#Index Calculation Agent

[indexcalculation]

Index Calculation Agents vs. Index Providers: Understanding the Differences

Introduction

Financial markets rely on indices to measure performance, track trends, and guide investment strategies. These indices—such as the S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, and MSCI Emerging Markets Index—play a crucial role in asset management, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and financial benchmarking. However, their creation and management involve two distinct entities: Index Calculation Agents and Index Providers.

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent different functions within the financial ecosystem. Understanding the differences between Index Calculation Agents and Index Providers is essential for investors, asset managers, and financial professionals.

1. What Is an Index Provider?

An Index Provider is an organization that creates, owns, and maintains financial indices. These firms define the methodology for index construction and ensure the index remains representative of the intended market or sector.

Key Responsibilities of Index Providers

Designing Index Methodology:

Establish rules for security selection, weighting, and rebalancing.

Define whether an index is price-weighted, market-cap-weighted, or equal-weighted.

Developing Benchmark Indices:

Create indices that serve as benchmarks for ETFs, mutual funds, and institutional portfolios.

Managing Index Licensing:

License index data to financial institutions, ETFs, and derivatives markets.

Adjusting Indices Based on Market Evolution:

Modify criteria based on market conditions, industry trends, and regulatory changes.

Examples of Index Providers

Some of the most well-known index providers include:

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average)

MSCI (MSCI World Index, MSCI Emerging Markets)

FTSE Russell (FTSE 100, Russell 2000)

Bloomberg (Bloomberg Barclays Bond Indices)

2. What Is an Index Calculation Agent?

An Index Calculation Agent is responsible for computing and maintaining index values. These entities perform complex calculations to ensure index accuracy and integrity based on real-time market data.

Key Responsibilities of Index Calculation Agents

Index Value Computation:

Collect and process market data to calculate real-time and end-of-day index values.

Applying Corporate Actions:

Adjust for stock splits, mergers, dividends, and spin-offs.

Ensuring Data Accuracy:

Validate price feeds and eliminate discrepancies in index calculations.

Publishing and Disseminating Index Data:

Provide real-time index values to exchanges, financial platforms, and investors.

Examples of Index Calculation Agents

Many financial institutions offer index calculation services, including:

S&P Dow Jones Indices

FTSE Russell

Bloomberg Index Services

Solactive

Some index providers also act as calculation agents, while others outsource the function to third-party firms for independent and unbiased calculations.

3. Key Differences Between Index Providers and Index Calculation Agents

While both roles contribute to index management, their responsibilities differ significantly:

Index Providers focus on methodology, licensing, and market representation.

Index Calculation Agents ensure real-time computation, accuracy, and data integrity.

Why This Distinction Matters

Understanding the difference between these roles is crucial for:

Investors: Ensuring that indices they track are accurately calculated.

Asset Managers: Choosing reliable index providers for fund benchmarking.

Regulators: Maintaining market transparency and preventing manipulation.

Conclusion

While Index Providers create and maintain index methodologies, Index Calculation Agents handle the technical task of computing and disseminating index values. Both entities work together to ensure that financial indices are reliable, transparent, and valuable to the investment community. As global financial markets grow, the importance of accurate index calculations and unbiased methodologies continues to increase.

[indexxindices]

Technological Innovations in Index Calculation: The Future of Financial Benchmarking

In the dynamic world of finance, indices serve as essential tools for benchmarking market performance, guiding investment strategies, and facilitating financial products. As the complexity and scale of financial markets grow, so does the need for advanced, precise, and efficient index calculation methodologies. Technological innovations are revolutionizing the field of index calculation, paving the way for more accurate and responsive financial benchmarking. This article explores these innovations and their implications for the future of financial markets.

Big Data and Advanced Analytics

1. Real-Time Data Processing

With the advent of big data, index calculation has transitioned from end-of-day updates to real-time processing. High-frequency trading and market volatility demand indices that can adapt instantaneously. Technologies such as Apache Kafka and real-time data streaming platforms enable the continuous ingestion and processing of massive datasets, ensuring indices reflect the most current market conditions.

2. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics

Machine learning algorithms analyze historical data to identify patterns and predict market movements. These predictive capabilities enhance index rebalancing and constituent selection processes, leading to indices that better capture market trends and reduce tracking errors. Predictive analytics also help in anticipating the impact of corporate actions, ensuring smoother transitions and adjustments.

Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology

1. Enhanced Transparency and Security

Blockchain technology offers unparalleled transparency and security in index calculation. Each transaction and data point is recorded on an immutable ledger, reducing the risk of data tampering and ensuring the accuracy of index calculations. This transparency builds trust among stakeholders and enhances the credibility of financial benchmarks.

2. Automated Smart Contracts

Smart contracts on blockchain platforms automate the execution of corporate actions, such as dividends and stock splits, ensuring timely and accurate adjustments to indices. This automation reduces the manual intervention required and minimizes errors, streamlining the index maintenance process.

Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing

1. Sentiment Analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) analyze vast amounts of unstructured data, such as news articles, social media posts, and financial reports, to gauge market sentiment. Incorporating sentiment analysis into index calculation provides a more holistic view of market dynamics, capturing the influence of investor sentiment on market performance.

2. AI-Driven Index Development

AI algorithms can develop customized indices tailored to specific investment strategies or market segments. By analyzing large datasets and identifying relevant factors, AI can create indices that offer unique investment opportunities, catering to the growing demand for niche and thematic investment products.

Cloud Computing and Edge Technology

1. Scalable Infrastructure

Cloud computing provides the scalable infrastructure needed to handle the vast computational requirements of modern index calculation. Platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure offer powerful processing capabilities, enabling the efficient calculation and dissemination of indices on a global scale.

2. Edge Computing for Low Latency

Edge computing brings data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and enhancing the speed of index calculations. This is particularly important for indices used in high-frequency trading, where milliseconds can make a significant difference in trading outcomes.

Quantum Computing

1. Complex Calculations and Optimization

Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize index calculation by solving complex optimization problems and performing calculations at unprecedented speeds. Quantum algorithms can optimize portfolio allocations and rebalance indices more efficiently, providing more accurate and robust financial benchmarks.

2. Enhanced Predictive Models

Quantum computing can enhance predictive models by analyzing large datasets with multiple variables simultaneously. This capability can improve the accuracy of market forecasts and risk assessments, leading to more reliable indices.

Implications for the Future

1. Increased Accuracy and Reliability

Technological innovations enhance the accuracy and reliability of indices, providing investors with more dependable benchmarks. Real-time data processing, AI-driven insights, and blockchain transparency ensure indices reflect true market conditions.

2. Customization and Personalization

The ability to develop customized indices tailored to specific investment strategies or market segments offers investors more personalized investment options. AI and machine learning enable the creation of niche indices that cater to specific interests, such as ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors or emerging technologies.

3. Greater Efficiency and Lower Costs

Automation and advanced analytics reduce the manual effort required in index calculation and maintenance, leading to greater efficiency and lower operational costs. This efficiency benefits both index providers and investors, resulting in cost-effective financial products.

Conclusion

The future of financial benchmarking is being reshaped by technological innovations in index calculation. From real-time data processing and machine learning to blockchain and quantum computing, these advancements promise to deliver more accurate, reliable, and customizable indices. As technology continues to evolve, the role of indices in financial markets will become even more pivotal, guiding investment decisions and shaping the future of finance.

[jungkoode]

THE 25TH HOUR | O7

“𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐒”

"The most annoying thing about Agent Min isn’t how easily he dodges your questions—it’s how effortlessly he outmatches your wit."

next | index

— chapter details

word count: 7,4k

content: field trips, noma being curious as usual, yoongi being half amused half exasperated, yoongi being a smart lil shit and evading her questions, her growing frustrated, forced proximity, eery memorials and visceral reactions.

— author’s note

Hiii peeps!!!

It’s been a long time coming huh??? FINALLY chapter 7 reached the goals yesterday!!! *cue the confetti that i absolutely do not have the energy to throw*

I’ve been writing this chapter for what feels like an eternity (literally aged 10 years minimum) but I just finished the last scene today and edited and proofread it just now soooo I hope everything’s okay??? If you see a typo… no you didn’t (ಥ﹏ಥ).

Not gonna lie to you, I had to reread chapter 6 because I straight up forgot whether I had tasked Yoongi and Noma to the Monitoring Hub or if that was someone else ahahaha—spoiler alert: it was Tae and Jungkook who got stuck with that chore, not Yoongi and Y/N. Slay for us!

Then I reread some of my notes and remembered some plotlines I had emotionally suppressed and well… the last scene about the park basically wrote itself. Yeah. It’s eery. Prepare yourselves.

There’s SO much to unpack from this fic and SO little we have even scratched the surface of. I know The 25th Hour is my most head-wrecking fanfic so PLEASE, feel free to vomit ALL of your theories at me hahaha. I’m here for the chaos.

As always—remember my fics are sloooooow paced and sloooooow burn because my brain doesn’t know how to operate differently. Don’t expect fast plot movement, I’m intentionally taking my time to build the world and lay tiny breadcrumbs for you to gather. Pick them up. Put them in your emotional basket. Analyze them to your heart’s content.

Enjoy, goblins! <3

— read on

ao3

wattpad

The streets feel fundamentally wrong.  

It's not something you can quantify, not yet. The temperature is stable, the air quality within acceptable parameters, and the ambient noise levels hover at a predictable 67 decibels. 

But still, something feels… off.  

Sector 4 has always been bustling, it is a fact you do not question. 

Coffee shops line the sidewalks—windows are fogged with steam and promises of overpriced caffeine. Restaurants have flickering neon signs in rhythmic patterns that seem to draw people in inevitably. Storefronts display fashion statements that you’ve never found appealing but still manage to catch your eye every time you pass them.  

You do like fashion—at least, theoretically. 

You’ve never bought anything from these stores, though. 

Agent Min walks ahead of you now, stride measured as always. You recalibrate your position almost immediately, adjusting your pace to walk beside him instead of behind. 

Not behind him. Never behind him.  

You don’t know why it matters so much, but it does. To you, at least. Or maybe to whatever part of you keeps acting out without conscious thought lately.  

Your eyes betray you again, flickering to his gloved hand for the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes. Covered, as always. Black leather stretched taut over fingers that move very precisely—cataloging, calculating, anticipating.  

You’re still stuck on his earlier words: “Protection from me.”

What did he mean by that? Is his touch scalding? Dangerous? 

You haven’t seen him touch anyone else without those gloves—not once since arriving at the facility. It’s plausible enough to form a hypothesis around it, but not enough to test it without risking another nosebleed—or worse.  

Still… you want to test it anyway.  

And then there’s the matter of your own gloves—thin fabric ones that feel more like a restriction than protection. 

Nobody else wears them except Yoongi. Just him and you. You and him.  

Why? Why? Why? Why?  

The question loops through your mind like a broken record, each repetition louder than the last until it feels like static buzzing beneath your skin. 

You want to ask him outright, even though you know it will get you nowhere.  

But still… you want to ask.

“Why gloves?”  

The words slip out before your analytical mind can filter them properly—an impulsive breach of protocol that surprises even you.  

Yoongi sighs—a sound weighted with irritation but tempered by something softer beneath—and doesn’t respond immediately. His gaze flickers around the street instead, cataloging details invisible to your untrained eye.

“Stop staring at my hand,” he says finally, voice low enough that only you can hear over the ambient noise of Sector 4’s busiest avenue.

“I wasn’t staring at your hand,” you counter, the denial emerging with suspicious automaticity.

And technically, it’s not a lie. 

Your focus was on the glove itself—the material composition, the precision fit, the way it moves with his fingers as if designed specifically for his unique biomechanics.

“My gloves cover my hands,” he points out, logic impeccable as always. “You looking at my glove is functionally equivalent to looking at my hand.”

Your analytical mind acknowledges the validity of his reasoning—the correlation between glove and hand approaches 99.7% in this context.

“Stop trying to be clever,” he adds, the corner of his mouth twitching upward by approximately 0.3 millimeters—a microexpression your body recognizes as amusement despite your mind having no reference point for it.

“I’m not trying to be clever,” you respond, your tone matching his. “Fabric is not skin. I was technically not observing your hand but rather the material covering it.”

His eyes narrow by exactly 1.2 millimeters. “You’re doing it right now.”

“Doing what?”

“Attempting to establish semantic superiority through technical correctness.”

“I am not.”

“You are. Stop it.”

Your lips press together, suppressing what feels suspiciously like a smile. Your gaze shifts to his profile, noting the controlled tension in his jaw, the rhythm of his breathing.

“Why?” The question emerges softer than intended.

He turns, eyes meeting yours with unsettling directness. 

The contact lasts 2.7 seconds—42% longer than standard conversational eye contact.

“Because,” his eyes flicker gold for precisely 0.3 seconds, “being intellectual antagonists with each other is essentially our foreplay.”

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps softly: Temporal variance: 1.37%.

“That would imply sexual attraction.”

“Yes, it would.”

“Are you sexually attracted to me?”

He doesn’t respond. 

You weren’t expecting him to.

Doesn’t make it less annoying.

But curiosity nags at you as your eyes flicker down to his gloves. And before you can process your next question, you’re already voicing it out.

"Can I hold your hand?"

Agent Min halts mid-step, his shoulders stiffening by precisely 0.6 centimeters. The sigh that follows is audible, weighted with the kind of exasperation that suggests this isn't the first time he's had to deal with you derailing his focus. 

"Not this again," he mutters, his voice carrying the same energy as someone who just realized they forgot to defrost the chicken for dinner.

You blink up at him, unbothered by the irritation radiating off of him in waves. 

“What? I’m serious."

