#distributed tracing solution

[some-programming-pearls]

What is the significance of the Spring Cloud Sleuth in a micro-service environment?

Spring Cloud Sleuth is a distributed tracing solution designed specifically for microservices architectures built using the Spring Framework. Its significance in a microservices environment includes the following: Request Tracing: Sleuth automatically generates and propagates unique trace and span IDs across service boundaries. This allows you to trace requests as they propagate through…

[virtualizationhowto]

SigNoz: Free and Open Source Syslog server with OpenTelemetry

SigNoz: Free and Open Source Syslog server with OpenTelemetry @signozhq #homelab #SigNozOpenSourceAlternative #DatadogVsSigNoz #MonitorApplicationsWithSigNoz #ApplicationPerformanceManagementTools #DistributedTracingWithSigNoz #MetricsAndDashboards

I am always on the lookout for new free and open-source tools in the home lab and production environments. One really excellent tool discovered recently is a tool called SigNoz. SigNoz is a free and open-source syslog server and observability program that provides an open-source alternative to Datadog, Relic, and others. Let’s look at SigNoz and see some of the features it offers. We will also…

[cosmictuesdays]

CHEMIST HAS THE POWER TO TAME SKUNK'S SPRAY

Copyright 1994 Chicago Tribune Company Chicago Tribune November 25, 1994 Friday

HEADLINE: CHEMIST HAS THE POWER TO TAME SKUNK'S SPRAY

BYLINE: By Peter Kendall, Tribune Staff Writer.

Salk conquered polio. Einstein unraveled relativity. And Krebaum? Well, Paul Krebaum, it appears, has developed the first home remedy for skunk spray.

If ever an idea was in the air, it was this: How do you get rid of the smell that comes from two tiny but ingenious glands at the business end of a skunk.

A garden hose is impotent, soap is utterly useless, and tomato juice is a quaint old wives' tale that has left many people with skunk-sprayed dogs that not only stink, but are pink.

But Krebaum's formula, distributed nationally in recent months on e-mail and in state agriculture department bulletins, is winning over converts who thought the only viable antidote was the passage of time.

The story of how Krebaum, a Lisle chemist, has conquered the fetid, putrid odor of skunk is a simple tale of necessity being the mother invention.

But, alas, Krebaum's formula will never bring riches to its inventor, for the solution is trapped within a cruel chemical Catch-22.

The very chemical properties that make his formula deodorize skunk spray make it impossible to package. It will burst out of any bottles.

If the story of Krebaum's formula is ever made into a movie, the first scene will show Krebaum working away in his lab at Molex Inc. in Lisle. His face is screwed up as he smells something bad.

He is doing research using chemicals called thiols--some of the nastiest smelling chemicals around.

Thiols are produced by many things, including the degradation of proteins. Thiols are responsible for the odors that comes from decomposing flesh and fecal matter.

Most animals have a deep-seated repulsion to thiols, a gift of evolution that keeps them from eating things that will make them ill.

Using basic chemistry knowledge, Krebaum figured out a way to get these foul smelling thiols out of his lab by changing them into other compounds. The trick was oxidation-getting oxygen molecules to bond with thiols and change them into things that didn't smell bad at all.

To do that, he made a solution of simple ingredients-hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)--that did the trick quite well. The solution threw off oxygen like a dog shakes off water, and some of that oxygen grabbed onto the thiols and neutralized them.

Meanwhile, in Lisle and elsewhere, evolution had been chugging along for eons and produced an animal that scientists call mephitis mephitis, the common striped skunk. Natural selection led the skunk to develop a spray that exploits other animals' aversion to thiols. Skunk spray is, fundamentally, essence of putrification.

But fate never would bring mephitis mephitis and Paul Krebaum together, at least not directly. Krebaum has himself never smelled skunk spray at any greater concentration than that lingering in the air on a country road.

There were, instead, intermediaries--one of Krebaum's colleagues and a pet cat.

"He came in to work and said his cat had an encounter with a skunk," Krebaum recalled. "He said he had tried tomato juice, and it didn't work, and the cat still wasn't able to come into the house."

Krebaum knew skunk spray was made of thiols ("general knowledge," he calls it), and suggested using a variation of the formula he used for getting rid of thiols in the lab.

"He came back the next day and said the stuff worked like magic, that every trace of skunk odor is completely gone from the cat," Krebaum said.

The variation he developed for the cat was this: 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, which costs about $2 at a drugstore; 1/4 cup of baking soda; and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, which breaks up the oils in skunk spray and allows the other ingredients in the solution to do their stuff. The solution should be rinsed off the pet with tap water.

In October 1993, Chemical and Engineering News published Krebaum's formula.

One of the most interested readers of the article was Tom McCutcheon, who was then with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. McCutcheon, a plant pest biologist, was something of an answer man for callers to the department.

"We'd get probably a dozen calls a year, 'What do we do, our pet's been sprayed by a skunk,'" McCutcheon said. "Tomato juice is the old remedy. Everybody would say, 'We've tried that, and it doesn't work at all.' We really didn't have a remedy."

When he read of Krebaum's formula, he was skeptical. Over the years, he had learned never to recomend [sic] anything he hadn't tried himself, but getting sprayed by a skunk posed practical difficulties.

"I asked my dog if she'd volunteer, but she said no," McCutcheon said.

It was while driving last February through the hickory and oak forests of Roane County, West Virginia, that McCutcheon spotted a road-killed skunk. More hit than run over and preserved by the late winter chill, the skunk was in fine shape.

Carefully, he wrapped the skunk inside two plastic bags and put it in the trunk. He knew he had a potent specimen for his experiment when he went into a drugstore to buy the ingredients for Krebaum's formula and the druggist noticed the smell on McCutcheon's clothing.

Back behind his office, he made up the solution.

"The whole time, my eyes were watering--I had never been this close to a skunk in all my life," he said. "I dunked the skunk in the bucket, and immediately the smell went away. I was very surprised and impressed."

Krebaum had briefly considered trying to figure out a way to patent his formula, but quickly abandoned the idea.

The formula is, essentially, a chemical engine for churning out oxygen, and all that oxygen refuses to be bottled.

"Once you mix the hydrogen peroxide with the baking soda, it is no longer stable," said Krebaum. "You can't store it in a bottle, because it would explode from all the oxygen."

"It wasn't worth trying to get a patent on it because I couldn't put it in a bottle, said Krebaum. "So why not make this a free-gift-to-humanity type deal."

-end-

[colibrie]

Confrontations: Friendly Fire

Credit to resident art genius (and Donatello consultant) @trilobitepunch.

Keep your head centered, and shoulders down. Align hips, knees, and ankles to ensure even weight distribution. Space feet twelve inches apart…

“You good Don?” Raph whispered, his deep voice rumbling like thunder in the dense hush of the corridor.

“Fine,” Donatello replied, eyes trained carefully forward as stark gray walls loomed large and cold around them. Dull steel gleamed weakly in sterile light, painting the world in somber shades as the brothers moved swiftly towards their destination.

Arms to the side, hands open. Do not fidget or flex your fingers. Chin at a 45-degree angle to the chest. Eyes following the same line to the floor. Facial muscles must remain in neutral position three. No chewing of the lips, cheek, or tongue. Blinking limited to fifteen to twenty times a minute. Respiration rate will hold steady at twelve to eighteen breaths per minute.

“Ya sure?” Raph prompted; an emotion Donatello could not identify at the moment slipping hesitantly into his tone. “I know things got kinda crazy out there for you. I can give the report this-”

“No,” Donatello quickly cut in, neck muscles groaning with tension as he jerkily shook his head. “I already told you; I am fine. Further, you conveying the report will only arouse suspicions.”

