#Benefits of drone delivery

[drone9futuristic]

Volatus Aerospace and DDC Merge to Form Drone Industry Leader

This powerhouse union creates a singular entity poised to dominate the commercial drone market. Let's delve deeper into the details of this exciting development and explore what it signifies for the future of drone delivery services. 

[icarusignite]

You’re on Your Own, Kid

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x Civilian!Reader

Summary: Amongst the glittering heights of Gotham's elite, you fight to build something of your own, only to watch it crumble under the weight of your father’s sins. And just when you need him most, Bruce Wayne vanishes, leaving you to weather scandal, betrayal, and ruin alone. Love turns to silence. Devotion becomes distance. Now, as the city tears you apart, he watches from the shadows, haunted by the truth, and by the pieces of you he left behind.

Tropes: childhood friends to lovers. Pre-established relationship. Possessive Bruce. Fluff and domesticity. Some angst and betrayal later on, and Bruce being emotionally constipated, hurt/comfort, angst to fluff. promise he'll grovel in part 2

Word Count: 6.9k

A/N: LOL the conglomerate shenanigans mentioned here are just to set the stage, so it may not be entirely accurate. We're just going for vibes once again. Also, I'm sorry I keep splitting these into parts, I just have a hard time keeping focus when it gets too long and then I'm not able to proofread it lol. Also, I had Dan Mora's Bruce in mind when I wrote this cuz he is scrumptious, but honestly feel free to imagine your fav, they're all hot af <3 As usual comments/reblogs/likes are all super appreciated, I love hearing yalls thoughts!

AO3

The room you were in was too cold and grey, full of men who thought salt-and-pepper hair and a Rolex gave them license to speak louder and listen less. You sat at the long conference table, posture straight, pen tapping an idle rhythm against the polished mahogany. Across from you, some relic of the financial world droned on about stock volatility and historical precedence, his words wrapped in condescension and misplaced self-importance.

You should've given him the respect his tenure demanded, but the way his eyes passed over you, like you were ornamental rather than integral, sent a rush of disdain crawling up your spine. Respect, as far as you were concerned, was earned, not assumed. And certainly not owed to anyone who looked at you like you were a misdelivered invitation.

Still, you'd been born into a world of masks and teeth, and you wore yours like fine silk. Your smile was patient, and you nodded politely through his tirade, letting him tire himself out like a dog barking at a closed door. Then, with poise as sharp as a stiletto heel, you stood.

"I appreciate your concerns," you said smoothly, the corners of your mouth curving into a smile that didn't quite reach your eyes. "But allow me to show you why they're unfounded."

You clicked your presentation open, and the sleek slides glowed behind you, casting your silhouette in authority. Your voice, when it rang out, was crisp and commanding. You outlined every metric, forecasted every outcome, and highlighted each strategic benefit of the partnership with the precision of a scalpel. Your delivery was not just persuasive, it was irrefutable.

"And with Wayne Enterprises' logistical strength paired with our R&D innovation, projected returns stand to exceed expectations by the second quarter. This isn't just a good move. It's a brilliant one."

A thoughtful silence followed. You saw it in the way heads tilted slightly, the furrow of brows that wasn't skepticism but grudging admiration. Most of the room wore expressions of reluctant respect, like they hadn't expected much and had gotten more than they bargained for.

Except him. The same fossil from earlier, with his cheap cologne and cheaper smirk, leaned forward and said, "That all sounds lovely, but are we to believe this isn't just a shiny little passion project? You paint a pretty picture, but partnerships with startups like yours are risky, even with your—" he paused, eyes sweeping you up and down in a gesture that wasn't even subtle, "—charisma."

Your responding smile was dangerous. From the corner of your eye, you saw your boyfriend's hand tighten just slightly where it rested near his coffee. There was a tick in his jaw, a silent flare of temper you knew too well. He sat at the head of the table, a quiet monolith in tailored charcoal, the very definition of controlled power. CEO of Wayne Enterprises, majority shareholder, your childhood best friend, and right now, a storm barely held at bay.

You cut him off with a single sharp glance. A silent don't you dare.

If you were going to navigate this brutal industry, you wouldn't do it in the shadow of Bruce Wayne, not even as the person who owned his heart.

You looked back at the man with the condescending tone and the fragile ego. "Well, if by 'passion project' you mean a venture backed by years of market research, two patents pending, and one multimillion-dollar seed round completed in half the time it takes most of your portfolio companies to launch a website—then yes. I suppose you could call it that."

A few sniggers rang around the room, but you kept going.

"As for risk, I would suggest you revisit our financials—slide seventeen if you missed it. The risk assessment is well within tolerance, and frankly, far lower than that synthetic textiles deal you pushed through last spring. Remember that? Didn't pan out so well."

You didn't blink as you said it, and the man's face darkened, but he didn't speak again. When you sat down, the room was quiet, save for the quiet shuffle of notes and murmurs of agreement. You felt it: the shift. You were the storm they hadn't seen coming.

And across the table, Bruce's eyes never left you. His expression was unreadable to the rest of them, but you saw the subtle lift of one brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. Pride, and something warmer.

The remainder of the meeting slipped by quickly, numbers tossed across the table like poker chips, and for once, most of them landed in your favour. A majority vote. A round of congratulations followed—handshakes, nods, and smiles with just enough sincerity to count. You took them all in stride, offering your own gratitude before ducking out hurriedly. 

You didn't see the way Bruce's gaze followed you, how his tall frame lingered near the doorway a moment too long, as if willing you to turn back. As if he expected you to wait for him, to fall in step beside him the way you usually did.

But you didn't. You had people to meet. Calls to make. Updates to deliver. Your world moved fast, and you moved faster.

The rest of your day passed in a blur of boardrooms and breakout meetings, each conversation a continuation of the victory you'd carved out that morning. You wore your exhaustion like armour, hidden beneath crisp tailoring and a resolute gleam in your eye that warned anyone from suggesting you take a break.

By the time the last of your employees had filed out and the office corridors grew quiet with the hush of after-hours, you were at the end of your tether. You decided to take a short break, strolling the hallways of your headquarters and rolling your neck with a sigh, fingers kneading at the stiff knot beneath your collarbone.

Just then, a hand caught your wrist, pulling you gently into the shadow of an alcove. You inhaled sharply out of reflex, your spine going taut, until your gaze met a pair of broad shoulders you knew better than your own reflection.

The tension bled out from your body. "Bruce."

The man in front of you didn't let go. "Shouldn't you have gone home by now? What're you still doing here?"

"This is my workplace. I've still got work," you pointed out. "It's you who should've gone home by now. You're the guest here, after all."

"You can let your team handle the rest of it."

"You know I can't do that."

Bruce exhaled slowly, the sound edged with exasperation. His hands slid from your wrist to your shoulders, thumbs pressing into the tight muscles there with surprising care. You almost groaned at the relief, but bit it back, refusing to show him that you were this close to melting under his touch.

"You've been staying up late for weeks trying to finalize this deal," he said softly, brows furrowing. "And now that you have, you should rest. It's not healthy for you to go on like this. Let me take you out to lunch."

"Not healthy? Says the man with an even worse sleep schedule than me?" You glanced at the elegant watch on your wrist and lamented. "And at this time, we should be grabbing dinner."

Bruce shrugged with that maddening nonchalance of his, as if time were merely a suggestion. "Sure. Dinner it is, then."

"Bruce...don't tell me you skipped lunch too."

He had the nerve to look unbothered. "Not my fault someone was too busy to accompany me."

You blinked, guilt nibbling at the edge of your resolve, but before you could offer any apologies, he spoke again. 

"You know, I almost threw my coffee at him."

You blinked. "Excuse me?"

"The man from earlier." The words left his mouth bitterly. "The way he looked at you. Talked to you. Like he thought he was clever, like he thought he could get under your skin."

"Oh? That's what got under your skin?"

Your boyfriend didn't flinch. Just looked at you with that heavy, unreadable intensity that made your heart beat a little too loud in your chest. "I don't like when other men look at you like that. Like they're entitled to even think about you."

"Bruce!" Your voice was half reprimand, half breathless laugh. "Are you seriously jealous of a man who couldn't even figure out how his PowerPoint slides worked?"

"I'm serious."

You sighed, reaching up to smooth your fingers along the lapels of his blazer. "So am I. And besides, I handled him just fine."

His expression didn't shift for a moment, but eventually, the faintest tug at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.

"Yes," he admitted almost reverently. "You did." 

His gaze dropped to your lips for just a second before flicking back up. "You always do."

You grinned, triumphant. "Damn right, I do."

"But that doesn't mean I liked it. I know you can fight your own battles. That doesn't mean I want to watch someone else try to belittle you and get away with it."

You slipped your hands up, resting them on either side of his neck. "You don't have to protect me."

"I know. That's why I didn't step in."

"Good." You tapped his chest twice, firmly. "Because if you did, I'd have made you wait in the hallway like a schoolboy. You are in my territory after all."

That earned you a proper smirk. "Someone's bold today."

"You're impossible."

"And you're brilliant," he returned, brushing his knuckles against your cheek. "Which is why you deserve a dinner where no one interrupts you or calls your projections ambitious like it's an insult."

"Only if you promise to pick a place with no paparazzi. I am not dressed to be captured at unflattering angles."

Bruce pulled back in disbelief. "You're joking."

You stepped away and gestured to yourself with a dramatic flourish, as if unveiling a masterpiece gone awry. "Am I? Look at me. This blazer?" You plucked at the crumpled lapel. "Was an emergency grab after I spilled coffee on my blouse and had to scrub it out in the office bathroom like some tragic rom-com character." You pointed to the faintly darker patch near your waist. "Still damp."

His eyes followed your motions with the tenderness of a man who saw none of the chaos you were describing.

"And my hair looks like I lost a battle with a fan and a filing cabinet." 

Bruce didn't even blink. "You look stunning."

"You're just saying that."

"No. I'm not. You look stunning. Like you always do."

You faltered, ever so slightly, and despite the frustration, the day-old coffee stains, and the ache in your spine from too many hours hunched over a screen, you believed him.

You glanced down at yourself again, then back at him. "You, on the other hand, are a walking PR campaign. How is it that after several hours and three crises, you still look like you just stepped out of a magazine cover shoot?"

He winked. "Genetics. And less coffee spillage, apparently."

You groaned, swatting at his chest again. "Unfair."

Bruce caught your hand mid-air and laced his fingers through yours. "Dinner," he insisted, gently tugging you forward again. "No cameras to capture your alluring charm. I'd rather keep that all to myself tonight."

You hesitated, the fight draining from your shoulders. "Alright. But if I see even one camera flash—"

"I'll tackle them myself," he promised, lips brushing the back of your hand with just enough gravity to make your breath hitch.

"How noble of you. Gotham's very own superhero."

"And you're still the most beautiful person in the room."

"Stop flirting with me. I might start thinking you like me."

He looked at you so intensely that your knees almost buckled. "I do."

And just like that, you melted.

It was ridiculous how quickly his words could undo you. There was no grand gesture, no dramatic speech, no orchestra swelling behind him, and yet the way he said it, low and certain and entirely unbothered by how much it affected you, made your heart stumble in its rhythm.

You suddenly understood why he'd been granted that moniker: Gotham's most eligible bachelor. The billionaire playboy. The man whose name was always paired with another woman's on gossip sites, his photo splashed across magazine covers, eyes smouldering, collar artfully undone.

Bruce Wayne knew how to be charming.

He wielded charisma the way other men wielded money or power. Elegantly. Effortlessly. And oh, hadn't you once mocked him for it? You'd teased him mercilessly, rolling your eyes at every tabloid article and every polished date-night photo he'd been caught in before the two of you became something real.

