#Gary from Analytics

[sullustangin]

Double Update: 2 Chapters -- "Problems" and "Solutions"

Rating: T (this is one great big emotional hurt comfort touchy feely fluff fest)

Pairing: Theron Shan/Smuggler

Quick Quote:

“So you’re glad to be home?” Eva gave a Theron a side-wise glance as they walked side by side from Virtue’s Thief.

That made him stutter-step, but only once.  His cadence returned as did his professionalism.  “Yes.”

Eva ran her eyes over the stubble, the dark circles, and the tired looking hair.  “You haven’t gone to your quarters yet.”

Theron gave a shake of his head.  “That’s…. not home.” 

They fell silent as they moved through the military hangar and slipped into the hallway that led to the war room. 

Eva knew she had limited time.  “So what is?” she whispered. 

 “Home…used to be people.  A person,” Theron amended.  “Then he wasn’t there.”  His throat bobbed once.  “Now, home is …”

In the middle of the hallway, he came to a dead halt.  Eva nearly fell over her own leg at the abrupt stop, but she managed to pivot to face him; she must have almost made it look good, because his lips pulled into a smile that was almost indecently obvious, a clear violation of the Yavin Accords.

In the quiet, in the space between the busy military hangar and the still-waiting war room, Theron gave Eva a wordless look that finished the sentence.

[timeturnerz]

The Hunger Games, 2012 (Gary Ross) and The Hunger Games, 2008 (Suzanne Collins)

It's so interesting that, from the very beginning, Gale is established as someone who has a disregard for human life, and who does not truly view those different from him as "people." We see this here, where he dehumanises the children Katniss will have to fight in the Games. We see this in Gale's vocal resentment of Madge Undersee, in how he despises her for the privilege she was born with and grew up with.

This "us vs. them" infighting and mentality that Gale falls for (a mentality that the Capitol propagates, and that the Games act as a metaphor for) is one that eventually leads him to kill innocent children.

This thinking is also something Katniss must learn to break out of -- when she grapples with killing her opponents in the Games, who are truly just children, or when she realises "who the real enemy is" at the end of Catching Fire.

But Gale is unable to grow past this. He's willing to kill children (!) who are innocents, who haven't committed any crime other than being born in the wrong place at the wrong time -- just like Madge, who Gale despised in Book 1.

And Gale obviously DOES feel bad about "killing" Prim. But what's worse is the thought that, if it wasn't Prim who died, if it was just some random faceless people, would Gale still care?

I think Gale is a really interesting character whose development is so tragic yet still makes so much sense. It's a shame to see people write him off so quickly without seeing the analytical, thematic, and political value that we can gain by exploring his story and ideology.

[lightshiningforth]

765874: Unification Spoilers!

I love, love, love that they constructed a scenario in which Kirk and Spock could say goodbye. It was beautiful.

I wish Bones were there.

I am willfully ignoring the implication that Saavik's son is Spock's. Nope. I am turning off my analytical brain and pretending that they are conveying Kirk's meaningful recognition of the full life Saavik lived after the time he knew her.

What the heck was all of that stuff in the beginning with Gary Mitchell from "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and Yeoman J.M. Colt from "The Cage"? Who was the alien in what looked like a TNG uniform who gave Kirk the Star Fleet badge by the fountain? I can't distinguish what I don't know because I'm not caught up on the new shows from what was original to this short.

Good CGI. Only slightly uncanny with young Kirk. And the Spock prosthetics? Incredible.

Overall, wow, that will be living in my brain rent free.

[sleepysloth99]

I got my Bully OC! Might make another.

Rando facts about her (She's literally me and I feel hella insecure posting this but here we goooooo)

She's Korean, Puerto Rican and German. Her dad came from Korea. Her mom is the mixed one.

She has a variety of styles outside of school ranging from lolita to punk to vintage.

She had Adhd. (According to google, ADD was the term used for ADHD in the 2000s, so she is diagnosed with ADD)

Cosplayer and a video game lover!

Huge horror fantatic

Traveler of sorts

Collects tea cups and vinyls

Her best friends: Algernon, Trent, Tom, Petey, Constantinos, Pedro, Beatrice, and is getting to know Jimmy. (Lmao, everyone she's friends with is her best friend.) She's on good terms with Angie, Pinky, and Christy, but they aren't exactly friends.

More facts below

Dislikes: Gord (She thinks that his fetish for poor people is repulsive, and has no respect for someone who would settle on being a woman's side piece.), Earnest (An uptight creep to her), Mandy (Bitchy for no reason, but even then, she defended her during that creepshot incident), Derby (All around awful, his tax bracket only makes her hate him more. Also, why does HE get to have Pinky?), Gary (Fluctuates. 50% of the time, she feels bad and likes him, and 50% of the time, she wants to twist his adams apple)

She only has 30% respect from the Jocks because she is on track and runs pretty well. She doesn't really interact with any of the jocks except Constantinos.

She hates the preppies for their materialism, waste, and overall blatant disregard for everyone..... of course, Pinky is an exception to her.

She has a 2% respect from the Greasers, but it's steadily increasing. She mostly talks to Ricky and Peanut about a variety of topics.

Half of the nerds like her, but she makes herself known for her distaste towards their leader. Still, she tries to be civil.

Surprisingly, she has 80% respect from the townies, given her attitude towards clique mentality, class division, and is overall very friendly towards the townies.

Has a crush on: Gary but doesn't act on it since she knows that it's not gonna end well and Pinky, but also doesn't wanna deal with the family. She understands the reality of situations and that these people have little to no redeeming qualities. She does mention being attracted to Johnny, but again, she never acts on her attractions given the clique drama.

