#Data Science and Big Data services

[technology-ahead]

Unlocking Insights through Data Science and Big Data Services in Houston, Texas

In the vibrant landscape of Houston, Texas, where innovation meets enterprise, Domain Experts Group stands as a beacon in the realm of Data Science and Big Data services. Specializing in cutting-edge analytics and data-driven solutions, Domain Experts Group offers a suite of services designed to extract actionable insights from complex data sets, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and drive growth.

Understanding Data Science Services

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Domain Experts Group employs sophisticated analytical techniques to dissect and interpret vast volumes of structured and unstructured data. By identifying patterns, trends, and correlations, they help businesses derive meaningful insights crucial for strategic decision-making.

Predictive Modeling and Machine Learning: Leveraging advanced predictive modeling and machine learning algorithms, Domain Experts Group assists businesses in forecasting future trends, optimizing processes, and discovering hidden opportunities within their data.

Data Visualization and Reporting: Transforming raw data into compelling visual narratives, their experts craft intuitive dashboards and reports that enable stakeholders to grasp complex insights swiftly and make data-backed decisions.

Exploring Big Data Services

Scalable Infrastructure and Architecture: Domain Experts Group specializes in designing and implementing scalable and robust Big Data architectures tailored to the unique needs of businesses. Their solutions ensure efficient data storage, processing, and retrieval in the era of massive data influx.

Data Integration and Management: Managing diverse data sources can be challenging. With their expertise, Domain Experts Group integrates disparate data streams, providing a unified view for comprehensive analysis and streamlined decision-making.

Real-time Data Processing: In a fast-paced business environment, real-time data processing is crucial. Domain Experts Group's solutions enable businesses to process, analyze, and act upon incoming data in real time, gaining a competitive edge.

The Impact on Businesses in Houston, Texas

Enhanced Decision-Making: By leveraging Data Science and Big Data services, businesses in Houston gain a deeper understanding of their operations, customers, and market dynamics, enabling more informed and strategic decision-making.

Operational Efficiency: Domain Experts Group's services streamline processes, optimize resource allocation, and identify areas for improvement, enhancing overall operational efficiency for businesses across various industries.

Competitive Edge: The insights derived from data analytics and Big Data solutions empower businesses to stay ahead of the curve, capitalize on emerging trends, and innovate in their respective markets.

For more information or assistance, feel free to email us at connect@domainexpertsgroup.com

Visit our website - https://domainexpertsgroup.com/

[technologyforublog]

Elevating Business Intelligence: Unveiling the Power of Data Science and Big Data Services by Domain Experts Group (DEG)

In the era of digital transformation, where data reigns supreme, leveraging the prowess of Big Data services has become imperative for businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive landscape. Domain Experts Group (DEG) emerges as a beacon in this realm, offering unparalleled Data Science and Big Data services that propel businesses towards success.

Understanding the Essence of Big Data Services

Big Data services providers play a pivotal role in unraveling the potential that vast volumes of data hold. They streamline the complex process of collection, storage, processing, and analysis, extracting actionable insights that drive informed decision-making. This is precisely where DEG stands out – by offering comprehensive Big Data solutions tailored to meet diverse business needs.

DEG's Distinctive Offerings in Data Science

DEG's Data Science services encompass a wide spectrum, from predictive analytics to machine learning and AI-driven solutions. Their team of domain experts possesses a profound understanding of various industries, enabling them to craft bespoke strategies that resonate with specific business objectives.

By harnessing cutting-edge technologies and employing robust algorithms, DEG not only assists in data interpretation but also predicts future trends, identifies potential risks, and unlocks opportunities for growth.

Unraveling the Impact of DEG's Big Data Services

DEG's Big Data services are synonymous with efficiency and innovation. Through advanced data processing methodologies, they empower businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and foster innovation. Be it real-time data analytics, scalability, or data-driven decision-making, DEG's solutions resonate with businesses across sectors.

Tailored Solutions for Varied Industries

DEG's expertise spans across diverse industries, ranging from healthcare and finance to e-commerce and beyond. Their tailored solutions address industry-specific challenges, ensuring that every client receives personalized attention and a roadmap for success.

The Promise of DEG: Reliability and Excellence

DEG's commitment to excellence and reliability is unwavering. Their proactive approach, combined with a penchant for innovation, ensures that businesses stay ahead in the data-driven landscape. The team's expertise, coupled with a client-centric approach, fosters enduring partnerships built on trust and exceptional results.

Conclusion

In the realm of Data Science and Big Data services, Domain Experts Group (DEG) emerges as a frontrunner, offering bespoke solutions that redefine businesses' data capabilities. Their commitment to innovation, industry-specific expertise, and unwavering dedication to client success position DEG as more than just a service provider; they're a strategic partner driving businesses towards unparalleled growth and success in the digital age.

Businesses seeking to harness the transformative potential of Big Data need look no further than DEG, where expertise meets innovation to unlock the true power of data.

By choosing DEG, businesses not only access cutting-edge technology but also embark on a transformative journey where data becomes a catalyst for unprecedented success.

For more information or assistance, feel free to email us at connect@domainexpertsgroup.com

Visit our website - https://domainexpertsgroup.com/

Big Data services providers, Data Science and Big Data services, Data Science and Big Data services in  Houston texas

[cybersuccesss]

Elevate Your Data Science Skills with Data Science Course in Pune

Success in the rapidly evolving field of data science hinges on one key factor: quality data. Before diving into more complex machine learning algorithms and detailed analysis, starting with a clean data set is important. At The Cyber Success Institute, our Data Science Course in Pune emphasizes mastering these core skills, equipping you with the expertise to handle data efficiently and drive impactful results. These basic data cleaning steps, known as data wrangling and preprocessing, are necessary to process raw data in sophisticated ways that support accurate analysis and prediction to hone these basic skills to process data thoroughly and prepare amazing results A resource that gives you essential knowledge.

Transform Your Career with The Best Data Science Course at Cyber Success

Data wrangling, or data manging, is the process of transforming and processing raw data from its often messy origin into a more usable form. This process involves preparing, organizing, and enhancing data to make it more valuable for analysis and modeling. Preprocessing, which is less controversial, focuses primarily on preparing data for machine learning models to normalize, transform, and scale them to improve performance

At the Cyber ​​Success Institute, we understand that strong data disputes are the cornerstone of any data science project. Our Data Science Course in Pune offers hands-on training in data wrangling and pre-processing, enabling you to effectively transform raw data into actionable insights.

