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vsservicesllc19 · 5 months ago

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Finding the Best ERP Software in Singapore

In today's fast-paced business environment, selecting the best ERP software in Singapore is crucial for success. Companies must streamline operations, manage resources efficiently, and stay competitive. An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can help achieve these goals by integrating various business processes into a single unified system.

Why ERP Software Matters

ERP software is the backbone of many organizations. It helps manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management, and compliance. It also includes enterprise performance management, which allows for planning, budgeting, predicting, and reporting on an organization’s financial results.

Selecting the best ERP software in Singapore can lead to improved efficiency and productivity. It eliminates the need for disparate systems and reduces the manual labor associated with managing multiple software applications.

Key Features of Top ERP Software

When choosing an ERP system, there are several features to consider. The best ERP software in Singapore will offer robust functionality, scalability, and user-friendly interfaces. Here are some key features to look for:

Integration Capabilities: An effective ERP system should integrate seamlessly with existing systems and other software applications.

Customizability: Businesses should be able to customize the ERP software to meet their specific needs.

Real-time Data Access: Access to real-time data is crucial for making informed decisions.

Scalability: The software should grow with your business.

Support and Training: Reliable customer support and comprehensive training resources are essential.

Benefits of Business Intelligence Analytics Tools

Integrating business intelligence analytics tools with your ERP system can significantly enhance its functionality. These tools help analyze data and provide actionable insights that drive business decisions.

Using business intelligence analytics tools alongside ERP software can help businesses understand trends, identify opportunities, and improve efficiency. They provide detailed reports and dashboards, making it easier to track performance and make data-driven decisions.

How to Choose the Best ERP Software in Singapore

Choosing the best ERP software in Singapore involves several considerations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the right decision:

Assess Your Needs: Understand your business requirements and what you need from an ERP system.

Research: Look for ERP vendors that specialize in your industry.

Demo and Test: Request demonstrations and test the software to ensure it meets your needs.

Evaluate Costs: Consider the total cost of ownership, including implementation, customization, and ongoing maintenance.

Check References: Speak to other businesses that have implemented the ERP system to understand their experiences.

Changing Your Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Sometimes, businesses need to change their Microsoft Dynamics partner to get better service or support. Switching partners can help resolve issues like inadequate support, poor implementation, or lack of expertise.

Steps to Change Your Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Changing your Microsoft Dynamics partner can seem daunting, but it can be a smooth process with the right steps:

Identify the Need for Change: Determine why you need to switch partners.

Research New Partners: Look for partners with proven expertise and good reviews.

Plan the Transition: Develop a detailed plan for the transition to ensure minimal disruption.

Communicate: Inform your current partner about your decision and manage the handover process carefully.

The Future of ERP Software in Singapore

The future of ERP software in Singapore looks promising with advancements in technology. Cloud-based ERP systems are becoming more popular due to their flexibility and lower upfront costs. Additionally, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with ERP systems can provide even greater insights and efficiencies.

Businesses must stay updated with these trends to ensure they are leveraging the latest technologies for their operations. Investing in the best ERP software in Singapore will remain a key factor in achieving long-term success.

Conclusion

Selecting the best ERP software in Singapore is critical for businesses looking to streamline operations and stay competitive. By integrating business intelligence analytics tools and considering the need to change Microsoft Dynamics partners when necessary, companies can enhance their ERP systems' effectiveness. Staying informed about the latest trends and advancements in ERP technology will ensure that businesses are well-equipped to meet future challenges.

By following these guidelines and carefully selecting an ERP system, businesses can improve efficiency, make informed decisions, and drive growth. Ensure you choose a system that meets your needs and supports your business objectives for long-term success.

#best erp software singapore #business intelligence analytics tools #change microsoft dynamics partner

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onlineproxychecker · 5 months ago

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Finding the Best ERP Software in Singapore

Why ERP Software Matters

Key Features of Top ERP Software

Integration Capabilities: An effective ERP system should integrate seamlessly with existing systems and other software applications.

Customizability: Businesses should be able to customize the ERP software to meet their specific needs.

Real-time Data Access: Access to real-time data is crucial for making informed decisions.

Scalability: The software should grow with your business.

Support and Training: Reliable customer support and comprehensive training resources are essential.

Benefits of Business Intelligence Analytics Tools

How to Choose the Best ERP Software in Singapore

Choosing the best ERP software in Singapore involves several considerations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the right decision:

Assess Your Needs: Understand your business requirements and what you need from an ERP system.

Research: Look for ERP vendors that specialize in your industry.

Demo and Test: Request demonstrations and test the software to ensure it meets your needs.

Evaluate Costs: Consider the total cost of ownership, including implementation, customization, and ongoing maintenance.

Check References: Speak to other businesses that have implemented the ERP system to understand their experiences.

Changing Your Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Steps to Change Your Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Changing your Microsoft Dynamics partner can seem daunting, but it can be a smooth process with the right steps:

Identify the Need for Change: Determine why you need to switch partners.

Research New Partners: Look for partners with proven expertise and good reviews.

Plan the Transition: Develop a detailed plan for the transition to ensure minimal disruption.

Communicate: Inform your current partner about your decision and manage the handover process carefully.

The Future of ERP Software in Singapore

Conclusion

#best erp software Singapore #business intelligence analytics tools #change microsoft dynamics partner

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uc1wa · 1 year ago

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Xi it's my birthdayyyyyy, wondering what you think the boys might do for their partner's birthday?? DC boys or JJK boys, your pick my love (nsfw or not, dealer's choice I'm just honored to be here) 💖 no matter what your writing is scrumptious 😈 I hope you're having a good weekend!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY <3!!!! i hope you had the best weekend ever mwahhhh

BATBOYS & YOUR BIRTHDAY

dick grayson

dick would go all out for your birthday to the point that it’s embarrassing. he’s telling everyone in his family, all of his friends, everybody that your day is coming up. of course the titans help him throw a party for you! they’re going to stores to get decorations, hanging them around your apartment with the spare key dick has. dick’s making all of your favorite food & apps, creating a lil menu for it all that’s messily made via microsoft word. even making a specialty cocktail for you & your friends to have (a drink that will def get you fucked up but tastes like your favorite juice).

he’s kissing you when you walk in the door with an arm slung over your shoulder, making a plate for you, doing everything that you’d need from him for the night.

and once everybody’s leaving, wally deciding on sleeping on your couch, dick’s locking your bedroom door and gently stripping you of your clothes. he’s done so much for you, but do you really think he’s not going to give you a finale?

the finale? rounds and rounds of head that dick’s perfected in his time dating you. long and slow stripes up your entrance to start, making you finish at the slower pace a time or two before he’s quickening his movements.

he lays down, grabbing underneath your thighs so that you can fuck yourself against his face without a thought in your head. when you dare to look down, dick’s got a big smile across his lips as he licks up every juice you offer to him. "happy birthday, baby," he says against your swollen entrance, completely pussy drunk.

jason todd

a month before your birthday hits, before the thought of another year being added to your date, jason’s making a reservation at a restaurant you’ve been telling him you’ve wanted to go. the restaurant that you’ve seen tiktoks of, have read the menu and looked at chef specials, the restaurant that was highly exclusive and had a rooftop that the man rented out in its entirety for you.

he’s asking you to close your eyes on the way there, not putting a blindfold on because he knows that you did your makeup all pretty and would hate for it to get smudged. when you arrive, the sun is an hour away from setting and he’s leading you to the space with only a table and two chairs.

the courses are endless and the wine to pair, delicious. he has your favorite dessert come out last, ‘happy birthday’ written in chocolate on the plate with a single candle made for you to blow out.

once the private and loving fesitivities finish taking place at the restaurant, he’s driving you back to your shared place. his hand never leaving your thigh as he gives you a sweet kiss at every red light he stops at.

"you didn’t have to do all that, but i appreciate it, y’know," you say against his soft lips that turn to continue driving. "everything’s for you, always will be."

jason continues showing you that his statement is true for the rest of the night. every kiss to your soft skin proves that his lips are only for you to feel. every finger that spreads your legs apart wider and wider, only for you. and every long and deep stroke that hits that special spot deep inside you, is only for you! everything is for you, to jason.