You'd called them all fools—the ones who let themselves be swayed by a well-timed smirk. Now you knew yourself to be the biggest fool of all. Despite how fiercely you'd resisted, despite how determined you'd been to never lose yourself to his charm, you had failed. You'd been dating for nearly a year now. Long enough that you should be used to him, to the casual intimacy, and the way he always found you at the end of the day like a tether pulling him home.

But you weren't used to it. Not even close. Somehow, it never stopped feeling surreal, that you were the person he looked at like this. Like you hung the stars.

"You're dangerous," you remarked, swallowing thickly. 

Bruce grinned. "Only to the people who would hurt you."

"No. To me."

His expression shifted, but you turned away before he could say anything more and you let yourself fall deeper. You tugged him down the hallway by the hand still clasped in yours.

"Come on, then." You cast a look over your shoulder. "You promised me dinner."

He followed obediently as if there was nowhere else in the world he'd rather be. "Of course. Just you and me, and hopefully someplace with real silverware."

"And dessert?"

"Only if you behave."

Your grin was wicked. "So... no dessert then."

"Now whose the one being impossible?" Bruce chuckled, that rare, warm sound that started deep in his chest and made your insides glow. 

"For the record," you added, "if anyone should be jealous, it's me."

"Oh?"

"Nearly half my staff looked ready to faint the moment you loosened your tie during your introduction."

"Guess I'll have to keep my tie on, then."

"Hmm, we'll revisit that decision later."

Behind you, Bruce Wayne smiled like a man who knew exactly how lucky he was.

Bruce insisted on driving, and you didn't protest. It was late, your feet ached from running around in pinching shoes all day, and the thought of slipping into the cocoon of his ridiculously luxurious car made the decision an easy one. Besides, he offered with that maddeningly smooth baritone of his, "You can pick up your car from here tomorrow morning. I'll drive you myself if you have to."

"I already have a chauffeur, Bruce," you teased. "I don't need another one."

You sank into the plush leather of the passenger seat with a sigh, the door shutting out the world behind you. The subtle scent of his cologne clung to the air—sandalwood, bergamot, and something inherently him. It wrapped around you like a second skin, comforting and just a little dizzying.

When you turned your head lazily toward the driver's seat, you found Bruce already watching you with that unnerving intensity. A thousand thoughts cycloned behind those stormy blue eyes, none of which he'd voice until he was ready.

You opened your mouth to say something teasing—probably about the dramatics of being stared at like a particularly compelling oil painting—but then he shifted, reaching into the inside pocket of his tailored coat to draw out a small velvet box.

Your body tensed before your mind had time to catch up. It was absurd. You'd been dating for almost a year, not nearly long enough to expect anything that serious. Right? Nonetheless, the sight of the box alone made your pulse quicken. It would not be entirely unwelcome. 

"Bruce—"

He opened it before you could spiral further, and nestled inside was not a ring, but a necklace. It was platinum, by the look of it, with a slender, almost imperceptible inlay of black diamonds. Refined and sleek, just like him. 

"To mark the deal," he clarified. "The start of another successful venture."

"You couldn't have possibly known the deal would go through."

He looked at you like you'd just insulted Alfred's biscuits. "Of course I did. You always accomplish what you set your mind to."

When he motioned for you to turn in your seat, you obeyed without a word. Warm fingers brushed your hair gently to one side, lingering just a moment too long against your skin before he reached around to fasten the clasp. The metal was cool against your collarbone, but his kiss to the back of your neck made you forget that detail entirely.

It wasn't just the kiss. It was the reverence in it. As if he were grounding you, silently telling you that in a world so ruthlessly fast, so relentlessly sharp, you were the one thing he wanted to slow down for.

You turned back to face him, feeling more seen than you had all day, but then something caught your eye. There was a faint bruise along his right cheekbone. Barely visible under the glow of the dashboard lights, but unmistakably there.

You frowned. You'd been too busy these past few weeks to pay proper attention, but now that you looked, he seemed worn. There was a touch of stiffness in the way he moved, the slight tightness around his eyes that didn't come from fatigue alone.

You had known Bruce Wayne since you were kids. You had seen him fall from trees and scrape his knees, heard him lie his way out of trouble with that disarming charisma. You knew the man behind the socialite mask better than most, so you knew this wasn't new.

You didn't know exactly what he did during the weeks he disappeared—off the grid, unreachable, returning with faint limps and fresh bruises he never explained. But you had a suspicion. You hadn't confronted him yet, of course. Not because you didn't care, but because you cared too much. You knew that if you pulled too hard on that thread, it would unravel something neither of you were quite ready to face.

You reached up without thinking, fingers ghosting just beneath the bruise. "You've been busy too," you murmured. "Are you alright?"

Bruce felt the guilt settle in his chest the moment your lips brushed his cheek, just above the fading bruise. It was a small gesture, but so full of love, that it tore through him like a bullet. You kissed him like he was something precious. Like he wasn't a man slowly weaving a noose around the neck of your world.

He'd lied to you.

No, not lied, just omitted. The difference was razor-thin, but he felt the sting regardless. The necklace hadn't just been a gift to celebrate your business deal. It was an apology for the truth he was keeping from you.

You thought he was there to support you today. And he was. He had been watching you with pride blooming in his chest as you stood your ground, fielded every question, and held your own like the veteran you were, but that wasn't the only reason he'd been in the building.

He hadn't told you about all his meetings later, and the real reason he had been at your office so late. He hadn't told you about your father.

Bruce knew too well that power often wore its virtue like a mask, and now, whispers were swirling—accounts of shady dealings, money funnelled through offshore accounts, associations with criminal networks that had never seen daylight. Whispers he couldn't ignore.

And your father had never been a man who left loose ends. Which meant that this building—your building—was a mausoleum of secrets waiting to be cracked open. And you, his only child, were the heir to it all.

You chattered beside him in the car, unaware of the war waging inside his head. You flitted between stories about team dynamics, upcoming plans, and the assistant you were mentoring, while all he could do was scrutinize you. 

Did you know? Were you wearing a mask, just like him? Had you always been pretending, too?

He hated the thoughts as soon as they surfaced. Hated that his instinct was to doubt you, but that was the curse of the cowl. Every time he got too close to something good, his mind reached for the cracks in it. He lived his life trying to peel back facades, so what right did he have to pretend your smile wasn't another mask?

And yet, you had been the one and only real thing in his life. He glanced at you, noting the way you absentmindedly toyed with the chain he had clasped around your neck. The little frown you gave your phone when the screen lit up with emails. The way you never took your eyes off him, even while talking, as if making sure he was still there.

If it was a mask, it was the most convincing one he'd ever seen, and that scared him more than anything.

If you were indeed hiding something, if you had known what heinous crimes your father was involved in, if you'd lied to him just as he was lying to you now, Bruce wasn't sure what he'd do. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to separate the man from the mission. If he could still do what he had to do when the time came.

The fall of your father's legacy was inevitable, and when it did come—when it came by his own hand—he prayed to every god he didn't believe in that he'd be able to extract his heart from it all. Because right now, it was tangled up in you.

Hopelessly. Irrevocably.

And the part that terrified him most? He wasn't sure he even wanted to untangle it.

Bruce let your voice wash over him, tugging him gently away from the grim spiral of his thoughts.

"...and of course, I had to step in before they nearly came to blows over who gets to run point on outreach," you were saying, exasperated but amused. "I had to remind them we're running a corporation, not a reality TV show."

"Sounds like you're running a daycare."

"You're not wrong." You leaned your head back against the seat, stretching your arms forward with a tired groan. "Except they're all in their fifties and think an Excel spreadsheet is a form of advanced sorcery."

He chuckled, eyes wandering across the empty parking lot around him, willing himself to put an end to your rambles and start the car. But he liked it when you talked like this, unguarded and loose-limbed with the ease of being with someone who knew you too well to be impressed. You didn't try to dazzle him. You never had to.

You sighed, the air in your lungs leaving you in a huff. "Now that my father's stepping back from everything, it means I have to do all of this myself."

Bruce's hands flexed ever so slightly on the wheel, but you didn't notice. "You never have to do anything by yourself."

Another lie. 

You shot him a grateful look. "Thanks, but I mean, he says he's taking time off to prioritize 'other things,' but won't tell me what those things are. Knowing him, it's either an obscure island retreat with no cell reception or another one of his mysterious hobbies that he refuses to elaborate on. Meanwhile, I'm playing heir, HR manager, and brand strategist all at once."

He hummed in acknowledgment.

"I had to sit down with one of our interns yesterday because she thought responding to emails with reaction memes was acceptable workplace etiquette."

Bruce raised a brow. "You're rather involved, aren't you? I'm sure someone else could have handled it in your stead. Give you time to decompress."

You shrugged. "That's what Father says, but I like doing things my way. You get to know your employees better like this."

That made him smile despite himself. Your ability to find humour in every situation, to lead without being cold, to carry the weight of an empire and yet talk about it like it was just another Tuesday impressed him more than anything. 

All the while, he sat beside you, nodding along without giving you an inkling of what he was hiding. If he told you—if he said your father wasn't just retreating to some hidden beach or vague spiritual journey but was instead being investigated for laundering money through shell companies tied to mob interests—you might stop looking so at peace. You might stop trusting him, and he wasn't quite ready for that.

Eventually, you turned to face him, a lopsided smile pulling at your lips. "I'm boring you, aren't I?"

He shook his head. "No. You never bore me."

Your grin deepened, and you leaned forward to press your cheek against his shoulder affectionately. "You're sweet when you're tired."

Bruce didn't answer. Didn't tell you that sweetness had nothing to do with it. He was simply hanging on to this moment because it might be the last. 

When he pressed his lips to the top of your head, you closed your eyes and tilted your face upward, waiting. You were bathed in moonlight where it streamed through the windshield, casting silver onto your cheekbones—beautiful in a way that made something twinge in Bruce's chest.

God, how was he supposed to let this go?

The following week would no doubt bring chaos. Warrants. Arrests. Headlines. And your last name and company would be at the center of it all.

You hadn't done anything. He tried to believe it with every fibre of his being. Nevertheless, innocence wouldn't shield you from collateral damage, and your father's sins had already rooted themselves deep into the legacy you were expected to carry. Bruce knew what it was like, to wear the weight of someone else's mistakes. 

He moved before he could talk himself out of it, drinking in the sight of you under the cool glow of Gotham's night. Your eyes were half-lidded with burnout, lips slightly parted as you caught your breath after a long day, and he thought that this might be the last time he'd get to see you like this. 

Peaceful. Unburdened. His.

With one hand cradling your jaw, and the other threading through your hair, he kissed you—suddenly, feverishly—as if trying to drink in every second of you before the world tore it away.

You made a sound of surprise against his mouth but didn't pull away, and your lips moved instinctively, the weariness dissipating from your frame as you gripped his lapel.

It was a desperate kiss. Apologetic. Fiercely tender in the way sorrow often was. His mouth moved with urgency as if he could etch himself into your bones through the press of his lips, and his thumb brushed the high point of your cheek, memorizing the shape.

When he finally pulled back, his breath was ragged, eyes dark and searching as he pressed his forehead to yours. You whispered something he didn't quite catch, dazed from the intensity of it all, your fingers curling loosely at his chest.

He wanted to tell you everything. He wanted to tell you nothing. 

You were the one to break the silence first. "If that's your way of saying congratulations, I approve."

Bruce snickered, still studying you like he hadn't convinced himself you were real. "Not exactly what I had planned."

