#What is the Role of Data Analytics?

[themanjeet]

What is the Role of Data Analytics?

Data analytics is the process of collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and interpreting data to gain insights that can be used to make better decisions.

https://medium.com/@rolandmack63/what-is-the-role-of-data-analytics-c9f5c2a1800

[sergeifyodorov]

Hi!

This is maybe a bit left of field, but I love your blog and you seem very knowledgeable so maybe you (or one of your followers?) have an idea.

Can you recommend some reading material on sports in general? It can absolutely be hockey related but I’m talking sort of bigger scope. More specifically, how (team) sports relate to society as a whole, what role it plays for humanity, maybe it’s history? What about the fan culture?

For context, I come from a pretty academic family where growing up there was this all encompassing prejudice of “it’s for stupid people” (which is clearly stupid in itself). I guess I’m trying to break the mold, but all of it is culturally very new to me.

It can be books, articles, essays, anything.

I realise I sound like a nerd, but. Maybe?

I love this q!!! I'm going to list some of my favourites, but I also haven't read everything (or even most things) so I'll leave it open to the floor to add to. If you have recs for this anon, please reblog with additions!

Moneyball by Michael Lewis and its semi-not-really sequel Big Data Baseball by Travis Sawchik are about the analytics revolutions in baseball - Moneyball about the original one that sparked from amateur mathematician Bill James' writings, and Big Data about the inception of the Statcast era about fifteen years later.

The Game by Ken Dryden is a biography by one of the greatest goalies and minds ever to play the sport. I would recommend almost anything written by Dryden, but this is really his masterwork.

17776 is a work of fiction written by Jon Bois, but I feel like it fits within the scope of your question anyway - thematically it seeks to ask and answer why we play sports and what they mean to us. It's also written and presented online for free and you can just google it, so you don't have to hunt through your libraries or buy a copy!

The Game of Our Lives by Peter Gzowski is a rarer one, especially if you're not Canadian, but I have a personal connection so I'll always recommend it anyway. It's written about Wayne Gretzky during his initial NHL season, and examines the way we think of greatness, what makes hockey players great (on a technical as well as social level), and the ideal of a Great Hockey Player as it relates to Canadian national identity.

Along that thread, I'll finally recommend the works of sociologist Kristi Allain, who's written multiple papers on the construction of Canadian identity both within hockey and within media discussing it, and the socialization and experiences of Canadian and non-Canadian hockey players.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Vittoria Elliott at Wired:

Elon Musk’s takeover of federal government infrastructure is ongoing, and at the center of things is a coterie of engineers who are barely out of—and in at least one case, purportedly still in—college. Most have connections to Musk and at least two have connections to Musk’s longtime associate Peter Thiel, a cofounder and chairman of the analytics firm and government contractor Palantir who has long expressed opposition to democracy. WIRED has identified six young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24, according to public databases, their online presences, and other records—who have little to no government experience and are now playing critical roles in Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, tasked by executive order with “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” The engineers all hold nebulous job titles within DOGE, and at least one appears to be working as a volunteer. The engineers are Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran. None have responded to requests for comment from WIRED. Representatives from OPM, GSA, and DOGE did not respond to requests for comment. Already, Musk’s lackeys have taken control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and General Services Administration (GSA), and have gained access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, potentially allowing him access to a vast range of sensitive information about tens of millions of citizens, businesses, and more. On Sunday, CNN reported that DOGE personnel attempted to improperly access classified information and security systems at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and that top USAID security officials who thwarted the attempt were subsequently put on leave. The AP reported that DOGE personnel had indeed accessed classified material. “What we're seeing is unprecedented in that you have these actors who are not really public officials gaining access to the most sensitive data in government,” says Don Moynihan, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. “We really have very little eyes on what's going on. Congress has no ability to really intervene and monitor what's happening because these aren't really accountable public officials. So this feels like a hostile takeover of the machinery of governments by the richest man in the world.”

[...] “To the extent these individuals are exercising what would otherwise be relatively significant managerial control over two very large agencies that deal with very complex topics,” says Nick Bednar, a professor at University of Minnesota’s school of law, “it is very unlikely they have the expertise to understand either the law or the administrative needs that surround these agencies.” Sources tell WIRED that Bobba, Coristine, Farritor, and Shaotran all currently have working GSA emails and A-suite level clearance at the GSA, which means that they work out of the agency’s top floor and have access to all physical spaces and IT systems, according a source with knowledge of the GSA’s clearance protocols. The source, who spoke to WIRED on the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation, says they worry that the new teams could bypass the regular security clearance protocols to access the agency’s sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), as the Trump administration has already granted temporary security clearances to unvetted people. This is in addition to Coristine and Bobba being listed as “experts” working at OPM. Bednar says that while staff can be loaned out between agencies for special projects or to work on issues that might cross agency lines, it’s not exactly common practice.

WIRED’s report on the 6 college-aged men between 19 and 24 that are shaping up DOGE in aiding and abetting in co-”President” Elon Musk’s technofascist takeover.

[doctorgirlsblog]

Bleeding Red (series) CL x OC! x LN

Chapter 1: Ferrari Legacy

Note: I'm back and so is drama. Join me on a new journey of Valentina Rossi, distant niece from Enzo Ferrari himself, Charles's ex, Ferrari's new team principal and Lando's wet dream. I promise drama! If you'd like to join the tag list for it, pls write to me. Hope you'll like it! ❤️

Bahrain

The crimson red of the Ferrari jacket clang like a second skin to Valentina as she surveyed the flurry of activities in the pit lane. Bahrain's heat shimmered above the asphalt, mirroring the simmering anticipation for the new season. Her gaze, sharp and analytical, tracked the movements of her mechanics, each gesture precise and practised. This was her domain now, the culmination of years of relentless study und dedication, a path that had, ironically, interwined with another driver in red for some time. Charles. Even now, as the familiar roar of his engine echoed from the track during the first practise session, his presence was a comfortable, almost ingrained part of this lifestyle for her. Their shared history, though their personal paths had diverged months ago, formed an unspoken understanding, a mutual respect for each others roles in the team. No one knew his driving style like she did, his strengths, his vulnerabilities, just like no one knew hers like him. And now, as the season streched ahead, her focus remained absolute: the race strategies, wins and bringing the glory back to Maranello. Personal distractions were non-questionable.

