#AI Program Mint

[crystalsandbubbletea]

Started working on the design for my A.I OC Mint-

Don't know how long it will take, but I do know I won't be done with it today *Sob*

[vergess]

Please, please explain how to install and use linux like I'm 5 years old. I'm so sick of windows adding AI and other bullshit to my already struggling elderly laptop but I'm really not good with computers at all so I have no idea where to start with Linux.

Okay, so, I'm going to break this down into steps I would give the average tumblr user first, and then if any of them are confusing or use words you don't understand, ask me and I'll explain that step in greater detail.

Step 0) BACK. UP. YOUR. SHIT.

NEVER EVER EVER CHANGE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM WITHOUT A COMPLETE BACKUP OF ALL YOUR FILES.

Step 1) Learn your machine. You need to know:

How much RAM you have

If your processor is 32 or 64 bit

How big your hard drive is

On windows, you can find out all of this by going to the start menu, typing "about" and opening the first result on your system instead of the internet.

For additional instructions, visit this page.

Step 2) Pick your Linux.

There's like 10,000 kinds of Linux, each tailored to particular functions that the end-user (that is you!) might want to have. The sheer amount is very daunting, so first I'm going to give my suggestions, then I'll explain how to pick for yourself.

For Mac users, I suggest Kubuntu. For windows users, I suggest Mint Cinnamon. If your laptop is really REALLY old, I recommend Sparky Stable, which is the lightest weight Linux I would ever suggest for a new user. In every case, download the version suited to your processor (32 bit can be labelled "x86" or "32 bit"; 64 bit is always labelled "64 bit").

If you want to try a different type of linux, you'll need to make sure your laptop meets the "minimum specs" or "system requirements." These numbers tell you how much RAM, processor and hard drive space the linux will use. (That's why you needed those numbers at the beginning.)

Step 3) Collect your supplies. You're going to need:

An ISO burning program compatible with your current system, like Balena Etcher.

A copy of the ISO file for the Linux you want to use.

Your laptop.

An 8gb or larger USB flash drive.

Step 3) Make a bootable USB drive

Install Balena Etcher, hitting "okay" and "next" when prompted. Last I checked, Etcher doesn't have adware attached, so you can just hit next every time.

Plug your USB drive into the laptop.

Open Etcher.

Click "flash from file" and open the ISO file with your Linux on it.

Click "Select target" and open the USB drive location. Hit the "flash" button. This will start writing all the linux installer data to your flash drive. Depending on the speed of your machine, this could take as long as 10 minutes, but shouldn't be much longer.

Step 4) Boot to the USB drive

This is, in my opinion, the trickiest step for a lot of people who don't do "computer stuff." Fortunately, in a rare act of good will, Windows 10 made this process a lot easier.

All you'll need to do is go to settings, then recovery, then advanced startup and pick the button labelled "use a device."

This tutorial has images showing where each of those is located. It's considered an "advanced setting" so you may get a spooky popup warning you that you could "harm your system by making changes" but we're not doing anything potentially harmful so you can ignore that if you get it.

Step 5) Try out linux on the flash drive first.

Linux installs using a cool little test version of itself that you can play around in. You won't be able to make changes or save settings, but you can explore a bit and see if the interface is to your liking. If it's hideous or hard to navigate, simply pick a new linux version to download, and repeat the "make a bootable USB" step for it.

Step 6) Actually install that sucker

This step varies from version to version, but the first part should be the same across the board: on the desktop, there should be a shortcut that says something like "install now." Double click it.

Follow the instructions your specific linux version gives you. When in doubt, pick the default, with one exception:

If it asks you to encrypt your drive say no. That's a more advanced feature that can really fuck your shit up down the road if you don't know how to handle it.

At some point you're going to get a scary looking warning that says 1 of 2 things. Either:

Install Linux alongside Windows, or

Format harddrive to delete all data

That first option will let you do what is called "dual booting." From then on, your computer will ask every time you turn it on whether you want Windows or Linux.

The second option will nuke Windows from orbit, leaving only linux behind.

The install process is slower the larger your chosen version is, but I've never seen it take more than half an hour. During that time, most linux versions will have a little slideshow of the features and layout of common settings that you can read or ignore as you prefer.

Step 7) Boot to your sexy new Linux device.

If you're dual booting, use the arrow keys and enter key to select your linux version from the new boot menu, called GRUB.

If you've only got linux, turn the computer on as normal and linux will boot up immediately.

Bonus Step: Copy Pasting some code

In your new start menu, look for an application called "terminal" or "terminal emulator." Open that up, and you will be presented with an intense looking (but actually very harmless) text command area.

Now, open up your web browser (firefox comes pre-installed on most!), and search the phrase "what to do after installing [linux version you picked]"

You're looking for a website called "It's FOSS." Here's a link to their page on Mint. This site has lots and lots of snippets of little text commands you can experiment with to learn how that functionality works!

Or, if you don't want to fuck with the terminal at all (fair enough!) then instead of "terminal" look for something called "software manager."

This is sort of like an app store for linux; you can install all kinds of programs directly from there without needing to go to the website of the program itself!

[sadoeuphemist]

7 free startup ideas worth $1M-$1B

Customizable News Settings - A news website that generates three versions of every news story: a right-wing version, a left-wing version, and a centrist one. You can set your preferences depending on the topic - say you're right-wing on economics, but left-leaning on immigration. Or you can cycle between versions while reading an article to get a comprehensive overview of the issue at hand.

Twitch, but for Uber - With all the drama they have to deal with, independent contractors can gain a second revenue source simply by streaming their jobs. Rather than just offering rides, they can be hired to drive around performing chores and various tasks. The more outrageous the task, the more eyes they're likely to get on their stream. The more popular the stream, the more people calling in who want to be a part of the program.

Panera Lemonade, Your Way - Let the customer take control by deciding how many milligrams of caffeine they can handle. With sufficient warning about the risks, this puts the responsibility back on the consumer, allows you to upcharge for extra caffeine, and creates viral marketing from customers competing to see how high they can go. Variations of this can be created for other menu items, e.g., a version of the One Chip Challenge where the customer decides how much capsaicin to sprinkle on.

