#Smart Water Management system

[slowlydeafeningdefendor]

Saving Water with Smart IoT Solutions

Water is vital, but managing it efficiently is increasingly challenging due to urbanization, population growth, and climate change. Enter the Internet of Things (IoT) – a game-changer in smart water management system. Here's how IoT is revolutionizing water systems.

What is Smart Water Management Using IoT?

IoT connects devices like sensors and smart water meters to collect and exchange real-time data. In smart water management using IoT, these devices monitor usage, quality, and distribution, helping optimize practices and conserve resources.

Key Benefits of IoT in Smart Water Management

Real-Time Monitoring

IoT devices instantly detect leaks, faults, or unusual patterns, preventing water loss and reducing repair costs.

Data-Driven Decisions

Sensors gather data on water flow, pressure, and quality, enabling informed decisions and efficient resource allocation, especially during crises like droughts.

Enhanced Water Quality

IoT sensors ensure water meets safety standards by detecting contaminants, protecting public health with real-time alerts.

Efficient Irrigation

In agriculture, IoT systems optimize watering by monitoring soil moisture and weather, reducing waste and boosting crop yields.

Predictive Maintenance

Data analysis predicts maintenance needs, preventing failures and extending infrastructure lifespan.

Real-World Applications

Smart Water Meters: Provide accurate consumption data, detect leaks, and encourage conservation.

Automated Distribution Systems: Optimize water supply based on demand, reducing losses and ensuring efficient distribution.

Flood Management: Monitor water levels and predict floods to minimize damage.

Quality Monitoring: Continuously ensure water safety in reservoirs and distribution networks.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Challenges like data security, high costs, and infrastructure needs exist, but advancements in technology are making IoT more accessible. Future integration with AI and machine learning will enhance predictive capabilities, driving even more efficient and sustainable water management.

Conclusion

Smart water management using IoT is transforming how we manage and conserve this precious resource. By leveraging IoT, we can ensure sustainable water management for a secure future.

[techtoio]

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Technologies You Need to Know About

Introduction

Eco-friendly technologies are designed not to disturb nature and its processes. The domains of such technologies include energy, transportation, construction, waste management, and many more. This blog outlines 5 of the best eco-friendly technologies that create a visible difference as we walk towards becoming a sustainable world. Read to continue link

[tapronlimited]

FUTURISTIC - AI TAPS

The Tapron blog post "Futuristic AI Taps" explores innovative tap technologies incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance functionality in kitchens and bathrooms. These taps can change color, display designs or images, and operate via voice commands. Highlighting a vision for sustainable water use, it introduces concepts like Water Bank for managing water resources efficiently. AI taps are designed to monitor water usage, reduce waste, and adapt to users' habits, offering a glimpse into a future where technology plays a key role in water conservation and personal convenience. For more information, read the full article here.

[arrowheadsuperiorrefrigeration]

Businesses must constantly seek ways to enhance efficiency and deliver top-notch experiences in the dynamic world of hospitality and food service, where customer satisfaction is paramount. An often overlooked but critical aspect of this equation is the optimization of ice machines. In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of ice machine optimization and how selecting the right technology can be a game-changer.

[iotbasedatermanagement]

IoT Based Monitoring and Management for Water Resources

Introduction:

As our planet faces unprecedented water resource challenges, including scarcity, pollution, and the adverse effects of climate change, the need for innovative solutions has never been more critical. Enter the Internet of Things (IoT), a technology with the potential to revolutionize water management by enhancing efficiency, ensuring sustainability, and fostering intelligent decision making processes.

Brief Overview of Water Resource Challenges

Globally, water resources are under immense pressure. Factors such as overconsumption, pollution, and inadequate management systems contribute to a situation where millions face water scarcity. The impacts of climate change exacerbate these challenges, threatening ecosystems and human health.

Introduction to IoT and Its Potential in Water Management

IoT refers to a network of interconnected devices capable of collecting, exchanging, and analyzing data. In water management, IoT offers possibilities for smart monitoring and management, significantly improving resource efficiency and decision-making processes.

The Importance of Water Resource Management

The current global situation underscores the need for innovative solutions in water management. With freshwater sources depleting and pollution levels rising, sustainable management practices are imperative for survival, requiring a shift towards more adaptive and technology-driven approaches.

IoT in Water Management: An Overview

IoT-based monitoring incorporates various components, including sensors, connectivity, and data analytics, to provide a comprehensive view of water resource status. These systems can monitor water quality, usage, and environmental conditions in real time, facilitating a proactive approach to management.

Benefits of IoT-Based Water Management

The implementation of IoT in water management brings numerous benefits. Real-time data collection enables immediate responses to emerging issues, while improved water quality and resource efficiency are achieved through continuous monitoring. Additionally, IoT systems support enhanced decision-making and predictive maintenance, minimizing waste and maximizing the utility of resources.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its benefits, the adoption of IoT in water management faces challenges, including technical barriers, data security, and privacy concerns. Moreover, the cost and scalability of IoT solutions must be addressed to ensure wide adoption, particularly in regions with limited resources.

