#What Value does Optimism Offer?

[empresa-journal]

Is Optimism (OP) worth $1.31?

Interest in Optimism (OP) is high. For example, both CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap gave OP a $1.31 on 21 September 2023. Optimism was CoinMarketCap’s 13th most trending cryptocurrency on 20 September 2023. Conversely, Optimism was CoinGecko’s seventh most trending cryptocurrency on the same day. Moreover, CoinGecko named Optimism the 42ndlargest cryptocurrency, while CoinMarketCap labeled OP the…

[sanjida1]

AI HIGH TICKET COMMISSIONS

[the-dragon-hearted]

Currently thinking about how the death of Polites fractured the dynamic of the crew which led to quite literally the rest of the Odyssey in EPIC the musical. The entire crew relied on this man and NO, I am not exaggerating.

Polites served as the temperance of Ody; the diplomatic and optimistic council who was a liaison between the captain and his crew. Why? Well, Polites is never acknowledged to hold any power in the crew (we're talking EPIC canon here) but is clearly respected and valued by the captain. This combination is familiar; the crew is comfortable approaching Polites because he's their equal and Polites is comfortable approaching Odysseus with their problems because they're friends. That is his role.

Now I have my own issues with Eurylochus but I do think he's written well. And I also do not think he is fully in the wrong. HOT TAKE I KNOW, but hear me out: Eury was Ody's right hand. Odysseus is clever but he's also pretty humble (excluding the whole "I am the infamous Odysseus" but Bro had a right to crash out there). Odysseus does not surround himself with "yes-men", he surrounds himself with friends who are willing to challenge him. Case and point; Eurylochus and Polites.

Polites challenges his morals and instincts - Polites is always trying to ensure that Odysseus is doing what is best for himself. "You can relax my friend" is not something you tell your leader to do casually. It's what you tell your friend to do when they're working themselves too damn hard. "Greet the world with open arms" is not what you tell your commanding officer who you're trusting to get you home.

Eurylochus challenges his decisions. Always does, in every scene and NO that is not a flaw. He serves as a point of resistance so that Odysseus is forced to consider every option carefully. He makes sure Ody has considered the worst-case scenario and is fully prepared to back him up when that happens. Bro was ready to burn the Lotus island down if his friends didn't come back. Eury is the guy who's willing to strike first and make the difficult decisions, much like Ody is. He is a good second in command.

The point is: the two filled massively different roles in the crew. Eury is supposed to challenge Odysseus and question his decisions - that is his job; to make sure that his captain is making the best decisions for the crew. Polites is supposed to support Ody; he is a friend, a confident, and a source of trust and camaraderie.

What makes them such a well-oiled machine is that they all have specific roles and they are good at them. Ody makes the plans and decides what battles to fight, Eurylochus takes initiative and counterbalances Polites optimism, Polites offers ethical and moral support while counterbalancing Eury's cynicism. That is why the crew works so well.

Odysseus has someone to rely on and someone to challenge him. The crew has someone to confide in and a second in command to consider their needs. They have a captain who listens to both. Eurylochus and Polites have each other to balance out and a captain who values their opinions.

It works. It's balanced. It's a powerful type of leadership.

Then Polites dies, and so does that balance.

Eurylochus finds himself having to fill two roles. He has to question his captain and calm the crew. He has to place complete trust in Odysseus as Polites did, but he can't. His and Ody's relationship has always been based on challenging one another to ensure that they're considering every angle. He has spent his entire life being critical of Odysseus' plans because he knows that's what he's supposed to do. He doesn't have blind faith, he's a realist - optimism and trust were Polites forte.

Odysseus finds himself without that support and line of connection to Polites. He grows disconnected from the crew because of it and flounders when it comes to dealing with Eurylochus.

This is seen clearly in the song: Luck Runs Out

Eury was not in the wrong for pointing out how fucking crazy it is to casually ask the Wind God for some help. Sure let's go knock on a god's door and ask for loose change; HELLO!? There are so many ways it could've gone wrong and it has always been Eury's job to point such flaws out. It's what he's always done - probably what he's done for Ody throughout the war.

But Odysseus? He just lost his best friend and his mentor. His entire support system is crumbling, so being challenged by the one person who he needs to have his back pushes him into a dangerous space as a leader.

On the one hand, he cannot afford to have Eury question his every move, especially since Polites isn't there to challenge him for Odysseus. Especially now that he doesn't have Polites instilling trust in the crew - he can't afford Eury's challenges to eroding what trust remains in his disheartened crew.

On the other, pushing Eurylochus away and demanding staunch obedience from him is so out of character for their relationship that all trust between Captain and SOC is suddenly up in the air.

That is why Eurylochus opens the windbag. Not because he wanted "treasure", but because the captain who demanded he "be devout" is not the captain he's followed all this time. The captain who sits awake for four days, eyes following every crewmember with a glimmer of distrust is not the Odysseus Eurylochus knows.

Eury knows Odysseus with Polites. If Polites had been alive, he would've been able to quell the crew's distrust because he would have had full trust in their captain. Odysseus would've been able to trust his crew because he could trust Polites. He cannot trust Eurylochus to have that same blind faith, because Eury doesn't have it; and the crew knows it.

Everything's changed since Polites

It's not a throwaway line; it's what the crew whispers to Eurylochus. He's different. He's changed. Odysseus is not the same. Maybe it is treasure. Maybe he's lying to us. How do we know? How do you know?

And Eurylochus doesn't know. He isn't certain. Odysseus is his friend and his captain; that's a difficult power dynamic to balance.

So Eury opens the windbag, because he doesn't trust Odysseus. It's a different sort of mistrust though - not one of constructive criticism from a friend, but earnest dangerous mistrust of your superior.

Eurylochus leads the mutiny, because that was always his role as Ody's right hand; to question and stand against what he felt was wrong. To speak for the crew as another leader.

But Eurylochus never wanted to be captain. He never wanted to betray his friend. He felt he had to - Yes, he was willing to leave crewmates behind in Circe's lair because he has always been willing to make those hard calls.

Odysseus? He so rarely does what Eurylochus wants to do because they are not the same person. Eury doesn't want Ody to be him (Eury has flaws, but ambition is not one of them. He recognizes he isn't a good leader hence he immediately falls back on Ody's judgment after the holy cow bit) - he wants Ody to listen to him and consider his insights. So for Odysseus to sacrifice six of their crewmates without a word to his friend - without consulting anyone - without leaving space for his right-hand man to question him... that is when Eurylochus loses faith in Odysseus. Because that is not his captain. He doesn't know who it is. But his captain would never.

Hypocritical? Yes. But also rather insightful.

And Odysseus? He loses the last pillar of support he has in the crew, not because Eurylochus changes - not even because he changes. He loses it all because it is doomed to fall apart without Polites. It was all doomed to fall apart when they lost their counterbalance.

It is not Ody's mercy or ruthlessness that kills them. It is not Eury's distrust. Both of those existed far before it all went to shit. It was Polites dying. It was the fact that the three of them were so well suited for leadership as long as it was the three of them.

It had to be the three of them.

[bellestarot]

General analysis: Wonyoung’s Destiny Matrix

june 20, 2025

Essence and life mission

The central number in Wonyoung's matrix is (9), represented by the Hermit. She is someone who turns inward often, constantly seeking self-knowledge and looking for answers within herself. She values patience, resilience, and maturity, and tends to act with deep reflection. She isolates herself by choice and only offers advice when asked, rarely interfering in others’ matters. She is trustworthy and loyal, but whenever disrespected, she sets clear boundaries in her relationships. She's not afraid to stand up for herself, knows what she wants, and goes after it. She's a dedicated learner, reads a lot, is highly intelligent, and strongly trusts her intuition.

However, this can also manifest as a shadow side — a comfort zone that leads to excessive isolation, emotional detachment, and a sense of social disconnection or feeling out of place. She may struggle with forming close bonds, feeling like she doesn't fully belong.

Regarding her sexuality and romantic tendencies, she tends to repeat past relationship patterns with new partners. When a relationship ends abruptly, she often has a hard time moving on. She sometimes clings to the past, wishing to revisit places she went with an ex or expecting her new partner to behave in ways that resemble her previous one.

At the core of her matrix lies the combination 9-9-18, indicating a challenge in being fully understood, as these are introspective and guarded energies. Wonyoung exudes a strong magnetism — admired by both fans and those who know her personally — but very few truly understand her on a deeper level.

Her life path calls her to return to the world with the insights she’s found within. She often knows exactly what needs to be done, yet continues to repeat certain patterns because she keeps her wisdom to herself. She has a great deal to teach, guide, and share, but holds back out of hesitation. There's a strong calling for her to connect with the spiritual realm and take meaningful spiritual actions in the material world.

The way she comes across

Wonyoung appears to the world the image of someone driven by purpose — a woman with discipline who doesn't procrastinate. She seems practical, consistent, and grounded. She embodies a strong masculine energy of leadership and life management, especially in her work.