The checkered flag waved, signaling the end of the first practise session. A flurry of activity erupted in the pit lane as cars returned to their garages, engines cooling, and mechanics swarmed their machines. Valentina stood just outside the Ferrari garage, a tablet in hand, debriefing one of her engineers, her focus intense. The air was thick with the smell of hot tires and exhaust fumes.

The telemetry data on her tablet confirmed what her experienced eye had already noted: Charles was pushing hard, testing the car limits and leaving his teammate far, far behind. A flicker of pride showed on her lips. This will be his year, she will make sure of it.

Suddenly a voice, laced with a familiar British accent, spoke behind her as she concluded her conversation.

''Interesting session. Your guy look quick out there, Miss Rossi.''

Valentina turned, her gaze sharp as she scanned the boy before her. Lando Norris stood a few feet away, leaning against the wall of McLaren garage, boyish smile adorning his flushed face.

''Charles put in some strong laps,'' Valentina acknowledged, her tone coolly professional. ''Your pace wasn't bad also, Norris.'' She turned slightly, gesturing to her engineers who were beginning to wheel Charles's car into the garage. The subtle dismissal was clear.

Lando, however, was still glued to his spot, starring at her back, her attention fully on Charles as he climbed out of his car. They spoke in rapid Italian, their voices animated as they discussed the handling of the car and some race data. Occasionally, a smile would touch her lips in response to something Charles said, a genuine warmth that hadn't been present in her brief exchange with Lando. Their easy flow was evident, the comfort between the two silently gnawing at Lando's chest.

As he sat inside his driver's room, his mind kept drifting back to the short exchange with Valentina, if it could even be called that. She was..something else. That cool, almost impenetrable demeanor, the sharp intelligence that seemed to radiate from her, it was captivating in a way he hadn't anticipated. And then there was that damned laughter with Leclerc. He hadn't missed the genuine warmth in her eyes when she spoke with her driver, a stark contrast to the polite but distant way she had adressed him. ''I'm not jealous'', he told himself again. What had been between them? And why was she so cold? The challenge of seeing that genuine smile directed his way, suddenly felt a lot more compelling than just beating Ferrari on the track. There was a fire in her, he could sense it beneath the ice. And Lando Norris had always been drawn to a bit of heat.

The relative calm of the Ferrari hospitality unit offered a brief respite from the frantic energy of the garage. Valentina sat across her table from Charles, both with cups of espresso that had long since gone cold. ''You were quick out there,'' she said, her gaze soft. ''The car seems to suit you this year.''

Charles leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. ''It does. You've brought a real change in focus to the team, Val. Things feel different this year since you took the position.''

''It's my job, Charles. To ensure this team goes back to it's old glory. It's what's expected of me.''

''I know. Being directly related to Enzo himself puts you in tough position. At least media isn't talking about..''

''Us? They better not to. They made this,'' she gestured between the two of them with her hand, ''impossible. All the hate, the scrutiny..''

The bitterness in her voice made him wince.

Charles reached across the table, his fingers briefly brushing her hand before retracting them. ''I know. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. It's a toxic side of this world.''

Valentina nodded, her gaze distant. ''It taught me valuable lesson. Boundaries, Charles. They are essential. Professional and private must remain strictly separate. That's what those clauses are for. No relationships between collegues, means less complications.''

''So, you won't let anyone in again?'' Charles asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

''It's not important what I want, Charles. Team comes first. You and your tittle this year, come first.'' And like that, her tone changed back to professional. ''Now, let's talk strategy for qualifying.''

The tension on Saturday didn't last long, because Charles snatched the Pole from Max by a big margin. Garage bursted into celebrations, and Valentina's voice broadcasted on his radio, pride obvious. ''That was a masterpiece, Charles! Amazing job today, let's repeat it tomorrow. Enjoy it.''

The post qualifying press conference had just concluded, and the drivers and team principals were beginning to disperse. Valentina was making her way towards her car, her phone pressed to her ear as she spoke in rapid Italian.

''Valentina?'' she paused, turning to see Lando approaching, a hopeful smile on his face. He had shed the serious demeanor of qualifying and was back to his more usual, approachable self. She held up a finger, indicating she would be just a moment, finishing her brief phone call. ''Si, va bene. Grazie,'' she said, before lowering her phone. Her expression as she turned towards him was polite, but undeniably cool. ''Lando. Congrats on P3.''

''Yeah, not bad,'' Lando replied, undeterred by her lack of warmth. ''Just wanted to say..you really turned things around this year. Ferrari seems so much stronger than last year.''

She managed a polite smile and nod. ''Thank you. We have a dedicated team.''

She took her keys out of her purse, ready to conclude the interaction.

Lando seemed to sense her desire to end the conversation, but made one last attempt. ''Um, maybe.. if you're free I mean..we could, like, grab a coffee?''

Valentina's polite smile didn't reach her eyes. And even if Lando was just 2 years younger than her and Charles, she still saw him as a new kid, someone unserious. ''Lando, with all due respect, my priority is the team. And frankly, fraternizing with competitors outside of professional obligations isn't really encouraged.'' The dismissal was firm but delivered with a veneer of professional courtesy. She offered a brief nod and then unlocked her car, opening the door. Yet, Lando being Lando, decided to go for it and spoke again making her freeze in her steps.

''But you make exceptions for Charles?''

She turned around to look at him again, her gaze cold as she swiped her tongue across her teeth. ''See Lando, this behaviour just proves to me how much of a child you still are. And about Charles?'' she stepped closer to him and his breath hitched. ''He earned that privilege.''

Then she stepped inside her car and sped away, leaving flushed Lando behind, half ashamed and half hard.

The warm air on Sunday crackled with anticipation. The stands were packed, a sea of faces under the desert sun, all focused on the twenty cars lined up on the grid. Valentina stood in the Ferrari garage, her usual composed demeanor even more intense today. The weight of pole position, the hopes of the Tifosi, rested heavily on Charles's shoulders-and by extension, on hers.