Real-World Applications and Case Studies

Various successful IoT-based water management projects demonstrate the technology's potential. For instance, smart irrigation systems optimize water use in agriculture, reducing waste and increasing yields. Urban water distribution monitoring helps detect leaks and manage supply more effectively, showcasing IoT's versatility in addressing water management challenges.

How to Implement IoT Solutions in Water Management

Implementing IoT solutions involves several steps, from conceptualization and design to deployment and management. Key considerations include selecting appropriate technologies, ensuring system interoperability, and engaging stakeholders throughout the process to ensure the system meets the needs of all users.

Conclusion:

The future of water management lies in leveraging IoT technology to create smarter, more sustainable systems. By adopting IoT solutions, stakeholders can address the pressing challenges facing water resources today, ensuring availability and quality for generations to come. The call to action is clear: it's time to embrace IoT and its transformative potential in water management.

Expanding each section with data, case studies, and detailed analysis will help reach the desired word count and depth for a comprehensive exploration of smart water management using IoT.

[saengineering1]

 The Role of Technology in Water Waste Management: Smart Solutions

Introduction:

Water waste management is a critical aspect of sustainable development and environmental conservation. As water scarcity continues to be a global concern, the efficient management and conservation of water resources are becoming increasingly important. 

Technology, particularly through the implementation of smart solutions, plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges associated with water waste management. This article explores the various ways in which technology is revolutionizing water waste management, enabling more effective monitoring, conservation, and sustainable use of water resources.

Smart Water Metering: 

Efficient Monitoring and Consumption Management Smart water metering has emerged as an essential technology for water waste management. Water Treatment Plant Manufacturers in India are integrating smart meters that provide real-time data on water usage. 

These meters enable accurate monitoring of consumption patterns, helping consumers and utilities identify wasteful practices and make informed decisions regarding water usage. By adopting smart meters, individuals and organizations can actively contribute to water conservation efforts.

Challenges of Smart Water Metering:-

Overcoming Implementation Hurdles While smart water metering offers numerous benefits, there are some challenges that need to be addressed. Firstly, the installation and maintenance of smart meters require substantial investment and infrastructure upgrades. 

Water Treatment Plant Manufacturers in India are rising to the occasion by designing cost-effective and user-friendly smart meter solutions that are easy to install and maintain. Secondly, ensuring data privacy and security is crucial when implementing smart metering systems.

Remote Sensing and IoT: 

The integration of remote sensing technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized water waste management. IoT devices, such as sensors and actuators, can be deployed throughout water infrastructure networks to collect data on water quality, flow rates, and pressure levels. 

This data can be analyzed in real-time, providing valuable insights into the condition of water distribution systems, identifying potential leaks or faults, and optimizing the efficiency of water networks.

Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling: 

Advancements in data analytics and predictive modeling have significantly improved water waste management practices. By leveraging large-scale data sets collected from various sources, such as sensors, weather stations, and historical records, sophisticated algorithms can identify patterns and correlations that help in predicting water demand, identifying potential water losses, and optimizing water distribution networks. This proactive approach enables utilities to take preventive measures, conserve water, and minimize losses.

Water Leakage Detection and Monitoring: 

Technology-driven solutions have revolutionized the detection and monitoring of water leaks. Advanced leak detection systems utilize acoustic sensors, pressure monitoring, and data analytics to pinpoint leaks accurately and efficiently. 

By promptly identifying and repairing leaks, significant amounts of water can be saved, reducing both water waste and associated costs

Smart Irrigation Systems: 

Agriculture accounts for a substantial portion of water consumption worldwide. Smart irrigation systems leverage technology to optimize water usage in agricultural practices. These systems incorporate weather data, soil moisture sensors, and evapotranspiration rates to deliver precise amounts of water to crops, reducing water waste through efficient irrigation practices.

 Furthermore, the integration of automated controls and remote access allows farmers to monitor and control irrigation systems remotely, maximizing water efficiency and crop yield.

Water Quality Monitoring:

 Technological advancements have also improved water quality monitoring, leading to more effective water waste management. Real-time monitoring systems equipped with sensors can continuously assess water quality parameters such as pH levels, turbidity, and chemical composition. Any deviations from the desired standards can be detected early, enabling prompt action to prevent contamination and reduce the wastage of polluted water.

Conclusion:

Technology plays a pivotal role in water waste management by providing innovative solutions that enhance monitoring, conservation, and sustainable use of water resources. Smart solutions, such as smart water metering, remote sensing, data analytics, leak detection systems, smart irrigation, and water quality monitoring, have transformed traditional water management practices. By leveraging technology, stakeholders can make informed decisions, optimize water networks, reduce water losses, and ensure a more sustainable and efficient management of this vital resource.