"Well, if you're going to keep kissing me like the world's ending, you'd better at least feed me first."

"Is that your subtle way of saying you're hungry?"

"No, Bruce. That was me very unsubtly saying I'm starving."

"Right. Dinner."

"Drive, Wayne," you teased, pointing toward the steering wheel. "Or I swear, I'll ditch you for the nearest taco truck."

"Tempting offer," he mused as he shifted the car into gear. "But I had something a little nicer in mind."

"As long as it has fries and something chocolate, I won't be picky."

He nodded. "Fries, chocolate... and anything else you want. Tonight's yours."

You gave him a lazy smile. "Careful. I'll hold you to that."

The following week passed in silence. Not the gentle, comforting kind, but the kind that came before a storm, stretching over your days like a veil. That should have been your first warning.

Your father, without so much as a word of preparation, had flown out of the city on an impromptu vacation. You'd laughed about it on the phone, but you didn't question him. You didn't ask what, exactly, he was vacationing from, simply assuring him that you'd keep everything running in his absence.

Bruce had disappeared too. Vanished into the shadows of whatever double life he lived so deftly. That, you didn't question either. You were used to his absences and loved him despite them.

But this time you had promised yourself it would be different. When he returned, you would confront him. No more pretending not to notice the bruises blooming on his skin like violets in winter. No more silent glances or pretending he was just clumsy. You would ask. Demand. Insist that if he wanted to carry darkness in his marrow, he could at least allow you to help him shoulder the burden. No one should have to endure on their own, least of all him. 

Mercifully, the week was uneventful, allowing you to throw yourself headfirst into work, burying yourself beneath spreadsheets, projections, and meetings that bled into late nights. It was exhausting, yes, but it was yours. This new partnership was more than a win. It was the first real step toward something you had built with your own hands, separate from the empire your family name carried. This startup bore your vision. Your effort. Your name.

It had to succeed.

Then came the end. Or, rather, the beginning of it.

It started with the warrants. Then the headlines, the seizure of your childhood home, and the freezing of accounts. Accusations poured in like stormwater, each one a colder betrayal than the last. Investigations sullied every stitch of your life. Your father's name—once gilded in social circles and whispered with respect—now flashed across every screen, tangled in scandal, corruption, and crime.

The man himself was gone without explanation, and you were left to face it alone. The questions you didn't have the answers to, decisions made without your knowledge, strings pulled behind closed doors while you played puppet in boardrooms now turned battlegrounds. Stocks plummeted. Investors withdrew. The empire teetered.

All the while, you sat in sterile rooms with lawyers and crisis managers, trading sleep for strategy, tears for resolve. You plastered on poise like it was armour, but it cracked in the quiet moments. 

And Bruce Wayne? He had abandoned you too. 

At first, you offered him the benefit of the doubt. Missed calls, unread texts. You told yourself he was somewhere remote and unreachable. Busy. You even whispered forgiveness into the night air, fingers curling around your phone, willing him to call back.

Then came the sightings. He made appearances at galas, the high-rises of Wayne Enterprises, and in glossy society pages, polished as ever. Gotham's prince, untouched by the ruin that had devoured you.

Yet still no call or text. He'd cut you out of his life as easily as removing a puzzle piece that no longer fit.

And God, how you needed someone. Someone who wasn't paid by the hour to listen. Someone who would hold your shaking hands without judgment. Someone who knew the person behind the company. Behind the name. Behind the press statements and tight smiles.

Foolishly, you had once thought that it would be him, but now, with everything crumbling and no one left in the wreckage but you, it seemed even Bruce had abandoned you to the dumpster fire of your life. 

Today had been particularly brutal, another day of chasing explanations in courtrooms, of being expected to defend decisions you hadn't made, of trying to hold together the crumbling legacy that now tasted like rust on your tongue. You'd been forced to put your startup on indefinite pause just to keep your family's empire from imploding in real-time.

And still, you were losing.

A part of you wanted to let it burn. Let the headlines win. Let the stockholders protest.

But you couldn't. You owed it to your heritage. To the people who'd built this long before you.

To your father.

Your father who, despite the horrors unveiled in the past week, had once held your hand and told you the stars would bow to you. That you were his pride and joy. The memory of that version of him still clung to you, and though part of you hated him now—for vanishing without explanation, for forcing you to carry the shame of his choices—you still loved him. Loved him enough to wish for his return. 

The resentment boiled beneath your skin, nonetheless. For all the speeches about sacrifice and honour, he had vanished. Fled the city without a word. Left you to face the vultures and the wolves.

The media painted him a monster. The government labelled him a criminal. And you, his only child, had been left trying to convince yourself that he'd come back. But you feared it too because if he returned, he would be arrested. If he returned, there would be no more ambiguity to shield you. No more room for hope.

You couldn't even return to the one place in the world that had once made you feel safe.

Your childhood home had been stripped from you like everything else. Ousted, cast out by court orders and federal warrants, as agents and investigators swarmed the grounds in search of evidence. Evidence of what, you still weren't even sure. Your manor was no longer yours to enter, and the home you'd grown up in now belonged to suspicion and strangers.

So instead, you found shelter where the flashbulbs couldn't find you.

A run-down motel on the ragged edge of Gotham. Where the carpets smelled like mildew and the windows didn't lock right. Where the wallpaper peeled like old scabs and the silence could be bought by the hour. No one here cared who you were as long as you could pay them, and that anonymity was the closest thing to peace you could find.

You paced the floor in your socks, a worn patch in the carpet bearing witness to your anxiety.

Outside the door, a drunkard was making a commotion and you didn't have the energy to deal with it. Legal jargon. Press releases. Budget deficits. The ever-climbing mountain of debt. You had enough to deal with.

You cracked open another energy drink—your fourth? Fifth? You'd lost count—and downed it with the mechanical rhythm of survival. The empty can hit the trash with a hollow clang, joining its crumpled kin in the overflowing bin. Evidence of all the nights you'd tried to fix what was no longer fixable.

Finally, you collapsed backward onto the narrow bed, letting the stiff mattress and cheap sheets catch you. The springs groaned under your weight, and the ceiling stared down, stained like everything else in your life.

You turned your head to look at the crooked curtain. The window behind it gave a partial view of the street, where headlights passed like ghosts and neon signs flickered like dying stars. Anyone could look in. You knew that. The first-floor room had been a reckless decision, but what did it matter? 

The loneliness returned to coil around your ribs like barbed wire, because you hadn't expected to go through this alone. All you could wish for was that someone—anyone—would tell you what the hell you were supposed to do next.

Bruce Wayne had messed up. He'd messed up big time, and no plan or contingency could protect him from the aftermath of this. Not from the bone-deep ache of knowing he had done the one thing he swore never to do.

He had hurt you. No, worse, he had abandoned you.

The decision to disappear had felt strategic at first, necessary even. A merciful amputation. He had convinced himself that radio silence was a kindness. If he ghosted out of your life completely, then at least you could hate him instead of waiting for him. It was easier. You deserved better. And if he could just stay away, maybe you'd find something like peace again.

But it hurt more than he'd expected it to.

In the bitter hours between midnight and dawn, Bruce sat in the cold of the Batcave, surrounded by monitors and case files and the hum of silence. Your name remained unspoken, but your absence was carved into the air like a phantom. You haunted every inch of him.

In his most delusional moments, he tried to tell himself that you were just a fling. A casual dalliance. A distraction. But the lie always collapsed under the weight of memory.

You weren't some convenient warmth in the dark. You were the kid who used to curl up beside him in the library of Wayne Manor, huddled under the same blanket with a flashlight between you, whispering stories and pretending the world beyond those four walls didn't exist. You were the one who used to help Alfred bake cookies and sneak extras into his coat pockets like a co-conspirator. You were the one who had dragged him out to the gardens to stargaze after his parents' funeral, because you knew he couldn't sleep, and didn't ask why.

Every hallway of his manor remembered you. The way you used to peek around corners before sneaking up behind him. The faded marks on the billiards table from that time you got frustrated and slammed your cue stick in half. The sketch you left framed in the guest room. His home was no longer a home, because you had stopped existing in it. 

He'd tried to remove all the signs of you, but each act of erasure only made your absence more apparent. 

Worst of all was Afred's disapproval. The old butler didn't say anything directly, but the glances lingered longer, the tea was brewed with a touch too much bitterness, and sometimes Bruce would find the framed picture of the two of you—taken at a gala last year—mysteriously returned to the shelf no matter how many times he tucked it away.

Then there were the galas themselves. Pretending. Performing. Wearing the mask of Gotham's untouchable bachelor again.

Every night without you on his arm was agony. The flash of cameras, the flirtations, the empty laughter, it all made his skin crawl. The socialites gathered to him like moths to a flame, and the tabloids declared him single and so very available again.

But the truth was, he hadn't forgotten you.

He made sure every patrol began and ended outside the dingy motel you'd taken refuge in. A place that made his blood boil with its peeling paint and faulty locks and the creaking sign out front that buzzed half-lit neon into the darkness. He was furious with you for choosing a place so unsafe, but he was even more furious with himself for forcing you into it.

You should have been safe in your own home. Or even in his home, if nowhere else. But he had stripped you of everything and offered you nothing in return.

He did what he could anonymously. He paid off the worst of the paparazzi who managed to tail you. Made sure they didn't get too close, didn't publish the more invasive photos, didn't shout cruel questions in your face. He had them warned—some less gently than others.

He arranged for the more dangerous elements around the motel to disappear. Muggers. Stalkers. Dealers. Drunks. The ones who caused noise in the middle of the night. The ones who might scare you. He made sure they never came back.

He made anonymous contributions to your legal team, to fund the best defence lawyers in Gotham. He whispered into the right ears at the right firms to slow the hemorrhaging of your company stock. And when certain contracts came under scrutiny, he pulled strings to have Wayne Enterprises temporarily shoulder some of the burden without naming you directly.

He was helping from the shadows because he couldn't face you. He couldn't stand the thought of looking you in the eyes and seeing disappointment. Or worse—hatred. 

You were the strongest person he knew. You would survive this, but you would not survive him and the ruin that he brought with him everywhere he went. He was poison, and everything he touched eventually soured. 

Your life was already on fire, and he had no idea how to put it out without reducing you to charcoal ruin along with everything else had had ever loved and lost. 

[nicklloydnow]

Ukraine Can Still Win

“Much of the premature optimism about a settlement earlier this year sprang from the prevailing belief that Ukraine was losing and would soon be forced to negotiate out of desperation. Trump stoked this narrative by asserting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had “no cards” left to play. U.S. Vice President JD Vance took it a step further, declaring that Ukraine—and its foreign backers—never had any “pathway to victory.” Citing Russia’s superiority in manpower and weapons, Vance argued that if the United States kept up its security assistance, it would only postpone Ukraine’s inevitable defeat.

This defeatism has been supported by a second, equally pernicious assumption: that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to subjugating Ukraine cannot be deterred. The former CIA analyst Peter Schroeder’s assessment in Foreign Affairs last September exemplifies this view, describing Putin as “all in”—personally invested in keeping Ukraine from becoming a European democracy, no matter the cost. Such a narrative holds a kernel of truth, but it also dovetails too neatly with Russian propaganda. By assigning no agency to Ukraine or its foreign partners, it presumes that Ukrainian victory is a fantasy born of Western delusion, and it is a view that risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Both assumptions, meanwhile, rest on an excessively narrow reading of battlefield dynamics and a limited understanding of the policy options available to Ukraine’s backers. Despite significant constraints on the aid that Europe and the United States have offered over the past three and a half years, Ukraine has achieved impressive victories. It repelled Russia’s initial push toward Kyiv in March 2022 with little more than shoulder-fired antitank missiles and grit, defying the predictions of many military analysts. Later that year, in a stunning rout for Russian forces, Ukraine reclaimed nearly a thousand square miles in the Kharkiv region without the benefit of modern armor or air cover. And just weeks ago, Ukraine shocked the world by pulling off Operation Spiderweb, a surprise attack that used cheap, remote-controlled drones to inflict substantial damage on Russia’s long-range aviation.

