#Automated grading system

[newsepick]

Newsepick Evolve - Utilizes Digital Frameworks to Digitalize Daily Homework for Effective Practice

Newsepick #Evolve utilizes digital frameworks to digitalize daily homework for effective practice. Educators can use this tool to help students identify areas that need improvement with instant feedback and comprehensive data insight 📊 of their performance. So what are you waiting for? Connect with Us: support@newsepick.com. Call us at +91 99039 99574

[desklibai]

The Future of Education: How AI Grader is Transforming Academic Assessment

In the digital age, education is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). One of the most exciting developments in this space is the AI Grader tool by Desklib, which is redefining how academic assessments are conducted.

The Power of AI in Education

AI has the potential to revolutionize education by providing personalized learning experiences and automating tedious tasks. The AI Grader tool is at the forefront of this movement, offering an intelligent solution for grading assignments and essays. By leveraging AI, the tool can provide instant, accurate feedback, helping students improve their work and educators manage their workload more efficiently.

Key Features of AI Grader

Automated Grading: The AI Grader tool uses advanced algorithms to evaluate assignments based on a set of predefined criteria. This ensures consistent and objective grading, reducing the potential for human error.

Comprehensive Feedback: Beyond just scores, the tool provides detailed feedback and actionable suggestions. This helps students understand their mistakes and learn how to improve.

Customizable Evaluation: Educators can tailor the grading criteria to match their specific requirements, ensuring that the tool aligns with their teaching objectives.

Benefits for Students and Educators

For students, the AI Grader tool offers immediate feedback, allowing them to make timely revisions and enhance their work. This instant feedback loop is crucial for fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter and improving academic performance.

For educators, the tool saves time and effort, allowing them to focus on more engaging aspects of teaching. By automating the grading process, educators can spend more time on lesson planning, student interaction, and curriculum development.

Conclusion

The AI Grader tool by Desklib represents a significant step forward in the integration of AI into education. By providing accurate, consistent, and comprehensive feedback, it empowers students to achieve their best and educators to deliver high-quality instruction. As we look to the future, tools like the AI Grader will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape.

[certivo]

AI Regulatory Compliance Blog – Trends, Tools & Solutions for B2B Compliance

Welcome to Certivo’s AI regulatory compliance blog, your go-to source for the latest insights, tools, and strategies in AI-powered regulatory compliance management. Discover expert articles on compliance certification best practices, AI-powered compliance solutions, and emerging industry trends in regulatory compliance. Whether you’re navigating product certifications or streamlining processes, our content is tailored to help B2B organizations in the USA, UK, and EU stay ahead. Learn how AI tools for product certification are transforming compliance workflows and reducing risk. Stay informed and stay compliant — explore practical solutions designed for global regulatory success.

[annarcho-nicolesmith]

Silicon Valley's Fish Killing Machine

There's a tech company called "Shinkei Systems" that created an "AI powered fish killing machine" (they're using an automated machine to do ike jime, a traditional Japanese slaughter technique where a fish is killed instantly via a knife to the brain). Here's a picture of their machine:

Isn't that metal box such a great way for a living creature to die? Shinkei systems claims this automated death machine is "more humane" than error prone humans, who of course, sometimes miss the mark when severing a fish's brain from its spinal cord.

If the idea of automated animal slaughter doesn't freak you out enough, take a look at their promotional material where they promise to "eliminate 85% of the workforce" wherever their machine is used.

And just to wrap this story up in a bow, the founder is a guy named Saif Khawaja who retweets a lot about "DNA based IQ testing" and other race-science nonsense:

So yeah....a tech company run by a race obsessed skull-measurer decided the most pressing issue facing the world was not enough cheap sushi-grade salmon. The solution, of course, isn't to allow the ocean's depleted fisheries to regain their natural levels by reducing commercial fishing, it's to make a robot that can kill fish in a fancy Japanese way so people who eat industrialy farmed animals can feel less bad about it. And why not put a bunch of fishermen out of work while you're at it? The solution to our ever alienated world is clearly removing any human contact in the food supply and ceding that role to a machine. Clearly, the faster we can kill animals the better; perhaps we can kill them quickly before any concerns about the rapid destruction of the earth's aquatic ecosystems arise out of our collective haunted consciousness.

[axolterp]

Axolt: Modern ERP and Inventory Software Built on Salesforce

Today’s businesses operate in a fast-paced, data-driven environment where efficiency, accuracy, and agility are key to staying competitive. Legacy systems and disconnected software tools can no longer meet the evolving demands of modern enterprises. That’s why companies across industries are turning to Axolt, a next-generation solution offering intelligent inventory software and a full-fledged ERP on Salesforce.

Axolt is a unified, cloud-based ERP system built natively on the Salesforce platform. It provides a modular, scalable framework that allows organizations to manage operations from inventory and logistics to finance, manufacturing, and compliance—all in one place.

Where most ERPs are either too rigid or require costly integrations, Axolt is designed for flexibility. It empowers teams with real-time data, reduces manual work, and improves cross-functional collaboration. With Salesforce as the foundation, users benefit from enterprise-grade security, automation, and mobile access without needing separate platforms for CRM and ERP.

Smarter Inventory Software Inventory is at the heart of operational performance. Poor inventory control can result in stockouts, over-purchasing, and missed opportunities. Axolt’s built-in inventory software addresses these issues by providing real-time visibility into stock levels, warehouse locations, and product movement.

Whether managing serialized products, batches, or kits, the system tracks every item with precision. It supports barcode scanning, lot and serial traceability, expiry tracking, and multi-warehouse inventory—all from a central dashboard.

Unlike traditional inventory tools, Axolt integrates directly with Salesforce CRM. This means your sales and service teams always have accurate availability information, enabling faster order processing and better customer communication.

A Complete Salesforce ERP Axolt isn’t just inventory software—it’s a full Salesforce ERP suite tailored for businesses that want more from their operations. Finance teams can automate billing cycles, reconcile payments, and manage cash flows with built-in modules for accounts receivable and payable. Manufacturing teams can plan production, allocate work orders, and track costs across every stage.

[iamthepulta]

@joemomrgneissguy SPACE MINING. HO BOY.

So when mining comes into a conversation, there are several 'laws' of mining and processing that I like to consider that people tend to forget:

Location and rarity of commodity

Location and rarity of extraction techniques/reagents

What is necessary for this operation to work?

Where does the finished product go?

Some of these are extraneous. Theoretically, we don't have to care that iron is common on earth and might be present on the moon, so it changes the conversation from "why?" to "how would we?". Same with extraction and reagents. If you don't care how expensive it is to ship- for example: water and carbon dioxide to the moon because you want to process He-3, nothing can stop you.

However, what will stop planning, is processing. Blowing up a rock is easy. Collecting the rock and breaking it into a usable form is not. If there isn't a plan for exactly what commodity is being mined and how to separate it and all the equipment that needs to be made to get it into a usable form, and a plan to get that equipment into space. God help the poor bastard.

And fundamentally, no matter HOW you turn it, people use the finished product. If there are no people where you are mining the Thing, you need to have a way for the Thing to get back to the people who need it. WHY are you mining the Thing? What is economic about the Thing being made? and Is it worth the money?

[angry geologist rant under the cut]

So the thing about space and asteroids is metals come in native form a lot of the time because there's nothing to oxidize them; it makes processing simpler and the density increases profit. This is usually what people talk about when they go off about space mining: Ohh, if we just reach this asteroid 400 years away there's so much Gold and Platinum! Ohh, if we just crashed a FUCKING ASTEROID INTO EARTH OR MARS we could be so rich!

However this is a LIE for two reasons: It's actually harder to process straight sulfides or straight metal because they aren't brittle. Instead of breaking into smaller pieces you can separate and process, they jam the crusher. Universities with mining departments often have huge chunks of impressive high-grade sitting around that were donated by companies when they jammed their fucking system. If you can't break it down, it's a useless fucking clump of rock.

Secondly, even if you have native metals clumped together like an iron-nickel asteroid, unless you want an iron-nickel product, you have to separate them. Since it's not brittle, you would have to pour a bunch of hydrochloric on it and wait for the reaction to dissolve the outer surface.

And all this is assuming the metals are on Earth. If not, you have to figure out how to do this in space. How much HCl will you need? How are you going to fly it up there? How are you going to break it down? How are you going to replace parts when they inevitably break?

