#Large Scale Agile Development

[agileethos]

Large Scale Agile Development - AgileEthos

Discover how AgileEthos empowers organizations to scale Agile development effectively. Our comprehensive approach to large-scale Agile implementation fosters collaboration, transparency, and innovation across teams. From enterprise Agile coaching to customized training programs, we provide the tools and expertise needed to navigate complex projects with agility. Explore our solutions to optimize your organization's Agile journey and drive sustainable growth.

[yellydany]

ESPHINE🧬 (Extrasensorial Kaiju)

[Data] Name: Project Esphine Species: Artificial Kaiju Height: 320 ft Gender: None

Esphine is a biological weapon created for military use primarily to combat Kaiju. Although its purpose was to defend humanity, it became unstable over time and was supposed to be dismantled to prevent a disaster, but it escaped prematurely and turned against civilians.

What characterizes him are his advanced psionic (PSI) and extrasensory (ESP) abilities. He is a highly intelligent being who uses strategy to destroy his opponents, but if he enters a rampant state he will lash out like a beast. Esphine is more agile while airborne and prefers to operate in open spaces for an advantage. His membrane wings are flexible and blend in with his frontal claws

He developed a strong aversion for other Kaiju (as he was designed to) and even though he is no longer allied with humanity, he stands against strong monsters in order to defeat them.

[Abilities]

◆Psionic beam: A concentrated beam of psychic energy that can destroy everything in its path. If it divides the energy between its two tails it can unleash a dual beam instead of a single one ◆Remote sight: Similar to clairvoyance, the remote sight allows him to project his view through different places in the world when his body is idle ◆Levitation/Psychokinesis: Esphine can lift itself in the air, even objects which can be thrown as projectiles ◆PSI shield: It can shield itself with a barrier capable of resisting attacks that could be devastating ◆PSI explosion: If Esphine concentrates all his psychic power he can unleash an explosion large enough to wipe out a city. He can also produce a smaller scale version to avoid energy withdrawal ◆DNA extraction: With the arrow needles at the end of his two tails, Esphine can absorb genetic material and implement it into himself to adapt. This is quite useful when dealing with other Kaiju as it learns their weaknesses and abilities ◆Apportation/Teleportation: With enough focus, he can transfer objects to other, more distant locations. He can also teleport himself to fight distant Kaijus or to escape from an encounter ◆Psychic hold: A rather consuming move that serves to stop falling objects, projectiles and even other Kaiju in place if enough mental strength is applied. It was supposed to protect civilians from the destruction caused by other Kaiju. ◆Telepathy: Strong telepathic signals that can cause brain damage to nearby organic beings. He has learned to weaponize it against Kaiju to distract them. ◆Distortion: A hypothetical ability that suggests Esphine could break reality and create dangerous spatial rifts

*Yes his tails coil like DNA!

[cryptotheism]

Ranking Every Large Monster in Monster Hunter Rise by How Tasty I Think They Would Be:

A TIER - Delicious Tier. Monsters that are prized for their delicious meat. The tier reserved for luxury meats like foie gras, or wagyu beef. 

Tetranodon [A+]

Luxurious, fatty, versatile, and convenient. These massive omnivorous amphibians cushion their ponderous weight with layers of marbled fat. Shanks are delicious spit-roasted over an open flame, or breaded and fried in their own drippings. Neck, and breasts are cubed for stew meat and stuffed back into the shell with herbs for pit baking. Butt and sirloin are slow-cooked in clay pots to reduce in their own fat like fine carnitas. 

Jyuratodus [A]

These omnivorous filter-feeders are prized in-universe for their meat. Its bipedal stance but fishlike physiology imply a meat somewhere between salmon, catfish, and chicken. Denser thighs are cut into steaks and smoked. The more muscular sirloin is butterflied and deep-fried like catfish filets. The fatty brisket would be the finest cut, reserved for sushi. 

Lagombi [A-]

The already-delicious rabbit, evolved for long-pursuit sub-arctic grazing. Powerful hip joints cushioned by layers of cold-resistant fat. The lagombi would produce a brisket fit for the pinnacles of sephardic cuisine, basted in honey, orange juice, prunes, and apricots. Shoulder and rump should be sliced thin, basted with herbs and oil, and used for gyros. 

(Long Post Ahead)

B TIER - Ordinary Tier. Monsters that can be eaten, and eaten well. The tier of humble, everyday meats like chicken, pork, and beef. 

Great Izuchi / Great Wroggi / Great Baggi [B+]

The chicken of monster hunter ecology. When butchered and clipped of their poison sacs, claws and feet, I can imagine these beasts whole roasted like a holiday turkey, or spit roasted like rotisserie chicken. Given their tails and posture, I imagine they taste slightly oily and gamey, closer to pheasant or game hen than chicken, but still wholly within the realm of chicken. 

Kulu-Ya-Ku [B+] 

A leaner, more agile cousin of the great Izuchi. Similar to Cornish game hen, their limbs produce less meat, but their bodies are traditionally eaten stuffed with herbs, and basted with fat during baking. Flesh is similar to waterfowl, oily, slightly dense, but a sponge for flavor. Not fatty enough to fire-roast, but careful baking can produce a delicious Kulu-Ya-Ku a l'orange. 

Aknosom [B]

Would be placed higher on this list were it not for the complication of having to butcher and remove the flame sac. Specialty cuisines would be developed for cooking a butchered aknosom in its own fluids. Slightly more fat than the Kulu-Ya-Ku, but I would prefer stewing, perhaps an aknosom vindaloo. 

Anjanath [B]

A large monster, armored with dense fat rather than scales. Two caveats: Anjanath eat just about anything, so the taste of their meat would heavily depend on the anjanath's diet, and their flame sac is notably more complex than many other fire-breathing monsters. If properly grazed on offal and vegetables scrap, their meat has a texture somewhere between beef and pork. The top sirloin is especially prized, but notably difficult to acquire. 

Diabolos  [B-]

Most of the meat on these massive, armored predators is far too dense to be worth eating. However, their fatty brisket and thighs are delicious after significant, significant slow-roasting. A favorite for BBQ. 

Rathalos / Rathain [B-]

These large, agile predators are eaten more for their abundance than their taste. Rath meat is similar to horse in texture; stringy, sparse, and of variable taste depending on their hosts diet. Most chefs get around the unpleasant texture by grinding cuts into hamburger or sausage filling, and spicing heavily. 

C TIER - Uncommon Tier. Monsters who can be eaten, but are likely not one’s first choice. The tier of uncommon meats such as rabbit, crocodile, and venison. 

Royal Ludroth [C+]

The neck sacs are unpleasantly spongy, and taste of pus if butchered incorrectly. The meat itself is passable, but similar to gator, dense, fishy, chewy if improperly cooked. The choicest cuts are the tail and sirloin, ideal for gumbo. Skillful chefs can produce a wonderful griddle-cooked Ludroth-mac-n-cheese. 

Somnacanth [C+]

Surprisingly difficult to butcher. These creatures feature a complex endocrine system that constantly threatens to ruin their frankly sparse and oily meat. Skilled chefs marinate tail and belly cuts in a sweet and savory sauce, to produce a result strangely similar to pineapple marinated fish, or somnacanth al-pastor. 

Almurdron [C]

Nearly inedible, but can produce delicacies when butchered properly. Their serpentine bodies are extremely muscular, and feature a weaponized excretory tract that can make the meat foul and actively dangerous to consume if butchered improperly. When prepared correctly, most of the animal is discarded, save for the sheathe of subcutaneous fat and tissue which can be used as a sausage casing. Ground almurdron offal sausage is a common feed for domesticated carnivores, but is occasionally enjoyed by humans. The discerning chef may long-cure the meat, producing a rare and exotic cold-cut enjoyed similarly to a rattlesnake sausage. 

Basarios [C]

Tough, dense, extraordinarily difficult to butcher. The sheer amount of effort involved in butchering these creatures for consumption often outstrips their culinary benefits. When they are eaten, they are drained by the neck and packed in clay for pit baking. Even then, the meat is spongy and gamey, not unlike raw calamari or rocky mountain oysters. 

