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tozettastone · 4 months ago

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With the usual disclaimers that this is a draft, may be subject to change, etc. etc., I have come to show you the first part of the draft of my OC×Itachi Covenant Fic (paging @mixelation and @waffliesinyoface, my covenant buddies). This is also to prove I am definitely writing it, 100%, promise, LOL.

I think for me right now, this opening sets up all the things I want it to, but it's pretty slow and it introduces three (3) OCs, when the preferred number is probably one (1). That's kind of a product of its setting, but maybe that means I should have picked a different one. Well, we'll see how I go.

---

It was almost impossible to buy close-toed boots in the elemental nations.

Fuyumi had tried. For years, Fuyumi had tried. Suppliers who produced them — mostly those in the frigid mountains up near Lightning, go figure — did not make them in her size. Everywhere else, they were a custom product, and requests were met with furrowed brows and eye-watering prices.

Fuduka Fuyumi, an unaffiliated ninja doggedly avoiding her own debtors, certainly could not afford to have warm, dry toes. This was why her toes squelched when she stepped out of the river that morning.

There absolutely existed ninja in this world whose chakra control was good enough to jog five miles down a swift-flowing river and simply avoid wet toes altogether. Some of those ninja even stopped in Uteki village, actually, since they were so close to Ame, where the worst-hidden secret society of ninja criminals on the planet made their base. Fuyumi was not among their august number, though. She had her own tricks and talents — she could drink grown men under the table and crush watermelons with only the undiluted power of her thighs. Fine chakra control? Not so much.

The dock was a floating wooden platform that bobbed along with the current of the river. The boats that arrived there were mostly long river barges, and the waterway was narrow enough that some of them were even drawn by horses or oxen pulling along the far bank. The bleached and battered wood creaked under the feet of the labourers, rough-looking men whose jobs consisted in the logistics of all this industry, taking from boats onto carts into warehouses and into, presumably, other carts.

In this part of town, the warehouses huddled like stout ugly sentinels over the river, surrounded by detritus of crates and ropes and rusted horseshoes and canvas. Further in was the market square, which was a bloody grand name for a place where they generally sold sweet fuck all.

Despite her squelching footsteps, nobody even glanced twice at Fuyumi when she returned. The tiny Fuduka family was well known in the village. It was her home now.

While she'd been living there, Fuyumi had never once thought she'd come to miss the dubious luxuries of her old home town. She'd grown up on a hard-packed red-dirt road between an electrical supply store and a farm equipment supplier. She'd had dial-up internet well into the 2010s, and the places to be seen were the mobile monthly disco and the shopping centre car park. But the elemental nations, in aggregate, had really made her count all the blessings to which she no longer had access. You know: a variety of beautiful out-of-season foods, healthcare that wasn't based on vibes alone, taxpayer-funded disability and aged pensions, a twelve-year educational curriculum… and fucking shoes. With covered toes.

Fuyumi even missed XXXX, which was, frankly, saying something. She had yet to find a single lager in the elemental nations.

She squelched a little more on her way to the market, waving to the few people who lifted their hands at her in passing, most of whom she recognised vaguely from long nights spent in the bar. In her experience, docks always had the better bars. Anywhere the wharfies were, you could guarantee no wine sat open long enough to sour.

Although heading immediately to a bar at noon on a Wednesday was not totally unknown for Fuyumi, she did have responsibilities, and today these took her down towards the market instead.

The warehouses were quickly exchanged for symptoms of consumer commerce: faded striped awnings and peeling wooden signs arranged loosely down a tiny street of semi-permanent storefronts, manned by farmers' wives and the odd travelling merchant. The very moment she stepped out of the shadow of the teahouse on the corner, a creaky voice called out:

"Oh, Fuyumi-san! Could I trouble you to help me with this?"

'This,' was three hefty crates packed tightly with bottles and straw, and 'me' turned out to be an ageing woman Fuyumi recognised only vaguely. She might've been one of her grandmother's friends. (Akane, despite her entire personality, had many friends.)

"Sure," said Fuyumi, because her next destination was her mother's house, and there was pretty much no task Fuyumi would disdain in pursuit of procrastinating against that eventuality. She unloaded the clinking bottles under the twin glowers of the midday sun and of the lady, who turned out to be called Aya. It wasn't ringing a bell? But Fuyumi didn't really mind moving heavy stuff for old ladies even if she didn't know them. If Fuyumi was ever old — which experience said was… uh, not likely — she'd want local ninja to unload crates for her. Right?

The bottles turned out to be full of oil, so they were light, but there were a lot of them and their shapes made them awkward to handle. While she was drifting between the crates and the shady insides of Auntie Aya's little wooden store, Fuyumi learned that the crates were outside on the street because that was where Aya's son had delivered them, instead of putting them inside the shop where they could be locked away from harm.

"He's useless, you know," Auntie Aya said, watching Fuyumi's progress from her three-legged stool. "You mustn't marry him. Although I suppose you'd be useful enough for two. You ninja have to have so many skills, it's a tough job for a woman…"

She went on in this vein for some time, and Fuyumi mostly let it wash over her.

Before she let her go, Aya said, "Those ninja men in the black coats have been around again," which really just went to show why you should always help lonely old ladies when they asked.

"Huh. Good to know. Are they… bothering you?" Fuyumi wondered. She didn't know what the hell she was going to do about it if they were. She was a ninja, but she wasn't, like, the kind of ninja you asked for when Uchiha Obito was causing a nuisance and you wanted someone to stop him, you know? She licked her teeth. She could help with an expeditious evacuation, in a pinch.

"Oh, no, they never bother us here." Thank fuck for that. "But I thought a kunoichi should be careful."

Fuyumi cracked her neck and rubbed her nose. "That's good advice, Auntie," she agreed.

She left the store, richer by a single bottle of oil Auntie Aya pressed upon her, and went about her business, which today consisted in collecting groceries for her mother — the inimitable and moody Fukuda Setsuko. She kept an eye out for a flash of red clouds and black swishy fabric while she did it, though.

Once upon a time, back in, like, 2007, the person currently known as Fuyumi had read a shitty scanlation of the Naruto manga. She'd done this via a screebly dial-up connection, hunched over a glowing CRT monitor while the fan clicked lazily (and futilely) overhead. Later, she'd caught… most of the Shippuden anime, probably, on her laptop, and managed to figure out the rest via social media osmosis in between her university classes.

Back then, she hadn't been an Akatsuki fan. Even the most fleshed out of the characters had seemed to have confused (and confusing) motives, and some of them were completely incomprehensible. Now, living as she did in Uteki, she'd actually spotted several of those men in the wild, and she… still wasn't an Akatsuki fan? They were extremely impressive ninja, sure, but the elemental nations were full of extremely impressive ninja, and not all of them were sixteen personality disorders in a flappy coat.

Fuyumi had even spotted the much-beloved figure of Uchiha Itachi once, from a distance, and her thoughts on that fan favourite were: wow, there's really no accounting for taste, huh? She didn't get the appeal. He was a pale guy with a resting bitchface that could kill someone from fifty paces, and he walked around swaddled in a coat too big for him, looking exhausted.