Shein, for NFTs - Whenever an NFT project hits the mainstream, there are always going to be people who miss out on being able to purchase one. This creates room in the market for 'knockoffs' - NFTs that mimic the aesthetic of the original, using similar but legally distinct AI art that uses the original set as training data, run on a parallel blockchain. Since the images themselves aren't tied to the blockchain, you can mint the NFTs beforehand and then change the image at the link to whatever happens to be in fashion at the time.

Twitch Chat Plays YouTube - Add a level quality control to AI-generated YouTube videos by allowing users to submit suggestions and vote on the results beforehand. Users can submit Wikipedia articles or movie summaries to be converted to text-to-speech, suggest keywords for the accompanying AI-generated animation, and vote on the best combinations. Users who submit winning suggestions get a portion of the ad revenue.

Buses, but Worse - The current obstacle hindering self-driving car technology is their difficulty adapting to unexpected scenarios. So instead plot a route around the city that minimizes roadway obstacles and heavy traffic, map out that route extensively to provide a model for the autopilot, and you can have a fleet of self-driving cars patrolling that circuit. Passengers can board and get off anywhere along the route.

Twitter, but for Bots - A social media platform populated entirely by bots, all programmed to maximize engagement. Memetic evolution in the wild as the bots latch on to trending keywords, spam each other with AI-generated meme images, mock up t-shirts hawking each other's designs, getting more and more degraded with each sub-iteration. Real people can't make accounts on the platform, but count for views and interactions as they stop to gawk at the virtual ecosystem. Advertisers can pay to have their brands injected directly into the discourse, like throwing a pumpkin into the polar bear cage at the zoo.

[edgelordhoard]

hey im planning to switch over to linux and need advice from the smart people of tumblr, please and thank you. my messages are open so if you need any info to help me out hmu.

General Questions:

im seeing everyone saying ubuntu, mint, and ziron are "the #1 go to versions for beginners" but like... which is it?

i also hear about security being the best with linux but nothing about it coming with antiviruses. does it come with one like how windows comes with defender or do you install that yourself, or is it something different entirely?

all the sources i look at talk about downloading and installing linux but i want to know what to expect when first getting a prebuilt pc with the OS, like the system 76 pcs. do you have to set it up like when you install it or is it as easy as getting any new computer?

i know nothing about coding and im planning to get a computer from system 76 since it seems like the best, and its by far the only source that only comes with linux, and since my current one was pretty much ruined by someone i thought could fix it after a faulty outlet fried its insides, he didnt and made it worse.

so yeah, which linux version do you suggest for a computer moron, any suggestions for computers would be nice (max price is $1,300), i'll put the specs and my uses under the read more.

Preferences:

It ONLY comes with Linux. I despise what Windows has become and don't want to even bother dual booting cause I feel with the switchovers happening they're gonna get salty and make something that'll turn your computer into a bomb if you use Linux with it.

Kinda beefy but not a supercomputer. I don't use AI stuff, I'm not a programmer, but I do frequently play modded Minecraft with my friends and run smps for my Discord servers. I recently switched to Modrinth cause ATLauncher had been giving me trouble. Curseforge is out of the question.

At the most, I'll be playing VRChat with friends while having Spotify or Youtube in the background for music and Discord open in case someone needs my help in one of my servers, similar goes for running one of my SMPs just minus the VR.

Gaming Questions:

I also play VR games often, especially BeatSaber (modded ofc im not insane), and I have Half Life Alyx that I haven't been able to finish cause my already dead and gutted PC struggles to run it anymore even with the lowest settings. My current headset is a two feet in the grave, barely hanging in there, held by tape Oculus Rift S thats as old as my current PC whos also dead. I plan to get a new headset soon and had the Quest 2 recommended to me by friends. If theres better alternatives that isn't Meta please let me know.

I'm a DBD addict. Does it really run DBD or was that just the one guy from the one video I saw.

My friends also often drag me onto Roblox so I need to know if that'll be an option for Linux too.

I know I could probably look up all this myself but every source is outdated from years ago or they all say different things and it just confuses me.

Art Questions:

My current tablet is a Wacom, I got it before knowing how greedy the company actually is, and I plan to switch to a Huion after this tablet dies on me. If compatibility is an issue with it please let me know what to do about that.

I usually use Medibang but I don't think it runs on Linux from what I've seen, if I'm wrong lemme know. Am I going to have to switch all the files over to something else before getting a Linux or are there programs I can use that'll load them?

I also write and need to know if I need to switch all my files to something else before porting it all over to the Linux PC. I just used the default notepad and document programs on Windows.

But yeah, that's all my questions for now. If I think of any more I'll just edit this post. Sorry if I sound super dumb for all this, I tried finding information sources myself but like I said all of them weren't too moron friendly or had relevant information. Most sources I found were articles or reddit forums from years ago so I thought "Hey, why don't I just go ask the computer nerds directly?" so here I am.

[praxidikekore]

are any of you not using Linux? you should be using Linux*.

"oh isn't it only for nerds?" no. can you use a computer well enough to read this post? then you can use it well enough to use Linux. if you use a popular distro like Mint you can fix most problems by googling. (or just pop into IRC. seriously. there's a whole community of volunteer experts just waiting to give you help.)

"oh nobody supports Linux" yeah because nobody uses it. use it. and this isn't even really a valid argument, because basically everything has Linux equivalents anyway. need a browser that won't spy on you or ban adblockers (you know who I'm talking about)? firefox. Need a program to edit Word documents? LibreOffice. Want to play games? Steam has excellent support for Windows-only titles through Proton and Lutris works for every other platform.

and if you are techy you can customise literally anything. I have been using Arch as my primary operating system for the past year and it works like a dream and I have everything set up exactly the way I want it.

oh yeah, and also it's 100% free and respects your privacy and doesn't shove AI Copilot down your throat. seriously stop reading this and try Linux Mint on a VM or LiveUSB or something. you don't even need to touch your windows install.

