#Schedule Concurrent request

[temerairesummer]

TEMERAIRE SUMMER EXCHANGE 2025

It's time! The Temeraire Summer Exchange is back for another amazing year of fanworks. We are looking forward to seeing the creative output of this small but mighty fandom. The Ao3 collection is here; the collection profile contains some detailed information on schedule, event format, FAQs, etc. Below are some highlights!

Schedule:

Sign-Ups Open: May 13 (5pm UTC) Sign-Ups Close: May 22 (5pm UTC) Assignments Sent: May 26 (5pm UTC) Posting Deadline: July 23 (5pm UTC) Works Reveals: July 26 (5pm UTC) Creator Reveals: August 2 (5pm UTC)

(Check what time 5pm UTC is for you)

How does this work? The first step is signing up. Sign-ups begin May 13. Once they're open, use the sign-up form in the collection before Thursday, May 22! You are required to request and offer a minimum of one character or one pairing. You must also select whether you would like to receive or offer fanart, fanfiction, photomanip, or any combination.

After sign-ups, the participants will be hand-matched to each other based on what they offered and requested and assignments will go out.

Gifts must be posted to the Temeraire Summer 2025 AO3 collection by July 23. They will appear as anonymous gifts for the recipient. Works will be made available to read on July 26, with creator names still hidden. On August 2, all creators will be revealed.

A note on the tagset and nominations: We are using the same tagset as previous years. As this tagset has grown quite robust, we are foregoing a nominations period. If there is a tag you'd like added, please nominate it in the tagset page or message the mods any time before sign-ups close. Sign-ups do not need to have opened for tag nomination.

What are the minimum requirements for participation? For writers, a fic with a minimum of 500 words. For artists, a nice/cleaned sketch on unlined paper. A photomanip/moodboard should be substantially original. Please use your discretion – and reach out to the mod team if you have questions!

If you have any further questions which aren’t answered here or on the Ao3 collection’s FAQ page, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can send us an ask here, or email temerairesummer@gmail.com.

Additionally, the Temeraire fandom has an active Discord! Announcements will be posted to Tumblr and Discord concurrently. If you'd like to join, leave a comment, or send us an ask or an email and we'll get you a link.

Please note you will need an Ao3 account to participate in the exchange.

[spinarakiweek]

Prompts 4 Spinaraki Week 4

(Art credit and our tremendous thanks go to poodlewool!)

Hello, all! We're here at last with prompts and dates for the fourth Spinaraki Week! It will be held in the very last week of August, from Sunday the 25th to Saturday the 31st!

As with last time, you can find a text version of the prompts and the full rules beneath the cut below, but first, a few general upkeep notes!

Re: event week tags: Following previous patterns, the tags for the week will be #spinarakiweek, #spinarakiweek2024, #spinarakiweek4, and #spinarakiweeknsfw.

Re: spoiler tags: Going by the results of the poll we ran about spoilers we ran, the vast majority of respondents are up on current events/don't care about spoilers. However, there are a small number of people who are avoiding spoilers. In recognition of that breakdown, and the fact that the manga will be over by the time the event is held, we will not be asking participants to spoiler tag their work on their own blogs, but will make our best efforts to tag for manga spoilers (#bnha manga spoilers) as we reblog to the main blog.

We have no current plans to tag for anime spoilers, as none of the mods follow the anime particularly closely, but please do contact us if you would like us to tag for spoilers for the anime episodes that will be airing immediately around the event (barring any breaks in the airing schedule, these should be Episodes 15 and 16 of the current season, Episodes 153 and 154 overall).

Re: AU fills: We got a number of requests on the survey for AU-type prompts: mermaids, supernatural creatures, heroes, pro-gamers, and so on. While we've dabbled with fanfic tropes as prompts in past years, this year we wanted to keep things relatively open. Just as a reminder, though, we heartily welcome AU content, so anyone is welcome to do AUs at any time and for any prompt they can make fit for it! You could do Mermaid AU fills for every day of the week and we'll happily reblog it, so long as they fit some aspect of one of the prompts of the day. Please, go absolutely nuts!

Re: our tumblr subpages: Firstly, our rules are the same as always, and can be found in the Rules section at the top of the page if that's visible to you, or beneath the cut below if not. The (new!) Graphics section, as the name suggests, contains every previous graphic we've used in prior weeks; these or the Tagged Works section can be used to scope out prompts from past weeks if anyone would like some inspiration or ideas for our traditional Free Day or to incorporate with other prompts this week! If the subpages don't work for you, you can also go back through the mod post tag (as at the bottom of this post!) to find previous housekeeping posts, which should get you back to previous prompt lists and the likes relatively quickly.

That's it! Rules and text prompts below the jump! We can't wait to do this thing with you all!

Text Prompts

Sunday 25th: Dedication  ~  History  ~  Game Over

Monday 26th: Monster  ~  Enough  ~  Load

Tuesday 27th: Horror  ~  Horizon  ~  Inventory

Wednesday 28th: Cracks  ~  Dream  ~  Home

Thursday 29th: Last Words  ~  Climb  ~  Cut Scene

Friday 30th: Reputation  ~  Crossover  ~  Save

Saturday 31st: Write  ~  Inheritance  ~  Continue?  +  FREE DAY

Rules & Policies

1)  We will accept and reblog any fan-made work—fanfiction, fanart, meta, playlists, etc.—so long as it focuses primarily on Shigaraki and Spinner’s relationship and fits an appropriate daily prompt.  The work must be newly published for the week, though if you wish to also use it as a fill for some other concurrent event, you’re welcome to do so.           You can work with any of the daily prompts you like, singly or in combination.  We try to keep them fairly broad, so feel free to get as creative as you like!  We welcome any fill that satisfies some aspect of the chosen prompt(s). 

2)  We’re celebrating the relationship between Shigaraki and Spinner as it’s been, as it may be, and even as it could have been.  Shippy-fic or gen-fic, canon-compliant or AU, romantic or platonic or any complicated place in between; we’re good with all of it.  Polyshipping/OT3s are allowed, but the focus must remain on Shigaraki and Spinner.

