#domain-driven design

[technicalfika]

Domain-Driven Design: Unveiling the Power of Strategic Software Development

In the world of software development, creating robust and efficient applications requires more than just writing code. It involves understanding the complex interactions between various components and aligning the software’s design with the real-world domain it serves. This is where Domain-Driven Design (DDD) comes into play. In this article, we’ll explore what Domain-Driven Design is, its key…

[atozofsoftwareengineering]

Introducing Data Mesh

Check out my latest video on #DataMesh - an emerging approach to data architecture that is revolutionizing data ownership and management. #DataArchitecture #DecentralizedData #DataOwnership

Please do not forget to subscribe to our posts at www.AToZOfSoftwareeEgineering.blog. Listen & follow our podcasts available on Spotify and other popular platforms. Have a great reading and listening experience!

[jcmarchi]

AI-Driven Platform Could Streamline Drug Development

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/ai-driven-platform-could-streamline-drug-development/

AI-Driven Platform Could Streamline Drug Development

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an AI-driven platform that dramatically accelerates the prediction of chemical reactions, a crucial step in drug discovery. Moving away from traditional trial-and-error methods, this innovative approach combines automated experiments with machine learning.

This advancement, validated on over 39,000 pharmaceutically relevant reactions, could significantly streamline the process of creating new drugs. Dr. Emma King-Smith from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory highlights the potential impact: “The reactome could change the way we think about organic chemistry.” This breakthrough, a collaborative effort with Pfizer and featured in Nature Chemistry, marks a turning point in harnessing AI for pharmaceutical innovation and a deeper understanding of chemical reactivity.

Understanding the Chemical ‘Reactome’

The term ‘reactome’ signifies a groundbreaking approach in chemistry, mirroring the data-centric methods seen in genomics. This novel concept, developed by the University of Cambridge researchers, involves using a vast array of automated experiments, coupled with machine learning algorithms, to predict how chemicals will interact. The reactome is a transformative tool in the realm of organic chemistry, particularly in the discovery and manufacturing of new pharmaceuticals.

The methodology stands out for its data-driven nature, validated through a comprehensive dataset comprising over 39,000 pharmaceutically relevant reactions. Such a vast dataset is pivotal in enhancing the understanding of chemical reactivity at an unprecedented pace. It shifts the paradigm from the traditional, often inaccurate computational methods that simulate atoms and electrons, towards a more efficient, real-world data approach.

Transforming High Throughput Chemistry with AI Insights

Central to the reactome’s efficacy is the role of high throughput, automated experiments. These experiments are instrumental in generating the extensive data that forms the backbone of the reactome. By rapidly conducting a multitude of chemical reactions, they provide a rich dataset for the AI algorithms to analyze.

Dr. Alpha Lee, who led the research, sheds light on the workings of this approach. “Our method uncovers the hidden relationships between reaction components and outcomes,” he explains. This insight into the interplay of various elements in a reaction is crucial in decoding the complexities of chemical processes.

The transition from mere observation of initial high throughput experimental results to a deeper, AI-driven understanding of chemical reactions marks a significant leap in the field. It illustrates how integrating AI with traditional chemical experiments can unveil intricate patterns and relationships, paving the way for more accurate predictions and efficient drug development strategies.

In essence, the chemical ‘reactome’ represents a major stride in leveraging AI to unravel the mysteries of chemical reactivity. This innovative approach, by transforming how we comprehend and predict chemical interactions, is set to have a lasting impact on the field of pharmaceuticals and beyond.

Advancing Drug Design with Machine Learning

The team at the University of Cambridge has made a significant leap in drug design with the development of a machine learning model tailored for late-stage functionalisation reactions. This aspect of drug design is crucial, as it involves introducing specific transformations to the core of a molecule. The model’s breakthrough lies in its ability to facilitate these changes precisely, akin to making last-minute design adjustments to a molecule without needing to rebuild it from the ground up.

The challenges typically associated with late-stage functionalisations often involve rebuilding the molecule entirely – a process comparable to reconstructing a house from its foundation. However, the team’s machine learning model changes this narrative by allowing chemists to tweak complex molecules directly at their core. This capability is particularly important in medicine design, where core variations are crucial.

Expanding the Horizons of Chemistry

A key challenge in developing this machine learning model was the scarcity of data, as late-stage functionalisation reactions are relatively underreported in scientific literature. To overcome this hurdle, the research team employed a novel approach: pretraining the model on a large body of spectroscopic data. This method effectively ‘taught’ the model general chemistry principles before fine-tuning it to predict intricate molecular transformations.

The approach has proven successful in enabling the model to make accurate predictions about where a molecule will react and how the site of reaction varies under different conditions. This advancement is critical, as it allows chemists to precisely tweak the core of a molecule, enhancing the efficiency and creativity in drug design.

Dr. Alpha Lee speaks to the broader implications of this approach. “Our method resolves the fundamental low-data challenge in chemistry,” he says. This breakthrough is not just limited to late-stage functionalization; it paves the way for future advancements in various domains of chemistry.

The integration of machine learning into chemical research by the University of Cambridge team represents a significant stride in overcoming traditional barriers in drug design. It opens up new possibilities for precision and innovation in pharmaceutical development, heralding a new era in the field of chemistry.

You can find the full research here.

[thebarontheabyss]

This tale starts with your death.

Read WIP here

(Current wordcount: 240k!)

You remember only the moth, carrying you through the cosmos.

And so, the Abyss beckons you.

Now, you are a spirit, immortal. After a meeting with the Grim Reaper, Death, you were gifted with a peculiar inheritance: a bar.

This mysterious establishment and the Abyss around it serve as a nexus, connected to every realm in existence. It's a haven where spirits and deities, devils and angels, converge to drink and revel.

