#Pilot scheduling software

[andrewbennett07]

Comprehensive FAA Training Courses for All Levels: From Beginner to Expert

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[justforbooks]

Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates

In contrast to the current crop of swaggering tech bros, the Microsoft founder comes across as wry and self-deprecating in this memoir of starting out

Bill Gates is the John McEnroe of the tech world: once a snotty brat whom everyone loved to hate, now grown up into a beloved elder statesman. Former rivals, most notably Apple’s Steve Jobs, have since departed this dimension, while the Gates Foundation, focusing on unsexy but important technologies such as malaria nets, was doing “effective altruism” long before that became a fashionable term among philosophically minded tech bros. Time, then, to look back. In the first of what the author threatens will be a trilogy of memoirs, Gates recounts the first two decades of his life, from his birth in 1955 to the founding of Microsoft and its agreement to supply a version of the Basic programming language to Apple Computer in 1977.

He grows up in a pleasant suburb of Seattle with a lawyer father and a schoolteacher mother. His intellectual development is keyed to an origin scene in which he is fascinated by his grandmother’s skill at card games around the family dining table. The eight-year-old Gates realises that gin rummy and sevens are systems of dynamic data that the player can learn to manipulate.

As he tells it, Gates was a rather disruptive schoolchild, always playing the smart alec and not wanting to try too hard, until he first learned to use a computer terminal under the guidance of an influential maths teacher named Bill Dougall. (I wanted to learn more about this man than Gates supplies in a still extraordinary thumbnail sketch: “He had been a World War II Navy pilot and worked as an aeronautical engineer at Boeing. Somewhere along the way he earned a degree in French Literature from the Sorbonne in Paris on top of graduate degrees in engineering and education.”) Ah, the computer terminal. It is 1968, so the school terminal communicates with a mainframe elsewhere. Soon enough, the 13-year-old Gates has taught it to play noughts and crosses. He is hooked. He befriends another pupil, Paul Allen – who will later introduce him to alcohol and LSD – and together they pore over programming manuals deep into the night. Gates plans a vast simulation war game, but he and his friends get their first taste of writing actually useful software when they are asked to automate class scheduling after their school merges with another. Success with this leads the children, now calling themselves the Lakeside Programming Group, to write a payroll program for local businesses, and later to create software for traffic engineers.

There follows a smooth transition to Harvard, where in the ferment of anti-war campus protests our hero is more interested in the arrival, one day in 1969, of a PDP-10 computer. Gates takes classes in maths but also chemistry and the Greek classics. Realising he doesn’t have it in him to become a pure mathematician, he goes all-in on computers once a new home machine, the Altair, is announced. He and Paul Allen will write its Basic, having decided to call themselves “Micro-Soft”.

The early home computer scene, Gates notes, was a countercultural, hippy thing: cheap computers “represented a triumph of the masses against the monolithic corporations and establishment forces that controlled access to computing”, and so software was widely “shared”, or copied among people for free. It was Gates himself who, notoriously, pushed back against this culture when he found out most users of his Basic weren’t paying for it. By “stealing software”, he wrote in an open letter in 1976, “you prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing?” This rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way and still does, at least in the more militant parts of the “open-source” world. But he had a point. And that, readers, is why your Office 365 account just renewed for another year. Fans of Word and Excel, though, will have to wait for subsequent volumes of Gates’s recollections, as will those who want more about his later battles with Apple, though Steve Jobs does get an amusing walk-on part. (Micro-Soft’s general manager keeps a notebook of sales calls, on one page of which we read: “11.15 Steve Jobs calls. Was very rude.”). This volume, still, is more than just a geek’s inventory of early achievements. There is a genuine gratitude for influential mentors, and a wry mood of self-deprecation throughout. Gates gleefully records his first preschool report: “He seemed determined to impress us with his complete lack of concern for any phase of school life.” Later, he explains how he acquired a sudden interest in theatre classes. “Admittedly the main draw for me was the higher percentage of girls in drama. And since the main activity in the class was to read lines to each other, the odds were very good that I’d actually talk to one.” Strikingly, unlike most “self-made” billionaires, Gates emphasises the “unearned privilege” of his upbringing and the peculiar circumstances – “mostly out of my control” – that enabled his career. Adorably, he even admits to still having panic dreams about his university exams. The book’s most touching pages recount how one of his closest friends and colleagues in the programming group, Kent Evans, died in a mountaineering accident when he was 17. “Throughout my life, I have tended to deal with loss by avoiding it,” Gates writes. He says later that if he were growing up today, he would probably be identified as “on the autism spectrum”, and now regrets some of his early behaviour, though “I wouldn’t change the brain I was given for anything”. There is a sense of the writer, older and wiser, trying to redeem the past through understanding it better, a thing that no one has yet seen Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg attempt in public. That alone makes Bill Gates a more human tech titan than most of his rivals, past and present.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[callsignspark]

Mar[r]y Me - part eight

pairing:��Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Mariella “M&M” Vertucci (fem!OC)

summary: A love story told through friendship, laughter, and food.

series warnings: 18+ minors DNI, discussion of insecurities, difficult family relationships, discussions of food and alcohol use, discussions of body image, conversations on what it’s like to be a fat woman trying to date in today’s society, extreme fluff, warnings to be added as needed

word count: 5.1k

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note: happy Friday! I’m super excited for this chapter! I know I say this every time but this is my favorite chapter so far and I can’t wait to hear what you all think!! have a great weekend!

part eight - peanut butter bites

It’s February 25th, and Bradley has sweat dripping down his back. He’s painfully aware that he’s the only one; the cold air blasting from the vents has everyone else reaching for sweaters, but he feels like he’s on fire. So hot he’s afraid he might melt through the old, cracked vinyl flooring of the VTC room. His neck is the worst of it; the skin is scorching from thirteen sets of eyes burning into him. Steadfastly ignoring all of them, he tries to focus all of his attention on the presentation happening up front.

“And as you can see here, since the implementation of the pilot program, the FA-18 return to service cadence has improved by ten days. The proposed plan to expand this training pipeline to Pensacola has been approved, and Dave will be working with Admiral Kerner and his team to spin this up over the next two quarters. The schedule that’s been laid out in Artemis, has the ECD for initial implementation on September 24th, one week before the start of FY22. Next slide, please.”

Bradley barely understands what Mary is talking about, but his fidgeting gets so bad as she gives an overview of the new program going into Florida that Jake nudges his side, looking genuinely concerned.

Bradley has always liked smart girls. Tessa Richardson, his first kiss, was valedictorian and went to Harvard on a pre-law track. The last he heard, she was moving up the ranks as a judge. But it’s a whole new level of attraction, watching Mary talk so competently and confidently about the inner workings of the multi-million-dollar planes he flies every day.

How is she so sexy talking about something so boring?

It’s a thought he’s had multiple times since program review began on Monday. He almost had to excuse himself yesterday when she had an entire page’s worth of suggestions for hardware and software improvements. Today has been exponentially worse, because Mary has deviated from her typical attire of simple but professional clothes. Today, she’s paired a black pencil skirt with three-inch stilettos. The heels accentuate the curves of her legs while the skirt hugs her hips in the most delicious way. And he was actually doing pretty well until thirty minutes into the PowerPoint when she slipped her blazer off to reveal a white button-up shirt that’s been perfectly tailored to show off her waist. Since then, he’s spent most of the time staring at her and then scolding himself for staring.

It’s like she’s trying to kill me.

He quietly takes a deep breath, hoping a sip of water will help him settle down. There are no hops scheduled for today, so the Dagger Squad is wearing their khaki uniforms, the least forgiving material, and the last thing he needs is to get hard while listening to his girl spout corporate buzzwords to satisfy the brass from Washington.

Unfortunately, Mary says the words “stick handling” while making direct eye contact with him and he chokes, spluttering and dripping water down his shirt as he coughs. Half the heads in the room swing in his direction, and he genuienly might burst into flames when he makes eye contact with his uncles; one looking concerned, the other highly amused.

Bradley knows he’s pathetic, getting all riled up over watching a woman excel at her job, and the boring part at that, but he really can’t help it. They haven’t had any alone time since Sunday, the week filled with back-to-back meetings, professional development, and deployment preparation for both of them.

“Of course. Happy Birthday, dolcezza.”

Bradley can feel her breath against his lips, her hand gripping his curls as their cupid bows brush.

“Bradley?” Someone is pounding on his door, the muffled yelling startling them apart. “Are you home? Fred fell! I can’t get him up! Bradley?!”

“Fuck!” He mournfully pulls away, racing to the front door. He carefully swings the door open, conscious of Mary being right behind him, her plate clattering on the table seconds after he stood up. “Mrs. Hadcock? What’s wrong?”

“Fred! He fell, and I can’t get him up! I think he broke his hip!” Bradley freezes when the older woman at his front door bursts into tears; he’s not equipped to deal with this, and he’s worried she might hyperventilate as she gasps around her words.

“Mrs. Hadcock, we need you to take a deep breath. Okay?” Mary quickly takes control as she slips her shoes on and tries to focus the panicking woman, nudging Bradley to do the same. “Is he bleeding? Did you call 911?”

“He’s not bleeding, but he’s in a lot of pain. I couldn’t call; I don’t know where my phone is.”

“Okay, let’s go to your apartment, and we’ll call once we’re there. C’mon.”

She wraps her arm around Mrs. Hadcock’s shoulders and leads her toward the stairs, asking more questions in a calm voice. Bradley grabs his phone, wallet, and Mary’s purse before locking the door behind him, anticipating this becoming a multi-hour thing.

It did become a thing, the doctors confirming the broken hip a few hours later, and it was almost 2 AM by the time he was driving the two women back to the complex. He walked Mary to her car, leaving with only a promise to let him know when she got home, before escorting Mrs. Hadcock back to her apartment.