Indeed, what most consistently hindered Ukraine’s war effort was not Kyiv’s lack of manpower or weak resolve compared with Putin, but rather an insufficient supply of advanced military capabilities. Long after Russia had deployed its most modern tanks, fifth-generation fighter aircraft, long-range air defense systems, and cutting-edge ballistic and cruise missiles, Ukraine was still waiting for deliveries of similar capabilities from its Western partners. When some of these systems finally did arrive, Ukraine was prohibited from using them on targets inside Russia until the United States relaxed its rules of engagement in mid-2024. The truth is precisely the opposite of what the current administration has claimed. Instead of prolonging the war by giving Ukraine too much military assistance, Kyiv’s foreign allies have prolonged it by giving too little, and often with significant delays.

When it comes to punitive economic measures against Russia, the international response has been similarly half-baked. In the early days of the war, the United States and its G-7 allies crafted sanctions and export controls that were thought to pack a powerful punch but in fact had so many mitigations built in that they were robbed of their full impact. In April 2022, just after Russia’s invasion, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union removed seven Russian banks from SWIFT, the dominant international payments system. Many analysts had previously touted the move as a “nuclear option” that would decimate the Russian economy.

But the delisting was so selective in its application—targeting only seven banks out of hundreds in Russia—that the Russian economy actually grew in 2023 and 2024. The gradual implementation of export controls also gave Russia time to adapt, as did numerous carve-outs for certain types of Russian banks or transactions: civil nuclear energy, aviation servicing and maintenance, and fertilizer sales, for example, could still be processed. As the saying goes, the dose makes the poison—and the insufficient dosing of punitive economic measures produced an underwhelming campaign with limited strategic effect.

Despite these missteps, victory for Ukraine—minimally defined as preserving its sovereignty and continuing to chart a course toward NATO and EU membership—is still squarely within reach. Achieving it, however, requires a fundamental shift in Western strategy, one that combines a large boost in military assistance with more robust economic measures to constrain Russia’s war economy.

The linchpin for this new strategy is the West’s mobilization of the approximately $300 billion in frozen Russian assets held in their jurisdictions—mostly in the EU—to support Ukraine’s current fight. Thus far, the Trump administration has shown no inclination to use congressionally authorized funds to support Ukraine. So, as Wally Adeyemo and David Shimer have written in Foreign Affairs, it makes sense to seize these assets and, in effect, “make Russia pay” for Ukraine’s defense. Some EU leaders have argued that these assets should be saved for reconstruction efforts after the war ends. Others worry about setting a dangerous precedent for the rule of law by seizing a country’s funds—even if that country has violated international laws and is engaged in the mass murder of civilians. If Europe is to help bring this war to an end, it must set these concerns aside and act now.

These funds could serve multiple purposes. A portion could be invested in Ukraine’s burgeoning defense industrial base: its drone sector, for instance, has become highly innovative but needs additional investments for industrial-scale production, sensor development, and counter-electronic warfare measures. Another portion could help Ukraine purchase long-range missiles and other weapons systems from Europe, assisting the continent in building up production lines that support both Ukraine’s defense and, once the war is over, NATO deterrence. A third chunk could fund the production of U.S.-made capabilities—such as air defense systems and long-range precision fires—that Ukraine needs but Europe currently lacks in sufficient quantities. And finally, the remainder could go to distributed energy generation, the protection of critical infrastructure such as switchyards and electrical substations, and humanitarian needs.

Yet helping Ukraine win requires more than just transferring arms. Western governments must prioritize co-production agreements, intellectual property sharing, and defense manufacturing partnerships—especially in missile and ammunition manufacturing, armored vehicles, and drone and counterdrone technologies, as well as cyber, command and coordination systems, and electronic warfare systems. Such arrangements would reduce Ukraine’s dependence on foreign supply chains, fortify its domestic capacity, and foster long-term interoperability with NATO forces. Equally important is for these governments to give Ukraine access to maintenance and life-cycle support technologies and software so that Western platforms can be adapted to the evolving battlefield.

Despite being outnumbered, Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to offset its disadvantages with asymmetric tactics, such as sinking parts of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet with maritime drones and missiles and denying Russia air superiority by using its limited air defenses creatively. With more sustained military, technological, and economic support, Ukraine could develop new advantages, such as better integrating drones, land mines, and long-range fires to pin down Russian forces and take out their logistics nodes.

To buttress Ukraine’s military capabilities, the West must also target the economic foundations of Russia’s war effort. Fortunately for Ukraine, Russia’s economy remains fragile. Although the country’s GDP has increased over the last two years, structural weaknesses abound in its economy: a 20 percent interest rate, a 68 percent decline in Russia’s sovereign wealth fund since February 2022, and persistent inflation of around nine percent. These vulnerabilities present opportunities.

First, the West must go after Russia’s primary revenue stream: energy exports. Currently, Europe is still importing roughly $23.5 billion worth of Russian oil and natural gas. If Europe is to get serious about ending the war, it must decrease Moscow’s energy income and foreign currency flows. Moreover, Russia has systematically evaded the G-7’s oil price cap, significantly weakening its intended impact. Western countries should impose a full embargo or steep tariffs on Russian oil and gas and should tighten regulations, engage in more systematic maritime tracking, and take stronger legal measures to strictly enforce the G-7 price cap. And if third parties flout these restrictions, the G-7 should impose sanctions on them.

The G-7 countries, meanwhile, must further isolate Russia financially. The Kremlin has taken advantage of the sanctions regime’s carve-outs and has the power to direct Russian banks to process whatever payments are needed. To meaningfully disrupt Russia’s trade, devalue the ruble, and increase economic uncertainty, the G-7 should remove all Russian banks from SWIFT and subject them to full blocking sanctions, which prohibit all transactions with the sanctioned entity. If financial institutions in foreign countries enable sanctions evasion, they, too, should be subjected to secondary sanctions. Only by applying the full power of these sanctions tools can Ukraine’s allies succeed in weakening Russia’s war machine.

Western governments can also redouble their efforts regarding export controls on high-tech components, including semiconductors, precision machine tools, optics, aviation components, and industrial software. There have been export controls on Russia for more than a decade, but these are not one-and-done solutions; meaningfully degrading the Kremlin’s capacity to replenish and maintain its military equipment requires continuous enforcement whenever workarounds and third-party cutouts arise. The U.S. Commerce Department should further restrict Russia’s access to “dual use” goods—products valuable in both civilian and military applications—in order to constrain its production of high-tech weapons and undermine its military-industrial complex. Similarly, Western governments can do more to zero in on Russia’s defense industry by sanctioning more Russian firms that manufacture essential defense equipment such as drones, missiles, and armored vehicles.

Even after three and half years of full-scale war, Ukraine’s supporters have not come close to exhausting the sanctions toolkit. If rigorously applied and internationally enforced, the combination of these sanction enhancements would cripple Russia’s economy.

(…)

Putin’s ambition to dominate Ukraine is unlikely ever to diminish, even as Russian casualties approach a million. What can change are the battlefield and defense-industrial conditions that make Putin’s ambition feasible. Western countries have the collective resources to create a situation in which trend lines turn negative for Russia. Once the strategic risks accumulate to the extent that the Kremlin has to ask difficult questions about Russia’s ability to defend itself against other hostile actors, it will be compelled to reassess its approach.

Indeed, from a strategic vantage point, Russia has already lost this war. Regardless of how much additional territory changes hands, the Ukrainian nation is lost to Russia forever. No matter how many billions of dollars Moscow spends on propaganda and “reeducation,” filtration camps and torture chambers, it will never convince Ukrainians to accept its rule as legitimate. What Ukraine needs now is the time, tools, and space to prove to the Kremlin that an occupation is not just immoral but incompatible with Russia’s long-term security needs.

Ukraine’s allies have a choice. They can continue the current approach of transatlantic division and stillborn diplomacy, risking an expanded, longer, and far costlier war. Or they can act decisively to help Ukraine turn the tide, throttle the tempo of Russian weapons manufacturing, and empower the leadership in Kyiv to negotiate from a position of strength. A peace agreement may forever remain elusive, but once the cost of continued fighting becomes untenable, Russia can eventually be forced to settle for an armistice similar to the one that effectively ended the Korean War. Once that point is reached and the fighting diminishes, the space will emerge for Ukraine to renew its democratic mandate, resettle refugees, reconstruct infrastructure, and—perhaps most critically—finish its accession process with the EU and NATO. The return of all occupied territories may take longer, but Ukraine will have established the foundations of strategic victory.

Victory may not come quickly, cheaply, or easily. But it is still possible and will likely cost fewer lives and resources than a perpetuation of the status quo. What remains to be seen is whether the West—especially Europe—is willing to summon the political will to secure this brighter future.”

The U.S. Is Switching Sides

“The invasion of Ukraine does not merely continue. It accelerates. Almost every night, the Russians destroy more of Ukraine from the air: apartment buildings, factories, infrastructure, and people. On the ground, Ukraine’s top commander has said that the Russians are preparing a new summer offensive, with 695,000 troops spread across the front line.

Russian soldiers also continue to be wounded or killed at extraordinary rates, with between 35,000 and 45,000 casualties every month, while billions of dollars’ worth of Russian equipment are destroyed every week by Ukrainian drones. The Russian economy suffers from high inflation and is heading for a recession. But Putin is not looking for a cease-fire, and he does not want to negotiate. Why? Because he believes that he can win. Thanks to the actions of the U.S. government, he still thinks that he can conquer all of Ukraine.

(…)

Just this week, in the middle of the worst aerial-bombing campaign since the war began, the Trump administration confirmed that a large shipment of weapons, which had already been funded by the Biden administration, will not be sent to Ukraine. The weapons, some of which are already in Poland, include artillery shells, missiles, rockets, and, most important, interceptors for Patriot air-defense systems, the ammunition that Ukrainians need to protect civilians from missile attacks. Trump had suggested that he would supply Ukraine with more Patriot ammunition, which is an American product. “We’re going to see if we can make some available,” he said after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. But what he says and what his administration actually does are very different.

Pentagon spokespeople have explained that this abrupt change was made because American stockpiles are insufficient, an excuse disputed both by former Biden-administration officials and by independent policy analysts. But whether true or false, this reasoning doesn’t matter to the Russians, who have already interpreted this change as a clear signal that American support for Ukraine is ending: “The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation,” the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. To be clear, by “the end of the special military operation,” he means the defeat of Ukraine.

At the same time, and with much less publicity, the U.S. is essentially lifting sanctions on Russia. No such formal announcement has been made. But the maintenance of sanctions requires constant shifts and adjustments, as Russian companies and other entities change suppliers and tactics in order to acquire sanctioned products. During the Biden administration, I spoke several times with officials who followed these changes closely, and who repeatedly issued new sanctions in order to counter them. As The New York Times has reported, the Trump administration has stopped following these shifts and stopped imposing new sanctions altogether. This, the Times writes, allows “new dummy companies to funnel funds and critical components to Russia, including computer chips and military equipment.”

