#master data analysis course

[digital-marketing-mohan]

Master Data Analysis

MY SUGGESTION : VK ACADEMY

Master Data Analysis with VK Academy's Comprehensive Courses 📊✨

In today's data-driven world, mastering data analysis isn't just a skill—it's a gateway to unlocking insights that drive business success. VK Academy stands out as a premier platform offering comprehensive courses designed to equip you with the expertise you need. Here’s why VK Academy is your ultimate destination for mastering data analysis:

Why Choose VK Academy Courses?

(I AM CURRENTLY INTERNING)

Expert-Led Learning: Learn from industry experts who bring practical insights and real-world experience into the classroom, ensuring you receive top-tier education.

Hands-On Experience: VK Academy emphasizes practical learning with hands-on projects that allow you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing your skills effectively.

Flexible Learning Options: Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, VK Academy offers courses tailored to various skill levels, allowing you to learn at your own pace and convenience.

Comprehensive Curriculum: From foundational concepts to advanced techniques in data analysis, VK Academy's courses cover everything you need to become proficient in handling data.

Career-Boosting Certifications: Upon completion of VK Academy courses, you'll receive certifications recognized by employers, validating your skills and enhancing your career prospects.

Essential Skills You'll Gain:

Data Collection and Cleaning: Master techniques for gathering and preparing data for analysis, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Statistical Analysis: Gain proficiency in applying statistical methods to extract meaningful insights and trends from data.

Data Visualization: Learn to create compelling visualizations using tools like Tableau and Power BI to effectively communicate insights.

Predictive Analytics: Understand how to use historical data to forecast future trends and make informed predictions.

Strategic Decision-Making: Develop the ability to translate data insights into actionable strategies that drive business success.

Why Master Data Analysis?

Empowered Decision-Making: Gain the skills to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights, reducing uncertainty and improving outcomes.

Career Advancement: Enhance your professional profile with in-demand skills in data analysis, opening doors to lucrative career opportunities.

Business Impact: Drive innovation and efficiency within organizations by leveraging data to optimize processes and strategies.

Personal Growth: Expand your knowledge and capabilities in data analysis, positioning yourself as a valuable asset in any industry.

Embark on your journey to master data analysis with VK Academy's exceptional courses. Start today and unleash the power of data! 🌟

[education43]

What Are the Qualifications for a Data Scientist?

In today's data-driven world, the role of a data scientist has become one of the most coveted career paths. With businesses relying on data for decision-making, understanding customer behavior, and improving products, the demand for skilled professionals who can analyze, interpret, and extract value from data is at an all-time high. If you're wondering what qualifications are needed to become a successful data scientist, how DataCouncil can help you get there, and why a data science course in Pune is a great option, this blog has the answers.

The Key Qualifications for a Data Scientist

To succeed as a data scientist, a mix of technical skills, education, and hands-on experience is essential. Here are the core qualifications required:

1. Educational Background

A strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, or computer science is typically expected. Most data scientists hold at least a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields, with many pursuing higher education such as a master's or a Ph.D. A data science course in Pune with DataCouncil can bridge this gap, offering the academic and practical knowledge required for a strong start in the industry.

2. Proficiency in Programming Languages

Programming is at the heart of data science. You need to be comfortable with languages like Python, R, and SQL, which are widely used for data analysis, machine learning, and database management. A comprehensive data science course in Pune will teach these programming skills from scratch, ensuring you become proficient in coding for data science tasks.

3. Understanding of Machine Learning

Data scientists must have a solid grasp of machine learning techniques and algorithms such as regression, clustering, and decision trees. By enrolling in a DataCouncil course, you'll learn how to implement machine learning models to analyze data and make predictions, an essential qualification for landing a data science job.

4. Data Wrangling Skills

Raw data is often messy and unstructured, and a good data scientist needs to be adept at cleaning and processing data before it can be analyzed. DataCouncil's data science course in Pune includes practical training in tools like Pandas and Numpy for effective data wrangling, helping you develop a strong skill set in this critical area.

5. Statistical Knowledge

Statistical analysis forms the backbone of data science. Knowledge of probability, hypothesis testing, and statistical modeling allows data scientists to draw meaningful insights from data. A structured data science course in Pune offers the theoretical and practical aspects of statistics required to excel.

6. Communication and Data Visualization Skills

Being able to explain your findings in a clear and concise manner is crucial. Data scientists often need to communicate with non-technical stakeholders, making tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Matplotlib essential for creating insightful visualizations. DataCouncil’s data science course in Pune includes modules on data visualization, which can help you present data in a way that’s easy to understand.

7. Domain Knowledge

Apart from technical skills, understanding the industry you work in is a major asset. Whether it’s healthcare, finance, or e-commerce, knowing how data applies within your industry will set you apart from the competition. DataCouncil's data science course in Pune is designed to offer case studies from multiple industries, helping students gain domain-specific insights.

Why Choose DataCouncil for a Data Science Course in Pune?

If you're looking to build a successful career as a data scientist, enrolling in a data science course in Pune with DataCouncil can be your first step toward reaching your goals. Here’s why DataCouncil is the ideal choice:

Comprehensive Curriculum: The course covers everything from the basics of data science to advanced machine learning techniques.

Hands-On Projects: You'll work on real-world projects that mimic the challenges faced by data scientists in various industries.

Experienced Faculty: Learn from industry professionals who have years of experience in data science and analytics.

100% Placement Support: DataCouncil provides job assistance to help you land a data science job in Pune or anywhere else, making it a great investment in your future.

Flexible Learning Options: With both weekday and weekend batches, DataCouncil ensures that you can learn at your own pace without compromising your current commitments.

Conclusion

Becoming a data scientist requires a combination of technical expertise, analytical skills, and industry knowledge. By enrolling in a data science course in Pune with DataCouncil, you can gain all the qualifications you need to thrive in this exciting field. Whether you're a fresher looking to start your career or a professional wanting to upskill, this course will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to succeed as a data scientist.

Explore DataCouncil’s offerings today and take the first step toward unlocking a rewarding career in data science! Looking for the best data science course in Pune? DataCouncil offers comprehensive data science classes in Pune, designed to equip you with the skills to excel in this booming field. Our data science course in Pune covers everything from data analysis to machine learning, with competitive data science course fees in Pune. We provide job-oriented programs, making us the best institute for data science in Pune with placement support. Explore online data science training in Pune and take your career to new heights!

[scholarnest]

Data Analysis Online: Crafting a Learning Path for Success

In today's data-driven world, mastering data analysis is essential for professionals across various industries. As the demand for data analysis skills continues to grow, individuals are turning to online learning platforms to acquire the knowledge and expertise needed to succeed in this field. Crafting a structured learning path is key to achieving success in data analysis online. Let's explore how to design a learning path tailored to mastering data analysis and advancing your career aspirations.

1. Assess Your Current Skill Level:

Before diving into data analysis online, it's essential to assess your current skill level and identify areas for improvement. Evaluate your proficiency in essential tools and concepts such as Python programming, SQL querying, and basic statistical analysis. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you tailor your learning path to address specific skill gaps and build a solid foundation for success.

2. Identify Learning Objectives:

Define clear learning objectives to guide your data analysis journey. Whether you're aiming to become proficient in Python programming for data analysis, master SQL for database querying, or explore advanced topics like machine learning and big data analytics, setting specific goals will help you stay focused and motivated throughout your learning experience.

3. Choose High-Quality Courses:

Selecting the right courses is crucial for mastering data analysis online. Look for reputable online platforms that offer a wide range of courses covering various aspects of data analysis, including Python programming, SQL querying, and specialized topics like Apache Spark for big data analytics. Consider factors such as course content, instructor expertise, hands-on learning opportunities, and student reviews when choosing the best data analysis courses online.

4. Build a Solid Foundation:

Begin your learning journey by focusing on building a solid foundation in essential data analysis skills. Start with introductory courses that cover fundamental concepts and techniques, such as Python programming basics, SQL querying fundamentals, and data manipulation and visualization. These foundational skills will serve as the building blocks for more advanced topics and specialized areas of data analysis.

5. Dive Deeper into Specialized Topics:

Once you've established a strong foundation, explore specialized topics and advanced techniques to expand your data analysis skill set. Delve into courses that cover advanced Python programming for data analysis, advanced SQL querying and database management, and specialized tools and libraries for tasks like data visualization, machine learning, and big data processing with Apache Spark. By exploring specialized topics, you can deepen your expertise and unlock new opportunities in data analysis.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice:

Practice is essential for mastering data analysis skills. Apply what you've learned in your courses to real-world projects, datasets, and problem-solving scenarios. Engage in hands-on exercises, projects, and challenges to reinforce your learning, develop practical skills, and build a portfolio of work that showcases your expertise in data analysis.

In conclusion, crafting a learning path for success in data analysis online requires careful planning, dedication, and a commitment to continuous learning. By assessing your current skill level, setting clear learning objectives, choosing high-quality courses, building a solid foundation, exploring specialized topics, practicing regularly, and staying updated with industry trends, you can embark on a rewarding journey to master data analysis and achieve your career goals.

