#Data Entry Work From Home Project

[ssbponetwork]

Data Entry Work From Home Project

The idea of working from home has become a reality for many, bringing flexibility and convenience to our daily lives. One such opportunity is the data entry work from home project, which combines the ease of working remotely with the assurance of steady income. SSBPO Network is proud to offer reliable and affordable data entry projects for individuals seeking meaningful work-from-home solutions.

Here are six key reasons why choosing SSBPO Network for data entry work from home can make a difference in your life:

1. Flexible Work Environment

Life can be unpredictable, and the traditional 9-to-5 job may not suit everyone. With SSBPO Network, you can enjoy the flexibility of working from home while managing your personal commitments. Whether you’re a parent balancing childcare or someone pursuing higher education, our data entry projects are designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule.

This flexibility allows you to:

Work at your own pace

Set your hours

Choose projects that match your skills and availability

By joining SSBPO Network, you gain the freedom to create a work routine that works best for you.

2. Earn a Stable Income

The uncertainty of finding stable work can be overwhelming, especially when working from home. SSBPO Network offers data entry work from home projects that provide a reliable source of income. With clear guidelines, regular project assignments, and timely payments, you can focus on delivering quality work without worrying about inconsistencies.

Our projects cater to various skill levels, ensuring there’s an opportunity for everyone—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional. We believe in rewarding hard work and dedication, making SSBPO Network a trusted platform for earning from the comfort of your home.

3. No Need for Extensive Training or Experience

One of the most appealing aspects of data entry work from home projects with SSBPO Network is the accessibility. You don’t need an advanced degree or extensive experience to get started. Basic computer skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy are all you need to succeed.

We provide straightforward instructions and guidance for every project, ensuring that even beginners can perform their tasks with confidence. For those looking to enhance their skills, we offer additional resources and support to help you excel in your work.

4. Supportive Team and Resources

Working from home doesn’t mean you have to work alone. At SSBPO Network, we prioritize creating a supportive environment for our team. From addressing your queries to providing assistance with technical challenges, our dedicated support team is always ready to help.

We also provide resources to make your work easier, including:

Step-by-step project instructions

Tips for improving efficiency

Tools for quality checks

This support ensures that you feel connected and confident, even while working remotely.

5. Affordable and Transparent Opportunities

For individuals looking to start a work-from-home journey, finding affordable and genuine opportunities can be challenging. SSBPO Network stands out by offering transparent and budget-friendly projects. We value honesty and ensure that there are no hidden charges or unreasonable demands when you join us.

Our process is simple and straightforward. Once you sign up, you’ll receive projects tailored to your skills and availability. This transparency and affordability make SSBPO Network the go-to choice for data entry work from home.

6. A Path to Personal Growth and Confidence

Beyond financial benefits, engaging in data entry work from home with SSBPO Network can also contribute to your personal growth. Completing projects on time and maintaining high standards of accuracy can boost your confidence and enhance your sense of accomplishment.

For many, working from home can feel isolating, but staying productive and connected with a supportive team helps you remain motivated. SSBPO Network’s commitment to providing meaningful work and a positive experience empowers you to grow both professionally and personally.

Why Choose SSBPO Network for Data Entry Work From Home Projects?

SSBPO Network is dedicated to making remote work opportunities accessible and rewarding for everyone. Our focus on flexibility, affordability, and support has made us a trusted partner for those seeking data entry work from home.

We’ve helped individuals across various backgrounds find meaningful work that fits their lifestyle. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone looking for additional income, our data entry projects offer a practical solution to your needs.

By choosing SSBPO Network, you’re not just taking on a project—you’re becoming part of a team that values your time, skills, and commitment.

Get Started Today

If you’re ready to start your journey with data entry work from home, SSBPO Network is here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to us today to learn more about our projects and how we can help you achieve your goals. Let us handle the complexities of data entry so you can focus on what matters most—creating a fulfilling work-life balance.

Join the growing community of individuals who trust SSBPO Network for their work-from-home needs. Together, let’s build a future that combines convenience, growth, and success.

[reasonsforhope]

"For over a decade, the Yosemite toad has been recognized as a federally threatened species, after experiencing a 50% population decline during the Rim Fire of 2013.

The wildfire, which encompassed a mass of land near Yosemite National Park, made the amphibian species especially vulnerable in its home habitat. 

Native to the Sierra Nevada, the toads play a key role in the area’s ecosystem — and conservationists stepped in to secure their future.

In 2017, the San Francisco Zoo’s conservation team began working with the National Park Service, Yosemite Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the U.S. Geological Survey. 

The goal of all of these stakeholders? To raise their own Yosemite toads, re-establishing a self-sustaining population in the wild. 

“Over the past several years, SF Zoo’s conservation team has been busily raising hundreds of these small but significant amphibians from tadpole stage, a species found only in the Sierra Nevada, for the purpose of reintroducing them to an area of Yosemite National Park where it was last seen 11 years ago,” the zoo shared on social media. 

By 2022, a group of toads were deemed ready for release — and at the end of June of this year [2024], 118 toads were flown via helicopter back to their habitat.

“It’s the first time anyone has ever raised this species in captivity and released them to the wild,” Rochelle Stiles, field conservation manager at the San Francisco Zoo, told SFGATE. “It’s just incredible. It makes what we do at the zoo every day worthwhile.”

Over the past two years, these toads were fed a diet of crickets and vitamin supplements and were examined individually to ensure they were ready for wildlife release.

Zoo team members inserted a microchip into each toad to identify and monitor its health. In addition, 30 of the toads were equipped with radio transmitters, allowing their movements to be tracked using a radio receiver and antenna.

The project doesn’t end with this single wildlife release; it’s slated to take place over the next five years, as conservationists continue to collect data about the toads’ breeding conditions and survivability in an ever-changing climate. They will also continue to raise future toad groups at the zoo’s wellness and conservation center...

While the future of the Yosemite toad is still up in the air — and the uncertainty of climate change makes this a particularly audacious leap of faith — the reintroduction of these amphibians could have positive ripple effects for all of Yosemite.

Their re-entry could restore the population balance of invertebrates and small vertebrates that the toads consume, as well as balance the food web, serving as prey for snakes, birds, and other local predators.

“Zoo-reared toads can restore historic populations,” Nancy Chan, director of communications at the San Francisco Zoo, told SFGATE. 

Stiles continued: “This is our backyard, our home, and we want to bring native species back to where they belong.”

-via GoodGoodGood, July 11, 2024

[signedaiko]

Hey Aiko! Thanks for the HCs from the last request, I really enjoyed reading every word of them.

You know those math equations where they spell “I Love You” as the final answers?

Could I request HCs of [MTMTE/LL] Perceptor where Cybertronian![Reader] [Gender Neutral] has a huge crush on him and pretends to ask for his help with some equations when they’re actually confessing their love to him through the complicated numbers and symbols?

Happy Ending: He likes them back.

Perceptor X Reader [MTMTE]

In which Perceptor's lab assistant confesses in the numeric language they both work with.

Reader is: Gender Neutral | Cybertronian | Autobot. Romantic.

The science wing aboard the Lost Light had become your home the last couple of months

More specifically, Perceptor's lab, where you'd been handpicked by the scientist to assist him with research

It was a dream come true! I mean, whatever the quest the ship was on was, it was fun and all, but having read every last one of Perceptor's research papers and lab reports, it felt wrong to be the one picked to help

He was Cybertron's genius, the best of the best, and he wasn't weird about it either

Most days you'd stand in the lab, comparing and accumulating data relevant to his research, taking care of any specimen, and cleaning

Most commonly, you were tasked with chemical waste disposal; each chemical was different, and each process was longer than the last

Today, however, Perceptor tasked you with sorting through the 'other' portfolio of research data

It was a list of all kinds of extras that were never finished, tasks galore.

It was also the perfect opportunity for you to work closely with him, since he was helping you comb through it

"What about the anti-anti-matter gun?"

"Anything with the word 'gun' is just Brainstorm trying to get me to do his projects for him. Dispose of it."

While he handled the physical box of 'other' projects, you were sifting through the online database

Thankfully your job was easier because you'd been so distracted watching him across from you and mulling over your plan that you wouldn't get anywhere otherwise

Truthfully, you'd long since sorted through everything using a quick sorting algorithm, but you'd been pretending to keep busy as you contemplated the pros and cons of confessing to Perceptor

He was your boss; if he didn't feel the same, it'd be awkward working with him every day

But your work performance was dropping with all the time you spent staring at him and daydreaming of your lives together

"Sorry, Perceptor, one last question. What is this?"