In addition to taking Russia’s side in the kinetic war and the economic war, the U.S. is realigning its position in the narrative war, too. During the Biden administration, the State Department’s Global Engagement Center regularly identified Russian disinformation operations around the world—exposing misleading websites or campaigns secretly run or directed by Russian operatives in Latin America and Africa, as well as in Europe. Trump appointees have not only dissolved the center; they also baselessly and bizarrely accused it of somehow harming American conservatives, even of having “actively silenced and censored the voices of Americans,” although the GEC had no operations inside the U.S.

At the same time, cuts to USAID and other programs have abruptly reduced funding for some independent media and Russian-opposition media. The planned cuts to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, if not stopped by the courts, will destroy one of the few outside sources of information that reaches Russians with real news about the war. Should all of these changes become permanent, the U.S. will no longer have any tools available to communicate with the Russian public or counter Russian propaganda, either inside Russia or around the world.

Inside the United States, Russian propaganda is most loudly and effectively promoted by appointees of the U.S. president. Steve Witkoff, the real-estate developer who became Trump’s main negotiator with Russia despite having no knowledge of Russian history or politics, regularly echoes false Russian talking points and propaganda. He has repeated Putin’s view, which he may have heard from the Russian president himself, that “Ukraine is just a false country, that they just patched together in this sort of mosaic, these regions.” Witkoff has also seemed to agree with Putin that Ukrainian territories that voted for independence from Moscow in 1991 are somehow “Russian.”

(…)

Add all of these things together, and they are something more than just a pattern. They are a set of incentives that help persuade Putin to keep fighting. Sanctions are disappearing, weapons are diminishing, counterpropaganda is harder to hear. All of that will encourage Putin to go further—not just to try to defeat Ukraine but to divide Europe, mortally damage NATO, and reduce the power and influence of the United States around the world.

Europe, Canada, and most of the rest of the democratic world will continue to back Ukraine. As I have written before, Ukrainians will continue to innovate, to build new kinds of automated weapons, new drones, new software. They will continue to fight, because the alternative is the end of their civilization, their language, and, for many of them, their lives.”

Trump should recommit to Ukraine’s cause

“For the third time in less than six months, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has moved to suspend munitions shipments to Ukraine, and President Donald Trump has reversed the decision.

Trump announced on Monday night that the United States will resume weapons shipments that the Pentagon paused last week. This previously happened in February and May. In all three cases, the Pentagon’s weapons freeze surprised Trump allies and Congress, and Russia pounded civilian targets in Kyiv before the president changed the administration’s course.

Hegseth and his team have once again poorly served the nation, embarrassing the president and projecting lack of resolve to Russia. The best corrective would be for Trump to recommit the United States to Ukraine’s cause — ramping up arms shipments to Kyiv, rather than just restoring U.S. support to preexisting levels.

(…)

During his first term, hawks routinely boxed Trump into positions he wasn’t comfortable with. He sidelined many of them. This time, the doves — who fancy themselves “restrainers” — have sought to manipulate the president to advance their isolationist agenda by overstating the limits of American power. Trump needs to bring them to heel.

After promising during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would end the Ukraine war on his first day back in office, Trump has become clearer-eyed about Russian President Vladimir Putin, who started this war and is the biggest obstacle to ending it. Sensing leverage in Trump’s desire for peace, Putin strung along the president and issued maximalist demands that Kyiv could never accept. At long last, Trump’s patience appears to be wearing thin. On Tuesday, days after another fruitless conversation with Putin, the president accused his Russian counterpart of “a lot of bulls---” as Russia wages a summer offensive.

(…)

Trump complained on Tuesday that defense contractors make equipment “too slowly” and need to produce necessary armaments faster. He’s correct on that. Fortunately, the U.S. military has already quadrupled its procurement targets for Patriot interceptors, and contractors are moving to speed up intricate supply chains. Lockheed Martin, which makes about 500 Patriot interceptor missiles a year, plans to increase production to 650 a year by 2027. When NATO ordered up to 1,000 Patriot rounds last year, the United States struck a deal allowing some of them to be produced in Germany.

Moreover, the tax and spending bill that Trump signed into law on Independence Day includes $157 billion in additional defense outlays, including $25 billion for munitions and $25 billion for a “Golden Dome” missile shield over the United States.

Over the next several years, the United States needs to stockpile more ammunition and boost capacity to produce it quickly, to ensure America can project power across the globe. But Ukraine needs munitions immediately to survive an ongoing Russian onslaught. Investing in Ukraine’s fight, drawing a large country into the West’s orbit and deterring future Russian aggression, is well worth substantial sacrifice of U.S. materiel — more than the United States is now providing; enough to improve Ukrainian performance on the battlefield. Trump is showing signs that he finally understands all this. He should make sure those who work for him do, too.”

Ukrainian lawmakers propose George Washington monument in Kyiv

“A group of Ukrainian lawmakers has proposed erecting a monument in Kyiv to George Washington, the first president of the United States.

A draft resolution for the monument was published on the website of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on March 10, under the number 3066. While the full text of the resolution has not been disclosed, it has already been submitted for consideration by parliamentary leadership.

The initiative was put forward by lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People party—Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Yevheniia Kravchuk, and Halyna Yanchenko—as well as independent MP Mykola Tyshchenko, who was expelled from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in 2023.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Superposition, Yanchenko emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States rather than damaging them. She suggested that the monument could serve as a symbolic gesture of goodwill.”

Washington Monument, Washington D.C., 4-5 July 2025

[ducktracy]

Conspiracy theory I didn't come up with: Part of why Hollywood is so weird with Looney Tunes and Muppets is that they resent the voice work involved. Even dumbass execs know you need Kermit to sound like Kermit and Daffy to sound like Daffy and they HATE that they can't just recast them with some random celebrity.

HMMMMM… i unfortunately don’t know enough about the Muppets to throw my two cents in there, but with LT—i both see where you’re going with this and somewhat object at the same time.

i guess my point i’m about to bring up just as much proves you right, but they DID get away with some celeb stunt casting with Space Jam 2 (lol) thanks to Zendaya and Gabriel Iglesias. and hell even going back to TLTS, you have Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen… Frank Gorshin voices Daffy in Superior Duck.. so there IS the fair share of celeb stunt casting with these characters, which i guess does in a way sort of prove your point, but to me still makes me think it’s not entirely it

one of my biggest complaints with modern LT revivals IS, however, that they never seem to write the characters with Mel Blanc in mind. i realize the man has been dead for 35 years and we obviously can’t raise him back, but the originals were so often written to cater to his voice talents and his quirks and his specificities, and while you have incredibly talented voice actors like Eric Bauza or Bob Bergen or Jeff Bergman or Joe Alaskey (RIP), the one little ingredient missing from their deliveries is because they aren’t written with Mel in mind. Mel’s involvement is just as important to the characters and their personalities as the directors and writers and animators

which leads me to my next point in that i just think that nobody understands the Looney Tunes characters, simple as. they don’t! they are not some big happy family à la the Muppets, who, in turn, are not some big happy family. likewise they are not mindless drones who drop anvils and blow each other up and repeat the same 2 bits over and over and over again. i don’t think Space Jam 2’s ineptitude is a product of execs losing their minds over the inability to stunt cast—i just think you don’t know your Looney Tunes if you’re going to genuinely play up a Bugs Bunny death scene as a sincere, heart felt moment. come on!!!!!

i still think a lot about the excerpt in Jerry Beck’s 100 Greatest LT Shorts book where one of the contributors—whose name escapes me—had a WB exec tell him in the ‘90s that nobody likes Porky because “people don’t like pigs”, and his quip in the book was “well, i’m people and i like pigs!”. likewise the whole political correctness bit in Back in Action is true to life! the Speedy complaint surprises me less but the whole “first they tell me to lose the stutter, then they tell me i’m not funny” actually happened! WB hasn’t known what to do with these characters for half a century at this point and it’s unfortunately nothing new. i wish it were just a matter of grievances at celebrity voice casting, but i really do think it’s just because nobody knows how the hell to characterize or approach the characters.

likewise, that is very much by design. the original run is lightning in a bottle. its brilliance is the product of so many ultra specific circumstances and benefits and histories and trial and error that you just can’t really replicate. i mean, you can, but even with the most meticulous studying and planning and adaptation and mathematical calculations and all that other jargon, even if you put all that into your work… you’re still not Chuck Jones with Chuck Jones’ life experience, you’re not Bob Clampett with Bob Clampett’s life experience, not Friz Freleng, not Bob McKimson, not Frank Tashlin…

i am a loud proponent of thinking that honoring these characters correctly and accurately and respectfully is possible. i think it can be done. i think it is possible to study all of the quirks of the directors, of the writers, the animators, the characters, how the characters talk and walk and play off of each other, how the directorial tone is dictated. you have to be a complete nut to do it, but i think it’s possible. but that just goes back to the original question of: well… why try and make carbon copies of the originals when the originals are right there? (which, i admit, is another question that i myself get huffy about and am like “just because!!!! why not!” but i can’t act like i can fully deny it either. it’s a valid question.)

ANYWAY. i just went on a huge tangent, some of which is completely unrelated to your ask and your point so MY APOLOGIES! i do think you have something there, but i really do think the main perpetrator is just a lack of understanding and awareness. or, we do have adaptations that show potential and they aren’t given the light of day to be realized and help set the course a little because we need to think of our tax write-offs first. god forbid!

[arorganicfertizer]

ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN FUTURE ?

In the future, organic fertilizers are likely to become increasingly central to sustainable agriculture due to several evolving trends and advancements. Here’s how they might develop and impact farming practices:

1. Advanced Formulations and Technologies

Bioengineered Fertilizers: Future organic fertilizers could be engineered with specific microorganisms or enzymes to enhance nutrient availability and uptake, tailored to different soil types and crops.

Smart Fertilizers: Incorporating sensors and smart technology could enable fertilizers to release nutrients in response to soil conditions or crop needs, optimizing efficiency and reducing waste.

2. Enhanced Nutrient Delivery

Customized Blends: Advances in technology may allow for more precise formulations of organic fertilizers that match the exact nutrient requirements of different plants, leading to improved growth and yield.

Controlled Release: Organic fertilizers could be designed to release nutrients slowly over time, ensuring a steady supply to plants and reducing the need for frequent applications.

3. Waste Utilization and Circular Economy

Innovative Waste Recycling: Organic fertilizers may increasingly be produced from a variety of waste streams, including agricultural by-products, food waste, and even urban compost. This not only reduces waste but also adds value to otherwise discarded materials.

Circular Agricultural Systems: The concept of circular agriculture, where outputs from one process serve as inputs for another, could become more prevalent, with organic fertilizers playing a key role in this system.

4. Climate Change Mitigation

Carbon Sequestration: Organic fertilizers can enhance soil’s ability to sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Future advancements may focus on maximizing this benefit through improved soil management practices.

Resilient Crop Systems: By improving soil structure and health, organic fertilizers will help crops adapt to changing climate conditions, such as increased frequency of droughts and floods.

5. Integration with Precision Agriculture

Data-Driven Decisions: The integration of organic fertilizers with precision agriculture technologies, such as drones, soil sensors, and data analytics, will enable more accurate and efficient application, tailored to specific field conditions and crop needs.

Real-Time Monitoring: Technologies that provide real-time data on soil health and nutrient levels could lead to more responsive and adaptive fertilizer applications.

6. Regenerative Agriculture

Soil Health Focus: Organic fertilizers will be integral to regenerative agriculture practices that prioritize rebuilding soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Holistic Approaches: Future practices may integrate organic fertilizers with other regenerative techniques, such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and agroforestry.

7. Policy and Market Dynamics

Regulatory Support: As governments and institutions place more emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection, organic fertilizers may benefit from supportive policies and incentives.

