#Data Migration Tips

[muskantam]

POS Implementation

POS Implementation: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s fast-paced retail and service environments, implementing a Point of Sale (POS) system can significantly streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and improve overall efficiency. Whether you’re upgrading from a traditional cash register or installing your first POS system, proper implementation is crucial to maximizing its benefits. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of POS implementation.

Step 1: Identify Business Needs

Before selecting a POS system, assessing your business requirements is important. Consider the following:

The size and type of your business.

Specific features you need (e.g., inventory tracking, customer loyalty programs).

Budget constraints.

Integration requirements with existing software and hardware.

Step 2: Choose the Right POS System

Not all POS systems are created equal. Here’s how to select one that fits your needs:

Research and compare various providers.

Look for scalability to accommodate future growth.

Ensure it supports multiple payment methods.

Check reviews and testimonials from similar businesses.

Step 3: Hardware and Software Setup

A POS system consists of hardware (like barcode scanners, receipt printers, and card readers) and software. Ensure you:

Acquire hardware compatible with your chosen POS software.

Install and configure the software according to your operational needs.

Test all components to ensure they work seamlessly together.

Step 4: Data Migration

If you’re transitioning from an older system, data migration is a critical step:

Back up your existing data.

Transfer inventory, sales history, and customer information to the new system.

Verify the accuracy of migrated data.

Step 5: Employee Training

Proper training ensures your team can effectively use the POS system:

Organize hands-on training sessions.

Provide user manuals and support materials.

Address common troubleshooting scenarios.

Step 6: Pilot Testing

Before full-scale implementation, conduct a pilot test:

Use the system in a controlled environment.

Monitor for any issues or inefficiencies.

Gather feedback from staff and customers.

Step 7: Go Live

Once testing is complete, it’s time to roll out the system:

Schedule the launch during a low-traffic period to minimize disruptions.

Ensure on-site support is available for the initial days.

Communicate the change to your team and customers.

Step 8: Monitor and Optimize

Implementation doesn’t end with the launch. Regular monitoring is essential:

Analyze performance metrics (e.g., transaction times, error rates).

Update the system as needed to fix bugs and improve features.

Seek ongoing feedback from employees and customers.

Conclusion

Implementing a POS system is an investment in your business's future. With proper planning and execution, it can simplify daily operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive growth. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure a smooth and successful implementation.

[winklix]

Streamlining Data Migration to Salesforce: Tips from the Experts

Data migration is a crucial step when implementing Salesforce in your organization. Whether you're transitioning from a legacy system or integrating data from multiple sources, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and seamless transfer of data can be challenging. However, with proper planning and the right strategies, the migration process can be streamlined, saving time and reducing potential risks.

In this blog, we’ll explore expert tips to make your Salesforce data migration process smoother and more efficient.

1. Plan Ahead for a Smooth Transition

Successful data migration starts with careful planning. Before beginning the migration, take the time to:

Define Objectives: Clearly outline the goals for your Salesforce migration. This will guide your entire strategy, ensuring that data is aligned with business processes and that key stakeholders are on the same page.

Assess Current Data Quality: Before transferring data to Salesforce, assess its quality in your existing system. Clean and standardize your data to avoid importing duplicates or irrelevant information.

Establish a Timeline: Set realistic timelines for each stage of the migration process. Break it down into phases, such as data mapping, testing, and final deployment, ensuring that each phase is adequately accounted for.

2. Understand Salesforce Data Structure

Salesforce uses a different data model compared to traditional databases, so it’s vital to understand its structure:

Objects and Fields: Salesforce’s data model is based on objects (such as Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities) and fields. Familiarize yourself with how these objects work and which fields are required, custom, or optional.

Relationships Between Objects: Salesforce allows you to define relationships between objects, such as lookups or master-detail relationships. Knowing how these relationships work will help prevent data inconsistencies during the migration.

Data Types and Formats: Be mindful of how data types (such as text, dates, and numbers) are handled in Salesforce. Ensure that your data is mapped correctly to avoid issues later on.

Also Read : Major benefits of Salesforce implementation ?

3. Use the Right Tools for Data Migration

Several tools can assist in Salesforce data migration, each serving different needs. Some of the most popular include:

Salesforce Data Loader: A powerful tool for importing, exporting, updating, and deleting Salesforce data. It’s particularly useful for large datasets and complex operations.

Third-Party Tools: Tools like MuleSoft (which integrates seamlessly with Salesforce) and Informatica can be leveraged for more advanced migration scenarios.

Salesforce Data Import Wizard: A user-friendly tool suitable for smaller data migration projects. It allows for easy mapping of data from CSV files into Salesforce.

4. Test, Test, and Test Again

Testing is one of the most important steps in data migration. It ensures that everything is transferred correctly and that your Salesforce environment is functioning as expected. Here’s how to approach testing:

Test Data Migration in Stages: Begin by migrating a small subset of data. This will allow you to identify and fix issues early in the process.

Validate Data Integrity: After the initial migration, compare data in Salesforce with the original data source. Check for any discrepancies or missing information.

Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Have your end-users validate that the migrated data works correctly within their workflows. This will help identify any usability issues before full deployment.

5. Focus on Data Security and Privacy

Data migration often involves sensitive information, so maintaining data security and privacy is paramount:

Data Encryption: Ensure that data is encrypted both during transit and at rest to avoid unauthorized access.

Compliance with Regulations: Be aware of data privacy laws such as GDPR or CCPA, especially if you're handling customer or employee data. Salesforce provides various tools to help you maintain compliance during data migration.

6. Monitor the Migration Process

Once the data migration process begins, actively monitor progress to ensure everything is running smoothly:

Track Issues: If issues arise, address them immediately to avoid delays. Make sure to log any issues and document solutions to prevent them from happening in the future.

Ensure Performance: Monitor Salesforce’s performance during and after migration. Check for slowdowns or bottlenecks, which can affect the user experience and lead to inefficiencies.

7. Post-Migration Optimization

After the data has been successfully migrated, take steps to optimize Salesforce to ensure it works efficiently for your team:

Data Cleanup: Ongoing data maintenance is essential for keeping your Salesforce environment organized and accurate. Periodically clean up records, update data, and delete obsolete information.

User Training: Ensure that your team is properly trained to use Salesforce effectively with the newly migrated data. Provide support and ongoing education as needed.

Conclusion

Migrating data to Salesforce doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By planning ahead, understanding Salesforce’s data structure, using the right tools, and conducting thorough testing, you can ensure a smooth and successful migration. Additionally, focusing on data security, monitoring the process, and optimizing Salesforce after the migration will set your organization up for success in the long run.

With these expert tips in hand in London , your Salesforce implementation will be much more efficient, allowing your team to leverage the full potential of the platform.

[techtoio]

Integrating New Software: Tips for a Smooth Transition

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, businesses often find themselves integrating new software to stay competitive and efficient. However, the process can be daunting, fraught with potential disruptions and challenges. At TechtoIO, we understand the importance of a smooth transition when implementing new software. This guide provides essential tips to help you integrate new software seamlessly, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. Read to Continue

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 8-14

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1. In Chicago, all city buildings now use 100 percent clean power

“As of January 1, every single one of [Chicago’s municipal buildings] — including 98 fire stations, two international airports, and two of the largest water treatment plants on the planet — is running on renewable energy, thanks largely to Illinois’ newest and largest solar farm.”

2. California Rice Fields Offer Threatened Migratory Waterbirds a Lifeline

“Cranes need nighttime roosting sites flooded to a depth of about 3 to 9 inches, so they can easily hear or feel predators moving through the water. [... Bird Returns pays] farmers to flood their fields during critical migration periods [... and] provide foraging sites by leaving harvested rice or corn fields untilled, so cranes can access the leftover grain.”

3. New York Climate Superfund Becomes Law

“[Funds recovered “from major oil and gas companies” will be used to pay for] the restoration of stormwater drainage and sewage treatment systems, upgrades to transit systems, roads and bridges, the installation of green spaces to mitigate city heat islands and even medical coverage and preventative health programs for illnesses and injuries induced by climate change.”

