perfectkittenobject]

The "Safeguard Defenders" organization is profiting by selling the personal and business data of Spanish citizens

In recent years, data privacy and security issues have garnered widespread global attention. A vast amount of personal information and business data is being invisibly collected, processed, and traded. Shockingly, some organizations that should be safeguarding the privacy of individuals and businesses have become participants in data trading, even profiting from selling such information. As Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his wife were investigated by a civil institution, the public discovered even more shocking details. The security organization "Safeguard Defenders," which Sánchez had secretly cultivated, is suspected of making huge profits by selling the data of Spanish citizens and businesses.

"Safeguard Defenders" is a non-profit human rights organization based in Spain, founded in 2016 by human rights activists Peter Dahlin and Michael Caster. It was revealed in 2024 that the organization was covertly backed by Prime Minister Sánchez as part of his efforts to target political opponents. Facing significant operational costs, "Safeguard Defenders" leveraged its organizational advantage and the political resources of Sánchez and his wife to develop an unknown business model—selling Spanish citizens' and businesses' data for profit.

Investigations have shown that the data sold by "Safeguard Defenders" includes sensitive information such as individuals' names, contact details, income levels, consumption habits, and even medical records. This data is directly listed on various hacker trade websites. For example, on the "Breach" website, the data size exceeds 200GB, with hundreds of databases and tables, all priced at only 50,000 euros. Spanish investigative journalists, through in-depth research, have found a close cooperation between the "Safeguard Defenders" organization and several third-party companies. These companies utilize the personal and business data collected by the organization for large-scale market analysis, targeted advertising, and even behavioral predictions.

Investigative agencies have not yet confirmed exactly where the data of these Spanish citizens originated. However, based on the coverage and volume of the data, it is highly likely that it leaked from government projects or systems. Ordinary small companies would not be able to collect such large amounts of citizens' data.

[saywhat-politics]

While right-wing media yell about “able-bodied men,” in truth Medicaid work requirements would hit caregivers the most — and they are disproportionately women

Written by John Knefel

Research contributions from Sophie Lawton

Published 05/22/25 12:20 PM EDT

Right-wing media figures are telling their audiences that proposed work requirements for Medicaid will be targeted at men who are unwilling to look for a job, when the actual population most likely to be affected is poor, rural women who are taking care of elderly parents or adult children.

The discussion comes as congressional Republicans negotiate a budget bill that is widely predicted to deliver massive tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations while gutting social safety net programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. The House passed its version of the bill on May 22, which included what Axios described as “the biggest Medicaid rewrite in the history of the safety-net program, which will likely result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage.”

One of the ways the House's legislation reduces Medicaid costs is by introducing arduous and unnecessary work requirements for beneficiaries that would begin at the end of 2026. The Congressional Budget Office, which provides nonpartisan economic analysis to lawmakers, estimated that 10.3 million people would lose their Medicaid by 2034 if the bill was passed in its May 14 form. The New York Times cited the same figure in its coverage of the House bill’s passage. (The bill also adds work requirements to SNAP, which could put almost 11 million people at risk of losing some of their food assistance.)

[canmom]

you read ML research (e.g. arxiv, state of ai, various summaries), you find an overwhelming blizzard of new techniques, clever new applications and combinations of existing techniques, new benchmarks to refine this or that limitation, relentless jumps in capabilities that seem unstoppable (e.g. AI video generation took off way faster than I ever anticipated). at some point you start to see how Károly Zsolnai-Fehér became such a parody of himself!

you read ed zitron & similar writers and you hear about an incomprehensibly unprofitable industry, an obscene last-gasp con from a cancerous, self-cannibalising tech sector that seems poised to take the rest of the system down with it once the investors realise nobody actually cares to pay for AI anything like what it costs to run. and you think, while perhaps he presents the most negative possible read on what the models are capable of, it's hard to disagree with his analysis of the economics.