“Oh…right.”

Keep your voice at neutral level one. Present the data, and only data. Maintain calm. Maintain control.

Carefully he gathered those volatile elements within him. Emotions, incomprehensibly sharp and barbed, hazardous as an untested solution. Once he had them, he reached for the box that he kept in the deepest recesses of his mind, the only other survivor of his time within the temple. It was a heavy thing, reinforced in layers of steel and will and sealed with a thousand locks. Its fathomless depths swallowed his burden, stripping away the unwanted and unnecessary to allow data to flow through his thoughts uninterrupted. The ache in his heart deadened, permitting his body to shift and morph in accordance with his thoughts.

“Everything is alright Raphael,” he assured, allowing himself the space of one heartbeat to feel relief as his words came out with the desired lack of inflection before he shut that emotion down too and locked it away with the rest. The door at the end of the hall loomed large, a maw reaching out to swallow them as they passed through “I will handle it.”

I will do this.

I can do this.

“Inquisitors.”

He bit down on the urge to shiver, steeling his spine as both he and Raph snapped to attention. He carefully kept his eyes forward and breaths measured as his superior’s exoskeleton stepped from the gloom of his inner office. Burning yellow eyes swept over them, a long mechanical tail lazily swiping from right to left as clawed hands folded behind his back.

“Inquisitor Krang,” they intoned together, dropping into identical salute that their leader dismissed with a lazy flick of his tail.

“Back so soon,” Krang mused, baritone voice dangerously light in comparison to the baleful red eye that glared unceasingly down at them.

The claws of one hand rose to casually trace his metal faceplate, producing a shrill screech that stretched the uncomfortable silence. Beside him Raph shifted slightly, discomfort evident as the permission to speak continued to be withheld, but Donatello resisted. His posture remained perfect, his face still and breathing metered as the sound assaulted his eardrums. He knew this game. He had played and lost so many times before. This time, this time he would win.

I can do this.

“Report.”

He closed his eyes and took half a step forward.

 “Sir. Following the reports of possible Jedi in sector 4B, we deployed and identified two individuals. Upon confrontation…”

Carefully chosen words poured past his lips, a clinical and concise script that outlined events in as few details as possible.

I can do this.

In his mind the box shivered, the tiniest of cracks opening.

Mikey eyes reflecting fear and a lack of recognition for the strangers who shared his blood.

I can…

Leo, frozen. So close but so far…

No.

He pushed the images back, forcing them into the box.

I can do this.

“…Neither target demonstrated force related abilities, even when pressed. It is possible that the informant was wrong or lied to curry favor with the Empire.”

“And where are these subjects now?”

“We were separated from them when the building came down. They escaped.”

“Oh?”

Such a soft syllable, yet it sent a bolt of icy fear through his gut. He forced down the urge to swallow as Krang turned away, claws rasping stridently against the floor. His shoulders hitched half a centimeter upward before he could stop them.

“Two potential force sensitives, ostensibly untrained, managed to thwart two fully trained inquisitors. Unusual, given the lack of displayed talent. Tell me more about these two subjects.”

“They-”

“Not you.”

Wh…What?

Lightning speared him, eyes flaring wide as his thoughts ground to a halt. In the corner of his eye Raph flinched, shock telegraphed for the whole galaxy to read.

“M-me?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“N-no sir. Sorry.”

 Raphael stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with Donatello once more.

No.

This wasn’t right. Krang never asked Raph to report. Why was he asking Raph? What had he done wrong?

Stay calm. Stay calm. You can fix this, just…

“The subjects were like us. Looked and acted like they were siblings. The older one was Donatello’s height, bright green, with red crescent markings on his face and blue face mask. The younger one came up to the first one’s shoulder, was a darker green, and had an orange face mask.”

Sweat broke out along the back of his neck, the muted lights within the room becoming painful as the images of his twin and baby brother broke free from the box once more. His eyes slammed shut against his will, squeezing tight as he fought to push them back down.

He knows what they look like… oh force he knows what they look like.

Mikey’s sweet round cheeks, the left one smudged with hints of orange and yellow paints. Leo’s brilliant red crescents, his pride and joy, perfectly framing dark eyes that mirrored Don’s own.  

Stay calm. Stay. Calm. It’s fine. Appearances can be altered. Breathe. BreatheBreatheBreathe. You can turn this around. You can do-

“And how did they act upon encountering you?” Krang prompted. Even with his back to them, Don could feel the weight of those eyes, yellow and red, bearing down to delicately carve his nerves from their protective sheaths. Pins and needles prickled down his arms and legs, stinging and nipping the tips of his fingers and toes as his armor chaffed against unbearably sensitive skin.

Don’t answer that, Raph. Don’t…

“They were surprised. The older one kinda froze up when he saw us. It was like he was looking at a ghost, or something. The little one seemed clueless and freaked out. He tried to get the older one to leave, but, uh, we moved to separate them. I took the little one, Donatello handled the older one. The little guy had a lot of agility. Looking back, that might have been from some force abilities. Not trained though. Kid was running on instinct. I didn’t see the older one fight, but he survived getting thrown around Donatello, so he could be-”

Don’tdon’tdon’tshutupraphhowcouldyou-

Nothisisyourfaultyourfaulthowcouldyounotprepareforthis?

His hands clenched, nails biting deep into the meat of his palms in search of something grounding. An anchor against the sensations crawling through his veins like sludge.

StopstopstophowdoIstopthis?

The crack in the box grew a little longer.

Mikey. Effervescent and unguarded, brighter than a star. His baby brother, force signature bubbling with innocence and raw ability, defenseless against shadows that would snuff out his firework soul within a heartbeat.

Leo. Shattered and fragile and vulnerable within the force. No shields or walls to hide behind. A cracked shell that would be obliterated with a flick Krangs claws.   

Donatello could not let that happen. And that meant he had to pull himself together.

He forced himself to suck in a subtle breath, ignoring how the air shredded his throat on contact.

Calm. Down. You are probably giving away more than Raph is at this point. It’s just Krang playing games to get under your skin. Stop giving in. All these details are inconsequential so long as he does not have the context to put it all together. He doesn’t know. No one knows. And that gives you the advantage.  

"Interesting," Krang purred as he turned back to them, slit pupiled eyes flickering over Donatello’s body as though it were a particularly intriguing holopad.

He does not know. Breathe. Stay calm. Don't give in. He doesn't know. He can't know...

Krangs smirk deepened to as he caught and held Donatello’s gaze, a cruel sneer that shone with wicked delight as his superior’s gaze then slid pointedly to Raphael.

"Very interesting."

He knows...

All the air in the room disappeared, evacuating his lungs as a wave of terror swallowed his thoughts. His limbs locked; muscles durasteel ridged as Krang sauntered away. The lights in the room were lasers, piercing flesh, and bone to shred his brain. Every tap of Krangs claws crashed against his ears like cymbals, deafening him to all but the pounding of his heart. In his periphery Raph’s gaze bore down on him, the silent questions within it pinning him down as the guillotine hung high overhead, doom preparing to drop.

“Your failure might have revealed a unique opportunity,” Krang mused, the barb at the tip of his tail flashing like a knife as he strode back towards his desk. “I must decide the best course of action regarding it. Your punishments will have to be decided later.”

“Yes, sir” he mumbled, the words barely whispering past his lips as his throat threatened to close around them.

“You two are temporarily dismissed.”

[elbiotipo]

How feasible do you think it's the speculative fiction idea of having a civilization that lived on Earth before humanity and dissappeared without leaving trace? Whether they're other humans, a different evolved animal or aliens.

