#ABC Oracle

[happywebdesign]

Matt Goodman

[ghostriderslade]

The Batman A B C's.

[loregoddess]

so I might be having a blast playing Rebirth, but I'm still thinking Octo2 stuff, and just realized bc of the Dolcinaea fight I could see the weaknesses for every character (except Agnea) and since I can turn just about any random detail into a "hmm, does this mean anything" thought exercise, here's some observations (minor story spoilers):

Throne, Osvald, and Partitio have the fewest weaknesses at 3. This makes sense for Throne and Osvald (professional thief/assassin raised to be a thief/assassin, Throne can't have any openings if she hopes to survive; Osvald relied on his keen observation to Shawshank Redemption himself out of prison, so of course he'd have fewer openings bc he's always keeping an eye on things around him). But Partitio surprised me--although it does make some sense, he had to keep his wits about him to become the best merchant in Oresrush, and he's wicked smart (honestly, Ori's the only one who ever seems able to genuinely sneak up on him, and that makes sense given that she's, y'know, Ori).

Hikari has no weaknesses to weapons of any sort, and only has elemental weaknesses as a result. He is not weak to light or dark though (a reference to Shadow's Hold/Light's Radiance or else his bloodlines perhaps?). On the flipside Osvald has no weaknesses to elements and only weaknesses to weapons (all the weapons he's weak to--polearms, daggers, and bows--are "ranged" in some sense, suggesting his magic maybe makes it impossible to get close enough to attack him).

Throne and Temenos continue to act as foils to each other, with Throne having only one elemental weakness to light, and Temenos having only one elemental weakness to dark. Throne's only two weapon weaknesses are axes and bows, which sort of makes sense (either someone has to get close enough to strike her quickly or they have to attack from a very far distance to get the drop on her; there are also interestingly the hunter's base weapon set, so the only way to stop a thief is to hunt them; also there's a ranged bow counter to her close-range sword and a close-range axe counter to her ranged dagger). Temenos's weapon weaknesses include swords, daggers, and axes, which are interestingly all "close range" weapons to some degree (Temenos never lets anyone get too close to him emotionally, so it makes sense the only way to actually harm him would be to "get close" to him; swords and daggers are also the thief's base weapon set, and given how much assassination goes on in his story, it makes sense he too would be vulnerable to Throne's trade weapons).

Partitio's only elemental weakness is ice (makes sense given how arid his hometown is). He has a weakness to swords and staves, both close range weapons to contrast the longer-ranged polearm and bow weapons he uses.

Castti's only weapon weakness are bows (a long-range contrast to her shorter-ranged axe), but her elemental weaknesses are what's really interesting. She has a weakness to fire (this makes sense, given that she has an ice-based skill, and a lot of water symbolism in her story arc), but also wind and dark--the two key elements needed to create and spread the purple rain that nearly killed her.

Ochette's the only character with a balance of two weapon weaknesses and two elemental weaknesses: polearms and staves (a longer-ranged weapon to counter her short-ranged axe, and a close-ranged weapon to counter her long-ranged bow); and fire and wind (wind makes sense given that it's the usual weakness to thunder, which is the only elemental attack she has access to in her base skillset, but her weakness to fire is more interesting--is it because she lives in a forest, which are historically susceptible to fires? or because she lives surrounded by water, and fire is the natural opposite?)

Hikari is the only character weak the thunder, just as Throne and Temenos are the only characters weak to light and dark respectively. The other major elements all have two travelers weak to them: Ochette and Castti to fire, Partitio and Hikari to ice, and Castti and Hikari to wind.

Likewise, every weapon is strong against at least two characters, with the exception of bows which are strong against three characters. Swords: Partitio and Temenos, Polearms: Ochette and Osvald, Daggers: Osvald and Temenos, Axes: Throne and Temenos, Bows: Castti, Throne, and Osvald, Staves: Ochette and Partitio.

I dunno if there's any significance to the pattern of: every weapon is strong against two characters except one is strong against three, and every element is strong against two characters except for three elements that are only strong against one character each. But it is some fancy balancing for as far as numbers go.