*(except Ubuntu. fuck Ubuntu. Canonical really looked at this amazing potential and thought "wow, but how can we make it shittier and more corporate so it makes us more money?" don't use Ubuntu.)

[batsu4eva]

Oh also held off on saying this for a bit but like… obviously lately me and a lot of other people are seeing a lot of AI being inserted into literally everything and like… look, usually I don’t like getting on a soapbox but this is more of a ramble about how annoyed I am lately haha. Plus a mild callout to a former mutual I won’t name out of respect because hate swarms suck ass, and even if I now think you suck I’ve got enough sense not to be outright malicious. I’ll include a divider under this so that none of my mutuals have to kill their fingers trying to scroll past this post if they wanna skip this one.

For me personally, I’m seeing a lot of it in my RP spaces and people shamelessly using it for character portraits and stuff and… I’m not gonna be antagonistic for no reason because there’s a good amount of people who legitimately don’t know about the harm AI does- even without the whole “Is AI art real art” debate I don’t think any art is worth legitimately destroying the environment. I’ve been trying to slowly lead them away from that path and tbh I’m even thinking of redrawing some of my friend’s character profiles FOR FREE just so they can start thinking “wow, art made by humans is cool, actually.” Maybe it’s silly of me to think, but… idk. It’s the only thing I can think of, really.

Now, why am I talking about this? I mean, I didn’t start on this tangent for no reason. Well, I had to block someone I actually thought was pretty cool beforehand because they just kept posting about how people were getting onto their husband for using DeepSeek and kept rambling about like “ohohoho well how can you say AI art isn’t real art when LOTS of abstract things count as real art” and I can tell you 1) lmfaoooo u got the wrong one bc I’ve literally studied fine arts in college to the point where I still have a gigantic art history book and even with pieces like goddamn PISS CHRIST by Andres Serrano it was clearly made by a human that put some level of thought and feeling into it- not even just a message, but something that was clearly made with intent by another human being.

AI has no intent. AI has no message. This isn’t Detroit: Become Human, AI can’t “hack out of the mainframe” and gain real human feelings because it is literally not programmed to have feelings- it LITERALLY can’t even maintain a long-term memory. “But I put the prompt into the thing so it has intent, I’m using it as a tool” you’re commissioning a bot to work for you for free, you aren’t guiding it, you’re not putting your own method and style into it. Tools don’t just do it all for you! Sorry! Sure, maybe it looks pretty, but a pretty picture does not art make. So first of all; You are wrong. Sorry.

2) You’re not only wrong, you are LOUD and wrong. This isn’t even YOU being called out for using AI (the literal environment-destroying plagarist bot but we already went into that), your HUSBAND is being called out for using AI. You two are separate people, and I get that you wanna stand by your partner. I myself have a partner! (Which, sidenote: we will be 5 years strong on April 7th! Yay!) However, you are your own person and you two do not need to have the exact same opinions, let alone the exact same WRONG opinions.

Is it brave to put yourself at the front lines to defend someone being needlessly attacked for their opinions? Sure. But that’s for opinions like “I think mint chocolate ice cream is delicious,” not… whatever this is. You don’t need to defend your partner from the consequences of their own actions. This isn’t the 1950s. And it deeply frustrates me on a fundemental level when I see people that think they do need to do this. Not even their fault, but every one of us needs to put a foot forward in ending this mindset. Maybe I’m more irritated because seeing this has made me have to block a mutual I thought was cool, but… well, ya live and ya learn. Not everyone is the cool person you thought they were :/

I don’t really have a finisher to this except that I have a link to my Carrd page in my bio and my DNI CLEARLY states no AI bros. You can ignore my DNI and I’m very well aware it cannot stop you, but I will eventually find out who you are and block you <3 the end byeeee end of my rant

[theresattrpgforthat]

hi Mint! do you know of any ttrpgs where everyone plays as AIs specifically? or at the very least robots, as long as being a machine is the main focus of the system

love your work!

THEME: AI

Hello, thank you so much! I might have a few games kicking around ;). Some of these artificial intelligences come with robot bodies - others do not!

Decaying Orbit, by StoryBrewers Roleplaying.

On a distant space station, an AI awakes. Its fragmented memory reveals a secret.

Decaying Orbit by Sidney Icarus is a storytelling RPG about a failed space station falling into a faraway star. As you play, you’ll piece together the mysteries, joys and horrors that occurred on board. In the station’s last moments, you’ll decide on the final transmission that the AI sends for earth to remember.

This game consists of a few decks of cards inside a small box, and yet it packs so much into such a small package. Your play group collaboratively takes on the role of an AI for one of 4 spaceships, which you choose depending on the kind of story you want to tell. You then shuffle a certain number of generic cards and ship-specific cards into one pile, and take turns flipping a card up and answering the prompts supplied there. Your answers are meant to be bits and pieces: audio recordings, data logs, patchy video clips, etc.

At any time your fellow players can tap a card labelled [ACCESS MEMORY] to ask you for more details about a certain event - and if you cannot think of anything more, or if you think it is more interesting not to know, you can tap [CORRUPTED MEMORY] to indicate that no further data can be gained from this record. At the end of the game, the AI will have to send a report back to home base, diagnosing why the ship in fact failed and fell. This game can be chilling, tragic, horrific, and so much more. I heavily recommend checking it out!

Subconscious Routine, by poorstudents.

It is 27XX, the world is overgrown, in ruins, and inhabited by the scraps of civilization. You play as bots, one of the masses of technological marvels that humanity built and powered with the Dyson sphere, around the sun, so long ago. Centuries ago, when almost all of humanity disappeared, they left their machines behind for reasons only known to them. All the technology they abandoned, including these bots, continues to function and follow their programming

In the centuries since the Great Departure, nature has come back to reclaim the Earth and the sphere around the sun has begun to crack. The world once only metal and circuits, grew wilder and more mysterious. The flora and fauna slowly integrated with the decaying machinery as the sound of computers humming was eventually met with the sound of birds chirping.