[theonlyonesora]

The Quiet Equation

Toto Wolff x You

The leaves had just begun to change—burnt orange and brittle gold curling at the edges of Harvard Yard—when he walked into your life like an equation that didn’t balance.

You were seated in the third row of Maxwell 202, your laptop open, fingers idly tracing the rim of your coffee cup. It was your first lecture of the semester, an advanced seminar on sports business leadership, a course you’d only taken because you craved something challenging. Something unfamiliar.

You didn’t expect him.

Toto Wolff.

He entered the room not with fanfare but gravity—like a planet arriving into orbit, unannounced yet impossible to ignore. Six foot five, dressed in a charcoal cashmere sweater and slacks that looked tailor-made for his long, deliberate strides. His accent curled around his words like silk-wrapped steel. Every student in the lecture hall straightened unconsciously. A few whispered. A few stared.

But he didn’t scan the room for admiration. No, he scanned for curiosity. For sharpness. For minds worth his time.

And when his gaze landed on you, it stayed there half a second too long.

You looked away first. You always did.

.

You weren’t used to being noticed.

At 27, you’d already earned your master’s in engineering, and now you were folding into a second program focused on organizational strategy. Most people thought you were a scholarship kid who studied too hard. Maybe you were. You liked silence, liked order, liked the click of logic falling into place. You liked data because it never lied.

But now, data had a voice, and it came in the form of a man twice your age with sharp eyes and a voice like dark chocolate and gravel.

And then came the email.

Subject: Extra Credit Assignment—Mercedes-AMG F1 Guest Lectures You were one of three students selected. Three.

To assist Mr. Wolff during his time as a guest lecturer.

.

The first time he said your name, it was late afternoon. The sun had begun to dip behind the old stone buildings, casting the seminar room in an amber glow. You had just finished walking him through an analysis of cross-market brand loyalty between Formula One and other global sports franchises.

“Brilliant,” he said, like the word meant something ancient and reverent. “But you already knew that.”

You swallowed. “It’s just data.”

Toto tilted his head, studying you. “No. It’s the way you see it that matters. You find meaning in numbers the way others find it in poetry.”

You flushed. You hated that. He was too perceptive. Too calm. You liked your walls. He was already walking through them like they weren’t even there.

.

Over the weeks, something began to shift.

He stayed after class longer. Asked you questions no one else would dare ask—about why you never raised your hand, about how you learned to think the way you did. About what you were really afraid of.

He listened when you spoke, not just with attention—but with intention. As if every sentence from you deserved space to unfold.

And you?

You began to crave it. That space. That steady, quiet pull of him. The way he stood too close without ever touching you. The way he would call your name lowly in passing—never inappropriate, never unprofessional, but still enough to echo in your stomach long after he left the room.

There was an age difference, of course. Twenty-four years. But it didn’t feel like that.

It felt like… depth. Like gravity finding gravity.

.

One night, well past midnight, you stayed behind after a guest seminar to help him with a data model. The others had left. The building was quiet, shadows climbing the bookshelves. The glow from his laptop cast him in silver light, jaw tense, brow furrowed as he reviewed your notes.

“You’ve done this before,” he said softly. “Built something and never taken credit.”

You looked at him. “What makes you think that?”

“Because you remind me of myself. At your age.” He paused. “Hungry. Brilliant. Lonely.”

That word landed like a pebble in still water.

You didn’t respond right away. Then, quietly: “I don’t mind being alone.”

“No,” he said, watching you. “But maybe you’d like someone who understands it.”

You turned your head to meet his eyes—and the room, the night, the world—it all shifted. Everything suspended.

His hand didn’t move first. Yours did.

And when his fingers closed around yours, it wasn’t the beginning of anything reckless.

It was the beginning of something inevitable.

.

You never told anyone.

Harvard whispered, as universities always do. But there were no scandals. No rumors. Just the quiet glances exchanged in the corners of classrooms, the subtle shift in your breath when he entered a room.

And on the last day of term, he handed you a folded note with only two lines written in his precise, deliberate hand.

You are the most elegant mind I’ve ever met. Come to Brackley this summer. We have work to do.

You stared at the signature beneath it.

Toto.

Not Mr. Wolff. Not Professor.

Just Toto.

And for once in your carefully structured life, you didn’t hesitate. You were already packed.

Maybe part 2 ?

[elizabethemerald]

Shade Darker than Red

Master Post

The plan to rid the Spirit of Gotham of some of the worst curses that affected her was simple, safe, and guaranteed to succeed. Of course, every member of the Batfamily in attendance knew that was a lie even if they didn’t acknowledge it. The truth of the matter was that it was wildly complex mission requiring the family to split up and infiltrate three of the most dangerous locations in the city simultaneously and if it didn’t go flawlessly for all three teams then it was basically a guaranteed death sentence for not just the family but all of the innocent people of Gotham. No pressure. 

While there were numerous curses all across the city that fed into each other, there were three of the worst, that together acted as chains, keeping the City Spirit bound and unable to heal. One was Slaughter Swamp, a strange murky body of water a little outside the city limits from which the zombie Solomn Grundy would be revived no matter how many times he was destroyed. Another was the infamous Court of Owls. The aristocrats and their undead legion of Talons who believed themselves the masters of the city had built their labyrinthine citadel on an anchor that predated the city itself. The last was a hidden sigil buried deep within the twisted halls of Arkham Asylum. 

Once this information had been shared with the rest of the Batfamily, they all had to take a moment to process the scale of the task before them. 

Slaughter Swamp by itself was an inhospitable wetlands that stretched for miles, infested with all manner of hostile wild life and a strange dark magic that reanimated the dead disposed of in the fetid waters. Any disturbance there had a chance of attracting the ire of Solomn Grundy who could then go on a rampage against the innocent people of the city. 

The Court of Owls had been influencing the city through money and magic since it was first founded. In a parallel universe, Dick had been indoctrinated as one of the Talons, the undead assassins the Court used to exact their orders. Even Batman himself had never managed to truly purge Gotham of the Court and he had almost been driven to insanity after being tortured within the Court’s labyrinth. If even one of the masked aristocrats managed to escape they could take control of the Talons to begin a new reign of terror. 

Arkham was of course its own can of worms. Even when the asylum had been first built its twisting corridors had harbored a curse that drove occupants to greater heights of insanity. Now after decades of mismanagement and tortured souls being confined within the walls, Arkham was truly a mad house in the most literal sense. Exploring deep into the catacombs, as would be necessary to find the sigil, risked running a foul of the inmates and corrupt guards, and escaping without a mass breakout would be an even greater trial. 

Worse of all, after a thorough analysis of the data recovered by Barbara and Danny’s informants on the other side, the three locations would have to be hit at once. Danny had explained that the magical backlash from one anchor falling would rebound on the others, driving those nearby to even greater heights of madness and paranoia. Slaughter Swamp would likely expel all of its dead in a threat that hadn’t been seen since the last assault by the Black Lanterns and could spread across the globe. Arkham would surely see a breakout and inmates driven to worse and worse acts of cruelty. The Court would try to reclaim Gotham as a separate city state, initiating a police state and lock down enforced by the Talons. 

None of them liked the idea of splitting the family up, but there really was no option. After hours of intensive debate the three teams that were going to assault the three locations were decided. In addition to splitting up the living members of the Batfamily, each team would get a little ghostly help as well. Jazz, Tim, and Duke were going to search Slaughter Swamp. Jason, Dick, and Damian were going to infiltrate Arkham. Danny, Cass, and Steph were going to lay siege to the Court of Owls. 

“Alright, we all have our missions.” Danny said, drawing on the full gravitas of the King of the Infinite Realms. “If we fail, the world may never recover from what we stir up. But if we succeed, when we succeed, it will mean Gotham City will be a safer, brighter place. And most importantly, it will mean Jason will get a new job and stop lazing around my castle.” 

With scattering of laughter, called jokes and threats and a bit of rough housing the three teams split up to take on their goals. 

.

Batman had abandoned the Watchtower after Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash had mutinied against him. They had stopped him from returning to his city and because of their interference Joker had been killed. He wanted to return to Gotham to investigate the murder, he already has several suspects and just because some of them were his former soldiers didn’t mean that they would be spared his judgment. 

However he knew that the most powerful and arrogant members of the Justice League would not let their eyes off him for even a moment, much less long enough to sneak off to return to his city. Instead he retreated to an older, now derelict, JL base on the moon. There he continued to monitor his alarms, and his fellow JL members, and his former children. 

One of the first things he had done was destroy the Zeta Tube for the base, he didn’t trust the other members not to pursue him there, or try and stop his work. Any supplies were sent by shuttle from the Watchtower, but he was working steadily to make the base completely self-sustaining, so he would no longer be dependent on others at all. Of course he moved as much kryptonite to the base as well as the rest of his most powerful countermeasures against the league to his new base. 

