#trying to do more frequent workflow updates for you all

[protectgeorgeweasley]

We got some good work done today! I’ll be sending the first chunk of the update to my beta reader team in the next day or so, after I write a few questions for them.

[overlymetaromantic]

do you have any tips for starting a webcomic?

Ooh, I can try! I'm actually genuinely really passionate about webcomics as a genre so sorry if this gets a bit rambly lol:

There's no wrong way to make a comic! Webcomics in particular I feel are basically always passion projects, and you should make it in a way that makes you happy. The only way to do art "wrong" is to create in a way that actively hurts you (i.e. stretch properly, don't pin your emotional stability on strangers online, etc. lolol).

You yourself should be your #1 priority in who you are making your comic for. Your friend of choice should be #2 priority. Write what makes you laugh, put in all your favorite tropes (or your favorite subversions of those tropes), create the kind of ships you enjoy shipping in other media! Have fun! Your joy will shine through, and it's always better to let readers who resonate with your passion find you rather than attempting vice versa, aka trying to write what you think an imaginary audience might be passionate about.

When it comes to the actual process, I'd personally recommend trying to choose a story that you love but that you also feel okay giving like 75% effort to, especially if it's a first time experience. Your love will carry you through a LOT, but it has to be a project you can say, "This is good enough" to if you ever want to get anything done lmao.

Understand your personal workflow, like how long it takes you to finish a panel or a page, what parts of the process you enjoy, what parts you dislike, and what personally satisfies you as a final product. The more you understand how you work, the better you can tailor your comic in a way that supports your preferred workflow.

Webcomics by their nature take a LONG time to complete. Be prepared for that! This is one of the biggest reasons why people recommend starting small, and I'll echo that here.

I honestly don't feel qualified to speak towards how to get your comic seen because I got STUPID lucky in having others share it for me in a way that resulted in it taking off, but similar to above: Being seen takes a LONG time. Patience pays off, and your audience will find you, however big they are!

If nothing else, you being your own biggest fan means that the mere act of creation can satisfy that desire to be seen. Make the comic YOU want to read, and find joy in being able to read it because YOU made it! Like, you did it!! The fact that you made a thing that wouldn't have existed if you didn't make it is incredible!!!

With all that said, there do seem to be some ways to at least increase your chances of gaming the system of being seen. Regular updates, satisfying end points for your pages, readable panels, and an easily pitch-able concept all make you easier for people to engage with. The first comic I made got updated whenever I finished a chapter, which meant there were months in between updates; by some miracle, it still found readers, but odds are I could have snagged a few more if I'd chosen to do more frequent updates at the cost of less complete-feeling chapters. I chose to prioritize the former because I care more about having chapters that have a good plot flow, but part of why my current comic is structured the way it is, is to have more frequent, regularly scheduled updates. It can also be worth studying the platform you want to post on to see what ways they promote comics, or how readers can find new comics on their site or app!

Good luck!! Have fun!!! Webcomics are frequently solo projects, so I'll reiterate again: make what you want, for you, in whatever way that works best for you. It's all you anyway!

[questinwitchface]

Anon, I deleted the ask, but here's your answer:

So a couple days ago, I got an anon ask which basically said something to the effect of, "I love your fic, but why don't you update more than once a week? I NEED more updates!" Again, I'm probably not getting the quote exactly right, but it was something very much like that. And I will admit, it upset me, so I deleted it and tried to move on.

But it bothered me. So here I am, answering it a few days after deleting it.

I do my best to update my fics once a week, and I'm generally very consistent about that, unless something comes up, which I do my best to be communicative about. The past couple weeks, my update schedule has looked like this:

Sunday: Sam's Delivery Service

Monday: The Cute Cat Groomer

Tuesday: There Is Something Beneath

Wednesday: Rotten Work

Thursday: Brood

No schedule because I'm still writing it: The Sequel to The Pirate Fic

Sam's Delivery Service went on hiatus a couple weeks ago because I decided I hated the ending and I need to rewrite it, but I've been busy with other things and haven't managed to finish it yet, and The Sequel to The Pirate Fic has no set update days because it, too, is unfinished, and I warned for that when I started posting it. However, that's still four fics that I'd been consistently updating each week. That's a lot, considering that all of them are multichapter fics that I don't get to be "done" with once I've posted for the week. Rotten Work just finished, and There Is Something Beneath is finishing tomorrow, so that'll be a bit of relief, but I'll still have four multichap fics I'm trying to post for the foreseeable future.

So part of the answer is that, while I am updating each fic once a week, I've been updating 4-5 times per week lately, and that's a lot.

But I know what people are going to say. "It's not a lot of work to update, you just fill in the boxes and it post." Well, sure. That's the final step before posting. But, with each chapter of each fic, I'm going through a minimum of one revision pass and one editing pass before posting because I care about quality. I want my fics to be readable, grammatically sound, and as free of errors as possible. This takes time and effort. This means it takes a long damn time for me to post a chapter, and, again, I've been doing this 4-5 times per week lately.

So part of the answer is that the process of updating fics takes me a long time.

And this is to say nothing of the fics I'm working on that I haven't even started posting yet. I have 26 fics in my WIP folder that are unfinished. I have another 8 that have a complete draft written but still require revision, beta reading, and more revision before I'm even ready to begin posting them.

And it says nothing about my original writing projects - a couple novels, a screenplay, a poetry collection, a cookbook.

In short: the reason I only update my fics once/week is because that's already a lot for me. The reason I won't push myself to update more frequently is because I like to have time to spend on other projects besides just the ones I'm posting, including my personal, original projects. Oh, yeah, and I have other obligations and hobbies besides writing all the time, too. So I'm sorry if one update/week on one specific story isn't enough for you, anon, but I'm not going to be changing my workflow to try to update more. I'm doing my best. That's good enough.

[silktaskcom]

🚀 How to Simplify Task Delegation and Track Progress Like a Pro

When it comes to running a business, one of the most important things you can do is delegate tasks effectively. But when your team is remote, that challenge multiplies. How do you keep everyone on the same page and ensure that work gets done efficiently, even when everyone’s working from different locations?

The answer is simple: SilkTask.

Why Delegation Can Feel Like a Juggling Act

Whether you’re managing a remote team or working with employees spread across various locations, delegating tasks can feel like trying to juggle a dozen balls in the air at once. You’re constantly shifting priorities, chasing down updates, and making sure that everyone is focused on the right thing.

But there’s a better way.

Task Management Should Be Simple, Not Stressful

Effective task management doesn’t need to be complicated. You don’t need endless emails, spreadsheets, or multiple project management tools that take more time to manage than they save. What you need is a tool that’s focused and easy to use — and that’s where SilkTask shines.

SilkTask is specifically designed to help managers like you delegate tasks more effectively and track progress in real-time. Unlike other tools that overcomplicate things with unnecessary features, SilkTask provides exactly what you need, without the clutter.

How SilkTask Simplifies Task Delegation

When you’re managing a remote team, clear communication is key. You need to make sure that everyone understands what they’re supposed to be doing and by when. SilkTask helps you do this by offering:

Clear task descriptions — You can provide detailed descriptions for each task so your team knows exactly what’s expected.

File attachments — Need to send along reference materials? You can attach files directly to each task for easy access.

Priority levels and deadlines — SilkTask lets you set priorities and deadlines, so everyone knows what needs to be done first.

With SilkTask, your team gets clear, actionable tasks with no ambiguity. And you, as a manager, can rest assured knowing that everything’s covered.

Track Progress Without Hovering

One of the biggest concerns managers have when working with remote teams is ensuring that progress is being made without constantly checking in. With traditional task management systems, you might feel the need to send frequent reminders or ask for updates. But SilkTask lets you track everything in real-time.

The manager dashboard gives you a complete overview of how every task is progressing. You can see who’s on track and who might need a little extra help, all without interrupting your team’s workflow. This kind of real-time trackingensures that tasks stay on schedule, and you can step in when necessary.

SilkTask: The Ultimate Tool for Remote Teams

SilkTask is tailor-made for businesses that rely on remote teams, construction crews, or other fast-paced environments where task delegation is constant. Here’s why it’s the best choice:

Focused task views — Each employee only sees their own tasks, helping them stay focused and avoiding distractions.

Task assignment and tracking in one place — You can delegate tasks and keep track of their progress from the same intuitive dashboard.

Real-time updates and notifications — Never miss an update with automatic reminders and notifications when tasks are approaching deadlines.

With SilkTask, there’s no need for multiple apps or complicated systems. Everything you need to manage tasks effectively is in one easy-to-use platform.

How SilkTask Enhances Communication and Collaboration

When working with remote teams, communication can sometimes feel like a game of telephone. Information gets lost, messages go unnoticed, and tasks can get misinterpreted. SilkTask helps bridge this communication gap by providing direct communication channels within each task.

You can leave comments, ask for updates, and even provide feedback — all without leaving the app. This keeps everything in one place and ensures that your communication is always clear and on-topic.

The Power of Task Visibility — And Why It Matters

While you want your team to have a clear understanding of their individual tasks, it’s also important to have a holistic view of everything going on in your business. SilkTask’s manager dashboard gives you the ability to oversee all tasks, making it easier to spot bottlenecks or identify where your team might need additional resources.

By keeping track of your team's work without micromanaging, you’ll have the power to make informed decisions that move your projects forward without overwhelming anyone.

Wrapping It Up: The Key to Streamlined Task Management

Delegating tasks and tracking progress in a remote work environment doesn’t have to be a constant challenge. With the right tool, you can simplify the process and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

SilkTask is designed for exactly this purpose: making task management easy, efficient, and stress-free. With its simple interface, powerful tracking features, and task-focused design, it’s the tool you need to stay on top of everything without losing sight of what really matters.

So, if you’re ready to streamline your task delegation process and keep your remote team on track, give SilkTask a try today!

Ready to make task delegation easy? Get started with SilkTask and see how it can transform the way you manage your team.

[testforce-insights]

AI Automation in Financial Services: Simplifying Complexity, Boosting Confidence

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, the financial services industry is under constant pressure to do more—with less time, fewer resources, and tighter regulations. And if you're in the middle of it, juggling innovation with compliance, you already know the struggle.

That’s where AI-powered automation is flipping the script. Especially when it comes to test automation and quality assurance, AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s the secret weapon for banks, insurance companies, and fintechs trying to stay agile

And at Provar, we’re helping financial teams do just that.

We're not just another automation tool—we're a Salesforce Automation solution built for teams who care about quality, compliance, and speed. So let’s break down what AI Automation in Financial Services really looks like today—and how it can transform the way your teams deliver.

Why Financial Services Need AI—Yesterday

Financial platforms aren’t like your average app. They’re packed with complex logic, integrated systems, sensitive data, and mountains of compliance needs.

Here’s what makes testing in financial services so tricky:

Multi-layered workflows — Think mortgage approvals, insurance claims, loan underwriting. All of these involve a lot of steps and stakeholders.

Frequent regulation updates — A single change in a policy rule or a compliance requirement can impact dozens of processes.

Tight security protocols — From encryption to user access, testing needs to consider cybersecurity at every step.

System integrations — CRMs, payment gateways, legacy systems, APIs—all have to talk to each other perfectly.

Testing all of that manually? Good luck. This is why automation is a no-brainer. And with AI added into the mix? You’re not just making things faster—you’re making them smarter.

How AI Takes Financial Testing to the Next Level

You’ve probably heard the term "AI-driven automation" thrown around a lot. But what does that actually mean when you're testing a Salesforce-powered banking application, or validating a loan approval flow in production?

Here’s how Provar’s AI automation capabilities help financial services teams work faster, reduce risk, and stay compliant:

🔍 Smarter Test Coverage: AI doesn’t just help create tests faster—it helps identify what actually needs to be tested. Imagine AI scanning your app, highlighting critical flows, and suggesting tests based on risk, user behavior, and past defects. That’s contextual intelligence at work.

🧠 Self-Healing Tests: One of the biggest pains in traditional testing? Your test cases break every time the UI changes. With Provar’s self-healing tests, AI automatically adapts your tests to UI updates—so you’re not stuck fixing scripts all day. ​ ⚙️ Continuous Testing in CI/CD: Thanks to CI/CD integration, you can run automated tests every time you push changes. That means bugs are caught early, releases stay on schedule, and your team doesn’t have to choose between speed and quality.

🔒 Compliance-Ready Validation: With financial apps, it's not enough that features work—they need to prove they’re working according to standards. Provar’s testing platform captures every test run, result, and change—making it easier to stay audit-ready.

Quick Glance: Traditional Testing vs. AI Automation

When it comes to test creation, traditional testing relies heavily on manual scripting, which can be time-consuming and repetitive. In contrast, Provar's AI-powered automation generates tests much faster, reducing the initial workload and speeding up the entire process.

Test maintenance is another major difference. Traditional methods often break when the UI changes, requiring high effort to fix. Provar’s automation tools offer self-healing capabilities, automatically adapting to UI updates, saving your team tons of time and frustration.

For compliance validation, traditional testing usually involves manual documentation, which is both tedious and prone to error. With Provar, automated reporting simplifies compliance checks and ensures you stay audit-ready with less effort.

Regression testing using traditional methods is typically slow and resource-intensive. AI automation enables continuous and scalable testing, so your releases remain stable without burning out your QA team.

And finally, team collaboration tends to be siloed in traditional environments, with testers, developers, and product teams often working separately. Provar supports a unified platform that enhances visibility and fosters cross-functional collaboration, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Real-World Use Case: Loan Processing at Speed

Let’s say you’re a bank rolling out a new automated loan approval system on Salesforce. There are a ton of rules behind the scenes—credit checks, document verification, fraud flags, decision trees.

How do you make sure:

Every approval path works across different loan types?

Sensitive data is secure at each step?

A small tweak in one rule doesn’t break the whole system?