Personally, Fuyumi's favourite character had been Tsunade, because she was an absolute fucking legend who could break walls with her pinkie and Fuyumi badly wanted to get a drink with her one day. This was lucky, because she was so famous a figure in the elemental nations that, if asked, Fuyumi could still say, 'Well, I really admire Senju Tsunade,' and even random guys in bars just grunted and nodded their heads sagely.

So… Suck on that, Itachi girls.

Despite her drifting thoughts, knowing that there were Akatsuki members in Uteki did make Fuyumi move more purposefully and quickly. As a born unaffiliated ninja, she had no bounty, so there was no reason they'd be interested in her — but she had no interest in courting a surprise introduction to, like, Hidan or something. Christ. That would suck.

Setsuko lived six miles out of town, which would have been an absurd walking distance to Fuyumi in a previous life. For a ninja, blessed with a chakra-fortified body and training that commenced in early childhood and never really ceased, it was forty-five minutes, while carrying the groceries, taken at her laziest jog. Fuyumi would have preferred internet access and childhood immunisations, sure, but since she was stuck here, chakra and absurd physical fitness were pretty cool consolation prizes.

"Did you roll in mud before visiting me?" sighed Setsuko when she saw her daughter. Thirty-nine, five foot nothing, and pale, Setsuko had a perfect round face and the deceptively delicate look cultivated by true, old-fashioned kunoichi. She was pretty, poisonous, and not nearly as fragile as she habitually pretended. Today there were hydrangeas decorating her hair, a splash of purple against its midnight darkness. In spring, it had been fruit blossoms.

"I think you get bigger every time I see you," she said, tapping her lower lip as Fuyumi ducked into the shade of the house and kicked off her sandals. They were dry after the trip here, at least.

"I've been going like a cut cat all morning, so, no, I didn't shower. They had dogs," she explained, eyeing her own ankles. Her mother, predictably, reached up and rubbed her fingertips across the scars on Fuyumi's face. She didn't mention them aloud but her expression said a lot, none of it good. "I ran the river to get back so nobody'd track me."

Her hems were pretty grotty, a fact that had totally escaped her until it had been pointed out. Her legwarmers really needed a wash.

Setsuko's eyes had drifted in the same direction. "You should get rid of those," she said, for perhaps the sixth time. "You must have dropped six separate stitches."

"I made them," Fuyumi protested, as she always did. So what if it was hard to keep track of her rib stitch? "Out of nothing. Like a god." She sucked at all the girly arts her mother had tried to pass on to her. Handicrafts were just one among a million.

"Out of yarn," her mother pointed out. "And… more like a toddler."

"Where do you want your onions?" she asked, even though she knew exactly where they went. It was time to change the subject before her legwarmers got confiscated straight off her legs, somehow.

Setsuko was, Fuyumi thought, totally capable of getting her own groceries. She could even have sent a water clone, if her knees were really causing her so much pain. But Fuyumi valued the routine of bringing her weekly shopping to her, when she could. This way, her mother could not claim she was being cruelly neglected by an unfilial child, but Fuyumi could show up, unload groceries, and be gone in twenty minutes, if she was lucky. It was a perfect system.

However, if she was not lucky…

"I'll need you to get on the roof and get some of those branches down before something makes a nest up there. And there are some trees I've been meaning to transplant, so you'll need to do the ditches."

"Okay," said Fuyumi, letting this information drift over the surface of her mind without touching down.

She liked doing menial chores for her mother a lot less than she did for the grandmothers about town. What she really wanted, she felt, was a drink. Or five. Just to get a little fuzzy at the local bar and not think too hard about anything at all. But before she could do that, there was roof-climbing and trees, apparently. And, inevitably, Setsuko.

"You don't think you're still growing, do you?" she wondered, peering up at Fuyumi.

At over six feet tall, Fuyumi was an anomaly. She came by it honestly, though: her dad, long dead, had been a giant among men, a hulking taijutsu expert from up in the mountains somewhere.

Having a lover — a male lover — built like a brick shithouse was one thing. But, for Setsuko, having a daughter follow in his footsteps was quite beyond the pale. And she'd been chucking an extended wobbly about it on and off since Fuyumi was about twelve.

"Hardly matters," Fuyumi responded with forced cheer. "I'm already the tallest person you know. Let me get the roof out of the way first," she added, putting away a huge sack of rice and closing the cupboard door, "and then we'll see about the garden."

Her body shape wasn't the only way in which Fuyumi was nothing like her mother and a whole lot like her absent father. She also had his elemental affinity for earth. Her poor control meant that, unlike him, she was only entrusted with the creation of roofing tiles at moments of direst need. But she was an expert ditch-digger.

Despite her facility at the task, her mother kept her hard at work in the garden under an endless stream of helpful criticism for another ninety minutes, after which Fuyumi made her excuses with more firmness than tact.

"Going off to drink too much with Harusame, I assume," Setsuko sniffed. "Your father drank with that man for ten years and he ignored me for eight of them. I've never come to understand what the appeal was."

Since this was indeed, exactly, one hundred per cent what she intended to do with her evening, Fuyumi just shrugged. She bent down to put her shoes on at the door again.

Setsuko sighed a deep, put upon sigh. "Just… please tell me you're not sleeping with him."

Jesus fucking Christ, the things that worried this woman. "I am not sleeping with Harusame. Don't be ridiculous."

Setsuko examined her sternly, but her mum-senses must have detected no lie, because she made a little noise of relief and adjusted her hydrangeas. "Fine. Go, then. And wear your knee brace, Fuyumi!" she added, apparently unable to prevent herself from offering one more parting criticism.

It was, at last, probably good advice. As soon as Fuyumi figured out where she'd put the stupid thing, she'd follow it.

Right. That was her day done, then. Mission: finished. Pay: collected. Mum: visited. Now, to the bar, and Harusame's careless temper. And if she was very, very lucky, she'd get exactly drunk enough to stop thinking without getting sloppy.

---

Of course, now that all the worst parts of her day were over and she couldn't use them as an excuse to put anything off… this was when Fuyumi spotted the Akatsuki members about town. Naturally.

She took the same route back as she'd taken to get to Setsuko's home. The stores and stalls were closed now, and the faded awnings seemed exhausted in the golden light of the early summer evening.

She stepped into the square proper, and was smacked in the face by a tidal wave of chakra that was so massive even she couldn't help but feel it. Water, she thought, even though she'd never once picked someone's elemental affinity from feeling their chakra before in her entire goddamn life. It was just… very obvious.

Fuyumi's heart thudded heavily in her chest. She exhaled, slow and careful, and took a step back again. Whatever that was, she probably didn't need to run headfirst into it.

She licked her lips and scaled one of the nearby buildings for a better view of what the hell was going on. It was a residential one, so they'd probably be pissed off when they discovered the damage she did to their flowerpots on the way up.

Crouched on the roof of the two-storey building, Fuyumi squinted against the sunlight, catching mostly chakra, golden sun glittering on an expanse of water that categorically did not belong where it was surging, and dark silhouettes trying to kill each other atop the choppy flow of it.

The surface tension of the water was defined by chakra rather than any normal physics: it eddied around buildings and flooded the streets, and then when it reached the edges of the chakra bubble in which it was permitted, it just kind of… stopped, huddling wetly, a tame wall of fluid.

The amount of chakra that must have required was… astronomical. Fuyumi felt faintly queasy just thinking about it.