Discover Data Cleaning Excellence with The Best Data Science Course at Cyber Success

The data management process involves preparing, organizing, and enhancing the data to make it more valuable for analysis and modeling. Less controversial preprocessing focuses on data preparation for machine learning models to ensure performance data quality will directly affect the accuracy and reliability of machine learning models The information is well suited and ensures insights are accurate and useful. This helps to identify hidden patterns and saves time during sample development and subsequent analysis. At Cyber ​​Success Institute, we focus on the importance of data security requirements so we prepare you and your employees to ensure that your data is always up to date. Our Data Science Course in Pune offers hands-on training in data wrangling and pre-processing, enabling you to effectively transform raw data into actionable insights. Basic Steps in Data Management and Preprocessing,

Data cleaning: This first and most important step includes handling missing values, eliminating inconsistencies, and eliminating redundant data points. Effective data cleaning ensures that the dataset is reliable, it is accurate and ready for analysis.

Data conversion: Once prepared, the data must be converted to usable form. This may involve converting categorical variables into numeric ones using techniques such as one-hot encoding or label encoding. Normalization and standardization are used to ensure that all factors contribute to the equality of the model, with no feature dominating due to scale differences make sure you are prepared to handle a variety of data environments.

Feature Engineering: Feature engineering is the process of creating new features from existing data to better capture underlying patterns. This may involve forming interactive phrases, setting attributes, or decomposing timestamps into more meaningful objects such as "day of the week" or "hour of the day".

Data reduction: Sometimes data sets can have too many or too many dimensions, which can lead to overqualification or computational costs. Data reduction techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), feature selection, and dimensionality reduction are essential to simplify data sets while preserving valuable information Our Data Science Classes in Pune with Placement at the Cyber ​​Success Institute provide valuable experience in data reduction techniques to help you manage large data sets effectively.

Data integration and consolidation: Often, data from multiple sources must be combined to obtain complete data. Data integration involves combining data from databases or files into a combined data set. In our Data Science Course in Pune, you will learn how to combine different types of data to improve and increase the relevance and depth of research.

Why Choose Cyber Success Institute for Data Science Course in Pune?

The Cyber ​​Success Institute is the best IT training institute in Pune, India, offering the best data science course in Pune with Placement assistance, designed to give you a deep understanding of data science from data collection to preprocessing to advanced machine learning. With hands-on experience, expert guidance and a curriculum that is up to date with the latest industry trends, you will be ready to become a data scientist

Here are the highlights of the data science course at Cyber ​​Success Institute, Pune:

Experienced Trainers: Our data science expert trainers bring a wealth of experience in the field of data science, including advanced degrees, industry certifications, strong backgrounds in data analytics, machine learning, AI, and hands-on experience in real-world projects to ensure students learn Entrepreneurs who understand business needs.

Advanced Curriculum: Our Data Science Course in Pune is well structured to cover basic and advanced topics in data science, including Python programming, statistics, data visualization, machine learning, deep learning natural language processing and big data technology.

Free Aptitude Sessions: We believe that strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential in data science. To support technical training, we offer free aptitude sessions that focus on developing logical reasoning, statistical analysis and critical thinking.

Weekly Mock Interview Sessions: To prepare you for the job, we conduct weekly mock interview sessions that simulate real-world interview situations. These sessions include technical quizzes on data science concepts, coding problems, and behavioral quizzes to build student confidence and improve interview performance.

Hands-on Learning: Our Data Science Course in Pune emphasizes practical, hands-on learning. You will work on real-world projects, data manipulation, machine learning model development, and applications using tools such as Python and Tableau. This approach ensures a deep and practical understanding of data science, preparing them for real job challenges.

100% Placement Assistance: We provide comprehensive placement assistance to help you start your career in data science. This includes writing a resume, preparing for an interview, and connecting with potential employers.

At Cyber Success, our Data Science Course in Pune ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. We are committed to helping our students become skilled, confident and career-ready data scientists.

Conclusion:

Data management and preprocessing are the unsung heroes of data science, transforming raw data into powerful insights that shape the future. At Cyber Success Institute, our Data Science Course in Pune will teach you the technical skills and it will empower you to lead the data revolution. With immersive, hands-on training, real-world projects, and mentorship from industry experts, we prepare you to harness data’s full potential and drive meaningful impact. Joining Cyber Success Institute, it’s about becoming part of a community committed to excellence and innovation. Start your journey here, master the art of data science with our Data Science Course in Pune, and become a change-maker in this rapidly growing field. Elevate your career, lead with data, and let Cyber Success Institute be your launchpad to success. Your future in data science starts now!

Attend 2 free demo sessions!

To learn more about our course at, https://www.cybersuccess.biz/data-science-course-in-pune/

Secure your place at, https://www.cybersuccess.biz/contact-us/

📍 Our Visit: Cyber Success, Asmani Plaza, 1248 A, opp. Cafe Goodluck, Pulachi Wadi, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune, Maharashtra 411004

📞 For more information, call: 9226913502, 9168665644, 7620686761.

PATH TO SUCCESS - CYBER SUCCESS 👍

[its-vishnu-stuff]

Aviation Analytics Services In Hyderabad – Innodatatics

Aviation Analytics Services leverage data analytics to improve operational efficiency, safety, and profitability. They provide state-of-the-art solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of the aviation sector. Predictive maintenance, route optimization, fuel management, fleet performance monitoring, and passenger demand forecasts are just a few of the many services that fall under this broad category. Aviation analytics providers can assist airlines and airports in making data-driven decisions to enhance flight scheduling, resource allocation, and customer experience by utilizing sophisticated analytics techniques like machine learning and artificial intelligence. Aviation analytics services are critical to fostering innovation and competitiveness in the fast-paced aviation industry because of their emphasis on resource optimization, cost containment, and revenue generation.

[scholarnest]

Business Intelligence Solutions: Unleashing the Power of Managed Analytics

In today's dynamic business landscape, the effective utilization of data is pivotal for informed decision-making and sustained growth. Business Intelligence (BI) solutions have emerged as a cornerstone, offering organizations the ability to glean actionable insights from their data. This article explores the transformative impact of BI solutions and how managed analytics, coupled with outsourced IT management, is reshaping the way businesses harness the power of data.

1. Proactive IT Support and Managed IT Services:

BI solutions thrive in an environment supported by proactive IT services. Managed IT services, which include proactive support and maintenance, ensure the seamless operation of BI tools. This proactive approach not only enhances the reliability of analytics but also minimizes downtime, allowing businesses to make real-time decisions.

2. Advanced Analytics and Data Visualization Services:

Managed analytics encompass advanced analytics services that go beyond basic reporting. Data visualization services play a crucial role, translating complex data sets into visually appealing and understandable insights. This facilitates better communication and comprehension of data-driven findings across all levels of an organization.

3. Cloud Management Solutions and Migration Strategies:

The integration of cloud management solutions is a game-changer for BI. Cloud migration solutions offer scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Managed BI services leverage cloud optimization solutions, ensuring that businesses make the most of cloud resources while maintaining peak performance.