Barroth [C]

Similar to a great Izuchi, but tougher, chewier, less available, and far more difficult to butcher. Even skilled butchers and captive ranchers have been unable to remove the faint muddy taste from the meat. A tragedy, in that they are almost tasty in so many ways.  

Bishaten [C-]

Of questionable ethicality. Meat has a taste smack dab between pork and chicken, but very lean and slightly gamey. Generally does not have enough meat to be considered worth hunting for consumption, and their diet is varied enough to make the taste a gamble. Occasionally, the fruits they collect may ferment in their pouches. A bishaten persimmon wine reduction is considered a rare delicacy, but generally requires cultivation in captivity. 

Rajang [C-]

Skirting the lower end of edibility is the rajang. Meat is leathery, gamey, and chewy, like a steak that worked out before the slaughter. The organ systems that maintain their extraordinary muscle strength may even continue to hold a charge after death, and butchers must be careful to ground the beast before applying any metal tools. Requires cooking so slow that one generally has time to hunt two more beasts in the meantime. 

D TIER - Delicacy Tier. Monsters that probably should not be eaten, are only partially edible, or require special preparation. The tier of snake, fish eyes, chicken feet, and most edible insects. 

Pukei-Pukei [D+]

Proper butchery of these animals requires extreme skill. Well made Pukei-Pukei pate is treated as a rite-of-passage for aspiring master chefs. A single Pukei-Pukei will only produce 2lbs of fatty cheek, and a single mistake could flood the meat with its deadly toxins. The meat itself is delicate, fatty, and flavorful, akin to a lovechild of white fish and high-quality chicken. 

Tobi-Kadachi [D+]

A Tobi-Kadachi’s spines are actually articulated electrosensory organs, akin to insect mandibles. Each follicle is surrounded by a powerful muscle sphincter, and loops into the creature’s endocrine system. Butchery is an exhausting process of plucking and deveining, all for subcutaneous back tissue that is underwhelming and stringy. Ideal serving would be finely ground and baked into a pie. 

Goss Harag [D+]

These creatures are not hunted for their meat. Due to a unique quirk of the goss-harag’s sebaceous glands, the creature’s adipose deposits gain a unique flavor. Sufficiently mature Goss Harag lard has an herbal, almost minty, flavor. Its culinary use is divisive, a favorite to some, and reviled by others. Their meat is leathery, foul, and dense. Their livers are sweet, and excellent source of vitamin C when eaten raw, but few culinarians are so adventurous. 

Barioth [D+]

Meat is overwhelmingly dense, stringy, and run through with the creature’s jellylike blubber. Some cultures do consume the liver, heart, and testicles, as a source of essential vitamins in sub-arctic environments, but these require skillful butchery and unorthodox techniques to prepare. Offal is sometimes ground and compacted into a baloney-like loaf that is surprisingly good on sandwiches, or stir-fried with eggs.

Tigrex [D]

Tigrex meat is so dense that it cannot be butchered along traditional lines. Ordinarily fatty cuts like breasts and thighs are akin to eating grilled steel wire. However, the lungs, diaphragm, and pelvic muscles are edible after a few days of slow-cooking. Even then, they are quite dense. It is meat that demands a 24 hour pit bake, the realm of BBQ chefs with an experimental streak, or more patience than sense.

Ibushi / Narwa [D]

Bizarre biology and sheer rarity make these creatures a true challenge for the aspiring game chef. Those privileged enough to dine on Narwa meat have described it as fishy and gritty, similar to crab with notes of ozone. Efforts have been made into the production of Ibushi caviar, but none have since been successful. 

Bazelgeuse [D]

Inedible. Even attempting butchery can cost an overconfident chef their hand. However, their unfertilized eggs are delicious, a bomb of umami and natural capcasin. Ideal for Huevos Rancheros or about ten savory omelets. 

Arzuros [D-]

When raised in captivity, on a purely vegetarian diet of herbs, honey, and berries, their meat can be edible. Given that Arzuros are an omnivorous predator, the ethicality of this is contested. Even when properly farmed, arzuros meat is lumpy, unpleasantly textured, and lacking in any distinct flavor. All of the time, controversy, and resources required to produce a single Arzuros steak would be better spent on Tetranodon. 

Nargacuga [D-]

Only edible in that it can be physically consumed. Nargacuga meat is relegated to fringe cuisine, the purview of dubious half-magical medicinal stews and rumors during famine years. The meat is unpleasant, somehow bland, foul, dry, and oily at the same time. Only theoretically edible when mixed with other meats, and heavily spiced. Additionally, the creature’s adrenal secretions can be actively dangerous in more than trace amounts. Improper butchery can make the meat hazardous to consume. 

Chameleos [D-]

Most of these creatures are inedible. The biological mechanisms that facilitate their light-bending abilities are not understood by zoologists, much less chefs. Their meat is sparse and leathery, similar to ludroth, but is also to cause a dangerous allergic reaction in more than 50% of consumers. The only part of the Chameleos known to be safe is their eyes, which are candied and served with sweet rice as a dessert delicacy. 

Mizutsune [D-]

Tastes of soap. Only reached D rank because roughly 10% of the population bears a genetic quirk that makes Mizutsune meat taste like cilantro. 

F TIER - Inedible. Monsters that should not be eaten, cannot be eaten, or are actively dangerous to eat. 

Kushala Daora  [F+]

With a skin of iron-laced keratin, the Kushala Daora is more fit to be used as a grill than placed upon it. The meat is dense, overwhelmingly bloody, and riven with grits of iron oxide. Tastes like iron shavings kneaded into leather. 

Khezu [F+]

It is said in-lore that many hunters have tried, and failed, to make the Khezu palatable. These giant leeches feature a complex digestive and endocrine system more useful for medical applications than cuisine. Escargot is already unpleasant. Even stir fried like chinese periwinkle snails, Khezu meat is far too muscular to eat. Tastes like an art eraser soaked in cough syrup. 

Rakna-Kadaki [F+]

Edible only in the sense that it can be physically consumed. Where the fire-breathing organs of other organisms can be removed during butchery, insect respiration is done through spiracles in the carapace. Spider meat already tastes of pus and rot, but the rakna-kadaki features overtones of sulphur and gasoline. 

Zingore [F]

A large, muscular, agile pursuit predator with biological mechanisms for electroconductivity. Wolflike predators already taste of gristle and death, but the Zingore’s electrochemical organ system taints its meat with an overwhelming flavor of bleach and battery acid. Meat is highly toxic to humans. 

Teostra [F]

A large, muscular pursuit predator known for attacking caravans to eat gunpowder. The meat is stringy, gristly, sulfurous, and smells of rotting eggs. Impossible to cook, as applying any sort of heat will cause the meat to rapidly combust. Tastes of old rope bathed in a sulfur vent. 

Valstrax [F-]

A heavily armored, extraordinarily agile aerial pursuit predator with a secondary respiration system to facilitate jet propulsion. Meat is stringy, rubbery, chemically astringent with overwhelming notes of crude oil and smog. Biological fluids are a chemical accelerant, and risk exploding if ignited. 

Magnamalo [F-]

The only thing that could make this monster edible would be slow-roasting in the whole shell. This should never be attempted. Given its purple coloration, the Magnamalo’s secondary respiration system exhales what is likely a complex and highly volatile lithium phosphate. Meat is dense, gristly, tastes of battery acid and spoiled wine. Risks exploding if ignited, oxygenated, or introduced to an electrical charge. 

Volvidon [F-]

Indescribably foul. The volvidon’s digestive tract produces both a paralytic venom, and a predator deterrent in the form of toxic flatulence. Consumption will risk paralysis and uncontrollable vomiting, risking a horrific death by asphyxiation. 

[n1ght0f-nyx]

Kai with his babies?

Tides of Fatherhood

kai (merman oc) x reader

warnings, children and babies, you have twins (a boy and a girl) no childbirth/labour mentioned, only afterwards, kai speaks choppy english still

word count- 1,380 words

Kai's golden eyes softened as he gazed at the two small bundles nestled against you. They were newborns, still fragile with tiny limbs and delicate scales that shimmered faintly in the dim light of the cave. You could see their small gills fluttering, adjusting to their new world. Their tiny bodies curled closer to you, seeking warmth and comfort.

Kai had never been more terrified.