Hoshigaki Kisame was easy to pick out: he was big and waving his feared sword, which looked sort of ridiculous when you actually saw it. It might have been a veritable cheese grater of a weapon, each spiky protrusion perfectly lethal and thirsty for blood... but it looked like it was some kind of fluffy animal puffed up in indignation.

He was fighting someone small and fast, who was wearing sensibly tight clothing rather than a giant flappy coat. He was not in much danger of victory, Fuyumi judged, but he was giving it a red hot go, twisting and darting in and out with his superior acrobatics, evidently in an attempt to out-manoeuvre the mix of absurd power and even-more-absurd reach that made Hoshigaki Kisame such a bloody hard opponent. It was a respectable way to face his certain, grisly death.

She watched for a second, transfixed. Hoshigaki's defence was airtight. His footwork on the moving water was precise and practised. He was calm, he was controlling the distance between combatants, and he was setting the pace. He was indomitable. The fight was clearly his.

If she'd been the other guy, she'd have called it and run.

While she was distracted watching Hoshigaki's fight, a second silhouette darted out from the shadow of of his opponent, leaping away from the fight, zooming over the water at speed. It wasn't an illusion: its feet hit the water audibly.

It hit the ground running and didn't look back, racing past her perch on the roof.

In hindsight, Fuyumi could actually pinpoint exactly the moment that would change the trajectory of her new life. Since it was a brutal fiery murder, it did not, at the time, seem very auspicious. This — again, in hindsight — was probably the kindest warning fate had ever given her.

Uchiha Itachi still looked like he was swaddled. The coat was too big for him, and he hadn't even bothered with the arms this time: it just hung off his shoulders, sleeves flapping.

He appeared in one of those dizzying Konoha-style body flickers, standing still and moving at light speed, and the running figure made a noise of shock and dismay that she could hear even up on her roof. It drew a short, curved sword, upon whose sharp edge the setting sun burned golden.

There was a clank as it met Itachi's kunai and was deflected with, apparently, no effort, even though a kunai had nowhere near the weight of the short sword. Fuyumi watched, dazed, as the two exchanged a lightning-fast flurry of blows. Dirt sprayed underfoot.

Itachi took one easy, elegant step back — like he had predicted every movement, like he had all the time in the world — leapt over the sweep of the sword, and, while performing a mid-air flip to avoid the follow-through with the shuriken, formed several hand-signs. They were just… not even fast. It looked almost languid, even though it was probably about twice as speedy as Fuyumi herself had ever managed.

His pale fingers moved deftly through the signs like he knew the rest of the world was just waiting for him to finish before it continued apace. His enormous dark coat fluttered. His hair streamed in the breeze, long, dark, and, somehow, nowhere in his line of sight.

Fuyumi was barely twenty metres away, and even though she could see the effect of his chakra, she couldn't feel even a whisper of it against her own senses. The world before him burst, beautifully, into flame.

The swordsman didn't dodge.

Maybe he'd been distracted, like Fuyumi was, by watching Uchiha Itachi's long pale fingers and effortless athletics.

There was a lot of screaming, then.

Fuyumi watched, transfixed, from her crouch on the roof. He had really nice hair, she thought, stupidly. It looked so silky. It positively glowed in the blazing light of his burning victim. She had the sudden, powerful image of just… sinking her hand deep into it, closing her fist, and giving it a firm tug. She could pull his head to one side, expose the soft, vulnerable part of his neck. He might even like it.

You cannot do that, she said to herself, firmly, reeling from both the intensity and the stupidity of such a thought. You cannot do that, because that is Uchiha Itachi.

There was an unsettlingly familiar warmth in her belly that told her she was going to think really hard about it anyway.

Fuyumi wasn't suicidal, so she licked her dry, dry lips, got silently to her feet, and retreated from the market square entirely. She could take the long way around to the bar.

On her way, she thought about how the Itachi girls had somehow been right all along. Fuck. What the fuck. No. No.

----

"I've never seen you rhapsodising like this about anyone without tits," Harusame mused, nearly two hours later.

Harusame, dark eyed, dark haired and broad shouldered, was nearly double Fuyumi's age and, technically, had been a longtime friend of her father's. But her dad was long dead, so she'd laid claim to him now. He wore a set of swords: a wakizashi and a katana, both on the same side of his sash. His blue and grey yukata gaped, exposing pale bandages wrapped around his waist and an old amulet dangling on a necklace.

"He doesn't even have tits," she agreed, putting her face down on the sticky wood.

"You have no idea where that bar has been. Do you know what kinds of people they serve here?" He didn't actually sound particularly concerned. "They serve me here."

"The bar has no idea where my face has been," she countered after a long, blurry second of thought. Her brain moved fast, but her tongue moved underwater-slow.

"...I guess I have no way to refute that." He scratched his stubble.

She rolled her face to watch him light his next cigarette with the glowing butt of the one that came before. Then he dropped the dead one into his empty sake bottle and took a long drag.

It wasn't like people had failed to recognise the link between smoking and, you know, dying, in the elemental nations. But Fuyumi thought that they probably didn't understand the full impact of the practice here. Once upon a time, she had been raised on a diet of government PSAs and gruesome cigarette package art of infected fingers and eyes.

Harusame had a cough. But he wore it pretty well... for now. He was only thirty-six, though.

"Don't look at me like that. It makes you look like Setsuko."

"Fuck off," Fuyumi said, automatically. The last thing she wanted to hear about, pretty much ever, was her mother. "What are you going to do if you need to run somewhere, old man?"

"I'm retired," he said. "If I need to run somewhere, something has gone horribly wrong in my life and I probably deserve what's coming."

Ugh. "Idiot," she muttered. She looked away and immediately spotted a red and black cloak in the smoky dimness. Naka Tetsumaru was perfectly recognisable: snow white hair, lily-pale skin, overconfident swagger. He was deep in conversation with a hunched and misshapen figure in one of those ominous Akatsuki cloaks, which made her nervous to see in her local bar. They were sure out in force today, huh? This figure was recognisable, but it was decidedly not —

"Uchiha Itachi, huh," Harusame interjected thoughtfully, spinning his bottle on the bar. "You know... usually I would tell you to chase your dreams. But... Uh, I'm not so sure about that one, Fuyumi."

"Don't worry. He'd outrun me. Like, effortlessly."

"That certainly is the rumour, yes," Harusame agreed. "So? You going to do anything about it? Look for some sweet, dark-haired gentleman to take you home?" He flipped his own hair, which was, as advertised, long and dark.

Fuyumi snorted. "Well, obviously I'm going to sit here and drink and complain that it's unfair that a deeply unwell missing-nin should be more beautiful than he has any right to be."

"Uh-huh."

"And if I see him again," she thought about it, "I guess… I should go introduce myself?" It seemed unlikely that he'd outright kill her for, like, saying hi. Wasn't he meant to be a pacifist at heart or whatever? It couldn't really hurt, right? "What else do you do when you think someone's hot?"

It wasn't as though Fuyumi genuinely thought Uchiha Itachi was going to let her pull his hair and fuck him. But one thing that remained regrettably true between worlds was that… no matter how unlikely a thing you wanted was, if you asked about it, your chances of receiving it usually rose.

The spinning stopped. "Introduce yourself?" Harusame repeated dubiously. "Er, to... Uchiha Itachi?"