She comes across as responsible, powerful, and persistent — someone with a commanding presence. She knows how to bring things into reality, making her a strong force in society and in business. She radiates autonomy, self-sufficiency, and empowerment, doing what she sets her mind to. There's a sense of firmness about her — she takes on commitments and follows through. She achieves what she wants through conscious, intentional effort.

Family Balance

About her family — in a very beautiful way, her family has always radiated faith. They've supported her with optimism and positivity, believing in her from the very beginning. They are sincere yet warm-hearted, affectionate, and nurturing.

Her family is cheerful, generous, and always willing to share with others. There’s a strong sense of harmony in their presence. They’ve helped her build self-confidence and encouraged her to believe in her dreams.

Material Karma

In her past life, she struggled to break ties that were holding her back. She may not have set clear boundaries and lacked the inner power to initiate change. There was a lack of firmness, indecisiveness, and difficulty embracing renewal.

The biggest current obstacle to financial prosperity

The biggest obstacle she faces when it comes to earning money is that she spends a lot on beauty and self-care. She doesn’t really care what she spends money on and often buys unnecessary things. She also questions whether she genuinely enjoys the work she does, if it inspires or motivates her. This is Wonyoung’s material karma.

The energy of number 6 also seeks perfection and approval from others, and she struggles with a lack of self-love. She has difficulty following her heart and doing what she loves, which prevents her from feeling happy in her work. She may also lose a lot of money trying to please others.

In past lives, she always struggled to open herself to the world and to opportunities. Whenever she started something, she would leave it unfinished, becoming stuck and giving up at the last stage. She didn’t dedicate enough time to what she was doing and easily became frustrated. She was very disconnected, trapped in a cycle that never changed.

Regarding how she can prosper, it could involve her speaking openly about the issues that hold her back and make her a slave to herself. She needs to break free from these chains and leave harmful behaviors behind. She could start sharing, whether through podcasts, books, or interviews, about the things she does that she knows are damaging and keep her captive, helping others to relate and recognize themselves in her story. It’s about acknowledging the darker parts within ourselves.

Karmic Tail

In a past life, she was a witch, a scientist, a metaphysician, or had other knowledge. She may have had a lot of magical knowledge; she was very powerful, in a way that would frighten others, but she either couldn’t or didn’t want to share her knowledge with others since she had access to secret or magical knowledge. She may also have tried to escape or leave behind what she had achieved in one of her past lives related to magic. She might have also used magic in a way that backfired on her, causing her to close herself off.

In this life, her karmic mission is connected to acquiring spiritual knowledge, showing her talent, her essence, finding her vocation, and following her own path. Sharing what she learned with others, believing more in herself, that she is capable, that she is intelligent enough. And even though she thinks this of herself, she may have an intellectual ego thinking she is smarter than others, which needs to be changed.

Natural Talents

Her divine talent is balance. She could be very successful in a career as a lawyer, understanding laws, mediator, judge, politician, banker, or social justice activist. She is honest and sincere, uses logic and reason more than emotions when necessary, takes responsibility for her actions, strives to be a just woman, acts ethically, and thinks a lot before acting.

Her innate talent that she needs to develop in this life involves concentration, inner creation, and focus on her goals. She needs to go after her objectives without thinking, just act. She shouldn’t procrastinate or spend days thinking; she needs to get moving and take control of her own life.

She would also do well in careers like driver, jockey, racing athlete, businessperson, martial artist, logistics.

Regarding talents from past lives, it shows she wasn’t very different from who she is today. Her talent in one of her past lives was connected to the arts, the stage, as an artist, actress, or other artistic means she might be interested in. This positively encourages her today, where she naturally has self-confidence, attracts fame and success, easily becomes the center of attention, has a lot of courage to be in the spotlight, and is recognized as a reference.

Hidden desires of the soul

Her soul has the desire to always act with ethics, responsibility, and impartiality, especially involving legal matters, contracts, or evaluations, paying close attention to details and transparency. Her soul has a thirst for making rational decisions, based on facts rather than emotions, ensuring that her choices are fair both to herself and to others involved. She seeks the peace that can be created when justice or balance is restored, both in personal relationships and decision-making.

But there is also a contradiction, as her soul has a need for freedom and craves change because she feels uncomfortable with routine. She seeks a more spontaneous life, listens more to her emotions than to reason, does not accept impositions, wants to act impulsively without thinking about consequences, and desires to live new experiences.

Paternal karmic debt

Paternal ancestors may have had difficulties making decisions in relationships, especially concerning ethics. There may have been betrayals, love triangles, or instability in romantic relationships. These ancestors had conflicts related to romantic love and the social roles they played. This could have created karmic patterns for her, such as constantly seeking male approval or validation, fear of making mistakes in any area of life—whether professional, romantic, or spiritual—along with indecision, duality, and emotional instability in relationships.

Her paternal lineage may have come close to achieving great financial success but failed to complete those goals. They may have been overly perfectionistic and controlling, possibly superficial, with fixed ideas about success, money, and public image. They couldn’t expand what they had and didn’t reach true success.

This could affect her today by making her abandon projects halfway, become easily frustrated, or feel pressured to maintain the appearance of being perfect and successful in front of the cameras—while hiding how she truly feels. Some of them may also have been excessively attached to material things, using wealth to fill emotional voids. In some cases, money may have been used to manipulate or destroy other people’s reputations or lives, repeating cycles of self-sabotage.

She needs to stop worrying about what others think and open her mind—to travel the world, let go of the need to be perfect, and start finishing what she begins. She must honor her gifts and talents, even if they are still hidden, work on her self-esteem and self-love, and pursue what she truly wants—not just material things, but also spiritual growth.

She needs to break free from dependency or suffering tied to money, fame, or lust. It's essential for her to transform her relationship with her lifestyle in a healthy way and to heal trauma related to authority figures or dominant personalities.

Maternal karmic debt

The ancestors may have had problems related to money, involving injustices, fraud, theft, exploitation, or poor financial decisions. There may have been unresolved financial agreements as well, such as disputes over property or assets. It’s also possible that there was a man with an authoritarian, controlling presence—someone who dominated financial matters, representing patriarchal and oppressive figures.

This impacts Wonyoung today in her relationship with legal matters and money. She may carry an unconscious fear of receiving or a sense of guilt about having too much money, as well as issues related to blocked inheritances or unresolved property matters. She also feels a need to control money out of fear of losing stability and has difficulty trusting others with financial matters—often taking full responsibility for everything herself.

She must continuously practice fairness, honesty, and balance in her financial actions, avoiding judgment and any tendency to manipulate others through money. She could benefit from exploring holistic or esoteric approaches to healing ancestral karmas, especially those tied to the family's financial history. It would help her contribute to organizing her family's finances.

She needs to work on flexibility, trust, and balance—embracing masculine energy in a healthy way and learning to manage her financial life with harmony and wisdom.

Gifts passed down from her father

They involve surrender during moments of challenge, letting go of effort and movement. Making sacrifices with goodwill, acceptance, and detachment from material things. A natural empathy for people in need and abandoned animals, sensitivity to others' pain, and a tendency to give to charity.

She inherited from her father the emotional side — sensitivity guided by the heart. At times, she finds herself torn between reason and emotion. She is highly idealistic, often indecisive, and constantly questioning her feelings and choices. She seeks deep connections but has a fear of being tied down. She may experience inner conflict between what she wants and what she believes she should do. She easily attracts others through her charisma and beauty — physical, emotional, and even spiritual. There's a desire to align with universal love, to develop emotional maturity, and to find balance between pleasure, responsibility, freedom, and commitment.

What she actively puts into practice from the talents inherited from her father is her strong sense of justice. This gives her a natural ability to analyze situations with impartiality, using logic without judging others. She sees both sides of a story before making decisions and acts based on solid principles. She has a strong sense of ethics and morality, takes responsibility for her actions and their consequences, and is a wise advisor with mental clarity and rational thinking.

Gifts passed down from her mother

She inherited balance, patience, and harmony from her mother. Her mother has a conciliatory influence, with strong abilities to handle emotions and conflicting situations with calmness and wisdom. Peace, serenity, and collective well-being are highly valued. There is great emotional control, knowing when to act, avoiding impulsiveness. They are flexible and open to continuous learning, with a broader and more compassionate outlook.

Positivity, new ways of looking at life, always being truthful and transparent, being grateful for everything she has, trusting the path she is walking, inspiring and motivating others, and avoiding arrogant behavior — all of this comes through. A focus on good health, vitality, freedom and confidence, enlightenment. Peace, fraternity, intelligence, and good feelings. A good reputation, joy and success, understanding.