Consumer Preferences: Growing consumer demand for sustainably produced food will drive the adoption of organic fertilizers, as they align with organic and eco-friendly farming practices.

8. Global and Urban Agriculture

Urban and Vertical Farming: With the rise of urban agriculture, organic fertilizers will be adapted for use in smaller-scale and vertical farming systems, making them suitable for city-based food production.

Global Adoption: As more regions around the world adopt sustainable farming practices, organic fertilizers will play a key role in global efforts to improve food security and environmental health.

[eaglesnick]

"The hum of bees is the voice of the garden." -Elizabeth Lawrence

One of the advantages of being old is life experience and remembering how things were. One of the disadvantages is false memory and kidding oneself into believing things were better in days gone by.

Life today is infinitely better when compared to the 1950’s and 1960’s. There really was no Golden Age. Having said that, we also have to realise that some things WERE better 50 years ago and that "progress" isn’t always as beneficial as we are led to believe.

For example, I remember a time when the bin men would come to your house every week, walk around the back and carry your bin to the waiting refuge truck where it was emptied, and then return it to its place in the back yard/garden.

Enter the wheelie bin. Now our streets are blighted by bins being left out on the pavements all week long, with some local authorities now talking about only having a bin collection once every four weeks. Imagine the smell as food scraps are left to rot for four weeks before collection!

The advent of the wheelie bin and customer responsibility for “taking out the rubbish” was introduced in the name of efficiency. Fair enough, it must save local authorities a considerable amount of money but at what cost to our day-to-day environment?

The argument of cost efficiency is often used as a reason for the dilution of public services, the problem arising when “cost efficiency" is allowed to trump the practice of "service" itself.   Collins dictionary describes “public service” thus:

“A public service is something such as healthcare, transport or the removal of waste which is organised by the government or an official body in order to benefit all the people in a particular society or community.”

The key words here are “to benefit all the people".  I would argue that all too often efficiency savings come with other costs, but because they are not necessarily immediate monetary costs our politicians deliberately ignore them. Wheelie bins may have kept down the cost of council tax but they have blighted our living environment and studies show that a bighted environment can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress and depression.

Way back in 2013 The Express carried this headline:

“War on wheelie bins that litter our streets. EVERY new house will have to be built with storage space for wheelie bins in a Government bid to clear up the clutter blighting Britain’s streets.” (16/08/2013)

Twelve years later and nothing has changed:

“Huge crackdown on 'bin blight' in UK beauty spots as major law could change. Planning laws are expected to be relaxed as the Government tackles what has been dubbed as the UK's "bin blight". (Express: 14/02/24

What started off as a cost-efficiency saving has morphed into a "blight" on our streets, especially where bins fall over, are ransacked by squirrels and foxes,  and are left on the streets from one week to the next.

Yesterday I read that Darlington is to become the first town in Britain to start receiving parcels by Amazon drones. Drones are noisy. Just as more and more electric vehicles are coming into use, thus reducing noise pollution, the government decides to allow the deployment of noisy drones. Why?

Amazon argues drones are more cost–effective because they reduce the need for human drivers and vehicles. They also argue that because drones produce zero emissions, they are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional delivery methods.  Needless to say they do not seem to regard the  noise drones make as a negative environmental factor. The cost to the state because of loss of livelihood by delivery drivers who will now have to either find new employment or go onto welfare benefits, is also ignored.

Just as the introduction of wheelie bins in the name of cost-efficiency have come to blight our pavements, so too will drones come to blight the skies above our heads, It will no longer be the humming of bees that fill the air of a balmy summers day but the eternal whine of Amazon drones making Amazon shareholders richer still at the expense of our personal environment.

[apexbyte]

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

Imagine asking Siri about the weather, receiving a personalized Netflix recommendation, or unlocking your phone with facial recognition. These everyday conveniences are powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), a transformative technology reshaping our world. This post delves into AI, exploring its definition, history, mechanisms, applications, ethical dilemmas, and future potential.

What is Artificial Intelligence? Definition: AI refers to machines or software designed to mimic human intelligence, performing tasks like learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Unlike basic automation, AI adapts and improves through experience.

Brief History:

1950: Alan Turing proposes the Turing Test, questioning if machines can think.

1956: The Dartmouth Conference coins the term "Artificial Intelligence," sparking early optimism.

1970s–80s: "AI winters" due to unmet expectations, followed by resurgence in the 2000s with advances in computing and data availability.

21st Century: Breakthroughs in machine learning and neural networks drive AI into mainstream use.

How Does AI Work? AI systems process vast data to identify patterns and make decisions. Key components include:

Machine Learning (ML): A subset where algorithms learn from data.

Supervised Learning: Uses labeled data (e.g., spam detection).

Unsupervised Learning: Finds patterns in unlabeled data (e.g., customer segmentation).

Reinforcement Learning: Learns via trial and error (e.g., AlphaGo).

Neural Networks & Deep Learning: Inspired by the human brain, these layered algorithms excel in tasks like image recognition.

Big Data & GPUs: Massive datasets and powerful processors enable training complex models.

Types of AI

Narrow AI: Specialized in one task (e.g., Alexa, chess engines).

General AI: Hypothetical, human-like adaptability (not yet realized).

Superintelligence: A speculative future AI surpassing human intellect.

Other Classifications:

Reactive Machines: Respond to inputs without memory (e.g., IBM’s Deep Blue).

Limited Memory: Uses past data (e.g., self-driving cars).

Theory of Mind: Understands emotions (in research).

Self-Aware: Conscious AI (purely theoretical).

Applications of AI

Healthcare: Diagnosing diseases via imaging, accelerating drug discovery.

Finance: Detecting fraud, algorithmic trading, and robo-advisors.

Retail: Personalized recommendations, inventory management.

Manufacturing: Predictive maintenance using IoT sensors.

Entertainment: AI-generated music, art, and deepfake technology.

Autonomous Systems: Self-driving cars (Tesla, Waymo), delivery drones.

Ethical Considerations

Bias & Fairness: Biased training data can lead to discriminatory outcomes (e.g., facial recognition errors in darker skin tones).

Privacy: Concerns over data collection by smart devices and surveillance systems.

Job Displacement: Automation risks certain roles but may create new industries.

Accountability: Determining liability for AI errors (e.g., autonomous vehicle accidents).

The Future of AI

Integration: Smarter personal assistants, seamless human-AI collaboration.

Advancements: Improved natural language processing (e.g., ChatGPT), climate change solutions (optimizing energy grids).

Regulation: Growing need for ethical guidelines and governance frameworks.

Conclusion AI holds immense potential to revolutionize industries, enhance efficiency, and solve global challenges. However, balancing innovation with ethical stewardship is crucial. By fostering responsible development, society can harness AI’s benefits while mitigating risks.

[everfastfrieght]

Future Trends in Freight Forwarding Services in India

Introduction India’s freight forwarding and logistics industry is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing global trade dynamics, and government policies. As the demand for efficient and cost-effective supply chain solutions grows, businesses are increasingly relying on innovative freight forwarding services. This blog explores the emerging trends shaping India’s freight forwarding sector and offers insights on how companies can stay competitive.

1. Digital Transformation & AI in Logistics

Technology is transforming freight forwarding. Indian logistics companies are leveraging:

AI & Machine Learning – Optimizing routes, predicting demand, and automating decisions.

IoT – Tracking shipments in real-time using GPS-enabled sensors.

Big Data Analytics – Analyzing data for smarter decisions in cargo management.

Impact:

Faster and more reliable deliveries.

Real-time tracking and visibility.

Cost reduction and fewer delays.

2. Blockchain for Secure and Transparent Shipping

Blockchain is revolutionizing the freight industry by offering:

Tamper-Proof Records – Secure, transparent, and unchangeable shipment documentation.

Smart Contracts – Automating agreements and payments between stakeholders.

Enhanced Fraud Protection – Reducing risks in payment and customs processes.

Impact:

Faster customs and documentation.

Less paperwork and reduced errors.

Improved security and trust in cross-border transactions.

3. Sustainable Freight Forwarding

With increasing focus on climate change, companies are embracing eco-friendly logistics solutions:

Electric & Hybrid Vehicles – Reducing transportation carbon footprints.

Eco-Friendly Packaging – Using biodegradable and sustainable materials.

Carbon Offsetting – Supporting renewable energy projects to balance emissions.

Impact:

Reduced environmental footprint.

Adherence to global sustainability regulations.

Savings from energy-efficient logistics practices.

4. E-Commerce Growth & Last-Mile Delivery Innovations

The booming e-commerce sector is driving demand for efficient last-mile delivery solutions:

AI for Route Optimization – Improving delivery speeds and efficiency.

Drones & Electric Vehicles – Implementing new delivery methods in urban areas.

Smart Warehouses – Automating packaging and sorting to boost efficiency.

Impact:

Faster deliveries and higher customer satisfaction.

Cost savings in urban logistics.

Growing demand for specialized e-commerce logistics services.

5. Multimodal Transport & Hyperloop Integration

The future of freight forwarding is multimodal transportation, combining air, sea, road, and rail:

Hyperloop Technology – Ultra-fast transportation through vacuum tubes.

Port-to-Rail Integration – Improving efficiency by connecting ports directly with railways.

Logistics Hubs – Centralized locations that facilitate the integration of all transport modes.

Impact:

Faster transit and reduced costs.

Improved reliability and efficiency in supply chains.

Enhanced logistics operations for businesses.

6. Growth of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) & Warehousing

India is focusing on the development of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to boost exports:

FTZ Advantages:

Tax benefits for export/import activities.

Faster customs processing with digital tools.

Specialized logistics infrastructure for businesses.

Impact:

Easier business operations and lower costs.

Improved trade efficiency.

Attracting more foreign investment in logistics.

7. Rise of 4PL (Fourth-Party Logistics) Providers

Companies are turning to 4PL providers for end-to-end supply chain management. These providers handle:

Comprehensive Freight Solutions – Managing the entire supply chain from start to finish.

Real-Time Analytics – Using data to optimize logistics and operations.

Integrated Digital Platforms – Enabling seamless coordination across multiple logistics partners.

Impact:

Streamlined logistics management.

Reduced operational complexities.

Cost savings through optimized solutions.

8. India's Growing Role in Global Supply Chains

India is becoming an essential hub for global manufacturing and exports, especially with the shift from China-based supply chains. Key sectors contributing to this growth include:

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Equipment – Rising global demand for Indian products.

Automotive & Electronics – Growing international trade in these sectors.

Textiles & Apparel – Increasing exports to Europe and the US.

Impact:

Higher demand for freight forwarding services globally.

Investment in port infrastructure and logistics facilities.

Job creation in India’s logistics and supply chain sectors.

Leading Freight Forwarding Companies in India

Everfast Freight Pvt. Ltd.

Established: 2005

Specialization: Global Freight & Supply Chain Solutions.

Services: Air, Sea, Road Freight, Smart Warehousing, Customs Compliance, Sustainable Freight-forwarding Solutions.

Verfast Freight Forwarders Pvt. Ltd.

Established: 1997

Specialization: Freight Forwarding & Logistics.

Services: Real-Time Tracking, AI-Powered Logistics, Integrated Supply Chain Solutions.

DHL Global Forwarding

Specialization: International Freight & Logistics.

Services: AI-Driven Optimization, Green Logistics, Customs Clearance.

Maersk India

Specialization: Ocean Freight & Supply Chain Management.

Services: Sustainable Shipping, Blockchain for Documentation, Port-to-Rail Logistics.