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books · 1 year ago

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Writer Spotlight: Jamie Beck

Jamie Beck is a photographer residing in Provence, France. Her Tumblr blog, From Me To You, became immensely successful shortly after launching in 2009. Soon after, Jamie, along with her partner Kevin Burg, pioneered the use of Cinemagraphs in creative storytelling for brands. Since then, she has produced marketing and advertising campaigns for companies like Google, Samsung, Netflix, Disney, Microsoft, Nike, Volvo, and MTV, and was included in Adweek Magazine’s “Creative 100” among the industry’s top Visual Artists. In 2022, she released her first book, An American in Provence, which became a NYT Bestseller and Amazon #1 book in multiple categories, and featured in publications such as Vogue, goop, Who What Wear, and Forbes. Flowers of Provence is Jamie’s second book.

Can you tell us about how The Flowers of Provence came to be?

I refer to Provence often as ‘The Garden of Eden’ for her harmonious seasons that bring an ever-changing floral bounty through the landscape. My greatest joy in life is telling her story of flowers through photography so that we may all enjoy them, their beauty, their symbolism, and their contribution to the harmony of this land just a bit longer.

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

How do your photography and writing work together? Do you write as part of your practice?

I constantly write small notations, which usually occur when I am alone in nature with the intention of creating a photograph or in my studio working alone on a still life. I write as I think in my head, so I have made it a very strict practice that when a thought or idea comes up, I stop and quickly write the text in the notes app on my phone or in a pocket journal I keep with me most of the time. If I don’t stop and write it down at that moment, I find it is gone forever. It is also the same practice for shooting flowers, especially in a place as seasonal as Provence. If I see something, I must capture it right away because it could be gone tomorrow.

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

You got your start in commercial photography. What’s something you learned in those fields that has served you well in your current creative direction?

I think my understanding of bridging art and commerce came from my commercial photography background. I can make beautiful photographs of flowers all day long, but how to make a living off your art is a completely different skill that I am fortunate enough to have learned by working with so many different creative brands and products in the past.

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

Do you remember your first photograph?

Absolutely! I was 13 years old. My mother gave me her old Pentax 35mm film camera to play with. When I looked through the viewfinder, it was as if the imaginary world in my head could finally come to life! I gave my best friend a makeover, put her in an evening gown in the backyard of my parents’ house in Texas, and made my first photograph, which I thought was so glamorous! So Vogue!

You situate your photographic work with an introduction that charts the seasons in Provence through flowers. Are there any authors from the fields of nature writing and writing place that inspire you?

I absolutely adore Monty Don! His writing, his shoes, and his ease with nature and flowers—that’s a world in which I want to live. I also love Floret Flowers, especially on social media, as a way to learn the science behind flowers and how to grow them.

How did you decide on the order of the images within The Flowers of Provence?

Something I didn’t anticipate with a book deal is that I would actually be the one doing the layouts! I assumed I would hand over a folder of images, and an art director would decide the order. At first, it was overwhelming to sort through it all because the work is so personal, and I’m so visual. But in the end, it had to be me. It had to be my story and flow to be truly authentic. I tried to move through the seasons and colors of the landscape in a harmonious way that felt a bit magical, just as discovering Provence has felt to me.

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

How do you practice self-care when juggling work and life commitments alongside the creative process?

The creative process is typically a result that comes out of taking time for self-care. I get some of my best ideas for photographic projects or writing when I am in a bath or shower or go for a long (and restorative) walk in nature. Doing things for myself, such as how I dress or do my hair and makeup, is another form of creative expression that is satisfying.

What’s a place or motif you’d like to photograph that you haven’t had a chance to yet?

I am really interested in discovering more formal gardens in France. I like the idea of garden portraiture, trying to really capture the essence and spirit of places where man and nature intertwine.

Which artists do you return to for inspiration?

I’m absolutely obsessed with Édouard Manet—his color pallet and subject matter.

What are three things you can’t live without as an artist?

My camera, the French light, and flowers, of course.

What’s your favorite flower to photograph, and why?

I love roses. They remind me of my grandmother, who always grew roses and was my first teacher of nature. The perfume of roses and the vast variety of colors, names, and styles all make me totally crazy. I just love them. They simply bring me joy the same way seeing a rainbow in the sky does.

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

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writerblue275 · 9 months ago

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How Heartsteel would act when they are tipsy. (18+)

Let me say this right off the bat: PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY (AND ONLY IF YOU’RE OF LEGAL AGE TO BE DRINKING). BE KIND TO YOUR LIVERS AND FOLLOW LAWS Y’ALL.

(Seriously drinking too much is not fun. Either while you’re drinking, or the day after. I once learned the hard way in college that I become extremely emotional if I have a bit much and it’s just straight up not a good time. I still drink, but very occasionally and not much.)

Inspiration: Now all that being said……I’d love to have a drink or two with the Heartsteel members. I think that would be so fun!

Champions: Heartsteel

Genre: Headcanon

Type: Fluff (I’m still saying this is 18+ only. I’m American so technically the legal drinking age where I am is 21, but I know for a lot of places around the world the legal age to drink is 18.)

Gender: Gender Neutral Reader

TW: We’re talking about alcohol use in this one. Mention of a drinking game or two. Mention of sobriety. Swearing.

Aphelios

If you want a calm, chill, but still fun night, Aphelios is the guy to drink with. 100/10 vibes and I’m all here for it.

This is when he’d use more sign language to communicate. (I’m imagining tipsy Phel signing incredibly cheesy pick up lines to his partner and I’m OBSESSED.)

And you know how words can start to slur when people get tipsy? That concept maybe translates into his sign language juuuuust a little bit. Maybe a slightly sloppy sign here or there. But you know him well enough that you know what he’s trying to say.

And while he’s not super touchy, when he’s tipsy, he’s definitely staying connected to you somehow.

Either through linked hands/pinkies, an arm around you, or just some other way of him keeping connected to you.

You two turn into the parent couple a little bit, making sure everyone, including yourselves, is staying safe and hydrated. Aphelios might be mischievous and like pranks, but he knows when it’s time to be more serious, and keeping everyone safe when alcohol is involved is definitely a time to be more serious. (Surprise surprise, you might have thought Yone would be the parent but he’s already the band mom sober. The man needs a break. Out of the other members, I actually think Phel could wrangle people pretty well.)

Ezreal

Ezreal would be such a fun person to drink with just in general, but especially as your S/O. He’s energetic, fun, generally positive. In my experience, those people make for enjoyable beverage buddies (alcoholic or not). He’s the life of any party (#1).

He’s also a lightweight. Absolutely no question in my mind. He’s not a large man by any means. (I love this teeny pop prince.)

It doesn’t matter if the two of you have been together for years, once he’s tipsy, he’s pulling out all his best (read: cheesy as fuck) pick up lines and using them on you.

“Hey, my name is Microsoft. Can I crash at your place tonight?” “Ez, we’ve been dating for over a year.” “Yes we have. And? Can I not flirt with my own partner?” “…Ok that’s very sweet, please continue.” (He always manages to make you blush and make it feel like the first time you met him.)

Only uses them on you though. As flirty as Ez can be, this green bean is LOYAL to you. Only you get his flirty side. Anyone else tries flirting with him and they get some truly bombastic side eye.

Otherwise Ezreal’s just really fun to chat with or play drinking games with. The absolute best beer pong partner. There’s no one more accurate. And unless you’re sitting out a round, he’ll always ask you to be his #2. It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are. When you do sit out and he plays, there’s always an argument about who gets to be his partner. The next best player is Sett, who is also very good, so there’s a house rule that the two of them can’t be on a team together 😂.

Kayn

I was struggling to figure out how to describe Kayn while drinking, and now I realize why I was struggling so very much…

Plot twist: Kayn is sober. (Shoutout to anyone on a sobriety journey, for whatever reason. I have so much respect for you. Our society loves to glorify alcohol and drinking culture, so for those who actively choose to go against that, props to you.)

I genuinely don’t think he drinks at all. Maybe he did in the past but he doesn’t currently. Rock stars historically haven’t always had the best relationship with substances. This could be one of those situations where he realized he didn’t like who he was when he drank.

Kayn is self-aware enough to know he’s already fairly impulsive and a little wild while sober. Alcohol added to that mix wasn’t helping anything. So he stopped and surrounded himself with a network of people that fully support his decision (that ofc includes you and the other Heartsteel members).

Now all of that being said, Kayn still likes to enjoy himself. He’s a fan of fancy beverages, even if they’re non-alcoholic, so he’s always getting a mocktail or a non-alcoholic beer (I’m really glad to see bartenders/companies starting to include NA options. Listen, sometimes I just want to feel fancy and sip a fun beverage that doesn’t have alcohol in it). Having something to sip on makes Kayn feel involved even if he’s the only one in a group that doesn’t have an alcoholic beverage.

Now even though he doesn’t drink, don’t think he’s a spoilsport. Even without alcohol he is a very fun person to be around, so when you’re out with him you’ll still have a great night filled with some shenanigans, fun talks, and laughter.