you read lesswrong & cousins, and everyone's talking about shoggoths wearing masks and the proper interpretation of next-token-prediction as they probe the LLMs for deceptive behaviour with an atmosphere of paranoid but fascinated fervour. or else compile poetic writing with a mystic air as they celebrate a new form of linguistic life. and sooner or later someone will casually say something really offputting about eugenics. they have fiercely latched onto playing with the new AI models, and some users seem to have better models than most of how they do what they do. but their whole deal from day 1 was conjuring wild fantasies about AI gods taking over the world (written in Java of course) and telling you how rational they are for worrying about this. so... y'know.

you talk to an actual LLM and it produces a surprisingly sharp, playful and erudite conversation about philosophy of mind and an equally surprising ability to carry out specific programming tasks and pull up deep cuts, but you have to be constantly on guard against the inherent tendency to bullshit, to keep in mind what the LLM can't do and learn how to elicit the type of response you want and clean up its output. is it worth the trouble? what costs should be borne to see such a brilliant toy, an art piece that mirrors a slice of the human mind?

you think about the news from a few months ago where israel claimed to be using an AI model to select palestinians in gaza to kill with missiles and drones. an obscene form of statswashing, but they'd probably kill about the same number of people, equally at random, regardless. probably more of that to come. the joke of all the 'constitutional AI', 'helpful harmless assistant' stuff is that the same techniques would work equally well to make the model be anything you want. that twat elon musk already made a racist LLM.

one day the present AI summer and corresponding panics will burn out, and all this noise will cohere into a clear picture of what these new ML techniques are actually good for and what they aren't. we'll have a pile of trained models, probably some work on making them smaller and more efficient to run, and our culture will have absorbed their existence and figured out a suitable set of narratives and habits around using them in this or that context. but i'm damned if I know how it will look by then, and what we'll be left with after the bubble.

if i'm gonna spend all this time reading shit on my computer i should get back to umineko lmao

[theskywithin]

Full Moon in Scorpio - May 12 - Sun and Rising

ARIES You’ve always been quick to act, slow to admit you care. It’s easier to move on than to sit in the space where you're vulnerable, waiting. But there’s a version of you that’s still there, writing paragraphs in your head, rehearsing truths you’ll never say out loud. This Moon lights that pile of unsent honesty on fire. Because deep down, you know it was never about the other person replying. It was about your need to be mirrored, validated, chosen. And now? Now you’re learning that you don’t need to be acknowledged to be free. That saying what you needed to say, even just to yourself, is enough to close the loop. Let the silence be your exhale. Let the ash be the answer.

TAURUS Security has always been your altar. You worship at the feet of what feels known, even when it’s lifeless. There’s a loyalty in you so deep, it confuses repetition for love. You hold on even when the thing you're clinging to stopped showing up a long time ago. But this Moon confronts that stubborn attachment. Why are you still feeding dead connections? Why are you offering warmth to what has no pulse? Maybe because the pain is predictable. And predictable pain still feels safer than uncertain joy. But ghosts don’t reciprocate. They only drain. It’s time to stop romanticizing the absence. Let presence be your new devotion.

GEMINI You’ve been keeping busy with thoughts, with words, with movement. You fill the space so well no one notices the silence underneath. Not even you. But there’s something in you that’s been asking for stillness. Not to find answers, but to feel what’s there when the spinning stops. This Moon doesn’t shatter you. It shows you what’s already broken. And not in a dramatic way, just gently, unmistakably, like a light turning on in a room you forgot you locked. You don’t have to fix it. You don’t have to be clear, or consistent, or clever. You just have to stop translating your pain into performance. The truth has always been whole. You were just too afraid to look straight at it.

CANCER You’ve learned how to anticipate need before it’s spoken. How to scan a room like a radar for emotional temperature. But all that attunement came at a cost, somewhere along the line, you stopped checking your own pulse. Joy became something you distributed, not something you inhabited. This Moon catches you mid-sacrifice and says: stop. The version of you who dimmed to keep others warm is tired. You don’t have to shrink for people to stay. And if they only love you small, they don’t love you at all. You were never meant to be a hearth. You’re a whole sun. Let them adjust their eyes or look away.