The big "commodity" on the moon is Helium-3, which is extremely rare on Earth. (So yes, we have a need, and yes, there's substantial reason to mine it in a place where it's more accessible.) The logic starts breaking down around "getting it back" and "how does the operation work": In moon quantities (up to 15 parts per billion (ppb)), you have to mine about 150 tons to extract 1g of He-3. That's not unreasonable, to be honest, since economic gold hovers around 7-12 ppb. And technically you'd only have to heat the rock to 600-700 C. However, things do melt at those temperatures. Then you have to get it back to earth. Either a SpaceX-style return and come back, or a drop shipments- It's just insane to me though that we would use SO MANY RESOURCES to rip up the fucking moon, even with an automated system, when if you look at He-3 we already produce what equals 11 pounds of He-3 yearly from Oil and Gas deposits, it's just not collected.

I have more beef with planets that are theoretically resource-rich, but people just- don't care about getting them back to Earth? Venus has significant metal-Sulfides and Tellurides in its atmosphere, which is why people joke about the "floating oxygen colonies" on Venus. But congratulations! You've colonized a planet that is inaccessible to human technology because anything we've ever designed will dissolve. Same with Europa. To design something that works on Venus - not to mention extracts things in the proper form to be used in human conditions - and/or get them back to Earth means redesigning how we think of the properties of the periodic table.

With extraction, we play a lot with oxidation states, and one of the rules is to stay within Earth's aqueous conditions. If you oxidize anything too much, your solution will want to vaporize to oxygen. Reduce anything too much, and your solution will want to vaporize to hydrogen gas.

So, if you design anything on Earth designed for conditions on Venus, it will be unstable. If you design anything on Venus meant for Earth, it will be unstable.

Which is kind of the end of my rant, I guess. Don't crash something into Earth unless you can process it. If you can process it in space, can you get it back? Who's responsible when the thing breaks? Why the fuck is money being spent when 9 times out of 10 we have it here on earth with the conditions we're familiar with?

If we've somehow depleted Earth enough that we need resources from other planets, which would insinuate we have not figured out how to recycle our own metals, which is untrue, and likewise we have no business in space anyway- Where did all our resources go? Are we leaving for those other planets? Do we have faster-than-light travel to collect the new resources in a timely manner?

There isn't even water in space half the time and if you do have a colony on Mars and tech bros are going to process all the hematite to build their shitty underground Martian city, are they shipping water from the north and south poles to do this? Have they figured out how to renew the carbon filters that are going to be needed to get all the waste and organics out of it once it's used?

In my opinion, it's all just fucking stupid. Space mining tries to answer a question that doesn't need to be asked with people who don't know how mineral processing works who haven't thought what the logistics require and don't care that entropy demands even minerals in stasis don't last forever. But it's ~new~ and the dollar signs on metallic asteroids gleam in their eyes and I want to take out Elon Musk's kneecaps.

[amethystarachnid]

Hi, how are you doing? ☺️

I’m here to make a little request for Tony Stark/Female Reader, please.

Prompt: Secret Santa

Background: Tony all cute and happy trying to find the best gift for her (maybe something handmade that reminds them of their relationship, I’m not the best person to think about those things, but I’m sure you will find something amazing) and Reader immediately knows what she’ll give to him, a box either a positive pregnancy test, some ultrasound pictures, a cute little iron man onesie with “Iron Baby” written and some other cute little things.

Thank you in advance! 💜

SECRET SANTA

⤷ ANTHONY “TONY” E. STARK

ᯓ★ Pairing: Anthony “Tony” E. Stark x fem!reader

ᯓ★ Genre: romance, fluff

ᯓ★ Request from: MARVEL Holiday special

ᯓ★ Story type: one shot

ᯓ★ Word count: 4.6k

ᯓ★ Summary: While Tony is trying desperately to find the perfect gift for you you already have the perfect one hidden from him. Whose gift will be the best?

ᯓ★ TW(s): pregnancy

ᯓ★ To adapt the them to the request it isn't a secret santa so it'll be just a exchanging gifts kind of things

ᯓ★ My Masterlist

ᯓ★ MARVEL Holiday Special

ᯓ★ MARVEL Multiverse - choose an AU, pair it with your favorite character and make a request!

ᯓ★ Songs & Superheroes tales - The Game (to make a request, follow the rules on the link!)

ᯓ★ MARVEL Bingo

ᯓ★ English isn’t my first language

Snow falls gently outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Stark Tower penthouse, each flake sparkling like tiny diamonds against the glow of New York City’s Christmas lights. Inside, the hum of J.A.R.V.I.S.’s automated systems and the faint strains of a holiday playlist create a cozy atmosphere. You’re lounging on the oversized couch, nestled under a throw blanket with a mug of peppermint hot chocolate warming your hands, your gaze occasionally drifting to the man who seems to embody the Christmas spirit this year.

Tony Stark is a whirlwind in the kitchen, entirely out of his natural habitat but utterly determined. He’s wearing a Santa hat that’s slightly askew, paired with an old, grease-stained AC/DC t-shirt and plaid pajama pants. His expression is one of laser focus as he uses an intricate set of tools — not culinary ones, mind you, but Stark-grade gadgets — to try and assemble what looks like a cookie cutter. The sight is simultaneously adorable and ridiculous, and you can’t help but smile as he mutters something under his breath about structural integrity and the optimal dough thickness.

“You know,” you tease, setting your mug down on the coffee table, “most people just buy cookie cutters. They don’t invent them.”

Tony looks up from his project, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yeah, well, most people aren’t me, are they? If I’m going to make Christmas cookies for my amazing girlfriend, I’m going to do it right.”

You laugh, the sound echoing warmly through the room. “Cookies? Is that what you’re calling this… whatever this is?”

“This,” Tony says, holding up a vaguely star-shaped cutter with an air of triumph, “is engineering at its finest. And you, Ms. Skeptical, are going to eat the best Christmas cookies of your life.”

Your heart swells, the playful banter a familiar rhythm in your relationship. He’s been like this for weeks — uncharacteristically domestic and brimming with holiday cheer. You suspect it has something to do with the Christmas gift he’s been hinting at. Every time he tries to subtly ask you about what you might want, you see that telltale Stark gleam in his eye, the one that means he’s up to something.

Meanwhile, you’ve already decided on your gift for him. It’s sitting in a little box, tucked away in your closet, and every time you think about giving it to him, a wave of nervous excitement washes over you. It’s perfect, you’re sure of it, but it’s also a bombshell — the kind of gift that changes everything.

Tony’s voice pulls you from your thoughts. “Hey, you good? You’re smiling like you’ve got some secret.”

You grin, trying to play it cool. “Just enjoying the show. You’re surprisingly cute when you’re playing mad scientist with cookie cutters.”

He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by your sass, but the corner of his mouth twitches. “Careful, or I might make you wear the Santa hat and help me. Equal partnership, remember?”

“Nice try, Stark, but you’re on your own for this one.” You stretch lazily, enjoying the way his eyes flicker to you, lingering just a moment longer than necessary. “I have my own holiday preparations to deal with.”

Tony narrows his eyes suspiciously. “Preparations, huh? Like what?”

“Like… wrapping your gift.”

His expression shifts instantly, from suspicion to unbridled curiosity. “You already got me something? Why didn’t you tell me? What is it? Is it a car? A private island? Oh my god, is it a pony?”

You burst out laughing, clutching your stomach. “Why would I get you a pony?”

“I don’t know!” Tony throws up his hands. “You’re unpredictable. That’s one of the things I love about you. You could totally be the kind of person who buys her billionaire boyfriend a pony just to mess with him.”

Shaking your head, you rise from the couch and walk over to him, slipping your arms around his waist. He smells like a mix of motor oil and peppermint, a strangely comforting combination. “You’ll just have to wait until Christmas morning like everyone else.”

He groans dramatically, leaning his forehead against yours. “But waiting is the worst.”

You laugh softly, your fingers playing with the hem of his t-shirt. “You’ll survive.”

Tony pulls back, giving you that crooked grin that never fails to make your heart skip a beat. “You’re lucky I’m crazy about you.”

“I know,” you say, kissing his cheek. “And for the record, I’m crazy about you too.”

The rest of the evening unfolds in a blur of laughter, cookie dough catastrophes, and a flour fight that leaves the kitchen looking like a snowstorm hit it. By the time you crawl into bed, Tony is already brainstorming ways to improve his cookie cutter design, his notebook balanced precariously on his lap.

As you drift off to sleep, you can’t help but think about how much your life has changed since Tony came into it. He’s still the same brilliant, unpredictable man you fell in love with, but there’s a softer side to him now, one that he only shows to you. It’s a side that makes you even more excited about the future — a future that’s about to become even more chaotic, and infinitely more wonderful.

The next morning, you wake up to the smell of coffee and the sound of Christmas music playing softly in the background. Tony is already up, standing at the counter with his back to you, tinkering with something that looks suspiciously like a robotic arm holding a whisk. You smile, shaking your head at his endless creativity.