He turns his head slowly, mint-green hair catching the sunlight in a way that seems almost too vibrant for someone with such a perpetually dark aura. His eyes narrow slightly—not in anger, but in that uniquely way of his that suggests he's already regretting engaging with you.

"You want to hold my hand," he repeats flatly, as if saying it out loud might somehow make it sound less ridiculous.

"Yes." You nod once, decisively. "Without the gloves."

His jaw tightens by 3 degrees, and for a moment, you think he might ignore you entirely. But then he exhales sharply through his nose—an audible punctuation mark to his mounting frustration—and tilts his head just enough to meet your gaze.

"Why?" he asks, voice low and measured, like he's trying to reason with a particularly stubborn child.

You pause, considering the question. 

Why do you want to hold his hand? 

It’s not like you’ve ever been particularly interested in physical contact before. In fact, you generally find it inefficient and unnecessary—an outdated social construct with no practical application in most scenarios.

But this feels... different. Important. Like there’s some unquantifiable variable at play that your analytical mind can’t quite grasp.

"I don’t know," you admit finally, your tone carrying the same blunt honesty that has gotten you into trouble more times than you can count. "I just do."

Yoongi closes his eyes briefly—1.2 seconds exactly—before pinching the bridge of his nose through the fabric of his glove. 

“You can’t just go around asking people if you can hold their hands."

"Why not?" Your brow furrows as you process his response. "Is it against protocol?"

"It’s not about protocol," he says, dropping his hand back to his side with a resigned sigh. "It’s about basic social norms."

"Social norms are arbitrary constructs," you argue, crossing your arms over your chest. "If I want to hold your hand and you don’t explicitly object, then what’s the issue?"

"The issue," he says slowly, as if explaining quantum mechanics to a toddler, "is that most people don’t ask questions like that because they understand how it might make someone else feel."

You tilt your head slightly, analyzing his expression for any sign of genuine discomfort. His face remains impassive—calm but guarded, like he’s carefully controlling every microexpression to avoid giving anything away.

"I don’t see how it would make you feel anything," you say finally, your tone more curious than defensive. "It’s just skin-to-skin contact. Statistically insignificant unless there’s some kind of chemical reaction involved."

Yoongi stares at you for a long moment—4.7 seconds exactly—before shaking his head slightly and muttering something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like why me?

"You’re impossible," he says finally, turning away from you and resuming his perfectly measured stride down the street.

You fall into step beside him without hesitation, adjusting your pace to match his once again. 

“You didn’t answer my question," you point out after exactly 3 seconds of silence.

"I thought I did," he replies dryly.

"No," you counter, your tone taking on that annoyingly persistent edge that you realize seems to get under his skin. "You explained why most people wouldn’t ask to hold someone’s hand. You didn’t explain why I shouldn’t ask."

He exhales sharply again—louder this time—and glances at you out of the corner of his eye. His gaze flickers briefly to your gloved hands before returning to the path ahead.

"Because it’s not normal," he says finally.

"Neither is wearing gloves all the time," you shoot back without missing a beat.

His lips twitch upward for 0.2 seconds before flattening again—a microexpression so fleeting that most people wouldn’t have noticed it. 

But you do.

"Fair," he mutters under his breath.

You take this as a victory and press on. "So? Can I?"

"No." 

"But why?" Your voice edges into what could almost be described as a whine—not because you’re upset, but because you genuinely don’t understand why he’s being so difficult about something so seemingly insignificant.

Yoongi stops abruptly again—his second unplanned halt in less than five minutes—and turns to face you fully this time. His eyes lock onto yours with an intensity that makes your pulse spike by 8 beats per minute.

"Because," he says slowly, enunciating each syllable like it physically pains him to explain this to you, "if I let you hold my hand without gloves, it won’t stop there."

You blink, processing his words. 

"What do you mean it won't stop there?" 

Your head tilts exactly 4.3 degrees to the right—a physical manifestation of your curiosity. Yoongi's jaw tightens, the muscle visibly tensing beneath his skin. 

"Just drop it."

"Is it just the hands?" you press, undeterred by his obvious discomfort. "Or would any skin contact cause this... whatever it is you're concerned about?"

"Any skin contact," he answers flatly.

You process this new variable. "So if I touch any part of your skin, the reaction would be the same?"

"Yes." 

His response is clipped, precise—clearly hoping brevity will discourage further inquiry.

It doesn't.

"Is that why we're both covered head to toe? To prevent skin contact?" 

The question emerges as you glance down at your own tactical gear, noting how thoroughly it encases your body.

"Yes."

"But not our faces," you point out, studying the exposed skin of his cheeks, his jaw, his forehead. "Our faces remain uncovered."

He exhales, the sound carrying precisely 23% more frustration than his previous sigh. 

"Covering our faces would make us suspicious to CHRONOS agents. We need to blend in."

Your analysis immediately detects the logical inconsistency. 

“Your resistance movement seems quite popular among CHRONOS employees. I've counted at least 27 defectors in your facility."

"Mhm."

"How come agents don't recognize you then?" The question presents itself naturally as you catalog variables. "Wouldn't they have put a face to your name by now? Especially given your apparent leadership position?"

"Part of my ability."

Your temporal readings spike by 0.12% at the mention of his ability. You've been collecting fragments of information since arriving, piecing together a picture of what each team member can do. But Yoongi's ability remains the most significant unknown variable.

"What's your ability?" You ask directly, knowing the probability of receiving a straightforward answer approaches zero.

Indeed, his lips quirk upward—0.3 millimeters, right side only. 

"Guess."

You narrow your eyes, cataloging the available data:

- His ability relates to temporal manipulation

- It affects perception

- It involves skin contact

- It has restoration properties, as demonstrated with your glove

"Time manipulation," you venture, knowing it's insufficient but hoping to prompt elaboration.

"Not specific enough." 

"Temporal reconstruction?" You recalibrate, adding the restoration variable.

He makes that sound again—the one that's almost amusement but contains too much restraint. 

“Closer."

Your analytical mind sorts through theoretical temporal abilities, discarding those incompatible with observed phenomena. 

“Chronological restoration with perceptual manipulation components."

His eyebrow raises by exactly 0.4 centimeters. "Sometimes I forget how unnecessarily technical you can be."

"Is that accurate?" you press.

"Parts of it." 

His attention shifts to the street ahead, where the monitoring hub should be visible. But it isn't. Not where your memory insists it should be.

You follow his gaze, temporal cognition struggling to reconcile the discrepancy. 

"The hub is missing."

"No," he corrects, "it's been moved. Remember?"

The correction creates a curious double-vision effect in your cognitive processing—you simultaneously remember the hub at its original location AND at its new position three blocks east.

Your nose starts bleeding.

Agent Min doesn't even look—simply extends the black handkerchief towards your nose. 

"Stop trying to hold both memories at once," he instructs, voice dropping to 42 decibels. "Accept the new one as current reality while maintaining awareness that it's been altered."

"That's contradictory," you argue, pressing the handkerchief to your nose.

"Not to your brain, it isn't." His eyes never leave the street ahead, yet you sense his focus remains partially on you. "Your temporal signature allows you to perceive both timelines simultaneously. The cognitive dissonance is what causes the bleeding."

"How do you know so much about my temporal signature?" The question emerges with sudden intensity.

His jaw tightens. "Focus on the mission."

"Answer the question."

"No."

Your frustration spikes by approximately 37%. 

“You know significantly more about my physiological responses than should be possible given our limited interaction history."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Classified."

You resist the urge to roll your eyes—a social gesture you've never found particularly productive. 

“That's not an answer."

"It's all you're getting right now." His tone shifts, carrying a finality that suggests further inquiry would be pointless.

Your gaze returns to the street, where two distinct sets of memories continue to overlap in your perception. The monitoring hub that should be directly ahead isn't there. Instead, an upscale coffee shop occupies the space, patrons moving in and out with the synchronized efficiency of people who have no idea reality has been restructured around them.

"They don't notice," you murmur, observing the civilians. "They genuinely believe that coffee shop has always been there."

"Yes." Agent Min's confirmation is unnecessary but appreciated. "For them, reality is singular and consistent. No contradictions."

"And for us?"

His eyes meet yours briefly. "For Outliers, reality is... negotiable."

“Outliers. That’s me now, too.”

"Yes. People whose temporal signatures resist CHRONOS manipulation," he elaborates, voice dropping lower. "People who remember when reality changes. People who can see through the illusion."

"Like right now," you note, focusing on the coffee shop while maintaining awareness of the monitoring hub that should occupy its space. "I can hold both versions simultaneously."

"Exactly." For once, he doesn't sound annoyed by your analysis. "That's what makes you valuable. And dangerous."

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps softly: Temporal variance: 1.42%.

Agent Min's eyes flick to your wrist. "We need to stabilize you before continuing. Your variance is climbing."

"I'm fine," you counter, though the persistent throbbing behind your eyes suggests otherwise.

"You're not." His contradiction carries no room for debate. "Find somewhere quiet. Now."

You scan the area, identifying a narrow alley between buildings approximately 34 meters ahead. 

“There."

He follows your gaze and nods once, already adjusting his trajectory. His stride lengthens by precisely 0.07 meters—not enough for casual observation to detect, but you note the change immediately.

The alley provides 68% reduction in ambient noise and 74% decrease in visual stimuli—optimal conditions for temporal stabilization according to the limited data you've gathered.

Agent Min positions himself at precisely 47 centimeters from you—close enough for what you now understand is temporal alignment, but far enough to maintain whatever invisible boundary he's established.

"Your variance is too high," he states, glancing at your watch. "We need to reduce it before continuing."

"How?" The question is direct, clinical—exactly how you intend it.

His expression shifts, eyes darkening by approximately 12%. "Proximity and synchronized breathing. It's slow but effective."

Your analytical mind immediately identifies the logical gap. 

"If proximity helps stabilize my temporal signature, then closer proximity should logically be more efficient. Physical contact would provide maximum efficiency."

His jaw tightens so suddenly you can almost hear the teeth grinding. 

"No."

"Why not? It's the most logical solution."

"Because I said so." 

The childish response seems deliberately designed to irritate you.

It works.

"That's not a scientifically valid reason," you counter, crossing your arms. "Is there another method besides proximity and breathing?"

"No." 

His response comes too quickly—0.37 seconds faster than his average response time. You narrow your eyes, analytical mind immediately flagging the statistical anomaly. 

"You're lying."

"I'm not lying," he counters, voice dropping to that dangerous octave that somehow makes your skin prickle despite the climate-controlled tactical gear. "I'm just not telling you the whole truth."

"That's the same thing."

"It's really not." His lips quirk upward in that infuriating half-smile. "One involves active deception. The other involves strategic omission."

"Strategic omission," you repeat, the term rolling off your tongue with obvious distaste. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

"We've always called it that. You just don't remember."

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps again: Temporal variance: 1.57%.

"Your variance is still climbing," he notes, voice shifting to something that might almost be concern if you didn't know better. "Focus on your breathing. Match mine."

You want to argue further, to push until he breaks and gives you the answers your analytical mind craves. But the pressure behind your eyes is intensifying, and your temporal readings are becoming increasingly unstable.

"Fine," you concede, though the word carries more edge than intended. "Breathing."

He inhales slowly—4 seconds in, 6 seconds out—establishing a rhythm that your body automatically begins to follow. 

The synchronization feels practiced, like muscle memory you shouldn't possess.

"Why do I know this pattern?" 

"Because your body remembers even when your mind doesn't."

"You keep saying that. It is not scientifically possible."

"Then why is it working?”

Your temporal variance begins to decrease—1.52%, 1.47%, 1.39%—the numbers falling in precise correlation with your synchronized breathing.

"Fascinating," you murmur, analytical mind already calculating the energy transfer mechanisms that might explain this phenomenon. "The temporal resonance between our signatures creates a stabilizing effect that—"

"Stop analyzing it," he interrupts, the command carrying a sharp edge. "The more you try to understand it, the worse your variance gets."

"That's counterintuitive."

"Welcome to temporal physics." His tone carries a dry humor that catches you off guard. "Where everything you think you know is wrong, and trying to figure out why makes your nose bleed."

Despite yourself, your lips twitch upward. 

Illogical. 

“That's an inefficient system."

"It's by design." His eyes never leave yours as he continues the breathing pattern. "CHRONOS doesn't want people understanding how reality actually works."

"And you do?"

A softening around the eyes that lasts precisely 0.7 seconds swallows his pupils before disappearing. 

"I want you to understand. Just not all at once."

The admission carries more weight than it should, creating a curious pressure in your chest that defies analytical categorization.

Your variance continues to decrease—1.31%, 1.24%, 1.18%—each number bringing you closer to stability.

"There's something you're not telling me," you state, the certainty absolute despite having no empirical evidence to support it.

His lips quirk upward—0.4 millimeters, right side only. 

"There are approximately 7,429 things I'm not telling you, A-735. You'll have to be more specific."

"About stabilization methods." Your eyes narrow, focusing on the micro-expressions that betray him. "There's another way, isn't there? Something more efficient than this."

His breathing pattern falters for exactly 0.3 seconds—a statistical anomaly that confirms your hypothesis.

"Yes," he admits finally, the word emerging with obvious reluctance.

"What is it?"

His jaw tightens, eyes darkening to that dangerous shade that makes your pulse accelerate by 7.2 beats per minute.

"Nothing you need to know right now."

"I disagree."

"Shocking."

The sarcasm in his tone is so thick you could practically measure its density. Strangely, it registers a progress in your head. 

"Is it dangerous?" 

“Not in the way you're thinking."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

He holds your gaze for exactly 3.7 seconds—42% longer than standard conversational eye contact. 