This is where Provar comes in. Our tool helps you:

Generate reusable tests for every loan scenario

Automatically validate workflows across Salesforce, APIs, and third-party services

Run daily regression tests to ensure updates don’t cause downstream chaos

Get clear logs and reports for internal audits or external regulators

The result? More confident releases. Happier compliance teams. Faster innovation.

Benefits You Can Actually Measure

Still wondering if AI Automation in Financial Services is worth the investment? Let’s talk numbers.

Teams using Provar in financial environments report:

60–70% reduction in test cycle time

50% fewer post-release issues

Up to 80% test coverage of critical user flows

Auditable reports that satisfy regulators (and make internal reviews easier)

And because Provar is purpose-built for Salesforce environments, it integrates cleanly with what you already use—no clunky workarounds or bolt-on frameworks.

Where Do You Start? You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Many successful teams begin by automating just one area—like test case creation or regression testing. Then, as the benefits become obvious, they scale up.

Some practical first steps with Provar:

Use AI-assisted test creation for your most-used user flows

Set up automated smoke tests in your CI/CD pipeline

Enable self-healing tests to cut down on maintenance

Start generating reports for compliance audits

Once you see the ROI, it becomes a no-brainer to expand coverage and scale testing further.

The Future of Financial QA is AI-First

Here’s the truth: financial services don’t have time for flaky tests, release delays, or reactive QA anymore. Your users expect seamless experiences. Your stakeholders expect compliance. Your developers need agility.

With AI automation, and with the right partner like Provar, you can have it all.

And we’re not just helping you automate tasks—we’re helping you transform how testing fits into your development lifecycle. From smarter coverage to real-time insights, we’re making it possible to test like tomorrow—today.

Final Thoughts: Provar Makes AI Automation Real

Let’s wrap this up. AI Automation in Financial Services isn’t a futuristic idea. It’s already reshaping how banks, insurance firms, and fintech players approach testing and delivery. And with the complexity of modern systems only growing, doing things “the old way” isn’t just inefficient—it’s risky.

That’s why Provar, your trusted Salesforce Automation platform, is leading the way. We help financial teams automate smarter, scale faster, and release with more confidence than ever. Our platform brings AI-driven testing, seamless integration, and enterprise-grade compliance into one streamlined solution.

Ready to simplify the complex? Let’s talk. Book a demo or connect with our team today—and see how Provar can help you achieve quality without compromise.

[fathimaaaaaa]

11 Unique Features of The Domestic Wire Transfer 2025

Domestic wire transfers are a reliable option for quickly moving money within the United States. Whether you’re sending money to a supplier, helping your kid out with university expenses, or locking in a business deal, wire transfers have some standout features that make them a popular choice. 

1.    Speed That Saves the Day

One of the biggest advantages of domestic wire transfers is how fast they are. Forget waiting days like you might with traditional methods—Zil.US’s domestic wire transfers clear within a few hours or the same business day. If you’re trying to pay a contractor or close a deal on a tight timeline, this speed can make all the difference.

2.    Solid Security

Let’s face it—sending money can be stressful. With the platform’s wire transfers, though, you can relax a bit. The payment platform uses secure transaction networks to ensure your money gets where it’s supposed to go. Users can easily double-check details via the easily accessible interface and edit details anytime and minimize errors or fraud.

3.    Real-Time Updates

You don’t have to sit around wondering if the money’s landed. Zil.US provides up-to-date payment statuses and confirmations so you can keep an eye on your transfer. It’s like having a GPS for your payment—especially handy if you’re moving large sums and want that extra bit of reassurance.

4.    Privacy Matters

Unlike some payment methods where you share your account details, wire transfers only require the recipient’s banking info. It adds a layer of privacy that’s good for businesses or anyone who’s cautious about sharing personal financial details.

5.    Higher Limits, Bigger Opportunities

Wire transfers are a great choice when you’re moving large amounts of money. Whether you’re buying property or funding a business venture, the platform’s wire transfer lets you send more than what most other payment methods allow. 

6.    Flat Fees, No Surprises

Sure, wire transfers come with fees, but with Zil.US, they are affordable. That’s easier to budget for compared to percentage-based fees you might face with other options. If you’re a business sending frequent payments, this predictability can simplify things.

7.    Direct Bank-to-Bank Transfers

Since wire transfers go directly between banks, there’s no middleman to mess things up. That means fewer chances for delays or errors, which is a win for anyone dealing with large transactions.

8.    Same-Day Settlement

Timing is everything in some situations, and wire transfers deliver. Zil.US’s wire transfer settles on the same day—no banking or transaction hour issues. Instant wire transfer settlement can be very useful for a real estate deal or for urgent vendor payments.

9.    Easy Setup

Getting a wire transfer started via the platform is easier than traditional methods. All you need is the recipient’s name, account number, and routing number, along with the amount to be sent. What excites users the most is—that you can simply complete the whole process via a smartphone, tablet, laptop and an internet connection!

10.  Added Customisation

Need to send a note with your payment to make payment more professional? The platform lets you add instructions like invoice numbers, reference details or memos to the payment without extra charges. Small businesses can stay organized and ensure recipients know exactly what the payment is for.

11. Tech-Enhanced Transfers

Zil.US takes domestic wire transfers to the next level. Small businesses can instantly and affordably integrate the platform into their payment workflows and manage transactions with custom-curated features. Zil.US offers all payment and financial services by handling the technical support in the background to help you promote your brand.

How to Do a Domestic Wire Transfer?

Step 1: Login and Pick Your Account First things first, log into your Zil.US account. Once you’re in, choose your business account to kick off the process.

Step 2: Go to the Payment Section Click the “Pay” button, and from the options, pick Wire Domestic under the Pay Through menu. This is your ticket to sending money to the U.S. quickly and securely.

Step 3: Fill in the Details and Confirm Now, select your payee, enter the amount you want to transfer, and fill out the required details. Once you’re ready, hit “Pay.” To wrap things up, you’ll get a one-time password (OTP) via email or text. Just pop in the OTP, and you’re all set!

Conclusion

Zil.US makes sending money within the U.S. easy for small business owners. It’s fast, secure, and takes the stress out of managing payments. Users can pay employees, cover a bill from a supplier, or handle big expenses via the platform and keep it simple and reliable.

You don’t have to deal with confusing processes or delays. It’s all set up to save you time and headaches. By handling the tricky stuff for you, Zil.US lets you focus on what really matters—growing your business and supporting your team.

[delicatestudentanchor]

Best Payroll Software for Startups and Small Businesses

If you’re running a startup or a small business, payroll can seem like you’re juggling too many balls—compliance, accuracy, timeliness and employee satisfaction. One mishap, and it may cost you more than time.

This is why good payroll software is a godsend for startups and small businesses. This not only simplifies your processes but also frees you to spend more time on what’s important: expanding your business.

Why Startups Need Payroll Software

If you’ve been doing payroll manually or with spreadsheets, you get the struggle. It’s manual, error-prone, and not scalable.” This is where payroll software India can come to the rescue:

Automation Saves Time: All your salary calculations, tax filings, and compliance updates are automated for you.

Accuracy You Can Trust: Get rid of mistakes so that employees receive their dues within time and accurately.

Easy Compliance With Regulations: No worries about ever-changing tax and labour laws.

Scalable for Growth: Payroll software is scalable and grows with you as your team expands.

What to Look for in the Best Payroll Software

Not all payroll software is created equal. Essential features for startups and small businesses include:

User-Friendly Interface: No one wants to be stuck for hours trying to figure out how to process payroll. Choose software with intuitive dashboards and guided setups.

Cloud Accessibility: The best online payroll software lets you manage payroll 24/7 from anywhere in the world, by a remote or hybrid team.

Compliance Integration: Receive automatic updates for tax laws and labour regulations to avoid costly errors.

Flexible: Whether generating payslips or calculating overtime, your payroll software should adapt to your business needs.

HRMS Integration: Integrates with HRMS for a unified view of employee management.

 

Best Payroll Software for your Startups in 2024

Opportune HR is a name that stands out among the competition. As one of the leading providers of payroll software India.

1. Simplified Payroll Processing

Working as your SHARP payroll partner, Opportune HR prepares your salary, tax deductions and statutory compliance every pay cycle with utmost perfection and timeliness. Automated workflows eliminate manual errors and cumbersome processes.

2. Compliance Made Easy

For startups, navigating tax laws and labor regulations can prove overwhelming, particularly when they are scaling. Opportune HR’s payroll software automatically incorporates new compliance requirements, so your company is compliant without you having to do a thing. All details, from tax filings to employee documentation, are handled with ease.

3. Scalable and Flexible Features

With your startup’s growth comes the complexity of managing your payroll. Opportune HR provides scalable solutions that grow with your business. It’s perfect whether you need to find new hires or open new branches; the software will grow with you, seamlessly fitting your needs.

4. Integrated HRMS Capabilities

Similar to payroll but used for more than just payroll: Opportune HR Integrates with HR management systems, delivering an employee management platform. Everything from tracking attendance to managing leave, and performance appraisals is done in a single place, making it easier to do and lessening the administrative burden.

5. Employee Self-Service Portal

One of the standout features for startups is the self-service portal that allows employees to access their payslips, tax forms, and leave requests directly. This, in addition to creating transparency, leads to higher employee satisfaction levels by reducing reliance on HR for queries that are frequently asked.

6. Cost-Effective for Startups

Startups often operate on tight budgets, and Opportune HR understands that. With affordable pricing models tailored for small businesses, you get access to premium features without overspending, making it one of the best payroll software solutions for startups in 2024.

Conclusion: Simplify, Save, and Scale

Finding the right payroll software is critical for startups and small businesses to ensure smooth operations and compliance. In 2024, the rich features and startup-friendly nature of Opportune HR make it the best HRMS in 2024. Want to relieve yourself from the hassles of payroll? Visit Opportune HR today and position your business for success!

Are you ready to streamline your payroll? Check out these options today, and empower your business for success!

[pureresonanceaudio]

Top Benefits of Installing a Public Announcement System in Your Business

Picture this: it's a hectic day at your business, with employees moving at full speed, customers chatting, and background noise filling the space. Suddenly, the fire alarm sounds, or an important announcement needs to be made. How do you ensure your message is heard in such a busy environment? This is where a public announcement system proves invaluable.

Whether you're managing a retail store, warehouse, or office, a high-quality PA system can revolutionize communication with employees and customers. Still trying to figure out the benefits or return on investment of installing a PA system in your business? Let’s explore the top advantages of a public announcement system.

Effortless Communication Efficiency

Gone are the days of shouting across the room or relying on emails that may get lost in the shuffle. With a public announcement system, you can convey important messages, updates, and alerts in real-time and ensure that everyone stays in the loop.

With quick and efficient communication, you can reduce confusion and maintain a smooth workflow. Think about the brilliant efficiency you could achieve using these PA speakers. With just the push of a button, you can announce a change in the schedule or alert employees about an important meeting.

Improved Safety and Emergency Preparedness

In emergencies, every second is critical, and having a PA system can make all the difference in maintaining order and ensuring safety. A well-placed PA system allows you to make instant, clear announcements in an emergency, whether it’s a fire, severe weather, or a security threat. You can quickly direct people to evacuate or guide them to safety, minimizing confusion and risk. By implementing a PA system, you enhance the safety of your staff and customers.

Better Customer Experience

Imagine entering a store and hearing a friendly voice announcing promotions, events, or store hours. It sets a welcoming tone and keeps customers informed. You can use your PA system to announce special deals, product launches, or in-store events to create excitement and drive sales. This doesn’t just enhance the shopping experience for your customers; it also gives your brand a voice and fosters a more personal experience that is essential to building loyalty and encouraging repeat business.

Increased Productivity

Imagine a workplace where employees are frequently distracted by noise and interruptions- certainly not ideal for productivity. A PA system helps to cut through the clutter, enabling clear and direct communication without adding to the distractions. Instead of managers needing to move around to deliver messages, employees can receive announcements directly at their workstations. This streamlined communication leads to less disruption, allowing employees to focus on their tasks and ultimately boosting overall productivity.

Top Selling Products:

Business Paging System

Office Paging System

Outdoor Paging System

Next Steps

Are you looking for a top-tier public announcement system? Pure Resonance offers some of the best models on the market, designed for seamless performance at a competitive price. Browse our collection today and discover how clear, crisp announcements can transform your business communications!

Blog Source:https://pureresonanceaudio.wordpress.com/2024/11/29/top-benefits-of-installing-a-public-announcement-system-in-your-business/

[commencecorporation]

Things to Know About Ticket Management Software

Is your business looking for the best customer service and support solution? How about utilizing ticket management software? To maintain client loyalty and satisfaction, it can assist you in handling requests, problems, and inquiries. 

Let us discuss the vital things about ticket management system that shows how essential the software is for your business! 

Why Consider a Ticket Management System?

Do you want to build Centralized Communication?

Achieve it with the ticket management system. It offers a centralized platform for overseeing customer inquiries, complaints, and service requests.

The software aggregates all tickets into a single interface, making tasks like tracking, prioritizing, and responding easier.

How about an Improved Organization?

Enjoy it with a ticket management system where each customer inquiry is logged as a ticket. You can classify, tag, and allocate each ticket to the proper team member. The structured approach ensures no ticket falls through the cracks and helps the support team stay organized.

Experience Enhanced Efficiency: 

Manual handling of customer inquiries can be time-consuming and prone to errors. 

The management software streamlines various components of the support process, including ticket generation, allocation, and monitoring. 

Utilizing the software frees up valuable time for your support team by streamlining workflows and automating routine tasks. It enables them to concentrate on offering superior service and resolving client concerns. 

See Real-Time Tracking and Reporting: 

You get real-time visibility into the status of customer inquiries and the performance of your support team. 

With customizable dashboards and reports, managers can monitor important indicators like customer satisfaction scores and response times. 