The Silurian hypothesis...

I think it's disproven, in my opinion, because of ethnobotany. Hear me out.

When you look at the distribution of fauna and flora, you notice there are certain, well known patterns based on the movement of tectonic plates. So, you can see that fauna and flora split first in Gondwanan and Laurasian realms, and then in the continents we know.

Here's an excellent video talking about it, though in my opinion focuses too much in (mammalian) fauna when these patterns can be better seen in plants.

During our relatively short existence here on Earth, humans have been carrying plants and animals all over the continents. This is why the other day I went to a park here in South America and saw ginkgos, a plant that you will notice is not from here. There are plants from my region, from an exclusively "Gondwanan" distribution, growing right now in Europe and North America. Many of these plants and animals have gone wild and now grow everywhere. To me, it is very likely that at least some of those will survive and thrive after humans are gone, generating new species far away from their origin. In fact, some adapt too well that they're invasive (like pines in the Southern Hemisphere, or for the reverse, eucaliptus in the north). This is not even getting into the fact that, besides ourselves, the largest biomass belongs to our crops and domesticated animals. When we go extinct, I imagine there will be a short but very widespread geological formation formed only of human, cow and pig bones

Anyways, what I mean by this is that IF there was, at some point, some kind of global civilization existed on Earth, they should have spread plants and animals across the world, and we would see signs of that. Even if they aren't used as crops or domesticated animals, they could spread by accident or by other reasons. We would see gingkos in Buenos Aires, or rabbits in Australia or hippos in Colombia. And instead, so far, all our biological and paleontological record follows what could be expected from natural plate tectonics and migrations, with perhaps a couple weird cases, but nothing that would imply SOMEONE spreading them out. And while it's true that humans are a blink in the fossil record, the appearance of say, a Gondwanan plant in the Arctic Circle would not. It would be noticeable, it would raise eyebrows.

So that's my idea, there's no Silurian Hypothesis. Because of ethnobotany.

HOWEVER, there are a couple caveats here:

I'm assuming a global agrarian civilization. It is possible that there might have been cultures that might have been restricted to a single continent or region (humanity spent most of its history in Africa after all) and went extinct and left no trace in the fossil record. World of Serina has a very melancholic take on this.

I'm also assuming a land-dwelling civilization. I don't know about biogeography of the seas beyond the basics, though I do know there's obviously more mixing there.

There is the possibility that I'm wrong and *invasive* species are out-competed easier and would dissapear from the fossil record. This doesn't seem likely, though, see the Great American Interexchange.

So that's my take.

However, the Silurian Hypothesis also raises a couple questions for me. Earth has existed for over 4.3 billion years. On these billions of years, it looked, perhaps to us, like a very appealing blue planet with lots of fauna and flora, or even before, a planet that would be easy to shape into something else. Did nobody, in those billions and billions of years, show interest on Earth? This is like the Fermi Paradox stretched to the deep past, and to me there's these solutions:

Spacefaring alien civilizations are so rare that they might not exist or they're simply way too far to show interest on Earth

Earth-like life is rare, perhaps while Earth is an appealing world to us, it's the equivalent of Venus for others

They had visited, but their actions were minimal enough (perhaps just observation) that they left no trace

Earth-like planets are so common that our own doesn't really raise too much interest (which further raises the question of the Fermi Paradox)

Anyways, that's all I got for tonight. I might do a better post on this in the future.

[roboj0e]

"girl please" is a neutral phrase lmao but my bad ig. anyway, to 99% of the population a fetish and a kink mean more or less the same thing. if there's a difference could you explain it? thx... btw you're not a feminist if you think it's ok to draw or get off to sexual art of children, even if they're fictional/cartoon... you do realize a lot of shota and loli content is traced from photos of kids, right? my abuser made cartoon csem traced from my photos. :/

My dad used to force me to watch csem and distributed csem of me also exists. I actually get sent it sometimes on facebook who I know are just my dad using sock puppet accounts. Did I win the CSA Olympics? Am I now enough of an authority of this trauma to make unsubstantiated claims? I could trauma dump unsolicited on you too but I have compassion so I won't and also I'm not about to plead for my humanity from someone who won't listen and engage in good faith anyways.

I'm sorry that happened to you but it would have happened regardless of the existence of lolisho. Abusers are gonna abuse no matter what. This was the first thing I learned in therapy. What's funny is it was lolisho that help me realize my abuse. Yes I understood sexual abuse conceptually but I couldn't recognize it happening to ME until I saw my situation reflected back at me in a safe sane scenario. My therapist said it was bc I was repressing it in denial and only allowing myself to fantasize about it in a safe environment was I able to recognize it as abuse. Funny how life works like that huh.

Oh to explain I completely forgot bc I had to write this twice bc Tumblr crashed. A fetish is a sexual reliance on something to achieve sexual arousal or gratification and can be sexual.outside of sexual contexts. A kink amplifies sexual gratification, usually has to do with roleplay or sexual acts/positions/height/weight and has to be negotiated and communicated and consentual. Ppl do use them interchangeably BUT specifically with the word fetishize ur using it wrong in this case. To fetishize something there must be both dehumanization and objectification. U can not dehumanize or objectify fictional characters they are not human and are already objects.

No I don't support sexual art of children. This sort of phrasing is just a deliberate misrepresention so u can position urself as morally righteous and disengage from the conversation early and not have to examine what anyone is actually saying. They are fictional characters. They can be any age, any race and body type and have any name at any time. They are objects. They don't exist and can not accumulate trauma the way you or i can. They do not need protection.

If u don't like it that's fine. Especially considering your trauma. But ur claim is unsupported and wildly inaccurate. Do not projects ur trauma onto others especially as it pertains to facts about criminal psychology and sex crimes. This is unhealthy and will lead to paranoia that same paranoia that brought u to ur conclusion here. This is not pervasive enough in lolisho to be considered a trend or even the default. But you also could be sharing real abusive images/scenarios no matter what form of media u engage with. But that doesn't not mean we should sanitize art and media on the off chance someone could be evil. Your not exempt from the same personal responsibility ur trying to place on me just bc u don't engage in fictional pornographic material and it's not especially heinous when it's fictional art versus and any other medium. We could all be unknowingly sharing and engageing with abusive material but all we can do is protect and believe victims and figure out as a society how to reduce harm.

No banning lolisho or any media is not a solution. Studies show most csem is produced/distributed by parent/guardians. The best way to protect children is to advocate for children rights and the reduction of parental rights. Experts have been saying this for years. Children being treated like property both by law and society is what is perpetuating their abuse. Not fictional art.

Censorship is not the solution. Any historical application of censorship has always ALWAYS lead to the mistreatment and silencing of victims and marginalized communities. This will make it difficult for victims to appeal to censors and share their stories which are valuable for understanding abuse but also valuable bc it is art. And incentivizing ppl to invade other peoples privacy to be sure they have the right identity/trauma to create a specific type of art is fascism. So is censoring or banning that art. This will do nothing but silence and shame victims. This is happening still right now and has happened plenty in the past. Guilt and shame ONLY perpetuates sexual abuse.

This is also forcing ppl to engage in art and fiction with a paranoid analysis FIRST. telling ppl they can tell whose a good or bad person based on what they draw/write or engage with is not healthy and is antithetical to educating ppl on how to recognize abuse. It's irresponsible and It's giving children and teens anxiety disorders. Look at any ex anti/proship anonymous confessions. Look at the damage ppl are causing with this third grade level of word association and cause and effect. Ppl are developing POCD. Me included ALMOST.