3)  Regarding content, we’re not placing hard limits on what we’re accepting.  Shigaraki and Spinner are villains in a canon that goes to some shockingly dark places, so we consider exploration of that darkness fair game for fanwork.  Likewise, given that this is a week focused on a relationship, we welcome NSFW content.  We do, however, ask that all content be responsibly and appropriately tagged for any content you have reason to expect could be upsetting to others. 

4)  We’ll be checking the tags for spinarakiweek2024, spinarakiweek4, spinarakiweek, and spinarakiweeknsfw.  As stated above, please tag also for any work that requires content warnings.  We’re only operating on tumblr, so if your work is hosted elsewhere, feel free to post a link to it and use one of our tags, though if you do so, you may also wish to message us about it, given tumblr’s notorious grouchiness about off-platform links.           Feel free to message us if it seems like we’ve missed a fill of yours!  Late entries are allowed and enthusiastically welcome.  

5)  No hating on other ships or characters—we’re here to celebrate and enjoy Spinaraki, so if there’s a character you can’t include without bashing them disproportionately to the canon, just don’t include them.  Likewise, please be respectful of other participants and their work, whether or not it’s to your particular taste.

6)  We reserve the right to exercise moderator discretion in the case of borderline rule violations or unforeseen issues.

[polyshipweek]

More The Merrier Flash (Moresomes!)

Minimums: completed sketch, 300 word fic, 30 second vid, or podfic of 200 word fic

Schedule:

Sign-ups/Noms run concurrently and open: October 4, 2024

Sign-ups/Noms close: October 8 at 11:59PM EDT

Assignments out ASAP | Unmatchables (no offers matching requests) will be deleted

Works Due: October 19 at 11:59PM EDT

Works Revealed (12-hours later): October 20 at 11:59AM EDT

Creators Revealed: October 27 at 11:59AM EDT

Collection: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/MoreTheMerrierFlash2024/profile

Tagset: https://archiveofourown.org/tag_sets/21253

(not our event, just signal boosting!)

[offender42085]

Post 0638

“You bragged about the guns being hidden in the walls of your home.” --Judge

Adam Montgomery, New Hampshire inmate 66018, born 1990, incarceration intake in August 2023 at age 33, scheduled for parole consideration December 2036, with conditional release scheduled for December 2051

Theft of Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, Armed Career Criminal. Firearm Possession

On August 7, 2023, Adam Montgomery, 33, the father of long-missing and presumed dead 5-year-old New Hampshire girl Harmony Montgomery, insisted he did not murder his daughter during his sentencing hearing on several firearm-related offenses.

“I did not kill my daughter Harmony,” the defendant said when asked if he would like to address the court. “I’m looking forward to my upcoming trial so I can refute those offensive claims.”

New Hampshire Superior Court Justice Amy Messer, for her part, said the court was not going to consider the murder case – before handing the defendant a sentence in excess of 32 years – at the bare minimum.

In June 2023, Adam Montgomery was convicted on two counts of theft by unauthorized taking for stealing a rifle and a shotgun from a friend’s home in Manchester. He was also convicted on two counts of receiving stolen property for retaining the guns and a count each of being an armed career criminal, for possessing the rifle, and for possessing the shotgun. An armed career criminal is defined as having been convicted of three or more qualifying felonies.

The judge gave the defendant 15-30 year sentences for each armed career criminal offense – and ordered that those sentences will run consecutively, or, one after another. The court also imposed lesser sentences of 7 1/2 to 15 years for each of the two theft charges – which will run concurrently to one another, or, at the same time, but consecutively to the armed career criminal offenses.

In sum, Adam Montgomery could spend just shy of 90 years in prison, altogether, for gun crimes.

Two lone bright spots for the defendant were noted by Justice Messer. He will be credited 580 days in prison for the time he spent in pretrial detention, and five years of his theft sentences could be suspended if he maintains good behavior in prison.

The state did not seek prison time for the receiving stolen goods charges.

The defendant originally faced eight gun-related offenses in an April 2022 indictment that stem from the theft of the two guns in question.

Defense attorney Caroline L. Smith implored the court to impose mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years for the armed career criminal offenses.

“Here the crime as presented by the state was a crime of opportunity, it did not involve violence, although anyone would say theft is a level of violence, but we don’t have an assault of anybody, we don’t have physical harm to anybody,” the defendant’s attorney argued. “This is a crime of opportunity based on an addiction and to fuel that addiction.”

Smith went on to say that her client did not commit a crime that involved an attempt to steal guns and fire them on someone else but, rather, in order to sell them for “money for drugs or for drugs themselves.”

Those efforts, in the end, did not pan out.

Adam Montgomery’s defense attorney also took note of the murder trial looming in the background.

“It plays a major role and it shouldn’t,” she said – arguing that even the basic fact that her client was facing gun charges was because law enforcement may have been looking for “leverage” against the defendant and/or his estranged wife.

Justice Messer sought to ease those fears before issuing her formal ruling.

“The state is not requesting that the court consider your other pending charges here,” she said, addressing the defendant directly. “I want to tell you that the court is not.”

“But the court notes that there are a significant number of aggravating factors here,” the judge went on. “These predicate offenses are particularly egregious. The guns were stolen, there was a child in the house, the guns were maintained while you yourself had children in the home.”

There was buying and selling back and forth of guns, the court added, including to a convicted sex offender.

“You bragged about the guns being hidden in the walls of your home,” Messer continued – rejecting the defense’s contention that this was just a case of drug addict gone bad. “The gun violence has taken a toll on our community, particularly the young people here.”

Adam Montgomery was also ordered to have no contact with the people he stole the guns from.

Before the sentence was issued, a prosecutor chimed in to say that the state also looks forward to Adam Montgomery’s upcoming murder trial.

3g

Last reviewed December 2024

[kaidanworkshop]

Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion Content Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for more information about the Kaidan Workshop as a whole? Check here first!

What will be included in the Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion mod?

To list every small addition and fix would make this FAQ unbearably long, but here are the key highlights:

Remastered and rebuilt from the ground up! Every single line of code, every asset, and every script has been overhauled – our new follower framework eliminates long-standing bugs and quality of life issues that plagued the original mod

All new voice acting of Kaidan by the talented Paul Warren

Many new QOL features for Kaidan such as:

Wardrobe management

Pronoun selection

Combat damage adjustment

Immersive settings system through dialogue

Audio restoration and engineering on supporting characters from Kaidan 1 sources

Reviewed and updated quest commentary conditions - you may hear lines from the original script that you’ve never had the chance to hear before!