You can find areas for improvement and trends that can help you maximize your support operations using a data-driven strategy.

Scalability: 

When your business grows, your customer support needs to get stronger. Ticket management systems can adapt to the evolving demands of your business. 

Whether handling inquiries or managing a high volume of tickets, the software can accommodate your growing customer base without sacrificing efficiency.

Helpful Features of Ticket Management Software

Ticket Creation and Logging: Easily create and log customer inquiries, issues, and service requests as tickets within the software. 

Ticket Assignment and Routing: Assign tickets to departments or team members by their availability or areas of expertise. 

Prioritizing Tickets: Arrange tickets according to their significance and urgency to guarantee addressing urgent problems as soon as possible. 

Communication Tools: Communicate with customers directly within the ticket management software using built-in messaging or email integration. 

Knowledge Base Integration: To enable users to locate solutions to frequently asked questions and problems, incorporate a knowledge base or FAQ section into the ticket management software. 

Workflow management and automation: Automate routine processes and activities like status updates, follow-up reminders, and ticket routing.  

Analytics and Reporting: Track important KPIs and performance indicators with the help of extensive analytics and reporting tools. 

Conclusion:

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The benefits of Commence ticket management software for businesses are undeniable. How about utilizing it and achieving success?  

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[microbiologynerdd]

Notion - BASIC and EASY Note taking system FOR STUDENTS

Hello everyone!

I hope you are well!

For this weeks #Microbiologynerddweeklytips post, I shall be sharing my university note taking and organisation system using Notion.

I have been using Notion for roughly 1 year, and have used it to organise my second year university studies, in addition to my voluntary position as the VP of my society.

So below is a very BASIC and EASY to use format you could adapt for yourselves! Enjoy😊

Contents

As a directory to everything I need at university, I have a contents page. Here I have each of my modules, as though they were chapters of a book. Each leading to a separate page of their own.

After this I have the required ‘modules’ for my placement year. I have arranged this slightly differently to my regular university notes - more details on this later.

Below this you can find pages for my summer microtalks hosted by SFAM. I attend these weekly and make notes in that subsection.

And finally I have a section for Taekwondo, to organise tasks I have to complete as the VP of Taekwondo.

Module pages:

So i have tested 2 different methods for module layout, each only having a slight twist.

- Please click the photos to enlarge -

In the photos above, I visualise the 2 different systems. Each of the systems involves having a new cell per lecture. However, in the first 2 photos (from left to right) I have separate pages for my lectures vs my lab notes. Whereas on the right, I have my lectures, labs, extra reading and questions all formulated into one table. Clicking the See All button at the top left of the table, above the search bar, you can choose to view classes by type i.e. just see my lectures or just see my lab notes for example.

The second system I have found works best, otherwise you are just clicking too many buttons to get to the area you need. However, in future I shall implement the ‘breadcrumb’ at the top the page, like i did with the first and second photos. (Breadcrumb = univeristy/ BMS2037:cellu../lecture below the page titles). Breadcrumbs make it easier to shift between pages instead of clicking the back button all the time. They are essientally hyperlinks to other pages.

Tip: to insert a breadcrumb simply put /breadcrumb and a breadcrumb will appear. This works for anything you are trying to insert e.g. a table

You can also choose to insert materials e.g. any lecture slides or resources you used within that lecture. Personally I dont find this helpful, as our VLE is clearly laid out with our lectures. But it might be something worth trying, as you can also insert pictures or any sort of media you require.

I also use the tick box function to keep track of whether I have written the lecture into Anki cards (flashcards)/ attended the lecture.

Side note: Please ignore my spelling/ how I label lectures, they make sense to me, they dont need to be 100% correct - right?

Internship/Placement Page:

I have recently been dabbling in the layout I would like to use for my internship year, however, I shall update you at a later date with any additional details, as due to COVID-19 the formate of the year and my assessments has changed. I also will find out more when I start my internship... which is soon - yay!

I’ve decided to have reminders at the top, which I inserted using /callout - you can change the emoji to anything you would like. This is for me to know instantly any important documents or tasks that I need to complete.

The external work to that provided by my internship is included in the table. This is essientally the coursework I have to complete on the side of the placement. Here i decided to note the deadlines and percentage of the year that it is worth. This is just to help me grasp the format of this year, since as mentioned above, it is slightly different.

Underneath this I have a selection of details to do with the company. This includes my acceptance letter and any insurance forms I need to send off. I just wanted to have them at hand so i can reference them at any time.

Summer 2020/Taekwondo pages:

These pages I format the same as the ‘Module’ Pages, so I haven’t included any pictures etc.

Miscellaneous things:

- NOTION IS FREE FOR STUDENTS - if you have an educational email, you can sign up for free! If not, packages start at $4 a month, which isn’t too bad for something you use frequently!

- This service is avaliable on tablets and computers, so anyone can take advantage of this organisational software!

- You can change the cover and icon at the top of each page. They include emojis and a standard image database, but you can also upload your own unique images if you desire.

- There are also template designs for pages, with different themes for different needs. So if you don’t want to start one from scratch you have lots of options to choose from. Use those as a base and edit them from there! For example, there are calendars, habit trackers, resume trackers and whole load of other things.

- Using a device for notes, such as notion, allows you access to any notes you have made at ease. It is organised, and you are unlikely to lose your notes. Paper is great until you scrunch up that important sheet, or it rains and the paper gets wet, or you are carrying every single note you have ever made - that can become heavy. Just something to bear in mind, especially if you can afford a laptop/ note taking device of some kind.

- You can create multiple pages for different aspects of your life (photo below). For example I have 2 additional pages, 1 for personal things and another for blog post ideas - to keep you guys entertained... haha! 😆

Conclusion :

What I have shared here is a very BASIC overview of how I use notion. If you desire a detailed in depth report of how notion works, it might be worth checking out Ali Abdaal, who can give you this information. As for me and what I require from the service, Notion has been working really well, keeping me organised with all my notes in one area. Knowing what I am doing, when, and being able to keep up with the speed of lectures - considering my writing speed is questionable. 😂

When you first download notion and look at all the templates, it can be a bit overwhelming/ exciting. Start with what you need, and then explore new ideas that you want to incorporate. There is no point setting up hundreds of pages if you aren’t going to use them, just like writing out pretty notes doesnt help you learn content - but more about that in a future post. Start small, being organised involves consistency, you can’t be consistent if you have given yourself too many things to do daily. Or at least you are unlikely to be.

One word of warning, Notion is not compatible with the Apple Pencil, so if you like writing notes on your iPad, this may not be the best software for you. As well as this, if you are a faster writer than you are typer, DO NOT USE NOTION. The whole basis of this app or at least how I use it, is to stay organised and write notes productively and efficiently. If you prefer writing, keep at it! Don’t just switch because suddenly you hear lots of tapping on keyboards in the lecture theatre.

Play to YOUR STRENGTHS , enhance what you are good at, not what everyone else is doing. As always, you’ve got this 💪

Let me know if you have any questions, or whether you’d like any further posts/details about my notion workflow. I’m happy to answer any queries you have.

Speak soon,

Lucinda x

[tundrainafrica]

Title: Lovebug (8/12)

Summary:  

“It might be a bug.”

“A bug?”

“Sometimes the developers of this application make mistakes. This is our first time meeting I’m sure so…Isn’t it a bit weird that we just met for the first time and it rings like this? And for two strangers to coincidentally ring each other’s alarms?“

Levi is the developer of the Love Alarm App and Hange is married to Zeke.

Link to cross-postings: AO3

Other Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Notes: Feedback is very much appreciated :D

Levi put a hard deadline for Wednesday

“Wednesday” he said it again because he couldn’t be too certain how he said it the first time. He was conscious if he were too stiff, it might almost seem awkward. If he were too relaxed, maybe the urgency wouldn’t get across.

The challenge was finding the balance and when his team nodded, their faces unchanging, he realized it had been an easy task. They had gone through that same pattern before, especially before a large-scale quality assurance test, a recalibration of the application.

And the one on Monday was much larger, covering not just fifty volunteers, maybe even hundreds. When it was Zeke’s own connections that had managed to get that many volunteers, they couldn’t afford to delay it.

Levi cleared his throat and continued. “All fixes should be completed by Wednesday. All QA and regression tests by Friday,” Levi added. “The large scale QA test will be happening on Monday. No negotiations. No chances of rescheduling. ”

Aside from the number of volunteers, that QA test should not be anything different. Nothing much changed except perhaps the fact that Levi was in a constant state of compartmentalizing. He was working partly with outsourced labor to complete the code and to make sure someone was testing their new application. He was also working with his own team to make sure they were still addressing issues and realising fixes for the love alarm.

He liked the busy-ness, the need to be constantly thinking about work. Sometimes though, there were more distracting prospects that forced their way into his limited brainspace. And for some reason, his brain space was so willing to accommodate it.

More specifically, to accommodate her. Well, he had no choice anyway. After all, it was her application. It was his brain child but by extension, it was her and Zeke’s property.

He was constantly in a state of stress and Hange’s presence only made things more stressful. But somehow, his brain demanded he forced that extra piece of information, that piece of responsibility, that piece of Hange somewhere in his brain.

Just like he couldn’t say no to Zeke and Hange, he couldn’t say no to the manifestations of his own mind.

She never gave him a chance to say no. After all, she liked working in his office. She had made herself at home on the desk next to him and everyday he was reminded of that extra compartment his brain had created just for him.

All he had to do was enter the room and enjoy the view of her hunched over her laptop like she always was.

First thing in the morning, she was there. After meetings and standups with his team, he would go back to his office like always, and she was there.

That time, all test devices were lined on the desk, the whiteboard that only that morning had been covered with scribbles was replaced with something a little more coherent.

“You’re testing?” Levi sat next to her, counting ten devices before deciding it would be a waste of time to count further. He looked back up at her.

Hange nodded. “You updated the build last Friday right?”

“Just some fixes,” Levi said. The fixes came slowly, with more data being added, with the algorithm being tested here and there. It was still far from perfect though. He scanned the whiteboard just to get an inkling of her own progress. “How many pseudo emails do you have?” He could have counted it himself but once again, he gave up after ten.

“Enough to test on this many devices,” Hange said.

He read them out loud, taking note of the checkmarks..

Wingsoffreedom123

Wingsoffreedom213

Wingsoffreedom231

Wingsoffreedom321

Wingsoffreedom312

Wingsoffreedom132

“Creative,” Levi commented.

“Look, I just need a bunch of emails that are easy to remember so might as well stick to the same combination,” Hange said. “ You get it, Humanity’s strongest?”

Levi cringed inwardly. He should really go around changing that name. “Do you actually use those emails?” He asked.

“Sometimes, when applying for free trials, when making more than one account in websites.” Hange said. “I like keeping my own consumption patterns not connected to ‘Hange Zoe,’ if you know what I mean.”

“At least you’re able to make use of those emails for testing.” Levi pulled his chair a little closer to her and looked over her shoulder. “Is it working better?”

“It rings,” Hange said. “The last five times I tested, they said I was happy.” She chose that moment to click ‘activate’ on the next alarm. As expected, it rang again, the words ‘happy” flashed in the middle of the screen with an ugly smiley face in Arial font right under it.

It was a blatantly horrible sign that maybe they had spent a little too much time on the back end. Front end and user interface could be fixed a little later anyway, Levi reminded himself. He brought out his own test device and pressed the activate button.

The word ‘happy’ flashed across the screen. “Looks like they fixed a lot of the kinks,” Levi said.

“Are you happy?” Hange asked.

Those types of questions were the ones that had him a little more self aware. He didn’t answer immediately, instead, he left his natural instincts speak for themselves. A smile threatened to creep up his lips overwhelming the small part of him that wanted to push it down into something more subtle.

“Levi, are you happy?” Hange pressed, a hint of a laugh in her voice.

He was. He couldn't tell exactly why. Overall, it had seemed much easier, to just let the smile climb up his face so he gave it facility, freedom to move.

And soon, he didn’t regret it. Maybe because his own smile had been the reason Hange’s eyes got bigger before her features softened into something comfortable within a few seconds.

Before Levi could appreciate them a little more, her eyes suddenly narrowed, as if studying him. He noted all of it in her expression, the triumph, the victory lap in her expression, and the sneer particularly evident in her eyes.

He didn’t want her to win that little game they had for themselves. So he turned back, allowing time for the smile to fall into something less embarrassing. “Well, if the application says I’m happy, maybe I am.” He stood up again, holding his laptop to his side. “I’m going out for a break.”

***

Summer was ending soon.

And for Levi, the end was usually accompanied by the relief that he wouldn’t have to brave public transportation under the sweltering heat while dealing with an office dress code.

Strangely, he also found himself a little melancholic as he noted that red leaves were starting to sprout more frequently among the branches. He considered it almost an obligation to take a walk twice or thrice a week, especially during those last few weeks.

He would sit on one of the benches by the garden. To save time, he would bring his laptop every single time and he would always allow himself short in-betweens to enjoy his surroundings after long minutes of staring at the screen.

Like always, the trees were above him and the flowers were in front of him. When he looked down, he even enjoyed the grass and the cobblestone lined paths.

“You take the same route every time.”

Levi looked up, an instinctive reaction to that very familiar, almost intimate voice. “You followed me?”

“What if I wanted to take a walk too?” Hange asked.

“You're welcome to take a walk. I’m just gonna do some work here before going back inside,” Levi said. He looked back at the screen in front of him, trying to find something to make progress with as he monitored the workflow tracker.

Nothing much had changed or was expected to change, his own staff was probably on lunch break. He trusted them enough to be certain they would get most of their work done by Wednesday. And consequently, he was left with nothing much else to do but maybe take a lunch break too.

Hange sat right next to him on the bench and Levi pulled away, far enough to put a good few inches between them. “You’re going out more often now,” Hange said.

