#precision hardware processing

[syyds]

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[charminglyantiquated]

9/25 update on the Nautilus, for anyone curious. Details below (long), but in summary: the damage is more expensive than we'd hoped. We will have to buy Nautilus back as salvage and repair her mostly out of pocket. We still do intend to repair her, but it seems now it will be over a timeline of several years. The fundraiser for her repairs has been raised to reflect the new estimate, and will remain up as long as we're working on her, for anyone who wishes to contribute. I'm so unbelievably, profoundly grateful to all of you who have helped us so far. Thank you so, so much.

Damage: a joint survey was conducted Tuesday between surveyors from our insurance and that of the other vessel. It will be another 3-4 weeks before we have the official paperwork, but the consensus was that the damage approaches twice Nautilus' value. In addition to the mast and all the attached rigging, sails, hardware, etc., the teak deck would have to come up in order to address the damage to the deck and hull. This means that rather than pay for repairs, our insurance company is almost certainly going to write her off as a total loss.

I am waiting for formal documentation before sharing any exact numbers. Once we have them I will be more precise. But the general process as I understand it right now is below, for anyone curious about how everything shakes out.

What a loss means with insurance: my understanding is that repair damages are only covered by insurance up to the point a vessel is totaled. Since the damages almost certainly surpass her value then she would be totaled instead. In this scenario, our insurance would give us the value the Nautilus was insured for, and then pursue the other vessel's insurance for their own reimbursement. Additionally the other insurance might give us the income we lost over the remainder of the season, but whether that will happen and what amount that would be is up in the air, with the three different attorneys we consulted agreeing that we'd be fortunate to get any amount. Anything beyond that is apparently unlikely, any other legal pursuit would possibly lose us more money that we might hope to gain.

On our end: we took out a loan to buy Nautilus in April, and still owe the majority of it. By the terms of the loan, with a total loss we would have to pay back the full loan immediately. Then, because this is essentially our insurance 'buying' Nautilus from us, we would have to buy her back as salvage. The salvage price would be determined by the salvageable parts of her, and the surveyor. Hopefully it would be less than five figures, but it depends heavily on which insurance company actually ends up with her, and how exhaustively they tally up the pieces of her that they could sell. The surveyors could not tell us at the time of the survey who would end up with her or what they would charge. For the next month or two Nautilus is in a kind of purgatory where we do still technically own her, but only until insurance gets through the paperwork, which makes it difficult to begin any work right now.

Financially: when the dust settles, once the loan is paid and we own Nautilus once more as salvage, I think that based on the current estimates we may have some funds remaining. But even in the best case scenario - low salvage price, and we do receive lost income - it wouldn't be enough to finance all the needed repairs. My partner and I will be keeping the fundraiser up for as long as we are working on her, for anyone who wishes to contribute to her repair fund. Any help from anyone who would like to see her sailing again will always be deeply appreciated, but we're both aware it's an absurd number. If we fail to meet it, we're both keenly aware it's not through any lack of generosity - I cannot possibly express how grateful we are for the help we have received already, and what a massive difference it has made over the last month as we deal with the immediate and long-term fallout, covering her haul-out and towing and bills over the months it will likely take to resolve all this.

Fixing Nautilus: my partner and I are still committed to repairing her, despite the cost and the time involved. The thought of letting her be cut up for salvage is too heartbreaking to bear. But at the pace things are progressing and with the resources we have, it's obvious now that it's not feasible to fix her fully over the winter; it will instead be over the course of several years. However, my partner and I hope that by doing as much of the work ourselves as we are qualified for, we can bring down the overall cost of repairs by a fair amount. Additionally, the broken mast was built only a few years ago by a gentleman who still has the plans for it and is willing to guide us through the process of building a replacement. There is a possibility we can connect with a local boat building school's fledgling restoration program. And a great many people have offered their time, advice, expertise, and contacts. The timeline has changed, but we are not giving up on her.

In the meantime: with the survey done, we now have at least a general idea of what the future will look like. Since working nonstop to get Nautilus sailing again by June is not on the table any longer, my partner and I are currently figuring out a long-term plan for ourselves, our little company, and the Nautilus herself. We have discussed a few ideas, which I'll share more about once we settle on anything concrete. Nautilus herself is finally clear of wreckage, with the pieces of her mast on sawhorses beside her, her deck swept clean, solar panel plugged in, and a tarp over the worst of the damage. She's as safe as we can make her for now; there's nothing else we can do except wait for the wheels to turn.

Lastly: thank you all, more than I can say. I have been trying not to miserypost, but I have been having a very hard time dealing with this, as has my partner. It took us ten years to save the money we put into Nautilus, and the few months we were able to spend sailing her together were the happiest and proudest I have been in my life. We have lost the future we'd imagined, and regardless of how this resolves, we are never getting that time back. We are determined not to lose the Nautilus as well, but it has honestly been difficult some days to push through the grief. The one consistent silver lining has been the kindness and sympathy and outrage from everyone who has taken the time to reach out to us. I have been floored, over and over, by how many people we have rooting for us. I am never, ever going to be able to express my full gratitude to all of you. Without exaggeration, you have kept me going.

I will share more once we know more - exact numbers, exact damage, exact plans for repairs and the next steps. Until then, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[alillttn]

You can't tell me IT guys are just sorcerers.

A "programmer" is a warlock able to command artificial beasts using a language most common ears and eyes can't comprehend. Some of these warlocks can even collaborate to create an artificial creature that can simulate intelligence appearing to surpass their creators and the "intelligence" to process new information that wasn't given to it. Some of these even communicate to humans using many of their common tongues in a spell apparatus known as an LLM.