"Yeah?" She raised her head and propped her chin in her hand. She'd wanted to be drunk — rather badly — but now the bar seemed loud and close, her stomach was a little unsettled, and she needed to piss. "Jeez, don't look at me like that, it's not like I want to marry him. But how else do you meet someone?"

"Right." He took a long, long drag on his cigarette, presumably to stall for thinking time. "I think girls are supposed to wait for someone else to do that, aren't they?"

She snorted. "Girls like ma, maybe. If I waited for other people to want me, I'd never get a date. Luckily, confidence is sexy."

He frowned at her, the uncomfortable kind of frown of a man who was vastly out of his element but felt he should say something anyway. "That's not true."

She scoffed, and levered herself off her stool. She felt wobbly but she imagined she probably didn't look it. "Hardly matters, anyway," said Fuyumi, who was not very genre savvy, "what are the chances I'll see Uchiha fucking Itachi again? Really? Be back in a minute."

Visiting the bathrooms in this particular bar was a bit like spinning a roulette wheel. Thankfully, this time the only body in there was visibly still breathing, and didn't even twitch when Fuyumi stepped over her to use the single toilet with the stained bowl. It smelled overwhelmingly of bleach, which was a lot better than all the other things of which it could have smelled.

Her face in the cracked mirror was... Well... If a casting call had gone out for a fierce looking female villain, they wouldn't even have had to put makeup on her: her eyes were dark, hear features were hard and sharp, and her complexion was already showing the wear and tear of too many nights in a row on the booze. There was a scar that bisected her left eyebrow, a long, interrupted red line that scored over her cheek and dragged off into her hair. It was pretty red today, which had probably been what her mother had been so displeased about earlier. Ugh.

Her face covered the front of her skull, and that was basically all it had going for it.

"That's its only job, dipshit," she muttered to herself. She turned the water off, stepped over her snoozing bathroom companion again, and headed back into the bar.

#my fic #the covenant has been signed

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script-a-world · 11 months ago

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Submitted via Google Form:

I'd like a world that has numerous bodies of waters and especially rivers and streams and the like. Basically, it's so prevalent that everyone can rely on, both physically and spirtually, such to the point it's considered awkward if someone were to be anywhere more than say 5km from any water. However, inevitably, there will be parts of the world where being away from water has its use. I'm wondering how that is seen. Would they find it 'scary' or something like in the distance past people going off to sea and because they don't really understand what's out there it's considered mysterious and dangerous and have no idea what happens if someone never returns. Maybe people who go far from water generally don't want to to be there and only the bottom social rung tends to go there like cleaners and garbage men etc... no one wants it but someone has to. Then a third idea... how about building numerous artificial rivers. Akin to the type that you'd find in gardens, parks, etc. I think I have the most trouble trying to figure out the logistics of that.

Tex: To build up a reference, here’s a cropped screenshot of a map of Earth with rivers, from soar.earth:

The visibly arid places you see on this map will be the Sahara Desert in northern Africa, western Australia, northern Eurasia, Alaska and northern Canada. This isn’t to say that there’s no water there, only significantly less precipitation, water reservoirs, and rivers in a noticeable manner compared to more temperate areas of the planet - plenty of people live in all of the named areas, and plenty of non-local people in the surrounding areas will travel through these arid places and also trade with the locals there.

For some additional context, humans have had a history of navigation by the sea for about two thousand years, and a history of cartography for a bit over 25,000 years. Depending on how you want to look at it, humans have also had a history of international trade ranging from approximately 3,700 to 2,000 years ago, which would allow for the exchange of knowledge such as maps. Ergo, it is unlikely that there are significant areas on the planet that have remained unexplored by any culture, and the aggregation of knowledge covers a fair amount of the planet.

Both the sea and the desert are an important source of salt, which historically has been a major trade item with its own dedicated routes (Wikipedia 1, Wikipedia 2). Because of this, there is physical, cultural, and economic incentive to exploring and living by both areas, where many people will consider the benefits to outweigh the drawbacks of its comparative, and sometimes marginal, isolation to societies formed in other climates.

Artificial lakes and waterways have also existed for some time, and serve a variety of purposes, so can absolutely be included in a realistic manner.

Further Reading

List of deserts by area - Wikipedia

Salt evaporation pond - Wikipedia

#google submitted #geography #water

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katjohnadams · 7 months ago

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"Capitalism" as we know it is no longer a functioning system. On a purely logistical approach, what we see now is not a healthy economy but a system of aggregation where those with financial power are not interested in a moving economy and liquid assets but of hoarding wealth. They aren't desirous of capital to buy more things or do more stuff. They have no grand ambitions.

These are not the industry moguls of yesteryear who sought to create empires of companies and production facilities that drive economy, but greedy children who are trying to win a game of numbers and power.

And they are winning.

The game started on unequal footing: those with the capital to begin with turned it against the government and regulation in order to tip the slide ever in their favor. As they push down on their side, even more trickles along with the gravity of power and ends up on their side, pushing it down even further.

There is no way to "win" this game except to start off a winner. They will cannibalize us until there is nothing left but our bones. And then they will want those. As if that is not already where we are.

We cannot play their game, because we aren't even players. We are pawns on the board, pieces to be used. And so?

Radical things must happen. We must collectivize and Strike. We must not turn the gears for them. We must not let them use our bodies and minds as coal for their engines.

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myconetted · 2 years ago

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ppl don't understand moderation at scale and it shows

a lot of ppl on this website don't seem to understand tumblr is a pretty big website and big websites are hard to moderate.

like yeah it's obvious to you when there's a bad post that violates AUP or there's a perfectly good post that got incorrectly flagged. like duh. just ban terfs and don't ban transwomen.

but how many posts do you see a day, a thousand or so?

well it's a little harder when there are 13 million posts published per day, approximately 3-5% of them require moderation* (4% = 520k posts), and your automated tooling is anything less than 99.5% accurate (i.e. more than 1 misclassification every 200 posts). that accuracy would produce 2600 posts per day that require human review. if there are 4 human reviewers working 8h/day doing nothing but moderation, they'd have a budget of 44 seconds** to spend on reviewing a given post. and that's likely an underestimate of the workload***.

there are gonna be some mistakes. if you make your automated stuff less trigger happy, more bad things like terf shit falls through the cracks. if you make it more trigger happy, marginalized people start getting flagged for calling themselves faggots or posting boygirltits. if you rely less on automation, then you need humans; if you use humans, they cost a lot more, they're way slower, you're exposing more people to traumatic shit every day, and they're still gonna make mistakes.

to be clear: i think it's true that on aggregate, marginalized people are disproportionately affected by moderation mistakes. but that's not a tumblr-specific thing, and i don't think it's reasonable to expect tumblr, a 200-person company with 300 million monthly active users, to somehow solve a problem that none of twitter/facebook/reddit/youtube have managed to solve with literally thousands of engineers. should they do better? yes. absolutely. but that's not my point.

my point is: when you see the mistakes, i'm sitting here begging and pleading for you to consider it might be due to the logistical reality of social media moderation at scale rather than conspiracy or malice.

thanks 4 coming 2 my ted talk. footnotes under the cut.

*AFAIK Tumblr doesn't publicly report this statistic, so this is an informed under-guesstimate. On Reddit, 6% of all content was reported/flagged in 2021. I assume Tumblr and Reddit have similar enough content profiles for me to say "ehhh 3% lower bound, probably."