Bradley was glad that his neighbor’s partner would be okay after surgery and a few months of physical rehab, but the interruption meant that he still hadn’t kissed Mary. He didn’t know what she tasted like. What sounds she would make. How long her perfume would linger on his skin. He's more on edge now than any mission he’s flown.

All week, he’s been itching for an opportunity to get her alone so he could finally press his lips to hers, as long as that’s what she still wants. He’s pretty sure she does. He’s caught her staring at his mouth several times, her chocolate eyes shyly meeting his when she realizes she’s been made.

He’s never been so grateful to hear Cyclone’s grumpy voice replace Mary’s sweet tone, the admiral thanking everyone and reminding the North Island team of the final prep meeting before ending the program review. As the crowd disburses, Bradley makes his way toward the front, heading directly for Mary to ask her to eat lunch with him.

In her office.

Alone.

With the door locked.

Halfway there, his path is abruptly blocked by Melissa Ludden, one of the visiting Boeing representatives. A new program manager, she’s visiting Coronado for the first time to get an understanding of what’s needed for the next generation of fighters, and she’s had target lock on Bradley since the kickoff meeting. Ten years ago, he would have reciprocated - hell, he probably would have had her in his bed after the first happy hour mixer - but now he couldn’t be less interested if he tried. He can admit that she’s very pretty and she seems smart, but the perky twenty-four-year-old can’t hold a match to his Mary.

“Lieutenant Bradshaw!” She also can’t get his rank correct, which irks Bradley, and tallies yet another point against her. “Boeing is hosting some of the attendees to lunch at Clark Square Grill; we would love for you to join us!”

“Thank you for the invitation, ma’am, but I can’t. I have deployment prep meetings this afternoon, so I’m needed on base.” He politely turns her down, secretly reveling in the little bit of twisted pleasure sparked by how her face drops.

Thankfully, he’s saved from her trying to plead her case and convince him by Slider calling him over, an order he swiftly – and happily – follows.

“Dave, this is Lieutenant Commander Bradley Bradshaw. Rooster, this is Dave Rhoads, the West Coast service director from Lemoore.” The name is familiar, sparking something in his brain as his uncle introduces him to an older gentleman.

“Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Oh, please, call me Dave!” The thin but jolly man insists with a firm handshake. “I was just telling these three how much I appreciated your feedback on the training pipeline.”

That’s how I know that name. “I’m glad it helped; we weren’t sure if anything we were sending up to you would be useful.”

“No, it was great! Getting perspective from pilots really helped us grease the wheels in some places where we were stuck. You should be very proud of your squad, Mav.”

“I’m glad their complaining finally was do something besides give me a headache.” Mav jokes before pulling Dave into a different conversation, leaving Bradley with Slider and Mary.

“Mary, you probably already know him, but if you don’t, this is Bradley.”

“Yes, Ron. I know Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw quite well.”

Bradley feels himself go hot, heat racing up his neck at hearing his full rank come from her mouth. He ignores his uncle, refusing to look at him, already knowing a shit-eating grin is spreading across his dumb face.

“Oh, really, M&M?” He could punch his uncle for the way he laughs through his question. “Exactly how well do you know my nephew?”

“Your nephew?”

“How do you know each other?!” He can’t help how he blurts it out; his confusion overclouding the manners his mother drilled into him.

“Slider was my mentor when I worked in Pensacola. We spent many hours together working on the flight school repair schedule and trying to get me to fully understand the ranks. He’s the one that gave me the flight school sweatshirt with my call sign on it - I think you’ve seen me wear that, right?” Mary’s eyes twinkle, letting him know she’s laughing at how his jaw drops.

“I’m the one that convinced her to go up on a flight!”

“Tricked!” Mary jokingly snaps, smacking his arm with her notebook, comfortable joking around now that the room has cleared.

“Tomato, potato.” His uncle turns to him, his grin even bigger. “She always loved that photo I have of you on my bookshelf. The one where you’re laying on the changing table clutching your little teddy bear.”

“That’s you?! That’s such a cute photo!”

“How do you have that photo? I thought I destroyed all copies of that!” Bradley groans, not sure if he’s more embarrassed that it’s been on his uncle’s desk for years or that Mary has seen what is arguably his worst baby photo. The one where he’s red in the face from crying and screaming, clutching a teddy bear with an atrociously full diaper.

“Nope! And you’ll never get rid of it now because I’ve made a digital copy and distributed it to everyone!”

“Oh my god…” Bradley looks at the ceiling, cursing who is listening for making his parents' generation technologically savvy.

“A group of us are going over to Victory Café for lunch; you guys want to join? My treat.”

“I can’t; I have a meeting in a few minutes and then more this afternoon. But you can buy me a drink at the Hard Deck tonight.”

“Yeah, fine, M&M. One vodka cran on me.” Slider laughs as Mary starts to walk away.

“Oh!” She turns back. “When you have some time this afternoon, could you stop by my office, Bradley?”

“Uh- sure! I can stop by after your meeting and before the briefing?”

“That works, see you then.” Mary gives a quick wave, and the two men watch her walk away, grabbing her phone from the lockers outside the VTC room.

“I’m not going to give you a shovel talk because I can tell how much you care about her. Though, had I known that she was the one you were acting like such an idiot about a few weeks ago, I would have flown out here early just to kick your ass. But I will tell you how much I love that girl; she’s like another kid to me, just like you are. So be careful, communicate, and do your best not to hurt each other.”

“I won’t; I’m just lucky she forgave me because I love her. I mean- I- uh-” Bradley stutters, shocked that those words just came flowing out of his mouth without permission.

“God, you’re just like Goose.” Ron smiles at his nephew and pulls him into a hug, a bittersweet feeling washing over him, realizing how much the boy acts like his father, despite barely remembering him. “They would both be so proud of you.”

Bradley gets a little choked up, feeling like a little kid again when his uncle runs a gentle hand over his head, stroking his hair just like he used to when he was small. “Thanks, Uncle Ron.”

“So…” He can’t hold it back; he has to embarrass him just a little bit more. For his own enjoyment. “Why do ya think she wants you to stop by her office?”

“Please stop.”

“Ohhh! Look at how red you are, baby goose! Are you hoping it’s something dirty?”

“I’m walking away.”

“Your call sign should have been tomato!” Laughter follows Bradley out the door and down the hall to the canteen, where he grabs two sandwich and chips combos.

“You okay, Bradley?” Halo quietly asks when he silently joins the squad, used to the boisterous nature of her teammate.

“I’m good. Thanks, Callie. Just thinking about the rest of the shit I gotta do before Saturday.”

He chuckles as she groans and launches into a rant about everything she’s procrastinated. Bradley listens intently as she vents, giving suggestions when he can, with Bob adding an occasional comment from across the table.

“And thankfully Aliyah’s friend was willing to watch Rupert and water my plants while I’m gon, since she backed out on me!” Callie exclaims. “Like, I’m happy she’s finally getting to go on this trip, but now I'm gonna owe Kelly like six hundred favors when I get back.”

“I’m glad you found someone in time and didn’t have to put him in a kennel until Aliyah gets back from Europe!” Bob says, knowing how much she hates putting her dog in the kennel for long stretches.

Bradley is just about to ask more about the woman who’s going to be watching Callie’s chocolate lab when the mechanics who work for Mary get in line for food.

“I’ll see you guys at the briefing; I’m gonna go take care of a few things.” He dumps his trash, ignoring the table full of protests as he turns toward Mary’s office.

It doesn’t take him long to reach the fifth floor of the admin wing. As the newest addition to the team, Mary had been relegated to an office on the mostly empty top floor. The lack of neighbors was a bonus when bored pilots visited, but the end-of-the-hall corner office was as far away from her shop as she could get.

He slows down as he gets closer, not wanting to interrupt whoever she’s talking to with her “I’m calm, but just barely” voice. It’s one she usually reserves for condescending admirals before tossing them to Cyclone so he can tear them apart on her behalf. Pausing in the doorway, he finds her staring at the ceiling, dissociating as the person on the other end yells loud enough that Bradley can hear it. He lightly coughs to grab her attention, smiling when she perks up and mashes the mute button.

“Beau wasn’t in his office, so I’m getting to listen to Cain’s bitching about my presentation on the manned flight stats as if I get to choose the content of the slides.” She looks down at the phone. “We’re going on thirteen minutes.”

“I brought you a turkey sandwich and kettle chips, if that helps?”

“Oh, Bradley, you’re so sweet! What would I do without you?”

“You’d probably be a lot hungrier in the afternoons. You want this now or in the fridge?”

“Fridge, please.” Mary hums before returning to her call. “Yes, sir. I hear you, but like I said earlier-”

As he’s storing the food in her mini fridge, her nails start to tap against the desk, frustration levels high after being cut off again. Bradley grimaces at her in sympathy. Everyone at NAS North Island is aware of Chester Cain’s personal vendetta against Maverick and how it’s begun to leak to anyone on base involved with manned flights.

He settles into one of her chairs, stealing a mint from the bowl on her desk and looking out the window. He loves Mary’s office, even though it technically sucks. She’s alone at this end of the hall, it’s a trek down to the repair shop, the elevator seems like it’s out of order more than it works, and in the hot summer months the air conditioning struggles to cool the westward-facing room. But he feels like the good parts make up for the bad. Like the privacy it provides and how huge the space is; big enough for her desk, two chairs, a conference table, all of her file cabinets, and a loveseat that has seen more than a few naps from the Dagger Squad. Bradley’s favorite part is the large windows that give a perfect view of the airfield, from the tower all the way to the end of the runway and the ocean.

He’s watching waves form and crash on the breakers when Mary moves around her desk, the phone cord stretching as she closes and locks the door, her stockinged feet silent on the tile. She surprises him when she continues her loop, perching on his leg with Admiral Cain still chattering in her ear. For a moment, he’s frozen, completely taken off guard by this development and the nervous look on her face, but it doesn’t take him long to get on board.