A great deal of wisdom, a search for meaning, and a desire to help others, to follow a tradition, spirituality, and the pursuit of knowledge. She inherited a deep appreciation for ethics, principles, and learning. She is someone trustworthy and respected, with a strong sense of responsibility. Introspective, she is always seeking higher purpose — whether through religion, philosophy, or practical studies. There is a strong connection to spiritual and ethical values. At times, she may have very conservative and rigid thoughts in her convictions.

Money line

How to prosper: She needs to have a broad worldview, seeking interconnection with experiences, becoming more adaptable, and being open to new experiences and willing to learn from the world around her. Traveling the world, working in a job that involves travel and exposure to different cultures, exploring, and connecting people would suit her well. Careers that would bring more money involve frequent travel for work, especially to foreign countries.

What is blocking her: A lack of achievement, not fighting hard enough for what she wants, and a sense of incompleteness in what she accomplishes. She feels disappointed easily, thinking that the success she has isn’t enough. She also doesn’t get close to people to build connections, tends to stay on the sidelines, and sometimes may lack empathy.

Romantic life

The ideal type of person who catches her attention, or who she should look for: Someone who gives compliments, is caring and affectionate. She needs people who are decisive, communicate well, and openly show and express love. She also needs a partner who makes her feel sexually comfortable, encourages new experiences, someone who helps her break free and allow herself to feel. People who help her stay balanced and pull her away from addictive energies in various areas.

She may meet her future partner or spouse in a very luxurious place, possibly full of powerful people. They appear to be very sensual, with a striking gaze and a dominant personality. They can be persuasive, mysterious, and have a good sense of fashion. Their career might be related to business, banking, or law, especially working to protect corporate interests.

Her future partner is a very intense person, interested in more than just appearance. They need someone who captivates them and has a strong desire to uncover the soul of the other. This person also respects her when she wants to be alone, as they tend to isolate themselves too, being quite introspective. They are someone who seeks self-knowledge and reflects deeply. But they also have a lot of love to give, know how to be affectionate when they want to, win her over in every way, and when they fall in love, they give themselves completely—they can be very loving.

⋆｡‧˚ʚ🍒ɞ˚‧｡⋆

[psychics4unet]

What Are the Traits of Your Romantic Soulmate? Find Out With a Tarot Reading! ✨💖🔮

I put a lot of effort into this reading, so please show some love by leaving comments, likes, reblogs, and follow me! ❤️💬✨

Paid psychic reading (7 questions for just $7) is available here:

Pile 1

The Lovers 💞

Queen of Cups 💧

The Empress 🌸

The Lovers card represents a deep connection, showing that your soulmate is someone who shares a harmonious bond with you. The Queen of Cups reflects an emotionally intuitive person, someone with a nurturing, empathetic nature who is in tune with their feelings. The Empress signifies a soulmate who is abundant, creative, and cares deeply for others, reflecting someone with a natural warmth and strong sense of love.

Together, these cards suggest that your soulmate will be someone who shares a spiritual, emotional connection with you. They will be kind-hearted, nurturing, and very supportive, offering love that is both gentle and abundant. Your bond will be deeply rooted in love, intuition, and mutual respect, creating a strong foundation for your relationship. 🌟💖

Pile 2

The Star 🌟

Knight of Pentacles 💼

Page of Wands 🔥

The Star card represents hope, healing, and inspiration, showing that your soulmate will be a source of light in your life, offering you peace and guidance. The Knight of Pentacles points to a steady, reliable individual—someone who is hardworking, practical, and committed. The Page of Wands represents a person who is adventurous, creative, and enthusiastic, always pushing forward with energy and new ideas.

Together, these cards point to a soulmate who will bring balance into your life through their calm yet passionate nature. They will inspire you with their optimism while offering a solid, grounded presence that brings stability and joy. Their enthusiasm for life will complement your own, creating a fulfilling and dynamic connection. 💫💖

Pile 3

Strength 💪

Ten of Pentacles 💰

Two of Cups 🥂

Strength reveals that your soulmate will be someone with great inner resilience, someone who is calm under pressure and can handle challenges with grace. The Ten of Pentacles shows that your soulmate is someone who values long-term security, wealth, and family, and seeks to create a stable, prosperous life. The Two of Cups highlights a soulmate who shares mutual love, respect, and deep connection, suggesting a balanced and harmonious partnership.

The cards together point to a soulmate who embodies both inner strength and a deep commitment to building a lasting, loving relationship. Together, you will have the power to create a secure, prosperous, and emotionally fulfilling future. Your connection will be based on mutual respect, shared goals, and unwavering support. 🌟💖

Love this post? Spread the positive vibes by reblogging with your favorite pile number! Remember to like, comment, and follow me for more tarot insights and spiritual guidance. By sharing this post, you'll invite positive energy from the universe into your life. Let's journey together towards enlightenment and fulfillment!

Attention! This reading is for entertainment purposes only. This tarot reading does not give a 100% guarantee that all the described situations will occur or being ultimate truth. You build your own life and destiny and only you know yourself best. Remember to reblog, like, comment, and follow for more cosmic guidance and positivity!

Paid readings (7 questions for just $7) are also available for more in-depth insights and personal guidance! 🌟💫

[the-last-thread-of-my-sanity]

Armin’s character and what he represents about bravery within the story means so much to me.

I feel like so often in shonen and general action story media traits like ‘bravery’ and ‘courage’ are considered synonymous with strength or risk-taking- and that’s certainly accurate in a lot of cases. But just like in so many other ways, AOT subverts or critically examines this trope within its characters- particularly in the main trio of the cast.

It’s so easy to reduce Armin to his easiest defined trope- the smart one- and while that’s definitely true and you could write a million meta essays on his intelligence, strategic thinking, etc, I think we don’t talk enough about the ways Armin’s character begs the audience to reexamine what it means to have strength and bravery.

Armin’s strength is not in the physical realm (although it’s worth dedicating another post entirely to the fact that Armin is certainly not that weak either- simply the weakest of an already exceptional group) and his strength is not solely his mind either. But also his determination, conviction, and the way he is willing to sacrifice himself to save others with hardly a second thought- all while not being as rash as Eren and Mikasa can be.

In a recent rewatch of the Trost Arc, there were so many moments that stood out to me that I had previously either taken for granted or not noticed the significance of. In that arc alone, after Eren’s “death” -

He follows Mikasa without hesitation to rescue her when she runs out of gas

Offers Mikasa his gas canisters and blades knowing he won’t survive without them

Defends Eren to the Garrison (this is obviously a pretty big moment that isn’t usually overlooked, of course)

Rushes off from the decoy squad and runs the ENTIRE length of the Trost district wall when he sees the red smoke flair- just to be there to help Mikasa and Eren

Stays by Eren’s titan form on foot in a titan infested area right before he places the boulder

And there’s probably some more I missed.

Armin at this point in the story has no false confidence about his ability to survive- in fact he probably has an abysmal lack of confidence that he can’t affect much, but he does it anyway.

(Obviously, this self-sacrificial tendency reaches a head and ultimately culminates in the sacrifice of his life in the mission to retake Shiganshina…)

All of this to say, what Armin represents about bravery and courage is so important to me because he dedicates his life with the purest of intentions- he is not scared of death in such a noble way and he brings it up again and again. He would die for the cause- nearly does.

Which I think creates an interesting parallel between him and Eren in the sense that Eren is frequently referred to as a “suicidal maniac”- clearly meant to refer to the reckless way he rushes into danger. Whereas Armin’s instinct towards self-sacrifice is never viewed this way, because it’s not a glaring flaw in the same way that Eren’s behavior is.

Another way the story examines this is through his interactions with Annie- who is opposite in that she is fiercely dedicated to her own survival at any cost. This is brought up in their interaction during the ODM gear inspection when she asks him if he would die if someone ordered him to and he easily answered that he would. Armin’s ability to understand this difference between himself and Annie without judging her for it is also unique to him.

Because Armin doesn’t expect anyone else to give their life or view others as cowards for not rushing into danger- because he sees the value in every life. He just feels the cost of his own life would be worth it to preserve someone else’s. It’s this love for humanity and unwavering optimism at the core of his character that gives him so much conviction.

And like so many others have pointed out, this is what saves him (and, to an extent, later the world) in the end when it comes to Levi’s choice to revive him. Erwin was successful because he was able to set aside his humanity and sent countless soldiers to their deaths to gain victory. Armin, more than anyone else in the story, was able to plan and make a difference in such a way that always assumed he would either ask others to take an equal risk or put himself at more risk to reach the goal. And he wasn’t driven by anger, hatred, or rage to do it.

Clearly, there’s a lot that can be said about the way Armin shows strength and bravery in dire situations without being, stereotypically, the strongest character- or even the die-hard risk taking typical protagonist that Eren represents for most of the story.

But I think ultimately the story is trying to show us that Armin’s version is the version that is within reach for everyone- and that will make the biggest difference in not just winning a battle but in making a better world. And it’s so important to me that AOT- despite being such an inherently violent story- took the time to present that message as emphatically as it did.