4. Data Science Solutions and Hybrid Cloud Integration:

BI solutions often involve intricate data science methodologies. Managed analytics extend to data science solutions, enabling organizations to employ predictive analytics and machine learning for more accurate forecasting. Hybrid cloud solutions provide the necessary infrastructure for hosting and processing data across different environments securely.

5. IT Consultation Services and Strategic Managed Services:

Strategic IT consultation services are instrumental in aligning BI strategies with overall business objectives. Managed services, including serverless computing and big data consulting, are designed to optimize the performance of BI tools, ensuring they adapt to evolving business requirements.

6. Cloud Consulting Services and Holistic Cloud Management:

BI solutions benefit from specialized cloud consulting services. These services guide organizations in selecting the most suitable cloud platforms and architectures for their BI needs. Holistic cloud management services oversee the entire cloud ecosystem, ensuring optimal performance and security.

In conclusion, the convergence of BI solutions and managed analytics is reshaping the way businesses interpret and leverage their data. With the right blend of outsourced IT management, advanced analytics, and cloud solutions, organizations can unlock the full potential of their data, gaining a competitive edge in today's data-driven era.

[bluentbusiness]

How Does Predictive Analytics in Healthcare Revolutionize Patient Care?

Predictive analytics in healthcare transforms how medical experts use data science services for precise medical diagnosis, patient health monitoring, general medicine and treatment, high-risk disease forecasts, and more.

Not just for patient care, medical specialists and researchers are using predictive AI to predict pandemic-like emergencies.

There is much more to delve into the role of predictive healthcare analytics and its benefits. If you're a healthcare group, a medical health officer, a healthcare researcher, or a chief medical analyst, this blog is a must-read for you.

As per the GlobeNewsWire's report, the worldwide healthcare predictive analytics market will grow at a CAGR of 22.23% to be valued at $30 billion by 2028.

For a long time, the medical community has been trying to organize their tremendous amounts of data and derive value from it for patient care. Now, with predictive analytics, there lies an opportunity to revolutionize the global healthcare industry.

What is Predictive Analytics in Healthcare?

The healthcare and medical industry has vast amounts of data.

From research papers and academic teachings to patient data and lab tests, big data insights and records offer many opportunities for modern computational tools to analyze and derive value.

[kodsmith-technologies]

Transforming Business Operations with Advanced Big Data Services in the UK

In today's technology-driven era, data isn't just a commodity; it's a strategic asset that businesses treasure for informed decision-making. Big Data Services in UK have emerged as the cornerstone of Business Intelligence (BI), revolutionizing how enterprises in the UK harness data for growth and innovation.

The Foundation of Business Intelligence

At the core of Business Intelligence lies the art of transforming raw data into meaningful insights. Big Data Services in the UK play an integral role in this process, offering robust tools and methodologies to collect, process, and analyze vast volumes of data. These services extract valuable information, allowing companies to gain a competitive edge.

Leveraging Data for Strategic Decisions

With Big Data Services, UK businesses can extract actionable insights from massive datasets. By scrutinizing customer behavior, market trends, and operational efficiencies, organizations can make informed decisions swiftly and effectively. These insights serve as a compass, guiding businesses towards profitable pathways.

Personalization and Customer-Centric Approach

One of the remarkable advantages of Big Data Services in the UK is the ability to tailor offerings to individual customers. These services provide a deeper understanding of consumer preferences, enabling businesses to offer personalized experiences, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.

Competitive Advantage through Data Analytics

In a dynamic market like the UK, gaining a competitive edge is crucial. Big Data Services offer advanced analytics tools that empower businesses to anticipate market shifts, foresee trends, and devise proactive strategies, allowing them to stay ahead in the game.

Enhancing Operational Efficiency

Efficiency is the cornerstone of success. Big Data Services in the UK streamline operations by optimizing resource allocation, identifying bottlenecks, and enhancing productivity. Insights derived from data analysis aid in refining processes, reducing costs, and improving overall operational efficiency.

Future Prospects in UK's Business Landscape

The role of Big Data Services in UK Business Intelligence is poised for exponential growth. As technology continues to evolve, so does the importance of data-driven decision-making. Big Data Services will become more sophisticated, integrating AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics, providing deeper insights for businesses.

[calibertrainingservices]

Top Data Science Services in the USA: Find the Best Data Science Solutions Near You

Data science services are services which refer to a variety of Professional services to individuals and companies to help them grow their businesses through data collection, analysis and application on physical grounds. Here in this post, you'll find the best data science solutions near you.

[openteqsolutions]

Big Data Analytics: Benefits, Challenges and Future

Big data analytics is the process of collecting, examining, and analyzing large amounts of data to discover market trends, insights, and patterns that can help companies make better business decisions. Big data analytics can be used to improve a wide range of business functions, including marketing, sales, customer service, operations, and risk management.

The Benefits of Big Data Analytics

There are many benefits to using big data analytics, including:

Improved decision-making: Big data analytics can help businesses make better decisions by providing them with insights into their customers, markets, and operations. This information can be used to identify opportunities, improve efficiency, and reduce risk.

Increased customer satisfaction: Big data analytics can be used to improve customer satisfaction by providing businesses with a better understanding of their customers' needs and preferences. This information can be used to personalize marketing campaigns, improve customer service, and develop new products and services.

Reduced costs: Big data analytics can help businesses reduce costs by identifying areas where waste can be eliminated. This information can be used to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and save money.

Increased competitive advantage: Big data analytics can help businesses gain a competitive advantage by providing them with insights that their competitors do not have. This information can be used to develop new products and services, enter new markets, and grow market share.

The Challenges of Big Data Analytics

While there are many benefits to using big data analytics, there are also some challenges that businesses need to be aware of. These challenges include:

Data volume: Big data analytics can be challenging because of the sheer volume of data that needs to be processed. This can require significant investment in hardware and software.

Data quality: The quality of the data is also important for big data analytics. If the data is not accurate or complete, the results of the analysis will be unreliable.

Data security: Big data analytics can also raise data security concerns. Businesses need to take steps to protect their data from unauthorized access and misuse.

The Future of Big Data Analytics

The field of big data analytics is constantly evolving, and new technologies are emerging that make it easier to collect, store, and analyze large amounts of data. This is leading to new opportunities for businesses to use big data analytics to improve their operations and gain a competitive advantage.

In the future, big data analytics is likely to become even more important for businesses. As the volume of data continues to grow, businesses will need to find ways to use this data to their advantage. Big data analytics can help businesses make better decisions, improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and gain a competitive advantage.

How to Get Started with Big Data Analytics

If you are interested in getting started with big data analytics, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to collect the data that you want to analyze. This data can come from a variety of sources, such as customer transactions, social media activity, and sensor data. Once you have collected the data, you need to store it in a way that makes it easy to access and analyze. There are a number of different big data platforms that you can use for this purpose.