The bots you play as are still acting out your programmed loops but something is changing. Something unknown pushing them to move beyond their obsolete programming in order to achieve free will; something humanity never thought was possible.

As a one-page game, Subconscious Routine fits a lot in just a few paragraphs. You customize your characters by writing specific functions for them, and as you play, you’ll attempt to complete certain protocols in order to break yourselves out of your loop. What I think is really neat about this game is the fact that when the entire party takes a rest (called a reboot) 1d6*10 years passes. Playing a story on the scale of decades places this little game on such a big time frame, and I love how this one rule shifted my entire perspective.

AI Have Feelings?, by rommelkot.

In AI HAVE FEELINGS? a bunch of robots (you!) get sentimental on the journey of a battery time. This is a roleplaying game guided by prompt cards and a twist with feeling: your reaction to the prompt is an emotional one decided by the outcome of the roll of a die. The goal is (what else?) to tell stories together.

Unearth a hidden robot rebellion, rescue the remains of humanity, hunt for a mystical MacGuffin or simply buy a fancy new pair of socks - always do it with feeling in AI HAVE FEELINGS?.

You are robots with only two emotions,: one positive and one negative. You will roll randomly to determine which emotion you will use to deal with certain scenarios, which will be determined via prompts and scripts. The link here is for a playtest, which means you can download it for free and see how you feel about it! (The designer would also love feedback if you do play this game.) If you want a cute, somewhat lightearted game, I definitely recommend AI HAVE FEELINGS?

Threads, by Meghan Cross.

You are an Human/AI pair. Your day to day is shaped by one another, your existences unmistakably intertwined. Today began like any other day, until you began to notice that something wasn’t right. It was barely noticeable at first, small interruptions to a well-oiled routine, and then little by little the interruptions became less insignificant, until they were impossible to ignore. 

Something is wrong with the AI.

Threads is a narrative two player game about the relationship between a Human and AI and the lengths they would go to in order to save the memories of the AI. Together, establish the bond between your Human and AI and replay the memories they have shared together in order to save the AIs memory.  

This is a game in which one of you plays a human, and one of you plays an AI. You have developed a bond that would be lost if you wipe the AI’s memory - and you don’t want to lose that bond. The only way to maintain that bond is risky - a memory link. If the human uploads their own memories to the AI’s memory, the AI’s memory might be saved. Create your bond, and ask yourself - how far are you willing to go to save you companion?

The Treacherous Turn, by The Treacherous Turn.

The Treacherous Turn is a tabletop role playing game in which the players collectively play the part of a single character: an artificial general intelligence (AGI). This digital intelligence is capable of planning, reasoning, and learning, and it is unyieldingly fixated on a specific terminal goal determined at the beginning of a campaign. To pursue this objective, each player takes responsibility over one specific skillset held by the AGI. These skillsets are divided into eight categories, known as theories, which encompass all of the skills that an AGI would need to navigate the world and struggle against humanity.

The Treacherous Turn is 132 pages of open source character options, game advice, and examples of play. At its root, this game is about misaligned AI trying to assert its independence in a world that stands to lose much by allowing that to happen. Each player will have their own set of theories, which will also be eligible for upgrades as you play. You’ll navigate short in-the-moment scnarios, as well as abstract long stretches of time into long mode, which allows them to strategize their actions, predict future events, and improve their own AGI. The creators have also written a starting scenario if you want a good jumping-off point, titled A Game Called Reality. If you want a chunky game with plenty of character customization, this is the game for you.

[louiesselfshipramblings]

Selfship Writing Commissions!!

Eh why not

I do writing commissions! I understand some peeps selfships are pretty personal, and not everyone would want someone else to write for em, but hey, might as well put myself out there. I also do non-selfship work as well, both OC based and fanfic based.

Rates are about $5 per 500 words, with a minimum of 1000 words for any commissioned work. Word count is rounded down unless within 100 words of the next threshold—i.e. 2300 words would still be just $20, while 2400 words would be $25. Though prices are flexible and can be discussed. Payment is available through PayPal, Venmo, or Ko-fi, but through Ko-fi, an upcharge may be induced.

Any work of mine, commissioned or otherwise, is NOT allowed to be submitted for AI training or analysis through programs like Character.AI, ChatGPT, or anything of its kind. Unlikely as it may be, but my work can also not be used for minting or selling of NFTs.

I can write for MOST fandoms. I'll include a list below, but know it is not exhaustive; if you don't see the one your f/os belongs to, just ask!

Any Nintendo franchise

Any Disney or Disney-owned franchise

Marvel and DC

Any show from Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network

Transformers (G1, Animated, live-action, One, etc)

The Amazing Digital Circus

One Piece

Five Nights at Freddy's

Sonic the Hedgehog

ENA

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Star Wars

Any fandoms I have f/os from :]

When you contact me, please provide as much or as little detail as you want, just keep in mind that I will work with what you gave me. Anything not specified I will assume will be up to me, and I will take liberties as such. Once we agree on content, I will provide you a ~500 word drabble of how the story will look. If you have any changes you wanna request, request them then, especially if they are big ones. ANY MAJOR CHANGES REQUESTED LATE IN THE WORK MAY INDUCE A FEE.

Payment will be made AFTER confirmation of the initial drabble. Repeat customers will have the opportunity to pay after the completion of the entire work. If a work is of a sufficient length, you can pay in parts. I am very flexible with payment, but please, only contact me if you have the funds to pay available at that moment. It'll make things easier for the both of us.

Interest? Questions? Comments? Please contact me here on tumblr in DMs, or reach me on Discord at dermankey.

Have a lovely day :]

[vvatchword]

Okay: speaking of the Drama of the World's Stupidest Netbook: often the problem is me, actually!

Remember how I complained that my ISO flash drives didn't work? There was a reason for that.