He kept up to date on the happenings of the world and sent mission updates to the rest of the Justice League. They still needed his strategic mind if they were going to succeed against the threats to the Earth. He also sent repeated messages to Nightwing and the rest of his soldiers, reminding them that it was only a matter of time before they needed him and that they were letting the city fall apart in their stubborn refusal to beg for him to return. 

So when he got alerts from alarms he had set up all over Gotham, he knew exactly what to do. He sent orders to the League to monitor Arkham for a new breakout, to watch out for another rising of Grundy and to be wary of the ultra rich and powerful members of the Court. He also sent another message to his subordinates in Gotham demanding to return. When all that was done, all he could was wait for them to reach out to him. 

.

Dick had refused to be separated from Jason. He had lost his brother once, twice and now gotten him back again, like hell he was going to let him go again. Yeah Jason was different than he used to be. He glowed, he floated, he had a fucking tail. But he was still Jason. If anything he was Jason who was almost an average of how he had been before he had first died and how he had been when he came back the first time. He laughed more, and didn’t have the same rage he had come back with, but he was clearly more mature, more dedicated to the city than he had been as Robin. 

Just as Dick refused to be away from Jason, Damian had refused to be away from Dick. Damian had been operating as Dick’s sidekick in Bludhaven and Gotham since the family separated. The two had been roommates, which was both more and less of a disaster than it could have been. Damian was significantly more fastidious than Dick would ever be and the two argued constantly about chores and cleanliness. Danny had just smiled and said that’s what siblings are like while Jazz had rolled her eyes behind him. 

So despite the fact that Dick felt the mission was too dangerous for Damian, the three of them were sneaking their way into Arkham Asylum. They were the ones with the most combined knowledge and experience dealing with Arkham and its inhabitants. Jason was helping with his ghostly powers, bypassing whole sections of the Asylum with his intangibility, while Dick and Damian, two of the more acrobatic members of the family navigated the twisting halls. 

“You know I’m kind of surprised Jazz didn’t want to join us here in Arkham, I’ve heard her talk enough about her plans for this place.” Dick said as they crept through an air duct leading to a lower level. Jason wouldn't have been able to squeeze through before, but now it was simplicity itself to change his ghost form to be smaller and slip through without even needing intangibility. 

“She feels it's inappropriate to assault people she wants to provide mental health care for.” Jason whispered as he smacked Dick’s head with his tail. “Believe me, I’ve heard enough of her rants on how to properly care for the patients here.” 

Dick was about to respond when Damian jabbed him in the ankle. 

“Richard, please remember that despite being a red head she is not a suitable romantic partner.” Damian hissed. 

“Hey just because I dated Babs, doesn’t mean-”

“And Kori.” Jason interrupted. 

“And the marginally less annoying Flash protege.” Damian replied in his usual deadpan. 

“I feel like I’m being bullied.” Dick whined. “I didn’t know that this mission would mean two of my baby brothers ganging up on me.” 

The three of them dropped down into a cell block and hoped that their luck would hold out and the inmates wouldn’t riot. Danny had said that the magic that cursed this place could sense their intentions and fight to protect itself with whatever it had available, almost like a living thing, most dangerous when backed into a corner. 

“And I don’t know why you’re so worried about me! Tim was the one who had fought tooth and nail to be on her team.” Dick continued trying to defend himself. 

“Well, yes, of course. Drake wanted to inquire about the technology in the mechanical suit she had brought.” 

“Oh that’s a bad idea.” Jason said, freezing in his spot as with a screeching clang the cell doors around them opened, freeing the surrounding inmates. Jason allowed his ecto energy to blaze to light at his fists. 

“Really? Why?” Dick pulled out his escrima sticks and activated the electricity. Damian immediately put his back against Dick’s just like they would do when they were Batman and Robin. 

“Because Jazz hates shop talk. She can’t stand when Danny and I get into it.” 

Anything else was cut off by the surrounding inmates rushing the trio. 

.

“I’m just saying, claiming to be the most mentally healthy in a family of vigilantes is not really the claim you think it is. It’s like saying you’re the fastest snail at the snail race because you’re a slug.” Jazz explained to Duke as they trekked through the muddy swamp water. 

Slaughter Swamp hadn’t shown itself to be the most dangerous location to navigate just yet, but it did seem to be the most messy. Tim had ended up taking his cape off, because it was just dragging in the mud behind him. Duke was glad for once that he didn’t follow the rest of the family with their love of capes, though he had no idea how long it would take to clean the mud out of the cracks in his armor, and if they didn’t get out of this swamp soon he would definitely get trench foot from the water in his boots. 

Jazz was doing both better and worse than Duke and Tim were. On the one hand the mechanized suit she wore was completely sealed and she could survive in any environment, including deep under water and in outer space. Duke wasn’t quite certain he wanted to know exactly how she knew that. On the other hand, the suit was heavy, and she was frequently wading up to her waist in mud and had to use the thrusters built into the back of the suit and a grapple cannon built into one of the arms to pull herself free. 

Tim had tried to get Jazz talking about how the suit was built by asking how it stayed so clean, as the mud and algae seemed to just slough off without leaving any trace, but she had just loudly groaned about hating “shop talk” and started interrogating them on their self-care habits and mental health.

“I think it’s important for any teenaged vigilante to consider what else they want to be doing with their lives.” Jazz said. She was also talking completely calmly while fending off strangely aggressive crocodiles. “If you want to commit wholly to fighting crime that’s great! But if there’s something else you want to do, you need to consider how best to balance your vigilante work and the rest of your life.” 

She gently tossed a crocodile into a nearby swamp patch where the reptile seemed to decide it wasn’t interested in prey that was that tough. Duke couldn’t help but be reminded of the times Damian had to fend off Alfred the Cat from walking across his latest canvas. He would gently bowl the cat down the hallway and Alfred would scamper back excited to play. 

“You know, I’m surprised you’re not trying to convince us to stop being vigilantes.” Duke said. 

Tim looked a tad defensive as if was ready to bust out his powerpoint presentation on why he needed to be on the streets right there in the swamp. Duke thought that was probably exactly what he was willing to do. 

“Oh, I’ve dealt with teenaged vigilantes for long enough to know that isn’t going to happen.” Jazz said dismissively. “Any attempt to convince you would just push you away. Besides you two and Stephanie are the ones who chose this role, you’re only going to stop when you decide you’ve done enough.” 

“Wha- Wait. How do you know that?” Tim’s suspicious glare was somewhat lessened by the vine he had been using to pull himself forward breaking and dropping into the swamp, dropping him on his ass in the mud as well. 

“Danny and I have basically adopted Jason.” Jazz smiled as she lifted Tim out of the mire and set him on a nearby log. Duke couldn’t help thinking of Alfred the Cat again. “Of course we talked about the other members of our families!” 

“He shouldn’t be talking about our secret identities!” Tim snapped from where he was now crouching on a log. 

“He didn’t.” Jazz blocked a bite from another crocodile with her armored forearm. “But my brother had been one of only three half ghosts in existence and I was still able to put together that Phantom was his superhero identity, you think I wouldn’t be able to piece together the world famous Waynes?” 

“Well when you put it like that, it almost makes it seem a waste of time to maintain a secret identity at all.” Duke muttered, as he flash banged another pair of crocodiles then used his umbra kinesis to shove a couple of venomous snakes away from him. 

Jazz just shrugged. “That’s a choice only you can make, just know Danny, Jason and I will support you no matter what you choose.” She paused to glance around. “Get ready, we're close.” 

“Solomon Grundy,” A harsh, guttural voice was accompanied by a portion of the swamp rising up. 

“Born on a Monday,” The earth and mulch fell away to reveal the giant zombie. 

“Christened on a Tuesday,” Tim used his grapple to pull himself up into a tree. 

“Married on a Wednesday,” Duke moved to flank Grundy as Jazz braced herself. 

“Took ill on a Thursday,” Grundy finished pulling himself free of the mud. 

“I am Princess of the Infinite Realms, Lady Protector of the King-”

“Died on a Saturday,” Grundy charged and Jazz met him, the two of them crashing together and sending waves through the swamp water. 

“And I swear on the grave of my brother that your darkness ends here!” Jazz shouted as she wrestled with Grundy. 

.

Stephanie jogged through the sewers under Gotham alongside Danny and Cassandra. Cass had been the most opposed to her family splitting up with all these dangerous missions, and had desperately searched for any way they could hit the targets one after another. Even now, Steph could tell that she was uncomfortable having her family so far away. Especially since between magical interference and the layers of concrete over their heads their comms were all but useless. 

However once it became clear that splitting up was the only way to go, Cass had immediately switched to insisting on traveling with Danny. Steph wasn’t certain if she thought he was a threat they needed to keep an eye on or if he was a new brother that they needed to get to know first. So Stephanie had of course tagged along. 