K’Sante

I’m not kidding when I say I want to have a drink with Heartsteel K’Sante so badly and I’m genuinely a little sad I cannot. I want to pick his brain. I’ve said it before but I get great vibes from him. To me, it’s very easy to see why he’s one of the co-leaders of Heartsteel.

Absolutely gets philosophical/goes into deep conversations when he drinks and those people are SO FUN TO BE AROUND. A perfect companion for someone who might be a little more introverted since he’d be focused only on you and he’d maybe take you somewhere a little quieter so you can hear each other.

I feel like it’s very easy to lose track of time when you’re talking with K’Sante. Like you look down at your phone/watch and an hour has passed just like that while the two of you chat and sip on your drinks.

These deep conversations can be about anything too. Maybe about literature that you’ve both read, dissecting their music with a close eye, discussing the meaning of life, or even him listening to you discuss your problems and offering you advice if you want it.

And even if the topics of discussion are deep, K’Sante is still making things light hearted. He never wants to cause you to not enjoy your evening.

In between discussions of deeper topics, he’s cracking some jokes or telling you funny stories about himself, his family, or the other members of Heartsteel. Whatever is being discussed, the overall vibe with K’Sante is very safe and fun. When you have a drink with him, settle in and enjoy a fun night talking about anything and everything.

Sett

Oh my god Sett would be so fun to have a drink with. He absolutely gives off “life of the party” vibes (#2) and I absolutely love that for everyone around him. Hell he gives off those vibes without alcohol.

This is going to be so damn specific: Sett gives me slight frat bro vibes BUT IN THE VERY BEST WAY!! (I SWEAR I mean this as a compliment!)

When I was in university/undergrad, I was in a sorority. (Hehe surprise! I’m definitely not the stereotypical sorority girl.) Because of this I am familiar with fraternities and frat bros. While generally I don’t have a high opinion of them, there was one frat on campus that was actually awesome. Their guys were safe/fun to be around, respectful, and kind (a lot of them were athletes so they knew they better behave if they wanted to stay on their teams).

THAT is the kind of frat bro vibe I get from Heartsteel Sett. Ma raised him fucking right. He has manners and is incredibly respectful to those around him always. (Unless they give him reason not to be but that’s a whole different thing.)

And just like Ez, his flirty side is totally coming out, but again, only with you. I can’t imagine Sett ever being unfaithful in a relationship. Ma raised him far better then that.

And if you’re out with him and getting unwanted attention, he’s definitely sticking up for you, whether or not you’re dating him. Hell even if you’re a stranger, he’s the type to pretend to be your boyfriend/brother/friend to get you out of a situation. Just overall a 100/10 man to be around. You’ll definitely have a blast with him!

Yone (Yes his is long but listen, I have thoughts!)

This man. This man is my dark horse. There are two possible ways I see Yone acting when tipsy. 1. Completely fucking normal and alcohol doesn’t affect him like at all. 2. Turns him into a clingy koala man who is a lightweight.

Clingy koala man is far more entertaining so THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING WITH. I feel like it doesn’t take much for him to feel it. Part of that is, Yone wouldn’t drink that much to begin with. Maybe a glass of wine on a dinner date with you, or the occasional drink at a party, but otherwise it’s not his thing.

All this to say, when he does have something, he definitely feels it. And that’s when he’ll be glued to your side. Now obviously if you’re in public, he’s not going to be wrapped around you, but even then, he’ll link arms to walk with you, keep his hand on the small of your back, or even link pinkies with you.

Now if you two are alone? And you’re not going anywhere for the evening? Oh all bets are off. You better do everything you need to do before sitting down with him, because once you do, he’s pulling you into his lap and that is going to be your spot for the foreseeable future. (It’s like the unspoken pet rule: “if a pet is on you, you’re not allowed to move until they do” but in reverse. As long as Yone is cuddling you, you’re not allowed to move. [Like of course you’re allowed to move, especially if you need to go to the bathroom or get more comfortable. He’s not an asshole. But he just really loves holding you.])

You’re already the only person besides Heartsteel’s hair stylist Yone lets touch his hair, but when he’s tipsy? He practically leans his head into your touch until you play with his hair, sighing happily as you do. He especially loves when you braid it. (God damn I want to braid his hair so badly.)

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! I was discussing with my friends which fictional characters we’d like to have a drink with and that’s where this idea really stemmed from. Random, but fun to think about! 💙

(Also this is just a small reminder that my requests are currently open. If you have specific ideas, send them through my asks! Just check the rules post [linked on my masterlist] first!)

#heartsteel #heartsteel headcanons #headcanon #heartsteel x reader #reader insert #heartsteel fluff #heartsteel aphelios #heartsteel ezreal #heartsteel kayn #heartsteel k'sante #heartsteel sett #heartsteel yone #league of legends headcanon

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mariacallous · 3 months ago

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In March 2007, Google’s then senior executive in charge of acquisitions, David Drummond, emailed the company’s board of directors a case for buying DoubleClick. It was an obscure software developer that helped websites sell ads. But it had about 60 percent market share and could accelerate Google’s growth while keeping rivals at bay. A “Microsoft-owned DoubleClick represents a major competitive threat,” court papers show Drummond writing.

Three weeks later, on Friday the 13th, Google announced the acquisition of DoubleClick for $3.1 billion. The US Department of Justice and 17 states including California and Colorado now allege that the day marked the beginning of Google’s unchecked dominance in online ads—and all the trouble that comes with it.

The government contends that controlling DoubleClick enabled Google to corner websites into doing business with its other services. That has resulted in Google allegedly monopolizing three big links of a vital digital advertising supply chain, which funnels over $12 billion in annual revenue to websites and apps in the US alone.

It’s a big amount. But a government expert estimates in court filings that if Google were not allegedly destroying its competition illegally, those publishers would be receiving up to an additional hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Starved of that potential funding, “publishers are pushed to put more ads on their websites, to put more content behind costly paywalls, or to cease business altogether,” the government alleges. It all adds up to a subpar experience on the web for consumers, Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser says.

“Google is able to extract hiked-up costs, and those are passed on to consumers,” he alleges. “The overall outcome we want is for consumers to have more access to content supported by advertising revenue and for people who are seeking advertising not to have to pay inflated costs.”

Google disputes the accusations.

Starting today, both sides’ arguments will be put to the test in what’s expected to be a weekslong trial before US district judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia. The government wants her to find that Google has violated federal antitrust law and then issue orders that restore competition. In a best-case scenario, according to several Google critics and experts in online ads who spoke with WIRED, internet users could find themselves more pleasantly informed and entertained.

It could take years for the ad market to shake out, says Adam Heimlich, a longtime digital ad executive who’s extensively researched Google. But over time, fresh competition could lower supply chain fees and increase innovation. That would drive “better monetization of websites and better quality of websites,” says Heimlich, who now runs AI software developer Chalice Custom Algorithms.

Tim Vanderhook, CEO of ad-buying software developer Viant Technology, which both competes and partners with Google, believes that consumers would encounter a greater variety of ads, fewer creepy ads, and pages less cluttered with ads. “A substantially improved browsing experience,” he says.

Of course, all depends on the outcome of the case. Over the past year, Google lost its two other antitrust trials—concerning illegal search and mobile app store monopolies. Though the verdicts are under appeal, they’ve made the company’s critics optimistic about the ad tech trial.

Google argues that it faces fierce competition from Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and others. It further contends that customers benefited from each of the acquisitions, contracts, and features that the government is challenging. “Google has designed a set of products that work efficiently with each other and attract a valuable customer base,” the company’s attorneys wrote in a 359-page rebuttal.

For years, Google publicly has maintained that its ad tech projects wouldn’t harm clients or competition. “We will be able to help publishers and advertisers generate more revenue, which will fuel the creation of even more rich and diverse content on the internet,” Drummond testified in 2007 to US senators concerned about the DoubleClick deal’s impact on competition and privacy. US antitrust regulators at the time cleared the purchase. But at least one of them, in hindsight, has said he should have blocked it.

Deep Control

The Justice Department alleges that acquiring DoubleClick gave Google “a pool of captive publishers that now had fewer alternatives and faced substantial switching costs associated with changing to another publisher ad server.” The global market share of Google’s tool for publishers is now 91 percent, according to court papers. The company holds similar control over ad exchanges that broker deals (around 70 percent) and tools used by advertisers (85 percent), the court filings say.