On the monitors, she watched the pre-race procedures unfold: the drivers in their cockpits, the final checks by the mechanics, the national anthem echoing across the circuit. She spoke to Charles over the radio. ''Remember the plan, Charles. Stay focused on your pace. I'll react as needed.''

Race was almost boring, Charles started well, speeding off and letting the rest of the grid fight it out as he drove peacefully to the checkered flag.

As he crossed the line in P1, a collective roar erupted from the Ferrari garage, Valentina's smile broke through, savouring the moment of the first win of the season.

As Charles climbed out of his car in Parc Ferme, the roar of mechanics and engineers was deafening, a wave of pure joy washing over the Ferrari camp. A wide, unrestrained smile lit up Valentina's face as she hurried towards him, her usual guarded composure momentarily forgotten in the thrill of their hard-fought victory.

''Charles! Magnifico!'' she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine emotion. She launched herself into a hug, a heartfelt embrace that spoke volumes of their shared connection. A rare lightness shone in her expression.

Charles hugged her back just as tightly, a wide grin splitting his face. ''We did it, Val! Finally! The car was perfect, you were perfect!'' he squeezed her arm, a gesture of pure elation and gratitude.

Stepping back, the professional mask began to gently settle back into place, but the warmth lingered in her eyes.

''Incredible drive, Charles! Absolutely textbook.'' If she noticed the lingering gaze on her, she gave no sign.

The podium celebrations played out on the monitors in Lando's driver room. He watched Charles, Max, and Oscar spray champagne, the familiar sting of not being in the top three settling in. But his gaze kept drifting to the Ferrari team standing under the podium, Valentina gazing up at him with smile on her face.

He saw their hug earlier. It was a different Valentina than the cool, composed figure he had encountered all weekend. The genuine joy on her face, the unrestrained embrace - it offered a fleeting glimpse into the person beneath that cold facade. A wry smile touched Lando's lips. So, the ice queen could melt, at least for him. It wasn't jealousy he felt, not exactly. The challenge now felt even more significant. He remembered what she told him the day before, how Charles earned it. Maybe he could earn it too.

Saudi Arabia

The floodlights of the Jeddah Circuit illuminated the track as the first practice session got underway. The high-speed layout, snaking along the Red Sea coast, demanded absolute precision. Valentina watched the monitors intently from the garage, the Bahrain victory giving her even more motivation.

She noticed Lando walking by the Ferrari garage on his way back to McLaren, and he caught her eye. She offered a small nod, he gave one in return, his expression neutral, his focus primarily on his own performance. Bahrain made them rivals, and Valentina was set on being this season's winner.

Charles was on a blistering lap in Q3, his Ferrari dancing on the edge of grip through the corners. His sector times were purple across the board, and he ultimately secured pole position once again. Valentina kept smiling.

After debrief and media, she was the last one to leave. Or so she thought.

As she moved through the empty paddock with her usual purposeful stride, a familiar voice cut through the quiet night. ''Valentina.''

She sighed, feeling deja vu with their meeting again, but turned to face him nonetheless. ''Lando,'' she acknowledged, her tone cool and professional, betraying no surprise. She stopped walking, a subtle indication that she would hear him out, but her body language remained reserved.

''Congrats on pole, again.'' he said, his tone sincere, devoid of any sarcasm.

''Thank you,'' Valentina replied, her gaze direct but guarded.

Lando took a step closer. The usual playful glint was in his eyes, but there was also a newfound confidence. ''I was thinking..Jeddah's a different beast altogether, isn't it? Requires a certain...rhythm. A connection.'' His gaze flickered down to her lips and back up, a blatant flirtatious move. ''Perhaps we could explore that rhythm..over dinner tonight? My treat.'' The invitation was direct, confident, and so Lando.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. ''My evenings are already occupied, Lando. Unlike some, I prioritize performance over...promises.''

Lando chuckled softly, undeterred. ''A woman of dedication. Admirable. But even the most dedicated deserve a little..distraction. The offer stands. Think of it.'' He winked, before stepping back with a casual shrug. ''See you tomorrow, Valentina.''

He turned and sauntered away, leaving her standing in the empty parking lot, a slight tension in her shoulders betraying a reaction to his bold approach.

On Sunday, Charles crossed the finish line to take another victory, further solidifying his championship lead.

Lando was giving interview to a Sky Sports reporter, when Valentina walked past him. Lando's eyes flickered towards her for a brief second, a ghost of smile playing on his lips before he refocused on his interview.

Valentina, seemingly oblivious, continued on her way, her practised PR smile firmly in place.

Yet, fans notice everything, and Lando's reaction on live television will be one to fuel the paddock gossip.

[ms-demeanor]

Can I ask you how you ended up a purchasing manager and what the "technically" means? I've been a purchaser for a couple years and I'm trying to figure out what to do next. I've taken my role in much more of a creating-reports and helping-people-with-data direction than probably purchasers are supposed to, so idk if I should look for another purchasing job or something else

We're a tiny, tiny (less than 10 employee) company so I'm kind of a one-person procurement department with about eight other roles stacked on top (including marketing, website administration, and proofreading my boss's emails).

The purchasing part of what I do is I manage vendor relationships and customer licensing through our vendors, and I research hardware and configure hardware solutions for our clients then do the ordering and order management.

I think my boss's goal with "purchasing" as a job description is just to keep me distinct from accounts payable/receivable (because of the type of business we are, the purchaser at this company needs to have a significant degree of computer literacy, so the role has always been far removed from the accounting department at this business; I'm not a tech, I'm not sales, I'm not precisely an office admin, but I kind of am those things stuck in a blender with an executive assistant).

"Technically" just means that "purchasing manager" is what the business puts on my tax form but I don't have the requisite freedom to make choices to *legally* be considered a manager in California (so 'technically' purchasing manager is my job description in actual fact, but i don't 'technically' meet the requirements of being a manager - my job title is fake).

I think that in normal procurement jobs there is some data crunching that is required, but I see it more as logistics than analytics. If you're more interested in the analytics side of things than the logistical stuff, it may be worthwhile to cast your net outside of the purchasing pool.

