#school database software

[student-information-system-saas]

Cloud-Based Online Student Management Systems: What You Need to Know

Managing a school’s operations has never been more complex. From tracking student performance to maintaining financial records, administrators juggle countless responsibilities. Enter cloud-based online student management systems — an innovation transforming education administration.

What is a Cloud-Based Online Student Management System?

A cloud-based online student management system is a software solution hosted on the internet, enabling schools to manage academic and administrative tasks from any device with internet access. Unlike traditional software that requires local installations, cloud-based systems offer flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

Key Benefits of Cloud-Based Systems

1. Accessibility Anytime, Anywhere

   Administrators, teachers, and parents can access data in real-time from any location, ensuring seamless communication and decision-making.

2. Cost-Effective Solution

   Cloud-based systems eliminate the need for expensive hardware and maintenance. Schools only pay for the features they use, reducing overall costs.

3. Data Security

   Leading providers offer robust encryption and regular backups, ensuring student data is secure and compliant with privacy regulations.

4. Scalability

   Whether you manage a small school or a large institution, cloud systems grow with your needs, offering custom modules to fit your requirements.

5. Automatic Updates

   Say goodbye to manual software upgrades. Cloud-based systems update automatically, ensuring you always have the latest features.

Must-Have Features

When selecting a cloud-based system, look for:

1. Student Data Management: Centralized storage for grades, attendance, and personal details.

2. Parent-Teacher Portals: Simplified communication and progress tracking.

3. Financial Tools: Fee management, billing, and reporting modules.

4. Mobile Accessibility: Responsive design for use on smartphones and tablets.

Why Schools are Embracing Cloud Solutions

In an era of remote learning and digital transformation, cloud-based systems are no longer a luxury but a necessity. Schools benefit from:

- Streamlined operations.

- Enhanced collaboration among teachers, parents, and students.

- Future-ready infrastructure adaptable to changing educational demands.

Final Thoughts

Adopting a cloud-based online student management system is a step toward smarter, more efficient school administration. By investing in the right platform, schools can not only reduce administrative burdens but also create a better learning environment for students.

This blog is brought to you by openSIS, a trusted provider of cloud-based student management solutions. Discover how we can help your school streamline its operations at www.opensis.com.

[astiinfotech1]

https://www.astiinfotech.com/erp-for-school/

Communication in a school/educational institution is chaotic. Every day hundreds of activities take place in a school and there is a need for a secure platform for school administration, parents and teachers to interact and communicate on a regular basis. School ERP acts as a reliable communication channel between parents, mentors and school administration through an app where information on homework, important notices, holidays and nutrition information about meals is shared seamlessly. School ERP Solution helps in the overall management of school operations. The software helps the school authorities to smoothly handle the school functionalities without any difficulties. It connects various departments like office, finance, examination, admission cell, etc. andatabase of student management system

simplifies the tasks.

[cakiweb]

Streamlining Efficiency: The Significance of Employee Database Management Systems

In the contemporary workplace, the efficient management of employee data stands as a pivotal factor in organizational success. As businesses continue to evolve, so too does the complexity of handling employee information. This is where Employee Database Management Systems (EDMS) emerge as indispensable tools, offering streamlined solutions for organizing, accessing, and securing vital employee data.

Understanding Employee Database Management Systems

Employee Database Management Systems, often referred to as Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) or Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS), are comprehensive software solutions designed to centralize and streamline the management of employee-related information within an organization. These systems encompass a wide array of functionalities, ranging from basic record-keeping to advanced analytics and reporting capabilities.

The Importance of Employee Database Management Systems

Efficiency Enhancement: One of the primary benefits of an EDMS is its ability to enhance operational efficiency within an organization. By centralizing all employee data into a single, accessible platform, HR professionals can easily retrieve, update, and manage information without the need for manual paperwork or spreadsheets.

Data Accuracy: Manual data management processes are prone to errors, leading to discrepancies in employee records. EDMS eliminates this risk by enforcing data consistency and accuracy through standardized input formats and validation checks. This ensures that crucial information such as employee demographics, payroll details, and performance evaluations remain reliable and up-to-date.

