#Alphabet Company

[s3znl-gr3znl]

After a long period of reviewing hundreds of thousands of customer feedback data points, the results are overwhelmingly clear. That's why we here at BisCo are excited to announce that we're gonna ignore all that and make our service/product worse in nearly unimaginable ways! That's right, you little whiny pissbaby consumers! We dont give a shit about making our service/product even a little better or usable. In fact, we hate you, yes YOU, personally.

[itsbasil]

"Two Slow Dancers"

Spartans produced by unsanctioned, clandestine corporate programs rarely get to grow up and train alongside one another the way the original Spartan-IIs and IIIs did.

Cato (serial no. 62-06-40303) and Sage (serial no. 62-06-40411) are a rare glimpse at what becomes possible when they do.

[garadinervi]

C.H. Hanson Company, Stencil Set, Marking, Lockedge, Adjustable, Brass, 1 inch size, (stencil letters), ca. 1945 [MoMA, New York, NY]

[aliceia-xi]

ᴇᴍɪʟ ꜱɪɴᴄʟᴀɪʀ x ɢɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴀɴᴛᴏ 3

ɴᴏᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴏꜰʀᴇᴀᴅ, ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴏᴏᴄ

ꜱꜰᴡ ᴀʟᴘʜᴀʙᴇᴛ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀꜱ, ʙ, ɢ, ʜ, ɴ, ᴏ, ᴘ, Q, ᴛ

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Sinclair would normally be nervous to speak to you at first, but as soon as you start to get close he's literally jumping for joy the moment you become friends in the company. He looks up to you during missions and he's glad there's someone around he could warm up to because of the very eccentric coworkers he has. Everything goes great for him until the closer you get causes him to develop a crush on you. His admiration turns into affection and it makes Sinclair nervous around you all over again, it even makes his guilty that he would begin to see his coworker in an unprofessional way.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Sinclair is insanely gentle with you, he's (probably) never been in a relationship with anyone and would die inside if he ever messed anything up. He'd always make sure you're comfortable with the physical affection he gives you, and he keeps your emotional stability in check during missions. However there is a slight chance of roughness if he's upset, he may give you heavy hugs if he's having an episode like he did in his canto.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Sinclair's hugs are awkward and tense, but tight. Sinclair always wants to be around you physically to the point it haunts his mind when he's not doing anything. However he doesn't initiate hugs on his own from embarrassment, he doesn't want to be teased by the other sinners about it if they were to see. But I can see him learning how to get past that and finally initiating hugs after he gets comfortable with you.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Sinclair finds comfort in cuddling together at night in one of your rooms, it takes his mind off of all of the violence he's seen and experienced.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

As shown in Sinclair's canto, Sinclair is not very open about himself. He's still deeply traumatized by what he's experienced and even during his canto he refused to give many details of what happened between him and Kromer until he was forced to. Because of this Sinclair would hide his feelings a lot and even keep you away from learning more about himself out of fear of how you'd see him and his own shame.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Sinclair has high patience and hardly becomes angry around you, instead of becoming angry he often gets quiet and gloomy when bothered. He only goes angry in extremely emotional situations for him, such as when he became violent during his canto. These violent episodes are never caused by you though, and Sinclair apologizes heavily if you ever get caught up in them.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Sinclair tries to remember everything about you, even before you get into a relationship with him. Sinclair would pick up small details from you when you were around. After you start dating he'd honestly take notes and hide it from you because it's embarrassing. If he were to forget anything you truly cared about he'd feel pretty awful about it out of guilt.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Sinclair puts a lot of effort into spending time with you despite constantly being on the job. Since you're constantly on the move with the company, most often you'll spend time together in your rooms through the backdoors of Mephistopheles. You'll even get ready together in the morning before having to meet up with the others. When Sinclair has free time he enjoys buying small gifts for you whenever the sinners are stopped in a district for their specific canto and he happened to see something he thought you would like. For anniversaries Sinclair sticks to you like glue trying to make you as happy as possible for the day, even trying to surprise you with a gift once he has the time. During battles Sinclair always has his eyes on you, he can't stand it if you get hurt even if Dante can turn back time on the sinners. Sinclair knows he may not be the strongest sinner of the bunch, but he'll come running to your side the moment he sees you hurt.