[pompadourpink]

hii :))

from your posts and the advice you give, you seem to be a very kind and genuine person. Also a very smart one! I loved going through some of your longer replies, your point of view is always refreshing and well-written. I hope to be able to articulate my thoughts as well as you some day. I wish there were more teachers who show such a great amount of passion as you do.

how is it to be a role model for younger people from so many different places? Actually, how did it come to this, you giving advice to kids online? How does that make you feel?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is greatful for this blog. I can’t even tell you what seeing an older (haha sorry but you know what I mean) person just cares so much can do. About studying, about other people, about life and health and happiness and everything. It makes me want to work on myself, to strive to be someone others can admire (and to learn french! man, people who speak multiple languages are cool)

Hello dear,

It feels like when Amelie gives the box of toys back to the old man and walks away with the wind in her hair, feeling like she is one with the universe.

I spent years thinking I would never turn 18 because the present and the future both looked grey, but I survived out of optimism. I did things that made me feel alive, realised my power, and eventually became the older sister I had dreamed of.

As an educator, I saw all types of children, but the unloved ones were the easiest to spot, needy and brittle, or sharp and challenging. They made me act as the parent they didn't get at home so they could finally feel like the children they didn't get to be, because I would have to take it and be there the next day. And they always softened.

Violence starts at home, and when you don't break the cycle, you sentence yourself and yet another generation to suffer. You might have read my story about a coworker who retired in a week after a chat: outrage and tenderness are often all you need to make people open their eyes and get out of their cell.

Somehow, most frequently, prisons are self-made. The idea was planted by a toxic outsider, but the victim turned into an architect, unprompted. Someone hurts you, you make it your entire identity, and then wonder why living is so bitter.

Monsters don't exist: they are people who suffer and attempt, in a very strange way, to reclaim dignity, whether yours or theirs. The angry old lady in the metro doesn't care about your seat, she wants to feel valued, not understanding that love cannot be one-sided. The stranger who gives dietary advice doesn't want you to get harassed, not realising that they are focusing on the wrong problem. The average bully is nothing but a distressed coward. Thankfully, there is always a way out, even for them.

I want to believe that there is always hope, an opportunity for a lighter future, that we will live and learn and do better, because I see love every day, everywhere I look, I will not give up on humanity, and I will not let hatred win. I am too little to save the entire world, but kindness is contagious, and what joy to look back and see all those little flowers planted because of me!

One of my first ever students once admitted that whenever she was in a complicated situation, she tried to imagine what I would do, and she would do just that. Another recently mentioned on her blog that the progress made during lessons and the work environment I offer had helped her rebuild her confidence to embrace the unknown. Yet another had flowers sent to my house last year for my birthday after just a few months of tutoring.

I didn't choose this. Back then, a few readers picked up on my arms being open to those who sought connection and started asking for unrelated advice, and I thought that trying to relieve someone of their burden would be time well-spent.

Everything you want is on the other side of deciding that you are worth the hassle. Today French, tomorrow the world.

Thank you for your kindness,

Rose

[hazelkjt]

The Monster Hunter Wilds Beta was a nice distraction from the shit going on in my life. It was a REALLY fun 3 days, minimal performance issues so I’m happy I don’t need to update my PC. So, here are my thoughts as a decade long fan of the series on what I experienced in Wilds.

The Good-

No clutch claw. Ten out of ten change Capcom, thank you.

Removal of gender restrictions on armor WITHOUT homogenizing the armor designs. Just a win all around here, offers such a greater range of self-expression through what your hunter wears. This will be the second time I’m playing a female hunter just because I won’t have to deal with the armor designs I don’t particularly enjoy. (Only other time was because "why not?" during my revisit to Rise a few months ago)

All the monster designs have knocked it out of the park. Chatacabra is a lovable punching bag, Doshaguma’s a nice step up to have a middle tier Fanged Beast, Balahara is a great challenge with easy to read attacks but tricky timing. And then Rey Dau just taking the cake and instantly in my top 20 favorite monsters.

Weapons all feel relatively balanced, so far? At least of the handful I tried out. I’m a pretty casual MH player, never cared for optimal builds or speedruns so as long as the weapons feel fun to play then I’m all good. Still personally feel LS might be a bit overtuned with all the options and non-committal choices it has but I digress. Switch Axe is making a comeback as my preemptive Wilds main weapon with Bow being my backup.

The map is enormous but doesn’t feel lifeless. There’s always something happening just enough to make it feel like an actual environment and not just a video game level. A massive step up from the areas in Rise that all felt kind of boring with how it was just big, flat areas with connecting alleys that you could run on top of. This feels like actual topography that all flows seamlessly into one another.

Did I mention no clutch claw?

The Bad-

Even though I didn’t have any, the performance issues others are reporting are inexcusable. Other people that I know for a FACT own a high end computer can’t get more than 20FPS on medium settings, it’s ridiculous. This game is not optimized in the slightest for PC right now and for a simultaneous release that’s unacceptable. And while I have joked about wanting to see the low-poly models for myself the fact that people are seeing those for their entire time in the Beta is, again, inexcusable.

Monsters run way too often but this might just be a Beta issue with lower health values so I’ll let it off a bit easy.

I agree with the lack of impact on the really big hits but I am also letting this one off easy because it could have to do with the lack of attack power we have in the Beta. We’re literally in the basic starting gear with the basic beginner’s weapon, there’s room for the hit stop and impact to ramp up dynamically the higher our damage numbers go.

I know this isn’t something they can fix by launch (or if they’d even consider fixing at all) but having only six voices in character creation feels extremely limiting. I understand your hunter is fully voiced throughout the entire game now so getting the usual twenty-ish voices would’ve bloated the budget significantly, but the poorly implemented pitch shifter does nothing to make up for their absence. Even just going one or two notches up or down and you can start to hear the artificial “static” of the pitch filter and it’s distracting.

So many control scheme options and you CAN’T turn off the Radial Menu? Fucking why??? I’ve never enjoyed having control of the camera taken away from me while scrolling through my item bar in previous games and now I can’t even fix that. I’ve begrudgingly been forcing myself to learn how to use it, but removing an option that was in the previous two games for no reason is a baffling decision.

Still looking forward to the game’s launch in a few months and hoping that maybe a few of these issues will be resolved by then.

[commanders-quarters]

“We are doomed.”

It uttered without elaboration. Carqine, his most loyal of sea cucumbers, halted his cleaning duties to give the lumbering automaton a quizzical look from where he stood.

“Doomed? That’s hardly a notion you hear every day. Care to elaborate, commander?” the conductor prompted with a bite of sarcasm, extending his spindly arms to streak over the extended surface area of the newly-installed signages with a damp rag. Most of the old ones had faulty lighting and were generally outdated, so new ones were purchased and set within their respective stations to display the necessary information.

The air was stale around here, and there weren’t any patrons in sight. If there was, the commander wouldn’t be standing out here in the first place.

While the… shall we say seedier sectors of the metro didn’t see much traffic, the larger, more up-kept areas still saw great business. The incident with the NILS statue had done remarkably little to actually impede sales. It was almost humorous.

Tartar takes a lunging step forward, closing some of the height difference so he could address his valued employee more seriously.

His wires ripple in discontentment. “These… other Tartars I have observed. Many of them feel lonely, and remorseful. Many of them regret what they’ve done.” it explains coldly, rubbing its clacking fingers together.

Carqine turns his head to study the oozing, disgruntled visage of the robot. He gave a thoughtful hum.

“And why is that a problem? Does it make you doubt yourself and your own directive? Give you second thoughts?” he theorized, gesticulating a stretchy arm in its direction.

Denewiah is quick to shake his head, emitting a frustrated spout of hissing white steam from his card slot. “That’s hardly it. The problem is that these… Tartars, if you can even call them that at this rate, are SO quick to roll over and abandon their optimal trajectory for goal acquisition, and for why? Because some misbegotten Inkfish told them they were ‘doing a bad thing’? I mean, it’s just LAUGHABLE! It makes you think they were never serious about resurrecting humanity to begin with!” he raved with his hands thrown into the air.

The sea cucumber couldn’t exactly say he related to the commander’s frustrations, but he saw no harm in hearing him out either. He gives a short whistle as he sets down the spray bottle of glass cleaner.

“Do you think any of them are only pretending to be sorry? Y’know… playing the long con?” the small conductor offered up, his tone comparatively casual.

The AI vocalizes a frustrated sigh as he pinches the tiny metal knob between his eyes— the equivalent of someone pinching the bridge of their nose.

“I’d ordinarily be inclined to believe you Carqine, but I don’t even think most of these other bots have that level of processing power or free memory space to uphold a charade like that.” he rebuked. “I think they’re being entirely sincere.” it groaned in what might’ve been defeat.