[pscottm]

The Power of Dumb

Part of Trump’s power has always been that his dumb decisions strike his opponents like a series of blows to the head, leaving them woozy and spluttering. The amount of analytical power that non-Republicans have dedicated to trying to process Trump’s actions over the past decade could fuel all the nation’s data centers. We scrutinize each apparently idiotic policy or quote or appointment for signs of hidden strategy, like crazed numerologists trying to pull meaning out of a random number generator. This serves to exhaust the intellectual opposition, while Trump World proceeds merrily on its way. We can do ourselves a tactical favor by coming to terms with the role of one integral factor in what is about to happen to America: Dumbness.

[mesmericmonad]

I just finished Spirit. I wish I could write out many more thoughts than I can do rn. This was some of my favorite Doctor Who content overall tbh. Leela and Romana's differences in personality, beliefs, and logic on full display are exactly what I didn't know I needed. Leelas unique and curious role as an outsider in these high-stakes political games was always a factor playing into her character through the series, but it was really the focal point here in a great way. Romana and Leela both represent radical ends of an irl split in epistemic beliefs. I guess people would see Leela as "superstitious," but I really don't think anything she said even comes close to superstition. It isn't religious or fantastical to suggest that there's something "more than" simply biological fact, and everything Leela brings up ("The fruit IS beautiful"; "How does a bird fly for months to reach its home?") is perfectly compatible with rational metaphysical schemas and certainly with evolution. Narrative-telling is constitutive of humans' biological reproduction. If anything, Romanas insistence on a purely empiricist paradigm over Leelas metaphysical tale only reveals that both are just two sides of the same coin. They are both frameworks to apprehend and predict causal efficacy. They both lead to unique and intense views of how the world operates. But neither is wrong. They're both complimentary.

This comes full circle when the two seem to gain parts of the others' personality, which supports the other side of the coin. Romana suddenly *feels in her body* instead of always in her head. She isn't intellectualizing everything through an analytical lense. Instead, she's really feeling her body for the first time. She probably never could feel the way that oxygen cleans her bloodstream so clearly as she did then. Leela feels uncomfortable with her new intellectual abilities. She isn't relying on the multitude of sense-organs distributed across her body to synthesize the presented data. Instead, she's intellectualizing every wave of information, and her brain organ is perhaps much more hyper-active than it was before. In short, Romanas reliance on a rationalist-empiricist epistemology aligns closely with her *inability* to utilize her sense organs deeply, accurately, and with intimacy. Leelas reliance on the specifically neuromuscular and sensory knowledge allows her a more nuanced interaction with the corporeal landscape around her, but perhaps forbids her from constructing a systematized methodology of propositional logic in the way Romana could.

Neither side of this coin is "better" and in fact us humans have the task of delicately tending to both parts of our makeup, both sets of data-gathering tools. The metaphysician and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead essentially investigates the foundations of these differing personalities in his magnum opus Process & Reality (1929). P&R is one of my favorite works ever and to see the Gallifrey series so brilliantly convey the gradation between his categories of "withness of the body" and "presentational immediacy" through the relationship between Leela and Romana has been an absolute delight. Amazing series

"You think of your body as a machine, but it is not. How can such a big mind be so narrow?" -Leela

"But we must—to avoid 'solipsism of the present moment'—include in direct perception something more than presentational immediacy. For the organic theory, the most primitive perception is 'feeling the body as functioning.' This is a feeling of the world in the past; it is the inheritance of the world as a complex of feeling; namely, it is the feeling of derived feelings. The later, sophisticated perception is 'feeling the contemporary world.' Even this presentational immediacy begins with sense-presentation of the contemporary body. The body, however, is only a peculiarly intimate bit of the world. Just as Descartes said, 'this body is mine'; so he should have said, 'this actual world is mine.' My process of 'being myself' is my origination from my possession of the world." -Alfred North Whitehead

[cosmic-daydreamz02]

Career Reading

Placements to look at for your ideal career:

2nd house-how you make money

6th house-daily routine and work

10th house-career and public image

MC- career point.

11th house-social networks, long-term goals, opportunities for advancement (2nd from MC, so it shows the income from the career)

North Node - your life purpose and direction ; what you are meant to move towards in this lifetime

Part of Fortune - Where you find joy and success in this life, linked to both material and spiritual fulfillment

Vertex - represents fated encounters in your life. Where and how your destiny unfolds/ your turning point in life (not normally linked to career, but I think it can show what leads you to your true calling in this life especially if yours is in one of the money or career houses)

Saturn- rules discipline, structure, and long-term achievement, where you need to put in consistent effort to achieve success. Indicates your approach to responsibility in your career

Sun- core identity and life purpose, where you shine the most

Jupiter- expansion luck and growth. It shows your opportunities for success

Venus - where you can use your artistic abilities and social charm. It can also be how you attract money and resources

Signs and Career

Aries

• Career style: Assertive, pioneering, energetic, independent.

• Fields: Leadership roles, entrepreneurship, sports, military, anything involving action or competition.

• Drive: You take initiative and thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments where you can be first.

Taurus

• Career style: Steady, practical, patient, and value-oriented.

• Fields: Finance, banking, agriculture, real estate, art, luxury goods, anything involving material wealth or beauty.

• Drive: Security, stability, and a focus on building long-term wealth. Aesthetic and sensory satisfaction are important.

Gemini

• Career style: Communicative, versatile, adaptable, intellectual.

• Fields: Journalism, writing, teaching, marketing, sales, technology, anything that involves communication or travel.

• Drive: Curiosity and intellectual stimulation. You thrive in dynamic, social environments where you can multitask.

Cancer

• Career style: Nurturing, protective, intuitive, emotionally driven.

• Fields: Healthcare, caregiving, real estate, hospitality, education, psychology, anything that involves caring for others.

• Drive: Emotional security and a need to create a safe, supportive environment. You work best when you feel connected to your work on an emotional level.

Leo

• Career style: Charismatic, creative, confident, leadership-focused.

• Fields: Entertainment, arts, fashion, politics, sports, anything involving self-expression and performance.

