#Material Requirement Planning Software

[andmaybegayer]

Rambling: So much of this is just like. It's all the money, you can't get around the money. Engineering is primarily a cost optimisation problem, so is business, where do you buy your parts, how much do you pay your labour. The companies can make equal quality goods cheaper in China because of the industrial base. Western workers don't want to work in manufacturing because it doesn't pay as much or as reliably as other jobs.

I like reading articles and watching videos about factories and a thing you find with a lot of American factories is they're often highly specific niche industries where they don't have much competition or they're really low volume where less intensive manufacturing processes still work or they have big military contracts that give them their base income. Really it's wild how every little engineering shop in the US requires base level security clearance because they make the cable harness for the Hornet or whatever. And crucially, crucially: they employ 100 people. Planning to work for one of these companies is like planning to be a pro baseball player but you make $35/hr.

I studied in South Africa, and I studied electrical engineering, but like. That was my fifth or sixth choice from a personal interest perspective? As a teenager I was really into biochem. I really wanted to work on like. Bioreactor stuff. South Africa has okay industrial chemistry but not that much biochem. So why would I go spend five years getting a biochem Masters and hope I could find a job at one of like six companies. It's a bad move! Once again, baseball player odds! Mostly if you're lucky you'll get to fuck around in a half-related field for a few years and then you'll wind up with some office job that you found because it turns out running tests on paint shearing isn't personally fulfilling enough to make you stay in a lab job.

Hell, even taking the Good Hiring Engineering Job market, it's a goddamn pain in the ass to find any actual engineering work. I applied to dozens of internship positions every semester at engineering firms and workshops and never so much as heard back, whereas I could go to the software job fairs and get two offers and several interviews for a vacation job in a couple weeks. You can swim upstream to get in there but even if you're willing to take the pay cut, engineering jobs are slow moving and slow hiring, and in small departments your professional progression is often gated behind someone retiring or dying.

A while ago someone (was this Reggie? sounds like him EDIT: YEP) was talking about how part of the reason why no one in the US for the past 20 years can do like, epitaxial growth optimisation isn't because there's some philosophical or educational divison, but because anyone committed and driven enough to spend months optimizing that would just put that energy and commitment into going into software or becoming a quant or some other higher yield option. Meanwhile if you're a driven and focussed ladder climber in China there's dozens of factories looking for someone to do exactly this. The people in the West who are so into this that they still do it are often in academia, not industry, and that's an even more competitive and impenetrable sector to get into. Getting a PhD grad job in academic chip manufacturing is miserable, it's basically a six year long interview process that costs you hundreds of thousands of dollars that has a 0.1% chance of panning out.

Actually, I did once do a factory internship, it was my only nepotism internship, at a construction materials factory where my dad was a manager, and it was really interesting work! I had a lot of freedom in a small engineering team and I spent a while understanding a bag filling machine and reading manuals and tuning the control process and talking to floor workers and designing sheet metal parts to improve their jobs. And when I talked to the engineer supervising me I found out he was on a six month contract that wasn't getting renewed and he would be leaving the company basically the same time my internship ended. That company hadn't hired a full-time process engineer in ages, and probably never would if they could avoid it. Not encouraging!

People often say you should get into the trades because they pay well and are material fulfilling work. This is like. It's an elision. Successful tradespeople are in very high demand, but becoming a successful tradesperson is very, very finicky. I worked with a lot of electricians and millwrights and technicians, and for every tech who was successful and running a roaring business there were five guys stuck in eternal apprenticeships or struggling to make a name for themselves in the industry on their own. Some trades are great for this, other trades are 90% training scams where you spend nine months and five thousand dollars on a course that gives you a certificate almost no one cares about.

Every now and then I talk to an installation tech I used to work with who has a bunch of CCTV and security certs he got in the DRC, and he is just absolutely struggling to get by. There's already enough successful companies to serve the demand, why would you take a risk on this fly-by-night? He could find a technical job, and he does, but it's a dead end, everyone wants a base technician forever, they don't want you to upskill and move on. They hire in an external electrician to come in for an hour sign off on your work, and that's all you need.

You can't develop an industrial base unless it's appealing to work in the industrial base. If you're an industrialising nation, the appeal is "It's not farm work and you might get some real money instead of a sack of barley" but in a modern society you need to pay at least as well as the office jobs. If your industrial sector is small it can afford to only hire the most qualified people because it's a labour buyer's market, and that's how you produce a massive knowledge gap.

[mulletpermsicantlookaway]

Riding to Work

One afternoon in early summer, Brandon rode his bicycle home from work. He rode his bike to work and back nearly every day, if he could – it was his favorite part of the day. He had a good but unexciting job with a software company in an up-to-date large city in the western U.S. He fit the stereotype of a hipster tech worker perfectly. He had done well in school, had a solid job in his early twenties, and lived in a decent loft apartment just far enough away from his job to have some serious time on his bicycle. He wore nerdy-looking glasses that he actually needed in order to see. He dressed casually but fussily at the same time, and his long-on-top-faded-on-the-sides haircut, complete with a shaved-in part, required regular maintenance.

He rode to and from work in the same clothes he wore in the office, using a bicycle clip if he thought his skinny jeans or slim-fit pants might have enough material at the ankle to catch his chain. Anything he needed for work he carried in a messenger bag, even though there were hardly any actual bike messengers left in the city. He hadn’t lived there long, and he really knew no one except a few of his co-workers. He supposed that he was okay with that, but something still felt missing in some way, missing from his life, that is. The only time he felt fully alive was when he was riding his bike.

On a whim, he stopped by a cool-looking bar on the way home. “Might as well stop and have a drink – do something different for once,” he thought. The place had a moderate crowd, mostly other young urban types like himself, but no one he knew. Like most bars, the TVs were tuned to a few different sports channels.

Soon he was sitting by himself at a table, idly sipping on a mojito or a mule or something – he hadn’t really paid attention to what the bartender had recommended, but he was sure it began with an “m”, at least. His eyes wandered to one of the TV monitors. The channel was promoting its upcoming coverage of the Tour de France and showing clips from previous years. Even someone as low-key about sports as Brandon had heard of the Tour. That was the one bicycle race that nearly every American who wasn’t into bicycle racing had heard of.

He found himself drawn in, fascinated by the fast racing machines so unlike his single-speed commuter. The racers fascinated him, too, clad all in matching team kits of skin-tight spandex with tanned arms and tanned hairless legs. Without really understanding the tactics, he could see that the team members were working together to get certain racers into certain positions. And they moved so fast! He wondered what it would be like to be a racer on one of those teams, riding his bicycle all day. Those tanned, skinny guys in spandex, that was their job: riding a bicycle for a living. What would that be like?

The channel moved on to some other sport, and Brandon found his attention wandering. He finished his drink and headed home to another night alone in his hipster loft. He had hardly felt the alcohol, but he was intoxicated in a different way: he couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to be a professional bicycle racer, flying over those European roads so fast. It was all he could think about the whole night.

Waking up dully the next morning after restless dreams (which he couldn’t remember), he got ready to head to work. He felt better as soon as he got his bicycle moving into traffic. He was enjoying himself, as usual, but his mind kept wandering back to the racers in the Tour. The race was supposed to start today. He might actually decide to watch the coverage this year, he thought. Why not? He rarely watched sports, but it wasn’t as if he had other plans.

He suddenly came out of his reverie as a big delivery truck pulled out from a side street right in front of him. He hit the brakes as hard as he could, locked up the wheels, flew over the handlebars onto the pavement and blacked out.

« Bruno, mon pote! Lève-toi, lève-toi. Il faut qu’on aille! »

Hearing those words, he tried to rouse himself. He couldn’t remember where he was or what had just happened, but the voice was urgent – and familiar. Feeling very dizzy and disoriented, he stood up, examining his fallen machine. Instinctively he checked the handlebars and chain as he’d done countless times, looking for damage that would mean he’d have to get a spare off the team car. It was hardly the first time he’d fallen in a race, and it probably wouldn’t be his last. But putain – there was no way he was going to crash out of the Tour de France on his first day, though it seemed to happen to some unlucky rider or two every year. The bike looked good; other than a scrape or two in the finish, it was undamaged. It should be ridable, and he knew the team mechanics would check it out thoroughly later. He looked himself over next. He didn’t have a scratch. The only visible sign of damage was a small, ragged hole in his shorts, revealing a patch of undamaged skin much paler than his tanned legs and forearms. Why had he blacked out, then? He was sure he hadn’t hit his head, and his helmet didn’t have a dent or a scratch anywhere.

« Bruno » his fellow domestique and roommate Thierry said, more urgently this time: « Dépêche-toi! Allons! T’as quelque chose? »

« Bruno? » he thought. « C’est moi, Bruno? Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé? » Something about the name Bruno seemed wrong to him, but why would his own name seem wrong? In any case, he didn’t have time for daydreaming. Thierry was right; they needed to get back in the race. He got back on his machine and clipped in.

« Rien de trop grave, » Bruno replied to his teammate, who was already pedaling away from him. « Attend, attend un moment; j’ arrive. »

A number of racers were still trying to get back on their bicycles. Some were still on the ground. Maybe a few would have to abandon. The chatter of the racers around him, speaking in half a dozen different languages while his race radio was jabbering in his ear, did not help his feeling of disorientation. His thoughts felt foreign in a way that he couldn’t define, as if he were a different person or thinking in a different language. A couple of riders near him were speaking German, which he understood barely a word of, and a couple of others were speaking English, which he understood better. Foreign languages had always come hard for him. Thankfully, he and Thierry were on a French team.

It wasn’t just his head that felt strange, though; even his body seemed different. But as he finally got his bicycle moving at race speed and locked onto Thierry’s wheel, his feelings of otherness lessened. He fell into the comforting rhythm of turning his pedals. He never felt more alive than when he was on his bicycle. That had been one constant in his life as long as he could remember, and now that he was actually in his first Tour, he couldn’t imagine his life getting any better. He wasn’t going to blow this chance. Their team had one of the best GC contenders the French had had in years. This year they had a real shot at winning.

Even though the rhythm of racing was as familiar to him as breathing, Bruno still felt a vague sensation of unease. He was safely back in the middle of the peloton, but the pace felt insanely fast. Why did it seem as if he’d never ridden this fast before? His body felt so light and small. His arms were thin, and he didn’t have a speck of fat, or a lot of muscle, anywhere on his upper body. But his legs looked strong; he could see the striations of his powerful thighs through the spandex of his bib shorts, and his diamond-shaped calves bulged above the tops of his socks. The warm breeze felt amazing on his smooth legs today. They were always particularly sensitive after a fresh shave, and he and Thierry (and probably every other rider in the Tour) had made a point of shaving last night in preparation for opening day. Bruno had almost forgotten what it was like to have leg hair anyway. When he was still a teenager, he used to let his hair grow back in the off season, partly because some of the guys at school made fun of him for having no leg hair. But that first shave of the season was such a hassle! Soon he had decided it was easier to just keep it up all year. He was a professional bike racer, after all. Leg hair just looked wrong on him now.

The feeling of disorientation had mostly passed, until it came back again strongly at his first pause naturelle. Now his penis somehow seemed alien to him. What was with all that skin over the head? Oh right, that was just his foreskin. Perfectly normal. Why should he be circumcised, after all?

He put that thought aside and got back in the race. He and Thierry had a lot of work to do. They spent the day doing the kinds of things that domestiques normally did. They carried water bottles and other necessities to their teammates. They took turns pulling their sprinters and GC contenders to keep them fresh. The stars had to be kept from becoming exhausted, after all. Bruno and Thierry weren’t stars, not yet; no one cared if they got exhausted. That was their job. Bruno was happy enough just to be on a team that was riding in the Tour.