“Because once you know, you'll want to try it. And once you try it..." He pauses, something raw and unguarded flashing in his eyes. "Let's just say it complicates things."

"How?"

"Classified."

You exhale sharply through your nose, frustration spiking by approximately 43%. 

"You can't just classify everything you don't want to explain."

"Actually," he counters, that infuriating half-smile returning, "I can. It's one of the perks of being in charge."

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told." His eyes flicker to your watch. "1.03%. Almost stable."

Your variance continues to decrease—0.97%, 0.92%, 0.88%—each number bringing you closer to the standard range.

"We should continue the mission," you state once your readings stabilize at 0.84%.

He nods once, already turning toward the street. But before he can take a step, you catch his wrist—your gloved fingers wrapping around the tactical material covering his arm.

He freezes, entire body tensing like you've applied an electric shock.

"This isn't over," you state, voice low and precise. "I will figure it out."

His eyes meet yours, something dark and dangerous flickering in their depths. 

"I know you will. You always do."

The statement carries too much weight, too much history that you can't access. But before you can question it, he gently extracts his wrist from your grip and steps back onto the street.

You follow, sorting through the fragments of information, piecing together the puzzle that is Agent Min.

He's hiding something. Something important. Something about you, about him, about whatever connection exists between you that defies logical explanation.

And you're definitely going to figure out what it is.

You’ve been walking for exactly twenty-three minutes.

And Agent Min has looked at you ten times in the past five.

Each glance is quick—measured flickers of attention, like he’s trying to calculate something without setting off an alarm.

You count them anyway. You always count things when you don’t know what they mean.

The silence stretches between you, and it’s thick; clinging really. You expected him to appreciate it—your restraint, your control, your refusal to ask questions he won’t answer.

But instead, he’s growing restless.

Another glance. Quick. Sharp.

You stop walking.

He takes two more steps before realizing you aren’t following, turning around with a tilt of his head that would seem casual if it weren’t so obviously deliberate.

You cross your arms. Narrow your eyes. Catalog the slight shift in his posture.

“What.”

It comes out flat. Demanding.

He exhales—short, controlled, dismissive.

“Nothing.”

You frown, recalculating. “Then stop looking at me.”

He raises an eyebrow by approximately 0.5 centimeters. Very deliberate. Very measured.

“Not looking at you.”

You tilt your head, mirroring his earlier gesture.

“Incorrect. You’ve looked at me ten times in the last five minutes. Nine, if you want to exclude peripheral glances.”

He doesn’t respond immediately, which statistically increases the likelihood that he’s internally debating whether arguing is worth it.

You decide to press anyway. “Why?”

His mouth tightens, a minuscule shift of muscle you might have missed before. Not now. Now you notice everything.

“You’re distracting,” he says finally. Short. Clipped. Like ripping off a bandage.

You blink, recalibrating.

“How?”

He sighs, heavier this time—more oxygen expended, betraying more irritation than he probably intends.

“You’re…” He searches for the word like it’s a personal affront to have to find it. “…loud.”

“I’m not speaking.”

“Exactly.”

You process that.

“So my silence is distracting.”

“Yes.”

“Because you’re used to me questioning you.”

“Partly.”

Your eyes narrow. His left hand flexes at his side, the faint creak of leather betraying tension he’s probably holding in check.

“Then elaborate,” you say. Curious. Intrigued despite yourself.

“No.”

You resist the urge to sigh back at him—your own version of his exasperation. 

“Is it proximity?” you try again.  “I can increase distance if needed.”

The corner of his mouth twitches—barely—but enough to register.

“It’s not proximity,” he mutters, almost to himself.

“Then what is it?”

His eyes flicker back to you, sharp and cutting.

“You’re unpredictable,” he says. “That’s the problem.”

You tilt your head again, absorbing that.

“Unpredictability usually denotes a flaw in pattern recognition,” you say thoughtfully. “And you pride yourself on anticipating variables.”

His expression tightens, the faintest edge of irritation sparking.

Good. You’re getting somewhere.

“You’re not a variable,” he says finally, voice low. “You’re an anomaly.”

Your heart stutters—not from sentiment, but from the weight of the word.

Anomaly. Noma.

The nickname he’s never explained.

You hold his gaze, cataloging the dilation of his pupils, the slight tremor in his exhale.

0.4 seconds too long before he looks away.

Enough to register. Enough to matter.

You tilt your head a fraction to the left. Testing. Probing. 

“Your behavior denotes a penchant for sadism,” you observe. Neutral enough to pretend the words don’t sting a little when they land between you.

Yoongi exhales—slow, the faintest curl of amusement threading through the air. 

“Because I’m sadistic, clearly,” he mutters, voice rougher than necessary. 

Calculated imperfection.

You narrow your eyes. Catalog the rhythm of his steps, how they slow imperceptibly as you fall into pace again, how the ambient noise seems to dull when he speaks.

“You are being purposefully obtuse,” you accuse, sharper this time. “Being wistfully cryptic does not align with leadership traits. I would assume the leader of the 7th Hour would not engage in childish tactics.”

A beat.

He hums low in his throat—a noise of neither agreement nor denial. More like he’s tasting your words, deciding whether to bother answering at all.

“Me?” he says finally, deadpan. “Childish? Never.”

The dryness of it slashes across your skin like a blade dipped in velvet.

You scowl, which only earns you another flicker of that infuriating almost-smirk.

“I expected more,” you say, voice clipped. Measured. “That is on me for applying inappropriate expectations.”

“You’ll learn.” His tone drops, lazy and lethal. “Eventually.”

The way he says it—you’ll learn—prickles under your skin. 

Because it doesn’t sound like a threat.

It sounds like a promise.

Your body catalogues the microadjustments again: the flex of leather at his hands, the sharp lines of his jaw as he grinds out the words with so little effort it’s almost mocking.

You resist the irrational urge to step closer.

Proximity is inefficient. Emotional responses disrupt cognitive processing.

You recite it mentally like a catechism.

Still.

The question rises, unbidden.

The same way it seems to always do with him.

“What is the mission objective?”

Blunt. Necessary. Something to tether yourself back to reason.

He doesn’t break stride. Doesn’t even flinch.

“You’re a smart girl,” he says instead, so casually it almost doesn’t register as condescension. Almost. “You’ll figure it out.”

You exhale sharply through your nose. Inefficient communication strategies. You’re tempted to cite the statistical decrease in operational success rates when leadership fails to fully brief its agents, but he’s baiting you. Purposefully.

And you, predictably, are already chasing.

“Statistically,” you begin, voice taut with precision, “the likelihood of successful insertion without a clear objective—”

“Statistically,” he cuts in, unbothered, “there shouldn’t even be a 25th hour.”

The implication lands harder than it should.

You tighten your jaw, recalibrating, watching how he watches you.

Like he’s daring you to keep up.

“You are evading,” you say. “Obfuscating under the guise of intellectual superiority.”

“Am I?” he says, feigning disinterest. His shoulders shrug—barely, beautifully. “Or maybe you just don’t like not being the smartest person in the room.”

You blink once. Slow. Methodical.

Your pulse betrays you anyway, kicking up by approximately 6 bpm.

“You overestimate your own cleverness,” you say evenly, even though some traitorous part of you wants him to keep doing it. 

Keep outsmarting you. Keep sparring until the tension snaps under its own weight.

“You underestimate my patience,” he counters.

Another tiny smirk. Quicker this time. Sharper.

Your chest feels too tight around your ribs.

Inefficient physiological response.

You step away—not because you want distance, but because your processing centers are beginning to overload. You need new data. A new angle.

You pivot sharply toward the park ahead.

Three steps away before you hear his chuckle—so quiet you almost mistake it for a glitch in ambient noise.

You don’t turn back.

Instead, you focus on the new structure—the park that wasn’t there before.

It waits ahead, pristine and out of place. Grass too green. Air too clean. Symmetry too perfect.

Manufactured. Synthetic.

You slow your pace, narrowing your eyes, cataloging inconsistencies: tree spacing (1.3 meters apart, unnaturally even), the curvature of the path (identical to simulation model 8C), the temperature drop (2 degrees lower than the surrounding sector).

You feel Yoongi’s presence a few steps behind you. Not following. Not chasing.

Waiting.

Just like he always does.

Just like he always has.

And somehow, despite everything you know—despite every logic protocol firing in your mind—you want him to follow anyway.

You inhale sharply. Taste static on your tongue.

Focus.

Not on him.

On the mission.

On the park.

Focus on anything except the way Min Yoongi—a ghost, an anomaly—manages to outsmart you without even trying.

So that’s what you do—you focus forward, eyes locking onto the new structure rising ahead of you—all marble paths and manicured trees and gentle, glistening statues under the waning light.

A park that didn’t exist last week.

A plaza that hums wrong against your skin.

Your steps slow as you approach, instinct warning you even before your mind can fully process it.

You analyze the angles of the paths. The symmetry of the displays. The too-perfect gloss of the stone.

The air feels wrong here—too still, like it's been filtered of something vital.

But curiosity nags at you. It always does, when things defy explanations.

You step forward into the park, assessing its dimensions with a precision that seems excessive even to you. The perimeter measures exactly 247.8 meters around. The pathways curve at identical 30-degree angles. The statues are placed at equidistant intervals of precisely 12.4 meters.

Perfect. Too perfect.

Your temporal readings spike by 0.17% as you observe families strolling casually through what your analytical mind categorizes as a statistical impossibility. A man pushes a stroller past a bronze figure frozen mid-gesture. A couple takes selfies beneath the outstretched arm of another.

"The Garden of Stability," reads a polished plaque at the entrance. "Honoring those who sacrificed to maintain our timeline."

You've never seen this place before. You're certain of it. 

Yet your Chrono-Sync Watch registers no anomalies beyond the acceptable variance threshold.

Curious.

You move deeper into the garden, cataloging details: like the fact that the statues are eerily lifelike—capturing expressions with a fidelity that exceeds current manufacturing capabilities by approximately 27%. 

Furthermore, each statue has a small plaque fixed to its base. 

You approach the nearest one, a figure of a woman with her hand extended, fingers splayed as if reaching for something just beyond grasp.

"In memory of Eska Thior—sacrificed herself to stabilize Sector 7 during the temporal disturbance of 2156."

Your eyes narrow as you analyze the woman's expression. 

The sculptor has captured what should be determination, but there's something else—something in the eyes that registers as wrong. 

Your visual processing identifies it as fear, not resolve.

You move to the next statue. A man looking skyward, one foot slightly raised as if caught mid-step.

"In memory of Vayon Zesian—sacrificed himself to protect civilian timelines during the Sector 4 anomaly."

The black man's face is frozen in what the plaque suggests is awe or reverence. But your pattern recognition flags inconsistencies: the tension in his jaw is 38% higher than would be expected in a reverent expression. His fingers are curved at angles suggesting resistance, not surrender.

Your head throbs—a dull, persistent ache that intensifies as you catalog each discrepancy. Yet you continue, your analytical mind demanding more data despite the physical discomfort.

A sharp tug at your wrist interrupts your analysis. You turn, ready to object to the invasion of your personal space, when you register Agent Min's face exactly 31.7 centimeters from yours. His eyes contain a warning that makes no logical sense given the context.

"Shh," he says, the sound barely audible at 22 decibels. "Act normal."

You blink, processing both the command and the unusual tension in his posture. His hand remains on your wrist, gloved fingers gripping with precisely 42% more pressure than necessary for attention-getting purposes.

"This wasn't here yesterday," you whisper, your voice automatically matching his volume. "It's new."

"Yes, it is," he confirms, his eyes never meeting yours. Instead, they scan the perimeter. "And I'd advise against looking at the statues."

The request is illogical. You're already looking at them. You've already cataloged five discrepancies and three statistical anomalies in their design.

"Why?" you ask, the question forming before you can process the tension radiating from his body.

You turn away from him precisely as he tightens his grip—too late to stop your movement. Your eyes land on a statue directly ahead, positioned 15.3 meters from your current location. 

A man in a CHRONOS uniform, arms outstretched as if embracing the air around him.

Robin.

Your cognitive processes stutter, creating a 0.7-second delay between visual input and meaning assignment. 

Robin. Cubicle 47-B. Coffee preference: black with one sugar. Temporal compliance rating: 98.7%. Lunch companion: yesterday, 12:37 PM to 1:14 PM.

"That's Robin," you state, your voice dropping to 19 decibels. "I had lunch with him yesterday."

Your stomach contracts unexpectedly, digestive acids rising by approximately 37%. Your neural pathways struggle to reconcile the contradiction: Robin alive yesterday. Robin memorialized today.

Robin moving, breathing, complaining about the cafeteria's tempeh option yesterday.

Robin frozen in bronze today.

No fabrication facility could produce a statue this detailed in less than 24 hours. 

The metallurgical processes alone would require at minimum 72 hours for casting and cooling, with an additional 48 for detailing and patina development.

Unless...

Your analytical mind reaches the conclusion precisely as your stomach lurches again—a visceral response you didn't anticipate and cannot control.

They're not statues.

"We need to leave," Agent Min says, voice pitched extremely low. 

His fingers adjust on your wrist, shifting downward by 2.3 centimeters until they rest against the pulse point where your glove meets your sleeve.

Your heart rate increases by 13.7 beats per minute.

Not from his touch. From the realization.

"They're not statues," you confirm aloud, your voice clinical despite the acid burning the back of your throat. "They're people. Frozen in some form of temporal stasis."

Agent Min's jaw tightens, the muscle visibly tensing beneath his skin. 

“Not here," he warns, his voice barely audible. "Camera at your two o'clock, range 17 meters. Audio capture capabilities."