Denewiah didn’t feel as though his main gripe had been properly emphasized, so he went on to explain, “If we look across the varying timelines, and the STEEP majority of Commander Tartars ABANDON their duty and begin to sympathize with the Inkfish… That surely spells doom for humanity and its return. These-… These messengers, hand-PICKED by the humans before them, should be doing EVERYTHING in their power to ensure that decision is honored! We’re DOOMED!” it exclaimed, taking another thundering step closer with its claws twitching and lashing with thinly suppressed anger.

The android’s employee couldn’t help but wince back into his shoulders a bit at the telephone’s outburst. There were few things that got it this passionately infuriated, and it was never pretty to witness.

“Well,” he gulps, smoothing out the lapel of his little suit, “I guess that means you’ll have to pick up the slack where they can’t.” he concluded.

Tartar freezes up as that epiphany hits him, and his wires are held firm in the air as his internals whir sharply. Eventually, the wires go slack after another hiss of steam, and he suddenly straightens himself back out to his full height.

“Yes…”

Its lenses gleam with a renewed determination as it adjusts the sleek brim of its prized cap.

“I suppose I will.”

[sakkiichi]

MATCHUP FOR @kunikuma

hi, dear ! the info you sent was perfect for me to work with <3 (not publishing it in case you prefer it that way…). thank you for trusting me to do your matchup ! i hope i don’t disappoint too much…

heads up to @ssilversiren too for the info you asked her ! bc it helped me determine your best match too ♡

i seriously debated between two possible characters i can see you being highly compatible with ~ but in the end i decided that your genshin impact match is someone who is still figuring out who he is, in contrast to your defined idea on who you want to become; much like you, he can be avoidant, in the sense of steering clear from crowds or people in general, but don’t be fooled by his apparently standoffish demeanor, for, even if he won’t admit it easily, he craves your company, and he’d rather watch the whole word burn down than losing you. he also admires your well built personal values, and how, even if to him the world might look inherently cruel sometimes, you still stay true to yourself.

have you guessed who i’m talking about yet? well, they call him…

✧ SCARAMOUCHE/WANDERER

(i promise i’m not biased, i genuinely do think you and him are a really good match !)

Idealistic and thoughtful is a combination that goes really well with wanderer’s cynical -but trying to see the light in his bleak world- personality.

Sure, he might make the occasional sarcasm laced comment in moments when your idealism borders optimism, but the truth is, he likes it. Pay close attention and you’ll spot the man hiding his reddening cheeks and growing grin under the wide brim of his signature hat.

Your thoughtfulness is something he welcomes too. That, and your more reserved nature make existing by your side peaceful to Scaramouche. He is not one to enjoy idle chatter, and with you, he never has that problem: he finds himself intrigued by the conversations he shares with you; your views on the world, your creative ideas, how you seem to understand him and steer the conversation to topics he might find more engrossing… that’s refreshing… but why does the place where his hear should be suddenly feel warm and fuzzy? He might have stayed up until too late listening to you, yes, surely, that’s it.

Unfortunately (or luckily, since he likes it more than he wants to admit), the wanderer’s hollow heart feels full again the next time your paths cross.

—

You don’t seem to have noticed him. Yet.

As Scaramouche watches over your shoulder, his midnight gaze lights up with stars the moment he realizes what you’re doing. Sumeru’s tree canopies cast swirling haloes of light and shadow around you, as you placidly sit on the grass, your back against a sturdy trunk.

Needle and thread in hand, tongue sticking out the corner of your lip, and something that looks like cloth cascading over your lap.

With a sigh, you take the garment in your hands, holding it before you. Your brows furrow, a hesitating hum escaping your lips.

But before you can evaluate your satisfaction with your piece, a familiar voice, now stripped of its usual bite, asks:

“You like sewing?”

You startle, furling the fabric, protectively cradling it against your chest.

“Y-yes! I mean, no! I mean! Well, sometimes…” You stumble out, looking to the side, cheeks blazing.

‘Great, now he surely thinks you’re stupid.’ You think, already packing up your stuff.

“And what are you working on there?” The wanderer inquires, fumbling with something on his sleeve.

Your eyes widen.

Is he really interested or is he just here to make fun of you?

“Wait. You really want to know?” You still won’t look at him, fumbling with the dress you were working on.

“I’m asking, aren’t I?” He scoffs, looking everywhere except for you. “I think it looks good, the dress.” Scaramouche mumbles.

“Really? You think it’s any good?”

He offers you a nod.

“What’s the occasion? For you to need a dress like that…” He trails off, a frown caught somewhere between confusion and resentment marring his perfectly crafted features.

You giggle, he can be cute when he’s not busy looking down on any who cross his path.

“There is no special occasion, Kuni.” You plant the dress on top of your frame, the detailed patterns and add-ons you’ve started to decorate it with taking form. “I just like to dress up as someone else from time to time…” You add, eyes shiny, gleeful smile on your face.

“Huh, I can understand that.” Kuniluzushi ponders. “It’s like dressing up dolls.”

“Oh? What do you know about it?” You prompt, curious.

Roses bloom intensely on his porcelain skin when he realizes what he said, what you asked.

“Forget it!” He stammers, tucking something inside his sleeve.

Surely, you’ll laugh at him if you find out what he does for a hobby, right?

Making dresses is one thing, but sewing dolls… it’s childish, a lingering echo of the frailness that got him discarded to the pits of a lonely world.

“Come on, Kuni…” You plead, expression benevolent, as if you had never hurt a fly.

He tsks, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Why is it that he can never say no to you?

“Oh fine…” He grumbles, reaching inside his sleeve.

When he retrieves his hand a small cloth doll rests on his hand. The little one is dressed in delicate white garments, and you don’t think you’re far off thinking it resembles a certain someone.

“Well? Have you decided how to make fun of me yet?”

You punch his arm, playfully. Then, you take the doll from his hands, smiling at it.

“Why would I make fun of you, silly? It’s so cool you know how to make these! Can you teach me? Oh! And since you know how to make these, then would you like to help sew my new costume too? Also, does this doll have a name? Can I name it?” You flail your hands around yourself, shaking your head. “Sorry, was that too much? I just… I got excited, I guess…” You awkwardly laugh, worried that you might have scared him away.

“No,” and when you look up at him, you see no haughty smirk nor frown on his heavenly face. “It’s not too much.” Are the wandering eccentric’s words, at the same time he can’t hold back the smile tugging at his lips, the corners as if held by the strings of a nonexistent heart that’s beat for the first time.

And so, under the shade of the land of wisdom’s verdure, a couple spend the last hours of sunlight weaving the first chapter of their threaded fate.

And even though to the wanderer stars had always posed a lie, he’s willing to believe in the ones you sew together on a small remaining scrap of the fabric you used.

—

Another aspect that made me decide for Scaramouche is your emotional intelligence and tendency to be funny.

Wanderer is not one to open up easily, given how emotions were the reason his own creator discarded him and gave up on him.

So he tends to swipe everything underneath that abrasive front of his.

Except with you.

Because nothing gets past you when it’s about him: you can detect his little mannerisms when something’s on his mind, how he tends to be either more quiet or lash out quickly whenever there’s anything weighting him down.

And he knows you notice.

And he knows you.

And even though sometimes no words are exchanged between you two when the storms from his past linger over him, obscuring the sunshine he’s trying to find, Scaramouche finds comfort in existence by your side.

You bared your soul to him, giving him the heartbeat he always craved for, and he is certain the moment he needs it, your arms will remain open to break his fall; by your side, emptiness doesn’t exist, the grass seems greener, lightning steers clear, the sky looks a shade closer to the truth.

If we consider a modern au, I can see you and Scara spending nights gaming, and damn, does he get competitive.

On the days he wins, he’ll tease you endlessly before you can even get a kiss, that triumphant grin devious on his unfairly pretty face.

But ask for a rematch and beat his ass to it.

No matter how much he tries to deny it, he’s smitten by the smug look of pure joy on your face (he’ll even say please when he wants to get kisses, see).

He’d find your affinity for technology very endearing. Not only does Scara think it’s so cool you know how to assemble a whole pc or program a keyboard, but he also thinks it’s so cute when you enthusiastically ramble on about it to him. That glint on your eyes, that carefree smile of yours… maybe this world is not completely rotten, after all.

Infjs usually characterize by being compassionate, sensitive and attuned to others’ feelings, but also need alone time, which I think are attributes that would click so well in a relationship with Scaramouche: you can be there for him and see past his incisiveness, and because he’s an introvert as well, there is no risk of either of you getting too drained by the other.

As a cancer zodiac sign, your nurturing and funny nature shine through. This balances quite well with Kuni’s capricorn traits of practicality and ambition. He enjoys your funny remarks, in the otherwise monotony of his endless days (yes, even if he crosses his arms and scoffs, he’s just trying to hide a smile that sometimes you can get out if you know where to tickle him hehe).