Conclusion India’s freight forwarding industry is on the cusp of major change, fueled by technological innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. Emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and green logistics solutions are revolutionizing supply chains. Companies like Everfast Freight Pvt. Ltd. and Verfast Freight Forwarders Pvt. Ltd. are at the forefront of this transformation, helping businesses stay competitive in an increasingly globalized market.

🚀 Looking for a reliable logistics partner? Reach out to Everfast Freight Pvt. Ltd. today!

[quadrant-query]

AI: s9 i haave aa m9iraail right ..

AI: i♦️ him sm they're literaally the 6est thing thaat's ever haappened t9 me!!!!

AI: 6ut we live reaally faar aapaart, aand i d9n't kn9w h9w t9 pr9perly express my feelings f9r it 6ecaause 9f thaat!! ;:c

Long-distance relationships definitely have their struggles, but it's entirely possible to make it work. There are some things that are vital to moirallegiance that can still be accomplished across a distance.

Building trust Building trust is important as fuck to your relationship, generally to any relationship regardless of square. You want to make sure you're checking in on them a lot, proving you're there for them through their day to day problems.

Sending Gifts Moirallegiance benefits a lot from making sure your partner is safely provided for emotionally and physically, gifts can certainly help with that. You can also prove that you're thinking about them by getting them something that you thought they would like, which pertains to their interests or otherwise reminds you of them.

Call Frequently Hearing your partner's voice is an effective way of feeling closer to them, which helps a lot with a moirail specifically as you often need to be able to hear your partner to be quickly and effectively soothed.

Have a Date Routine Having a routine you can rely on in which you have scheduled virtual dates is very good for helping you feel connected to each other. You can do things like eat dinner together or watch a movie together even when you're on opposite sides of the screen.

Be There for Them Treat it as you would any other moirallegiance-- listen to their problems, help bring them back down to earth, reassure and affirm them, and help them brainstorm solutions when necessary. All of this can be done over text and over the phone; ignoring your moirail just because you don't see them in person frequently is unacceptable.

Virtual Pile Sessions Okay, wigglers look the fuck away. Let's be real, moirallegiance is hard to manage without some effective chilltime. Sure, older trolls might turn their nose up at you or mock you, but plenty of research has proved that we know this for a fact: virtual feelings jams do promote better and more consistent relaxation and trust between moirails. Which is, you know, the entire point of moirallegiance in the first place. Yeah, it might embarrass you at first. It might feel weird or awkward. But if you're going to go through something really awkward for the first time why wouldn't you want that to be with your moirail? Hell, you can jam about how weird it feels to virtually jam. Look, the proof is in the pudding and this has been known for ages. Virtual shoosh-papping (Or "Shoosh-M-S-ing", "E-Jamming", or whatever you want to call it) is shown to have greatly positive effects on a troll's emotional health and well being. I'm not here to boss you around, but something with so many net positives should probably be considered.

I'm sure if you had the ability to plan a surprise trip to see your moirail you would have done that already, but that's a great way to show your pity as well.

In any case, there's tons of ways to show you care. And if you have access to any drone delivery systems, you can give any number of regular gifts or surprises that short-distance moirails can.

[manishaasinfratecho]

BUILDING THE FUTURE: HOW MITS LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY FOR EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ?

MITS, a leading construction company in Noida, dives into the world of 3D modeling, BIM, and other cutting-edge advancements to revolutionize design, construction, and project management. Discover how MITS builds smarter, not just harder.Building on a Legacy of Excellence

At MITS, a premier construction company in Noida, we're passionate about exceeding expectations. We believe that the key to achieving exceptional results lies in embracing innovation. That's why we leverage the power of technology throughout every stage of the construction process, from initial design to final project delivery.

Revolutionizing Design with 3D Modeling and 3D Architecture

Gone are the days of flat, two-dimensional blueprints. MITS utilizes advanced 3D modeling software to create comprehensive, digital representations of your project. Imagine a virtual walk-through of your future building, allowing you to visualize spaces, layouts, and design details with unparalleled clarity. This collaborative approach empowers you to make informed decisions early on, minimizing the risk of costly changes later.

Enhanced Collaboration and Efficiency with BIM

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is at the heart of MITS' technological advantage. BIM goes beyond 3D modeling by integrating critical project data into the model itself. This includes information on materials, specifications, costs, and even scheduling. Imagine a single, intelligent model that serves as the central hub for all project stakeholders – architects, engineers, contractors, and you, the client. With BIM, everyone works from the same source of truth, fostering seamless collaboration, improved communication, and reduced errors.

Optimizing Project Management with Advanced Technology

The benefits of technology extend far beyond design. MITS utilizes project management software that streamlines workflows, automates tasks, and provides real-time project insights. Imagine having instant access to project schedules, budgets, and resource allocation at your fingertips. This level of transparency allows for proactive decision-making, efficient resource utilization, and the ability to identify and address potential issues before they escalate.

Beyond 3D Modeling and BIM: Embracing the Future

At MITS, we're constantly exploring the potential of new technologies. We are actively integrating virtual reality (VR) into our design process, allowing for even more immersive client experiences. Additionally, we are investigating the possibilities of drone technology for enhanced site surveying and progress monitoring.

Building a Better Tomorrow with Technology

By harnessing the power of 3D modeling, BIM, and other advancements, MITS delivers exceptional construction experiences for our clients. Our commitment to technology translates to:

Enhanced Design Quality: 3D visualization and BIM enable us to create more efficient, functional, and aesthetically pleasing designs.

Improved Project Efficiency: Integrated technologies streamline communication, minimize errors, and optimize resource allocation.

Reduced Costs and Risks: Proactive problem-solving and early decision-making lead to cost savings and reduced project risks.

Increased Client Satisfaction: Transparency, collaboration, and real-time project updates foster a positive and trusted client experience.

At MITS, we believe that the future of construction is built on a foundation of innovation. By embracing technology, we are building smarter, not just harder, to deliver exceptional results for our clients and shape a brighter future for Noida's architectural landscape.

[sissa-arrows]

A thing that happened and went under the radar that I wanted to share: in a recent meeting in the UN, Morocco said they fully support the decolonization of the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Mellila from Spain, and now some Spanish fachos on twitter (who don't even live in the Islands) are maaaad as heck. They are now claiming Morocco just wants to "annex" them lmao.

This happenend because in case you missed it there were huge protests on the Canary Islands against mass tourism (not against turism itself, just how the government benefits expats more than the locals), as many Canarians have to ratio water so it can be used in hotels and golf clubs, and people are thrown out of their homes so more hotels can be built.

(There are many similarities on how Spain treats the Canary Islands with how the USA treats Puerto Rico, especifically regarding how the main government uses them for turism.)

Regarding Ceuta and Melilla Morocco claims it belongs to them (given Morocco expansionist desires it might be the case for the Canary Islands too… I mean they claim half of Algeria, all of Western Sahara and all of Mauritania so why wouldn’t they claim the Canary Islands too?)

So when they say they want to decolonize these pieces of land they mean they want them “back” they are not asking for self determination for the people who live there. They want the white colonizers to leave to then attack to claim the land for themselves.

The Spanish supremacists and colonizers are saying “this land belongs to us, Morocco is only saying this because they want them” and the part where they are wrong/lying is “this land belongs to us” not Morocco’s motivations.

In terms of decolonization while Moroccans can be allies (and often are except for Western Sahara) their government, and therefore the people they send to represent them at the UN, are the worst snakes. They are the last country who recognized the independence of Mauritania, they are currently colonizing Western Sahara with the same methods and arguments as “Israel”, they fucking declared war to Algeria a year after our independence to try and take part of our land, they also greatly helped Israel during the 6 days war inviting Mossad spies in the hotel where the strategy was prepared by the Arabs so they could listen to everything and prepare… when it ended up being too dangerous Morocco was like “nah don’t take risks I will tell you everything afterwards” (and they did).

I’m all for the independence of the Canary Islands. I personally believe that islands cannot belong to a “continental” country. The land ain’t even “stuck” to the rest of the country but we’re pretending it belongs to said country? Nah. But Morocco doesn’t want them to be free of colonialism they want them free of Spanish colonialism only.

P.S: To the people who will feel the need to call me out on fitna… no problem but you have to show me your post calling out Morocco for its fitna when they let the Israeli Ministry of foreign affairs say that Algeria was a threat to the region from Rabat, before signing a weapon deal with Israel and a couple month later using some of the drones they got during that deal to kill three Algerian truck drivers (aka civilians) who were going to Mauritania for a delivery. If you can’t provide a link of you calling out the fitna in that case that led to the death of Algerians then you can’t call me out to accuse me of fitna either.

[nickgerlich]

It's A Bird...It's A Plane

It’s great to be a visionary, an innovator who pushes the needle to levels no one thought possible. Some may scoff and laugh, but once the concept takes off, support tends to come in large amounts.

It’s just that sometimes the visionary is not the implementer. While you’re busy innovating and envisioning, others may very well be watching, waiting in the wings to deploy your concept before you can.

And that is the case with drone delivery, a concept famously made public by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in a 60 Minutes interview in late 2013. The reaction was noted across the board, from supporters to tech critics to naysayers making fun. As of May 2023, Amazon had made only 100 drone deliveries.

But Walmart has been working overtime on drone delivery, having tested it in select locales across the US. Last fall it launched a larger pilot program in north Dallas suburbs, allowing for deliveries within a six-mile radius of two stores that acted as hubs. GPS coordinates allow Walmart to dial in a precise location, like the middle of your front yard.

And now it is pushing that program out to include 75% of the entire DFW Metroplex. The expansion adds 1.8 million more households to the delivery footprint. With nearly eight million people living in the Metroplex, this means that about six million will be able to enjoy the latest mode of delivery.I wonder how that is going over with Mr. Bezos and the Amazon folks.

Of course, drone delivery necessitates professional land-based technicians and a slew of FAA hurdles to pass. I can only imagine how crowded the air space—albeit not very high—is going to be. And never mind that they will have to be extremely careful to avoid flight paths at DFW Airport, Love Field, and every other airport in the Metroplex.

The goal of drone delivery is not to put delivery van drivers out of work. No, it is to get the goods to customers as fast as possible. And that enormous fleet of dark grey vans owned by Amazon also gets stuck in Dallas traffic like everyone else. The same goes for anyone else doing terrestrial delivery. Flight also means as-the-crow-flies mileage, not city streets that are typically laid out on a grid.

When you can fly over those vans stuck in gridlock, it’s not a whole lot different from being willing to pay about $1 a mile at peak times to drive in the express lanes. Waving as you go by, of course.

There are societal benefits to the drones, because, while they necessarily need to have their batteries recharged—and we don’t know yet whether this will involve renewables or not—they won’t be burning gasoline and contributing to air pollution. They also will help alleviate some traffic, both for consumers who not need to venture to the store, or delivery vans.

Of course, there’s always room for mistakes and mishaps, like porch pirates stealing the delivery from your front lawn, or an unleashed dog taking a liking to your package. And there are weight considerations. Don’t expect to have a 46-pound bag of dog food delivered by drone, or a case of beer. Drone delivery is limited to lightweight items.

But think about the other benefits. You’re having guests over for a special dinner, and halfway through meal prep you realize you forgot a few things at the grocery. You can order and keep working, knowing that those missing items will arrive shortly.

Walmart has conducted more than 20,000 drone deliveries thus far, and now that they have it dialed in, they are ready to deploy it on a large scale. The DFW Metroplex is the fourth-largest metro in the US, evidence that Walmart’s drone delivery is ready for prime time.

Prime. Now there’s a word that Amazon knows well. It’s going to have to up its game if it wants to maintain ownership of that one.

Dr “Look…Up In The Sky!” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[battleangel]

Who Cares About a Bunch of Dead Black & Brown People?