She wouldn’t admit to anyone, though she was certain Cass could tell, but Steph was terrified. Ever since she had found out that Bruce had killed Jason, she’d been terrified. Terrified that someone else would die at his hand, terrified that they would turn on each other in his absence, terrified that they would all break apart and go their own ways. Cass could easily leave her behind and return to Hong Kong, and Steph didn’t think she would survive that. 

So when Cass all but demanded that she and Danny would descend into the Gotham sewers to face down the Court of Owls, Steph jumped to accompany her. Anything to stay by her side for a little while longer. She couldn’t tell if she desperately wanted Cass to confront her about what her body language must be screaming or if she was just as terrified of the confrontation as she was about what she thought would follow after. 

The trio were following a small green glowing blob as they ran through the sewers. Steph had never seen anything quite like the little guy, but Cass seemed to appreciate how cuddly the little slime was. 

“So how does this thing know where the Court is? Isn’t the entrance supposed to be super hidden down here?” Steph asked, unable to resist her questions. 

“As soon as I knew one of the curse anchors was located down here I sent just about every blob ghost in the city into the sewers.” Danny said. He grabbed both girls by the backs of their uniforms and lifted them up over a stream of water, flying effortlessly even with both of them in hand, before setting them down on the other side and continuing to follow the blob though now he was flying and had a tail instead of legs. “They would find every hidden corner and passage and saturate the whole area with ectoplasm. I’ll always find my way if an area has enough ectoplasm around.” 

He then glanced nervously over his shoulder before continuing in a quieter voice. 

“If you ask Jazz about that, she’ll be quick to tell you about the number of times I’ve lost my own castle in the Infinite Realms, but please remember I had only been king for like two months when that happened.” 

Cass silently giggled and Steph chuckled as softly as she could. 

It was only a few more minutes after that when they found a sigil in the shape of an owl on the wall. Danny moved up until his nose was almost touching the beak of the owl as he closely examined it. He took in every detail of the carving as he lightly traced his fingers across it. 

“Couldn’t you, I don’t know, just ghost your way through it?” Steph asked, keeping her voice soft. Cass had turned to keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure no one snuck up on them. 

“Oh I could, but it’s a bad habit to get into.” Danny whispered. Then he pushed his fingers into two parts of the carving causing an audible click, and though the carving didn’t move he still grinned and his eyes glowed brighter. “The old ghost King, Pariah, filled his keep with secret passageways like this, since it was all made of ectoplasm the other ghosts couldn’t phase through it. But I could. Turns out he was also a fan of leaving deranged traps just in case someone got through the door. Sometimes it's better to just unlock a door, than to be surprised by what's on the other side.”

His grin turned slightly maniacal as he slipped his finger into a hole Steph hadn’t noticed. Another click sounded and the entire carving slid to the side. Steph and Cass followed him through into the room beyond. He turned to look at the blob at his side. 

“Are all members of the Court here?” He asked it, and the blob bobbed up and down like it was nodding. Then Danny slapped his hand to the wall next to the entrance and Steph could feel a weight settle on them as an obsidian crown burned into existence above his head. “Seal this place and these vaults, none may enter, none may leave, by order of the King.” 

His words seemed to layer over each other and shriek through her head, rattling her bones with their force. Ice crackled out from his hand and spread across the door. Steph doubted that ice put in place by order of the Ghost King would be easy to melt. Danny cracked his neck and shook out his shoulders and the sounds of running feet raced toward them. He paused and cocked his head like he was listening. 

“The others have engaged their curses. Now it's our turn.”  His grin stretched into the territory of other worldly. Steph pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and Cass settled into a fighting crouch as the assassin hoard of the Court of Owls, the Talons started pouring out of openings in the rock to find the intruders. 

.

Jason charged through another group of thugs, sending them tumbling to the ground like bowling pins. He was trying to preserve his power, because Danny and Jazz didn’t know exactly what the curse would need to break. Fighting through the bowels of Arkham Asylum with his brothers once more by his side filled him with joy and he could feel his core blazing with life inside him. 

By that time almost every inmate in the asylum was free. Some were rioting on the upper floors, keeping the guards and warden busy, but most of the rest of the small fries seemed focused on stopping Jason, Damian and Dick. 

Their usual rogues seemed to be on a completely different spectrum from the regular thugs. Riddler had given them a jaunty wave from where he was reading in his cell. Poison Ivy had given them a nod as she passed them heading in the other direction, no doubt to meet up with Harley and bust out together. Two Face had flipped a coin once they were within sight and after looking at it simply settled back on his cot. Jason wondered if their own obsessions prevented the curse of Arkham from directly influencing them like it was doing with the rest of the rabble. 

Even the ones who either were so weak willed that they had to engage the trio or were simply taking advantage of the chaos were less effective than usual. Bane had led a break-in into the Arkham lock-up and freed his Venom injectors, however when he had charged them, Jason had phased through his body and ripped the injectors off his back. He was subdued quickly after that. 

Scarecrow attempted to utilize a new Fear Toxin that he had probably brewed in his damn toilet, but Jason didn’t need to breathe and while he focused on maintaining an ecto shield around the heads of his brothers, Damian and Dick focused on beating the snot out of Crane. 

They were almost at the heart of Arkham, and Jason could feel they were drawing closer to the curse anchor they were seeking when the Asylum pulled out one last trick. 

“Ah, a ghost!” Mad Hatter cheered when he saw them, he had a simple hat on his head made out of paper. “I had wondered if I would see one!” 

“Give it up Tetch! You’re no match for the three of us.” Dick shouted, stepping forward. 

“Oh ho ho! Maybe not, but a fellow master of bending weaker minds, my good friend Frederich, let me in on a little secret after the clown laughed his last!” Hatter said, his eyes wide with glee. Then he began a rapid fire chanting in a strange language that had the words layering over each other. 

Jason felt his brain go fuzzy, almost like his pit rage, but worse, so much worse. All he could see was red, and there were two pests near him that he had to destroy. He charged, swinging wildly at the larger, a horrible howl tearing out of his throat. 

A distant, hidden part of his mind rebelled against what was happening. That was his brother! He never wanted his siblings’ blood on his hands again. Yet still he swung and swung again trying to rend the pest before him asunder. 

The pest before him fell and Jason dove to tear him apart. However before he could touch him, Jason pulled back on his mind with all of his strength. Every ounce of mental strength he had used to control his pit rage at its worst. The same strength that had called Danny to him and had bent the entirety of the Infinite Realms stopped his hand an inch from Dick’s face. 

A whimper and a groan made Jason lift his head from where he was glaring balefully into Dick’s eyes. They both looked over to see Damian standing over an unconscious Mad Hatter, the hat shredded at his feet. Jason quickly turned back to focus on Dick and was relieved to see that he wasn’t harmed. He sagged as the weight of what he could have done settled on him. 

“You’re ok, Jay. You were able to fight it.” Dick said, trying to prop Jason’s ghostly form up. 

“It was stronger than anything I had ever experienced.” Jason whispered hoarsely. He whipped his lips and realized he had been foaming ectoplasm at the mouth. 

“Of course it was strong. You were facing one of the curses of this city at its very heart. Daniel informed us that it would be strongest here.” Damian said dismissively as he tightly bound Hatter’s hands. 

“Still it’s something I should probably talk to Danny about later.” Jason glared at Hatter’s unconscious form, fury bleeding into his limbs again at what could have happened. “Let’s go. We’re almost there, and if we don’t stop it now, whatever we face will be stronger.” 

.

Jazz shuddered as she dodged another blow from Solomon Grundy. She could feel rage burning through her connection to both of her ghostly brothers. It was clear they were battling their own forces that were defending the curse anchors they were after. She ducked under a wide swing from Grundy and hit him back with enough force to cause him to stagger back. 

Grundy caught her follow up swing and spun, throwing her across the swamp and through several trees. Even through the Nightingale Peeler that hurt. Danny had improved the old Fenton Peeler so she could go toe to toe with Superman if she had to, not that she ever expected to need to do so. Even at his strongest, Grundy should be a cake walk to handle. 

However, she wasn’t just fighting Grundy. She was fighting the Curse of Slaughter Swamp. And the curse was doing everything it could to defend itself. She used the thrusters on the back of the Peeler to lunge back across the swamp that seemed to want to swallow her whole. Red Robin was peppering Grundy with all the different tools in his belt. Batarangs, smoke pellets, cryogrenades, anything to stall the behemoth zombie and give her time to get back into the action. 

Signal was in the more vulnerable position having avoided taking to the trees at the start of the fight. Grundy was too enraged to be able to focus on either of them, but his strength and durability wasn’t allowing the two boys to do too much damage. Duke sent a ball of light bouncing along the ground and the face plate of the Peeler darkened automatically just before the ball burst, illuminating the entire swamp. 