Experts have been saying for decades now that fictional sexual material has no link to escalation into sexual violence or engaging in paraphilias. No fiction doesnt effect reality. these same psychologists that have debunked claims such as "violent video games cause violence" have also researched how it operates the same with fictional sexual material. There's no special circumstance just bc it's sex or porn.

Just bc u navigate the world on disgust and paranoia doesn't mean I have to. I listen to the science and research. While also having my own experience to draw from.

As a CSA victim with a SEX THERAPIST do u really think I would not have done my due diligence before engaging in any community?? I've done a hell of a lot of work to get where I am now. Sexually liberated and healthy. Both personal growth and LOTS of research into sex crimes. And I really don't feel like hearing regressive religiously programmed sex negative thoughts on the fiction I enjoy.

I am a feminist tho. I'm just not regressive and reactionary. 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

[amity-creates]

Gonna make this post to clear up some stuff because holy crap its driving us into panic.

Many people have come to me asking to credit the stimboards that I create, some even telling me to not use pinterest for gifs because of how it can be difficult to find the original author.

Ok fine, but tell me this, where the fuck am I supposed to find the original source of every single gif, better yet, a reliable source of gifs where i can credit stuff?????

You’re asking me to credit each gif. Which, if I attempted to look for the original source it could take me half an hour to days depending on where the gif comes from.

I would gladly credit it, believe me I would, but yall keep forgetting that many of these gifs have been reposted on multiple different platforms, almost to the point where tracing their origin can become difficult.

The reason why we use Pinterest is because it is accessible for us. We are able to make stimboards for yall much more easily. And i am PRETTY SURE that i am definitely not the only one who uses Pinterest to find these gifs.

Also, theres fair use. No where am I claiming these images as my own, I am reusing them into something new, something different. I even put a whole disclaimer on my pinned. I don’t claim ANY of these images as my own.

I’m not reposting these gifs as my own by themselves. I use them and make them into something that people can enjoy. These images are public, literally ANYONE can use them. Not to mention that I don’t know each and every author’s boundaries of how they want their gifs distributed, and trying to figure it all out would be time consuming.

We will still try our best to credit if we actively know who we have to credit, but expecting us to credit everything properly is unrealistic because of how the Internet works.

If yall know better gif sources where i can easily credit, then tell me. Otherwise, I will continue to use Pinterest, because that is literally the only source I know of atm.

I’m not going to stop using Pinterest unless I find a better alternative that I can credit properly. I’m still learning, and nagging at me for it won’t change anything if you don’t suggest anything for us to do instead.

If you are unhappy with this then you don’t have to interact with me. Im sure there are way better stimboard blogs out there who know better than me about this stuff. Just please stop nagging at us about it because we can’t do anything unless YOU give US a solution for this. We are still very new to stimboards, don’t expect us to be full on experts about it.

[randomfandommaddness]

"The Shadows are Sick. They have been sick for centuries, and they are tired of being sick. The problem is that they don't know the cure." - Alcor

->The Sky Trialist AU<-

The Children of Light are going missing.

This has been happening for a while now. No one knows where they go, but they vanish without a trace. Recently, it has gotten so bad that the Elders have noticed, and it may already be too late.

Some go through Eden but never make it to Storm Lock. Some venture to the edges of the map and seem to fall off of the world. However, witnesses have reported seeing patches of a pure black smoke-like fog, as well as the silhouettes of strange creatures.

At this point too many have been taken by this unknown force; even the Megabird has started taking precautions. No new children have been born in several weeks, as the newly fallen stars seem to disappear the fastest.

Due to the disappearances, the balance of light and darkness has shifted in favor of the Corruption. Shard Eruptions have become more frequent and dangerous. Pools of black fog have begun to infest the realms. Mysterious sink holes have appeared in certain areas too, made by who knows what...

With too many unknown variables, the Elders begin taking measures to cut the losses. They bar certain realms from travel, namely the Hidden Forest and the Golden Wastelands as they are the places where kids go missing the most often. They also close Eden's gates, as it seems impossible to return to the skies without the severe risk of not making it.

While bringing awareness, as well as taking measures to prevent anymore disappearances, does help to slow the problem down, it doesn't change the situation.

The Darkness has grown stronger and is attacking the kingdom. No new kids are being born, and the Elders must find a way to protect the remaining children from going missing. They also need to find a way to calm the Darkness before the realms are consumed by Corruption.

The elders cannot protect the children themselves, even with the light helms. But the children cannot remain in hiding, as that would halt any progress in cleaning up the Corruption. This would only cause the problem to get worse...

There seems to be only one possible solution: they need to strengthen the remaining children with a source of ancient power.

The Elders appeal to the Deities of the Four Elements to grant the sky kids the strength and power to fight against the encroaching shadows...

However, the deities in question do not trust the Elders or the Sky Kids. The keepers of elemental power have lost faith in the Light. They remember entrusting their blessings to the prophesized king from so long ago, a mistake that still haunts them to this day.

It takes some bargaining from the Elders to convince the gods to lend their power to the cause. But the conditions upon which the Elders agreed to may have made things a bit difficult. Those of which being:

The elemental power is not evenly distributed, rather it is only given to those who are deemed worthy by the gods. Since the gods have specific ideals that appeal to them, every kid they share their power with has to align with those ideals. While those ideals can be learned, it is preferred for them to exist naturally.

No kid can have more than one elemental power. This is a safety measure to prevent misuse and internal corruption.

Each god can choose one child to serve them on their behalf. These kids would be the closest to the elements' ideals, and act as messengers upon the request of the gods. In return, the chosen children would receive special blessings and protections against the Darkness from their Elemental Guardian.

Even with these conditions, the Elders are convinced that they can teach the ideals needed to become worthy of elemental power to the children. With the spirits' aid, they will need to work together with the kids to help arm them against the Darkness, as well as track down any children who are already worthy of the power.

With a plan in place, the Vault Elder also begins a search through her Archives to find a prophecy to guide them in a hope that Fate takes their side. But does such a decree from the Light exist?

To a Protagonist's dismay,

El Nath, a veteran who has seen it all, is not pleased with the lockdowns. Recently, his dear friend Capella went on a Pilgrimage to the Sky days before Eden's gates were officially closed. She has not returned, leaving him to worry for her fate.

When the announcement is made about the crisis, El Nath is readily willing to do whatever it takes to find his best friend, even if it means going behind the Elders' backs.

Unfortunately for him, breaking the rules may be the only option...

[mariacallous]

According to a memo circulating among State Department staff and reviewed by WIRED, the Trump administration plans to rename the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as US International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA), and to bring it directly under the secretary of state. The document, on which Politico first reported, states that as part of its reorganization, the agency will “leverage blockchain technology” as part of its procurement process.

“All distributions would also be secured and traced via blockchain technology to radically increase security, transparency, and traceability,” the memo reads. “This approach would encourage innovation and efficiency among implementing partners and allow for more flexible and responsive programming focused on tangible impact rather than simply completing activities and inputs.”

The memo does not make clear what specifically this means—if it would encompass doing cash transfers in some kind of cryptocurrency or stablecoin, for example, or simply mean using a blockchain ledger to track aid disbursement.

The memo comes as staffers at USAID are trying to understand their future. The agency was an early target of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has effectively been headed by centibillionaire Elon Musk. Shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, the State Department put the entire agency’s staff on administrative leave, slashed its workforce, and halted a portion of payments to partner organizations around the world, including those doing lifesaving work. Since then a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against the dismantling of the agency, but the memo appears to indicate that the administration has plans to continue its mission of drastically cutting USAID and fully folding it into the State Department.