• Drive: Recognition, fame, and the desire to shine. You excel in careers where you can showcase your talents and leadership.

Virgo

• Career style: Detail-oriented, analytical, service-minded, organized.

• Fields: Healthcare, administration, research, editing, writing, data analysis, anything involving precision and service.

• Drive: Efficiency and perfection. You aim to serve others by improving systems or contributing to something meaningful.

Libra

• Career style: Diplomatic, collaborative, partnership-oriented, aesthetically inclined.

• Fields: Law, diplomacy, art, design, beauty, fashion, anything involving partnership or justice.

• Drive: Harmony and balance in professional relationships. You thrive in roles where teamwork, fairness, and aesthetics are valued.

Scorpio

• Career style: Intense, transformative, secretive, powerful.

• Fields: Psychology, research, finance (especially investments, taxes, inheritance), surgery, anything involving transformation or mystery.

• Drive: Power and control. You are drawn to careers that allow you to dig deep and uncover hidden truths or manage shared resources.

Sagittarius

• Career style: Adventurous, philosophical, expansive, freedom-loving.

• Fields: Education, travel, law, publishing, international business, anything that involves exploration and knowledge-sharing.

• Drive: Freedom and expansion. You seek opportunities that allow you to learn, grow, and explore new horizons.

Capricorn

• Career style: Ambitious, disciplined, authoritative, responsible.

• Fields: Business, politics, government, finance, engineering, management, anything that involves structure, authority, and long-term goals.

• Drive: Success and achievement. You are career-focused and work tirelessly toward building a solid reputation and legacy.

Aquarius

• Career style: Innovative, humanitarian, unconventional, forward-thinking.

• Fields: Technology, science, social reform, innovation, group work, anything involving progressive change or social impact.

• Drive: Making a difference and creating a better future. You work best in collaborative or unconventional environments that allow for innovation.

Pisces

• Career style: Compassionate, imaginative, spiritual, idealistic.

• Fields: Art, music, healing, psychology, spirituality, charity work, anything that involves creativity, intuition, or service to others.

• Drive: Helping others and finding deeper meaning. You’re drawn to careers where you can use your empathy and creativity to make a positive impact.

Houses and Career Focus

1st House (Self-Identity, Public Persona)

You identify closely with your career. You're meant for careers where you're the leader or face of whatever you do, you're meant to be in the public eye somehow.

2nd House (Money, Resources, Values)

Financial stability and security is what drives you in your career. You would do good in careers related to banking and finance or sales (more like selling luxury goods or real estate)

3rd House (Communication, Learning, Siblings)

Communication, education, and travel. Or working in media. Teaching, writing, or sales/ anything that involves exchanges of info

4th House (Home, Family, Roots)

Home design, family business, real estate. Care giving or working from home. Emotional fulfillment through your career

5th House (Creativity, Pleasure, Children)

Creative fields, working with children. Career allows for self-expression. performance or leadership roles

6th House (Work Environment, Health, Service)

Service industry, Healthcare (especially if you have heavy virgo/pisces or 6th/12th placements), administration, work that requires tedious precision and detail

7th House (Partnerships, Marriage)

Collaboration, requires partnerships in career. Law, any counseling/consulting work, diplomat

8th House (Shared Resources, Transformation)

Finance (other peoples money like taxes, inheritance, etc), psychology, research/investigation

9th House (Philosophy, Travel, Higher Education)

Higher education, travel, law, publishing, career could be linked to foreign lands, (travel vlogger, professor, resort owner?)

10th House (Career, Reputation, Public Life)

Leadership, recognition, achieving goals, public image and success are emphasized

11th House (Community, Goals, Social Networks)

Community service/humanitarian work, technology, collective work

12th House (Spirituality, Solitude, Healing)

Healing, spirituality, charity work, hospitals, or creative/behind the scenes work like set design, director etc

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🎯 Our Mission & Vision: The North Star of Zylentrix

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Vision: “To be the global leader in integrated consultancy services, transforming lives and businesses through innovative, sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive and succeed.”

We’re not just consultants—we’re architects of progress, designing futures where everyone has the chance to excel.

💎 Core Values: The Pillars of Everything We Do

Our values are the blueprint for how we serve clients, collaborate with partners, and grow as a team:

Integrity: “Building Trust Through Transparency” Every decision is guided by ethics. No shortcuts, no compromises.

Innovation: “Driving Future-Ready Solutions” From AI-driven recruitment tools to sustainable business frameworks, we pioneer what’s next.

Excellence: “Delivering Impact & Measurable Growth” We set—and smash—high standards, ensuring clients see real results.

Customer-Centricity: “Putting Clients at the Centre of Everything” Your goals shape our strategies. We listen, adapt, and deliver.

Diversity, Inclusion & Collaboration: “Creating Equal Opportunities for All” Diverse teams = smarter solutions. We champion equity in every project.

Sustainability: “Responsible Business for a Better Future” Green tech, eco-friendly practices, and ethical growth are non-negotiables.

Empowerment: “Enabling People & Businesses to Thrive” We don’t just hand you tools—we teach you how to master them.

🤝 Our Commitment: Tailored Support for Every Journey

Zylentrix is your partner in growth, no matter your starting point:

For Businesses:

Tech Solutions: Streamline operations with scalable AI, cybersecurity, and cloud systems.

Strategic Recruitment: Access global talent pools curated for cultural and technical fit.

Consulting Excellence: Turn insights into action with market research and digital transformation plans.

For Job Seekers:

Career Mastery: Revamp resumes, ace interviews, and unlock roles in booming industries like fintech and clean energy.

Global Mobility: Navigate international job markets with visa support and relocation guidance.

For Students:

Education Pathways: Secure admissions and scholarships at top universities worldwide.

Future-Proof Skills: Gain certifications in AI, sustainability, and more through our partnerships.

For Startups & SMEs:

Scale Smart: Leverage data analytics and ESG frameworks to grow responsibly.

Funding Ready: Craft investor pitches that stand out in crowded markets.

🌱 Our Culture: Fueling Innovation from Within

At Zylentrix, our workplace is a launchpad for creativity and collaboration. Here’s what defines us:

Lifelong Learning: Monthly workshops, innovation challenges, and tuition reimbursements keep our team ahead of trends.