More on her personality:

She's talkative, loud, outgoing, hyperactive, and very stubborn. If she wants something badly, she'll do whatever it takes to get it until she says she's done! She acts motherly towards the kids, though she seems to favor Pedro, presumably because they're both one of the few Hispanic kids at the school. Despite her bubbly and playful demeanor, she can be very analytical when she wants to. Even though she does feel bad for Gary, she often tells him off and is able to tell when something seems "Off." She seems a little paranoid at times or like an overthinker (she is an overthinker) hence why Tom and her are so close. She is also extremely dense when it comes to romantic cues. She can be seen smiling and nodding to someone ranting about their crush and not realizing they're talking about her. She also zones out a lot.

Dialouge:

Greetings:

Hey there!

Heyo!

How are you?

Whoa-ho!

Saying goodbye:

See ya!

Later!

Gotta go, bye!

I gotta go cook dinner for my grandma, see you!

Chasing:

Stop running!

Dammit! Get back here!

Hey...hah...slow down!

Stop....

Out of breath:

I need to.... run more

My side is burning

Air...hurts so much

I need a nap.

Walking around talking to themselves:

I gotta go to the Dragon's Wing and see if they got any new horror comics.

I'm so excited for this convention! I can't wait to meet Eve Campbell! She did so good in the movie, Screech!

I gotta make sure I have an outfit for the concert tonight...

I'd loooove a capybara for a pet!

Maybe 3 hours of sleep, 1 meal a day, and hardly any water isn't good.... I feel sick.

I have to visit grandpa's grave soon.

I got accepted into 2 colleges so far! Grandpa would be so proud!

I'll never take off your necklace, grandpa.

I have to do some shopping for my grandma today.

Tom wants to watch a movie today? I'll have to out-weird him with my collection of horror movies! He'll never take me down...

So damn tired...

Fire alarm:

So.... can we leave?

One day we're gonna have a real fire and burn to death.

Whoever did it, thank you.

Oh yeah! Nap time!

Let's goooo!

Reaction to fights/mischief:

Why the violence?

It's 8 AM, too early for this.

Most peaceful day at Bullworth.

It's always sunny at Bullworth Academy.

But why?

Honestly? I saw nothing, I heard nothing.

Thrown a rat:

Gah! What was... *screams loudly*

AUGHHH! Now I gotta disinfect!

It got in my mouth!

You asshole!

Conversing:

My psychiatrist said that 3 hours of sleep and 4 cups of coffee is unhealthy. Who does she think she is? A doctor?

I'm so hungry, bro. All I had today was a small bag of animal crackers.

Constantinos needs to make a move on Pinky already! Otherwise I might take over!

Gary is cute....when he doesn't talk.

I know I yap, but I don't talk a lot of nothing!

Hm, I was thinking of taking Beatrice out for some wooder ice.

Bullworth is a lot smaller than Filadelfia.

So not only did Gord decide to break apart a couple, but he settled on being a side bitch? Wow. And I thought preppies had class.

Today, I got 7 hours of sleep! Could you believe?

I hope Tad is alright.... I heard him crying last period.

Trent needs to chill. Not every girl wants him!

My fishnets ripped! Now I gotta get new ones!

I love capitalism when it benefits me!

Honestly, I don't like Lola, but I respect her fashion sense. Greaser culture needs more appreciation.

That Quiet Hill 2 has so much lore! And the symbolism? I think I'm in love!

Conversation responses:

What? No!

And.... why would I do that?

Hell yeah!

For sure!

I totally get what you're saying.

Eh, not my thing, but you do you!

Okay....uh...what?

I uh.... was kinda zoning out. Sorry. What was that?

Complaining:

This is such bullshit!

Why are we even doing this?

What's the purpose in all of this?

Why am I even here?

How is this going to impact me?

In the grand scheme of things, none of this will matter!

Unknown/unused dialouge:

Constan! My man! See Pinky over there?

You better ask her out!

Gary, can it.

You'd be cute if you never talked.

Shut the fuck up, Earnest!

Earnest, choke on a bone!

Erm, ackshully! Looking ass dweeb.

Hello Pinky~!

Hey there Ms. Phillips~!

Older women and men are so much better than the girls and guys here....

Starting fights with cliques:

Bring it, bitch!

The hell did you say?

Look at you! You're pathetic!

And what about it?

Bullies:

C'mon, be a man!

I've been looking forward to this.

Ha! Tryhard!

Go on! Go on!

Nerds:

Don't you got a locker to crawl in?

C'mon lab rat, bring it!

I'll smash those stupid glasses!

I'll snap your back in half!

Jocks:

I'm gonna punt you like a football!

Hut hut!

Yeah, fumble your balls, bitch!

Steroids aren't gonna help ya now!

Greasers:

I'll grease the floor with you!

Take that wrench and stick it!

Careful not to slip on your grease!

Whoa! Wet floor!

Preppies:

You sure you got the genes to fight?

You're rich! You can afford surgery!

Oh good heavens! Your Aquaberry!

C'mon, piggybank! Drop the coins!

Townies:

Damn dropout!

You're a townie for a reason!

This seems a little above your level!

You sure you don't want me to explain this to ya?

Requesting an errand:

Yo! Jimmy! Do me a favor!

Do me a solid, will ya?

Hey man, can you help me out?

Heyo! Got a request for ya!

Friendly Comment:

You look amazing!

Ooh! Nice outfit! Do a 360!

I like that new hair!

You're the goat!

Unfriendly comments:

Your mom should've swallowed you.

You're a walking condom advertisement.

Can it, idiot.

Talking a whole lotta nothing!

Recieving flowers:

Aw! Thank you!

These are pretty! Who is it for?

For me? That's sweet.

Aw, Jimmy! You're adorable!

Attempt to kiss:

Whoa, I'm 18.

Um...not gonna happen, Jimmy.

You're literally 15, chill.

There are plenty of other girls, Jimmy.

Jimmy, you're sweet, but I'm too old for you.

I think you got me mistaken for someone else....