You process this new variable, immediately adjusting your behavior patterns. Your posture shifts by 4.3 degrees—more casual, less alert. Your expression recalibrates to something 76% more neutral.

"The craftsmanship is remarkable," you say at standard conversational volume, the words feeling like ash on your tongue. "Such attention to detail."

Agent Min's eyes flash with something that might be approval if it weren't overshadowed by urgency. 

“We should continue our walk," he says evenly. "There's more to see in Sector 4."

His fingers remain at your pulse point for exactly 2.7 seconds longer than necessary before releasing. The warmth lingers—a ghost sensation you struggle to categorize.

You follow his lead, moving away from Robin's frozen form with measured steps despite the increasing pressure in your chest. Your breathing adjusts automatically—in for 4 seconds, out for 6—matching the pattern Agent Min established earlier.

Families continue to mill around you, oblivious to the horror disguised as art. A child points at Robin's statue, tugging at her mother's sleeve.

"He looks so happy, mommy! Like he's giving everyone a big hug!"

Your vision blurs by approximately 12%—an inexplicable visual phenomenon you'll need to analyze later.

Agent Min positions himself precisely 47 centimeters to your left—close enough for temporal alignment, far enough to maintain whatever invisible boundary he's established. 

But something has changed. 

His posture carries 27% more tension than before, and his eyes scan the area with a renowned frequency.

"Don't look back," he instructs as you approach the park's exit. "And whatever you do, don't react when I tell you this."

You maintain your neutral expression, eyes fixed forward as instructed.

"There are seventeen of them in this garden," he says, voice low and controlled. "All from your monitoring facility. All disappeared within the last 72 hours."

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps softly: Temporal variance: 1.12%.

A warning. Your emotional response is affecting your temporal stability.

You inhale slowly, forcing your analytical mind to take precedence over the uncomfortable pressure building behind your sternum.

"Probability of coincidence: less than 0.003%," you calculate aloud, keeping your voice steady despite the data.

"It's not a coincidence," he confirms, voice dropping even lower. "It's a message."

"For who?"

His eyes meet yours briefly—0.8 seconds of direct contact that somehow feels heavier than it should.

"For us," he says simply. "For you."

Your temporal variance increases to 1.17%.

"They're hunting for Outliers," he continues, eyes scanning the path ahead. "This garden is both a warning and a trap. They're watching for reactions—for people who recognize what they're really seeing."

“That's why you grabbed my wrist. You anticipated my reaction."

A ghost of that infuriating half-smile crosses his face. "You're predictable in some ways, Noma."

The nickname dulls the ache sitting low in your stomach for reasons you cannot comprehend.

"Robin greeted me yesterday," you realize aloud, the pieces clicking into place. "At lunch. He looked at me strangely when I mentioned the temporal fluctuation in Sector 3."

Agent Min's expression doesn't change, but something in his eyes darkens. 

“How long was the conversation?"

"17 minutes, 42 seconds."

"And did you discuss anything related to temporal anomalies after that?"

You review the memory, analyzing each exchange with renewed scrutiny. 

"Negative. The conversation shifted to cafeteria food quality."

He exhales—a controlled release of breath that betrays nothing of his thoughts. 

“That might have been enough."

Your stomach lurches.

Robin is frozen in bronze because of you. Because he noticed something. Because he might have reported it.

The data is insufficient for a definitive conclusion, but the probability exceeds 72.4%.

Your temporal variance increases to 1.23%.

"Steady," Agent Min murmurs, his voice carrying a cadence that seems designed to stabilize your readings. "Focus on your breathing. In for 4, out for 6."

You comply automatically, your body responding to the instruction before your mind can process why. 

"Is this what happens to all Outliers?" you ask once your variance stabilizes at 1.09%. "They become... monuments?"

"No," he says finally. "Most are simply erased and reprogrammed. This is... new."

"A tactical adjustment," you surmise. "Enhanced psychological warfare."

"Yes." 

"Why now?"

His jaw tightens, eyes darkening to that dangerous shade that makes your pulse accelerate by 7.2 beats per minute. 

"Because they're getting desperate."

"Why would CHRONOS be desperate? They control reality itself."

His eyes meet yours, something unreadable flashing in their depths. 

“That's what I'd like to know," he mutters, voice dropping to that dangerous octave that makes your skin prickle.

The discrepancy registers immediately. Agent Min doesn't ask questions—he provides answers, often cryptic and insufficient, but answers nonetheless. This response pattern deviates by approximately 87% from established behavioral norms.

Before you can analyze further, your body betrays you.

It starts as a contraction in your esophagus—sudden, violent, measuring approximately 74% stronger than standard swallowing reflex. Your salivary glands activate at 243% above baseline, flooding your mouth with excess moisture. Your stomach muscles clench in rhythmic waves, each contraction more intense than the last.

The analytical part of your mind calculates: gastric acid rising at 7.2 centimeters per second, diaphragm contracting at 3.7 times normal pressure, throat constricting at 82% capacity.

The rest of you simply feels.

Robin's face. Frozen in bronze that isn't bronze.

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps a warning: Temporal variance: 2.43%.

A dangerous spike.

Your body heaves, doubling you over with a force that defies voluntary control. The acid burns at exactly 4.7 on the pH scale, searing the back of your throat as you fight to contain it. Your vision narrows to a field of approximately 47 degrees, peripheral awareness fading as your sensory systems redirect all processing power to the immediate crisis.

You register Agent Min's hand on your back—exactly T4 vertebra, pressure precisely calibrated at 2.3 kilograms, generating heat at 38.2°C despite the glove barrier.

"CHRONOS agents," he says, voice suddenly sharp with urgency. "Two o'clock, range 43 meters. Moving this way."

Your body doesn't care about CHRONOS agents. Your body only knows that Robin is frozen in timeless agony while families take selfies beneath his outstretched arms.

Another contraction—87% stronger than the previous one. Your analytical mind attempts to categorize the physiological response but finds no suitable parameters. 

This isn't logical. This isn't efficient. This isn't you.

Agent Min's hand moves from your spine to your wrist in one fluid motion. His fingers lock around the pulse point where your glove meets your sleeve, grip tensing to exactly 3.6 kilograms of pressure.

"Move. Now."

Your body moves before your mind processes the instruction, legs automatically adjusting to match his sudden directional shift. You register environmental changes with fragmented precision: ambient temperature decreasing by 1.7°C, crowd density increasing by 23%, noise levels rising to 72 decibels.

Agent Min guides you, his body angled at exactly 37 degrees relative to yours—shielding you from direct line of sight with the approaching agents while maintaining casual appearance.

"Temporal signature spiking," he mutters, grip tightening by another 0.4 kilograms. "They'll detect it if we don't stabilize you."

Your watch confirms his assessment: Temporal variance: 3.17%.

Critical threshold approaching.

The nausea intensifies, each wave synchronized perfectly with the beeping of your watch. Their correlation approaches 97.3%—statistically significant by any measure.

"Coffee shop," Agent Min decides, adjusting your trajectory by 28 degrees. "Northeast corner. Dampening field in the walls."

Your cognitive processes struggle to keep pace with the sensory overload. The street blurs around you—not from speed but from some perceptual distortion your analytical mind cannot quantify.

You glimpse your reflection in a storefront window as you pass—your face pale by approximately 37% compared to baseline, pupils dilated to 7.2 millimeters, micro-expressions cycling at 3.4 times normal rate.

You barely recognize yourself.

Another contraction seizes your stomach, more violent than before. Agent Min's arm shifts, sliding around your waist with a familiarity that feels habitual despite being entirely new. 

"Almost there," he says, voice dropping to that calibrated cadence that seems designed to stabilize your readings. "In for 4, out for 6. Match me."

Your body complies automatically, respiratory system syncing to his pattern without conscious direction. 

CHRONOS agents appear in your peripheral vision—three of them, moving with the unnatural precision that marks them as Timekeepers. Their trajectory will intersect with yours in approximately 12.3 seconds at current velocity.

"They're tracking your signature," Agent Min confirms, pace increasing by 0.3 meters per second. "Coffee shop.”

The coffee shop materializes ahead—a nondescript building with that averageness that makes it practically invisible to casual observation. Its design incorporates exactly zero distinguishing architectural features, rendering it 87% forgettable to the human brain.

Perfect camouflage.

Agent Min guides you through the door body positioned at precisely the optimal angle to shield yours from external observation. The bell chimes at exactly 56 hertz—a frequency your analytical mind flags as mathematically significant though you cannot immediately determine why.

The door closes behind you with a soft click that somehow sounds final.

Agent Min's arm remains around your waist—a point of contact your body accepts with suspicious automaticity.

Your Chrono-Sync Watch beeps one last time before falling silent: Temporal variance: 1.78%.

Decreasing. Stabilizing.

The nausea recedes by approximately 42%, leaving behind a hollow sensation you cannot properly categorize.

Agent Min's eyes meet yours, and he looks… concerned?

"Breathe," he instructs.

You comply, your body responding to his command without conscious direction.

In for 4.

Out for 6.

In for 4.

Out for 6.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

goal: 100 notes.

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— taglist

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© jungkoode 2025

no reposts, translations, or adaptations

[sarkyfancypants]

Who is afraid of Mr. Hyde?

OC introduction ft Cecil Stedman and Donald Ferguson

"From Beijing to the U.S., Cecil and Donald investigate a mysterious entity targeting criminals in calculated acts of vigilantism around the world. As the mystery unfolds, they debate whether to apprehend the being—or recruit it, knowing either choice poses as a grievous risk."

ACT 3

[<]

GDA UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS CENTER– LABORATORY – NIGHT

“Subject’s vitals are holding, but neural activity is beyond anything we’ve recorded,” Donald said with his face close to a monitor. “Temporal lobe hyperactivity, amygdala overstimulation. It’s like he’s stuck in a waking nightmare.”

Cecil, Donald, and Hyde stood watching intently through a thick glass pane into a sterile room, where the cephalopoid brute was strapped to a reinforced bed. His limbs twitched erratically, tendrils curling and uncurling with desperate spasms. Electrodes mapped the chaotic storm of his brain waves onto screens lining the walls. Scientists kept their distance as Octoboss’ teeth chattered uncontrollably, mouthing sounds no human could interpret. His muscular arms tugged against the restraints, slick skin bruising from scraping on steel.

“Fascinating…” Hyde mused, leaning inquisitively forward with eyes locked onto the subject. “So the effects do scale based on cognitive functions of different entities.”

Cecil turned to Hyde with a baffled look. 

“You don’t know how your powers work?”

“To some extent. I never had the means to study the effects in depth,” Hyde twirled the corner of his mustache. “It is much more complex than I imagined.”

A loud shriek and violent thumping jolted everyone within the observation room as Octoboss thrashed erratically. The machines connected to him spiked and beeped uncontrollably, coming to an abrupt stop, his vitals flatlining across the screens with a steady rhythm. The room fell quiet, with scientists cautiously approaching the slumped creature.

Hyde’s eyes lit up, letting out an enthusiastic laugh. “Oh, my! That was—” he froze mid-sentence, sensing Cecil and Donald glaring at him in quiet shock.

He cleared his throat quickly, lowering his head.

“T-terrifying. Truly frightening.”

Octoboss twitched with a faint squeak escaping his throat.

“Ah, he’ll live,” Hyde tapped his cane idly on the floor. “Best case scenario, he may even forget about it.”

Cecil grumbled, turning to the lab's intercom. 

“Send him to rehab, then keep him in a cell under observation.”

The reinforced door slid open with a hydraulic hiss. The unconscious beast was wheeled out, settling the observation chamber into a heavy silence, and only Cecil, Donald, and Hyde remained.

“Could you please explain what you did to him?” Cecil turned to Hyde, arms folded.

“I modified his perception of reality. Triggered some of his worst memories and amplified them to levels beyond nightmarish,” Hyde said, lifting his index finger and pointing out towards Donald. “All it took was a single touch.”

The two agents flinched, making Hyde chuckle playfully, pulling away to look at his palm.

“I choose when the effects start and when they end. Alternatively, I could trap him in a pocket dimension with vivid visions playing on loop indefinitely,” Hyde continued. ”I figured those with murkier conscience and morals are more receptive to the effects.”

“You figured?” Donald frowned.

Hyde hummed. “It started with smaller, less intelligent beings. Then moved upwards. I noticed the effects vary in intensity depending on the mental complexity of the target.”

“You’re telling me you’ve been touring around the world, traumatizing people, not with righteous intentions, but as a personal science experiment?” Cecil said bitterly.

“I prevented crimes, didn’t I?” 

“That’s not–” Cecil dragged a hand down his face, pacing around with exasperation, stopping for a moment. 

“God help me, I can’t tell if you’re a genius or a liability.”

“Sir, a word,” Donald approached Cecil with urgency, pulling him aside a few steps away.

“I know what you’re thinking, but are you sure it would work?”

“He may be able to handle conflict with minimal casualties, Donald,” Cecil said in a hushed tone. “If he’s capable of doing what he did to that mutant Octoboss, maybe we have a chance to include him with the Guardians as support.”

Donald nodded slowly, yet his eyes remained cautious, watching the towering man through his dark shades.

“I get it. But sir, Hyde’s words suggest that the results can be unpredictable and targets may behave more erratically than ideal. I’m not confident that he is entirely in control of his powers.”

“That would be correct,” Hyde said smoothly, as if he’d been part of the conversation the entire time.

Both men turned sharply. Cecil stiffened. Donald froze, his mouth still open mid-thought.

“It truly isn’t that simple,” Hyde continued. “There’s only so much I can do before the strain begins to affect me—physically, and mentally.”

“So the Boogeyman has a weakness,” Cecil taunted.