The water lapped gently at the edges of the rocky cave, the sound mingling with the quiet breaths of your children. Kai crouched beside you, his large, webbed hands hovering nervously over the pups as if unsure how to touch them without breaking them. His English had always been halting and rough, but right now, he struggled to find any words at all.

You smiled at him, tired but full of warmth. "You can touch them, Kai. They're stronger than they look."

He hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out, his fingers trembling as he gently stroked one of the pups' tiny arms. His touch was tentative, as though he feared his strength would be too much for their fragile forms. But the pup responded to his touch with a soft, contented sound, their small eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again.

Kai let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding, his broad shoulders relaxing slightly. "They… ours," he whispered, his voice thick with awe.

"Yes," you said softly, watching him. "They're ours."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raising two newborns had proven to be a far greater challenge than either of you had anticipated. Your pups were half-human, half-merman, and their needs were unique. They needed water to breathe, yet their lungs were also developing to survive above the surface. The air-pocket cave you lived in became both a refuge and a playground of trial and error.

Kai adapted quickly, more so than you expected for someone who had spent his life beneath the waves, in a world so different from your own. He learned how to cradle the pups in his large arms, his touch always gentle despite his size. He built makeshift cribs out of driftwood and seaweed, creating small nests for them in the shallows, where the water would kiss their skin but not overwhelm their still-developing lungs.

Kai was fiercely protective from the start, always watching, always alert. "I… guard," he would mutter, his English improving little by little as the weeks went on. He often stayed near the cave entrance, scanning the ocean with those sharp golden eyes of his, ever-watchful for any danger that might threaten his family.

But when he wasn’t standing guard, Kai was with you and the pups. He was an eager learner, mimicking the way you held them, the way you spoke softly to soothe their cries. At night, the pups would sleep on either side of you, with Kai close by, his hand always resting on one of them as if needing to reassure himself they were real.

One evening, as the moonlight filtered through the water, casting shimmering reflections on the cave walls, you found Kai crouched over the pups, one in each arm. His usually stern face was soft, a rare smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he hummed a low, gentle tune. You couldn't help but watch, warmth blooming in your chest as you saw him embracing fatherhood so naturally.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When your pups began to crawl on land and swim through the water things became a lot more chaotic.

They were fast. Faster than you expected. With their small tails and webbed hands, they zoomed through the shallow pools of water in the cave with surprising agility, leaving you and Kai scrambling to keep up. Kai, ever the protector, would dart after them, his large frame moving gracefully through the water as he scooped them up, one under each arm.

"You stay close," he would say, his voice firm but filled with affection as he brought them back to your side. The pups would giggle, their laughter like the soft chime of seashells clinking together, always wriggling out of Kai’s grip the moment he set them down.

It wasn’t long before they started exploring the world outside the cave. Kai was hesitant, always on edge whenever the pups swam too far from the entrance, but he knew they needed to learn. And so, he would guide them through the shallow waters, teaching them about the ocean, pointing out different creatures as they swam by.

"This… fish," he would say, showing them a colorful school of fish darting through the coral. "Not eat. Friends."

The pups watched with wide, curious eyes, soaking in every word, every lesson. You watched them too, heart swelling with pride as you saw the way Kai cared for them, teaching them in his own gentle, patient way. He wasn’t just their protector—he was their guide, their teacher, their father.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time your pups reached the age of five, they were a force to be reckoned with. Their personalities had begun to show—

Hali, your daughter, was calm and thoughtful, often following Kai around with wide, observant eyes, while your son, Aenon was mischievous and energetic, always looking for new ways to test the boundaries of their world.

Kai loved them fiercely. You could see it in the way he interacted with them, how his eyes softened when they tugged on his fins or asked him a hundred questions about the ocean. His English had improved dramatically, though it was still broken at times, and he would often stumble over words as he tried to explain things to the pups.

"See… stars?" he said one night, pointing up at the dark surface of the ocean, where the light from the moon and stars filtered down. "Those… light in sky. Far away."

The pups looked up, their eyes wide with wonder. "how fare" Hali asked, her voice filled with awe.

Kai nodded, smiling. "Yes. Very far. But… we see them from here. Always watching."

The pups seemed to take comfort in that, their eyes still locked on the stars as they drifted off to sleep, nestled in the warmth of their father’s arms.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy. There were moments of frustration, especially as the pups grew older and more independent. Kai struggled to balance his instinct to protect them with the knowledge that they needed to explore, to learn on their own. It was hard for him to let go, to allow them to make mistakes and face challenges without his constant presence.

But he tried. For you, for them, he tried.

One day, after the pups had ventured out farther than they ever had before, you found Kai pacing near the cave entrance, his hands clenching and unclenching as he muttered to himself. "They… too far," he growled, worry etched into every line of his face. "What if… hurt? What if… something bad?"

You placed a hand on his arm, stopping his pacing. "They’ll be okay, Kai. They’re strong, just like you."

He looked at you, his golden eyes searching yours for reassurance. Slowly, he nodded, though the tension didn’t fully leave his body until the pups returned, laughing and unscathed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time the pups were old enough to venture out on their own, Kai had become a different man. He was still fierce and protective, but there was a softness to him now, a warmth that hadn’t been there before.

He had raised two beautiful children, and they were as much a part of him as the sea itself.

As the sun set one evening, casting a golden glow over the water, you and Kai watched as your pups swam together, laughing and playing in the shallows. Kai's hand found yours, squeezing it gently as he smiled.

"They… grow strong," he said quietly, his English now more fluid, though still touched with his unique cadence. "Like you. Like me."

You smiled, leaning into him. "Like us."

Kai nodded, his eyes filled with pride as he watched his family, the love in his heart as deep and vast as the ocean that had brought you together.

[flornray]

My Babies (NF + LF) Headcannons

There's so much stuff I just... don't like too much about the LF, I think most everybody can agree with me, and since I'm back in my annual HTTYD phase, I'm developing my LF redesign further.

The grey version of the light Fury, that I'll be building off: (plus older redesign photos)

1. Invisibility/Skills

As shown in HTTYDTHW, LF has reflective scales when heated. This works with its own fire, but I like to think, also from the inside. Their body can consciously move internal bodily heat against their scales, so slowly able to become invisible within closed spaces. Also used to prolong reflectivity after using a plasma blast.

Plus, a nack for rock climbing, using their longer tail, as well as longer talons, allows them to scale up rocky walls.

2. Habitat/Camouflage

As shown in the hidden world, there are tide pools and large bodies of water. I like the idea the LF developed a grey top, to blend in with stone, and from any angle within the water, (like a killer whale.)

Also shown in my designs, their tail fins, are longer but thinner, with fins instead of spikes on the back, and this would be better for tight cramped spaces of a cave, and underwater manoeuvre. So semi-cave dweller, semi-aquatic.

3. Family/Pack roles

As shown in HTTYD Nine realms, Furies live in packs. There's obviously an order to that. I'm slightly taking inspiration from Lions, and comparing Toothless to the LF, Toothless is significantly bulkier. With this extra bulk, male LF are made to protect eggs and young. With white eggs, these furies often cover the eggs with their wings or bodies. While females, being less wide, allowing for tighter turning, are the hunters. Like a kingfisher, I think they may dive-bomb down into the water to quickly catch fish, being their main food-catching method, but with speed and agility, other larger prey can be caught.

I like to think with their destructive plasma blast, Males can often court females by carving out a hole in the rock walls or cliffs or claiming an already existing one. These home caves are often found by the water. Allowing for easy fishing, and allowing the kids to safely watch their mum while she hunts, to help them learn.

3. Courting

Being a thing Toothless didn't excel at, mating dances and other practices. intelligence and coordination seem to be the main two traits females look for.

I think mainly, having a good cave picked out, is something a female likes, showing intelligence. Also as shown in the Toothless sense where he dances with the LF after winning her over, swinging the tail, and spreading the wings are in the male's favour. Trotting, holding up the wings, and swishing the tail all at once, shows agility and coordination. The LF finally likes Toothless once he draws her, with the abstract show of intelligence, and so other things like that, solving puzzles, outsmarting other dragons in fights and such are other ways of showing off courting.