4. Austin says retooled process for opening overnight cold-weather shelters is paying off

“[... T]he city's moves to lower the temperature threshold to open shelters and announce their activation at least a day in advance were the result of community feedback. [Shelter operators also passed out hot food.]”

5. Helping Communities Find Funding for Nature-Based Solutions

““From coastal oyster reefs to urban stormwater greenways, nature-based solutions are becoming the new normal.” That’s because these types of projects are often less expensive to build and have additional community benefits, such as improving water quality or creating parkland.”

6. Saving the Iberian lynx: How humans rescued this rare feline from extinction

“Back in the early 2000s, fewer than 100 individuals roamed the wild, including only 25 reproductive females. [...] Conservation staff [...] shape these cats into resourceful hunters and get them ready for life outside the center. [...] They’re fine-tuning captive-breeding routines, improving veterinary procedures, and pushing for more wildlife corridors.”

7. Biden cancels student loans for 150,000 more borrowers

“The 150,000 new beneficiaries announced Monday include more than 80,000 borrowers who were cheated or defrauded by their schools, over 60,000 borrowers with total and permanent disabilities and more than 6,000 public service workers[...] bringing the number whose student debt has been canceled during [Biden’s] administration to over 5 million[....]”

8. PosiGen wins another $200M for lower-income rooftop solar

“PosiGen offers a ​“no credit check” [solar panel installation to] those with a higher percentage of their income going to power and fuel bills[....] “somewhere between 25 and 75 percent” of the consumer’s monthly energy savings could come from efficiency measures such as sealing heating and cooling leaks, replacing thermostats, and installing LED lights[....]”

9. Indigenous communities come together to protect the Colombian Amazon

“At this year’s COP, Indigenous peoples celebrated the [protection of] traditional knowledge, innovations and practices[... and] the Cali Fund, which ensures that communities, including Indigenous peoples, receive benefits from the commercial use of [...] genetic data derived from the biological resources that they have long stewarded.”

10. How the heartland of Poland’s coal industry is ditching fossil fuels - without sacrificing jobs

“[Katowice, a former coal city] committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 40 per cent compared to 1990, prioritising investments in green infrastructure, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. [...”]The gradual departure from heavy industry did not bring high social costs in our city,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice City.”

January 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[warningsine]

BRUSSELS (AP) — Far-right parties made such big gains at the European Union parliamentary elections that they dealt stunning defeats to two of the bloc’s most important leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen dominated the polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections, a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027.

In Germany, Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place.

Adding insult to injury, the National Rally’s lead candidate, Jordan Bardella, all of 28 years old, immediately took on a presidential tone with his victory speech in Paris, opening with “My dear compatriots” and adding “the French people have given their verdict, and it’s final.”

Macron acknowledged the thud of defeat. “I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered,” he said, adding that calling a snap election only underscored his democratic credentials.

The four-day polls in the 27 EU countries were the world’s second-biggest exercise in democracy, behind India’s recent election. At the end, the rise of the far right was even more stunning than many analysts predicted. The French National Rally stood at just over 30% or about twice as much as Macron’s pro-European centrist Renew party that is projected to reach around 15%.

In Germany, the most populous nation in the 27-member bloc, projections indicated that the AfD overcame a string of scandals involving its top candidate to rise to 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019. In comparison, the combined result for the three parties in the German governing coalition barely topped 30%.

Overall across the EU, two mainstream and pro-European groups, the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, remained the dominant forces. The gains of the far right came at the expense of the Greens, who were expected to lose about 20 seats and fall back to sixth position in the legislature.

For decades, the European Union, which has its roots in the defeat of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, confined the hard right to the political fringes. With its strong showing in these elections, the far right could now become a major player in policies ranging from migration to security and climate.

The Greens were predicted to fall from 20% to 12% in Germany, a traditional bulwark for environmentalists, with more losses expected in France and several other EU nations. Their defeat could well have an impact on the EU’s overall climate change policies, still the most progressive across the globe.

The center-right Christian Democratic bloc of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which already weakened its green credentials ahead of the polls, dominated in Germany with almost 30%, easily beating Scholz’s Social Democrats, who fell to 14%, even behind the AfD.

“What you have already set as a trend is all the better – strongest force, stable, in difficult times and by a distance,” von der Leyen told her German supporters by video link from Brussels.

As well as France, the hard right, which focused its campaign on migration and crime, was expected to make significant gains in Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni was tipped to consolidate her power.

Voting will continue in Italy until late in the evening and many of the 27 member states have not yet released any projections. Nonetheless, data already released confirmed earlier predictions: the EU’s massive exercise in democracy is expected to shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future.

With the center losing seats to hard right parties, the EU could find it harder to pass legislation and decision-making could at times be paralyzed in the world’s biggest trading bloc.

EU lawmakers, who serve a five-year term in the 720-seat Parliament, have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. And they hold a veto over appointments to the powerful EU commission.

These elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fueled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests.

The voting marathon began in the Netherlands on Thursday, where an unofficial exit poll suggested that the anti-migrant hard right party of Geert Wilders would make important gains, even though a coalition of pro-European parties has probably pushed it into second place.

Casting his vote in the Flanders region, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency until the end of the month, warned that Europe was “more under pressure than ever.”

Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations — Hungary, Slovakia and Italy — and are part of ruling coalitions in others including Sweden, Finland and, soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy.

“Right is good,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who leads a stridently nationalist and anti-migrant government, told reporters after casting his ballot. “To go right is always good. Go right!”

After the election comes a period of horse-trading, as political parties reconsider in their places in the continent-wide alliances that run the European legislature.

The biggest political group — the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) — has moved further right during the present elections on issues like security, climate and migration.

Among the most watched questions is whether the Brothers of Italy — the governing party of populist Meloni, which has neo-fascist roots — stays in the more hard-line European Conservatives and Reformists group or becomes part of a new hard right group that could form the wake of the elections. Meloni also has the option to work with the EPP.

A more worrying scenario for pro-European parties would be if the ECR joins forces with Le Pen’s Identity and Democracy group to consolidate hard-right influence.

The second biggest group — the center-left Socialists and Democrats — and the Greens refuse to align themselves with the ECR.

Questions also remain over what group Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party might join. It was previously part of the EPP but was forced out in 2021 due to conflicts over its interests and values. The far-right Alternative for Germany was kicked out of the Identity and Democracy group following a string of scandals surrounding its two lead candidates for the European Parliament.

The election also ushers in a period of uncertainty as new leaders are chosen for the European institutions. While lawmakers are jostling over places in alliances, governments will be competing to secure top EU jobs for their national officials.

Chief among them is the presidency of the powerful executive branch, the European Commission, which proposes laws and watches to ensure they are respected. The commission also controls the EU’s purse strings, manages trade and is Europe’s competition watchdog.

Other plum posts are those of European Council president, who chairs summits of presidents and prime ministers, and EU foreign policy chief, the bloc’s top diplomat.

[sniperct]

In 2023, the hottest year ever recorded, preliminary findings by an international team of researchers show the amount of carbon absorbed by land has temporarily collapsed. The final result was that forest, plants and soil – as a net category – absorbed almost no carbon. There are warning signs at sea, too. Greenland’s glaciers and Arctic ice sheets are melting faster than expected, which is disrupting the Gulf Stream ocean current and slows the rate at which oceans absorb carbon. For the algae-eating zooplankton, melting sea ice is exposing them to more sunlight – a shift scientists say could keep them in the depths for longer, disrupting the vertical migration that stores carbon on the ocean floor.

The report found habitat degradation and loss was the biggest threat to wildlife, followed by overexploitation, invasive species, disease, climate change and pollution. Lead author and WWF chief scientific adviser Mike Barrett said through human action, "particularly the way that we produce and consume our food, we are increasingly losing natural habitat”. The report also warns nature loss and climate change are fast pushing the world towards irreversible tipping points, including the potential "collapse" of the Amazon rainforest, whereby it can no longer lock away planet-warming carbon and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

[egyaneknowledge07]

overview Of IELTS #Egyaneknowledge

Overview of IELTS # Egyaneknowledge The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a standardized test for non-native English speakers who want to study, work, or live in English-speaking countries. Recognized by over 10,000 institutions worldwide, IELTS is often a prerequisite for university admission, job opportunities, and immigration. This article covers everything you need to know about the IELTS exam, its structure, preparation tips, and how it can be your gateway to studying abroad.