It was an entry with one equation: 9x - 7i > 3(3x - 7u)

"Don't know; you can note what it solves and delete the main file."

"But what are we solving for?"

Your bait worked, and the scientist stood up to walk behind you, leaning over your chair to get a better glimpse

"Nothing, you're supposed to fill in for 'i' and 'u,' but you can simplify it."

He leaned further in to point at the brackets

"Multiply everything in there by three. Yes, just like that. So now we have 9x - 7i > 9x - 21u."

As funny as it was that he thought you couldn't calculate it on your own, you let him continue

"9x is then cancelled out on both sides, leaving you with -7i > -21u. just divide by three and then..."

"i <3 u"

"Yes, exactly, that's as simplified as you can get it until you identify 'i' and 'u'"

Your smile faltered, realizing he may have still not understood what it said

God, how could you have expected this to work?

"Thanks, Perc—"

"For example, you could substitute 'i' for 'Perceptor' and 'u' for you. Come on now, don't act like I couldn't figure out your game. You think so little of my intellect?"

When you turned to look at him, you realized he was looking at you rather than the screen, a cocky smile sprawled across his face

"I swear I don't; I was just—"

"Just what? Thinking I thought you couldn't solve simple operations? Thinking I would have 'forgotten' such a small equation in my data banks?"

You hid your face behind your hands to try and hide the blush, but Perceptor was already chuckling and pulling you up from where you sat

"Well, if it means anything..."

He reached to the keyboard, adding an extra character

'i <3 u 2'

Author's Note - I love this guy. What a fella, what an enjoyable cocky fella!!!! Thank you for requesting!

[pleasured-ambrosia]

hi!! could you do a drabble of miguel protecting fem!reader from an ex or something like that? also i love your work !!

((Might get put on Ao3. Have not decided. College is hard. This was also written to be like pre-ASTV, back when Miguel wasn’t so sad and grumpy.))

The sound of your back popping breaks the long silence in Miguel’s office, your arms stretching to the ceiling as you let out a yawn. You had begun the long process of cataloging the many anomalies faced by fellow Spider-People that morning. However, even as the little clock at the bottom of your laptop screen flashes the late hour of the night, your stack of encounters is still tall enough to wobble at the slightest bump against your desk. The reports—if one could even call them that—are a mix of typed and written sheets of paper, as well as the stray napkin blobbed with ketchup or more mysterious substances.

Although it had been your idea to keep a database of anomaly encounters, you couldn’t have predicted that Spider-People had such . . . diverse forms of keeping track of their adventures.

A mug appears in your peripheral, breaking you from your thoughts. Your eyes follow the large hand wrapped around its handle, landing on the vague shape of Miguel O’Hara’s face, lit only by the orange hues of his computers. At one point, he had offered to teach you how to use them, but the process only put off your project’s completion further.

“I’m just taking a break,” you half-defend, half-yawn.

“Nah,” replies Miguel, nudging the mug closer to you. “You’re done for the night. Get some sleep.”

You sipped from the mug, letting the taste of herbal tea drown out your complaints. Your eyes take in Miguel’s form, noting that his usual blue and red suit was replaced with a gray jogging suit better-suited for your dimension than his. “No patrolling tonight?”

“I will after I take you home.”

You raise a brow with a small grin. “I can work a portal just fine, you know.”

“It’s not that.” Miguel’s stance shifts as he shoves his large hands into his pockets. “I just want to make sure you get home safe.”

Your grin widens. “So I can’t take care of myself, is that it?”

Miguel lets out a frustrated noise from the back of his throat. “No, I didn’t mean it like that . . . Por Dios, I just mean—“

“Miguel, relax. I’m messing with you. Walk me home if you want, but I have to stop by the store on the way home. Sound good?”

“As long as it’s quick.” Yet Miguel didn’t seem to mean it, watching as you pack up your laptop and roll up its charging cable. The two of you look almost normal standing in Miguel’s office, with him dressed in sweats and you opting out of your Spider-ensemble for an oversized sweater and a pair of jeans. You sling your laptop bag over your shoulder, imagining what it would be like for Miguel to walk you to a train or a bus rather than busting out a portal. You could probably make a decent living off data entry, but what would Miguel do? Maybe he would be a scientist, and despite working in two different departments, maybe he would become your friend.

“What’re you thinking about?” Miguel asks. He taps a button on his watch (which he would insist is, in fact, way cooler than a watch.) A portal of geometric shapes in red, orange, and yellow opens in the middle of Miguel’s lab, swirling with anticipation.

The vision of Miguel in a white coat and a button-up makes you snort. “Nothing.”

Before Miguel can press further, you grab his forearm and drag him through the portal.

Miguel has more practice at inter-dimensional than you, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that he remained calm as the portal thrusted the two of you through time and space. You, however, are less professional, waving your arms and resisting the urge to scream as your stomach turns into knots.

Landing on his feet, Miguel catches you before you can face plant onto the pavement of Earth-575, otherwise known as home. Your face burns with embarrassment as it hits the center of his chest and your arms wrap around Miguel’s middle. He’s warm, you think. And soft!

It was obvious to everyone in the Spider-Society that Miguel was in great shape. After all, most of the Spider training regiments had come from some of his own workouts. The man could probably rearrange your apartment without breaking a sweat, which was why it came as such a shock that despite Miguel’s muscles, you feel ready to snuggle into him like a pillow.

“You should really work on sticking that landing.”

You push Miguel away to glare up at his smug face. “You’ll get humbled real fast when I knock your ass to the ground.”

At that, Miguel roars with laughter. “I’d like to see you try.”

You huff, spinning around to take a look at the nearest street sign. The nearest convenience store is only two blocks away, making your apartment only an extra two. “Let’s move it, O’Hara. If you’re nice, I’ll buy you a snack.”

Although Miguel could very well buy his own snacks, he follows you anyways, taking extra care to shorten his strides so that he can walk by your side. Most of the residents of your city are tucked in bed by now, although a handful of lights accompany the sporadic streetlights. Besides the occasional rat or partygoer, you and Miguel are the only ones still out.

“Did you think the college kids were going to kidnap me in the middle of the night?” you tease.

“Absolutely,” Miguel deadpans. “They’d lock you in the basement of their frat house, and you’d starve because they haven’t gone grocery shopping since the semester started.”

“Is that what you did in college? Lure people into your frat house of doom?”

“Absolutely not.” Miguel beams with pride, his chest puffing out. “I was on the quiz bowl team.”

Your cackles bounce off the tall buildings lining the streets. Tears spring from the corners of your eyes as you clutch your stomach to keep it from aching. You can picture it now: a scrawny, awkward Miguel with thick glasses frantically consulting his team for the championship-winning answer.

“And when did you become all of this?” you ask, gesturing at Miguel.

He ponders this for a moment. “I didn’t become Spider-Man until I joined Alchemax, but I guess I branched out a little more towards the end of undergrad. Got more into working out, making connections.”

You turn around a corner, finding the entrance to a small convenience store. A small bell rings as you pull open the door, Miguel propping his arm over your head so that you can enter first.

“I’ll just be a second,” you assure him.

“One,” Miguel starts.

“Real mature, O’Hara.”

“Two.”

“Seriously, I’m going to web your mouth shut.”

“Three.”

“I swear to God—“

“Four—“

You make a beeline for the coolers towards the back, tuning out Miguel’s chuckling. By the time you pick out a half-gallon of milk, he’s perusing the long aisles of chips. You never really stopped to ask what kind of brands and flavors Miguel has in his dimension. They banned cigarettes and absurdly large sodas at gas stations, but that was all you heard. You make a mental note to ask, maybe even to buy Miguel something new to try.

You load up on a mishmash of items that hardly pass for a late-night dinner, filling your arms with small plastic bowls of cereal, styrofoam cups of ramen, and an overpriced bag of beef jerky. It’s not until you start weighing the pros and cons of ice cream over chocolate that you notice him.

His hair is longer than when you saw him last, curling around his ears in dark tufts. His guitar case is slung over his shoulder, and judging by the heavy eyeshadow and leather pants, he must’ve had a gig earlier.

You decide to skip grabbing something sweet, spinning around to make a beeline for the cashier when he calls out your name.

Shit.

You turn around slowly, heart hammering in your throat. It takes everything in you to force a smile. “Kasey, hey.”

“Long time no see. Haven’t seen you at The Clover lately.”