“I noticed I’ve been spending too much time indoors. I never really got to enjoy summer for what it was. We only get it three months a year.”

Hange gave him a knowing look. “And you only noticed it now? After living in this city your whole life?” She asked. “You’ve lived here your whole life right?”

“Yeah,” Levi said.

Hange shrugged. “You just never struck me as the type to enjoy weather, or nature in general. Back in the golf course, back in the ocean, you didn’t look like you wanted to be there,” she noted.

“Maybe it’s a recent thing,” Levi said. He kept it vague, not wanting to probe any complex topics when he was grappling with more important complex things.

Hange though, was a black hole of knowledge, a bundle overflowing with curiosity. “What makes it pretty? Why do you like taking walks?”

“Do we have to have a reason?”

“Well ever since I started to work closely with you, I started to notice something too,” Hange said. “You seem happier.”

“Maybe because Zeke is always busy.”

Hange snorted. “You really hate him don’t you?” She leaned a little closer. “And aren’t you at all nervous admitting it to me?” An overly playful demeanor accompanied such intimidating words. It was more laughable than terrifying.

Levi shook his head, unfazed. “I trust you wouldn’t tell him.”

“I wouldn’t,” she admitted. “I don’t blame you though.” She only had to give him an almost pitied look for him to read her mind.

He articulated it for her. “I never really recovered from those two all-nighters cramming an application.” That had been more than three months ago but the memory still burned as a faint memory of excruciating exhaustion and an unpleasant caffeine buzz that took weeks to brush off.

“You managed to impress the hospital admin at least. And we got the funds,” Hange said.

Does that make Zeke any more of an insufferable person? He had hoped to ask that with the face he gave Hange then, one eyebrow raised. If it didn’t send the message, he could easily say it out loud. That one pleasantry Zeke afforded him though that day in front of the convenience store echoed in his head. Even just coming up with an insult sent a wave of guilt through him.

A wave of guilt I don’t need to feel. Levi reminded himself, willing to recall the other instances the blond had been abrasive. Zeke was either a master manipulator or misunderstood. He was a billionaire though, so Levi decided to err on the side of ‘manipulator.’

“The funds go to the company, to the outsourcing activities and to server space,” Levi corrected.

“Don’t you have company shares?” Hange asked.

“A stock option,” Levi clarified. “Something I chose not to take. I’d rather get my money as is. I don’t trust myself to grow something of that much value.” He kept his answers vague, since he never did read the contract closely anyway, it was Erwin who went through the benefits with him.

“Well everyone else in the company who runs on stock options seems to trust you. Zeke’s own investment is riding on your own ability to make a good product...” My PhD dreams are riding on your product. Hange didn’t say that last part out loud but Levi heard it loud and clear.

“Well this pseudo love alarm project, it’s still far from perfect.” For emphasis, he opened up the new project entitled ‘emotion alarm project’ on his dashboard and slipped the laptop screen over to Hange. “Thirty percent done. We barely fixed the interface, just getting the required testing and data done is taking up a lot of resources.”

“I know that and I expected it,” Hange said. “You know, a PhD sometimes takes decades to complete and I’m ready to take that much time.”

“I just wanna manage your expectations. Besides, something about the testing still bothers me.”

“What about it?”

“Remember the first night I made the application?” He stifled a wince at the painful memory. “It didn’t ring… until you came in.”

“Maybe it was a bug?” Hange suggested. “It shouldn’t be too much of an issue right? Since you made a lot of improvements after.”

“I did,” Levi said.

“And it never happened again with the later builds.”

“It doesn’t but it works too much like the love alarm. Do you notice, it always rings when we’re nearby?”

“When we’ve already loaded millions worth of data points. When we’ve overseen that much testing with other people. I don’t think you have to think too hard about it. We just keep improving the application right? Same as the love alarm,” Hange explained.

“Maybe I’m just being cynical. It doesn’t work once and I can never trust it again,” Levi muttered as he scrolled through the tasks for the next release for the upteenth time since a while ago.

“I guess that’s what happens when you’re the one who came up with the project. You can never trust your own abilities to develop?"

"Or because I worked on it, at three in the morning, I tested it. I know how many shortcuts I took with it…" Levi trailed off as he started to focus a little more on the numbers, the titles on the task trackers.

"You know they did the research, the testing, if it works for them, if they have a good success rate, then maybe it works for us too? Maybe the app is right, we're happy when we’re next to each other. Sometimes we’re sad when we’re next to each other and sometimes we're angry. If this application is detecting moods like this… similarly to the love alarm, maybe it means we could--- "

"Get along?" Levi finished it for her. There were only so many things that code could mean anyway.

"Get along.... Or to get to know each other more." Hange said, her voice softer than a second ago. The smile took longer to leave her lips.

Hange though had always been good at composing herself but Levi had months to figure out patterns and trends in the way she navigated the more sensitive topics. He couldn't help but notice the heavy tension, even under the light summer breeze.

Those moments happened too often that Levi had prepared an escape route every time. Business talk. And they had a lot to talk about. "Hange, I wanna ask something about the front end," Levi scrolled back up, towards the top of the task trackers. Dealing with front end was a mammoth task, rifed with two many sub tasks but it was definitely one of the last priorities, if it was even a priority. Levi wasn’t the type to particularly mind releasing an application with a white background and an interface that used the very underwhelming Arial font.

But it was Hange and Zeke’s application.

"Ask away," Hange said.

It came easily after that. The ticket on his workflow tracker had an inkling of a script to follow. "What colors would you associate with emotions?" He asked.

"What?" Hange furrowed her brows.

Levi cleared his throat. Nevermind, it wasn't easy to come up with the question without a little more expounding. "Like would you say red is anger? Blue is sadness? Yellow is happiness?"

"Wait? Why?" Hange asked again. Her lips were curled up just a little higher.

"I'm thinking of the front end of the application. What colors do you see for each emotion?"

"Yellow for happiness," Hange answered easily.

"Not orange?" Levi challenged. He had opened up the task and started to take notes.

"Orange is way too angry for me."

"Red seems much angrier," Levi said

"Red is anger definitely but I'm not seeing bright red, I'm seeing something like orange."

Levi opened up a color wheel. " So this red?" Levi asked.

"No, bright reddish orange," Hange corrected. It may have been a coincidence or just a trick of convenience but a red leaf had fallen on her lap at that moment. Hange picked it up, and twirled it and held it in front of Levi like a token.

“So... autumn red?” Levi asked.

Hange dropped the leaf on his lap. “I guess.” She raised her eyebrow. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Was he giving her a strange look? His mind sometimes formed opinions as he spoke and Hange had always been receptive anyway so he verbalized it, just for her. “When I’m angry, I see red,” Levi admitted.

“I haven't felt really angry in a while, so I wouldn’t know,” Hange said. “Maybe it changed.”

“Sadness?” Levi asked.

Hange turned to him questioningly. “Tell me yours first.”

“Grey,” Levi said automatically.

“Blue,” Hange said, as if it were the truest fact in the world.

A fact Levi was compelled to question. “Why blue?”

“Why not blue?”

“Blue doesn’t seem sad….”

“Why not?” Hange pressed.

“It seems…” Levi started, only realizing seconds later, he was unable to come up with the right words.

“Too nice?” Hange suggested.

“It’s a nice color. It makes me feel good just looking at it.” It was a pathetic response. With such a complex thought, to even force out of his mouth, he had to channel his inner child, through the most child-like attempts at articulation.

“Okay, I know it doesn’t feel good to be sad but.. don’t you think sadness is a beautiful feeling?” Hange asked.

“No.” It should have been a natural answer. Somehow, Levi felt like there was something else worth listening to.

Hange saw reason to continue at least. “You wouldn’t be feeling sad, if you never felt happy in the first place, if you’ve never felt desire or love. There are feelings much worse than being sad for sure.”

“Like what?”

“Not feeling at all maybe?” Hange surmised. “So maybe the strongest feelings, whether good or bad, are still nice… maybe something worth indulging.”

And it was turning into a philosophy lesson. How many hours had he wasted listening to Hange prattle on about emotions and concepts of love? They weren’t hours wasted for sure, but they did leave him feeling just a little sad at times. Once again, he went back to business talk. Levi looked back at his workflow tracker. “So ‘blue sad, yellow happy, red angry…”

“Do you really think sadness is grey?” Hange asked.

Levi looked up from his laptop and straight towards Hange. "Look, I don't think much about what color my emotions are…” He trailed off. He could have said more maybe. Speaking while reflecting turned out to be a daunting task at that moment.

Maybe sadness was grey. That had seemed like the most natural conclusion at first. He focused for a little longer on the view in front of him, the view of Hange and behind her the open grounds that made way for blue sky and the blue burned into his eyes, enough to make him feel something in his chest then down to his stomach. Before he knew it, he started to entertain Hange’s own idea.

When Hange looked back at him, the open sky behind her, he felt stinging at the back of his eyes, he let his face fall.

The color overall had been burning at first. The more he stared, the more he noticed its more lasting qualities. It turned out blue wasn’t burning, it was subdued, mild. At the same time, the clear endless shade of blue in the sky behind her did wonders to accentuate her features. Enough of a reminder to leave another twinge in his chest, that time it was slightly painful.

A twinge of sadness. Emotions may be difficult to comprehend but whatever clarity that washed over him then had been enough of a motivator to speak up. “I think you’re right, sadness is blue,” he said. A beautiful blue.

He found himself searching for the prettiest shades on the color wheel, looking back up at the sky, then to the yellow streaks from the sun that hit the pavement. He then turned his head towards the garden where red roses grew. From a distance, from above, they were supposed to form a heart.

“Yeah, red and yellow too. Red hurts, it’s glaring, Sometimes yellow is too bright but all together, they make the garden beautiful. Like this courtyard,” Hange said. She stretched her legs out onto the stony path just in front of the bench and shifted her weight to the palms of her hands.

“Yeah, it is.” Levi nodded.

“It’s colorful,” Hange said. “Bright reds, bright greens, bright blues, bright yellows. They’ll all only be here together until the end of summer.” She wrapped her arms around herself, a wistful smile on her face.

“You like summer?” Levi asked. “It’s fucking hot.”

“I like summer and spring. What can I say? I like seasons with a lot more variety of color,” she answered. “ I always get a little sad when summer ends. Surprisingly though, I’m sadder than usual about this summer ending.”

“Why?”

Hange shrugged. “I can’t even explain it for myself. It’s ridiculous that I’m this sad about summer ending. I usually get like this when I’m out of the city but I haven’t even been out in the countryside in a while but somehow, I’m already imaging the larger, wider landscapes up north. I’m imagining how quickly the trees go bald… Green then red then blue. And how quickly skies turn from blue to just a constant gray and when the lakes just freeze over, turning from blue to a more of black… It’s sad to imagine.”

“I can imagine it,” Levi said. He didn’t leave the city often since there wasn’t much spare funds to work with. He was capable of empathizing though, after all the twinge of sadness remained and it had been surprisingly easy to channel it elsewhere.

“There are places up north that have the most beautiful springs and summers but when the leaves change… everything dies much more quickly.” Hange lowered her head.

“Maybe one day, I’ll check it out,” Levi said. He found himself picturing the logistics of a trip already. Having never used his leaves, having built up disposable income through a lack of drive to even form a life outside work, he realized he did have leeway to indulge just a bit. Somehow, Hange’s own thoughts were enough to inspire.

“You haven’t been up north?” Hange gaped.

“I didn’t have much money growing up and there’s no reason to.”

“I should take you up north. You know, the gardens up there, the rolling hillsides. They remind me of Pemberley,” Hange said.

“Pemberley?”

“Pemberley! Mister Darcy’s estate.”

Levi groaned inward. That book again.

“Elizabeth visited towards the end of the book and there are a bunch of old houses around there and when I would walk on the fields, I like to pretend I’m in the book.”

“Relive your rags to riches fantasy?” Levi asked bitterly.

Hange pouted. “It’s not just that. Besides, I wasn’t poor, you know. My parents managed to pay tuition to a good college with no debt.”

Not as rich as Zeke definitely. The banter might just get out of control so Levi went with a conservative digression. “Maybe I’ll go there one weekend, up north before summer really ends.”

“Maybe, I’ll take you there myself,” She said, an excited grin on her face. “Maybe after this weekend or next year if we’re too late. I told Zeke about how I was feeling lately, so for my birthday, he promised he’ll take me up north so we’re going this weekend.”

Levi choked. “Wait, birthday? When’s your birthday?” It turned out to be a burning question, a small fact Levi felt obligated to know. So the answer couldn’t have come any slower.

When Hange opened her mouth ready to speak, the universe decided for them that it definitely could come a little later. His phone rang, breaking that brief silence, prolonging the painful anticipation.

Petra Ral. For some reason, he expected the worst when any of his subordinates called. He answered the phone. “Petra, is everything okay?”

“Sorry about calling. I tried texting you but you weren’t replying.” Petra went straight to the point soon after that. “Some of the members of the other project offered to help out with testing. Do we have enough phones?”

They did have enough test devices, the pile on Hange’s desk was enough proof of that. “Yes we do,” Levi said. They were all in his office. He turned to Hange questioningly. It was her blank face that reminded him, they’d have to look through the phones themselves to see what devices they could wipe.

“I’ll meet you by the office,” Levi said. “Hange and I are going back now.”

He hung up the phone and turned to Hange. “Petra is gonna borrow some of the test devices. You’re okay with that?”

“Sure, I’ll help you wipe them,” Hange said. “Are we going back now?” She seemed hesitant, a closer look and Levi could see a hint of disappointment.

He closed his laptop. “We have to get back to work right?”

“You never even stopped working,” Hange accused.

“I stopped long enough to listen to you ramble on about that damned book and your nice vacations.”

Hange walked on, seeming deep in thought. “Hey Levi… What do you think of Petra?” It was an abrupt digression.