Yet, beneath the surface, an unease stirs. A voice calls out in your dreams—a loneliness that echoes through the Abyss. Why does it seek you?

A motley crew of spirits and immortals, each hailing from distant corners of the realms, stands with you. Bonds are waiting to be formed, or even love that transcends death itself—perhaps even with Death themself.

Manage your bar, where serving a drink to a god or an eldritch entity is just another day's work. Unravel a cosmic mystery, go on a date in infernal Hell, witness the universe's creation, or unlock the arcane secrets of magic.

Your new afterlife awaits.

A narrative-driven experience focused on character development and storytelling.

Play as any gender or none.

Shape your personality through meaningful choices.

Engage in deep and complex relationships with a diverse cast of characters.

Romance mortals and immortals alike - if you want poly, purely physical, or asexual - they will respond in kind.

Explore the afterlife, visit realms of immortals and gods, and uncover the dark secrets of the bar.

M\F\NB (Poly or Monogamous paths) Death reveals a surprising warmth beneath their eternal duty.

Is there room for love within their everlasting embrace? Read more >>>

M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths) This devilish being, a powerful magnet of desire, seeks more than power in the bar’s shadows.

Who dares to pursue the heart behind the flame?

Read more >>>

M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths) The Witch, with their feline companion, seeks a lost soul, their magic stirring trouble and passion alike.

Can a mortal love thrive in the spirit realm?

Read more >>>

M (Monogamous path)

A mercenary turned security guard, Hastur carries an immortal burden, guilt born of past battles and sacrifices.

Will your love heal his wounds?

Read more >>>

NB (Monogamous path) The spectral diva enchants with their voice, their performance a dance of beauty tinged with the sorrow of eternal life.

Can your love find a new song for them?

Read more >>>

M\F\NB (Monogamous path) A shade keeps the bar’s order, and his silence holds the weight of cosmic secrets and the tapestry of existence.

Will your heart fall for the being behind the shadow?

Read more >>>

With feathers dark and wit sharp, The Raven’s history is as rich as the bar itself. He offers piercing insight beneath a layer of humor.

Read more >>>

The stern soothsayer-turned-accountant Yaga guards the bar’s fortune while wrestling with her own spectral regrets and wisdom.

Read more >>>

Shelly, the bar’s assistant, brings life-affirming warmth but seeks a new family to fill the void of her lost one.

Read more >>>

Welcome to the cosmos: the tapestry of existence, a complex weave of ever-changing realms. Each domain is a thread in the grand design.

Read more >>>

Feedback on any typos, grammatical errors, or other textual issues.

Notes on any continuity errors to ensure a smooth and logical progression.

Thoughts and opinions on the plot, characters, and overall narrative experience.

Don't be shy about sending your feedback - as small as it may be. I'll be answering and taking each into consideration. You are very welcome to post your reviews here!

The game explores themes of Death in various forms, including suicide.

Alcohol indulgence and its various side effects (hangovers, vomiting, etc.)

Sexual themes (currently only non-explicit)

[doumadono]

Could I request some SFW headcanons for Viking Shoto and Viking Dabi? Whatever aspects you delve into, I'm all ears! 💜💜💙💙

A/N: I sincerely hope you find enjoyment in this collection of headcanons ♥

KVITRAVN - MHA VIKING AU

Viking Shoto

Shoto is well-versed in ancient runic scripts, using them not only for communication but also to unlock the secrets of his Viking heritage, often deciphering ancient texts and prophecies.

Shoto has a talent for playing a unique Viking instrument known as the harmony harp, using it to create soothing melodies that bring tranquility to the hearts of those around him. With nimble fingers, he skillfully plucks the sweetest notes, ensuring that the captivating melody not only enchants but also leaves all the females utterly captivated by him.

Shoto is a master archer, his accuracy unmatched even in challenging conditions. His arrows are tipped with special materials that make them particularly effective against his foes.

Shoto's torso is adorned with intricate tattoos, featuring a combination of runic symbols and Viking patterns believed to bring good luck.

Shoto's ambitions extend beyond mere conquest. He seeks to reshape the Viking world, envisioning a domain where fear of his name is as chilling as the ice he commands.

Shoto's dedication to his craft is unparalleled. He undergoes rigorous training routines, honing his physical strength and combat skills to perfection through discipline and hard work.

Shoto harbors a deep-seated resentment towards Touya, driven by the fear that Touya might ascend to the throne after Endeavor's demise. In Shoto's perspective, the rightful heir to the throne should be him, considering his status as the youngest and, in his opinion, the most intelligent among the brothers.

Viking Dabi

Dabi's weapons are covered with a secret mix that, when ignited, produces mesmerizing blue flames. This unique touch adds an eerie beauty to his prowess on the battlefield.

Dabi is an exceptional tracker, navigating the dense forests and treacherous terrains with uncanny ease.

Dabi's loyalty to his Viking kin is unwavering. He's known to stand by his comrades in times of adversity, earning the respect and trust of those who fight alongside him.

Dabi, surprisingly, has a talent for blacksmithing. He forges weapons with intricate designs.

In quiet moments, Dabi can be found gazing at the stars, pondering the mysteries of the cosmos. This solitary ritual is his way of finding solace in the vastness of the Viking world.

Dabi possesses an extraordinary affinity for thunderstorms - amid them, his focus sharpens. When the skies resonate with thunderous roars and illuminate with lightning flashes, Dabi's combat abilities surge, transforming him into an unstoppable force.

Dabi's role in battles extends beyond direct confrontation. He excels as a strategic saboteur, targeting supply lines and strategically weakening his enemies before engaging in open combat.

On the battlefield, Dabi sports an intimidating mask crafted from the jawbone of a wolf, covering his lower face from the nose downward.