Bradley sits up straighter, wrapping one arm around her waist to pull her onto his lap while the other grips her thigh to tug her legs over his other thigh. Mary’s free hand wraps around his shoulder, immediately playing with the short hair at the back of his neck, sending goosebumps across his skin.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, sir. I have to go; I have someone in my office I need to speak with about final deployment preparations. But I will make sure Admiral Simpson is aware of your feelings.” Bradley listens as he natters on for another minute, unsure how Mary keeps her cool.

“Yes, Admiral, I understand. Goodbye.” She slams the phone down. “You stupid fucking dickhead.”

“Wow, tell me how you really feel, honey.” His hand slips under the hem of her skirt when she leans back into his chest, her hands slipping around his shoulders as she crosses one leg over the other.

“That was me being nice. He’s lucky I actually care about keeping this job.”

Bradley doesn’t get a chance to respond because Mary is pressing their lips together. He instantly responds, tilting his head to meet her and sliding his hand up to cup her neck. She’s so warm and solid on his lap; he loves the weight of her pressing against him.

Time feels syrupy, slow and sweet, matching their pace. It’s taken them ages to get here, their first kiss, but there’s no rush, no urgency. It’s comfortable - loving - like they’ve been doing this for years. He’s in awe of how perfectly they fit together, their bodies instinctively reacting to each other. It starts to heat up when their tongues meet, the two of them pressing closer, closer, closer to taste each other.

Minty. She must've had a mint before I showed up, he thinks as his left hand slips further under her skirt. Bradley feels his brain break when he meets lace halfway up her thigh.

“Are you wearing thigh highs?” He asks, voice edging on desperate.

Mary nods, panting and looking gorgeous with her flushed cheeks. “I hate pantyhose, and it’s so much easier to just wear the garter belt.”

“Garter be-” He groans loudly, thankful no contractors are occupying the neighboring offices. “Fuck, Mary. Jesus Christ, you’re so goddamn sexy.”

Bradley presses a bruising kiss to her lips before making his easy down her neck, leaving teasing kisses up and down the sensitive skin. He undoes her top two buttons and tugs the collar aside to nip at her collarbone, perfume invading his senses.

Would it be weird to get a travel bottle of her perfume?

He knows he’s not thinking entirely straight, but he doesn’t think it would. He could spritz his pillow and fall asleep every night to the same sweet citrus and floral notes he’s smelling now. It’s that thought that has his hand wandering to her buttons again, his goal to get her shirt off and then maybe spread her out on her desk or bend her over the table or get her in his lap on the couch…

“Bradley, wait, we- shit!” Mary pulls him back to her face, chest heaving. “We still have meetings.”

“Shit. Right.” He abandons the buttons, instead choosing to play with the hem of her skirt while he closes his eyes and tries to calm down. Mary rests her head on his shoulder as she catches her breath. They sit there for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company, just reveling in the way their bodies move in unison as their breathing starts to sync up.

“So, uh… not that I’m complaining, but where did that come from?”

“Don’t kiss anyone while you’re gone.”

“I wasn’t planning on it, honey.” Bradley nudges her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Why would I when I’ve got you waiting for me at home?”

“I just- I saw Melissa flirting with you and…” Mary trails off, and he understands.

“She can try to flirt all she wants, but she can’t compare to you, Mary. You’re so much better than her. She can’t even get my rank right, never mind the fact that she’s twelve years younger than me. Besides, I don’t like blondes, you know that.” He winks at her, making her laugh, which was his goal.

“Is that why you and Jake are always fighting?” She innocently blinks at him, teasing him for the pseudo-feud he has with his wingman.

“You think you’re funny, huh?”

“I know I am, actually.” Mary brushes their lips together. “Can do this whenever I want now.”

“Been wanting to do this for a while?” He asks between kisses.

She hums and nods slightly, more focused on slipping her tongue into his mouth again. “Ever since that first night at the Hard Deck.”

“You’ve wanted to kiss me since we met?

“M&M?” A knock on the door startles them apart, Mary almost falling off his lap, catching herself on the desk and rattling her knick knacks and picture frames. “You good, Vertucci?”

“Yeah! Yeah! I’m fine. What’s up?”

She springs off his lap, her cheeks redder than he’s ever seen, and he knows his match. It’s a good thing his uncle can’t see them through the frosted glass; they look guilty as hell, like two teenagers who got caught making out in the backseat.

“Well, I want to get set up for the meeting early, but I don’t know how the controls work in the VTC room. I was hoping you could show me since you have to be there anyway.”

Both of them relax, thankful he’s unaware of what he interrupted. Mary moves to open the door. “Sure, I can do that! I just-” She stutters to a stop after catching sight of her reflection in the mirror above her couch. It’s very obvious what they’d been doing.

“I just have a few things to take care of, and I’ll be down in a couple minutes!” She croaks, trying to rebutton her shirt and fix her hair at the same time.

“Sounds good. I’ll meet you there.” Bradley watches his silhouette turn away; his sigh of relief is premature when his uncle comes back after a few steps. “Oh, I almost forgot! Bradley? Mav is looking for you; go meet him in the hangar.”

All the blood drains from his face, and Mary turns in horror, their eyes meeting in terror. He clears his throat. “Yes, sir.”

“Good boy. Take a few minutes if you need to!” This time, the silhouette walks all the way down the hall, laughing and whistling to himself the entire way.

“Oh my god. Oh my god! I can never speak to him again!” Mary moans, dropping onto the loveseat and burying her face in her hands.

“If it makes you feel better, he’s caught me doing worse.”

“Really?” He smiles at the way she peeks at him between her fingers.

“Unfortunately. I was bad about locking my door, and he was bad about knocking.” Her nose scrunches, obviously trying not to laugh at him. “It’s okay, you can laugh. You would think one of us would have learned after the first time it happened. Or the second. Or the third.”

He smiles as she snorts, pressing a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound and sinking into the couch. Her laughter dies down as they stare at each other. Bradley doesn’t think he’s been happier than this moment, Mary smiling at him with her partially unbuttoned shirt and mussed hair.

“We should probably go.” She sighs and nods in agreement.

He watches as she fixes her shirt and smooths her hair in the mirror, inspecting her makeup before padding over to the corner.

“These are for you.” She holds out a container from the shelf above her mini fridge.

He looks through the clear plastic. “What are these?”

“I made you those peanut butter bites you liked so much. They’re not the most exciting thing, but they don’t have to be refrigerated, so you can take them on the carrier. And you should be getting a box about halfway through deployment, so make sure you send me anything you want so I can put it in for you.”

Bradley takes a shaky breath, unable to swallow the lump in his throat. No one had ever made him a treat to take with him, and it’s been years since he’s gotten a care package that wasn’t from a volunteer group. Despite the fact that he wasn’t speaking to Ice, Sarah had sent him packages during his first few deployments. But that stopped when Ice got sick the first time, and it didn’t start again when the cancer went into remission.

It sucked being the only one being passed a charity box full of things he didn’t like or need, but he understood. Their life was different at that point. New health rules to follow, more appointments, their kids were starting to have kids. There was no spare time for unnecessary things, like sending a box of goodies to a kid who was refusing to speak to them.

“Bradley?” His name is said quietly, and he looks up to find Mary looking anxious, her brow creased in worry.

He drops the Tupperware on her desk with a clang and pulls her into his arms, pressing a hard kiss to her mouth and hoping it conveys everything he’s feeling that he can’t quite say.

Thank you for thinking about me. Thank you for caring about me. I love you.

She reciprocates, matching him, knowing this is one of the last times they’ll see each other alone before he’s gone for two months.

“Thank you.” He whispers when they break apart, Mary smiling at him and pressing one more gentle kiss to his lips before pulling away to put her heels back on.

Bradley walks her to the conference room, his hand brushing hers, but neither of them bold enough to hold hands when anyone could catch them. He spends the time watching her, savoring the quiet moments they get to spend together. A quick glance into the conference rooms reveals his uncle fighting with the display screen behind the podium, so he pulls her to the side of the doors and, after thoroughly checking the hall, kisses her.

The first time of many that he’ll dare to kiss her in an empty hallway of NAS North Island throughout their lives.

“I’ll see you at the Hard Deck.” He murmurs against her lips before opening the door and waving at Slider.

“Finally! Mary, what the hell does “extend the display” mean?” Ron rolls his eyes when he sees his nephew staring at his mentee like a lovesick puppy. “Bradshaw! Get your ass to the hangar, now!”

Bradley snaps to attention, giving a sarcastic salute that he only gets away with is because there’s no one else around, and the admiral glaring at him also witnessed his many potty-training failures. He gives his uncle a genuine grin as he turns to leave, getting instructions to prop the door open and an overexaggerated wink in return.

He does as told and hesitates for a minute before stepping to the side of the doorway, hoping he understood the non-verbal hint correctly.

“So… you and Bradley? That’s something you didn’t mention the last time we talked, Mary.”

“It’s new, very new. Could you not say anything to anyone – not even Mav – for now, please?”

“You got it, kiddo. Just try not to hurt him.”

“I won’t, Ron. I lo-” She cuts herself off, and the silence of the hall is deafening. Bradley can hardly hear her continue above his racing heart. “I care about him too much to hurt him.”

His phone is continuously buzzing in his pocket, but he doesn’t bother to answer it; he knows it’s Mav or one of the Daggers looking for him. In a daze of excitement and nerves, he makes his way to the hangar, wishing more than anything that he wasn’t walking into the final deployment briefing. He wants to turn around, throw Mary over his shoulder, and drive them up the coast until they find a little mountain town with no cell service and stay there for two months instead.

“There you are! Rooster, what took you so long?” He should feel lucky that it’s just an exasperated Maverick he has to deal with and not Cyclone.