Google’s dominance, the government argues, has “impaired the ability of publishers and advertisers to choose the ad tech tools they would prefer to use and diminished the number and quality of viable options available to them.”

The government alleges that Google staff spoke internally about how they have been earning an unfair portion of what advertisers spend on advertising, to the tune of over a third of every $1 spent in some cases.

Some of Google’s competitors want the tech giant to be broken up into multiple independent companies, so each of its advertising services competes on its own merits without the benefit of one pumping up another. The rivals also support rules that would bar Google from preferencing its own services. “What all in the industry are looking for is fair competition,” Viant’s Vanderhook says.

If Google ad tech alternatives win more business, not everyone is so sure that the users will notice a difference. “We’re talking about moving from the NYSE to Nasdaq,” Ari Paparo, a former DoubleClick and Google executive who now runs the media company Marketecture, tells WIRED. The technology behind the scenes may shift, but the experience for investors—or in this case, internet surfers—doesn’t.

Some advertising experts predict that if Google is broken up, users’ experiences would get even worse. Andrey Meshkov, chief technology officer of ad-block developer AdGuard, expects increasingly invasive tracking as competition intensifies. Products also may cost more because companies need to not only hire additional help to run ads but also buy more ads to achieve the same goals. “So the ad clutter is going to get worse,” Beth Egan, an ad executive turned Syracuse University associate professor, told reporters in a recent call arranged by a Google-funded advocacy group.

But Dina Srinivasan, a former ad executive who as an antitrust scholar wrote a Stanford Technology Law Review paper on Google’s dominance, says advertisers would end up paying lower fees, and the savings would be passed on to their customers. That future would mark an end to the spell Google allegedly cast with its DoubleClick deal. And it could happen even if Google wins in Virginia. A trial in a similar lawsuit filed by Texas, 15 other states, and Puerto Rico is scheduled for March.

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chrissdollie · 1 year ago

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”what would you do if jess proposed?”

a/n: WARNING: i wrote this late and it’s mostly dialogue. also it’s not really a romantic jess x reader it’s a very causal thing. but i promise i’ll edit it soon to make it cuter. wc: 2.6k

paul anka barked at the door where a knock was heard. you and your mom lorelai were sitting on the couch watching a movie. “just a minute!” she yelled, picking up paul and handing him over to you where you held him in your lap, petting him slowly. you looked over your shoulder to the front door, wondering who it was.

lorelai opened the door to reveal rory’s current boyfriend of three years, logan. “oh hey!” she greeted. “hey.” logan replied blandly.

“oh, you just missed rory. she’s on her way back to school.” rory had left back to yale after visiting at home to study for her finals.

“i know, im actually here to see you and y/n.” his voice shook slightly. he seemed nervous, which was weird because from the few times you met him, he was a very confident and down to earth guy. “oh, okay. come on in.” she invited.

“thank you.” logan stepped inside and walked over to where you were sitting in the living room. “do you want, um, any food or drink? we ordered way too many fries.” lorelai asked, inviting him to sit on the couch. you smiled and muttered a small “hello” to which he nodded back and sat down next to you.

“no thanks, i’m all good.” you moved over slightly so lorelai could squeeze in next to the two of you. “um, so how was your trip?” you asked kindly, trying to rid of the awkwardness.

“oh, it was really great. actually that’s what i wanted to talk about.” he folded his hands as he manspread. you raised your brow so only lorelai could see. she looked at you and then back to logan.

“oh, god. i know nothing about that world. uh, apple, ibm, microsoft, im out.” she joked, making logan chuckle. his face then turned serious again. “well, i’ve been offered a position with an emerging internet company.” he informed before pausing.

“wow, that’s great!” you congratulated, grinning. “yeah, congrats.” lorelai agreed. “thanks, it’s pretty similar to what i was doing in new york, but actually, they’re willing to make me a full partner i’ll be getting in on the ground floor.”

you had no idea what the ‘ground floor’ was, but you nodded and continued to smile like you did know. lorelai seemed at a small loss for words too. so she settled with “that’s exciting!”

“it is. it’s gonna be a lot of long hours and an incredible amount of work building the company, but i really feel this ‘venture has a bright future. i mean, these are serious people.” he grinned softly.

“and you’re a serious guy.” lorelai complimented, her eyes softening. a serious guy? you weren’t totally sure about that, but you stayed quiet. “look, you don’t have to convince me. i voiced my concerns, and you told me your plans. we had pie. i’m cool.” she sweetly told him.

“thank you. i appreciate that. that means a lot to me.” he thanked. this was getting weird. you wanted to know the reason that he came here. god, would he just hurry up already??

“you’re welcome.” lorelai hummed back, her face falling to a frown. logan cleared his throat. “so, the thing is.. well, as the you guys can imagine, i’m pretty excited about all this.”

“yeah, of course, i mean it’s really cool.” you spoke. “but it-it does mean a move to san francisco. palo alto, actually.” he dropped the bomb. he’s moving. poor rory, she was going to be devastated! your mom’s face fell into an ‘O’ shape and your face saddened at the thought of him breaking up with rory.

rory was your best friend (besides from your mom, of course) and she loved logan deeply. you would hate to see her get hurt, but it has to happen. it’s not like she can move with him. oh.

“that’s big. that’s funny, rory didn’t mention it. did she say anything to you?” lorelai questioned turning the spotlight to you for a minute. “nope, not a thing.”

“well, i haven’t told her yet.” he said, voice shaking slightly again. “and you’re here because you want us to tell her for you?” lorelai asked, trying to get the point across. logan chuckled again.

“no, no, i’m gonna tell her. i just, um, i wanted to talk to you guys first about it.” he took a deep breath while looking at the floor before speaking. “look. i love rory. she means the world to me and i want her to come with me to california.” oh no. now he’s dropped the bomb.

you saw lorelai close her eyes and take a breath before opening her eyes again. “oh.” was all she had to say. you shook your head. “but, not just as my girlfriend.” he said deeply. “which is why i’m here. i’m here to ask for your blessings. to ask rory to marry me.”

“chris, hi.” lorelai picked up the phone. you were standing next to her because rory was talking to some DAR ladies. you excused yourself and followed your mom away from the two women you were talking to. you saw chris standing outside and that was your cue to leave them alone and walked towards your boyfriend who’d finally arrived

“hi, honey!” you greeted. jess smiled and kissed your cheek. “hi, i’m sorry for being late. work was right up my as.. hello emily.” he greeted your grandmother who came up to you two. “hello, jess. hi, y/n.” she smiled at you before kissing your cheek.

your grandfather richard came over and quickly greeted you before turning to emily.

“emily, i think now is a good time.” he mumbled. “oh, excuse us.” emily and richard walked to the front of the room next to the grand piano. emily tapped a glass with a fork to get everyone’s attention. richard straightened his shoulders and held a piece of paper.

“ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. first, let me thank you for coming to celebrate my granddaughter rory’s graduation.” he spoke clearly. emily walked up next to him and pinched his arm. “ouch!” he winced. “oh i-i do beg your pardon. celebrating our granddaughter rory’s graduation.” he corrected himself, making you and rory giggle quietly standing next to each other. you also waved quickly to your dad before turning back to richard.

“i can’t let him take all the credit, have you seen her? can you blame me?” emily joked, making the crowd laugh. you and rory gave each other a look almost to say ‘she’s been drinking.’

“so, when my wife and i sat down to write our toast,” he continued. “we ran into something of a problem. all of our words sounded too mundane, too insignificant to mark such an auspicious occasion, as rory’s graduation from yale. so, instead.. maestro.” richard turned to the pianist.

rory’s head turned slightly and furrowed her eyebrows. you were just as confused as she was. “please excuse us. we are not singers.” emily somewhat nervously apologized. “never let them see you sweat, dear.” richard soothed.

lorelai turned to her daughters, raising a brow causing you three to chuckle. your grandparents raised their papers in front of them and stood tall. richard began the song as the pianist played a joyful tune.

you’re the top

you have graduated

you’re the top

your grandparents are elated

newspaper editor, phi beta kappa WOW!

you’re a relegation, a huge sensation

you should take a bow

you are done

no more school for you

there is nothing now that you can’t do

you’ll make us proud, we’ll sing it loud

it’s true cause now rory, you’re a bulldog through and through!

you clapped loudly, laughing with your sister. the crowd applauded and “aww”’ed at the sweet song. logan yelled out a “yeah!” before rory ran up to her grandparents and gave them both a hug. “oh, thank you, thank you. wow!” she smiled.