“Oh, you know,” you’re thankful that the bundle of snacks in your arms gives you something to hold, “just been busy. Haven’t had time to go out.”

You used to rehearse this moment in the bathroom. You had a whole script where you laid everything out on the table—gave Kasey the verbal beat down he deserved. Yet as you stand across from him, the words won’t come out. Is it my Spidey-sense? you wonder, but this feels different. Your Spidey-sense always led you to action. Whatever this was . . . it was paralyzing.

“I tried texting you,” Kasey continues.

I changed my number, you want to say.

“I haven’t been checking my messages lately.” Your voice cracks at the end, and you can tell Kasey noticed. Kasey always noticed.

“We should grab a drink, then. I actually just finished up tonight if you want to—“

“Are you ready to go?”

A large arm wraps around the small of your back and pulls you close, prompting a small oomf. You tilt your head back to look at Miguel. “Oh, uh, yeah. I’m ready.”

Kasey says your name again and smiles, sending a shiver down your spine. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Miguel smiles down at Kasey, who barely reaches his chest. The expression looks more like a test than one out of sincerity. “I’m Miguel, and you are interrupting our date.”

Before you can reply, Miguel steers you to the cashier. He sets a bag of chips you didn’t even realize he was holding onto the counter and waits for you to do the same. You reach for your wallet, but Miguel’s faster, handing the cashier a twenty and not bothering to wait for the change as he takes the plastic grocery bags. As he escorts you out of the convenience store, you catch one last glimpse of Kasey’s slack-jawed face.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” you moan halfway down the block.

“I have paid for your snacks plenty of times.”

“No, not that. You shut him up just like that!” You snap your fingers for emphasis. “And you said we were on a date. And you put your arm around me!”

“It was the first thing that came to mind!” argues Miguel. “I didn’t need your Spider-sense—“

“Spidey-sense.”

“Lo que sea—to tell that you needed a little help.”

A beat of silence passes.

“Some great hero I am,” you grumble. “Can’t even handle an ex-boyfriend on my own.”

“We all have people that get under our skin. And sometimes no matter how hard we try to get them out, we can’t.”

Miguel’s gaze focuses on the street ahead, his face contemplative.

“You know, a convenience store would be a pretty lame first date.”

Miguel shrugs. “Well, if you’re going to be so ungrateful, I guess I’ll just eat all of this junk food myself.”

You did not tease Miguel for the rest of the night.

[collapsedsquid]

A 21-year-old man who died fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine has been identified as the son of a senior official in the CIA. Michael Gloss was killed on the front line in the eastern Donetsk region in April last year, Important Stories, a Russian investigative outlet, reported. He was the son of Juliane Gallina, the CIA deputy director for digital innovation, and Larry Gloss, a US navy veteran who took part in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War of the early 1990s. On social media and in online chats with members of the Rainbow Family, a countercultural group that traces its roots to the activism of the 1970s, Gloss spoke of his disgust with America. He wrote on Telegram: “When I finally figured out how the US political system works, I realised that violence is an integral part of it.” On Instagram, he posted a picture of himself putting up his finger to the US Capitol. Another post showed a burning American flag. Acquaintances of the former boy scout and high school lacrosse player said he was enraged by Israel’s war in Gaza and had become an avid consumer of conspiracy theories. According to Important Stories, he told one friend that Western hegemony was fading and that the future would be a “multipolar world” dominated by the Brics nations, a line familiar from Russian propaganda. Brics is an intergovernmental group comprising Russia, India, China, Iran and several other countries.

[...] In May 2023, he wrote online: “Mum was telling me I could just come back any time. She was trying to make me collapse and call her for a ticket home.” But he said he was set on his path. He said: “I find myself more and more alive by the minute. Hungry for blood and glory. “It will be a sad day for ItthoBa’al [a name he had adopted] when the club must be passed on to the next incarnation. But as of now, I might have just incarnated in time to defeat mortality AND the military industrial complex.” When asked how he planned to defeat the latter, he said people would not believe him if he said.

[...] By Sept 5, he had enrolled in the Russian military, and an entry with Michael Alexander Gloss’s data appears in the EMIAS medical database. His address was listed as that of a medical examination room given to foreign recruits, Important Stories reported. During training for the 137th airborne regiment in the city of Ryazan, he told fellow recruits that he wanted to gain Russian citizenship so he could pursue environmental infrastructure projects in the country, Important Stories reported. Videos posted by Nepalese and other foreign recruits show Gloss smiling with his head shaved. He told “Mert”, a Rainbow Family friend, that he joined not to fight but to gain a passport. In one message, he said: “My goal in life is to build an infrastructure for the oxidation of water in a supercritical state. To put an end to environmental pollution and the diseases and deaths associated with pollution, that is: cancer, lymphoma and all the hormonal problems associated with microplastics and estrogens in water.”

[the-perfect-wagnerite-again]

For modernists submerged in the information economy, modern infrastructure really is just magic. Their entire conception of the world is contained within the bubble of the digital sector and their office building. Raw resource extraction, manufacturing, logistics, all of these are fantastical mysteries of the Old World, unattractive and vulgar unrealities that can't possibly be as important as their work in project management, human resources, or data entry. After all, they needed qualifications to get that job, they get to use a computer in an office, they MUST be more important. These people turn up their noses at the mere scent of blue collar work because they unironically believe that the legitimacy of one's profession is directly correlated to how feasible one would be able to work from home.

[mariacallous]

Since Elon Musk announced that he’ll be stepping back from his daily work with DOGE, perhaps you’ve been wondering if he has anything else to fill that time now that he’s shut down operations at America’s humanitarian-aid provider, wrecked much of the nation’s scientific-research infrastructure, and disrupted the communications systems at the Social Security Administration. One way to find out would be to ask Grok, his entry in the A.I. sweepstakes. “Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has been making significant moves in Memphis,” Grok reports. “But these have sparked controversy.”

Indeed they have. Last year, Musk’s team secured an abandoned factory that used to belong to Electrolux, the vacuum-cleaner people on the edge of the city’s Boxtown neighborhood. As Musk explained at the time, “That’s why it’s in Memphis, home of Elvis and also one of the oldest—I think it was the capital of ancient Egypt.” With typical modesty, he renamed his vacuum factory Colossus, and started stuffing it with Nvidia graphics-processing units, or G.P.U.s, the basic building blocks of A.I. systems. At the moment, he has two hundred thousand of these G.P.U.s, and he’s headed for a million; by some estimates, he is expected to build the “largest supercomputer” in the world.

All that processing takes power to run, and so the xAI team moved about thirty-five mobile methane-gas-powered generators onto the site to support the data center. These are truck-mounted units, many of them designed by Caterpillar, which give off some of the same brew of pollutants as other gas-combustion device—including nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde—and which are currently operating without a permit. “xAI has essentially built a power plant in South Memphis with no oversight, no permitting, and no regard for families living in nearby communities,” the Southern Environmental Law Center said, in a report released in April. (Full disclosure: I volunteer every year to judge the S.E.L.C.’s Phil Reed prize for best environmental writing about the South). The S.E.L.C. has called for an “emergency order” from the city to require xAI to cease the use of these generators, with a twenty-five-thousand-dollar daily fine if the company refuses. The mayor of Memphis, Paul Young, a supporter of the project, addressed the concerns at a meeting with community members in March. “I want to figure out how we can exploit this project for us,” he said. “I know you all feel like it’s us getting exploited, but we need to speak from a place of strength.” After the S.E.L.C. issued its report, Young explained that the company has a permit application pending with the Shelby County Health Department to run fifteen generators. “There are thirty-five, but there are only fifteen that are on,” he said. “The other ones are stored on the site.”

It turns out that Young may be wrong about that number. SouthWings, a group of volunteer pilots who help monitor environmental problems, overflew the site with thermal-imaging equipment that showed at least thirty-three of the generators giving off lots of heat—indicating that they were fired up and running at the same time. (Young’s office and xAI didn’t respond to requests for comment.) Taken together, they would produce about four hundred and twenty megawatts of power—the equivalent of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s big gas-fired power plant nearby.