Touya never envisioned himself as a prospective earl following his father's demise. Ruling was never his inclination; instead, he was always drawn to adventures and battles.

[sculkapologist]

Was suddenly possessed with the desire for a lil set of profiles for everyone in the Corrupted World minecraft AU!! you can probably tell by their names that these guys started life in the Bendy fandom, but then we got really carried away with MINECRAFT LORE...

the Basic Premise of Corrupted World AU is that when a bit of code gets corrupted, or degrades over time, the world replaces that code with something similar -- a corrupted bit of grassland will be overwritten by the code of nearby grassland. This works fine for most things, but there's nothing else like a Player in the world of Minecraft.................... these little bits of encroaching mob data have been mostly benign, until Joey's curiosity stretches the world to its limits, and the world's corruption becomes more aggressive.

Some basic notes on everyone under the cut!

Jack is an old player whose code changed so slowly that he honestly can't remember a time when he wasn't a little sheepy. A peaceful, friendly guy who loves to explore and makes contacts wherever he goes -- moving from village to village, build to build, to bring items he's found in his travels to trade and sell, sounding his own broken goat horn to announce his wares. Thanks to Jack, the world's far-flung players might be able to start to connect again...

(design by Mochi and Shazz, character by Mochi)

Sammy is a grumpy and strangely cautious player who keeps to himself ever since he escaped from an Ancient City..... changed. He was once an adventurous builder with an exacting sense of aesthetics, but now he's just trying to survive quietly with his sheep. Afflicted with painfully sensitive hearing and infected with sculk, he hides in an underground, wool-insulated home out in the hills and lives the most pacifist life he can manage, avoiding any death that could spread the sculk in his body.

(design and character by Shazz (me!))

Henry was always driven to look out for others, and when he died defending a village from attack, the grateful villagers helped to revive him the only way they knew how. He kind of wishes they'd just let him respawn... not realising some glitching armour had scrambled his health too badly to come back normally. In any case, Henry's gotten attached to the village... becoming more protective of the people there... almost unwilling to leave.

(design by Maf and Shazz, character by Maf)

A bit of a loner with a strange sense of humour, Norman often lingered near the ocean and didn't notice the little changes like not needing air when his water-breathing potions should've run out... until the corruption of his code made it sort of impossible for him to return to land. That's alright; he's perfectly happy to hassle the others when they wander into his territory.

(design by Shazz and Boo, character by Thren)

Wickedly clever with a knack for experimentation, Susie was left stranded in the Nether a long time ago and was determined to thrive even in that hellish domain -- and thrive she did. Now she's gotten a bit of reputation even on the Overworld, both for a mastery of potions and magic, and a cruel willingness to take what she wants.

(design by Boo and Thren, character by Thren)

Ever since Joey defeated the Ender Dragon and heard that conversation between two mysterious voices, he hasn't been able to let go of the idea that there is something more beyond this world of blocks and code -- but this charismatic dreamer has been prying at the world's secrets well before that. He convinced Susie to join him as the first to explore the Nether, talked Sammy into delving into an Ancient City with him, and tried to get Henry to join him in his quest for the End, gifting him code-modified armour that was better than anything his old friend could get. For some reason, though, they all lost contact, and Joey found himself alone in the End, where more code experiments in a land where only one mob is really prevalent had... an effect on him....

(design and character by Boo)

Pete isn't a player at all, he's a villager... but one day he found himself outside of his village, suddenly realised how big the world is, and couldn't resist the urge to explore. He's close with Jack, and has joined up with him on some expeditions to aid his own work as a cartographer. Without the ability to respawn, though, it's significantly more dangerous for him, and the two of them MAY have poked into some evoker magic looking for an alternative...

(design and character by Thren and Mochi)

Linda is deeply interested in the world's history, curious what sort of people or ancient players must've once populated the ruins, and she's also an experienced crafter with a penchant for metalworking. While the world of Minecraft has no real concept of monogamous relationships, she's settled with Henry as her one-and-only... which works out now that he's partially made of metal. Linda hadn't experienced any code corruption until data replacement became more aggressive, and it's still subtle for now. But it's handy to be able to touch things that are burning hot without taking damage!

(design by Shazz, character by Thren and Maf)

Fixing Sammy should be easy enough, Joey thought. Some of his data was corrupted by sculk -- if they can find that lost data in the code somewhere, it just needs to be reintegrated with Sammy. Attach it to an eye of ender, replace one of Sammy's eyes with the eye of ender -- simple! A complete Sammy! ...the lost data itself had other ideas. This strange construct that collected around the eye Joey provided is a mix of Sammy's lost data, garbled junk data, and -- he claims -- the remnants of an Ancient Player from the days when end cities were populated, before everything went so wrong and Minecraft's world became so lonely. His speech is glitchy and garbled, struggling to describe a Game and Code and a True Player that he believes must reset a world that has been "running too long." In lieu of a username, this apocalyptic anomaly goes by "the Prophet".

(design and character by Shazz)

[youryurigoddess]

A. Z. Fell & Co. bookshop and its statues, part 2

Welcome to the second part of my insane deep dive into Aziraphale’s world of slightly outdated decor, golden-colored trinkets, and their ostentatiously Greek (especially for a representative of an originally Judeo-Christian mythology) symbolism. As a short recap, the last installment covered six pieces in the northern and central sections of the bookshop plus a plot-important medal previously displayed on one of them, but currently left with the other bibelots on the bookseller’s desk. We’ll start right there, where we previously left off.

While a lot of the bookshop action plays out in the circle between the formerly discussed statues, its office part is especially close to Aziraphale himself. As the titular Guardian of the Eastern Gate, the angel consciously spends most of his time in this small space in the Eastern part of the bookshop, confined to his desk or reading stand. This means that the decorations of this area have more personal significance and are most probably used as daily reminders for him to keep his thoughts and priorities on track as much as provide pleasant distraction from the weary eyes.