The plans for the blockchain have also caught staffers off guard.

Few blockchain-based projects have managed to achieve large-scale use in the humanitarian sector. Linda Raftree, a consultant who helps humanitarian organizations adopt new technology, says there’s a reason for that—the incorporation of blockchain technology is often unnecessary.

“It feels like a fake technological solution for a problem that doesn’t exist,” she says. “I don’t think we were ever able to find an instance where people were using blockchain where they couldn’t use existing tools.”

Giulio Coppi, a senior humanitarian officer at the nonprofit Access Now who has researched the use of blockchain in humanitarian work, says that blockchain technologies, while sometimes effective, offer no obvious advantages over other tools organizations could use, such as an existing payments system or another database tool. “There’s no proven advantage that it’s cheaper or better,” he says. “The way it’s been presented is this tech solutionist approach that has been proven over and over again to not have any substantial impact in reality.”

There have been, however, some successful instances of using blockchain technology in the humanitarian sector. In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ran a small pilot to give cash assistance to Ukrainians displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war in a stablecoin. Other pilots have been tested in Kenya by the Kenya Red Cross Society. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which works with the Kenya team, also helped to develop the Humanitarian Token Solution (HTS).

One representative from an NGO that uses blockchain technology, but wasn’t authorized to speak to the media with regards to issues relating to USAID, says that particularly with regards to money transfers, stablecoins can be faster and easier than other methods of reaching communities impacted by a disaster. However, “introducing new systems means you’re setting up a new burden” for the many organizations that USAID partners with, they say. “The relative cost of new systems is harder for small NGOs,” which would often include the kind of local organizations that would be at the front line of response to disasters.

The proposed adoption of blockchain technology seems related to an emphasis on exerting tight controls over aid. The memo seems, for example, to propose that funding should be contingent on outcomes, reading, “Tying payment to outcomes and results rather than inputs would ensure taxpayer dollars deliver maximum impact.” A USAID employee, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the media, says that many of USAID’s contracts already function this way, with organizations being paid after performing their work. However, that’s not possible in all situations. “Those kinds of agreements are often not flexible enough for the environments we work in,” they say, noting that in conflict or disaster zones, situations can change quickly, meaning that what an organization may be able to do or need to do can fluctuate.

Raftree says this language appears to be misleading, and bolsters claims made by Musk and the administration that USAID was corrupt. “It’s not like USAID was delivering tons of cash to people who hadn’t done things,” she says.

[the-obnoxious-sibling]

travel restrictions.

i had vaguely wondered how the holy knights were supposed to protect the interests of the celestial dragons, like logistically. given they’re also cds and thus ~too good~ to live outside mariejois, how could they get to those low-lying lands where rebellion and rabble-rousing happen fast enough to do anything?

as a solution to that problem, teleportation totally tracks! control of travel and transportation is one of the more significant powers the world government has over its citizens.

the ancestors of the celestial dragons used superweapons on their enemies that flooded the world. imo it’s still up for debate whether the flooding was the point or an unanticipated side effect, but regardless, as a consequence nearly all land masses became islands. people were cut off from each other—except for the winners of that fighting, 95% of whom decided to move to the highest habitable land above sea level, hm, isn’t that a curious decision—and with the monsters lurking in the ocean, that separation became very permanent. and not just physical.

communication across the world is difficult because how does a message get to you. there’s, like, one newspaper with worldwide distribution, and it operates as wg propaganda most of the time. snailphones are expensive and the ones available to civilians have limited range. (vegapunk having the technology to transmit a message worldwide near-instantaneously was a disaster for the wg for a reason.) your knowledge is limited to what you see on your island, what the newspaper says, and what travelers between islands can tell you. that’s mostly going to be local news. and what do you care what’s happening on the other side of the world, anyway? what’s that got to do with you?

ships are expensive and time-consuming to build. they are not a casual investment. and unless you have materials that are limited in supply (adam wood, seastone, etc), you might still die at sea. it’s costly and dangerous to leave home. why take the risk? what’s so great out there that’s worth pursuing?

and even when you’ve got yourself a ship that can safely travel dangerous waters, you can only go so far so fast. a pirate can be impossibly strong and very influential compared to an ordinary man, but even the emperors’ travel time is limited by the laws of physics.

not so the holy knights!

but then, i wondered, why are the cds having a food shortage? can’t they just pentagram-transport food directly from their constituent kingdoms? and how has no one outside mariejois copied this magic yet? no matter how many witnesses you kill, somebody is going to see this happen and live. somebody’s going to get sloppy and leave some trace behind. so what makes this stuff unstealable, unreproducible?

in 1140 we get an answer for that: once again the wg has restricted access. whatever (or whoever) powers these abyss pentagrams, however it works, only those with the mark (of the holy knights? of nobility?? as yet unclear) can go through them.

it’s always about control with the world government. control of knowledge, control of travel, control of power.

[silkendandelion]

The New Faces of New Vegas

(My rp has finally gotten to Nevada, and I wanted to share what we drafted up for New Vegas in the aftermath of the independent Vegas ending)

SPOILERS for No Gods, No Masters ending

It's been years since Arcade left New Vegas. The courier had left one morning without a note or any trace as to their destination, leaving the city ruled solely by the securitron army and no instructions for the group of companions he had plucked from obscurity and propped up in the Lucky 38.

The group dissolved quickly and quietly, gathering their belongings and going their mostly separate ways, including Arcade (who was excommunicated from the Followers for his former Enclave affiliation once they no longer feared retaliation from the courier).

The only one who had any instruction from the courier was Yes Man, left with a singular, vague line of duty: "Keep them safe."

Almost five years later, it appears the super-computer has kept their promise, even opening the Lucky 38 to the public, though he is consistently confused why there are no customers.

"This place hasn't been so clean since before the war, and I even installed a new Serv-O protocol into some of the Mk-2's to run the cashier's office and bar." - Yes Man, about the Lucky 38's re-opening

The specifics escaped him, but Yes Man has always understood that the human element must be accounted for. Whether that be in running the Lucky 38, or in the rest of Vegas. And so, even under independent rule, Yes Man believes the courier's absence has accidentally left a power vacuum.

"Six hated authority, and everything they did was for the purpose of leaving New Vegas independent to decide it's own future. But what they didn't realize... is that they had to create a throne to leave it empty. Now it exists, and my only instruction was to keep things safe." - Yes Man, on Six's unintended consequence

Yes Man's solution: an election. To him, a true, fair election honors Six's wishes of New Vegas deciding for themselves, and the securitrons will do what they do best by keeping things civil.

Returning to New Vegas has it thriving as an economic center (albeit under tense threat of securitrons), and covered in campaign posters. The candidates are as follows:

Augustus St. John - An NCR veteran operating out of the Ultra Luxe (kept cannibal free by the courier). Augustus wants to return New Vegas to it's previous luxurious glory, with a focus on economic growth and "council-regulated distribution of a pre-determined portion of the wealth". He's immensely popular, promising wealth and opportunities to the citizens, though most don't understand he means taxes. That, and it's a well-kept secret that he actually never left the NCR. If he wins, he will hand the Mojave to the NCR faster than you can say "Hey, whatever happened to Kimball?"

Aldous Huxley - Freeside native, a thin, bespectacled man who orates about expanding New Vegas' already-acquired riches to the greater Mojave area, and that the best thing they can do is "open the gates of the Strip to all." He believes in recruiting tradesmen and farmers, building community among sharing resources to finish cleaning up Freeside and Westside and restoring the farmlands the NCR left behind. His goals, while lofty and noble, lack both funding and public support. The only one who truly believes in his cause is his friend Rosie, his self-proclaimed campaign manager and bodyguard.