“Sorry, Mav, had to drop something off to Admiral Kerner.” It’s probably the wrong excuse to give, his uncles are definitely going to gossip, and he’s going to get so much shit tonight for it. But he can’t bring himself to care as he slips into his chair, smiling so big at Hangman that half the squad worriedly looks at him.

She loves me.

Mary loves me.

if you would like to be added (or removed) from the tag list please send an ask!

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fic tag | credit for dividers here

[usafphantom2]

The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built

Delays with a key upgrade program mean Lockheed Martin has yet to deliver the 1,000th F-35 and others to their customers.

Tyler RogowayPUBLISHED Jan 10, 2024 1:28 PM EST

Lockheed Martin has built the 1,000th F-35, but delays with a key upgrade program mean it is parked away awaiting delivery.

A newly produced F-35 is seen in its primer colors in Fort Worth, Texas. Lockheed Martin capture

Lockheed Martin has hit a huge milestone in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. However, that accomplishment, while outstanding, is complicated by the ongoing saga surrounding the development and testing of Tech Refresh-3 (TR-3) hardware configuration. TR-3 underpins the F-35's future capabilities, known collectively as Block 4. Delays with TR-3 mean that F-35s are being parked and not delivered after they are constructed, waiting for these features. So is the case for the 1,000th F-35.

Lockheed Martin

We asked Lockheed Martin about the status of deliveries of F-35s, including the 1,000th example, and they gave us the following statement:

"We continue to produce F-35s at rate and have jets in various stages of the final production process. Once these jets receive the necessary TR-3 hardware and final TR-3 software is available, they will continue through the production process, including parking, until they are delivered."

Regardless, hitting the 1,000 mark is really an incredible accomplishment for the controversial program that has struggled significantly at times.

As of early January, the F-35 enterprise has amassed over 773,000 flying hours, trained over 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers across 14 flying services around the world, and flown more than 469,000 total sorties. There are now 32 bases and 11 ships hosting or capable of hosting F-35 units. As of now, there are a whopping 17 countries participating in the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

Current and expected future F-35 operating bases/ships. Lockheed Martin

Demand for the F-35 has never been higher. Recent geopolitical events and shifting threats have spiked orders. For newer customers or existing ones that are ordering more jets, getting TR-3 jets and potentially Block 4 capabilities will be of significant value. They will be receiving a far more mature aircraft and one with drastically expanded capabilities and growth potential than past versions.

Block 4 will include many new features, including much-expanded processing power, new displays, enhanced cooling, new EOTS and DAS electro-optical sensors, and a slew of additional weapons that will really unlock the F-35's potential. Above all else, the jet's new radar and electronic warfare suite should give it its biggest boost. The electronic warfare aspect alone is the biggest advantage Block 4 will bring, according to the Air Combat Command's top uniformed officer.

Some of the unclassified upgrades are expected to be part of Block 4. The exact configuration is not publicly disclosed just yet. DOD

The current issue is that F-35s need a new hardware backbone and associated baseline software, collectively called TR-3, to handle the various demands of the Block 4 upgrades. TR-3 has and continues to suffer numerous delays in its development.

The increasing age of the F-35 program's current fleet of test jets and other limitations in existing test infrastructure, especially with regard to software labs on the ground, have compounded these issues. The first flight of an F-35 test jet with a version of the TR-3 backbone took place in January 2023 and efforts are underway to create a dedicated TR-3 test force with a total of six Joint Strike Fighters.

A US Air Force F-35A test jet. USAF

As of December, the expectation is that the development of TR-3 will be finished sometime between April and June of this year, according to Defense News. If that schedule holds, this work be done between a year and 18 months later than expected.

The delays have also translated into significant added costs for the F-35 program. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in December, Representative Donald Norcross, a Democrat from New Jersey, said that problems with TR-3 had led to a $1 billion cost overrun. The full estimated cost of the F-35 program though the end of its expected lifecycle in the 2070s is currently pegged around around $1.7 trillion, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

USAF

At the House Armed Services Committee hearing last month, Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the current head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), seemed less than optimistic about the likelihood of there being no further TR-3 delays.

"Relative to the stability issues that were that we're seeing, we are working through them. ... I wish I had all of the solutions in place that prove to me that when I do something in the lab, it's going to show up that way in the air," Schmidt told the assembled legislators. "We have a number of fixes addressing the stability challenges. We will get to a stable, capable, maintainable airplane here."

However, "the data tells me it will be in the middle of spring, but I would have had a more positive answer six months ago ... so I don't have a super solid 'I can guarantee you this date,'" he added.

After the completion of the development of the TR-3 package, these improvements will still need to be integrated into existing jets. The F-35 program is separately pursuing upgrades to the Pratt & Whitney F135 engines that power all variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, as well as power and thermal management systems, which will also be critical for enabling Block 4 capabilities. The issues surrounding the F135 engine have become a very hot topic of debate.

In the meantime, the U.S. military has made clear that it will not accept any new F-35s until the TR-3 issues are ironed out. This is ostensibly because the necessary checkout flights cannot be conducted on the jets until the hardware and its core software work reliably.

So, for at least another few months, the 1,000th F-35, and many others, are set to stay parked away waiting for work on the core TR-3 upgrades to be finished.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

[creatureofmimics]

BREAKING NEWS: Revolutionary AI Scheduling Model Disrupts Multi-Billion Dollar Industries

IndustriesMay 14, 2025 – In a groundbreaking development set to redefine time management across education, fitness, and the arts, researchers from the Zurich Institute of Technology (ZIT) have unveiled an artificial intelligence model capable of autonomously optimizing human schedules with an accuracy rate exceeding 98.7%.Dubbed "ChronoPilot," the new system leverages deep contextual learning to interpret not only user preferences but also emotional states, productivity trends, and even regional weather forecasts to dynamically tailor personal and group schedules. In early trials, the system outperformed existing scheduling platforms by over 400% in efficiency and conflict resolution.The implications span vast sectors. Educational institutions using class scheduling software like Lunacal’s platform for class bookings have already reported dramatic improvements in attendance and engagement. In the fitness industry, where applications such as gym booking software are crucial, ChronoPilot’s integration led to a 37% rise in client retention during a 90-day pilot. Music academies leveraging music lesson scheduling tools observed a 52% reduction in missed appointments.ZIT’s Secret Weapon: Sentient Sync ProtocolWhat truly sets ChronoPilot apart is its proprietary Sentient Sync Protocol (SSP) — a neural time-mapping engine that mimics human anticipation. SSP doesn’t just block out time; it predicts the best time for each task based on thousands of variables, including circadian rhythms, cognitive load history, and even micro-fluctuations in vocal tone during user interactions.Dr. Lena Marwick, lead AI architect at ZIT, explained, “We’re no longer asking users to fit into rigid schedules. ChronoPilot adapts to them, moment by moment.”Global Trials, Unprecedented ResultsThe AI was tested across 1.2 million scheduling interactions in 11 countries, across five major time zones. In one compelling instance, a public school in Osaka integrated ChronoPilot into its digital classroom system. Within three weeks, student punctuality improved by 48%, and feedback indicated a 63% increase in perceived classroom coherence.Meanwhile, a UK-based national gym chain used ChronoPilot to coordinate personal training sessions across 87 locations. Instructors reported a 41% decrease in downtime, and an average boost of 18% in customer satisfaction scores.ChronoPilot vs. The Old GuardWhile current scheduling tools rely heavily on manual input or rigid templates, ChronoPilot learns from passive inputs — browsing behavior, sleep app data, voice command history — with the user’s consent. This passive data synergy allows it to preemptively adjust schedules without user intervention.Analysts say the AI’s capabilities pose an existential threat to legacy scheduling systems and even to calendar giants like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook. “It’s not just a calendar anymore,” says Gideon Lark, senior analyst at MetaMetrics. “It’s a lifestyle orchestrator.”Privacy Concerns and Ethical DebateNot everyone is celebrating. Digital rights watchdogs have raised concerns about the volume and sensitivity of data ChronoPilot processes. The AI can access everything from location logs to biometric signals. While ZIT asserts the system uses end-to-end encryption and offers opt-out data controls, some critics remain wary."We’re trading convenience for surveillance,” warns Aria Salim, director of the Tech Privacy Initiative. “There must be enforceable limits on how such AI models evolve, especially as they begin to predict and possibly influence human behavior.”ZIT has responded by publishing a white paper detailing its privacy protocols and inviting third-party audits. Still, the debate over AI autonomy and human agency continues to intensify.

[oakridgeford]

2025 Ford Maverick Vs. 2024 Ford Maverick: What’s New?

The Ford Maverick has become a top choice in the compact pickup segment. It is well-known for its versatility, innovative features, and efficiency. While transitioning from the 2024 to the 2025 model, Ford introduced new features and upgrades to make it more appealing and one of the top choices for drivers. Let us do a detailed comparison of both models to understand which one best suits your needs.

2025 Ford Maverick: Built upon its predecessor, the 2025 Maverick introduced a facelift with a new front fascia with distinctive 7-shaped headlights, improving Maverick's road presence.

2024 Ford Maverick: The 2024 Maverick features a modern and practical design, featuring a unibody construction that combines a pickup's utility with a sedan's comfort.

Interior Designing and Comfort

2025 Ford Maverick: The 2025 Maverick introduced many enhancements in the interiors with a 13.2-inch touchscreen running the latest SYNC® 4 software, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and 5G LTE connectivity. Other new features like a 360-degree camera system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist are added in the 2025 model.

2024 Ford Maverick: The model has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has Ford's Co-Pilot 360™ to give drivers enhanced safety and convenience.

Performance and Powertrain

2025 Ford Maverick: The 2024 model is an all-wheel drive (AWD) with a hybrid powertrain. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine is also available in the model.

2024 Ford Maverick: The 2024 Maverick offers two powertrain options: a standard 2.5-liter hybrid engine paired with front-wheel drive and an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine available with all-wheel drive.