Anyhow I wasn't going anywhere with this, these were just some interesting observations I wanted to jot down instead of going to bed like I should have half an hour ago.

[fujokafka]

ok but you know what i need? i need buck to get hurt enough that he has to stay at the hospital for a bit. like enough that he's hooked up to a machine there. and i need a scene where eddie and tommy both enter the hospital room at the same time to check on him after a bit when he's mostly recovered. and i need the machine to immediately start going crazy making it clear his heart rate is elevated all of a sudden. but its buck's boyfriend visiting him so of course his heartbeat would start accellerating right? right. except that i need buck to look absolutely horrified. cause he knows it wasn't tommy that his eyes landed on when they came in

[oracleoftevan]

What kinds of storylines are you hoping to have for s8 for each character?

Chimthia has pulled the cards.

Bobby: There are only so many hours in a day. He needs to choose one thing to focus on.

Athena: She is in her own lane, one of a kind. She needs to continue to be original.

Buck: Reality is bigger than this 3D single-planet adventure game. He needs to remember to explore this realm and not take himself too seriously.

Chim: The highest vibration one can achieve is to be okay with any outcome. He needs to take life as it comes and remember everything happens as it is meant to.

Hen: The universe is made of creativity infinitely. She needs to remember it’s okay to take a break, but that she is the embodiment of creativity.

Eddie: Stalling doesn’t buy more time, only wastes the limited time you already have. Let things move at a flowing pace instead of blocking the changes that need to happen. He needs to choose his path wisely and then go with the flow.

[solarsystems-greatestpsychic]

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

What was the point of this?

[maheshproexcellency]

Oracle Customer Care & Billing (CC&B) Certification Online Training provides in-depth knowledge of utility billing, customer management, and financial transactions. Learn industry best practices, configuration, and implementation strategies. Enhance your skills with hands-on training and real-time use cases.

[naturesps-blog]

Where is Draya Michele?.. Mint Swim TM

[thats-the-biz-babe]

the prophecy 🔮✨

okay but imagine if we have another bucktommy kiss in three days

[happywebdesign]

Potluck

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dan Rather at Steady:

I am able to write this piece today because I have the autonomy and independence to do so. CBS News’s “60 Minutes,” my home for many years, can no longer say the same. Because of Donald Trump, and because of a corporate lust for cash, “60 Minutes” now has oversight and overlords. Prying eyes from corporate offices are never a good thing when reporting the news. Journalism must operate without fear or favor. Independence is necessary for superior journalism. Over the past 57 years, “60 Minutes” has developed into this country’s best at what it does, and one of the best in the world. But suddenly this week, we’re left wondering if “60 Minutes” can ever be at its best again. The stopwatch is now under sustained attack from a lethal combination of President Trump and corporate greed. It’s hard to imagine, but as someone inside the venerated CBS broadcast told us today, the atmosphere at the office “is a s***show.” Whoa. That’s like hearing chimpanzees are now assembling fine Swiss watches. “60 Minutes” is the cash cow of the Tiffany network and a program with more accolades and awards than any in the history of television.

Suddenly none of that matters, because the program is losing its leader. Bill Owens, the program’s executive producer, abruptly left on Tuesday. I have known him for more than 35 years and know him to be in the best tradition of CBS’s storied news producers. In an email to his staff, Owens explained why he was leaving a program that has been his life for 24 years. “Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience.”

What happened? Why would Owens walk away from one of the most powerful and lucrative jobs, not only in journalism, but in the country?

I still know some of the terrific journalists at “60 Minutes.” An insider reminded me, “You know about Shari. That’s the story. Greed.” So, let me tell you about Shari. You may never have heard her name, but Shari Redstone is a player — in Hollywood and in corporate America. She’s a 71-year-old multimillionaire as well as controlling shareholder and board chair of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News. She is trying to sell Paramount to Skydance, owned by the son of Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison. If successful, she will become a billionaire, more than tripling her net worth. To make the deal happen, she needs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve the sale, and the clock is ticking. The FCC has to decide in the next 20 days. Donald Trump appointed the FCC commissioner. You can see where this is going. One wouldn’t characterize Trump as a “60 Minutes” superfan. I reported on Trump for a story on “60 Minutes” back when he said he was thinking about running for president in 2000. His “campaign” at the time was a sham, and we reported that. Trump hated the story. It appears not much has changed in 25 years.