“I kept a low profile for a reason.”

“Yet somehow, you still ended up on our radar,”

Hyde didn’t respond, his mustache twitched in quiet irritation.

Cecil took a more casual approach, lowering himself onto the edge of a desk. 

“Look. I have a proposition,” he said. You want to explore your abilities? We can help you do that in a controlled environment with the benefit of efficiently concealing your identity.”

The taller man stepped forward, eyes narrowing with interest.

“Crime and disasters happen all the time,” he continued. “We can direct you to priority targets where you would work alongside with a team of exceptional people. Just in case things ever get…ugly for you.”

The soft hum of servers and medical machinery filled the void as Hyde stood motionless, processing every word. His gaze shifted between the two men, meticulously considering the offer, weighing the dreadful risks and potential rewards.

“Tempting,” he mused. “In that case, if I accept, it will be under my own terms.”

Cecil groaned, glancing at Donald, who gave him a knowing look.

“Fine. Name them.”

“I’ll respond only to specific situations—high-value targets, critical threats, or when you’re completely out of options.”

“Alright.”

“Honor my boundaries. I am not to be followed, spied on, or harassed about personal matters.”

“Anything else?”

“I will work with you, not for you. Take this as an alliance for each other's benefit. I will not submit to subordination. Until then, I’ll stay true to my given duty, so I beg that you don’t break my trust.”

Hyde slowly leaned right up to the director's face, the look in his eyes darkened with the sinister energy of a supernatural force, causing the lights in the room to flicker and the walls to rattle by his sheer presence.

“Spare me the pain of turning every minute of your lives into an eternity of suffering.”

Cecil did not falter, nor did he flinch, staring into the towering man’s infernal glare with unblinking eyes, but his racing pulse and the sweat forming in his palms betrayed his composure.

“You got it.”

Hushed wicked whispers enveloped the director’s mind, forcing him to look away. A cold shiver ran down his spine, he swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing as he saw Hyde’s fingers wrapped tightly around his wrist. 

The taller man loosened his grip and smiled, the room brightened again, and the rattling came to a stop, with Cecil stumbling backwards onto Donald’s arms.

“Good,” Hyde chirped. “I shall be on my way then. You gentlemen look like you could use some rest,” He offered Donald a polite nod, striding toward the exit gate. His voice echoed softly in the sterile room as he disappeared into the shadows. 

“I’m eager to see what awaits ahead of our…partnership.”

Donald steadied Cecil by the shoulders, brows furrowing with concern. “Sir? You okay?”

Cecil exhaled sharply and adjusted his coat. “Yeah…” he mouthed. “Yeah, I’m fine,” 

“Cecil, you froze,” Donald stressed. “One second you were staring him down, the next you were recoiling as if something jumped right at you.”

The director paused, with his gaze trailing to the exit gate Hyde had vanished through. His fingers absently flexed at his sides, still trying to ground himself.

There hadn’t been any dramatic sound, no sharp jolt or flash of light—the transition had been terrifyingly subtle, like stepping unknowingly off a ledge and realizing midair that there was no ground beneath you. 

Cecil swallowed hard, heart still thudding against his ribs. “It happened so sudden,” he said, with his voice quiet, more to himself than to his assistant 

Donald shifted uncomfortably. “What?”

“It’s just starting to dawn on me the kind of force we’ve invited into the GDA.”

He chuckled bitterly, rubbing the back of his neck.“Well,” Cecil sighed deeply, “at least we’ve got him on our side.”

[<]

[script-a-world]

Submitted via Google Form:

If a town had their food completely self-sustained, how much farmland would they need? It's a heavily vegetarian community by the way. How much would it depend on the exact crops they're growing i.e. beans vs lentils, rice vs wheat? Let's say 30,000 people for now. If I need to adjust for a different population, would it be linear or not? What if they optimised their fields for most nutrition to land required? The town is in the coastal tropics by the way. Crops that can't be grown there can be greenhoused. Also, I heard about crops being grown in seawater instead. How much land can be saved if some of the crops were there instead? Also, how possible is it for this community to be able to achieve less than 5% food waste?

Tex: So I went and gave “how much farmland is needed per person” a quick search on the internet, and here are the first three results:

How Much Land Does It Take To Feed One Person – Online Calculator by William Swanson | Permaculturism

How much land to feed a person? by The Naked Scientists

Agricultural land use per person by Our World in Data

Now, I do not necessarily claim these are the best search results, only the first search results. (Admittedly, the top result is pretty good for most uses.) Adjusting your keywords and search parameters will likely net you more pertinent results.

For some additional context, here is a list of types of malnutrition (Wikipedia). It has a category for both under- and over-nourishment, which will be useful for your context and as a form of general education in real life.

Humans require a varied diet. If they do not get this, and in proper quantities, they fall ill. Trade has been an enormous supplement for this, in terms of things like preserved produce or meats that cannot be produced locally for various reasons, or preservation agents such as salt (which also fill a spot in the nutritional index).

Land can only produce so much during a growing period, and requires seasonal periods to lay fallow - something which typically requires the use of manure to amend the soil to a useful mineral ratio (you can use chemicals, strictly speaking, if you don’t mind destroying the microbiome in the process). Greenhouses have much the same pitfalls, hence their experimental or ornamental nature compared to the style of agriculture humans have been practicing for thousands of years.

The amount of arable land will dictate how many people can survive healthily in a given area. For this, you’ll probably want to use the calculator linked above, and make sure to account for non-arable, uninhabitable land for other flora, other fauna, and geological features such as rocks or beaches.

It will not be a utopia, and an agriculturally-dependent society that vegetarianism or veganism (an even more stringent diet) demands will necessarily spend the majority of their time tending to their crops and the accessory chores to keep their farms running year-round.

Additionally, food waste is a relatively new concept, and mostly for the Western or adjacent world, because historically most people have been too poor to afford wasting even a single scrap of a mealy vegetable. If it cannot be cooked into edibility, fed to a farm animal, composted, used to insulate crops over winter, converted into a useful craft (see: textiles, manufacturing of non-food goods), or otherwise consumed in a worthwhile manner, it generally is not bothered with as a crop because wasted crop costs money - and money is historically housed by the wealthy who need not worry about such things as where and when their next meal arrives, not the people who produce the food.

[nani-nonny]

Very small Past Embers snippet with Bishop

Word count: 360+

Fi pushes from her hip off the pole she was leaning on when she heard the footsteps. She has learned the patterns and depths of the sounds of footsteps all her life. There was only one pair that ever sounded like these.

Soft, calculated, cautious. These weren’t inherently rare to hear, but it was the way they coincided to create the pattern in which Agent Bishop walked. It didn’t signify danger, but it didn’t mean he was a friend or ally either.

Fi, out of habit, crosses her hand behind her back when Agent Bishop came into view. He wasn’t slow or fast when crossing the way to her. He took his time but didn’t waste hers.

He nods as his greeting when they come within a safe distance. He lowers his sunglasses, revealing the soft gaze in his eyes and enhancing his slightly raised brow. “You must be Miss Arachnid’s ‘daughter’,” he almost questions when he scans Fi’s appearance.

Fi returns the stare, examining his attire before asking the first thing that comes to mind. As if possessed by a certain ghost, she asks, “Is your closet full of suits?”

His head cocks back, fully consumed with confusion for a brief second, “Pardon?”

Fi shakes her head, “A question someone I knew had for someone like you. You’re not required to answer it, but I’d prefer if you did.”

Agent Bishop’s brows furrow but he answers nonetheless, “I have several matching suits. Although I don’t know how it pertains to our meeting…”

Fi ignores his confusion to answer his question, “You could say I’m a former acquaintance of Big Mama’s. But I would be careful in referring me as her kin.”

Agent Bishop fixes the cuffs of his sleeves, interest building in the rise of his brow. “Careful around Miss Arachnid, I presume?”

Fi takes a step forward, ensuring she looks down at the smaller man. A cheap intimidation tactic, but one that works on almost all occasions. Agent Bishop is no different.

To his credit, he remains where he stands. But there is a hidden truth behind his firm stance that twitches in his right index finger.

Fi corrects him coolly, “Around me, Agent Bishop.”

[web-novel-polls]

Have You Read This Web Novel?

If you’re in the process of reading this web novel, please choose whichever option best fits your situation. You do not have to be completely finished with it to answer “yes.”

If you’ve never heard of it, please read the description below the cut!

See similar polls and results here!

He uses desire to ensnare others, he uses blood as temptation, he uses his appearance as a disguise. Like a wolf, he hunts for prey in the shadows. He is among the FBI’s most wanted list of serial killers. He lives by his own law, the Lex Talionis. He does things his own way, independent and reckless. He gave himself his own name: Sha Qing ———— The first time the two officially met: “The purpose of the prison is not to destroy people’s lives; it’s meant to replace the broken chains of law and morality, to bind the beast in their hearts again, until it is completely subdued,” said Leo. “Everyone has beasts in their hearts, agent, and so do you.” Sha Qing extended an index finger and pointed at Leo’s heart. “Yes, but unlike you, I will use those iron chains to lock it tightly in a cage.” “It’s not as easy as you think, Leo. Things are always changing, and often beyond your control …” With his blood-stained lips, he suddenly kissed the stunned FBI agent. The salty bloody taste spread in their mouths and the fiery contact was enough to burn the tips of their tongues. Leo’s eyes suddenly felt heavy, but his face did not show any irritation from being calculated upon. “Have you foreseen this in your plans ?” He raised his wrist with effort, then slowly closed his eyes. Sha Qing looked down and saw that a pair of steel handcuffs had fastened his left wrist with the other’s right arm. He lowered his head and kissed the sleeping man’s wet, dusty hair, and said in a soft voice: “Goodbye, brave young lion.” He then dislocated his own hand to remove the shackles that bound them together. Sha Qing stood up and walked away, until his figure disappeared into the darkness…

- Novel Updates

Additional Information: Carrd

[uniasus]

Let the Ground Shake

full fic on Ao3

---

When Yugi shows up on Yami’s doorstep, Yami can tell it’s not because his other half missed him. There are bags under his eyes, scuff marks on his boots, and even though it’s been seven years since they’ve seen each other Yami can still read his body language – tired, scared, haunted, and worried.   

Yami thinks of his agent, dead in his dining room. Writing math books for the general masses had been a calculated push of the rules, a way to signal to Yugi where he is and how he is and what he is doing. He’d gotten no signal in return, just an agent who promised to get his books published widely to as many people as possible. Just an agent who’d spew nonsense about a dead author increasing sales, when Yami had turned in a proposal for a new book just last week.   

Yugi’s wariness tells him Yami’s agent wasn’t the only person who got a kill order.   

“Yugi.” He steps forward, he wants to wrap the man in a hug, but someone steps next to Yugi and places a hand on his shoulder.   

Yami can read the placement of it. The way it rests on Yugi’s shoulder is familiar, restraining, cautious. There’s a ring on it, a simple gold band on his index finger, a match to the ring on Yugi’s hand.  

Yami knows the man – with his dark skin and heavy eyeliner and fondness for gold. Atem had once sniffed at Yami’s heels, curious and interested, but Yami’s attention had always, always been on Yugi. Yugi is his partner. The one whose experiences he can share. The voice he hears in his head. Atem had been an annoyance.   

Atem has managed to do what Yami could not – stay with Yugi, tie himself to Yugi in a physical way, not just metaphysical. But Yami can tell by Yugi’s flinch that whatever relationship between them, however long it lasted, Yugi is questioning it. Atem’s hand looks like it has been on Yugi’s shoulder a thousand times. Yugi’s shoulder looks as if he wishes Atem’s hand was anywhere else.  

“Grab a bag,” Atem commands, but Yami stares at Yugi. Yugi is the only one who can make him do anything.   

[rajaganapathi114]

What is meant by Tableau Agent?

By lowering the entrance barrier and assisting the analyst from data preparation to visualisation, Tableau Agent (previously Einstein Copilot for Tableau) enhances data analytics with the power of AI. Improve the Tableau environment by learning how agents operate in a sophisticated AI Tableau Course in Bangalore. No matter how much experience you have as a data analyst or how new you are to data exploration, Tableau Agent becomes your reliable partner, enabling you to gain knowledge and confidently make decisions.

Tableau Agent Integration:

By integrating into the Tableau environment, Tableau Agent improves your workflow for data analysis without causing any unplanned modifications. It serves as your intelligent assistant, helping you with the Tableau creation process while guaranteeing accuracy, offering best practices, and fostering trust based on the Einstein Trust Layer. Together with Tableau Agent, you can confidently examine your data, detect trends and patterns, and effectively and impactfully explain your results.

Many capabilities provided by Tableau Agent improve the data analytics experience and enable anyone to fully utilise their data.

Quicker answers with suggested queries

It can be frightening to start from scratch when you are learning analytics for employment, education, or just for leisure. Even so, where do you start? To reduce the burden and enable you to move swiftly from connecting to data to discovering insights, Tableau Agent can be used to provide questions you might ask of a particular datasource.

Tableau Agent creates a summary context of your connected datasource by quickly indexing it. The dataset is used to produce a few questions based on this summary. "Are there any patterns over time for sales across product categories?" is one scenario Tableau Agent recommends using a dataset similar to Tableau's Superstore practice dataset. You may build a line chart with only one click. Users used to Tableau's drag-and-drop interface can make changes to anything shown before saving and going on to the next question because this is all taking place throughout the authoring process. combining data analysis with hands-on learning.

In a reputable software training institution, anyone can rapidly improve their analytics skills by using the suggested questions.