**Calculated by (60 / (P / (M * W * 60))) where P is number of posts to review, M is number of moderators, and W is hours worked per moderator per day. 60 / (2600 / (4 * 8 * 60)) ≈ 44.

***This is a reductive picture for the purpose of demonstrating scale. In real life, the calculus for how long can a moderator spend on a given post is more complicated because of things like prioritization for specific kinds of AUP violations (eg CSAM is higher priority than porn), classification accuracy that isn't uniform across categories (eg hit rate for gore is probably different from porn or hate speech), regulatory requirements (like mandatory reporting for CSAM and government takedown requests), different pipelines for user reports versus tool-based reports, yadda yadda. My goal is to show that even the underestimate is quite burdensome.

PS: I don't work for tumblr and I never have. I just work at a place that does things at scale and faces similar issues and I'm very passionate about online communities.

#my:poast #tumblr #moderation

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titleknown · 2 years ago

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So, a new anti-AI-art post is making the rounds because of course it is, and while I have not breached the paywall to read the paper, I do think the summarized version of it the author provides has some holes worth poking.

Past the break, because this gets long.

Anyhoo, their core argument is that AI art people are just capitalists who see art as a profitable object and do not exhibit those four fundamental values of But like... this is just casual observation, but I have seen a lot of those values in the AI art community amongst itself.

They share models and tips on how they use the tool! I rarely see them doing it for lucre! I see creators who've used AI art to integrate into other mediums they've worked with! I've seen people with major motor disabilities welcomed. I have seen authenticity in garbage AI art; in aggregate from singular creators.

There is a reason I say that to make good AI art, you need to approach it like an artist.

And like, AI art has genuine logistical issues that make it uniquely difficult to integrate into communities, the "flooding" that turbofucked Deviantart and the harassment problem that is "spite models,"

But beyond that I think it is not just, as they blithely dismiss, "AI art can be used for good" but I think it is even possible to integrate AI artists into communities that share those values. Because I have seen those values at work in AI art communities.

There are simple things that can be done, like normalizing charging as much for AI art commissions as traditional ones, or normalizing showing one's prompts when possible or observing DNP (Do not prompt) lists and so on!

But there's a desire to put up a wall there, specifically because of the fear of original sin, because of the unique nature of the process and the dubious origins of the programs; even if you didn't pay a dime to use them.

Which like... even if the privacy issues side of things is relevant and one I see validity in, in terms of the issue of "they didn't get permission," as friend of the blog @o-hybridity pointed out when we were discussing this, the assumption of the need for permission to adapt (Which is also what annoyed me in this post) is basically a cargo cult for how IP law treats art, attempting to integrate the framework of IP law into a system of communal production that IP law is more or less designed to kill.

Like, the idea that permission is required for derivative works (A notion also in this post I am very annoyed by) resembles none of how art has actually worked in-practice for all but the tiniest sliver of our species' existence, it's tunnel visioned in a way that ignores; say; the history of things like the blues, or jazz, or sampling, or folklore, or hell even fanfic.

Most art has historically been built on top of other art, without permission, because requiring a contract for every derivative work (Especially those "orphan works" without known originators) would make it unworkable.

IP rights becoming essentially inherent to art at the moment of creation and making those contracts almost entirely mandatory have basically killed a lot of models of how art is made within the commons via that sort of unauthorized-adaptation, and IDK about you, but this is an abomination, and the loss of those modes of production wouldn't be fixed by making it a tier system as the article proposes.

The notion of eternal tiered permission ignores that history of art by way of trying to shove the means of communal production into an ideological framework it can't exist in, due to the collective failure to produce better ways of helping creators make a living.

I would also say the idea of tiers system obfuscates the real issue; which is power not permission; and the need for collective organization of labor-power as well; by way of trying to hybridize it with that folk politics system of contracts that dilutes it, but that's its own digression.

But beyond that very long digression, inherent in that fear of the powerful working without permission, I feel there's a conflation of "small-scale creators shitposting or integrating AI art into their work" and "megacorps that want to replace you with an intern on Fiverr and a copy of Stablediffusion," which I think is best evidenced by the insistence on calling all AI art supporters techbros, conflating the small-scale users of the technology with the makers even though we don't do that with; say; artists who use fucking Adobe and the way they normalized walled gardens in their field.

I am not saying the techbro assholes don't exist or even that they aren't prominent, I probably don't run into them because I hate Twitter, but I am saying there are AI art communities and users that are not Like That, and that it is possible for AI art to exist within those norms.

It is not No True Scotsman because, even if it is not the norm (Which I am doubtful on) it is simply a demonstration that is possible and; with some effort and outreach akin to groups like @are-we-art-yet, doable.

But there's a further problem, that their argument heavily relies on the idea of moral rights, as evidenced by their image morally quantifying re-using art. But moral rights are not usually how we enforce most of these issues in a legal sense, in the US they do not even exist in a legal sense.

So their communal rules, drawing from moral rights, have no real material power. At least, aside from strikes, but the small online artisan community is not protected by them in a lot of ways I think are a part of the problem, but that's its own tangent so moving on.

Their argument on operating procedure, if it were to be truly materially effective by legal means, would be implemented by the mechanisms of copyright, which would be merrily smash those communal rules with a hammer, because those rules are scrublord shit in the world of raw power.

And if they don't... well, a wall can only hold for so long, and I think keeping workers within AI art away from the solidarity that is extremely doable is going to bite people in the long run. For an example of that, see how CGI's disrespect as an artform lead to it being wildly undercosted and used to drive out the union-run practical effects folks.

And they have no tools against it because, again, power does not give a shit about your communal rules, and conflating small creators with the assholes in power isn't helping.

Like, you're making the same argument artisans in things like the Arts and Crafts movement or the Luddites made back during the rise of factories, while forgetting that they fucking lost.

And Karl Marx had some ideas why wrt how mechanization uses raw power to make the displacement of individual artisans inevitable, even if I think the way people use them in response to this issue is... wildly unhelpful and cruel.

Like, it's still shitty to say "You're destined to lose your livelihood unless the revolution (Which we are bad at convincing you will happen) happens, no we won't help lol," as I've seen from those in my community.

I think the solution to traditional/digital art surviving if AI art is the existential threat it says it is (Which I have my doubts about) is unite or die, which dovetails into my ideas on the Creative Commons in a way I need to write on further one of these days.

But like... what I'm trying to say is, in all my experience, the way they describe the values of the art community are fundametally not opposed to the practice of AI art, not the people I have seen, and I think the efforts to treat that as untrue is unhelpful at best.

#art #ai art #philosophy of art #long post #rambling #shut up titleknown

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adamsea-boat · 2 months ago

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How To Buy A Boat Online: A Complete Guide

The idea of owning a boat has long been associated with adventure, freedom, and luxury. With more boats for sale online than ever before, navigating the waters of boat ownership has never been easier. Whether you’re looking for a power catamaran, a pontoon boat, or even a kayak, the digital marketplace offers more convenience, variety, and transparency than traditional methods.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a boat online — how to do it smartly, securely, and with confidence.

Why Buy a Boat Online?