The two windowsill figures of the Art Deco dancers from S1 were replaced by a somewhat similar set of twin statues by Ernest Rancoulet called Retour des Bois (Return from the Woods). Depicting a young woman accompanied by a putto, Aphrodite and Eros, frolicking in a dance through the woods and meadows. This bucolic fantasy with Aphrodite makes some sense when we consider how Aziraphale’s personal love story started (and will presumably end) in a garden, but let’s deep deeper into its protagonists. Or protagonist, actually, because what else can be told about Love itself?

Eros as the god of Desire is usually presented in art as a handsome young man, though in some appearances he is a boy full of mischief, ever in the company of his mother. It is usually under the guidance of Aphrodite when he employs his signature bow and arrows to make mortals and immortals alike to fall in love. His role in myths is mostly complementary, as a catalyst for other mythological figures and their stories, with the notable exception being the myth of Eros and Psyche, the story of how he met and fell in love with his wife.

In short, they are the original star-crossed lovers from entirely separate worlds who meet and fall in love by divine happenstance, only to be separated by Psyche’s family. Convinced by her sisters that her husband is, in fact, a vile winged serpent, Psyche breaks his one rule and the attempt to kill the monster leads her to falling in passionate love with him. Eros flees and Psyche wanders the Earth searching for him and succumbing to a series of impossible tasks reminding of those from the Scarborough Fair ballad or the more modern fairytale about Cinderella. She ultimately fails, but is saved by the healed Eros, granted immortality and the status of his equal, after which they can properly marry with a huge wedding banquet, a real feast of the gods.

In the Christian Middle Ages, the union of Eros and Psyche started to symbolize the temptation and fall of the human soul, driven by the sexual curiosity and lust from the Love’s domain, mirroring the original sin and the expulsion from Eden.

Oh, and their Latin names? Cupid and Anima. C+A.

We’ll get back to them in a minute.

According to unnecessary but extensive research, the two mid-century table lamps standing over the desk were most probably produced in France after another unspecified 19th century sculptor like the example above, although this particular putti design can be also found in the so called Hollywood regency style of the same time period. The putto is holding onto a cornucopia, a classical antiquity symbol of plenty, which then continues to the bulb section.

The cornucopia is an easily recognizable symbol of abundance, fertility and, to lesser extant, peace and good fortune. Since the horn is phallic-shaped, but hollow at the same time, it combines intimate imagery of both male and female character at the same time, which further ties into notions of fertility. In its role as a fertility symbol, the cornucopia is also usually associated with Demeter, whose small statue is also standing on the bookshop’s counter. Which seems like a recurring theme.

I saw multiple theories about Aziraphale’s centerpiece, but somehow the truth proved to be much less significant than previously thought. This roman soldier, possibly a centurion, driving his two horses in a highly decorated chariot is made from a marble powder resin composite and takes the most visible place in the Eastern part of the bookshop even though it’s seemingly one of the newest additions to Aziraphale’s collection — its author, Lorenzo Toni, was born in 1938 and became a sculpture master by the 1970s. 

At first glance, the parallel to the Marly Horses seems obvious and we could leave it basically at what was written recently on Crowley and Aziraphale’s dynamics. But here is where instead of commenting on the antique sculpture that seems to be the inspiration behind this piece or the many intricacies of Roman chariot racing I’ll do something completely unhinged — i.e., play my Greek philosophy card.

In the dialogue "Phaedrus ”, Plato presents the allegory of the chariot to explain the tripartite nature of the human soul or — you guessed it — psyche. The charioteer is the man’s Reason, the rational part that loves truth and knowledge, which should rule over the other parts of the soul through the use of logic. One of the horses, the white one, is man’s Spirit, a motivated part which seeks glory, honor, recognition and victory. The second horse, the black one, represents man’s Appetite — an ever so hungry part which desires food, drink, material wealth and physical intimacy.

And the fun part? This triad is established to analyze the madness of love. In a classical Greek context, that is not between a man and a woman, but erastes and eromenos:

The charioteer is filled with warmth and desire as he gazes into the eyes of the one he loves. The good horse is controlled by its sense of shame, but the bad horse, overcome with desire, does everything it can to go up to the boy and suggest to it the pleasures of sex. The bad horse eventually wears out its charioteer and partner, and drags them towards the boy; yet when the charioteer looks into the boy's face, his memory is carried back to the sight of the forms of beauty and self-control he had with the gods, and pulls back violently on the reins. As this occurs over and over, the bad horse eventually becomes obedient and finally dies of fright when seeing the boy's face, allowing the lover's soul to follow the boy in reverence and awe. The lover now pursues the boy. As he gets closer to his quarry, and the love is reciprocated, the opportunity for sexual contact again presents itself. If the lover and beloved surpass this desire they have won the "true Olympic Contests"; it is the perfect combination of human self-control and divine madness, and after death, their souls return to heaven.

And such a perfect combination of the motifs already introduced to us by the two Eros statues and the Head of the Victorious Athlete.

Aziraphale might be a titular Companion to Owls (or, to be precise, the companion to one particular Nite Owl), but he had also made sure to have at least one owl keeping him company. And of course, the owl of Athena (who was interestingly both a bird and a snake goddess) is an absolutely conclusion here as the universal symbol of wisdom and knowledge in the Western culture, but it can’t be that easy, right?

In the Bible, you'll find that owls often symbolize something unclean and forbidden, as well as desolation, loneliness, and destruction. This symbolic significance is pointed out in Leviticus 11:16-17 and Deuteronomy 14:11-17 where owls are mentioned among the birds not to be eaten. Owls were considered unclean most likely because they are predatory creatures who eat raw flesh with the blood still in it, and that was an even bigger food safety concern for the biblical nomads than to us today.