9w1 enneagram types are known for their peacefulness, helpful and calm aura. This can be very beneficial to 4w5 types like Scara, who are often misunderstood and can’t stand being lumped in with everyone else. In addition, your strength of character can guide the need of Kuni’s 4w5 to find his own identity and understand the world that surrounds him. His detached and withdrawn tendencies soften around you, becoming more open, the cold numbness and anger he’s felt for so long replaced by the warmth in his chest he can’t quite fully wrap his head around yet.

4w5 tend to be artistic too, so I think he’d encourage you to pick up drawing again, or at least he’d like to see what you used to draw.

✧ RUNNER UP: CYNO

Okay, so our goofy general mahamatra here was a strong contestant too.

Funny to the point of being cursed is something I think Cyno would like; he’d finally feel like he’s found someone who shares his sense of humor (but… don’t encourage his jokes too much in front of Tighnari or Collei maybe?)

Your hobbies align a lot with his: since you like gaming, Cyno would like to learn about what games you enjoy and challenge you once he’s leveled up enough.

I can imagine you two having intense TCG matches too.

An awkward exterior and stumbling over your words would pose absolutely no problem with the general mahamatra, since he can be pretty awkward too, especially when he expresses emotions.

Which is why, you’d be able to understand what he means too when he’s being particularly shy.

I think you two would be a very fun duo, and I can totally imagine you guys trying matching cosplays too (and taking tons of silly pictures in them hehe).

[xaltius]

Unlocking the Power of Data: Essential Skills to Become a Data Scientist

In today's data-driven world, the demand for skilled data scientists is skyrocketing. These professionals are the key to transforming raw information into actionable insights, driving innovation and shaping business strategies. But what exactly does it take to become a data scientist? It's a multidisciplinary field, requiring a unique blend of technical prowess and analytical thinking. Let's break down the essential skills you'll need to embark on this exciting career path.

1. Strong Mathematical and Statistical Foundation:

At the heart of data science lies a deep understanding of mathematics and statistics. You'll need to grasp concepts like:

Linear Algebra and Calculus: Essential for understanding machine learning algorithms and optimizing models.

Probability and Statistics: Crucial for data analysis, hypothesis testing, and drawing meaningful conclusions from data.

2. Programming Proficiency (Python and/or R):

Data scientists are fluent in at least one, if not both, of the dominant programming languages in the field:

Python: Known for its readability and extensive libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, and TensorFlow, making it ideal for data manipulation, analysis, and machine learning.

R: Specifically designed for statistical computing and graphics, R offers a rich ecosystem of packages for statistical modeling and visualization.

3. Data Wrangling and Preprocessing Skills:

Raw data is rarely clean and ready for analysis. A significant portion of a data scientist's time is spent on:

Data Cleaning: Handling missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies.

Data Transformation: Reshaping, merging, and aggregating data.

Feature Engineering: Creating new features from existing data to improve model performance.

4. Expertise in Databases and SQL:

Data often resides in databases. Proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language) is essential for:

Extracting Data: Querying and retrieving data from various database systems.

Data Manipulation: Filtering, joining, and aggregating data within databases.

5. Machine Learning Mastery:

Machine learning is a core component of data science, enabling you to build models that learn from data and make predictions or classifications. Key areas include:

Supervised Learning: Regression, classification algorithms.

Unsupervised Learning: Clustering, dimensionality reduction.

Model Selection and Evaluation: Choosing the right algorithms and assessing their performance.

6. Data Visualization and Communication Skills:

Being able to effectively communicate your findings is just as important as the analysis itself. You'll need to:

Visualize Data: Create compelling charts and graphs to explore patterns and insights using libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn (Python), or ggplot2 (R).

Tell Data Stories: Present your findings in a clear and concise manner that resonates with both technical and non-technical audiences.

7. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Abilities:

Data scientists are essentially problem solvers. You need to be able to:

Define Business Problems: Translate business challenges into data science questions.

Develop Analytical Frameworks: Structure your approach to solve complex problems.

Interpret Results: Draw meaningful conclusions and translate them into actionable recommendations.

8. Domain Knowledge (Optional but Highly Beneficial):

Having expertise in the specific industry or domain you're working in can give you a significant advantage. It helps you understand the context of the data and formulate more relevant questions.

9. Curiosity and a Growth Mindset:

The field of data science is constantly evolving. A genuine curiosity and a willingness to learn new technologies and techniques are crucial for long-term success.

10. Strong Communication and Collaboration Skills:

Data scientists often work in teams and need to collaborate effectively with engineers, business stakeholders, and other experts.

Kickstart Your Data Science Journey with Xaltius Academy's Data Science and AI Program:

Acquiring these skills can seem like a daunting task, but structured learning programs can provide a clear and effective path. Xaltius Academy's Data Science and AI Program is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and practical experience to become a successful data scientist.

Key benefits of the program:

Comprehensive Curriculum: Covers all the core skills mentioned above, from foundational mathematics to advanced machine learning techniques.

Hands-on Projects: Provides practical experience working with real-world datasets and building a strong portfolio.

Expert Instructors: Learn from industry professionals with years of experience in data science and AI.

Career Support: Offers guidance and resources to help you launch your data science career.

Becoming a data scientist is a rewarding journey that blends technical expertise with analytical thinking. By focusing on developing these key skills and leveraging resources like Xaltius Academy's program, you can position yourself for a successful and impactful career in this in-demand field. The power of data is waiting to be unlocked – are you ready to take the challenge?

[advancedchatbot]

Training Your Conversational AI for Better Engagement and Brand Voice

Conversational AI has evolved a great deal beyond canned FAQs and pre-scripted answers. It's now a critical component of customer service, sales, and brand voice. But to be truly effective, it must reflect your brand's tone, values, and voice. The trick? Strategic training and constant optimization.

This is how you can train your AI to provide interesting answers and speak for your brand.

Define Your Brand’s Personality First

Set the brand voice before you go into training. Is your voice informal and friendly or formal and professional? Is your AI supposed to be funny or to the point? Decide this because it will influence how the AI bot is going to communicate with the users via touchpoints. Teach your AI to employ your company's vocabulary, idioms, and sentence structure in their language use.

Use Real Conversations as a Training Base

Giving your AI real interactions, such as previous support chats, customer service emails, or call transcripts, gives it real language patterns. This allows your AI not just to understand the intent of user questions but also the way real users phrase concerns or request assistance.

The more heterogeneous the data, the more precise your bot will be.

Incorporate Contextual Understanding

A smart AI does not just answer questions, it understands what is happening. Training it to follow threads of conversation, recall past exchanges, and adapt based on usage leads to smoother, more natural interactions.

Users are engaged, and trust is increased, particularly when the AI can proactively offer contextual recommendations or solutions.

Test, Learn, and Refine

Training is a continuous process. Always keep an eye on engagement metrics, dropout points, and user reviews. Utilize this information to improve response logic, tighten tone, and cut down on conversational lag. Regular refreshes keep your AI tuned to customer expectations and in harmony with your brand strategy.

The Bottom Line

A properly trained conversational AI is not only a chatbot, it's your brand extension. With the right data, tight personality guidelines, and continuous tuning, you can build AI conversations that are not only useful but also memorable. The payoff? Higher engagement and better loyalty.

[video-editing15]

Mastering SEO: How Buzz Creators Ranks Your Brand at the Top of Google 🚀 

Introduction: Why SEO Still Rules the Digital World  In a world where over 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine, showing up on Google is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether you're a startup, e-commerce brand, or service provider, SearchEngineOptimization (SEO) helps you attract organic traffic, build authority, and turn clicks into customers—without paying for every visit. 

But ranking on Google isn’t about luck. It’s about strategy, content, and consistency. 

That’s where BuzzCreatorDigitalMedia comes in. As a top-rated digital marketing agency in Dubai, we help businesses climb the search rankings with smart, scalable, and ROI-driven SEO solutions. 

What is SEO and Why Does It Matter? 🧠 

The higher your site ranks, the more traffic, leads, and sales you generate—organically. 

Here’s what a strong SEO strategy includes: 

✅ Keyword Research – Identifying high-traffic, low-competition keywords for your niche  ✅ On-Page SEO – Optimizing content, headers, meta tags, and internal links  ✅ Technical SEO – Improving site speed, mobile responsiveness, and indexability  ✅ Content Creation – Publishing quality blog posts and landing pages that rank  ✅ Backlink Building – Earning high-authority links to build trust and domain strength  ✅ Local SEO – Getting your business found in local searches and Google Maps  ✅ Analytics & Reporting – Tracking rankings, traffic, and conversions 

With Buzz Creators, your website isn’t just searchable—it’s unmissable. 

Why Choose Buzz Creators for SEO Services? 

At Buzz Creators, we don’t chase trends—we build long-term results. Our SEO strategies are data-driven, ethical (white-hat), and 100% tailored to your business goals. 