[compacflt]

okay "normie median Biden voter ice" got me. That's funny. But also so true! It prob took him a bit to vote dem too (though I believe that Ice would have never voted for Trump). Would love to hear more thoughts on Ice and Mav's politics. Also the list of who they would have voted for if you're willing to share.

i do worry that posting my extremely in-depth headcanons about some of this stuff will have the JKR “wizard shit” effect on my writing and ruin it a little, but ask and ye shall receive

copy-pasted straight from my list of “unhinged compacflt!top gun headcanons” that ive been keeping since september: on ice & mav's politics

16. Since their friendship began, Ice has always told Maverick who to vote for, since Maverick doesn't care enough to pay attention to national politics. They are begrudging ConservaDems (conservative political views, would vote conservative every election if Republicans weren’t actively sending them to war/actively promoting fascism). Ice’s voting record (and after 1988, Mav’s too) 1980-2020—note that he has always considered himself an “educated moderate”: 1980: Reagan. 1984: Reagan. 1988: Bush. 1992: Bush. 1996: Clinton (reaction to aftermath of PGW. Doesn’t care that Clinton enacted DADT because “I’m not [redacted], so it doesn’t apply to me”). 2000: Gore (refusal to vote for another Bush). 2004: Kerry (Mav votes Bush this year out of spite as he and Ice are going through their break-up). 2008: McCain (Navy loyalty). 2012: Obama (liked him as a person/worked closely with him, didn’t like his policies so much). 2016: Clinton (no other alternative). 2020: Biden (actually liked/previously worked with Biden, and now actively married to another man and therefore had to make some liberal concessions). 2024-onwards they will vote for any Democrat as long as they aren’t a “socialist.”

17. Also, Maverick didn’t vote in 2016. Partially because in my universe the TGM mission takes place that November, very near the election, and he has bigger fish to fry (something Ice will later take him to task for), and partially because I genuinely think he wouldn’t be able to stomach either mainstream candidate and probably would’ve voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson, which might have torn his relationship with Ice to shreds a few days before schedule. “Are you fucking kidding me? Johnson? Pete, this moron’s moronic party wants to abolish the driver’s license—” / “—Yeah, and then I could ride your sweet wheels with no problem whatsoever—maybe he’ll abolish pilots’ licenses, too, I’d like to see that—” / “If you vote for Gary fucking Johnson, I will very happily stop footing the bill for your piece-of-shit airplane, and you can see how useful your pilot’s license is then—” / So Mav didn’t vote in 2016. 

35. In terms of what he Tweets: I do foresee, post-retirement, Ice basically becoming a neoliberal military intellectual type on Twitter a la Mark Hertling (look him up on Twitter). Bio: “Retired @SECNAV. Advisor @WhiteHouse and @VoteVets. Contributing writer @TheAtlantic. Interested in geopolitics & modern warfare. Aviator, husband, Padres fan. [American flag emoji]” Only posts pictures of himself and Maverick at three specific annual events: 1. their wedding anniversary (“36 years with this fool and he’s still surprised to find out that I like the F-5 better than the A-4 #happyanniversary”), 2. every EAA Airventure (huge airplane convention), 3. San Francisco’s Fleet Week (which of course they MUST attend, they even headline it in 2018). Informative, analytical, highly-respected. Maybe goes on CNN or NBC all the time to talk about civil-military relations shit (aversion to FOX since the start of the Iraq War). Gonna say he had like four really viral threads about Russia and Ukraine in April or May and so has 300k followers or something like that. He has a personal website that links back to his Twitter and every essay he writes for international publications, with a pretty braggadocious bio (something along the lines of “Tom Kazansky has directly almost started global nuclear war twice in his life, and in the thirty-year gap in between, sold the Swiss half their entire goddamn Air Force and directed an entire Fleet during the Iraq War”). Lots of tweets like “Military aviation hot take: Compared to the F-22, the F-35 is a waste of money. Source: husband with 400+ hours of F-35 experience.” / “[Quote tweet of Russian Foreign Minister boasting about Su-57 production lines] Oh, so you guys finally figured out how to make more than one every other year?” / “Analysis of the failure of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine, from an ex-US Pacific Fleet Commander’s perspective: a short [thread emoji] [This thread gets 26k likes and 4k retweets]” / “This weekend my husband & I flew in to @EAA Oshkosh #OSH19 & took home first place for best P-51. Not to brag, but.” (A reply to this tweet: “Sir, you really know how to bury the lede that your husband is Adm. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. I had to look it up on Wikipedia.” / @TKazansky: “What, was it not obvious? Who else could it have been?”) Also, I see him writing a whole bunch of op-eds for international political magazines a la Tom Nichols (look him up on Twitter too). Writing analyses of recent geopolitical/military events for the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Bulwark, the Navy Times, the Atlantic, Bellingcat, etc. Not so much focused on domestic issues (but VoteVets [socially progressive vets’ group] board member, and ardently pro-democracy, yay!). He’s a smart guy.

37. This is not a headcanon, just kind of a… a real-life implication. My Ice was Deputy Commander of Third Fleet in 2003, meaning he’d have been there in command of the USS Abraham Lincoln when President Bush gave his “Mission Accomplished” speech aboard that ship in May less than 2 months after the initial American invasion of Iraq. Very premature & embarrassing. Ice would’ve been in direct contact with Bush/Cheney/NSC bureaucrats many, many times during the war. I genuinely believe this is what pushed him over the edge into firm liberal territory.