“we meant every word in that song.” emily cooed. “we certainly did. even the ones we sang off key.” richard agreed. rory thanked them again before expressing her love and appreciation for them. you loved that rory went to college, even if you didn’t. she had begged you to go with her so she wouldn’t be alone, but this experience had given her a new pov of the world.

chris’ phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. “oh, it’s the babysitter calling to see if g.g can watch an hour of television.” he said aloud. “i don’t think she’s ready for ‘the pussycat dolls yet’.” you teased, causing chris and lorelai to grin. “i’ll be right back.”

but before he could leave to answer the phone, logan stopped him. “actually, would you mind waiting?” he jumped quickly. chris’ head turned up to look at logan for a second before nodding. “sure.”

“thanks. trust me, you’ll want to stick around for this.” he dismissed himself and walked to rory. “okay.” he replied shortly. your face fell and you could see lorelai’s did too. “is he gonna..” chris pointed towards him. you’re assuming your mom told chris about logan wanting to propose.

“not here. not now.” lorelai shook her head in disbelief. you really hoped he wouldn’t do that to rory. especially in front of everybody. what if she says no? truth be told, you didn’t want rory to get married and leave to san francisco! she was only 22 and you wanted her to stay with you and your mom for a little while longer.

she can’t just up and leave. she won’t. she’s been away at college while you’ve been working and things will finally get to go back to normal after her graduation. you mentally shake of these thoughts and focus on the present.

“if i could, i’d also like to say a few words about my girlfriend of the past three years.” logan began. you had also told jess after you’d found out logan wanted to propose. but he still looked appalled. rory was like a little sister to him, you knew.

logan turned to look rory in her big blue eyes. “you amaze me, rory gilmore, every day, everything that you do, everything that you are. this past year, i realized that i don’t know a lot more than i thought i knew if that makes sense. i’m sorry, i’m a little bit nervous. didn’t think i’d be.” he chuckled shyly.

“what i’m trying to say is that.” he sighed softly before taking a quick breath. “i don’t know a lot. but i know that i love you. and i want to be with you.. forever.” he sighed again and pulled out a velvet blue box from his pocket. rory’s eyes widened and she realized what was happening. you wish you knew what was going on in her head.

the crowd began to murmur. your eyes widened in anticipation. emily’s mouth was wide open with joy while richard’s happy face contorted to an serious one. “rory gilmore.” he opened the box, still looking at her. “will you marry me?”

that’s it. the question was asked and out in the open. it was silent for a few moments. “um..” she muttered and turned to you and lorelai for a moment. she looked back and struggled to find words. “um, wow.” she chuckled breathily. “i- wow..”

“is there a yes in between those ‘wows’?” logan asked eagerly. the crowd laughed lightly. “um, im just, im so.. surprised. i-i just, um, would, um..” she ran her fingers through her hair quickly before grabbing his hand. “w-will you come talk to me outside?”

“sure.” he walked as she led them outside. “yeah, okay,” she stumbled quickly out the door. emily ran to the pianist. “play something now.” she demanded before looking out the window.

“my poor girl.” you pouted as jess wrapped an arm around your shoulders. emily walked over to where you and lorelai were standing. “well i don’t know what to do! should i continue to stagger the hors d’oeuvres or just tell the kitchen staff to send everything out?” she cried.

lorelai shrugged. “i don’t know.” she mumbled. “why didn’t she just say yes?” emily threw her arms down like a child, clearly upset. your eye twitched for a moment. “i’m not sure she wants to marry him, grandma.” you tried to make her understand. but who are you kidding, this is emily gilmore.

“that’s ridiculous, he’s a huntzberger. an offer like this doesn’t come around every day.” emily whined. “it’s a marriage proposal, not a sale on linens.” lorelai folded her arms as richard approached, handing a drink to his wife. “clearly, rory was caught off guard, all of us were.” your phone rang as richard spoke.

you pulled your cellphone out of your pocket and answered. “i’m sure she just needs a moment to get her bearings-“ you cut your grandfather off to speak. “hi, ror.”

you motioned for lorelai to follow you, removing jess’ arm from you quickly. “did she say yes?” emily called out as you and lorelai exited the house. “we’ll be right back.” lorelai told chris and jess.

you two found rory and your eyes widened. “is that a carriage?” you laughed. “wow, how romantic!” you cheesed jokingly. “get in, now please!” rory pleaded. lorelai went in first, rory followed second, and you last.

the horses began to walk and rory turned to you. “i just kept saying ‘i don’t know, i’ll have to think about it’ and it was awful! and he was obviously disappointed and upset.” she began ranting. “well that was kinda on him. imagine if you said no in front of all those people!” you thought.

the girls agreed silently. “you know, he made all these plans about the house we’d live in and the avocado tree in our backyard.” she continued. “you do like guacamole.” lorelai threw in. “i-i just had to explain to him how it if the blue this is. like super out of the blue! the deepest, darkest, naviest blue. and why are you so calm by the way?”

“we knew. he came by the house to ask for our permission.” you told her. “we were dying to tell you!” you whined. lorelai jumped in after you. “and she almost did, but i threatened her to no more sleeping in on weekdays.” she said. “you sleep in on weekdays.” “that’s not the point.”

“anyways, what do you think i should do?” rory asked desperately. “oh, honey, i think it’s your decision.” lorelai put simply. rory pushed her head forward waiting for more. “you have no opinion?” she questioned in disbelief. “only you know what you want.” she briefly answered.

“hm, okay. what about you, curly? what would you do if jess proposed?” rory asked. “well, moe, i would definitely wait a few days before answering. id really think about it first. id make a photo collage of what our wedding would look like and then show you, then make a pros and cons list, and then answer once i’m fully confident.” you finished.

“that was actually a very good answer, dude, nice.” lorelai spoke in her surfer-bro voice and fist bumped you. “i love him. i do. i’m like a circus freak with all the hands. i’m all over the place!”

“you’ll get through this. just mull over it for now.” you gave her a big hug. rory grinned sweetly and hugged back. “group hug!” lorelai cheered, leaning in. “if you get married, can i be the flower girl?” lorelai asked in a high pitched voice. “no. paul anka will be the flower girl.”

#this is trash sorry #gilmore girls #jess x reader #jess #jess mariano #rory gilmore #lorelai gilmore #logan huntzberger #𝓳𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓸 ☕️

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warningsine · 2 months ago

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If it was ever possible to maintain the illusion that good work will attract an audience simply by virtue of its quality, it isn’t now. In 2017, there’s simply too much out there to guarantee that the best series will attract the biggest audiences. It’s a miracle, then, that Halt and Catch Fire, a show originally meant to fill the hole left by Mad Men, has managed to make it to the end of its fourth and final season, which concluded this weekend in the US.

A tech drama that takes place entirely between the first iteration of Microsoft Word in 1983 and Windows 95, Halt and Catch Fire kept its focus squarely on the haze of an emerging field, without any of the fist-pumping moments that might have come from a show focusing on the rise of Google or Facebook. The characters never achieved lasting success or transformation, perpetually stymied by the major players in a nascent and clunking industry. Instead, they faced an endless, thankless series of intractable workplace decisions about integrity, product quality and business logistics.

These seemingly pedestrian moments dominate the show’s central relationship between Donna Clark (Kerry Bishé) and Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis), two women who attempt to found a tech company and spend the next few years discovering what they’re willing to sacrifice in the effort. Eventually, it’s impossible for people this committed to their work to separate their personal values and their professional ones, and while that conflict might sound cliche, in the hands of Halt and Catch Fire’s cast, it’s enthralling.

Over the course of the series, the characters’ business interests range from building personal computers at Dell competitor Cardiff Electric to videogames, web-based chat, and e-commerce at Cameron and Donna’s startup Mutiny to antivirus software at MacMillan Utility to, finally, early search engines at Comet and Rover. (All of these companies are fictional and, with the exception of Cardiff, are founded by the characters themselves.) Halt and Catch Fire’s cast is full of classic Silicon Valley résumé – they’re perpetually successful enough to keep working, and to live more or less comfortably while pursuing other ventures, but they never quite strike it big, whether that’s because of conflicts between the partners, technological limitation, or, most often, the presence of an enormous corporation capable of choking the market.

Every major character on the series contains multitudes. Donna is a hard-assed businesswoman, but she’s also a practically minded, savvy person who wants to do her best to create a thriving company with an innovative product. Cameron’s myopia is frustrating, but it’s part of why she’s such a successful coder. Steve Jobs-style visionary Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace) is also, to varying degrees, a charlatan, and tinkering softie Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy) becomes irritable when he has to leave his comfort zone.