Unfortunately, their star sprinter didn’t win the stage, but Bruno and Thierry got a little bit of attention from the press. They were interviewed – sort of – by a British reporter looking for riders who were in their first tour. The problem was that there was no interpreter. The reporter barely spoke any French, and Thierry had laughed out loud at Bruno’s English. Bruno couldn’t blame him. His prof d’anglais had always said Bruno was hopeless. He just didn’t have the knack for foreign languages. He’d studied Italian, because it was supposed to be one of the easiest for a French speaker to pick up, but he found even Italian challenging. English was far worse. It had so many bizarre sounds that were impossible to reproduce. The reporter’s strong London accent hadn’t helped; Bruno was sure he would have done much better understanding an American. Thierry had translated the reporter’s questions, but Bruno hadn’t managed to say much more than a laborious “I yam veree ‘appee to be in ze tour”. In truth, Thierry’s English wasn’t great, either, but it was way better than Bruno’s.

Mercifully, the interview was soon over. They rode the team bus back to the hotel, giving everyone a chance to recap the day’s action. Dinner gave them both more time to socialize with the rest of the team, but their directeur sportif insisted on everyone getting to bed early, naturally. Back in his room, another wave of disorientation hit him as he got ready for bed. He stopped dead in front of the mirror, staring at a face that was familiar and strange at the same time. He couldn’t think of what was bothering him. His thick, dark brown hair was cut in a no-nonsense buzz cut; the last thing he had wanted was hair getting in his way while he was racing. His soft brown eyes stared back at him. What was different about them? Wait. Where were his glasses? But no, he didn’t wear glasses or contacts. Why did he think he did? Shaking his head at his expression of bafflement in the mirror, he got ready for bed.

Bruno was surprised by how quickly he fell asleep. He was tired enough, but he was so keyed up after a day of racing that he thought he would be awake for hours. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

In the middle of the night, Bruno had a dream. It was a confusing dream; he dreamt of someone else’s life, some tall, skinny, American guy living in a large apartment and working for some kind of software company. He felt a vague distaste for the man, yet he seemed familiar, as if he should know him. Then he heard a voice. “Brandon, Brandon!” it called. He woke from his dream – or thought he had.

“Branne-donne?” Bruno questioned out loud. « C’est qui ce Brandon? »

“You don’t need to talk out loud,” said the voice, slowly and in English. “Only you can hear me. You have a choice to make. You can still go back, but you need to choose now.”

Thierry stirred in his sleep. Bruno was afraid for a moment that he’d wakened, but Thierry started snoring again steadily – as usual.

“He won’t wake,” the voice said. “I have to explain. The man you dreamed of – his name is Brandon. You used to be Brandon. But Brandon wanted to experience the life of someone who rode his bicycle for a living, a racer in the Tour de France. Through an extraordinary gift, you have been given that opportunity. But now you have to choose which life you want to live. You can go back to being Brandon again. Or you can remain Bruno. The choice is up to you.”

“Quoi? De quoi tu parles? Oh yes! I remembair now,” said Bruno, speaking out loud despite what the voice had said. Remembering Brandon had made it easier to understand English, and he had switched languages without realizing it, until he heard the bizarre sounds coming out of his mouth. He fell silent for a moment, hesitating. Bruno’s lips and tongue were simply not capable of making the sounds he heard Brandon making in his head. No wonder Thierry had laughed at him. He tried again: “But what ‘appen to Brandon if I stay ‘ere?” He grimaced at the odd-sounding, halting words, but the voice seemed unconcerned.

“Reality will adjust to your choice, Bruno. Neither you nor anyone else will remember that Brandon ever existed.”

“And eef I become zees Brandon again, what ‘appen to me, you know? What will ‘appen to Bruno?” Bruno was losing his self-consciousness as his labored English started to sound normal to him.

“You will wake up as Brandon, after a very vivid dream.”

Bruno considered. He could remember more of Brandon, now – dimly. Brandon was a good guy, sure. He made plenty of money, and he had a good life – for a young, lonely American in a big city. But his life was empty. He had nothing in his life but his job, and Brandon didn’t even love his job. He remembered that now vividly. The only thing he really loved was riding his bicycle. That was the link between Brandon and himself.

Thierry snorted in his sleep, louder than usual. His snoring was so annoying! But he was used to it. He and Thierry weren’t just roommates for the Tour; they’d shared an apartment ever since Bruno had joined the team. Thierry was a bon gars and a good friend, he remembered. They’d had a lot of amazing times together. As for the other guys on the team, well, he wasn’t as close to them as he was to Thierry, but they were great guys, too. And they had a real shot at winning this year. It was the fucking Tour de France, after all. He wasn’t going to miss that. His team needed him. No way was he going to let them down.

Of course, whichever choice he made involved sacrifices. Wistfully, Bruno realized that Brandon would probably have made more money than Bruno ever would. Brandon was probably smarter, too. Bruno knew he’d never been the best student, but he had managed to pass his bac, at least – barely. On a sudden whim, wanting proof that Bruno was real and not just a dream, he got out of bed and grabbed his wallet, looking for his carte d’identité.

It was there in his wallet, right where he always kept it. Reassured, he smiled as he read the official French document. He was born in Beauvais? He supposed that was right. He realized that he was thinking completely in French, and his memories of Brandon were already fading. The choice was easier than he’d thought. He’d already made his decision, hadn’t he? It was time to let Brandon go.

« T’es sûr? » the voice asked.

« Oui. Absolument. »

« Eh bien, Bruno, t’as choisi. Adieu, et bonne nuit! »

Bruno put his wallet back on the nightstand, wondering why he had thought he would need it in the middle of the night. He must have had some weird dream. He was pretty sure he had been dreaming, but any memory of it had already faded. He’d better try to get some sleep. Thierry was snoring soundly, and they had a long day of racing in the morning.

[rotzaprachim]

This is a post I think is absolutely Not Wrong but is also a pretty common laymans take about really complex issues made by linguists, educators and language planners around language teaching and style! These decisions often revolve around two issues:

Language is not neutral and strongly indexes region culture class and identity

ways to make language accessible and usable may involve decisions that are not linearly indexed to an Oppressive and Oppressed language form

What do I mean? I mean that “why does language software only teach one specific dialect” is as simple as BECAUSE IT IS MUCH MUCH EASIER FOR HUMAN BEINGS TO LEARN ONE SPECIFIC DIALECT. Why does it teach Standardized form? Because there is pretty much never just One country bumpkin form, and those separate “country bumpkin” forms are often not mutually intelligible to each other! Language teaching materials may well teach the queens English/ep instead of, say, rural Alabama English or rural Yorkshire English because the product is intended for audiences as wide as speakers in India, esl learners from Romania and living in the uk, and francophone elementary students in Canada. Does that mean that Rp is the only “right” English or that it’s better in some ways? No! It doesn’t even mean that the decision to teach rp is an inherently neutral one. It just means that questions of how to ensure usability and access are often infinitely more complex than people assume.

The problem with well meaning posts like this one is that they assume there IS “a vocabulary and speaking style of most native speakers,” which is almost never the case. The decision to choose a particular “standardized” form often decides this, implicitly, but so do reactionary responses like this one. Instead, the issue is that language planning must by nature choose A VERSION, and usually not all versions, and that those decisions are complex as hell and require careful thought - often there are some outright strange decisions, but there are also some that don’t have an “easy” or good answer, and being able to think critically about them is a central aspect of linguistic justice.

In ref to the specific examples, I almost never see resources for Americans focused on Castilian Spanish - which I should know as someone trying to learn Castilian because it’s closer for the dialect filipino intellectuals actually wrote in. (Why the fuck would someone want to learn [blank] dialect well cause they want to]zInstead you get a semi formalised Latin American accent (that sometimes tends towards upper class Mexico City but not in all ways). While there are significant problems with the lack of dialect specific materials for various accents of latam spanish, a lot of the reasons behind the choice of this form come from the fact that..: there is no one single latam spanish, and many of the speakers in the U.S. speak significantly different dialects of Spanish! To choose, say, the Spanish of Guadalajara leaves out speakers of the Spanish or El Salvador or Puerto Rico etc. nuance

[emberdew]

Be More Ghost Chapter 11: Upgrade

Summary:

A Be More Chill AU where Danny gets a Super Quantum Intel Unit Processor (or Squip) to help him become cool and win over Valerie, but things don't really go as planned.

Masterpost | AO3 Link | Word Count: 1,993

C’mon, Danny can’t you see we got a plan,  now be a man.  You start with Star,  and then progress,  then we assess  and soon success!

The Squip ended up dragging Danny all the way outside the school. It had mostly stopped glitching out but its outline still buzzed a little like it was agitated. Its hair, which was usually slightly neater than Danny’s, was sticking out in different directions like Danny’s does after he gets out of bed. Even its sunglasses were slightly askew.

“What was that about?” Danny asked.

I’m sorry, but that girl does not see you as relationship material. Squip-Phantom adjusted its sunglasses and ran a hand through its hair, which smoothed down into its usual neat look. 

“I know! That’s why I got you!” Danny felt exasperated. One failure and the Squip was acting like Technus after Tucker hacked into the ghost’s software? Maybe it wasn’t as good as Danny thought it was.

And you’re sure you want her? She already broke up with you once and she actively hunts you! There are plenty of other students at this school. Squip-Phantom’s face matched Danny’s expression of frustration like a mirror. Then it relaxed and turned its head as if looking at something that wasn’t there. I’m accessing footage of the boy’s basketball team right now. It’s very impressive. 

“I want to date Valerie.” Danny had heard this argument a thousand times from Sam and Tucker already and he knew it was weird that he was still hung up on her, but he wouldn’t give up his crush. He couldn’t!

You’re sure about that? Squip-Phantom seemed resigned to Danny’s stubbornness. It could read his mind after all, so it knew how sure Danny felt about this.

Danny nodded. 

Very well. 

“So how can I get her to date me?”

You can’t. 

“What?” Danny clenched his fists. What was the point of getting a Squip if it couldn’t help him get what he wanted? 

…Yet. Becoming the kind of man who can impress Valerie requires more than working out a few bugs. Squip-Phantom raised its sunglasses and Danny saw its eyes start glowing brighter in excitement as it explained its plan. You’re going to need to reboot your reputation. Supercharge your social standing. You need to upgrade!

“Huh?”

You need to get popular. Squip-Phantom winked and lowered its sunglasses again. Tear ducts: activate. 

Danny felt his eyes welling up with tears. Before he realized what was happening, he started sobbing uncontrollably. What had the Squip done to him?

Through vision blurred by tears, Danny saw Star walk up to him with a sad smile.

“Danny! I’ve been looking for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Danny gasped out between hitched breaths. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“I do.” Star patted his back soothingly. Danny wiped his eyes and looked up at Star.

“You do?” 

“And I totally understand. They’re saying it was a freak ice skating accident.”

“What are you talking about?” Danny looked questioningly at Squip-Phantom, who just motioned for him to keep paying attention to Star. What was going on?

“Oh my god, you don’t know!” Star’s eyes widened. “Chip Skylark’s dead!”

“Chip Skylark is dead?” Danny’s mouth hung open in shock. 

“I mean, I was never into him because most of his songs were about teeth which kind of freaked me out but-” Star gestured to Danny’s shirt, which he just remembered was emblazoned with the singer’s face, “I know you liked him so…”

Star continued trying to comfort him but Danny could not focus on her right now. He turned to Squip-Phantom, who was hovering nearby.