Data exploration in conversation

Frequently, the response to your initial query prompts more enquiries that enhance your comprehension of the information. With Tableau Agent, you can enhance and iterate your data exploration. You don't have to lose the context of your earlier query to look for more information. Learning how Tableau arranges measurements and dimensions will help you become accustomed to where to drag and drop to obtain the precise visualisation you desire. You can save your work and start a new sheet to address a new question at any time.

Tableau Agent is capable of handling misspellings, filtering, and even changing the viz type. Tableau Agent does indeed employ semantic search for synonyms and fuzzy logic to identify misspelt words. Thus, if you begin with product category, "filter on technology and show sales by product" might be your next query. After setting the filter, Tableau Agent changes the dimension. Seeing this in practice can help you train more employees in your company to use data exploration for their own benefit.

Tableau Agent may enhance your analytics experience, regardless of whether you are working with an existing dashboard or beginning from scratch.

Creation of guided calculations:

Writing calculations in a foreign language might be challenging. With the use of natural language cues, Tableau Agent assists you in creating computations. Therefore, Tableau Agent is there to help you with calculations and explanations in Tableau Prep and while you are generating visualisations, whether you are developing a calculation for a new business KPI or you want to keep track of your favourite sports team.

Tableau Agent searches the Track Name column without specifically requesting it when I ask it to "create an indicator for songs that are a remix" based on my playlist data. Tableau Agent is aware that the term "remix" is frequently used in the Track Name field due to the initial indexing. Before accepting the computation, you can learn how it will behave by reading the informative description that is included with it. Tableau Agent is capable of understanding LODs, text and table computations, aggregations, and even regex writing!

Conclusion

observe how Tableau Agent leverages reliable AI to help you realise the full potential of both your data and yourself. Explore Tableau Agent, which is only available in Tableau+, by watching the demo.

[indexcalculation]

Key Factors in Accurate Index Calculation

Financial indices play a crucial role in tracking market trends, guiding investment decisions, and serving as benchmarks for various asset classes. The accuracy of index calculation is essential for ensuring transparency, reliability, and consistency in financial markets. Any errors or biases in index computation can lead to misleading market signals, incorrect portfolio allocations, and flawed economic assessments.

This article explores the key factors that contribute to accurate index calculation and their impact on financial markets.

1. Selection of Index Constituents

The accuracy of an index depends on the careful selection of its constituent assets. The methodology used to include or exclude stocks, bonds, or commodities affects the index’s relevance and reliability.

Market Representation: The index should accurately reflect the market segment it is designed to track. For example, a large-cap index should include well-established companies with high market capitalization.

Liquidity Considerations: Highly liquid stocks should be prioritized to ensure that price fluctuations are based on actual market activity rather than illiquid trades.

Sector and Industry Balance: A well-diversified index provides a realistic picture of overall market trends rather than being skewed by a single sector.

A poor selection process can result in an index that does not truly represent its intended market, leading to misleading conclusions for investors and analysts.

2. Weighting Methodology

The way individual securities are weighted in an index significantly impacts its calculation. There are several weighting methodologies, each with its own advantages and limitations:

Price-Weighted Index: Assigns higher importance to stocks with higher prices, regardless of company size. Used in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).

Market Capitalization-Weighted Index: Weighs stocks based on their total market value, giving larger companies more influence. Used in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite.

Equal-Weighted Index: Assigns equal weight to all securities, regardless of price or market cap. Used in the S&P 500 Equal-Weight Index.

Fundamentally Weighted Index: Uses fundamental financial metrics like revenue, earnings, or dividends to determine weightings. Used in the FTSE RAFI Index Series.

Choosing the right weighting methodology ensures that the index accurately represents market trends and is not overly influenced by a few large or high-priced stocks.

3. Accurate Price and Data Collection

Index calculation relies on real-time and historical price data, which must be accurate and timely to prevent errors in computation.

Reliable Data Sources: Stock prices, volume, and market capitalization data must come from reputable exchanges and data providers.

Handling of Market Anomalies: Mechanisms should be in place to address sudden price fluctuations, stock splits, or trading halts.

Corporate Actions Adjustments: Events such as mergers, acquisitions, stock splits, and dividend payouts must be properly accounted for to avoid artificial distortions in index values.

Without accurate price data, an index may reflect misleading market trends, impacting investment strategies and financial analysis.

4. Regular Rebalancing and Maintenance

Indices must be regularly rebalanced and maintained to ensure they remain representative of the market over time.

Periodic Review of Constituents: Stocks that no longer meet the index criteria should be removed and replaced with better-suited alternatives.

Reweighting Adjustments: Changes in market capitalization, sector composition, or economic conditions may require adjustments in weighting.

Dividend and Corporate Action Adjustments: If a company issues stock splits or dividends, the index must be adjusted to reflect these changes without affecting its overall value.

A lack of regular updates can lead to outdated indices that no longer provide meaningful insights into market performance.

5. Transparency in Calculation Methodology

An index's credibility depends on its transparency and adherence to standardized calculation methodologies. Investors and analysts should clearly understand:

How constituent stocks are selected

How weightings are assigned

How adjustments are made for corporate actions

How frequently the index is rebalanced

Financial indices managed by reputable organizations, such as S&P Dow Jones Indices, MSCI, and FTSE Russell, publish clear guidelines on their calculation methods, ensuring trust and consistency in the financial markets.

6. Handling of Market Volatility and Outliers

Market fluctuations can impact index values significantly. Effective index calculation accounts for volatility and unexpected price swings by:

Using Moving Averages: Helps smooth out short-term fluctuations and provides a more stable index value.

Applying Circuit Breakers: Protects against extreme market crashes that may temporarily distort index calculations.

Accounting for Economic Events: Major economic reports, geopolitical events, and interest rate changes can impact stock prices, requiring careful adjustment to avoid misleading trends.

Ignoring volatility factors can result in an index that is too reactive to short-term movements, leading to inaccurate market assessments.

7. Governance and Compliance

Strong governance structures ensure that index calculation follows ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and best practices.

Independent Oversight Committees: Ensures unbiased index management and prevents conflicts of interest.

Regulatory Compliance: Indices must adhere to financial regulations, such as EU Benchmark Regulation (BMR) and SEC guidelines.

Fair and Equal Treatment of Securities: No single stock or sector should have an unfair advantage in index composition.

A well-governed index enhances investor confidence and prevents market manipulation risks.

Conclusion

Accurate index calculation is essential for maintaining transparency, fairness, and reliability in financial markets. Key factors such as constituent selection, weighting methodology, price data accuracy, regular rebalancing, transparency, volatility adjustments, and governance all play a critical role in ensuring an index’s effectiveness.

As financial markets evolve, advancements in index construction and computational techniques will continue to enhance accuracy, making indices more reflective of real-world market conditions. By understanding these key factors, investors and analysts can make informed decisions and use indices effectively for benchmarking, risk assessment, and investment strategy formulation.

[propertybuyerscouk]

Selling Land in India from Abroad Made Easy

Are you an NRI sitting in the UK or anywhere abroad, thinking, "I want to sell my land in India, but I don’t know where to begin?" You’re not alone. With increasing migration and global mobility, more Indians living overseas are re-evaluating their real estate back home. Whether it’s an inherited plot, unused farmland, or investment property, the need for selling land in India from abroad has become increasingly common.

This guide walks you through the modern, step-by-step roadmap to sell your land in India without setting foot in the country—legally, safely, and profitably.

Why NRIs Are Looking to Sell Land in India

People living abroad often find themselves holding onto land that no longer fits into their long-term plans. If you're saying, "I want to sell my land in India," chances are you fall into one of these categories:

You've inherited property you no longer want to maintain.

The land has become difficult to manage due to distance.

You're liquidating assets for better investments abroad.

You want to avoid property disputes with relatives.

Whatever the reason, the good news is that selling land in India has become easier for NRIs—if done right.

Understanding the Legal Side of Selling Land in India as an NRI

Before jumping into the sale process, it’s important to know your legal standing. NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can legally sell land in India, but there are some rules:

Who Can You Sell To?

If it’s residential or commercial land, you can sell to any Indian resident or another NRI. If it's agricultural land, you may only be able to sell to an Indian citizen who is also a farmer.

What You Absolutely Need:

A valid Indian PAN card

Passport and visa copies

Property documents (title deed, tax receipts, etc.)

Encumbrance certificate

Power of Attorney if you won’t be present

How to Sell Land in India from the UK Without Traveling

One of the most common questions NRIs ask is, "How to sell land in India from abroad without traveling?" Here's your answer.

Step 1: Hire a Property Lawyer in India

They will verify land ownership, check for disputes, and assist in drafting contracts.

Step 2: Create a Power of Attorney (POA)

If you're not in India, this document is vital. It allows a trusted relative or agent to act on your behalf. It must be attested at the Indian embassy and registered in India.

Step 3: Get the Land Valuated

Hire a certified valuer to determine market value. This is useful both for attracting buyers and calculating taxes.

Step 4: Connect with Verified Buyers or Agents

To avoid fraud, connect with reputed agents or platforms. Some rental property buyers also deal in land acquisition for future developments or leasing projects.

Step 5: Complete the Sale Legally

The sale deed must be executed, signed by both parties, and registered in the sub-registrar’s office. Once payment is received, you can initiate fund repatriation.

Documentation Checklist: Don’t Sell Without These!

Selling land in India requires a solid paper trail. Missing documents can derail the sale.

Title Deed (original)

Encumbrance Certificate

Property Tax Receipts (last 3 years)

POA (if applicable)

Aadhar (for the local representative)

Sale Agreement (drafted by a lawyer)

Capital Gains and Tax Responsibilities for NRIs

If you’re thinking, "I want to sell my land in India but I’m not sure about the taxes," here’s what you need to know:

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Short-term CGT (held <2 years): Taxed as per income slab

Long-term CGT (held >2 years): 20% with indexation benefits

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)

Buyers must deduct TDS before payment. This is typically 20.8% for long-term capital gains.

Repatriating Funds to the UK

File Form 15CA and 15CB

Transfer proceeds from NRO to NRE account

Ensure tax compliance before transferring money out of India

Where to Find Buyers for Your Land in India

Selling land remotely can be risky if you don’t vet buyers properly. Consider these sources:

Real Estate Portals

Sites like 99acres, MagicBricks, and NRI-focused platforms are useful.

Real Estate Agents

Choose those experienced with NRI clients. Always check references.

Rental Property Buyers

Some rental investors are diversifying into land, especially in emerging towns. Rental property buyers often look for plots that can be developed into rental housing or commercial units.

Smart Tips for a Profitable Land Sale

When selling land in India, smart planning equals higher profits and less stress.

1. Present a Clean Title

A verified, dispute-free property attracts better buyers.

2. Get the Land Demarcated

Physical boundaries make the property easier to sell and less prone to fraud.

3. Stay Informed on Market Rates

Knowledge is your best defense against low offers.

4. Use Local Expertise

If you're not in India, lean on trustworthy lawyers, POA holders, or consultants to guide the process.

Dealing with Inherited or Jointly Owned Property

Often, NRIs own land through inheritance or shared ownership with relatives. This can complicate the process.

For Inherited Land:

Apply for mutation of name

Obtain a legal heir certificate

Clear all unpaid dues

For Jointly Owned Land:

All co-owners must sign the sale deed

Or they must transfer their share to the primary seller before the sale

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Selling Land in India

Many NRIs make avoidable errors that cost time and money. Avoid these:

Selling without verifying buyer credibility

Not updating land records

Using outdated or incomplete documents

Ignoring tax compliance

Relying solely on informal agreements

If you're serious and thinking "I want to sell my land in India," make sure you plan each step to avoid these traps.

A Real-World Example: Selling Land from London

Ravi Patel, an NRI based in London, wanted to sell his land in Gujarat. With help from a legal advisor, he created a POA, got the land valued, and used an NRI-friendly real estate platform. He also connected with rental property buyers interested in building serviced apartments.

Within 4 months, the sale was completed, taxes paid, and funds transferred to his UK account. The key? Due diligence, expert help, and structured planning.

Final Word 

If you've ever thought, "I want to sell my land in India but I don't know how," you now have a clear, practical guide to make it happen.

With the right planning, verified professionals, and awareness of legal requirements, selling land in India doesn’t have to be complicated. Remember, even rental property buyers are expanding into land purchases, so your buyer pool might be bigger than you think.

Don’t let distance or complexity keep you from making smart property decisions. Whether you’re in the UK, USA, Canada, or anywhere else, your land in India can become a powerful financial asset—or a burden if left unattended.

We specialize in assisting overseas Indians with land and property sales across India. Whether you're selling land, flats, or working with rental property buyers, our team is here to make the process simple and secure. Reach out today for a free consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents are essential for listing a plot for sale in India?

You’ll need original title papers, past tax receipts, and an encumbrance certificate showing no liabilities. If you're not present in India, a notarized Power of Attorney is vital. Having all paperwork in order speeds up the process and boosts buyer confidence.

How can I ensure I get the right price for my land in India?

Start by getting a professional land valuation to understand current market rates in the area. Comparing nearby sales and using a trusted broker or consultant can help you avoid undervaluation. Transparent pricing and clean legal status attract serious offers.

Do Indian land transactions require physical presence for NRIs?

Not necessarily. With a valid Power of Attorney, someone in India can complete the sale for you. Many processes like document verification, negotiations, and even registration can now be handled remotely through authorized representatives and online portals.

Are there any restrictions on selling agricultural land in India?

Yes, in most Indian states, only resident Indian farmers can purchase agricultural plots. NRIs may face limitations depending on state laws. If you inherited such land, consult a local lawyer to explore options like conversion or sale to eligible buyers.

What role do local brokers or agents play in selling property remotely?