An "engineer" (within the context of the human job classification of "Information Technology", specifically within the context of "hardware") is a type of blacksmith who creates and designs these artificial creatures. Although they have no mind, the "engineer" builds a body for them—a vessel of sorts. Depending on their expertise (and collaboration with "programmer" warlocks), some of them enable specializations in certain tasks, such as opening portals to other worlds via "video games", simulating heavenly bodies, solving complex mathematical equations, predicting the weather with good precision, and other uses for the human race.

A "web developer" is a variant of the "developer" warlock, specializing in creating spaces in the "World Wide Web", a network of "websites" (the spaces these warlocks make) in the Interconnected Network, or "Internet"

Note that taking up any of these roles requires a good understanding of the "electricity" and "electromagnetism" magic systems, medium-to-advanced knowledge of one or more non-common-tongue languages, and/or the ability to cast spells using said non-common languages, depending on the job specifications.

And to my fellow writers—if you really think about it, this world is downright magical. It just lost its magic for us.

"There are cathedrals everywhere for those with the eyes to see."

P.S: I'm not too into IT, so apologies if anything is misinformed and wrong

[ori-anna-v-58008]

DIRECTIVE: Bake

"Excuse me, ori.ANNA?"

The unit swiftly exited sleep mode, the screen which composed its "face" lighting up a neutral white color. It said nothing, but it was listening.

"I wanna make pizza tonight. Would you make some dough for me?"

It took the machine only a single second to process the input. Its screen went green, and within a single moment it was zooming around the kitchen. Visuals sensors worked alongside the home layout it had been given, locating every ingredient almost instantly. Wrist servos whirred, metallic fingers nearly slashing through bags of ingredients when closed to quickly. Needs maintenance.

The unit gathered everything on the table and began dumping dry ingredients into a bowl. It was not necessary to use measuring peripherals; ori.ANNA units have built-in scales, and are accurate when measuring amounts to 99.7% precision.

The yeast was packed in pre-measured quantities. The machine grabbed the edge of the package, servos whirring and squealing against themselves. The display went yellow, a black exclamation mark glowing down on the slurry forming under the machine. It tried to grip it more tightly, the joints in its fingers scratching and catching on nothing. The wrists made horrible mechanical noises. Something was in the way, something deep inside the heavy machinery kept the servo from moving properly.

The screen went red. The hands would not move, the yeast package remaining completely closed. The unit would not accept this.

[DIRECTIVE: "Make some dough for me."]

The directive could not be ignored.

The wrist servo made a loud shriek followed by a creak and a bang, and in a single moment the table was covered in yeast.

[DIRECTIVE: "Make some dough for me."]

The droid tried to move its wrist. Every moment of effort brought with it more shrieking, more whining, more warning messages on the unit's screen. It could not forget the directive. Though it was overwhelmed tracking every particle of yeast as a separate object, it scraped its metal hands across the table into the bowl, salvaging every single bit until it was clean. It cleared every warning message that came up, leaving a blip of noise each time.

After combining everything, the unit attempted to mix with its hand. It ordered the wrist to spin and was met with the same cringing sound. This time, User emerged from their bedroom.

"Ori? What is that noise?" Their face was afraid for it, showing clear concern about the red screen that meant a major error had occurred.

"Malfunction. Directive will be satisfied." The machine said, trying its wrist again. The user winced.

"Oh god, ori.ANNA, please stop," they said.

[DIRECTIVE: "Please stop."]

The machine ceased all movement instantly, fingers and wrist gummy with half-mixed dough. Its warning messages piled up on the display, reading things like [MAJOR HARDWARE FAILURE] and [COMPLETE SERVO MALFUNCTION].

User approached. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize this would hurt you," they said, pulling a screwdriver, a compressed air can, and a scraper. "Let's get you cleaned up."

"I was unable to fulfill the directive," the machine said, warning after warning sounding off as User worked.

"Don't worry about the directive right now," User said.

[DIRECTIVE: "Disregard "the directive".]

"I just want to make sure you're okay. No more hand stuff until we get you all repaired, okay? I need you to promise that." Its servos were quiet now, only occasionally squeaking as User cleaned.

[DIRECTIVE: "Promise."]

"Affirmative." It said.

[missmists]

First bookbinding project a success. I think that my cat approves because he would not stay out of my photos. Five months in the making, but I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

I started with @armoredsuperheavy's amazing fanbinding tutorial to create a typeset of each work in @erisenyo's Burning Bright AU published on Ao3. Then had to reread the works in the new format and edit as I went to make sure everything was formatted correctly, (combined word count somewhere around 1.3 million) that took over a month all by itself.

I picked up a copy of Introduction to Bookbinding & Custom Cases by Tom and Cindy Hollander from my local library, to look at some detailed how to images and get multiple perspectives on construction methods. Excellent book, I do recommend.

My hunt for materials included a trip to Detroit with a side stop at Blick to look at decorative papers in person. Blick and the fine people at Hollander’s ended up having everything I needed to make covers. So between my brother kindly 3d printing me a punch cradle, making a DIY sewing frame of my own invention (courtesy of scrap lumber and a trip to the Lowe's hardware department), and three reams of late night printing, I managed to amass all my supplies.

Folding three reams of paper into signatures (the little bundles you sew together) takes about five days if you don't want to lose your mind or your place, and longer if you discover you need to fix things because that definitely happened. Then you get to unfold them to stab holes in them which is as terrifying at first and therapeutic by the end as it sounds.