Owls are also among the wild predators that have long dwelled in the desert lands and abandoned ruins of Egypt and the Holy Land. Both Isaiah and Zephaniah speak of owls nesting in ruined wastelands to paint symbolic images of barrenness, emptiness, and utter desolation. In Psalm 102:3–6, the owl symbolizes the loneliness of the psalmist’s tortured heart:

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

It’s a devastating, but still beautiful piece that deals with the feeling of utter rejection, the ultimate bad breakup of the relationship between a human and their God. And this… simply didn’t happen between God and Aziraphale, not even during his Job job. The angel had always considered Her love and ineffability as a given, even when the whole Heavenly Host was against him during the Non-Apocalypse. His allegiance stayed with God, not necessarily Her angels. Which brings us yet again to the motion of Crowley as the owl.

The angel and the demon are the companions to each other's loneliness, but Aziraphale’s needs seem significantly bigger than their Arrangement that he even considered a wooden substitute protectively hovering over him 24/7. He seems to be the one who is the loneliest and most rejected.

Oh, and if you think that putting a small bronze statue of a putto with a bronze putto-shaped candleholder right behind it (visible on the filing cabinet in the bottom right corner) is already a stretch, let me show you what’s on the other side of that wall.

Just like before the bookshop fire, the famous sink in the small backroom is adorned with a perfectly kitschy white plaster sculpture of The Two Cherubs, a small part of a larger painting by Raphael (the painter, not the Archangel) titled Sistine Madonna. In the painting the Madonna, holding Christ Child and flanked by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara, stands on clouds before dozens of obscured putti, while two distinctive winged putti rest on their elbows beneath her. with bombastic side eyes and clearly unspoken, but very controversial thoughts about the whole scene and their role in it.

With an attitude like that, there’s no wonder that the putti have inspired some legends. According to one, the original cherubs were children of one of his models they would come in to watch. Struck by their posture, he added them to the painting exactly as he saw them. Another story says that Raphael was inspired by two street urchins looking wistfully into the window of a baker's shop.

The Germans implicitly tied this painting into a legend of their own, "Raphael's Dream." Arising in the last decades of the 18th century, the legend — which made its way into a number of stories and even a play — presents Raphael as receiving a heavenly vision that enabled him to present his divine Madonna. It is claimed the painting has stirred many viewers, and that at the sight of the canvas some were transfixed to a state of religious ecstasy akin to Stendhal Syndrome (including one of Freud's patients).

Their big, seemingly cherubic companion doesn’t seem to have a specific provenance, but what’s left of his limbs might suggest that it could be an infant Jesus as well as another putto. But honestly who knows at this point.

On the other side of the same room, right at the door leading to the big backroom, there are two lamps with Auguste Moreau’s Young Lovers, a bronze sculpture depicting a courting couple on the verge of a physical embrace, holding garlands of roses and hiding under some old vines. Which aligns perfectly with the beloved romcom trope of a rain shelter leading to sudden love realizations, as well as Crowley choosing this part of the bookshop to have a word with his angel in private and then offering his advice on anything related to human love. No wonder that the angel looked at him like that.

This statue carries with it more than one allegorical interpretation, intentional or not. Arguably the most obvious one is the myth of Eros and Psyche, one we already covered in this post. But similarly to his earlier sculpture, Eros also serves here as an allegory for nature and the return to the natural state itself. Like Adam in Eden, he's unclothed and symbolically crowned as a ruler of his domain. Psyche, enamored with his confidence, is about to take her own leap of faith as her fabric restraints fall away. One could say that she's tempted to follow him into nature, deep into the garden of love.

And with that exact thought I will leave you today, dear reader. Through this analysis we learnt many things, among them two significant facts about Aziraphale: firstly, he’s an utter and incorrigible romantic, and secondly, a hoarder. Forget Crowley’s souvenirs — the amount of this angel’s statues is something else. And it isn’t even his hyperfixation!

[asklilmissrarity]

Progress Update on Melodi

Hello, everyone!

Happy New Year!

On December 15th 2023, I made the public announcement that Lil Miss Rarity will receive no further comic updates from me, finally confirming a common theory that I had lost the will to continue creating it. Lil Miss Rarity, just to confirm here, is now public domain and I encourage fan-blogs and will proverbially pass the torch to anyone who would like to take up the mantle.

It wasn't an easy decision to make because of how many times I'd promised I would never stop updating it, and I did in fact have future plans for it (I will be making a video on YouTube describing how I'd planned to continue the story, and how I would have ended it if I ever did).

But in its wake came Melodi, a spiritual successor to Lil Miss Rarity, and I've decided that a story-driven video game with ongoing updates would be the smartest decision, at least for the introduction to the series.

And so along came this twiggy elf. (Important note: Her booby size on her sprite is exaggerated, same as her head size. The in-game art for cutscenes will show more proper body proportions.)

Melodi is now just four directional (diagonal movement) sprite animations away from being a complete character sprite, which means creating a proof of concept will be just a matter of time.