Agility in Action: When the world changes, we pivot faster—like shifting to virtual career fairs during the pandemic.

Collaborative Spirit: Cross-departmental “sprint teams” solve client challenges, blending tech experts, educators, and recruiters.

Ownership & Impact: Every employee, from interns to executives, contributes to client success stories.

Work-Life Harmony: Flexible hours, mental health resources, and sustainability days ensure our team thrives inside and out.

Join the Zylentrix Movement

Ready to transform your business, career, or community? Let’s build a future where innovation and integrity go hand in hand.

📩 Connect Today 👉 Explore our services: Zylentrix 👉 Follow us on Social Media for tips on tech, careers, and sustainability. LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok X Pinterest YouTube Quora Medium 👉 Email consult@zylentrix.net to schedule a free consultation.

[evidence-based-activism]

What do you make of this? “The VAST majority of women are sexually submissive. I think it's around 3/4? I can dig up sources later if I feel like it

The attraction to power and dominance is way deeper than social conditioning and deeply engrained into all human social behavior. It's encoded into the social games we play to determine our standing with each other and which people we find fuckable.

Don't be graping folks, but also don't be denying women the means to sexually and socially satiate themselves by creating a deficit of men who will handle them as roughly as they quietly crave.”

I think it's ridiculous.

I've talked in the past about how men and women really do not feel sexual attraction in fundamentally different ways. The most important point from this post is that "sex differences in self‐reported sexual behavior were negligible ... [when] participants believed lying could be detected, moderate in an anonymous condition, and greatest [when not anonymous]" indicating "sex differences in self‐reported sexual behavior reflect responses influenced by normative expectations for men and women".

This is important, given the extent to which society is permeated by the expectation that women will be sexually submissive and men sexually dominate.

And even keeping this (i.e., that people tend to provide responses congruent with societal expectations of them, at least in sensitive topics) in mind, the percentage of women who report "preferring" sexual submission is far, far lower than 75%. The closest thing to a representative statistic we have comes from YouGov (a polling/data analytics company), which suggests that 21% of American women prefer being "submissive in bed" [1].

Some other research [emphasis mine]:

A review concludes "that traditional sexual scripts are harmful for both women's and men's ability to engage in authentic, rewarding sexual expression, although the female submissive role may be particularly debilitating" [2]

This article is particularly relevant: "Study 1 found that women implicitly associated sex with submission. Study 2 showed that women's implicit association of sex with submission predicted greater personal adoption of a submissive sexual role. Study 3 found that men did not implicitly associate sex with submission. Study 4 demonstrated that women's adoption of a submissive sexual role predicted lower reported arousal and greater reported difficulty becoming sexually aroused" [3]

Further, this article found "women’s submissive behavior had negative links to personal sexual satisfaction and their partner’s sexual satisfaction", and although they specified this was "only when their submission was inconsistent with their sexual preferences" they failed to indicate what percentage of the sample preferred sexual submission. They did, however, find that "women’s submissive behavior" was negatively correlated with "women’s interest in dominant partner" suggesting, at the very least, that women with no interest in dominant partners are engaging in submissive behavior as a result of the "high prevalence of traditional sexual scripts" [4]

---

For the "dominance games" bit ... I expect they are referring to how, for some species, male animals will fight with each other for the "right" to mate with the female animals. He seems to be conveniently forgetting that the aggression in this analogy is being directed towards other males. So, even if we were going to concede the accuracy of the analogy (which I do not), it would be entirely irrelevant to the matter at hand.

Further, the fact that humans may have demonstrated a behavior in the past and/or that other animals demonstrate it now, does not justify the behavior in humans in the present. Infanticide is common among both male [5] and female [6] mammals, as well as in human history [7], but I doubt anyone plans to defend that particular "reproductive strategy".

---

Further, the belief that there are women who secretly "want" men to "handle them roughly" and are simply lying when they say otherwise, is straight from the standard list of rape myths [8]. And acceptance of these misogynistic myths is correlated with men's sexual violence against women [9].

This makes such assertions both incorrect and dangerous.

---

In conclusion: this individual is both factually incorrect and logically inconsistent, and his apparent embrace of rape myths suggests he is – at the very least – an unapologetic misogynist.

References under the cut:

Moore, Peter. Most Americans Open to Sexual Dominance and Submission. YouGov, 13 Feb. 2015, https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/11593-most-americans-open-sexual-dominance.

Sanchez, D. T., Fetterolf, J. C., & Rudman, L. A. (2012). Eroticizing inequality in the United States: The consequences and determinants of traditional gender role adherence in intimate relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 49(2-3), 168-183.

Sanchez, D. T., Kiefer, A. K., & Ybarra, O. (2006). Sexual submissiveness in women: Costs for sexual autonomy and arousal. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(4), 512-524.

Sanchez, D. T., Phelan, J. E., Moss-Racusin, C. A., & Good, J. J. (2012). The gender role motivation model of women’s sexually submissive behavior and satisfaction in heterosexual couples. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(4), 528-539.

Lukas, D., & Huchard, E. (2014). The evolution of infanticide by males in mammalian societies. Science, 346(6211), 841-844.

Lukas, D., & Huchard, E. (2019). The evolution of infanticide by females in mammals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 374(1780), 20180075.

Levittan, M. (2012). The history of infanticide: exposure, sacrifice, and femicide. Violence and Abuse in Society. Understanding a Global Crisis. Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 83-130.

Payne, D. L., Lonsway, K. A., & Fitzgerald, L. F. (1999). Rape myth acceptance: Exploration of its structure and its measurement using theIllinois rape myth acceptance scale. Journal of research in Personality, 33(1), 27-68.

Yapp, E. J., & Quayle, E. (2018). A systematic review of the association between rape myth acceptance and male-on-female sexual violence. Aggression and violent behavior, 41, 1-19.

[mojavejourneys]

if you had to give Sephiroth a non-ShinRa career, like a normal-ish person career, what would you give him?

first of all let's establish that we DO NOT put this man in any sort of customer-facing role. Customer facing and autism do not mix.