Those relationships contained a staggering number of stories. In just the fourth season alone, Halt and Catch Fire handled a teen coming-out story, the fallout from a divorce, a marriage, several mid-life crises, and a sudden, heart-rending death. But none of these stories are the defining features of the characters; they’re simply facets of their lives. Where another drama might end with the consummation of a romantic pairing, or the strengthening of a family, Halt and Catch Fire ends with Donna having an idea, and pitching it to Cameron. We don’t hear the idea, but that’s not important – the point is beginning the cycle anew.

In this respect, it’s similar to the Mad Men finale – but where Mad Men is ambivalent, at best, toward the bolt of inspiration that leads Don Draper to create the “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” ad, Halt and Catch Fire maintains a single commitment: ideas are what we have. That’s why the show could never have become a smash hit, why it got renewed by the skin of its teeth, and why it’s highly unlikely it will ever be brought back by an ambitious investor. With so many self-consciously explosive series vying for your attention, Halt and Catch Fire played a different game. It kept itself contained, forcing the audience to match its subdued, mesmerizing rhythm. Eventually, the audience and the characters learned the same lesson: sometimes, it’s worth putting in the work.

#halt and catch fire

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shinetechsoftware · 3 months ago

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Shinetech Software achieves Cyber Essentials Plus certification

Shinetech Software is proud to announce that it has achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification proving its dedication to cyber security and protection from cyber-attacks. Cyber Essentials Plus is an official UK Government-backed, industry-supported certification scheme to help organisations demonstrate operational security against the ever-growing threat of cyber-attacks and a commitment to cyber security.

Assessed and verified through an independent external audit it requires compliance and rigorous testing of our business security controls and processes. The certification also acknowledges our strong security management ethos and procedural framework.

Frank Zhang, UK Managing Director at Shinetech Software says “Achieving the Cyber Essentials Plus certification underscores our commitment to ensuring our cyber security is as strong as possible to protect our customers’ data. We take these responsibilities very seriously and this certification complements our existing ISO 27001 Information Security Management System certification.”.

Andy Landsberg, Cyber Security Manager at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust says “We have worked with Shinetech Software over many years and are pleased they have achieved the Cyber Essentials Plus certification in recognition of the controls they have in place and the work they undertake to maintain data security, illustrating their adherence to best practice guidelines.”.

Frimley Health, along with other key partners including Barts Health NHS Trust, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, collaborated with Shinetech Software on the industry award winning GDPR compliant Class Attendance Tracker QR (CATQR) digital solution for employers and educational institutions to monitor staff and student attendance in real-time.

Apple and Google recently approved the release of the new CATQR mobile app which is compliant with the latest Apple iOS and Google Android mobile app policy and security guidelines.

Shinetech Software is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Gartner Cool Vendor with delivery centres in London, New York and Sydney supported by over 20 software engineering development centres throughout Asia.

Find out more about Shinetech Software bespoke software engineering services on https://www.shinetechsoftware.co.uk and watch the Frimley Health CATQR video on https://www.catqr.com or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONq55EgAA5I

#cybersecurity #certification #learning #career

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bluehairmisfit · 11 days ago

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Look okay yall are allowed, expected, even encouraged to ignore everything below the upcoming readmore. I'm only posting this here because I need to rant somewhere that isn't a brick wall, and I don't feel like dumping this in a vent channel for a school club.

(cw friendships and endings, anger, irritation, the things that come along with being autistic around people, etc. Abuse/trauma mentions. Talk of being a shitty friend/shitty person. All that good stuff. Lots of self-deprecation.)

I'm pissed off. I'm not showing it externally because there's just no fucking point to that but I want to do SOMETHING about it at this point and journaling it isn't enough anymore okay. I'm fucking irritated.

Like lemme start off with my high school crush. I have a friend who rants about his high school crush and I'm happy to listen, don't get me wrong, but I so badly want to rant back about mine because I thought we were friends and this person just kinda faded out of my life. And I'm irritated because I reached out and I tried to ask what I did wrong because I'm still very sure it was something I did. I have no clue what. The message containing the plea for information got no response, so I still don't know what I did, but it warranted whispering and pointing and I know that realistically I don't want to be friends or partners with someone like that but it still hurts in my chest when I think about it too hard, so I just have to try really fucking hard not to think of that person, as if I get a fucking choice in it.

And then there's my up-til-recently best friend. Like. There was a lot of shit that went wrong there on both fucking sides. I know this. Painfully-fucking-aware of the role I played. Because admittedly, I did something pretty similar to what my ex-crush did. We had an argument, and neither of us reached out. The thing is that we were both fucking HORRIBLE for each other and I could not do the things this friend wanted me to do without changing a lot of who I am as a person and how I naturally relate to people. I thought for the past two years that I was just an overall bad friend, and in hindsight, I was a bad friend to this specific person. But I have different friends that really like how I perform friendship.

So why the fuck would I sit there breaking someone else and being broken when I could just accept that things would not work out? It's not like I fully withdrew; I didn't break the DM silence, no, but I still liked and shared posts that this friend posted. I still tried in my own way because I was holding out hope that maybe we'd shift to acquaintances for a while and be able to try again later once we both had grown.

IT IS FULLY ON ME FOR NOT COMMUNICATING THIS DESIRE. I'm not saying it's not. But I talked about it in therapy, and I built the skills I would need to have this conversation, and every time I thought I was ready, I saw, vividly, intrusively, how it was likely to end.

And it's definitively, exceptionally selfish of me to say this.

But I decided I'd rather take advantage of the moot point we were at and just let shit happen, for better or worse.

Than to have to speak how I was feeling. And have it out in the open. And hear for the thousandth time what a terrible, shitty friend and person I am.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, the fucking CORE of why I'm pissed off has less to do with either of them (FUCK MICROSOFT FOR JUST GIVING ME A POPUP ABOUT PICTURES SAVED THAT SHOW ME AND MY HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH BTW. FUCK YOU).

The core of why I'm pissed off goes back to my fucking abuser, as everything seems to. Because that's the bitch that got me masking so hard in the first place for the sake of safety and survival and I'm pissed off that I ever fucking had to do that at all. Bullying contributed, yes, but she played such a major role in taking what was already stress-fracturing and just smashed it in finally.

Like I've changed so much about myself over the years, to the point that for a good chuck of late-middle to early-high school, I was a shell of a person. At some point I felt like I was waking up and seeing the people around me in a completely different way. I interacted with my siblings and learned about them as if I'd been away for years and just came back to fully-fledged tweens and teens.

I suppressed and changed and fucking. Ignored the idea of boundaries. To the point that honestly, now-ex-bestie was screwed over by all of this. Because when we became friends I was still so much more broken than I am today and he helped a lot but when shit went wrong it went SO wrong. And I never got the hang of boundaries or communication with him and I don't know why exactly I didn't feel safe but I didn't and I don't think that's entirely his fault.

But like. She fucked me up. I don't know a better way to say it.

And what actually pisses me off, the core thought that led to this entire, rambling, pain-in-the-ass blog post is the idea that I've changed myself so many times and I tried so hard to be what I thought people wanted me to be and I can't do that. I can't continue to do that because I'm fucking miserable, and aside from my partner and the remaining QPP that I haven't pushed away yet somehow, I have maybe three other friends who see me being myself, even as terrified as I was when that started, and embraced that person.

I'm rediscovering things about myself that I hadn't seen or remembered in years, and I'm becoming closer to my core self over time, and I value that greatly, but it should not have taken this much pain and suffering, whether that I've given or received, to get to this point. And I hate it and I regret the shit I've done but I just want to grow from this and move on and my stupid fucking brain sees tiny things and overreacts to them.

So I should be doing homework but instead I'm sitting on Tumblr, writing some fucking blog post trying to excuse everything I've done, to myself and others, to get to this point as if the ends could ever justify the means.

And I said I didn't really want people to read it but that's a lie. I'm just scared that people will finally tell me how terrible of a person I've been for the past 24 years. And confirm every bad thought I've ever had about myself. Because for every part of me that believes I've never deserved it, there's at least one part that believes I earned every single scar that exists on my body and mind.

#vent #personal vent #vent post #fucking help me not think about anything #I'm sorry.#I'm safe.#Unfortunately.