Compliance and Security: In an era marked by stringent data protection regulations, maintaining compliance with legal requirements is paramount. EDMS offers robust security features, including role-based access controls, encryption, and audit trails, to safeguard sensitive employee information from unauthorized access or breaches. By adhering to regulatory standards such as GDPR or HIPAA, organizations can mitigate legal risks and protect the privacy rights of their employees.

Strategic Decision-Making: The insights derived from EDMS analytics empower organizational leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding workforce management, talent acquisition, and resource allocation. By analyzing trends in employee performance, turnover rates, and training needs, HR professionals can devise strategies to optimize workforce productivity and drive business growth.

Employee Empowerment: Self-service functionalities integrated into EDMS empower employees to manage their personal information, request time off, or access relevant documents autonomously. This not only fosters a culture of transparency and accountability but also reduces the administrative burden on HR staff, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Key Features of Employee Database Management Systems

Centralized Data Repository: EDMS consolidates all employee-related information, including personal details, employment history, benefits enrollment, and performance evaluations, into a centralized database accessible to authorized users.

Automated Workflows: From onboarding new hires to processing payroll and conducting performance appraisals, EDMS automates routine HR processes, eliminating manual tasks and minimizing the risk of errors or delays.

Customizable Reporting: EDMS offers customizable reporting capabilities, allowing organizations to generate tailored reports on key HR metrics, compliance status, and workforce analytics to support decision-making at various organizational levels.

Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with other enterprise systems such as payroll software, time and attendance systems, and applicant tracking systems enhances data consistency and eliminates redundant data entry tasks.

Scalability: As organizations grow and evolve, EDMS provides scalability to accommodate changing workforce dynamics, whether through organic expansion, mergers, or acquisitions, ensuring that HR processes remain agile and adaptable to evolving business needs.

Upon deployment, the EDMS streamlined various HR processes, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration. With centralized access to real-time employee data, HR managers could make informed decisions regarding talent management and resource allocation, resulting in improved workforce productivity and employee satisfaction.

Moreover, the robust security features of the EDMS ensured compliance with data protection regulations, mitigating the risk of data breaches and legal penalties. Through customizable reporting functionalities, organizational leaders gained actionable insights into key HR metrics, facilitating strategic planning and resource optimization.

Conclusion

Employee Database Management Systems represent a cornerstone of modern HR practices, offering organizations the tools needed to streamline processes, ensure data accuracy, and drive strategic decision-making. By harnessing the power of EDMS, businesses can unlock efficiencies, enhance compliance, and empower their workforce, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and organizational excellence. As technology continues to advance, the role of EDMS in shaping the future of work will only become more pronounced, making it essential for businesses to invest in robust solutions that align with their strategic objectives and empower their most valuable asset – their employees. Learn more

[schoolofcoreai5]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)- The School of Core AI Institute.

The best institute of Delhi NCR, Gurgaon and Delhi, the School of Core AI Institute is a trailblazer in AI education. With cutting-edge features and a forward-looking approach, it stands out as a recognized leader, shaping the future of artificial intelligence with excellence.

What advantages come with industry expert training in IT courses?

Industry expert training, a hallmark of programs like those at the School of Core AI, ensures that you receive top-notch guidance and insights from professionals actively working in the field.

Is 100% placement assistance a common feature in educational programs?

While not every institution offers 100% placement assistance, the School of Core AI stands out by providing dedicated support to help you secure rewarding career opportunities in Data Science, Data Analytics, Machine learning.

How important is industry recognition in certification programs?

Industry-recognized certifications, like those provided by leading institutions such as the School of Core AI, can significantly boost your credibility and open doors to exciting career opportunities.

What makes an IT career successful, and how can I enhance my skills?