[reasonsforhope]

"Amsterdam’s roofs have just been converted into a giant sponge that will make the city more climate resilient.

The Dutch have always been famous for their ability to control water, born out of the necessity of their homeland, much of which is below sea level.

Now, their expert water management skills are transforming the city skyline in the capital city of Amsterdam from one of terracotta tile, concrete, and shingles into green grass and brown earth.

It’s part of a new climate-resiliency trend in architecture and civic planning known as the ‘sponge city concept,’ in which a garden of water-loving plants, mosses, and soil absorbs excess rainwater before feeding it into the building for use in flushing toilets or watering plants on the ground.

If heavy rains are predicted, a smart valve system empties the stored rainwater into the municipal storm drains and sewers in advance of the weather, allowing the roof to soak up water and reduce flooding in the city.

In this way, the rooftops of buildings can be wrung out and filled up just like a sponge.

In Amsterdam, 45,000 square meters, or 11 acres of flat metropolitan rooftops have already been fitted with these systems, and the contracting firms behind the technology say they make sense in dry climates like Spain just as much as in wet climates like Amsterdam...

A 4-year project of different firms and organizations called Resilio, the resilient network for smart climate adaptive rooftops, rolled out thousands of square meters of sponge city technology into new buildings. As with many climate technologies, the costs are high upfront but tend to result in savings from several expenditures like water utilities and water damage, over a long-enough time horizon...

All together, Amsterdam’s sponge capacity is over 120,000 gallons.

“We think the concept is applicable to many urban areas around the world,” Kasper Spaan from Waternet, Amsterdam’s public water management organization, told Wired Magazine. “In the south of Europe–Italy and Spain–where there are really drought-stressed areas, there’s new attention for rainwater catchment.”

Indeed the sponge city concept comes into a different shade when installed in drought-prone regions. Waters absorbed by rooftops during heavy rains can be used for municipal purposes to reduce pressure on underground aquifers or rivers, or be sweated out under the Sun’s rays which cools the interior of the building naturally.

Additionally, if solar panels were added on top of the rooftop garden, the evaporation would keep the panels cooler, which has been shown in other projects to improve their energy generation.

“Our philosophy in the end is not that on every roof, everything is possible,” says Spaan, “but that on every roof, something is possible.”

Matt Simon, reporting on the Resilio project for Wired, said succinctly that perhaps science fiction authors have missed the mark when it came to envisioning the city of the future, and that rather than being a glittering metropolis of glass, metal, and marble as smooth as a pannacotta, it will look an awful lot more like an enormous sculpture garden."

-via Good News Network, May 15, 2024

[utilitiesbusiness]

Advantages Of Water Meter Data Management System

Utilities Business Review : Metering became the only way for the water companies to develop enough income to raise, repair, or substitute their water infrastructure as, progressively, people connected their homes and businesses to that water source.

[diazsdimples]

After the lightning, Buck downloads just about every weather app he can find. He doesn’t tell anyone - because he knows they’d immediately become concerned - he’s terrified of thunderstorms. If it’s forecast to be rainy, he’ll check, double check, and triple check that it’s only rain, and not a storm too. What he doesn’t know, is Eddie’s done the same thing.

The first storm happens a couple of months after Buck goes back to work, and he's ready for it. It's one of their nights off, so he gathers all the blankets in the loft, makes himself a little nest with his laptop, a hot water bottle, and some noise canceling headphones and he hunkers down for the night. He's just squeezed his eyes shut after the first flash of lightning when his phone rings. It's Eddie. Initially he doesn't want to answer, because he doesn't want to have anyone asking him how he is right now, but he also knows Eddie will just keep on ringing until he picks up. So he does.

Not once during that call does Eddie ask how Buck is. He immediately lauches into a long tale about Christopher's new crush, which turns into a story about the main characters on the telenovela he watches and "how the fuck have they not figure out they're in love yet", and finally they end up debating the pros and cons of having a smart fridge that shows you what's inside without having to open the door. Buck hangs up feeling a little confused, wondering what the occasion was for such a call, but the storm has passed and he didn't have a panic attack.

The next storm is in the dead of winter and Buck has been watching it brew for days, his anxiety mounting as it builds. He's planning on doing the same as last time, but then Eddie invites him over for dinner. It's not their usual night, and Chris is away with his grandparents in Texas, so Buck is a little confused but he says yes nonetheless. He's looking forward to some time with Eddie - the two of them have been toeing the line between friends and something more ever since the lightning, with long lingering touches and late night phone calls. When he gets there, Eddie has ordered them pizza, there's a case of beers on the coffee table, blankets on the couch, and a new sound system that looks like it could blow the windows out of the Sistine Chapel if given half a chance.