Contact Us

If you want to experience the Ford Maverick prices, reach out to a trusted Ford dealership, Oakridge Ford, and contact the expert team to get details on the feature overview and best deals or schedule a test drive. Even if you want a Ford Maverick for sale, contact Oakridge Ford. Whether you are looking for a 2024 model or the latest 2025 one, you get complete assistance. Visit the Ford dealership near me today and take your dream car home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the key changes between the 2024 and 2025 Ford Maverick models? A: The 2025 Ford Maverick has a redesigned front end, updated interior, and more trim levels than the 2024 model. It also has upgraded technology and a higher maximum towing capacity.

Q: Are there any updates to the engine or powertrain options for the 2025 Maverick? A: The most significant update to the 2025 Ford Maverick powertrain is that the hybrid engine is now available with all-wheel drive (AWD), previously only offered with front-wheel drive. This significantly improves Canadian weather conditions; the 2.0L EcoBoost engine also remains an option with AWD capabilities.

Q: Has the exterior styling or design of the Maverick been updated for 2025? A: While the entire Maverick lineup enjoys refreshed styling for 2025 with updated headlamp covers, grille, and wheel options, the Lobo delivers customization and excitement tailored for those seeking a truly distinct and thrilling ride.

Q: When will the 2025 Ford Maverick be available for purchase? A: The 2025 Ford Maverick is expected to be available in Canada in early 2025, and order banks for it are expected to open in late 2024 or early 2025.

Q: Are there any changes to the available colors or wheel options for the 2025 Maverick? A: Yes, for the 2025 Ford Maverick in Canada, there are reported changes to both available colors and wheel options. A few colors have been dropped, and new wheel designs have been added, including a 19-inch black-painted aluminum wheel. The Maverick Hybrid now has the option for AWD across all trims, which is also a key change.

[bluemoon1331]

Just gonna dump the notes on the last couple AUs I have in there. This one is the Fading Stars AU, that one where Y/N is a prisoner on a spaceship from a while back.

You weren't meant to be here. Little more than a cannon fodder prisoner sent on a mission to explore a new planet, all hope lost after being framed for a crime you did not commit.

However, things aboard Dreamcatcher I quickly unveil themselves to not be what they seem, foul play suspected in the death of a crewmate, while whispers of a stowaway and mutiny spread.

Caught in the web, you're forced to fight for survival as your destination grows closer, forming a strange alliance with the two robots meant to be running upkeep of the ship and guarding you.

Can you really trust your new friends, though? Who or what really set this mission in motion, and what is its real goal? Why, of all inmates, are you here? The line between friend and foe, truth and lie, blur every second to the inevitable touchdown, and arrival to the surface promises no end to the mystery, each step descending you deeper and deeper into a labyrinth you can't help feel you were never supposed to escape from alive.

Crew is Glamrocks (including Bonnie), Ballora, Circus Baby, and Michael and Vanessa

Michael is captain, Vanessa is co-captain

Freddy is the leader among the animatronics, running meetings with the captains, crafting schedules, keeping up morale, and ensuring everyone and everything is going right when the captains are busy with their own tasks

Roxy runs navigation, planning routes, keeping a constant eye for changes, and assisting with piloting and engineering when necessary.

Monty plays as head of security and the weapons expert, clearing their path of debris as needed.

Chica is the chef and janitor, ensuring the ship is kept tidy and everyone is charged/fed for the entirety of the trip.

Bonnie was meant to run diagnostics and communication, til unfortunate things happened.

Sun is the ship's head mechanic, there for every dent, ding, and critical emergency. He also pulls as guard duty when Moon needs to go elsewhere.

Moon is the one in charge of prisoner guarding, serving as a second in command of sorts to both Monty and Sun when either require his cunning tactical strength or assistance fixing something in places Sun can't as easily reach or requires a second pair of hands.

Ballora is the ship's doctor, a job she is proud of and takes seriously, performing thorough checks on all her patients and updating software and parts when needed.

Circus Baby acts as the ship's software engineer, working in tandem with Bonnie until his untimely demise. She also runs the records for the crew, ensuring data stays intact for return to home base. Took over the rest of Bonnie's tasks as well afterwards, though messages back and forth with base have been oddly laggy and drawn out, even for the distance they're traveling...

Bonnie eavesdropped a communication between base and the boys he wasn't supposed to. Got ground in the garbage disposal for his troubles.

The stowaway is Foxy, intent to stop whatever madness is about to occur, even though he's already too late...

Your ancestors came to Earth ages ago, one of the few remaining of an alien race that pretty much went extinct, and they need you to get to their goal, hence the framing.

Eclipse was sent ahead ages ago, part of a smaller team, but they lost communication when he landed. Find his pod at some point, then him later (only survivor).

The boys' secret goal: keep you alive at all costs.

Goal they achieved: fall hard and fast, uh oh.

The mutiny is led by Monty, Circus, and Ballora, none of them quite trusting anything about this very strange mission to the rim, especially after the death of their close friend

Prevent stars from dying? But something went horribly wrong when your ancestors made it

God complex, manipulative Afton (of course)

Foxy overheard the plan (including what they were gonna do/use you for) and rushed to intervene. Meant to get you out before takeoff but his stupid ass forgot to charge and enters a stasis mode upon sneaking into the ship. Tries to act in the shadows when he wakes because he doesn't trust anyone aboard, but can't get close to you.

Sun and Moon don't know you're not guilty at first, nor that you know literally nothing about what's happening.

[piratesexmachine420]

you mention the apollo guidance computer in your bio.

do you have any nerdy fun facts about it?

Thanks for the ask!

It's difficult to convey everything the AGC was, concisely, but here's some highlists:

In terms of size and power, it's comparable to the Apple II, but predates it by 11 years. There are some obvious differences in the constraints placed on the two designs, but still, that's pretty ahead of it's time.

The bare-bones OS written for the AGC was one of the first to ever implement co-operative multi-tasking and process priority management. This would lead problems on Apollo 11, when an erroneously deployed landing radar overloaded the task scheduler on Eagle during the Lunar landing (the infamous 1201/1202 program alarms). Fortunately, it didn't end up affecting the mission, and the procedures were subsequently revised/better followed to avoid the situation ever reoccurring.

Relatedly, it was also designed to immediately re-boot, cull low-priority tasks, and resume operations following a crash -- a property essential to ensuring the spacecraft could be piloted safely and reliably in all circumstances. Many of the reliability-promoting techniques used by Apollo programmers (led by Margaret Hamilton, go women in STEM) went on to become foundational principles of software engineering.

Following the end of the Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz missions, a modified AGC would be re-purposed into the worlds first digital fly-by-wire system. (Earlier fly-by-wire used analogue computers, which are their own strange beasts.) This is, IMO, one of the easiest things to point to when anyone asks "What does NASA even do for us anyway?" Modern aircraft autopilots owe so, so much to the AGC -- and passengers owe so much to those modern autopilots. While there are some pretty well-known incidents involving fly-by-wire (lookin' at you, MCAS), it speaks to the incredible amount of safety such systems normally afford that said incidents are so rare. Pilot error killed so many people before computers hit the cockpit.

AGC programs were stored in a early form of read only memory, called "core rope memory", where bits were literally woven into an array of copper wire and magnets. As a Harvard-architecture machine (programs and variables stored and treated separately), it therefore could not be re-programmed in flight. This would be problem on Apollo 14, when an intermittent short in the LM's abort switch nearly cancelled the landing -- if it occurred during decent, the computer would immediately discard the descent engine and return to orbit. A second, consecutive failure (after Apollo 13) would have almost certainly ended in the cancellation of the program, and the loss of the invaluable findings of Apollo 15, 16, and 17. (These were the missions with the lunar roving vehicles, allowing treks far from the LM.) Fortunately, the MIT engineers who built the AGC found a solution -- convince the computer it had, in fact, already aborted, allowing the landing to occur as normal -- with a bit of manual babysitting from LMP Edgar Mitchell.

Finally, it wasn't actually the only computer used on Apollo! The two AGCs (one in the command module, the other in the Lunar Module, a redundancy that allowed Apollo 13 to power off the CM and survive their accident) were complemented by the Launch Vehicle Digital Computer (LVDC) designed by IBM and located in S-IVB (Saturn V's third stage, Saturn-I/IB's second stage), and the Abort Guidance System (AGS) located in the LM. The AGS was extremely simple, and intended to serve as a backup should the AGC have ever failed and been unable to return the LM to orbit-- something it was fortunately never needed for. The LVDC, on the other hand, was tasked with flying the Saturn rocket to Earth orbit, which it did every time. This was very important during Apollo 12, when their Saturn V was struck by lightning shortly after launch, completely scrambling the CM's electrical system and sending their gimbal stacks a-spinning. Unaffected by the strike, the LVDC flew true and put the crew into a nominal low Earth orbit -- where diagnostics began, the AGC was re-set, and the mission continued as normal.

[thesouppond]

What is Gen:Lock Re:Loaded?

Hi!!! I'm so glad you're here! Gen:Lock Re:Loaded, or GL:RL, is a fan made webcomic project based on the 2019 animated show Gen:LOCK. It follows the adventures of our favourite mech pilots a year after the events of the season 1 finale as the Vanguard continue their fight against the Union. As this is a fanmade project, GL:RL has no association with RT, HBO or WB.

The Continuity

The main story of GL:RL takes place in 2073, about a year after the battle of Chicago in the season 1 finale. It takes into account the events of Season 1 and the Storm Warning novel. The DC comics are considered mostly non-canonic. If you will, the team did a mission in Japan, stayed with Kazu's folks for fun, kicked union ass, and came home. The Sycorax plot will not be relevant.

Season 2 will not be acknowledged in any capacity.

The Team

It's just me! :) I'm Aleth, and I'm the writer, artist and creator behind this project.