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techsolworldusa · 2 months ago

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Unlock Your Business Potential with the Best Microsoft Partner in Jamaica

If you’re looking for a reliable partner to navigate the complexities of Microsoft licenses and migration services, look no further than Technology Solutions Worldwide. We are proud to be recognized as a leading Microsoft Partner Jamaica, and we’re excited to help your business harness the full potential of technology. Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey toward digital transformation and business success. Please Visit: https://medium.com/@technologysolutionworldwide/unlock-your-business-potential-with-the-best-microsoft-partner-in-jamaica-0edfc7d425f0

#Microsoft Partner Jamaica #Best Microsoft Partner

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highoctanegem · 1 month ago

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Regan has some stinky goodies for Jade. Jade can probably barely resist, but Regan insists on having her read the card first. The card is another musical card, and though Regan couldn’t find a CRJ one this year, she was told this one was Beyonce. (She does not know Beyonce.) It’s actually the Windows ‘98 startup sound, which Regan thinks is familiar but can’t place it. She thinks actually, she must know Beyonce’s music. The cover of the card has a lot of black cats on it (Halloween themed…. And Microsoft themed) which is the most important thing.

Jade, mo ghrá,

Ever since we met, you have been 30 if you round up, but now you do not need to round. It is your birthday. Because you are someone who likes happiness, I wish you the happiest of days, and I aim to assure the quality of the occasion. It feels significant that we are together today. I’m not good at expressing such sentiments, but I believe I am better at it than a vacuum cleaner would be. Number 1 on The List should be celebrated today, I think, and perhaps we can add a few new numbers. I can think of some. Number 88: we are the best at compromising, because we end up with two outcomes instead of one (see couches). Number 291: With our combined efforts, we can get Emilio to do whatever we want. Number 101: We can go over every tiny new wrinkle together.

But enough of that, yes? It has become a bog in here. I am drenched to the bone. So I will allow most of what is included speak for itself. That is not literal. None of it will speak. Well, the card was supposed to. And the [scribbled out] speak to [scribbled out; she realized she was spoiling the best surprise].

I love you, Jade. Let’s go get tacos.

Is leatsa go síoraí i bhfola is i gcnámha,

Regan

PS (Postscript): I made an offer on the Decompe Lane house that we both approved of. It is no storage unit, but it is suitable for couples and cats who require full bedrooms. Partners who are together. Bone partners, especially. Ones who, perhaps, have some kind of an engagement. You know, something they intend to do, meaning they are planning on being present somewhere, doing something (who knows what), at a fixed or even tenuous point in time. So… an appropriate choice?

THE PRESENTS!

Obviously, there’s a stack of nude images that were taken by Mona a while back. Regan is posing (standing) in the studio with a rainbow cemetery backdrop. In some of them, she’s holding several knives. In others, she has a liter of Sprite in her arms, suggestively (suggestively of what??) There are also a few where a stuffed cat prop is somewhere in the photo, and a couple where Regan found a dead mouse in the studio and is actually excited about this. (Thank you Ria for helping me with the bit lmao)

There are two handwritten “tickets” to a Carly Rae Jepson show in Wicked’s Rest tonight. They’re written on Regan’s old prescription pad, like a medication script. Carly Rae Jepson is actually a Carly Rae Jepson impersonator tracked down by Emilio and Teddy, and “coerced” to come here and do a show. Regan inadvertently made the impersonator even more nervous so the show will be good, probably.

A pair of baby blue drum sticks, in support of Jade’s new drumming hobby.

A nice, leather bound diary that was made locally. Regan left a surprise message on the first page that’s basically one of her own entries, talking about how fortunate she is to have a lady with eyes like festering pools of purge fluid and arms well-muscled and firm enough you might think they’re in rigor. In addition to the flattery she adds that she believes Jade can do anything (though that does not mean she’s always correct). Regan also adds You said you used to keep a diary. While I do not understand (what I write in is, of course, a journal), I am supportive of this endeavor.

The mysterious second box that is REALLY stinky. It has eight dead, decomposing squirrels in it (8/8 on the Bloodworth Scale), all of which reminded Regan of Jade in different ways. The whiskers on one made it look especially mischievous. The tail on the other – those losing fur now – was as soft as Jade’s hair. If one squirrel kicked off a year-long relationship, maybe these would give them eight more years, right?

Because Jade was so excited about having a garden and the meaning of flowers, Regan bought her the language of flowers book, and an accompanying bundle of aster. The book has a note attached to it: You asked me about the meaning of flowers, so I acquired the book. The flowers I have selected – after careful research in the included text – are asters, related to those pink and white flowers we saw as Baxter. They symbolize love and wisdom, though I posit that all flowers do, especially when they wilt and die.

A thumb drive with three classic, gay, banshee films on it, so they can finally watch Imagine Me & Sinews, Blue is the Asphyxiation Color, and Brokenspine Hill. These were very difficult to find and Regan probably bribed Siobhan.

Then, of course, the cake. Which is shaped like a giant taco. Regan harassed a bakery for several days and checked in on their progress multiple times. She is now banned from purchasing another cake there. Jade insisted that she didn’t care about the cake and wanted whatever Regan liked, but minds can change.

#submission #I cant #I just cant #ch: regan

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13atoms · 2 years ago

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Something About The Weather (Orlo x Reader)

A/N: my flat AND office are freezing, so I’m writing something warm wrapped in 3 layers and gloves. Also! I finally just accepting paying Microsoft to get my beloved Word back – writing now costs me £7 a month, but i am happy lol

Fluff, tiniest bit of melancholy, established relationship, gn!reader, set late in s2. Gn!Reader. Country/city/area names are modern because google is free, but I am lazy. [1.3k words]

❄

The weather had turned as quickly as Catherine’s favour for Orlo. Chill swept through the palace, emptying the corridors and making people bundle up for the quickest darts across the courtyard. Inside candles and fireplaces roared, stoked by serfs who were as freezing as the noblefolk. Each evening both you and Orlo bustled into the apartment, one after the other, drawn to the flickering fireplace, jostling for space in front of it and warming your hands and faces until you could hardly stand the dry heat.

It was a version of the same conversation, every night, but you didn’t mind.

“It’s too bloody cold in this place,” Orlo would grumble, and you’d shudder as you agreed.

“We should winter somewhere warmer.”

“Good idea, my love.”

You’d both sit for a moment, contemplating, letting your eyes ache from the brightness of the fire, knees aching from kneeling in front of the hearth.

“Catherine would never let you go.”

Then, one night, Orlo had scoffed at that.

“What?” you’d insisted.

“I think she’d quite like to see the back of me to be honest. I imagine she would happily ship me off to Florence herself.”

You weren’t sure what to say, so you reached for his hand, stroking your fingers over the familiar writing callous on his ring finger, sapping the cold from his knuckles into your own palms.

You reached for him again as you drank for your evening tea, the apartment warming around you as the drapes were closed and the fire fed more fuel. He offered you a weak, gentle smile at the gesture, pressing the warmth of his empty teacup to his cheek.

“Did the two of you fight again?” you asked quietly, and Orlo grimaced.

“She is fighting with everyone. Peter has driven her to distraction.”

The silence words hung in the air, a comment you’d heard from Orlo a hundred times. That he ought to have killed the deposed Emperor. For Russia, he was right. But you were glad it hadn’t. it would have changed something, killed the fight inside himself.

“You’re doing your best, that’s all she can ask. All we can ask.”

You liked the Empress. She was kind. Clever. A good friend to you, when you had found few others to share a keen mind. Still, you knew with kindness came blindness, with cleverness came stubbornness. Orlo perhaps liked those traits less in a leader than a partner.

“Let’s go to bed,” he had muttered, exhaustion evident in his

You’d read books in bed, refusing to leave the warmth of down covers, curtains drawn tightly around the four poster frame to create a tiny world, deep maroon fabric stopping the cold Russian winter from sapping your body heat.

The drapes muted the light, too, the candle you shared warmed by the deep colour, making the words on your page jump as the flame flickered, both you and Orlo tilting your books towards one another to read without the obstruction of shadows.

Each of you read of foreign lands, places with year-round greenery and not a mention of snow, where food was abundant late into the winter and the doctors had never seen a case of frostbite.

You wondered if those people read about Siberia, or Moscow, thought of the people wrapped in their furs, eating pickled and salted food, the beautiful, terrifying darkness of the skies which seemed to linger all year long.

“Where are you reading about?” you murmured, knowing Orlo would be struggling to read in the light as much as you were.

His eyesight seemed worse these days, after too many hours hunched over his desk translating and writing.

“France,” he began, turning the pages back so you could skim a particularly vivid description.

“It sounds beautiful.”

“Yes, rolling green hills, fantastic baked goods – it seems. They mention them a lot,” he murmured, turning the pages again to show you yet another passage, watching as you read.

“Sounds warm,” you commented dryly, making Orlo huff out a shallow laugh, caressing the page he had returned to in thought at the words.