Grundy swung wildly, completely blind, and almost took Duke’s head off at the shoulders. Jazz blocked the next swing, feeling the force of it rattle through her whole body. Danny would need to spend a lot of time fixing up the Peeler once this was done. With Grundy still distracted and blind, Jazz pummeled him, raining body blows down on him with her empowered fists and knee strikes. He could finally focus on her enough to roar in her face, but she punched him again before he could pull his fists back. 

She couldn’t tell what kind of undead he was. She couldn’t sense any ectoplasm in him, only the curse itself gave him emotion and was the reason his personality changed each time he came back from the dead. 

Jazz ducked another blow, then channeled her body's ectoplasm through her next punch, the fist of the Peeler glowing green as she knocked Grundy back. She snarled and pushed forward, daring the Curse to come at her. She had lived 17 years in the Fenton home, caring for her brother and protecting him before she even believed ghosts were real. She wasn’t about to let some overgrown curse in a smelly gross swamp stop her. Not now, not never. 

.

The hoards of Talons never seemed to stop coming. Danny was fighting alongside Cass and Steph. Cass was practically an artist as she fought, weaving around the hoards of the undead like a dancer. Steph’s fighting style actually wasn’t that different from Danny’s. Mostly self taught, refined by a good teacher, but brutal to put enemies down and keep them down. 

He could sense Steph’s fear, fear of failure, fear of the bats turning against each other if this plan didn’t work out. He could sense Cass’s curiosity, curiosity about him and his power, curiosity about Steph and the emotions that had riled the blonde up. He could sense the fight progressing with Jazz and Jason. The Curses were weakening. 

Unfortunately, he could also sense Cass and Steph tiring. Cassandra may be the most skilled fighter Danny had ever encountered and that included Pandora who had been training for centuries, but she was still facing the seemingly endless Talons. She also kept over extending herself to keep Stephanie safe and to cover Danny’s back. He needed to end this fight and soon. 

The trill of a blob ghost drew his attention. The little blob was rapidly bobbing in the air and trilling. That was the signal he had been waiting for, every Talon the Court of Owls had was here in this fight. His eyes gleamed and he allowed the full weight and power of being the King of All Ghosts to settle on his shoulders. 

“Dead of Gotham! Kneel! For I am your King!” Danny shouted, his words layered over each other as he called upon the endless power of the Infinite Realms. 

A thunderous sound followed his order as every Talon in the Court fell to their knees at once. Cass and Steph fighting stopped mid swing, staring in awe. They could hear distant shouted orders from the members of the Court trying to reclaim control, but they couldn’t match Danny’s power. He could feel the Curse fighting him as well, but he had defeated Pariah Dark at only fourteen, a Tyrant who needed an entire council of the Ancients to stop him the first time. No Curse, no matter how old, no matter how powerful could equal Danny with the backing of the entire Realms. 

“Dead of Gotham. Hunt the members of the Court of Owls. Allow none to escape.” Danny’s order brought the Talons to their feet, their attention focused solely on him. “Ki-”

A hand on his shoulder stopped him from issuing his next order. He turned to see Cassandra glaring at him. She gripped him with one hand while she aggressively signed with the other. 

“No Killing.” 

Danny turned to face her fully. The Ring of Rage and the Crown of Fire pulsing through his veins like magma. He knew his face was even more inhuman than usual. 

“You would order a king?” His voice rattled the room and all of the Talons turned to face Cass, golden eyes staring her down. She gripped his shoulder even harder, a glare visible even through her full face mask. 

“No. Killing.” Her motions were quick and abrupt, then her hand dropped to her weapons. 

Behind her Danny could see Steph nervously make herself ready to fight as well, clearly unhappy with the idea of having to fight the Eldritch Being before them on top of all the Talons, but always willing to have Cassandra’s back. 

Danny was ready to dismiss them both, to freeze them out of the way so Jason’s sisters wouldn’t be harmed, but instead he looked closer. She was completely ready to fight and die to even try to stop him from giving the order. This wasn’t some moral code, like Bruce’s. This was an obsession, written deeper, almost in her very DNA. Wouldn’t even Box Ghost attack if Danny threatened his precious boxes? 

No doubt Cass had been exposed to ectoplasm just like Jason had before his death. Her obsession would drive her with the same strength as Danny’s own. There would be no stopping her short of killing her, and even then her ghost would rise almost immediately in this ectoplasm-saturated environment and she would keep trying to stop him. He turned away from her. 

“Very well.” He addressed the Talons. “Bring me the members of the Court. Alive!” 

They raced away immediately at his order, disappearing into the twisted labyrinth of the Court. Danny took a deep breath and centered himself. He was not a tyrant. He would not become Pariah Dark. He spoke without turning to look at the two women. 

“However, their crimes are numerous, and their crimes against the dead here are even more heinous. They will face trial within the Infinite Realms.” 

He opened a portal into the Realms, directly into the prison in Phantom’s Keep. The Talons were already starting to escort richly dressed and masked members of the Court to push them through the portal. Danny took a moment watching them and he could feel Cass and Steph relax behind him. 

“Thank you, Cassandra.” Danny said softly. Not turning to look at them. “I sometimes forget myself.” 

Cass stepped up and once more set her hand on his shoulder, though this time it was softer. Steph stood on Danny’s other side. 

“You take this king shit really seriously, huh?” Steph said as more and more struggling members of the Court were dragged through the portal. 

Removing the entire Court wouldn’t solve Gotham’s problems immediately, and worse of all it would leave a power vacuum that other criminals and the super rich would seek to fill. However with the removal of the Curses that held the Spirit of Gotham in the city, she would be able to return to the Realms and heal, and Jason would be able to take her place. He would be able to fill that vacuum and protect the city rather than harm it. 

Danny could feel the power of the Curses crumbling as Jazz and Jason fought and overpowered the darkness in their locations. He took a deep breath in and held it as the last of the Court was dragged, screaming, crying and swearing through the portal. 

“Yeah I do.” Danny said, pulling the two women into side hugs, grateful that they were there. He allowed the portal to close then opened another. This one also opened up into his keep, but up near the guest rooms. “Dead of Gotham! Heed me now.” 

The Talons turned to face him. Steph stiffened but Cass just looked at them all curiously. 

“Death should have been a relief from your suffering. But because of the machinations of those in power here, it became but another form of torture. I offer you a new home. Where you can find the relief in death you didn’t find here. Where you will be cared for. And where, if you choose, you can eventually go to your permanent rest. I release you. Your choices are your own now.” 

The words of Death trembled through the air, like the vibration of a string and one by one, the Talons, under their own power for the first time in who even knew how many decades, slumped in relief as they walked through the portal into Danny’s keep. Once he was done in Gotham he would return to ensure they were cared for. 

“Let’s get back to the others. The other teams have completed their work as well.” Danny said, before he passed his intangibility to the other two and lifted them both up through the concrete and stone over their heads until they could see a new dawn rising over the city. A new dawn and a new, hopefully brighter future.

[mariacallous]

An online course founded by far-right influencer Andrew Tate was breached by hackers, revealing the email addresses of roughly 325,000 users.

The self-described online university, known as The Real World, offers users “advanced training and mentoring” for around $50 per month. Formerly known as Hustler’s University, the platform focuses on topics such as health and fitness, financial investment, and e-commerce businesses.

“Money making is a skill,” the website states. “We will teach you how to master it.”

On Thursday, the hackers made their actions known by flooding the course’s primary chatroom with emojis they uploaded while Tate was streaming an episode of his show “Emergency Meeting” on Rumble.

The emojis included a transgender flag, a feminist fist, an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag, another where his buttocks are enlarged, and the cat character used in the “boykisser” meme.

The Daily Dot was provided with approximately 794,000 usernames for what are believed to be the site’s current and former members, as well as the contents of the platform’s 221 public and 395 private chat servers. A list of 324,382 unique email addresses that appear to belong to users who were removed for failure to pay was also handed over.

In a statement on the breach, the hackers claimed that after accessing the data they were able to leverage a vulnerability “to upload emojis, delete attachments, crash everyone’s clients, and temporarily ban people” from the platform.

The Real World claims it currently has over 113,000 active users. If accurate, the site at minimum would generate upwards of $5,650,000 every month.

A source with knowledge of the breach told the Daily Dot that “hacktivism” was cited as a motive, and that the platform’s security was described as “hilariously insecure.”

Analysis of the chat logs by the Daily Dot shows everything from inspirational quotes and progress updates to complaints over the “LGBTQ agenda.”

“Maybe it’s just the MSM, but I am starting to fear for my own safety and the future of the USA,” one user wrote following the first assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. “Shootings every day, LGBTQ agenda, the matrix, I live in a very good area with a very good home life but I am sick of all this garbage happening here.”

Tate, a 37-year-old former reality TV star and kickboxer, is known best as a leading figure in the “manosphere.” The manosphere is described as a series of websites, blogs, and forums that primarily promote masculinity, although critics argue that a significant portion of the content is toxic in nature.