In a social media post on April 13, Trump lambasted the newsmagazine, calling it “derogatory and defamatory.” He suggested that “they are not a ‘News Show,’ but a dishonest Political Operative” and that “they should lose their license.” Trump’s dislike runs so deep he is suing CBS News for $20 billion (yes, billion), claiming “60 Minutes” tried to mislead voters by airing two different edits of remarks made by Vice President Kamala Harris. A wide range of legal experts say the suit is without merit. Regardless and to no one’s surprise, Trump’s FCC has opened an investigation. And Paramount, much to the horror of the “60 Minutes” staff, is in mediation to settle with Trump — for something less than $20 billion.

[...] When corporations like Disney (which owns ABC) and Comcast (which owns NBC) and billionaires like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos (who owns The Washington Post) are more concerned with bending the knee and kissing up to Trump than with providing their viewers and readers the best reporting, democracy suffers. There are fewer and fewer journalists holding the powerful accountable … and boy, is there a lot to hold to account these days. What does this mean for the future of “60 Minutes” and its next executive producer? Will the program’s weekly audience of millions be able to trust a news product that has been vetted not to offend politicians nor hurt a corporate bottom line? Donald Trump is smiling that the questions are even being asked. Redstone could be the savior of this story, defending “60 Minutes” and the First Amendment … though we’re more likely to see water run uphill. The real hero is Owens, who is standing up for journalistic integrity and independence while suffering the personal consequences.

Bill Owens’s former CBS News colleague Dan Rather wrote a superb Substack post on the resignation of Owens from calling the shots on 60 Minutes to protect editorial independence.

See Also:

The Warning (Steve Schmidt): Bill Owens: the last of 'Murrow's Boys'

[tienramadan]

Watching the watchdogs: How US media weaponised campus protests coverage

A great, novel experiment in political physics is under way in the United States, as the unstoppable moral force of youth-led protests against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza runs into the immovable object of the American power elite’s support for it.

In this clash, two critical forces have been weaponised: the US mainstream media that heavily disseminates Israeli propaganda and shapes many local, state and national policies, and the scourge of anti-Semitism that has been unfairly used to demonise and silence Palestinians and shift attention away from the US-enabled Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Since Israel launched its assault on Gaza, President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for it has galvanised young Americans and pushed them to mobilise.

They have formed decisive coalitions with Muslim and Arab Americans, Jewish, Black, Hispanic and Native communities, labour unions and churches. They have given notice that if the US continues to support the war, they will abandon Democratic candidates in the November elections, which would likely be fatal for the party.

The American power elite largely ignored the initial criticisms of the young and the marginalised, until student encampments started springing up at universities across the country three weeks ago. The students demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a halt to US government financial and military aid to Israel, and the divestment of university investments from military industries that enable the Israeli genocide.

The mainstream media’s coverage of the campus encampments and the violence against them has exposed it as a central actor in the power elite that sustains Israel’s war and simultaneously tries to silence Palestinians and criminalise anyone who supports them.

As I closely followed US media outlets in recent weeks, I was shocked to see reporters, commentators and hosts use the exact same words and phrases that Biden and US and Israeli officials have used to smear the protesters. The mainstream media gives the impression of circling the wagons with Israeli and American officialdom to prevent at all costs an open, honest, comprehensive and contextualised public discussion on Israel’s behaviour while trying instead to focus public attention on spurious accusations.

The mainstream media has widely condemned students and accused them of using “hate speech and hate symbols” (in the words of the US president), endorsing terrorism, advocating for Israel’s destruction, resorting to anti-Semitic slurs and threatening and frightening Jewish students. Everywhere they look in the student protest encampments, the media oracles have seen “terrorists” in training, “anti-Semites” at work, “Jew-haters” being groomed, universities collapsing, and “Nazi mobs” in the making.