Customize your playthrough by choosing a nickname that Kaidan can use for you - or ask to not be called by a nickname (ie. "Dragonborn")

Players can now obtain the custom home Autumnwatch without marrying Kaidan if they so choose, or via the original romance route

New high poly and HD assets while preserving LivTempleton’s original mod aesthetic

Do I need the original LivTempleton Kaidan 2 mod?

No, Kaidan Revoiced: Community Expansion mod is standalone, and has no other mod requirements. It is not compatible with the original Kaidan 2 mod.

Can I use KR:CE with [insert Kaidan replacer]/[insert Kaidan patch]?

KR:CE will not be compatible out of the box with ANY existing Kaidan replacers, patches, or extensions. KR:CE uses a new framework that current visual replacers and compatibility patches simply will not work with; however, converting existing replacers and creating new compatibility patches for other mods (such as Legacy of The Dragonborn) is a relatively easy process we are more than happy to assist in.

Besides that, we have incorporated many different Kaidan fixes that have made several of his old patches and mods obsolete. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the fixes and mods included in KR:CE.

Extensive dialogue tweaks & subtitle fixes

Stat & combat balancing

Follower distance adjustments

HD Armor Retexture

Shackles Fix

Select parts of Kaidan’s Armory and Kaidan’s Arsenal

Dwarven Mail CC conflict patch

Immersive Start (pending current Community Poll)

Kaidan Refreshed 

Additionally, Axarien’s Animations, as well as Kaidan Silvered, have been updated and will publish concurrently with KR:CE.

Patches and modules that will need to be converted &/or patched for compatibility include, but aren’t limited to:

All existing visual replacers 

All existing Autumnwatch replacers

Legacy of the Dragonborn followers patch

Hjertesten

Blackthorn

MCO animation folders

Custom DAR/OAR animations 

Can I use KR:CE with a follower manager mod, such as NFF or AFF?

No, KR:CE’s custom follower framework will break if you import Kaidan into any such mod. As we have rebuilt it from the ground up, any requested features that the community wishes to have implemented can be investigated and integrated relatively seamlessly; these can always be suggested via any of our socials for consideration.

Will Kaidan still have his interactions with Lucien?

Unfortunately, we are unable to coordinate the revoicing effort of the Lucien-Kaidan interactions for our initial 1.0 launch – it is something that we are very interested in pursuing once schedules permit.

Will Kaidan still curse/drink in KR:CE?

The short answer: Yes. Our design policy with regards to any changes we make to Kaidan is one that aims to be lore friendly, as well as keeping his characterization as close as possible to his original depiction. 

The long answer, as per our Writing Team: 

-- Please note the response below contains NSFW language -- 

"Kaidan's cursing and drinking is something our community has definitely weighed in on, spurring an entire section of exposition in our style guide to address it. Our main concern is that some of his language is anachronistic, and we want to address that. 

In the base Skyrim script, mild language such as damn, piss, and bastard are used throughout the world, while other words like bitch, whore, sex, and ass are used less frequently. It was clearly LivTempleton's intent to have Kaidan be someone who is unafraid to let a foul word slip here and there, but not so much that he's swearing like a sailor. Hell and fuck are both used by Kaidan, and despite not being strictly “lore friendly,” both swears are canonically used within The Elder Scrolls world. Similarly with regards to drinking, Kaidan’s base script contains several lines that clearly show he enjoys having a drink here and there, but not so much that he’s a drunken mess.

We are considering replacements for the anachronistic swears with something more lore friendly in future Workshop Original content, but we don't have any specific plans to expand the amount of swearing or drinking lines he has by any significant amount at this time. Ultimately, sometimes less is more."

Can I use KR:CE with Extended Edition?

No, KR:CE will not be compatible out of the box with ANY existing Kaidan replacers, patches, or extensions. Further, as Extended Edition has the original Kaidan 2 as a mod requirement, it is unfortunately incompatible with our expansion.

Will KR:CE be ported to Xbox/Playstation/Switch?

For Xbox - Yes, we have plans to do so (and have been building KR:CE with console compatibility in mind), but in the event that we are unable to do so in house, we would be more than happy to coordinate with a knowledgeable member of the community to port KR:CE.

For Playstation & Switch - Unfortunately due to the limitations of modding on this particular console, we cannot release KR:CE on either of these platforms.

Can I use KR:CE with Skyrim VR?

Yes, KR:CE should be compatible out of the box.

Will KR:CE be backported to Skyrim: Legendary Edition?

We currently have no plans to backport KR:CE to LE. However, we would be more than happy to coordinate with a knowledgeable member of the community to port KR:CE.

Is the Workshop planning on creating interactions with [insert your favorite custom voiced follower]?

Interactions with other custom voiced followers has always been a goal of ours! Right now we are focused primarily on releasing the 1.0 version of KR:CE, and creating an entirely new script with another content creator will add too much production time to our current workflow. However, once we begin transitioning towards Workshop Original Script production post-launch, we will be revisiting this topic in full force.

Can I make a compatibility patch for [insert your favorite mod]?

In general, yes! Link us to the content you wish to make a patch for, so we can ensure it does not violate our Terms of Use Policy (see below). Besides that, all we ask is that you please credit us as The Kaidan Workshop, as well as crediting LivTempleton for providing her assets to the community. 

Dragonborn Voice Over/AI Voice Generation Policy

The Kaidan Workshop, as well as our VA Paul Warren, have a strict policy against the utilization of AI Voice Generation. We do NOT consent to the use of Kaidan’s new lines by Mr. Warren in any mod &/or media content that uses AI Voice Generation as a permanent fixture of its content, nor do we consent to the utilization of any of our content in helping to train AI Voice Generators. Mods that use AI voices as placeholders while official lines are being recorded will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In the case of the popular Dragonborn Voice Over mod, only a voice from a human voice actor who has consented to their voice and its likeness being used for AI Voice Generation will be considered for a compatibility patch. Otherwise, the above no-tolerance policy stands.

NSFW Patch Policy

The Workshop, as well as our VA Paul Warren has a strict policy against the utilization of KR:CE in NSFW content. The only exception to this rule are nude body replacers for mods such as HIMBO or SOS.