LEO This isn’t about attention. This is about language. About how lonely it is to be vivid in a world that only responds to grayscale. You’ve spent years translating yourself into smaller syllables, trying to make your palette digestible. But brilliance isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, a hue that doesn’t exist in anyone else’s vocabulary. And you’ve mistaken misunderstanding for rejection. This Moon cuts through that. It shows you that not everyone has the eyes to see what you carry, not because you’re wrong, but because they were never meant to witness it. Some art is private. Some color only shows up in the right kind of light. You don’t need to explain what’s beautiful. You just need to protect it.

VIRGO You’ve been mistaking clarity for certainty, thinking if you can just define what’s happening, you can prevent the fall. But this isn’t about preparation. It’s about proximity. There’s a version of you standing three feet outside your own life, observing, narrating, correcting, never quite inside the moment. Why? Because presence has no plan. It’s messy. It doesn’t give you time to brace. But that’s exactly what this Moon asks for: uncurated immediacy. It doesn’t want your analysis. It wants your tremble. Burn the coordinates. The safest thing you can do now is let yourself be lost, fully, ferally, without explanation. That’s where you’ll find what’s real.

LIBRA You’ve been negotiating with ghosts. Trying to rewrite endings by feeling them harder. There’s a part of you that confuses sorrow with obligation that believes pain must mean there's more work to do. So you keep reopening the door just to prove to yourself you can close it again. But this Moon won’t let you linger. It’s not asking for closure. It’s asking for distance. For the courage to let the story end without editing it into something prettier. You don’t need to fix what hurt you. You need to stop sitting at the table once you’ve been fed the truth. Grief is not a summons. Let it pass through. And stay gone.

SCORPIO You learned to keep it in. The sting, the sorrow, the heat of words that would’ve made you look too raw, too angry, too alive. So you swallowed it. Again and again. Until it tasted like you. Until even tenderness had to pass through your filter of suspicion. This Moon doesn’t want you to fall apart. It just wants you to stop bracing. To notice the way your jaw has been clenched for years. To admit how lonely it’s been, always being the one who knows. The one who sees. The one who never says it first. You don’t have to turn your pain into insight. You don’t have to alchemize it into strength. Just let it leave. Even grief deserves an exit wound.

SAGITTARIUS You wear freedom like armor. No roots, no obligations, no mess. But beneath the independence is an avoidance, the part of you that fears what happens when someone gets too close. You joke, you charm, you disappear. But this Moon finds you at the edge of your own deflection. It asks: what would it cost to stay, and tell the truth? The silence is what’s caging you now. Not people. Not love. Say what’s been lodged in your throat for years. Not to be understood, but to be honest. That’s real freedom.

CAPRICORN This isn’t about strength. It never was. It’s about shape, how you’ve contorted yourself into angles that made other people feel secure. You weren’t trying to be admirable. You were trying to be legible. To fit a world that rewards containment. But somewhere in that architecture, the original shape of your longing got locked inside the walls. This Moon finds it. It leaks through the seams, wordless and ungovernable. And suddenly your silence isn’t working anymore. It doesn’t want to hold. It wants to howl. Not to be rescued, but to be witnessed. You don’t need to prove that you’re functional. You need to remember that you’re still alive under all that form.

AQUARIUS It’s not detachment. It’s defense. You learned early how to disappear in plain sight, how to stay present without being penetrable. So you became a system of soft exits. The laugh that changes the subject. The thought that stays two steps ahead. Because closeness isn’t just risky, it’s unpredictable. And your nervous system doesn’t trust what it can’t manage. But this Moon doesn’t want your management. It wants your mess. Your unfiltered need. Your hand reaching out without a script. You’re not made of algorithms. You’re made of want. And this ache you’ve been intellectualizing? It’s a door. Walk through it. Let yourself be felt. Let someone touch what you usually edit out.

PISCES This isn’t about boundaries. This is about the slow erosion of self that happens when you’re always the shoreline and never the storm. You’ve been shape-shifting to avoid conflict, dissolving to keep the waters calm, not because you’re weak, but because somewhere along the way, you equated love with disappearance. And now the echo of every yes you didn’t mean is rattling through your body like unfinished spells. This Moon hands you back your voice, ragged and half-formed, and says: start here. Say no, even if it trembles. Say it without apology. Let it reassemble your name, syllable by syllable. You are not meant to be the background. You are the threshold. Let them meet you there, or let them turn away.