As of today, I have completed:

The intro cutscene for the game, leading to the introduction of Melodi and her teacher, Eliah Sterium (Multiple full color images accompany that cutscene)

Seven unique songs entirely composed by myself (Literally learned how to make music a week ago just for this project)

Four directional movement sprites consisting of 6 frames of pixel animation each direction (Including separating each part to make them usable for other characters' sprites)

Four directional idle animations consisting of 6 frames of animation each direction (Again, making paperdolls to use later for other characters)

A discord server for the ongoing production of Melodi RPG where I'll be answering questions, including answering as the characters from the game similar to the LMR ask-blog

27 (just counted) preliminary sketches to flesh out character designs and have reference for myself

Eliah Sterium's design, making the ladies go gaga

Mountains of lore (a lot of which can be found in the Discord's lore channels)

Personalities for the primary cast of deadbeat magic school students

Art for the title screen

The entire storyboard for Episode 1 and Episode 2

The pricing model for the game (Episode 1 will be a free demo, and all remaining episodes will be bundled together in a $10 purchase)

The "Pet Cwow" option on the Quit Game menu and what happens when you pet him (You'll see)

The entire intro in-engine (Screencapped above with Eliah there)

Many new fans/friends who've introduced themselves in the Discord

And, I have received (on December 31st) my very first negative review of the game, which I will cherish. Someone who knew nothing other than "It's a game about an elf who goes psychotic" and saw the title art said that the game was basically doomed to fail because Melodi has large breasts, to which I replied "Imagine being this fucking butthurt over tits existing" which set him off into an obnoxious and insulting rage that ended with "Enjoy nothing but horny virgins playing your game and ignoring the dog water, generic ass story." A quote that I will never, ever, ever forget, and if I someday make a physical release of the game, I promise you, that quote will be on the back of the box.

There's even more than just all this, I've already sunk tons of hours of time and effort into the production of Melodi and I am super excited to continue.

I want to thank everyone for the support of the game so far, and I hope once people know more about the story and characters, the game sees the same kind of fandom that Lil Miss Rarity once had.

Luv you all

~Jay Tonique

[valenteal]

Ok so I just finished watching Angels of Death and omg I need to talk about it!

So usually when I get really into a story it’s full of awesome world building and it at least tries to explain everything and I usually don’t like it when a story completely disregards logic but this is different. It’s a story that focuses on character building and development and it twists reality to suit its desired narrative, which is definitely better than the stories that twist characters to do the same. And even though logic is cast aside in terms of the events and the setting it’s not cast aside in the characters.

Usually when a show or movie or book focuses on serial killers as the main character or the protagonist it doesn’t make the serial killer realistic. They are often romanticized. Angels of Death does a great job not romanticizing serial killers but instead humanizes them spectacularly. Besides that it’s actually pretty realistic in terms of psychology.

I’m not a psychologist by any means, but I have done ample research on my own into psychology so I can write and analyze characters properly. I would guess that Zack is a sociopath and Rachel is a psychopath. The difference between the two is that psychopathy is chemical, it’s an actual inability to feel empathy, and psychopaths are usually better at hiding it and fitting in and are less prone to lashing out in anger than a sociopath. Sociopaths can feel a connection with another person where a psychopath can’t though empathy is still impaired, I’m pretty sure that sociopathy is caused more by environment than psychopathy is, though both are still fairly mysterious. Also the whole evil mastermind thing isn’t used as the standard, which is accurate because sociopaths and psychopaths have the same range of intelligence as anyone else and most are not geniuses. Geniuses are not more likely to have antisocial personality disorder. Rachel seems to have above average intelligence, so do Danny and Reverend Gray but Eddie and Cathy seem average to me. I’m not sure about Zack, he’s definitely uneducated but that doesn’t mean he’s unintelligent, he’s got good instincts and he’s a fast learner so if he had a proper education who’s to say? Anyway Zack definitely reads as a sadistic sociopath to me, and Rachel is a psychopath with a whole host of other issues, probably something dissociative.

Angels of Death is written fantastically and as a writer I have to admire it for its wonderful characters that are all so human. It’s so interesting to see a story like this, entirely character driven but the characters are all so complex, they all, except maybe Zack, have very warped views of reality and get to design their domain to reflect that. The world is just the characters minds, the setting reflects their mental state, and logic operates according to their twisted perception. It’s so interesting to see!

Beyond the fascinating characters and unique story telling I’d like to add my two cents to the debate about the open ending. Personally I like open endings, and it fits a story like this that doesn’t necessarily adhere to logic and is fairly open to interpretation. But I also have to point out that the glass of the window was smashed inwards, from the outside and the cops showed up en masse before any other emergency services got there. Plenty of evidence to suggest that Zack really did escape and find Rachel. The knife had no blood on it. The blood on the window sill definitely makes it seem like someone got injured there and they didn’t just jump out the window, but it doesn’t seem like enough for someone to have died right there. However the actual scene where Zack shows up to take Rachel away definitely seems like a hallucination, Zack is in his familiar clothes and has his scythe back, not to mention the floating in mid air thing. With Rachel’s mental state and warped perception of reality I would say it’s entirely plausible that Zack did show up it just didn’t go down quite how she (and the audience) saw it. My theory, the details of which are invented by my own mind and not necessarily supported by evidence, is that Zack showed up with his knife intending to kill Rachel but a cop shot at him not realizing he was holding Rachel as he hadn’t entered the room yet and they couldn’t imagine she would go to him. They both get shot, Zack dropped the knife and they both fall backwards out window. It’s possible they survive but idk. Anyway that’s my take.

[rollforthings]

New game! And a really big one for me as an indie designer. Oyster Pirates is a narrative-driven ttrpg of dredging nets and hedging bets, based on stories about the titular shellfish thieves by Jack London. Co-operate with your fellow oyster pirates with the guidance of the Good Mariner (GM) as you arrange and conduct clandestine nighttime raids on oyster hoarded by 19th-Century American capitalists. Featuring full-page illustrations using public domain art. FITD-adjacent, d6 dice pools (with a twist) about 45 A5-sized pages, pay-what-you-want on itch.

[darklordazalin]

Azalin Reviews: Darklord Vladeska Drakov

Domain: Falkovnia Domain Formation:  Unspecified (former version 690 BC) Power Level: 💀💀💀⚫⚫ (3/5 Skulls) Sources: Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft (5e)

Without a Core containing neighboring Domains in 5e Ravenloft lore, the concept of an ever-failing would-be conqueror becomes as pointless as Vlad's efforts to overthrow Darkon. The new version of Falkovnia is a Domain overrun by zombie hordes as the people and their commander, Vladeska Drakov, fight a never ending battle against the hordes of undead.