“Morning,” you say, wrapping your arms around his waist from behind.

He turns his head to look at you, his face lighting up. “Morning, gorgeous. Coffee’s on the counter.”

You grab your mug and take a sip, savoring the warmth. “What’s on the agenda today?”

“Shopping,” he announces, spinning around to face you. “I’m on a mission to find the perfect gift for the perfect woman.”

You raise an eyebrow. “And who might that be?”

Tony smirks. “Funny. You might know her. Smart, beautiful, has an impeccable sense of humor. Bit of a troublemaker, though.”

You laugh, leaning against the counter. “Well, good luck with that. She sounds like she has pretty high standards.”

“Oh, she does,” Tony says, his expression softening. “But she’s worth it.”

Your heart melts a little, and you reach up to brush a strand of hair away from his face. “You’re such a sap.”

“Only for you,” he quips, grabbing his coat. “Now, come on. Let’s go spread some holiday cheer — Stark style.”

The day is a whirlwind of activity. Tony drags you to every shop in Manhattan, insisting that he needs your input for “research purposes.” You play along, knowing full well that he’s trying to throw you off the scent of whatever he’s planning. At one point, he buys an absurdly oversized stuffed reindeer and insists on carrying it around for the rest of the day, much to the amusement of passersby.

By the time you make it back to the penthouse, your feet are aching, but your spirits are high. Tony collapses onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, the reindeer perched proudly next to him.

“That,” he declares, “was a successful mission.”

“Did you actually buy my gift, or was this just an excuse to act like a Christmas lunatic?” you ask, flopping down beside him.

“Both,” he admits, pulling you into his arms. “But mostly the gift thing. You’ll love it, I promise.”

You rest your head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “I’m sure I will.”

As you sit there together, surrounded by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and the quiet hum of the city below, you realize that this is what you love most about the holidays. It’s not the gifts or the decorations — it’s the simple, joyful moments with the man you love.

And if everything goes according to plan, this Christmas will be one you’ll both remember for the rest of your lives.

The Stark Tower is unusually lively this morning, the energy of Christmas buzzing through its futuristic halls. Tony is in a festive yet frantic state, pacing the penthouse like a man on a mission. His hair is slightly tousled, his signature goatee impeccably groomed, but there’s an unmistakable panic in his eyes. In one hand, he clutches a tablet loaded with potential gift ideas — all of which he’s already rejected.

“I’ve got nothing,” he mutters to himself, collapsing onto the plush sofa. “Nothing! Billionaire genius, and I can’t even come up with a gift for my girlfriend. Pathetic.”

J.A.R.V.I.S., ever the voice of reason, chimes in. “Perhaps if you focused on what Ms. Y/N truly enjoys, sir, instead of cross-referencing gift lists from obscure online influencers—”

“Don’t start, J,” Tony cuts in, running a hand through his hair. “She’s already got everything. I mean, I got her that custom jet last year. How do you top a jet? You can’t just show up with…I don’t know…a fruit basket.”

“Fruit baskets do have their appeal,” J.A.R.V.I.S. responds with what could almost be sarcasm. “But perhaps the Avengers could provide some inspiration?”

Tony freezes mid-panic spiral. That’s not a terrible idea. Sure, it’s risky — the team isn’t exactly known for their emotional intelligence — but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Fine,” he says, springing to his feet. “Avengers assemble… into my gift crisis.”

Tony’s first stop is the gym, where Steve Rogers is predictably punching a bag that looks like it’s seen better days. Captain America, always dependable. Surely he’ll have a wholesome, foolproof idea.

“Cap!” Tony calls out, striding into the room. “I need your help.”

Steve turns, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Help with what?”

“Gift ideas for Y/N,” Tony explains. “You’re all about romance, right? Flowers, dances, old-school charm?”

Steve raises an eyebrow. “I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate.”

“Come on,” Tony pleads. “What would you get Peggy?”

Steve hesitates, clearly caught off guard. “Well… something meaningful. Like… a locket. Or a handwritten letter.”

Tony blinks. “A letter? Seriously? What am I, a 1940s soldier? This is Y/N we’re talking about.”

Steve shrugs. “You asked for my opinion.”

“Yeah, and I’m returning it for store credit.” Tony claps him on the shoulder. “Thanks, Cap. I’ll try not to let your advice tank the relationship.”

Steve sighs, going back to his punching bag. “Good luck.”

Next up is Natasha, who’s in the middle of yoga in one of the quieter rooms. Tony approaches cautiously, aware that interrupting her zen could be hazardous to his health.

“Nat,” he begins, leaning against the doorway. “I need a favor.”

She doesn’t even open her eyes. “Is this about Y/N’s gift?”

Tony gapes. “How did you—?”

“Because you’ve been pacing around the tower like a maniac all morning,” she replies coolly, finally sitting up and fixing him with a knowing look. “What do you have so far?”

“Nothing. Nada. Zilch.”

Natasha smirks. “And you want me to tell you what to get her.”

“Exactly!” Tony points at her like she’s just cracked the code to cold fusion. “You’re sharp. Observant. What’s the perfect gift?”

Natasha considers for a moment, then says, “Something personal. Handmade, maybe. You’re good with your hands.”

Tony grins, but before he can make a suggestive comment, she cuts him off with a glare. “Not like that. I mean something that shows how much you care. Jewelry, maybe. Or art.”

“Jewelry… art…” Tony mutters, pulling out his tablet. “Great, now I just have to learn how to sculpt in two days. Thanks, Romanoff.”

“Happy to help,” she says dryly, already returning to her yoga pose.

From there, Tony tries Clint, who’s stringing up Christmas lights in one of the communal areas. Clint’s advice is as chaotic as expected.

“Easy,” Clint says, perching precariously on a ladder. “Just get her a puppy. Chicks love puppies.”

Tony stares at him. “I am not bringing a dog into this tower.”

“Why not? Dogs are great. They’re cute, cuddly, and they make up for any shortcomings in the gift department.”

Tony rubs his temples. “I’m not trying to distract her from my shortcomings, Barton. I’m trying to impress her.”

“Suit yourself,” Clint shrugs, hanging a lopsided string of lights. “But don’t come crying to me when she says she wanted a golden retriever.”

Bruce is in the lab, predictably surrounded by gadgets and scientific equipment. Tony hopes the two of them can put their combined genius to work on this problem, but Bruce is far less helpful than anticipated.

“Maybe you could write her a song,” Bruce suggests, pushing up his glasses.

Tony stares at him. “Do I look like Taylor Swift?”

“I’m just saying, it’s heartfelt. You could compose it digitally if you don’t want to sing.”

“Banner, I love you like a brother, but I’m not serenading Y/N.”

Bruce shrugs. “Your loss. I think she’d like it.”

“Noted.” Tony sighs. “Back to the drawing board.”

Even Happy gets dragged into the chaos. Tony finds him downstairs, supervising the unloading of holiday supplies.

“Happy,” Tony says, leaning against the doorframe. “You’ve known Y/N for years. What’s her ultimate Christmas gift?”

Happy looks at him like he’s sprouted a second head. “You want me to tell you what to get your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re asking me, the guy who drives you around?”

“Exactly.”

Happy shakes his head. “You’re hopeless, boss.”

Tony groans, throwing his hands in the air. “You people are useless!”

By the end of the day, Tony is no closer to a solution. He’s tried everyone — Sam, Bucky, even Thor, whose advice (“Forge her a hammer!”) was predictably unhelpful. He slumps onto the couch in the penthouse, utterly defeated.

“What if she hates it?” he mutters aloud. “What if it’s not enough?”

“Sir,” J.A.R.V.I.S. interjects, “if I may offer a suggestion?”

Tony sighs. “What is it, J?”

“Perhaps the best gift you could give Ms. Y/N is a reflection of your relationship. Something that reminds her of the journey you’ve shared.”

Tony frowns, the gears in his mind turning. A reflection of their relationship… Suddenly, it clicks. His face lights up with realization, and he jumps to his feet.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., you’re a genius!” he exclaims. “Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

“I am programmed to be helpful, sir.”

Tony grins, already pulling out his tools and materials. He’s got a lot of work to do, but for the first time all day, he’s confident. This Christmas, he’s going to give Y/N something truly unforgettable. And if all else fails, well, there’s always next year’s puppy.

The workshop hums with activity as Tony works furiously on his latest project. He’s elbow-deep in wires and microchips, his face illuminated by the glow of holographic schematics projected in the air around him. His Santa hat sits forgotten on the workbench, replaced by his trusty welding goggles, and the upbeat carols playing in the background do little to mask his occasional muttered curses.