Help! My question isn't on this FAQ page!

No problem! Come swing by our Discord, or leave a message in our inbox.

[mavspeed]

cloaked, laptop (and life) update as I promised!

numero uno- I do not yet have a laptop. I do have a hunk of junk I refuse to call a laptop, bestowed on me by my dad because why get a working, fine laptop when you can use a barely working, in-its-deathbed one. joy. I will probably buy one the week after next anyway but in the meantime that’s the sitch. unfortunately.

this brings me to my second point- I am surprisingly almost done with the next chapter of cloaked (its gonna take me like 2 more days to finish this last bit off and a quick edit then I’ll be done) sooo if the schedule proceeds as per I might try to see if I can publish it on my phone or iPad lol. wish me luck ig (also hereforth saying you people have 1-2 weeks to catch up on cloaked and comment before I post the new chapter)

third point: life update! as fast as this next chapter has been the next one unfortunately will not be as fast. the reason why this one was so fast was bc I was essentially jobless for these past few days. with basically nothing to do except wait for my masters prog to start I just decided to write and write lol. my school starts next week so its gonna be hard to write after that. plus we’re hitting the climax of cloaked and I wanna do my icemavved version of the movie (bc cloaked is a tgm au in case anybody forgot lmao) justice. so I’m gonna properly take my time with it to make sure people get what they deserve with it.

fourth point: I am officially starting to write outtakes for the fic for scenes that didn’t make it into the story but I feel like i wanna share them with the class. don’t have a fixed timeline for them so I’m writing them concurrently and will post after the fic is done. hit me w asks if you have requests for any scenes you wanna read about!

that is… it I think. god this post turned out to be so so long lmao my deepest sincerest apologies and thanks if you made it to the end of this author’s note. Top gun summer has been over for ages and yet cloaked has a pretty loyal base of readers which is so so incredible to me. we’re reaching the last bit of this wild ride so please hang in there with me, we’re gonna see it through! 🫶

[sordidmusings]

Fic and Schedule/Prioritizing Update!

Love me some damn possum memes

So! Fics right? What I’m trying to prioritize right now are a Croc comfort fic, Croc smut request, Buggy the hat stays ON, and Straw Hats and the Three Unwise Men x marine reader. Running concurrent with that are chap 2 of Coronary Tale, part 3 of TLC massage, and ABO Law x reader x Penguin x Shachi. There’s an ungodly amount floating below those too 🥴 Luckily some progress has been made!! Just no completion yet lol

I am going to try and let the AuDHD demons have more leeway in hopes that it may get at least fucking sOMETHING done so there will likely be more posts of shorter and more random things going up. One of the reasons I’ve been nervous about that besides the hubris filled and doomed to fail pursuit of perfection but also because of self imposed guilt around productivity in general as well as worrying that it would come across that I’m shirking the bigger stuff and more importantly the things I’d like to make for people.

The things I see getting down the quickest that aren’t in the writing priorities are more sketches, one piece crochet, a dumb fun Shanks headcanon/drabble post, a layout of an AU I headed a bit back and have been building on, and ideas/plans for a distant Sabo fic that’s like a canon divergent AU (esp when it comes to celestial dragons there will me Many Liberties)

Also some reposts probably. May they not meet their second death 💀

Also gotta remake the lil baby masterlist at some point 🤡

Below cut more personal stuff if you wish to skip!

My second and third gigs have been asking more than they generally were and I recently had to step in on an orchestra to help my teacher and I’ve been keepin my folks and grandparents houses runnin on all the off spots so I have been struggling to find time and also mental space to create those I desperately want to 😭 I’m very frustrated with it because I feel I should be doing better at that cuz it’s not like I’ve never Gone Through It before 💀 I am at least quite lucky that I’ve been able to shuffle it all around health stuff just enough to keep it all rolling and esPECIALLY lucky my main gig ain’t firing me for health issues interrupting work. I digress though - mostly just a little vent and idea of where my attention is currently spread. I’m gonna try and push to get more out slightly against better judgement because yes spend more energy when big burnt out Bad but also creative things are supposed to help mental health and other stuff aint doin it so why not 🤷🏼‍♀️ if it gets worse that has its own perk at this point 💀

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Heyy. Umm if you get free time and feel like it.. Can you make a fluffy branchus fic with Apollo? Just a small request

At the moment, I can't...but it is coming up :3

^This is (part of) my current fanfic update schedule! Branchus will arrive after Marsyas, and concurrently with my Hunger Games AU! :3

[govindhtech]

Oxford Instruments Sells Nanoscience Late In Financial Time

Oxford Instruments plc sold NanoScience, a quantum-focused company. Oxford Instruments plc, a FTSE 250 company, provides high-tech products and services to industry and research. Along with a delay in its annual financial results and a steep reduction in its share price, this disposal is reorganising the group.

Nanoscience divestment

Oxford Instruments has signed a contractual deal to sell its NanoScience division to US-based Quantum Design International (QDI). The transaction is for £60 million, including up to £3 million in quantum scaling system revenue deferred consideration. Carlson family office bought QDI in October 2024. QDI, headquartered in the US, delivers scientific, academic, and industrial research products and services worldwide.

It was reported that NanoScience was a “profitable quantum technology business”. In FY25, it earned £1 million in adjusted operating profit and £59 million in revenue. After returning to profitability and growth, Oxford Instruments hopes to “crystallize this value for shareholders” with this transaction.

The sale is scheduled to finalise in the third quarter pending regulatory approvals. Non-recurring transaction costs are expected to be £2–3 million in FY2025–2026. Around £4 million in NanoScience division expenses will remain with the business following the sale, however mitigation actions are expected to begin in FY2026–2027.

Why: Focus on Core Markets and Shareholder Value

Oxford Instruments sells NanoScience to refocus strategically. In keeping with a strategy to focus and invest in the best areas of potential to grow the firm and create value for shareholders', CEO Richard Tyson said the transaction helps the company reach its medium-term profitability targets. This approach will allow the corporation to focus on its surviving companies, which have growth and margin characteristics that will benefit shareholders.