Convenience at Your Fingertips

Gone are the days of visiting multiple boatyards or flipping through endless classified ads. Online platforms offer a vast inventory of boats for sale, available to browse anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re in Florida searching for used boats for sale or just daydreaming about your next yacht rental in Miami, digital listings bring your dream boat closer to reality.

Competitive Pricing & Variety

Online marketplaces aggregate listings from all over the world, offering a wider range of options, be it budget-friendly small boats for sale or high-end luxury yachts. You can easily compare prices, features, and models without dealing with high-pressure sales tactics.

Informed Decisions

Digital platforms usually offer detailed specifications, high-resolution images, inspection reports, and even video tours. This means you can make informed decisions before even stepping onboard.

How AdamSea Simplifies Online Boat Buying

One platform that stands out in the online marine marketplace is AdamSea. Unlike basic listing sites, AdamSea offers a complete ecosystem for both buyers and sellers, streamlining every part of the process.

A Verified Marine Community

AdamSea connects verified buyers, sellers, and service providers within a single, secure network. This reduces risks, especially for high-value purchases like yachts or power catamarans.

Smart Matching

The platform’s intelligent search tools help buyers find boats for sale based on preferences like type, location, price range, and even services such as inspection or documentation.

End-to-End Support

AdamSea offers features beyond just listings, such as secure payments, and certified boat inspections.

Inspection, Delivery & Secure Payments

Trust, Verified

One major concern with online purchases is trust. AdamSea mitigates this by offering third-party inspections from certified professionals. This ensures that what you see online matches what gets delivered.

Delivery Without the Hassle

Whether you’re buying a pontoon in Vancouver or a sailboat in Miami, global delivery support makes it easier than ever. Logistic partners coordinate everything from pickup to drop-off, even across borders.

Safe Transactions

AdamSea uses secure payment method, ensuring funds are only released when the boat passes inspection and is officially handed over. This adds a layer of financial protection, especially useful when dealing with high-ticket purchases.

What is the best way to buy a boat?

The best way to buy a boat is to follow these essential steps:

Decide on the type of boat you need based on usage, location, and budget.

Search verified listings on trusted online platforms.

Request a professional marine inspection or survey.

Review ownership documents, including title, maintenance records, and registration.

Use a secure payment method to protect your funds.

Arrange insured delivery or pickup from the seller.

Following these steps ensures a safe and informed boat-buying experience.

Pro Tips Before You Hit “Buy”

1. Know Your Needs

Don’t just get swept away by sleek designs. Think about usage: Will it be for fishing, leisure, or water sports? A pontoon is great for family fun, while a catamaran suits longer cruising.

2. Set a Budget

From affordable small boats for sale to luxurious yachts, there’s a wide spectrum of pricing. Factor in additional costs like insurance, docking, fuel, and maintenance.

3. Verify Documentation

Always ensure that the title, registration, and maintenance records are in order. AdamSea provides assistance with boat documentation and compliance, making this process much simpler.

4. Test & Inspect

Wherever possible, schedule a sea trial. If you’re buying remotely, a certified inspection can act as your eyes and ears, ensuring peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

The marine industry is rapidly evolving, and online buying is becoming the norm. Platforms like AdamSea not only showcase boats for sale but also offer a secure, end-to-end solution tailored for modern buyers. From Florida’s vibrant boat rental scene to international yacht purchases, the online boat market is vast and ready for exploration.

So, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a weekend explorer, your dream boat is just a few clicks away.

#boat #boaters #boatmarketplace

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mvishnukumar · 10 months ago

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Can statistics and data science methods make predicting a football game easier?

Hi,

Statistics and data science methods can significantly enhance the ability to predict the outcomes of football games, though they cannot guarantee results due to the inherent unpredictability of sports. Here’s how these methods contribute to improving predictions:

Data Collection and Analysis:

Collecting and analyzing historical data on football games provides a basis for understanding patterns and trends. This data can include player statistics, team performance metrics, match outcomes, and more. Analyzing this data helps identify factors that influence game results and informs predictive models.

Feature Engineering:

Feature engineering involves creating and selecting relevant features (variables) that contribute to the prediction of game outcomes. For football, features might include team statistics (e.g., goals scored, possession percentage), player metrics (e.g., player fitness, goals scored), and contextual factors (e.g., home/away games, weather conditions). Effective feature engineering enhances the model’s ability to capture important aspects of the game.

Predictive Modeling:

Various predictive models can be used to forecast football game outcomes. Common models include:

Logistic Regression: This model estimates the probability of a binary outcome (e.g., win or lose) based on input features.

Random Forest: An ensemble method that builds multiple decision trees and aggregates their predictions. It can handle complex interactions between features and improve accuracy.

Support Vector Machines (SVM): A classification model that finds the optimal hyperplane to separate different classes (e.g., win or lose).

Poisson Regression: Specifically used for predicting the number of goals scored by teams, based on historical goal data.

Machine Learning Algorithms:

Advanced machine learning algorithms, such as gradient boosting and neural networks, can be employed to enhance predictive accuracy. These algorithms can learn from complex patterns in the data and improve predictions over time.

Simulation and Monte Carlo Methods:

Simulation techniques and Monte Carlo methods can be used to model the randomness and uncertainty inherent in football games. By simulating many possible outcomes based on historical data and statistical models, predictions can be made with an understanding of the variability in results.

Model Evaluation and Validation:

Evaluating the performance of predictive models is crucial. Metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score can assess the model’s effectiveness. Cross-validation techniques ensure that the model generalizes well to new, unseen data and avoids overfitting.

Consideration of Uncertainty:

Football games are influenced by numerous unpredictable factors, such as injuries, referee decisions, and player form. While statistical models can account for many variables, they cannot fully capture the uncertainty and randomness of the game.

Continuous Improvement:

Predictive models can be continuously improved by incorporating new data, refining features, and adjusting algorithms. Regular updates and iterative improvements help maintain model relevance and accuracy.

In summary, statistics and data science methods can enhance the ability to predict football game outcomes by leveraging historical data, creating relevant features, applying predictive modeling techniques, and continuously refining models. While these methods improve the accuracy of predictions, they cannot eliminate the inherent unpredictability of sports. Combining statistical insights with domain knowledge and expert analysis provides the best approach for making informed predictions.

#datascience #data analytics #machinelearning #big data #python #ai #data privacy #bootcamp

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logyxpress · 11 months ago

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E-commerce Shipping Aggregator & Delivery Logistics in Delhi NCR

LogyXpress is a leading E-commerce Shipping Aggregator and Delivery Logistics provider, proudly headquartered in Gurgaon and serving the entire PAN India region. Specializing in comprehensive logistics solutions, we cater to the diverse needs of e-commerce businesses across Delhi NCR and beyond. Our full-service approach ensures seamless integration of shipping, warehousing, and delivery services, enabling businesses to streamline their operations and enhance efficiency. With a focus on reliability and innovation, LogyXpress is dedicated to providing cost-effective, timely, and scalable logistics solutions that empower e-commerce retailers to thrive in a competitive market. For more info, visit us at https://logyxps.com/ecommerce-shipping-services-delhi-ncr/ For queries reach out to us at +91 9599921470 or drop us an email at [email protected]

#ecommerce logistics #logistics company #ecommerce shipping #shipping company #shipping services #3pl logistics #shipping aggregator #ecommerce courier

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shantitechnology · 2 years ago

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5 Unique Benefits of ERP for Manufacturers

STERP (Shanti Technology) is one of the leading ERP software companies in India, offering comprehensive solutions for businesses in the manufacturing sector. Among the top ERP software providers in India, STERP has emerged as a frontrunner thanks to its dedication to serving manufacturers.