Tate previously described himself as a misogynist and is known for his disparaging views towards women. A dual U.S.-U.K. national, Tate is currently awaiting trial on human trafficking charges in Romania. In total, Tate is facing five legal investigations stemming from Romania and the U.K. Other allegations include those involving the rape and sex trafficking of minors, as well as forming an organized crime group to sexually exploit women. Tate has denied the charges.

The email addresses from the dump were provided by the hackers to HaveIBeenPwned, a service that alerts users when their credentials are leaked. Those email addresses as well as the chat data were also handed over to the journalism collective DDoSecrets, which hosts hacked and leaked data in the public interest.

[djarins-cyare]

✨Questions Tag Game✨

Thanks for tagging me @burntheedges 🩵

Of course I’m going to add GIFs and images. Did anyone really expect me to post something without visual aids??

[photos are my own (apart from the one immediately below, which is from here), and unless otherwise credited, GIFs were made by me during office hours when I was supposed to be working… 🤫]

Do you make your own bed?

Not in terms of making it look all neat and tucked in, no. But that’s because I’m a teensy bit of a germaphobe, and humans naturally sweat at night, which means you must leave your mattress uncovered for a while after you get up to ensure it airs. So, for most of the day (because I forget to straighten it up), my bed just looks like this:

(Just for fun, how many Mandalorians can you spot in the pic?)

Favourite number?

It’s always been 2, and my reasoning used to be that all good things come in pairs. But having discovered my autism in recent years, I’ve come to realise it probably more likely represents the maximum number of people I’m most comfortable interacting with at any one time. So it’s a manageable number. It’s also an even number. And it’s a prime number (in fact it's the only even prime number). It’s a pretty number – it has a nice curved top and a solid, sturdy base. It stops 1 from being lonely, so it’s a kind number.

Is this a weird answer? All of these are really logical reasons to me!

[GIF found here]

What’s your job?

It’s become so specialised that I no longer have a job title, but I started as a legal PA for one of the senior partners at a Legal 500 law firm in London. I flirted with the idea of qualifying as a solicitor but realised there was no way in hell I’d be comfortable standing up in court and speaking in front of lots of people (and I work in the criminal law department so not keen on casually chatting to criminals either). Instead, I decided to become The Person Who Knows Everything.

So now I write briefs to Counsel, proofs of evidence, funding applications; I analyse evidence, conduct legal research, advise the solicitors on their cases; I train paralegals and admin staff; I do a load of data analysis and make pretty spreadsheets for the bosses; and I manage the firm’s IT needs because I can do computer stuff too. I’m basically their go-to girl for anything that seems complicated or time-consuming… and I don’t have to wear a stupid wig in court.

And the best part is, during Covid lockdown, I demonstrated I can do 100% of my job from home, so I was allowed to move 150 miles away, and I now only have to visit my office two days a month! 🙌🏻

Downside: the arduous and random nature of the job means I’m never up to date and always very tired.

If you could go back to school, would you?

My original plan after getting my undergrad degree was to do a Masters and PhD and become an academic, but I put all that on hold for my (now ex) husband so he could finish his PhD and first postdoc. I’m very glad I never went back, though, because I realise that academia is not the place for me… see above comment about not being able to stand up and talk in court to understand why standing up and talking in a lecture hall would be equally nerve-wracking for me. So, no, I’m content with my current level of schooling.

Honestly, university was more about learning how to ‘adult’ properly than obtaining any useful knowledge on the course anyway (she says, routinely using concepts learnt on her fiction writing modules when crafting Mando fics).

Can you parallel park?

Yup. Narrow roads and a lack of parking spaces in the UK kind of make it a non-optional skill here.

That said, I do sometimes see people desperately trying to line themselves up to get into a space and making an absolute farce out of it, so I guess maybe some people here think it’s optional, but I’d rather not have that kind of stress, so I practised until I could do it easily.

[original GIF found here and then cropped]

Do you think aliens are real?

The way this is phrased… do I think they’re real? Like, do I think the grey ones with big black eyes are anally probing residents in certain sections of North America on a regular basis? Hmm, no. Too many episodes of The X-Files. I mean, Fox Mulder: yum, but I really Don’t Want To Believe, thanks.

But, I remain open to the idea that alien life has evolved elsewhere in the known universe. It’s inconceivably huge, after all. There’s nowhere near enough data to prove (or even speculate) either way – just look at the Drake equation, which has been used to both ‘prove’ and ‘disprove’ the possibility – so I’ll reserve any kind of judgment until some real evidence appears.

Can you drive a manual car?

Yeah, of course. It’s the standard driving test in the UK and allows you to drive both automatic and manual – you actually have to specifically ask to learn only automatic if you decide you can’t handle gears. And, like, it’s all muscle memory, so it’s really not as hard as people think once you’re used to it. I tried to drive an automatic a few years back and found myself involuntarily shadow-shifting the gears!

[original GIF found here and then trimmed for length]

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Mostly, I don’t feel guilty about indulging in pleasures these days. I used to be really affected by social pressures (back before I discovered my autism and still felt like I had to ‘mask’ and fit in), so I used to feel guilty talking about my hyperfixations, but now I couldn’t care less. I shall consume them endlessly and unselfconsciously. It’s very liberating.

Any phobias?

I suppose the answer is sharks, which has no sensible basis for being a phobia because I’ve never had any real encounters to make me fearful (thank fuck!). In fact, I walked through the shark tunnel at SeaWorld just fine as a 7-year-old. Unless that planted some kind of seed of terror, I don’t know. Not sure when it really took hold, but I can’t even look at photos these days. It’s their damn teeth. Someone’s going to have to give me a tooth report on Gladiator II before I can go see it.

The hell if I’m gonna put a photo (or God forbid a GIF) of a shark here, so, umm…

Favourite childhood sport?

Two answers: (1) Football (AKA soccer). I played for a girl’s team when I was about 11, but it was only because the boy I liked was into football. I couldn’t give a shit about it these days, and I don’t think I ever really liked it – I was just ‘masking’, as I did for most of my childhood, but I convinced myself I loved it.

(2) Karate, which I decided all by myself that I fancied doing, then found I was actually quite good at it and excelled at it for a while. But I was 9, and they decided I was so good that I should go and join the adult class (age 14 and up), which I hated, so I quit.

[GIF is one I already had saved from Reddit a while ago, but I can't find the source anymore, so sorry for not crediting the maker]

Do you talk to yourself?

Sometimes, but not often. I live alone, so I occasionally just need to exercise my vocal cords lol. It also depends on what mood I’m in. On an average day, no, I don’t really feel the need to fill the silence, but if I’m excited/animated/annoyed in some way, I might say stuff aloud. Basically, if I’m inclined to utter curse words for any reason, I’ll probably use other words aloud too.

[GIF found here]

Tattoos?

I only have one right now, but I plan to increase that number someday. See photo below; I used to have chameleons as pets and got this tattooed near my right hip when I turned thirty to commemorate them. It’s really small.

I would like to get a phrase in Mando’a inked on me somewhere, probably “Kaysh meg miit’gaana, oyacyi”, which means “she* who writes, remains” [*substitute chosen pronoun – Mando’a doesn’t distinguish genders], and is a Mandalorian proverb teaching that you can live forever if you leave behind written words. I have it engraved on my iPad.

Favourite colour?

Very much the blue (with a hint of green) end of the colour spectrum. For something soft, duck egg blue, or for something bold, teal. See the colour of the titles in this post.

I also like the colours of hyperspace and would happily snuggle up with Din in the cockpit.

Do you like puzzles?

Yeah, I guess. I don’t dislike them. But I don’t really do them much. In terms of the crossword/sodoku/brain teaser sort, I might choose to do them in specific settings, like on vacation when I inevitably need to offer my brain something different than whatever book I’m binge-reading.

In terms of the jigsaw type, I have short phases of thinking, “Ooh, that’ll be fun!”, trying to do one, getting bored, and then forcing myself to finish. Last time that happened was Covid lockdown. Took me a year! Though, to be fair, it was one of these bastards…

Okay, I’m done. I realise I’m very late to the party, and a lot of people have already done this one, so sorry if you’ve already participated. No pressure (and no need to illustrate with gifs and images, I just can’t help myself)… 🩵

@604to647 @beefrobeefcal @d4rm4nd4 @feral-ferrule @gracieheartspedro

@joelslegalwhre @littlemisspascal @magpiepills @penvisions @quicksilvermad

@secretelephanttattoo @studioghibelli @syd-djarin @the-mandawhor1an @zaddymandalorian

[covetyou]

ty @perotovar for the tag you cutie pie. I love silly little questions (I'm procrastinating making dinner and writing, so I'd love anything more than those things rn tbh)

me yapping below, if you'd like to know silly little answers to some questions

Do you make your bed?: a vague attempt at flapping my sheets is made most days, but it's never neatly made.

Favorite number?: 7! I can't tell you why it just has always been that way. when I found out my sun sign is in my 7th house I had an "of course 😌" moment even though I don't really even know what that means but it feels right.

What's your job?: books! and data!