Mastering IT knowledge and skills is crucial for a successful career. Consider exploring specialized courses, such as those offered by the School of Core AI, to stay ahead in the industry

Conclusion-

FAQs tell all about of School of Core AI career program.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Vittoria Elliott at Wired:

Elon Musk’s takeover of federal government infrastructure is ongoing, and at the center of things is a coterie of engineers who are barely out of—and in at least one case, purportedly still in—college. Most have connections to Musk and at least two have connections to Musk’s longtime associate Peter Thiel, a cofounder and chairman of the analytics firm and government contractor Palantir who has long expressed opposition to democracy. WIRED has identified six young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24, according to public databases, their online presences, and other records—who have little to no government experience and are now playing critical roles in Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, tasked by executive order with “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” The engineers all hold nebulous job titles within DOGE, and at least one appears to be working as a volunteer. The engineers are Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran. None have responded to requests for comment from WIRED. Representatives from OPM, GSA, and DOGE did not respond to requests for comment. Already, Musk’s lackeys have taken control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and General Services Administration (GSA), and have gained access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, potentially allowing him access to a vast range of sensitive information about tens of millions of citizens, businesses, and more. On Sunday, CNN reported that DOGE personnel attempted to improperly access classified information and security systems at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and that top USAID security officials who thwarted the attempt were subsequently put on leave. The AP reported that DOGE personnel had indeed accessed classified material. “What we're seeing is unprecedented in that you have these actors who are not really public officials gaining access to the most sensitive data in government,” says Don Moynihan, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. “We really have very little eyes on what's going on. Congress has no ability to really intervene and monitor what's happening because these aren't really accountable public officials. So this feels like a hostile takeover of the machinery of governments by the richest man in the world.”

[...] “To the extent these individuals are exercising what would otherwise be relatively significant managerial control over two very large agencies that deal with very complex topics,” says Nick Bednar, a professor at University of Minnesota’s school of law, “it is very unlikely they have the expertise to understand either the law or the administrative needs that surround these agencies.” Sources tell WIRED that Bobba, Coristine, Farritor, and Shaotran all currently have working GSA emails and A-suite level clearance at the GSA, which means that they work out of the agency’s top floor and have access to all physical spaces and IT systems, according a source with knowledge of the GSA’s clearance protocols. The source, who spoke to WIRED on the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation, says they worry that the new teams could bypass the regular security clearance protocols to access the agency’s sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), as the Trump administration has already granted temporary security clearances to unvetted people. This is in addition to Coristine and Bobba being listed as “experts” working at OPM. Bednar says that while staff can be loaned out between agencies for special projects or to work on issues that might cross agency lines, it’s not exactly common practice.

WIRED’s report on the 6 college-aged men between 19 and 24 that are shaping up DOGE in aiding and abetting in co-”President” Elon Musk’s technofascist takeover.

[bubonickitten]

The ALA's State of America's Libraries Report for 2024 is out now.

2023 had the highest number of challenged book titles ever documented by the ALA.

You can view the full PDF of the report here. Book ban/challenge data broken down by state can be found here.

If you can, try to keep an eye on your local libraries, especially school and public libraries. If book/program challenges or attacks on library staff are happening in your area, make your voice heard -- show up at school board meetings, county commissioner meetings, town halls, etc. Counterprotest. Write messages of support on social media or in your local papers. Show support for staff in-person. Tell others about the value of libraries.

Get a library card if you haven't yet -- if you're not a regular user, chances are you might not know what all your library offers. I'm talking video games, makerspaces (3D printers, digital art software, recording equipment, VR, etc.), streaming services, meeting spaces, free demonstrations and programs (often with any necessary materials provided at no cost!), mobile WiFi hotspots, Library of Things collections, database subscriptions, genealogy resources, and so on. A lot of electronic resources like ebooks, databases, and streaming services you can access off-site as long as you have a (again: free!!!) library card. There may even be services like homebound delivery for people who can't physically come to the library.

Also try to stay up to date on pending legislation in your state -- right now there's a ton of proposed legislation that will harm libraries, but there are also bills that aim to protect libraries, librarians, teachers, and intellectual freedom. It's just as important to let your representatives know that you support pro-library/anti-censorship legislation as it is to let them know that you oppose anti-library/pro-censorship legislation.

Unfortunately, someone being a library user or seeing value in the work that libraries do does not guarantee that they will support libraries at the ballot. One of the biggest predictors for whether libraries stay funded is not the quantity or quality of the services, programs, and materials it offers, but voter support. Make sure your representatives and local politicians know your stance and that their actions toward libraries will affect your vote.