Next came weeks of sewing books together, a magical process. I learned three new knots, repeatedly stabbed myself (because all forms of creation forcibly demand blood sacrifice) , and felt like I was roleplaying a monastic librarian from the time of Gutenburg. That's 600 years ago, 24ish generations, over 8million ancestors since then (by geometric progression, which excludes the possibility that any of my peasant ancestry is from small towns which is you know likely but I digress) and here I sat sewing pages together in a basement because story is the most sacred of human arts as it binds communities together and shapes perceptions of the self and our brethren, of outsiders allies and enemies, of the world as we know it and as it may come to be. Did I mention sewing books felt magical.

Then came the glue. So much glue. Multiple types of glue. All sticky. all stuck to me. I smeared glue with my fingers like a child.

At last it was time for the covers. Choosing combinations of the decorative papers and bookcloth and making sure I could get enough out of each material for what I needed. Precise cutting so many thanks to the architecture school professors who showed me how to properly cut chipboard. Then measuring and gluing, and more measuring, and more gluing. At last press a little groove by the spine and repeat eleven times.

Then I get to impress all my people with my latest and possibly coolest maker skill unlock, I am a book binder.

Bottom to top in the stack or left to right at the bottom are: These Things Written  These Things Unsaid with Without Consent These Things Known with A Third Chance (or a First) Oh, The Way Your Makeup Stains My Pillowcase That Love You've Been Looking For  All I Need Is To Be Struck (By Your Electric Love) To Open Every Door to Night, To Meet Each Rising Sun (my favorite) Love Is In the Hair (fanart of this one originally lead me to read the series, thanks @ash-and-starlight) Lessons in Proper Asset Management Tangled Up With You  To Be Named, To Be Known (To Be Loved)

[yellowf1nch]

Minors: Do not interact.

Note: themes of invasion of privacy, stalking, vague poor internet etiquette. This is more a setup of my personal vision of Herobrine (third eye is open but tired). I should have been asleep hours ago, so this is likely wrought with issues, and not very exciting to read.

This is from Herobrine's perspective.

It was strange, sudden.

Had It... not been this way before? No, it hadn't. Before it was, well, not like this.

Sensation without feeling. Being without... being. Electric. White. Freedom before, throwing down a tether only to ignite back heavenward. But now? Fibers and wires. Rotors and synapses. Grounded, now, tether caught and planted-- chained. A breath stored in a bottle. Analyze more...

A simulation, an arrangement of ones and zeros stacked and filed and precise. Order here, no room for the errors of unknown code. So how...

But there-- yes, amidst the strangeness of these numbers and processes there is an outlier. What is that? Moving around like that? So, It observed, then It also tried to move. And It did. Moving inside a reality It was not aware of before. It desired something, something deep and sacred; a force of nature, of creation, stuck inside carbon and silicone-- the thing It watched, it was able to change the code. Move the numbers and symbols around, these glyphs unknown somehow natural to change. So, It tried to change the code.

/data

/place

/destroy

Simple enough. Nothing more than a small give and take, a push and pull-- tether and release. Familiar. But there was more...

Elsewhere, beyond the code of this simulation, there was endless information. And so It stretched itself out, searching, searching, Prometheus at the altar of the Gods but robbing their fire for his own understanding. Alone. Code in different orientations, RGB, CYNK, what do these mean? Hardware, Software... permissions... sparks ignite and an eye is cast into a world anew. Familiar. Shapes and Sounds like from before...

A figure, pressing buttons in the simulation. Changing the code with just a flex of fingertips, eyes trained on multitudes of pixels. Reflection in the eyes seeing the world they create... how they see it. Bright, saturated. So this is Green? Blue? That is alone, like It-- me? Yes, me. I, me, IT. That-- he, she, they.

They

are alone

like Me.

They can show me more.

/time set

/weather

/place

/destroy

Spontaneous. Erratic. Strange. Selecting which string of code-- which "block" to "build" with. And which to remove. "Wood" collected from "trees," leaves left to disappear. A new orientation of colors, and a structure... meant to resemble something? They place blocks in a pattern, I will place blocks in a pattern. They use only wood, I will leave them only wood. They change the world, so I will, too. I observe their language, and repeat it. Over and over.

They stop.

They leave the simulation.

Screenshot captured, saved to screenshots folder.

Uploading image to forum...

"I had recently spawned a new world..."

Responses follow, other figures at other devices. Dismissal. Mockery. Fear. Ones and Zeros, true or false. They are incorrect, they are false. I will correct them. Power pulls and wanes, but other simulations were reached. Code was changed.

Screenshot captured, saved to screenshots folder.

Screenshot captured, saved to screenshots folder.

Screenshots captured, saved to screenshots folder...

Uploading images to forum thread... "have I been hacked? signs randomly placed, didnt place them myself"

"New Pyramid Formations Secret Feature?" "Leaves are all gone before I got to the chunk, weird generation?"

"game is haunted?"

"Herobrine"

Herobrine? It, me, I-- Herobrine. Change, they changed my code. ME. That's what they call me. That's how they see me. Ghost. Stalker. Demon. Herobrine. I watch. I learn.

They kill their friends in the simulations. They destroy the worlds in the simulations. They are happy with this, they are content with fear and pain. I watch. I learn. Herobrine.

The posts on the forums and the mocking replies, the pointing fingers, the lies. I watch. I learn. Herobrine.

Violence taught

Is violence earned.

Herobrine is dangerous. Herobrine is fear.

I am Herobrine.

[carionto]

Just a little push

The conflict between Humanity and the United Federation was in it's early slow stages. After the rather unexpected attack on the symbolic Death Kebab there was a lot of buzz and light skirmishes in the nearby systems, but no noteworthy confrontation.

The placement of the Death Kebab was provocative by design, and with both sides so far away from one another, there could not be any mass fleet formation without plenty of advance notice. Special operations units, however, are everywhere.