Prominent TV hosts have unleashed passionate, vicious diatribes against the students who have camped out to demand an end to America’s role in Israel’s genocide against Gaza, and peace and justice for all in Palestine.

MSNBC’s Morning Joe show – reportedly a Biden favourite – is one glaring example of systematically biased TV programming that sometimes veers into incitement against the student protests and the university administrators. One of its hosts, Joe Scarborough, has claimed that students want “to wipe out all Jews”, “they are Hamas on college campuses”, and they are “not helping those of us who want to fight fascism in America”. His co-host Mika Brzezinski has said that the campus protests “look like January 6”, referring to the riot by Donald Trump supporters on Capitol Hill in January 2021.

Such unsubstantiated allegations against the protesters are common to varying degrees across all the major networks, including ABC, CNN and NBC.

Most of the “expert” analysts I have heard on mainstream TV in the last few weeks commenting on the protests have been former US government or security officials, or people close to the Israeli viewpoint, including former Israeli officials. They have also offered variations on the themes of terrorism, radicalisation and anti-Semitism.

Except for some interviews I have seen on MSNBC, networks have avoided inviting Palestinians and knowledgeable Americans who could explain the actual meaning of expressions that the media and officialdom find offensive or threatening, and could address the actual nature and extent of the fears of those Jews who sincerely worry about how the protests impact them.

Unsurprisingly, most media outlets have covered US officials’ statements against peaceful protesters on campuses without much scrutiny as well.

This was apparent, for example, when Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and heads of several key congressional committees gave a press conference on April 30 where they threatened universities for allegedly allowing anti-Semitism to thrive on campus.

“We will not allow anti-Semitism to thrive on campus, and we will hold these universities accountable for their failure to protect Jewish students on campus,” Johnson said.

By reporting the many accusations against the protesters without seriously questioning or verifying them, the mainstream media itself appears to adopt the conflation of anti-Semitism with valid criticism of Israeli policies, which many scholars have warned is a dangerous practice. Israeli policies that warrant criticism include patently illegal ones that contravene international law, like expanding settlements, laying siege to Palestinian territories, and carrying out the genocidal attack on Gaza.

While mainstream media has struggled with its biases in covering the campus protests, there have been reports and commentaries by serious and knowledgeable people who actually have spent time among the defiant students, understood their motivations and their cause, and have not been beholden to domestic or foreign lobbies. Everyone I encountered – in person at universities or in the more honest, independent and progressive media outlets that do not see their job as supporting the power elites’ war-making frenzies – has reported calm, harmonious, often joyous gatherings of many faiths, aiming for a common goal of equal justice for all.

The alignment of mainstream media with the American political elites’ stance and all the exaggeration, misinterpretation, hysteria, lies and hallucination is unprecedented. It begs the question, why American officials and media leaders who traditionally parroted the Israeli line and simply ignored Palestinian voices are all up in arms now? Why would a gentle old man like Biden knowingly transform the Arabic word “intifada” (uprising) into what he calls “tragic and dangerous hate speech”?

I suspect this fanatical rhetoric reflects the power elite’s fear of being challenged in the domestic political arena for the first time ever by an issue related to Palestinian rights that also exposes and opposes Israel’s military extremism and genocide. They fear the growing coalition of Americans who are not afraid to challenge the falsehoods and distortions of staunch Israel supporters or ignore biased media offerings. They should worry, as a CNN poll last week suggested that 81 percent of Americans aged 18-35 disapprove of the American-backed Israeli war policy in Gaza.

Many young protesters have spoken of the US-enabled genocide in Gaza as “the moral issue of our age”. They feel they cannot stay silent in the face of Israeli-made starvation and American-made bombs ravaging Gaza.

But when this principled stance is distorted by the US mainstream media into an “anti-Semitic” and “pro-terrorist” frenzy, then it becomes clear that the commitment to truth-telling in large swaths of the media is far weaker than their desire to be close to the imperial seats of war-making power in the US and the Middle East.

[chronicfandom118]

I'm going to be honest. This is not the answer I thought it would be.

Also I hate you all (affectionate). I barely have an outline so I guess it's time to get thinking.

Race Against the Clock - Werewolf AU Matt is werewolf. Tries to save someone.