Marc Antony - The newest high-roller to New Vegas, a charming socialite responsible for renovating the Gomorrah (after the courier extincted the gang running it) into his own casino: the Coliseum. Boldly, Marc Antony has turned the building into a tongue-in-cheek Legion-themed club, with male servers wearing shockingly authentic armor (though the skirts are quite short), and drawing in customers with prize fights. Wastelanders pay heaps of caps to watch "legionnaires" fight each other (and animals). Sports betting is alive and well at the Coliseum, and Marc Antony boasts that his is the safest casino on the strip, putting down trouble with brutal swiftness and even allowing sidearms to be carried inside.

When Darling recognizes one of the cashiers, he realizes the horrible truth: that the uniforms feel authentic because they are real, and Marc Antony, under Nero's blessing, has the Legion acquiring the funds, supplies, and numbers to finally take the Mojave in broad daylight, in the middle of the strip. What could he accomplish if he won the election?

[overlooklab]

What is the Chemical Composition of SSD Solution?

SSD solution, often referred to as Super Solution D, is a specialized chemical mixture primarily designed for cleaning blackened or defaced currency notes. Originally developed for specific industrial and cleaning applications, SSD solution is now mainly associated with removing stains from damaged or dyed currency—though its use in this context raises notable ethical and legal considerations.

Chemical Composition of SSD Solution

The precise formulation of SSD solution remains proprietary for most manufacturers, but general components include powerful acids, bases, and complex solvents. Typically, SSD solutions include:

1.Mercury Dioxide – A component that aids in dissolving stubborn stains or inks by reacting chemically to break down color pigments. 2.Zinc Oxide – Often utilized for its bleaching properties, zinc oxide can assist in lifting discoloration from surfaces. 3.Humine and Vectrol Paste – Both chemicals are commonly found in SSD kits, acting as catalysts and enhancing the reactivity of the solution. In addition, SSD solutions may contain stabilizers and other specialized reagents to ensure a controlled reaction. Some mixtures incorporate trace amounts of other acids and solvents for better penetration into stains and contaminants on currency.

Applications and Uses of SSD Solution

The most recognized use of SSD solution is to restore banknotes, often used for blackened or “black money” cleaning. However, SSD solution has also seen use in metal extraction, specifically in the mining industry for extracting precious metals from ores, where the solution selectively dissolves metallic components while leaving other substances intact. This process is both economical and environmentally friendly for industrial applications.

SSD chemicals can also play a role in laboratory research, particularly in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, due to their strong reactivity and ability to isolate specific compounds.

Legality and Ethical Issues

The use of SSD solution, especially in the context of cleaning “black money,” is highly controversial. Many countries classify the commercial use of SSD solutions as a restricted practice due to its association with illicit activities, such as money laundering and counterfeiting. Unauthorized use may violate local laws, and handling the solution improperly can expose individuals to serious health hazards due to its corrosive and toxic nature​.

Safety and Handling

Handling SSD solutions requires extreme caution, as exposure to the chemicals can lead to severe skin burns, respiratory issues, and even permanent eye damage. Professionals working with SSD chemicals are advised to wear protective gear, including gloves, eye protection, and masks, to prevent direct exposure.

Where to Buy SSD Solution

For legitimate industrial applications, SSD solutions and kits are available through specialized chemical supply companies. These companies generally verify customer credentials and often work under strict regulations to prevent misuse. Unauthorized purchase from unverified sources is not recommended, as it may lead to legal issues or involve counterfeit products.

For those seeking verified SSD solution providers, a reputable manufacturer and supplier of SSD chemicals is Overlook Laboratory. They offer a range of SSD solution products, backed by quality customer service and worldwide distribution. To inquire about their products or place an order, you can reach them at overlooklaboratory@gmail.com or Telegram https://bit.ly/4fQenBt

Conclusion

While SSD solution is a remarkable example of chemical technology with specific industrial applications, its association with currency cleaning has led to significant ethical and legal challenges. Proper use within legal parameters and careful handling are essential for those who work with SSD solutions in legitimate contexts.

[habitual-creatures]

I stole borrowed an absolute ANCIENT biology book from my dad lmao, too bad it’s in French tho :(

What in the fuck-

Where did your dad even get that?

ps. According to google translate lens. This is what it's garnered:

to establish for the form are also numerous for the volume. The latter can vary in quite large proportions, and, while we find very many nodules on the same subject, they do not generally exceed the volume of a pinhead or a grain of hemp. When, on the contrary, they are isolated, they can reach the volume of a hazelnut, be very apparent under the skin; but it is very rare that they reach these proportions. The most frequent cases are those where the encounter of the dimension of a grain of wheat.

on Number. It is essentially laughable; often we have found only two or three on each leg of the subject examined; sometimes, but more rarely, we have found only one; other times, it was a veritable colony of very small grains rolling under the finger like grains of lead. Chemical composition. From a chemical point of view, these nodules all contain carbonate of lime. In some of them, the presence of calcareous phosphate is beyond doubt. Hydrochloric acid, when poured on one of these pulverized nodules, causes a lively effervescence. A solution is then obtained

true, we have by dense fubrous, lamellae, isolated spaces, flat- tis, oblong, bone lacunae or osteoplasts, which, extended with water and treated with ammonium oxalate, gives a precipitate of lime oxalate. This same liquid, treated with ammonium sulphate, gnesis and ammonia, gives a white gelatinous precipitate of ammonium-magnesium phosphate. Histological characteristics. All the nodules that we submitted to microscopic examination remained for about 60 hours in one-third formic acid, to be decalcified and then immersed in 90º alcohol for 24 hours. The sections that were made on these nodules were always perpendicular to their major axis, because their shape is more often elongated or oval than round.

business anastomosed between them by canaliculi which put them in communication. This preparation of ossified nodules gives rise to many disappointments. Indeed, depending on the degree of hardening of the nodules, the shell which surrounds them is more or less eburned. Now, formic acid acts slowly in decalcification when the bone is eburned, so that after three days this shell is still very hard and sometimes chips the razor. On the other hand, very often this shell does not completely surround the nodule, and formic acid, penetrating easily inside, destroys almost the entire central part and especially what is adipose. It is understandable that it was difficult to have the appearance of the shell and the cavity of the nodule on the same preparation: it was only after numerous failures that we were able to note the drawing of a section of these bone nodules, an absolutely typical drawing, and which, showing fatty vesicles in the center, leaves no doubt as to the origin of these nodules (figure 1).

Fig. 4. Third stage of calcification.

All around we see a large cortical layer, entirely eburnated and stratified with scattered and rather rare bony corpuscles. In all this compact substance we see no trace of vessels. What is striking is the concentric arrangement of the lamellae and the irregularly distributed corpuscles. In the center, we see a rounded and sinuous cavity, containing fatty vesicles with walls thickened by a calcareous deposit. In other cases, the nodules are not due

In real bone we were able to follow, so to speak, the phases of development and calcareous transformation. We make a detailed historical description of it, in order to clearly show the process of this transformation.

Have fun with that hell segment. I don't even know if it's right.

[stevblog]

Crypto Token Development - To Propel Your Crypto Venture to New Heights

Crypto token development is the process of creating and launching digital assets, known as tokens, on a blockchain network. These tokens can serve multiple functions, such as representing ownership rights, enabling transactions, or powering decentralized applications (dApps). The development process involves designing the token's features, coding the necessary smart contracts, and integrating the token with the selected blockchain platform.