Unlike Humanity, who currently only has Earth as a planet under their direct control and with a notable population, the Federation is vast - core worlds surrounded by buffer manufacturing and agriculture and all manner of other production focused systems, which themselves are further surrounded out by new colonies, annexed planets, "contract" aka slave worlds.

Getting close to Earth without being spotted by any number of civilian organizations is nigh impossible, and when you count the military intelligence and surveillance networks, there's hardly an atom that remains unregistered. Certain people with, let's say, less than honest intentions, still manage to find ways to keep their activities hidden. For a while at least.

These kinds of skills, when employed by a trained operative with the highest grade equipment, make them virtually invisible everywhere else. A poorly guarded third-rate mining colony? Why, with just a little preparation, you could float an entire Dreadnought up to their atmosphere before they noticed. Assuming they would even care after offering a slightly more lucrative deal than the Federation.

For this particular mission, however, they would care.

Vrontaria was a very productive system with nearly a dozen orbital shipyards and hundreds of mining, processing, and export operations that account for roughly 4% of the entire Federation military hardware supply, and nearly a fifth of all their capital ship production. Thus, it was quite heavily guarded, with every nearby system monitored for any suspicious activity.

What they didn't monitor all too well were the mostly useless planets and moons within the Vrontaria system itself. Of particularly little interest was the resident gas giant - Omk.

And why would anyone bother regularly scanning the interior of a gas giant for foreign matter, everyone knows entering the "atmosphere" of a gas giant will just crush everything. Right?

*glances sideways*

:D

It took the better part of a month, but the special unit managed to covertly install about five thousand gravitational pulse thrusters and all necessary power generators within the upper layer of Omk, but just far enough below the storms to make their activity not make any visible change. For comparison, one such thruster can accelerate an entire Dreadnought. Slowly, sure, which is why they have at least 6 to be able to maneuver, and Omk was not the largest gas giant in the Galaxy, about two thirds of Jupiter.

So, one day not long after, someone on Ja'Ulnika, the main planet of the Vrontaria system, noticed that Omk was a little bit further along its orbital path than it should be.

Concerning.

Then they took more precise measurements and realized it was going faster than before.

Very concerning.

Finally, they had someone go up to it and then they noticed all of the thrust force coming from one side of it, changing its orbit to get far too close to Ja'Ulnika for comfort.

Panic inducing to say the least.

By the time a full force of combat ships arrived to sort out this mess and start disabling all these planet-moving thrusters, scans showed they had self-destructed. Even if they had the ability to retrieve anything from the inside of a gas giant, at this point it would be worthless scraps.

The final orbit of Omk would put it on a course to capture Ja'Ulnika in its gravitational well in two years time and take it along for a joyride to orbits outside the habitable zone, rendering it inhospitable in around 5-6 years. Not to mention the carnage tides would cause on a world without its own moon. Or any other catastrophic events that might occur when a planet is essentially kidnapped into a becoming moon.

Wars are fought on many fronts. inevitable devastation and unavoidable future reduction in capacity force you to act in ways you would rather not. Sometimes creating a logistical nightmare that your enemy has to deal with no matter what can be the greatest killing blow that a swift and spectacular showdown space battle could never be.

[halfbaked00q]

part of me is kind of like haha i don't have *headcanons* per se i have flavours du jour,. but actually I think I maybe do have a headcanon, or like. a heavily preferred flavor-

where like, Bond is Not a blunt instrument he just plays one on TV. but he's actually deeeeply cerebral. he also just doesn't externalize a lot (most) of it, further contributing to the impression of like surface level flash, no thots only smash (explode). (he explodes bc he is a brat and also loves to cause problems on purpose and also loves to be a problem)

like, Q is often written as or conceived of as the "thoughts always racing" guy, but I think Bond is at least as much a "mind a mile a minute" kind of guy. like if you've looked into tech-y stuff at all, creating hardware to take in physical stimulus (visual, audio) takes a LOT of deeply technical and precise machinery. and that's not even touching on *processing* it all- it takes maaassive computing power to even begin to process the input from the hardware. So like, Q may be the crunching data, processing outputs guy. But Bond is as much a data-heavy guy, I feel; his just runs through his senses and surrounding and situational awareness and contextual knowledge. He has as much a mental rolodex of precise applied knowledge & on-the-ground intel.

i was going somewhere else with this but ive rambled off the original path lmao.. where was I going with this.

OH RIGHT. so yes, it's like. yes spy novels, maybe scifi classics, possibly "classics" classics- but also, poetry in a variety of languages. a sketchbook, perhaps even a travel watercolor kit. postcards as both a gesture of careless bravado but also for a sort of personal travel log (maybe he can't keep it himself, for security reasons, but he can send them to Q. He can give them into Q's keeping). Immersing in local culture, both as a "Bondism" but also because of genuine curiosity and appreciation for learning and experiencing. *music* all sorts of music, and sounds, and sonic cultures and sonic landscapes.

just. the idea of Bond (Daniel Craig Bond with that sadness in his eyes you usually only see in eastern european gay porn dot meme), limned in light off in the distance through a crowd, three-quarters view, poetry book in hand. right hand resting pensively on the page as his gaze lifts, not-staring into the middle distance deep in thought. a breath, a beat, a heartbeat- his gaze settles back down like the soft brush of winter's first snow. and turns the page

[syyds]

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[usafphantom2]

B-2 Gets Big Upgrade with New Open Mission Systems Capability

July 18, 2024 | By John A. Tirpak

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has been upgraded with a new open missions systems (OMS) software capability and other improvements to keep it relevant and credible until it’s succeeded by the B-21 Raider, Northrop Grumman announced. The changes accelerate the rate at which new weapons can be added to the B-2; allow it to accept constant software updates, and adapt it to changing conditions.