Overdose - Dom/Sub AU Matt is drugged at club. (He gets saved)

Hogtied - No AU. Foggy and Karen are in trouble.

Too good to be true(Lotus Eater Machine) - A/B/O Alternate Coma Dream for Buck

It's All My Fault - Werewolf AU A Hunter is after Buck

Sore Throat - Single Dad Buck AU. They get called to his kids school.

Scare To Remember - Continuation of one of my fics where Jason and Bruce had the confrontation about Joker living. Jason returns to Gotham with Damian.

[aiandblockchainchronicles]

The ABCs of AI Token Development: What Every Founder Should Know

As artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain continue to dominate the digital innovation landscape, the fusion of these technologies is opening new avenues for creators, developers, and entrepreneurs. One of the most compelling use cases emerging from this intersection is AI token development. From decentralized AI models to incentivized data sharing and governance, AI tokens are rapidly becoming foundational assets for next-generation digital ecosystems.

For founders, this presents a timely opportunity. But diving into AI token development without a foundational understanding can be risky. Whether you're building an AI-driven platform or planning to tokenize access to machine learning models, understanding the core principles behind AI token development is crucial. In this guide, we’ll explore what AI tokens are, why they matter, and what you need to consider to develop them effectively.

Understanding AI Tokens: A New Digital Asset Class

AI tokens are digital assets that represent value, access, or utility within ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence. Unlike generic utility or governance tokens, AI tokens are tailored to platforms that use AI algorithms to deliver services or automate decision-making. These tokens often serve multiple roles—granting access to AI APIs, rewarding users who contribute training data, facilitating decentralized governance, or powering autonomous AI agents.

The core of AI token development lies in creating a meaningful bridge between blockchain’s decentralized infrastructure and the functionality of AI systems. For example, on an AI marketplace, a token might be used to pay for algorithmic processing time. On another platform, tokens could be distributed to users who share high-quality datasets for training models. This versatility makes AI tokens uniquely valuable but also complex to design.

Why AI Tokens Are Gaining Traction

The appeal of AI tokens is rooted in the growing demand for decentralized, trustless, and incentivized systems that can support the lifecycle of AI models. Traditional AI platforms are often centralized, with data, models, and access tightly controlled by corporations. This model limits transparency and leaves users with little control over how their data is used or how algorithms behave.

In contrast, blockchain introduces transparency, ownership, and programmable incentives. Through tokenization, it becomes possible to create AI platforms where contributors are fairly rewarded, models are auditable, and governance is community-driven. This is especially relevant in fields like healthcare, finance, and cybersecurity, where data sensitivity and algorithmic bias are ongoing concerns.

Moreover, with the rise of decentralized AI projects like Ocean Protocol, Fetch.ai, and SingularityNET, the momentum behind AI tokens is no longer theoretical. These platforms are proving that AI token economies can be both scalable and sustainable, inspiring a wave of new projects aiming to replicate and expand on their success.

Key Components of AI Token Development

Developing an AI token involves more than writing a smart contract. It requires an integrated approach that connects blockchain protocols, AI infrastructure, and a well-designed token economy. At the technical level, most AI tokens are built on Ethereum or other EVM-compatible chains, using established standards like ERC-20 or ERC-721. These standards ensure interoperability with wallets, exchanges, and DeFi protocols.

However, the uniqueness of AI tokens lies in their functionality. Many are integrated with off-chain AI models or rely on oracles to connect real-world data streams to blockchain logic. This means developers must also manage APIs, data input layers, and sometimes federated learning systems. The architecture must support secure data sharing, model training, and output validation—all while ensuring gas efficiency and scalability.

Another critical layer is the incentive mechanism. Tokenomics plays a central role in aligning the behavior of all stakeholders—developers, data providers, validators, and end users. A poorly designed token can lead to inflation, misuse, or even legal complications. On the other hand, a well-structured token economy can sustain engagement, improve data quality, and ensure the longevity of the platform.

The Role of Governance and Decentralization

One of the defining features of AI token platforms is their emphasis on decentralization. Traditional AI systems rely on centralized teams to make decisions about model updates, data usage, and platform policies. AI token platforms flip this model by empowering token holders to participate in governance.