“Did you know this was going to happen?”

Of course not. 

“So it’s a coincidence you told me to wear this shirt?” Danny arched an eyebrow.

Of course not. Squip-Phantom cracked a smile. 

“Wait, what?” Danny grabbed Squip-Phantom’s arm in alarm. “Did you kill Chip Skylark?”

No, Squip-Phantom shrugged, not exactly. My quantum processor allows me to envision probable futures-

“Like Clockwork,” Danny remembered the Squip had tried to explain this before, but he was still reeling. 

A little bit. So while I did not know that, today, Chip Skylark would be run over by a Zamboni, I was aware of the probability of a… favorable outcome. 

“Favorable for WHO?” Danny cringed at the thought of the Squip using someone’s death as some part of a master plan. It felt too much like something Vlad would do. But before he could reconsider his life choices, a warm arm wrapped around his shoulders.

“It’s okay, Danny,” Star spoke gently into his ear. “You don’t have to be alone right now.”

Danny started to pull away but Squip-Phantom stopped him. 

You need to get popular and here's a popular girl who likes you. You need to go where she leads.

Hesitantly, Danny obeyed. This close to Star, he could smell the nice vanilla-scented perfume she used. Her blonde hair was really shiny in the afternoon sunlight. As they walked together to the bleachers by the football field and sat down, Danny thought maybe letting Star lead him for a little bit wouldn’t be so bad.

“This is my favorite place behind the school.” Star grinned at Danny and he smiled back. “Isn’t the sun on the bleachers muy bonito?”

Danny nodded. The weather was pretty nice, but he still felt a chill. He wished he had brought his favorite NASA hoodie.

“Being here with you right now makes me feel like our future is so clear, you know?” Star gently placed her hand on Danny’s as he looked into her turquoise eyes. 

Danny felt like his tongue was caught in his throat, so he just nodded again. 

“I’ll tenderly guide you.” Star leaned forward and Danny’s brain started shutting down.

Danny turned to his other side where Squip-Phantom was relaxing while slightly hovering above the bleachers. When it caught Danny looking, it shifted down to sit close to his side and grabbed his other hand. 

I’ll tenderly guide you, Squip-Phantom echoed.

Danny stared into his reflection in Squip-Phantom’s dark sunglasses. He shifted in his seat and tilted his head back.

Just take me inside you… Squip-Phantom leaned in closer to Danny, forever.

Danny turned away so he wasn’t facing Star or Squip-Phantom. With them leaning close on both his sides, he felt a little overwhelmed. He turned back to Squip-Phantom when its hand grasped his shoulder.

Your half-life was so pitiful before, Squip-Phantom grinned as it swept its other hand out in a grand gesture, now it’s time to go all the way and more! You gotta get an upgrade!

“Upgrade?” Danny still wasn’t completely sure what the Squip meant, but it did sound like a good thing. But he still felt kind of bad for lying to Star. Would an upgrade really be worth it?

Upgrade, Squip-Phantom nodded, don’t worry about feeling guilty- just take a breath and seal the deal.

Squip-Phantom offered a hand and Danny shook it. 

“Guess I gotta get an upgrade.”

___

After putting her books in her locker, Valerie sighed when she saw Dash walking down the hallway toward her. 

“Hey,” Dash leaned against the locker next to hers. 

Valerie ignored him and pretended to be busy shoving things into her backpack.

“You’re not gonna say hi?” Dash took a step closer and put a hand on her locker door. 

“I was,” Valerie slammed the locker door shut, which almost caused Dash to fall over, “at ghost hunting club.” 

Dash stood up straight and gave Valerie an apologetic look, but she had already turned and started walking away. 

“I wanted to be there.” Dash took a few hurried steps to catch up to Valerie. She shot him a glare but stopped to let him continue. “But it was the same time as the play rehearsal…”

Valerie didn’t have anything to say to Dash. She didn’t know why she bothered letting him explain himself.

“Which is why I had to quit. I don’t want to do every extracurricular at school, I just want to do yours.”

“Oh.”

“And I’ve been tryna be a better man, for real,” Dash ran a hand through his short blond hair, “I’m sick of playing this role I’m s’posed to play.”

Valerie hasn’t expected that from Dash. He was just some dumb popular jock who got whatever he wanted. Even when they were both in the A-Listers, she hadn’t seen this side of him before.

“Valerie, don’t you ever feel that way?” Dash’s blue eyes looked into hers and Valerie felt her cheeks heating up. Maybe she should give Dash another chance.

“I-”

“Do you wanna come over to my place tonight?” Dash interrupted in an awkward rush. He rubbed the back of his neck. “We could get all sporty and toss a ball around, or get a movie and just kick it for a while.”

Dash gently put a hand on Valerie’s shoulder and smiled. Valerie found herself smiling back.

“My parents won’t be home so it’s alright,” Dash said. “They laundered money so now they’re on the run-”

“That’s illegal!” Valerie exclaimed, shaking off Dash’s hand in her shock. Dash brushed it off and continued.

“Yeah, but now the house is empty, so we can have fun!”

Valerie burst out laughing. Dash’s priorities made no sense, but she couldn’t help finding him endearing.

“You aren’t like other girls, Valerie. I don’t know if you know it, but I’m sure that for me you are an upgrade.” Dash boldly grabbed Valerie’s hands in his, and to Valerie’s surprise, she let him.

“Upgrade?” Valerie tilted her head slightly.

“Upgrade,” Dash nodded, “let’s be each other’s upgrade.” 

“Oh, wow.” Valerie felt a little flustered with Dash’s hands holding both of hers. “Well, I am flattered, but I’m not sure-”

“You gotta take the upgrade!” Dash flashed a handsome grin.

Valerie squeezed his hands and nodded.

___

Danny turned back to look at Star, who seemed totally unaware that Danny had been distracted by the Squip and hadn’t been paying attention. He wasn’t even sure how long she had been talking at him.

“When I’m with Paulina, people always look at her first,” Star said, not meeting Danny’s eyes. “But at the mall? You looked at me.”

Danny smiled slightly and nodded. Star looked up at him and leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder.

“And like, Paulina’s my best friend, but sometimes I’m tired of always being her satellite. I just want someone to see me first.”

Danny awkwardly patted Star’s back to try to comfort her. At the edge of his vision, he saw the Squip giving him a thumbs up.

The bell rang and Star and Danny started walking back to the school. After promising to sync up later, Star waved goodbye and walked down the hall to her next class. Danny leaned against his locker and sighed. 

That went well.

Danny jolted several feet in the air when the Squip materialized in front of him. Danny was glad the hallway was empty as he gently floated back to the ground.

“Don’t do that!” Danny suddenly understood how Sam and Tucker felt when he appeared out of nowhere right in front of them. The Squip just gave him a cocky grin.

Danny looked down the hallway where Star had left a few moments ago. 

“I still don’t feel good about manipulating Star like this…” Danny rubbed his shoulder where she had rested her head while basically pouring her heart out to him earlier. “It just feels wrong.”

C’mon Danny, can’t you see? Squip-Phantom moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. We’ve got a plan- you start with Star and then progress. 

Danny gave Squip-Phantom a wary look, but the Squip just squeezed his shoulder.

Just be a man, you can do this! You’ll have success with Valerie in no time!

“Valerie…” Danny whispered. Right, he was doing this so he could date Valerie. That would make everything worth it, right?

[delightfultastemakerbeliever]

The Advantages of Screen Recording in Education in Education

In the era of digital learning, screen recording has emerged as a transformative tool for educators. By enabling the capture and sharing of instructional content, it provides new ways to deliver lessons effectively and engage students. Whether you're conducting online classes or enhancing traditional teaching methods, screen recording can be an invaluable asset. Below, we explore the key benefits and best practices for using this technology in education.

Benefits of Screen Recording in Education

Flexibility

Screen recording offers unmatched flexibility for students, allowing them to learn at their own pace and revisit materials as often as needed. This is especially advantageous for those who may struggle with certain concepts or require additional time to fully understand the material.

Consistency

Screen recordings ensure consistency in instruction. By recording your lessons, you can deliver the same high-quality content to all students, regardless of when or where they access the material. This is particularly beneficial for large classes or remote learning environments.

Engagement

Interactive features in screen recordings, such as quizzes and clickable links, help boost student engagement. These dynamic elements make the learning process more enjoyable and encourage active participation. Students are more likely to stay focused and retain information when they are involved in interactive learning experiences.

Best Practices for Educational Screen Recordings

Plan Your Recordings

Careful planning is key to creating effective screen recordings. Outline the key points you want to cover and prepare any necessary materials in advance. A well-structured plan ensures your recordings are clear, concise, and impactful.

Use High-Quality Screen Recording Software

Choosing the right screen recording tool is essential. A reliable screen recorder for education, such as ScreenRec, offers features like screen and audio capture, annotation tools, and the ability to add interactive elements. With its user-friendly interface, ScreenRec makes it easy to create professional and engaging educational content.

Keep Recordings Concise

Long, drawn-out recordings can overwhelm students. Instead, break your content into manageable sections, each focusing on a specific topic. Short, targeted recordings make it easier for students to absorb information and revisit specific sections as needed.

Incorporate Interactive Elements

To maximize engagement, include quizzes, clickable links, and other interactive features in your recordings. These elements not only reinforce key concepts but also encourage students to actively participate in the learning process.

Screen recording has revolutionized the way educators deliver content, providing flexibility, consistency, and enhanced engagement for students. By following best practices and using a top-tier screen capturing tool for teaching like ScreenRec, educators can create impactful lessons that cater to diverse learning needs. Whether you're teaching complex concepts or guiding students through hands-on tasks, ScreenRec can help you elevate your teaching methods and ensure every student has access to high-quality education.

Learn more: https://screenrec.com/elearning-software/screen-capture-software-for-teaching/

[lonestarflight]

AU Space Shuttle Enterprise

Circa 1985 to 1987

From my Alternative History Post (link) this is how the Space Shuttle Enterprise evolved from the 4th operational orbiter in 1985 to the prototype unmanned shuttle.

More History on the Shuttle:

• April 1983: Enterprise is returned to Palmdale for her disassembled and rebuild.

• As a weight saving measure her mid-fuselage is returned to Convair for a complete rebuild to bring it inline with OV-103 and OV-104.

• to further lighten her frame, her aft-fuselage is rebuilt with similar materials as her sisters.

• Engineers at Rockwell suggests rebuilding or replacing her wings as well but NASA doesn't have room in the budget.

• May 1985: at long last, Enterprise is rolled out and joins the fleet. She weighs slightly less than Columbia. Her main issue is her wings are heavier and weaker than the other Orbiters.

• September 1985: STS-21 is Enterprise's first mission

• 1987: During the Shuttle hiatus following the Challenger Disaster, she went through a mini refit that saw her exterior markings change. (NASA in this timeline returned to the Meatball logo sooner than in the OTL)

Circa 1988 to 1993

• April 1988: STS-30 is Enterprise's first launch following the hiatus.

• December 1993: following STS-61, Enterprise is retired due to being the oldest in the fleet. Endeavour takes her place in the fleet.

• June 1994: Enterprise is flown to Dulles Airport, Washington DC, and is given to the Smithsonian for eventual display when the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is built. NASA retains the option recalled her if needed.