Memphis was, indeed, home to Elvis—but it was also, of course, where Martin Luther King, Jr., who came to the city to support striking sanitation workers, was assassinated, and it remains a place of sharp economic and racial division. It will surprise no one to learn that the neighborhoods in South Memphis surrounding Musk’s facility—including Boxtown and Westwood—are predominantly Black and also home to a number of industrial facilities, including chemical plants and an oil refinery. The area already has elevated levels of pollution compared with leafier precincts, and, according to Politico’s E&E News, “already leads the state in emergency department visits for asthma.” Those same neighborhoods came together at the beginning of the decade to fight, and ultimately defeat, the proposed forty-nine-mile-long crude-oil Byhalia pipeline, which would have run through the area. In that process, a new political star emerged: Justin Pearson, a young African American who rode that battle into the state legislature (from which he was later expelled for joining an anti-gun-violence protest on the floor of the Tennessee House after a shooting at a Christian school, only to soon be reappointed by the county and reëlected to office in the next election).

Pearson and his brother KeShaun, the director of a group called Memphis Community Against Pollution, are now helping lead the fight against xAI. They were prominent voices at a town hall of the Shelby County Health Department in late April, which a local NBC affiliate described as “unlike any other town hall in recent memory, with dozens of Shelby County sheriff’s deputies, Memphis police officers and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers standing inside and outside of Fairley High School.” Citizens were allowed two minutes each to speak, but there were no responses to questions; after two hours the proceedings ended.

A company spokesman was shouted down at the meeting, but his written statement insisted that “XAl is going above and beyond the required emission control requirements. The Solar SMT-130 turbines will be equipped with SoLoNOx dry low emissions (D.L.E.) technology and selective catalytic reduction (S.C.R.) systems that lower nitrogen oxides (NOx) to 2 ppm.” The “Solar” here, though, has nothing to do with the power source—it’s the name of Caterpillar’s turbine division, which stems from the Solar Aircraft Company, founded in the late nineteen-twenties, whose name was derived from the fact that it was based in sunny San Diego.)

“I feel like my community is being disrespected,” Justin Pearson (whom I got to know during the Byhalia fight) told me in an e-mail. “I feel like my friends and neighbors and family members are being ignored—both by xAI itself and city leaders championing this data center that is emitting pollution into our air. Some of those leaders have mentioned the money that xAI will supposedly bring to Memphis, but what good is money if we have to struggle with polluted air? As the elders here say, ‘All money ain’t good money.’ ” He added, “Folks are angry and fearful. Some neighbors have expressed fear about letting children play outside or not enjoying time in their backyards because they don’t know what kind of pollution is in the air.”

Had Musk wanted to proceed differently, he could have. A report last year, from researchers at a number of energy and tech firms, made it clear that building arrays of solar microgrids is a quick and highly affordable plan for powering such data centers. “While building off-grid solar microgrids of this magnitude would be a first, it’s very possible to do with technology that exists today, and to scale it quickly,” the researchers found. They actually looked at Musk’s Memphis project and concluded that its use of portable gas generators was at best a one-off solution: “Most users of rental power plan to transition once possible because this approach carries very high costs and generally reliability is lower than permanent infrastructure.”

But cost is evidently not a big issue for Musk. (DOGE claims to have saved a hundred and sixty billion dollars in government spending, but a new analysis by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service estimates that it only did so at a cost of a hundred and thirty-five billion dollars, because it has operated so quickly and ineptly.) Neither, judging from DOGE’s performance, is saving lives, but he could help do so in Memphis, if he wanted to. Pearson says, “Solar panels and battery storage would be a much cleaner alternative to methane gas turbines. Solar panels also don’t pump smog-forming pollution or chemicals like formaldehyde into nearby communities.”

More to the point, Musk’s actions in Memphis seem to presuppose that his experience in Washington will prove typical. There, he managed to enact his slash-and-burn damage in a few short weeks before leaving town, albeit with an approval rating even lower than the President’s. In Tennessee, he’s running into forces seasoned by several generations of struggle. During the Byhalia-pipeline dispute, Pearson recalled, “a representative from the pipeline company called my community the ‘path of least resistance.’ It seems like corporations don’t expect us to fight back, but we’ve proven that wrong time and time again. We’re going to do it again.” 

[theoverseerau]

???

Username: PAPAWINGDING Password: GastaMasta3!4159 Folder: YGGDRASIL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Entry 1: This is the first entry in a personal project of mine. I couldn't help but overhear the two royal children conversing with each other, and Chara was speaking about some very, very, interesting things. to put it into those fun science terms my wife constantly teases me about, Chara was speaking as if they were capable of temporal manipulation. I've dabbled in timeline theory in my free time, and if Chara is speaking the truth and not making anything up, which is very much a possibility, my young son Sans comes up with a new tall tale every day after all, but if Chara is truly capable of this, I am intending to work with the child and see what might be possible. the name "Yggdrasil" was chosen because of a creation I have always dreamed of making, a machine that can connect multiple timelines and allow people from different timelines to interact with one another. much like the great tree from human myth, which was a central point that allowed many worlds to be connected. Entry 2: Much to my joy and amazement, Chara was not lying! it took a bit of time, along with a promise not to talk about it with anyone else other than themselves and Asriel, but Chara went through some tests to prove that they could go back in time to set points. I'm currently working with the child to see if doing this causes any unusual readings on any of my instruments, if a particular reading ends up occurring consistently, it could be a clue as to how we can research this strange ability further. Entry 3: Research is going incredibly well, I found a set of readings that are consistent with Chara's temporal manipulation, something they refer to as a 'button' for some bizarre reason. The readings are incredibly difficult to extract meaningful data from, but the fact that I have managed to get any readings whatsoever is incredible progress. Entry 4: Chara has fallen ill, I will be postponing research for Yggdrasil until they recover, this is a good time for a break for other reasons as well, as I have recently learned that I am having yet another child! So as Chara rests, I will be taking time to be with my family. Entry 5: Chara and Asriel are dead. Me and my family are just as devastated as the rest of the underground, it is my understanding that this happened partly due to Chara wanting to make the world a better place. With this being the case, I will continue project Yggdrasil unhindered, I cannot let Chara's previous efforts be in vain, they wouldn't want this to be abandoned, it will be difficult to juggle both manning my home while my wife is pregnant and doing research, but I know I'll manage.

[artemispanthar]

how did you get into quality control?

Ah, well, as with most things in life I sort of just wandered into it lol. As you may or may not know, I used to work in closed captioning and transcription. This was a job I took because it was freelance remote, which I needed because at the time I took care of my little sister during while my mom was at work. I needed something I could pick up and put down when I needed to drop her off and pick her up from school and tend to any needs while she was home.

After about a year or 2 doing that, where I worked if you have consistently high quality scores and high project yield you can apply to be a QC. This opens up a new queue so between captioning work you review other captioner's work for quality. So I did this and eventually also qualified for QA (which in that company was just like QC except it was for new hires whose work usually needed a lot of correcting). This is where I got my initial QC experience.

After like 5 or so years of that I started looking for a new job because I no longer needed freelance work because my little sister no longer needed as much watching over and as much as I love captioning the pay was atrocious. I applied for a QC position for a remote project and was told that they unfortunately already hired the max QCs but they did have data entry positions available (the work being QCed), so I took that. It was a new project so they were hiring a lot of people at once so I think that helped a lot on getting me hired.

After a few months of that they ended up needing more QCs temporarily and because I had QC experience, good quality scores, and exceeded quota I was moved over as a temp QC. Once they no longer needed the extra QCs and downgraded folks, they kept the highest QC performers of which I was one.

After a few more months there was a lull in production I was moved to a call center which sucked so I started applying to other QC positions and since I had QC experience I was able to get a thankfully more stable QC job. So far so good on this one!

But yeah, it all started with doing well enough in captioning that they wanted me to review other people's work. If that hadn't happened, I don't think I'd be in QC now (but who knows)

[ishamalik7500]

Computer Networks: Basics, Types, and Benefits Explained

Computer networks are a big part of today’s highly automated world. They connect people, systems, and devices, making communication and resource sharing effortless. Whether it’s examining the internet, collaborating on projects, or sharing files, computer networks play a vital role in both personal and professional environments. We’ll cover the basics of computer networks, discuss their different types, and see the benefits they deliver.

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is basically a system where multiple devices are linked together to share resources and exchange data. These devices can include laptops, mobile phones, servers, and networking equipment like routers. Networks enable smooth communication and allow devices to work together efficiently, making everything from browsing the web to managing complex business operations much easier.  

Types of Computer Networks

Personal Area Network (PAN):

Personal Area Networks are designed as small networks intended for individual purposes. They usually span a limited distance and link devices such as.

smartphones, laptops, and tablets. For instance, connecting your phone to your computer via Bluetooth forms a simple PAN.