“What about Petra?”

“Have you ever considered dating her?”

Levi stifled a choke, letting it out as a peaceful clearing of the throat. “Why are you asking that?”

Hange shrugged, as she walked ahead. . “Nothing, she seems like a nice person and she seems to like you… Besides, she rings your alarm.” She looked back at him, a playful grin on her face.

Levi sighed. That wasn’t a question he would have liked to broach.

“Well?” Hange pressed.

But maybe he could give some vague answer in exchange for some information. “I’ll tell you. If you tell me something."

"Tell you what?"

"What are your plans for your birthday?”

***

Levi was tricked, treated, bamboozled. Hange had a way with words, a way of just pushing the right buttons. It could have been that or it could have been a series of convenient circumstances and conversation topics that had Levi there, at the front of the mall after work with Petra right next to him.

On the bright side, he had Hange’s birthdate, her plans for that Friday all the way until the weekend. That was enough to satisfy his own curiosity. Over time though he realized, that was all it did.

Was it worth it?

Back when he and Hange had been discussing it, it seemed like a good exchange, she satisfied his curiosity, he satisfied hers. Hange had given her due information. In exchange, she received information on Petra, the long QAs, her alarm ringing, the amount of effort Petra put into her job and just the occasional present that made their way to his desk.

While Hange’s own information went so far as to give the name of the restaurant, the time and the route of their roadtrip, Levi’s own information evolved into something else. Before he even knew it, Hange had created a new agenda of her own.

Your love alarm would ring with Petra right?

It did. Of course, in front of the mall, surrounded by other people wasn’t the best place to test it. There was no reason to either. Ever since Petra joined them more than a year back, the love alarm had always rang and Petra had enough professionalism, enough of a handle on her own feelings to mark it as ‘accurate.’

Admirable? Definitely. Date worthy? Did he ever consider dating her long enough to deem her date worthy? ‘Maybe not’ to both questions.

Have you ever considered dating Petra?  Hange brought up that question during their conversation and Levi felt almost guilty for the straight up ‘no,’ and the shallow ‘she’s too young for my taste’ reason.

She could have been too young. Still, Hange seemed more like a counselor for that exchange and she made some good points.

Assuming the love alarm didn’t have a bug, and the reading was accurate… Hange first set her premise.

The premise could have been accurate. No, it definitely was. Petra’s own approach towards him only served to extinguish any doubts.

Levi and Petra settled for an early dinner at some restaurant towards the end of the mall. Not for the food, nor for the pricing but for the convenience of being able to sit down after the twenty minute walk and a long day up on their feet back in the office.

And Petra had been excited to sit down in front of him. She rushed ahead and slipped into the booth, even before Levi had slipped himself into the small gap between table and chair. He allowed himself enough focus to scan through the menu and digest the names of the dishes at least. He hadn't bothered to even spare a good look at the board outside nor what the hell the other customers were eating and thus, he was excruciatingly slow.

On top of that, he was exhausted from a day of work and most days, he wouldn’t have bothered to go on a date, not with a colleague at that.

It’s not a date. Levi reminded himself. He shouldn’t be dating subordinates. That was another source of stress at that moment.

A few times Levi looked up at the menu, making some ingenious excuse about how he couldn’t decide and how he needed some blank space to help clear his mind before he tried to decide again. Every single time he looked up, he had to internally make an excuse because Petra was staring right at him.

“Have you decided what you want to get?” Petra asked, her voice was a song. She propped her elbows on the table, a rude gesture in most places. She managed to subdue rudeness by propping her chin on top, a look of seemingly genuine interest in her face.

Seemingly. Who the hell was he kidding, she probably was genuine about it. If it wasn’t his own instinct that could be relied on, he could at least trust the love alarm that had rung with no fail since she joined the company in the first place.

“I’ll get the fried chicken meal.” Levi didn’t particularly like fried chicken. He had been a little too self conscious of how long he had stared at her and back at the menu, how long the awkward silence between them lasted and he soon realized, he had to order quickly, even if he didn’t know yet what else he was missing.

“You wanna get tea? We could share a pot,” Petra suggested as she put down her own menu.

Levi could have finished a pot on his own. He wasn’t telling her that though, especially not right after too many close encounters with what could have been inappropriate. “Sure.” Levi nodded a little faster, hoping that was enough to feign excitement.

The waiter came and went with the menus on hand and Petra started to ask questions, questions that were invasive enough that Levi had a hard time thinking two things at once.

They weren’t too personal. In fact, they weren’t about him anyway. Levi started to figure that for himself when he got his bearings. “What about Hange?” Levi asked. He was stalling, finding ways to untangle his hairball of thoughts.

“You were asking me right? About any advice on what to give Hange for her birthday?” Petra asked.

“Yes, I did.” Why did he forget?

Assuming the love alarm didn’t have a bug, and the reading was accurate, that means this ‘love’ between me and Zeke is one sided.

“Well, we could check out a few shops nearby. You could buy her something that could help her with organization. Diaries, bookmarks, pencil cases, wallets…” The list went on and the contents had started to become unbearably boring. Really, would Hange have enjoyed those?

But I don’t think it’s one sided. Love is a choice right? I can choose to love him. So if you and Petra---

Me and Petra. There were too many things wrong with it, a boss and a direct report, a conflict of interest.

But she seems genuine. She seems like a good person. And maybe she could be worth pursuing.

She’s my direct report. He argued then.

But if you decide to pursue a relationship, you can always just reshuffle, right?

Petra continued to talk. “Does she like tea? We could give her a tea bag. The one I bought you last Christmas… it took me months to find it…” She brought out her phone and started to scroll, seeming too deep in thought. She furrowed her brows and bit her lip, as if the extra effort hurt..

An unnecessarily vigorous effort over a simple request from him. Guilt was an unwelcome feeling but it was also incredibly tenacious, like a cockroach. His mind was becoming more receptive to painful speculation as he watched Petra grapple over her choices, and he wasn’t at all being helpful.

Guilt was the rising action. Then everything fell into place soon after, not into place, more like a chaotic order, like a ton of bricks.

And that order made his feelings more intelligible.

He didn’t want to be in a relationship with Petra. That was all there is to it.

Love is a choice right? A tiny glimmer of protest made itself known in the silence. Those were words from Hange, echoed multiple times before in an exact tone and manner only Hange could ever pull off.

Can I choose to love Petra? Levi asked himself then.

Petra was a nice girl. She was helpful. She worked hard. She was competent. More importantly, she was single and she wasn’t married to his very rich client.

Most importantly though, in the grand scheme of all his experiences and emotions, Levi had to point out to himself, she wasn’t Hange.

Why don’t you give her a chance? Hange had asked that then. She goaded him, nudged him and pushed him out of his own office, to follow after Petra had left the office with the devices.

It's frowned upon, boss colleague relationship. Levi had argued.

Something tells me she likes you. Hange continued, as if she never heard of the unspoken taboos of office relationships. Maybe she hadn’t.

Besides, I noticed… You know, you look a lot happier. How that had ended up the conclusion of their conversation, Levi couldn't exactly tell. He remembered looking up at Hange, to hell with how far down his jaw dropped or how wide his eyes were. There was just something special about Hange pointing out something and how quickly something could easily become a certain reality when someone just verbalized it.

Maybe he was happier, maybe he started to appreciate nature a lot more. Maybe he had started to see more color the past few months.

His own recall of Hange, his own thoughts that flew back to her had him perceptive of the variety on his plate, the decorations on the shop for just a split second and when he looked up to Petra, a part of him was at the least attempting to appreciate.

Petra was a redhead, her hair fell in a neat bob that barely brushed her shoulders. Red was a nice color on hair, and Levi only noticed it then. He stared for a while longer, trying to find something to feel, something to think beyond ‘nice.’

Petra’s eyes shot up and she met his gaze. “This is it!”

“What?” Levi asked, almost instinctively. He felt a tad self conscious analyzing the shade of someone’s hair.

“I found the tea, the one I gave you last Christmas. You really liked it right?” Petra asked.

“The Jasmine Pearls?” He did remember the tea then he remembered telling her he really did enjoy it. A part of him had maybe forgotten for a split second that it was Petra who gave it so the question had shaken him more than necessary.

“I was only able to get it from a shipment last time. I had to book three months to get it. But they’re on sale now and---”

“She might prefer coffee though...” Levi said. His own intention had been to find the perfect present, but he ended up feeling guilty as soon as he saw Petra’s reaction.

Her face fell. She turned back to her phone for just a second before fixing her eyes back to his. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for that, I can’t believe I got so excited.” A blush crept up her face.

“No. Don’t think about it like that.” Levi attempted to maintain at least a ghost of a laugh in his tone. The last thing he wanted to do was keep Petra unnecessarily uncomfortable, especially after everything that had happened until that moment.

The air was heavy and he wondered if she noticed it too. She was probably too preoccupied with her own self proclaimed mistakes, very evident by the beet red of her face.

“Let’s go around first. We might come up with something better if we ask around the shops,” Levi suggested. It had been more to comfort her than anything else. The suggestions of a while ago, the list of items had only served to make Levi think a little deeper about it, to the point of acceptance.

Even before they had finished their food, Levi had already concluded for himself, whatever he gave Hange, whether it be a wallet, tea, a small trinket, Zeke had probably come up with a more expensive version, something he probably would have never considered buying himself.

Levi didn’t leave though. Soon after they finished eating, he still accompanied Petra to every shop. He made a facade for himself, a window shopper buying a birthday gift for a good friend, he asked enough questions to engage Petra, everything ending with the conclusion, “I’ll think about it.”

Overtime, he realized he wasn’t thinking too much of what was in front of him. His mind was elsewhere.

Besides, I noticed… You know, you look a lot happier. Hange was smiling when she said it, but the smile didn’t curl the same way the others did. She crinkled her eyes as she spoke but Levi could almost point out the sadness in them.

And he saw it every time he recalled that. What does that have to do with dating Petra?

I like seeing you happy and I think if you found someone to love, maybe you’ll stay like this much longer.

Like what?

More pleasant? Smiling more often? Appreciating stuff outside work?

Hange talked for longer after that but that had worked to motivate him to invite Petra out to get to know her, to ask for advice for a gift for Hange. Somehow, a part of him wanted to take Hange’s advice, stay ‘happy’ so in his own way, he could prove her right and maybe by extension, make her happy too.

But was entertaining a relationship with Petra the right way?

The question burned for longer. Even after they exhausted all the shops and all the ideas that came with it. It was around eight in the evening when they stood by the train station under the mall, exchanging goodbyes. “Make sure to get home safe.” A part of him had considered taking her home. Their trains went in completely opposite directions though.

“Will do,” Petra said.

“We have a long day ahead tomorrow.” They always had a long day ahead but at that point, Levi was foraging for something a boss would say.

“Yeah, I'll make sure to get the testing done tomorrow," Petra said. "What happened today, it definitely gave me the motivation. I had a lot of fun.”

“Me too.” His response was automatic, something he didn’t want to think too much of.

They separated soon after and when Levi boarded the train home, he entertained the question again.

Was entertaining a relationship with Petra the right way to be happy?

I think entertaining love is an opportunity to be happy at least. Hange argued. You don’t have to jump into it but I think building a relationship with someone teaches you a lot and love, it makes life colorful.

Colorful? The trains were grey, the suits of all the passengers were shades of black, grey and the occasional blue. An almost alarming transformation from the gardens, after long days of working with Hange.

A copy of the emotions alarm was downloaded onto his phone and in the silence of the long ride home, he opened it again. He clicked ‘activate,’ the application loaded, no emotion was detected.

It was a fun night right? Levi concluded, there really was some more to improve on in the application. With the amount of testing done, and the amount of data loaded, he also had to entertain the idea that maybe it wasn’t an issue with the application.

Maybe it was his own issue with appreciating, with being open to love. “That’s what you were saying, right Hange?” He whispered to himself. A second later, he thought maybe he had said it loud enough to sound like an idiot.

Before nervousness and overthinking could take over again, he willed himself to mull over Hange’s words like always.

Love is a choice and just be open to it. Even if he didn’t believe it for himself.

***

It turned out, Erwin also knew about Hange’s birthday. And he suggested a basket of fruit as a gift.

Levi had been a little surprised. For one, maintaining partner and customer relations was never part of his job so how the hell was he to know that baskets of fruits and cakes were customary.

And secondly, he was just a little indignant. Erwin was his boss though so he couldn’t tell him that. He complied before going back to his office and booting up his laptop. It felt odd.

The laptop pinged with a characteristic echo and it was much louder in the silence, the almost deafening silence. After all, most days, Hange would have been there to chatter his ear off about her own experience testing.

That day, she had taken the day off. A birthday leave. Just for herself. She took September four and September five off. The fourth was to prepare for the long trip. Then on the fifth, she had dinner with Zeke, in an Italian restaurant on the first floor of a luxury hotel near the city center.

He knew the details, he knew the name. But it has nothing to do with you. He constantly reminded himself, it was only on a good to know basis. Still, he entertained the idea that maybe he could stop by the city center on the train on the way home, just for the modicum of a probability that he did run into them. It was not like he had anything else to do on a Friday night anyway.

But you can think about that tomorrow. Levi scolded himself. Somehow, Hange not being there was making it more difficult to focus. After all, she had been there, every single day before.

Also, how could he entertain multiple other ideas about Hange’s birthday when he didn’t even have a present for her? He had managed to put off Petra’s suggestions lightly, by some distraction from work. He had managed to make a good excuse of the fruit basket, saying that it was better to give a gift as a company.

Really, it had been his own insecurity stopping from putting any money into anything. Zeke could buy Hange a billion wallets, a billion tea bags, a billion fruits basket if it suited him. Then it begged the question for Levi, what could he give that Zeke couldn’t?