Here are some resources for staying updated:

If you're interested in library advocacy and staying up to date with the challenges libraries are facing in the U.S., check out EveryLibrary, which focuses on building voter support for libraries.

Book Riot has regular articles on censorship attempts taking place throughout the nation, which can be found here, as well as a Literary Activism Newsletter.

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom focuses on the intellectual freedom component of the Library Bill of Rights, tracks censorship attempts throughout each year, and provides training, support, and education about intellectual freedom to library staff and the public.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation focuses on intellectual freedom in the digital world, including fighting online censorship and illegal surveillance.

I know this post is long, but please spread the word. Libraries need your support now more than ever.

[fernsnailz]

HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR TECH TIPS…. and also id be interested in a volume two of chipset and database (though thats up to you!!)

oh most of my computer knowledge i learned on my own! like i learned a lot when i built my pc last year. i guess i also learned SOME stuff in animation school + recent board/animation gigs i've had, but that stuff's mostly related to the specific software(s) we use (though database's lesson on phishing scams is based on the very very dry online safety course i had to do while working a brief gig at titmouse lol)

since i don't have much like. formal computer education i got really worried about straight up relaying incorrect information while writing tech tips, so i did extra research on anything i wasn't super confident in! hopefully i got everything right. and i have a bunch more tips i wrote that i didn't manage to make into comics, so i'd be down to make a vol 2 sometime!

[dykephan]

Whats wrong with photoshop?

the app itself is not bad and i don't even care too much about the ai aspect because ai has already been part of photoshop basically since it was invented, it just wasn't called that because ai wasn't a buzz word until now. the problem lies with adobe as a company. their entire business model is built on hidden / automatic / nonrefundable fees. even though the software has largely remained the same for years, they increase their prices at an insane rate.

call me crazy, but i don't think i should have to pay a subscription fee for something that isn't giving me anything new month by month, it's just more of the same. software never used to work like that. why have we all just accepted that subscriptions services are how everything works now? and even if you're following all the rules, they'll charge you fees for things that literally weren't in the terms of service because they're hoping you won't fight it. for example, they charged me a $200 cancellation fee and refused to refund me, so i had to contact my bank and have them handle it as a fraudulent charge.

since adobe has a monopoly in this industry, most employers and schools will require you to pay for adobe products, locking you in to this cycle. adobe has done so much harm to creative industries i don't even know where to begin honestly. i'm sure you can find articles discussing the ai issue in more detail than i care to do right now, but what i will say is, it's fucked up to use art and photography that has been created by real human beings, throw it all into these ai databases, and then CHARGE MONEY for people to use these ai-generated images as "stock photos". the artists will never get a penny of that money, let alone get credit for their work. it's a fucking depressing state of affairs

[historicity-was-already-taken]

Hello! I'm currently an MLIS student (no focus yet), and I've been thinking about getting a History MA as well. I've been told that doubling up on Master's degrees can be a hindrance in getting work as it makes it look like you can't commit to one field, but I noticed that you have an MLIS and a History MA. How were you able to make that work? Was it because of the overlap of topics you were studying?

(for extra context, I'm in the U.S. and I would be looking at an MA in late antique or medieval history)

The unvarnished truth is that there are way more people with degrees in our field than there are jobs, especially in blue states. Anything you have that can put you ahead of the pack, including a subject-specific MA, is good. Especially now that, as universities have so effectively cannibalized themselves, we have a glut of PhDs who can’t get TT positions horning in on the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) professions.

As for my career and the doubling up; it worked until it didn’t—in this profession it’s very difficult to move up or get a pay raise unless you’re willing to become a manager; and the pay in this field has NOT kept pace with COL or inflation.

To best position yourself in the job market, you need to get your MA in a modern field. Late Antiquity and Medieval GLAM jobs in this country are few and far between, and the competition is typically PhDs.

A Masters in some aspect of US history will be the best for you to build a case for yourself as a successful candidate. Also, learning database science, and as much coding and software as you can before you finish your degree.