[mariacallous]

As digital scamming explodes in Southeast Asia, including so called “pig butchering” investment scams, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) issued a comprehensive report this week with a dire warning about the rapid growth of this criminal ecosystem. Many digital scams have traditionally relied on social engineering, or tricking victims into giving away their money willingly, rather than leaning on malware or other highly technical methods. But researchers have increasingly sounded the alarm that scammers are incorporating generative AI content and deepfakes to expand the scale and effectiveness of their operations. And the UN report offers the clearest evidence yet that these high tech tools are turning an already urgent situation into a crisis.

In addition to buying written scripts to use with potential victims or relying on templates for malicious websites, attackers have increasingly been leaning on generative AI platforms to create communication content in multiple languages and deepfake generators that can create photos or even video of nonexistent people to show victims and enhance verisimilitude. Scammers have also been expanding their use of tools that can drain a victim’s cryptocurrency wallets, have been manipulating transaction records to trick targets into sending cryptocurrency to the wrong places, and are compromising smart contracts to steal cryptocurrency. And in some cases, they’ve been purchasing Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet systems to help power their efforts.

“Agile criminal networks are integrating these new technologies faster than anticipated, driven by new online marketplaces and service providers which have supercharged the illicit service economy,” John Wojcik, a UNODC regional analyst, tells WIRED. “These developments have not only expanded the scope and efficiency of cyber-enabled fraud and cybercrime, but they have also lowered the barriers to entry for criminal networks that previously lacked the technical skills to exploit more sophisticated and profitable methods.”

For years, China-linked criminals have trafficked people into gigantic compounds in Southeast Asia, where they are often forced to run scams, held against their will, and beaten if they refuse instructions. Around 200,000 people, from at least 60 countries, have been trafficked to compounds largely in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos over the last five years. However, as WIRED reporting has shown, these operations are spreading globally—with scamming infrastructure emerging in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and West Africa.

Most prominently, these organized crime operations have run pig butchering scams, where they build intimate relationships with victims before introducing an “investment opportunity” and asking for money. Criminal organizations may have conned people out of around $75 billion through pig butchering scams. Aside from pig butchering, according to the UN report, criminals across Southeast Asia are also running job scams, law enforcement impersonation, asset recovery scams, virtual kidnappings, sextortion, loan scams, business email compromise, and other illicit schemes. Criminal networks in the region earned up to $37 billion last year, UN officials estimate. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all of this revenue is allowing scammers to expand their operations and diversify, incorporating new infrastructure and technology into their systems in the hope of making them more efficient and brutally effective.

For example, scammers are often constrained by their language skills and ability to keep up conversations with potentially hundreds of victims at a time in numerous languages and dialects. However, generative AI developments within the last two years—including the launch of writing tools such as ChatGPT—are making it easier for criminals to break down language barriers and create the content needed for scamming.

The UN’s report says AI can be used for automating phishing attacks that ensnare victims, the creation of fake identities and online profiles, and the crafting of personalized scripts to trick victims while messaging them in different languages. “These developments have not only expanded the scope and efficiency of cyber-enabled fraud and cybercrime, but they have also lowered the barriers to entry for criminal networks that previously lacked the technical skills to exploit sophisticated and profitable methods,” the report says.

Stephanie Baroud, a criminal intelligence analyst in Interpol’s human trafficking unit, says the impact of AI needs to be considered as part of a pig butchering scammer’s tactics going forward. Baroud, who spoke with WIRED in an interview before the publication of the UN report, says the criminal’s recruitment ads that lure people into being trafficked to scamming compounds used to be “very generic” and full of grammatical errors. However, AI is now making them appear more polished and compelling, Baroud says. “It is really making it easier to create a very realistic job offer,” she says. “Unfortunately, this will make it much more difficult to identify which is the real and which is the fake ads.”

Perhaps the biggest AI paradigm shift in such digital attacks comes from deepfakes. Scammers are increasingly using machine-learning systems to allow for real-time face-swapping. This technology, which has also been used by romance scammers in West Africa, allows criminals to change their appearance on calls with their victims, making them realistically appear to be a different person. The technology is allowing “one-click” face swaps and high-resolution video feeds, the UN’s report states. Such services are a game changer for scammers, because they allow attackers to “prove” to victims in photos or real-time video calls that they are who they claim to be.

Using these setups, however, can require stable internet connections, which can be harder to maintain within some regions where pig butchering compounds and other scamming have flourished. There has been a “notable” increase in cops seizing Starlink satellite dishes in recent months in Southeast Asia, the UN says—80 units were seized between April and June this year. In one such operation carried out in June, Thai police confiscated 58 Starlink devices. In another instance, law enforcement seized 10 Starlink devices and 4,998 preregistered SIM cards while criminals were in the process of moving their operations from Myanmar to Laos. Starlink did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment.

“Obviously using real people has been working for them very well, but using the tech could be cheaper after they have the required computers” and connectivity, says Troy Gochenour, a volunteer with the Global Anti-Scam Organization (GASO), a US-based nonprofit that fights human-trafficking and cybercrime operations in Southeast Asia.

Gochenour’s research involves tracking trends on Chinese-language Telegram channels related to carrying out pig butchering scams. And he says that it is increasingly common to see people applying to be AI models for scam content.

In addition to AI services, attackers have increasingly leaned on other technical solutions as well. One tool that has been increasingly common in digital scamming is so-called “crypto drainers,” a type of malware that has particularly been deployed against victims in Southeast Asia. Drainers can be more or less technically sophisticated, but their common goal is to “drain” funds from a target’s cryptocurrency wallets and redirect the currency to wallets controlled by attackers. Rather than stealing the credentials to access the target wallet directly, drainers are typically designed to look like a legitimate service—either by impersonating an actual platform or creating a plausible brand. Once a victim has been tricked into connecting their wallet to the drainer, they are then manipulated into approving one or a few transactions that grant attackers unintended access to all the funds in the wallet.

Drainers can be used in many contexts and with many fronts. They can be a component of pig butchering investment scams, or promoted to potential victims through compromised social media accounts, phishing campaigns, and malvertizing. Researchers from the firm ScamSniffer, for example, published findings in December about sponsored social media and search engine ads linked to malicious websites that contained a cryptocurrency drainer. The campaign, which ran from March to December 2023 reportedly stole about $59 million from more than 63,000 victims around the world.

Far from the low-tech days of doing everything through social engineering by building a rapport with potential victims and crafting tricky emails and text messages, today’s scammers are taking a hybrid approach to make their operations as efficient and lucrative as possible, UN researchers say. And even if they aren’t developing sophisticated malware themselves in most cases, scammers are increasingly in the market to use these malicious tools, prompting malware authors to adapt or create hacking tools for scams like pig butchering.

Researchers say that scammers have been seen using infostealers and even remote access trojans that essentially create a backdoor in a victim’s system that can be utilized in other types of attacks. And scammers are also expanding their use of malicious smart contracts that appear to programmatically establish a certain agreed-upon transaction or set of transactions, but actually does much more. “Infostealer logs and underground data markets have also been critical to ongoing market expansion, with access to unprecedented amounts of sensitive data serving as a major catalyst,” Wojcik, from the UNODC, says.

The changing tactics are significant as global law enforcement scrambles to deter digital scamming. But they are just one piece of the larger picture, which is increasingly urgent and bleak for forced laborers and victims of these crimes.

“It is now increasingly clear that a potentially irreversible displacement and spillover has taken place in which organized crime are able to pick, choose, and move value and jurisdictions as needed, with the resulting situation rapidly outpacing the capacity of governments to contain it,” UN officials wrote in the report. “Failure to address this ecosystem will have consequences for Southeast Asia and other regions.”

[tribbetherium]

The Late Rodentocene: 20 million years post-establishment

Pop Goes The Squeasel: Squeasels of the Late Rodentocene

Once just small, agile predators that hunted small prey both on the ground and in the trees, the long-bodied squeasels have diversified across many ecological niches as of the Late Rodentocene. The squeasels have since become the primary predators of the time period, usurping the earlier hammibals and spreading across the main continents of Nodera, Easaterra, and Westerna: but, notably, arrive far later to Ecatoria, allowing the hammibals to dominate there instead.