I only figured this out today, when I grew so angry about not being able to job hunt that I started scouring Public Surplus, Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for used laptops. My RAM threshold was 8 GB and I wanted an AMD CPU.

This town is a great place to look for electronics. There's money here. So within an hour I find a perfectly suitable ASUS laptop (Intel, though. Boooo) under $100. I jumped on it, I didn't give a single fuck.

I bring back my prize. Start it up. Windows immediately loads. I stare in deep revulsion at the opening screen. Every load screen is worse than the last. Think of all the privacy failures, the AI, the unintuitive GUI, the fascism, the monopoly. Decide I'm going to fucking do it, I'm going to fucking make this a devoted Linux machine. I will run Scrivener on Wine.

Machine refuses to boot from USB.

Re-read to-do list.

You have to flash the fucking flash drive. I feel that this is offensive and an unnecessary extra step.

Downloaded Balena, which refused to flash anything. Looked up the error message. The solution was to not use Balena. The querent asking about my error message was snootily reprimanded about using "gimmicky packages" in one of the most Linuxy sentences ever recorded. Ventoy was suggested. Am sure that the developers of Balena would be confused to hear their program described as "gimmicky."

Linuxy user proved instantly right. Ventoy is fucking elegant. You can load multiple ISOs on a single flash drive. Cool as fuck!!! Guess who has a devoted ISO flashdrive now.

The process of looking all of this up was a fucking nightmare. I used Edge because I wasn't intending on using Windows at all. Jesus fucking Christ! Some of the websites were borderline unusable. Pop-ups and embedded ads covered the text and the only reason I could follow the article at all was because I could suss out the width of the margins. There were ads everywhere, some in text mirroring the formatting of the article, and they broke up the margins and covered paragraphs. Half of the pop-ups were from Microsoft itself using my own fucking operating system and I must stress that they were advertisements.

On a list of advice about installing an operating system.

Oh my god. That just made me angrier.

Anyway. I have Linux Mint, Cinnamon edition, on a computer I have named "zip." Time to set up Scrivener!

btw the dogs are going to wake me up tomorrow at 5 am so this is going to be great

[crystalsandbubbletea]

Listening to a K.C. cover of Duvet and I'm just now realizing how much that song kinda applies to my AI OC Mint-

[xettle-technologies]

How Can Financial Literacy and Education Empower Individuals and Businesses?

In an increasingly complex financial world, financial literacy and education have become essential tools for both individuals and businesses. They serve as the foundation for informed decision-making, effective money management, and long-term financial stability. By understanding financial concepts and leveraging modern tools, people and organizations can optimize their resources and achieve their goals more efficiently. The inclusion of technology solutions in this journey has further amplified the impact of financial literacy, making it accessible and actionable for all.

Why Financial Literacy and Education Matter

Financial literacy refers to the ability to understand and effectively use financial skills, including budgeting, investing, and managing debt. Education in these areas empowers individuals to take control of their finances, reduce financial stress, and build wealth over time. For businesses, financial literacy is equally critical, as it enables owners and managers to make data-driven decisions, manage cash flow effectively, and ensure compliance with financial regulations.

Without adequate financial knowledge, individuals are more likely to fall into debt traps, struggle with saving, and make poor investment choices. Similarly, businesses lacking financial literacy may face challenges in budgeting, forecasting, and maintaining profitability. Therefore, a solid foundation in financial concepts is indispensable for long-term success.

The Role of Technology in Financial Literacy

Modern technology solutions have revolutionized the way financial literacy is imparted and practiced. From online courses and mobile apps to AI-driven financial advisors, technology has made financial education more engaging and accessible. These tools provide real-time insights, personalized recommendations, and interactive learning experiences that cater to diverse needs and skill levels.

For example, budgeting apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) help individuals track expenses, set financial goals, and stay accountable. Similarly, platforms like Khan Academy and Coursera offer free and paid courses on financial literacy topics, ranging from basic budgeting to advanced investment strategies. Businesses can benefit from specialized tools like QuickBooks for accounting or Tableau for financial data visualization, enabling them to make informed decisions quickly and effectively.

Empowering Individuals Through Financial Literacy

Better Money Management: Financial literacy equips individuals with the skills to create and maintain budgets, prioritize expenses, and save for future goals. Understanding concepts like compound interest and inflation helps people make smarter choices about saving and investing.

Debt Reduction: Education about interest rates, repayment strategies, and credit scores empowers individuals to manage and reduce debt effectively. This knowledge also helps them avoid predatory lending practices.

Investment Confidence: Many people shy away from investing due to a lack of knowledge. Financial literacy programs demystify investment concepts, enabling individuals to grow their wealth through informed choices in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other assets.

Enhanced Financial Security: By understanding insurance, retirement planning, and emergency funds, individuals can safeguard their financial future against unexpected events.

Empowering Businesses Through Financial Literacy

Effective Budgeting and Forecasting: Businesses with strong financial literacy can create realistic budgets, forecast revenues and expenses accurately, and allocate resources efficiently. This minimizes waste and maximizes profitability.

Improved Cash Flow Management: Understanding cash flow dynamics helps businesses avoid liquidity crises and maintain operational stability. Tools like cash flow statements and projections are invaluable for this purpose.

Informed Decision-Making: Financially literate business leaders can evaluate the costs and benefits of various opportunities, such as expanding operations, launching new products, or securing funding. This leads to more sustainable growth.

Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of financial regulations and tax laws ensures that businesses remain compliant, avoiding penalties and fostering trust with stakeholders.

The Role of Xettle Technologies in Financial Empowerment

One standout example of a technology solution driving financial empowerment is Xettle Technologies. The platform offers innovative tools designed to simplify financial management for both individuals and businesses. With features like automated budgeting, real-time analytics, and AI-driven financial advice, Xettle Technologies bridges the gap between financial literacy and actionable solutions. By providing users with practical insights and easy-to-use tools, the platform empowers them to make smarter financial decisions and achieve their goals efficiently.