What is IELTS?

IELTS is a test that assesses the English language skills of non-native speakers. It’s jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.

The exam is available in two formats:

1. Academic IELTS – Designed for those applying to universities or higher education institutions in English-speaking countries.

2. General Training IELTS – Intended for individuals planning to migrate to English-speaking countries or enroll in non-academic training programs.

Each version tests your ability to communicate in real-life situations and ensures you have the skills needed to succeed in an English-speaking environment.

Why Take the IELTS?

For students and professionals, IELTS is often a critical step in their journey to studying, working, or settling abroad.

Here are a few reasons why taking IELTS can open up new opportunities:

1. Global Recognition – Over 140 countries and 10,000 institutions accept IELTS as proof of English proficiency.

2. University Admission – Many universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand require IELTS scores for admission.

3. Visa and Immigration – Many countries require IELTS scores for immigration and visa processing.

4. Employment Opportunities – Multinational companies often require IELTS scores from candidates for international job roles.

Structure of the IELTS Exam

IELTS assesses four key language skills – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Here’s a breakdown of each section:

1.Listening (30 minutes) : This section has four parts, each with ten questions, totaling 40 questions. You’ll hear recordings of native English speakers in a variety of contexts, from conversations to monologues, and answer questions based on what you hear.

2. Reading (60 minutes) : This section consists of three reading passages and a total of 40 questions. The passages range from descriptive and factual to analytical and critical, testing comprehension, main ideas, and details.

3. Writing (60 minutes): The writing test includes two tasks:

- Task 1 (150 words) for Academic IELTS: Describes data, charts, or diagrams.

- Task 2 (250 words): Essay writing that presents an argument or viewpoint. In General IELTS, Task 1 involves writing a letter, while Task 2 is a more general essay

4. Speaking (11–14 minutes): The speaking section is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, divided into three parts: an introduction, a short talk, and a discussion on abstract topics. The section evaluates your fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and coherence.

IELTS Scoring System

IELTS is scored on a scale of 0 to 9, with each skill receiving a band score. The overall score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half-point.

Here’s a breakdown of the score levels:

- Band 9 – Expert User

- Band 7 – Good User

- Band 5 – Modest User

- Band 3 – Extremely Limited User

- Band 1 – Non-user

Each university or country may have a minimum score requirement for admission or immigration, typically between 6.0 and 7.5.

Tips for IELTS Preparation

1. Understand the Format – Familiarize yourself with the test format by reviewing sample questions and practicing past papers.

2. Develop Strong Vocabulary – A strong vocabulary is essential, especially for the Reading and Writing sections.

3. Practice Time Management – Each section has strict time limits, so practicing under timed conditions is essential.

4. Take Practice Tests – Practice tests can highlight areas that need improvement and help build confidence.

5. Seek Professional Guidance – If possible, consider enrolling in an IELTS preparation course or hiring a tutor for personalized feedback.

Test Dates and Registration

IELTS is available multiple times throughout the year in test centres across the globe. Registration is typically done through the official IELTS website or authorized centres.

To register:

1. Choose a test date and location that suits your schedule and apply early to secure a spot.

2. Pay the test fee (typically between $200–USD 250, but it varies by location).

3. Prepare the required documents for registration and bring them on the test day.

Studying Abroad with IELTS

With a good IELTS score, students can apply to universities in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Here are some of the top destinations:

- United Kingdom – Requires IELTS for student visas and is home to universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London.

- Australia – Most universities in Australia accept IELTS scores, and it’s a requirement for a student visa.

- Canada – Canadian universities accept IELTS, and it’s commonly required for study and work visas.

- United States – While TOEFL is popular, many U.S. universities accept IELTS as proof of English proficiency.

IELTS is more than just an English test; it’s a stepping stone to achieving your dream of studying abroad. By preparing strategically, understanding the test format, and practising regularly, you can achieve a high score and open the doors to numerous global opportunities. Whether you’re aiming to study at a prestigious university, start a career, or explore new cultures, IELTS is your pathway to an exciting future.

For more information on IELTS, study tips, and preparing for your journey abroad, visit website www.Egyaneknowledge.com – your guide to educational success!

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[newstfionline]

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Florida counts cost of Hurricane Milton (Reuters) Florida on Friday was clearing downed trees and power lines and mopping up flooded neighborhoods after Hurricane Milton roared through leaving at least 16 people dead. While Milton did not trigger the catastrophic surge of seawater that was feared in Florida, the clean-up operation could take many weeks or months for some people. "It opens your eyes to what Mother Nature can do," said Chase Pierce, 25 of west St. Petersburg, who, with his girlfriend, saw transformers blow up, sparks fly and a power line fall in the back yard. The fifth-most-intense Atlantic hurricane on record, Milton could cost insurers alone up to $100 billion, analysts say.

The staggering price you’re paying for America’s nuclear makeover (NYT) The U.S. military says America’s nuclear arsenal is outdated and unable to keep up with our adversaries’ modern weapons. To replace it, the country is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation overhaul that could exceed $1.7 trillion. The spending spree, which the government began planning in 2010, is underway in at least 23 states—nearly 50 if you include subcontractors. Along with 12 new nuclear subs, the military is paying for a new fleet of bomber jets, land-based missiles and thermonuclear warheads. Tally all that spending, and the bill comes to almost $57 billion a year, or $108,000 per minute for three decades. If you don’t live where the submarines are welded or the missile silos are dug, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t know it’s happening. But each day, more than 110,000 scientists, military personnel and private contractors with high-level security clearances are scanning into facilities, putting on safety gear and piecing together a modern arsenal for a volatile new nuclear age. The money is already flowing, assembling weapons everyone hopes will never be used.

Pandering for votes (Bloomberg) Pandering for votes is standard practice in election campaigns. But the tax-policy proposals on offer during this presidential contest are setting new standards for shamelessness. The purest example of this bipartisan trait is a plan to exempt tips from income tax. Donald Trump raised the idea in June, then Kamala Harris joined him when she entered the race. Both made their pitch in Nevada, a battleground state, where about 5% of workers get some income from tips (the national average is 2%). President Joe Biden won there by 34,000 votes in 2020, so winning over some of its 350,000 hospitality workers could make the difference. Setting the electoral arithmetic aside, the idea makes no sense. Tipped workers are usually low-paid. Many would get little or no benefit because their earnings fall below IRS thresholds for tax liability. Trump also says he would end US income taxes on Americans living in other countries (though of course he can’t do that on his own since Congress would have to pass a law).

One killed as protests over high cost of living in Martinique turn violent (AP) Protests over the high cost of living in the French Caribbean island of Martinique turned violent late Wednesday, with at least one person killed as demonstrators set fire to a police station, cars and road barricades as they clashed with officers. It was one of the most violent nights yet since protests began more than a month ago, with the government issuing a statement asserting that no police officers used their weapons and that the killing was under investigation. Videos posted on social media showed protesters looting grocery stores and other businesses as they threw rocks and bottles at police, who responded with tear gas.

Migration through Darien Gap increased in September, led by Venezuelans after the election (AP) The number of migrants crossing the Darien Gap—a rugged jungle passage between Colombia and Panama—increased sharply in September, according to Panamanian government data. Venezuelans have led mass migration through the Darien since 2022, and make up much of the increase since that country’s recent controversial presidential election. More than half a million migrants, a record number, crossed the Darien in 2023. More than 65% of them were Venezuelan.