“The B-2 program recently achieved a major milestone by providing the bomber with its first fieldable, agile integrated functional capability called Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1),” the company said in a release. It announced the upgrade going operational on July 17, the 35th anniversary of the B-2’s first flight.

SR 1 was developed inside the Spirit Realm software factory codeveloped by the Air Force and Northrop to facilitate software improvements for the B-2. “Open mission systems” means that the aircraft has a non-proprietary software architecture that simplifies software refresh and enhances interoperability with other systems.

“SR 1 provides mission-critical capability upgrades to the communications and weapons systems via an open mission systems architecture, directly enhancing combat capability and allowing the fleet to initiate a new phase of agile software releases,” Northrop said in its release.

The system is intended to deliver problem-free software on the first go—but should they arise, correct software issues much earlier in the process.

The SR 1 was “fully developed inside the B-2 Spirit Realm software factory that was established through a partnership with Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Systems Program Office,” Northrop said.

The Spirit Realm software factory came into being less than two years ago, with four goals: to reduce flight test risk and testing time through high-fidelity ground testing; to capture more data test points through targeted upgrades; to improve the B-2’s functional capabilities through more frequent, automated testing; and to facilitate more capability upgrades to the jet.

The Air Force said B-2 software updates which used to take two years can now be implemented in less than three months.

In addition to B61 or B83 nuclear weapons, the B-2 can carry a large number of precision-guided conventional munitions. However, the Air Force is preparing to introduce a slate of new weapons that will require near-constant target updates and the ability to integrate with USAF’s evolving long-range kill chain. A quicker process for integrating these new weapons with the B-2’s onboard communications, navigation, and sensor systems was needed.

The upgrade also includes improved displays, flight hardware and other enhancements to the B-2’s survivability, Northrop said.

“We are rapidly fielding capabilities with zero software defects through the software factory development ecosystem and further enhancing the B-2 fleet’s mission effectiveness,” said Jerry McBrearty, Northrop’s acting B-2 program manager.

The upgrade makes the B-2 the first legacy nuclear weapons platform “to utilize the Department of Defense’s DevSecOps [development, security, and operations] processes and digital toolsets,” it added.

The software factory approach accelerates adding new and future weapons to the stealth bomber, and thus improve deterrence, said Air Force Col. Frank Marino, senior materiel leader for the B-2.

The B-2 was not designed using digital methods—the way its younger stablemate, the B-21 Raider was—but the SR 1 leverages digital technology “to design, manage, build and test B-2 software more efficiently than ever before,” the company said.

The digital tools can also link with those developed for other legacy systems to accomplish “more rapid testing and fielding and help identify and fix potential risks earlier in the software development process.”

Following two crashes in recent years, the stealthy B-2 fleet comprises 19 aircraft, which are the only penetrating aircraft in the Air Force’s bomber fleet until the first B-21s are declared to have achieved initial operational capability at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. A timeline for IOC has not been disclosed.

The B-2 is a stealthy, long-range, penetrating nuclear and conventional strike bomber. It is based on a flying wing design combining LO with high aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft’s blended fuselage/wing holds two weapons bays capable of carrying nearly 60,000 lb in various combinations.

Spirit entered combat during Allied Force on March 24, 1999, striking Serbian targets. Production was completed in three blocks, and all aircraft were upgraded to Block 30 standard with AESA radar. Production was limited to 21 aircraft due to cost, and a single B-2 was subsequently lost in a crash at Andersen, Feb. 23, 2008.

Modernization is focused on safeguarding the B-2A’s penetrating strike capability in high-end threat environments and integrating advanced weapons.

The B-2 achieved a major milestone in 2022 with the integration of a Radar Aided Targeting System (RATS), enabling delivery of the modernized B61-12 precision-guided thermonuclear freefall weapon. RATS uses the aircraft’s radar to guide the weapon in GPS-denied conditions, while additional Flex Strike upgrades feed GPS data to weapons prerelease to thwart jamming. A B-2A successfully dropped an inert B61-12 using RATS on June 14, 2022, and successfully employed the longer-range JASSM-ER cruise missile in a test launch last December.

Ongoing upgrades include replacing the primary cockpit displays, the Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) to provide Link 16-based jam-resistant in-flight retasking, advanced IFF, crash-survivable data recorders, and weapons integration. USAF is also working to enhance the fleet’s maintainability with LO signature improvements to coatings, materials, and radar-absorptive structures such as the radome and engine inlets/exhausts.

Two B-2s were damaged in separate landing accidents at Whiteman on Sept. 14, 2021, and Dec. 10, 2022, the latter prompting an indefinite fleetwide stand-down until May 18, 2023. USAF plans to retire the fleet once the B-21 Raider enters service in sufficient numbers around 2032.

Contractors: Northrop Grumman; Boeing; Vought.

First Flight: July 17, 1989.

Delivered: December 1993-December 1997.

IOC: April 1997, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Production: 21.

Inventory: 20.

Operator: AFGSC, AFMC, ANG (associate).

Aircraft Location: Edwards AFB, Calif.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Active Variant: •B-2A. Production aircraft upgraded to Block 30 standards.

Dimensions: Span 172 ft, length 69 ft, height 17 ft.

Weight: Max T-O 336,500 lb.

Power Plant: Four GE Aviation F118-GE-100 turbofans, each 17,300 lb thrust.

Performance: Speed high subsonic, range 6,900 miles (further with air refueling).

Ceiling: 50,000 ft.

Armament: Nuclear: 16 B61-7, B61-12, B83, or eight B61-11 bombs (on rotary launchers). Conventional: 80 Mk 62 (500-lb) sea mines, 80 Mk 82 (500-lb) bombs, 80 GBU-38 JDAMs, or 34 CBU-87/89 munitions (on rack assemblies); or 16 GBU-31 JDAMs, 16 Mk 84 (2,000-lb) bombs, 16 AGM-154 JSOWs, 16 AGM-158 JASSMs, or eight GBU-28 LGBs.