All of Falkovnia’s villages have been abandoned as the remaining populace rally behind the walled city of Lekar. Their resources are running thinner each day and on the week of the new moon countless zombies shamble out of the Mists and lay siege upon what’s left of Falkovnia. 

Vladeska shares Vlad’s love of punishment through impalement and his history as a mercenary. She was known as the Crimson Falcon and led an army of mercenaries that called themselves the Falcon’s Talons. So, similar, but different with falcons replacing hawks, though unlike Vlad, Vladeska was very much respected by her peers and the lords she worked for. 

Eventually, Vladeska and her people killed the wrong person. Who this person was has been obscured by the Mists, but they were important enough to turn those Vladeska worked for against the mercenaries. Vladeska is said to be a tactical genius and instead of being cowed, she turned against those that pursued her. She was ruthless, forced people into her service and impaled anyone who attempted to stop her. The Mists came for her and her Talons after they had defeated Vladeska’s last foes. Our Tormentors always know when to time things to snatch away that bit of hope we all hold onto at the last possible moment.

Vladeska found herself in Falkovnia, which she conquered almost too easily, likely by our tormentor’s design. She was unable to enjoy her victory as days later hordes of undead laid siege against her. Falkovnia is locked in a never ending loop of preparing for war, then fighting it. Every citizen is forced to serve and fight against the zombie invasion. Vladeska does not have the power to control the borders of her Domain and they remain closed except for a brief period of time after the hordes of undead have been driven back once again. This would be the best time for all the citizens she forces into military service to flee, but her always loyal Talons patrol the borders at this time and any deserters are impaled. So most stay because they fear Vladeska more than they fear the undead.

Vladeska is unable to admit defeat, though fleeing would likely save countless souls. She is plagued by recognizing every face worn by the undead horde and she knows, somehow, they are coming for her in particular. Vladeska’s strength comes from her people’s loyalty and fear of her punishments. Without her people, she is easily dealt with, but one should not make the mistake of underestimating her. I will grant her 3 skulls for keeping her people loyal despite the never ending odds stacked up against her.

[cosmignon]

Hello everyone! I have a big announcement!

My ongoing webcomic, Runaway Drakaina, is now a part of the Spiderforest Webcomic Collective! I'm very excited to have been accepted as a part of this year's batch of applicants, and I'm looking forward to my time with Spiderforest!

"Now, Sara, what is Spiderforest? And how does this affect me, the average reader of Runaway Drakaina?" So glad you asked!

Firstly, Spiderforest is a "creator-run, volunteer-driven webcomic collective" hosting a multitude of comics in all sorts of genres from fantasy, sci-fi, drama, slice of life, and plenty more!

Spiderforest's volunteers have kindly helped me build a new website for the comic, so the domain https://runawaydrakaina.com/ is now hosted with them, and it has a brand new design to go with it! The folks I worked with were really helpful, please check out the new website and appreciate their hard work!

Secondly, I will still be posting pages on comicfury and tapas, so if you follow RD there don't worry about losing your spot! However! The Spiderforest website will be one week ahead of both mirrors, so it's the best place* to keep up with updates!

Lastly, anticipate my presence in future Spiderforest related events as well! They're a big community and always bustling with ideas for collaborations and new projects, so it's only a matter of time before you see my name amongst an anthology or group effort!

Thanks for reading this far, and if you haven't been reading Runaway Drakaina already I hope this announcement serves as encouragement to go do so! That's all for now, Thanks again!!

* if you'd like to see my current buffer for Runaway Drakaina, I post new pages as they're finished on Patreon! For $3 a month you can support me AND see what's happening in the current chapter before anyone else!

[atozofsoftwareengineering]

Data Mesh: Principles, Benefits, Drawbacks, and Best Practices

Check out my latest blog on #DataMesh - an emerging approach to data architecture that is revolutionizing data ownership and management. Learn about the principles, benefits, drawbacks, and best practices for implementing this innovative approach. #DataAr

In recent years, the concept of data mesh has gained a lot of attention in the data engineering community. The term was coined by Zhamak Dehghani, a principal consultant at ThoughtWorks, in a blog post published in May 2020. Since then, data mesh has become a popular topic in the data engineering world, with many organizations exploring its potential benefits. Data mesh is a new approach to data…

[squarebill]

Continued from here So, the Little Golden Books thing reminded me of a Little Golden Book I had read involving Winnie the Pooh. Not that surprising - there are many Disney properties (and others!) that get turned into Little Golden Books. But maybe I was thinking about it because I was thinking of the silly little blurb in the newspaper (the one that pulls up when you type WEIRDMAGEDDON into the computer). It talks about how Soos gets his head stuck in a clay honey pot. So silly! This is obviously a Winnie the Pooh reference as Winnie the Pooh is often getting his head stuck in honey pots. It's cute and silly, but also... Kind of odd? But that's Soos for you. And then, I was thinking... Wait. Soos is the one who fixed the thisisnotawebsitedotcom. FIXINIT1 also cuts to a supercut of scenes with Fixin It with Soos (unrelated, but that cuckoo clock looks like Bill?), the L IS REAL 2401 password that you can put in the computer leads to Soos making a little "Doo doo doo" to the Mario theme, the "BOOBERRY" code pulls up a question mark symbol with a rant by Bill that's titled "The Meaning of Life." The question mark symbol has always been associated with Soos. And I thought to myself, well... Maybe I should just... Go take a look at Winnie the Pooh's wikipedia page.  Now We Are Six (1927) - Hmm. Okay. That could be nothing, though. Ashdown Forest. Valley of Ashes??? Coincidence, probably.