France plans to tax big business and the rich, while slashing public spending (Politico) France’s new government is laser-focused on budget cuts. Michel Barnier’s government published draft legislation last night outlining its plans to address France’s “colossal” debt issue. The main points? First, €19.4 billion in tax increases, with a focus on “exceptional” taxes on “the profits of large companies” and tax hikes on the “wealthiest” French households. Second, the spending cuts—totaling €41.3 billion overall—will cut 2,200 government jobs, shrink France’s foreign aid budget, and eliminate various tax credits. The new budget will hopefully help the country work its way out of the E.U. excessive deficit procedure it’s currently facing. Because of the Barnier government’s precarious situation—it’s made up of a patchwork coalition of centrists and right-wingers—the government might need to invoke a constitutional mechanism to get the budget passed. That maneuver would allow the government to shove through the budget without even a vote from Parliament unless lawmakers are able to scrape together a vote of no confidence within 48 hours. Maybe we’ll see another new French government sooner than expected.

September Was Deadly Month for Russian Troops in Ukraine, U.S. Says (NYT) September was the bloodiest month of the war for Russian forces in Ukraine, U.S. officials said, with the costly offensive in the east bringing the number of Russia’s dead and wounded to more than 600,000 troops since the war started. U.S. officials attribute the high number of Russian casualties to what they describe as a grinding war of attrition, with each side trying to exhaust the other by inflicting maximum losses, hoping to break the enemy’s capacity and will to continue. Russian troops have made steady but incremental gains in recent months in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, U.S. officials said. It is a style of warfare that Russians have likened to being put into a meat grinder, with commanding officers seemingly willing to send many thousands of infantry soldiers to die. According to U.S. assessments, Russian casualties in the war so far number as many as 615,000—115,000 Russians killed and 500,000 wounded. Ukrainian officials have zealously guarded their casualty figures, even from the Americans, but a U.S. official estimated that Ukraine had suffered a bit more than half of Russia’s casualties, or more than 57,500 killed and 250,000 wounded.

Airstrikes in Beirut Kill at Least 22 and Level a Building, Lebanese Officials Say (NYT) Israeli airstrikes hit two buildings in a densely populated area of central Beirut on Thursday, Lebanon said, in what appeared to be the deadliest attack in the Lebanese capital in more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes killed at least 22 people and wounded at least 117 others, Lebanese officials said. Lebanon’s state-run news agency reported that one of the strikes had targeted an eight-story building in the Ras el-Nabaa neighborhood, while the other had leveled a four-story building in the Basta neighborhood. Videos verified by The New York Times showed that the building in Basta had been destroyed and adjacent buildings had been damaged. Two plumes of thick, acrid smoke could be seen rising above the city skyline. The strikes came hours after United Nations officials said that Israeli forces had fired on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, wounding two and touching off international criticism of the Israeli military’s offensive against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group.

Israel steps up its battles with the United Nations (Washington Post) Israel firing on UN peacekeepers is only the latest flash point between Israel and the world’s most important international organization. A General Assembly resolution last month called on Israel to dismantle illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a withdrawal that would be unthinkable to Israel’s far-right government. Separate cases for genocide and war crimes against Israel and Israeli officials are running through the International Court of Justice, the U.N.’s top court, and the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, in Israeli discourse, the United Nations is a frequent target of scorn, seen as a biased instrument of myriad member states angry at Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories. When he addressed the General Assembly in New York in September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the international body a “swamp of antisemitic bile.” Earlier this month, the country’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, declared the U.N. Secretary General António Guterres “persona non grata,” barring him from entering Israel after the latter made a statement condemning the “broadening” nature of the conflict in the Middle East without specifically decrying Iran’s rocket barrage.

‘Relentless’ Israeli Attacks on Gaza Medical Workers Are War Crime, U.N. Panel Says (NYT) United Nations investigators on Thursday accused Israel of engaging in “relentless and deliberate attacks” on health care facilities, medical workers and wounded civilians in the Gaza Strip and said the actions amounted to war crimes and extermination, a crime against humanity. A U.N. report said the Israelis had imposed “collective punishment” on Palestinians in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attacks Hamas militants led on Israel a year ago from Gaza. The Israeli siege that followed, it said, has prevented hospitals from receiving food, fuel, water and medical supplies, and has also limited the number of patients allowed to leave Gaza for treatment. Navi Pillay, the former U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said, “Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s health care system as part of a broader assault on Gaza, committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination with relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities.”

After a 2-year investigation, South African president won’t be charged over $580K hidden in a couch (AP) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa won’t face criminal charges over a hidden cash scandal that was revealed more than two years ago and led to an investigation by a special police unit, prosecutors said Thursday. A former national security chief laid a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa in June 2022, accusing him of kidnapping, bribery and other crimes in relation to the theft of $580,000 in U.S. banknotes that was stashed in a couch at the president’s ranch. The former security boss, Arthur Fraser, alleged that Ramaphosa had been keeping the cash hidden in furniture at his ranch to evade South Africa’s foreign currency laws when it was stolen. Instead of reporting the theft, Ramaphosa tried to cover it up by having members of his presidential protection unit track down the thieves, kidnap them and then bribe them to keep quiet about the existence of the money, Fraser said in the affidavit filed with police. The theft happened at Ramaphosa’s game farm in rural northern South Africa in early 2020 and had been kept quiet until Fraser’s allegations. It forced Ramaphosa to admit the theft took place and threw his presidency into turmoil.

Weeds (MIT Technology Review) Weeds are winning again, with herbicide-resistant strains emerging from 273 weed species, developing resistances to any of 168 different herbicides. Water hemp, for instance, grows an inch per day or more, and is now resistant to seven classes of herbicides. That’s quite bad, as season-long water hemp can cut soybean yields by 44 percent and cut corn yields by 15 percent.

[heyitsjooooanne]

265

One room.

Two hundred and sixty-five packages.

A young man decides that he's had enough…

Author's Note: Inspired by a Korean musician with questionable behavior concerning his package deliveries.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  =  =

My friend Holden liked to collect packages.

Actually wait, no.

I'm sorry.

He liked to hoard packages.

Ah.

See?

That’s much better.

But back to what I was saying.

This dumbass liked to hoard his own packages.

Let me show you what I mean.

It was a cold, January day, the birds were migrating, couples were cuddling, casseroles were baking, and—

Okay, I'll just cut the bullshit and get right to it.

See, Holden and I (my name is irrelevant), were part of a small group of rich online influencers.

Now, don't go throwing that rotten fruit at us just yet.

Yes, we posted videos on social media, but we treated the gig like actual jobs, which they were.

 And not to brag, but those videos gave us both a hefty sum of money.

Read: I am currently a millionaire at the time of writing this.

Anyway, Holden and I lived together as platonic roommates while we both did god-knows-what outside of the apartment we lived in. Which was fine by me.

So fast-forward to sometime in early 2017 when we were both 24.

It was damn cold, our heater was broken, and there I was, minding my own business (I was playing a video game in my bedroom) when this stupid son of a bitch walked in and said...

"Here's your birthday gift."

One: My birthday was in November.

Two: He bought that birthday gift for me the previous year for the previous year's birthday!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“You’re kidding, right?”

“What?”

And if you're wondering how that could've happened, I'll tell you how.

He hoarded packages and never opened them, so naturally when he ordered something for me online, he tossed it aside and never bothered opening it.

Sigh.

Yes, I needed to actually write that out.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Two years later, I had finally gotten enough money for my own place, so I moved into another room a few floors down from our old room, which was now Holden’s.

But I would occasionally go over to his room to hang out and film videos for our individual channels.

There was a time when I had to watch my two-year-old nephew (read: his cat) for a few days while he was visiting his family.

The problem?

I was bored out of my mind.

Because I had already used up all of my data.

And it wouldn’t be renewed until the next day due to a “system error.”

Also, the WiFi didn’t work.

Now, I love Coco.

He’s like a real-life version of the cat from “Kiki’s Delivery Service.’

But all he does is sleep, cuddle, and look absolutely adorable.

Great for relaxing, but not so great when you’re itching to do something.

So I decided to count all the unopened packages in Holden’s "delivery room."

He called it that, not me.

Ignoring his poor taste in naming rooms, I counted every single package in that room, and it all led to just one number.

265.

He ordered two hundred and sixty-five damn things, and he didn't open a single one of them, other than him randomly finding a package and going "oh! I forgot I ordered this for you ‘X’ number of years ago."