Oxford Instruments will prioritise its three key markets:

Material inspection

Electronics manufactured from semiconductors

Medical and biological sciences

Oxford Instruments' “calculated assessment” of its portfolio led to a strategy shift to these well-established core markets from the “capital-intensive quantum sector”. The corporation prioritises operational efficiency, commercial execution, and cost management to boost profitability in these remaining divisions. Recent performance gains may be due to the spinoff from NanoScience, which focused resources and met medium-term margin expectations.

An upcoming share repurchase scheme will return up to £50 million to shareholders using sale earnings. This choice shows a priority for shareholder returns over quantum research and development. This strategy may attract investors in the near term, but it “may constrain the company’s ability to capitalise on future opportunities within the quantum technology space.”

Concurrent Announcements and Market Reaction

The NanoScience sale announcement coincided with two other major events:

Oxford Instruments delayed the presentation of its annual financial results, which were scheduled for the same day as the sale announcement. The company said BDO, its auditors, requested more time. The delay “introduces a degree of uncertainty, prompting questions about the underlying financial data and the divestment timing”. Oxford Instruments had previously projected a 13% increase in adjusted operating profit and 9% increase in revenue for the second half of its fiscal year. These data are preliminary and may change after audit verification.

Share Price Decline: Oxford Instruments shares fell almost 3% after these disclosures. Since the company has declined more than 25% annually, this contributes to a bigger trend. Investors' reaction “suggests scrutiny of the strategic shift and a reassessment of the company's future direction”.

Broader UK quantum sector implications

Oxford Instruments had sold its NanoScience section before. Following this, US-based IonQ acquired Oxford Ionics  for $1.1 billion the same week. This “pattern of British quantum technology companies being acquired by US entities” casts doubt on the UK quantum sector's long-term competitiveness and innovation.

Observers worry about intellectual property erosion and local innovation in this key new area. If critical technology is transferred to larger US corporations, it “may diminish the UK's capacity for independent development” and reduce its share of future quantum technology economic benefits. Due to consolidation, the competitive environment may shift, giving larger, US-based corporations a dominant position in the growing quantum industry.

[beardedmrbean]

A North Liberty man has been sentenced to an additional 50 years in prison for a break-in and sexual assault in Iowa City.

Asante Walker-Garcia Adams, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary and second-degree robbery in February. The charges stemmed from a 2022 sexual assault along Lucas Street in Iowa City. A second sexual abuse charge was dismissed as part of his plea.

Walker-Garcia Adams was also sentenced to 100 years in prison in Black Hawk County in December 2024 for a pair of sexual assaults in Waterloo that occurred in the summer of 2023.

A Johnson County District Court judge sentenced Walker-Garcia Adams to 25 years for the Iowa City sexual abuse charge, 25 years for the burglary charge and 10 years for the robbery charge, with the latter two charges running concurrently. In total, he was sentenced to 50 additional years in prison.

Sexual assault involved a break-in, knife threat, police said

According to criminal complaints, on the night of Sept. 6, 2022, Walker-Garcia Adams "burst through" the door of a woman's bedroom, "punched her in the face," pulled the bed sheet over her head and sexually assaulted her.

He threatened the woman during the assault, allegedly saying, "Don't make me get the knife again."

Walker-Garcia Adams also demanded a phone and money from the woman, according to police. He fled the scene after the assault.

Cell phone data collected from Walker-Garcia Adam's phone indicated that he was in the area of the assault around the time it happened.

Walker-Garcia Adams's wife also confronted her husband in the wake of the incident, forwarding him a news article from the day after the assault, which included Ring doorbell footage of a suspect being sought by Iowa City police.

According to police, she wrote, "So that's a random guy with dreads, similar eyes, similar height? Happened same time u were there?"

Walker-Garcia Adams sentenced to a century in prison in Black Hawk County

Walker-Garcia Adams was previously charged for two sexual assaults that occurred in Waterloo in March and April of 2023.

The assaults included a similar "modus operandi" to the Iowa City incident, District Court Judge David Odekirk wrote in the court's opinion last October. In each case, Walker-Garcia Adams entered a residence, threatened the individual inside with a knife, sexually assaulted them, took their electronics and left.

Walker-Garcia Adams waived his right to a trial by jury in the Waterloo case and the bench trial found him guilty of two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary.

Odekirk sentenced Walker-Garcia Adams to 100 years in prison in December.

Several charges remain pending in Linn County

Walker-Garcia Adams has also been charged in connection with a May 2023 assault in Linn County.

The 27-year-old is facing five charges: Second-degree robbery, third-degree kidnapping, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, first-degree harassment and false imprisonment.

According to a warrant request, Walker-Garcia Adams allegedly "attacked (a person) from behind" as she attempted to put something in her car on the evening of May 3, 2023.

During the attack, Walker-Garcia Adams also allegedly threatened to kill the woman and demanded to be let into her apartment to "take any money, drugs or anything of value from her."

Walker-Garcia Adams has pleaded not guilty in the Linn County case. A case management conference is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, and a jury trial is currently set for June 3.

[souhaillaghchimdev]

Introduction to Operating System Design

Operating systems (OS) are the backbone of all computing devices, managing both hardware and software resources. Understanding how operating systems are designed can help programmers, system architects, and enthusiasts better appreciate what happens behind the scenes. In this post, we’ll explore the core components and principles of OS design.

What is an Operating System?

An operating system is a software layer that sits between hardware and user applications. It provides essential services such as process management, memory handling, file systems, and device control.

Core Functions of an Operating System

Process Management: Handles creation, scheduling, and termination of processes.

Memory Management: Allocates and frees memory for processes; uses techniques like paging and segmentation.

File System Management: Organizes and stores data using file hierarchies and permissions.

Device Management: Coordinates communication with hardware like keyboards, disks, and printers.

User Interface: Provides CLI (Command Line Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) for interaction.

Security & Access Control: Ensures data protection and restricts unauthorized access.

Types of Operating Systems

Batch OS: Processes tasks in batches with little user interaction (e.g., early IBM systems).

Time-Sharing OS: Enables multiple users to share system resources simultaneously (e.g., UNIX).

Real-Time OS (RTOS): Delivers immediate response to inputs, used in embedded systems (e.g., VxWorks).

Distributed OS: Manages a group of separate computers and makes them appear as a single system.

Mobile OS: Designed for smartphones and tablets (e.g., Android, iOS).

Key Design Components

Kernel: The core of the OS that controls all other components. It can be monolithic, microkernel, or hybrid.