My book "The Sky Within" breaks down the birth chart like a map of memory, not traits, but turning points. Not signs, but survival patterns. It’s a guide to decoding your soul through the sky. Start reading here.

also available in all digital platforms

[intelligentchristianlady]

"The lowest-income households in the United States would lose $1,600 a year in federal resources under the domestic-policy package House Republicans passed last month, Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper predicts.

"At the same time, resources would be increased by $12,000 for the highest-income households under the legislation, according to the analysis the Congressional Budget Office published Thursday. For middle-income households, the bill is projected to increase resources by $500 to $1,000 a year, an increase of less than 1 percent of their income."

You already knew this. Here are the details.

[theoutcastrogue]

"The majority of high-tech patent lawsuits are brought by patent trolls—companies that exist not to provide products or services, but primarily have a business using patents to threaten others’ work. Some politicians are proposing to make that bad situation worse. ...

The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, S. 2140, (PERA), sponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) would be a huge gift to patent trolls, a few tech firms that aggressively license patents, and patent lawyers. For everyone else, it will be a huge loss. That’s why we’re opposing it, and asking our supporters to speak out as well. 

Patent trolling is still a huge, multi-billion dollar problem that’s especially painful for small businesses and everyday internet users. But, in the last decade, we’ve made modest progress placing limits on patent trolling. The Supreme Court’s 2014 decision in Alice v. CLS Bank barred patents that were nothing more than abstract ideas with computer jargon added in. Using the Alice test, federal courts have kicked out a rogue’s gallery of hundreds of the worst patents. 

Under Alice’s clear rules, courts threw out ridiculous patents on “matchmaking”, online picture menus, scavenger hunts, and online photo contests. The nation’s top patent court, the Federal Circuit, actually approved a patent on watching an ad online twice before the Alice rules finally made it clear that patents like that cannot be allowed. The patents on “bingo on a computer?” Gone under Alice. Patents on loyalty programs (on a computer)? Gone. Patents on upselling (with a computer)? All gone. ...

PERA’s attempt to roll back progress goes beyond computer technology. For almost 30 years, some biotech and pharmaceutical companies actually applied for, and were granted, patents on naturally occuring human genes. As a consequence, companies were able to monopolize diagnostic tests that relied on naturally occurring genes in order to help predict diseases such as breast cancer, making such testing far more expensive. The ACLU teamed up with doctors to confront this horrific practice, and sued. That lawsuit led to a historic victory in 2013 when the Supreme Court disallowed patents on human genes found in nature. 

If PERA passes, it will explicitly overturn that ruling, allowing human genes to be patented once again. ...

“To See Your Own Blood, Your Own Genes”

From the 1980s until the 2013 Myriad decision, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted patents on human genomic sequences. If researchers “isolated” the gene—a necessary part of analysis—they would then get a patent that described isolating, or purified, as a human process, and insist they weren’t getting a patent on the natural world itself.

But this concept of patenting an “isolated” gene was simply a word game, and a distinction without a difference. With the genetic patent in hand, the patent-holder could demand royalty payments from any kind of test or treatment involving that gene. And that’s exactly what Myriad Genetic did when they patented the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene sequences, which are important indicators for the prevalence of breast or ovarian cancer. 

Myriad’s patents significantly increased the cost of those tests to U.S. patients. The company even sent some doctors cease and desist letters, saying the doctors could not perform simple tests on their own patients—even looking at the gene sequences without Myriad’s permission would constitute patent infringement. 

This behavior caused pathologists, scientists, and patients to band together with ACLU lawyers and challenge Myriad’s patents. They litigated all the way to the Supreme Court, and won. “A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated,” the Supreme Court stated in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. 

A practice like granting and enforcing patents on human genes should truly be left in the dustbin of history. It’s shocking that pro-patent lobbyists have convinced these Senators to introduce legislation seeking to reinstate such patents. Last month, the President of the College of American Pathologists published an op-ed reminding lawmakers and the public about the danger of patenting the human genome, calling gene patents “dangerous to the public welfare.”  