In case, you’re wondering, yes, Coco is still alive to this day.

I know.

It’s a shock to me that someone like him could keep a living creature alive for that long too.

But don't worry.

This ended up biting him in the ass later on.

Because remember when I said he and I were part of a group of rich online influencers?

Well...

Actually, it hasn't been that long, so this is still a sore spot for me to think about.

But I'll push through it.

.

.

.

.

Jesus, how many "birthing" references can I make in a single post?

Meh.

I'll just get on with it.

So this group was made up of ten people, myself and Holden included.

Seven guys and three girls.

And we were all super close with each other.

I'd even go so far as to say we were all friends.

In 2020, one person from our group got sick.

Her name was Emily.

We had dated a few years before then, but we eventually broke up because we each wanted different things.

She wanted kids.

I didn’t.

But we ended up being pretty good friends after our breakup.

Anyway, I probably don't have to tell you what she got.

The point is, she got it.

My last image of Emily was her laughing at a stupid joke that her boyfriend made as they both got into an Uber to go back to their hotel.

We had all been partying at a club that night.

#richpeoplethingsssss

And then six weeks later, I received a call from her boyfriend telling me that she had died.

Shot down like a fly.

Just like that.

After that, they all started falling down like dominoes.

One after another.

Trust me when I say that a virtual funeral is not any better than a real one.

And when you're forced to "attend" nine of them (a relative of mine also died) in the span of a year, it really does something to you.

"Forced" might not be the right word to use here since I attended them all voluntarily, but...

Now, you can believe in whatever conspiracy you want, but the point is that people we knew died.

And if you're wondering why Holden and I didn't get sick...

Honestly, this is a little embarrassing to write down, but...

Holden and I got a great opportunity to try out this new game before things got crazy, and...

We spent two weeks in our own rooms playing it.

Then we had to stay in quarantine.

Then we had to wear masks everywhere.

Combine that with the fear mongering news anchors, my hypochondria, and you've got two dudes ready to wear hazmat suits outside.

Or at least, I was.

I didn't though.

(I couldn't find a legit one online.)

It's easy for me to laugh at the ridiculousness of this now, but at the time, it was a Hellscape.

Finally, in 2022, I just snapped.

I don't know what it was.

Could it have been that it was May 14th and that was the day that Emily had died two years earlier?

Maybe.

All I remember is going into Holden's “delivery room” because a damn fly had flown in there and I was trying to kill it.

I swatted with the fly swatter and missed, which caused a package on top of a pile (yes, he had piles) to drop down to my feet.

I picked it up and shook it, and it sounded like a bag of chips.

I was already angry with the fly for getting in through the vent, so I was already pissed off by this point.

So, not caring that I was committing a literal crime, I opened the package in frustration.

It was a bag of cookies made exclusively in Japan.

A favorite of one of the friends who had passed away in 2020.

His name was Kareem.

After that, I just saw red.

I'd realized then that I'd had enough of Holden and his complacent bullshit.

I barged into his bedroom without knocking and threw the bag of cookies in his face.

I think he was live streaming.

Maybe a game or something.

After that, it was a blur of us yelling at each other and Holden getting upset at me for interrupting his stream and opening up one of his packages.

No, shit, dude. Someone had to.

After it was over, I rushed back to my own room, fuming.

The next day, I invited my boyfriend (#birepresent!) to stay at my place for a while.

Holden would eventually knock on my door a week later.

I was still angry, so I told my boyfriend to ignore him.

The next morning, my boyfriend told me he had to go out and do something, so I stayed in my  room alone.

But the fight between Holden and I kept nagging at me.

I knew I couldn’t let that be our last interaction with each other.

So I went over to his room.

I knocked, but there was no answer.

Feeling a sense of urgency, I put in the pin number for his door lock and in an unsurprising twist, it worked.

It was his birthday.

>_<

After I was in, I immediately went over to the "delivery room” and found Holden sitting cross-legged on the floor gliding a sharp kitchen knife across the taped end of a package that was actually a box.

I looked to my left and saw several packages opened up with their contents discarded in a pile next to them.

It was so surreal, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Was my friend Holden actually opening these packages????

I bit my tongue to avoid saying something snarky and settled on...

"Need some help?"

We spent the rest of the day opening the packages.

We even shed a few tears because it seemed like every package was an old gift that Holden had forgotten to give to one of our dearly departed friends.

Finally, at around 11:45 PM (I had my phone with me), we finished opening up every single package that he had neglected over the years.

It was like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.

And even though he didn't say it, I could tell that Holden was relieved too.

The next morning, while we were both enjoying a bowl of oatmeal at his dining table, I asked him why he had taken so long to open the packages.

"Don't tell me you really forgot."

"Well it's just that..."

He sighed.

Then he ate another spoonful of oatmeal.

"You're gonna give me shit for saying it."

"We've been friends for over ten years. I've already seen your shit. Literally."

A tiny laugh from him.

"Come on, man. Now's not the time to be a passive shithead."

"Alright. Fine."

He put his spoon back in his bowl.

"I was thinking about it last night, and I realized that the reason I never gave our friends their gifts was because... I never appreciated the time I had with them. I mean, getting opportunities to travel to other countries. Speaking at Cons all the time. I don't know..."

He looked down at his bowl.

"I guess I always assumed that since we were rich that there would always be enough time. Like we could buy more time if we needed to."

"That's stupid."

"I know. But it's what I thought."

I leaned back in my chair.

"So what do you want to do now?"

Holden leaned forward.

"Maybe I should send all the packages for our friends who have passed on to their families?"

"That could work."

Holden and I spent the next couple of days calling everyone, but no one wanted the gifts. They were all items that could be ordered in the exact same way online, so there was nothing really special about them.

Nothing personalized or unique.

Three days later, by sheer luck, I overheard these college students talking about a donation drive on their campus.

I immediately ran home (well, I ran to the subway) and told Holden all about it.

He agreed to it.

I really should've recorded the looks on the students' faces when they saw Holden dropping a big-ass box of miscellaneous shit into their donation box.

And that wasn't even half of it!

The school didn't want anyone else to miss out on an opportunity to donate something, so they cut him off at about twenty items.

But that was just the beginning.

A professor told us the phone numbers of places where Holden and I could donate his box of thingsTM, and we spent the rest of the day going to every single one of them until finally we were down to a box of thirteen items.

Unfortunately, we had already gone to all the donation centers in the city.

Not knowing what to do next, we decided to call Uber again and head back home.

The next morning (take a shot of water every time I say this), I was scrolling through social media when I saw a clip of someone announcing a giveaway that they were hosting.

And it hit me.

Like, literally hit me because Holden accidentally bumped into me while trying to get to the kitchen to make breakfast for himself.

"Sorry, dude."

"You should host a giveaway on your channel!" I blurted without thinking.

Holden turned around quickly.

"Huh?"

I got up from my seat at the dining room table.

"A giveaway! That's how we're gonna get rid of those thirteen items."

Holden crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Got any ideas?"

"Hmm..."

Two weeks later, I went with Holden to the post office and watched him hand a box that contained a really fancy black jacket worth eight hundred dollars that was going to a very lucky winner in Oregon, to an employee behind the desk.

And that was that.

Two hundred and sixty five packages, finally gone.

I glanced over at Holden and noticed that his eyes were getting shiny.

But I didn't say anything.

Instead, I put an arm around his shoulder reassuringly.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  =  =

Author's Note: I actually think this would make a very good short film. Maybe something for the holiday season or whatever. Also, 265 is supposed to be Seventeen’s debut date scrambled up (May 26th, 526 = 265).

[hiding-under-the-willow]

Uh, hello.

I'm very new to tumblr, and i'm not exactly sure how it works.

i was wondering if you could give me some basic tumblr rules and etiquette?

like how reblogs and stuff work.

I'm just really worried i'm doing something wrong, and i don't want people to get mad at me for it.