Once you have stored your data, you need to use a big data analytics tool to analyze it. There are a number of different big data analytics tools available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. You need to choose a tool that is right for your specific needs.

Finally, you need to interpret the results of your analysis and use them to make decisions. This is where the real value of big data analytics lies. By understanding the patterns in your data, you can make better decisions that will help you improve your business.

Conclusion

Big data analytics is a powerful tool that can help businesses improve their operations and gain a competitive advantage. If you are interested in getting started with big data analytics, there are a number of resources available to help you. With a little effort, you can learn how to collect, store, analyze, and interpret big data to make better decisions for your business.

[technology-ahead]

Elevating Business Intelligence: Unveiling the Power of Data Science and Big Data Services by Domain Experts Group (DEG)

In the era of digital transformation, where data reigns supreme, leveraging the prowess of Big Data services has become imperative for businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive landscape. Domain Experts Group (DEG) emerges as a beacon in this realm, offering unparalleled Data Science and Big Data services that propel businesses towards success.

Understanding the Essence of Big Data Services

Big Data services providers play a pivotal role in unraveling the potential that vast volumes of data hold. They streamline the complex process of collection, storage, processing, and analysis, extracting actionable insights that drive informed decision-making. This is precisely where DEG stands out – by offering comprehensive Big Data solutions tailored to meet diverse business needs.

DEG's Distinctive Offerings in Data Science

DEG's Data Science services encompass a wide spectrum, from predictive analytics to machine learning and AI-driven solutions. Their team of domain experts possesses a profound understanding of various industries, enabling them to craft bespoke strategies that resonate with specific business objectives.

By harnessing cutting-edge technologies and employing robust algorithms, DEG not only assists in data interpretation but also predicts future trends, identifies potential risks, and unlocks opportunities for growth.

Unraveling the Impact of DEG's Big Data Services

DEG's Big Data services are synonymous with efficiency and innovation. Through advanced data processing methodologies, they empower businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and foster innovation. Be it real-time data analytics, scalability, or data-driven decision-making, DEG's solutions resonate with businesses across sectors.

Tailored Solutions for Varied Industries

DEG's expertise spans across diverse industries, ranging from healthcare and finance to e-commerce and beyond. Their tailored solutions address industry-specific challenges, ensuring that every client receives personalized attention and a roadmap for success.

The Promise of DEG: Reliability and Excellence

DEG's commitment to excellence and reliability is unwavering. Their proactive approach, combined with a penchant for innovation, ensures that businesses stay ahead in the data-driven landscape. The team's expertise, coupled with a client-centric approach, fosters enduring partnerships built on trust and exceptional results.

Conclusion

In the realm of Data Science and Big Data services, Domain Experts Group (DEG) emerges as a frontrunner, offering bespoke solutions that redefine businesses' data capabilities. Their commitment to innovation, industry-specific expertise, and unwavering dedication to client success position DEG as more than just a service provider; they're a strategic partner driving businesses towards unparalleled growth and success in the digital age.

Businesses seeking to harness the transformative potential of Big Data need look no further than DEG, where expertise meets innovation to unlock the true power of data.

By choosing DEG, businesses not only access cutting-edge technology but also embark on a transformative journey where data becomes a catalyst for unprecedented success.

For more information or assistance, feel free to email us at connect@domainexpertsgroup.com

Visit our website - https://domainexpertsgroup.com/

Big Data services providers, Data Science and Big Data services, Data Science and Big Data services in  Houston texas

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Bossware is unfair (in the legal sense, too)

You can get into a lot of trouble by assuming that rich people know what they're doing. For example, might assume that ad-tech works – bypassing peoples' critical faculties, reaching inside their minds and brainwashing them with Big Data insights, because if that's not what's happening, then why would rich people pour billions into those ads?

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/06/surveillance-tulip-bulbs/#adtech-bubble

You might assume that private equity looters make their investors rich, because otherwise, why would rich people hand over trillions for them to play with?

https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/private-equity-vampire-capital/

The truth is, rich people are suckers like the rest of us. If anything, succeeding once or twice makes you an even bigger mark, with a sense of your own infallibility that inflates to fill the bubble your yes-men seal you inside of.

Rich people fall for scams just like you and me. Anyone can be a mark. I was:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/#swiss-cheese-security

But though rich people can fall for scams the same way you and I do, the way those scams play out is very different when the marks are wealthy. As Keynes had it, "The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." When the marks are rich (or worse, super-rich), they can be played for much longer before they go bust, creating the appearance of solidity.

Noted Keynesian John Kenneth Galbraith had his own thoughts on this. Galbraith coined the term "bezzle" to describe "the magic interval when a confidence trickster knows he has the money he has appropriated but the victim does not yet understand that he has lost it." In that magic interval, everyone feels better off: the mark thinks he's up, and the con artist knows he's up.

Rich marks have looong bezzles. Empirically incorrect ideas grounded in the most outrageous superstition and junk science can take over whole sections of your life, simply because a rich person – or rich people – are convinced that they're good for you.

Take "scientific management." In the early 20th century, the con artist Frederick Taylor convinced rich industrialists that he could increase their workers' productivity through a kind of caliper-and-stopwatch driven choreographry:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/21/great-taylors-ghost/#solidarity-or-bust

Taylor and his army of labcoated sadists perched at the elbows of factory workers (whom Taylor referred to as "stupid," "mentally sluggish," and as "an ox") and scripted their motions to a fare-the-well, transforming their work into a kind of kabuki of obedience. They weren't more efficient, but they looked smart, like obedient robots, and this made their bosses happy. The bosses shelled out fortunes for Taylor's services, even though the workers who followed his prescriptions were less efficient and generated fewer profits. Bosses were so dazzled by the spectacle of a factory floor of crisply moving people interfacing with crisply working machines that they failed to understand that they were losing money on the whole business.

To the extent they noticed that their revenues were declining after implementing Taylorism, they assumed that this was because they needed more scientific management. Taylor had a sweet con: the worse his advice performed, the more reasons their were to pay him for more advice.

Taylorism is a perfect con to run on the wealthy and powerful. It feeds into their prejudice and mistrust of their workers, and into their misplaced confidence in their own ability to understand their workers' jobs better than their workers do. There's always a long dollar to be made playing the "scientific management" con.

Today, there's an app for that. "Bossware" is a class of technology that monitors and disciplines workers, and it was supercharged by the pandemic and the rise of work-from-home. Combine bossware with work-from-home and your boss gets to control your life even when in your own place – "work from home" becomes "live at work":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

Gig workers are at the white-hot center of bossware. Gig work promises "be your own boss," but bossware puts a Taylorist caliper wielder into your phone, monitoring and disciplining you as you drive your wn car around delivering parcels or picking up passengers.