This gift has to be perfect. After his disastrous attempts at getting advice from the Avengers, Tony finally landed on an idea that feels right. It’s not about flashy extravagance or grand gestures this time. It’s about them — their inside jokes, their adventures, the little moments that have defined their relationship. The project is both ambitious and surprisingly sentimental, and it’s consuming every ounce of his focus.

“Sir,” J.A.R.V.I.S. pipes up, “Ms. Y/N has just returned from her errands. Should I inform her of your whereabouts?”

“No!” Tony yelps, nearly dropping a soldering iron. “I mean, no. Don’t tell her I’m down here. And don’t let her come in. This is classified.”

“As you wish, sir,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replies. “Though I should point out that she may grow suspicious of your… absence.”

Tony pauses, chewing his lip. “Good point. I’ll head up for a bit. Cover for me if she asks anything.”

“As always, sir.”

Tony wipes his hands on a nearby cloth, tugs off his goggles, and makes his way upstairs. As the elevator doors slide open, the familiar scent of pine and cinnamon fills the air, and he spots you in the kitchen, arranging a tray of cookies with a focused determination that rivals his own.

“Hey, Peppermint,” he greets, leaning casually against the doorframe. “What’s cookin’?”

You glance up, a playful smile curving your lips. “Cookies, obviously. You planning to swoop in and steal half of them before they cool?”

“Steal? Never.” He steps closer, the grin on his face equal parts mischief and charm. “I’m just here to, uh, supervise.”

“Uh-huh,” you reply, clearly not buying it. “What’s the catch, Stark?”

He slides an arm around your waist, planting a kiss on your cheek. “No catch. Just missed you.”

“Mm-hmm,” you hum, setting the tray aside and turning to face him. “And this has nothing to do with trying to figure out what I got you for Christmas?”

Tony’s feigned innocence is laughable. “What? Me? No. I’m just an affectionate boyfriend who loves his girl and—”

“Tony.” Your tone is firm but amused. “You’re not getting it out of me.”

He groans dramatically, letting his head fall against your shoulder. “Come on, just give me a hint. A tiny clue. Like… does it have wheels? Or a remote control?”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Not a chance.”

Tony leans back, his hands coming up to cradle your face as his eyes search yours. “Okay, what if I said you’re the most brilliant, stunning, wonderful person in the universe?”

“Flattery won’t work.”

“Bribery?”

“Nope.”

“Kisses?” He leans in, brushing his lips against yours in a way that’s almost enough to make you forget what he’s after.

Almost.

You pull back, grinning. “Still no.”

Tony lets out an exaggerated sigh of defeat, resting his forehead against yours. “You’re cruel, you know that?”

“Consider it payback for all the times you’ve teased me with surprises.” You poke him lightly in the chest. “Now go find something else to obsess over.”

“Fine,” he grumbles, though his eyes sparkle with affection. “But this isn’t over.”

It’s definitely not over.

The next day, Tony launches a full-scale investigation. If you won’t spill the beans, maybe someone else will.

Thor is his first target. The Asgardian is lounging on the couch, a giant mug of hot chocolate in hand, as he admires the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. He looks every bit the picture of holiday contentment — until Tony plops down next to him with an unnerving grin.

“Hey, Big Guy,” Tony begins, his tone overly casual. “Enjoying the cocoa?”

Thor nods, his expression serene. “Indeed, Stark. This Midgardian drink is most delightful.”

“Great, great.” Tony leans in slightly. “So, uh… you’re pretty close with Y/N, right?”

Thor raises an eyebrow, clearly sensing an ulterior motive. “She is my dearest friend. Why do you ask?”

Tony shrugs, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, no reason. Just curious if she’s mentioned anything about, you know, Christmas gifts. Specifically mine.”

Thor chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound. “You wish to uncover her secret.”

“Exactly!” Tony’s eyes light up with hope. “So spill. What did she get me?”

But Thor shakes his head, his amusement evident. “I swore an oath of silence, Stark. Y/N entrusted me with this knowledge, and I shall not betray her.”

Tony groans, flopping back against the couch. “Come on, Thor. Just a hint. A riddle. Morse code, even.”

“I cannot,” Thor replies firmly. “But take heart, my friend. I am certain you will be most pleased with her gift.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tony mutters. “Thanks for nothing, Thunderlord.”

Undeterred, Tony moves on to Sam and Bucky, who are bickering over whether or not Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie.

“Guys,” Tony interrupts, sliding into the seat between them. “Serious question: What did Y/N get me for Christmas?”

Sam snorts. “You think she told us?”

“Please,” Bucky adds, not even looking up from the screen. “Y/N knows we’re terrible at keeping secrets.”

“Exactly,” Tony says. “So if she did tell you, you’d crack by now. Which means she didn’t. Which means you’re useless to me.”

“Glad we cleared that up,” Sam deadpans.

Even Bruce, who’s usually patient enough to entertain Tony’s antics, is less than helpful.

“She didn’t tell me,” Bruce insists, adjusting his glasses. “And even if she did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Tony sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do none of you understand the concept of loyalty?”

Bruce raises an eyebrow. “Tony, if anyone here has loyalty to Y/N, it’s you. Why don’t you trust her gift will be amazing?”

Tony opens his mouth, then closes it. Bruce has a point. But that doesn’t mean he’s any less curious.

Back in his workshop that evening, Tony tinkers with his own project, trying to push thoughts of your gift from his mind. He’s almost finished now — just a few more adjustments, and it’ll be ready. As he assembles the final pieces, he thinks about all the moments that led up to this Christmas: your first date, the time you stayed up all night helping him debug a faulty suit, the way you make him laugh even on his worst days.

This gift isn’t just a present. It’s a thank you, a promise, and a celebration of everything you’ve built together.

And even though you’re driving him crazy with your secrecy, he knows one thing for certain: Whatever you’ve got planned, it’s going to be unforgettable.

With that thought, Tony sets down his tools, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He doesn’t need to know what your gift is — not yet. For now, he’s happy just knowing he has you.

Christmas morning in the Stark Tower is a scene straight out of a holiday movie. The enormous tree in the living room is aglow with lights, its base surrounded by neatly wrapped presents. Snow falls gently outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a soft white backdrop for the festive chaos unfolding inside.

You’re curled up on the couch in your favorite pajamas, a mug of hot cocoa in hand. Tony, ever the big kid at heart, has already passed out Santa hats to everyone present, including himself. He wears his tilted at a jaunty angle as he lounges beside you, an arm slung around your shoulders.

“All right, folks!” he announces, clapping his hands together. “It’s showtime. Let’s get to the main event: gifts.”

The Avengers have gathered around the tree, a motley crew of holiday cheer (and mild bickering). Thor booms with laughter as he rips open a package containing a novelty hammer-shaped mug. Natasha smirks as she unwraps a sleek new set of throwing knives from Clint. Even Bruce looks delighted by his custom-designed science gadget from Sam.

But you and Tony? You’ve been waiting for this moment all morning, both of you teasingly delaying the exchange of your gifts.

“You first,” you say, nudging him with your elbow. “I want to see what you’ve been hiding in that workshop of yours.”

Tony’s grin spreads wide, a mix of excitement and nerves. “Oh, trust me, sweetheart, this one’s worth the wait.”

He reaches under the tree and pulls out a medium-sized box wrapped in shiny silver paper. Handing it to you with a flourish, he leans back to watch your reaction, his eyes sparkling like a kid on Christmas morning.

You tear into the wrapping paper eagerly, revealing a sleek wooden box with a brass clasp. Inside, nestled in velvet, is a handcrafted piece of art—a delicate, intricate snow globe. The base is engraved with your initials intertwined with his, and the scene inside is unmistakably Stark: a miniature version of you and Tony, standing arm in arm next to a scaled-down Iron Man suit, all framed by a sparkling winter wonderland.

Your breath catches. “Tony… this is…”

“There’s more,” he interrupts, leaning forward eagerly. “Shake it.”

You do, and as the snow swirls around, holographic lights within the globe flicker to life. Tiny projections play out in the air—a montage of your most cherished memories together, from your first date to lazy mornings in the penthouse, all culminating in a tiny glowing heart, just like the one in Tony’s arc reactor.

Tears well in your eyes, and you look up at him, overwhelmed. “Tony, this is… it’s perfect. It’s us.”

He smirks, brushing it off, but you can see the pride in his eyes. “I figured I’d go for something understated this year.”

You laugh, setting the globe carefully on the coffee table before launching yourself into his arms. “Thank you. I love it. I love you.”

“I know,” he quips, pulling you into a kiss that’s soft and sweet. “Merry Christmas, Peppermint.”

The rest of the room groans at the display, but neither of you notice.

“Okay,” Tony says after a moment, clearly eager now. “Your turn. Let’s see what my genius, gorgeous girlfriend came up with.”