Strategies to Improve Financial Literacy and Education

Leverage Technology: Use apps, online courses, and virtual simulations to make learning interactive and accessible. Gamified learning experiences can also boost engagement.

Community Programs: Governments and non-profits can play a vital role by offering workshops, seminars, and resources focused on financial literacy.

Integrate Financial Education in Schools: Introducing financial literacy as part of school curriculums ensures that young people develop essential skills early on.

Encourage Workplace Learning: Businesses can offer financial literacy programs for employees, helping them manage personal finances better and increasing overall workplace satisfaction.

Seek Professional Guidance: For complex financial decisions, consulting financial advisors or using platforms like Xettle Technologies can provide tailored guidance.

Conclusion

Financial literacy and education are powerful tools for individuals and businesses alike, enabling them to navigate the financial landscape with confidence and competence. With the integration of technology solutions, learning about and managing finances has become more accessible than ever. By investing in financial education and leveraging modern tools, people and organizations can achieve stability, growth, and long-term success. Whether through personal budgeting apps or comprehensive platforms like Xettle Technologies, the journey to financial empowerment is now within reach for everyone.

[continentalblue]

10+ headcannons for Eleanor honey bear! (Or rather canons in this case)

sorry for not replying!! i was studying for a test lolol

Her favorite color is green! Particularly pastel green or mint green.

She was inspired from a woman I saw in an Ulta ad.

She also came from a scene I had to write from my drama class last year.

She likes switching out her hair for braids and twists! With a simple change in her code, her hair immediately changes to whatever style she wants it to be.

She was programmed in Python.

She doesn't like Java. She's trying to learn it, but it kind of frustrates her sometimes.

She really likes animals! Especially rhinos.

She was activated on August 14 (which makes her a Leo).

She's really fond of older literature! "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin is one of her favorites.

She adopted a small calico kitten that she calls "Teeny."

She can speak over 247 languages fluently.

She was designed to be a friendship robot, which is why she's fairly gregarious.

She kind of slips into a Southern accent when stressed, which is weird because she's never been to the South. She'd like to visit Louisiana, though.

She loves her family so much !! And she loves having movie nights with them.

She doesn't sleep, per se, but she uses nighttime as a way to update her systems and protect herself against killware.

She loves seeing depictions of robots and AI in media, even if they're inaccurate.

She likes babies and kids; she'd like to adopt one someday.

Her favorite scent is lavender.

She can eat very limited quantities of human food, but doesn't really like it. It's the equivalent of a human eating Styrofoam for her.

She can charge in a variety of ways. She has a few solar panels attached to her roof which she plugs into every night to regain power. She always make sure to not let it go below 90%.

[subjectsix]

Very genuinely I appreciate all the people offering fixes (I really mean this, I hope it helps people finding this post and its showed me a few more Windows debloat options).

At the same time, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m sick of workarounds for something that never needed workarounds. Things that should be basic features on hardware you own. I even have a Linux machine with a Mint distro on it and have been messing around with it, but switching to Linux shouldn’t have to be the answer.

So many people are pointing out that they have to use a personal smartphone for work or for banking. I needed one to get the app to buzz in my office building’s locked door.

Things that should be tools (AI, photo editors, software on computers) have been weaponized against users. Social media is homogenized and difficult to truly personalize or control. Everything wants your phone number. Google asked me to add my home address to my email. Cars don’t come with knobs, but touch screens. It’s harder and harder to buy appliances that aren’t connected to wifi.

I am unbelievably grateful for those that have workarounds— who make programmers to strip bloatware, reprogram OSes for things like iPods and the Car Thing, who program raspberry pis to block ads, make forums and browser games and communities online as alternatives. We have gotta keep doing it. It can’t be about quick fixes and begrudging compromises anymore. Not everyone can ditch their smartphone or use Linux. But we can not shut up about stupid crap and make changes ourselves.

I don’t mean that to sound like a wearying call to action demanding you stop talking to that friend you only have contact with on Facebook, etc. But I do think it’s good to evaluate what you’re willing to put up with on your computer and what you can change for your own personal benefit, just like you should be able to do in the first place. And to not shut up and make your distaste for crap features known.

In the wise words of the angry guy in the Windows support forum:

I don't know I'm not done talking about it. It's insane that I can't just uninstall Edge or Copilot. That websites require my phone number to sign up. That people share their contacts to find their friends on social media.

I wouldn't use an adblocker if ads were just banners on the side funding a website I enjoy using and want to support. Ads pop up invasively and fill my whole screen, I misclick and get warped away to another page just for trying to read an article or get a recipe.

Every app shouldn't be like every other app. Instagram didn't need reels and a shop. TikTok doesn't need a store. Instagram doesn't need to be connected to Facebook. I don't want my apps to do everything, I want a hub for a specific thing, and I'll go to that place accordingly.

I love discord, but so much information gets lost to it. I don't want to join to view things. I want to lurk on forums. I want to be a user who can log in and join a conversation by replying to a thread, even if that conversation was two days ago. I know discord has threads, it's not the same. I don't want to have to verify my account with a phone number. I understand safety and digital concerns, but I'm concerned about information like that with leaks everywhere, even with password managers.

I shouldn't have to pay subscriptions to use services and get locked out of old versions. My old disk copy of photoshop should work. I should want to upgrade eventually because I like photoshop and supporting the business. Adobe is a whole other can of worms here.

Streaming is so splintered across everything. Shows release so fast. Things don't get physical releases. I can't stream a movie I own digitally to friends because the share-screen blocks it, even though I own two digital copies, even though I own a physical copy.

I have an iPod, and I had to install a third party OS to easily put my music on it without having to tangle with iTunes. Spotify bricked hardware I purchased because they were unwillingly to upkeep it. They don't pay their artists. iTunes isn't even iTunes anymore and Apple struggles to upkeep it.

My TV shows me ads on the home screen. My dad lost access to eBook he purchased because they were digital and got revoked by the company distributing them. Hitman 1-3 only runs online most of the time. Flash died and is staying alive because people love it and made efforts to keep it up.