A reliable real estate agent helps connect with verified buyers, handles visits, and negotiates deals. They also assist with document collection and liaising with legal authorities. Choosing one familiar with NRI cases ensures smoother and faster transactions.

[jungkoode]

THE 25TH HOUR | O2

“𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟕𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑”

"Stepping into the facility, you don’t know what sounds more ominous. The 7th Hour—its own moniker—or the fact there’s actually a 25th hour."

next | index

— chapter details

word count: 2,5k

content: underground facilities shenanigans, meeting the team (aka the members), jimin being an iconic sassy bitch, everyone betting on yoongi’s sexual demise

— author’s note

aggressively slams laptop open

Y'ALL. I know chapter one just dropped like… squints at clock honestly who even knows anymore? Time's getting weird in my reality too (maybe CHRONOS got me 👀). But I literally couldn't wait to share more because dystopian AUs are my WEAKNESS and I've been DYING to write one that isn't just YA tropes???

Like don't get me wrong, I love YA, but sometimes you want your dystopia with a side of wiggles eyebrows spicier content. YES I'M TALKING ABOUT SMUT. The plot is thicc but so are other things if you know what I mean 😈

AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS TEAM??? Because Jimin in this universe is literally living rent free in my head???? Usually I write him all soft and sweet but this time I was like "you know what? PEAK BITCH ENERGY" and I'm honestly living for it. The way he just gestures vaguely exists and chooses violence every single time???

ALSO HOSEOK BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH EMOTIONAL STABILITY IN THIS CHAOS???? A CONCEPT. And my babies Taekook being all mysterious and quiet (for now 👀). Don't even get me started on Namjoon looking like he needs about 47 cups of coffee just to deal with everyone's temporal nonsense 😭

THE WAY JIN JUST YEET'S HIMSELF OUT OF ANY CONVERSATION WITH YOONGI ABOUT WORK RESPONSIBILITIES SENDS ME. 😭😭

I know there's a lot of science-y temporal jargon happening but I promise it'll start making sense! If my nerdy Star Trek watching ass can figure it out while writing this, you can too! (Matrix trilogy brainrot finally paying off???)

Anyway, enough rambling—enjoy this mess of temporal panic and existential dread! 💜

yeets self back into writing cave​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

— read on

AO3

WATTPAD

The temporal interference patterns in subway station 415 shouldn't exist.

7 minutes and 36 seconds of descent through frozen tunnels, and your analytical mind is still trying to process the impossibilities. Agent Min's grip hasn't wavered from your wrist—maintaining exactly 2.7 newtons of pressure, his skin temperature a consistent 2.3 degrees above normal. You should pull away. Protocol 47.3 explicitly prohibits prolonged temporal contact.

You don't.

His pace through the tunnels is precise. Each step he takes covers exactly 0.76 meters, never varying despite the irregular terrain. He hasn't looked back once, but his thumb shifts against your pulse point every 43 seconds, like he's checking a measurement only he can read.

Time: 01:59:00 AM. Still frozen.

Location: 27.4 meters below street level.

Ambient temperature: 19.7°C and dropping.

The interference patterns manifest as a ripple in the far wall—a visual distortion that shouldn't be possible during temporal stasis. The effect resembles quantum tunneling, but the energy requirements for that scale of temporal manipulation would be...

Agent Min finally turns, his eyes meeting yours for precisely 1.2 seconds. Something flickers in his expression—disappointment? Resignation?—before he faces the anomaly again.

"Don't analyze it," he says, voice clipped. "Just follow."

He steps through the ripple like he's done it thousands of times before. The temporal distortion bends around him, leaving those faint golden traces that make your head pound.

Your body moves before your mind can calculate the risks. The passage through the interference feels like static electricity against your skin, like time itself is trying to reject your presence.

The facility that materializes around you defies temporal physics.

Vast underground chambers stretch out in geometric patterns. Holographic displays float, showing temporal data streams that make your eyes hurt. You note the architecture—steel and concrete.

Movement catches your eye—people navigating the space. Their temporal signatures are wrong—out of sync with standard time in ways that should be fatal. Some of them pause mid-motion when they see you, recognition seemingly flickering before they quickly look away. One woman whips her head around so fast it's almost comical, her eyes wide with something between shock and... pity?

"Where are we?" The question comes out steady despite the way your head spins with temporal vertigo. Your free hand reaches for your tablet to log the anomalies, but you haven't brought it. 

You haven't been issued one yet. 

You know exactly which model you prefer.

"The 7th Hour," Agent Min answers. “Underground resistance base. Temporal blind spot."

Your mind automatically starts calculating the energy requirements for maintaining a temporal blind spot of this size. The numbers don't add up—unless...

"This facility exists partially outside normal spacetime," you say, realization dawning upon you. "The geometric configurations suggest—"

"Stop." Agent Min's voice carries that strange mix of frustration and familiarity. "Your temporal signature spikes when you start theorizing. Makes you easier to track."

A tall man in a pristine lab coat passes nearby. His eyes lock onto you with startling intensity before shifting to Agent Min with a subtle nod. Something about his measured movements triggers another memory fragment:

«Different lighting. Same facility. A voice you don't recognize: "She's remembering faster this time. The temporal resonance patterns indicate—"»

The memory cuts off as your nose starts bleeding again. Agent Min's hand twitches toward you before he forces it back to his side.

"27 minutes," he says instead of acknowledging your condition. "We need to find the others. They'll want to see you."

"Others?"

"The team." His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "They're... expecting you."

The way he says it makes time feel heavy around you, like the words carry more weight than they should. Like they've been said before.

Agent Min's grip on your wrist tightens—precision in his movements as he adjusts the fabric of your sleeve. You notice the deliberate care he takes to avoid any direct skin contact—shifting the material, maintaining a barrier. 

It's too purposeful to be coincidence. You catalog this detail for further examination.

The facility stretches deeper than initial calculations suggested. Grey walls curve at mathematically improbable angles, housing equipment that makes your inner compliance officer twitch. Black market calibration tools line makeshift workstations. Devices you've never seen before display readings in formats that shouldn't exist.

He leads you through a final doorway into what appears to be a lounge area. Black sofas and mismatched chairs scatter the space in a casual disarray that feels... familiar. Your eyes fix on one particular sofa—dark leather, slightly worn on the left armrest. Your heart rate inexplicably accelerates by 7 beats per minute.

Agent Min's lips press together for exactly 0.4 seconds.

You're about to question this when—

"Oh yay, she's back again." The voice is sarcastic. A man with pink hair lounges in a bean bag, looking supremely unimpressed. "Let me guess—no memories, lots of questions, and probably about to start quoting protocols at us?"

Before you can respond, another man practically bounces up from his seat beside Pink Hair. He crosses the room in three quick steps and—without any regard for personal space or basic social protocols—ruffles your hair like you're an old friend.

"Welcome home, Noma!" His grin is bright enough to be disorienting.

"My name is not Noma." You step back, automatically reaching to fix your hair.

He just shrugs, unbothered. "You'll get used to it."

"She always says that," Pink Hair mutters, examining his nails. "Right before the temporal physics lecture starts. Anyone want to take bets on how long before she breaks out the equations?"

Two more figures appear in the doorway, freezing mid-step when they see you. The taller one's hand tightens on the doorframe. The younger one's eyes widen slightly. They exchange a loaded look that you cannot fathom.

"A-735," Agent Min says, his grip adjusting on your wrist. "Meet the team."

"We've met," Pink Hair drawls. "Me personally, around seven times now. But who's counting?"

The one who ruffled your hair drops into a chair, still grinning. "Ignore Jimin, he's just cranky because you forgot his coffee order. Again."

"I don't even drink coffee," you say automatically.

"No, but you will," Jimin responds cryptically. "Around hour twenty-three of trying to calculate temporal resonance patterns." He sighs dramatically, gesturing around the room. "Might as well get the introductions over with. I'm Jimin, that's Hoseok—he's the one with no concept of personal space, if you couldn't tell. The quiet duo over there are Taehyung and Jungkook."

The two at the doorway remain still, but you catch the slight shift in Taehyung's stance at his name. Something about their silence feels deliberate rather than awkward. Jungkook's eyes haven't left your face, like he's memorizing details for later analysis.

Your head starts throbbing again. Agent Min's thumb presses into your wrist—a warning?

"And of course you've met our illustrious leader," Jimin continues, nodding toward Agent Min with exaggerated deference. "Though Namjoon will want to see you too, once he's done with whatever temporal calculations he's obsessing over now."

"Namjoon?" The name triggers something—a fragment of memory that slips away before you can grasp it.

"Second-longest running member of our little temporal rebellion," Jimin explains, examining his nails again. "After Min here. You two have some fascinating conversations about quantum mechanics. Or you will. Or you did. Tenses get so complicated with you."

"23 minutes," Agent Min announces. His tone carries a warning that makes even Jimin straighten slightly. "Where's Namjoon?"

"Lab three, probably still trying to map out her latest temporal signature variations." Jimin stretches lazily. "You know how he gets when she starts remembering faster than projected."

Your nose threatens to start bleeding again. Agent Min's grip tightens fractionally.

"I haven't calculated any temporal signatures," you protest, but even as you say it, equations start forming in your mind—familiar patterns you shouldn't know.

"Not yet," Hoseok grins. "But you will. The walls of lab three have seen more of your equations than the Temporal Monitoring Center's databases."

In the doorway, Taehyung shifts slightly, drawing your attention. His eyes meet yours for exactly 1.3 seconds before sliding to where Agent Min's hand meets your sleeve. 

Jungkook, beside him, hasn't moved. But you notice how his fingers tap against his leg in a pattern that matches the static charge building in the air.

"22 minutes," Agent Min says. "We need to move."

"Right, right." Hoseok bounces up. "Time to see what Namjoon's figured out about your temporal resonance this time around."

"If anyone says 'this time' or 'again' one more time," Jimin mutters, finally climbing out of his bean bag, "I'm going to lose it. Again."

You follow Agent Min toward the door, past Taehyung and Jungkook who step aside in perfect synchronization. You don’t question it. 

"Why won't any of you give me straight answers?" you finally ask, trailing behind mint hair and dark clothes.

"Because," Hoseok calls after you, "we can’t force memories onto you."

“Even if some of us want to.” Jimin drawls. 

Your watch reads 01:59:00 AM.

You're running out of time.

You have a sinking feeling you’re always running out of time.

The lab's antiseptic smell hits you first—sharp and clinical, at odds with the underground facility's general atmosphere. 

Agent Min's grip on your wrist hasn't wavered.

A man looks up from a complex array of equipment, dark eyes widening behind round glasses. 

“She's here already? But the temporal indicators suggested—” He cuts himself off, running a hand through his hair. "Yoongi, the duration parameters were explicitly calculated—"

"She woke up, Namjoon." Agent Min's voice is weary. "What exactly did you expect me to do?"

"Follow the established protocol. You know premature contact risks—”

"Don't." Agent Min's temperature rises 0.4 degrees. "Don't pretend you'd expect me to just—”

"Stand by while she orients to temporal displacement naturally? Yes, actually, that's exactly what you were supposed to do."

"The moment I sensed her temporal signature activate—"

"You should have waited."

"You know I fucking can't."

The exchange carries layers of meaning you can't decode, but your body reacts to Agent Min's tone—heart rate increasing 5 beats per minute, skin temperature raising 0.3 degrees.

A new figure enters, carrying equipment you've never seen in any approved catalog. The devices emit readings that pique your curiosity.

"Jin," Agent Min says immediately. "Tell me you have her memory backups ready."

The man—Jin—makes an exaggerated show of turning toward the door.

"Seokjin." Agent Min's voice holds warning.

Jin sighs, adjusting something on one of his devices. "The quantum resonance patterns aren't stabilizing properly. You know it never works with her. I need more time to—"

"We don't have time!" The words burst out of Agent Min with unexpected force. His grip on your wrist tightens fractionally before he catches himself.

"Just try it," Jimin's voice comes from behind you, dripping with sarcasm. "Again."

There's a distinct sound of Hoseok elbowing him.

"The temporal variance is all wrong," Namjoon says, checking readings that shouldn't be possible. "Her cognitive patterns are already showing resistance to—"

"I'm right here," you interrupt, your patience wearing thin. "And I'd appreciate if you'd stop talking about me like I'm a temporal anomaly to be solved."

The room goes quiet. Agent Min's thumb stills against your pulse point.

"But you are," Jimin mutters from the doorway. "That's kind of the whole point."

"Explain." Your voice shifts into what Agent Min would later term your 'analyst mode’—precise, demanding data.

"No. Jimin. Shut it.” Agent Min's tone carries enough weight to bend time.

You whip toward him, finally attempting to pull your wrist free. His grip remains steady—not painful, but immovable. Like gravity. Like time itself.

"Why are you constantly holding onto me? Let go."

"He really shouldn't," Jimin sings from his corner, head peeking over Jin’s temporal readings with exaggerated interest. "Not unless you want this little reunion cut short."

You frown, glancing between them. The careful way Agent Min maintains fabric contact. The knowing looks. The temporal readings that keep spiking on Namjoon's screens.

"Yeah, unless you want CHRONOS' cleanup crew finding our cozy little hideout, you should probably let him keep playing temporal stabilizer for a bit," Hoseok explains, grinning. "At least until your signature stops broadcasting 'newly awakened Outlier' to every monitoring station in Boston. Think of it as holding hands for survival. Very romantic, if you ignore the whole 'people trying to erase you' thing."

"My temporal signature isn't—" you start, but the numbers are already forming in your mind. Frequency patterns. Resonance calculations. The way time bends around Agent Min's touch, creating a dampening field that... 

"Oh."