The desert meerca (Paramustelamys manori) is one such latecomer: having arrived to Ecatoria when the hammibals had already given rise to the predatory hamyenas, it was too late to claim the local ecosystem's niche of top predator. Thus, the meercas and kin continued to survive on the Ecatorian mainland, but only as small-scale predators, foragers, and insectivores, banding together in tight-knit family groups or seeking refuge in the presence of larger, symbiotic animals, in order to defend themselves from the hamyenas to whom they had become prey.

Similarly, the bare-tailed diremouse (Macrorattocricetus magnus) would grow to a larger size than its Middle Rodentocene kin, but not specialize much further. It and the rest of its group, the scabbers, would remain another set of small-scale hunters comparable to shrews and mustelids, that would only find success much later on Isla Centralis in the Glaciocene when the isolation and lack of larger competition would allow them to become the local primary carnivore clade. For now, the bare-tailed diremouse contents itself with a niche of a small and unremarkable forest-floor predator, preying on insects, furbils and duskmice.

But elsewhere, other lineages of squeasels, particularly the ferrats, are thriving and diversifying in this incoming new era of ever-larger prey. The striped panthster (Protopantherocricetus longicauda) is one of the largest carnivores alive at the time, adapted for hunting and preying upon the increasingly bigger hamtelopes and cavybaras of the Late Rodentocene. Bearing powerful jaws, semi-retractable claws and a long tail that aids it in balance when stalking and ambushing its prey, this cunning ambush predator continues its ancestors' abilities to tackle large prey with the help of cutting incisors and shearing molars that allow it to put animals bigger than itself on its menu.

Meanwhile, up in the treetops, the arboreal bossums too have prospered, in particular with the abundance of tree-dwelling prey, such as squizzels, kiterats, and even the earliest proper flyers, the basal ratbats, that still did roost in the trees. In particular, the beginnings of the early prosimian-like lemunkies have emerged to exploit the bumoer crop of fruit and seeds and small invertebrates in the treetops: but so too would come the lemunky treeasel (Sutormustalamys popii) that would develop opposable digits on both front and back paws that grant it great dexterity and agility in the trees, rivaling that of its lemunky prey. Its predation would, in fact, kickstart the evolution of the lemunkies themselves, becoming larger to better defend themselves, more social, to rely on strength in numbers, and, consequently, more intelligent as a side-effect of their increased sociality.

And with an abundance of vacant aquatic niches, some of the ferrats would take to the water and become the searets: excellent swimmers and ferocious hunters that paddled with their flat webbed feet and used their tail to steer, making them quite maneuverable. These semiaquatic predators would diversify quickly first in freshwater and later coastal habitats, preying on shrish, gastropods, pondrats and even ambushing small terrestrial animals coming to the water to drink. But an important turning point would be the marsh searet (Lutrodiromys atrox), a particularly large species that specialized on hunting hard-shelled shrish, using powerful jaws to crush their exoskeletons. It and its close relative, the lake searet, would be the early pioneers of a clade that soon found its way to the Centralic Ocean, where their skill at hunting large shrish allowed them to usurp the shrarks as the reefs' primary large predators.

In the Therocene, these new specialized squeasels would be the forerunners to the major carnivore clades of the era. From the striped panthster would arise the large ambush-hunting carnohams that would become apex predators adapted for hunting boingos and hamtelopes in the plains as they developed longer limbs and shorter tails, shedding their mustelid-like build in favor of a more-feline one, while in the treetops, from the treeasel would descend the treegers, arboreal lemunky-predators that evenly match their agile quarry in the forest canopy. And in the oceans, still mostly devoid of hamsters, the coming of the searets and their subsequent displacement of the shrarks would prove conducive to allowing other clades such as the bayvers and the cricetaceans to finally take to the sea, while the searets would give rise to the leviahams, numbering among them some of the biggest marine predators during the Glaciocene when the cold seas were at their most productive and conducive to biodiversity.

--------------

[agentboon]

———  ＡＧＥＮＴ ＢＯＯＮ  [ leo woodall, homosexual, cismale + he/they, power augmentation ] wren fitzgerald is a lawful good agent of pandora selected for their success at the naval academy and flawless operation of rimpac made them an ideal candidate and underwent the top-secret mutation process. to the rest of the world, the twenty-seven year old originally from jackson hole, wyoming is deceased or missing. however, in atlantis, they are now known as boon of virtue after developing the ability to boost his allies' performance and special abilities. the agent has been with pandora for three years and is trusted for being compassionate & strategic, but once reprimanded for being overly generous & a stickler for the rules.

BASICS. agent boon was last on mission in ████ with agents ████, ████, and ████ on a counterintelligence mission before returning back to atlantis. this agent is known to be staunch in his ethics and morals, a bit playful and incredible generous. with a clean track record of success, he is often used as a support to boost others while being able to strategize for the sake of the mission. trained in hand-to-hand combat and general triage, his speciality are hostage situations and large naval battles.

BIOGRAPHY. wren fitzgerald always cries when he watches homeward bound. the softie can't help but feel such immense sorrow at the lost of your found community. he was a strange kid; good at sports, great with people, and overall someone who seemed to have that power to succeed no matter what. even in his blended family, in joshua tree, his father owned a chain of restaurants and his mother worked in a public relations firm. it wasn't until he was two that he really realized that his father and his mother and his other father (and his half-brother) were perhaps the talk of the town because they were bucking the system. he'd never blame his upbringing for his need for rigidity and structure but wren was the type of kid who colored inbetween the lines and was mostly straight-laced. it's what got him into JOTC in high school and into USNA (the naval academy) exactly at eighteen. flourishing under such rules, it was quick for him to climb the ranks and be tapped to become a spy. with two years of training and now three years being an operative has come with tough situations where he's had to weight his own moral code for the sake of the world.

PHYSICAL. agent boon is trained in general hand-to-hand combat with an emphasis of stunning or incapacitating his target. he fares better when dealing with suturing wounds or general triage, but he uses his intellect to the best of his ability to end his fights quickly.

MENTAL. despite not having an ability that enhanced his own mental capacity, agent boon has a high iq and enjoys strategizing for large scale warfare. in the naval academy, he became a grandmaster in chess and is quite astute to the delicate nature of hostage missions.

ABILITIES. agent boon's general ability enhances his own natural abilities first and foremost. he's a jack of all trades when it comes to his own general skills from his mind, physicality, agility, etc. where he really shines is through physical touch, he is able to amplify the abilities of another agent. with prolonged use of the augmented ability, the user can have adverse effects depending on their power.

[it-hurts-because-it-mattered]

Morrison's run on X-Men is such a fascinating thing to look back on because he establishes explicitly that Magneto can apply his control of electromagnetism to do... Basically anything on the small scale, and to apply unimaginable force on the large scale. He's more powerful than many gods in the marvel universe. And he also establishes that Magneto can work perfectly well with the X Men and follow his own principles and make his own decisions.

But he also caps off his run by making Magneto a deranged eugenicist concentration camp running monster out of absolutely nowhere.

All of which eventually earned the retcon that he can't apply his full mutant power because if he does then it fucks with the EM fields around his body enough that his brain goes fucky (which is a similar handwave to how Logan's agility and healing are *severely* inhibited by the adamantium) and he loses his mind.

He made the worst narrative choices he could and it was still salvaged into amazing character development.

[redpistol3088]

Zhou Jiayi.

My red dead online character.

Her backstory is inspired by the kind of lifestyle that Chinese immigrants lived during the late 19th century. Chinese migration to America (including Mexico and Canada) can be dated back to as early as 1847 (possibly before, too.) But mass migration from China to the US and Mexico was in its height from this time. A lot came over for work on the railroad, in factories, in mines (silver mines in Mexico), and also for education. Having connections between North America and China was an important connection. China was a figurehead for resources such as timber, rice, coal and luxuries such as silk, porcelain, precious metals, tea, and minerals; things that very much appealed to the fast developing West. But most importantly, people. Chinese migrants had skills that could not be replaced and were essential to America's development as a country. Though Chinese people were seen as 2nd class citizens, they were highly sought after for cheap, dangerous labour. The Chinese people who came over during the 19th and early 20th century were terribly mistreated, being paid a fraction pf what their white counterparts received. Due to the opium wars imposed by the British Empire further added to their struggles. Many of these people were desperate, addicted to opiates, in poor health and hardly valued as people.