“Perhaps if we read enough about warm places, it will help.”

His book was new, but he had read yours before. You knew he had been taken with Italy, spoken at length about it until he finally finished the tome, and you could begin it. He often recalled passages like this, waiting for you to read a page before peering over your shoulder and asking what you thought of it.

“We could go,” he mused. “There’s nothing stopping us.”

He was dreaming again, and privately you winced as he did. He was a realist, you knew his imagination only hurt him, as much as you liked to imagine fresh cakes and warm beaches, the tiny boats you’d read about, floating up and down canals in Venice, the relics dotted around the south European countryside. It could not be. Not in this lifetime.

“Your job,” you began, stroking his arm in a sympathetic comfort as your words brought him back down to earth, “the palace wouldn’t run without you. We don’t have the means, the carriage alone would be months of travel –”

“We have the means,” he scoffed, and you tried not to wince at the hurt in his tone, “and the palace would be fine.”

“We would be under a new regime by the time we returned!” you chided, trying to sound light-hearted even as the fragility of Catherine’s claim to the throne seemed porcelain-breakable around you.

“What is the point of all this? If we can never leave! If you want to leave, we will.”

“I’m happy here!”

“You’re cold here,” he murmured, and you let your head fall towards his, propped up against one another – books long forgotten in your laps.

You put your hand on his wrist, finally both warmed by the cocoon of textiles and body-heat you shared.

“I am warm now,” you promised, feeling his hum through your bones as clearly as you heard it in your ears.

“One day,” he murmured, “we’ll go. We are not prisoners here. When everything is more stable, we’ll go.”

You used one hand to brace his jaw, keeping him in place as you shifted to kiss his temple.

“I know we will.”

He returned the gesture, gentle and sincere, nightshirt dragging against the pillows as he shifted to kiss you, first on the forehead and then on the lips.

You rescued both books from where they had fallen into the sheets, transferring them to your beside table and waiting for Orlo to remove his glasses before you extinguished the candle.

“I can’t wait,” he told you, the words a confession into the darkness. You smiled, shuffling beneath the covers and closer to him until he could feel the expression against his next.

“I can’t either. But first you need to stop fighting with Catherine.”

He knew you were teasing, the gentlest nudge to your shoulder the only consequence you faced as he curled in closer to you.

“I’ll do my best,” he promised.

“Thank you.”

It was a rare thing for the palace to be in complete silence so early in the evening, the cold driving people to their rooms and the deep winter darkness tempting them into bed earlier. It was something both of you enjoyed, hearing one another breathe undisturbed as you enjoyed the warmth of being pressed against one another, surrounded by soft fabrics and soft skin.

Orlo moved only to press his lips to your temple again, one hand curling around your back to press you against his torso. You wriggled to get comfortable, fearful of moving too much in case the cold air found space to keep between you.

His words were hardly more than a mumble as he spoke, lips less than an inch from your face.

“Do you think it’s too cold to undress?”

Your laughter broke the silence of the cold winter’s night.

#orlo x reader #count orlo x reader #the great hulu #the great fanfiction #count orlo #count orlo x f!reader #13atoms #fic #i am a metric fan but the second to last sentence is so much better imperial #less sensuality in the metric system yk #whimseas always comes through with the best gifs for the great

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apcseo · 4 months ago

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Meta and Microsoft Unveil Llama 2: An Open-Source, Versatile AI Language Model

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Meta and Microsoft have unleashed Llama 2, a powerful large language AI model designed to revolutionise the AI landscape. This sophisticated language model is available for public use, free of charge, and boasts exceptional versatility. In a strategic move to enhance accessibility and foster innovation, Meta has shared the code for Llama 2, allowing researchers to explore novel approaches for refining large language models.

Llama 2 is no ordinary AI model. Its unparalleled versatility allows it to cater to diverse use cases, making it an ideal tool for established businesses, startups, lone operators, and researchers alike. Unlike fine-tuned models that are engineered for specific tasks, Llama 2’s adaptability enables developers to explore its vast potential in various applications.

Microsoft, as a key partner in this venture, will integrate Llama 2 into its cloud computing platform, Azure, and its renowned operating system, Windows. This strategic collaboration is a testament to Microsoft’s commitment to supporting open and frontier models, as well as their dedication to advancing AI technology. Notably, Llama 2 will also be available on other platforms, such as AWS and Hugging Face, providing developers with the freedom to choose the environment that suits their needs best.

During the Microsoft Inspire event, the company announced plans to embed Llama 2’s AI tools into its 360 platform, further streamlining the integration process for developers. This move is set to open new possibilities for innovative AI solutions and elevate user experiences across various industries.

Meta’s collaboration with Qualcomm promises an exciting future for Llama 2. The companies are working together to bring Llama 2 to laptops, phones, and headsets, with plans for implementation starting next year. This expansion into new devices demonstrates Meta’s dedication to making Llama 2’s capabilities more accessible to users on-the-go.

Llama 2’s prowess is partly attributed to its extensive pretraining on publicly available online data sources, including Llama-2-chat. Leveraging publicly available instruction datasets and over 1 million human annotations, Meta has honed Llama 2’s understanding and responsiveness to human language.

In a Facebook post, Mark Zuckerberg, the visionary behind Meta, highlighted the significance of open-source technology. He firmly believes that an open ecosystem fosters innovation by empowering a broader community of developers to build with new technology. With the release of Llama 2’s code, Meta is exemplifying this belief, creating opportunities for collective progress and inspiring the AI community.

The launch of Llama 2 marks a pivotal moment in the AI race, as Meta and Microsoft collaborate to offer a highly versatile and accessible AI language model. With its open-source approach and availability on multiple platforms, Llama 2 invites developers and researchers to explore its vast potential across various applications. As the ecosystem expands, driven by Meta’s vision for openness and collaboration, we can look forward to witnessing groundbreaking AI solutions that will shape the future of technology.

This post was originally published on: Apppl Combine

#Apppl Combine #Ad Agency #AI Model #AI Tools #Llama 2 #facebook #Llama 2 Chat #META AI Model #Meta and Microsoft #Microsoft #Technology

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vbeyound · 5 months ago

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Maximizing Business Insights with Power BI: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses

Maximizing Business Insights Small businesses often face the challenge of making data-driven decisions without the resources of larger enterprises. Power BI, Microsoft's powerful analytics tool, can transform how small businesses use data, turning raw numbers into actionable insights. Here's a comprehensive guide to maximizing business insights with Power BI.

Introduction to Power BI

Power BI is a business analytics service by Microsoft that provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities. With an interface simple enough for end users to create their own reports and dashboards, it connects to a wide range of data sources.

Benefits for Small Businesses

1. User-Friendly Interface: Power BI's drag-and-drop functionality makes it accessible for users without technical expertise.

2. Cost-Effective: Power BI offers a free version with substantial features and a scalable pricing model for additional needs.

3. Real-Time Data: Businesses can monitor their operations with real-time data, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making.

Setting Up Power BI

1. Data Sources: Power BI can connect to various data sources such as Excel, SQL databases, and cloud services like Azure.

2. Data Modeling: Use Power BI to clean and transform data, creating a cohesive data model that forms the foundation of your reports.

3. Visualizations: Choose from a wide array of visualizations to represent your data. Customize these visuals to highlight the most critical insights.

Customizing Dashboards

1. Tailor to Needs: Customize dashboards to reflect the unique needs of your business, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to your goals.

2. Interactive Reports:Create interactive reports that allow users to explore data more deeply, providing a clearer understanding of underlying trends.

Real-World Examples

Several small businesses have successfully implemented Power BI to gain a competitive edge:

1. Retail: A small retail store used Power BI to track sales trends, optimize inventory, and identify peak shopping times.

2. Finance:A small financial advisory firm employed Power BI to analyze client portfolios, improving investment strategies and client satisfaction.

Integration with Existing Tools

Power BI seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products such as Excel and Azure, as well as third-party applications, ensuring a smooth workflow and enhanced productivity.

Best Practices

1. Data Accuracy: Ensure data accuracy by regularly updating your data sources.

2. Training: Invest in training your team to use Power BI effectively.

3. Security: Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data.

Future Trends

Power BI continues to evolve, with future updates likely to include more advanced AI features and enhanced data processing capabilities, keeping businesses at the forefront of technology.

Conclusion

Power BI offers small businesses a powerful tool to transform their data into meaningful insights. By adopting Power BI, businesses can improve decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage. Partnering with Vbeyond Digital ensures a smooth and successful implementation, maximizing the benefits of Power BI for your business. with Power BI: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses

#Power BI

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