Ahahaha. Little triangle/pyramid thingies in the background. But hey! Triangles are a common shape! It's fine. And then, I read this on the wikipedia page From the front lawn the family had a view across a meadow to a line of alders that fringed the River Medway, beyond which the ground rose through more trees until finally "above them, in the faraway distance, crowning the view, was a bare hilltop. In the centre of this hilltop was a clump of pines." Hilltop. Clump of Pines. Okay, okay, maybe I'm just stretching here.

OKAY MAYBE I'M CONSPIRACY-ING TOO MUCH! (Found in the newspaper picture) In the Milne books, Pooh is naive and slow-witted, but he is also friendly, thoughtful, and steadfast. Although he and his friends agree that he is "a bear of very little brain", Pooh is occasionally acknowledged to have a clever idea, usually driven by common sense. <- Sounds like Soos. Pooh makes it a habit to have "a little something" around 11:00 in the morning. As the clock in his house "stopped at five minutes to eleven some weeks ago", any time can be Pooh's snack time. <- Around 11:00... like how Alex Hirsch is apparently supposed to go through a maintenance update at 11:30 AM? And the clock being stopped... Like how in FixinIt with Soos, Stan notes that the new and improved cuckoo clock seems to be permanently set to 1:50. Again, maybe stretching here. Maybe not. Now, here's something that gets interesting. That I think might be a theme we've seen thus far with the Book of Bill and now, perhaps this as well. A. A. Milne's U.S. copyright on the Winnie-the-Pooh character expired on 1 January 2022, as it had been 95 years since publication of the first story. The character has thus entered the public domain in the United States and Disney no longer holds exclusive rights there.  Winnie the Pooh is in the public domain. Along with the Great Gatsby (which was referenced in the Book of Bill). And what else? Remember Alex had a display set-up of Bill infecting other books? Books that were in the public domain. I'm not through yet. If you scroll down much further on Winnie the Pooh's wikipedia page, there's this: 1960: Shirley Temple's Storybook on NBC: Winnie-the-Pooh—a version for marionettes, designed, made, and operated by Bil and Cora Baird. Bil missing a letter L. Marionettes are basically puppets. I decided to take a quick detour to Bil Baird's wikipedia page and...

IS THAT THE INSPIRATION FOR BEARO?! Baird grew up in Mason City, Iowa. <- MASON?! "Flannel Mouse" the Villain "Ronald Rodent" OKAY! Back to Winnie the Pooh - Winnie the Pooh has inspired multiple texts to explain complex philosophical ideas. Benjamin Hoff uses Milne's characters in The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet to explain Taoism. Similarly, Frederick Crews wrote essays about the Pooh books in abstruse academic jargon in The Pooh Perplex and Postmodern Pooh to satirise a range of philosophical approaches.[90] Pooh and the Philosophers by John T. Williams uses Winnie the Pooh as a backdrop to illustrate the works of philosophers, including Descartes, Kant, Plato and Nietzsche. WAIT, WAIT. WINNIE THE POOH?! PHILOSOPHY?! PLATO?!

[nunuslab24]

What are AI, AGI, and ASI? And the positive impact of AI

Understanding artificial intelligence (AI) involves more than just recognizing lines of code or scripts; it encompasses developing algorithms and models capable of learning from data and making predictions or decisions based on what they’ve learned. To truly grasp the distinctions between the different types of AI, we must look at their capabilities and potential impact on society.

To simplify, we can categorize these types of AI by assigning a power level from 1 to 3, with 1 being the least powerful and 3 being the most powerful. Let’s explore these categories:

1. Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)

Also known as Narrow AI or Weak AI, ANI is the most common form of AI we encounter today. It is designed to perform a specific task or a narrow range of tasks. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, recommendation systems on Netflix, and image recognition software. ANI operates under a limited set of constraints and can’t perform tasks outside its specific domain. Despite its limitations, ANI has proven to be incredibly useful in automating repetitive tasks, providing insights through data analysis, and enhancing user experiences across various applications.

2. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

Referred to as Strong AI, AGI represents the next level of AI development. Unlike ANI, AGI can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks, similar to human intelligence. It can reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, and learn from experiences. While AGI remains a theoretical concept as of now, achieving it would mean creating machines capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can. This breakthrough could revolutionize numerous fields, including healthcare, education, and science, by providing more adaptive and comprehensive solutions.

3. Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)

ASI surpasses human intelligence and capabilities in all aspects. It represents a level of intelligence far beyond our current understanding, where machines could outthink, outperform, and outmaneuver humans. ASI could lead to unprecedented advancements in technology and society. However, it also raises significant ethical and safety concerns. Ensuring ASI is developed and used responsibly is crucial to preventing unintended consequences that could arise from such a powerful form of intelligence.

The Positive Impact of AI

When regulated and guided by ethical principles, AI has the potential to benefit humanity significantly. Here are a few ways AI can help us become better:

• Healthcare: AI can assist in diagnosing diseases, personalizing treatment plans, and even predicting health issues before they become severe. This can lead to improved patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare systems.

• Education: Personalized learning experiences powered by AI can cater to individual student needs, helping them learn at their own pace and in ways that suit their unique styles.

• Environment: AI can play a crucial role in monitoring and managing environmental changes, optimizing energy use, and developing sustainable practices to combat climate change.

• Economy: AI can drive innovation, create new industries, and enhance productivity by automating mundane tasks and providing data-driven insights for better decision-making.

In conclusion, while AI, AGI, and ASI represent different levels of technological advancement, their potential to transform our world is immense. By understanding their distinctions and ensuring proper regulation, we can harness the power of AI to create a brighter future for all.