Sorry for the cynicism. I have ten years of experience in this field plus the masters degrees and I haven’t even been contacted for an interview in over a year.

ETA: all of this said, if some random 35 year old had given me this advice when I was just starting grad school at the (too young, imo) age of 22, I would have blown it off as the rantings of a lazy, bitter failure so, ymmv. (Here, I would say “ah the arrogance of youth,” but I’ve always been stubborn and pig headed about my goals lol)

[error4343]

Ok I've had a very random train of thoughts and now wanna compile it into post.

Some MM characters computer-related (???) headcanons lol

Riley:

Has above average knowledge of Excel/Google sheets due to studying finance, but after four years with no practise forgot most of it.

The "Sooon, I have a problem" person in their family. Actually, surprisingly good and patient at explaining computer stuff to older people.

Has a higher responsibility of doing taxes (finance, after all). Even he never fails to do them right, Ed always double checks. Sometimes they get into argument, where inevitably Riley proves he is right but his father would never admit it.

Warren, Leeza, Ooker and other teens:

Also nothing outstanding in terms of skills, except few of them have interest in IT.

They have bunch of small local Discord servers and one big main server with some very stupid name.

Few times Bev tried to bring up importance of parental control over this "new and rapidly growing young community", but thanks God no one took her concerns seriously

Leeza moderates it and her moder role called "Mayor-mini". Like father like daughter.

All teens local jokes and memes were bourn/spread though that server.

Bev:

Rumors says she sacrificed her humanity to obtain such powers with Microsoft software package.

Can build up Access database from scratch, using basic SQL commands, assemble primitive, but surprisingly sufficient interface to it and synchronize it with Excel in span of one day or less.

In her laptop there're every pupil's personal file, countless Excel tables, several automatised document accounts, Google calendar with precisely planned schedule for next several months (for school, church, island and personal matters) and probably Pentagon files.

Probably can find all Pi numbers with Excel formulas.

Never lets anyone to her laptop.

Spends her free time at different forums, mostly gardening-related.

Wade:

Made a very fucking poor decision to let Bev do all the legwork with digital document accounting.

Now has no idea how some of things even work, so just goes with a flow and does what Bev tells.

No wander she got away with embezzlement.

Knows about kid's server. Very proud of Leeza for managing it :)

Because of that, he knows one or two memes from there, but keeps them in secret.

Has hobby of fixing office equipment. Does it with Sturge in spare time due to Dupuytren's contracture not letting him operate his hand fully.

Sarah:

There's no good medical technicians on island, so when something goes wrong with equipment electronics - tries to fix it herself to best of her ability.

Always monitors electronic e-shops for spare details or equipment. Grows more and more addicted to it.

Frequently updates her selection of sites with useful medical information, because Erin asked her for help guiding teens though puberty. For that receives glances from Bev, but doesn't give a shit.

Has reputation of cool aunt among kids, so she was one and only adult invited to main Discord server. Didn't accept it (doesn't even have Discord acc), but still grateful for trust.

Plays solitaire a lot.

John:

Back when he was playing Paul, Bev asked him to do something with Excel. In conclusion, poor bastard had to learn basic computer skills and Excel in span of several days. Now he is traumatized for rest of his life.

Will do all the work manually just to not touch laptop again.

Upsets very easly when does something wrong.

Doesn't own laptop. Don't give that man laptop, he will cry.

By his own will uses it only to watch baseball. Always asks someone to help with that.

[nando161mando]

MIT shuts down open-access software after students use it to expose the school's ties to the Israeli military. As students continued to use the software to probe MIT’s Israel-linked grant activity, the school deactivated the program.

https://theintercept.com/2025/01/16/mit-israel-military-funding-research-gaza/

[megbritt]

Ok last job journal/productivity/studyblr-esque type post I promise ! Then I will return to my whimsy and return to the usual broadcast. Moving forward, posts like this will end up being on their respective blogs, but I digress. But for now, please bear with me.