The emotion alarm. The answer didn’t come quickly. It came after staring at the desktop screen for long enough to lose grip on the time but after a long moment of doing nothing, Levi eventually brought out a test device and opened the server.

There were three basic emotions. Anger, Sadness and Happieness. Those were the three Hange put into her plan. They were to create the application, test it among patients and study it to see how it could help with more accurate prognosis.

And if he went the extra mile, maybe he could just give it as a late birthday surprise. Or maybe he might end up never finishing it. At least I’d try. That last thought lingered for a second longer and it did its part to send a burst of confidence through him.

He looked through his workflow tracker. No assigned bugs to look into. So he opened a new document, pulled out a paper.

“Hange Zoe, you wanted to test emotions right?” He asked no one in particular. When he was asking questions out loud, ideas ended up flowing much faster. He pulled out a small paper from the post-it stack at the corner of his desk.

“What if we connect it to the web, make a dashboard to display reports, so maybe psychologists have something to look at after testing?” He could have said it out loud. Maybe he didn’t. He had said it loud enough in his head at least to keep his gears moving. “What if we find a way to quantify it?” That last part was ambitious. It would need Hange’s input for sure so he grappled with two ideas, surprising Hange and just suggesting it like a developer.

His ideas were risks, born of long hours of googling enough to maybe bullshit years of studying psychology. Maybe Hange wouldn’t agree, maybe she would. He copied the necessary code from the alarm anyway and decided to just play around with it.

It was a birthday present only he could give anyway.

Another idea popped into his head after an hour more of googling, a much more doable idea. Even before he made sense of it, he pulled another post-it from the side and wrote out the three emotions. Underneath them, he wrote the colors. Red. Blue. Yellow.

Yellow and red became orange. Red and blue became purple. Yellow and blue became green.

He wasn’t a psychologist, he wasn’t a philosopher. He was merely a developer. He was an experienced one at that and with the right amount of free time and the right amount of motivation, he managed at least to pull out a framework and recall the color of the leaf on Hange’s lap.

Red. Yellow. Blue. Orange. Green. Purple. He had enough time to work on some front end tasks that day.

***

He finished it on Friday, the fifth of September, at around noon and maybe he had done a few hours of overtime to get it done, arriving home at midnight just the night before.

It wasn’t perfect but the colors showed up as a big dot under the emotion, and the application would flash in bright shades of red, yellow, blue, orange, green and purple, the latter three a mix of the basic emotions.

It had been a small act of just manipulating the data, loading Hange’s USB full of data to get it to work. Whether it would be accurate, he couldn’t tell but it would be something good to bring up on Monday maybe, a risky birthday present but still, a little risk seemed better than omission when it came to Hange.

The last few parts were a little tests on his end, while testing in between, while signing off necessary decisions for the testing on Monday.

The testing never worked, no emotions flashed onto the screen the few times he tested and every single time, he reminded himself, it wasn’t perfect but maybe Hange would still appreciate it.

By five, he was out, right on time and with his own personal project completed and downloaded into his phone, his workflow tracker empty, and everything ready for the large scale QA event on Monday and he thought himself a little deserving of a little stroll at the city center on a Friday night.

At around thirty minutes past five, he boarded the train, the same route home, stopping five stops shy of his usual stop.

The station at the city center on a Friday night was bustling. It had taken him a good one minute to even push himself out of the train. He only ever managed to get a glimpse of the shops, the city lights beyond the crowds not when he stepped out of the station, but a few blocks after that when for a good few minutes the crowds dissipated into something a little more breathable.

The luxury hotel Hange had mentioned was one, if not the best one in the city and Levi easily picked it out as he stood towards one of the less saturated parts of the crosswalk. It was a skyscraper, the windows were of the modern kind that reflected city lights in a unique way and they covered the building from top to bottom. And even from just his peripherals, he could pick the building out by the strange iridescent flashes of color.

The view was very much worth the price and Levi only had to walk ahead, catch it as a small glimmer behind buildings and crowds to know he was going the right direction, despite having to ride through the crowds.

He arrived at the block, the building only a few feet away, close enough that he had to strain his neck to get a glance of the skyscraper at the top. He looked back down at his phone.

6:30. Hange said they had a reservation for seven. He wondered why he was putting himself through that torture. Would he even get to talk to her? Eventually he realized, might as well make use of that information just to satisfy his curiosity again.

The restaurant was a small place, with glass windows, and if Levi stared long enough he could make out every single face there. For a Friday, it was still empty and he was able to conclude without much of a long glance that Hange wasn’t there.

So he took a good long stroll around the block. He entered leather shops, boutiques that sold branded clothing, staying long enough that the salesman had thought he would have bought.

Thirty minutes passed with a few bumps along the way. Sometimes minutes lasted years, sometimes they lasted split seconds but the bumpy wait was long enough for him to realize that he was doing something completely stupid.

It was Hange's birthday. That was Hange and Zeke's night. All he could give her that day was a greeting, and maybe a basket of fruits, care of Erwin.

So he planned a birthday message, saving it in the drafts. He didn’t have to give her the modified birthday application as a present. He could always prepare a script to pitch his suggested changes for the application on Monday. Disappointment and surrender had him lethargic and for a while after exiting the last store, Levi leaned back on some free brick wall where the space was for rent, a good distance away from the sea of people but still close enough that if he just stretched out his arm, he might just get dragged in.

He leaned back and stared, allowing himself that bout of reprieve as he watched the crowds go by. Crowds of people weren’t anything new, he dealt with those everyday trying to squeeze into the trains during rush hour every morning.

Crowds on a Friday, in the center of the city weren’t something he was completely used to though. He hated crowds and he always strategically timed his personal shopping trips to late afternoons on weekdays, particularly when it was much easier to maintain a comfortable distance from strangers.

When he was observing, time went by at a sluggish pace. For a while, Levi was hypnotized by the strange cadence that accompanied the view. The longer he stared, the more perceptive he became. There was a very big difference between crowds on a weekday during rush hour and crowds on a Friday night moving through a shopping district.

When he was close enough, he immediately picked it out, like a very small diamond in a sea of coal, invisible at first but from the right angle, it suddenly became crystal clear. Crowds in rush hour comprised hard, focused individuals. They were like streams: movements were loud, hard wired towards one direction.

Crowds on a Friday night were more like a river, they were moving but only barely, very subtly. Of course they would, the faces were relaxed, the people were rarely alone. Some clusters in the crowds came as one family, others came in groups of friends and others came in couples.

The more faces Levi scanned, the heavier he became. It dawned on him soon after he was alone in crowd of people and he was fucking lonely. For a second he considered testing his application, he decided soon after that he probably didn’t want a bunch of code rubbing his own loneliness and singleness in his face. For another second, he almost considered inviting Petra over.

Shaking both temporal thoughts away, Levi turned the corner and back to the main road, making some excuse that the main road which passed the five star hotel was the closest way back to the station. It was a valid conclusion at least, the main road was wide enough, and the shops were few and far in between that social distancing wasn’t too big of an issue.

There was another conclusion Levi liked to entertain though. He checked his watch. 7:30.

Hange had said before, the reservation was at seven. He dove into a crowd, while catching a glimpse of the restaurant to the window. Hange was surprisingly easy to spot, maybe because Levi had first swept through the seats on the corner with his vision. He spotted the brown hair, the glasses and a dark purple cocktail dress. Notably, there was no blond companion in front of her.

Zeke was in the toilet, his rational mind justified. “Have fun, Hange,” Levi said. At least he got to see her on her birthday, he allowed himself a passing thought on how well she had dressed up that night, similar to months ago when he had completed the test app. Then he brushed that thought away, looked straight ahead. He stayed with the sea of people, long enough to pass the hotel and as soon as he was a good distance away, he broke away, taking the underground path to the station.

It was still early and the station entrance was surprisingly more peaceful than above ground. He had enough space to open up his phone and check the birthday greeting in his drafts box.

Happy birthday Hange! Excited to continue working with you. See you on Monday for app testing. Btw, thanks for volunteering for the calibration on Monday.

He evaluated for himself that the text was a good balance between casual and professional. Satisfied, Levi clicked send and pocketed his phone as he made his way to the ticket gate.

The next time he opened his phone was in the train, three train stops in when he was lucky enough to catch an empty seat.

Thanks, Levi :)

It was too short of a message for Levi to read through and he was almost disappointed at such a turn out.

What did you expect, an ‘I love you?’ The tremble in his lips was enough evidence, that maybe a part of him did, as embarrassing, as ridiculous of a prospect as it was. He hovered his thumb over the keyboard, letting the weight of the incomprehensible emotions pass before he typed.

See you on Monday. That’s what he had wanted to type, just to keep the conversation going. Hange was still typing though.

Levi was staring at the bubbles above the message box for a good long few minutes. Minutes, it definitely took minutes. Hange was typing long enough for a station to announce a next stop, enough for the train to empty at that stop, enough for it to refill and enough for the conductor to announce the next stop,

The text eventually came. Where are you right now?

How the hell had that taken minutes to write, Levi didn’t know. He wasn’t eager to reciprocate though.

He replied within a few seconds. Why?

Hange took a little longer to reply. The bubble on the screen continued to bounce as Hange Zoe continued to type.

Nothing much. I was just curious. It had taken almost another train stop for Hange to type those six words.

A split second later, another message appeared underneath. Sorry for bothering you. So Hange wasn’t just a slow typer.

It was still eight in the evening, too early that for most, the night hadn’t even started. So Levi took a risk. He left the train at the next stop, boarded the other train that ran through that same line, the train that would bring him back to the city center.

Hange, you okay? He texted.

Hange didn’t reply. There was no bouncing of bubbles above the message box, but he continued to stare, just in case. And that little motion on the screen was a fickle thing.

Sometimes it appeared, sometimes it didn’t.

Hange Zoe is typing.... And sometimes, he stared at it for long enough that it seared into his vision even a minute after it was long gone from the screen.

She never did type anything and maybe he had waited too long for a response. By the time he arrived at the right station again, he tapped his card and exited the ticket gate and ran through the underground. When he reached above ground, he tried to maintain the same speed. That involved pushing through crowds and being a small man, he realized it wasn’t too much of a bother to anyone. After all, with the amount of people huddled in the crowds under the cool air of late summer, he wasn’t the only one pushing.

He didn’t have time to check his phone. And soon, he realized he didn’t need to. He arrived back at the hotel to find Hange hunched over, unmoving in the same seat she had been just a few hours back.

Zeke is in the toilet. Levi told himself. He waited a minute, then another. And when he looked closely, he realized, Hange was on her phone. He opened his phone to see the bubbles bounce again.

Hange Zoe is typing…

Levi was counting minutes, and the bubble never disappeared. He looked back up at the glass door to see Hange was still not moving, still slouched, her head bent over. To the phone on her lap maybe?

He looked back at his phone and concluded then, Hange had been typing for ten minutes.

Maybe Zeke is taking a shit. He set an alarm for ten minutes. The hotel and restaurant bathroom wouldn’t be too far. And no one took a shit for more than twenty minutes right? If Zeke didn’t come back in ten minutes, maybe that meant she was alone.

Ten minutes went by quickly. And a few times Hange had typed, a few times she had laid her phone on the table and leaned back on the chair. A waiter had offered wine once and Hange shook her head.

It would be rude to barge in but at the same time, there were answers he was desperate to get. He sent a message. Are you alone?

The typing stopped for a second. Then it continued for a minute. Then it stopped. Finally, like the sunshine after the rain, a chat bubble appeared and Levi savored the sound for a split second before he took in the contents.

Just one word. Yeah

Where’s Zeke?

He’s not coming tonight.

Levi leaned on the wall just next to the window and typed one message. You need someone there with you?

A few times he glanced back to see a waiter near her, handing Hange a small tray. The bill? He guessed. Hange should be going out soon but she continued to sit, for a few seconds longer.

Her reply came within those few seconds. I don’t wanna be alone tonight.

Levi leaned back on the wall and he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, grappling with the conflict. Should he be happy? Sad?

His phone continued to buzz. Hange had left messages in succession.

Can I stop by?

I know a lot of places won’t be open.

We can get fast food.

Somewhere near your place maybe?

Anywhere that would be convenient for you.

Only if you’re not busy though.

Don’t feel obliged.

A string of messages, longer than he expected.

Exit the shop. Turn right and follow the sidewalk. Don’t cross the street. He was shit at the directions, but he decided for himself, she would ask anyway if she got lost.

It turned out, at the least, the directions sufficed. Soon he was hearing the clack of leather shoes, the rustle of a light autumn coat and Hange’s voice.

“What are you doing here?” Her voice was loud and clear even when it was competing with the sea of crowds, the other background conversations, the ads and the sound of traffic. Of course it would be, she was right next to him.

“Are you okay?” Levi asked. It wasn’t the best greeting but it felt like the most natural thing to say.

After all, Hange was smiling but it was an unusual smile. It was one of those smiles that seemed to be carrying a heavy weight. He figured it out after staring for a while longer. it was the weight of her cheeks, the prickling of her eyes. If she let the smile go, maybe everything would have fallen with it.

He gripped her by the hand. “You wanna go somewhere?”

“Let’s get out of here,” Hange said, a noticeable crack in her voice.

Maybe that had been enough to break the fragile smile on her face. In the crowds of people, in the middle of a busy street, there was no time for Levi to check. He thought it the best move to pull and maybe she thought it the best move to follow. She was obedient, predictable and light and he easily brought her farther from the center, towards the quieter parts of the city.

Five minutes of brisk walking, or maybe it was ten and soon, they reached an area with clusters of apartment buildings, residences. There were still small shops, a few restaurants and hole in the wall food stalls, some with lines spilling out all the way until the sidewalk.

At first, it seemed hopeless to find some place just for both of them. With time, Levi started to imagine one particular place that wouldn’t have so many people that late at night.