You grin, your nerves suddenly kicking in as you grab the box you’ve been hiding behind the tree. It’s wrapped in festive red paper, topped with a glittery bow.

“Here,” you say, handing it to him. “Be careful. It’s… uh… delicate.”

Tony narrows his eyes playfully. “Delicate? What did you get me, a Fabergé egg?”

“Just open it,” you reply, your heart pounding.

He takes his time unwrapping it, deliberately dragging out the suspense until you swat his arm. Finally, he pulls off the lid, revealing a soft, tiny onesie folded neatly on top. It’s bright red and gold, designed to mimic his Iron Man suit, with “Iron Baby” written across the front in bold letters.

Tony stares at it for a beat, then looks up at you, brow furrowed. “Uh… is this for… like, a doll? Or are you suggesting I start a baby clothing line?”

You can’t help but laugh nervously. “Keep going,” you urge, gesturing toward the box.

Still confused, Tony sets the onesie aside and peeks beneath it. There, tucked beneath a layer of tissue paper, are the ultrasound pictures.

He picks up the first one, his eyes narrowing as he examines it. The confusion melts away in stages—first to realization, then to shock, and finally to an overwhelming wave of emotion. He freezes, his hand trembling slightly as he holds the image.

“Wait,” he says, his voice hoarse. “Is this… are you…?”

You nod, tears brimming in your eyes. “Merry Christmas, Tony.”

For a moment, he’s completely speechless. His mouth opens and closes as he looks from you to the pictures and back again. When the tears come, he tries to hide them by rubbing his eyes, but there’s no stopping the emotion that floods his face.

“Oh, my God,” he whispers, his voice breaking. “You’re pregnant?”

You nod again, smiling through your own tears. “Surprise.”

Tony lets out a choked laugh, setting the pictures carefully back in the box before pulling you into his arms. He holds you so tightly it’s as if he’s afraid you might disappear.

“You made my gift look miserable,” he mumbles against your hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t compete with this. This is… this is everything.”

“You don’t have to compete,” you whisper back, your arms wrapped around his neck. “This is our everything.”

When he finally pulls back, his face is lit up with a joy you’ve never seen before. He looks at the pictures again, then at you, then back at the onesie, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I’m gonna be a dad,” he says, more to himself than anyone else. “Holy—wow. This might be the best day of my life.”

You laugh, wiping at your tears. “You think you’re ready for this?”

Tony grins, his trademark cockiness shining through even as his voice trembles. “Are you kidding? I’m Iron Man. I was born ready.”

He pauses, then adds, “Although, uh, maybe I should baby-proof the workshop.”

The two of you laugh, and when Tony pulls you in for another kiss, the rest of the world fades away. It’s just you, him, and the tiny new adventure waiting for you both.

“Merry Christmas, Peppermint,” he whispers against your lips.

“Merry Christmas, Tony.”

[do-you-have-a-flag]

just read that article from new york magazine, "Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College - ChatGPT has unraveled the entire academic project."

didn't reveal anything new to me about the use and functioning of the plagiarism-grown, glorified auto-predict, language models that were rolled out so irresponsibly it means now anyone can waste water instead of their own time and effort. but was still fascinating to read, in a bleak way.

it's so interesting because cheating and corner cutting will always exist in education, whether out of desperation or laziness, it will always be there. but by university it truly is wild how many people are not actually there to learn, because at that point if you have a program do all your work for you you are fully not there to learn so why waste your time and money playing pretend at a degree. a degree you aren't qualified for because you did not do enough.

we aren't in a post-capitalist universal basic income world where the idea of a few individuals lightly supervising automation is feasible. the technology is not there and the culture and economic stability is not there. so when a professor in the article reasons to students “you’re not actually anything different than a human assistant to an artificial-intelligence engine, and that makes you very easily replaceable. Why would anyone keep you around?” that is not hypothetical. and in terms of the degrees just because the on paper grade says you passed doesn't mean you passed it means you curated automated responses that pass with no actual guarantee of comprehension or retention of information on your part.

and there are tools and templates and minor automations that can be used to supplement your own efforts! they take longer but not that significantly, and more importantly they are less likely to impede the actual practice of learning to implementation.

that's what a lot of people who cheat or use these tools in this way seem to miss.

let me pull out three paraphrased statements of possible justifications from this article:

The education system is flawed

These exercises are irrelevant

I'm bad at organisation

these are all experientially true to my experience of education at various points. and the first point exacerbates issues with 2 and 3 to where students can feel overwhelmed or underprepared or frustrated for various reasons. however where i differ personally from the choice making of these students, is that while i never had access to such a powerful tool i still never chose to cheat or cut corners with things like chapter summaries instead of reading a book, or getting someone else to write for me, or any other obvious forms of cheating/plagiarism.

and the reason for this is not lack of frustration or feelings of antagonism towards the system or confusion over content or lack of organisation skills (all issues i had). it's that throughout my education, i am talking back to primary school, i always tried to figure out WHY we were doing the work assigned to us. what in our studies is it trying to get us to engage with, what methods does it force us to put into use to communicate that knowledge, and how much of the information have we comprehended and retained. some assignments are bad at the execution of these goals but if you can see what the goals are you can still benefit from attempting to achieve them while meeting the requirements enough to pass. IMPORTANTLY the process of doing this frustrating and often inefficient process helps not just critical thinking skills but also is how you actually learn things.

no one else can know stuff for you. it makes sense to outsource a basic sum to a calculator app on your phone, but this means you are not a mathematician. if you use a chapter by chapter summary to write a book report you have not read that book. if you read the wikipedia article for a movie you have not watched that movie. all of these are more verifiable sources of information than language models.

if you get a transcript of a lecture you did not attend and use a chatbot to make notes for you then you did not attend that class- if you read the transcript and take notes and then use the chatbot and compare the difference at least then you used your capacity for thought to process the information and assess it through comparison.... but it would be better to find a classmate and compare notes with a peer so you both have the opportunity to not only check how well you understood the lecture/refresh the information covered, but also a much lower stakes chance to try out communication skills than the group assignments and oral presentations often assigned for this purpose. and on top of that you get to socialise and network with someone in your field of study in a way that benefits both of you.

i'm not even against the use of machine learning models generally, i think they are useful in a repetitive task automation and data scanning context. but why are we delegating things like Knowing Stuff and Human Connection to the 1 and 0 machine that might as easily sell our info as have it leaked to hackers. what kind of cyberpunk surveillance dystopia are we shrugging lazily into? you do not have to pay all that money to pretend to be a competent professional. and if that sounds harsh it's because it is. there are enough scammers and barely qualified people succeeding in this world.

you do not have to dedicate your life to labours that you are not capable of, at the very least be honest with yourself of your own capacity for thought and action. genuinely try to figure out if you are using this technology because of a 'can't' or a 'won't'

it's not a tool if it knows more than you- it's a tool if you could do the job without it.

[thornyfluff]

Senator Soundwave and cassettes in childcare (or lack thereof) hell.

I'm trying something new... the comic strip will be posted tomorrow--- Stay tuned!

-----------------------------------------‐--‐------------------------------------------------------

Title: Soundwave: Signals of a Working Dad

( “Fine. I’ll Just Be Evil Then.”)

Cybertron’s towers shimmered in the golden light of Iacon’s energy grid, but Soundwave’s optic sensors twitched with mounting stress. His console pinged with diplomatic memos, classified updates, and worst of all—a rejection from yet another daycare center.

"RE: Application for Cassette Unit Supervision

We regret to inform you that your children are classified under 'military-grade espionage tools' and therefore ineligible for SparkSprouts Learning Core."

Soundwave’s vocalizer buzzed in frustration. He was a Senator, a pillar of Cybertronian law and order, yet no institution would take in his small herd of sentient cassette children—each of whom had enough destructive capability to warrant their own defense subcommittee.

Ravage had eaten through a file clerk’s desk last week. Laserbeak had imprinted on a data archivist and now refused to stop following him into the wash racks, chirping emotionally. Rumble and Frenzy had started a minor seismic event during nap time. The nap was canceled. The floor is still cracked... And the caregivers are still traumatized.

He couldn’t blame the facilities. But he also couldn’t keep dragging them to the Senate.

“Senator Soundwave,” crackled a panicked voice over the intercom, “your cassette units are in the ventilation system again. Rumble is—wait—Frenzy just launched himself out of an air duct. Is he—IS THAT A DETONATOR?”

He disconnected the call without comment, which was Soundwave for “I am internally screaming.” Then came the final straw. An emergency Senate meeting. High priority. High stakes. Attendance mandatory. No dependents allowed.”