I feel like the number one way I can suggest figuring out the social etiquette of tumblr is just to follow blogs you like and observe how they use the site and just like work from there, that's how I figured out the site when I joined at least. Back when I joined there weren't actually a lot of people joining so there wasn't a lot of guidance but the site's been seeing a lot of user migration the last year or two so there are plenty of posts circling around with like tips on how to use the site and the general culture and such if that's the kind of stuff you're looking for though.

Generally, reblogs are appreciated, especially by artists since it's the best way for their work to reach new people. People will try to claim likes do nothing and so you should always reblog, this is generally a lie. Reblogs do more for artists but its not like it's the end of the world if you don't reblog every post you like that's just some weird moral panic bullshit people get on every once in awhile. Usually if someone doesn't want a post reblogged they'll say it explicitly in the post or tags so that's not something you need to be paranoid about. People talk in the tags on reblogs and original posts. If you're reblogging a text post or art op is probably always gonna be chill with you talking about the post in the tag, in fact that's the more common way here to leave praise for art rather than leaving actual comments.

I keep my reblogs and most of my personal posts on a separate blog but that's like a personal organizational thing I like having my art all easily accessible in the same place. If you're a content creator of some kind it's totally chill to have all of your personal work and all of your reblogs on the same blog. Really how much you organize or split up stuff is up to you. Some people have different blogs for every fandom they're in, some people put everything in one place. Some people tag everything thoroughly some people don't tag anything. It's really just up to you what kind of organization you want to have and what stuff you want to keep track of on your blog.

Block people you don't want to interact with. Block tags you don't want to see. Unfollow people whenever where ever for whatever reason and don't feel bad about it. Curate your experience on this site as much as possible. It's one of the best social media sites in terms of personalizing your experience by far and that's something you should absolutely take advantage of. Don't force yourself to engage in discourse you don't care about, don't harass people for anything, don't get pressured into reblogging serious political posts if you don't want to, turn your gaze away from anything you don't want to see. It's the funny fandom site, don't make yourself miserable, curate your space so that it sparks joy.

This is more site function than etiquette but. Tumblr live is a really recent addition to the site, it's stupid, might be a data harvesting scheme, and everyone hates it. No one uses it. There's a place in settings you can turn it off for a week at a time. Everyone does that every week it's a collective in joke basically.

Anyways mostly my point is have fun, curate and organize your space as you see fit, and watch other people to pick up on site etiquette. If anyone else wants to leave tips on this post it's totally welcome. Good luck out there dude o7

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

Can I get Ingo and Laventon for numbers 1 and 7? :D

YEAH MY GUYS (character dynamic ask game)

1. what were A’s first impressions of B? were they mostly correct or have they changed?

this is another scenario where like... i imagine laventon and ingo would have known of each other long before they met properly, but they also probably wouldn't know too much in the way of specifics. but i think their initial meeting should be VERY impactful from both sides. ingo probably knows beforehand that laventon is a professor of pokemon specifically, but he's probably still anticipating some of that reserved wariness that everyone in hisui kind of has. and like, yes laventon does have a healthy amount of fear of getting eaten alive by a butterfly, BUT. he is also legitimately very excited about his work!! i think there's an immediate click there bc the first thing ingo notes, before anything else, is that lav is genuinely passionate about his research, and pokemon in general, and the fact that someone cares enough to study and understand them, to put all this work into a 'dex, and also importantly go against the prevailing culture to try and encourage catching and partnering with them, that's huge in ingo's eyes.

conversely on laventon's side, before that point ingo would probably have just been A Warden. one of the ten figures in hisui who commands the most amount of respect just below the leaders. who also tend to be variably sort of wary of jubilife and the galaxy team, conceptually. like, to most of the ones lav has interacted with thus far, their leaders approved this whole thing, but that doesn't mean they have to be super excited about it. and much like ingo's own first impressions, lav is in no way prepared for how not just accepting but genuinely passionate he is about like... every single one of the Weird Things the survey/security corps does that everyone else is so uncertain about. pokeballs? great! fantastic! so useful! catching pokemon to research them? naturally! let him know if you need any help with the more difficult-to-wrangle ones! using pokemon for help with assorted other tasks? finally someone else sees the obvious benefits! battling? FUCK YEAAAAH (ingo does not say fuck yeah but he is clearly spiritually thinking it.) lav is overall like, very pleasantly surprised. to put it mildly. also he clearly knows his shit! lav could and will pick his brains about highlands pokemon for hours.

relatedly irida will just tell you to your face about ingo's showing up out of nowhere, but fsr i am so drawn to scenarios where most/all of the galaxy team is sort of unaware of that whole situation in the beginning. like, maybe the pearl clan intentionally doesn't mention it bc it would be awkward, or maybe it just accidentally never comes up. regardless, i think that does make for a really interesting interaction btwn ingo and the galaxy captains bc like... to them he's just a pearl clan warden. no miscellaneous qualifiers or w/e. it's not something he gets very often. it's... kind of nice? meanwhile lav would gradually pick up that ingo is somehow not exactly a Normal pearl warden but would hold off on asking bc that would be Rude. this is actually the subject of a whole oneshot i may or may not get around to finishing

7. are there any habits, mannerisms, practices etc. A does because of B? anything they do because they saw B doing it, or got advice from them about it, or something rubbed off on them? alternately, are there any little things B does that annoy them?

oh these guys are swapping advice and tips and stuff constantly i think. ingo tells lav about a strategy to calm and handle a gligar so he can get data on it easier. lav tells him abt some unique bio to roserade that makes dealing with them much more predictable. lav gets to hear about clefairy migration patterns. ingo gets to learn how to craft pokeballs. ingo tells lav about how you can safely use hypnosis as a sleep aid and lav goes "what in the actual fuck are you saying. wait. let me try"

in terms of specific habits though... idk! lav is not a super big battler but i could see him picking up some of ingo's specific gestural style if it ever does come up. ingo might also start taking more notes in general, now that he's aware of what material data on pokemon is actually useful. which i think would sort of naturally transition to him keeping a diary/journal, if he doesn't already do that, or a more detailed one if he does. every successive highlands warden adds something to the home they share across time and ingo's is stacks and stacks of books and loose paper dude why

[chamerionwrites]

The Greek government did not respond to repeated requests for comment. But campaigning on Lesbos last week ahead of general elections on Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his government’s “tough but fair” migration policies and boasted of a 90 percent drop in the arrival of “illegal migrants.”

The government has consistently denied mistreating asylum seekers and points to the fact that it shoulders a disproportionate burden of managing new arrivals to Europe.

But the video, provided by an Austrian aid worker, Fayad Mulla, who has spent much of the past two and a half years working on the island and trying to document abuses against migrants, may be the most damning evidence yet of the Greek authorities’ violation of international laws and E.U. rules governing how asylum seekers must be treated...

It was just after midday on April 11 that a white unmarked van drove down to a small cove with a wooden dock at the southern tip of Lesbos, according to Mr. Mulla’s video.

As the van wound down to the coastline, two men waiting in a speedboat covered their faces with what appear to be ski masks. When the van stopped, three men emerged, unlocked the back doors — and out filed 12 people, several of them small children.

The passengers included Ms. Aden and her baby, Awale, with whom she had originally fled Jilib, a small city in an area of Somalia controlled by Al Shabab, a militant group linked with Al Qaeda, she said. Ms. Aden said they had landed on Lesbos in a smugglers’ dinghy a day earlier and had spent a night hiding in the brush before being rounded up by masked men.

Sulekha Abdullahi, 40, and her six children were crammed in the van, too.

So were Mahdi, 25, and Miliyen, 33, who said they had also arrived on Lesbos by dinghy and sought cover in the brush. They were captured after a short pursuit, and Miliyen’s ankles still bore deep scratches when we interviewed him days later.

They agreed to share their stories but asked to be identified only by their first names, fearful of retribution.

A few minutes after the group was escorted out of the van, everyone was taken out on the Aegean waters in the speedboat. From a distance it looked like a tourist leisure ride. It was anything but.

Another three minutes passed and then the speedboat approached Coast Guard vessel 617, which was mostly paid for with E.U. funds, according to archived lists of Greek Coast Guard assets.