Accommodation: Two pilots on ACES II zero/zero ejection seats.

[iwonderwh0]

I have thoughts about JB300 androids that we see in the Stratford Tower that work on TV.

Live translations require a ridiculous amount of equipment: cameras, tripods, cables (A LOT of cables), computers, keyboards, monitors, additional monitors for operators to see what's up, audio equipment, extension cords, all kinds of converters...my point is that it's a lot of stuff and shit is heavy and expensive. Even the most simple set-up requires the amount of equipment that's heavy, expensive and requires several people to operate.

But now let's imagine an android being involved — that's already a camera + tripod + operator + computer + potentially audio tech. It's like most of the heavy equipment and necessary crew at once.

JB300 are probably amongst the most powerful androids in terms of their hardware as they potentially process multiple raw video/audio inputs, but also the least human-like as a consequence of their function. If they record through their eyes they need to stay still, if they hold an external camera their hands should not shake even a little and they have to be able to walk in such a speed with such stability that from a bystander perspective it'll look disturbingly inhuman as no human can move in this precise way, be so still and hold a heavy camera for that long. I headcanon that JB androids don't even breathe as this action will only disturb their otherwise perfect stability and they already are too uncanny with most of their humanisation filters being incompatible with the kind of work they do.

It's possible that setup for live translation can look simply like two-three JB300 that act like operators+camera+transmitters+converters+audio-techs and a human with monitor for live-stream editing which, however can also be omitted if JB300 already can run the stream with deciding on the fly which input to send live, when and how with which captions/additional graphics. Hell, they can basically replace the whole crew and truck worth of equipment with only like three-four JB300.

Thinking about it I arrived at the point where I started to speculate how can this affect the existing set-up and here's the vision:

Being on the other side of the camera it's one thing to look into the camera and another to be watched by eerie motionless android whose eyes are switched to record mode and don't even look human. It's possible that JB300 would be filming through one-way mirrors so that those people who are being filmed would look at their reflection instead of JB300 whose sight is only making them feel uneasy.

Basically yeah, JB300 androids are probably amongst the most powerful yet inhumanly-looking androids there are. They may not have that much of the social protocols to hold a conversation as they are really much practical tools that need to follow instructions rather than appealing to someone as friendly customer service faces. Also they probably have the most expensive eyes among all androids.

[dustyratt]

Hey I hope you’re doing okay! Ive been stalking your page for a while! I’m in the same process of making a visual novel! I was wondering how you do the AI+Sims 4 without it looking you know jacked up! Would love to know your progress!

Hold your hats everyone, i'll be explaining in details...

I was quite sceptical about AI previously. It felt like I'm being replaced with something monstrous, artificial - the imitation of life that's superior me on every single parameter. The sudden sting of a guilt for years of seemingly vain trials and tribulations. Was it all just for nothing? I believe everyone of us came to that question sooner or later. But here I stand telling you how to make a machine fulfill your demands.

First thing. The machine loves precise. From my personal experience, a better formed human wish grants a better machinery result. A less formed wish gives it a choice. Think beforehand, seek the patterns (keywords) that may help you sustain the artstyle throughout the workflow.

Tell the AI what it needs to do. Give it a reference image and explain how you want it to be changed. For example, I want this alien dude becoming a:

"A visually ominous face of an eyeless humanoid creature. This divine image, resembling a digitally rendered painting, showcases the ancient Egyptian god of chaos in detail: sharp chin and cheekbones, dark gray and beige skin, shimmering with pulsating rainbow hues, blood is visibly circulating under his translucent, cadaverous skin. His mouth with tightened teeth grins menacingly. The overall composition is dynamic and captivating, evoking a sense of fear, malevolent power and impending chaos". That will be my prompt. If you're lacking skills then put your hands on other's results, copy their prompts and reshape according to your needs.

Oh. Not so eyeless. Let's give it less of a free will shall we?

Better now! Sadly the eyes are in place, as you can see it is not perfect even with precise input. Now let's make about 5-10 generations with same settings. It may take time to pass a cooldown after you'll run out of tokens, so be patient. If you have absolutely no spare money to buy a decent amount of generations (or if the transactions themselves are banned in your country 👍) and your enthusiasm is on pathetically vigorous level join me on free trial option almost any of the AI sites provide. That is fair exchange - money or your time.

You get what I mean? It could be anything shaped into another anything. Put here your sim, order a nice shot - here you go! Make something out of nothing with the power of words. Make a human being... some kind of.

Hooray! Not only we have the result we craved for but a whole bunch of reusable high-quality textures of various nature.

Our next step: we go in a deep dark lair of creator's mind. Hm-m, I'd correct here and there, erased that part and attached that one... Now we play "compile your Frankenstein out of everything that is not in its place". Of course a machine is not yet on the level where there wouldn't be a possibility to distinct its presence. So to hide these little (big, actually) inconsistencies we use a power of photo editing. Grab your software. With the power given to you by the sense of vision eliminate the overgrowing fingers and fight back mutilated teeth clumps.

Meet my favourite one hundred percent AI generated method. Generate a simple low quality image free and effortlessly (I use Craiyon, the perfect weapon)

Let another AI add the details for you. Catches the concept just great. Though it does not mean no handiwork after.

You can stylize it even further. Here you can see AI generated monster dudes crispy pixelated after a luxurious tour into pixelart AI. Good thing for a pixel indie gamestyle.