Chinatowns were established in large towns and cities, a key example is San Francisco, whose Chinatown is very much alive today, which was formed by some of the first Chinese immigrants circa 1848.

Now, my character, Zhou Jiayi is just the way I present my interest in how Chinese immigrants formed the USA. My character has a backstory, created by myself that was formed around this historical data. My character is entirely fictional, but I tried to base it off somebody who may have existed.

Zhou Jiayi was born in Shanghai, China in April 1879. Herself and her family migrated from China in hopes of an education and a better life in this new, fast developing world. However, their expectations didn't quite meet the reality. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they ended up in Northern Mexico, and shortly escorted to work on the railroad. They lived in the harsh, arid, and unfamiliar climates that Chihuahua's desert had to offer, they found their circumstances unsatisfactory. Her father and uncle were sent to work on the new and developing railroad, and upon growing unwell, they were forced to move on. Due to the stigma surrounding migration in Mexico, they were unwelcome in towns.

Now the next part of my story is where we get historically inaccurate. But I added this part in order to fit the game's storyline where the protagonist is an outlaw:

At the age of 10, Zhou Jiayi is orphaned and living alone in the tiny settlement made by her family on the outskirts of a small village. Having no knowledge of either the English or Spanish language, she found herself stranded, starving, alone and afraid. Not before long, she was adopted by a gang of vigilantes, who took her in and provided her with everything that she needed. Still unable to speak, they learned to communicate with the youngster through body language. Nonetheless, she was a quick learner. The gang taught her how to hunt, trap, cook, use weapons such as rifles, knives, pistols and small scale explosives. She was proficient on horseback, and as agile as a cat. The gang were proud of their little protege.

Just like all gangs, vigilantes or not, they ended more or less the same way. The leaders were arrested and executed, the other weaker, small-members were left to fend for themselves, which ended in further arrests, deaths and runaways. The gang was disbanded just 4 years after taking Zhou Jiayi in. Luckily for her, she did know how to take care of herself but she was not prepared for the harsh lifestyle of living alone in such a difficult climate as a young lady who has no use of the language of the country she lived in. Eventually, she made her way into southern USA. She made her way into towns (now using Red Dead towns and geography), such as Armadillo and Tumbleweed. She came across women in unfortunate circumstances. They also took her in and taught her skills such as knitting, writing, reading and, how to fend for yourself. Not so long later, she found herself on the wrong side of the law after being caught stealing a few too many times. At first, the lawmen were lenient towards her, given her circumstances, but after a while, they grew tired of her behaviour, causing her arrest in late 1897. She was released from prison 6 months later in March 1898. Even though she was used to living as a wander, finding herself in rough areas, her time in prison and life in the desert made her unequipped for living in the Bayous of Lemoyne.

[desires-of-chain]

Been really obsessed with thinking about the chain as dragon shifters (similar to Volga in Hyrule Warriors) lately. Dragon features are incredibly hot as it is - big horns, sharp teeth and claws, big wings and tail - and thinking about the variety in presentations when in half dragon form, as well as certain aspects of dragon culture: specifically the idea of reader being part of the chosen dragon's hoard (or all the dragons present's hoard, if going poly/partial poly chain).

Gonna focus on just my fave few - Time, Twilight, Warriors - because those are who I've thought about the most with it and my personal faves.

Warriors is majestic. Bright royal blue in wings and scales, horns curling gracefully back from his forehead, tail agile and used to knock over enemies and curl around your waist in equal measure. Most fond of being in half dragon form, and has a habit of putting his scarf and other wearable trinkets on you as a way of marking you as his hoard. Will bamf out the wings just to curl around you and protect you with them while you sleep. If going with the dnd model of dragon colouration equalling type of elemental power, then Warriors dragon power is a bright crackling breath of lightning. Swift, seeking, shocking and tangible in the air when he's feeling high emotions. Electrifying kisses upon your neck and tingling touches on bare skin as he slowly and purposefully shows you exactly how prized you are within his hoard.

Time is the biggest by far, and even half dragon form has him shifting to tower over all else. Can't decide between stunning earthy greens or elegant chilling white for his colouration, but both work really well for him, so perhaps he's a mix of both. Call it a side effect of the Fierce Deity, that shock of white. He personally enjoys being either fully human or fully dragon most, but isn't afraid to shift to half form for you - whether that be to protect you in battle, wielding the biggoron sword in a single hand, or to really feed into the inevitable size kink you'd develop dating him. his horns curling around his ears from the top of his head, framing your faces while you kiss and enjoy the full weight and size of him on top of you, the biggest you've ever taken. The biggest you ever will take, because he's not letting you go now.

Twilight is deep shining blacks and greys, mirroring his wolf form with large thick horns that poke up and out like his wolven ears. He is by far the most possessive of them all - as far as he's concerned, you are his and his alone (only willing to share you in the polychain because the others treat you like divinity, and he likes you happy). He doesn't grow much in half form, if at all, but the aerial capability he gains with his large, powerful wings allow him to absolutely dominate the battlefield with soaring up and plunging down with all his strength and bulk. When it comes to you, he's completely fine with exerting his dragon authority to keep you protected and pleasured, his deep rumbling voice as his pounds into you letting everyone know for miles around that you are mated and taken.

With the three of them all laying claim to you, it's a lot of physical affection and big cuddle piles, a mess of wings and tails tangling in one another as they all try to curl around you. Perhaps the butting of heads (and horns) about not being able to share as well as they should, but one big puppy eyes from you has them all bending to your will without much fuss. And of course, when mating season comes along, you have your hands full with three very horny, very possessive dragons that all barely take turns completely ravaging you until they're satisfied. At least the nest they make is spectacularly comfy to rest in between rounds.

I think I'm gonna write something with Warriors for this - I really like the idea of reader getting a bit injured in a battle while separated from Warriors, and his dragon instincts to protect his hoard going haywire as he smells the blood. Just ripping through bokoblins in a rage, ignoring everyone else to take reader away from danger the second the battle is (mostly) over. Settling them down on the ground away from the chaos, wings covering them protectively as he patches the reader's wounds, growling and muttering about slaughtering whatever dared lay a hand on you, my hoard, my treasure, can't they see you're already claimed? And, of course, making sure reader knows just how much he cares about them, and how very much they are his. If they couldn't tell you were already part of his hoard, then he'll just have to lay claim to you all over again... make it obvious who you belong to.

Anyway. dragons hot. I'd be excited to see anyone else's thoughts on this concept, especially the other links' dragon forms

- wizard anon

🧙 anon,

I'm gon go feral, I swear to the gods, I will. This. This is the shit I was waiting for. Dragon chain. The dragon AU. I love the description you gave each of them. I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT! See if I could show what I imagine what their dicks look like, I would but Tumblr humbles people so I'm not gon risk it lmao.

I would like to have a Time pls. I wanna spoil him in scritches and love uwu

[marchubbardus]

Top 5 Reasons Companies Partner with Joaquin Fagundo for IT Strategy

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly evolving to keep up with the changing technological landscape. From cloud migrations to IT optimization, many organizations are turning to expert technology executives to guide them through complex transformations. One such executive who has gained significant recognition is Joaquin Fagundo, a technology leader with over two decades of experience in driving digital transformation. Having worked at prominent firms like Google, Capgemini, and Tyco, Fagundo has built a reputation for delivering large-scale, innovative solutions to complex IT challenges. But what makes Joaquin Fagundo such a sought-after leader in IT strategy? Here are the Top 5 Reasons Companies Partner with Joaquin Fagundo for IT Strategy.

1. Proven Expertise in Digital Transformation

Joaquin Fagundo’s career spans more than 20 years, during which he has worked on high-stakes projects that require a deep understanding of digital transformation. His experience spans various industries, helping businesses leverage cutting-edge technologies to improve operations, enhance efficiency, and streamline processes.

Fagundo has helped organizations transition from legacy systems to modern cloud-based infrastructure, allowing them to scale effectively and stay competitive in an increasingly digital world. His hands-on experience in cloud strategy, automation, and enterprise IT makes him an invaluable asset for any business looking to adapt to new technologies. Companies partner with Joaquin Fagundo because they know they will receive strategic insights and actionable plans for driving their digital initiatives forward.