They have a really nice evening and Buck manages to ignore the way the clouds are churning outside, how the wind picks up and rain begins to splatter against the windowpanes. He's comfortable on the couch, with Eddie a warm line against his side from how closely they're pushed together. When the room lights up from the first strike of lightning, Buck jumps. He looks around wildly, just barely fighting the urge to clap his hands over his ears as the thunder booms. Eddie looks up from their movie, and turns up the sound on the TV until the thunder is inaudible. He places a hand on either one of Buck's shoulders and gently guides him down until he's settled against Eddie's chest. Eddie's arms wrap around Buck, holding him from behind and Buck can feel the fear slowly receeding.

"It's okay," Eddie whispers in his ear. "I've got you. You're safe."

The storm rages outside, but Buck doesn't panic. He's safe, in Eddie's arms, and though he might jump and his breathing might speed up every time there's a flash, Eddie strokes his arms and pets his hair and finally, almost nervously presses a kiss to Buck's forehead.

"Is- is this okay?" he asks Buck, so quietly that if it weren't for the fact that his lips were brushing Buck's ear, Buck wouldn't have heard it.

"Yeah," Buck replies, burrowing closer into Eddie's chest as his heart blooms with love, the warmth spreading down to his toes. "I'm safe."

[augustinewrites]

when alhaitham’s eyes finally open - albeit barely - the first thing he notices is that the books on his nightstand aren’t there. 

the second thing is that, judging from the pulsing behind his temples, he is definitely hungover. so he attributes the missing books to whatever drunken state he was in last night thanks to cyno, a bet, and way too much alcohol. 

groaning, he closes his eyes again. maybe it’s for an hour or maybe it’s only five minutes, but when he peels them open again, he realizes that the sunlight that’s hitting them is coming from a window that’s not in the right spot.

it’s startling enough for him to jolt upright, because it’s enough for him to realize that this isn’t his room. 

it’s with mounting horror that he realizes that isn’t his window, that isn’t his nightstand, and that certainly is not his underwear laying on the floor. 

and he is certainly not alone in what isn’t his bed either. with an increasing heart rate, he moves as quickly as his alcohol impaired body can manage, collecting his discarded clothes and slipping them on. 

“haitham?”

when he whips his head around to look at you, his brain feels as if it smacks against the side of his skull. 

_____

kaveh peels himself off the front porch as alhaitham shoves his key in the lock and pushes the front door open. 

“where were you last night?” the architect asks, already seeming suspicious. “you said you were going home when you left. i was waiting for you!”

alhaitham sends him a flat look. “you poor thing.” 

“don’t bring my financial status into this! just answer the question!”

he grabs a glass, weighing different lies and their effectiveness in his head before answering. “i was out.”

“obviously,” his roommate huffs, catching the door and following him in. “but where?” 

alhaitham fills and chugs his water to soothe his parched throat (and to avoid answering), turning the answer over in his mind. he quickly comes to the conclusion that answering honestly would be extremely unwise. 

so he simply shrugs, setting his glass down and heading towards his room.

unfortunately, he isn’t fast enough to escape kaveh’s long limbs and insatiable appetite when it comes to his private life. he practically body blocks him, hand cupping his chin contemplatively, eyes boring into him as if they could pierce his skull and read his thoughts. 

“is that a hickey?” 

“of course not, don’t be crass.” alhaitham pushes past him, then tugs the collar of his shirt up. he needs a shower and fresh set of clothes. 

but kaveh is hot on his heels. “you were out with someone, weren’t you?” 

normally, he’d be much more adept at diverting kaveh’s attention, but there’s a strange, paralyzing panic rising in his chest hindering him. it must be the remnants of the alcohol lingering in his system. “no.”

“then why didn’t you come home?”

“i’m not a child who has to explain why they were out past curfew.” 

kaveh rolls his eyes. “right, you’re a grown man that’s always in bed by 9pm. now, was the house of daena burning down or were you out with a…certain pretty doctor? you guys were both pretty tipsy when you left.”

in the years that alhaitham has known kaveh, he’d learned that the man was never able to simply accept certain comments at face value.

for example, last week alhaitham may or may not have said that he thought you were pretty. he’s never been one to exaggerate, and meant it purely objectively. like if he said tighnari was smart or that cyno went through card backs faster than dehya went through steel gauntlets. it was just a fact. 

but whenever it was about you, kaveh always managed to distort his simple observations into something borderline scandalous. 

“it’s none of your business,” he snaps, sounding much too defensive for his liking. “if all you’re going to do is make baseless accusations, save them for later. i need to get ready.” 

“where are you going?!”