System Calls: Interfaces through which user applications request OS services.

Schedulers: Decide the order in which processes run.

Interrupt Handlers: Respond to hardware and software interrupts.

Virtual Memory: Abstracts physical memory to provide isolation and more flexibility.

Popular Operating Systems and Their Kernels

Linux: Open-source, monolithic kernel with modular support.

Windows: Uses a hybrid kernel combining monolithic and microkernel features.

macOS: Built on the XNU kernel (a hybrid of Mach and BSD).

Android: Uses a modified Linux kernel designed for mobile devices.

Challenges in OS Design

Managing concurrency and race conditions

Ensuring system security and user isolation

Efficiently handling input/output operations

Providing backward compatibility with software and hardware

Learning Resources

Books: “Operating System Concepts” by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne

Courses: MIT's Operating System Engineering (Free Online)

Projects: Try building a simple OS with OS Tutorial

Conclusion

Operating system design is a complex and fascinating field that blends hardware control with software architecture. Whether you're building embedded systems or writing high-level applications, a strong understanding of how OS works helps improve your programming skills and system awareness.

[dgqex]

DGQEX Tracks the Crypto Retirement Trend: Fidelity Supports BTC, ETH, and LTC, Ushering in a New Era of Allocation

Fidelity Investments, a U.S.-based asset management giant, has officially launched its Individual Retirement Account (IRA) product supporting digital asset investments. This program is open to all U.S. investors aged 18 and above, allowing them to hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin within Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and Rollover IRAs, with cold wallet storage implemented by the Fidelity custody platform. The Fidelity initiative signifies the deep institutional integration of traditional finance into the cryptocurrency market. DGQEX has already deployed professional technical architectures across the full lifecycle of digital asset custody, risk control, and settlement, showcasing its robust platform capabilities in adapting to new forms of capital participation.

Pension Capital Flows into the Crypto Market: DGQEX Ecosystem Accommodates Growing Demand

Pension accounts, characterized by high stickiness and low transaction frequency, exert a profound influence on the stability of the cryptocurrency market. Unlike short-term trading, pension accounts prioritize assets with high transparency, controllable risk, and a strong historical performance. As representatives of mainstream assets, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin possess clear pricing structures, solid market depth, and stable consensus mechanisms, meeting the allocation requirements of this type of capital.

The DGQEX matching system employs a high-frequency, low-latency architecture, combined with multi-node deployment to achieve high-concurrency transaction processing capabilities. The platform global liquidity scheduling capacity ensures it can handle large-scale transaction requests from the pension market while maintaining price stability. During the gradual capital allocation process, DGQEX utilizes a comprehensive compliance screening mechanism for assets, supporting the secure management of mainstream asset transactions throughout their lifecycle. This further enhances institutional and long-term investor confidence in participating.

The stable inflow of pension funds is expected to drive structural upgrades in the cryptocurrency market. Changes in user demographics and trading behaviors, influenced by the nature of capital, will reshape the platform dynamics. DGQEX has developed exclusive asset allocation advisory systems and risk warning mechanisms tailored to different types of capital, strengthening its product extensibility in servicing long-term investments.

Traditional Finance Accelerates Crypto Integration: DGQEX Builds a New Foundation for Long-Term Allocation

The zero-management-fee crypto IRA product of Fidelity maximizes decision-making power for investors while emphasizing a complete closed-loop for asset custody and security mechanisms. This design aligns closely with the core logic of digital assets, providing a clear reference model for other institutions. The integration of digital assets with retirement accounts signals that, in future household wealth allocation strategies, digital assets will stand alongside stocks and bonds as standard investment options.

The DGQEX platform architecture includes transaction entry points tailored for low-frequency, high-value capital, and it has established link-level data transmission partnerships with multiple international custody service providers. This enables the platform to meet the customized requirements of large institutional accounts and high-net-worth clients across dimensions such as transaction cycles, compliance reviews, and yield structure simulations. Additionally, DGQEX offers scalable API interfaces and multi-terminal access capabilities, ensuring pension-related funds can efficiently and securely participate in cryptocurrency trading and portfolio management.

The structural adjustment of long-term capital is expected to lead to greater price stability, more trend-driven trading behaviors, and gradually narrowing volatility. In this market cycle, DGQEX positions itself as a foundational provider of asset allocation infrastructure, advancing in three key areas—underlying technology, user protection, and compliance frameworks—to safeguard the inflow of long-term capital.

[praveennareshit]

📚 Comparing Java Collections: Which Data Structure Should You Use?

If you're diving into Core Java, one thing you'll definitely bump into is the Java Collections Framework. From storing a list of names to mapping users with IDs, collections are everywhere. But with all the options like List, Set, Map, and Queue—how do you know which one to pick? 🤯

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break it down in simple terms, so you can make smart choices for your next Java project.

🔍 What Are Java Collections, Anyway?

The Java Collection Framework is like a big toolbox. Each tool (or data structure) helps you organize and manage your data in a specific way.

Here's the quick lowdown:

List – Ordered, allows duplicates

Set – Unordered, no duplicates

Map – Key-value pairs, keys are unique

Queue – First-In-First-Out (FIFO), or by priority

📌 When to Use What? Let’s Compare!

📝 List – Perfect for Ordered Data

Wanna keep things in order and allow duplicates? Go with a List.

Popular Types:

ArrayList – Fast for reading, not so much for deleting/inserting

LinkedList – Good for frequent insert/delete

Vector – Thread-safe but kinda slow

Stack – Classic LIFO (Last In, First Out)

Use it when:

You want to access elements by index

Duplicates are allowed

Order matters

Code Snippet:

java

🚫 Set – When You Want Only Unique Stuff

No duplicates allowed here! A Set is your go-to when you want clean, unique data.

Popular Types:

HashSet – Super fast, no order

LinkedHashSet – Keeps order

TreeSet – Sorted, but a bit slower

Use it when:

You care about uniqueness

You don’t mind the order (unless using LinkedHashSet)

You want to avoid duplication issues

Code Snippet:

java

🧭 Map – Key-Value Power Couple

Think of a Map like a dictionary. You look up values by their unique keys.