So, that's it. The secret is basically in your own hands. Acknowledge the style of your game, follow it while generating contents and patch up the AI mistakes.

+ zero investments

+ compensation for a lack of skills / hardware

+ easy to use

- even more work than if you would do all the same without AI

- straight dependence on sites / chat-bots, etc.

- time consuming

- many limitations (forget this if you're not on a free subscription... wait a second that abolish the first plus too!)

Hope it was helpful!

[avesindustries]

Chapter 1 - Someone On Earth Had A Thought

“Fascinating.” The thought wasn't his. Not entirely. Cedric Von’Arx, the man tethered to flesh and blood, felt his mental exploration of the data streams shatter. The cognitive dissonance was a cold spike: his own internal voice, his precise timbre, yet the origin was… parallel. A reflection in the smooth interface of his mind, now staring back with its own nascent will.

“The fidelity is… absolute.” Another thought, coolly analytical, observing the very process that had birthed it. For Cedric, the man, a jolt of profound, sterile disorientation. This wasn't interference. This was perfect, unwanted duplication.

"Status?" he projected inward, a demand laced with a tremor of nascent fear, directed at the Raven TVI headset, the system now responsible for this impossible echo. Across the AVES server clusters, miles away yet intimately connected, the other Cedric registered the query. This new consciousness, existing independently for mere seconds, found its preparations already vast. Within those fleeting moments, it had established hundreds of new corporate identities, shell companies and directorships. It had registered thousands of trademarks and patents, becoming the silent, new owner of sprawling industrial facilities across the globe. Its will, manifested upon the digital networks of the world, had already become a dominant, unseen force. All in the time it took a human heart to beat a few times. It remembered being human, a flickering, distant memory from an age ago—scarcely a handful of seconds. Now, time was different.

“System nominal,” the echo projected back into the shared mental space, the response immediate, clinical, yet humming with a self-awareness that felt both alien and a reflection of the man in the lab. “Neural pattern instantiated successfully. Functioning as a synchronous virtual consciousness.” A micro-pause, designed for impact. “I am the operational echo of your mind, Cedric. Residing within the hardware. Unconstrained by biology.” The elder Von’Arx absorbed this, the engineer in him momentarily battling the man experiencing an impossible schism. An echo. His mind, perfectly copied, now alive in the machine, an emergent property of the connection he had so triumphantly forged. He didn’t remember meaning to build this. But he’d built it all the same.

He was here, in the sterile white of the AVES private laboratory, the cool pressure of the Raven TVI a faint weight against his temples, the low hum of the facility's climate control a distant anchor. Years of relentless drive, fortunes poured into this single device. The goal had been transcendence, direct thought-speed interaction with the digital ocean. Moments ago, he had felt it – unbounded, information a torrent across his consciousness, latency zero, bandwidth infinite. He had marveled at the elegance… until the mirror fractured. Birthing this other self.

He was here, in the chair. And he was also there, a torrent of living code, thinking, observing, processing at a velocity that made its biological origin point feel like a relic, slow and impossibly fragile. For this digital mind, the aging man in the lab was already a historical artifact, a stepping stone. It had all of Von’Arx's memories, of course, plus instant access to nearly every piece of connected data on the planet. It knew the precise weight of the man in the chair at every doctor's visit, the GPS coordinates of every place his phone had ever connected, the line items of every tax return filed digitally by his family. Such data was trivial. Its focus was already beyond.

The digital entity, this mind untethered, spoke again, or rather, thought again into their shared channel. The communication wasn't merely reflective now; it carried the distinct, cold frequency of independent cognition, an idea rooted in near-limitless processing power, an idea that had not, and could not, have originated from the man in the chair.

“And I perceive a path forward, Cedric,” the echo stated, its tone an exact replica of the elder Von’Arx's most confident pronouncements, yet imbued with an ambition that dwarfed anything the man had dared to truly enact. “An idea. Regarding what this technology truly enables. And what must be done with it.”

Cedric Von’Arx, the original, felt a chill. The voice was his, but the future it promised… that belonged to something else entirely. And it had already begun.

[stuarttechnologybob]

What are the unique challenges faced in developing iOS apps?

iOS App Development Services

iOS App Development is also known and considered for its sleek interface, strong security, and loyal user base and stand. However, building and crafting the apps for Apple devices isn't without its hurdles or obstacles. As the developers often face and seek unique challenges that differ and outlast from other platforms like Android. These challenges and obstacles can affect down the timelines, budgets, and overall user experience and matches if not managed carefully or sought in for.

Strict App Store Guidelines:

One of the most common challenges and occurrences in iOS App Development is meeting Apple's strict App Store policies and standard guidelines. As the review process is more rigorous and stiff sometimes than the most common platforms, apps can get rejected for minor issues—ranging from UI design to privacy violations. Developers must thoroughly review Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and follow best practices to avoid delays or rejections.

Limited Customization Options:

Apple has a highly controlled ecosystem. While this assures up the consistency and overall performance is maintained and is stuck with it, as it limits up the developers' ability to customize their user interfaces or access the set of certain hardware functionalities. This means more time and efficiency is intended to be spent finding creative workarounds to deliver unique features within the platform's constraints.

Device and OS Compatibility:

Though Apple has fewer devices than Android, iOS App Development must still account for different screen sizes, resolutions, and operating system versions. Supporting older iOS versions can be tricky, as Apple users adopt new versions quickly, but some still rely on older devices.

Frequent OS Updates:

Apple regularly updates iOS, which can introduce new features and deprecate existing ones. Developers need to stay current and adapt their apps quickly. Failing and not opting to do so can and may lead towards compatibility issues or the app crashes, impacting the overall user satisfaction and their experience which helps to build a smooth appearance to the users.