Soundwave sat very still. Shoulders slumped. Optics dimmed. His spark ached in that slow, quiet way familiar to every working caregiver stuck in a system built by bots who clearly never had to wipe unidentifiable goo off the inside of a political briefing data pad.

Across his screen blinked another security memo: Civil unrest. Riots in Kaon. Broadcasts from Megatron again—raging about the elite and how the Senate catered only to the pristine few.

Soundwave wasn’t sure who the “elite” even were anymore. It definitely wasn’t him. Not forged in the Hall of Records. Not groomed by Primes. Not sipping high-grade energon from crystal flutes while somebody else took the spawnlings to enrichment programming.

He had clawed his way up from the shadow circuits, raised five cassette children while climbing the political ranks, and now? Now he couldn’t even get into an emergency session without a babysitter.

...Then came the final insult: An emergency Senate meeting. High alert. All Senators required. No dependents (OR CASSETTES) allowed.

He tried to reason. Briefly.

“Surely—there is a secure observation chamber—”

“Soundwave,” they interrupted, “we are on the brink of civil war. This is no place for... your cassette situation.”

“Senator Soundwave,” said the automated message, “Reminder: Today’s emergency Senate meeting is classified. No dependents allowed. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to appear will result in loss of voting privileges and probable disciplinary review.”

That was it. Not the clogged air vents. Not the Senate’s thousand-page parenting waiver forms. Not even Ravage getting banned from the cafeteria for hunting the microwave.

It was being told—once again—that his family was a “situation.”

He rage-quit the entire political infrastructure of Cybertron.

He stared at the screen. Slowly. Deliberately. He pressed a button. He activated his surveillance . system. It was the sound and sight of five cassette children screaming in unison while dismantling a vending machine.

He attached the file to his RSVP.

“Regretfully Declined. Kindly and collectively Eat My Entire Aft. Sincerely, Soundwave.”

Then, with the calm of a mech who’d just finally decided, “You know what? To the Pit with this,” he opened a comm line and dialed Megatron.

Megatron: “Soundwave. About time. You ready to rise up?”

Sondwave: “Negative. I’m ready to never fill out another daycare application form EVER again.”

M: “...You bringing the cassettes/children?”

S: “Affirmative. All of them. Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ravage.”

M: “You know we’re starting a violent uprising, right?”

S: “They love those. It's Frenzy’s favorite. I am tuning out of the bureaucratic daycare hellscape that is the Senate.

S: You want me, you take them.”

M: “Can they follow orders?”

S: “Sometimes. It's hit or miss.”

S: “They come with snacks and skills.”

In the background: *Frenzy screaming into the vents for absolutely no reason while buzzsaw and laserbeak eat through the cabling in the wall they're destroying for a nest*

M: “That’s beautiful. Welcome aboard.”

S: “Do Decepticons have healthcare?”

M: “Not really. But we’ve got free refueling and a crying/napping room behind the munitions closet.”

S: “Acceptable. Are dependents allowed to attend meetings?”

M: “They can run HR, for all I care.”

S: “I’m in.”

That night, as the Senate descended into bureaucratic chaos over who was going to draft the Emergency Parking Zoning Act of 405-B, Soundwave reclined in a dark corner of the Decepticon base. Buzzsaw nibbled at Energon snacks. Rumble and Frenzy dropkicked a punching bag labeled “Sentinal Prime.” Ravage dozed atop a crate labeled "Explosives (Definitely Not Toys)."

Soundwave sipped from a cube of high-grade fuel. He’d had enough of trying to be the perfect Senator. Now? He was a Decepticon.

They had a bring-your-minions-to-work policy. And braver babysitters with ball-bearings here. War was hell. But so was parenthood. At least here, the snacks are free and the cassetes could finally be loud. He felt vindicated.

The Senate could keep its rules, panels, and its “no cassettes allowed” elitist energon nonsense. Soundwave was a Decepticon now, and honestly? It came with free dental and part-time daycare (health and safety not guaranteed but frag if he was worried about that on a single mom’s discount ener-mojito-gon night).

And that's why Mamawave became a Decepticon. Corperate and political Cybertron hates families and the working parent.

(much like another planet we know...😤)

I swear--- the older I get, the more I agree with IDW Megatron...

--- I say we start a movement! Like---

Moms And Megatron Against the System! (MAMAS) 🫡🫡🫡

The comic I made if it:

[rametarin]

Here's a radical, capitalistic idea.

Lets pay children themselves to learn. Suddenly there's an incentive to meet certain goals. Every test they turn back correct, they're paid based on their ability to succeed.

Sign your name at the top? Get paid for that. Show your work? Get paid for that. Orthodox method of determining the solution? Get paid for that. Correct answer? Get paid for that.

And while we're at it, make the school websites accessible by their school laptops 24/7 and allow them to access their textbooks remotely, so they always have access to them. Now there's no excuse whatsoever for not having enough school textbooks for everybody to use, because the school copy is digital and can be copied once by everyone with a school laptop.

Make class time livestreamed, so students can review days they missed that school year. Even watch them at two times speed, so they can just devour through entire weeks in the span of hours and get the full benefit of listening in during class time.

Make automated computer tests that allow students to take them an infinite number of times, and the school accepts only the highest graded answer as the proof in the pudding of acquired knowledge.

You now create incentive for them to be there, and low wage has to compete with the benefits of a "day job" that is being a young student.

Create clear benchmarks and milestones and don't obfuscate the year's classwork just to make sure they spend the whole school year eating the same deviled egg and spinning their wheels with busy work, just to make the public school teachers seem like they're required to entertain children the entire year. That's time gating them and more or less holding them, and their lives, hostage. Let students choose to really slam the schedule of prepared subject matter and bypass the tyranny of only going at the pace of the teacher's lessons.

Create some sort of digital sit-in system to allow young people to watch college level courses without actually being in the classroom.

We don't have an education system. We have a system of people that legally mandate your children MUST be in attendance or else you are in violation of the law, they MUST be paid by the state to keep them there where they can have eyes kept on them, a system MUST be made that makes them provide meals for young people despite their negligent parents' ability to pay for them to eat.

That isn't an education system. It's a violent monopoly that forcefully redistributes public funds, gives the state control and custody over minors during the day, and just privileges certain people in the system. It's not about education of children, at all. It's about monopoly.

An education system should exist to allow an individual to develop at the pace that is correct for them, and only the individual can tell them that. Education at the speed of whatever's convenient for a teacher's union and ideologues in the bureaucracy is not justice nor is it a proper way to create a knowledgeable and intelligent society.

A school can take credit for the education of that child, if that child utilizes the school resources to advance their development. The system we have, it's no different from some sort of patriarchy that the progressives are always yammering about, where the academic success is arbitrarily attributed to how good the dad is at being a dad if they do good, but it's the student's fault if they fuck up.

Our public school system is designed to be incredibly inefficient not for the sake of young people, but for the sake of the system's monopoly over their lives for a window of time. It's not about education, it's about power and control. Legally putting the state on the hook to put them in seats for X-hours a day for Y number of days a year, no matter the outcomes, deliberately fostering weakness.

And here's a great big scary idea: Make it possible to graduate early, and for them to not be beholden to the school anymore.

Do you understand how hard I would've tried if I knew I could just get ages 6 to 18 over and done with and not just have another day of drudgery to look forwards to!? Another ten papers of busywork that offered opportunities to fail and permanently marr my record that I couldn't ever get back or retake? Another test that could tank my academic records and force me to take the whole year over again?

Our education system is ass backwards and horrible and I fucking hate it. It isn't designed to empower and educate people, it's designed to justify a too-big-to-fail system that argues it deserves power over other peoples' children as state property X-hours of the day, and opens them up to vectors of manipulation and exploitation and violence that we just tolerate because we're NOT ALLOWED to be intolerant towards the system's vulnerabilities and exploits.

[adafruit]

🎄💾🗓️ Day 11: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar - The SEL 840A🎄💾🗓️

Systems Engineering Laboratories (SEL) introduced the SEL 840A in 1965. This is a deep cut folks, buckle in. It was designed as a high-performance, 24-bit general-purpose digital computer, particularly well-suited for scientific and industrial real-time applications.

Notable for using silicon monolithic integrated circuits and a modular architecture. Supported advanced computation with features like concurrent floating-point arithmetic via an optional Extended Arithmetic Unit (EAU), which allowed independent arithmetic processing in single or double precision. With a core memory cycle time of 1.75 microseconds and a capacity of up to 32,768 directly addressable words, the SEL 840A had impressive computational speed and versatility for its time.

Its instruction set covered arithmetic operations, branching, and program control. The computer had fairly robust I/O capabilities, supporting up to 128 input/output units and optional block transfer control for high-speed data movement. SEL 840A had real-time applications, such as data acquisition, industrial automation, and control systems, with features like multi-level priority interrupts and a real-time clock with millisecond resolution.