2. Strategic Cloud Expertise for Scalable Solutions

Cloud technology is no longer a trend—it is the backbone of modern businesses. Joaquin Fagundo has an extensive background in cloud strategy, having successfully led major cloud migrations for several large organizations. Whether it's migrating to a public cloud, optimizing hybrid infrastructures, or implementing cloud-native applications, Fagundo’s expertise helps businesses navigate these complexities with ease.

Companies partnering with Joaquin Fagundo can expect a tailored cloud strategy that ensures scalability and cost-efficiency. His deep knowledge of cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure enables him to develop bespoke solutions that meet specific business needs while minimizing downtime and disruption. His approach not only focuses on the technical aspects of cloud migration but also on aligning cloud solutions with overarching business goals, ensuring that companies can reap the full benefits of cloud technology.

3. Strong Track Record of Driving Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency is a top priority for most businesses today. Companies partner with Joaquin Fagundo because of his exceptional ability to optimize IT operations and implement automation technologies that enhance productivity while reducing costs. Whether it’s through automating routine tasks or improving infrastructure management, Fagundo’s strategies enable organizations to streamline their operations and focus on growth.

Fagundo’s leadership in infrastructure optimization has allowed businesses to reduce waste, lower operational expenses, and improve the performance of their IT systems. His expertise in automation tools and AI-driven insights empowers businesses to become more agile and responsive to market demands. By partnering with Fagundo, companies are able to make smarter decisions, optimize resource utilization, and achieve long-term sustainability.

4. Business-Technology Alignment

One of the most significant challenges that organizations face is aligning their IT strategies with broader business goals. While technology can drive innovation and efficiency, it’s only effective when it is tightly integrated with the company’s vision and objectives. Joaquin Fagundo understands this concept deeply and emphasizes the importance of business-technology alignment in every project he undertakes.

Fagundo’s approach to IT strategy is not just about implementing the latest technology, but also ensuring that it supports the company’s strategic direction. He works closely with leadership teams to identify key business objectives and tailors technology solutions that drive measurable business outcomes. This focus on alignment helps companies ensure that every IT investment contributes to long-term growth, profitability, and competitive advantage.

5. Trusted Leadership and Change Management Expertise

Digital transformation and IT strategy changes often require a significant cultural shift within an organization. Change management is a critical component of any IT transformation, and this is an area where Joaquin Fagundo excels. Over the years, Fagundo has successfully led large teams through organizational changes, helping them navigate complex transformations with minimal resistance.

Fagundo’s leadership skills are a key reason why companies partner with him. He is known for his ability to inspire teams, foster collaboration, and lead through uncertainty. His people-centric approach to technology implementation ensures that employees at all levels are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed. Whether it’s through training sessions, workshops, or mentorship, Fagundo prioritizes the human aspect of IT transformation, making the process smoother and more sustainable for everyone involved.

Conclusion

Partnering with a technology executive like Joaquin Fagundo can provide businesses with a competitive edge in an increasingly digital world. With his deep technical expertise, strategic insight, and ability to align technology with business goals, Fagundo has helped countless organizations successfully navigate their IT challenges. Whether it's through cloud strategy, digital transformation, or operational optimization, Joaquin Fagundo is the go-to leader for companies looking to stay ahead of the curve.

If your company is ready to accelerate its digital transformation journey and leverage cutting-edge technology for long-term success, partnering with Joaquin Fagundo could be the first step toward achieving your business goals. With his proven track record, expertise, and leadership, Fagundo is the ideal partner to guide your organization into the future of IT strategy.

[reverieshifts]

𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔

𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒅𝒓

𝒃𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔

Humans are the shorter-lived race, rarely surpassing eighty to one hundred years, though some achieve greater longevity through skill, wealth, or rare magical means. They lack the ethereal beauty and inherent magic of the fae, yet their resilience and adaptability have allowed them to carve out vast civilizations.

Physically, humans are diverse, with varying heights, skin tones, eye colors, and builds, influenced by their environment and lineage. Unlike the fae, their features are often rougher, more practical, and shaped by hardship. While they do not possess innate magical traits, humans compensate with raw determination and ingenuity.

Compared to the fae, humans are:

Stronger in endurance: Though fae are naturally faster and more agile, humans can endure grueling conditions and prolonged labor.

More resistant to physical injury: Their bodies, while fragile, recover well from wounds compared to fae, who heal more slowly unless using magic.

Lacking in magic: They have no natural connection to magic, making it nearly impossible for them to wield it without external artifacts or costly rituals.

However, what humans lack in raw power, they make up for in their tenacity, resourcefulness, and ambition.

𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒚

Unlike the fae, who build their civilizations around tradition and harmony, human societies are constantly evolving, shaped by war, discovery, and conquest. Humans are driven by ambition, seeking to expand their knowledge, power, and influence—sometimes to their own detriment.

They are highly adaptable, able to thrive in diverse climates—from scorching deserts to frozen tundras—where fae might struggle due to their magical dependency. This adaptability has allowed humans to establish kingdoms, empires, and trade networks that rival even the oldest fae civilizations.

𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏:

Hierarchical: Power is typically concentrated among kings, queens, or ruling councils. Social mobility is possible but difficult.

Competitive and militaristic: Unlike fae, who avoid war unless provoked, humans frequently engage in conflict, seeing it as a means of advancement.

Technologically advanced: In the absence of magic, humans have developed machines, alchemy, and engineering to compensate.

Superstitious and fearful of magic: Magic is often seen as dangerous or corrupting, leading to distrust or outright persecution of magical beings, including fae.

Humans are capable of great kindness and great cruelty. While some seek peace, others strive for conquest, and their relationships with the fae have long been fraught with jealousy, fear, and war.

𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔

Without magic, humans have developed sophisticated weaponry and tactics to counter fae abilities. Their most feared invention is cold iron—a metal that disrupts magic and burns fae flesh on contact.

𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆:

Alchemy: A fusion of science and magic, allowing the creation of potions, poisons, and explosives.

Clockwork and steam tech: Some human kingdoms experiment with early mechanical inventions.

Siege warfare: Advanced fortifications, ballistae, and trebuchets for large-scale battles.

Naval power: Massive warships, capable of transporting troops and goods across vast distances.

Their greatest weapon, however, is strategy. Humans often outnumber fae in battle, using discipline and tactics to overwhelm their magically superior enemies.

𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒂𝒆

Human-fae relations have historically been tense, complex, and often hostile. Humans envy the fae’s immortality, beauty, and magic, while fae see humans as reckless, destructive, and short-sighted.

Throughout history, these differences have led to:

Wars and conflicts, with humans seeking fae lands and fae retaliating fiercely.

Fae being hunted, as humans seek to steal their power through captured artifacts or blood rituals.

Trade alliances, where human ingenuity and resources are exchanged for fae enchantments or rare goods.

Forbidden relationships, where some humans and fae defy expectations and fall in love—though such unions are often met with scorn.

Despite their differences, some human rulers have sought peace, recognizing that cooperation with the fae brings prosperity. However, distrust runs deep on both sides.

𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

Humans may be ambitious, but they are not without weaknesses. Their key limitations include:

Mortality: Their short lifespans mean they lack the centuries of knowledge and wisdom fae possess.

Lack of magic: Without artifacts or training, they cannot naturally wield magic.

Greed and short-sightedness: Their thirst for power often leads to self-destruction or reckless decisions.

Inferior physical abilities: Humans are much weaker, slower, and less agile than fae.

However, humans compensate for their weaknesses with numbers, strategy, and sheer willpower, making them a formidable force despite their disadvantages.

𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂

Ok, so I actually don't have much to add here. I think you all know what humans are, so congrats if you made it all the way through this.

[flappydragons]

Fun Facts about Tidal Stormwings! AKA Tempest's species.

Stormwings developed hand-like appendages on their main set of wings that aids in climbing

Young Stormwings can't fly until their wings reach a certain size

Have special nerves in their tailfins that conduct electricity.(So tazer tail)

Rely on lightning to cloak themselves and/or creating a mirror effect on the scales of their bodies.

Markings have meanings; Blue or Purple are common and are weakest to lightning strikes, silver is less common and have more resistance to lightning strikes, gold is the rarest mainly because they were deemed dangerous and were killed off.