Given that Sephiroth is very sharp of mind, I imagine he'd absolutely excel in those analytical roles, looking at data and gleaning information from it.

Just no lab work. We don't want to re-trigger that trauma.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Steve Osunsami and Sean Keane at ABC News:

During the final Mass at the All Saints Parish in Buffalo, New York, on a warm Sunday in July, the priests encouraged the few parishioners who came to take comfort in holy scripture. "For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," the passage read.

On Earth, many parishes are accepting that it's time to sell their properties. As the person leading renewal and development for the Diocese of Buffalo, Father Bryan Zielenieski is one of many religious leaders across America who have closed houses of worship in recent years. "We essentially went to half of what we used to back in the early 2000s," he told ABC News. "We lost about 100 parishes." Zielenieski expects he'll need to shut down another 70 churches in what the Diocese is calling its "road to renewal." It's a very biblical name for the challenge facing churches: People just aren't going as much as they used to. On average, more than half of the diocese's churches today are baptizing fewer than one person a month, and 59% of them are spending more than they take in, Zielenieski noted. "It's my job and role to not just pray about the situation, but to then look at the hard data and say, where does the church need to move?" he told ABC News.

In the late 1940s, nearly 80% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue, mosque or temple, according to Gallup. Today, just 45% say the same, the analytics company noted, and only 32% say that they worship God in a house of prayer once a week. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, America was losing as many as 1,000 churches a year. Some former churches are being converted for businesses or residential use. One old Methodist church in Atlanta, which was down to about 60 members when it closed, was sold to a luxury real estate developer seven years ago. Now, it's become a series of 3,000-square-foot condos. [...] "The aging of the church here, of course, is seen all over America. That makes it harder in a lot of ways. For instance, we lost five of our members last year to death," he told ABC News.

Many churches across America, regardless of denomination, are fighting to stay open to have services conducted.

Most of the churches in this situation have aging congregations, with the majority of the regular attenders/members 50 and over.

[rrrrinmaru]

rin's side stories: 02 - where jenna forces xavier to do his paperwork

wc: 662 rating: G brief: it's always a struggle for jenna to get xavier to do his paperwork. notes: a little insight into the alpha team, gen fic, no romance, canon-compliant, can be read as pre-canon or during canon

“Xavier.”

No response. The body on the couch is so motionless that a civilian would have dialed the ambulance minutes ago. 

“Xavier.”

It’s almost impressive. If she were feeling more charitable, she would call it some kind of art form. There are very few people who can simply lie down and look like all the life has been sucked out from them. There is something to be said about how committed to playing dead the figure across the room from her is.

“Xavier.”

Her tone doesn’t brook any disobedience. It forces the body on the sofa to finally shift, fingers clutching the pillow over his face to shift down slightly. Xavier peers at her from under the cushion, blinking blearily at her as if she forced him out a particularly sweet dream. 

As if he’s not currently on the clock. 

“When you requisitioned the sofa, I didn’t expect you to put it to such use,” Jenna comments, raising an eyebrow at him. “We should put a timer on it. A timer and a repelling collar on you that sends you flying from the sofa when you’ve spent over fifteen minutes on it.”

Xavier pulls the pillow further down, tucking it under his chin. “You would do that to the best Hunter on your team?”

“Who better to serve as a role model for the rest of the team than yourself?”

“Always so cruel,” Xavier sighs, sitting up properly. “The paperwork never ends.”

Jenna eyes the amount of paperwork piled up on his desk, the towering stacks of paper that bury the metal surface of his table. “It never ends because you never do them, Xavier. Get to it.”

“You’re the one in command. You do it.” Xavier gives her a look that is probably the closest thing to earnest, but Jenna’s fallen for it before and she’ll be damned if she falls for it again. 

“They’re your missions. The longer you put it off, the more paperwork there will be. All it needs is a simple mission summary—Data Analytics will handle the majority of the information. Look at what Ning wrote: ‘Tuesday morning, Wanderers at Chica’s Pizza, one Wanderer. Pizzeria was full of civilians, maybe thirty in total, full evacuation before engaging. No Protocore. Mission success.’ A total of twenty-five words.”

Xavier sighs. He stands, reluctance written all over his face and weighing his muscles down as he walks over to his desk. “What about something like, ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’?”

Jenna feels a headache come on. Xavier isn’t usually the main cause for her headaches—no, that position is saved for select people, like Nero, the serial escapist, or Andrew, the pain in her ass—but when Xavier gives her a headache, he gives her one that’s sharp and lingers. For ages. Because that’s how long he takes to complete his paperwork. 

“No. Captain’s orders. I know you have an excellent memory, Xavier. Once you put your mind to it, you’ll finish your work in no time.” She pauses, then, deciding to strike fear into his heart, adds, “be grateful I haven’t assigned you to liaise with Data Analytics on sifting through the data you bring back from your missions. I could make you list down all the Protocores you obtain from each mission, down to the specificity of each Protocurve. I could make you list the type of Wanderers you face, down to the category and details like how many limbs they had.”

The sound of pen on paper stops. When Jenna looks up, Xavier’s looking at her in shock. 

“You wouldn’t,” he says. He sounds hesitant even to her.

Jenna shrugs. This appears to be a surprisingly effective threat against him. She mentally files it away for a rainy day. “Maybe I would. I have the paperwork done up. All I need to do is have my hand slip.”

Xavier shakes his head. “Incredible,” he mutters, pen scratching away on the smooth surface of his documents. “You’re terrifying, Captain.”

==

© rrrrinmaru 2024 | no unauthorised publication or reproduction allowed

[calliope-stories]

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We’re a small company founded by two nerdy Venezuelan girls looking for people who share our zeal for reading, and who want to create a world where reading is colorful, vibrant, and immersive for everyone.  

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- Near native written English.

Your Role:

- Developing inventive social media strategies to amplify visibility and subscriptions.

- Designing content that’s both captivating and relevant to our audience.

- Spearheading advertising campaigns on social media.

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- We value your thirst for learning and involvement more than your past experience.