• 1998: NASA studies modifying the Shuttle-C software to work on the Space Shuttle and potentially using Enterprise as a reusable Shuttle-C. The reasoning behind this option this configuration would be a cheaper alternative to the X-33 program. However, while the shuttle could be retrofitted with the software, the shuttle would have less cargo capacity than the X-33 and still required use of expensive legacy launch facilities (ie VAB and LC-39). The study ends with only the software in a beta state.

• December 2003: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is opened with Enterprise being one of its major exhibits.

• November 2003: the Shuttle-C software is used to return STS-118 Columbia to Earth and with critical damage to her structure (mainly her port wing and some internal damage from a collapsed landing gear).

• May 2004: NASA recalls Enterprise to replace Columbia.

• August 2004: initial plans are to return her flight, unmodified. However, NASA develops the Shuttle-C software further and changes it's name to A.S.Tr.O.S (Autonomous Space Transport Operating System).

• New wings! Enterprise is fitted with new wings which are of a modified design and lighter and stronger than the wings of her sisters. With other upgrades and modifications, she is slightly lighter than her younger sisters.

• Some within NASA joking refer to her as Enterprise-A, as a reference to Star Trek.

• September 2006: to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her unveiling to the media, Lockheed-Rockwell rolls her out of their Palmdale facility to rechristen the Shuttle. In attendance, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nicholas, Walter Koenig, Christopher Doohan and Rod Roddenberry.

- when asked by the media, Leonard remarked she is still a sight to behold and is glad she will continue her mission of exploration.

Enterprise A (unmanned)

• July 2006: to test the A.S.Tr.O.S. during a return to earth and landing, a new series of Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) were conducted with NASA's 747 SCA (N905NA) at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base. 15 flights are flown to put the software in the real world, with two astronauts on board to step in when needed. Barring some higher than normal landing speeds, the software passes all of its objectives.

• It should be noted, while the rebuilt Enterprise is mainly used as an unmanned orbiter, this is a misnomer. It is more accurate to call her a hybrid shuttle. NASA has the option to convert her back into a manned shuttle if desired or needed.

- This nearly was used in 2015 during STS-154. Space Shuttle Atlantis was after conducting maintenance/upgrades on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the crew was unable to disconnect the shuttle from the telescope. CTS-48 Enterprise was already on LC-39B for a cargo mission to the International Space Station. All that was needed was to remove supplies from the payload bay and reinstall the seats in her crew space. Fortunately, this rescue wasn't needed as the Astronauts conducted an unscheduled EVA and manually disconnected the Shuttle from the HST.

• November 2008: first flight of Enterprise-A (CTS-11)

• When Columbia was given a cosmic restoration for her display, the first set of wings from Enterprise was used to replace her damaged one.

• 2019: Enterprise is retired for the final time following CTS-74.

• 2020: Enterprise is on display at Space Center Houston with the restored Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft prop.

Original artwork by bagera3005: link, link, link

[meanbossart]

Asks about VaM, art advice, and miscellaneous stuffs

HI! Real quick please refrain from referring to Sad Sack as S/S for the uh... Obviously reasons LOL We call it "sads" for short!

If what you're asking for are recommendations for a website to host that kind of thing, Neocities, Twitter, Itchio and as you mentioned AO3 are all perfectly good options! Patreon too (depending on how gnarly you're planning on getting) but I'd suggest keeping that as a secondary host option because I don't think it lends itself super well for getting your work circulating. I believe Bluesky allows that kind of thing too, but I'm not too sure since I don't use it.

Now, If you're asking about public reaction rather than guidelines, anywhere you go you might find people that don't jive with the work you do 🤷 just be upfront about the type of content you're making right off the bat to avoid having anyone stumble upon it by accident to the best of your abilities, otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much. I know we're constantly exposed to examples of overwhelming harassment and "dogpilling" happening to others but... Truth be told, most of us won't ever get to the size/internet level of fame where we experience that. I think the threat is a little bit... Overstated, nowadays. Not to mention that most of the time people are getting harassment for things that have nothing to do with their work, and rather relating to their behavior and attitudes. Play smart, be responsible, and be honest! Whatever comes next is in god's hands LOL

Thank you for the ask! Not sure I was of much help 😅 but frankly when you're just starting out it's best to focus on getting the work done first and just throwing it out there, wherever it may be. You can worry about technicalities like that later!

I GOT YOU MAN the full sketch is now up on my patreon!

YES AND YES WHETHER IT BE STORIES OR ART OF DU DROW AND YOUR CHARACTERS SLAMMING PINTS TOGETHER BE MY GUEST PLEASE

I love seeing everyone's take on my weirdo so much, anything is honestly welcomed!

AW DUDE thank you so much! Especially for suffering through the mammoth of a story that ANE turned into - writing has never been my strongest point so I'm always shocked to hear from people that enjoy it 🥲

About the booze question, honestly I'm not picky at all, I usually go by price and by that I mean whatever is cheapest LOL but I prefer a dry white as far as types go.

You only have to pay for it once! You get a code that unlocks the software and all of it's features and you're free to cancel your subscription after that. At some point the code might change or there might be an update that requires subscribing again - but that seems like a very rare occurrence so I wouldn't worry about it.

OH NO I HAVE DEFINITELY TRACED MY OWN REFERENCE BEFORE, but not entire poses! When something is challenging I'll make a point of drawing it out the usual way.

I can remember a couple of instances from Nick and mine's comic where I traced pictures I took of myself, just as a time saving measure. Again like I said in the post, there are several ways to employ tracing your own material that is perfectly acceptable. I have also traced bare-bones 3D backgrounds that I made for the same reasons.

I know you specifically asked about tracing when something's complicated, but I still wanted to be upfront to demystify the practice under different circumstances. The rule of thumb is to never use it when you know it would be inhibiting your skill development!

Happy to hear you wanted to pick up the skill! I definitely understand the urge too LOL since playing BG3 and becoming so invested in the stories and characters my art has improved a ton, simply from forcing me out of my usual style and making me want to capture different moods and scenarios - finding something you're passionate to draw is, frankly a great damn start.

I replied to a bunch of asks asking for pointers and advice a while back, one of the questions was very similar to yours and I still stand behind the advice I gave then. Hopefully you can find something helpful here! https://meanbossart.tumblr.com/post/740543514692173824/some-art-advice-asks-ive-been-meaning-to-reply

HMMM I don't usually think of myself as the best teacher/tutorial guy, but funnily enough I can think of a few things about this topic that I could elaborate on lol. If I do that in the near future, I'll put it up on my patreon (for free as with everything else.)

If there are any specific things about it that you (and anyone else who would be interested in it, for that matter) find challenging and would like for me to focus on, let me know!

---

That's all for now folks, and as usual thank you so much to everyone who's left a nice compliment, word of encouragement or funny tidbit in my inbox as well! I can't reply to you all individually, but I see and read all the messages I get c:

HAVE A LOVELY REST OF YOUR WEEK

[mariacallous]

Europe is under siege—not by armies but by supply chains and algorithms. Rare-earth minerals, advanced semiconductors, and critical artificial intelligence systems all increasingly lie in foreign hands. As the U.S.-China tech cold war escalates, U.S. President Donald Trump battles Europe’s attempt to regulate tech platforms, Russia manipulates energy flows, and the race for AI supremacy intensifies, Europe’s fragility is becoming painfully clear. For years, policymakers have warned about the continent’s reliance on foreign technology. Those alarms seemed abstract—until now.

Geopolitical flashpoints, from the Dutch lithography firm ASML’s entanglement in the U.S.-China chip war to Ukraine’s need for foreign satellite services, reveal just how precarious Europe’s digital dependence really is. If Europe doesn’t lock down its technological future, it risks becoming hostage to outside powers and compromising its core values.

Fragmented measures aren’t enough. A European Chips Act here, a half-implemented cloud or AI initiative there won’t fix a system where every layer—from raw materials to software—depends on someone else. Recent AI breakthroughs show that whoever controls the stack—digital infrastructure organized into a system of interconnected layers—controls the future.

The U.S. government ties AI research to proprietary chips and data centers through its Stargate program, while China’s DeepSeek masters the entire supply chain at lower costs. Europe can’t keep treating chips, supercomputing, and telecommunication as discrete domains; it needs a unifying vision inspired by digital autonomy and a grasp of the power dynamics shaping the global supply chain.

Without a coherent strategy, the continent will be a mere spectator in the biggest contest of the 21st century: Who controls the digital infrastructure that powers everything from missiles to hospitals?

The answer is the EuroStack—a bold plan to rebuild Europe’s tech backbone layer by layer, with the same urgency once devoted to steel, coal, and oil. That will require a decisive mobilization that treats chips, data, and AI as strategic resources. Europe still has time to act—but that window is closing. Our proposed EuroStack offers a holistic approach that tackles risks at every level of digital infrastructure and amplifies the continent’s strengths.

The EuroStack comprises seven interconnected layers: critical raw materials, chips, networks, the Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, software platforms, and finally data and AI.

Every microchip, battery, and satellite begins with raw materials—lithium, cobalt, rare-earth metals—that Europe doesn’t control. China commands 60-80 percent of global rare-earth production, while Russia weaponizes gas pipelines. Europe’s green and digital transitions will collapse without secure access to these resources. Beijing’s recent export restrictions on gallium and germanium, both critical for semiconductors, served as a stark wake-up call.

To survive, Europe must forge strategic alliances with resource-rich nations such as Namibia and Chile, invest in recycling technologies, and build mineral stockpiles modeled on its strategic oil reserves. However, this strategy will need to steer clear of subsidizing conflict or profiting from war-driven minerals, as seen in the tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the latter’s criminal complaints against Apple in Europe—demonstrating how resource struggles can intensify regional instability.

Above this resource base lies the silicon layer, where chips are designed, produced, and integrated. Semiconductors are today’s geopolitical currency, yet Europe’s share of global chip production has dwindled to just 9 percent. U.S. giants such as Intel and Nvidia dominate design, while Asia’s Samsung and TSMC handle most of the manufacturing. Even ASML, Europe’s crown jewel in lithography, finds itself caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China chip war.

Although ASML dominates the global market for the machines that produce chips, Washington is using its control over critical components and China over raw materials to put pressure on the company. To regain control, Europe must double down on its strengths in automotive, industrial, and health care chipsets. Building pan-European foundries in hubs such as Dresden, Germany, and the Dutch city of Eindhoven—backed by a 100 billion euro sovereign tech fund—could challenge the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and restore Europe’s foothold.

Next comes connectivity, the digital networks that underpin everything else. When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Kyiv’s generals relied on Starlink—a U.S. satellite system—to coordinate defenses. And U.S. negotiators last month suggested cutting access if no deal were made on Ukrainian resources. Europe’s own Iris2 network remains behind schedule, leaving the European Union vulnerable if strategic interests clash.

Meanwhile, China’s Huawei still dominates 5G infrastructure, with Ericsson and Nokia operating at roughly half its size. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has even floated buying Starlink coverage, underscoring how urgent it is for Europe to accelerate Iris2, develop secure 6G, and mandate a “Buy European” policy for critical infrastructure.

A key but often overlooked battleground is the Internet of Things, or IoT. Chinese drones, U.S. sensors, and foreign-controlled industrial platforms threaten to seize control of ports, power grids, and factories. Yet Europe’s engineering prowess in robotics offers a lifeline—if it pivots from consumer gadgets to industrial applications. By harnessing this expertise, Europe can develop secure, homegrown IoT solutions for critical infrastructure, ensuring that smart cities and energy grids are built on robust European standards and safeguarded against cyberattacks.

Then there is the cloud, where data is stored, processed, and mined to train next-generation algorithms. Three U.S. giants—Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—dominate roughly 70 percent of the global market. The EU’s Gaia-X project attempted to forge a European alternative, but traction has been limited.