In automation terms, a worker hitched to an app this way is a "reverse centaur." Automation theorists call a human augmented by a machine a "centaur" – a human head supported by a machine's tireless and strong body. A "reverse centaur" is a machine augmented by a human – like the Amazon delivery driver whose app goads them to make inhuman delivery quotas while punishing them for looking in the "wrong" direction or even singing along with the radio:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/02/despotism-on-demand/#virtual-whips

Bossware pre-dates the current AI bubble, but AI mania has supercharged it. AI pumpers insist that AI can do things it positively cannot do – rolling out an "autonomous robot" that turns out to be a guy in a robot suit, say – and rich people are groomed to buy the services of "AI-powered" bossware:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

For an AI scammer like Elon Musk or Sam Altman, the fact that an AI can't do your job is irrelevant. From a business perspective, the only thing that matters is whether a salesperson can convince your boss that an AI can do your job – whether or not that's true:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/25/accountability-sinks/#work-harder-not-smarter

The fact that AI can't do your job, but that your boss can be convinced to fire you and replace you with the AI that can't do your job, is the central fact of the 21st century labor market. AI has created a world of "algorithmic management" where humans are demoted to reverse centaurs, monitored and bossed about by an app.

The techbro's overwhelming conceit is that nothing is a crime, so long as you do it with an app. Just as fintech is designed to be a bank that's exempt from banking regulations, the gig economy is meant to be a workplace that's exempt from labor law. But this wheeze is transparent, and easily pierced by enforcers, so long as those enforcers want to do their jobs. One such enforcer is Alvaro Bedoya, an FTC commissioner with a keen interest in antitrust's relationship to labor protection.

Bedoya understands that antitrust has a checkered history when it comes to labor. As he's written, the history of antitrust is a series of incidents in which Congress revised the law to make it clear that forming a union was not the same thing as forming a cartel, only to be ignored by boss-friendly judges:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

Bedoya is no mere historian. He's an FTC Commissioner, one of the most powerful regulators in the world, and he's profoundly interested in using that power to help workers, especially gig workers, whose misery starts with systemic, wide-scale misclassification as contractors:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/02/upward-redistribution/

In a new speech to NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, Bedoya argues that the FTC's existing authority allows it to crack down on algorithmic management – that is, algorithmic management is illegal, even if you break the law with an app:

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/bedoya-remarks-unfairness-in-workplace-surveillance-and-automated-management.pdf

Bedoya starts with a delightful analogy to The Hawtch-Hawtch, a mythical town from a Dr Seuss poem. The Hawtch-Hawtch economy is based on beekeeping, and the Hawtchers develop an overwhelming obsession with their bee's laziness, and determine to wring more work (and more honey) out of him. So they appoint a "bee-watcher." But the bee doesn't produce any more honey, which leads the Hawtchers to suspect their bee-watcher might be sleeping on the job, so they hire a bee-watcher-watcher. When that doesn't work, they hire a bee-watcher-watcher-watcher, and so on and on.

For gig workers, it's bee-watchers all the way down. Call center workers are subjected to "AI" video monitoring, and "AI" voice monitoring that purports to measure their empathy. Another AI times their calls. Two more AIs analyze the "sentiment" of the calls and the success of workers in meeting arbitrary metrics. On average, a call-center worker is subjected to five forms of bossware, which stand at their shoulders, marking them down and brooking no debate.

For example, when an experienced call center operator fielded a call from a customer with a flooded house who wanted to know why no one from her boss's repair plan system had come out to address the flooding, the operator was punished by the AI for failing to try to sell the customer a repair plan. There was no way for the operator to protest that the customer had a repair plan already, and had called to complain about it.

Workers report being sickened by this kind of surveillance, literally – stressed to the point of nausea and insomnia. Ironically, one of the most pervasive sources of automation-driven sickness are the "AI wellness" apps that bosses are sold by AI hucksters:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/15/wellness-taylorism/#sick-of-spying

The FTC has broad authority to block "unfair trade practices," and Bedoya builds the case that this is an unfair trade practice. Proving an unfair trade practice is a three-part test: a practice is unfair if it causes "substantial injury," can't be "reasonably avoided," and isn't outweighed by a "countervailing benefit." In his speech, Bedoya makes the case that algorithmic management satisfies all three steps and is thus illegal.

On the question of "substantial injury," Bedoya describes the workday of warehouse workers working for ecommerce sites. He describes one worker who is monitored by an AI that requires him to pick and drop an object off a moving belt every 10 seconds, for ten hours per day. The worker's performance is tracked by a leaderboard, and supervisors punish and scold workers who don't make quota, and the algorithm auto-fires if you fail to meet it.

Under those conditions, it was only a matter of time until the worker experienced injuries to two of his discs and was permanently disabled, with the company being found 100% responsible for this injury. OSHA found a "direct connection" between the algorithm and the injury. No wonder warehouses sport vending machines that sell painkillers rather than sodas. It's clear that algorithmic management leads to "substantial injury."

What about "reasonably avoidable?" Can workers avoid the harms of algorithmic management? Bedoya describes the experience of NYC rideshare drivers who attended a round-table with him. The drivers describe logging tens of thousands of successful rides for the apps they work for, on promise of "being their own boss." But then the apps start randomly suspending them, telling them they aren't eligible to book a ride for hours at a time, sending them across town to serve an underserved area and still suspending them. Drivers who stop for coffee or a pee are locked out of the apps for hours as punishment, and so drive 12-hour shifts without a single break, in hopes of pleasing the inscrutable, high-handed app.

All this, as drivers' pay is falling and their credit card debts are mounting. No one will explain to drivers how their pay is determined, though the legal scholar Veena Dubal's work on "algorithmic wage discrimination" reveals that rideshare apps temporarily increase the pay of drivers who refuse rides, only to lower it again once they're back behind the wheel:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

This is like the pit boss who gives a losing gambler some freebies to lure them back to the table, over and over, until they're broke. No wonder they call this a "casino mechanic." There's only two major rideshare apps, and they both use the same high-handed tactics. For Bedoya, this satisfies the second test for an "unfair practice" – it can't be reasonably avoided. If you drive rideshare, you're trapped by the harmful conduct.

The final prong of the "unfair practice" test is whether the conduct has "countervailing value" that makes up for this harm.

To address this, Bedoya goes back to the call center, where operators' performance is assessed by "Speech Emotion Recognition" algorithms, a psuedoscientific hoax that purports to be able to determine your emotions from your voice. These SERs don't work – for example, they might interpret a customer's laughter as anger. But they fail differently for different kinds of workers: workers with accents – from the American south, or the Philippines – attract more disapprobation from the AI. Half of all call center workers are monitored by SERs, and a quarter of workers have SERs scoring them "constantly."