Software support included a FORTRAN IV compiler, mnemonic assembler, and a library of scientific subroutines, making it accessible for scientific and engineering use. The operator’s console provided immediate access to registers, control functions, and user interaction! Designed to be maintained, its modular design had serviceability you do often not see today, with swing-out circuit pages and accessible test points.

And here's a personal… personal computer history from Adafruit team member, Dan…

== The first computer I used was an SEL-840A, PDF:

I learned Fortran on it in eight grade, in 1970. It was at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where my parents worked, and was used to take data from cyclotron experiments and perform calculations. I later patched the Fortran compiler on it to take single-quoted strings, like 'HELLO', in Fortran FORMAT statements, instead of having to use Hollerith counts, like 5HHELLO.

In 1971-1972, in high school, I used a PDP-10 (model KA10) timesharing system, run by BOCES LIRICS on Long Island, NY, while we were there for one year on an exchange.

This is the front panel of the actual computer I used. I worked at the computer center in the summer. I know the fellow in the picture: he was an older high school student at the time.

The first "personal" computers I used were Xerox Alto, Xerox Dorado, Xerox Dandelion (Xerox Star 8010), Apple Lisa, and Apple Mac, and an original IBM PC. Later I used DEC VAXstations.

Dan kinda wins the first computer contest if there was one… Have first computer memories? Post’em up in the comments, or post yours on socialz’ and tag them #firstcomputer #retrocomputing – See you back here tomorrow!

[desklibai]

Revolutionizing Education with the AI Grader Tool: A Comprehensive Guide to Grading Automation

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, technology has become a cornerstone for enhancing learning experiences and improving academic outcomes. One such technological advancement that has garnered significant attention is the AI Grader tool. This innovative solution is designed to streamline the grading process, providing educators and students with a powerful tool to enhance the quality of assignments and essays. In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and implications of using the AI Grader tool, a cutting-edge grading software that leverages AI evaluation to transform the way we approach education.

Understanding the AI Grader Tool

The AI Grader tool by Desklib is an advanced grading software that automates the evaluation of academic assignments. It is specifically tailored for college and university students, helping them achieve higher grades by thoroughly analyzing their work according to established academic standards. The tool is designed to provide detailed evaluations and feedback, ensuring that students can identify areas for improvement and enhance their overall performance.

How the AI Grader Works

Using the AI Grader tool is a straightforward process that involves a few simple steps:

Upload Your Assignment Files: Start by uploading your assignment files, including rubrics, prompts, or any additional information. The tool supports a wide range of file formats such as .pdf, .doc(x), .ppt(x), .odt, and .odf, ensuring comprehensive evaluation.

Upload Your Solution: Next, upload the files containing your completed assignment. Ensure that all relevant sections are included to enable a full analysis of content, structure, and adherence to assignment guidelines.

Select Additional Checks: Customize your evaluation by selecting from a range of additional checks, such as grammar review, plagiarism scan, AI content detection, word count verification, and reference validation.

Receive a Detailed Evaluation Report: After processing, you'll receive a detailed report that includes scores, feedback, and actionable suggestions for improvement.

Key Features of the AI Grader Tool

The AI Grader tool offers several features that set it apart from traditional grading methods:

Grammar and Language Check: Identifies and corrects grammatical errors, ensuring your writing is polished and professional.

Plagiarism Check: Ensures the originality of your work, helping you avoid academic dishonesty.

AI Content Detection: Detects AI-generated content, maintaining the integrity of your work.

Word Count Verification: Confirms that your assignment meets the required word count.

Reference Validation: Verifies the credibility and formatting of your references.

Benefits of Using the AI Grader Tool

Enhanced Efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of the AI Grader tool is its ability to automate the grading process. This intelligent grading system saves educators valuable time, allowing them to focus on more critical aspects of teaching, such as lesson planning and student engagement. For students, it provides immediate feedback, enabling them to make timely revisions and improvements.

Improved Accuracy

The AI Grader tool uses state-of-the-art technology to provide accurate and reliable feedback. By leveraging AI evaluation, it offers detailed and constructive evaluations that help students understand their strengths and weaknesses. This level of precision ensures that students receive the guidance they need to achieve better grades.

Comprehensive Feedback

The detailed evaluation report generated by the AI Grader tool provides an in-depth analysis of your assignment. It includes an overall score, detailed feedback, actionable suggestions, and an instant download option for quick review and improvements. This comprehensive feedback helps students identify areas that need improvement, making it easier to enhance the quality of their work.

Customization and Flexibility

The AI Grader tool offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to select additional checks based on their specific needs. Whether you need a grammar review, plagiarism scan, or reference validation, the tool provides the flexibility to tailor the evaluation process to your requirements.

Security and Privacy

Desklib takes privacy and security seriously. All files and information uploaded to the AI Grader tool are handled with the utmost confidentiality, ensuring that your work remains private and secure. This commitment to data protection gives users peace of mind, knowing that their information is in safe hands.

How to Use the Evaluation Report to Improve Your Assignment

The evaluation report generated by the AI Grader tool is a valuable resource for students looking to enhance their work. By carefully reviewing the feedback and suggestions, students can make targeted revisions to improve the quality of their assignments. Here are some tips on how to use the evaluation report effectively:

Identify Key Areas for Improvement: The report highlights specific areas where your work can be improved. Focus on these areas to make the most significant impact on your overall grade.

Implement Actionable Suggestions: The report provides actionable suggestions for improvement. Follow these recommendations to address any issues and enhance the quality of your work.

Revise and Resubmit: After making the necessary revisions, resubmit your assignment to the AI Grader tool to see if your changes have improved your overall score.

Conclusion

The AI Grader tool by Desklib is a game-changer in the field of education. By leveraging AI evaluation and grading automation, it provides a powerful solution for both educators and students. The tool's comprehensive evaluation process, detailed feedback, and customizable features make it a valuable asset in the pursuit of academic excellence.

As we continue to embrace technological advancements in education, the AI Grader tool stands out as a prime example of how educational AI tools can transform the learning experience. By automating the grading process and providing detailed feedback, it empowers students to achieve their full potential and educators to focus on what truly matters—teaching.

To experience the benefits of the AI Grader tool for yourself, visit https://desklib.com/ai-grader/ and start your journey towards improved academic performance today.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Do gallifreyans have jobs? Like a cashier or a janitor or a nannie?

Do Gallifreyans have jobs?

🎓 Post-Academy Occupations

There's no strict requirement for Gallifreyans to be employed because the concept of money is outdated to many of them, but a lot take up roles to stave off boredom or help in the community. After completing their education, Gallifreyans have several potential career paths, influenced by their level of academic achievement:

5th Grade Graduates

Those who leave the academy after the 5th grade often take roles such as:

Media Commentators

Artists

Aides for Cardinals

Aides for Junior Time Lords

6th Grade Graduates

Passing the 6th grade opens up more technical and administrative roles, like:

Administration and Maintenance of the Citadel

Space Traffic Controllers

Junior Technicians

Temporal Nexus Point Observation Researchers

Lab Assistants

Service in the Watch

7th Grade Graduates

Graduating the 7th Grade is very impressive, and opens up the highest echelons of Gallifreyan society like being a Cardinal or the Lord President. However, not a lot of people get this far.

🤖 Automated Assistance

Gallifreyan society heavily relies on advanced automation to meet virtually every need, reducing the necessity for many jobs humans are used to, for example:

Cleaning Machines: Automated systems patrol city complexes and handle street cleaning.

Druges: Massive automated humanoid servants found throughout Gallifreyan Houses.

Robotic Avatroids: Avatroids supervise children's brainbuffing (intensive education) and act as nannies.

🏫 So…

Gallifreyans don't need to work like humans, but many choose to keep busy with jobs or hobbies that interest them. With all their fancy machines, they can focus on the cool stuff – like art, science, and not-so-menial tasks.

Related:

💬|⏰🎉Do Time Lords celebrate their birthday?: The (non)importance of name-days.

💬|⏰🕯️How does religion work on Gallifrey?: Overview of the history and perception of religion throughout Gallifrey’s history.

💬|⏰💄Do Time Lords have a beauty industry?: The fashion trends and general attitudes towards make up and clothes.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[altaqwaelectric]

Understanding the Role of Busbars, Circuit Breakers, and Relays in Switchgear

In the world of electrical distribution and control systems, switchgear plays a pivotal role in managing, protecting, and isolating electrical circuits and equipment. Within a switchgear assembly, components like busbars, circuit breakers, and relays are essential for ensuring efficient operation and maximum safety. Understanding the role of each of these components can help professionals and businesses make better decisions when designing or upgrading their electrical systems.