💡 Custom SEO Plans – No copy-paste strategies. Every business gets a personalized SEO roadmap  📈 Proven Ranking Results – We help you move from page 10 to page 1 (and stay there)  🔍 In-Depth Keyword Research – Find exactly what your audience is searching for  🛠 Full Website Optimization – From site speed to content structure, we fine-tune everything  📊 Transparent Monthly Reporting – Know what’s working with clear, jargon-free updates 

✨ Did You Know? If you're not there, you're invisible. 

Buzz Creators Digital Media: SEO and Beyond 

While SEO is at our core, Buzz Creators offers a full spectrum of digital marketing services to grow your business online: 

📱 Social Media Management – Build your brand and engage your audience on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more  📢 Google Ads & Paid Media – Immediate visibility with strategic PPC campaigns  🎨 Website Design & Development – Fast, mobile-friendly, and SEO-optimized websites  🖼 Graphic Design – Visuals that capture attention and communicate value  🧠 Content Marketing – Blog posts, landing pages, and copywriting that converts 

We don’t just drive traffic. We help you convert visitors into loyal customers. 

Proven SEO Strategies That Deliver 💼 

At Buzz Creators, our SEO framework is tested and results-focused. Here’s how we boost your search visibility: 

✔️ Comprehensive Site Audit – We identify all technical and content gaps holding you back  ✔️ Keyword Mapping – Align keywords with pages for better relevance and ranking  ✔️ Optimized Content Creation – Regular blog posts and landing pages targeting ranking opportunities  ✔️ Local SEO Optimization – For Dubai-based businesses, we target high-converting local traffic  ✔️ Mobile & Speed Optimization – Your site loads fast and looks perfect on every device 

FAQs on SEO Services 

🔹 How long does it take to see SEO results?  SEO is a long-term strategy. While some changes show results in 1–2 months, sustainable rankings usually take 3–6 months, depending on your niche and competition. 

🔹 Do you work with local or global businesses?  Both! We help Dubai-based companies rank locally and international businesses reach global audiences. 

🔹 Can you optimize my existing website?  Absolutely. We perform a full site audit and implement on-page and technical improvements for better performance. 

🔹 What’s the difference between SEO and Google Ads?  SEO is organic and long-term. Google Ads is paid and delivers immediate results. We often combine both for a full-funnel strategy. 

Final Thoughts: Ready to Rank on Page One? 🚀 

SEO is not just a tool—it’s a digital growth engine. If you’re serious about building a sustainable online presence and attracting the right traffic, SEO is your best investment. 

At Buzz Creators Digital Media, we help you go from being undiscovered to being unmissable on Google. 

🔹 Want to outrank your competitors?  🔹 Need expert SEO strategies that deliver results?  🔹 Ready to grow your traffic and sales? 

📞 Contact Buzz Creators Digital Media today and let’s build your SEO success story! 

📍 Visit 👉 https://buzzcreators.ae/7-services-biz-to-brand-buzz-creators-digit 

📲 Hashtags for SEO & Social Media: 

#SEO #SEOServices #BuzzCreatorsDigital #DigitalMarketingDubai #SearchEngineOptimization #RankOnGoogle #ContentMarketing #WebsiteTraffic #LocalSEO #GoogleRanking #DubaiSEOExperts #OnlineGrowth #BuzzCreators 

[thegenderlesscarnie]

Saying "Yes": On Negativity

"I would prefer not to." - Herman Melville, "Bartleby, the Schrivner"

I love queer nightlife.

I love the eclectic creativity on display. I love the acts of radical love and sexuality. I love the passion and talent of the performers. I love the culture of consent. They are a welcome respite from the oppressive expectations and insidious, compounding violences of the world. It is a thrill to witness the innovative ways that the freaks and outcasts shake off the roles and the shame society shackles them with. I nod my head reading Travis Alabanza describe their reverence for clubs in their book, "None of the Above":

"Through my experience of club culture, I was able to create alternative associations with parts of myself that the outside world had tampered with. I could go from the minority to the majority using just a sweaty hand stamp, passing through a half-broken basement door."

Alabanza describes her love for a phrase often used in queer entertainment: "Ladies, gentlemen, and those lucky enough to transcend gender!" She writes that people like me are lucky for deciding that we exist outside male and female roles. We choose something different, and in doing so manage to become ourselves.

But I struggle at times to understand what the different thing I'm choosing even is. So often I feel as though being queer is a long series of Nos - to certain ways to dress, to dance, to look. This feeling does not always go away in queer spaces. Queer people love to play with masculinity and femininity, neither of which hold any interest to me. In sideshow in particular there is notable gendered distinction, not in identity (many sideshow performers identify outside the binary), but in presentation. Femininity is performed especially often, to the extent that I find myself believing that to be talented in my skills is to be skillfully feminine.

My identity feels like a string of negatives. Alabanza would consider this a positive: "How lucky I felt to be illegible." They're not the only queer writer to tie queerness to negativity. In his book, "No Future," Lee Edelman suggests that if society is going to tie queerness with negative qualities like shame, deviance, selfishness, and self-destruction, we should embrace it. We should accept and celebrate our opposition to oppressive heteronormative and capitalistic values like productivity, reproduction, and consumption. We should fight against what Lauren Berlant calls "cruel optimism," the irrational belief that enduring ways of life that hurt us will eventually pay off and make us happy. Queer negativity offers, as Mari Ruti writes in her book, "The Ethics of Opting Out":

"An antidote to the valorization of success, achievement, performance, and self-actualization."

I find this a worthy goal. However, Edelman loses me as he goes even further to proclaim that this negativity opposes every form of social viability:

"The embrace of queer negativity can have no justification if justification requires it to reinforce some positive social value."

In other words, there can be no social creativity in queer negativity. Ruti refers to this position as "antirelational" thinking, and criticizes it as a theory put forward by white gay men who don't comprehend that the position that we can and should exist outside of society and revel in negativity demonstrates privilege that marginalized people, who are "already leading overly precarious lives," don't have. She critiques that valorizing queer negativity results in giving up political will and power, which many cannot afford to do.

So can queer negativity be creative? Ruti thinks so:

"If Edelman reads negativity as a matter of self-annihilation, I read it as the foundation of many of the things that make our lives worthwhile: our psychic complexity; our capacity to be interested in the surrounding world; our desire to interact with others; and our tendency to form meaningful bonds with those we love."

To understand how, we need to talk about Judith Butler and Jacque Lacan.

Judith Butler is an American philosopher and gender theorist who identifies as a lesbian, is legally non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They are known for their theory of gender performativity, which is, in a nutshell, the idea that we create the illusion of a stable gender in ourselves by repeatedly performing elaborate acts that mark us socially as a "woman" or "man." Furthermore, they state that our gender identities are formed through social action in a relationship with power, specifically, a collaborative relationship. Everything we do, even attempts we make to resist power, requires a dialogue with it. We cannot exist outside of a relationship with power, no matter how hard we try.

Jacques Lacan was a French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist who posited that we form an identity when we become unconsciously aware that there is a chasm between how we perceive ourselves and how we wish we were seen by others. Sounds familiar to me, is this not the experience of so many trans and nonbinary people? Put another way, Lacan would say we are defined by "lack." How we understand ourselves as subjects is an illusion created by internalizing "signifiers," which are given meaning by "the Symbolic," which is defined by "the Other" - parts of the world that are outside our conscious control. As far as gender is concerned, he believed that "male" and "female" are given meaning by "the Symbolic."

But Lacan also believed in something called "the Real" - a state of being beyond culture and language, beyond "the Symbolic." This is where he and Butler part ways. As Ruti puts it:

"Butler has insisted that because every part of the subject has been infiltrated by power, the real cannot be anything but a symbolic construct; for Butler the very notion that there could be a kernel of being that resists the symbolic is itself symbolically produced - one ideological fantasy among others. The Lacanian perspective is merely that such shaping has never been entirely successful."

Simply put, Lacan believes there is something deep within us that exists outside of how power shapes us, how "the Symbolic" defines us. To access that, we harness what Ruti calls, "the negativity of freedom": essentially, the power of saying No. To quote Ruti again:

"The negativity of freedom - the No! - is crystallized in the so-called Lacanian "act": a destructive act through which the subject, momentarily at least, extricates itself from the demands of the big Other by plunging into... the real. In other words, even when we feel overwhelmed by the webs of power that surround us, we possess a degree of autonomy as long as we are willing to surrender our symbolic supports, as long as we are willing - even temporarily - to genuinely not give a damn about what is (socially) expected of us. Insofar as the subject occupies a place of lack in the Other (symbolic order), we can perform separation and suspend the reign of the big Other."

Ruti posits that it is here that negativity possesses the power to create social relationships, not sever ties. The Lacanian subject separates itself from the Other to become closer to someone(s) who they value so deeply that they are willing to risk being incomprehensible in order to be truly themselves. Ruti writes that in doing so:

"We gain the ability to wield the signifier even in highly rewarding ways. We gain the capacity to be interested in the world around us, we gain the ability to desire, and sometimes even love, others."