Still, the lesson from DeepSeek is clear: Controlling data centers and optimizing infrastructure can revolutionize AI innovation. Europe must push for its own sovereign cloud environment—perhaps through decentralized, interoperable clouds that undercut the scale advantage of Big Tech—optimized for privacy and sustainability. Otherwise, European hospitals, banks, and cities will be forced to rent server space in Virginia or Shanghai.

A sovereign cloud is more than a mere repository of data; it represents an ecosystem built on decentralization, interoperability, and stringent privacy and data protection standards, with client data processed and stored in Europe.

Gaia-X faltered due to a lack of unified vision, political commitment, and sufficient scale. To achieve true technological sovereignty, Europe must challenge the monopolistic dominance of global tech giants by ensuring that sensitive information remains within its borders and adheres to robust regulatory frameworks.

When it comes to software, Europe runs on U.S. code. Microsoft Windows powers its offices, Google’s Android runs its phones, and SAP—once a European champion—now relies heavily on U.S. cloud giants. Aside from pockets of strength at companies such as SAP and Dassault Systèmes, Europe’s software ecosystem remains marginal. Open-source software offers an escape hatch but only if Europe invests in it aggressively.

Over time, strategic procurement and robust investments could loosen U.S. Big Tech’s grip. A top priority should be a Europe-wide, privacy-preserving digital identity system—integrated with the digital euro—to protect monetary sovereignty and curb crypto-fueled volatility. Piece by piece, Europe can replace proprietary lock-in with democratic tools.

Finally, there is AI and data, the layer where new value is being generated at breakneck speed. While the United States and China have seized an early lead via OpenAI, Anthropic, and DeepSeek, the field remains open. Europe boasts world-class supercomputing centers and strong AI research, yet it struggles to translate these into scalable ventures. The solution? “AI factories”—public-private hubs that link Europe’s strengths in health care, climate science, and advanced manufacturing.

Europeans could train AI to predict wildfires, not chase ad clicks, and license algorithms under ethical frameworks, not exploitative corporate terms. Rather than only mimicking ChatGPT, Europe should fund AI for societal challenges through important projects of common European interest, double down on high-performance computing infrastructure, and build data commons that reflect core democratic values—privacy, transparency, and human dignity.

The EuroStack isn’t about isolationism; it’s a bold assertion of European sovereignty. A sovereign tech fund of at least 100 billion euros—modeled on Europe’s pandemic recovery drive—could spark cross-border innovation and empower EU industries to shape their own destiny. And a Buy European procurement act would turn public purchasing into a tool for strategic autonomy.

This act could go beyond traditional mandates, championing ethical, homegrown technology by setting forward-thinking criteria that strengthen every link in Europe’s digital ecosystem—from chips and cloud infrastructures to AI and IoT sensors. European chips would be engineered for sovereign cloud systems, AI would be trained on European data, and IoT devices would integrate seamlessly with European satellites. This integrated approach could break the cycle of dependency on foreign suppliers.

This isn’t about shutting out global players; it’s about creating a sophisticated, multidimensional policy tool that champions European priorities. In doing so, Europe can secure its technological future and assert its strategic autonomy in a rapidly evolving global order.

Critics argue that the difference in mindset between Silicon Valley and Brussels is an obstacle, especially the bureaucratic nature of the EU and its focus on regulation. But other countries known for bureaucracy—such as India, China, and South Korea—have achieved homegrown digital technology from a much lower technological base than the EU. Indeed, through targeted industrial policies and massive investments, South Korea has become a world leader in the layers of chips and IoT. The EU currently already has a strong technological base with companies such as ASML, Nokia, and Ericsson.

European overregulation is not the issue; the real problem is a lack of focus and investment. Until now, the EU has never fully committed to a common digital industrial policy that would allow it to innovate on its own terms. Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s recent report on EU competitiveness—which calls for halting further regulation in favor of massive investments—and incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bold debt reforms signal a much-needed shift in mindset within the EU.

In the same spirit, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched a defense package providing up to 800 billion euros to boost Europe’s industrial and technological sovereignty that could finally align ambition with strategic autonomy.

If digital autonomy isn’t at the forefront of these broader defense and infrastructure strategies, Europe risks missing its last best chance to chart an independent course on the global stage.

To secure its future, Europe must adopt a Buy European act for defense and critical digital infrastructures and implement a European Sovereign Tech Agency in the model of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—one that drives strategic investments, spearheads AI development, and fosters disruptive innovation while shaping a forward-looking industrial policy across the EU.

The path forward requires ensuring that investments in semiconductors, networks, and AI reinforce one another, keeping critical technologies—chips, connectivity, and data processing—firmly under the EU’s control to prevent foreign interests from pulling the plug when geopolitics shift.

Europe’s relative decline once seemed tolerable when these risks felt hypothetical, but real-world events—from undersea cable sabotage to wartime reliance on foreign satellite constellations—have exposed the EU’s fragility.

If leaders fail to seize this moment, they will cede control to external techno-powers with little incentive to respect Europe’s needs or ideals. Once this window closes, catching up—or even keeping pace—will be nearly impossible.

The EuroStack represents Europe’s last best chance to shape its own destiny: Build it, or become a digital colony.

[essential-randomness]

Enter the FujoVerse™

Starting 2024's content creation journey with a bang, it's time to outline the principles behind the FujoVerse™: an ambitious (but realistic) plan to turn the web back into a place of fun, joy, and connection, where people build and nurture their own communities and software. (You can also read the article on my blog)

The Journey

As those who follow my journey with @bobaboard or read my quarterly newsletter (linked in the article) know, the used-to-be-called BobaVerse™ is a collection of projects I've been working on since 2020 while pondering an important question: how do we "fix" the modern social web?

Obviously the joyless landscape that is the web of today is not something a single person can fix. Still, I loved and owed the internet too much to see it wither.

After countless hours of work, I found 3 pillars to work on: community, software ownership and technical education.

Jump in after the cut to learn more about how it all comes together!

Community

Community is where I started from, with good reason! While social networks might trick us into thinking of them as communities, they lack the characteristics that researchers identify as the necessary base for "true community": group identity, shared norms, and mutual concern.

Today, I'm even more convinced community is a fundamental piece of reclaiming the web as a place of joy. It's alienating, disempowering, and incredibly lonely to be surrounded by countless people without feeling true connection with most of them (or worse, feeling real danger).

Software Ownership and Collaboration

As I worked with niche communities "software ownership" also became increasingly important to me: if we cannot expect mainstream tech companies to cater to communities at the margins, it follows that these communities must be able to build and shape their own software themselves.

Plenty of people have already discussed how this challenge goes beyond the tech. Among many, "collaboration" is another sticking point for me: effective collaboration requires trust and psychological safety, both of which are in short supply these days (community helps here too, but it's still hard).

Education (Technical and Beyond)

As I worked more and more with volunteers and other collaborators, however, another important piece of the puzzle showed itself: the dire state of educational material for non-professional web developers. How can people change the web if they cannot learn how to *build* the web?

(And yes, learning HTML and CSS is absolutely important and REAL web development. But to collaborate on modern software you need so much more. Even further, people *yearn* for more, and struggle to find it. They want that power, and we should give it to them.)

Once again, technical aspects aren't the only ones that matter. Any large-scale effort needs many skills that society doesn't equip us with. If we want to change how the web looks, we must teach, teach, TEACH! If you've seen me put so much effort into streaming, this is why :)

And obviously, while I don't go into them in this article, open source software and decentralized protocols are core to "this whole thing".

The Future

All of this said, while I've been working on this for a few years, I've struggled to find the support I need to continue this work. To this end, this year I'm doing something I'm not used to: producing content, gaining visibility, and putting my work in front of the eyes of people that want to fight for the future of the web.

This has been a hard choice: producing content is hard and takes energy and focus away from all I've been doing. Still, I'm committed to doing what it takes, and (luckily) content and teaching go hand in hand. But the more each single person helps, the less I need to push for wide reach.

If you want to help (and read the behind the scenes of all I've been working on before everyone else), you can subscribe to my Patreon or to my self-hosted attempt at an alternative.

I deeply believe that in the long term all that we're building will result in self-sustaining projects that will carry this mission forward. After all, I'm building them together with people who understand the needs of the web in a way that no mainstream company can replicate.

Until we get there, every little bit of help (be it monetary support, boosting posts, pitching us to your friends, or kind words of encouragement and support) truly matters.

In exchange, I look forward to sharing more of the knowledge and insights I've accrued with you all :)

And once again, to read or share this post from the original blog, you can find it here.

[bmv1]

Custom Prints: How to Choose Printers That Align with Your Architectural Needs

In the architecture industry, the quality of printed materials significantly impacts the presentation and execution of projects. Various printing technologies are available to meet these needs. How can architects ensure they choose the right printer that aligns perfectly with their requirements? This challenge is crucial for maintaining high standards in architectural work.

This guide will help you steer the options available, highlighting the critical factors to consider. Selecting the ideal printer for architectural uses involves understanding the different types of plotters and their capabilities. Each type offers distinctive benefits depending on the specific needs of your projects.

Understanding Plotter Printers

They are indispensable in architecture because they can handle large-format prints essential for detailed architectural drawings and blueprints. These produce crisp, high-resolution images on large paper sizes, crucial for detailed work. When choosing a plotter, it’s essential to consider the types available:

Pen plotters use pens to draw on paper. They are great for high precision but generally slower than their modern counterparts.

The Inkjet plotter’s spray ink allows for a broader range of colours and faster output. They are suited for both high-quality presentations and standard drafts.

Laser Printers for Fast Outputs

Laser printers might be the way to go for architects needing quicker print jobs for client meetings or internal reviews. These are not typically used for large format prints but are excellent for smaller, high-volume tasks where speed is critical. They deliver fast and reliable outputs, although with a slight compromise on the fine detail that plotters can achieve.

Key Features to Consider

Resolution and Quality

The resolution of a printer dictates the clarity and detail of the printed document. High-resolution printers are essential in architecture because they ensure that every line and detail of the sketches and plans is visible and clear. Generally, a higher DPI (dots per inch) rating indicates better resolution.

Speed and Efficiency

Time is often a constraint in project deliveries, making a printer’s speed another vital consideration. However, the choice should carefully balance speed and quality, as some fast printers may sacrifice detail for quicker output. Evaluate its speed in the context of typical project sizes and deadlines.

Media Handling

Architectural printing often requires different media types, ranging from thick card stocks to glossy-finish papers for high-quality presentations. Ensure the printer can handle the diversity of media you use in your practice. Check for the maximum and minimum paper sizes and whether the printer supports roll-fed or sheet-fed options.

Cost Considerations

Initial Investment vs. Long-Term Costs

Printers come with varying price tags; often, higher-priced models offer greater versatility and quality. However, the ongoing operating costs, such as ink or toner, maintenance, and paper, must be considered. A cheaper one can lead to higher long-term expenses due to inefficient ink usage or frequent maintenance needs.

Ink or Toner Expenses

Depending on the type, the ink or toner cost can significantly affect the overall cost of ownership. Plotters typically use ink, which can be pricey, especially if it is inefficient. On the other hand, toner used in laser printers might be less expensive per page, especially for high-volume printing.

Connectivity and Software Integration

Ease of Use and Compatibility

A printer’s compatibility with existing architectural software is crucial in today’s digital-focused workflow. Seamlessly integrating with software like AutoCAD, Revit, or other design tools can streamline the printing process, reducing errors and saving time.