_____

the table alhaitham shares with you at puspa cafe is silent. 

usually, having coffee with you is easier. conversation flowed easily and the few silences you’d share never demanded to be filled. at first he’d thought that it was because you were compatible in all the right ways, but he’d quickly come to the conclusion that it because, well, you were you. 

and last night he’d kissed you. he’d felt your lips press against his own and felt your soft skin under his fingertips. he may have forgotten how the two of you had ended up back at your place, but he’d never forget that. 

but now the air is so brittle he fears it may snap. he glances up at you. your expression is almost unreadable. like him, you’re probably over-analyzing the situation at hand.

“i don’t regret it,” he says simply, internally cursing his lack of social tact when you startle. “do you?”

“i don’t,” you say quickly, looking sincere enough. “but…fraternizing is against akademiya faculty policy.”

“i suppose because those are the rules,” he says slowly, reaching across the table to twine his fingers with yours as he adds, “we’ll have to terminate all contact then.”

“yes,” you nod, a smile spreading across your lips. “we will.”

but when he leans in to kiss you, you don’t stop him.

well, alhaitham’s never been one for rules anyway.

BONUS:

cyno rubs his temples. it was much too early for this. “kaveh, i can’t order an investigation on the akademiya scribe just because you think you saw him hold hands with someone.”

[cobaltsage]

I know my friends often think I’m paranoid for omitting pretty much every smart device outside of your standard phone and laptop from my life but honestly after playing Megaman Battle Network as a child, I know it’s only going to take a few very inspired people tired of corporate BS and experiencing a mental break to create a real world variation of World III.

Like. We’ve already heard of stories of people whose chastity cages got electronically hacked and force locked, and while that’s certainly creative, MMBN absolutely had way more simpler, and entirely possible crimes to commit.

Our fridges are online? Who controls that temperature. Maybe entire grocery stores will find their food either freezer burnt or spoiling.

Our thermostats? Well, it’d be a shame if somebody globally altered the temperature floor of the device to be boiling point.

Our cars are smart now? The literal first game had a chapter that merely took over traffic lights, it would only be easier to make the cars simply lock their users in and drive into each other.

Most data centers I’ve been to, even in multimillion dollar orgs, have dozens and dozens of servers protecting websites and the backup management processes are all handled by a single laptop that has a sticky note that says “do not close laptop” in a room that is virtually untouched for weeks at a time, except to check the temperatures of the cooling systems in the same room. As security, I can say I would have no idea if someone who came in for server maintenance was doing something suspicious or not, and even third party maintenance staff are often left to their own devices to work on perceived problems. Sure, they’re on camera, but so what if the next three people who work in the room are all going to be more third party maintenance staff?

Knowing that full well, I’m never going to buy a smart bidet for fear that it will end up with its water pressure settings altered, turning it into a power washer that ass blasts me to death.

[slowlydeafeningdefendor]

Smart water management systems are at the forefront of combating water-related challenges in developing regions, where access to clean water is often limited. Through decentralized solutions, such as community-based water monitoring networks and mobile-enabled payment systems, these technologies empower local communities to manage water resources effectively. By promoting water conservation, equity, and resilience, smart water management systems play a vital role in improving livelihoods and fostering sustainable development worldwide.

[techtoio]

The Best Eco-Tech Products for an Energy-Efficient Home

Introduction

The newly developed innovations regarding eco-tech products have become necessary when building an energy-efficient house. Yet such innovation does not only lead to energy consumption reduction but also pulls efforts towards a sustainable future. Well, TechtoIO is forever committed to bringing the latest eco-tech products that make your home smarter, greener, and more performant. Here are the top products to make your house a comfortable and efficient sanctuary.

Now, with the Smart thermostats are one of the game-changers in energy-efficient homes. They learn your habits and optimize the temperature based on your habits and preferences so energy isn’t wasted when you’re not around. Among other smart devices, energy usage reporting with remote control in some popular monitored models include Nest Learning Thermostats and Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control.

Optimized with significant energy savings, courtesy of smart thermostats, the efficiency of heating and cooling systems can increase. Read to continue link

[thegoldencontracts]

May I request Ace, Deuce, and Riddle taking care of a Ramshackle Prefect reader who’s come down with the flu or something? (I hope requesting multiple characters at once is okay…)

Of course, multiple characters is okay! Thank you so much for requesting!

Sick Days

You're sick. Lovely. But at least your fellow schoolmates are there to make this a bit less awful.

Notes: Sickfic, my beloved, small fics for each character, reader has no pronouns, reader's face isn't mentioned to turn red, no size/hair type giveaways, etc, please tell me if I've added a description that makes the reader difficult to relate to!

You woke up feeling like absolute garbage. You felt hot and cold at the same time, your head hurt, and you were so, so dizzy.

There was a paw on your face. Grim.

"Myah, human, took you long enough!" he said. "Class already started, but the Great Grim stayed behind just for you!"

It took a second for his words to register.

What? Class already started? You're late, this is gonna be terrible, you're late, and-

"You're burnin' up!" Grim said, which was probably true, now that you thought about it. You didn't really feel like addressing his concerns.