One by one, the migrants were unloaded from the speedboat and taken to the stern of the Coast Guard boat, escorted by six unmasked individuals, some of whom appeared to be wearing the standard dark blue uniform.

The Coast Guard craft then turned eastward toward Turkey and got underway. The boat was not sending out its location, according to Marine Traffic, a maritime live data platform that tracks vessels. But The Times was able to approximate its position using location data from other nearby commercial vessels visible in the footage.

The Coast Guard boat stopped when it neared the edge of Greece’s territorial waters. The video Mr. Mulla shot from the Lesbos coast is blurry because of the distance, but a black object can later be seen floating beside the Coast Guard boat.

In interviews at the Izmir detention facility, all the migrants recounted being pushed onto a black inflatable life raft and set adrift. The use of these engineless rafts has been documented in the past, but the Greek authorities have denied leaving migrants afloat in them, because they are unnavigable and can overturn.

The Greek authorities often use a fax message to tip off their counterparts to the presence of stranded migrants in Turkish territorial waters, according to Turkish officials, and an hour or so after the migrants were abandoned, two Turkish Coast Guard boats appeared...

The Turkish authorities may rescue the migrants at sea, but they accord them only limited rights.

On paper, Ms. Oguz said, the asylum seekers have a right to apply for international protection in Turkey — but the chances are slim. “They do apply, but they’re rejected,” she said. The Turkish authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

By contrast, more than 80 percent of Eritreans and more than half of the Somalis who applied for protection in the European Union last year were successful, according to official statistics.

“I just wanted to go to a place where I can seek safety,” Ms. Aden said.

[falkondata]

A Cheat Sheet for EHR Data Conversion and Migration

Bid farewell to data headaches and embrace a seamless transition between Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems! Moving to a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) can feel like scaling Mount Data Everest, but fear not, brave healthcare hero. This cheat sheet is your trusty sherpa, guiding you through the tricky terrain of data conversion and migration.

Before You Begin

Investigate how both your current and future EHR systems handle data export and import. Is it a database dump, APIs, or file transfers? The sooner you understand, the smoother the migration.

Do not assume that all data is easily transferable. Scrutinize your data to ensure it meets the new system’s requirements, as not all elements may seamlessly make the journey.

Don’t rely on cumbersome claim transfers. Wrap up outstanding accounts receivable in your old system before making the switch.

Schedule your migration around holidays to minimize disruption and give your team (and the data!) breathing room.

Conversion Strategies

Embrace a phased approach. Move demographics, appointments, and master lists first. Clinical data can wait (gasp!). This lets your team and the new EHR prioritize and get you online ASAP.

Conduct multiple tests, running trial conversions on small patient samples (say 30 patients). You’ll unearth issues before they become mountain-sized problems.

Consider retaining temporary access to your old system for reference purposes. It’s like a safety net for those “oh, I forgot that!” moments.

Not everything needs a new home. Utilize an archival system for data you don’t need in the new EHR.

Data Essentials

Ensure a smooth migration by prioritizing the transfer of the following essential data:

Patient Information: Demographics, insurance scans, policy details, historic charges/balances.

Appointments: Both past and future appointments, meticulously organized.

Master Lists: Categorize and transfer insurance providers, referral sources, and other relevant lists.

Clinical Data: Chart PDFs, discrete text data, allergies, medications, problem lists, immunizations, and progress notes.

Procedures: Transfer detailed information such as CPT codes, modifiers, and pre-authorization codes.

CCDAs: Acquire the Summary of Care document, a valuable data repository.

Financials: Limited financial data may be transferred, but confirm the specifics with your new EHR to ensure accuracy.

Bonus Tip: Make a list of all your EHR integration points like FHIR, HL7 V2, APIs, CSV files. Don’t leave any data orphans behind!

But fear not, weary traveler! You don’t have to climb this mountain alone. We’re here to help with expert guidance, proven strategies, and a team of data Sherpas ready to tackle any conversion challenge. Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s turn your EHR migration into a smooth and stress-free journey!

Remember, with the right plan and a helping hand, even the mightiest data peak can be conquered.

You may find this article on Falkondata website by following this link: https://falkondata.com/ehr-data-conversion-cheat-sheet/

[pokemongoloresociety]

GO FEST Leader Text

More fun with the Team Leaders!

Willow sends you out to help gather meteorites with them. Glad to see another leader quest.

Candela

+RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_1 +TEXT: Hey hey, %PLAYERNAME%! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_2 +TEXT: There’re so many Trainers here. All the hustle and bustle’s really firing me up! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_3 +TEXT: But you know what’s firing me up the most? Two words: Mega. Rayquaza! Pokémon battles are my thing, and Mega Rayquaza’s got red-hot strength in spades! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_4 +TEXT: In fact, Mega Rayquaza’s so powerful that some folks from the Hoenn region say it’s strong enough to repel both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_5 +TEXT: I’m burning  to see a Pokémon like that in action. Aren’t you? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_6 +TEXT: Yeah? Then now’s our chance! It looks like Mega Rayquaza’s landed at that Gym over there! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_7 +TEXT: My team’s raring to go. How about yours? Think they’re ready to test their mettle against a Mega-Evolved Legendary Pokémon? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_8 +TEXT: One tip before you go: using a supereffective Charged Attack will help you turn up the heat in battle! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_1_9 +TEXT: Right. Let’s do this thing, %PLAYERNAME%!

(She's fired up like a corny '90s superhero, and I can't blame her. Mega Rayquaza is a gift.)

Spark

+RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_1 +TEXT: Heyyy, %PLAYERNAME%! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_2 +TEXT: Are you helping Professor Willow find meteorites? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_3 +TEXT: Same! And just between you and me, I’m taking a tour of the best food joints in town along the way. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_4 +TEXT: I passed by what looked like a FIRE boba tea spot a minute ago. We’ll have to grab a sip once we’re done here! +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_5 +TEXT: But first, meteorites. I saw a couple fall around the streets here earlier. I’ll scoop up the ones back there, so how about you keep searching up ahead? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_6 +TEXT: And don’t forget to pop an Egg in an Incubator before you go! No reason not to hatch while you, uh...catch? Meteorites, I mean. Just...pretend that made sense. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_2_7 +TEXT: Now, I gotta run—boba’s on me later, bestie!

(His fans may eat… drink? well with this one! Come to think of it, aside from Spark having a big appetite and totally in-character, it's probably a nod to their Kung-Fu Tea promo)

Blanche

+RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_1 +TEXT: Hello, %PLAYERNAME%. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_10 +TEXT: I have every confidence in you, %PLAYERNAME%. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_2 +TEXT: I’ve arrived here by calculating where the next meteorite is most likely to land, taking into account radar data... +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_3 +TEXT: ...the planet’s trajectory, present atmospheric conditions, current Pidgey migration patterns, and so forth. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_4 +TEXT: I assume you employed the same methodology? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_5 +TEXT: No? You “just felt like coming here”? +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_6 +TEXT: Ah. I...suppose that works as well. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_7 +TEXT: However you found your way, it’s fortuitous you’re here. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_8 +TEXT: Mega Rayquaza has been seen dipping through the clouds nearby. +RESOURCE ID: gofest2023_city_3_9 +TEXT: Since I have my hands full collecting meteorites around here, I recommend you spend your time observing Mega Rayquaza—perhaps even challenge it to battle, if you feel up to the task.

(Blanche is too precious, as always.)

[elmalo8291]

Absolutely. Here’s a structured evolution of the world we live in—focused on human civilization, technological change, and planetary influence—from early history to today, with a slight nod toward where things are heading:

🌍 I. The Primordial Era (4.5 billion – 10,000 BCE)

Formation of Earth: Collision, cooling, and chaos. Heavy bombardment creates oceans and atmosphere.

Origin of Life: First microbial life forms in the oceans ~3.5 billion years ago.

Evolutionary Pressure: Natural selection leads to multicellular life, land colonization, dinosaurs, then mammals after mass extinctions.

Hominids Appear (~6 million BCE): Walking upright, developing tools, migrating.