Network Connectivity

Consider printers with built-in network capabilities that allow multiple users to access it across the office network. Wireless printing and cloud capabilities are additional features that enhance flexibility, enabling you to print from various devices or even remotely.

Environmental Impact

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

With an improving focus on sustainability in architecture, the environmental impact of your office equipment should be noticed. Look for printers with energy-saving features and those that meet environmental standards like ENERGY STAR. Additionally, consider the ones that offer features like automatic duplex printing to save on paper.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right printer involves weighing various factors, from print quality and speed to cost and environmental impact. By understanding the specific demands of your architectural projects and how different printers meet those needs, you can select a printer that fits your budget and enhances your firm’s productivity and output quality. The right one becomes invaluable in bringing architectural visions to life, ensuring every print reflects the precision and detail your projects deserve.

By considering the detailed needs of your practice—including the different types of plotters available—you can choose a printer that not only meets but enhances your professional output. A well-chosen one will serve as a reliable tool that supports your creative process, ensures high standards are maintained, and ultimately contributes to the satisfaction of your clients. Invest wisely, and your chosen printer will prove integral to the precision and efficiency of your architectural endeavours.

[foundationsolution1]

Unveiling The Intricacies Of Excavation: Delving Deeper During Construction

Excavation:��the simple term encapsulates a myriad of skills, procedures, and safety measures that contribute significantly to every construction project. Most construction work begins with the careful removal of earth, making a hole or channelling the ground to prepare for the erection of buildings or laying of pipelines. As commonplace as it might seem, excavation is a crucial part of construction that requires extensive planning, expertise and precision.

To begin with, what exactly is excavation? Technically, it’s the process of moving earth, rock or other materials from a site with tools, equipment, or explosives. It includes earthwork, trenching, wall shafts, tunnelling and underground. Yet, in the context of construction, excavation extends beyond mere digging. It modulates the terrain to suit the structural requirement, ensuring the safety and stability of the ensuing structure.

At the heart of every excavation project is the objective to create a stable, safe, and efficient worksite. Basic excavation work typically follows the same series of steps. First, a site assessment is undertaken to determine the composition and stability of the soil, presence of water or rock layers, and any potential hazards. The comprehensive analysis garnered from this assessment then directs the excavation strategy.

Next comes site preparation, which involves clearing the area of any vegetation, debris, or existing structures. This process ensures a clean slate for construction work while minimising the risk of accidents and disturbances during excavation. Benching or sloping techniques could also be implemented on the site to prevent collapse or landslide from happening, thus achieving safety protocol adherence.

The actual excavation work is executed in a carefully measured and precise manner. Whether it’s done manually with shovels and wheelbarrows or mechanically with bulldozers, excavators and backhoes, the work is always carried out meticulously. Technology has indeed become an integral part of excavation, with engineers using software to model excavations prior to deployment, minimising surprises or miscalculations.

Trench excavation is another common practice where a narrow excavation is crafted that is deeper than it is wide. Used mostly for laying pipes, cables and service lines, trench excavation greatly increases the safety of workers by preventing cave-ins and providing easy access to the worksite.

Wet Weather excavation is a challenging scenario frequently encountered on work sites. Here, strategic measures are taken to handle water accumulation. Pumps can be used to remove water, and dewatering methods may be deployed to minimize the water table level.

Post excavation work, structures are erected, pipes are laid, and soil is replaced around the new structure or channel. Again, this is done with extreme care to ensure the stability of the structure and prevent unnecessary exertion of pressure.

In every construction project, the importance of excavation can’t be overstated. It lays the foundation for a safe and successful build. Despite it being a process often overlooked or simplified by laymen, and sometimes perceived as the mundane act of digging, it is, in fact, a scientific procedure replete with precision and tactical stratagems, rivalling the complexity of the structure it prepares ground for.

From the analysis of soil composition to the final touch of replacing the removed dirt, excavation attests to the power of human intervention over nature, moulding the earth to suit the burgeoning demands of urban structures and infrastructures. Understanding its finer details, we may appreciate more deeply the caveats of the construction world and marvel at the impressive structures made possible by these complex and elemental earth movements.

Tagged Construction, Excavation, Foundation Solutions, Intricacies Of Excavation

[starheart-blog]

SCP-XXXX: Emma, the Cartoon Fox

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-XXXX is to be housed in a standard humanoid containment cell, modified with cartoon-themed furnishings (e.g., brightly colored furniture, cartoon posters). SCP-XXXX is to be provided with a variety of art supplies, including drawing tablets, animation software, and traditional art materials. Interaction with SCP-XXXX is permitted with personnel who have demonstrated a high level of understanding of cartoon physics and a tolerance for unpredictable behavior.

Any attempts by SCP-XXXX to breach containment should be met with non-lethal deterrents, such as cartoon-themed traps or comedic sound effects. Personnel should avoid direct confrontation and instead attempt to redirect SCP-XXXX’s attention with engaging activities.

Description:

SCP-XXXX is a sapient, two-dimensional cartoon fox, named Emma, capable of manipulating cartoon physics. SCP-XXXX stands approximately 3' tall and possesses a cheerful, energetic demeanor. Emma has demonstrated the ability to stretch, flatten, and otherwise alter her form in ways consistent with classic cartoon animation. She can also create cartoon-style objects and effects, such as anvils dropping from the sky or temporary invulnerability via a "bubble shield."

Emma claims to have originated from an extradimensional space inhabited by other cartoon entities. She expresses a strong desire to create and entertain, and often displays works of art during testing.

SCP-XXXX exhibits a strong emotional attachment to a former SCP Foundation employee known as Mamba (formerly designated G-783), a shapeshifting entity who escaped Foundation custody. SCP-XXXX becomes distressed when Mamba is mentioned and expresses a desire to reunite with her.

Addendum XXXX-1:

On $$DATE REDACTED], SCP-XXXX was discovered to be in communication with SCP-XXXX-1 via drawings and animated shorts. SCP-XXXX-1’s is Mamba and the entity is an escaped SCP Foundation employee. The content of these communications primarily consists of expressions of affection and plans for reunification. Foundation personnel are currently monitoring these communications for potential security breaches.

Addendum XXXX-2:

During a containment breach on $$DATE REDACTED], SCP-XXXX demonstrated a heightened level of cartoon physics manipulation, creating elaborate cartoon traps and distractions to evade capture. Notably, SCP-XXXX displayed increased aggression when Foundation personnel attempted to restrain or harm her, suggesting a protective instinct towards Mamba.

Object Class Rationale:

SCP-XXXX is classified as Euclid due to her sapience, unpredictable behavior, and ability to manipulate cartoon physics, requiring special containment procedures. Her emotional attachment to Mamba and potential for heightened aggression during containment breaches further necessitate this classification.

[rigelmejo]

'lazy' study activities

Yes, this is an extension of the big monster 'study plan' post I am working on. The big study plan post will link more tools and articles to use, this is more like a short suggestion of study activities you could try.

(Scroll to the bottom to see the SUMMARY)

If you already watch cdramas, continue to do so. Download Google Translate app on your phone (and Pleco, and any other translation app you like). Watch cdramas that have hard chinese subtitles on the videos - many youtube cdramas already are like this (you see chinese hanzi subs on the videos). Keep watching with english subtitles on too. Every 3-5 minutes, look up a word or phrase you're curious about. Google Translate allows you to type in words or phrases with pinyin, so if you see 小心 or 你放心 or 他死了 in the cdrama, you can type what you hear 'xiaoxin' or 'nifangxin' or 'tasile' to get the translation. If you don't hear the pronunciation clearly, or don't know pinyin letters-pronunciation well, then you can also do writing input and write in the hanzi you see on the hard chinese subtitles. I'm left handed and didn't know the stroke order as a beginner, my handwriting is usually incomprehensible to writing recognition software, and google translate still usually figured out which hanzi I was writing. So yeah, just watch what you'd normally watch and look up a word/phrase every 3-5 minutes as curious. This activity will ADD up. In a few months you might know a lot of words. If you are a beginner, maybe start with this activity and just keep doing it for a while. Eventually you'll start to pick up dozens of words, maybe even a few hundred. You'll probably eventually get curious about what grammar you're looking at, how to parse the sentences, how to remember hanzi better, and you can use that curiosity as motivation to push you to do some of the more 'intensive' study activities like learning about hanzi and grammar.

Not the laziest activity, because it does require reading an education material: but all you have to do is read it. You don't need to memorize, or study intensely, just read leisurely through it once. Read this dong-chinese pinyin guide, when you have decided you're a bit annoyed you can't figure out the pinyin to type the words you're trying to look up in cdramas. Or read it when you're eager to try typing with a chinese phone keyboard so you can type in hanzi instead of using writing-input, since typing the correct hanzi will make looking up new words easier. (To type hanzi you just type the pinyin, then pick from the hanzi suggested). Reading through this will take as little as 15 minutes, to as long as several days if you're just reading 1 section of it a day in 3-5 minutes. If you enjoy re-reading and reviewing, you might spend a few hours total on this pinyin guide. But if you're lazy? Just read through once, and know you can always come reference it again later if you're confused and want to clarify something. If you plan to learn zhuyin, you can check out the zhuyin guide at the top-right tab of the linked page.

Also not the laziest activity on here, as it will require reading educational material for 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on your reading speed and if you split it into different days and if you personally enjoy reviewing or not. Again, just read through these once when you have a few free minutes to spare. If you're a beginner, you'll appreciate the basic information about hanzi and how they work.

Part 1: Chinese characters in a nutshell

Part 2: Basic characters and character components

Part 3: Compound characters

Part 4: Learning and remembering compound characters

Part 5: Making sense of Chinese words

Part 6: Learning and remembering compound words

If you are a beginner and don't know much about tones, you may also want to spend 20 minutes to 2 hours on some days/weeks you have free on these informational things on tones:

Four Tones Explanation (great explanation video)

Tone Combination Practice (with some useful notes in it)

When Do Chinese Tones Change (good explanation, helpful 3rd tone explanation)

Accent Lab Mandarin Tone Pairs (I recommend this tool for listening practice, and later in your study to check on increasing your listening skills)

And finally, 2 textbook explanations of tones that I've found useful here and here.

Learning new words: if you find the pace of learning slow from just shows, are getting eager to learn more words FASTER so you can understand more? There's a few options.

There's SRS apps like Anki (or Pleco app's flashcard area), and if you enjoy flashcards or can focus on flashcards better than me, then if you do SRS apps 15-30 minutes a day the studying WILL add up. I cannot focus on such apps though, and once my focus burns out it takes me 1 hour to study 5 words... when for most people, they take 5 minutes to study 20 words or more in these apps.

If you're like me and can't focus long term on doing something like flashcards. Option 1: you can still use an SRS app like anki. Just cram 'new words/sentences' ONLY for a few days or weeks (so when you can get through as many words as other people you try to get through as many words as you can in 30 minutes to 2 hours), and when you start to feel the focus fade then switch to only review cards (and only New review cards until you've reviewed everything once). Quit reviewing when the focus is totally gone. You may finish reviewing everything, or you may not. Doesn't really matter. The initial 'new words/sentence' cards were to get an initial exposure of this means X, just like watching shows gives you that initial exposure the first time you look up an unknown word. You will 'review' these words more by seeing them in cdramas and other things, especially when you're still a beginner who needs to learn a few thousand common words. Option 2: same activity, but use a word list (or word list with sentence examples) online or printed on paper. Read through the list once over a matter of days until focus fades, then try to read through the list a second time (review) until focus is lost.