Instead, you gave your own very intelligent input.

"Ugh."

"You should probably stay home, human. Get better, so you can get back to serving the Great Grim faster."

Even when he was concerned, Grim just had to be- well, Grim, didn't he? Whatever. You just wanted to sleep. You'd call in absent later, or whatever.

You went to sleep. Tried to, at least. It was half tossing and turning, a quarter trying to get comfortable in your blankets, an immeasurable amount of time sneezing and sniffling - Grim managed to get you a tissue box with his paws at some point and maybe one percent actual resting.

After what, according to the clock was a few hours worth of suffering, you heard a knock on your bedroom.

"Who is it?"

Ace Trappola

"Vil Schoenheit, duh." You were not letting Ace diss you while you were sick. Not a chance.

"Don't come in."

"Jeez," Ace said, seeming pretty concerned. "You sound awful. I'm coming in."

So kind, Ace. So kind. Truly, that man deserved an award for his raw tact.

The door slammed open, and you could see Ace's smug grin fall for a moment before coming back up.

"You got sick?" He said, giving you a once-over.

Obviously you were sick! What kind of question was that?

"No, I'm actually better than I've ever been," you said. "That's why I didn't come to school. To celebrate my raw level of health."

"Whatever. Can't blame you for that, but you're still and idiot for those thick blankets. You're supposed to lower your body temperature when you're sick; even Deuce knows that."

You weren't going to stand for this slander of your mutual friend - no matter how much those two tried to deny their friendship.

"Take back what you said about-"

"And get some food in your system! I'm getting you some soup."

Before you could even say anything, Ace was gone.

Was he- concerned about you? Actually, yeah, that was probably it. Ace was just built like that.

After a while, he was back, with a bowl of soup and a wet towel in hand.

"Trey, uh, had some soup leftover," he said, pressing the towel to your forehead. Cold. So cold. You wanted it off. "And the towel'll help get your temperature down. Don't take it off."

For all you made fun of Ace, he was actually so street-smart it was scary sometimes, and that included being able to read your thoughts.

"I won't," you said, more like mumbled, because your throat was so sore you'd think someone shoved a bunch of needles down it.

"You sound awful," he said with a snicker. "You need water. I'll go get it for you."

You didn't even mind the fact that he was making fun of you right now, you were just thankful for that sweet, sweet water. Your throat was dryer than the Sahara - which, funnily enough, didn't actually mean anything, since the Sahara didn't exist in Twisted Wonderland and was therefore just gibberish.

Lo and behold, he came back, carrying a thermos filled with water.

"Drink some," he said, holding the bottle up to your lips.

That gave you pause. What was next, him feeding you the soup?

Still, you needed the water, so you drank it without thinking.

It felt so good. Finally, rain in the Sahara!

You didn't have much time to rejoice before Ace held up a spoon of soup to your mouth.

"Say ah," he said, evidently very amused.

"I'm not a little kid, I can feed myself."

Ace just looked at you, unimpressed.

"Your hands're shaking so hard I can see them through the blankets," he said. "You're an idiot if you think your hands can take that soup anywhere but all over your blankets."

He was mean, but he was right. Curse him.

You opened your mouth, and he fed you a spoonful. This was how it went until the bowl was gone.

"You can leave now," you said.

"Nah," Ace replied. "You clearly need help getting better."

He was staying, wasn't he? And there was nothing you could do to change that. Whatever, maybe being babied wouldn't be so bad.

Besides, this was his own way of showing he cared, and it was one you didn't entirely mind. It'd be rude to push him away.

"Fine, fine," you said.

"Good."

And so, with Ace's help, getting better wasn't so bad.

A week later, however, Ace himself got sick. He really should've seen that coming.

"Here, say 'ah'."

"D-Don't feed me, idiot! I'm not a baby, I can do it myself."

How the turns had tabled.

Deuce Spade

"It's me, Deuce."

That was a relief.

"Come in," you said. "It's not locked."

The door opened, and you could make out the blue hair and black mark of none other than Deuce, one of your two friends from Heartslabyul - No matter how much Ace tried to deny he cared.

"You look terrible, Prefect," he said, and you knew he didn't mean to insult you, but it still hurt.

"I know," you said. "What'd you come here for?"

"You didn't come to class, so I was worried," Deuce said. "Now I know why. Anything I can do to make you feel better?"

There was one thing you wanted, more than anything.

"Water," you croaked out. "Please."

Right now, you and water were star-crossed lovers. Maybe Deuce could change that.

"Right away."

Deuce scurried out of the room, and, after a few, agonizing seconds, came back with your beloved water.

"Do you need help drinking?" he asked.

For a second, you thought that question was offensive. You could get it yourself. Then. you tried to reach for the bottle, and realized that his question was a very good one.

"Yep," you said, because your trembling hand were not bringing that bottle up to your mouth. The task just seemed daunting.