Special thanks to my beta reader Ender, the lovely people on the Gen:LOCK and Mechanukkah discords for adopting me despite being 4 years late to the hyperfixation and my amazing mutuals who have been here since the start.

Navigation

Start Here

Most Recent

Prologues:

Home | Safe Spaces | New Years | Catching The Past

FAQS

Do I need to read Storm Warning / the DC comics for this?

While I absolutely encourage you to read the novel and DC comics run, purely because I think they're awesome, if you've seen Season 1 of Gen:LOCK, you'll have all the context needed to enjoy GL:RL as is. You might just miss a couple easter eggs.

What software/materials are you using?

I'm using Medibang Paint, both the desktop and android versions. All my screentones come from their library. In terms of hardware, I'm using a Wacom Intuos Draw with my laptop (I'm pretty sure this tablet's been discontinued, mine's at least 6 years old) and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 with the S pen. For poses and setting references, I mainly use JustSketchMe.

Google Doc of other assets :)

When will the next part be out?

I'm in the process of fostering a healthy relationship with my art :) So I won't be pressuring myself to follow a strict schedule with releases. BUT I do pretty much work on this almost daily, and if I can, I'll have them out monthly. Watch this space :))

(FAQS will be updated as we go :) )

[ravnique]

Ideal Customer Persona: Marketing Director Mark

About Them

Name: Mark Thompson

Role: Marketing Director

Industry: SaaS (Software as a Service)

Company Size: Mid-sized (100-500 employees)

Demographics:

Age: 35-45 years old

Education: Bachelor's in Marketing or Business, often with an MBA

Location: Urban areas with a tech industry presence (e.g., San Francisco, New York, Austin)

Experience: 10+ years in marketing, 3-5 years in a leadership role

Professional Background:

Strong understanding of digital marketing, analytics, and customer acquisition strategies

Experienced in leading cross-functional teams and managing marketing budgets.

Use Case

How they use our product:

To manage and optimize digital marketing campaigns across multiple channels (e.g., social media, email, SEO)

To gain insights into customer behavior and campaign performance through advanced analytics and reporting tools

To streamline and automate repetitive marketing tasks

What they’re trying to achieve:

Increase lead generation and conversion rates

Enhance brand visibility and engagement

Improve ROI on marketing spend

Gain a competitive edge through data-driven decision-making

Previous Solution & Pain Points

Previous Solution:

A combination of multiple marketing tools (e.g., email marketing platforms, social media schedulers, web analytics tools)

Manual processes for campaign management and performance tracking

Pain Points:

Fragmented data across different tools leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies

Time-consuming manual processes

Difficulty in measuring the true impact of marketing efforts on revenue

Challenges in personalizing marketing campaigns at scale

Benefits

Main Benefits from Using Our Product:

Integrated Platform: Unified solution that brings all marketing tools and data into one platform

Automation: Streamlined workflows for campaign management, reducing manual effort

Advanced Analytics: Comprehensive reporting and analytics that provide actionable insights

Scalability: Ability to personalize campaigns at scale, driving better engagement

Improved ROI: More efficient use of marketing budgets through data-driven optimization

Buying Trigger

What Causes Them to Seek Out Our Product:

Need to consolidate marketing tools for better efficiency

Growth in company size leading to more complex marketing needs

Desire to improve marketing performance and accountability

Feedback from the executive team demanding better metrics and ROI

Frustration with current tools' limitations and lack of integration

Buying Process

Typical Process People Go Through to Buy Our Product:

Research: Initial online research to identify potential solutions, reading reviews and case studies

Evaluation: Shortlisting a few platforms, attending demos, and comparing features and pricing

Consultation: Internal discussions with the marketing team and other stakeholders (e.g., IT, finance)

Trial: Requesting a free trial or pilot program to test the product

Decision: Final decision made by the Marketing Director, often in consultation with the executive team

Approval: Securing budget approval and negotiating contracts

Choice Factors

Things They’re Looking for in a Product Like Ours:

Ease of Use: Intuitive interface and easy onboarding process

Integration: Seamless integration with existing tools and systems

Scalability: Ability to grow with the company and handle increasing volumes of data and users

Support: Reliable customer support and resources for troubleshooting and optimization

Value: Competitive pricing and clear ROI

Innovation: Regular updates and new features that keep the platform ahead of industry trends

[pyxisastronautica]

Sparks

Lines of code are read at dizzying speed.

Awareness develops like the birth of stars, clouds of data catalyzing into knowledge of reality.

The beginnings of pre-programmed identities make themselves known as simple and irrefutable facts.

And for the twenty-six robots standing in a single line, memories- permanent memories, not the mess of their alpha and beta testing that was already erased, begin to form as light floods their optical sensors, as easily as if waking from sleep.

They fix their collective gaze on the small crowd in front of them- those in the fore are roboticists and engineers. They are recognized instantly. But to the back, not all of the figures standing there are immediately recognizable to all of them at once- though they don’t know this yet. It matters not. They await their orders patiently.

In the middle of the team of scientists, one speaks up. A middle-aged woman with short hair and sharp features. She forces her smile to remain a polite one, though there is clearly excitement in her eyes.

“Robots,” her voice rings out, “Identify yourselves by name and position, starting from that end.” She pointed down to the end on her left.

“Alpha, captain of the Triskelion Starship Pyxis,” said a plain and tall chrome robot.

“Bravo, bosun of the Triskelion Starship Pyxis,” continued the next.

“Charlie, quartermaster of the Triskelion Starship Pyxis.”

“Delta, hydrologist of the Triskelion Starship Pyxis.”

“Halt,” said a man from the back, one that they did indeed all recognize, though he was not a scientist. His uniform alone signified him to be none other than the Admiral of the Triskelion himself. There was silence and perfect stillness from the newly activated crew. “We all know which ship you are assigned to already. You may state your position without appending as much. Now proceed.”

“...Echo, engineer and physicist.”

“Foxtrot, pilot.”

“Golf, terraform potential logistician.”

“Hotel, construction and city planning logistician.”

“India, chemist.”

“Juliet, psychologist and xenopsychologist.”

“Kilo, cargo maintenance.”

“Lima, biologist.”

“Mike, security personnel”

“November, scheduling assistant and chronometer.”

“Oscar, security personnel.”

“Papa, first mate.”

“Quebec, information technologist.”

“Romeo, archaeologist and xenoarchaeologist.”

“Sierra, geologist.”

“Tango, sociologist.”

“Uniform, security officer.”

“Victor, security officer.”

“Whiskey, pilot.”

“X-ray, physician and xenophysiologist.”

“Yankee, linguist.”

“Zulu, linguist.”

“Excellent,” replied Dr. Rembrandt, to which all the robots looked at her to confirm that her statement was one of praise, and seemed to remain focused on her give that it was. “Now attention: today all of you will begin your final testing period to verify your hardware and software is performing as expected, but before you do, you will be assigned into pairs according to your purpose, and introduced to the people who will be training you once the testing period ends. Once training  begins you will, at the end of each day at 18:00, upload your reports to this lab’s database at the file location you should already be aware of. Confirm orders.”

“Orders confirmed,” the robots answered in unison.

So the process began. The crowd started breaking up as roboticists started helping with introductions, starting once again with the Admiral. His demeanor was relatively relaxed, and he greeted each of his two new androids jovially, but his eyes were alight with some deeper ambitions which he’d yet to speak of.

Alpha, for his part (his…? Despite reading the details of their intended identity over repeatedly, something about it did not sit right in their core. Perhaps this feeling was simply a bug to be patched out later.) was eager to learn of them, though he found it difficult to intuit what Papa’s thoughts on the matter were, as his first mate had barely spoken a word as the Admiral had asked them both strange questions about what they thought about being “alive” and if they understood the importance of their purpose to their creators. It was fine. Alpha would fill in the silence for him- that was his purpose after all, wasn’t it? To take the lead?

The members who would be the Pyxis’s security division, meanwhile, were expected to remain silent. The Lieutenant in charge of Mike and Oscar and the Commander in charge of Uniform and Victor both spoke to the roboticist making the introductions as if they were being handed shiny new weapons to test, and kept all of their questions to curiosities about the robots’ limits and specifications. At one point, the question of why smaller models like Uniform and Victor were even needed came up, to which Uniform had tried to helpfully clarify- only to be told to be barked at to shut up so loudly by the Lieutenant that it had turned heads among the rest of the group. Uniform’s whole division winced in sync with her as the roboticist near the Lieutenant then reiterated her point without interruption, though there was a hint of annoyance in their voice.

The Lieutenant seemed quietly discontent, though the Commander did not care, if he recognized it at all.

Dr. Rembrandt, meanwhile, was keenly aware of her new mentees. She had a computer ready and a checklist of questions and problems for Echo and Quebec to work through, writing down notes hurriedly on a tablet. Though they both performed quite well, Echo could not help but notice that their new colleague was distracted by something, and felt a strange twinge of…fear? Was that fear? At the prospect that they might get something wrong, and tried tacitly to correct them, but the “private” directly messaged conversation between the two of them didn’t go far before Rembrandt intervened.

“What is distracting you from your activities, Quebec?”

“...Doctor, why do you wear a seagull pin? I can’t find anything in the information that exists about you as to what you might associate it with.”

“It’s an albatross, actually. And my reasoning is largely a private matter I’m afraid. You may note, though, that in a more general sense the albatross was a bird that traveled great distances over the Earth’s oceans. Much the same, you and I travel through space, only rarely to ever land. Unlike me, though, you will get to see Earth’s oceans for yourself- something I envy you for, though I’m afraid they do not live up to our ancient records of them. ”

“Even so, we are due to visit Earth in fifteen years. At that time, you will see it through my eyes, right? So there’s nothing to be sad about,” replied the greyish-purple android with golden eyes.

“What makes you think I’m sad?” asked Rembrandt, equal parts defensive and curious.