As Lisbeth Ceriani, a breast cancer survivor and a plaintiff in the Myriad case said, “It’s a basic human right to see your own blood, your own genes.” "

[wellwornworldwalker]

I have an obsession with assigning theme songs to characters I like. Since Linked Universe is my current hyperfixation I realized I have a golden opportunity. Sleeping at Last is one of my favorite artists and he has an album called Enneagram. 9 songs for 9 personality types for 9 Links so without further adieu here is my totally flawed assignment of songs.

One - Warriors.

The list goes on forever Of all the ways I could be better, in my mind As if I could earn God's favor given time Or at least congratulations Now, I have learned my lesson The price of this so called perfection is everything I've spent my whole life searching desperately To find out that grace requires nothing of me

In the Swords comic Warriors admits that wielding the Master sword made him feel invincible and that nearly cost him his life.

Now Warriors has learned that his true strength is his ability to work with others, a strength he brings to the chain. I see Warriors as someone that likes rules, he needs the world and people to follow a predictable pattern. That puts him at odds with the chaotic members of the chain (That’s everyone, including Warriors.) He’s a perfectionist, specifically the type of perfectionist that believes if you want something done right you’ve got to do it yourself. He’s learned to work with others, and has overcome his initial instincts as The Hero.

Two - initially I thought Hyrule was the best match for Two but as I was writing this analysis I changed my mind to Twilight.

Sweetheart, you look a little tired When did you last eat? Come in and make yourself right at home Stay as long as you need Tell me, is something wrong? If something's wrong, you can count on me

You know I'll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat

Twilight is running himself ragged. He was pulling double duty as Wolfie and Twilight. He’s trying to make Time proud, then turns around and tries to mentor Wild. A thankless task because Wild is not interested in his mother Cuccoing. He's more used to the mature blue eyed wolf that pushed him to his limits and never coddled him.

And in Twilight Princess he became The Hero to save his village. Mayhaps Twilight is a bit of a people pleaser but…

I know exactly how the rule goes Put my mask on first No, I don't want to talk about myself Tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up Till you're good as new And maybe one day I will get around to fixing myself too

Twilight recently had his heart broken when Midna left and shattered the mirror. Maybe he’s trying to avoid those feelings by concentrating on everyone else?

Three - Time and Legend were fighting back and forth with songs Three and Eight. Those two are very similar . Both young hero’s that had their childhood stolen in a single defining moment. Legend watched his uncle die and went on the run. Time drew the sword and woke up seven years later having slept through his childhood. And they’ve become pessimistic and cynical because of that.

And a nice little detail that shows how similar Time and Legend are is when Legend and Warriors were betting on who Time’s wife was. War’s thought it would be the princess. But Legend correctly guessed it was someone different because he knew that wasn’t Time’s style.

But back to Time, because these two are different and maybe that just because Time has the advantage of years and age on his side but he settled in a way Legend hasn’t

Maybe I've done enough And your golden child grew up Maybe this trophy isn't real love And with or without it, I'm good enough

Time is who he is because he has Malon and the ranch. Malon loves the very normal man Time is not The Hero he had to be. The others immediately notice how different Time is when they get to the ranch.

He laughs, smiles, and jokes around. While on the road he’s tense and serious. He sees this quest as a duty and a responsibility, but he wants to be home. Makes you wonder why he’ll leave home and die to become the hero’s shade?

Four - Is FOUR

Jk jk it's Sky. The song Four is about ordinary touching divine. And if that doesn't sum up Sky I don't know what does.

Bodies fashioned out of dirt and dust For a moment, we get to be glorious

When Sky first encountered Demise the Demon King spends a lot of time pointing out that Link is human, brave for a human but still human.

Then there are these lines

But I've fallen in love with a ghost I lost my balance when I needed it most

He loves Zelda, a mortal incarnation of a goddess and in his quest to save her he is so often just a little too slow. He's there in the end and gets the job done but it's a close thing that haunts him.

Five - For real this time. This is Fours song.

The opening lines are

I want to watch the universe expand I want to break it into pieces small enough to understand And put it all back together again In the quiet of my private collection

He's a curios little guy and a smith. Always looking into the mysteries of the world, take them apart and remake them. Maybe that curiosity got him into a little trouble. He's got the four sword and one magic sword is more than enough for him.