Local Area Network (LAN):

LANs are commonly used in homes, schools, and offices to connect devices within a limited area. For example, to allow employees to share files and printers seamlessly, all the computers in an office might be connected to a LAN.

Wide Area Network (WAN):

A WAN stretches over a significantly larger territory, often connecting devices or LANs across cities, countries, or even continents. The internet is the most well-known example of a WAN, authorized global connectivity.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

Sitting between LANs and WANs, a MAN is typically used to connect networks across a campus or city. Cable TV networks are a common example of a MAN.

Wireless Networks:

Wireless networks use technologies like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect devices without cables. They’re widely used in offices, homes, and public places, offering convenience and mobility.

Key Components of Computer Networks

Devices (Nodes): Servers that interact within the network these include computers and smartphones. 

Connections (Links): The physical or wireless pathways that transfer data between devices.

Protocols: These are the rules that control data transmission, such as TCP/IP, to maintain smooth communication.

Switches and Routers: Switches connect devices in a network, while routers link different networks together.

Benefits of Computer Networks

Resource Sharing:

Networks make things easy to share like files, printers, and software applications, reducing the need for duplicate resources.

Seamless Communication:

With instant messaging, email, and video calls, networks ensure quick and authentic communication, no matter how far away are you.

Cost Savings:

By collecting resources and data storage, networks cut down on operational costs, especially for businesses.

Anywhere Access:

Modern networks allow you to access data from any connected device, whether you are at home or on the go.

Scalability:

As your needs develop networks will grow too, by supporting more users and devices over time.

Increased Productivity:

It reduces delays in automated processes and real-time data sharing and streamlines workflows, boosting efficiency.

Why Computer Network Skills Are Crucial for Entry-Level Corporate Roles

For those starting their careers, knowledge of computer networks can be a significant asset:

Essential for Office Environments:

 In today's world, most workplaces rely on LANs and WANs for everyday operations. Knowing how these networks function allows employees to balance basic connectivity issues, making sure work stays on track without interruptions.

Supports Collaboration Tools: 

Corporate tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and cloud-based systems depend heavily on networks. Understanding their underlying principles helps entry-level employees adapt quickly to these platforms. 

Enhances Problem-Solving Skills:

Entry-level employees with networking knowledge can help IT, teams, by identifying and resolving minor network problems, exhibiting their value early on.

Boosts Technical Proficiency:

Networking skills indicate a candidate’s technical potential, giving them a head start in industries where tech literacy is required.

Prepares for Future Roles:

As technology makes progress, advanced networking concepts like cybersecurity and IoT integration are becoming integral. Early experience with networks lays a strong beginning for growth in these areas.

Challenges of Computer Networks

Security Risks: Networks are at risk of threats like hacking and malware, requiring robust security measures.

Cost of Setup: High-quality network infrastructure can be costly to install and maintain.

Technical Complexity: Balancing and managing networks frequently need specialized skills.

Conclusion

Computer networks are essential in today’s globalized world. From pushing day-to-day operations in businesses to enabling global communication, their impact is wide-ranging. For aspiring professionals, having computer networking skills can provide a competitive advantage, especially in entry-level corporate roles where technical knowledge is highly valued. By understanding the basics of networks and their benefits, individuals, and organizations can unlock new levels of productiveness and innovation.

I mastered Computer Network at NIPSTec, which is renowned as the best Computer Network institute in Delhi. If you're in Delhi and looking for top-notch training in computer networks, visit NIPSTec for expert guidance and practical learning.

[misscammiedawn]

Apple Music Round-Up 2024

Welp, our mental health results came in for the year. Fun thing to crack through. Because I'm going to be a basic bitch and post my marketing algorithm data online.

It does actually show some interesting insights into our system, though. It's an impartial switch/mood counter that I really can't manipulate.

Let me be a bit self-indulgent.

Artists

So, yeah. We mostly listen to music when we're at the office so that's one day a week. 40 hours of Rush is about on par for us, to be honest. I feel we could have done more.

Anyway. Let's break them down and give a little analysis of where our head may have been at for these times.

Rush - It's Rush. Honestly 40 hours is kind of low for us. Though there's 120 hours of playtime represented on this list which means 33% of all music (in our top 10) was Rush. --Still seems a little low. Doesn't include the time we were listening to Geddy's autobiography, Neil's books or listening to Rush music on YouTube or Winamp on our personal computer. This is Apple Only. The First Constant - Sample Song

CHRVCHES - If Cammie had a favorite band outside of Rush it'd be CHRVCHES. Personally I really enjoy Screen Violence but Cammie likes everything they've ever put out and is pouting that Mayberry is putting the project on hiatus. Every Open Eye is a damn near perfect album and Bury It was a "Camden Song" before we even transitioned. Cammie-Coded - Sample Song

Porter Robinson - The new album dropped this year and as you'll see we ran the Hit Single of the album a bunch of times. We listened to the first two albums a lot in the build up and made a friend on a Discord server over enjoying Porter's work. Also Cammie-Coded. - Sample Song

Left at London - Kind of a surprise as Nat hasn't released any new music this year. I love her work a ton and am a little sad that Tyler didn't show up on either list because, not to be too white on main, she was our entry point for him. Nat's music resonates with us on the topics of transgender topics and mental health stuff, particularly BPD and identity dissociation. Camden-Coded - Sample Song (cw: suicide mention)

Genesis - Genesis (and Phil Collins) are our back-up band for when we need a break from Rush. Kind of surprised we listened to so much. Don't really have much to say. I know we added Home By The Sea and Driving The Last Spike to our favorite songs but can't think of a time we sat down and listened to Genesis with intent. A mystery to be solved, I'm sure. Dawn/Wynn Coded?- Sample Song

The Streets - Okay, The Streets returned after a lengthy hiatus in October 2023 so it's no surprise that we were binging the new album. Craig loves Skinner's work and thinks Original Pirate Material is early 2000s London encased in amber. It feels like home when we listen to it and the boy needs to feel a connection to the things we lost every now and again. Craig-Coded - Sample Song (cw: drugs/alcohol overdose)

Vienna Teng - A little bit of Michigan that we took with us. Wonder if this is a Dawn thing? Vienna Teng has a gentle country/folk mix and has poetic lyrics that try to draw intimate connections between characters. Her songs feel like a voyeur writing poetry about the other people in a diner and I kind of dig that. Dawn/Camden-Coded - Sample Song

Grace Petrie - Queer British folk music, emphasis on the queer. Grace's music has a lot of anger about the current political climate and has a lot of blissful gender euphoria. Cammie/Dawn-Coded - Sample Song

The Narcissist Cookbook - Queer British folk music, less emphasis on the queer. I'm actually sad Cookbook isn't higher. We wanted to see him play live this year but were worried about COVID. Camden-Coded - Sample Song

Yes - It's prog rock. I imagine a decent amount of this time was spent listening to Closer to the Edge alone. Dawn-Coded - Sample Song (cw: 18 minutes)

Individual Songs

...fuck.

So this is obviously a little weighted by the fact that certain songs are the only thing we listen to by their particular artist. 40 hours of Rush is spread over a couple hundred songs where many of these songs are the only thing we even know their individual artists from.

Plus--- I'll admit it. There are times where a certain song just hits and we have to suck the emotion from it like a Capri-Sun by playing it on repeat. I'd say "I" as Camden because there's a lot of yearning/angst songs there but track 4 is 100% Dawn being an extravagant Fae.

Also funny thing. Craig was fronting when we started pulling this and the moment I saw our top songs I jumped in. I almost didn't post to avoid "outing" myself here but if we're going to do the Camden Walk Of Shame then I'm writing my own fucking excuses.

This Means War ~ Marianas Trench (39 Plays) - Look. I'm not going to beat around the bush. I miss my friends. I miss them so much it tears my stomach inside out and makes me cry into a pillow at night.

Cheerleader ~ Porter Robinson (31 Plays) - The hit single from Porter's new album got a lot of spins this year. Cammie absolutely loves doing the dishes while dancing or singing to this one.

I'm Spent ~ Housewife (29 Plays) - "Old friends fading, am I still in your good graces?" - Fuck this entire playlist really is the Camden walk of shame. "I guess that's all in the past. No we're not getting it back." ...god damn it.

Mine (fear. Linnea Olsson) ~ Daniel Olsen & Jonathan Eng (29 Plays) - Dawn, you little shit, this song is pure Fae energy.