[firestorm09890]

I've been trying to think of the best Organization XIII Limbus Company au... the Nobodies as LCB sinners would hypothetically be fun, but doesn't really work because the LCB relies on having a group of people of vastly different backgrounds, while the Organization has the majority of them coming from the same place (plus they parallel the Sephirot from LobCorp more than the sinners anyway). the Sinners in an Organization XIII situation might be interesting, though. and then there's Dante. their role in the story is most similar to Roxas's (woke up one day with no memories, was told that they were super important and given a job, everyone is so mean to them) except Dante is the manager so like. au where Dante has a keyblade? au where Dante is leading the Organization members? can't go the other way around because they would Not put a fucking 15-year-old in a manager position in the city. Xemnas leading the sinners though? random character swaps so there's a blend of 'em because the numbers match? but which ones are most interesting? anyway in lieu of actually coming up with anything here's a game I call "I can connect anything in my mind"

#1: Xemnas and Yi Sang - they talk like that… such is all I have to say - miss their friends a lot. Yi Sang got over it thankfully and managed to love his new companions. Xemnas did not

#2: Xigbar and Faust - won't stop hinting about stuff they know that you don't - this is secretly because they've lived several more lifetimes than anyone else

#3: Xaldin and Don Quixote - lances. though Don's lance is actually a lance meant for horseback and Xaldin's... aren't

#4: Vexen and Ryōshū - somewhat disturbing fervor for their craft (science and art respectively) - despite this, is somehow a parent - very bad things happen to the children

#5: Lexaeus and Meursault - the biggest one in the group - very intelligent, but usually defaults to following orders - what if I hit you very hard and you died

#6: Zexion and Hong Lu - um uh uhm Land of Illusion ooooo - raised in a very high-class family but the situation is fucking dire - what are you hiding…

#7: Saïx and Heathcliff - comparable to a wolf but secretly also comparable to a bunny - making envy their entire personality

#8: Axel and Ishmael - their hair being the color of sunset is a significant plot device; at dusk, I think of you - homosexual relations!!!!! - relationship to #7 is. uh. it’s

#9: Demyx and Rodion - act silly but I’m convinced it is only partially genuine and mostly to take attention of their problems (canon for Rodya, speculation for Demyx)

#10: Luxord and Dante - time and gambling go hand in hand babey!! - who the fuck are you. who did you used to be. tell me

#11: Marluxia and Sinclair - imagery that belongs in a stained glass window - this is moreso about Lauriam than Marluxia but: very pleasant but hoo BOY do not make them mad - broooo your gender - ...dare I say something about Cain

#12: Larxene and Outis - WILL say something terribly mean to you and call you a weak little baby - would kill all her teammates for one corn chip. except for one of them

#13: Roxas and Gregor - merely treated as the weapon they wield, both idolized and reviled for it - age 15 forced to kill

[bluntblade]

Of all Star Wars films, RotJ is particularly wild to watch with all the extended universe context. Somewhere near this goofiness with the Ewoks, Rex, Twilight Company, Inferno Squad and others are engaged in various savage running battles. Sinjir is killing Blevins. And just after this, Poe's mum will almost shoot Luke down. Wyll Lark is just offscreen here, watching Luke ceremoniously burn Vader and feeling deeply confused. Enjoy that celebration while you can, people of Theed City, because you'll be fighting to fend off Operation Cinder within a week. And last but not least, I wonder which of those huts the Damerons are fucking in?

[empyreasheart]

but on the topic of language learning apps some i used include

Drops - made by the same people at kahoot, more of a vocabulary app than learning actual grammar but it has a lot of options, free version lets u do 5 minutes every 12 hours. If you want to learn more than one language what i did was download the individual language apps (u can either just download drops for all languages or drops (specific language) ie drops spanish for just spanish) and use different accounts. i also took advantage of the free trial cuz its fun but i do think the 5-10 minutes a day thing works fine to create a doable habit

Beelinguapp - This one requires a subscription i dont remember how much you can do without one but i have an android so i just downloaded a modded apk. edit: i forgot to elaborate when i posted this but its practicing reading / listening by reading stories and articles

Mango languages - this one is a lot different than duolingo but still good, its essentially based on learning by hearing / speaking a new language than just learning vocabulary and writing sentences. It requires premium BUT if you have a library card you can check if your local library lets you use it for free (this isnt guarenteed unfortunately but i think it is more common in bigger areas), there are also some free endangered languages

Memrise - Like the name implies this is mostly an app for memorizing words and sentences, using flashcards. Theres official courses but users can make them too so you can use it for more than just language learning if you want to. I think if you used this with mango languages it would be helpful to get practice writing phrases & words in a way you dont get to with ml. Apparently theres a pro subscription but i have no idea whats different & a lot of people say the free version works just fine

Ling - Havent used this for very long but its almost identical to duolingo but with more languages, its basically premium only but once again i use a modded apk

Some more specific stuff

Lifeprint - ASL w/ videos and its all free! a very good resource even if you arent looking to learn

Tagalog.com - Free resource for tagalog you just have to make an account

If you have resources for specific languages or anything in general id love to hear, this is all just from someone who has had a casual interest in language learning