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[loveemagicpeace]

🌙Astrology Weather🫧

🪴Mercury in Virgo -good communication, much more stable and serious. There’s an emphasis on detail and effectiveness, as well as efficiency, cleanliness, and streamlining. You will start to delve more into things that are practical and good for you. Dealing with details is natural and comfortable now. Maybe you can become more critical of others or things. And you become more analytical about what you really want.

🛁Mars in Virgo-wants you to take control of your day-to-day expenses. This transit could push you to learn more about saving, as you attend to your spending habits. Mars will remind you of your passions and desires. This is also good for getting more organized or starting a routine. Virgo is a sign about learning patience, and Mars wants us to work hard to achieve success. You can start doing healthier things or start taking care of your body more.

🪻Neptune in pisces retrograde- pushing you deeper into the waters of your subconscious. This meditative five-month cycle can be a profound blessing. It can open a window to deal with core wounds and addictions (from liquor to love to limiting beliefs). Meanwhile, it can let you tap into buried realms of creativity. Neptune retrograde is a great time to tend to unfinished creative projects.

🌊Saturn in pisces retrograde- Saturn is structured while Pisces flows freely. Listen to your intuition, but rely on empirical data too. State your boundaries up front and ask people about theirs. Take a project management workshop to learn how to turn your dreams into reality. Explore your spirituality. Delve deep into an esoteric subject like dream interpretation or tarot. Reflect on how you share yourself with the world around you.

⭐️Pluto in Capricorn retrograde- Looking toward the past will play an important role in understanding how the future can be improved upon. If you start to notice a pattern that’s contributing to stress, tension, or discomfort, now would be a good time to finally address those issues so that you may overcome them. Just try not to pressure others into seeing things as you do, remembering that you can only control your own thoughts and actions. Pluto is the planet of transformation and rebirth. It helps you regain the strength you have lost and become strong again and even better than you were. Capricorn is a sign that is stable and many times brings lessons and things related to karmic relationships. So that during this time you can get to know relationships and things related to them better and finish everything you started and leave behind everything that confused you. Capricorns will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

🩷August 1st is the full moon in Aquarius- this moon is also associated with Leo. It's time to reach full expression. The full moon is the most powerful time of the entire moon cycle. Enjoy the full expression of life. Be fully engaged. Let the light of the moon energize you. Enjoy the life you are creating. Celebrate. This is a powerfully healing time. Send healing blessings to others. The full moon in Aquarius allows you to bring your blossoming self-expression to full flower. Inspire feelings of joy within yourself. Leo teaches us about our individuality, while the opposite sign, Aquarius, shows us how we can come together in community. The full moon is good for letting go of everything that doesn't serve you and limits you, burdens you and to make room for new things. Play, sing, dance, draw. Celebrate your accomplishments. Share what you've discovered about yourself. Light a candle & cleanse your crystals in the light of the moon. Bathe in the moonlight. Allow the healing light of the moon to nurture and invigorate you. Meditate on your affirmations.

-Rebekah🐚⭐️🫧

[mappingthemoon]

my library is migrating to a new and terrible ils this summer and i am, ugh, finally coming to terms with the fact that i am really truly going to have to find a new job because i simply cannot deal.

without getting too much into the technical details: i am a cataloger, which is essentially data entry work, and when your job involves "touching computer all day for money," you just don't want to be fucking around with an interface that requires a lot of mouse-clicking and -scrolling. there are a lot of other issues, such as a god-awfully un-accessible layout that is somehow both too much extraneous crap crammed onto the screen and too much white space, a total inability to do the kind of analytics we regularly do in our current system, the loss of a lot of our historical metadata that can't be mapped into the new system, having to redo metadata cleanup that we've already done from our last migration 8 years ago (!!!), and just, like, not being able to do basic catalog maintenance tasks like moving an item from one holding to another or properly shelf-listing non-LC call numbers. people who sit wayyy up at the tippity-top of our institutional hierarchy and know nothing about library work made this decision years ago because they thought it would save us money and the end result is going to be the enshittification of our catalog (bad for users) and our daily workflows (bad for employees).

so now i'm in this dumb and precarious position of trying to figure out what the fuck to do with my ~career~ as an overeducated 40-something woman lol. certainly this is not the worst problem in the world to have rn, but also, from my personal perspective, it is like, basically a giant cosmic turd laid upon whatever it is i've been working to build up for myself over the past ~20 years of "trying to get my life back on track." i've been at the same library for over 10 years and the job i have now is the job i had been slowly (SLOWLY) but steadily advancing towards since day one... and now i'm barely two years into the position, finally feeling a bit comfortable in my role, and this fucking software is going to make my 9-5 life absolute hell. like, i genuinely enjoy the work of cataloging, it's kind of incredible to me that they have designed a way to make it so very terrible. i'm trying not to be a total baby about this but jfc no one wants to go to work everyday and deal with a garbage-ass machine that adds 10 extra steps to your procedures and/or doesn't even do the basic things you need to do for your job, you know?

anyway, idk. i have my eye out for job postings but it all feels so overwhelming. if i want to stay in special collections, or even if i want to stay in libraries at all (precarious itself in the current political climate, har har), i would most likely have to move, and while i never expected to stay in this town as long as i have, i don't have any strong feelings about where else i might want to live, other than i'm pretty sure i don't want to live in a place with actual winter, which limits my selection because most of the special collections cataloger jobs i see are in new england or at least the northern us. (and yet! i always keep a lil window of consideration open to returning to pittsburgh because my parents are getting older and i don't know my nieces & nephews as much as i'd like to, i feel the distance more and more every year and it might be time for me to stop being so prodigal, ugh, so all there's all that thrown into the mix as well.) i remember when library school felt like an impossible goal but i did it and now i almost feel like i painted myself into a corner by specializing in the thing i wanted to do. it is slim pickins out there already, i can't afford to take a pay cut with all the debt i'm carrying, i don't know what else to do at this "stage of life" and i hate that it feels almost like a sinful luxury to even want to have a job that i don't despise & won't destroy my mental & physical health for the next ~30 years of my working life. i know that i am resilient af and i will always do what i have to do, even if that means going back to washing dishes for minimum wage again in order to survive but like, BIG SIGH, goddamn. please give a bitch a break :(