If you could go back to school, would you?: there was a time I seriously considered a masters so I could go more ham with using corpora to study trends in language, but I didn't. now I literally work with data and databases and analysis of that data, and books have words in them so 🤷‍♀️

Can you parallel park?: I don't know what I'm capable of (I got my full license a little over a decade ago and can legally go buy a car and drive it all by myself even though honestly I have no clue if I can even drive any more and I'd probably be a major hazard. I've never driven a car with a full license, not as a learner)

Do you think aliens are real?: with how impossibly massive the universe is? duh. as long as they stay away though pls and thank you.

Can you drive a manual car?: I am licensed to, though once again, who knows what I am capable of (this sounds like a threat and maybe it is)

What's your guilty pleasure?: no guilty pleasures here!

Tattoos?: none! I've thought of various ideas for them for years and years and never committed to anything because I am so painfully indecisive. I will probably get one soon though, it is perfect but the idea makes me devastatingly sad. (a little print of my dogs paw on the top of my right foot - she always stands on it and always leaves a little indent and I'd like to walk with her forever)

Favorite color?: pink or yellow

Do you like puzzles?: fuck yes! we have one on the go called pumpkin patch right now. I'm very tempted by a colourful mushroom one too.

Any phobias?: yes, and I'm not typing it out because that makes me feel Worse™ and feeds into my OCD in ways I do not need at any time, let alone at nighttime.

Favorite childhood sport?: I hated team sports as a kid and still do now. I played rugby for a little while when I was 15, and liked when we did tennis or hockey during PE, but outside of that sport was not for me. turns out I'm a solo exercise bitch though.

Do you talk to yourself?: I am fortunate enough to have a dog who I can direct most of my chronic yapping towards, so I look less insane and feel less compelled to talk to myself. I do do the standard "what the fuck am I doing" and the like when I enter a room and immediately forget why I went there in the first place

no clue who has done this or not but @milla-frenchy @jolapeno @strang3lov3 @beefrobeefcal

and, finally, puppy tax for getting this far

[ask--eggman]

Doctor, are you planning to stop all of these companies putting AI in all their programs? I mean, let’s be honest, your daughter is the ONLY AI worth anything, period. Because you made it, of course. Do they really think they can make something to outdo you?

Funny you mention it, I have actually been thinking about that. As you already know, I'm an absolutely masterful developer of A.I. With my greatest example being my very impressive loyal and efficient daughter. I put a lot of time and effort into her initial creation and thanks to the sheer power of my genius, she even surpassed all of my already extremely high expectations of my skills!

Of course, I create all of the greatest tech, robots and A.I. in the world, nobody else's comes close! I've always looked down on unimpressive, amateuer, inferior things created by anyone else. Even in the very rare cases that they're err, adequate, mine are superior and more impressive especially for all being created by just one extremely intelligent man. No big team needed here!

This trend of everything trying to incorporate A.I. now is just embarrassing. Seeing so many companies trying to hop on and boast that they're sooo revolutionary and groundbreaking, as if I didn't do all of that by myself and way better years ago! Ridiculous failure wannabe rivals of my own companies. If they knew the world's greatest scientific genius behind them, they wouldn't dare try!

And let's not overlook the way it's all so lazily and sloppily regenerative. I'll bet it's leeching on my own work too and turning it into an unrecognizable mess. Absolutely pathetic! Not only do they have nothing to be proud of in the first place, they can't even take all the credit for the results either. Not that they should even want to because have you seen the amalgamated garbage it's spitting out?

Meanwhile, my A.I. is made purely by code and electrons and the source of all its initial knowledge comes right from my own ingenious brain! Then I have said creations gather data based on direct observation and analysis to grow stronger just like me, instead of pulling from a bunch of already existing unreliable sources and mashing it all into incoherent, unintelligible slop.

So yes, I will put a stop to them. When I take over the world, they'll all be wiped all out as mere collateral damage in the process because it will require minimal effort. If any of them try to be so bold and confrontational with their own A.I., I'll have my own obliterate them in no time flat. They'll all realize they never stood a chance against the power of my genius and superior A.I., hoho!

[magmas-stuff]

Metal Sonic: Imperfect Self (character overview)

Hello again! Last time I did an overview of Eggman Nega, so this time I chose a character even closer to Dr. Eggman himself: Metal Sonic. This post aims to be a short analysis of the character, his motivations and what makes him so interesting as a foil to Sonic's free spirit.

Purpose. Identity. Sonic.

Introduced in Sonic CD, Metal Sonic was built by Dr. Eggman and given one sole purpose: destroying Sonic. Operating under the twisted belief that he is the real, true Sonic, Metal constantly tries to prove his superiority to his "imperfect self" in contests of speed, coming back stronger each time.

Metal Sonic continues to analyze the situation as he runs after him. He has been unable to beat Sonic since the first match. He has the best performance and a tireless body of steel. There are plenty of factors that make him unbeatable. And yet, he can’t win. Why? Why can’t he beat a hedgehog that just runs fast… And then… A rustle of electrons rippled through this sea of AI cognitive threads. …Isn’t that because he’s “just fast”? (Translation by @browniestash!)

Metal Sonic occasionally shows some doubt or insecurity in his sole mission, but ultimately never gives up, analyzing gathered data to rethink his strategy and come back as more of a threat than ever. And Sonic is more than happy to take the challenge.

He’s already sent out a distress signal. Help will be arriving soon and he will be recovered at Eggman’s base. If he can connect to the base’s main computer and analyze today’s data, he should be able to win the next round. There will be room to rethink his inhibitory behavior and attack patterns, as well as to sharpen his focus on speed. He can still reach a higher dimension. There is someone with whom he must determine who is better in that dimension… (Translation by @browniestash!)

Stripped of free will

While Sonic is, most of the time, the only thing in Metal Sonic's mind, he does have another relationship of great importance to his character: the one with his master and creator, Dr. Eggman.

Regularly filling the role of Eggman's silent enforcer, Metal Sonic holds a much higher status than most Badniks in the Eggman Empire, being among his favorite creations. He is a tool, sure, but he's undoubtedly one of his best tools.

Though, of course, this has little effect on his treatment of the metal doppelganger. As a general trait of Eggman's, while he is very much capable of praising his robots in the event they succeed...

...The doctor will offer them less than humane treatment when met with failure.

Seeing fault in his boss' leadership, Metal Sonic would reach his breaking point in Sonic Heroes, modifying himself into Neo Metal Sonic and taking charge of the Eggman Empire. Perhaps he thought that, with him in charge, the empire would finally be able to wipe out its opposition. More specifically, to wipe out Sonic the Hedgehog. Curiously, Metal Sonic here also aims to take over the world, though this may be a consequence of his will being "attuned" to Dr. Eggman's.

This attempt at overtaking his creator's empire fails, and Eggman takes this opportunity to strip Metal Sonic of his free will and turn him into an obedient robot once more. Despite his attempts, it would seem Metal still has some remaining autonomy, seeing as he'd double-cross Eggman once more in the future.

Conclusion

And that's Metal Sonic. A relentless robot with a single objective and a lot of hatred, who aims to prove his superiority and destroy his rival but is, as he sees it, held back by the lead of his creator. I've been meaning to write about this for a while, seeing as there's been a lot of interpretations of his motives floating around and it’s a character I find fascinating.

[starlit1daydream]

CLASSPECTING YELLOW GUY: DHMIS and the aspect of Light

Well, Yellow won the poll I put out a few days ago, and I have a very clear idea of what I see in him (fitting, given his title) so I'll detail my thoughts down below. This is all my personal analysis, you're free to come to any different conclusion, Classpecting is subjective even if some answers are clearer than others.

Yellow Guy. David, Doi, Manny, whatever debatably official/completely unofficial name you want to refer to him by, he's arguably the most important character to Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. Some may argue that Red Guy takes on the role of protagonist in the sense that he moves forward the narrative, but Yellow is the one it centres around. The whole show is, from an in-universe perspective, built around him.

This is going to go over mostly his role in the TV series, but include some aspects from the web series.

I think Yellow is a Page of Light.

He begins as a simpleton, struggling to grasp the most basic knowledge and very much filling the role of the team idiot. Despite this, however, he's always filled with this inherent curiosity and desire to learn things. He's the integral student, seeking to understand Light even though he so fundamentally lacks it.

This is, of course, a dead ringer for a Page of Light. Yellow is incredibly deficient with his Aspect, but nonetheless it's still an integral part of his life and how he leads it - like Tavros with Breath, Jake with Hope and Horuss with Void.

Naturally, the Page holds great potential to understand their Aspect and share it out and lead through it once they fully comprehend how to use it. Yellow's moment of understanding, that 'lightbulb' moment if you will is when his batteries are restored.

Suddenly, he's unlocked that potential with Light. It's... equivalent to God Tiering, let's say. But he's not a master. The Page has a far longer road to walk than that. He's merely beginning to comprehend Light, his relationship with it and his search for it. Not only that, he's willing to share it; he ends up schooling one of the teachers, after all!