Also if you have an android you can download modded apks of a lot of paid language apps. Just be safe (use adblock) and smart, not all apks are actually modded or theyre too buggy to be worth it, so pay attention to the reviews. The paid apps are often very nice but the prices are ridiculous. everyone deserves the chance to learn. I dont know if theres ios equilivants (although i wonder if theres a way to run apks on your pc through something like bluestacks)

[meelsport]

Perplexity AI Stock and AI Market Growth: Top Insights for Investors

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of technological innovation, driving significant changes across industries. Companies like Perplexity AI are leading the charge with groundbreaking AI-driven tools, although Perplexity AI itself isn’t publicly traded at this time. However, the broader AI market growth offers numerous opportunities for investors. This article delves into the market…

[lesbiangiratina]

Gg asura system tcg drive has 2 new folders. Boy i hope they let me out of the mines soon

[santuydsgn]

Modern and Minimalist TF Monogram. A minimalistic approach with clean, straight lines. The T and F are simplified to their basic forms, making the monogram easy to recognize.

[thesingingrevolution]

quick someone who can’t read hangul how would you pronounce this

[biglisbonnews]

Alibaba is prepared to let go of some of the six businesses it’s spinning off Alibaba is prepared to let go of some of the business units created in the break up of its empire.Read more... https://qz.com/alibaba-business-units-spin-off-future-jack-ma-1850282073

[khashanakalashtar]

me, having forgotten the name of the company that makes construction equipment, imagining this lil guy checking his calendar and trying to figure out what the joke is

[steal-this-idea]

I designed a cipher when I was in high school.

It's nothing fancy; barely qualifies as a substitution cipher...the code would be broken very quickly by anyone

But when I moved on from keeping a journal in it, I repurposed it to be the writing used by the people of a country of a world I had created

But the thing is, I designed the cipher using a ballpoint pen (and all the advantages and disadvantages that come with that)

I find myself wondering how it would necessarily look when carved in stone or written using a fountain pen (or a quill)

Could it be translated into a calligraphic style or as uncials? How might it look with serifs?

But that's beyond my skillset and I have no idea how much that would cost to develop

But it's definitely on my wish list for things to do should I ever find myself with more money than I know what to do with

[jcmarchi]

The Pace of AI: The Next Phase in the Future of Innovation

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-pace-of-ai-the-next-phase-in-the-future-of-innovation/

The Pace of AI: The Next Phase in the Future of Innovation

Since the emergence of ChatGPT, the world has entered an AI boom cycle. But, what most people don’t realize is that AI isn’t exactly new — it’s been around for quite some time. Even in the early days of Google’s widely-used search engine, automation was at the heart of the results. Now, the world is starting to wake up and realize how much AI is already ingrained in our daily lives and how much untapped potential it still has.

The pace of AI adoption and innovation is moving so fast – hitting around $1 trillion in expenditures – that many wonder if we can accurately anticipate the expansion of future models even two years from now. This is fueled even more so as tech companies like Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Oracle, and OpenAI unveil round after round of new AI advancements and models to try and keep up with industry demand. AI chip manufacturer Nvidia is growing so quickly, its business can’t even be properly valued.

What we do know about the pace of AI is that as the quantity of data increases and the quality of data continues to improve, so will AI’s ability to drive innovation for business activities, applications, and processes across every industry. In order to estimate where AI will be in just a few years, we first must understand that the use cases for AI are two-fold. The first is that it’s a technology enabler, improving existing solutions to make them more efficient, accurate, and impactful. The second is that AI has the potential to be a technology innovator by making unimaginable advancements or solutions tangible.

Rethinking AI’s Pace Throughout History

Although it feels like the buzz behind AI began when OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, the origin of artificial intelligence and natural language processing (NLPs) dates back decades. Algorithms, which are the foundation for AI, were first developed in the 1940s, laying the groundwork for machine learning and data analysis. Early uses of AI in industries like supply chain management (SCM) trace back to the 1950s, using automation to solve problems in logistics and inventory management. In the 1990s, data-driven approaches and machine learning were already commonplace in business. As the 2000s progressed, technologies like robotic process automation (RPA) streamlined menial tasks across many complex and administrative business functions.

Then came ChatGPT. It’s very clear that the perception of AI has changed because of generative AI. Before the inception of GenAI, consumers didn’t understand the mechanics of automation, let alone the power of automation for businesses. AI underlies a lot of our modern technology, like the Google Search Engine. Most consumers trust Google to deliver accurate answers to countless questions, they rarely consider the complex processes and algorithms behind how those results appear on their computer screen. But seeing is believing — with ChatGPT, the world started to see real-life use cases. Still, there’s a misconception of how integrated AI is in our daily lives — even in the business world. As mentioned above, AI enables existing technology to be better and, just like Intel’s microchips, AI sits in the background of the technologies we use every day.