🔥 II. The Human Dawn (10,000 BCE – 3000 BCE)

Neolithic Revolution: Farming, domestication, permanent settlements.

Proto-Technology: Pottery, weaving, early metallurgy.

Spiritual Awareness: Shamanism, animism, celestial observation.

🏛 III. Ancient Civilizations (3000 BCE – 500 CE)

Rise of Empires: Egypt, Sumer, Indus, China, Mesoamerica.

Writing & Law: Cuneiform, hieroglyphs, Hammurabi’s Code.

Philosophy & Religion: Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and later Christianity.

Engineering Feats: Pyramids, aqueducts, roads, astronomy.

Collapse Cycles: Drought, warfare, and internal rot bring civilizations down.

⚔️ IV. The Medieval World (500 – 1500 CE)

Decentralization: Feudalism, kingdoms, theocracies.

Islamic Golden Age: Science, medicine, algebra, optics.

Crusades & Trade: Cultural cross-pollination, East-West exchanges.

Plague & Collapse: Black Death, Mongol invasions reshape power.

🚢 V. Renaissance to Enlightenment (1500 – 1800 CE)

Renaissance: Rebirth of classical learning, art, and science.

Scientific Method: Galileo, Newton, Descartes—order from chaos.

Colonial Expansion: Empires spread through conquest and exploitation.

Revolutions Begin: American, French—liberty vs. monarchy.

⚙️ VI. Industrial Age (1800 – 1945 CE)

Mechanization: Steam, coal, textile revolution, railroads.

Urbanization: Factory cities, slums, labor reform.

World Wars: Nationalism, empire clashes, technological warfare.

Electricity & Communication: Telegraph, telephone, early radio.

💻 VII. The Digital Age (1945 – 2020)

Nuclear World: Cold War, MAD doctrine, atomic anxiety.

Space Race: Apollo landings, satellites, GPS.

Internet Revolution: Global connectivity, social media, data explosion.

Globalization: Interconnected economies, climate awareness.

🧠 VIII. The Post-Digital Tipping Point (2020 – Present)

AI & Automation: ChatGPT, robotics, algorithmic governance.

Climate Crisis: Wildfires, floods, mass migrations.

Pandemics & Resilience: COVID-19 changed systems forever.

Cultural Fragmentation: Truth questioned, media splintered.

Space Renaissance: Mars missions, lunar bases, private spaceflight.

🔮 IX. Probable Near Futures (2025 – 2100+)

Artificial Intelligence: Ubiquity in decision-making and creative work.

Synthetic Biology: Engineered organisms, CRISPR, designer cures.

Planetary Engineering: Geoengineering, carbon capture, climate interventions.

Decentralized Power: Blockchain, DAO governance, post-nation actors.

Post-Human Trajectories: Brain-machine interfaces, artificial consciousness.

Interplanetary Migration: First outposts on Mars or the Moon; Earth becomes one world among many.

Would you like this rewritten from a mythological, cyberpunk, or speculative fiction lens? Or do you want to explore alternative timelines, like what if Rome never fell or AI emerged in the 1800s?

[totalsecuretechnology]

Reliable IT Support in Davis: Your Guide to Seamless Technology Solutions

In today's fast-paced digital world, businesses and individuals alike depend heavily on technology for productivity, communication, and data management. However, when technical issues arise, they can disrupt operations and result in costly downtime. That's where professional IT support in Davis comes into play. Whether you're a small business owner, a remote worker, or part of a large organization, having access to reliable IT support is not just an option—it's a necessity.

This blog explores why IT support in Davis is essential, the services available, and how to choose the right provider to meet your unique needs.

Why IT Support Matters

Technology is the backbone of modern operations, from email communications and cloud storage to cybersecurity and data backup. Yet, despite its benefits, technology can be unpredictable. Systems crash, software becomes outdated, and networks face threats. This is why IT support is critical.

A dedicated IT support team ensures:

Reduced downtime through fast response and resolution.

Enhanced security with the latest protection measures.

Improved productivity by maintaining smooth operations.

Peace of mind knowing that experts are managing your IT systems.

What to Expect from IT Support in Davis

Davis, California, is home to a growing number of tech-savvy professionals, small businesses, and academic institutions. To support this vibrant community, numerous local IT support providers offer a range of services tailored to meet diverse needs.

Here’s what you can expect from a top-tier IT support provider in Davis:

1. Help Desk Support

Remote and on-site assistance for troubleshooting hardware and software problems. Whether your printer won’t connect or your operating system is crashing, the help desk is your first line of defense.

2. Network Setup and Maintenance

A stable network is crucial. IT experts help design, install, and maintain secure and efficient networks, both wired and wireless, ensuring seamless connectivity.

3. Cybersecurity Services

With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, Davis IT support providers offer firewalls, antivirus software, endpoint protection, and ongoing security audits to keep your data safe.

4. Cloud Solutions

Cloud computing is vital for data accessibility and collaboration. IT support in Davis can assist in setting up cloud environments, data migration, and managing services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.

5. Data Backup and Disaster Recovery

Avoid catastrophic data loss with automated backup solutions and recovery plans. If your business suffers a breach, crash, or natural disaster, a recovery plan ensures continuity.

6. IT Consulting and Strategy

Need help planning for the future? IT consultants help businesses in Davis align their technology with long-term goals by recommending scalable solutions and infrastructure upgrades.

7. Compliance Assistance

Industries such as healthcare and finance require adherence to specific data security regulations (like HIPAA or PCI-DSS). IT support teams ensure your systems are compliant.

Benefits of Local IT Support in Davis

Choosing a local IT support provider offers several advantages:

Faster Response Times

Local providers can often offer quicker on-site visits and same-day service if needed, reducing your downtime.

Personalized Service

Unlike large, nationwide firms, local teams tend to offer a more customized approach, taking time to understand your business or personal setup.

Community Involvement

Working with a local business strengthens the Davis economy. Local providers are invested in the community and understand the unique challenges and needs of area businesses.

Choosing the Right IT Support Provider in Davis

With so many options, how do you pick the right IT partner? Here are some tips:

1. Evaluate Experience and Expertise

Look for providers with experience in your industry. Do they understand your software? Have they worked with similar-sized businesses?

2. Check Reviews and References

Online reviews and client testimonials offer insight into the provider’s reliability and quality of service. Ask for references and speak directly to past or current clients.

3. Understand the Service Level Agreement (SLA)

An SLA outlines the scope of services, response times, and guarantees. Make sure everything is clearly documented.

4. Ensure Scalable Services

Your business may grow, and your IT needs will evolve. Choose a provider that offers scalable services to grow with you.

5. 24/7 Availability

Tech issues don’t always happen during business hours. Ensure your IT provider offers around-the-clock support or has an emergency response option.

IT Support for Small Businesses in Davis

Small businesses often operate with limited resources. A professional IT support provider offers cost-effective solutions tailored to your budget. Whether it's setting up your first POS system, managing emails, or protecting customer data, IT support is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.

IT Support for Educational Institutions in Davis

With the presence of the University of California, Davis, educational technology is a priority in the area. Schools and universities require secure networks, collaborative tools, and data protection for staff and students. Local IT support providers offer dedicated services tailored to the needs of educational institutions.

Remote and Hybrid Work Solutions

Post-pandemic, remote and hybrid work is the new norm. IT support teams help organizations transition smoothly with services like:

Secure VPN setups

Cloud-based productivity tools

Remote monitoring and management

Endpoint device support

By ensuring that employees can work efficiently from any location, IT support boosts productivity and employee satisfaction.

Affordable and Flexible Pricing

Many IT support companies in Davis offer flexible pricing models such as:

Pay-as-you-go for occasional needs

Monthly retainers for ongoing support

Project-based pricing for installations or upgrades

These options make it easier for both individuals and businesses to get the help they need without overspending.

Conclusion: Invest in Reliable IT Support in Davis

Whether you’re a startup, a retail business, or part of an academic institution, partnering with a reliable IT support provider in Davis is an investment in stability, security, and success. Don’t wait for a technical crisis to seek help. Proactive support can prevent problems before they arise, saving you time and money.