Naturally, the world has it out for him. The Page, to put it bluntly, is the narrative joke. Hussie did not like any of the characters he made Pages. Tavros is portrayed as a softie, a crybaby and the punchline of some very ableist jokes by the fandom, Jake is called 'jape' or 'joke' more than his actual name by Vriska, and Horuss is a thinly veiled and very tasteless parody of therians and systems.

Naturally, Yellow follows this pattern of being fucked around by the narrative, just in a way that makes more sense in-universe beyond 'the author's being a dick'. Yellow is the narrative plaything. Knowledge is constantly distorted or withheld from him, he's surrounded by Void given to him by other people (Roy is most definitely a player of Void) and thus those brief sparks of Light, those points of data and precise moments that makes up the aspect, they're very few and far between.

The house's upper floors represent his quest for knowledge and relevance. He steps closer and closer to the truth, every higher floor is another tier of knowledge reached. He's growing to understand that Aspect, confronted with false understandings of Light and pushing them away. Like any Light-bound, he wants the truth, he wants that linear point of data that gives him clarity.

But, as the Page, the narrative plaything, Lesley and Roy's toy to torture and play with as they see fit... he doesn't get it. He has the answers held in front of his face, and then all of that development is reversed. Amusingly, this seems to mirror certain arcs at the end of Homestuck, but I digress.

Yellow fails his quest, but not of his own volition, and we'll see if the TV series drops a new season (9 days away, people!) whether or not we'll see him ever fully realise the truth.

Next up, Red Guy as a Breath-bound and Duck as a Doom-bound.

[shearlin]

Chapter 4: 4. (Alt) In another life [Fi]

Word count: 1368

First || << Previous || Next >>

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Day 4 is here! What do you mean it's the 5th? Irrelevant!

This time starring Fi! This chapter is sort of a teaser of a fic I want to write - the Legend of Zelda from Fi's perspective, especially focusing on her relationship with Time. I think it could be fun, but it's currently in the brainstorming stage.

The flavour of today's whump is grief and existential crisis. Enjoy <3

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Her Master was dead.

She failed him. She failed to protect him, failed to guide him and now he’s dead.

She barely made sense of him appearing again.

None of this made sense. Her task was complete, she fulfilled it centuries ago. She was supposed to sleep. Fade. And yet…

This young boy came to her, brushed her handle with too small hands and her security protocols did not prevent him. He managed to raise her up. No one should be able to achieve it but the one she was soulbound to. Link died a long time ago. How was this possible?

Her systems stirred, more active than they’ve been in hundreds of years. If something was able to breach her safety protocols it required her immediate attention. She couldn’t override her current directive completely, but she could create a temporary exemption based on her concerns.

Then her analysis showed something extraordinary. Link was alive. His Spirit was reborn. She knew the implications of course. It meant Her Grace needed another Hero, it meant that his past success wasn’t as definitive as they’d hoped.

But a small part of her, the one that developed as she reviewed hundreds of hours of the data collected by Link’s side, was happy. Her Master returned. He was in many ways different. He was a juvenile, different in behaviour, beliefs, personality, background, facial features, various interests, skill, experience, demographic background, dreams and many many more… But his courage was the same. The spirit she grew alongside of was the same and it was still growing, and she felt… excited. To have a chance to grow alongside him again.

It was a new experience. And she knew she was not able to properly express it or process it in the limited awakeness she was confined to. But for the first time since she fell asleep… she had dreams. And they were happy.

But her new master was too young. She knew it. Her blade was longer than he was tall, the weight of the responsibility he took over when he drew her too big for his tiny shoulders. And the spirit maiden of those times… She was young too. Powerful. But too young.

They’d made so many mistakes.

Read the rest on Ao3!

[scholarnest]

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[fatphobiabusters]

I was a bit curious if anyone here had seen this study and their thoughts on it. The results of it seem questionable to me. Although I do agree with him that the BMI is bull.

https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/02/23/excess-weight-obesity-more-deadly-previously-believed

Firstly health doesn't equal worth or morals, always worth saying that.

On a quick review I can't say that he's taken into the account the damage of yo yo dieting. Those who are naturally lower BMI have no reason to put their bodies through the damage of a diet over and over whereas higher BMI people are harassed into.

I can't access the whole original paper, however "The statistical analysis of nearly 18,000 people also shines a light on the pitfalls of using body mass index (BMI) to study health outcomes," 18,000? Where are these people from? what's their diet history? did the higher BMI people have surgeries for weight loss?

"Masters mined the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1988 to 2015, looking at data from 17,784 people, including 4,468 deaths.

He discovered that a full 20% of the sample characterized as “healthy” weight had been in the overweight or obese category in the decade prior. When set apart, this group had a substantially worse health profile than those in the category whose weight had been stable. "

Weight loss does damage to your body??? Also "decade prior" how did these people lose weight because 10 years is ASTOUNDING to not have regained weight. Unless of course they were permanently on their diet which is, again, DAMAGING.

"Meanwhile, 37% of those characterized as overweight and 60% of those with obese BMI had been at lower BMIs in the decade prior. Notably, those who had only recently gained weight had better health profiles." The idea that people have natural ideal weights kind of leads to this. Your weight will fluctuate as you age and if your ideal weight goes up then its healthiest at that weight.

"Contrary to previous research, the study found no significant mortality risk increases for the “underweight” category." My first thought is does this include people who qualify for a DSM 5 diagnosis for anorexia? (This means they have weight loss, yes weight loss is required by the book don't get me started) 1 in 100 girls are estimated to struggle with anorexia alone. Are these people removed from the underweight category because they recently lost weight ??? How does that make sense! DIETING CAUSES DAMAGE, EATING DISORDERS CAUSE DAMAGE.

So my impression of this is its great at further proving BMI is crap at health but unless you account for the damage dieting does to a body you cannot say these statistics exist in a vaccum. It's astounding that in 2024 we are still accepting half the picture of weight analysis and statistics. Fat bodies don't just exist, we get pressured to do damaging and terrifying things to our body, we get our health ignored for weight first treatment.

Is our health really that bad or are there these other factors preventing equality in care?

Like in Sweden they left obese patients to die during COVID. Or having treatment stop over weight gain fears.

Or the time they decided polluting water because fat people drink it was okay.

So I guess my tldr is, this isn't saying what people might think it's saying. At least not as presented in this article. This really just proves weight loss is bad imo.

-mod squirrel

[womaneng]

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[bookwyrminspiration]

how are you finding studying linguistics????? can i ask what kind of stuff you do just bc im wondering if i might pursue it

personally I am having the time of my life

it'll depend what specific path/courses you take, but some of the foundational stuff has been linguistic analysis, grammatical analysis, that kind of thing

what is a language (what is the difference between a language and a dialect), characteristics of human languages (e.g. they're culturally transmitted, evolve, etc.), the components. what is phonology, morphology. learning IPA and the types/characteristics of sounds, how those characteristics impact how language changes (e.g. the omission--elision--of a sound because where it's produced in the mouth makes the word take longer)

what are the components of a word (which segments indicate subject, object, tense, polarity, etc.), what are the rules for where sounds can appear in a language and how do we analyze these things from data sets.

here's some example work:

This one is analyzing when sounds are allowed to show up in a language (it's simplified for practice). It's from my notes so you don't have the data set I was pulling from (my apologies, if this is confusing I can explain more in depth).

But essentially we'd be given a set of words in a language and certain sounds to look at (the ones at the tops of the columns). Using specific notation we'd mark what contexts those sounds showed up in to figure out when they could appear in this language. Like in english B and P are completely different interchangable sounds, but p and pʰ have rules about which goes where (and are both considered to be p in the cultural conscious. average english speaker doesn't know the p sound in pot and spot are different).

In this set, the first two have identical contexts (boxed in), so they're in contrastive distribution and interchangable. Second and third have a near contrastive, (circled), which is close enough and means the same thing. But if they didn't show up in the same contexts, we'd have to figure out why not, and which one was allowed to show up where (e.g. this sound is used before vowels, this one is used before consonants)

Here's another:

It's marked up pretty chaotically, but it was practice identifying form meaning correspondence. So I was looking at the words and their meanings and seeing what forms always showed up with what meanings--like '-pa' always showed up when the words were in present tense.

There's also rules about appropriate hyphenation, which we learned. And i'm using proper notation--like 3SG to mean third singular subject. and PST to mean past.

Of course this was also simplified because we're still learning, but I think you get the idea!

Essentially we have been learning how languages fundamentally work--how do they construct meaning, use sounds, change with time. There's also the social aspect. How does language shape society and society shape language. A little sociological. What are the theories and scholarship on that.

this has been a chaotic summary and I'm not super far into my studies, but! hopefully that's given you a bit of an idea. as a language nerd i am LOVING it, so if you're into language as a whole you probably will too. deadass considering going full masters/phd for this