[longbobmckenzie]

GIVE ME THE FUCKING HOCKEY AU IM ONSESSED WITH SPORTS ROMANCE FICS

SORRY IT'S TAKING SO BLOODY LONG TO GET TO IT

I already got asked about this one (here) so for you I'll give you a list of the prospective cast. These are subject to change if/when I rework the idea, but for now here's what I've got! Also I'm probably gonna have to cut it down a bit because the cast is enormous 😆

Bailey - Main Character. Daughter of the team's owner, she's starting a new job with the team doing PR/social media

Henrik - Love interest. Plays forward, is planning to quit hockey after the season is done because he wants to do more climbing (he got a knee injury the previous season which meant rehabbing all summer and that was frustrating for him)

Magnus - because obviously Henrik's brothers have to be included. Magnus is a star player on the team and also a fuckboy. I have to rework a bit with him, but expect him to sleep with a lot of people

Rasmus - Henrik's other brother, who plays for an opposing team

Lucas - the team physio (no I'm not changing it to Jack but he can be there as a background character I guess), also Henrik's best friend. Has a crush on Bobby

Bobby - an import from the UK, he's a total pest on the ice - scrappy, runs his mouth, but nobody understands his accent. He's also really, really good, which makes him even more infuriating to play against. Oh, and he's sleeping with Magnus 😏

Graham - team captain. His surname is Crumb for the lolz

Hope & Priya - Bailey's friends/roommates, and puck bunnies. Both trying to sleep with the team's goalie

Noah - the team's goalie

Blake - PR

Elisa - social media, is engaged to the coach

Jake - the coach

Rohan - assistant coach. might also have a little thing going with Jake and Elisa

Jo - zamboni driver. she's constantly souping it up

Gary - rink maintenance. keeps having to fix the zamboni. ETL with Jo

Rocco - runs the bar where the team hangs out

Felix - wide-eyed rookie

Carl - analytics guy

Iain Stirling - play-by-play announcer

Jakub - strength and conditioning coach

Marisol - sports psychologist

Jasper - Henrik's agent

Hannah - local sports reporter

Tim - waterboy

Levi - Bailey's ex from college (also plays hockey)

I have a whole list of other characters who'll likely be players on the team or on opposing teams. This list is obviously just S1-2 but there will definitely be some S3 characters sprinkled in, and once I rework it I'll probably try to add in some others, especially S6.

If I end up changing it so that Roberto is the LI, I'd probably have Marshall in the Magnus role, but I'm not sure what I'd do with the Lucas/Bobby/Magnus thing because it wouldn't hit the same with Marshall. Plus Roberto wouldn't have the same relationship with Lucas that Henrik does, so I'd have to rethink that.

Thanks for the ask!!

ask about my wips

[lugiepie]

do you have lore for hero-n and tabbygon 0:

alas, i do…

i’ve decided to completely rework how i wanted the chimera logs to be considering i lost the plot so hard but still loved gary to death as a character to write. so, instead of an au focusing on just gary and his struggles with his life and friends, gary is now a narrator. he is thrust into his job at the chimera lab just as suddenly as he was in the og chimera logs story, but now he’s all alone. there was no first day escape incident that led him to meet max, izzy is no longer here (still thinking about this. she could be in it, but as a casualty), etc.

hero-n and tabbygon are gary’s first chimeras. they were made in the first week he was there (or, at least their concepts) and due to not having any friends at the chimera lab, he heavily idolizes them. to him, they are his friends (and he eventually even considers them his children) despite them being nothing more than some blueprints and a hard drive. he designed them to compliment each other: hero-n was meant to be a swift, frail attack chimera while tabbygon supported it and could protect it if need be. gary longed for the day that a heron and a cat would arrive at the chimera lab so he could realize his vision so much so that he assembled all of the required mechanical parts in advance.

unfortunately for him, his heron and cat never came. instead, he was delivered two torn-up children who he was ordered to keep alive at all costs. against his wishes, his blueprints for the internal mechanics (and, later, their combat tools) were used on the twins. he despises the twins for taking his one chance at happiness and completion and destroying them. to make matters worse, lucas is the heron (a defensive psi user with attack-based programming) and claus is the cat (an offensive psi user running on analytical and defensive programming). those “hell-sent suckers” can’t even be good chimeras! at any chance he gets, he berates and torments the boys by letting the other chimeras trample or fight them. he nearly kills the boys several times, either through ignorance or from training them just a little too much.

all until his blueprints are returned to him by lucas. at first gary completely dismisses this. he idolized the heron and the cat for so long, and by now he had accepted that they would never see the light of day. he considers locking lucas in the cryo room for his supposed sabotage. however, he eventually overhears how worried doctor andonuts and, by extension, every damn human in the lab is about him. they think gary’s completely lost it (i mean, they’re right) and they don’t know what to do with him if he’s going to continue to be this violent with their expensive chimeras. gary takes one last look at his blueprints, leaves them under his bed, and “kidnaps” the twins. in reality, he just ushered them into his truck and tried to get them home; unfortunately neither of them remembered where tazmily was and they got caught.

gary then realizes that, due to how the wrong twin has the opposite’s programming quirks, he comes up with a long and convoluted plan that will result in one of the twins being able to leave the lab forever. after much consideration from the boys and gary, they decide lucas is the best one to go. at least one of them has to stay to be commander, after all, and who better than the powerhouse thunder thumbs? but that means the heron and the cat are separated, and what happens?

claus becomes violent and short-tempered, much like how flint was the night of hinawa’s death and also like how gary was when they first met. he begins a spiral into madness where he, quite literally, becomes porky #2. lucas, meanwhile, latches on to flint after miraculously finding his way back home. he becomes so independent and stale in the face that the folks of tazmily think he’s been possessed by something. that and people finding his cybernetics vile lead to him becoming “the ghost of tazmily”; he flies above the town and over the sea at dawn and dusk, as flying is the only thing that drowns out the noise of his spiraling negative thoughts. he steals from shops and people’s homes in the night. he’s regularly crawling around in sunshine forest to take out his feelings on the landscape, leaving perfectly scorched patterns from PK Love everywhere he goes.

i’ve recently attempted rewriting the chimera logs following this storyline, and it hasn’t gone well. i’m not even ten pages in and i already want to set google docs on fire. i wish i could express in writing just how important the concept of a shady heron and a mischievous cat are to gary’s entire situation, as they act as constant reminders of who, what, and where he’s been in life, but i simply don’t have the brainpower to do that currently methinks.

just know that the heron and the cat cannot be separated; for if they are, their absence will drive their compliment to conform to the next nearest thing, and that will bring certain doom.

there were always two.