Popular Types:

HashMap – Fastest, not ordered

LinkedHashMap – Keeps insertion order

TreeMap – Sorted keys

ConcurrentHashMap – Thread-safe (great for multi-threaded apps)

Use it when:

You need to pair keys with values

You want fast data retrieval by key

Each key should be unique

Code Snippet:

java

⏳ Queue – For First-Come-First-Serve Vibes

Need to process tasks or requests in order? Use a Queue. It follows FIFO, unless you're working with priorities.

Popular Types:

LinkedList (as Queue) – Classic FIFO

PriorityQueue – Sorted based on priority

ArrayDeque – No capacity limit, faster than LinkedList

ConcurrentLinkedQueue – Thread-safe version

Use it when:

You’re dealing with task scheduling

You want elements processed in the order they come

You need to simulate real-life queues (like print jobs or tasks)

Code Snippet:

java

🧠 Cheat Sheet: Pick Your Collection Wisely

⚙️ Performance Talk: Behind the Scenes

💡 Real-Life Use Cases

Use ArrayList for menu options or dynamic lists.

Use HashSet for email lists to avoid duplicates.

Use HashMap for storing user profiles with IDs.

Use Queue for task managers or background jobs.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Choose Smart, Code Smarter

When you're working with Java Collections, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Pick your structure based on:

What kind of data you’re working with

Whether duplicates or order matter

Performance needs

The better you match the collection to your use case, the cleaner and faster your code will be. Simple as that. 💥

Got questions? Or maybe a favorite Java collection of your own? Drop a comment or reblog and let’s chat! ☕💻

If you'd like me to write a follow-up on concurrent collections, sorting algorithms, or Java 21 updates, just say the word!

✌️ Keep coding, keep learning! For More Info : Core Java Training in KPHB For UpComing Batches : https://linktr.ee/NIT_Training

[deltahrms]

The Importance of HRMS in Dubai for Efficient Workforce Management

Businesses of all kinds especially in vibrant marketplaces like Dubai need human resource management systems (HRMS). Having an integrated system in place is absolutely vital, given a varied workforce, fast-changing rules, and the need for effective operations. From performance management to employee engagement to payroll, HRMS Dubai solutions provide companies with a complete platform to handle all aspects of management. Automating important HR tasks lets businesses save time, light administrative load, and improve general operational effectiveness. This automation also guarantees that HR experts can concentrate on more strategic tasks, such talent development and staff retention, so supporting long-term success.

How HRMS Solutions in Dubai Streamline HR Processes  

Effective HR operations depend on a system that can manage several jobs concurrently and efficiently. HRMS solutions Dubai offer a combined strategy whereby several HR tasks are gathered onto one flawless platform. From monitoring staff attendance and handling leave requests to handling payment and performance reviews, HRMS systems concentrate all of the data in one location. This simplifies processes, lowers duplication, and improves data accuracy. HRMS systems may also guarantee that all procedures follow the particular legal criteria of Dubai, where adherence to labor regulations is essential, thereby providing peace of mind for HR managers as well as business owners.

Customization and Scalability of HRMS Dubai

Every company has particular requirements, particularly with relation to personnel management. HRMS Dubai systems are made to be flexible so companies may fit the system to their particular need. An HRMS can scale with the expansion of your business, regardless of size—small startup or big conglomerate. The system can be adjusted to meet the needs of your personnel from performance measures to leave policy. Furthermore, as companies in Dubai sometimes operate in several sectors, these systems can be modified to fit industry-specific requirements, therefore maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of your HR operations independent of company size.

Streamlining Payroll and Compliance with HRMS Solutions Dubai

Ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance is one of the most crucial roles HRMS solutions Dubai serves. Having a dependable system that can effectively handle payroll is essential in a city with a varied workforce and often changing labor laws. By automating the payroll process, HRMS systems guarantee that staff members are paid on schedule and in line with their contracts. Furthermore, these systems are continuously updated to represent changes in local labor laws, guaranteeing that companies stay compliant with the most recent rules. This reduces the possibility of mistakes or legal problems, enabling HR teams to concentrate on their strategic priorities and preserve operational effectiveness.

Enhancing Employee Experience with HRMS in Dubai

By means of a self-service portal enabling employees to manage their personal data, seek leaves, and access pay slips, a strong HRMS Dubai may greatly improve the employee experience. Employee empowerment and satisfaction resulting from this openness and simplicity help to increase engagement and retention rates by themselves. Moreover, the automation of repetitive chores frees workers more time to concentrate on their main duties, therefore raising general output. Investing in HRMS technology will help companies produce a more engaged, efficient, and positive workforce all of which are vital components in determining company success in Dubai's competitive market.

Conclusion 

By raising accuracy, compliance, and efficiency, integrating HRMS Dubai and using HRMS solutions Dubai will help transform your HR operations. Customizable systems that fit your business's requirements help HR staff focus on strategic goals by automating necessary tasks and relieving administrative responsibilities. While the self-service tools improve the employee experience, the scalability and adaptability of these solutions guarantee they develop with your company. Visit deltahrms.com to learn more about how HRMS could maximize your HR operations; creative ideas are meant to fit your company's particular requirements in Dubai.

[crohnsjourneyjournal]

Always sick, never healed. But never sick enough for her doctors to understand.

I believe this is the hardest thing that we’ve had to deal with since the Crohn’s diagnosis. The knowledge that she will never NOT need her $30K infusion or to be meticulous with her diet. That she will never be able to do things the way other people do them, even other Crohn’s patients. It will always be harder for her to do the things that most people can do with a little grit and determination. Also that, due to her complicated diagnosis, she will have to always be vigilant, even to what her doctors recommend. We have encountered at least 3 serious incidents that could’ve resulted in serious consequences and they were not caught by her physicians.

Physician mistakes:

*Refusing to prescribe infusions to treat her illness. We had to move to NC to find proper care and get help from her parents for treatment.

*Using corticosteroids on a patient with fistulizing Crohn’s (for 10 months). This actually caused her to continue to fistulize, despite treatments, and her doctors to recommend a colostomy bag. This is what prompted our move to CO.

*Toxicity from over-prescription of immunosuppressant

Complications from Crohn’s Disease, not treatment side effects.

*Constant UTI symptoms with no infection

*Back pain from added inflammation from intestines.