Understanding the Importance of Crypto Tokens in the Crypto Industry

In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, tokens are essential components of the ecosystem. They form the foundation for a variety of decentralized applications, offering innovative solutions across different sectors. Crypto tokens facilitate fundraising, incentivize user participation, and introduce new economic models that challenge traditional financial systems.

Benefits of Crypto Token Development for Your Venture

Fundraising Opportunities: Developing crypto tokens allows ventures to raise capital through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Security Token Offerings (STOs), or Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs), providing essential resources for scaling projects.

Increased User Engagement: Integrating tokens into your platform can boost user participation, foster community engagement, and create a vibrant ecosystem. Tokens can serve as rewards, access tools, or mediums of exchange.

Innovative Business Models: Tokens enable new business models that disrupt traditional methods. From decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), token-based ecosystems are transforming industries and creating growth opportunities.

Improved Transparency and Traceability: Blockchain technology ensures high transparency and traceability in token development. Every transaction and asset ownership detail is recorded on a distributed ledger, enhancing trust and accountability.

Competitive Advantage: Incorporating token development can set your venture apart, helping you stay ahead of the competition and position your project as a leader in the crypto space.

Various Token Standards for Development:

Crypto token development involves selecting the appropriate token standard based on the desired features and use cases. Popular standards include:

Ethereum Standards:

ERC-20

ERC-223

ERC-777

ERC-1400

ERC-721

ERC-827

ERC-1155

ERC-998

TRON Standards:

TRC-10

TRC-20

TRC-721

BSC Standards:

BEP-20

BEP-721

Other Popular Standards:

EIP-3664

BRC-20

SRC-20

Steps Involved in Crypto Token Development

Token Design: Define the token's purpose, utility, and tokenomics, including its supply, distribution, and usage within the ecosystem.

Smart Contract Implementation: Develop smart contracts to manage the token's features like minting, burning, transferring, and any additional rules or restrictions.

Token Deployment: Deploy the token on the chosen blockchain network, ensuring seamless integration with the platform's infrastructure.

Token Distribution: Plan and execute the token distribution strategy, which may involve an initial token sale, airdrops, staking rewards, or other mechanisms.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates: Continuously monitor the token's performance, address technical issues, and implement upgrades or new features to maintain its relevance and value.

Popular Use Cases of Crypto Tokens in Different Industries:

Crypto tokens are revolutionizing various industries by providing new ways to interact with digital assets and services. Key use cases include:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Tokens enable decentralized lending, borrowing, and trading platforms, as well as novel financial instruments.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): Tokens, especially ERC-721, allow the creation and trading of unique digital assets like art, collectibles, and in-game items.

Supply Chain Management: Tokens can track and trace goods, improving transparency and efficiency in supply chain operations.

Digital Identity and Access Control: Tokens provide secure, decentralized management of digital identities and access control.

Loyalty and Reward Programs: Businesses can use tokens to create innovative loyalty and reward programs, enhancing customer engagement.

Future Trends and Opportunities in Crypto Token Development

As the crypto industry grows, so does the demand for token development. Emerging trends and opportunities include:

Interoperability and Cross-Chain Compatibility: Developing protocols and standards that enable seamless interaction between different blockchain networks and their tokens.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Using tokens to power the governance and decision-making processes of DAOs.

Tokenization of Real-World Assets: Representing physical assets like real estate, art, or commodities through tokens, unlocking new investment opportunities and liquidity.

Decentralized Applications (dApps): Continued growth and integration of tokens in developing dApps across various industries.

Regulatory Advancements: As the industry matures, clear regulatory frameworks will facilitate the broader adoption and integration of crypto tokens.

Conclusion: Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Crypto Venture through Token Development

In the dynamic crypto industry, strategic token development can unlock your venture's full potential. By leveraging the benefits of token development, you can differentiate your offering, drive user engagement, and explore new avenues for growth and innovation. Our experienced crypto token development team is ready to guide you through this process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you harness the power of crypto tokens and propel your project to success.

Why Hivelance is the Best Place to Develop Your Token?

Hivelance is a leading token development service provider in the crypto industry. We analyze market trends to deliver high-quality token development services, helping investors create and launch tokens with features like exchangeability, traceability, and configurability.

[splitpointsolutions]

Exploring the Top Tools for Cloud Based Network Monitoring in 2025

With businesses increasingly implementing cloud-first programming, there has been no time when network visibility is more required. Conventional monitoring tools are no longer sufficient to monitor the performance, latency and security of the modern and distributed infrastructures.

And that is where cloud based network monitoring enters. It allows IT teams that have hybrid and cloud environments to have real-time views, remotely access them, and also have improved scalability.

Some of those tools are remarkable in terms of their features, user-friendliness, and in-depth analytics, in 2025. This is the list totaling the best alternatives that are assisting companies keep in front of the network problems prior to them affecting operations.

1. Datadog

DevOps and IT teams are fond of using Datadog due to its cloud-native architecture and extensive availability. It also provides visibility of full-stack, metrics, traces as well as logs, all on a single dashboard.

Its Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) allows identifying bottlenecks, tracing traffic and tracking cloud services such as AWS, Azure and Google cloud. It provides teams with the ability to move quickly with real-time alerts and customizable dashboards with the insights.

2. SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability

SolarWinds is traditionally associated with on-prem monitoring solutions, whereas, with shifts toward hybrid cloud observability, it will find itself extremely pertinent in 2025. The platform has evolved and is able to combine conventional network monitoring with cloud insights.

It provides anomaly detection, visual mapping, deep packet inspection using AI. This aids IT teams to troubleshoot through complex environments without switching between tools.

3. ThousandEyes by Cisco

ThousandEyes specializes in digital experience monitoring, and it is especially applicable to large, distributed networks. It also delivers end to end visibility at user to application level across third party infrastructure.

Its cloud agents and the internet outage tracking ensure that businesses can find out in a short time whether a performance problem is either internal or external. The strong support of Cisco gives the accuracy and the access of its network data.

4. LogicMonitor

LogicMonitor is a simple to deploy and scale agentless platform. It is awesome when an organization needs automation and little configuration.

The tool measures bandwidth, uptime, latency and cloud performance among various providers. Its predictive analytics not only identify trends, but they also notify teams before minor problems become major ones.

5. ManageEngine OpManager Plus

OpManager Plus is a powerful tool to be used by those who require an infrastructure support combination of the traditional and cloud-based monitoring. It is compatible with hybrid networks that provide stats such as device health, traffic and application performance.

It is distinguished by the UI, which is clean, self-explanatory, and can be customized. It especially is suitable in the middle-sized IT departments who require an unobstructed glance of both physical and virtual systems.

6. PRTG Network Monitor (Cloud Hosted)

The hosted version of PRTG has the same functions as its widely used desktop version, and its availability is on cloud levels. It carries sensors to keep track of server availability to network capacity and usage as well as cloud services.

It is perfect when companies require such a convenient approach as a license and payment as you go prices. Even the simpler option of the tool can be a good option to apply to the project where IT team size is smaller or you are at the beginning of the cloud migration.

What to Look for in a Monitoring Tool

When choosing a cloud network monitoring solution, it's important to focus on a few key aspects:

Ease of deployment and scalability

Multi-cloud and hybrid support

Custom alerting and reporting

Integration with your existing stack

User-friendly dashboards and automation

Each business is unique in its requirements and there is no such thing like the best tool, only the tool that suits your infrastructure, the size of your team and your response requirements.

Conclusion

With evolving infrastructure it is important to have the correct tools implemented to observe performance and availability. In 2025, the cloud based network monitoring tools will be more competitive, intelligent and responsive than ever.