[world-cinema-research]

How Cinema Has Changed Since 1965 (Final Analytic Essay) Pt. 2

Carly Leavitt-Hullana

Above is the official movie trailer for Forrest Gump which gives and overview of what the film is about as well as the style, look, and feel of the film.

Moving on to one of America’s favorite films, Forrest Gump (1994), is where you start to see the fundamentals shift from completely unconventional and unrepeatable to somewhat unconventional and a bit more unoriginal. We see this in Forrest Gump as although it is a one of a kind film that touches on possible sensitive subjects such as the Vietnam war and the fact that Forrest is a mentally challenged man, it holds that safety net for a successful performance as it stars well-known actors like Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Robin Wright (Jenny), Sally Field (Ms. Gump), and Gary Sinise (Lieutenant Dan). As well as was produced by a previously well-known and reputable production and distribution company, Paramount Pictures. Both of these factors did in fact provide an equation for success as this film is widely known and loved, is highly quoted, and won multiple cinematic awards, which Everett Hunt dives deeper into and the impact of the film in his own analytic essay (Forrest Gump (1994) short essay By Everett Hunt).

Above is a still image from one of the scenes with a more complex message underneath where Forrest shares his thoughts about the the US in Vietnam and reunites with Jenny who was currently advocating against the war.

However, a more indepth look into Forrest Gump reveals more complexity of the film and the director's message. Critically acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert skims the surface when he says, “And yet this is not a heartwarming story about a mentally challenged man. That cubbyhole is much too small and limiting for Forrest Gump. The movie is more of a meditation on our times, as seen through the eyes of a man who lacks cynicism and takes things for exactly what they are” (Forrest Gump via Roger Ebert). An academic article, written by Yunling Zhang, takes it a step further when he states, “It analyzes the plots related to social, political and cultural context and discusses main themes reflected in the work, namely anti-war ideas, anti-racism and the realization American dream” (A New Historicist Interpretation of Forrest Gump via Universe Scientific Publishing).  Even so, subplots within the film follow popular movie cliches and tropes pushing Forrest Gump slightly towards unconventional yet unoriginal change in cinema.

This is one of the official movie posters for the film which showcases the advanced technology and great editing that we have in cinema today.

Continuing to the last film I will be discussing, Inception (2010), which is yet another film on the eccentric side as its one of few that plays with the idea of entering, building, and controlling dreams. However, it has many highly conventional aspects of starring well-known actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio (Cobb), Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page as Ariadne), Cillian Murphy (Fischer), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur), Tom Hardy (Eames), and Ken Watanabe (Saito). Along with the film being produced by the well-known and followed director Christopher Nolan, released by a highly acclaimed distribution company Warner Bros, has the common storyline of running into an issue that is resolved at the end, and has the safety net of the typical unoriginal action/suspense trope. One could even argue that it retains another common theme of the main character being haunted by the memory and trauma of a deceased significant other, which plays a large part in Inception.

This scene shows off some of the great visuals and tech that the movie has that I discuss below.

Regardless, I greatly enjoyed watching Inception as it is a great action-packed, suspenseful film that truly does keep you on the edge-of your seat guessing. However, it is not the best film I have seen and can agree with film critic Peter Bradshaw when he says, “Well, Inception is still very impressive; looking back, I see that I found its tech and technique dazzling, but the narrative inert. Yet maybe that was not doing justice to how staggering its fantasy set pieces were” (Inception review – the virtual reinvention of virtual reality via The Guardian). Even so, further in his article he applauds Nolan on the uniqueness of this film as well as the brilliant creation of the dream scenes throughout the film, where I also argue Nolan’s focus of the film was prioritized. Other experienced critics and viewers acknowledge the interesting and distinctive style in the dream scenes, however find the plot and entirety of the film lacking a purpose, unoriginal and insufficient of the unprecedented films released closer to 1965.

Throughout the process of coming to this conclusion, that films have changed from unparalleled and truly unconventional to somewhat original and conventional since 1965, main dimensions that created this perspective were periodically occurring social, political, economic, cultural, and artistic dimensions. Which are all connected as films created closer to 1965 appeared to pay little attention to how a film would sit with an audience as they were very unique, had a high possibility of being offensive, and were highly unconventional for a multitude of reasons discussed throughout the essay. Generally, films released closer to 1965 gave the impression of having more artistic freedom with the ability to produce whatever they felt the need to produce. All of which effect the art, culture, and economic effects and perception of each films’ performance, which filmmakers and films released closer to the present are straying from by releasing films more for a profit and audience reception rather than relaying a desired message or having a specific purpose.

[mariacallous]

In the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic, government leaders paid $100 million for management consultants at McKinsey to model the spread of the coronavirus and build online dashboards to project hospital capacity.

It's unsurprising that leaders turned to McKinsey for help, given the notorious backwardness of government technology. Our everyday experience with online shopping and search only highlights the stark contrast between user-friendly interfaces and the frustrating inefficiencies of government websites—or worse yet, the ongoing need to visit a government office to submit forms in person. The 2016 animated movie Zootopia depicts literal sloths running the DMV, a scene that was guaranteed to get laughs given our low expectations of government responsiveness.

More seriously, these doubts are reflected in the plummeting levels of public trust in government. From early Healthcare.gov failures to the more recent implosions of state unemployment websites, policymaking without attention to the technology that puts the policy into practice has led to disastrous consequences.