Bad Friend ~ Cheese on Bread (26 Plays) - The lyrics on this one are so specific to the artist that I don't really project onto it any but if I did I'd cast myself as the bad friend. Either way the chorus carrying the wish that a broken friendship can be repaired is just... *sighs* ...why the fuck am I posting this on the internet where humans can read it?

Reverse ~ Minimall (26 Plays) - Ever seen the movie Eternal Sunshine? There's a reason that movie is held up as a movie about BPD. I hate the secrets I carry in relation to both my marriage and my former best friends. It's this intense intimate Knowing of a person and... I can't even talk about my part in any of that. It's just, parts of my own history are gated behind bars and it fucking hurts because I'd never tell those secrets because they're not mine, even if the things that I experienced impact my life and I'm left in limbo processing things in solitude. If I could... I'd reverse it. Let all those secrets and experiences pour out of me. That way, maybe there'd be peace?

Do It, Try It ~ M83 (24 Plays) - The scene at the end of Letterkenny season 8 got us into this song and made me reevaluate Junk. Mr. Robot and my love of Daft Punk already sold me on M83 but Junk wasn't that good so we slept on it.

Something's Always Wrong ~ Toad the Wet Sprocket (23 Plays) - Always loved this song and Toad. Craig does too, I believe? Prior to transition and going non-contact with our family of origin we edited a recording of a 3 hour Skype 'conversation' with our father put it on like 10 times speed while the song played and paused the song whenever we spoke. There was about 80 seconds us us speaking. We timed it so "another day, I call and never speak" played before we got our first word out. Fun times.

Keep You On My Side ~ CHRVCHES (23 Plays) - Used to play this on repeat at the end of our marriage. Seems old habits die hard. Cammie loves CHRVCHES. This song is a fucking banger.

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid ~ The Offspring (23 Plays) - Fuck yeah this song is awesome!

-

Okay. Now I'm done shaming myself in public I'm going to just pout for a while.

Maybe listen to some Rush.

[curiouslycaffeinatedcephalopod]

entry 03

do not be afraid to use technology if using paper based methods of note taking, planning and scheduling and journaling.

when i first started my research project i was afraid of using only applications and software such as Notion, drives for storage, Microsoft Word AI grammar assistance etc. I was afraid because i was told (and anxious about it myself) that i could lose my data and information if i didn't have a backup on paper.

this resulted in me not quite meeting my weekly deadlines with tasks and goals because i was spending time "backing up" all my data, planning, schedules, meeting notes, everything.

Whilst i definitely agree with others that you should have a back up, a lot of these applications and software are so well developed and have really well functioning servers, there is such a minimal chance of just losing everything. it would be more logical to make back ups on other storage platforms/drives than keeping everything in paper AS WELL. this is so time consuming and sends you in a panic every time you need to upload data, write notes, prepare documents, edit documents, review data and leaves you with notes you made hastily (and anxiously) which often times never even helped me as the notes were illegible because i was in such a rush.

of course, a paper based method for laboratory notes is a good idea as devices are not recommended in the labs if you're working with biological matter/chemical substances - pencil down your notes and then you can go home if you have the time and the need to write it onto a notion page or type up a document so that you can review the protocol and how you performed during and the outcomes, any changes you may need to make etc.

you can use notion for your research scheduling and planning and just keep a very simple bullet journal/notebook for day to day notations and planning. i had been told to make sure i have a paper based record of everything i wrote on my notion but i think you can keep an abbreviated version and rather keep a copy pasted document of this and/or screenshots and store that across multiple drives (or one if you're not an anxious academic like me, haha).

if anyone tells you how you should do something so intricately personal to each student/researcher because they do not like the interface you use (yes, i was told i should not use the one thing that has worked for me because it was too difficult for the other party to understand or review), it is obviously nice and kind to try and provide things a format they understand, but do not stop doing the thing you enjoy and that actually helps you reach your goals.

context for number 3:

i found notion through various content creators in the research realm, with mixed recommendations ranging from yes it works well to no not for me. i struggle with planning and procrastinating and academic challenges so i decided to give it a go. honestly, the fact that it was aesthetically customisable was a big plus. that is just simply something that makes me want to work. the next thing was its cross compatibility with other apps and software i used, primarily google. it helped me keep track of upcoming meetings, events and urgent tasks and provided a way for me to visually see my progress. but someone i was wokring with, whose opinion mattered very much to me, had mentioned that they were not a fan and that they did not have the time to use the interface, even though the interface was not our primary mode of communication regarding my research project, it was simply a way for them to see how i was spending my time or planning to as a student of theirs. needless to say, i gave up because their way took way too much time already. it is not a problem or a topic that requires someone to blame, i just was in the midst of an already overwhelming time in my project and had to just do what i needed to survive (lol).

anyways, the lesson i learnt was, after falling a couple months behind because of poor planning and compatibility with how i was going about my most important component of my research was that you really need to prioritise the thing that works for you. whether that is paper based or digital.

but you cannot spend every moment fearing that notion will drop off the face of the earth with all your notes and plans along with it. i wasted so much time stressing and creating paper and digital back ups of EVERYTHING. i have now had to spend essentially a month organising things across multiple emails and drives just to get a start on my next big project. the most important lesson will definitely be that you need to train and teach yourself to know what are things that require a back...

you do not need 17 backups, paper and digital of plans passed and plans to come, you will quickly be reminded or be able to recall most such things as they will stress you out and haunt you so much anyways.

however you certainly do need a sufficient back up of data that belongs to the university as part of your project, or any personal methods of tracking such things.

anyways, sorry for the long rambles i post, i am using tumblr as a way to have a blog until i can actually get a website and publish better and more concise posts. i hope you still enjoy reading or at least find some solace or advice in between it all!

[soranihimawari]

Hope in an Office Crush

A short story featuring Nanami Kento

Pairing: (salaryman!)Nanami x (data entry!)reader

Word Count: 2.02K

Rating: NKF (nanami kento fluff)//

Warning: none except an ex of the reader is mentioned as being physically abusive & reader fought back; and although Haruka is a more supportive role, I might do a focus feature on her in another short for JJK…

Conversations among the lunch crowd at the facility you work in was well within its normal level, yet on the floor of your department, you’re surrounded by your fellow deskmate. Apparently, coming into work you had a weary expression. Perhaps something had happened in your home life which caused you to be a little more peeved than normal. Was it the stress of the upcoming proposal project or was it something else? Whatever it was, your friend’s willing to get to the bottom of it. Chairs side by side, hot cup noodles and a few rice balls shared between you two has their voice in your ear:

“What’s wrong? C’mon spill, you’re totally withdrawing into yourself or you’re spacing out. So, spill. Who did it?”

You sigh before bringing the can of cold coffee to your lips. You close your eyes for a moment as you formulate the words that would entreat your friend to seeing a new side of you.

“Y’know that blonde in accounting?” your voice takes on a curious tone.

Your friend glances between you and the cold can of coffee you placed back on the table and the gears in their head start turning.

“Oh my gods,” your friend elbows you in the rib. “You have a work-crush on–”

“Shh Haruka! It’s already bad enough as it is,” you are quick to silence your friend. “There are ears everywhere here and you know I don’t like to be pulled into workplace gossip.”

You lean back in your chair and fold your arms over your chest.

“Yeah, I know, but let’s be real y/n,” Haruka takes another bite of her cup of instant noodles. “You aren’t the type to have crushes on anyone since university. And this is coming from me, your roommate during those years.”

You make several attempts to change the subject of this lunch break talk, but considering your history with your now coworker and ex-university roommate, your friend invites you over to the bar a few city blocks away for a much needed dinner:

“My treat,” Haruka confidently says.

You lean forward this time, nodding in acceptance of the invitation. At the very least, you choose to hold off on any and all details as to how or why you developed a crush on the ‘anonymous blonde from accounting’ (or ABfA). 

Work stays the same for the most part after lunch; you and Haruka head back to your side of the office building in this business skyscraper. You return to your desk where a new pile of data entries needs to be completed after your pile from this morning was nearly two-thirds done. Meanwhile, Haruka types away on her side of the desk before sending you a personal message from a third party instant messaging app. You are amused at her use of guesswork as to the name of the blonde in accounting. Luckily, there are many blondes in the company, yet unluckily for you, Haruka spells out the name of your crush because he seems to be the only ‘natural’ blonde in that department. 

Haru-chan (16:36): It’s Namami, isn’t it? 

What makes you say that? There are plenty of other blondes that work here. :(16:38)y/n-san

Haru-chan (16:40): Not all of them are natural blondes, six feet tall, and looks great in a fucking suit, y/n.