He put the bottle up to your mouth, and you drank up. Finally, your throat was parched. Relief.

"Anything else you need?" Deuce asked.

Although you didn't feel particularly nauseous right now, you weren't going to risk it with a meal. Right now, you just wanted someone to accompany you through your misery.

"Just stay with me," you asked. "You don't have to, I mean, I know you probably have a bunch of things to do, but-"

"No," Deuce said. "I'll stay with you. You're my friend, a-and, I want to do anything I can to make you feel any better."

He looked away.

"S-Sorry, I know how stupid that sounds," he said. You were going to correct his inaccurate statement.

"Deuce."

"Y-Yeah?"

"I'm pretty sure that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me."

"Thanks." Deuce scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Anyways, do you wanna know what stuff in class we learned so it's easier for you to catch up?"

You smiled.

"I would love that."

Deuce made that sick day so much better. Somehow, he didn't even get sick. You honestly envied that good immune system. It was good that he didn't suffer for trying to help you, though.

Riddle Rosehearts

"Prefect, I was informed that you were absent from class today. Do you have an explanation?"

"I'm sick," you said, miffed. Riddle was actually great to be around, but god, you didn't have the patience for getting lectured right now.

Silence. More silence. Sheepish scurrying.

After a while, you hear another knock.

"Prefect, it's me," Riddle said. "I would like to apologize for my discourteous behavior prior."

The door opened, and there was Riddle, carrying a bunch of stuff.

"Aagh," was your highly intelligent greeting.

Riddle walked up to you, getting out a towel. He cast a water spell on it.

"You look quite disheveled," he said, putting the now wet towel on your forehead. "I really do feel terrible about the way I addressed you earlier. Trey had some soup leftover, would you like some?"

You nodded. You wanted something warm right now, especially with the cold cloth on your head.

"I'll get it for you, then."

From his bag, he took out a canteen, a spoon, and a napkin. He was really well-prepared, wasn't he? That really wasn't a shock. This was Riddle, after all, top student and ultimate over-preparer - actually, maybe Azul or Jamil took the latter role. Nothing could beat seeing Azul's backup-backup plans for the serious affair of buying cheese from Sam's.

Riddle handed you the soup, waving his magic-pen.

Your hand weren't trembling anymore. Weird.

"That was me," Riddle said, noticing your confusion. "The spell will temporarily let you eat in comfort."

"Thanks," you said, taking a sip of the soup. It tasted so good to your empty stomach. The nausea'd worn off some time ago, and now you were left with the burning feeling of hunger. You scarfed down that soup in no time, leaving Riddle with a concerned look.

"Are you not worried about vomiting?" he said.

You shook your head.

"I don't feel nauseous," you said. "Not now, at least."

That seemed to be a good enough answer for Riddle, who nodded.

"Is there anything else you'd like?"

"Can you help me catch up on the stuff I missed?"

"Of course," Riddle said, summoning a massive notebook. You gulped.

This was going to be a long day, wasn't it? Oh, well, at least it wouldn't be as bad as it would've been without Riddle.

Only three days after helping you get better, Riddle also got sick. You felt so bad, he was a stickler for attendance and now he was missing school because of you! You had to help him.

"I'm so, so sorry, Riddle, I swear!"

"You- achoo! H-Have nothing to- to be sorry for, Prefect."

[bumblesimagines]

i think we cuddled.

should we talk about it?

- Lexi Howard

should we talk about it?

i think we cuddled.

Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs, GN!Reader

There were many ways to fuck up in life. 

Pull an all-nighter knowing you've got an exam the next day; Pick a fight with someone twice your size; Talk shit about your boss while they're within earshot; Knock over your grandmother's ashes. Or, as you had spectacularly done, sleep with an ex-girlfriend's younger, nerdier sister in her house and her room. Granted, it was inevitable sleeping in her room considering Cassie and Lexi shared a bedroom, but it remained part of the grand fuck-up. 

Throughout your whole life, Lexi Howard had remained strictly off limits. Your beloved twin sister, Maddy, had set strict ground rules for how you were to interact with her friends and by extension, Lexi which ranged from never flirting with them to never laying an even slightly suggestive finger on them. You'd followed the rules to a T during middle school and ninth grade but then Cassie Howard showed her interest and Maddy could only give in and allow it. Like most of Cassie's relationships, it crashed and burned in just over a year. 

Cassie loved hard and with her whole heart but if she felt even just slightly abandoned or ignored, she leaped into the arms of whichever interested guy was closest to her. It'd been a whole ordeal that'd nearly threatened Cassie and Maddy's friendship until you managed to calm the waters and enter a genuine, and somewhat awkward, friendship with Cassie to keep the peace between the girls. By then, you had become pretty acquainted with Lexi, even going as far as calling her a friend. Which made everything about your situation worse.