If leaders can’t comprehend the magnitude of AI, how can they be expected to successfully adopt AI into their day-to-day business operations? That’s exactly the problem.

Adoption and Growth Challenges

If someone were to ask a GPT tool, ‘what procurement and supply chain professionals are likely to say about AI’ it will probably highlight the knowledge gaps related to AI adoption. Globally, AI adoption increased exponentially in the past year after limited growth in years prior. For the past six years, only 50% of business leaders said they were investing in AI technology across their operations. In 2024, the adoption rate jumped to 72%, showing that business leaders are just waking up to the potential of AI to enhance their organization across all lines of business.

However, realizing AI’s full value requires more than just deploying cutting-edge solutions. It necessitates having access to the right data — data that provides rich context on actual business spend patterns, supplier performance, market dynamics, and real-world constraints.  Inadequate access to data means life or death for AI innovation within the enterprise. At least 30% of all GenAI projects are expected to be abandoned due to poor data quality, among other challenges such as inadequate risk controls, escalating costs or unclear business value. But there are many other challenges businesses face when adopting AI and bringing it to scale.

In large organizations, it’s unfortunately common to have silos which can expose businesses to major risks. Take, for example, the supply chain industry. The supply chain plays a critical role within business strategy and for large, global organizations, the interconnected scale of the sector is almost unimaginable. If one facet of the business operates in a silo, it can put the entire organization at great risk. If supply chain teams are not communicating changes in demand to their suppliers, how can leaders be expected to then create accurate forecasts? If the sales team isn’t communicating updated forecasts to procurement, they might secure long-term contracts based on outdated information, locking into agreements that may not align with current customer demand.

Whether it’s an organizational or informational silo, the lack of communication can lead to a breakdown in customer service, create inefficiencies, and an overall halt in innovation. AI can prove its value in addressing these silos: if their technology is efficiently connected, then their employees and suppliers can be too.

Business leaders are ​​actively investing in AI-powered solutions to drive process automation, strategic sourcing capabilities, spend visibility and control, and overall profitability. To find success with these AI capabilities and achieve their total spend management goals, companies must work together to foster transparency and work towards a common goal.

The Next Evolution for AI

Right now, the best use case for AI that actually drives business efficiency and growth is automating simple, administrative tasks. Whether it’s workflow efficiencies, data extraction and analysis, inventory management, or predictive maintenance, leaders are realizing that AI can speed up monotonous, time-consuming tasks at unprecedented rates and with extreme precision. Although it seems simple, when leveraged in industries like the supply chain or procurement, use cases like these can save businesses countless hours and billions of dollars.

We’ve discussed AI as a technology enabler — but there is still untapped potential for AI to become a technology innovator. As we’re on the brink of a new year, there are many AI advancements that business leaders should be on the lookout for just over the horizon.

For supply chain management and procurement specifically, one of these advancements will be enhancements in autonomous sourcing. By leveraging AI and other advanced technologies, businesses can automate tasks that were traditionally relied upon by humans, such as sourcing and contracting, in order to drive efficiencies and free up resources by allowing AI to analyze vast amounts of data, identify trends, and make informed sourcing decisions in real-time. Fully autonomous sourcing not only offers unmatched cost savings by saving employee time, promoting efficiency, and reducing errors, but it can mitigate the risk of fraud and counterfeiting by continuously ensuring compliance with ethical and sustainability standards.

However, even before introducing autonomous sourcing, companies should focus on delivering a user experience (UX) that is intuitive, efficient, and easy to navigate for both procurement teams and suppliers. Once a hyper-personalized UX is created, businesses can cohesively implement autonomous solutions.

The result of AI is not just improving businesses’ ROI, but improving decision-making, predicting future patterns, and building resiliency. C-level executives across sectors increasingly view the adoption of AI technologies as essential for transforming and future-proofing their operations through automation. Over time, like every other technology before it, AI will become increasingly inexpensive while the value of its output will continue to rise. This gives us ample reasons to be optimistic about the future of AI and the balanced role it will play in our lives — both business and personal.

[youthchronical]

Retailers brace for DEI blowback in lead-up to election, holiday shopping season

A sign disparaging Bud Light beer is seen along a country road on April 21, 2023 in Arco, Idaho. Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Bud Light has faced backlash after the company sponsored two Instagram posts from a transgender woman. Natalie Behring | Getty Images Retailers are facing a tough equation as they head into the all-important holiday shopping season — this time over DEI…