You scoff and Haruka gives you a series of emojis teasing you saying how she was right the entire time, however, you whisper harshly across the cubicle divider:

“If you really want to know how or why this happened to me at dinner, I suggest you work faster, Haru-chan.”

***

Two empty pints of beer sit askew across Haruka whereas your three empty highball glasses sit neatly across from you. There are several plates stacked for your server at the side of the table nearest the aisle where you chose to sit. Haruka seems to have a bit of a wild imagination yet throughout this dinner between you two, she seems to have picked up on a few things since you both had left the office around six:

“First, you know that man doesn’t believe in working overtime, so when six o’clock comes, he is the first one out the door. Second, you are also typically the first one of us to exit our department in hopes of maybe catching the same elevator as him. Third,” Haruka leans in toward you for this one. “I noticed you went to the same bakery as he did last Tuesday when you told me you were stepping out to grab some coffee for yourself.”

“That was purely out of his recommendation aside from the killer croissants they make there,” you pout. 

The alcohol you drank made your cheeks flush a bit. Haruka, for better or worse, is a good friend, and an excellent judge of character. Then again, between the two of you, she is the one with the most ‘relationship’ experience. Sure you’ve each had your own sets of crushes, but only one of you had successful and healthy relationships, the other wasn’t so lucky.

“I can’t get out the voice of this ex of mine,” you frown when you swirl the ice in the third highball glass. “And sure, you’re here to encourage me in talking to this crush of mine, but all I can see are the signs of warning before I fall ass over tea kettle for another person.”

The cold fear and reality in your voice shook Haruka to her core because she remembers the time you desperately called her to come pick you up in a hotel in Osaka (a full day’s trip away from Tokyo). A younger version of yourself in the clothes you had packed for an anniversary weekend trip, torn a bit and the black eye on your face said enough to Haruka when she hugged you at the lobby. Your knuckles were bruised and bloodied all because you chose to fight back someone who thought loved you dearly. 

It’s why having developed this crush on a practical stranger scares you. 

“Nanami’s not your ex, y’know that, right?” Haruka’s comment comes paired with a small taut smile. 

“I know,” you reach out and pat the back of her hand. “Maybe if I see him again at work and we share an elevator, I’ll tell him his eyes remind me of Sunflowers by VanGogh.”

“You really should have taken that gallery job instead, y/n,” Haruka sighs when she leans back in her chair.

“Hah, I know, but then again, you’d have someone else show you the ropes in that office and not have them be me.”

Haruka laughs as do you before the server stops by with the final check; Haruka pays the bill a few moments later as you gather your things. You thank her for dinner outside the restaurant right before she heads into her taxi for the night. The last thing she says to you is a piece of advice:

“If you ever get stuck in the elevator with Nana-er, your crush-just ask him out.”

You make a perplexed face before shaking your head. “What makes you so sure he’d accept?”

“I don’t, but you should have a chance at happiness, right?”

Haruka’s eyes dart over your left shoulder while the street lamp out on the curb makes her eyes shine with hope before closing the door of her taxi.

***

Nearly two weeks later, you’re already clocked out and waiting in the hallway for the next elevator to come to your floor. Haruka was stuck in a presentation meeting for the remainder of her shift, so you had planned like always to walk back to your home after picking up some light groceries. Tonight you were thinking about making some toast with orange marmalade and butter. It was a small appetizer and although you did have left overs, you were also thinking of stopping by the Italian restaurant near you to place a to-go order. The elevator dings a few seconds later and as you board it, you stand side by side with another passenger. As the floors come and go, the car fills and empties a few other people at a time until finally you both remain. Your crush, for the last fifteen or twenty odd seconds studies you, you who has this dark, murky color surrounding your body, before reaching out to tap your shoulder, you flinch.

“Sorry,” you say in a soft voice. “I didn’t mean to flinch, umm…”

“Nanami, accounting,” he introduces himself, lowering his hand instead to shake yours.

“Y/N, data entry,” you shake his hand.

“LOBBY,” the robotic voice of the elevator announces. 

Both of you step out of the elevator together, he holds his suitcase, and your messenger bag is slung over your shoulder. Right before you both reach the doors of the lobby in your work building, you take a deep breath and fully embrace your friend’s advice:

“Would you like to accompany me to Toto’s Bakery? It’s near Via Napoli, an Italian restaurant I frequent.”

He chuckles at the rushed way you invite him, but nonetheless, when he sees you adjust your bag, you shake your head.

“If you have prior engagements elsewhere, you don’t have to,” you sounded a bit sad, but pragmatic. You only introduced yourself to him today.

“Toto’s Bakery, huh?” he asks before walking ahead of you. “I’ve been meaning to pick up a loaf of sourdough bread this week.”

You glance up at this sharply dressed, albeit scary-looking, salaryman (whom for reasons beyond your control, you formed a crush on) who seemed to have a coy smile on his face when he motions for you to lead the way to the bakery.

[jelliegirl]

hi hi I also don't know what to do so I'm sending an ask! however it is after midnight here on the east coast so I should probably just go to bed. how was your day? someone got arrested in the parking lot of the building I work in as I was coming into work and I spent at least half an hour of a fifty five minute session trying to convince a small child to come learn with me instead of looking for his mom through the window (it was his last session at four pm on a Friday so like... fair kid I wanna go home too 😭)

HELLO you should go to bed but also thanks for sending me a message <3

my day was pretty chill, it was gloomy and drizzly out so i ended up working from home. i did some fairly rote data entry stuff for a publishing project im on which ended up being weirdly relaxing and felt productive. since then ive had fun convos w friends, played pokemon black, had a tasty dinner, watched dungeon meshi with the gf, and then read a book in the bath for a long time. n_n overall i feel pretty good today even tho nothing wild happened or anything ksdjg

nooooooo thats so sad poor baby but also bad timing for you im so sorry lmao. i was like that as a kid too tho, not looking for my mom specifically but just staring out windows in general during class, usually trying to manifest rain lmao. once i got rejected for a job after undergrad because apparently i unthinkingly stared out the window instead of making eye contact with the interviewer while i was answering questions. i am your future dear child.

[alecatmew]

Reflections on Tableturf

This blog post goes through a few of my Tableturf inspired artworks from 2023, ending with a quick timelapse of this painting:

With the launch of Splatoon 3 came a new game mode, Tableturf! I got quite into the idea of Tableturf, even being a part of coordinating an art collab project – Arty Siege – which paid homage to the in-game cards. I did lots of work for that – creating various design elements, having fun data merging artwork in InDesign, thinking about how the physical game would really play out, coordinating artists and creating artwork!

The art that I worked on included assets for the card backgrounds, and I illustrated one of the cards.

These background images were ink paintings traced from game screenshots. After doing a little photography tour in the game I exported the screenshots and used the Find Edges filter in Photoshop. I printed these reference lines to carbon paper and transferred them to watercolour paper.

After scanning the ink paintings, I applied some gradient map adjustments to them to adapt them into the card background.

I chose to illustrate the Splattershot Jr. as my designated card for the project. I’ve drawn the newbie squid before and as a Junior player (I became a Junior main because of having to unlock kits on many, many systems) I just feel a certain connection to the default loadout.

During initial project advertising, I used this artwork. The pose is taken directly from the pose of the original Tableturf card. With this version of the artwork, I mocked up the first version of how the cards would appear, including tweaks to the card UI and creating a 3D view of the card.

My motivations for changing the UI were to make the Arty Siege cards distinct from the in-game works, but also to think about what would make sense for a real card game. The original cards put all their important information at their base, but I wanted to make all the pertinent information visible easily from a fanned out hand of cards. So I moved the grid and special costs to the left side.

I also straightened the alignment of the block grid. The angled grid was cool, and saved a little space, but I felt that when looking down at the game board and determining how to make a move, it was easier to visualise the move you wanted to play by having an aligned grid. Maybe that was just me, it’s not like things in the real world would be completely squared anyway.

Anyhow, relatively late into the project I started feeling a bit insecure about that version of the Junior being my entry into the project. I was surrounded by an incredibly talented pool of artists and felt like I needed to step up to the standards of my peers! I still like my original artwork but I also felt inspired by the work I’d done on the backgrounds to do a piece in ink and use gradient mapping to add colour.

This time, I based the pose on some promotional artwork from Splatoon 2 – I wanted to show off the square ink tank because while the flat ink pack of Splatoon 3 features in some of the cards, many of the other ones seem to take cues from Splatoon 2’s fashion options.