"And there she goes," Jimin narrates. "Cue the physics lecture in three, two—”

"The temporal interference pattern," you say, mind racing. "You're using your own temporal frequency to mask mine. But that would require—"

"Don't." Agent Min's is concerned, but still commanding. "Your signature spikes when you start analyzing the mechanics."

"But the energy requirements for sustained temporal dampening would be astronomical unless..." Your eyes narrow. "What exactly are you?"

The room goes quiet again. Even Jimin's perpetual commentary stops.

Agent Min's thumb shifts against your pulse. "That's not the right question."

"Then what is?"

His eyes meet yours, and for a moment, you swear they flicker gold.

"The question, A-735, is what are you?"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Your eyes dart between his pupils, searching for... something. You're not sure what. He just sighs, the sound carrying centuries.

"As long as you don't know that yourself, I can't answer that question. You don't have the baseline knowledge for it yet." 

The words sound rehearsed, like lines he's delivered too many times.

The tension in the room dissipates slightly. You notice how everyone seems to exhale at once, like they've passed some sort of checkpoint.

Agent Min looks at Jin. "Memories?"

"Not going to work, Yoongi." Jin adjusts settings on equipment that defies classification. "Would be surprising if it did this time around."

"I've witnessed enough statistical impossibilities that surprise lost meaning approximately seven timelines ago." 

Jimin lets out a sharp laugh. "That's what you said last time."

Agent Min ignores him, already guiding you toward another room. As you pass through the doorway, snippets of conversation drift from behind you:

"How long you think until Yoongi snaps this time?" You detect Jimin’s voice, uncharacteristically suggestive.

"Twenty credits says faster than last reset." Hoseok, followed by the sound of something being thrown at him.

"He said it would be different this time," Namjoon responds. 

"Please." You can hear Jimin's eye-roll. "He's already tweaking, and they haven't even made skin contact. He darted there—"

"15 minutes," Agent Min announces, cutting off the discussion in the adjoined room. His temperature has risen another 0.3 degrees. "Focus on stabilizing her temporal signature before speculating about—"

"About what?" you ask, analyzing the spike in his vital signs.

"About why you keep calculating my exact body temperature." 

His voice comes out raspy.

You hadn't realized you were doing that.

"20 credits says he breaks protocol before she even remembers." Jimin's voice floats from the other room.

Protocol 47.3 explicitly prohibits skin-to-skin temporal contact.

You find yourself wondering why.

taglist: @cannotalwaysbenight @livingformintyoongi @itstoastsworld @somehowukook

© jungkoode 2025

no reposts, translations, or adaptations

[jcmarchi]

The truth about enterprise AI agents (and how to get value from them)

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-truth-about-enterprise-ai-agents-and-how-to-get-value-from-them/

The truth about enterprise AI agents (and how to get value from them)

This article comes from Ryan Priem’s talk at our Washington, D.C. 2025 Generative AI Summit. Check out his full presentation and the wealth of OnDemand resources waiting for you.

What’s the point of AI if it doesn’t actually make your workday easier?

That’s the question I keep coming back to – and the one that ultimately brought me into the generative AI space. 

I’m Ryan Priem, and I lead sales for Glean here in the East. After more than two decades in tech, working in data and analytics at places like Snowflake and EMC, I saw something shift. Large language models weren’t just impressive – they were starting to offer real, measurable value.

But there’s a catch: value doesn’t come from the model alone. It comes from how well you apply it.

That’s what drew me to Glean. We’re focused on using AI to solve actual workplace problems. Whether it’s helping someone find the right document, answer a critical question, or automate a tedious task, we’re building AI that works the way people do.

This article is a walk-through of what that journey looks like and what it really takes to build useful, scalable agents that people actually want to use.

Let’s dive in.

What work AI systems actually do (and why they matter now)

We classify ourselves as a “work AI” company. What that means is we’re focused on three core use cases:

Find something. Think of enterprise search – Google-like capabilities across your entire data corpus. We’ve built 120+ native connectors that index everything from Slack and Teams to Confluence, Salesforce, and SharePoint.

Answer something. This is where generative AI kicks in. It’s about providing accurate, relevant answers from within your organization’s ecosystem – like what Microsoft Copilot does, but across all your apps.

Do something. This is the really exciting part: task automation. Whether it’s preparing for a meeting, writing follow-up notes, creating a social media post, or resolving a support ticket – these are the everyday things that slow people down. We help you automate them.

The key to all of this is reducing friction. If you can find the right doc in seconds, get the right answer immediately, and offload repetitive tasks to an agent, you can spend more time doing the high-impact work that actually moves the business forward.

AI agents: Automation and intelligent assistance (2025 guide)

AI agents are intelligent software entities designed to operate autonomously and achieve specific goals.

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[nursingwriter]

¶ … medical care to African-Americans. The purpose of the article is clearly stated as it reveals the proposition of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) to adjust the procedure compensated by outpatient hemodialysis. The current procedure sees the billing of the outpatient dialysis done at a fixed rate. The billing of the intravenous (IV) medication is separate on a dosage basis. Currently, outpatient billing has increased revenues in the dialysis facility because of higher use of IV dosage resulting to increased medication in the outpatient IV. The study population is towards the African-Americans as they have started dialysis with less concentration in hemoglobin than whites. It is also unlikely that they had any Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA) therapy prior to beginning dialysis. However, they have the same outcomes for whites and African-Americans for certain concentrations in hemoglobin. In order for these results to be similar, African-Americans will need higher doses of ESA putting in mind poorer dialysis, intrinsic resistance, and higher weight. Other elements that affect results are age, body surface area, Body Mass Index (BMI). These are some of the methods that the author has put in mind in the study to get the right desired effects of dialysis. We see the inclusion of different patients ranging from age to the type of medication and Medicare they have. The proposal is to try and change the difference in cost in patients through utilizing fundamental case-mix data to modify the capacitated payment for dialysis on a monthly basis. Methods There are different methods used to get desired results in the study. The use of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA) therapy has been stated as an essential procedure before starting the dialysis process. The methods used are to ensure that the African-Americans pay the same amount for treatment as the whites. The methods involve using adjusters such as age, body surfaced area, BMI and locality to the base payment. There are no race adjusters, something that is currently on debate. Other methods used included predictable variables such as EPO doses, baseline characteristics and use of statistics in system codes. The methods involved the use of naive patients on ESA who started dialysis between January and October of 2006. The age requirement was above 67 years of age during their initiation of dialysis. It was a requirement that the participants have had Medicare as their main supply of insurance two years before initiating dialysis. To make sure that no participants had involvement in ESA use, coding systems were used to eliminate them from the study. Patients that had already undertaken the ESA medication had Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes, revenue codes and value codes in their Medicare claims. The cohort entry also included that the participants must have undergone EPA therapy in the first two months after starting hemodialysis. The determination of use of EPO doses was through the use of outpatient EPO from their insurance claims. This information was obtained from the facilities giving dialysis and it was for the first two months only. The study excluded darbepoetin doses as it had only been administered to a few patients. Inpatient EPO doses were not easily determinable as they are not billed differently to Medicare. The use of outpatient EPO only may be underestimating the total use of the medication. The cohort dealt with the biasness by determining the amount of time a patient stayed in hospital. The calculations on the average dose of EPO for every patient per day was by adding the total dose for a whole month then separating it by the number of days of outpatient then multiplying by 30 to get the total of a calendar month. According to the medical reports the study used the right amount of doses. The study was not randomized as it was aimed towards the African-American population. The statistics were right as they compared the characteristics of the baseline by using two tests for categorical variables and n tests for continuous ones; this shows that the study was not randomized. Results The study group is of 40,942 patients of 67 years of age who were on hemodialysis. The race of an individual as well as their age, weight and BMI and access type affected the results of the dialysis. The results were clearly stated. Due to distortion in the distribution of EPO doses, the study removed 0.25% of patients on equally parts of the mean. The present participants were the same to those excluded in exception of involvement of older participants, and logistic regression analysis. The p values were available in the statistics of ratios. Discussion The studies showed that African-Americans need more medication on the ESA dose to get the same results as the white. It is mainly due to concentrations of hemoglobin that are lower in the African-Americans. This means that the African-Americans pay more for the dialysis procedure than the whites. The study shows that African-Americans need these higher doses to attain National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative suggested targets of hemoglobin. It has been established that African-Americans need roughly 11%, which is 2400 more units of EPO compared to whites. The study also revealed the lack of medical cover by patients, as well. Conclusion This journal comprises of a revolutionary study that suggests that outpatient dialysis therapy should include an adjustment for race. African-American require a higher dosage of erythropoiesis stimulating agents than whites to achieve a proportionate hemoglobin level. The tests were conducted with sample of patients the results were tested with a regression analysis. The findings confirm that African-American patients have a more expensive outpatient dialysis therapy than whites. This implies that CMS have a financial disincentive to treat African-Americans. https://www.paperdue.com/customer/paper/medical-care-to-african-americans-the-56113#:~:text=Logout-,MedicalcaretoAfricanAmericansThe,-Length3pages Read the full article

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Uncertainty leads to paralysis among economic agents in Brazil, analysts say

Trump’s tariffs, uncertainties about GDP, inflation, exchange rates, interest rates in Brazil and abroad hinder investments

Economic agents, such as investors, businesspeople, and consumers, are anxious and paralyzed by the high level of uncertainty both in Brazil and abroad, analysts say. This sentiment, which impacts activity forecast, arises from multiple factors—from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies to Brazil’s fiscal situation, alongside doubts about exchange rates, inflation, and interest rates, domestically and abroad.

The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) Index reached its highest point in January this year (the latest available data) since the records began in 199, peaking at 460 points. The EPU indices, developed by economists Scott Baker, Nick Bloom, and Steven Davis, are based on newspaper articles. The global index is a GDP-weighted average adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) of 21 national indices.

The media-based U.S. EPU reached 335 points in February this year, only surpassed by months in 2020 amidst the pandemic—the records started in 1985.

In Brazil, the Economic Uncertainty Indicator (IIE-Br), calculated by Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), decreased in February to 110.8 points but remained above the same period last year (104.5 points) and, in the quarterly moving average, maintained an upward trend at 114.4 points.

Continue reading.

[poweredbytiktik]

Advanced Metrics on Aether X: Elevating Fitness with Precision and Intelligence

The Aether X powered by TikTik AI smartwatch redefines fitness technology, delivering immersive, personalized wellness through precise health metrics. Designed to support an active lifestyle, this smartwatch goes beyond traditional fitness tracking by integrating advanced health insights. With metrics that adapt to users' unique journeys, Aether X and TikTik’s AI provide meaningful, actionable data for a transformative fitness experience. Here's how Advanced Metrics on Aether Xenhances health and fitness:

Comprehensive Health Tracking

The Aether X smartwatch features a robust suite of health-tracking capabilities, offering metrics that provide a detailed view of physical health. Key features include:

VO2 Max: Tracks oxygen intake during intense exercise, providing an accurate measure of cardiovascular endurance. This metric allows users to gauge fitness levels and track progress over time.

MET Score: The Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) score measures calories burned across activities. By quantifying energy use, this metric helps users optimize workouts for specific goals and improve calorie management.

Heart Rate Variability: Tracks resting and maximum heart rates to deliver real-time cardiovascular insights. Accurate heart rate data helps users understand and monitor heart health, allowing intensity adjustments for effective, safe workouts.

Sleep State Analysis: By analyzing sleep cycles, TikTik AI provides insights into recovery and rest. It identifies REM, light, and deep sleep stages, helping users improve sleep patterns for better health management.

Stress Analysis: Real-time stress monitoring helps users manage both physical and emotional stress. Coupled with TikTik AI's relaxation techniques, users gain practical tools for maintaining mental wellness.

TikTik AI Agent: Intelligent Workout Adaptation

The TikTik AI Agent transforms Aether X into a real-time fitness assistant. Its adaptive intelligence tailors workouts to users’ performance and needs, delivering a dynamic, personalized experience. Advanced metrics on Aether X empower users through:

Custom Workouts: TikTik AI creates routines aligned with personal fitness levels and goals, ensuring optimal results whether the focus is endurance, strength, or flexibility.

Adaptive Goal Setting: By analyzing daily activities, TikTik AI helps users set achievable milestones. It encourages progress and keeps users motivated toward meeting their fitness targets.

Outdoor Fitness with GPS and Mapping

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Aether X’s GPS-enabled tracking and TikTik AI's mapping capabilities, ideal for hiking, cycling, and running. GPS mapping offers route suggestions and real-time guidance, while tracking features monitor:

Cadence and Stride Length: Essential for runners and cyclists, these metrics enhance performance analysis, supporting safe, efficient movements.

Caloric Expenditure and Activity Duration: GPS data summarizes calories burned and time spent, providing a complete view of outdoor fitness achievements.

Essential Advanced Metrics for Complete Fitness Analysis

Advanced metrics on Aether X offer users insights that typically require multiple devices, making it a powerful, all-in-one tool. These include:

BMI and BMR Calculations: The smartwatch tracks Body Mass Index (BMI) and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), providing insights into body composition and daily calorie needs.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Analyzes fat distribution, offering users a deeper understanding of body composition and health risks.

Energy Expenditure: Additional metrics support runners by tracking energy output, enhancing efficiency and safety during workouts.

Durability and Style for Every Occasion

Aether X combines durability with style, making it ideal for any occasion. With 5 ATM water resistance, it’s suited for swimming, high-intensity workouts, and daily wear. The watch also includes interchangeable straps, offering versatility for casual, formal, and active looks.

Seamless Device Integration

Compatible with both iOS and Android, Aether X offers seamless smart notifications, music control, and app access. Its connectivity keeps users informed and engaged, no matter which smartphone they user