It should be bedtime for kids already anyway. He thought to himself. And when he articulated it, he was sure, there should be one. And there should be no people.

He just had to find one.

Five more minutes of following the winding roads between apartment buildings and he found one, a comfortable distance away from apartments. They could easily manage a soft conversation with no risk of being heard. He sat back on the swing, taking in the slide, the sandbox a few feet away, the monkey bars and high rise apartment buildings with most windows already illuminated just above them.

Hange had taken the seat beside him.

“Are you okay?” Levi asked again.

“I’m fine,” Hange spat out, only proving she was definitely not fine. There was enough light from the one street light on the corner, the shades of orange, red and white coming from the window and they had all worked together to show a glimmer of Hange’s face, even with her head bent down.

“Are you crying?”

The answer came in heaved breaths. The question must have made her more conscious. She bent down further on the swing. Her bangs covered her face and whatever glimmer he had seen a while ago was forgotten. Eventually, she gathered herself. “Levi, if you ask people why they’re crying, sometimes they just start crying.” She let out another breath.

That didn’t convince him to stop. “Why are you crying?”

“You don’t ask people that.” That time, the words came out a little more seamlessly.

“You asked me if I was crying back then… Back in the office.” Levi never forgot that harrowing experience and it was an easy memory to bring up.

There was silence for a second, save for a few more ragged breaths, the creak of the swing and maybe a few barking dogs from the distance.

Hange broke it herself, her voice much clearer than a while ago. “Sorry, I’m just tired,” she said. “Really tired.”

“Zeke ditched?” Maybe ditch wasn’t the right term. By the time he considered that, the words were long gone from his mouth.

“I knew he wasn’t coming,” Hange said. She pushed on the swing just a little bit, enough to have her swaying.

“Why did you wait?”

“We had a reservation.”

“But if he told you…”

“He told me to cancel it.”

“And your road trip?”

“He said not this weekend. He has a few more meetings and he couldn’t come home on time.” Hange’s voice was alarmingly serious, a sign of acceptance maybe?

Levi hoped not. In a feeble attempt to lighten the mood, he spoke up. “Happy Birthday.”

“I’d rather not think it’s my birthday.” Hange let out a pitiful excuse of a laugh. “How many birthdays do people even get, and here I am wasting one of them being sad.”

“I’m not the best company but I can try to do my part to help make it better,” Levi pulled out his phone and opened his email, opening the apk file he had been working on since that morning. He copied the download link and pasted it on Hange’s message box.

The message was sent quickly and the popping sound from Hange’s phone filled the silence of the empty playground.

“Happy birthday,” Levi said once again with a little more flourish.

“I told you, don’t remind me. Let’s just sit here and talk.” Hange gripped the chains of the swing and leaned back.

“Check your damn phone Hange.”

“Nah… My phone has been chocked full of disappointments since this morning.”

“I sent you your birthday gift through your phone.”

“It can wait until later,” Hange argued.

She was like a five year old child and Levi was starting to give up on even keeping the surprise.“I modified the app,” he said.

“What?” That had gotten Hange’s attention. She pulled out her phone.

“I created another copy of it, played around with the code.”

“Why?” She seemed curious more than anything. Curious was better than sad at least.

“As a birthday gift,” Levi said. “Just open the damn phone.”

Hange picked it up from her lap. A clicking sound as she unlocked the phone then silence and maybe a hint of humming as Hange fiddled with her phone. “I just download it right?”

“No shit Sherlock.” It was a stupid question. Hange had downloaded apk files more times than he could even count.

“Well, you said it’s a new app,” Hange said in defense.

“It is and it isn’t.” Levi moved his head, and it settled as a mix between a shake and a nod. “It’s not part of the original research plan… and I didn’t have much time to test it so it’s not perfect.” He unlocked his own phone and opened the emotions alarm. He stared at it for a second, hovering his thumb over the activate button then he looked over at Hange’s phone. “No need for an email. Just open it.”

“Nothing’s changed,” Hange said.

“Well, I added colors now,” Levi shrugged. “And I tried adding more emotions by playing around with the data, but who knows if they’ll show up.” At that point, he was self conscious enough that he saw it as an obligation enough to manage expectations.

He heard the familiar sound and he was sure Hange had activated it. He activated his own and leaned back on the swing and pushed just a little bit, enough to occupy himself while the alarm read them both.

Hange’s phone rang first.

“What did you get?”

“You added purple?” Hange asked. “What the hell does this mean?”

“Red and blue. So if red is anger and blue is sadness…” Levi started.

“Go on…” Hange said.

“I’m not a philosopher nor a psychologist. You say something.”

“Loathing?” She suggested. “A combination of anger and sadness… It sounds like loathing to me, or indignance.”

His own phone rang, he put the screen up. “I got green. Blue and yellow. Sad and happy. Can someone be sad and happy at the same time?”

“Acceptance,” Hange answered. “Or desire.”

“Those are opposites.” “Opposite sides of the spectrum but they’re the same feelings, they both involve happiness and sadness. Acceptance is sad happiness. Desire is happy sadness.”

He almost regretted asking for Hange’s feedback. He felt her speculation at the pit of his stomach and he only realized when his phone fell to the ground that he froze, lost his balance on the swing for a second. “This hasn’t been tested though so it’s all for fun.” A pathetic disclaimer but it didn’t seem to work. He looked up to see Hange was staring at him.

The tears had dried and her eyes were a bit brighter and she seemed more inquisitive than sad. “You know... " Hange started off slow,  breathless from amazement maybe. She was still fiddling, staring at her own screen. "This might be a good idea for the app. Let's test this again on Monday. Maybe we could add this."

“Maybe. We’re gonna have to revise the plan if we do.”

“Or we can keep it just a personal project but let’s think about it Monday.” Hange stood up. It’s getting late.” She put her hands up and stretched, swaying from side to side.

“Yeah, it’s getting cold too,” Levi said. Summer was ending soon.

“Happy Birthday to me,” she added, the venom from a while ago apparent. She pocketed her phone then held her sweater close. “Zeke said to wait a few weeks. I guess I’m gonna have to wait until next year to enjoy summer up north again. Maybe we can go south instead.” She kept her voice cheery, an attempt to lighten the mood.

A seemingly unsuccessful attempt. “You still wanna see summer up north?” Levi asked.

“I wouldn’t mind waiting. I guess what hurts about it is, I’ve been psyching myself up for days. I bought new clothes. I’ve been packing and I’ve already created a route for us,” Hange said.

“Yeah, you were talking about it a few days back, about how this one garden reminds you of Pemberley.” Levi asked.

“Well, last time I went there was a few years ago… There’s an area that reminds me of Pemberley, another one that reminds me of the Rosing garden---” Hange trailed off.

“I wanna see them all,” Levi said. He never finished the book and he wondered if she noticed. Regardless, he wanted to see it anyway. If there was something Hange could talk about for hours, something that had left her a lump of disappointment, he wanted to see it for himself.

“Really?” She said. “But with testing on monday… And you don’t seem like the type to---” Even under the dark night, Hange looked flustered, the pink in her cheeks still apparent.

“As long as we’re back before Monday right?” He didn’t know if she would agree. He didn’t expect her to but when Hange was already hovering such a prospect up in the air. When she had misunderstood that last statement to have been an invite, he might as well just play along. And enjoy it. “I don’t see any problem going with you,” he added that last part just to make it a little clearer.

"Like this weekend?" Hange asked, a look of disbelief on her face.

"This weekend." Levi nodded.

“Then let’s go. When do you think you’ll be ready?”

“We could leave right now.”

[neojeno]

I really wouldn't mind you aiding me with some tutorials love

giffing tutorial/resources

hi anon! sorry it took me so long to answer. i figured this might be helpful for others out there who have asked me similar questions, so i’ve compiled a pretty comprehensive list of tutorials/resources. idk about others but when i was new to giffing, it took me a lot of painful effort to go around and look for resources, so i’m putting it all here to make it a little easier!

i download videos using 4k video downloader. it will download very good quality 1080p videos in .mp4 format. if you’re downloading a 4k video, make sure to change the setting option to .mkv so that you get 4k and not 1080p—for obvious reasons since you want the highest quality.

i rely on kpopexciting to get .ts files — which are basically raw, very high quality video files for live performances. they are much less grainy than .mp4 versions of live performances—which are the ones you’ll see uploaded to youtube. i’ve found that 4k videos (in .mkv) are just as good quality as .ts, but obviously you will rarely see live performances in 4k, so get .ts when you can!! you can also try to find .ts files on twitter, but you may have to do a lot of digging. i wish i could recommend you twitter accounts, but the ones i used to go to have been very inactive/taken down all their drives :( but this website is really nice and updated frequently so i would recommend it!

vapoursynth links + download. the reason you would use vapoursynth is to resize your gif, while maintaining the optimal quality of the gif. if you gif without vapoursynth (.ie only using photoshop), it will still be fine, but the image quality may be grainier. also, you will definitely need vapoursynth to gif .ts files —more will be explained in the tutorial i’ve linked below. i would recommend that you have a high processing/lots of ram/newer desktop or laptop to use vapoursynth so that 1, your computer isn’t fried and 2, your vapoursynth process will go a lot faster. i am using a 2017 macbook pro for all my work, and it runs pretty well, but my laptop still gets pretty hot so just make sure you’re not running a million things in the background while using adobe products and vapoursynth lol. i used a pretty old and beat up 2011 model macbook air back then, and i will say that yes vapoursynth worked and ran on it, but it took much longer, and basically fried the laptop’s battery (aka i had to get the battery changed twice and the laptop would die randomly) but issok it was a school borrowed laptop so i didn’t feel too bad lol. im just saying this as a precaution, to preserve the health of your electronic devices!! but don’t be afraid to use vapoursynth! you should still try it at least once.

thank you to @realstraykids for this super detailed, really nice tutorial! it includes how and where to download videos, how to gif using vapoursynth, using photoshop, comparisons, coloring, and pretty much all you need to know. 10/10 would recommend

thank you to @dreamcolouring for this lifesaver!!! the best and easiest way to blur out unwanted captions/objects in your gifs. i recommend doing this step after converting your frames to video timeline and before you do sharpening and coloring. another tip i’ll add is to feather the selection you’ve made right before you click on “add vector mask” —this will make sense once you’ve read through the tutorial. feathering it will make the blurred spot less noticeable and more subtle.

i use this generator to create gradient colored captions! copy and paste your text, then select the colors you want. generate the code, and copy it. change the settings of the text editor on your post to HTML. paste the code, preview, and voila! add elements <blockquote>,<b>,<i>, etc as needed. see more on colored captions in this tutorial by @kylos​ --i believe op mentioned a different and better color generator but for some reason it won’t work for me :( hopefully it works for u! basically same idea as the previous generator i mentioned.

my own mini tutorial/workflow process of making gifs. this includes working with a .ts file, vapoursynth, photoshop, coloring, watermarking, etc. and a few of my own tips below:

if you are working with an .mp4, you do not have to make any changes to the preprocessor/denoise filters/sharpening in the resizing part of vapoursynth—it doesn’t make that big of a difference if you do. but if you are working with a .ts file, definitely do make those changes,, that’s the whole reason you have vapoursynth. with an .mp4, i like to use vapoursynth to just resize, but i don’t add any additional settings. i use smart sharpen in photoshop to sharpen it, which is pretty good on it’s own (at least in photoshop 2020!).

my rule of thumb is to do add .02 seconds when i am setting frame delay. so if when you first import the frames, they are at 0.04 seconds, i usually change them to 0.06. of course, this is my personal taste—you can make all your gifs faster or slower depending on how you want em to look.

if you are on a mac, you can screen record by pressing Command+Shift+5 (it’s a shortcut to quicktime screen recording). I only screen record for things like the beyond live concert or other live streamed events. the image quality of the screen recording, in my experience, is actually pretty good. when you gif the screen recording however, you may notice that it adds extra frames that you don’t need. by that i mean duplicate frames. you could keep the duplicate frames but that just means the size of your gif is going to be much bigger (keep in mind the limit is 8mb). in order to remove those duplicates, my only solution has been to remove them manually (by holding Command while selecting), or when you are importing the video to frames, select the option to “limit to every 2 frames”—but this method will be less precise and still not as good as manually removing frames. if you remove the duplicate frames, this means you will need to set the frame delay even slower, to make up for lost frames. in my experience, fps(frames per second) and frame delay work in conjunction. so for example, if i delete every other frame because they are duplicates,  but the starting frame delay is 0.02, i am now going to change it to something like 0.05 (so i added 0.03 seconds rather than my usual 0.02). if the duration length and the image dimensions of the gif are short/small, feel free to keep the duplicate frames in—i only delete duplicate frames in order to keep my gif under the 8mb limit. then, if you keep the duplicate frames in, continue with your standard frame delay preferences.  now that i’m writing this im realizing this might not make a lot of sense lol.. but don’t worry about it for now and if you run into trouble w screen recorded gifs then you can come back to this for reference. again, this is only my experience recording on a mac—it may be a lot different if you use a screen recording program or are on a pc.

i don’t really use .psd templates because i like to give every gif/gifset it’s own unique coloring—so i remake the coloring every time, but if you get into a rhythm it’s pretty easy. there are a lot of nice coloring tutorials out there, too! my personal coloring adjustments in order: levels, exposure, color balance, selective color (if needed), vibrance, photo filter (if needed), color lookup (i use 2strip most often and i put it on ‘color’ blending mode). don’t forget to adjust the opacities and fills of the ‘color lookup’ adjustment layer in case it’s too strong. go back to correct each adjustment layer as needed. then, when you’re done and satisfied, group all those layers, copy the group (you can do an easy command+c), and paste it onto the next gif you’re working on for easy workflow.

if for some reason you can’t see the frames when you import your layers/video, it’s likely because your ‘timeline’ window isn’t showing up. just go to the window menu on photoshop, go to the bottom and you’ll see ‘timeline.’ make sure it has a check next to it.

i recommend watermarking your gifs because a lot of people like to repost tings these days 😠 - so make sure u got your brand on it! i keep my watermark saved to my ‘libraries’ in photoshop so it’s ready when i need it. i use the blending mode ‘overlay’ and adjust the opacity, but if you don’t want to do that you can also add a stroke/shadow to your watermark/do all sorts.

tag #nctinc for your nct creations and #jenonet for your jeno creations!!

here’s my own mini tutorial (well not much of a tutorial ig more like a work process vid?): took about ten minutes including the time to search and download the video (but i didn’t record that part i trust yall know how to do that), vapoursynth, and exporting. i hope this helps somewhat! feel free to ask more questions whenever :)

keep in mind that giffing takes a lot of patience, energy, and experience—so don’t worry if it takes you a bit to figure things out or if your gifs don’t turn out the way you want them to the first time around. we all start at the same place and all run into problems. i know giffing can sound intimidating and seem like a lot of work, but i promise, once you get into a routine, giffing is going to happen in minutes—and you’ll get beautiful gifs. have fun! 😊

[techsolutions12]

Getting My Business continuity software To Work

Connection hazards and controls on to the business continuity programs they relate to with our taxonomy technological innovation

In the long run, clients arrive out on top rated simply because they are reaping the many benefits of a far more in depth solution.