The STERP ERP software has helped Indian manufacturers become more productive, automate processes that formerly required human labour, and foster a culture of collaboration. Production scheduling, inventory management, quality control, and material need planning are just some of the ways in which this software may help businesses better meet customer needs and deliver superior products. Researching aggregate statistics may tell you a lot about the spread of enterprise resource planning software around the world.

General worldwide statistics for ERP Software:

The worldwide enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market is valued at over $25 billion, with yearly growth of 10%–20%.

More than half (53%) of all businesses agree that ERP is a promising sector in which to invest.

From 2019 to 2026, the worldwide market for ERP software is projected to expand to $78.40 billion, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%.

The defence and aerospace sectors will have the highest ERP software adoption rates by 2026.

88% of organisations say that ERP has helped their chances of success.

Among all enterprises, 62.7% favour cloud-based ERP solutions over locally hosted ones.

When it comes to using an ERP solution, about 27% of firms worry that their data would be jeopardised.

Half of all companies will soon install an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or enhance their current one.

5 Advantages of ERP for manufacturing company in India:

1. Streamlined Operations and Increased Efficiency:

Manufacturing enterprises in India need streamlined processes and enhanced efficiency to survive in today's competitive business environment. One of the most important tools for accomplishing these objectives is ERP software, and STERP - an excellent ERP software company in India is the most successful.

Manufacturing companies in India need to improve their productivity and efficiency to compete in the global manufacturing market. ERP software is a key component in achieving these goals, and STERP is the leading ERP software provider in India.

STERP understands the unique challenges faced by manufacturing facilities. Their ERP software for factories is specifically designed to raise output quality anywhere it's implemented.

By consolidating previously siloed departments and processes, STERP's ERP software makes key business operations transparent in real-time. The ability to step back and look at the larger picture helps manufacturers detect and fix inefficiencies and streamline processes.

2. Enhanced Visibility and Real-time Data Insights:

When it comes to making decisions and propelling corporate success in India's dynamic and ever-expanding industrial industry, increased visibility and real-time data insights are crucial. STERP is a leading service provider of ERP software in India, and its products help industrial companies improve their transparency and access to real-time data.

STERP provides ERP software tailored specifically for the manufacturing industry. Better management is possible with the help of our ERP software for manufacturing company in India by centralising functions like accounting, inventory control, production, and logistics. This connection gets rid of data silos and gives you a bird's eye view of the production process.

3. Improved Quality Control and Compliance:

Production relies heavily on quality control and following procedures. STERP offers exhaustive options for producers to improve quality control and conform to ever-changing regulations.

STERP, a market leader in India's enterprise resource planning software industry, understands the value of quality control. Our manufacturing-specific ERP software features robust quality management components that enable organisations to establish and rigorously adhere to quality control standards. It is now possible for businesses to create quality standards, set up inspection criteria, and track quality parameters continuously throughout the production cycle.

4. Effective Resource Management and Cost Reduction:

Successful manufacturing enterprises rely on STERP's ERP for manufacturing company in India, which was developed with the specific needs of Indian manufacturers in mind. STERP (Shanti Technology) is a well-established ERP software company in India that offers useful solutions for the industrial sector.

The top ERP software in India supplied by STERP (Shanti Technology), streamlines production scheduling, allowing firms to maximise resource utilisation and cut down on downtime. Taking into account factors like machine capacity, workforce availability, and raw materials on hand, the software develops production schedules that optimise output and minimises downtime.

5. Enhanced Customer Relationship Management and Service:

STERP is one of the leading ERP software companies in India because of the quality of the relationships we've built with our clients. The robust CRM features built into STERP's ERP software for manufacturers allow for streamlined management of customer communications, preferences, and historical data.

STERP's enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps organisations better understand their customers by highlighting their wants, needs, and buying behaviours. With this holistic view, companies may provide customers with individualised solutions, goods, and encounters.

Final Thoughts:

For manufacturing companies in India, ERP software has certain particularly useful features. As the industry standard for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, STERP creates tailor-made solutions for businesses in the manufacturing sector. ERP software opens the way for the effective administration of resources by optimising stock levels, improving production planning, and cutting costs. Manufacturers can save money by improving their procurement processes, throwing away less, and using their resources more efficiently. STERP is one of the top-ranked ERP software providers in India if you need ERP software for your manufacturing business.

#ERP software Companies in India #ERP software providers in India #ERP for manufacturing company in India #ERP software in India #ERP software company in India #ERP software #technology #ERP system #cloud ERP #ERP solutions #manufacturer #ERP software for engineering

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allaboutmarketing4you · 1 year ago

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The Future Of Online Shopping

"CNBC Marathon explores how companies like Amazon, Walmart and their competitors are shifting their marketing and business strategies to compete in today’s economy.

Quietly launching its app in September 2022, it only took Temu a few weeks to top app store charts, edging out Amazon, Walmart and even fast-fashion brand Shein. By February 2023, the 5-month-old company made its TV debut during Super Bowl LVII, airing two commercial spots totaling an estimated $14 million. With an annual advertising budget of about $1.4 billion, Temu is focused on aggregating a user base of nearly 100 million people by year-end.

Walmart employs more people than any other company in the world and is the country’s largest grocer. But when it comes to e-commerce, Amazon is the clear leader, with 39.5% of the market share compared to Walmart’s 7%. Now Walmart has ambitious new plans, and new leadership, to try and catch up.

Livestream shopping took China by storm during the pandemic, growing into an estimated $423 billion market in 2022. The trend has caught on more slowly in the U.S., but now Amazon, TikTok, YouTube and Shopify are making big investments in hopes it takes off. CNBC goes behind the scenes with creators like Myriam Sandler to find out what it’s like to sell via livestream, and what it’ll take for the emerging model to become a mainstream way that U.S. consumers shop.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:37 How Temu Makes Money From $10 Smartwatches from China (Published August 2023)

16:57 How Walmart Is Betting Big On Stores To Catch Amazon In E-commerce (Published June 2022)

34:26 Will Live Shopping On TikTok, Amazon And YouTube Take Off In The U.S.? (Published February 2023) "

Source: CNBC

#mktmarketing4you#distributionchannels#HoshinPlanning#Leanmethods#marketing#M4Y#lovemarketing#IPAM#ipammarketingschool#Kanban#ContingencyPlanning#virtual#volunteering#project#Management#Economy#ConsumptionBehavior#BrandManagement#ProductManagement#Logistics#Lifecycle

#Brand#Neuromarketing#McKinseyMatrix#Breakevenanalysis#innovation#Facebook#icebergmodel#EdgarScheinsCultureModel#STARMethod #VRIO #7SFramework #gapanalysis #AIDAModel #SixLeadershipStyles #MintoPyramidPrinciple #StrategyDiamond #InternalRateofReturn #irr #BrandManagement #dripmodel #HoshinPlanning #XMatrix #backtobasics #BalancedScorecard #Product #ProductManagement #Logistics #Branding #freemium #businessmodel #business #4P #3C #BCG #SWOT #TOWS #EisenhowerMatrix #Study #marketingresearch #marketer #marketing manager #Painpoints #Pestel #ValueChain # VRIO #marketingmix

Thank you for following All about Marketing 4 You

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#marketing4you #marketing #Youtube

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truxcargo009 · 6 months ago

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Best Courier Aggregator Companies in Delhi

With the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the demand for fast and efficient shipping services, courier aggregators have become an integral part of the logistics ecosystem. They serve as a bridge, connecting businesses with multiple courier partners under one platform, streamlining deliveries, and reducing operational hurdles. Delhi, being a hub for commerce and trade, hosts a plethora of courier aggregator companies that help businesses meet these challenges seamlessly. Among these providers, Truxcargo stands out as one of the most reliable names, earning its place as the number one option for shippers. This article explores the Best Courier Aggregator Companies in Delhi, highlighting their benefits, services, and why Truxcargo leads the pack.