Option 3: Audio flashcards my beloved. If you REALLY do not want to look at flashcards for 15-30 minutes a day, or like me you REALLY can't focus at all on flashcards sometimes (because if 5 minutes take an hour to study like for me it's not very time effective ToT), audio lessons and audio flashcards will be your friend as a beginner. If efficiency is not your highest priority, I suggest you go to the Hoopla or Libby library apps, and looking up 'chinese lessons' or 'learn chinese' and try out some of the audiobooks and audio courses. Also go on Spotify and look up 'learn chinese' and try out some of the podcasts (I used to listen to Coffee Break Chinese), look up lessons on youtube (and things like "chinese sentences english translation"). ANY lesson that speaks chinese sentences, then speaks the english translation? Perfect, you can use it. Anything that tells you the chinese, then the english translation, is making sure you understand the chinese being used enough to start learning it. If you want to be particularly efficient with your time, you'll want to prioritize listening to audio that has MANY new chinese words per lesson. I listened to the chinese spoonfed anki audio files, chinese/english sentence audio, with new words or grammar in every sentence, but also a lot of words re-used in new sentences so i'd get some 'review' of words I'd heard before even if I only listened to new audio files until I finished. Those audio files have ~7000 sentences and probably a bit less words but still thousands. Immersive Languages (library audio lessons you can use) and Chinesepod101 would probably also have fairly information dense lessons.

Why are audio lessons and audio flashcards lazy? Well, particularly when it's just english/chinese sentence audio, you can listen to it while doing your regular daily schedule. Fit 30 minutes or even hours of listening a day, into when you're driving, commuting, walking, cleaning, cooking, grinding in video games, exercising, doing busy work you can listen to something in the background during. I tested this by doing it myself, and even if you are not paying full attention and just in-out of listening in the background, you will learn new words. So listening in the background while you play video games you would anyway? Easier, versus trying to focus on flashcards (very hard for me lol)? As far as 'intentional study' of educational materials, listening to audio lessons and audio flashcards is the easiest to do while continuing your regular daily schedule (aka not needing to carve out extra study time). The main drawback is it is very listening focused, so if you aren't working on reading skills with cdrama subtitles, graded readers, or webnovels eventually, then your reading skills will fall behind.

As an extension to the 'listening is easy to add to a daily schedule' idea: if you are an upper beginner, you can listen to learner podcasts entirely in chinese or graded reader audiobooks. If you're an intermediate learner, you can listen to audiobooks of webnovels you've read, or listen to audio dramas of stuff you've read subtitles for before, or if it's comprehensible enough for you then just listen to new audiobooks and audio dramas. You can listen to cdramas you've watched before playing in the background, or condensed audio (audio of shows with the silence cut out). Not only that, but when it comes to stuff like this, where you know SOME words but not all words? Or where you can read the words, but can't understand them when listening? Re-listen to the audio a LOT. I'm talking 10-20 times, or at least 5 times. Play chapter 1 of an audiobook on loop in the background while you clean your room, or while you level grind in a video game, or while you mull through doing a spreadsheet or lifting boxes at work (if you can work fine while listening to audio), or while you commute. You will, genuinely, notice your comprehension improving the more you re-listen even if you only paid half attention and didn't follow the plot the first few times. It is one of the easiest study activities to do, once you're at the point you can listen to audio materials. Just keep re-listening until you're bored and want to pick another, or until you feel you've understood as much as you can in that audio file (although I bet you if you've listened 5 times and think 'that's all I'll understand,' if you let yourself listen 10 times you'll be surprised how much MORE you end up understanding by then).

If you're getting ansty (as a beginner) about not understanding the grammar of the sentences you see in cdrama. Use that as motivation to spend 5 minutes to 30 minutes a day (or if you enjoy reading just read for 4 hours one day and be done) to read through some chinese grammar guides. You can either look up "basic chinese grammar" and read a few articles, or find a chinese grammar guide and just work your way through reading it. I personally suggest that, if you're bored by it or unable to focus: either JUST read the grammar point TITLES and then read more into the topics you've been seeing in cdramas that you want to learn more about. Or you just read HSK 1-4 grammar points, since they're the basics. Or you skip to the 'grammar point example' and read the examples to get a visual of what's going on. Or only look up specific grammar points as you watch cdramas, if something seems confusing.

I personally felt... it was easier in the long run, for me, to just read a whole grammar guide as a beginner. Did I understand everything? NOPE. I didn't understand like 2/3 at all. But skimming through an entire grammar guide made me aware of all the ways to expect past tense: 去 过 过了 了 以前 etc, ways to expect the future and ability and desire 会 要, how to ask yes/no questions 吗 and suggestions 吧, 有 没有 i have/dont have and how have can be used to express past tense things, 不 don't/not, how 的 地 can make descriptive phrases (地 is like english -ly) (and how in chinese a sentence clause-的 usually goes in FRONT instead of in the middle like in english), how 得 is both 'must' and also has several grammatical functions to look out for (that I didn't get used to until I read a lot to be honest), and 着 has grammatical uses too (the first of which was it seemed similar to the english verb ending -ing to me). These were basic things, and a lot of their more particular aspects went over my head.

But knowing roughly how to pick out 'that's a verb' and 'that's probably a descriptive' and 'that's a clause' and 'that's negative' and 'that's past tense' or 'that's present or future tense' helped me start guessing the overall main idea of sentences and paragraphs WAY sooner than it otherwise would have took me. If I'd only looked up 1 grammar point occassionally... it could've taken years to recognize these basics. Instead it took a month of reading a grammar guide, then several months of seeing that grammar in cdramas and webnovels just to fully recognize what I saw. I did still look up a particular grammar point when confused, but usually I already was vaguely familiar with the grammar point to look it up (like seeing 把 in the sentence and knowing THAT is what i should look up because it's confusing me). So yeah: feel free to do it the way you prefer, as we all will have different preferences and things that work better for us. But for me, it was worth just reading 4 hours of a grammar guide in 15ish minute chunks over the course of a month.

Unfortunately the grammar guide summary i read (chinese-grammar.org) no longer exists. So I will link some options I've found, but if you find more concise and simpler grammar guides please share them! Introduction to Basic Chinese Grammar. AllSetLearning Chinese Grammar Wiki (way too long to read easily in my opinion but I used this to look up specific grammar points later in learning a Lot), Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar: A Student's Guide to Correct Structures and Common Errors (this one is a print book but the only modern book I bought for grammar), and Wikipedia's Chinese Grammar Page (which is the grammar guide I'm currently reading through to consider as a resource - i think as far as summarized it may be one of the shorter options).

Whenever you feel ready to learn hanzi? Honestly the sky is the limit on options. If you like SRS apps like anki, Skritter is an app I've seen recommended for hanzi, I used some "chinese hanzi with mnemonics" anki decks (while I could focus lol). I personally found the easiest way for me to start was to just read through this book (which is for free as an ebook in many libraries/library apps, and can be found in free download book sites):Learning Chinese Characters: (HSK Levels 1-3) A Revolutionary New Way to Learn the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters; Includes All Characters for the AP & HSK 1-3 Exams. I liked this book because it made up a story to help me remember meaning, pronunciation, and tone. Along with providing example words. It's only 800 hanzi, and all I did to study it was read a few pages every couple days until I finished it - it took me around 3 months to finish the book. I didn't review (though you can re-read and review if you enjoy that).

But the mnemonics really helped form that 'initial recognition' memory and so when I started reading graded readers (once I'd studied 300 hanzi in the book), the graded readers helped 'review' those new hanzi and I learned them fast. For the 1000 hanzi I learned on my own after this book, I utilized the mnemonic story strategy that this book taught, and it was fairly doable to just keep picking up hanzi by looking them up when reading, coming up with a mnemonic story in my head, then moving on. As I kept seeing hanzi again, I'd eventually remember them. (And they say it takes 12-20 times of seeing a word to remember it, so at worst that's how much I was looking up new words... sometimes only 1-2 times though).

I would suggest that if you don't use SRS apps like anki or Skritter for hanzi, use some tool with mnemonics like a hanzi book with mnemonic stories (like the one I linked or a few others that exist). And when you look up new words in cdramas, and later graded readers and webnovels, please listen to the word's pronunciation a few times. So you're getting a bit of initial recognition of the hanzi's components/visual AND the word's pronunciation. If it takes 20 times or less to learn new words, then you'll want to get that much reading AND listening exposure.

When you have some basic grammar knowledge (or if you're really tolerant of ambiguity), keep watching cdramas as you have been. But try to pause the show every 3-5 minutes and read a chinese subtitle sentence. You can use the english subtitles to try and parse the chinese word meanings, or look up keywords using your translation app, whatever you want. Since a LOT of cdramas have chinese subs, and you watch with english subs, you can utilize these dual subtitles to start practicing reading skills and practicing guessing new words from context (in this case the context is the scene, the chinese words you already know, and the english translation). Later in your studies, when you stop using english subtitles sometimes, this will have been good practice of getting used to trying to read chinese. This pausing every 3-5 minutes to try and understand a chinese sentence should not take much time, maybe adding 5-10 minutes of watch time to a cdrama episode (depending on how long you pause). So it should be fairly easy to work into your schedule.

So yeah. The big summary of all this is:

If you want to make progress at a pace most people are going to find not too slow, I suggest 1-2 hours on average of doing stuff with chinese a day. (Or more hours a day on average if you want to get through the beginner phase faster). It'll take thousands of hours to learn chinese. Your pace will be extremely slow if you do less than 1 hour with chinese a day on average.

If you already watch cdramas, then keep doing that and just start looking up words (and eventually trying to figure out some sentences) once every 3-5 minutes as curious.

Spend 5 minutes a day reading articles on chinese writing system, and pinyin, and basic grammar, for a few months. You don't need to memorize or review, just get a basic initial exposure.

Approach other educational materials that way: if and when you start more 'intensively' studying, you can just get an initial exposure to the ideas (like a hanzi book, a grammar guide, reading word or sentence lists if you like to do that). You don't need to memorize or review, you don't need to understand everything. Just get an initial impression. (If you enjoy memorizing or studying though, go wild lol)

Audio lessons and audio flashcard study materials will require no time to fit into your schedule, you can do those while you do daily activities that you can listen to audio while doing. As an intermediate learner, these can also be used the way extensive reading is used - to pick up more vocabulary, improve grammar understanding, improve comprehension speed.

New words take (lets rough estimate) 20 times of seeing to remember. So you'll be looking up new words up to that many times when watching cdramas, or later when reading, and that's okay. It'll take a while to fully solidify this new information and you can just keep watching cdramas and doing things in chinese, and the information will eventually be learned. Especially as a beginner: you'll run into the few thousand most common words CONSTANTLY, you will eventually learn them as you keep looking words up and doing stuff in chinese. You do not need to do any special scheduled review (like SRS anki cards, skritter, pleco flashcards) unless you personally enjoy doing it, or want to speed up your progress and are okay with carving 15-30 minutes of time specifically for doing that.