The root of the problem is that the government, the largest employer in the US, does not keep its employees up-to-date on the latest tools and technologies. When I served in the Obama White House as the nation’s first deputy chief technology officer, I had to learn constitutional basics and watch annual training videos on sexual harassment and cybersecurity. But I was never required to take a course on how to use technology to serve citizens and solve problems. In fact, the last significant legislation about what public professionals need to know was the Government Employee Training Act, from 1958, well before the internet was invented.

In the United States, public sector awareness of how to use data or human-centered design is very low. Out of 400-plus public servants surveyed in 2020, less than 25 percent received training in these more tech-enabled ways of working, though 70 percent said they wanted such training. 

But knowing how to use new technology does not have to be an afterthought, and in some places it no longer is. In Singapore, the Civil Service Training College requires technology and digital-skills training for its 145,000 civilian public servants. Canada’s “Busrides” training platform gives its quarter-million public servants short podcasts on topics like data science, AI, and machine learning to listen to during their commutes. In Argentina, career advancement and salary raises are tied to the completion of training in human-centered design and data-analytical thinking. When public professionals possess these skills—learning how to use technology to work in more agile ways, getting smarter from both data and community engagement—we all benefit.

Today I serve as chief innovation officer for the state of New Jersey, working to improve state websites that deliver crucial information and services. When New Jersey’s aging mainframe strained under the load of Covid jobless claims, for example, we wrote forms in plain language, simplified and eliminated questions, revamped the design, and made the site mobile-friendly. Small fixes that came from sitting down and listening to claimants translated into 48 minutes saved per person per application. New Jersey also created a Covid-19 website in three days so that the public had the information they wanted in one place. We made more than 134,000 updates as the pandemic wore on, so that residents benefited from frequent improvements.

Now with the explosion of interest in artificial intelligence, Congress is turning its attention to ensuring that those who work in government learn more about the technology. US senators Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) are calling for universal leadership training in AI with the AI Leadership Training Act, which is moving forward to the full Senate for consideration. The bill directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government's human resources department, to train federal leadership in AI basics and risks. However, it does not yet mandate the teaching of how to use AI to improve how the government works.

The AI Leadership Training Act is an important step in the right direction, but it needs to go beyond mandating basic AI training. It should require that the OPM teach public servants how to use AI technologies to enhance public service by making government services more accessible, providing constant access to city services, helping analyze data to understand citizen needs, and creating new opportunities for the public to participate in democratic decisionmaking.

For instance, cities are already experimenting with AI-based image generation for participatory urban planning, while San Francisco’s PAIGE AI chatbot is helping to answer business owners' questions about how to sell to the city. Helsinki, Finland, uses an AI-powered decisionmaking tool to analyze data and provide recommendations on city policies. In Dubai, leaders are not just learning AI in general, but learning how to use ChatGPT specifically. The legislation, too, should mandate that the OPM not just teach what AI is, but how to use it to serve citizens.

In keeping with the practice in every other country, the legislation should require that training to be free. This is already the case for the military. On the civilian side, however, the OPM is required to charge a fee for its training programs. A course titled Enabling 21st-Century Leaders, for example, costs $2,200 per person. Even if the individual applies to their organization for reimbursement, too often programs do not have budgets set aside for up-skilling.

If we want public servants to understand AI, we cannot charge them for it. There is no need to do so, either. Building on a program created in New Jersey, six states are now collaborating with each other in a project called InnovateUS to develop free live and self-paced learning in digital, data, and innovation skills. Because the content is all openly licensed and designed specifically for public servants, it can easily be shared across states and with the federal government as well.

The Act should also demand that the training be easy to find. Even if Congress mandates the training, public professionals will have a hard time finding it without the physical infrastructure to ensure that public servants can take and track their learning about tech and data. In Germany, the federal government’s Digital Academy offers a single site for digital up-skilling to ensure widespread participation. By contrast, in the United States, every federal agency has its own (and sometimes more than one) website where employees can look for training opportunities, and the OPM does not advertise its training across the federal government. While the Department of Defense has started building USALearning.gov so that all employees could eventually have access to the same content, this project needs to be accelerated.

The Act should also require that data on the outcomes of AI training be collected and published. The current absence of data on federal employee training prevents managers, researchers, and taxpayers from properly evaluating these training initiatives. More comprehensive information about our public workforce, beyond just demographics and job titles, could be used to measure the impact of AI training on cost savings, innovation, and performance improvements in serving the American public.

Unlike other political reforms that could take generations to achieve in our highly partisan and divisive political climate, investing in people—teaching public professionals how to use AI and the latest technology to work in more agile, evidence-based, and participatory ways to solve problems—is something we can do right now to create institutions that are more responsive, reliable, and deserving of our trust.

I understand the hesitance to talk about training people in government. When I worked for the Obama White House, the communications team was reluctant to make any public pronouncements about investing in government lest we be labeled “Big Government” advocates. Since the Reagan years, Republicans have promoted a “small government” narrative. But what matters to most Americans is not big or small but that we have a better government.

[cmuenvs3000w23]

Environmental Sustainability and My Role as a Nature Interpreter (Unit 10)

Nature is unequivocally important and I believe our role as interpreters is to communicate, demonstrate and connect our target audiences to support and follow in that belief. I postulated at the beginning of this course that everyone has the capability to be an interpreter, because of the transitive nature of our medium we are able to instil motivation, direction, and motivation to our audiences. My own personal ethics about nature interpretation resides heavily alongside environmentalism and ecocentric viewpoints. The reasoning behind my stance that ties into the theme of this final blog post, is that nature is unable to advocate for itself, and therefore deserves to have a voice on its behalf because of how much of our world is possible because of it.