They are semi-aquatic and can hold their breath for several hours.

Can produce a sonic roar that loud enough to cause other dragon's eardrums to burst or create air bubbles in the brain that if those bust open and cause brain damage.

Four Wings, one large set, one small set that helps in agility and control while in flight.

Militaristic

Have a winter festival called Yule'mar.

Have a sport called surge chasing.

At war with the Shadow'Wing tribe

Ruled by a king and queen.

[nitewrighter]

Oren Koth Overview

Name: Oren Koth

Superhero identity: Stormcrow

Species: Thanagarian

Hair: Coffee-black, straight but voluminous, shoulder length.

Skin tone: Beige-tan

Eyes: Amber. REALLY bad eye-bags.

Age: Developmentally 22 in comparative human years, but actual chronological age is unclear due to Thanagarians' different rates of aging and different scale of years/months/days compared to earth. Definitely chronologically older than he looks, but still a pretty young adult by Thanagarian standards.

Gender: Male (He/Him pronouns)

Base of Operations: Opal City

Abilities:

Thanagarian Physiology: Oren has highly enhanced sight and hearing, as well as a significantly higher strength, stamina, and pain threshold than most humans. Thanagarian Martial Training: A talented and intuitive cadet in the Thanagarian Military, Oren is skilled at both armed and unarmed combat, as well as some basic vehicular skills. Nth Metal Affinity: Like most Thanagarians talented enough to make it into the martial ranks, Oren is skilled with Nth metal as weapon, armor, and wings. He wields an Nth metal poleax and light armor and is an extremely agile and powerful flyer with his Nth Metal wings. Nth Metal-Aided Flight: Oren comes from later generations of Thanagarians who were genetically modified to have biological wings that largely exist to help develop the physical musculature to accommodate Nth metal wings. While technically capable of flight without Nth Metal, he doesn't have nearly the same speed or maneuverability, and even with Thanagarian stamina gets winded very very fast. Divine Metal Affinity: A chance and nearly deadly encounter with Dark Multiverse entities has granted Oren a mysterious (and inconsistent and unreliable) ability to interact with other divine metals from the world forge in ways other beings can't. He claims they 'sing' to him. The actual effects of this ability vary greatly upon the type of metal and how it is manifesting in our universe. Also, unfortunately, the divine metal he seems to run into the most is Dark Metal, which is kind of a pain in the ass. Dark Multiverse Sensitivity/Endurance: This same near-deadly encounter with Dark Multiverse entities permanently affected Oren's mind and senses, giving him the ability to sense incursions from the Dark Multiverse and a stronger will against the despair of these dark realities. Unfortunately with his mind more exposed to the Dark Multiverse than most, he suffers frequent nightmares of alternate realities. It also frequently causes him to self-isolate, believing himself to be a harbinger of terrible events (hence... Stormcrow.)

Likes: Metal music (firmly believes it is earth's greatest contribution to the multiverse), pigeon-keeping, everything bagels with red pepper cream cheese, Museums.

Dislikes: Being caught up in the edgy alternate universe elseworlds bullshit of people he has never even heard of, which is unfortunately a frequent occurrence.

Additional Gear:

Transmat Harness: Rannian technology adapted for Thanagarian physiology specifically to blend in on earth. Creates a pocket dimension to hide his wings.

Team Affiliations: The Omega Men (briefly), The Strange Family.

[chemanalystdata]

U.S. Liquid Carbon Dioxide Prices, News, Trend, Graph, Chart, Monitor and Forecast

The liquid carbon dioxide prices market has witnessed significant evolution over recent years as industries and regulatory bodies continue to recognize the importance of carbon capture and utilization in mitigating climate change, which in turn has spurred demand and competition among suppliers globally. Market dynamics have been largely influenced by a combination of factors such as increased industrial usage, energy efficiency advancements, and emerging environmental policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This ongoing trend has generated heightened interest among businesses in sectors like food and beverage, oil and gas, and chemicals, all of which rely on liquid carbon dioxide for its versatile applications including refrigeration, extraction, and carbonation processes.

As companies strive to balance cost-effectiveness with sustainability, the fluctuations in liquid carbon dioxide prices have become a critical element in strategic decision-making, prompting manufacturers to engage in careful analysis of market trends and long-term contracts to secure stable supplies. The evolving market environment is also driven by the necessity for rigorous quality control and compliance with international standards, ensuring that the liquid carbon dioxide delivered meets stringent purity criteria required for diverse industrial applications. Moreover, as technological advancements continue to drive efficiency improvements in the production and liquefaction processes, there has been a noticeable trend toward economies of scale that further impact pricing structures. Investors and market participants are paying close attention to the interplay between supply and demand, particularly as environmental considerations push for increased utilization of renewable energy sources and more sustainable industrial practices.

Get Real time Prices for Liquid Carbon Dioxide: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/liquid-carbon-dioxide-1090

Fluctuations in energy costs, along with the geopolitical landscape, also contribute to the variable nature of liquid carbon dioxide prices, making market forecasting both challenging and essential for businesses seeking to optimize their operations in an increasingly competitive global market. Furthermore, the emphasis on reducing carbon footprints has led to significant investments in research and development, aimed at discovering innovative methods to capture and store carbon dioxide more efficiently, and these technological breakthroughs have had a profound effect on production costs and pricing dynamics. Despite the inherent volatility associated with commodity markets, the liquid carbon dioxide sector has demonstrated resilience by adapting to shifting regulatory frameworks and market conditions, thereby offering promising opportunities for companies that are agile enough to leverage emerging trends.

In addition to traditional uses, the expanding interest in carbon utilization for enhanced oil recovery and even novel applications such as carbonated beverages has further diversified the demand landscape, compelling suppliers to innovate their production techniques to maintain competitive pricing while ensuring high quality. The strategic importance of liquid carbon dioxide in the broader context of sustainable development cannot be overstated, as it plays a pivotal role in industries that are fundamental to modern economies and everyday life, from food preservation to chemical manufacturing. This intricate market is characterized by a complex web of interdependencies where factors such as local production capabilities, transportation logistics, and storage solutions interact with global economic indicators to determine the final price observed by end-users.

As environmental policies become more stringent, the pressure on industries to reduce carbon emissions has accelerated the adoption of carbon capture technologies, which in turn has contributed to an increased reliance on liquid carbon dioxide for safe and efficient storage and transportation of captured gases. The market landscape is further complicated by regional variations in supply availability, with some areas benefiting from abundant natural resources and favorable regulatory environments, while others face challenges due to infrastructure limitations and higher production costs. Such disparities have led to a competitive environment where strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions are common, as companies seek to optimize their supply chains and secure more predictable pricing over the long term.

Additionally, the liquid carbon dioxide prices market is influenced by global economic trends, such as fluctuations in currency exchange rates and changes in international trade policies, which can have a direct impact on the cost structure and overall market dynamics. Industry experts emphasize the need for continuous monitoring of market indicators and suggest that businesses adopt a proactive approach by diversifying their sourcing strategies and investing in state-of-the-art production technologies to mitigate risks associated with price volatility. In light of these factors, the future of the liquid carbon dioxide market appears poised for growth, driven by increasing environmental awareness and the ongoing push for sustainable industrial practices. The market is likely to witness further consolidation as companies strive to achieve greater operational efficiencies and invest in advanced research to unlock new applications for liquid carbon dioxide.

As the industry continues to mature, stakeholders are expected to focus on creating more integrated supply chains that not only drive down production costs but also enhance the reliability and quality of the product delivered to end-users. Ultimately, the liquid carbon dioxide prices market represents a microcosm of the broader challenges and opportunities facing global industries in a world where sustainability and economic performance must go hand in hand. With technological advancements and policy-driven initiatives shaping the future trajectory of this market, companies that can successfully navigate the complexities of supply, demand, and regulatory compliance are likely to emerge as leaders in an increasingly competitive and environmentally conscious global economy.

Get Real time Prices for Liquid Carbon Dioxide: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/liquid-carbon-dioxide-1090

Contact Us:

ChemAnalyst

GmbH - S-01, 2.floor, Subbelrather Straße,

15a Cologne, 50823, Germany

Call: +49-221-6505-8833

Email: sales@chemanalyst.com

Website: https://www.chemanalyst.com