The process of transitioning to graded readers, cdramas with no english subs, and webnovels is it's own beast - which I can cover if you want (and will in the bigger post's step 3). But the short of it is: if you keep doing activities until you've learned around 1000 words, you should be able to start reading easy graded readers and gradually increasing their unique word count until you're reading graded readers with 1000+ unique words. (And you can start graded readers knowing only 200 words if you want! Mandarin Companion has books for beginners if like me you'd like to practice reading ASAP). At that point, you should be able to transition to easy webnovels (using Pleco Reader/Clipobard Reader, Mandarinspot.com annotation, Readibu app, or highlighting and right clicking and using google translate in a webpage) and to watching cdramas you've seen before or with simple plots in chinese only. How many words you look up, or if you look up zero, is all fine: as long as you grasp the main idea of the plot. If you look words up, and can grasp at least the main idea? Then you can watch/read as long as you look words up (and you'll learn the other detail words from context) If you can grasp the main idea without looking any words up? Then you can watch/read without looking words up (and learn new words from context). The first few months (or even year) of transitioning to webnovels and cdramas with no english subs will feel hard, even if you know all/most of the words. It's just part of adjusting to actually comprehending all the things you've studied. I suggest following Heavenly Path's Reading Guide as soon as you're ready to start trying to read - first graded reading material, then webnovels once you've learned around 1000 words.

[shantitechnology]

How ERP Software for Engineering Companies Improves Operational Efficiency

In today's competitive market, engineering companies are under immense pressure to deliver innovative solutions, maintain cost-efficiency, and meet tight deadlines—all while ensuring the highest standards of quality.  As the engineering industry becomes more complex and digitally driven, operational efficiency has become a key metric for success.  One of the most transformative tools driving this change is ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software.

For companies seeking to streamline their operations, ERP software for engineering companies provides a centralized platform that integrates every function—ranging from procurement, design, production, finance, HR, and project management.  In India, especially in industrial hubs like Delhi, the demand for such software is growing rapidly.  Let us explore how ERP systems significantly enhance operational efficiency and why choosing the right ERP software company in India is vital for engineering enterprises.

Centralized Data Management:  The Foundation of Efficiency

One of the major challenges engineering companies face is managing vast amounts of data across departments.  Manual entries and siloed systems often lead to redundancies, errors, and miscommunication.  With ERP software for engineering companies in India, organizations gain access to a unified database that connects all operational areas.

Real-time data availability ensures that everyone, from the design team to procurement and finance, is working with the latest information.  This reduces rework, improves collaboration, and speeds up decision-making, thereby increasing efficiency.

Streamlined Project Management

Engineering projects involve numerous stages—from planning and design to execution and maintenance.  Tracking timelines, resources, costs, and deliverables manually or via disparate systems often results in delays and budget overruns.

Modern engineering ERP software companies in Delhi provide robust project management modules that allow firms to plan, schedule, and monitor projects in real time.  This includes milestone tracking, Gantt charts, resource allocation, and budget forecasting.  Managers can gain visibility into bottlenecks early on and reallocate resources efficiently, ensuring timely delivery.

Automation of Core Processes

Automating routine tasks is one of the key advantages of implementing ERP software.  From generating purchase orders and invoices to managing payroll and inventory, ERP eliminates the need for repetitive manual work.  This not only saves time but also minimizes human error.

The best ERP software provider in India will offer customizable automation workflows tailored to the specific needs of engineering companies.  For instance, when a material stock reaches a minimum threshold, the ERP system can automatically generate a requisition and notify the purchasing team.  This ensures zero downtime due to material shortages.

Enhanced Resource Planning and Allocation

Resource planning is crucial in engineering projects where labour, materials, and machinery must be utilized efficiently.  A good ERP software for engineering companies provides detailed insights into resource availability, utilization rates, and project requirements.

By analysing this data, companies can better allocate resources, avoid overbooking, and reduce idle time.  This leads to significant cost savings and ensures optimal productivity across the board.

Integration with CAD and Design Tools

Many ERP solution providers in Delhi now offer integration with design and CAD software.  This is particularly useful for engineering firms where design data is often needed for procurement, costing, and production.

When ERP is integrated with CAD, design changes automatically reflect across related departments.  This seamless flow of information eliminates miscommunication and ensures that downstream processes such as procurement and manufacturing are aligned with the latest design specifications.

Real-time Cost and Budget Management

Keeping engineering projects within budget is a continuous challenge.  Unexpected costs can arise at any stage, and without proper monitoring, they can spiral out of control.  ERP software providers in India equip engineering companies with real-time budget tracking tools.

From initial cost estimation to actual expenditure, companies can monitor every aspect of the financials.  Alerts can be configured for budget deviations, helping management take corrective action promptly.  This financial control is a cornerstone of operational efficiency and long-term profitability.

Improved Compliance and Documentation

Engineering companies must adhere to various compliance standards, certifications, and audit requirements.  Maintaining accurate documentation and audit trails is critical.  ERP systems automate compliance tracking and generate necessary documentation on demand.

By partnering with trusted ERP software companies in Delhi, engineering firms can ensure they meet industry standards with minimal administrative overhead.  Features like document versioning, digital signatures, and compliance checklists help organizations stay audit-ready at all times.

Scalable and Future-ready Solutions

One of the biggest advantages of working with a reputed engineering ERP software company in Delhi is access to scalable solutions.  As engineering businesses grow, their operational complexities increase.  Modern ERP systems are modular and scalable, allowing businesses to add new functionalities as needed without disrupting existing operations.

Moreover, cloud-based ERP solutions offer flexibility, remote access, and lower infrastructure costs.  These are especially beneficial for engineering companies that operate across multiple locations or work on-site with clients.

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

Efficient operations lead to improved delivery timelines, better quality products, and faster customer service—all of which directly impact customer satisfaction.  With ERP, engineering companies can maintain accurate production schedules, meet delivery deadlines, and respond to customer queries with real-time information.

By choosing the right ERP software for engineering companies in India, firms not only improve internal operations but also build a strong reputation for reliability and professionalism among their clients.

Choosing the Right ERP Partner

With the growing number of ERP solution providers in India, selecting the right partner is crucial.  Here are a few factors to consider:

Domain Expertise:  Choose a vendor with experience in the engineering sector.

Customization:  The software should be tailored to suit your specific workflows.

Scalability:  Ensure the ERP solution grows with your business.

Support & Training:  Opt for companies that provide ongoing support and employee training.

Integration Capabilities:  Check whether the ERP can integrate with your existing systems, including CAD tools, financial software, etc.

Trusted ERP software companies in Delhi like Shantitechnology (STERP) stand out because they offer deep industry knowledge, scalable platforms, and dedicated customer support—making them ideal partners for engineering businesses seeking to transform operations.

Final Thoughts

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, engineering companies must adopt smart technologies to stay ahead.  ERP software is not just an IT solution—it is a strategic tool that can redefine how engineering firms manage their projects, people, and performance.

From streamlining project workflows and automating routine tasks to enhancing collaboration and boosting resource efficiency, ERP solutions deliver measurable gains across the organization.  For those looking to make a digital leap, partnering with a top-rated ERP software company in India can be the difference between stagnation and scalable success.

Looking for a reliable ERP partner?  Shantitechnology (STERP) is among the leading ERP solution providers in Delhi, offering tailored ERP software for engineering companies to help you boost productivity, reduce costs, and grow sustainably.  Contact us today to learn more!

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this Op-Ed from the New York Times:

To keep the lights on, many utility companies are proposing to build dozens of new power plants that burn natural gas. North Carolina-based Duke Energy alone wants to add 8.9 gigawatts of new gas-fired capacity — more than the entire country added in 2023. Using their own projections of soaring energy demands as justification, these companies are also pushing back on the climate targets set by their states and the Biden administration.

If state regulators sign off on these plans, they will be gambling with our country’s future. We need to electrify everything from cars to appliances to slow climate change, but we won’t be able to reach our climate goals if we power all of those machines with dirty energy.

There is a better way. But to get there, legislators will need to overhaul the incentives driving utilities to double down on natural gas, so that they can turn a profit without cooking the planet.

Companies like Duke, Dominion Energy and Georgia Power argue that they need more gas-fired plants to reliably provide power during times of peak demand — for instance, on a hot summer weekday afternoon when home cooling systems and data servers are all humming at maximum output, and the grid strains to keep up. But those peaks tend to materialize only for a few dozen hours per year, and there are ways to deal with them that don’t require a massive amount of new methane-burning infrastructure.

The real reason the utilities want to build these plants is quite simple: The more stuff they build, the more money they make. Regulators let utilities charge their customers enough money to cover what they spend on assets like combustion turbines and wires, plus a generous rate of return (up to 10 percent) for their investors. This longstanding arrangement incentivizes power providers to build expensive things whether society needs them or not, in lieu of lower-cost, cleaner options, and to invoke their duty to keep the lights on as a post hoc rationalization.

Fortunately, utilities have plenty of ways to meet this new need.

They include “virtual power plants” — when technologies such as home batteries, rooftop solar systems, smart water heaters and thermostats are linked together and managed via software to provide the same services as a conventional power plant. Utilities in Vermont, Colorado and Massachusetts are already using them, to quickly respond to rising demand at a much lower cost than operating natural gas combustion turbines. According to one estimate, virtual power plants could lower U.S. utilities’ costs by as much as $35 billion over the next decade.

Utilities could also accelerate efforts to replace outdated transmission lines with newer ones that can carry double the electric current and to bring more battery storage online. They can compensate customers for using less energy during times when demand is high and invest far more in energy efficiency, helping customers to adopt devices that use less electricity.

All of these solutions would save customers money and reduce carbon emissions. They could, according to a Department of Energy analysis, meet the entire projected growth in U.S. peak electricity demand over the next decade.

[channeledhistory]

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is seeking access to the Internal Revenue Service’s highly sensitive taxpayer data system, a source familiar with the move told CNN.

The IRS, which contains private data on millions of Americans’ tax returns, Social Security numbers and banking information, is the latest agency to be targeted by DOGE as it seeks to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and root out what it characterizes as waste, fraud and abuse within the government.

Gavin Kliger, a software engineer working under DOGE, is expected to be granted access to the system “imminently,” the source said. He will be based at the IRS for at least 120 days but had not yet been given approval as of 9 p.m. ET Sunday.

Kliger will serve as a senior adviser to the acting IRS commissioner, though the nature of his work at the agency is still unclear. Kliger has the proper security clearance and is expected to sign an agreement requiring that he maintains confidentiality with tax return information and destroys such materials upon leaving the IRS, the source added.

The agreement is part of a broader memorandum of understanding being considered by the IRS that would give DOGE officials widespread access to the agency’s system, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables IRS employees to access specific taxpayer accounts and their bank information.

The IDRS contains some of the most sensitive financial information on American taxpayers. According to the IRS, the system is designed to prevent taxpayers’ information from getting into the wrong hands — and from unauthorized IRS employees from making changes to taxpayers’ data. Authorized employees can access taxpayers’ sensitive data only to accomplish a specific and official task.

“The taxpayer must be protected from unauthorized disclosure of information concerning his/her account and unauthorized changes to it,” the IRS says in its employee manual. “The IDRS user employee must be protected from other personnel using his/her identification to access or make changes to an account.”

Included in the data that the IDRS allows authorized employees to access is Social Security numbers, bank account information, addresses, tax returns and other personally identifying data. It also includes private information about taxpayers. For example, the IDRS includes information about taxpayers’ pending adoptions, so parents can claim dependency exemptions and child care credits.

The protocols are quite strict, preventing IRS employees from accessing their own files or files belonging to spouses, friends, relatives, co-workers or anyone with whom they have personal relationships or business dealings. The IRS also prohibits snooping employees from accessing tax account information to satisfy personal curiosities.

The punishment for improper use of the IDRS includes termination, fine or a prison sentence. An IRS contractor who leaked taxpayer information was sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison.

Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts expressed serious concerns about potential misuse of private taxpayer data in a letter to the IRS on Monday. The senators asked the IRS commissioner to provide details about any plans to allow DOGE members access to internal IRS systems.

[...]