What Is Switchgear?

Switchgear is a general term that encompasses a wide range of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, circuit breakers, and associated equipment used to control, protect, and isolate electrical equipment. These systems are critical for both high-voltage and low-voltage applications and are commonly found in industrial plants, commercial buildings, power plants, and substations.

1. Busbars: The Power Distribution Backbone

Busbars are metallic strips or bars — typically made of copper or aluminum — that conduct electricity within a switchgear or distribution board. Their main function is to distribute electrical power to multiple circuits from a single input source.

Key Functions:

· Efficient Power Distribution: Busbars act as a central hub for distributing power to various outgoing circuits.

· Compact Design: Helps in reducing the overall footprint of the switchgear.

· Heat Dissipation: Designed to handle high currents while minimizing heat build-up.

Applications:

· Power distribution panels

· Switchboards and MCCs (Motor Control Centers)

· Panelboards and switchgear cubicles

2. Circuit Breakers: Protection from Overcurrent

Circuit breakers are automatic electrical switches designed to protect electrical circuits from damage due to overcurrent or short circuits. Unlike fuses, circuit breakers can be reset manually or automatically after tripping.

Key Functions:

· Fault Interruption: Instantly disconnects the circuit during faults to prevent damage or fire.

· Manual Switching: Can be used to manually turn circuits on or off during maintenance.

· Safety Compliance: Ensures that systems meet international safety standards (IEC, ANSI, etc.)

Types of Circuit Breakers:

· MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker): Used for low-power applications

· MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker): Handles higher loads than MCBs

· ACB (Air Circuit Breaker): Used for high-current circuits in industrial settings

3. Relays: The Sensing and Control Brains

Relays are electromechanical or solid-state devices that detect faults and send signals to circuit breakers or other control devices to disconnect the circuit. They are the “brains” behind the automatic protection mechanism of the switchgear.

Key Functions:

· Fault Detection: Monitors voltage, current, and other parameters to detect anomalies.

· Triggering Action: Sends signals to trip the circuit breaker when necessary.

· Automation and Coordination: Works in coordination with other protection devices to ensure selective tripping.

Types of Relays:

Overcurrent Relays

Differential Relays

Distance Relays

Earth Fault Relays

Why These Components Matter

Together, busbars, circuit breakers, and relays form the core of any switchgear system. When properly selected and configured:

· Downtime is minimized

· Equipment lifespan is extended

· Operational safety is enhanced

· Energy efficiency is improved

In an era where electrical reliability is non-negotiable, understanding these components isn’t just for engineers — it’s essential knowledge for decision-makers in any industry reliant on power.

Conclusion

Whether you’re designing a new electrical panel or upgrading an old one, choosing high-quality busbars, circuit breakers, and relays is critical to the safety and efficiency of your entire system. At AL Taqwa Oman, we specialize in premium-grade switchgear accessories that meet global standards and deliver unmatched performance.

Need help finding the right accessories for your panel? Contact our experts today and power your systems with confidence.

[republicsecurity]

Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component of the Armor Suit

The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component is an integral part of the advanced full-body armor suit worn by Cadets, Conscripts, Reservists and Intendurds in the Security Forces, Lifeguards, Paramedic Corps and Nursing Corps and training academies. This component is designed to ensure hygiene, control, and comfort for the wearer, whether used in conjunction with the full armor suit or as a standalone piece of equipment.

Design and Features

Material: Constructed from high-density, hypoallergenic synthetic fabrics, the component provides durability, flexibility, and breathability. The inner lining is coated with an antimicrobial layer to prevent infections and maintain cleanliness over extended periods.

Two-Chamber Design: The component features a specialized two-chamber design. One chamber securely encases the penis, while the other accommodates the scrotum, ensuring both are protected and kept in an optimal environment. This design helps in preventing chafing and maintaining hygiene, even during extended periods of use.

Chastity Mechanism: The chastity feature includes a secure, ergonomic cage designed to prevent unauthorized sexual activity. Made from lightweight, medical-grade polymers, it ensures comfort while maintaining strict control. The cage can be adjusted to fit various sizes and shapes, ensuring a snug but non-restrictive fit.

Waste Management: Integrated into the design is an advanced waste management system. This includes absorbent layers capable of handling urine and fecal matter, which are quickly wicked away to prevent discomfort and skin irritation. The component can be easily cleaned and sanitized, whether worn as part of the armor or independently.

Compatibility: The component seamlessly integrates with the full-body armor suit. Connection points allow for the automated removal and disposal of waste, managed by the suit’s internal systems. When worn independently, it functions efficiently, ensuring the wearer remains hygienic and comfortable.

Security and Monitoring: Equipped with biometric sensors, the component monitors the wearer’s physiological state, transmitting data to the suit’s central processing unit or an external monitoring system. This includes tracking hydration levels, waste excretion, arousal and other vital signs to ensure optimal health and performance.

Comfort and Fit: Designed for extended wear, the component features adjustable straps and a contoured design to prevent chafing and discomfort. The fit can be customized to each wearer, ensuring it remains secure without impeding movement or flexibility.

Usage and Maintenance

Usage: The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component is designed for continuous use up to 7 days, with a standard operational period of 5 days. This duration ensures that cadets remain in peak condition during extended training exercises or deployments, without the need for frequent removal or maintenance.

Maintenance: Regular cleaning and sanitization are required to maintain its functionality and hygiene standards. The component can be detached from the suit and cleaned using standard military-grade cleaning agents. Replacement parts and servicing are available through authorized personnel and facilities.

The Standard Chastity/Underwear/Diaper Component exemplifies the blend of technological innovation and practical application, ensuring cadets maintain hygiene and comfort during their rigorous training and operational duties.

[almondenterprise]

How High-Quality Low-Voltage Switchgear Accessories Save You Money!

One of the main goals of industrial power systems is to cut costs without sacrificing performance.

Upgrading your low-voltage switchgear accessories is one frequently disregarded method to accomplish this.

Let’s discuss how purchasing high-quality switchgear accessories can extend the life of your electrical infrastructure, reduce operating costs, and boost system performance in this guide.

What Are Low-Voltage Switchgear Accessories?

Low-voltage switchgear accessories are parts that improve how well your electrical switchgear systems work, keep them safe, and make them reliable. These include:

- Circuit breakers

- Contactors

- Busbar systems

- Surge protection devices (SPDs)

- Control relays

- Communication and monitoring modules

They offer power distribution, fault protection, and real-time system monitoring and are therefore crucial in industrial automation and energy management.

1. Minimize Downtime and Improve Productivity

Cheap, low-quality parts are likely to break down, grinding work to a standstill. Every hour of unscheduled downtime at a plant equals lost work and income.

✅ Advantage:

The superior switchgear elements can withstand more load, function through more switch cycles, and withstand more demanding conditions. It guarantees power flows smoothly at all times and decreases the possibility of shutdowns.

2. Extend the Lifespan of Equipment

Switchgear accessories form the first line of defense for your equipment. Low-quality accessories will let surges or faults pass through and can destroy costly equipment like motors, drives, and PLCs.

✅ Advantage

Stable components such as motor protection relays and surge protection devices maintain voltage levels constant and prevent overloads, thus safeguarding equipment downstream of them.

3. Reduce Maintenance and Replacement Costs

Sustained maintenance, breakdown calls, and replacement components are costly over time. Cheap parts fail early, thereby adding to your maintenance load.

✅ Advantage:

Purchasing robust, low-maintenance accessories translates to fewer services and repairs, which results in overall savings.

4. Improve Energy Efficiency

Loss of power and energy inefficiency typically start with old or badly designed switchgear devices. Even small problems within a big system can lead to higher energy bills.

✅ Advantage:

Good-quality accessories provide the highest conductivity and proper switching, allowing for optimal voltage output maintenance and avoiding energy wastage.

5. Enhance Electrical Safety and Regulatory Compliance

Faulty accessories are a main cause of electrical fire and safety hazards. Substandard systems can also fail to meet industry standards.

✅ Advantage:

Good quality switchgear parts typically conform to IEC, UL, or other important standards for safe functioning and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion: Small Components, Big Savings

Cheap accessories can appear to be a good deal initially but can turn out to be costly over time. Employing quality low-voltage switchgear accessories guarantees that:

- Less system crashes

- Equipment lasts longer

- Reduced maintenance

- Reduced energy costs

- Safer operations

Looking for Reliable Low-Voltage Switchgear Accessories?

At Almond Enterprise, we specialize in supplying industrial-grade switchgear components that deliver long-term performance and value.

Contact Our Experts: sales.almond@almondenterprise.com for tailored recommendations