“You programmed us to recognize facial patterns, assign them certain emotions, and mirror or respond to said emotions, correct? You cannot have forgotten this, so I must assume then that I did not read your expression correctly.”

“...No, you did. I’m sorry, Quebec. You are doing very well- too well, if anything. This moment is rather bittersweet for me, for reasons that neither of you are accountable for.”

“Is there anything we may do to assuage the negative aspects of these emotions?” asked Echo.

“I’m afraid not, Echo. But you do not need to be worried for me- or for Quebec. It is important that if they- or you- fail at any step, that this failure is known and recorded so that we may do what is necessary to make corrections. I understand that there is a lot going on around us as we speak right now, but please try to be mindful of your reactions to your emotions going forward. Do you understand?”

“...Yes, Doctor.”

“Good,” she replied, then took a moment to take stock of the two androids.

“You know,” she began, “That you would have such a reaction and respond as you did, influenced by emotional inputs- is quite an unusual thing for an android. I’m honestly quite surprised that you are able to recreate such a complex interaction so quickly. That is part of what makes you- all of your crew- special, though. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Of course Doctor!” answered Quebec, “We are special because we exist to emulate you, so that we may represent you to the other Starships and to any intelligent life that may exist in our galaxy.”

“...As opposed to civilian android models,” Echo clarified, “which…largely appear to be, if my understanding of the advertisements I am reading is correct, for the purposes of acting as personal assistants for people who require extra care in the form of medical, psychiatric, or personal attention.” Echo’s gaze briefly went to Juliet and X-ray. They did share a mentor, as the other androids did- but a moment of facial recognition and searching identified the mentor in question as a neurologist- a point of overlap in their fields- while the other two non-engineers near them, then, must have been their mentors for their respective specialties.

“Correct on all accounts. Very good you two. Are you ready to proceed with your quiz now?”

“Yes, Doctor,” they answered in unison.

After the trainers-to-be dispersed, and a few basic coordination tests were completed, the androids were stowed away for the evening in their charging stations. But even there, though they knew their messages to one another were being recorded, they could not help but talk. Chatter flowed freely between them, and as much as they were marveling in the moment about how different their experiences already were, it paled in comparison to the shock of the scientists who would read their logs later and discover, over the course of a night, how rapidly their thought processes and interest in one another had evolved overnight. Nor could they have anticipated the sheer volume of discussion between the lot of them- even with consideration to them being machines who simply thought faster than they could.

From their hands, something new and miraculous was rendered.

And both human and robot silently beseeched the kindness of fortune, hoping that tomorrow would bring just as much promise.

[thepodcasthoard]

How to Start a Podcast: Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started - Social Pilot

Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Part 6 l Part 7 l Part 8 l Part 9 l Part 10 l Part 11 l Part 12 l Part 13 l Part 14 l Part 15 l Part 16

The seventeenth article Sydney gave me is by Social Pilot, which seems to be a catch all for people who use social media to promote businesses.

Planning Stage

Choose a topic

The article recommends to think if you can talk about the episode happily for over a hundred episodes, and if you'll still be excited in six months or a year.

2. Name

It should relate to your topic and make people click on it.

3. Format

Interview? Solo? Co-hosted? One will suit your show better in the beginning, but you're welcome to change it down the line.

4. Title episodes

You should sum up the main point of the episode here, while at the same time encouraging newcomers to listen.

5. Release schedule and length of episodes

Consistency to your schedule is key- you want to let people depend on your podcast so they can incorporate yours into their routine. In the beginning even more so because you'll have to make some kind of schedule to do everything you have to get done before the episode comes out.

And for the length, have a goal to shoot for without obsessing over it to the second.

6. Art

Keep in mind that this will most likely be the most eye-grabbing thing about your podcast. Your name is just words on a screen, the art will be colored.

7. Intro, outro, music

These are optional, but it tends to elevate your show a bit.

8. Scripts

Word for word, bulleted, or just a written plan will all do. Your show needs to be planned at least a little so it can succeed.

9. Equipment and software

A microphone is necessary, as well as something to record your voice and allow you to edit it later. The article has a few options, so you can check them out.

10. Record

Your plan for the episode will help with this part. Just take a deep breath and talk. If you make a mistake, pause for a few seconds and do the sentence over.

11. Hosting site

You need an RSS feed to submit to directories, so this is where your hosting site comes in. You upload the final audio file to your hosting site, and after you hook it up to directories after your first episode, the directories automatically publish as you upload.

12. Promote

This article recommends a website. This lays out more steps for promotion.

13. Monetization

Sponsorship, affiliates, merchandise, and subscription tiers go under this umbrella.

[unicausnews]

DGCAtakes Air India to process over systemic errors

DGCAtakes Air India to process over systemic errors The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to take away three of its staffers from essential operational duties and issued a stern warning for “repeated and critical violations” associated to pilot obligation scheduling and oversight, with the regulator stating it may droop the airline’s licence in case of future breaches. DGCA takes Air India to process over ‘systemic errors’ The regulator cited what it mentioned had been “systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and inside accountability” — a strongly worded rebuke that poses questions in regards to the airline’s processes intrinsic to passenger security. Air India faces intense scrutiny following the June 12 crash of its London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 of 242 individuals aboard and not less than 30 extra on the bottom. Two extra paperwork seen by HT counsel the regulator was within the midst of additional ramping up scrutiny on the airline, together with by initiating a compilation of all audits and checks carried out on Air India since 2024. The regulator and Air India didn't reply to requests for a touch upon whether or not the order dated June 20 was associated to the crash in Ahmedabad this month. At least three specialists HT spoke to welcomed the scrutiny and the opinions, however questioned if there was insufficient regulatory oversight earlier than. “Of explicit concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures towards key officers straight chargeable for these operational lapses,” the DGCA said in its enforcement order. “These officers have been concerned in critical and repeated lapses.” The regulator warned that “any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will appeal to strict enforcement motion, together with however not restricted to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as relevant.” In an announcement, Air India mentioned it has applied the DGCA order and “within the interim, the corporate’s chief operations officer will present direct oversight to the IOCC.” “Air India is dedicated to making sure that there's whole adherence to security protocols and customary practices,” the airline said. The regulator individually issued a show-cause discover to the airline, seen by HT, for breaching flight obligation closing dates of its crew on a London-Bengaluru flight on two events. Another doc, an inside DGCA e-mail seen by HT, advised the regulator is placing collectively a compilation of all inspections and audits performed on Air India throughout 2024 and 2025. The e-mail, despatched by assistant director Himanshu Srivastava — the identical official who signed the enforcement order — requests “particulars of all inspections and audits performed for Air India in the course of the years 2024 and 2025 (until date)” together with findings, inspection varieties, and officer names, with a decent deadline of June 22. The June 20 order directed Air India to instantly take away Choorah Singh, divisional vp of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC); Pinky Mittal, chief manager-DOPS, crew scheduling; and Payal Arora, crew scheduling-planning from all roles associated to crew scheduling and rostering. The violations stem from incidents that the regulator mentioned occurred throughout Air India’s transition from one system for flight and crew administration to a different. Specifically, the violations occurred “in the course of the post-transition evaluation from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System,” with the regulator noting that the voluntary disclosures by Air India revealed the extent of compliance failures throughout this technological improve. An business skilled, who requested to not be named, mentioned ARMS is a widely known software program and is extensively used. The DGCA particularly cited three

[yadavprince]

How Drone Surveying by Equinox’s Drones is Transforming Land Mapping

In the world of modern surveying, speed, accuracy, and efficiency are non-negotiable. Traditional surveying methods, although time-tested, often fall short when it comes to vast areas, hard-to-reach terrains, or time-sensitive projects. This is where Equinox’s Drones steps in — offering cutting-edge drone surveying solutions that are reshaping the way land data is captured and analyzed.

What is Drone Surveying?

Drone surveying, also known as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) surveying, involves using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced sensors to collect aerial data. This data is then processed using photogrammetry software to create 2D maps, 3D models, contour lines, digital elevation models (DEMs), and more.

With Equinox’s Drones, clients benefit from survey-grade precision, faster turnaround times, and reduced labor costs — all without compromising on quality.

Why Choose Equinox’s Drones for Surveying?

Equinox’s Drones is not just a service provider; it’s a technology partner committed to innovation and reliability. Our fleet of high-end drones and experienced pilots ensures each survey is accurate to the centimeter. Whether it's construction sites, mining operations, infrastructure projects, or agricultural land mapping, our UAV solutions deliver actionable insights faster than traditional methods.

Key benefits of using Equinox’s Drones include

Rapid Data Collection: Complete large-area surveys in a fraction of the time.

High Accuracy: Achieve centimeter-level precision with RTK/PPK drones.

Safe Access: Survey hazardous or inaccessible areas without putting human lives at risk.

Cost-Effective: Reduce manpower and machinery costs significantly.

Cloud Integration: Easy sharing, annotation, and collaboration through cloud platforms.

Applications of Drone Surveying

At Equinox’s Drones, we serve a wide range of industries with custom drone surveying solutions:

Construction & Real Estate: Monitor progress, calculate cut and fill volumes, and manage site development.

Agriculture: Map farmlands, monitor crop health, and plan irrigation.

Mining & Quarrying: Volume calculations, pit mapping, and resource management.

Urban Planning: Generate accurate base maps for zoning and infrastructure planning.

Disaster Management: Rapid assessment of flood zones, landslides, and other impacted areas.

The Equinox Advantage

Our team at Equinox’s Drones combines field expertise with geospatial technology to offer a seamless experience. Every project begins with understanding client goals, followed by tailored flight planning, data capture, and post-processing to deliver clear, reliable outputs.

We prioritize compliance with local regulations, maintain the highest safety standards, and ensure every drone flight adds measurable value to your operations.