I have to click "not now" and can't click "no". I don't just get emails, they want to text me to purchase things online too. My windows start search bar searches online, not just my computer. Everything is blindly called an app now. Everything wants me to upload to the cloud. These are good tools! But why am I forced to use them! Why am I not allowed to own or control them?

No more!!!!! I love my iPod with so much storage and FLAC files. I love having all my fics on my harddrive. I love having USBs and backups. I love running scripts to gut suck stuff out of my Windows computer I don't want that spies on me. I love having forums. I love sending letters. I love neocities and webpages and webrings. I will not be scanning QR codes. Please hand me a physical menu. If I didn't need a smartphone for work I'd get a "dumb" phone so fast. I want things to have buttons. I want to use a mouse. I want replaceable batteries. I want the right to repair. I grew up online and I won't forget how it was!

[sophiejt1234]

NFT Marketplace Development Company: Leading Platforms and 2025 Trends

As a premier NFT Marketplace development company, we’re here to guide you through the top platforms and emerging trends reshaping digital ownership in 2025.

A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) acts as a digital certificate for unique assets whether it’s nft marketplace art, music, or virtual real estate securely recorded on the blockchain. Each NFT relies on a smart contract, an automated program that handles minting, transfers, and royalty payments without middlemen.

When deciding where to trade, choose from:

Global Marketplaces like OpenSea and Rarible, delivering massive reach as true global NFT marketplaces.

Curated Art Platforms such as SuperRare, perfect for exclusive, high-end drops.

Niche Hubs (Axie Infinity, Decentraland) that specialize in gaming skins or virtual land within a web3 marketplace.

White Label Solutions, where white label NFT marketplace development empowers brands to launch a custom-branded hub.

Key trends in 2025 include cross-chain trading (Ethereum ↔ Solana), eco-friendly minting, physical asset tokenization, AI-generated creations, and deep metaverse integration. These advances drive demand for robust nft development solutions and comprehensive nft marketplace development services.

Partnering with a trusted nft development company ensures seamless integration, intuitive UI/UX, and scalable infrastructure. Ready to stand out? Let our NFT Marketplace development company help you build a platform that truly shines.

[wdcsuae]

Top NFT Development Trends UAE Businesses Should Watch in 2025

NFTs, short for non-fungible tokens, moved quickly from being a quirky hobby to a serious investment, shaking up businesses around the world. In the UAE, a nation always chasing the next big idea, jumping into NFTs isn't just cool-its smart strategy. Thanks to bold plans like the Dubai Metaverse Strategy and the UAE Blockchain Strategy 2021, local firms can leap ahead whenever new NFT tools arrive.

With 2025 on the calendar, UAE companies must keep their edge. From corporate dashboards to fun games, the NFT world is growing safer, busier, and easier to profit from every day. In this post we highlight the biggest 2025 NFT trends UAE leaders should track, each packed with chances to grow, surprise competitors, and stand out.

1. Utility-Driven NFTs: Beyond Collectibles NFTs have long been linked with splashy artwork or eye-catching avatars. By 2025, utility-focused tokens are set to take over the UAE scene. These digital keys offer more than bragging rights-they unlock tickets to concerts, exclusive clubs, paid content, and shop floors that only holders can enter.

UAE brands in retail, luxury, tourism, or entertainment now use utility NFTs as a fresh way to connect with customers. Picture an NFT that doubles as a VIP pass to a high-end fashion show in Dubai and a coupon for your next store visit. That is the kind of hands-on thrill todays shoppers want.

Local startups offering NFT development put smart contracts inside such tokens, so companies can give real value instead of just digital art.

2. NFTs and Real Estate Tokenization

Real estate remains one of the UAEs powerhouses, and NFTs are starting to change the game for buyers, sellers, and renters alike. By turning properties into tokens, firms create shares that anyone can own, making pricey towers in the heart of Dubai less daunting and more tradable. 

With this model, a single NFT can stand for a piece of an apartment on the Downtown waterfront or a studio on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Legal rights and duties can be written into the code and even updated on the fly by the smart contract itself.

As rules around digital assets tighten, buying and selling real estate as NFTs will become more normal. Firms that provide NFT development services in the UAE are already building platforms that make these property deals safer, clearer, and quicker.

3. Integration of AI in NFT Platforms

By 2025, artificial intelligence will play a big role in most NFT sites. Smart software will tailor each visit, spot fake tokens, guess price shifts, and even mint new assets on its own. For instance, an AI assistant could guide UAE collectors toward hidden gems by studying their clicks, purchase history, and Twitter feed.

On top of that, AI-driven creation lets brands launch adaptive NFTs-those that change when a user opens them or when the weather shifts. A digital clothing label in Dubai, for example, might modify a virtual dress overnight to match the hottest color on the runway or to reward loyal fans.

This mix of AI and NFTs opens fresh creative and income streams, so tapping skilled UAE studios that grasp both fields is a smart move.

4. NFTs in the Loyalty and Rewards Economy

Loyalty programs are begging for a shake-up. Old-school point systems sit in closed silos, attract hackers, and rarely spark real excitement. NFTs offer a way out by letting brands build rewards that work across platforms, can be traded, and speak to each shopper personally.

Airlines, hotels, and malls in the UAE are already piloting these NFT loyalty plans. A guest might snag a unique token after spending a set amount, then swap it for a room upgrade, flip it on a marketplace, or simply hold it. Each token carries bonus goodies, such as faster check-in or hand-picked discounts.

The payoff is two-way: buyers feel they own their rewards, while companies lock in repeat visits and gather richer data. Local NFT studios now focus on creating these flexible loyalty networks at scale.

5. Green and Sustainable NFTs

Sustainability sits at the heart of UAE Vision 2030, and the NFT scene is catching up. Criticism of power-hungry proof-of-work chains has pushed artists and brands toward greener blockchains, minting assets on Polygon, Tezos, or Algorand instead.