Here’s the final version of the Splattershot Jr. card. Please do check out the Arty Siege website for all of the other works!

One of the things I did at the end of this project was to print out all the cards, which was a lot of fun! I felt like I built a new connection with each of the artists and their artwork in the process of printing, cutting and sleeving the cards.

While wrapping up Arty Siege I had a vague idea of running a promotional Tableturf tournament – maybe something in a casual vein, or with a bit of a team gimmick to allow a mix of player skills among drafted teams. The team angle was influenced by my favourite anime – Chihayafuru – a show that features a competitive karuta game based on the Ogura hyakunin isshu.

Chihayafuru is beautiful, and the way it depicts friendly competition really hits home. And there’s just something so great about the earnest enthusiasm of the players – they’re engaging in a pretty niche hobby so having the opportunity to play is something they’re truly grateful for. Coming from a grassroots Splatoon scene, I feel the parallels between the competition depicted in the show and some of my favourite times being a member of the Australian (and broader) Splatoon community.

Although I didn’t end up running a Tableturf tournament, the imagery and the idea for an art piece stuck with me.

As much as I adore Chihayafuru, I’ve never felt brave enough to try to tackle fan art for it. The gorgeous scenes, the sense of movement, the game that I only have the most superficial understanding of… it all felt quite intimidating.

But Splatoon, I feel comfortable in that universe…

(A universe which coincidentally seems to have a version of karuta already!)

However, my painting is not an attempt to retcon that karuta into Tableturf. In my headcanon, the two coexist. I just wanted to borrow the aesthetics of karuta for my Tableturf scene. I was inspired by the glowing sunset scenes of karuta which I associated with the characters practicing in the school clubroom, but also by the tournament games played while wearing kimono.

Before starting this painting I did two “mood studies” – just getting a feel for whether I could tame the contrast of yellows, oranges and purples before I started. Watercolour can be a tricky medium, and it’d be hubris to walk into this kind of endeavour without a plan.

That first image is sort of a Chihayafuru fanart, I guess – the scene is most likely Arata sitting alone with his cards – but that wasn’t the purpose of the sketch. I wanted to get a feel for how I’d depict the trees in the windows, and the light entering the room. The second sketch really sets up the composition that I’d ultimately use for the final piece.

After deciding on that sketch, I made simple 3D version of the scene in Blender.

A digital sketch then filled in the character details

Which was then printed out and transferred to stretched watercolour paper, then painted over the span of a few weeks.

I also wrote a poem to go with this painting. It’s based on poem 77 of the Ogura hyakunin isshu. Here’s one blogger’s translation and writeup about the poem (I chose to highlight this blogger because they also have a post about the Karuta that appears in Splatoon 2!)

The translation included in that post is credited to Joshua Mostow,

Because the current is swift, even though the rapids, blocked by a boulder, are divided, like them, in the end, we will surely meet, I know

Other translations summarise the scene as

Swift waters parted by the jagged rocks are joined at river's end.

The overall mood that I get from this poem, having only experienced it through translations, is a mix of urgency and yet steadfast certainty that comes from love. Apparently, the “swift currents” were not in the original poem, and were a later edit, but I think the imagery is certainly much stronger with the idea of rapid waters.

I felt the scenario could be mapped quite closely to the energy and movement of Turf War, and by extension, Tableturf. The rapid currents can be whirls of paint instead, and the boulder standing in the way of the lovers could well be a grey block, created in Tableturf when both players play their cards over the same squares.

I chose to write my poem following the rough syllabic rules of the original poetry, the lines having 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. But I put a western poetic spin on them as well, making use of rhyme throughout.

Our rapid advance, Blocked by chance or wit wherefore. Must we halt our dance? No - surge forth in this turf war! We'll unite our ink once more.

The rapid advance describes that rush to claim turf, as well as for the rivals/lovers to meet at the middle of the map. “Chance or wit wherefore” refers to how the grey block ended up in their way. Was it coincidence that they played in the same tile, or was it cunning strategising from one of the players? With this obstacle in place, the shape of their relationship (whether it be a rivalry or a romance) is affected.

The ending couplet describes the characters choosing to rise above (or work around) adversity – in-game the boulders would not be passable at all, so they must certainly have some grit! Like the swift waters in the original poem, they’ll be sure to meet again.

I love how this artwork and poem came together. Reflecting upon them I feel all those warm fuzzy feels from all the ways that Splatoon – and more recently Tableturf – have made their impact on me. I’m grateful to have had another great year of art, friends and community and I’m looking forward to more good times in the future.

"Reflections on Tableturf" was originally published on Proairesis

[rachayita98-blog]

That's How I Know Taylor Swift

It was the summer of 2009, I was in the 5th grade. My sister had come home for her vacation. Her friend came over to exchange home assignments and also transfer some new music collection to our PC. Those were the days of PCs and pendrives. I had this curiosity to sit by the PC when someone was working on it and observe carefully whatever was being done–the files transferred, the keyboard shortcuts used and the entire technological mechanism seemed enthralling to me since always. As her friend, whom I called Dada (Brother) was doing his work, I kept staring at the monitor and kept tracking all the new music folders that were being pasted on our PC. Dada asked, " Do you listen to Western music? I have some cool collection". My sister was least interested because she was a Hindustani Classical singer and listened to Hindi songs only. My eleven-year old mind was open to some novelty. I said "Transfer whatever new music you have". My sister was crazy about the Twilight movie which was a huge phenomenon back then. She read the novel in her hostel and became a fan of Edward Cullen a.k.a Robert Pattinson. But it was difficult to watch the movie without the subtitles, obviously.

Having exchanged their assignments which was to be submitted to their school after the vacation, Dada left – left me fascinated to explore the brand new music, the Western music!

I was also being trained in Hindustaani Classical music along with my sister but I was always highly intrigued by the west; never quite had any exposure to it....and this was my golden opportunity to unlock the treasure!

I sat down and began my treasure hunt. My sister got busy with her projects and I, opening every folder that was created on the PC on a lookout for the music files. And finally found a folder which contained songs by various Western artists whose names I had never even heard of. There was Akon, Enrique, Owl City, Elvis Presley, Bryan Adams and all these were so, so new to me. I began playing those songs one by one and was so deeply moved by their musicality. But I couldn't comprehend the lyrics. We had BSNL broadband back then which gave 1 GB of data for monthly usage. It was a huge thing, I must say. I Googled and discovered azlyrics.com and lo! My work was half done. I played those songs on Windows Media Player and read the lyrics from the Chrome browser. And that was my entry to the world of Western music.

Akon 's "I'm So Paid" was a regular on-loop on my Philips mp3 player. Also, listened to "Lonely" and other hits by Akon. And then, I grooved to Summer of '69, Blue Suede Shoes, I Want It That Way, Somebody's Me, and several other superhits by various Western artists of the time.

One day, I found a folder that had some songs by female artists. There was a song titled "Butterfly Fly Away" and "I Miss You" by Miley Cyrus. Well, I had no idea who she was but I played those songs anyway. These songs were comparatively easier to understand and sing along. So, reading the lyrics from the browser tab, I began singing along. And that's how I learnt singing Western song!

Now, I was greedy to explore more female artists from the Western world. And then I found a video folder. God I tell you, that was the hidden treasure unlocked!

I found the music videos of Taylor Swift!!!

There were videos of Crazier, White Horse, Teardrops on my Guitar, Love Story, You Belong With Me and a few other. I was so deeply fascinated and enthralled and moved and touched by her voice that I decided she's going to be the Inspiration to my Western singing....and there was no looking back.

To understand her music, I didn't need azlyrics.com because she was so fluent and easy on her diction and pronunciation that I quickly understood and caught up with her songs. The soft melody in her voice and the beauty in her lyricals were just incredible to me. I instantly fell in deep love and admiration for Taylor Swift.

Next up, I began Googling other songs by her– her albums , latest releases and also her photos for my desktop wallpaper! She was my obsession, my guide, my mentor, my friend and most of all, my Guru. She was and is with me through the best of times and the darkest of phases. She has been my constant.

She taught me to be Fearless and to Speak Now without being so conscious of the Reputation built in people's minds. She left a Blank Space in my heart which is only to be filled by her. She inspired me to survive through the darkest Midnights and make it up with any Bad Blood. She has my heart and soul, and I know it All too Well.

Fun fact: I performed her songs playing the guitar in school and college events. Crazier being the first one, followed by Safe and Sound, Red, and several more to go!