*Fatigue from malabsorption

*Fistulas at rectum

*Pain throughout, but concentrated in the gut and abdomen area

*Non-fistula abscesses due to the presence of infection from fistulas

Concurrent Illnesses in addition to Crohn’s Disease:

*Paraplegic migraines

*PTSD/Depression/Suicidality

For the last few years, she’s really taken her physical health seriously. It happened organically (kind of). She has had back issues for years following a car accident where she was rear ended. After numerous doctors and scans, it was determined that her injury was more inflamed because of the inflammation from her intestines being up against her back. This also caused her to have UTI symptoms, but no actual bacteria when tested. Due to this added inflammation, her doctor sent her to physical therapy to work on strengthening the area in hopes that it would eliminate some of her pain.

That whole process was so very slow. Watching her every day made me feel better about my difficulties with getting in shape. It really did start with the smallest, safest of movements that gradually, over the course of a year, turned into lifting weights. I think that’s where most people fail. They set themselves up for failure because they overestimate where they really are on the physical health spectrum. Most of what Charlie started with was mobility and stability exercises. They were the most gentle movements and it really opened my eyes to how one should, with health in mind, attempt to get themselves “in shape.”

After losing 100 lbs, she hit a very dramatic plateau. Her blood pressure and heart rate stayed through the roof at even the lightest of exercise, to the point that her general doctor requested heart evaluations to determine if something else may be going on. I believe it was when she had a hemiplegic migraine after a workout that really scared everyone and caused the doctor to do something. I wish I could say that this is where we found the problem, but it wasn’t. It was not until Charlie’s gastroenterologist was changed to a specialist in Denver that the proper tests were ran and it was found to be a metabolic imbalance because her immunosuppressant dosage was never reevaluated after her weight loss. But that was almost a year after the investigation started.

At this time, it was discovered that Charlie had developed a mass on her kidney. The doctors immediately feared RCC, so it was scheduled to remove the mass (rather than sample first and then remove) and we would get the biopsy results from that removal. We found out later that this mass was inconsistent with RCC, thank goodness, but it is a rather unknown mass and we would basically just have to keep and eye out and wait to see if it would become a problem. Needless to say, having a “we just don’t know” diagnosis is hard to deal with when we can’t keep up with anything because scans are needed to evaluate. So we check back every 6 months to a year and hope for the best.

All this doesn’t really cover how crazy this Crohn’s journey has been, but maybe it’ll start to give an idea and I can add to the understanding later.

Take what you need from this info and I genuinely hope this helps someone.

Next I’ll probably post about the PTSD factors that contribute to her disease (if not cause it).

[learning-code-ficusoft]

Exploring Python’s Asyncio for Concurrent Programming

Exploring Python’s Asyncio for Concurrent Programming

Python’s asyncio module provides a framework for writing concurrent code using asynchronous I/O, making it useful for tasks like network operations, database queries, and parallel execution without threads or multiprocessing.

1. Why Use Asyncio?

Traditional synchronous code blocks execution until a task completes. Asyncio allows non-blocking execution, meaning a program can continue running other tasks while waiting for an I/O operation to complete.

Best Use Cases: ✅ Network requests (HTTP APIs, WebSockets) ✅ Database queries (async drivers) ✅ File I/O operations ✅ Background tasks (e.g., web scraping, data processing)

2. Basics of Asyncio

a) Creating and Running an Async Function

An async function (also called a coroutine) runs asynchronously and must be awaited.pythonimport asyncioasync def say_hello(): print("Hello") await asyncio.sleep(1) # Simulates an I/O operation print("World")asyncio.run(say_hello()) # Runs the coroutine

b) Running Multiple Coroutines Concurrently

To execute multiple tasks concurrently, use asyncio.gather() or asyncio.create_task().pythonimport asyncioasync def task(name, delay): print(f"Task {name} started") await asyncio.sleep(delay) print(f"Task {name} completed")async def main(): await asyncio.gather(task("A", 2), task("B", 1)) # Both run concurrentlyasyncio.run(main())

💡 Key Takeaway: asyncio.gather() runs coroutines concurrently and waits for all to complete.

3. Asyncio with Tasks

Tasks allow scheduling coroutines to run in the background.pythonasync def background_task(): await asyncio.sleep(2) print("Background Task Done")async def main(): task = asyncio.create_task(background_task()) # Runs in the background print("Main function continues execution...") await asyncio.sleep(1) # Simulating other work await task # Wait for background taskasyncio.run(main())

💡 Key Takeaway: asyncio.create_task() starts a coroutine without waiting for it to finish.

4. Using Asyncio for I/O Bound Operations

Asyncio shines when dealing with I/O operations like HTTP requests.

Example: Fetching Multiple URLs Asynchronously

pythonimport asyncio import aiohttp # Async HTTP clientasync def fetch(url): async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session: async with session.get(url) as response: return await response.text()async def main(): urls = ["https://example.com", "https://httpbin.org/get"] results = await asyncio.gather(*(fetch(url) for url in urls)) print("Fetched pages:", results)asyncio.run(main())

💡 Key Takeaway: Async HTTP requests complete faster since multiple URLs are fetched concurrently.

5. Handling Exceptions in Asyncio

Handle exceptions properly to prevent tasks from failing silently.pythonasync def faulty_task(): await asyncio.sleep(1) raise ValueError("An error occurred")async def main(): try: await faulty_task() except ValueError as e: print(f"Caught error: {e}")asyncio.run(main())

6. Running Async Code in a Synchronous Environment

Since asyncio.run() can only be called once, use an event loop in synchronous environments (e.g., Jupyter Notebooks, existing scripts).pythonimport asyncioloop = asyncio.get_event_loop() loop.run_until_complete(say_hello()) # Runs async function in a sync environment

7. Asyncio vs. Multithreading vs. Multiprocessing

Feature Asyncio (Single-threaded)Multithreading Multiprocessing Best for I/O-bound tasks I/O-bound tasks CPU-bound tasks Parallelism Cooperative Preemptive True parallelism Overhead Low Medium High Example Web scraping, API calls GUI apps, networking CPU-heavy calculations

Conclusion

asyncio is a powerful tool for concurrent programming in Python, especially for I/O-bound tasks. By leveraging coroutines, tasks, and event loops, developers can write efficient and scalable applications. 🚀

WEBSITE: https://www.ficusoft.in/python-training-in-chennai/