Although not all VDI implementations are produced equal. Security, effectiveness and guidance for particular services and workflows differ amongst solutions, And that's why it’s a good idea to find a System that works with business-critical programs and is usually simple, safe and inexpensive to work with. WVD excels on all of these metrics.

This segment also incorporates an job interview with an organization which includes properly executed a business continuity plan and features a discussion about what business continuity scheduling suggests to them.

Make contact with this solution company and in your own private strategic tactic, try to obtain the answers to those a few critical thoughts earlier mentioned. Typically, vendor who really wants to demonstrate its craft will provide product demos on a greater amount. Other folks will even invite you to check their by now deployed and working programs.

Server Segmentation – Dividing your server into segments is a method for limiting cyberattack harm. Gaining entry to a person segment will not bring on accessing other segments. It’s useful for serving several accounts.

One other important location of collaboration is with the safety staff -- Even though the two teams frequently function independently, an organization can attain a whole lot by sharing information and facts across these departments. At the pretty minimum, Everybody need to know the basic methods for the way the Business designs to respond.

In which do cybercriminals get hacking software? Often through the “darkish Website” where by nefarious entities connect with get and promote illegal things.

The BCP teaching ingredient from the Suite is often a thirty minute video clip-centered program, which examines the significance of BCP, offers an summary on BCP, and prepares end users to put in writing their own strategies. It is broken into three segments:

Loss Administration: Protect against further reduction from business continuity tools getting into personal debt early on resulting from any unexpected contingencies.

A part of hacking has much more to try and do with human conversation and final decision producing than technological know-how. You must safeguard your digital assets from scammers who use electronic mail along with other digital communications to trick workers into activating unsafe malware by clicks. 

Many companies are already ready to stay away from the worst cybercrime troubles by turning to cloud solutions. Obtaining the opportunity to accessibility your tools, applications and files from any locale is a component of The crucial element to trying to keep an enterprise running through an emergency.

Both of these tools obtain this with close to real-time file Examination, a signatureless solution that helps you to fight the most up-to-date threats without needing to await day by day definition updates, and offline protection.

Business continuity refers to the opportunity to maintain business functions up and operating during the party of the disaster. A business continuity plan employs concrete measures to define how a corporation will go about protecting full features if disaster strikes.

[smartgirlguru]

GetResponse Review : The best Email Autoresponder All-in-one

GetResponse claims to be the most user-friendly newsletter tool on the market, with a slew of advanced features. This is a major argument, particularly considering their low prices. The business, based in Poland, claims to have a global presence of 182 countries and over 1 billion monthly subscribers! That's a large number of emails.

They have a lot more features than most other email marketing services. From basic A/B testing to custom landing pages, thorough design testing to video email marketing, there's something for everyone.

The landing pages are particularly fascinating because they are a part of Conversion Funnel, a modern feature that manages traffic generation and can even act as an online store with payment processing. Another notable aspect is their automation, which allows advanced automated campaigns based on triggers/conditions like sales or even venue. Other automation tools exist, but they are usually less efficient and user-friendly.

You also get access to their webinar functionality, as well as an inbuilt CRM, on higher-tier plans, which aren't usually found in email marketing platforms. It was more than enough to pique our interest - and, ultimately, our market (we now use GetResponse for many of our automated campaigns). So, let's take a closer look at this method.

Summary of the GetResponse Analysis :

GetResponse is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes landing pages, a CRM, and advanced automations in addition to email marketing. Because of their comprehensive collection of advanced features, we award them a high ranking. Their entry package is moderately priced, and NGOs earn a significant discount.

BASIC, MOST POPULAR, PROFESSIONAL, and MAX are the four price levels, each with its own set of features. More details can be found on their pricing section here : bit.ly/3rzwDGu

Advantages

+ List automation that is intelligent:

More potent than the majority of resources. GetResponse list automation allows you to add a variety of criteria to automatically segment your subscriber list.

+ Spam testing and design:

While this is a function that is both useful and simple to use, it is frequently a feature that either costs a fortune or simply does not work with other resources. GetResponse had it right the first time.

+ Features of the Conversion Funnel and Landing Page:

Conversion Funnel is a lead generation tool that lets you create sales funnels and landing pages for different parts of your market. For those who run ecommerce sites or promote webinars, this is a wonderful addition.

Disadvantages

+ Availability :

GetResponse did not perform well in our deliverability checks, and we believe this is a minor error.

Is GetResponse a good match for your newsletter needs?

Recommended if :

+ You want to collect customer information:

GetResponse is one of the few newsletter services we've tried that is genuinely made for inbound marketing. Flexible formats, a landing page editor, Google Analytics integration, an advanced segmentation and email automation are all included, helping you to catch and cultivate new leads. Furthermore, they allow you to host both live and on-demand webinars.

Their new Conversion Funnel feature makes it easy to keep track of where the visitors are converting the best.

+ You're in the ecommerce business:

If you run an online store, GetResponse has a number of features that can help you boost sales, such as integrations with Magento and Shopify, abandoned cart campaigns, dynamic email content (based on purchases, for example), and sales monitoring. From the PROFESSIONAL plan onwards, these are available.

As an ecommerce company, you'll profit from GetResponse's Auto Funnel function if you choose the Critical plan. You can use this page to set up or link your ecommerce site and begin creating your sales funnel with landing and thank you pages, social media promotions, and more. Small businesses that offer goods and services online can profit from Autofunnel.

+ You'll need advanced automation:

GetResponse's workflow builder inspired us because it helps you to automate a wide range of tasks, such as sending emails, assigning lead ratings, contact marking, segmentation, and data updates. (Only higher-tier plans have this feature.)

Not recommended if:

+ You need consistent delivery rates:

For any email marketer, deliverability should be a top priority. In our deliverability checks, GetResponse had some potential for growth. Of course, deliverability rates fluctuate, so we're hoping for an improvement in the near future.

+ You're looking for a no-cost plan:

GetResponse does not offer a free (or even freemium) plan; instead, it provides a 30-day free trial.

Final Thoughts

GetResponse really delivered, providing both the features and the ease-of-use that most other newsletter tools lack. We also praised the list management automation frameworks, as well as the versatile and user-friendly automation workflows.

Although the editor can be a little fiddly at times, their templates are sensitive and good enough to produce something useful. There's also an iOS and Android app that helps you to monitor as well as submit newsletters while on the go.

GetResponse is doing a lot of things well, with its long list of powerful features like landing pages and even webinars, and now with their new Autofunnel feature. While an improvement in deliverability rates would be optimal, GetResponse excels in almost every other category. It's certainly flexible enough as an email marketing tool to do almost everything you'd like. This was definitely evident in our experience with EmailToolTester's own email promotions, and it's a tool we'd have no hesitation in recommending to others.

No credit card required, 30 days free trials and you can cancel anytime. Try it now. Click here to get access.

[junkiegreys]

Magento2 devdocs bluefoot

#MAGENTO2 DEVDOCS BLUEFOOT UPGRADE#

#MAGENTO2 DEVDOCS BLUEFOOT CODE#

You may have recently seen us at Imagine, Meet Magento Netherlands, and Meet Magento Germany contributor days. We’re happy to talk docs and help get your knowledge into the guides. Or tweet us watching for writers at Contributor Days and Hackathons. Need to an invite? Join our community slack. Proficient in all things Slack? Get in touch with us in the Magento CommEng #devdocs channel. Blue foot was created to offer Magento retailers a simple and powerful tool to manage their content online, everything from product descriptions through to blogs, with the aim to empower Magento users to create fantastic content rapidly and efficiently. Writers will review PRs, ask for updates, and merge the content to DevDocs. The amount of points differs according to the type of content you provide: more points for new content and major updates, lower points for typo and link fixes. You earn Contributor Points for every accepted and merged PR. Here’s an example of a great GitHub DevDocs issue using the community template! If we have questions, we will you in the issue.

#MAGENTO2 DEVDOCS BLUEFOOT CODE#

Tell us about the code changes, feature updates, and more.

Notify us of special changes: CLI commands, error messaging, REST endpoints, changed tech requirements.

#MAGENTO2 DEVDOCS BLUEFOOT UPGRADE#

Which includes magento 2 page builder (old Gene / Bluefoot) so you only need to upgrade so the Magento 2.3. SEO options: Like Magento, the content you create. Static block integration: Works with Magento static blocks, perfect for updating content that changes frequently. Fill in as much information as you can: Magento version, porting, links to GitHub issues and code PRs Magento has released Magento 2.3.1 at the end of March 2019. For Magento 2, Bluefoot offers the following features: Drag and drop WYSIWYG editor: Drag and drop blocks from a simple menu, easily edit, the content, and you’re done.Not comfortable writing and want to provide feedback and content? We accept GitHub issues for DevDocs. If you entered a GitHub issue, we can work with you to create and submit a PR to gain community contribution status and earn reward points. We will review the PR, help with edits, formats, and add it to the navigation.Write your content in markdown (.md) files, include diagrams, code samples, and CLI commands.Fork the DevDocs public repo or create a branch.Here’s the quick way to get started, or see our Contributor Guide: Love to write documentation or want to try it yourself? It’s easy to get started. In the top right-hand corner, click Edit this Page on GitHub to submit your changes or Report an issue to tell us something doesn’t look right.Send your great feedback to us! Click the smiley face in the bottom right-corner of DevDocs to tell us how we’re doing.Pen list poprawek i ulepsze znajdziesz tutaj. Modu migruje wycznie zawarto opracowan za pomoc natywnego BlueFoot. Check issues marked Help Wanted or Good First Issue for DevDocs and PWA DevDocs. modu migracji treci BlueFoot umoliwia aktualizacj platformy do wersji 2.3.1+ bez szkody dla zawartoci strony.Typos and formatting fixes, updated code samples, new and modified CLI commands, and deeper information and workflows-we welcome your doc contributions! Share your expertise and earn reward points. But did you know you can contribute your expert knowledge in DevDocs too? We've been digging through GitHub PRs and issues to add relevant content to DevDocs and Merchant guides. Community contributions have increased dramatically over the past year.

[premium-teaching]

4 Salesforce Implementation Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Salesforce is a robust cloud-based CRM software that gives capabilities for sales, marketing, and customer care to organizations of all sizes. However, all of these powerful Salesforce tools for transforming and streamlining your business processes will only work to their full potential if best practices are followed throughout the implementation process.

 Salesforce implementation can be challenging at times. If you don't prepare effectively for your Salesforce implementation, you may end up having to solve costly and time-consuming difficulties with the system later on. Working with a Salesforce expert guarantees that you meet all of your business goals and get the most out of Salesforce.

 Many businesses make mistakes while implementing Salesforce, and we want to help you avoid them.

 Here are four Salesforce implementation mistakes that you must avoid.

 Ignoring Salesforce implementation needs

 Understanding what issues need to be addressed and how your company can improve will help you remain on track for a successful Salesforce implementation. Many businesses are unaware that implementing a highly customized Salesforce solution needs significant investment. This is why a dedicated team of Salesforce experts can make the implementation process go more smoothly. They can assist you in developing and customizing Salesforce to automate processes and workflows for better results.

 Ignoring regular data cleanups

 Salesforce installation teams frequently focus on new capabilities, making data cleansing and integration a low-priority task. But this change can cause implementation delays. Incorrect projections and insights due to duplicate or unclean data in your system can confuse your sales team and require extra downtime to repair it. Working with a Salesforce expert ensures that data auditing and cleanup are completed before installation which gives excellent outcomes.

 Not providing enough training to employees

 Employee training is essential for a successful Salesforce installation. Salesforce is a wonderful tool, but you won't get the most out of it if your users don't understand how to utilize it.

Ensure that your workers are properly trained and well-versed with all of the latest features of Salesforce. Employees can learn how to utilize Salesforce for their daily work by attending online sessions, in-person events, and watching Salesforce training videos.

 Doing everything on your own

 Salesforce is known as an out-of-the-box CRM, but building Salesforce to match the specific needs of your organization requires the right skills. Trying to accomplish everything on your own with an in-house team might not help you achieve the desired results. Even if your company currently uses Salesforce, you will need the help of an experienced partner for a setup or update.

 You can get your Salesforce cloud environment running successfully if you avoid some of the most typical Salesforce implementation errors. Your company can make the most of Salesforce's strong capabilities. Get Salesforce set up done with the help of skilled specialists. If you avoid above-given implementation mistakes then you can use the Salesforce platform to the fullest and monitor sales data effectively.

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