I GET ASKED LIKE THE SAME THREE QUESTIONS ALL THE DAMN TIME (instagram dms, tumblr asks, even irl at every tech meetup imaginable what have you; im just directing you all here to this post from now on LOL)

questions like "how did you get into software engineering professionally"

"what is your technical background"

and arguably, more importantly "did you go back to grad school"

in this essay, i will sksksk

-

how did i get into swe

i have a bachelors degree in comp math, also known as applied mathematics - computer science emphasis. despite the name, i didnt really feel like i was a cs major regardless since most of my electives i chose as an undergrad were mainly theory.. I didn't take a lot of swe-centered courses. My courses in undergrad primarily focused on topics such as combinatorics in latex, n-color cyclic compositions, and linear algebra in r.

after my bachelors degree i ended up going to grad school to obtain a masters degree in theorical physics since i fell so daymn hard in love for physics as an undergrad- oof im !

missed coding for a few years.. ended up going to coding boot camp to sharpen my skills here we are <33

-

what is my technical background

basically answered above !

-

did i go back to grad school

no.

I currently am enrolled in a grad school level computer science course at the moment. But I'm enrolled as a "non-seeking degree grad student", or at least that's what it says on my transcripts. Currently, I'm still trying to figure out if I'm ready to commit to a second round of grad school for a second masters or phd.

May or may not take a few more grad level cs courses in the fall & spring; we'll see!

I am enrolled for the fall to take a bunch of random community college courses, one of which is cs, the others of which are like art lol.

The programming language class will be quite nostalgic, cause it's the same programming language i learned as an undergrad.. aww 🫶 It's quite unfortunate I don't really use that language at any of my jobs though.. One of my jobs primary focuses on C# backend so yeah c:

-

how am i going to focus on all this whilst working multiple jobs

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

WE'LL SEE LOL

Quite frankly, I'm barely holding on as it is. Have already contemplated either deferring to the next cohort or dropping the class entirely and waiting until next year but LOL

Somehow it's working out rn !

I kind of blame this on the fact that no one told me classes started two weeks ago??? I basically registed for this class thinking it would start in about two weeks or something NOT THE VERY NEXT DAY I MEAN LOLOL we're like three weeks into the course already as I'm writing this

I kinda do feel like I was just thrown into the fire with this one. It didn't help that I answered a skills survey maybe a bit too accurately i mean x3 kind of regretting answering it TOO honestly.. I should've put I was a beginner at everything cause level 1's group project is to get a front-end only project up and running. easy peasy why cant i do that. BUT IM IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL at level 3 we're all professional devs and we have to turn in a fullstack app with aws lambda and the works.. a working database and everything WHYY?!? LOL

It's nice though that we all have similar schedules though cause we're all working devs in the team but

-

The transition from not going to school for a few years bc of work to full blown working full-time with multiple jobs on the side AND going to grad school again but this time its part-time

HAS BEEN ROUGH LOL no denying

But I will admit I'm having a lot of fun.

I'm glad that before this I was, ya know, going to disneyland on the reg, and/or raving, going to as many raves as I can. Attending concerts like the concert junkie I am lol

I still plan to do these things of course, but I think it'll be a significantly less amount than before.

-

tl;dr im a massive nerd (but i prefer scholar ! it sounds better lolol)

-

Lastly, I just wanted to plug my two new tumblrs I made recently!

You can find me there on those two, probably talking about my classes or work or other news. And productivity! megbrittstudies.tumblr.com & notreallystudyingcs.tumblr.com

　

Thank you for reading this far !! ily ! ♡

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Caleb Ecarma and Judd Legum at Popular Information:

Several of Elon Musk’s associates installed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of federal employees. According to two members of OPM staff with direct knowledge, the Musk team running OPM has the ability to extract information from databases that store medical histories, personally identifiable information, workplace evaluations, and other private data. The staffers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly and feared professional retaliation. Musk Watch also reviewed internal OPM correspondence confirming that expansive access to the database was provided to Musk associates.

The arrangement presents acute privacy and security risks, one of the OPM staffers said. Among the government outsiders granted entry to the OPM databases is University of California Berkeley student Akash Bobba, a software engineer who graduated high school less than three years ago. He previously interned at Meta and Palantir, a technology firm chaired by Musk-ally and fellow billionaire Peter Thiel. Edward Coristine, another 2022 high school graduate and former software engineering intern at Musk’s Neuralink, has also been given access to the databases.