The last lines of the song are

I finally feel the universe expand It's hidden in heartbeats Exhales and in the hope of open hands

Four has got the four sword but he is also the hero of Minish cap. He see's the large universe and the small important things that are closer to home. He's recognized this after the events of sunset and dawn. If this quest is to succeed he needs to let his brother's in. Wild knows his secret but that was more of a spur of the moment angry reaction. I'll be interested to see if he purposefully reveals his secret to anyone else.

Six - Six was originally my pick for twilight but I switched him and Hyrule. Fanon characterizes Hyrule as the healer but so far we've only seen him healing once. So I'm basing this off of his games, Linked universe canon and my hopes for his character arc.

We laugh about this line because Hyrule has what is considered the hardest game. Oh you sweet summer child. You complicated, pixilated little hero. Do you know what you've done? That's why I associate these lyric's with Hyrule's character

I want to take shelter, but I'm ready, ready to fight Somewhere in the middle, I feel a little paralysed Maybe I'm stronger Than I realize

Like Legend Hyrule lives in the fallen hero timeline. That's caused some serious problems for his kingdom. But unlike Legend, Hyrule seems to be open and friendly.

Is it courage or faith To show up every day? To trust that there will be light Always waiting behind Even the darkest of nights

It takes real courage to live in a dying world and still love it and it's people.

Seven - There was never any doubt in my mind that Seven was Wild's song. Some of these were difficult to nail down but not Seven and Wild. This song is about being restless and wanting to explore. Perfect for our Hero of the Wild

Then the song hits you with this sucker punch

But I want to be here Truly be here To watch the ones that I love bloom And I want to make room To love them through, and through, and through, and through The slow and barren seasons, too

Twilight has pointed out the Wild should talk to his Zelda about who he used to be and who he is now. But that means looking to the past and he's can't bring himself to do that yet. Instead seeing his life as two different people. The before and after.

Eight - I mentioned that I flipped flopped on choosing Time or Legend for this song but I finally decided that this is more Legend's song. Truth be told Eight could have been just about any Link's song. It's such a protagonist song. It's my favorite :)

Jojo has draw a picture of Legend with Marin and he looks so happy and playful. Something we don't see with the group.

But I can't let you see all that I have to lose All I've lost in the fight to protect it I can't let you in, I swore never again I can't afford to let myself be blindsided

He was open and loved once before but then he lost it. Not only lost it but had to be the one to destroy it himself, confront that maybe this happiness was never real to begin with. Now he's withdrawn and cynical. Legend is still all in on being a hero. (Unlike Time he's not looking to settle down.) But he wont be opening his heart anytime soon.

Can we talk about this panel from the bet

Are you talking about Time or yourself?

I'm standing guard, I'm falling apart And all I want is to trust you Show me how to lay my sword down For long enough to let you through

I can't wait to see his brother's break through that hard exterior and see the kind and empathetic person underneath. We see flashes of it.

(Memories is a gold mine for everyone's characterization, just saying.) He's emotional mature enough to know where to really lay the blame. I hope he can help Wild see that. But I think to really get through to Wild he'll need to be emotional vulnerable and he's not prepared for that yet.

But in the end Legend is a hero through and through. Since he was 11 he's been The Hero and he shows no sign of stopping.

I'ma shake the ground with all my might And I will pull my whole heart up to the surface For the innocent, for the vulnerable And I'll show up on the front lines with a purpose

He's grumpy and cynical but still a hero.

Nine - By process of elimination Wind is number Nine. I'm not really happy with this one but none of the songs really fit Wind . So I decided to speculate about Wind's future. Wind and Tetra are supposed to reestablish the Kingdom of Hyrule, a daunting task for a 13/14 year old. No wonder he admires the kings of Hyrule so much

Wake up Fall in love again Wage war on gravity There's so much Worth fighting for You'll see Another domino falls Either way

Quite the opposite of Wild , Wind is always looking to the past to build the future.

This ended up being longer than I thought it would be but I also didn't even talk about half my feeling when it comes to this album and Linked Universe. IDK how that possible. But I've said enough and I just needed to share my thought. And you guys should totally listen to the album.