Bossware AIs also produce transcripts of these workers' calls, but workers with accents find them "riddled with errors." These are consequential errors, since their bosses assess their performance based on the transcripts, and yet another AI produces automated work scores based on them.

In other words, algorithmic management is a procession of bee-watchers, bee-watcher-watchers, and bee-watcher-watcher-watchers, stretching to infinity. It's junk science. It's not producing better call center workers. It's producing arbitrary punishments, often against the best workers in the call center.

There is no "countervailing benefit" to offset the unavoidable substantial injury of life under algorithmic management. In other words, algorithmic management fails all three prongs of the "unfair practice" test, and it's illegal.

What should we do about it? Bedoya builds the case for the FTC acting on workers' behalf under its "unfair practice" authority, but he also points out that the lack of worker privacy is at the root of this hellscape of algorithmic management.

He's right. The last major update Congress made to US privacy law was in 1988, when they banned video-store clerks from telling the newspapers which VHS cassettes you rented. The US is long overdue for a new privacy regime, and workers under algorithmic management are part of a broad coalition that's closer than ever to making that happen:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/06/privacy-first/#but-not-just-privacy

Workers should have the right to know which of their data is being collected, who it's being shared by, and how it's being used. We all should have that right. That's what the actors' strike was partly motivated by: actors who were being ordered to wear mocap suits to produce data that could be used to produce a digital double of them, "training their replacement," but the replacement was a deepfake.

With a Trump administration on the horizon, the future of the FTC is in doubt. But the coalition for a new privacy law includes many of Trumpland's most powerful blocs – like Jan 6 rioters whose location was swept up by Google and handed over to the FBI. A strong privacy law would protect their Fourth Amendment rights – but also the rights of BLM protesters who experienced this far more often, and with far worse consequences, than the insurrectionists.

The "we do it with an app, so it's not illegal" ruse is wearing thinner by the day. When you have a boss for an app, your real boss gets an accountability sink, a convenient scapegoat that can be blamed for your misery.

The fact that this makes you worse at your job, that it loses your boss money, is no guarantee that you will be spared. Rich people make great marks, and they can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. Markets won't solve this one – but worker power can.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[its-vishnu-stuff]

Aviation Analytics Solutions – Innodatatics

Aviation Analytics Services utilize advanced data analytics to optimize operations, enhance safety, and maximize profitability in the aviation industry. By analyzing vast datasets including flight schedules, passenger bookings, and maintenance records, these services offer insights into predictive maintenance, route optimization, revenue management, and risk analysis. They empower organizations to make data-driven decisions, improve efficiency, and adapt to changing market dynamics, ultimately driving innovation and competitiveness in the aviation sector.

[scholarnest]

Future-Proofing Your Business: The Role of Managed Services in Tech Evolution

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, businesses are increasingly turning to managed services to stay ahead of the curve and future-proof their operations. As the demands on IT infrastructure grow, leveraging outsourced IT management becomes not just a choice but a strategic necessity. This article explores the pivotal role of managed services in driving tech evolution and ensuring the resilience and agility of your business.

The Foundations of Managed Services:

1. Outsourced IT Management:

   Managed IT services involve outsourcing the responsibility for maintaining, anticipating, and managing a company's IT systems. This approach allows businesses to tap into the expertise of external providers, freeing up internal resources to focus on core business functions.

2. Proactive IT Support:

   Unlike traditional reactive IT support, managed services operate proactively. Providers actively monitor systems, identify potential issues before they escalate, and implement preventive measures, ensuring a more stable and reliable IT environment.

Advanced Tech Solutions:

3. Data Visualization and Advanced Analytics:

   Managed services extend beyond basic IT support, offering specialized solutions such as data visualization and advanced analytics services. This empowers businesses to derive meaningful insights from their data, enabling better decision-making and strategic planning.

4. Cloud Management and Migration Solutions:

   Cloud computing is at the forefront of tech evolution, and managed services play a crucial role in facilitating seamless cloud management and migration solutions. Whether it's adopting a hybrid cloud approach or optimizing existing cloud infrastructure, managed services ensure efficient and secure cloud operations.

5. Data Science Solutions:

   The integration of data science solutions into managed services allows businesses to harness the power of predictive analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also opens avenues for innovation and competitive advantage.

6. Hybrid Cloud Solutions:

   Managed services excel in providing hybrid cloud solutions, allowing businesses to balance the benefits of both public and private clouds. This flexibility enables organizations to adapt to changing needs, ensuring optimal performance and scalability.

Strategic IT Consultation:

7. IT Consultation Services:

   Managed service providers offer strategic IT consultation services, guiding businesses through technology decisions aligned with their goals. From serverless computing to big data consulting, these consultations ensure that IT infrastructure is not just maintained but strategically aligned with business objectives.

8. Business Intelligence Solutions:

   Harnessing business intelligence solutions through managed services enables organizations to turn data into actionable insights. This facilitates informed decision-making, driving efficiencies and fostering a data-driven culture.

9. Cloud Consulting Services:

   Cloud adoption is a transformative journey, and managed services provide crucial support through cloud consulting. This includes planning, implementation, and ongoing management, ensuring businesses leverage the full potential of cloud technologies.

The Evolutionary Edge:

10. Cloud Management Services:

    As businesses increasingly rely on cloud technologies, managed services offer specialized cloud management services. This includes optimizing resources, ensuring security, and implementing best practices for efficient cloud operations.

In conclusion, future-proofing your business in the rapidly evolving tech landscape necessitates a strategic approach to IT management. Managed services not only provide essential IT support but also act as catalysts for innovation and technological advancement. By embracing outsourced IT management, businesses can tap into a wealth of expertise, leverage advanced tech solutions, and receive strategic guidance, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The future belongs to those who proactively evolve, and managed services are the key to staying ahead of the curve.

[greenwitchcrafts]

2025 update:

February 2024 witch guide

Full moon: February 24th

New moon: February 9th

Sabbats: Imbolc-February 1st

February Snow Moon

Known as: Eagle Moon, Horning Moon, Solmonath Moon, Bear moon, Ice Moon, Wild Moon, Raccoon Moon, Big Winter Moon, Groundhog Moon, Quickening Moon, Storm Moon, Goose Moon, Hungry Moon & Red/Cleansing Moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Aquarius & Pisces

Nature spirits: House Faeries

Deities: Aphrodite, Brigid & Nut

Animals: Otter & Unicorn

Birds: Chickadee & Eagle

Trees: Cedar, laurel, myrtle & rowan

Herbs: Balm of Gilead, hyssop, myrrh, sage & spikenard

Flowers: Primrose

Scents: Heliotrope & wisteria

Stones: Amethyst, jasper, moonstone, obsidian, onyx , rose quartz, topaz & red zircon

Colors: Light blue & violet

Energy:  Astral travel, banishing, beginnings, breaking bad habits, creativity expressiveness, empowerment, energy working to the surface, fertility, forgiveness, freedom, friendships, future plans, growth, healing, problem solving, purification, responsibility & science

February’s full Moon is a “Micromoon” this year. Think of this term as the opposite of a “Supermoon.” It simply means that the full Moon is at its farthest point from Earth (not the nearest point).