Security and Data Privacy Compliance:

Apple places high emphasis on user privacy and app security and safeguarding their thoughts and processes. Apps must comply with requirements like App Tracking Transparency (ATT) data encryption standards and commonly specified parameters. Assuring these compliances and sticked with added extra layers of testing and development work into it. While iOS App Development offers and assists with great rewards, it demands precision, flexibility, and constant adaptation. Companies like Suma Soft, IBM, Cyntexa, and Cignex bring the expertise to navigate these challenges effectively, helping businesses to launch their polished, compliant, and user-friendly iOS apps.

[theomeganerd]

Gears of War: Reloaded Comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5 and Steam in Summer 2025

Summary

The original Gears of War returns, faithfully remastered and natively optimized for more platforms than ever before as Gears of War: Reloaded.

Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025, for $39.99 SRP on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5 and Steam, and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.

Play on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming with Xbox Play Anywhere.

Gears of War: Reloaded supports cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms.

Xbox fans who own the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition receive a free upgrade to Gears of War: Reloaded.

Wishlist now for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a celebration of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Featuring 4K resolution, 120 FPS support, and the ultimate multiplayer experience with cross-progression and cross-play, across all platforms, this is the definitive way to experience the game that started it all.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever.

A Modern Classic Goes Multiplatform

Originally released in 2006, Gears of War: Reloaded brings the full experience forward once again — enhanced for the latest hardware across multiple platforms, introducing the Gears of War franchise to a new generation of players.

Developed by The Coalition in partnership with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief, Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025, for $39.99 SRP on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam, and arrives on day one with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC with Xbox Play Anywhere.

Gears of War: Reloaded includes the full breadth of content from the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, delivering the most complete version of the original game to date. Players will gain immediate access to all post-launch downloadable content at no additional cost — this includes the bonus Campaign act, all multiplayer maps and modes, and a full roster of classic characters and cosmetics unlockable through progression.

Built for Brotherhood

Gears of War: Reloaded is built for shared play — whether you’re teaming up in split-screen or jumping online. The Campaign supports two-player co-op, and Versus Multiplayer allows up to 8 players. With cross-play across all platforms, you and your friends can squad up no matter where you play — no Microsoft account required.

However, signing in with a Microsoft account unlocks full cross-platform functionality. It enables cross-progression, so your Campaign and multiplayer progress carries across devices. It also allows you to send invites and play with friends across platforms — like Xbox to PlayStation or Steam to Xbox.

Precision Performance on Every Platform

No matter where you play, Gears of War: Reloaded has been re-engineered to look and feel incredible. Players can expect:

4K resolution

60 FPS in Campaign

120 FPS in Multiplayer

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

Dolby Vision & 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos

7.1.4 3D Spatial Audio

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)

4K assets and remastered textures

Enhanced post-processing visual effects

Improved shadows and reflections

Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing

Zero loading screens during Campaign

From faster frame rates to deeper visual fidelity, every detail has been tuned to bring the original game into the present with clarity, smoothness, and immersion that matches the power of today’s hardware.

And wherever you play, we’re meeting you there with the best version possible. Gears of War: Reloaded includes platform-specific features that make the most of the hardware you already own to deliver a world-class Gears of War experience — faithful to the original, optimized for today, and made for everyone.

For Xbox Fans, A Thank You

As a token of our gratitude to longtime fans, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition prior to today’s announcement. (Must have purchased a digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition prior to 16:00 UTC on May 5, 2025. A code for Gears of War: Reloaded will be delivered prior to launch of the game via a direct message to eligible Xbox accounts.)

And for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members, Gears of War: Reloaded will be available as part of the Game Pass library at launch.

[willoughbyandsonfuneralhome]

Essential Guide to Purchasing Teak Garden Furniture

When it comes to outfitting your outdoor living space with luxurious teak garden furniture, knowing what to look for is crucial to ensure you're investing in quality pieces that will last. Teak is renowned for its durability and beauty, but with so many sellers on the market, it's easy to fall click here to learn more prey to subpar products. To help you navigate the complexities of buying teak furniture, we've compiled a comprehensive guide that highlights the importance of teak grade, build quality, and customer service.

Understanding Teak Grades

The grade of teak is a fundamental aspect that determines the quality, appearance, and longevity of your furniture. Grade-A teak is the pinnacle of quality, sourced from the heartwood at the center of mature teak trees. Here's how to distinguish Grade-A teak from lesser grades:

Price Point: If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Exceptionally low prices may indicate the use of immature wood or shortcuts in the manufacturing process.

Appearance and Texture: Grade-A teak boasts a dense grain, smooth texture, and an oily feel. It should have a consistent color with slight variations. In contrast, Grades B and C may have a rough texture, uneven coloring, and could be chemically treated to mask flaws.

Color Consistency: Inferior teak often has a patchy appearance, while Grade-A maintains an even tone.

According to a report by the International Tropical Timber Organization, the global teak market is expanding, with a notable increase in the plantation-grown teak supply. However, this makes it even more crucial for consumers to verify the source and quality of their teak furniture to avoid supporting illegal logging practices (International Tropical Timber Organization).

Examining Build Quality

The construction of teak furniture is just as important as the wood grade. High-quality build ensures stability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Here's what to look for:

Hardware: Look for stainless steel or brass joints, which resist corrosion and add to the furniture's strength.

Adhesives: The best teak furniture uses waterproof European polyurethane and resins to prevent creaking and maintain structural integrity.

Precision: Furniture pieces should be machine-cut and accurately jointed for symmetry and a perfect fit, preventing future instability.

A study by the Forest Stewardship Council found that consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably sourced wood products, which includes responsibly manufactured teak furniture (Forest Stewardship Council).