"Should we talk about it?" Lexi's meek voice asked from the bed, the covers and blankets scrunched in her balled-up hands. Her big, doe-eyes watched you get dressed and you couldn't quite tell if her reddened cheeks were from embarrassment, shame, or lingering alcohol in her system. Horrible, it was horrible. Lexi should've lost her v card to some smart loser who was head over heels for her, but instead, she got you. 

"What is there to talk about? We got tipsy, I drove you home, I think we cuddled, one thing led to another, and shit happened." Her lips pursed and her gaze fell onto the covers. You winced and slid on your shirt. "I don't want to be mean, Lex. I think you're great and you deserve better. You probably expected the big day to be roses and candles and an expensive dinner with someone from Harvard or Yale who would be ready to pop out the engagement ring right after. I'm sure you'll find that person eventually, though."

"What... What makes you think I expected or- or wanted all that?" Lexi frowned and you wondered what great sin you had committed to get into this situation. "Maybe- Maybe I did envision it being with you. What would be so wrong about that? I mean, you're single and-"

"Cassie would be furious, and not to mention how Maddy would react. She'll get mad on somebody's behalf and it'll be hell for both of us. It's just- It..." You sighed heavily, running a hand over your face. "Maybe if I had met you first... things would've been different, Lex. But I didn't. I dated Cassie and that breakup was a fucking mess. It wouldn't be fair on her to storm back into her life like that. I'm sorry."

[sag-dab-sar]

Clarification: Generative AI does not equal all AI

💭 "Artificial Intelligence"

AI is machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and more that I'm not smart enough to know. It can be extremely useful in many different fields and technologies. One of my information & emergency management courses described the usage of AI as being a "human centaur". Part human part machine; meaning AI can assist in all the things we already do and supplement our work by doing what we can't.

💭 Examples of AI Benefits

AI can help advance things in all sorts of fields, here are some examples:

Emergency Healthcare & Disaster Risk X

Disaster Response X

Crisis Resilience Management X

Medical Imaging Technology X

Commercial Flying X

Air Traffic Control X

Railroad Transportation X

Ship Transportation X

Geology X

Water Conservation X

Can AI technology be used maliciously? Yeh. Thats a matter of developing ethics and working to teach people how to see red flags just like people see red flags in already existing technology.

AI isn't evil. Its not the insane sentient shit that wants to kill us in movies. And it is not synonymous with generative AI.

💭 Generative AI

Generative AI does use these technologies, but it uses them unethically. Its scraps data from all art, all writing, all videos, all games, all audio anything it's developers give it access to WITHOUT PERMISSION, which is basically free reign over the internet. Sometimes with certain restrictions, often generative AI engineers—who CAN choose to exclude things—may exclude extremist sites or explicit materials usually using black lists.

AI can create images of real individuals without permission, including revenge porn. Create music using someones voice without their permission and then sell that music. It can spread disinformation faster than it can be fact checked, and create false evidence that our court systems are not ready to handle.

AI bros eat it up without question: "it makes art more accessible" , "it'll make entertainment production cheaper" , "its the future, evolve!!!"

💭 AI is not similar to human thinking

When faced with the argument "a human didn't make it" the come back is "AI learns based on already existing information, which is exactly what humans do when producing art! We ALSO learn from others and see thousands of other artworks"

Lets make something clear: generative AI isn't making anything original. It is true that human beings process all the information we come across. We observe that information, learn from it, process it then ADD our own understanding of the world, our unique lived experiences. Through that information collection, understanding, and our own personalities we then create new original things.

💭 Generative AI doesn't create things: it mimics things

Take an analogy:

Consider an infant unable to talk but old enough to engage with their caregivers, some point in between 6-8 months old.

Mom: a bird flaps its wings to fly!!! *makes a flapping motion with arm and hands*

Infant: *giggles and makes a flapping motion with arms and hands*

The infant does not understand what a bird is, what wings are, or the concept of flight. But she still fully mimicked the flapping of the hands and arms because her mother did it first to show her. She doesn't cognitively understand what on earth any of it means, but she was still able to do it.

In the same way, generative AI is the infant that copies what humans have done— mimicry. Without understanding anything about the works it has stolen.

Its not original, it doesn't have a world view, it doesn't understand emotions that go into the different work it is stealing, it's creations have no meaning, it doesn't have any motivation to create things it only does so because it was told to.

Why read a book someone isn't even bothered to write?

Related videos I find worth a watch

ChatGPT's Huge Problem by Kyle Hill (we don't understand how AI works)

Criticism of Shadiversity's "AI Love Letter" by DeviantRahll

AI Is Ruining the Internet by Drew Gooden

AI vs The Law by Legal Eagle (AI & US Copyright)

AI Voices by Tyler Chou (Short, flash warning)

Dead Internet Theory by Kyle Hill

-Dyslexia, not audio proof read-