Through my personal development as a student of nature and an interpreter from this course, I think the most important techniques to bring with me into the future of nature interpretation are the inclusive communication tools regarding learning styles, managing diverse audiences, appealing to the masses, and the strength of the written word in interpretation as expressed in Beck et al. (2018). Other supplementary materials that are worthy of note in my development as an interpreter are the activities and cultural barrier awareness provided by Gallavan (2015) in address of our "invisible knapsacks". The incorporation of the arts and music from Gary et al. (2001) and van Boeckel. (2015), in providing techniques for audience connectivity that transcend the complexities of verbal and physical categories by evoking emotions and experiences within our own personal identities. The final approach I think is significantly notable is the use of science, technology and citizen analytics to invigorate, diversify and intensify environmentally sustainable strategies, surveys and concepts as explained in Merenlender et al. (2016).

The responsibilities and duties I bring to the role of nature interpreter is to motivate, educate, communicate, and direct my target audiences to become more knowledgeable, involved, passionate and conscientuous of their decisions, lifestyles, communication, and promotion of environmentally sustainable, conscious, and supportive concepts for current and future generations. These challenges when applied to us as interpreters, requires us individually to be educational "chameleons", a term I use to describe our capabilities to act, behave and conduct ourselves to the respective situation and demonstrate the key principles I have outlined irrespective of the variability of who we are addressing. All of the photos I have attached throughout this post are to give you a semblance of the world, how we have come to exist, and why it is so important to prioritize and preserve it for those now and those to come. I feel it is my responsibility as an individual who has chosen to pursue environmental studies that I must to the best of my abilities been an advocate for the voiceless aspect of nature as it has provided safe and successful life to myself and those I care for. A reciprocative mindset I hope to promote within anyone and everyone in the world.

Overall, my personal ethics in nature interpretation are to advocate on behalf of nature because its voice is drowned-out, its important ignored and misunderstood. I aim to bring a realistic and raw viewpoint to interpretation, because nature has become romanticized and we can no longer rely on that stance as our singular major foothold. Instead I want to bring attention to its indisputable strength to progress without failure, perseverance despite the adversity of humanity, greed, and ignorance. Humans possess the ability to be better than nature and should be incentivized to consciously make the decisions that facilitate its success. When the world thrives, we all thrive as a by-product and we become more connected to the planet as a result. As described by Beck et al. (2018), the proper result of good nature interpretation is reflective in the ability of the interpreter to transfer their passion for the environment to their respective audience so that they leave with a reinvigorated and elevated mindset in their approaches and perspective towards nature. The goal is to educate through scientifically credible information, and personal motivation, so that the conflict and ignorance is no longer an option. The political, societal and natural climate of the world need to be aligned for the betterment of our planet and it starts with us as interpreters, so I choose to be the change I wish to see in the world. I hope that those of you have followed along with me do the same, and we begin to or already have begun to effect change for the single most important aspect of our lives. Our earth!

Interpret for those you love, so they can spread it further and beyond, to the point where we have a collaborative and sustainable perspective on nature and that it never has to be point of tension ever again. The difference starts with all of us!

References

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating environmental education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30 (6), 1255-1265. https://doi-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/10.1111/cobi.12737

van Boeckel, J. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801–802. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474

[sullustangin]

Finished Fic!

Last Chapter: His Birthday, 21 ATC (3632 BBY)

Pairing: Theron Shan/Smuggler

The Last Lines:

“One day,” he said aloud to himself and to a small box, as he started to dig, “I am going to bring Eva Corolastor here.  I’m going to tell her about the hero that saved the galaxy.  How he gave his life in service but broke every rule of SIS and probably the tenants of Asimov along the way.  She will be very proud of you.” 

Theron carefully placed the box in the shallow grave he had dug.  “That’s… probably going to take time.  Years.  Before she’s ready. Because she’s probably not going to be 100% after carbonite.  We’re going to fight a war.  We’ll have to find time to get out here, unless the Eternal Empire suddenly develops an interest in the archaeologists out here.  So be patient.  By that point… I should be ready to talk to her about you.”

Theron smoothed earth back over the box.  “Next time we’re here, T3, everything is going to be better.  Smuggler = Hero.”  Theron smiled.  “And T3 = Hero.”

He stood up and clapped the dirt from his hands.  Onto the next freighter.  Onto the next planet.  Onto the next freighter.  Onto the port.  And again and again until the one last jump that would take him to Odessen.

The sun was already setting.

Rather than an ‘end of day memory,’ Theron thought of a cup of caf, early in the morning, shared.

“What you’ve seen is my life.  Observe and fight.  Interrogate and meditate. On the bad nights, I skip the meditation.  It can be hard to focus due to noise. Bruises.  Other distractions.  But when I can meditate, it’s on the future.  It’s always dawn somewhere.  Some new day where it all works out.” 

[countessklair]

playing around with my ideas on different 'canon' couples and their compatibility. we don't get a good look (vague at best) as to what most couples other than Nope are like internally, at least until disaster strikes and MC is called up to fix everything. but now i'm sitting here thinking about Marisol and Gary being coupled up, and dudes...it was doomed from the start.

likewise with Lottie, i fully believe Marisol was only vaguely attracted to Gary, because he's canonically hot, and the girl's got eyes. but it doesn't go deeper than that for her. we know she's a game player off her route (and i love that for her lmao), so she was definitely grafting around in order to not get dumped prior to the first recoupling. i don't think she was only grafting on Gary, i think *this* was the moment of inception that started Roccogate. and i also don't think Marisol would've been encouraging to any potential attachment on Gary's end because she knew going into it that she just wanted him to pick her so she could stick around, but Marisol was already looking for better options.

so when Gary gets insecure and baffled by the secret kiss with Lottie (on a route where MC was coupled up with him on day one i absolutely don't think the kiss was mutual but he's too kind to say that to her), and then Gary acts like an ass the morning after Hannah gets dumped, Marisol probably views that as good enough in the eyes of the public to really start grafting on Rocco.

i love Gary and Marisol, but the two of them were not destined to be. he's put off by the 'analytical' side of her, and he can see that she's playing the game a little bit, and Gary (foolish as some of his choices and some of the things he says might be, though i say that with love) Gary is just plain not a game player. and Marisol is a highly intellectual person who likes to push her partners (for the spice), and Gary just doesn't respond to that in a way she likes the way someone like Lucas or Graham would. and I think what Marisol specifically misses in Gary and why she likes Rocco so much is because Gary's not that great at chatting girls up. he can't do the over the top, straight out of a hallmark movie romantic comments the way Rocco does (though personally i think that's a plus).

so yeah. just some thoughts.