If I accept Lacan's belief that there is a part of me that exists apart from "the Symbolic" and determines who I truly am, Lacan would consider it my ethical responsibility to remain true to this part of myself. But I return to my question of who am I, gender-wise, in society if I have separated myself from roles and expectations, from "the Other"? As Ruti asks:

"If social subjectivity is a function of being interpolated into the symbolic order, then how can we even begin to conceptualize forms of desire that have not been completely overrun by the desire of the Other?"

Lacan believes that each of us relates to this "lack" in an entirely unique way. But I sometimes struggle to transform my own feelings of "lack" into a coherent gender identity. Instead of saying No!, what do I want to say Yes! to? Ruti, again, has an answer for me:

"If the process of fashioning a singular place within the world results in a distinctive subjective "style," this style always expresses something about the manner in which the symbolic and real, however tenuously, come together and amalgamate."

Style.

I've found that's my answer. I've come to prefer style to gender. Style is mutable, individual, infinitely creative, DIY. Style crosses gender lines. I see Alexander McQueen, visual kei, emo boys, yami kawaii, goth, punk and I think Yes! Yes! Yes!

Friedrich Nietzsche says it better than I can, in "The Gay Science":

"To give style to one's character - that is a grand and rare art! He who surveys all that his nature presents in its strength and in its weakness, and then fashions it into an ingenious plan, until everything appears artistic and rational, and even the weaknesses enchant the eye."

[injustices]

GENERAL INFORMATION

full name: beckett rourke cross, other names: cross, date of birth: october 29th of 2035, place of birth: night city, california, gender identity: cisgender male, orientation: bisexual, biromantic, marital status: single, never married.

EARLY LIFE: the only son born to a decorated and disillusioned war veteran, beckett cross didn't have the free will lifestyle that most in night city were afforded. his childhood was harsh and regimented. with a father who hailed from the texas free state, despising corporations, he was raised with military-grade discipline and frequent violence. with no softness in the cards and few alternatives, he enlisted into the military when eligible, seeking both freedom and purpose.

SPECIAL OPS / MILITECH: his military career was considered unremarkable until a covert mission in south america went catastrophically wrong. after having his unit wiped, under unknown circumstances and officially classified, beckett emerged a sole survivor of one of nusa's most controversial interventions. with him came encrypted data, which militech sought out in his recovery and extraction. recognizing his value, they offered him complete absolution and anonymity, following the media shitstorm. the mission was officially scrubbed from all records. to this day, not even rosalind myers has access to his files.

CONNECTIONS & AFFILIATIONS

mother: euphemia cross, father: merrick cross, siblings: n/a, affiliations: nusa (formerly), militech (not so formerly), barghest, career history: special operative (nusa / militech), leader of dogtown, religion: n/a.

MILITECH'S SCALPEL: cross quickly became one of militech's most effective assets. operating under deep cover for over two decades, his specializations were extensive, but not limited to: urban wet work, targeted assassinations, corporate sabotage, and high-level espionage. he is often referred to as a shadow, as he is rarely acknowledged by name and has never left behind a trail after each successful mission. within closed circles, he had eventually earned the reputation as "militech's scalpel", a precise tool used against their enemies. surgical perfection.

his loyalty to militech isn't exactly ideological. it is practical. the corporation gives him structure, extensive freedom in gray areas, and the resources to do what he does best ... removing any and all obstacles by any means necessary.

DOGTOWN INFILTRATION: militech's interest in cynosure recovery had their interests pointed in pacifica's direction. more specifically? dogtown. kurt hansen had been a necessary evil, one they knew would manage a lawless land with ease, but he wasn't a pawn in their game anymore. when kurt hansen is killed by a mercenary, they identified a strategic opportunity to reclaim hold on pacifica.

under cover of defection, cross "leaked" select classified intel to barghest and disappeared. official militech channels had branded their loyal soldier as a rogue operative and enemy of the state. in reality, this was a sanctioned false flag operation. cross eventually resurfaced in dogtown with the help of various connections, seeking to assume the role of leadership. some of barghest's best were former allies, rivals and operatives who had fought beside him in past campaigns. so, it was no surprise when his reputation and leadership capabilities earned him the title of hansen's successor.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

hair: brown, eyes: hazel ( green kiroshi optics ), height: 6'5", weight: 257lbs, body type: athletic, ethnicity: caucasian, cyberware: kerenzikov boost system, self-ice, cox-2 cybersomatic optimizer, militech berserk mk. 9, militech "falcon sandevistan, gorilla arms, kiroshi optics, epimorphic skeleton, bionic joints, titanium bones, ballistic coprocessor, synaptic accelerator, biomonitor, second heart, defenzikov, subdermal armor, reinforced tendons, and various cosmetic cyberware upgrades and additions, face claim: alan ritchson.

LEADERSHIP STYLE: cross governs dogtown with an iron fist. unlike his predecessor, he does not benefit off the chaos. there is no winning if there is no structure. while certain values are honored, it is clear that there is more of a militaristic presence against the backdrop of anarchy. dogtown remains brutal, but under his command, it is efficient. trade routes are secured, cynosure retrieval operations are underway, and the chaos is controlled. if anyone has any oppositions to the change? they're dealt with, swiftly and decisively.

though few speak openly of it, many suspect militech's influence has quietly returned. shipments vanish, operatives appear and disappear, and talks of old cynosure conspiracies resurfaced. cross neither confirms nor denies his ties. he simply continues to lead.

CURRENT STATUS: cross now serves as the official mayor of dogtown, and news has hit the outside world. he is considered a dangerous defector. within his circles, he is a powerful and respected leader, feared more than he will ever be loved, but followed without question.

the nusa presence has been removed from the area, and barghest has completely reformed. in most situations, they are not aggressive to those who approach, including the mercenary who assisted in the removal of kurt hansen and the nusa presence that followed. however, this is not to be mistaken as weakness. militech’s influence in the district continues to grow, and many believe cross remains their embedded asset, biding his time until the final phase of their plan unfolds.

[glasshalftrue]

i think i fundamentally disagree with the thesis of the latest GMTK video about balatro. mark compares balatro's "cursed design problem" (the fact that the exact score of your hand isn't shown but can technically be calculated if you're determined enough to do it) with the binding of isaac's lack of item descriptions, as a case study of what happens when players "optimize the fun" out of a game and go against a developer's intended design choices. mark acknowledges that the comparison isn't perfect, but i think the comparison is just straight up not applicable. as someone who's played both games and is generally a big roguelite fan, the lack of a score preview in balatro is fundamental to the game's core experience, whereas the lack of item descriptions in isaac can actually be downright frustrating at times. sometimes items' effects can be obscure and very difficult to figure out, and there are so many items in the game at this point that it'd take a lot of time and effort to properly remember them all, and especially since some items can have detrimental effects, not remembering what an item does can actively hamper your ability to play the game well. with item descriptions, the game does not feel fundamentally different or worse; there's still a sense of discovery when you first encounter an item, because you won't know what it does until you pick it up, and there are still surprises to be had even if you know what the item's effect is (e.g. interesting and unexpected ways to use the item, or how it might synergize with another item). apparently, according to the video edmund mcmillen (creator of tboi) did consider the lack of item descriptions an important part of the game, and was dismayed that most players opted to deliberately circumvent it. and as much as i love the guy, unfortunately i think he's just wrong. he's wrong in that most players don't find the mechanic fun, or at least not fun enough to compensate for the downsides. the primary fun of isaac is derived from the moment-to-moment combat, the meta-progression of unlocking new items and characters, the rng of what items and crazy synergies you'll get this run, and the strategic choices you make on, e.g., which deal with the devil items to pick. learning what exactly items do is not on that list; most items are simple enough that their short in-game description (damage up, triple shot, homing shots) make them instantly graspable anyways, and hiding the exact numbers doesn't really enhance anything (i doubt players are experiencing a sense of wonder when trying to deduce exactly how much damage their tears have increased by). it's true that the most optimal way to play balatro is by painstakingly calculating the point value of every possible hand and then choosing the highest one. but it's such a tedious experience that i doubt that any more than a tiny fraction of players will ever start playing the game like that regularly. players will certainly "optimize the fun" out of a game; if you offer players different weapons and one weapon is boring but by far the most powerful, then yeah, players will tend to pick that one. but the vast majority of players will only do it if doing so is the path of least resistance; optimizing balatro to that extent is so time-consuming and obviously anti-fun that most people simply won't ever do it. the players who do opt to do it are like speedrunners - a niche, outlier group of players who are extracting fun out of the game in an entirely different way from most players. but they will never be more than that: a niche, outlier group. anyways balatro is fucking amazing and i highly recommend it unless you value your time for some reason