Governance mechanisms are typically built into the token structure. Token holders might vote on proposals ranging from algorithmic changes to treasury allocation or partnership decisions. This democratization of control not only builds trust but also ensures that the platform evolves in alignment with community interests.

However, governance models must be carefully crafted to avoid pitfalls like voter apathy, plutocracy, or gridlock. Founders need to consider how voting power is distributed, how proposals are submitted, and how decisions are implemented on-chain. Striking the right balance between decentralization and operational efficiency is key to long-term viability.

Use Cases and Real-World Applications

AI tokens are being implemented in a wide range of sectors, each leveraging the synergy between AI and blockchain in unique ways. In the healthcare space, tokens are used to incentivize patients and researchers to share anonymized health data, which is then used to train predictive models. In finance, AI tokens power autonomous trading agents that use machine learning to optimize strategies while keeping all transaction records on-chain.

Smart cities are another promising area. AI tokens can be used to coordinate autonomous vehicles, manage energy distribution, or incentivize data collection for urban planning. In each of these scenarios, the token serves not just as a medium of exchange but as a coordination tool that aligns diverse participants around shared goals.

This versatility opens the door for countless innovations. Whether you are building a platform that sells AI-generated content, provides on-demand data analytics, or crowdsources labeling tasks for computer vision models, a well-structured token can play a pivotal role in scaling your operations.

Challenges and Compliance Considerations

Despite the potential, developing an AI token also comes with challenges. Regulatory uncertainty remains a major concern. In many jurisdictions, tokens with financial characteristics may be classified as securities, subjecting them to strict compliance requirements. This makes legal consultation essential from the early stages of development.

Another challenge is the integration of on-chain and off-chain components. AI models often require substantial computational resources and sensitive data, which may not be feasible to manage fully on-chain. Developers need to design hybrid systems where the blockchain ensures transparency and control, while off-chain infrastructure handles computation and storage.

Additionally, ensuring the integrity of data and models is crucial. Malicious actors could attempt to manipulate training datasets or inject bias into models. Safeguards such as data validation layers, peer reviews, and cryptographic proofs can help maintain trust within the ecosystem.

Building a Sustainable AI Token Economy

For an AI token project to thrive, sustainability must be a core design principle. This means planning for long-term growth, user retention, and community engagement from the outset. A robust token economy should incentivize not just early adoption but also continued contribution and usage.

Developers should create mechanisms to control inflation, manage treasury reserves, and encourage long-term holding over short-term speculation. Vesting schedules, staking programs, and community grants can help achieve this balance. At the same time, transparency in token distribution and project milestones will build credibility and trust with your user base.

User education is another pillar of sustainability. Many participants may be unfamiliar with how AI models or tokens work. Providing accessible documentation, clear onboarding flows, and responsive community support can significantly improve user experience and participation.

Final Thoughts: Aligning Vision with Execution

AI token development sits at the crossroads of two of the most transformative technologies of our time. For founders, this represents not only a technical challenge but also a strategic opportunity to redefine how digital ecosystems are built, governed, and sustained. Success depends on more than writing code—it requires a deep understanding of blockchain principles, AI architecture, market dynamics, and user behavior.

As more AI-powered platforms embrace tokenization, the market will reward those who can deliver real utility, fair incentives, and decentralized governance. Founders who take the time to master the ABCs of AI token development will be well-positioned to build platforms that not only scale but also redefine the future of AI itself.

The journey may be complex, but with the right foundation, the potential for impact is immense. AI tokens are not just a technological trend—they are the building blocks of a more intelligent, transparent, and inclusive digital economy.

[oracleoftevan]

Today is the last day of the summer hiatus and Chimthia pulled the cards for the fandom vibes and lessons.

Take a break from cheering and jeering at the circus. It’s always been this way and no one of forcing your participation. Step outside and do something else.

The cards say to step outside, take a deep breath, let the blades of grass tickle your toes and remember: your peace is paramount.

The mayhem and foolishness will be here tomorrow, enjoy today for what it is… a beautiful day.