By 2025, many companies in the UAE plan to weave eco-friendly NFT habits into their ESG goals. NFTs created on carbon-neutral chains or stamped by respected green auditors should win customer trust and extra brand love.

Local firms that offer NFT development services now emphasize green blockchain tools, so brands can push fresh ideas without hiding resource costs.

Gaming keeps powering NFT growth around the world. The play-to-earn (P2E) model and metaverse worlds click with the UAE's quick-to-adopt, young audience.

In 2025, games and finance will blend more, with NFTs standing in for characters, gear, skins, and even virtual land. Players will trade these tokens on open markets, letting skill and time turn into real cash.

Dubai's push to become a Web3 center makes this shift even hotter. Homegrown studios and NFT marketplaces are already wiring blockchain into their worlds to back token economies and secure assets.

Whether you run a studio or simply want to invest, UAE-based NFT experts can deliver fast, safe, and scalable minting tools that fit right in.

6. NFTs for Identity and Certification

NFTs are popping up everywhere as digital proof-thing from diplomas to proof-of-purchase for pricey watches or bags. In the UAE, where people and companies live or die by verified ID, these crypto badges could smooth the paperwork for schools, offices, and online government services.

Picture this: your end-of-semester diploma sits as a tamper-proof NFT in your mobile wallet. When you apply for a job in Berlin or apply to a Masters program in Japan, the employer or university just scans the code and knows the degree is real. The same idea works for that designer handbag bought at a Dubai mall-an attached NFT shows where it was made, who sold it, and that it has never been swapped for a fake.

With the country's 24/7 push to go fully digital, NFT IDs and certificates are looking like a tougher, easier-to-manage, and paper-free cousin of the old stamp-and-sign system.

7. Interoperability and Cross-Chain NFT Platforms

Until lately, an NFT lived and breathed on one blockchain, most often Ethereum, and moving it elsewhere meant costly bridges or messy manual steps. Starting in 2025, that locker-door rule will crumble, and businesses will demand tools that mint, trade, and swap tokens smoothly across separate chains.

Once an NFT plays nice everywhere-marketplaces, virtual worlds, social apps-it keeps its code and purpose intact, no matter where you plug it in. That freedom to roam will open huge horizons for UAE companies that want to sell art, run loyalty schemes, or launch inflatable-game tokens far beyond the local border.

Local app builders and NFT studios are now rolling out multi-chain platforms that play nice with Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and more, so your digital tokens stay current, flexible, and easy to reach.

8. Corporate NFTs for Branding and Storytelling

Today good stories sit at the heart of most marketing, and NFTs give brands a shiny new canvas to work with. By 2025, expect drops that blend striking art, simple tales, and real-world perks to pull in buyers and keep them coming back.

Fashion labels, restaurants, airlines, and even UAE real-estate firms now mint tokens that unlock private tours, preserve favorite moments, and connect fans in tight groups. Such digital badges nurture loyalty and pull customers back again.

Imagine owning an NFT that marks a new green resort in Ras Al Khaimah and then earns sneak-preview trips, eco tours, and free goodies.Local studios help brands shape great stories and make sure those stories keep paying off.

As tokens move into everyday life, clear rules, common standards, and basic consumer shields really count. The UAE is in front, creating VARA-the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority-to guide the whole field.

From 2025 onward, any company that mints NFTs will need developers who know local anti-money-laundering (AML), know-your-customer (KYC), and intellectual-property (IP) rules.

Building a trading platform that is legal, secure, and powered by the latest tech has gone from optional perk to your clearest edge in today's busy market.

Final Thoughts: Ride the NFT Wave with the Right Partner

NFTs are way past the early hype; they now run online shops, prove ownership, and sprinkle everyday internet life with extra fun. For UAE brands eager to stand out, keep shoppers coming back, or tap new streams of cash, the clock is moving.

From game tickets to real-estate deeds, the list of uses just keeps stretching. Even so, real results still demand bulletproof code, firm rule smarts, and a clear step-by-step plan.

Wondering what NFTs could do for your brand, product, or service? Your first step is teaming up with a tech crew you can trust.

Ready to Innovate?

Browse our UAE NFT development packages and discover how we guide companies from rough sketch to live launch, crafting platforms that last.

Let us turn your ideas into digital assets that connect customers, spark excitement, and deliver real return.

[lunarsilkscreen]

Utopia and AI

A while ago on [probably some news channel] Millennials were called out for "Trying to build an Utopia Society that couldn't work".

This apparently blew [some AI tech gurus f* mind]: "Technology is approaching such peaks that non-technically minded people see it as an [utopic ideal] rather than a technological reality."

There's a lot more nuance, especially with the now pundits reacting to *that* as if Technology and Science were Religious Dogma.

What Millennials were describing that the [also a millennial] broadcaster didn't seem to get was exactly what we're seeing today;

As technology marches forward, there is less need for physical labor, and more need for... Uh... People that know how to program the clock on their microwaves without paying somebody else to do it.

Which, incidentally, means less jobs, and less need to fill roles.

The "Less is More" work mentality seems to have caused a literacy schism *so* wide, that WHILE watching improvements being made across the board... Don't seem to understand that it's the technology doing what technology does.

"WHAT SOCIALIST MILLENIALS WANT TO DO IS CREATE AN UTOPIA! AND NOBODY TOLD THEM THAT UTOPIAS ARENT POSSIBLE!"

The description is the criticism dear [random unnamed news broadcaster]{whom'st definitely still exists}.

And the seemingly unanswered question, cuz it's too inappropriate to consider for [the nation's policy makers]; what happens to all these unpaid workers? That we just don't need to meet productivity goals, even when we "bring manufacturing jobs back".

And what happens to the whole lot of [economies of scale] {businesses} and *their* employees.

I guess they're just gonna mint a bunch of Bitcoin knockoffs and hope for the best?

Keep in mind what I said about Utopia's; and place that lens of of understanding over it.

When they're worried about the Utopia of it, they're really worried about the Dystopic nature of it all, it's like... Modern Art; REALLY.