Understanding Courier Aggregators

Courier aggregators are essentially platforms that connect businesses with multiple courier partners. Instead of working with individual courier services, companies can collaborate with an aggregator to access a wide array of options for delivery. This approach ensures better efficiency, cost reduction, and flexibility in shipping operations. Especially for businesses handling high volumes of orders, these aggregators provide tools to optimize routes, monitor shipments, and offer real-time tracking to customers.

The demand for courier aggregators has grown exponentially, especially in metros like Delhi, because of the explosion of industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, and even small-scale home businesses. Businesses no longer need the hassle of coordinating with multiple shipping companies; all it takes is one reliable courier aggregator near you to handle all your logistics needs.

Benefits of Using a Courier Aggregator Company

When it comes to choosing a courier aggregator company, there are several advantages that businesses can reap. Here are some notable benefits of working with the best logistics aggregator in Delhi:

Simplified Operations

A courier aggregator consolidates services from multiple shipping partners, helping businesses save time. Instead of juggling contracts or negotiations with different couriers, an aggregator simplifies the process by offering everything under one system.

Cost Efficiency

Courier aggregators leverage their networks to negotiate competitive pricing with leading courier partners. This means businesses can save costs compared to directly dealing with a single courier service provider.

Wide Reach

With a network of multiple courier companies, aggregators offer businesses an unmatched reach. Whether it's local deliveries within Delhi or shipping products across the country, they ensure goods reach their destination on time.

Technological Integration

The best courier aggregator companies in Delhi come equipped with user-friendly technologies that provide tools for order management, tracking, and real-time updates. These technologies improve customer satisfaction and reduce operational chaos.

Customer-Centric Services

Courier aggregators prioritize customer-centricity by ensuring accurate deliveries, faster turnaround times, and proactive support in case of delays or disruptions. For businesses looking for a courier aggregator near me, opting for the right company is critical to sustaining operational efficiency and offering a smooth customer experience.

Key Services Offered by Courier Aggregators

The best shipping aggregators in Delhi typically provide a range of services tailored to the needs of businesses. Here’s what you can expect when you work with a reputed courier aggregator company like Truxcargo:

1. Order Management

Integrating with your order system, a good aggregator offers tools to fetch orders automatically, assign couriers, and manage the entire shipping process with ease.

2. Multi-Courier Options

Aggregators offer access to multiple courier companies so businesses can choose based on delivery preference or regional expertise.

3. Real-Time Tracking

From the time an order is shipped to its final delivery, real-time tracking keeps businesses and end-customers updated on its status.

4. Shipping Cost Analysis

Comparing courier-friendly prices for local, national, or international deliveries allows businesses to optimize costs.

5. Cash on Delivery (COD) Handling

Many aggregators, including Truxcargo, facilitate COD, a feature essential for e-commerce businesses that serve customers who prefer paying upon delivery.

6. Reverse Logistics

Supporting returns or reverse orders is another service offered by the best logistics aggregator in Delhi. Reverse logistics has become an important aspect of modern-day e-commerce and retail operations.

Truxcargo – Leading the Way in Delhi

While there are several best courier aggregator companies in Delhi, Truxcargo has emerged as the go-to solution for businesses looking for efficiency, reliability, and affordability in their shipping operations. What makes Truxcargo shine among its competitors? Here are some reasons why this courier aggregator company has set benchmarks for others:

Seamless Integration

Truxcargo’s platform is all about making shipping easier for businesses. Its advanced technological integration allows businesses to streamline operations effortlessly. By providing a centralized system to manage orders and shipping, Truxcargo ensures greater productivity and organization.

Competitive Delivery Rates

One of the top reasons why businesses turn to Truxcargo is its ability to offer cost-efficient solutions. By partnering with multiple courier services across Delhi and other regions, Truxcargo delivers affordable delivery rates without compromising on service quality.

Widespread Network

Whether it’s a local delivery within Delhi or inter-city shipping, Truxcargo leverages an extensive network of courier partners to ensure that packages reach their destination on time.

Advanced Tracking Features

To enhance transparency and offer peace of mind to both businesses and their customers, Truxcargo provides real-time tracking tools with accurate delivery updates.

Customer Support Excellence

Truxcargo’s dedication to resolving issues swiftly and preventing delays places it amongst the best logistics aggregator in Delhi. Their customer support team works diligently to ensure satisfaction and help businesses maintain their reputation.

COD and Reverse Logistics

Understanding the modern needs of e-commerce platforms, Truxcargo offers convenient features like cash-on-delivery settlements and reverse logistics for returned shipments. Businesses looking for a courier aggregator near me can confidently rely on Truxcargo for their operational needs.

Other Notable Courier Aggregators in Delhi

Although Truxcargo is undeniably the leader in the space, Delhi is home to other courier aggregators that cater to diverse logistics needs. Companies like Shiprocket, NimbusPost, and Pickrr have also carved out a niche in the logistics ecosystem. These platforms provide everything from economical shipping methods to extensive delivery networks. However, Truxcargo outshines most of them due to its hyper-local focus on Delhi along with unmatched service reliability.

Choosing the Right Courier Aggregator

Selecting a courier aggregator is one of the most crucial decisions for businesses that depend on shipping. When evaluating the best courier aggregator companies in Delhi, keep the following factors in mind:

Service Range – Does the aggregator cover local deliveries, national shipping, or international logistics?

Delivery Timeliness – Ensure the aggregator has a history of meeting deadlines without compromising package safety.

Pricing Options – Look for transparent pricing structures that offer flexibility without hidden costs.

Ease of Technology – Opt for a platform that integrates seamlessly with existing systems and provides real-time tools for tracking.

Customer Reviews – Past experiences of other businesses are great indicators of reliability and service quality.

Truxcargo, with its leading services and stellar reputation, checks all these boxes, making it an unbeatable choice for businesses in Delhi.

Final Thoughts

The growth of online retail, local startups, and small businesses in Delhi has driven significant demand for logistics solutions. This has placed courier aggregators at the heart of supply chain operations. The best shipping aggregators in Delhi not only improve shipping efficiency but also fuel customer satisfaction and operational scalability.

Truxcargo leads as the best logistics aggregator in Delhi, offering unmatched services, competitive pricing, and robust technological solutions. If you’re on the lookout for a courier aggregator near me, Truxcargo is the ultimate answer. With a seamless platform and a host of features, they empower businesses to thrive in the commerce environment.

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