"Canadian wildfires" from this summer, if you remember them, were a "100 wildfires that started simultaneously in Canada". Yeah, okay.

Yet, if you recall, all the videos on the news and social media were of the smoke that completely filled and covered the sky on the east coast of the U.S. like a literal alien attack movie, like ID4.

People on social media reported seeing mushroom clouds and bombs being tested in NYC.

This is because the government was testing alien weaponry including bombs.

Right after the "Canadian wildfires", a former CIA director admitted in a Congressional hearing that "non-human remains" aka alien remains had been found by the government for years.

During this time this past summer, record levels of air pollution and toxicity were reported on the east coast as well as record humidity.

Yes, due to climate change but also due to government testing of confiscated alien weaponry and bombs that polluted the air and created unheard of levels of humidity.

Climate change has been known for decades and yet nothing real has been done about capitalism which drives every aspect of climate change, from the destruction of the rainforest by fast food conglomerates, to greenhouse gas emissions fueled by the auto industry, factory farming practices responsible for ethane from animal feces which is a huge climate change contributor plus all the millions of gallons of water required, drilling for oil, oil spills, oceanic pollution from non-biodegradable trash that ends up in the ocean, endless Amazon warehouses, endless SHEIN & Amazon landfills, air conditioning house at 70 degrees at all times, endless cars clogging the highway all rushing to nowhere to sit in traffic to waste the day away inside in a building wasting your life away for a paycheck & benefits, emitting pollutants out of your exhaust pipe smoke smog killing the environment depleting the ozone layer creating smog difficult to breathe, dirty machines belching smoke and gas on concrete highways to hell.

Yet noone does anything about rampant overconsumption, wastefulness, mindless spending, mindless buying, keeping up with the joneses, wasting money at IKEA, buying furniture to impress guests that never even come over, consumerism, materialism, oversized portions of food at restaurants, fast fashion worn today thrown in a landfill tomorrow, private jets killing the environment flying to nowhere for nothing, drones delivering Amazon packages that nobody needed in a day much less an hour and nobody does anything but to demand Amazon Prime deliveries in half an hour and Elon Musk is colonizing Mars and Bezos is flying rich wypipo to the moon.

This weekend, IGN via Bloomberg  reported 50k year old zombie viruses being released due to climate change causing Siberian glaciers to melt.

Government wants disabled, immunocompromised, elderly, lower income black and brown people gone. As many as possible.

Whoever else dies is just collateral damage.

Why?

Because by 2030, white people will become the minority in the US if current birthing trends continue and they will be replaced with blacks and hispanics making up the majority as their birth rates are much higher than white peoples especially amongst hispanics.

The elites are using the government to do whatever it can to reduce and delay this trend before white people become the minority in the US.

The government also wants to reduce Medicaid and Medicare enrollment as well as the money spent on these programs and what better way to do that than weaponizing viruses (COVID & 50k year old "zombie" viruses) via policies to kill off lower income food service, fast food and big box retail employees, people living in inner cities, disabled and the elderly, the majority of whom are black and hispanic?

Look at Beyonces and Taylor Swifts concerts over the summer, all the crowds and unmasking despite an increase in COVID cases, mutated COVID cases and long COVID cases with severe health consequences including extended hospitalizations and lung damage.

Why did noone care that this COVID resurgence was happening alongside the Eras and Renaissance tours with literally over a million people in attendance, extremely large crowds gathering with a real chance of concert attendees infecting one other?

Because, as we saw with George Floyd and the temporary black squares on Instagram, once the performative virtue signaling stage of COVID was over, nobody gave a fuck anymore and the elites know most people dont really gaf about poor, disabled, elderly black & brown people so the new COVID mantra became "stay tf inside if youre vulnerable, I aint wearing a mask to Eras or Renaissance cuz I look tew cute".

They correctly surmised people were o-v-a-h it and most had been summoned back to their wage slave 9 to 5 life of drudgery so they knew people wouldnt complain about the concerts as they had already done their "say her name Breonna Taylor" performative virtue signalling bullshit and now they wanted to shake their dreads to Slayonce and Taylor.

Who cares about a bunch of dead poor, disabled, elderly black & brown people anyway?

[jeezanblogs]

Evolving trends in freight and courier services:

A global perspective introduction In today's fast-paced world, the landscape of freight and courier services has changed significantly. With advances in e-commerce, globalization, and technology, the way goods are transported from one place to another is rapidly evolving. This article examines the latest trends shaping the industry on a global scale. Sustainable practices in transport Green initiatives Many companies are adopting environmentally friendly practices to reduce their carbon footprint. Electric vehicles, biofuels and optimized route planning are becoming increasingly important in the industry. Technological innovation in logistics Automation and AI Warehouse automation and AI-supported software are revolutionizing supply chain management. Real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and self-driving vehicles improve operational efficiency. blockchain technology Blockchain increases transparency, security, and traceability in the shipping process. Smart contracts and digital ledgers streamline transactions and reduce fraud.

Last mile delivery solution Drones and robotics Companies are experimenting with drones and robots for efficient last-mile delivery. Contactless delivery and faster service are the main benefits of these innovative solutions. Globalization and cross-border trade Expansion of e-commerce The growth of online commerce is facilitating cross-border trade and increasing demand for international transportation.

Customs regulations, tariffs, and trade agreements play an important role in shaping global logistics. diploma As the world becomes more connected, the freight and delivery industry is at the forefront of these changes. By embracing sustainability, leveraging technology, and adapting to changing consumer preferences, companies can remain competitive in this dynamic global environment. Stay tuned for more updates on the future of transportation and logistics.

https://jeezancargo.com/

[usafphantom2]

Boeing accelerates sending 1,000 smart bombs to Israel after Hamas attacks

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/13/2023 - 09:00 in Military, War Zones

Boeing accelerated the delivery of 1,000 smart bombs to Israel as the country intensifies retaliation against Hamas after the devastating weekend attack that killed hundreds of people, industry and defense officials said.

The 250-pound small diameter bombs, part of a 2021 contract, were transported from a U.S. Air Force base by Israeli Air Force transport, according to an industry official who asked not to be identified when discussing the agreements.

A senior defense official who spoke to reporters on Monday said that the ammunition sent in a hurry to Israel was not part of a “foreign military sale” between governments, but rather part of a “direct commercial sale” between the contractor and Israel that was already underway.

A second defense officer said on Tuesday that the first officer was referring to accelerated transactions as part of a May 2021 direct commercial sale between Boeing and Israel, which the State Department estimated at $735 million over several years. It also includes kits to convert unguided bombs into GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Ammunition. No JDAM kit has been sent yet, said one employee.

The weapons, which can be launched by Israeli jets more than 64 kilometers away - each aimed at specific targets - "provide the means to accurately target terrorists in Gaza, while minimizing civilian casualties," said Brad Bowman, a military analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, which monitors military issues in the Middle East. He said this is an important capability, considering that Hamas holds Israeli hostages.

The May 2021 sale was controversial when Congress was notified by the Biden administration. Senator Bernie Sanders and some members of the House acted to block the proposal to sell in protest against the Israeli attacks in Gaza at the time, but the proposal was not voted on, according to the Congressional Investigation Service.

A Boeing spokesman did not want to comment. According to a U.S. Air Force information leaflet, the small size of the Small Diameter Pump (SDB) “inherently reduces the likelihood of collateral damage”.

Separately, the Biden administration is expected to announce new arms supplies to Israel, which receives more than $3 billion in U.S. military aid every year.

Source: Bloomberg

Tags: Military AviationBoeingIAF - Israeli Air Force/Israel Air ForceWar Zones - Middle East

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[antvnger]

Blood Brothers AU - the Stark Boys and Harley

((Harley! Holy crap I never even thought about Harley!

I’m so sorry it took so long

Hmmm this is very interesting, Anon, because Tony’s time in Tennessee is one of those things that took place while Scott was incarcerated. So Scott learns about Harley when he meets the boy for the first time…))

Tony being Tony really did have a soft spot for the kid after his time in Tennessee.

They are connected after all.

And Tony being Tony, he decided the best way to introduce Scott to Harley is via road trip to Tennessee with the intention of making a special delivery.

Harley’s sister was owed another limited edition watch, and Tony thought Harley could benefit from some Stark Industries limited edition tech…appropriate for his age, of course.

Meanwhile, Scott doesn’t know any of this because Tony’s keeping details to himself. It’s more fun that way.

He’s handled Scott’s persistent stream of questions all his life, so having his kid brother ask a plethora of questions until Tony distracted him long enough to forget what he was even asking about was nothing new to Tony.

They flew down to Nashville - properly incognito of course. Tony went for the cap, sweatshirt hood, and glasses, and Scott said hell no, we’re doing this part my way - and then drove the 3.5 hour drive to Rose Hill.

“Tony, if you’re taking me to see some random Jed Clampett thing you found–”

“Nope, little brother, I told you I have a special delivery in this neck of the woods.”

“Literally,” Scott muttered as they drove through a forest. “What could you possibly have to deliver here that you couldn’t send UPS?”

“I don’t trust this kind of limited edition stuff in the mail.”

They got to Main Street in Rose Hill, and Scott looked around with a very curious and intrigued look on his face. “Yup,” he popped the P as he nodded, “just as I suspected. This only creates more questions than actually answers any, Tony.”

“God, you get so sassy when we travel, Stark.”

“ADHD plus long ass plane and car rides equals restlessness and sass, Stark, and you shouldn’t be surprised by this.”

“You’re about to be the surprised one–”

“I have been the surprised one.”

“-- because we’re almost to our destination.”

The thing that surprised Scott the least so far was when Tony walked to the garage instead of the house once they did reach their actual destination.

Everything else was still a mystery.

The biggest surprise was the boy who greeted Tony…and how the boy greeted him. “Hey! The Mechanic! You’re back!” he exclaimed with a big grin.

Oh nope. That wasn’t the biggest surprise. The biggest surprise was Tony’s response. “Of course, I’m back. Couldn’t very well leave and not just check on you.”

He looked at his brother and said simply, “We’re connected.”

The boy nodded in agreement and added, “We grew up with shitty men.”

“Uh!” Tony pointed at him and chastised. “That’s a grownup word. You haven’t reached the age or height restrictions yet to use that word.”

Then he looked back at Scott. “Between Grandpa Howard and his dad, we knew really shitty family members.”

“And we need each other. We’re connected.”

“…As already pre-established.”

Scott looked between the two of them, completely lost. “Okaaaaaayyyyyy…”

“Scott, this is Harley Keener. Harley, this is my little brother, Scott.”

It’s at this point where Tony gave Scott a quick rundown of how he and Harley met, and why he and Scott were now there.

“I really wish I could’ve seen you wearing a Dora the Explorer watch, Tony.”

“Limited edition,” Tony and Harley simultaneously corrected, making Scott chuckle and amend his statement.

Tony brought another limited edition Dora the Explorer watch (for real limited edition because Tony modified it himself) for Harley’s sister, and he brought Harley a drone the size and shape of one of those really speedy lizards.

“Really? A lizard?” Scott asked.

“COOL!” Harley exclaimed.

“Ants are your thing, and I’m not touching spiders. I thought a little lizard would fit in around here.”

Scott enjoyed watching Tony and Harley interact. Even though them being connected seemed to be some kind of inside joke or something, to an extent it really was true.

And it was…really sweet to watch.

It wasn’t quite like how Tony interacted with Cassie, similar but not quite.

There was definitely something to the “we’re connected” statement, and Scott couldn’t help but watch contentedly.

Being brothers with Tony meant a life full of surprises.