Other Musk underlings embedded at OPM following President Donald Trump’s inauguration include the agency’s new chief of staff, Amanda Scales, who until January was a human resources staffer at xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence firm, and Brian Bjelde, who has spent the past 21 years at Musk's SpaceX, including the last 10 leading the human resources department. They are joined by Gavin Kliger, a former Twitter software engineer serving as a special advisor to the director of OPM, and Riccardo Biasini, a former software engineer at Musk’s tunneling venture, the Boring Company. OPM did not respond to a request for comment. Shortly after Trump took office, OPM installed Greg Hogan to serve as its new chief information officer (CIO). Hogan was tapped to replace OPM CIO Melvin Brown, who had accepted the job less than a month ago. The civil servants who oversee the OPM’s information technology services were then instructed to provide access to Musk's associates, according to the OPM staffers who spoke to Musk Watch. One of the OPM staffers received an email from the agency’s new leadership instructing them to give Musk’s team “access [to] the system as an admin user" and "code read and write permissions." “They have access to the code itself, which means they can make updates to anything that they want,” the staffer explained. USAJOBS, the federal government’s official hiring site, was one of the systems that Musk's associates were given access to. The database stores personal information — Social Security numbers, home addresses, employment records — provided by private individuals who have applied for federal jobs, regardless of whether the applicants went on to work for the government. Musk’s aides were also given access to the OPM’s Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) system. Contained within the EHRI are the Social Security numbers, dates of birth, salaries, home addresses, and job descriptions of all civil government workers, along with any disciplinary actions they have faced. “They’re looking through all the position descriptions… to remove folks,” one of the OPM staffers said of Musk’s team. “This is how they found all these DEI offices and had them removed — [by] reviewing position description level data.” Other databases Musk’s team has access to include USA Staffing, an onboarding system; USA Performance, a job performance review site; and HI, which the government uses to manage employee health care. “The health insurance one scares me because it's HIPAA [protected] information, but they have access to all this stuff,” the OPM staffer noted.

[...] A new server being used to control these databases has been placed in a conference room that Musk’s team is using as their command center, according to an OPM staffer. The staffer described the server as a piece of commercial hardware they believed was not obtained through the proper federal procurement process. There is a legal requirement that the installation of a new server undergo a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), a formal process to ensure the change would not create any security vulnerabilities. But in this instance, the staff believes there was no PIA. “So this application and corresponding hardware are illegally operating,” they added. On Friday, Reuters reported that some senior civil servants have been blocked from accessing the EHRI and other OPM systems, making it difficult for career OPM employees to know what Musk’s team has been examining or modifying. In the same report, the outlet revealed the team had moved sofa beds into the agency's headquarters to continue their work around the clock.

This should be a major national news scandal.

Elon Musk and the underlings he put in place at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have jeopardized data privacy and national security.

[kaipassedgo]

a little rant about ai "art"

Many creatives are being actively steered away from creative fields for the purpose of living for a wage instead of living for the art. Just within my friend group leaving high-school (where all of them were creatives, artists, and musicians) of 15, only 5 pursued the arts as a post secondary, the others pushing art aside to be just a hobby, or forgetting and losing it entirely. The unsteady job market has always been a universal truth for artists, however it was always a thing we could keep going at, because while it may not pay much or be harder to “break in” so to speak, there would always be art that needed to be made (graphic design, visual art, photography, video editing, animation, etc.).

Meanwhile developing artists have been fed AI “tools” in their art programs and softwares, and are never learning the true facet of art: that everything has a process, and you have to learn the rules before breaking them. The continuing prospects of AI taking over/replacing artists will discourage new artists to start, thus leading to the loss of a talent so entwined with human history. 