Be it a Hollywood-sized company or a small IT start-up, by investing in any of these best platforms, you have the sight of keeping secure, flexible and consistent in a cloud driven planet.

[frozenlivestockexperters]

Leading Global Exporters of Frozen Meat – Beef & Pork by Frozen Livestock Exporters

Frozen Livestock Exporters stands at the forefront of the global frozen meat industry, with a focus on delivering private and wholesale solutions for frozen beef and pork. This comprehensive 800‑word overview explores the company's history, quality control measures, sourcing practices, export destinations, product varieties, safety standards, logistics capabilities, certifications, and future growth strategies.

Introduction to Frozen Livestock Exporters

Frozen Livestock Exporters is a premier global exporter specializing in high-quality, frozen beef and pork. Backed by years of industry expertise and a commitment to food safety, the company prioritizes superior product quality, traceability, and operational excellence. Serving importers, retailers, food service providers, and distributors worldwide, the company is recognized for its unwavering standards and deep understanding of international meat markets.

History and Global Reach

Founded with the mission to offer sustainable and top-tier frozen meat, Frozen Livestock Exporters has evolved into a trusted name in worldwide distribution. Initially catering to local markets, the company has since expanded its operations across continents. Today, it exports frozen beef and pork to destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, establishing reliable trade channels and strong customer relationships.

Sourcing & Product Range

Frozen Beef Exporters

Frozen Livestock Exporters sources premium beef from certified ranches and feedlots. These facilities adhere to strict animal welfare practices and sustainable farming methods, ensuring ethical and quality-driven production. Beef products include:

Frozen Beef Cuts: Ribs, sirloin, tenderloin, round, chuck, brisket, and flank.

Bulk Packages: Whole or half carcasses ideal for trade partners.

Processed Products: Value-added options like diced beef, strips for stir-fry, and ground beef.

Frozen Pork Exporters

The company’s frozen pork line features:

Frozen Pork Cuts: Shoulder, loin chops, tenderloin, belly, ribs, ham, and picnic shoulder.

Bulk Pork Products: Whole pork carcasses or primal cuts.

Value-Added Pork Items: Pre-sliced portions and diced pork for industrial use.

All products are available through flexible packaging and customized labeling to meet importer specifications and regulatory demands of diverse external markets.

Quality Assurance & Food Safety Standards

Maintaining rigorous quality control is central to Frozen Livestock Exporters’ operations. Each production stage—slaughter, processing, freezing, and packaging—is strictly monitored under international food safety regulations:

Hygienic Processing Plants: Facilities follow GMP and sanitation rules to uphold cleanliness and hygiene.

Certified HACCP Protocols: Hazard and critical control points are identified and managed to mitigate contamination risks.

Cold Chain Management: Strict maintenance of freezing standards at −18 °C or below from processing centers to port terminals.

Regular Audits: Internal and third-party inspections assess compliance with FSMA, EU regulations, and international trade standards.

Certifications & Compliance

Frozen Livestock Exporters is fortified with certifications and compliance approvals ensuring trust and market access:

ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000: Demonstrating systemic food safety management.

Halal & Kosher Certifications: Opening avenues to Middle East, Africa, and Jewish community consumers.

USDA / EU Approval: Essential for exports into North American and European markets.

Animal Welfare Compliance: Standards set by OIE and Leading Animal Welfare Organizations.

Traceability Systems: Batch-level tracing via RFID or barcoding ensures easy backtracking of origin and compliance records.

Logistics & Supply Chain

Global export demands robust logistics; Frozen Livestock Exporters employs a layered strategy:

Integrated Freezing & Blast Freezing: In-house technologies minimize ice crystal formation and preserve meat texture.

Multi-Carrier Collaboration: Partnerships with freight forwarders and container shipping lines support full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) shipments.

Reefer Container Expertise: Rigorous monitoring of reefer temperature data and GPS tracking for transparency.

Local Distribution Support: Warehousing hubs near major ports aid in consolidation and last-mile delivery.

Product Differentiation & Market Position

Frozen meat Exporters distinguishes itself through:

Flexible Sourcing: A network spanning North America, South America, and Europe for year-round supply.

Custom Cuts & Packaging: Tailored to retailer branding or industrial needs with varied weights, vacuum-seal, or tray packaging.

Value-Added Processing: Clean meat preparation without waste, ready for processing lines.

Market Insights Team: Offers importers competitive intelligence on pricing trends, demand forecasts, and regulatory updates.

Key Export Destinations & Market Strategy

Frozen Livestock Exporters strategically targets markets with burgeoning meat demand:

Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, China): High demand for premium frozen beef; consistent shipments of chuck, ribeye, and tenderloins.

Middle East & North Africa: Halal‑certified beef and pork for trade partners with pork markets in North Africa.

European Union: High-quality chunks, processed beef for restaurants, and pork primal cuts for butchers.

Africa & Latin America: Focus on primal cuts and chilled products at competitive pricing for growing retail and food service sectors.

The company stays ahead through ongoing research, responsive supply-chain agility, and adaptability in emerging markets.

Sustainability & Animal Welfare Focus

As global consumers demand sustainable and ethical practices, Frozen Livestock Exporters invests in:

Sustainable Farming Partnerships: Collaborates with producers practicing rotational grazing and reduced antibiotic use.

Emission Reduction: Optimizes transport routes, uses modern reefers for lower fuel consumption.

Waste Valorization: Converts off-cuts into pet food or rendering components, reducing waste streams.

Compliance with Welfare Standards: Implements third-party audits to guarantee humane livestock handling.

Risk Management & Food Security

Operating in global trade involves challenges:

Biosecurity Protocols: Regular health screening of livestock to prevent spread of diseases like ASF or FMD.

Regulatory Navigation: Regulatory specialists stay abreast of import Tariff Barriers, Customs documentation, labeling, and quarantine measures.

Currency & Pricing Risk: Employs hedging strategies and flexible contract structures to counteract currency volatility and fluctuating feed costs.

Innovation & Future Outlook

Frozen Livestock Exporters consistently innovates to stay competitive:

Precision Farming & RFID Traceability: Blockchain solutions planned to enhance traceability and consumer transparency.

Product Diversification: Exploring marinated ready-to-cook meat, precooked protein lines, and low-sodium processed beef for health-conscious consumers.

Direct-to-Retail Branding: Considering proprietary branded frozen meat for retail channels in select markets.

Expanded Logistics Network: Reinforcing warehouses and cold‑chain capabilities to meet rising market demands globally.

Why Choose Frozen Livestock Exporters?

Superior Global Reach: A strong export footprint across continents and a diverse client portfolio.

Uncompromising Quality: Comprehensive certifications, standardized farming, and hygiene practices.

Tailored Services: Flexible packaging, halal/kosher options, and wholesale/private‑label solutions.

Food Safety Assurance: HACCP, regulated cold chain, and traceability from farm to fork.

Sustainable & Ethical: Focus on welfare audits, ecological stewardship, and responsible sourcing.

Innovative Focus: Embracing new technologies and logistics strategies to evolve with market needs.

Conclusion

Frozen pork Exporters has solidified its position as a leading exporter of frozen beef and pork. Their operations bridge farm origins to international markets with food‑grade precision, strict safety practices, and ethical standards. By offering flexible, high‑quality, and sustainable solutions, they meet evolving global market demands and align with rising consumer awareness.

Import partners, retailers, distributors, and food service entities aiming to secure reliable frozen meat supplies—backed by traceability, certification, and global logistics—should consider Frozen Livestock Exporters as a trusted, long‑term ally. Their forward‑thinking drive and comfort in navigating complex international trade landscapes position them well to shape the next chapter of the frozen meat export industry.