The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one: it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had visited with the Naudowessie(Dakota), wrote that the name used for this period was the Snow Moon, “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.” 

Imbolc

Known as: Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Light, Oimele & Brigid's Day

Season: Winter

Symbols: Besoms, Brighid's crosses, candles, candle wheels, fertility symbols, fire, ploughs, priapic wands & white flowers

Colors: Black, brown, Earth tones, lavender, light green, orange, pink, red, white & yellow

Oils/Incense: Apricot, basil, bay, carnation, chamomile, cinnamon, dragon's blood, frankincense, heather, jasmine, myrrh, neroli, red sandalwood, sage, vanilla, violet & wisteria

Animals: Badger, cow, deer,groudhog, robin, sheep, snake, & swan

Mythical: Dragon

Stones: Amethyst, bloodstone, citrine, clear quartz, garnet, green tourmaline, hematite, iron, lodestone, onyx, red zircon, rose quartz, ruby, turquoise, yellow tourmaline

Food: Breads, chives, curries, dairy products, grains, garlic, herbal teas, honey cakes, lamb, muffins, onions, peppers, poppy seed cakes, pork, poultry, pumpkin seeds, raisins, scones, spiced wines & sunflower seeeds

Herbs/Plants: Angelica, ashleaf, balsam, basil, bay laurel, benzoin, blackberry, clover, coltsfoot, coriander, dragon's blood, garlic, heather, lemon, myrrh, rosemary, sage, vervain, wheat & witch hazel

Flowers: Celandine, chamomile, iris, rose hips, snowdrop, sunflower, tansy, violets, white flowers & yellow flowers

Goddesses: Anu, Aradia, Arianrhod, Artio, Athena, Branwen, Brigid, Danu, Februa, Gaia, Inanna, Juno, Selene, Sirona & Vesta

Gods: Aegus Mac Og, Bragi, Cupid, Dian Cecht, Dumuzi, Eros, Februus & Pax

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Activation/awakening, animals, beginnings, fertility, healing, hope, illumination, inspiration, light, pregnancy/childbirth, prophecy, transformation, well-being & youth

Spellwork: Air magick, banishings, candle spells, divination, fertility spells, prosperity & purification

Activities:

• Make & light white candles

• Clean/decorate your altar & consecrate your  altar tools

• Go on a walk in nature & look for signs of spring

• Make a Brigid's Cross

• Have a feast with your family/friends

• Give thanks & leave offerings to the Earth

• Set intentions, reflect & look deeper into your goals for spring

• Start a bonfire

• Find Imboloc prayers & devotionals that bid farewell to the winter months, honor the goddess Brigid, as well as seasonal blessings for your meals, hearth, & home.

• Pepare plans for your upcoming garden

• Craft a priapic wand

• Spend time with children celebrating Imbolc by making crafts & or baking

• Practice divination & fire scrying

• Draw a cleansing ritual bath for yourself

• Meditate, reflect & say your farewells to winter

• Cleanse & clean your house to prepare for spring

• Create a Brídeóg: a doll of Brigid made of straw

• Make Bride's bouquet satchets & exchange as symbols of good luck and fertility

• Set aside food & or drinks as an offering to Brigid to invite her in your home

Imbolc is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is held on January 31 – February 1, or halfway between the winter solstice & the spring equinox. The holiday is a festival of the hearth, home, a celebration of the lengthening days & the early signs of spring. 

The word "imbolc" means "in the belly" and refers to the pregnancy of ewes at this time of year. The term "oimelc" means ewe's milk. Around this time of year, many herd animals give birth to their first offspring of the year or are heavily pregnant & as a result, they are producing milk. This creation of life’s milk is a part of the symbolic hope for spring.

Imbolc is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature and it is associated with important events in Irish mythology. It has been suggested that it was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid and that it was Christianized as a festival of Saint Brigid, who herself is thought to be a Christianization of the goddess.

Some use Imbolc to celebrate the longer days which herald the return of Spring & The Goddess's recovery from giving birth to The Sun (The God) at Yule. The God & The Goddess are children symbolizing new life, new beginnings & new resurrections.

Related festivals:

• Groundhog Day-  Is a tradition observed in the United States & Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day & sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den & winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow & the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

•St. Brigid's Day- 1 February. It was originally Imbolc, the first day of spring in Irish tradition. Because Saint Brigid has been theorised as linked to the goddess Brigid, some associate the festival of Imbolc with the goddess. St. Brigid is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland. She is patroness of many things, including poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock & dairy production. In her honour, a perpetual fire was kept burning at Kildare for centuries.

A recent campaign successfully established her feast day as a national holiday in 2023.

• Chinese New Year- (February 10th) the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. In Chinese, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival,- marking the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season. Observances traditionally take place from Chinese New Year's Eve, the evening preceding the first day of the year, to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21st & February 20th.

The Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The festival was traditionally a time to honour deities as well as ancestors. Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the New Year vary widely & the evening preceding the New Year's Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.

It is also a tradition for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill fortune & to make way for incoming good luck. Another custom is the decoration of windows & doors with red paper-cuts and couplets. Popular themes among these paper-cuts and couplets include good fortune or happiness, wealth & longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers  & giving money in red envelopes.

•  Candlemas- is a Christian feast day on February 2nd commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It is based upon the account of the presentation of Jesus in Luke 2:22-40. 

While it is customary for Christians in some countries to remove their Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night, those in other Christian countries historically remove them after Candlemas.On Candlemas, many Christians also take their candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year.

•Setsubun- (February 3rd) Is the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan. The name literally means 'seasonal division', referring to the day just before the first day of spring.

Both Setsubun & Risshun are celebrated yearly as part of the Spring Festival (Haru matsuri ) in Japan. In its association with the Lunar New Year, Setsubun, though not the official New Year, was thought of as similar in its ritual & cultural associations of 'cleansing' the previous year as the beginning of the new season of spring. Setsubun was accompanied by a number of rituals & traditions held at various levels to drive away the previous year's bad fortunes & evil spirits for the year to come.

Other Celebrations:

• Lupercalia-

In ancient Rome, this festival was conducted annually on February 13th through 15th under the superintendence of a corporation of priests called Luperci. The origins of the festival are obscure, although the likely derivation of its name from lupus (Latin: “wolf”) has variously suggested connection with an ancient deity who protected herds from wolves and with the legendary she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus. As a fertility rite, the festival is also associated with the god Faunus.

to purify the city, promoting health & fertility.