Generative AI – while created at a time that it was a gimmick and a novelty – with the way it has developed and grown, has been taken by many members of this capitalist society as a shortcut to cutting costs, as they can “ethically” cut labour costs. However, their ethics of these cost cuts are simply swapping one bad thing for another: underpaid labour vs intellectual property theft and the ecological concerns brought on by data centers. With the intrigue and allure of making “free” art, the rate at which artists are being hired, commissioned, and even considered is declining at a concerning pace, posing the question: Why do we value needless, and harmful technological "advancements" over the wellbeing of humanity?

Because of generative ai, and ai “art”, in the scope of human history, from this moment on, books, literature, and art, will have an asterisk beside their title reading: *could have been made by a computer.

This creates the problem seen already in human history, with burning of the Library of Alexandria; jealousy and hatred – of the containment of great knowledge, individualism and world perspectives, and the need to seek art out from those trained and talented in the craft – leading to the desecration of works of immense artistic quality and historical value. And while the art (that was unwillingly) used to feed these machines still exists, the artists who created the works no longer have true private ownership of their work, and their contribution to history gets lost in some database that generates more “art” than humanity has the emotional capability to care for.

Even though the blame for the burning of the books, is unplaced and unknown definitively, the loss of the knowledge – contained within the books or of the creation of art – can only be attested to by the ones who committed themselves to the process of learning, and intern cannot be known by the ones who decided the knowledge should be theirs without cost. 

Meaning of art is tied directly to the humanity and nature by which the artist expressed emotion through a piece. Art is made in the nuance, it is made by the mistakes, by the hand, and by the thought process it took to get there. 

When all is said and done, “AI “artists”” will have no personal hand in the creation of the work, and are liars and thieves with no legal claim over a computer’s take on the prompt it took them less than a minute to enter.  

also all excuses and justifications made to defend AI “art” are flimsy at best and stupid 😘✌️ 

Sincerely,

a tired artist who is so fucking done with this shit

[cloudy-caspirations]

Hey cas!! I wanted to ask you how to make the most out of notions (cuz its kinda complex app) + how to make notes omg im struggling w this YELPP😭😭

Hi !! I started using notion last year to try and organize my school life and still haven’t completely figured it all out, so I get what you mean with it being a little confusing 😭. I’ve been mostly using it as a planner, but just started writing notes on it over this summer break and am kind of loving it. I’ll include screenshots and stuff under the cut, but if you need more specific details or a tutorial for a database or something feel free to send another ask or dm!

My Notion Setup ⬇️⬇️

(Sorry if the formatting for pictures is weird, I’m still trying to figure out how to use this app 😵‍💫)

For Planning:

Here is my notion dashboard! It’s a little barebones compared to others that I’ve seen on Pinterest, but it works for me because if I include anything else my ADHD brain will get overwhelmed and won’t keep up with actually using and updating it.

I have two databases: one being used as an assignment tracker that sorts my assignments into To-Do, Overdue, and Done sections based on dates and the other has pages for my classes for the semester. (I just realized that I forgot the change the heading from Spring 2024 to Fall 2024, so please don’t mind that 😭) Along with the databases I have a simple to do list for things that I need to get done that aren’t assignment related.

You could also add a calendar view to the assignment database if you prefer seeing it in that format, I just choose not to because I use Google Calendar to see it in relation to my other plans for the day.

I don’t use the class pages for much because I preferred writing my notes in either Goodnotes or a physical notebook last semester, but I’ll probably start using them more because I like using notion to keep track of all of my code snippets and stuff along those lines that are easier to type than write out. It was also pretty helpful last semester for creating drafts and outlines for essays.

For Note-taking:

Here are two examples of pages that could go in the classes database if you prefer to take notes digitally. I like to use databases to create pages to take notes in for each chapter/section of the textbook or material for the class.

My favorite way of viewing it is the board view because I like having my progress visualized (and clicking and dragging chapters to the “Done” section is satisfying), but the table view is also nice if you want to include more details such as quiz scores or dates.

Here are some photos of my notes for a single chapter. I use section headers to separate the actual notes from other stuff like chapter-specific exercises or links, and use toggle headers for sub-section notes to make it less cluttered. Other than the formatting it’s nothing too fancy, my typed notes are similar to how you would take notes in any other software like GoogleDocs or Word.