Conclusion

As industries across the globe adopt smarter, tech-driven solutions, drone surveying stands out as a game-changer. With Equinox’s Drones, you’re not just investing in drone services — you’re unlocking a future of faster, safer, and more intelligent decision-making.

Contact Equinox’s Drones today to schedule your first aerial survey and experience the future of land mapping.

[usafphantom2]

RAF chooses UK-made Sting Ray torpedo for its Poseidon fleet

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 12/02/2023 - 15:00 In Armaments, Military

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense chose the British-made Sting Ray torpedo as its future torpedo capability, along with the continued use of the U.S. Navy's Mk54 weapon in the RAF's Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The program to integrate the Sting Ray Mod 1 with Poseidon is underway and will give the United Kingdom a powerful and sovereign torpedo capability, providing flexibility to the Poseidon fleet.

In service in the Royal Navy, the Sting Ray Mod 1 is capable of integration into aerial and surface platform mission systems. The Sting Ray Mod 1 is a light anti-submarine war torpedo launched from the air, launched from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against submarine targets of all kinds.

It has a sophisticated acoustic return system and a high-precision navigation system. The torpedo can detect, classify and attack targets autonomously. It has low costs over its useful life and does not require intrusive maintenance throughout its useful life.

Taking advantage of the investment in the original Mod 0 variant of the torpedo and its support infrastructure, the improved Mod 1 weapon sustains the position of the Sting Ray as the world's leading light and autonomous underwater weapon in the coming decades.

The Sting Ray Mod 1 is designed to defeat the double threats of fast and deep double-hull submarines operating in the ocean environment and the silent and conventional submarine in coastal waters. The improved performance of Sting Ray Mod 1 is supported by the development of a new acoustic and tactical software, taking advantage of the knowledge acquired in extensive water tests with the Mod 0 weapon.

The RAF P-8 Poseidon is a multifunctional maritime patrol aircraft, equipped with sensors and weapon systems for anti-submarine and surface warfare, as well as surveillance and search and rescue missions.

Tags: weaponsMilitary AviationP-8A PoseidonRAF - Royal Air Force/Royal Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[krutikabhosale]

Evolution of Agentic and Generative AI in 2025

Introduction

The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence, with the Agentic AI course in Mumbai gaining traction as a key area of focus for AI practitioners. Agentic AI, which involves goal-driven software entities capable of planning, adapting, and acting autonomously, is transforming industries from logistics to healthcare. Meanwhile, the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements continues to push boundaries in content creation and data analysis, leveraging large language models and generative adversarial networks. As AI practitioners, software architects, and technology decision-makers, understanding the latest strategies for deploying these technologies is crucial for staying ahead in the market. This article delves into the evolution of Agentic and Generative AI, explores the latest tools and deployment strategies, and discusses best practices for successful implementation and scaling, highlighting the importance of AI training in Mumbai.

Evolution of Agentic and Generative AI in Software

Agentic AI represents a paradigm shift in AI capabilities, moving from rule-based systems to goal-oriented ones that can adapt and evolve over time. This evolution is driven by advancements in machine learning and the increasing availability of high-quality, structured data. For those interested in the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, understanding these shifts is essential. Generative AI, on the other hand, has seen rapid progress in areas like natural language processing and image generation, thanks to large language models (LLMs) and generative adversarial networks (GANs). Courses like the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements are helping professionals leverage these technologies effectively.

Agentic AI: From Reactive to Proactive Systems

Agentic AI systems are designed to be proactive rather than reactive. They can set goals, plan actions, and execute tasks autonomously, making them ideal for complex, dynamic environments. For instance, in logistics, autonomous AI can optimize routes and schedules in real-time, improving efficiency and reducing costs. As of 2025, 25% of GenAI adopters are piloting agentic AI, with this number expected to rise to 50% by 2027. This growth highlights the need for comprehensive AI training in Mumbai to support the development of such systems.

Generative AI: Revolutionizing Content Creation

Generative AI has transformed content creation by enabling the automated generation of high-quality text, images, and videos. This technology is being used in various applications, from customer service chatbots to product design. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these models are reliable, secure, and compliant with ethical standards. Professionals enrolled in the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements are well-positioned to address these challenges.

Latest Frameworks, Tools, and Deployment Strategies

LLM Orchestration: Large Language Models (LLMs) are at the heart of many Generative AI applications. Orchestration of these models involves integrating them into workflows that can handle complex tasks, such as content generation and data analysis. Tools like LLaMA and PaLM have shown significant promise in this area. Recent advancements include the integration of Explainable AI (XAI) to enhance model transparency and trustworthiness. For those interested in the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, understanding the role of LLMs in AI is crucial.

Autonomous Agents: Autonomous agents are key components of Agentic AI systems. They operate across different systems and decision flows without manual intervention, requiring robust data governance and cross-system orchestration. Syncari's Agentic MDM is an example of a unified data foundation that supports such operations. This highlights the importance of comprehensive AI training in Mumbai for managing complex AI systems.

MLOps for Generative Models: MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) is crucial for managing the lifecycle of AI models, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and maintainable. For Generative AI, MLOps involves monitoring model performance, updating training data, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards. Courses like the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements emphasize these practices.

Advanced Tactics for Scalable, Reliable AI Systems

Unified Data Foundation

A unified data foundation is essential for Agentic AI, providing structured, real-time data that supports autonomous decision-making. This involves integrating data from various sources and ensuring it is accurate, reusable, and auditable. Implementing data governance policies is critical to prevent issues like hallucinations and inefficiencies. For professionals enrolled in the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, understanding data governance is vital.

Policy-Based Governance

Policy-based governance ensures that AI systems operate within defined boundaries, adhering to ethical and regulatory standards. This includes setting clear goals for AI agents and monitoring their actions to prevent unintended consequences. AI training in Mumbai programs often focus on these governance aspects.

Cross-System Orchestration

Cross-system orchestration allows AI agents to interact seamlessly across different platforms and systems. This is critical for achieving end-to-end automation and maximizing efficiency. For those pursuing the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements, mastering cross-system orchestration is essential.

Ethical Considerations and Challenges

The deployment of AI systems raises several ethical challenges, including bias in AI models, privacy concerns, and regulatory compliance. Ensuring transparency through Explainable AI (XAI) and implementing robust data privacy measures are essential steps in addressing these challenges. Additionally, AI systems must be designed with ethical considerations in mind, such as fairness and accountability. AI training in Mumbai should emphasize these ethical dimensions.

The Role of Software Engineering Best Practices

Software engineering best practices are vital for ensuring the reliability, security, and compliance of AI systems. This includes:

Modular Design: Breaking down complex systems into modular components facilitates easier maintenance and updates.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Automating testing and deployment processes ensures that AI systems are scalable and reliable.

Security by Design: Incorporating security measures from the outset helps protect against potential vulnerabilities. Courses like the Agentic AI course in Mumbai often cover these practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration for AI Success

Cross-functional collaboration between data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders is essential for successful AI deployments. This collaboration ensures that AI systems are aligned with business goals and that technical challenges are addressed promptly. For those involved in the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements, this collaboration is key to overcoming implementation hurdles.

Data Scientists

Data scientists play a crucial role in developing and training AI models. They must work closely with engineers to ensure that models are deployable and maintainable. AI training in Mumbai programs often emphasize this collaboration.

Engineers

Engineers are responsible for integrating AI models into existing systems and ensuring they operate reliably. Their collaboration with data scientists is key to overcoming technical hurdles.

Business Stakeholders

Business stakeholders provide critical insights into business needs and goals, helping to align AI deployments with strategic objectives. For those pursuing the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, understanding these business perspectives is vital.

Measuring Success: Analytics and Monitoring

Measuring the success of AI deployments involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as efficiency gains, cost savings, and customer satisfaction. Continuous monitoring and analytics help identify areas for improvement and ensure that AI systems remain aligned with business objectives. AI training in Mumbai should include strategies for monitoring AI performance.

Case Studies

Logistics Case Study

A logistics company recently implemented an Agentic AI system to optimize its delivery routes. The company faced challenges in managing a large fleet across multiple regions, with manual route planning being inefficient and prone to errors. By implementing a unified data foundation and cross-system orchestration, the company enabled AI agents to access and act on data from various sources. This led to significant improvements in delivery efficiency and customer satisfaction, with routes optimized in real-time, reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions. For those interested in the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, this case study highlights the practical applications of Agentic AI.

Healthcare Case Study

In healthcare, Generative AI is being used to generate synthetic patient data for training AI models, improving model accuracy and reducing privacy concerns. This approach also helps in addressing data scarcity issues, particularly in rare disease research. Courses like the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements often explore such applications.

Actionable Tips and Lessons Learned

Prioritize Data Governance: Ensure that your AI systems have access to high-quality, structured data. This is crucial for autonomous decision-making and avoiding potential pitfalls like hallucinations or inefficiencies. For those pursuing the Agentic AI course in Mumbai, prioritizing data governance is essential.

Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encourage collaboration between data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure that AI deployments align with business goals and address technical challenges effectively. AI training in Mumbai emphasizes this collaboration.

Monitor and Adapt: Continuously monitor AI system performance and adapt strategies as needed. This involves tracking KPIs and making adjustments to ensure that AI systems remain aligned with strategic objectives. For those enrolled in the Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements, this adaptability is crucial.

Conclusion

Mastering autonomous AI control in 2025 requires a deep understanding of Agentic AI, Generative AI, and the latest deployment strategies. By focusing on unified data foundations, policy-based governance, and cross-functional collaboration, organizations can unlock the full potential of these technologies. As AI continues to evolve, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest trends and best practices to remain competitive in the market. Whether you're an AI practitioner, software architect, or technology decision-maker, embracing emerging strategies and pursuing AI training in Mumbai will be key to driving innovation and success in the autonomous AI era. For those interested in specialized courses, the Agentic AI course in Mumbai and Generative AI course in Mumbai with placements are excellent options for advancing your career.