Each Lupercalia began with the sacrifice by the Luperci of goats and a dog, after which two of the Luperci were led to the altar, their foreheads were touched with a bloody knife & the blood was wiped off with wool dipped in milk; the ritual required that the two young men laugh. The sacrificial feast followed, after which the Luperci cut thongs from the skins of the sacrificial animals & ran in two bands around the Palatine hill, striking with the thongs at any woman who came near them. A blow from the thong was supposed to render a woman fertile.

In 494 CE the Christian church under Pope Gelasius I forbade participation in the festival. Tradition holds that he appropriated the form of the rite as the Feast of the Purification (Candlemas), celebrated on February 2, but it is likely that the Christian feast was established in the previous century. It has also been alternately suggested that Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14th, but the origin of that holiday was likely much later.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this Conservation Works blog on Substack:

Michael Soulé, the founder of conservation biology, used to say that one of the most important pieces of advice he got as a young scientist was “when in doubt, count.” Monitoring — counting or otherwise measuring organisms in the same place over time — is the foundation of conservation biology, and in many ways it’s the foundation of conservation, too. Unless someone counts how many lizards, salmon, ferns, or species of butterflies live in a certain place, and repeats the count at regular intervals, that group of organisms can decline or even die out unnoticed. Before an organism can be conserved, it has to be counted.

But what’s the point of counting organisms that seem doomed to extinction? That’s the question tropical biologist Peter Edmunds addresses in a recent BioScience essay titled “Why keep monitoring coral reefs?”

For nearly four decades, Edmunds has been monitoring coral reefs at two locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using annual photographs to measure changes in the relative extent of coral and algae. He started the project in 1987, less than a year before the first known Caribbean-wide coral bleaching event; since then, coral extent at one of his sites has shrunk by 92 percent and at the other by 52 percent. Both reefs used to be dominated by boulder star coral, a large, stony species that provides structure to Caribbean reefs and protects the region’s coastlines from erosion. Now, they are dominated by fast-growing “weedy” corals and algae. Given that climate change continues to drive up water temperatures and increase the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, writes Edmunds, “the prospects for community recovery are bleak.”

Yet he argues that monitoring matters, and will continue to matter. The series of photographs Edmunds and his colleagues have accumulated, for instance, suggests that acute disturbances such as hurricanes and major bleaching events cause less damage over time than the everyday stress of rising water temperatures. Moreover, as he writes drily, “the past is an imperfect predictor of the future, ensuring that old data can never fully take the place of new information.” Even a grievously altered system such as the Virgin Islands reefs will continue to change in different ways for different reasons, and understanding those changes will be essential to protecting the life that persists — both at sea and on land.

I was reminded of Edmunds’ argument earlier this month, when I attended the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Biennial Scientific Conference, held this year in Big Sky, Montana. One of the speakers was Tom Olliff, an ecologist who, like Edmunds, has dedicated himself to one ecosystem: he spent 32 years living and working in Yellowstone National Park, eventually directing its Science and Resource Management Division.

Olliff noted the remarkable changes in and around Yellowstone during the course of his career, including the reintroduction of wolves, the recovery of grizzly bears, the boom in visitor numbers, and the excruciating and still-growing development pressure on private lands. He called on his listeners, who included many colleagues and friends, to undertake “audacious acts of conservation,” projects that take a long time to realize and may face determined opposition.

Olliff named some headline-grabbing audacious acts, like wolf reintroduction and dam removal. But he ended his talk with a quieter example. In his current position as a regional research manager for the National Park Service, he has been working with wildlife biologist Don Swann on the long-term monitoring of saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico. Though adult saguaros are still common, young saguaros are struggling to survive as temperatures rise. How long should scientists plan to monitor the population? Four decades from now, a report on the saguaro population might be as grim as Edmunds’ assessment of the Virgin Islands reefs.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dharna Noor at The Guardian:

Climate experts fear Donald Trump will follow a blueprint created by his allies to gut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), disbanding its work on climate science and tailoring its operations to business interests.

Joe Biden’s presidency has increased the profile of the science-based federal agency but its future has been put in doubt if Trump wins a second term and at a time when climate impacts continue to worsen. The plan to “break up Noaa is laid out in the Project 2025 document written by more than 350 rightwingers and helmed by the Heritage Foundation. Called the Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, it is meant to guide the first 180 days of presidency for an incoming Republican president. The document bears the fingerprints of Trump allies, including Johnny McEntee, who was one of Trump’s closest aides and is a senior adviser to Project 2025. “The National Oceanographic [sic] and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories,” the proposal says.

That’s a sign that the far right has “no interest in climate truth”, said Chris Gloninger, who last year left his job as a meteorologist in Iowa after receiving death threats over his spotlighting of global warming. The guidebook chapter detailing the strategy, which was recently spotlighted by E&E News, describes Noaa as a “colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future US prosperity”. It was written by Thomas Gilman, a former Chrysler executive who during Trump’s presidency was chief financial officer for Noaa’s parent body, the commerce department. Gilman writes that one of Noaa’s six main offices, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, should be “disbanded” because it issues “theoretical�� science and is “the source of much of Noaa’s climate alarmism”. Though he admits it serves “important public safety and business functions as well as academic functions”, Gilman says data from the National Hurricane Center must be “presented neutrally, without adjustments intended to support any one side in the climate debate”.

[...] Noaa also houses the National Weather Service (NWS), which provides weather and climate forecasts and warnings. Gilman calls for the service to “fully commercialize its forecasting operations”. He goes on to say that Americans are already reliant on private weather forecasters, specifically naming AccuWeather and citing a PR release issued by the company to claim that “studies have found that the forecasts and warnings provided by the private companies are more reliable” than the public sector’s. (The mention is noteworthy as Trump once tapped the former CEO of AccuWeather to lead Noaa, though his nomination was soon withdrawn.)

The claims come amid years of attempts from US conservatives to help private companies enter the forecasting arena – proposals that are “nonsense”, said Rosenberg. Right now, all people can access high-quality forecasts for free through the NWS. But if forecasts were conducted only by private companies that have a profit motive, crucial programming might no longer be available to those in whom business executives don’t see value, said Rosenberg. [...] Fully privatizing forecasting could also threaten the accuracy of forecasts, said Gloninger, who pointed to AccuWeather’s well-known 30- and 60-day forecasts as one example. Analysts have found that these forecasts are only right about half the time, since peer-reviewed research has found that there is an eight- to 10-day limit on the accuracy of forecasts.

The Trump Administration is delivering a big gift to climate crisis denialism as part of Project 2025 by proposing the dismantling and privatizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) in his potential 2nd term.

This should frighten people to vote Democratic up and down the ballot if you want the NOAA and NWS to stay intact.