[themculibrary]

Happy/Pepper Masterlist

Accountability (ao3) - roboticonography pepper/tony, happy/pepper T, 13k

Summary: In the wake of the events of the first movie, Pepper deals with the shift in Tony's attitude towards her.

a single lie discovered is enough to create doubt in every truth expressed (ao3) - lavenderlotion T, 9k

Summary: With a determined breath, her eyes continued to scan the endless rows of information, pulled from the web and compiled into neat data and then placed into organized files by F.R.I.D.A.Y. Pepper—along with a hand-picked team of intelligent, hard-working women from both Analytics and Legal—had been combing through anything even remotely related to Stark Industries, Tony Stark, herself or the Avengers.

A gentle knock sounded against the glass that lined the right wall of her office. Standing at the open doorway into the connecting conference room was one of the girls she pulled from Analytics, but what had Pepper immediately on edge was that it was Sheila, and Sheila was in charge of files relating to Natalie Rushman.

“Ms. Potts, I think there’s something you need to see, ma’am.”

Chitauri Apocalypse (ao3) - Del_Rion M, 96k

Summary: Iron Man never fell back through the portal. The Avengers must deal with the loss of their comrade and move on – until Earth once again comes under an attack from the Chitauri and their new-found weapons that decimate everything in their path with unmatched power and intellect. As cities and nations collapse around their decreasing resistance, the heroes of Earth must find a way to defeat their enemy before there is nothing left to avenge.

Enemy of the World (ao3) - Del_Rion T, 27k

Summary: After a war that lasted for ten grueling years, Ultron has finally been defeated. However, when Tony Stark reappears – presumed dead at the dawn of Ultron’s war on mankind – a frantic struggle begins between those who want to restrain him in order to protect their hard-won peace and Tony’s quest to comprehend how his actions could have allowed this alien future to be born.

Happier (ao3) - Shi_Toyu G, 395

Summary: Pepper tells Tony some big news.

I've Seen You In The World (ao3) - skyline steve/tony, happy/pepper M, 40k

Summary: Pepper's getting married.

Tony's dealing with that about as well as everyone expected.

I Would Put Them Back In Poetry, If I Only Knew How (ao3) - Bam4Me G, 3k

Summary: Moving forward is the only possible option, but sometimes Happy forgets that he can do more than just sheltering Tony from what could go wrong anymore.

And sometimes he forgets that the people they live with aren't exactly enemies anymore, and he should learn to relax a little, and allow life to happen.

Love and the Wedding Industrial Complex (ao3) - Neverever T, 32k

Summary: Tony Stark is quite put out at the disruption to his working life when Pepper Potts announces her engagement to Happy Hogan. And when she hires an attractive wedding planner named Steve Rogers, that's the final straw. Tony has an immediate aversion to all the wedding planning and especially to the wedding planner.

Well, the course of true love never did run smooth.

Next Time (ao3) - MagpieWords T, 7k

Summary: Five times Toni Stark looks for her soulmate, and one time her soulmate finally looks for her too.

Old Time Romance for the New Millenium (ao3) - tzzzz steve/tony T, 10k

Summary: Steve writes letters (among other things), Tony gets over his breakup with Pepper, JARVIS keeps secrets and Gary Busey does not appreciate living down the road from Tony Stark.

Pieces of Echoes (ao3) - geekymoviemom steve/tony, happy/pepper T, 334k

Summary: When weapons designer and SHIELD consultant Tony Stark and his son are kidnapped following a routine weapons demonstration, newly defrosted World War II hero Steve Rogers is sent to find them.

But what begins as just another mission, a way for Captain America to reintegrate back into society, quickly warps into something more as betrayals are discovered, harsh, long-buried truths are finally brought to light, and Tony and Steve come to realise that their biggest allies are each other.

Tend My Wounds / Avenge My Broken Soul (ao3) - TheFinalOtp G, 1k

Summary: An overview of Rhodey and Tony's lives after the Civil War and what happens when the Rogues come back.

(Team Iron Man, read at your on risk if you stan Team Cap.)

Tony Family (ao3) - Azarielisadragon T, 1k

Summary: Tony considers his past and his family.

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream (ao3) - ImpalaGirl42 G, 1k

Summary: Happy just wants to get some sleep next to his new wife. He was having a good dream of a vacation with Pepper, which is itself a dream, but he'll take what he can get.

Tony has other plans.

Pepper wonders why they work for an insane man. Happy thinks they were probably cursed.

(Happy centric)

Vacay (ao3) - Ehtar loki/tony, background happy/pepper, implied clint/natasha T, 21k

Summary: Superheroes, gods, and shapeshifting children go on holiday. A family vacation is meant to be relaxing. Right...?

Wedding for Christmas (ao3) - nepenthe_writer bucky/tony, happy/pepper G, 12k

Summary: When Pepper and Happy become stressed planning their Christmas Wedding, Tony offers to hire an event planner to help them out. By the time the wedding comes around, they might not be the only ones feeling the love of the season.

With Magic and Money enough, many Things are Possible (ao3) - Weaselwoman loki/tony, loki/pepper/tony, happy/pepper T, 10k

Summary: Tony's happy family life.

[shosiblog]

Who is the highest paid digital marketer?

Who is the Highest Paid Digital Marketer?

Digital marketing is one of the most lucrative fields in today’s business world. As companies increasingly shift their focus to online strategies, the demand for digital marketing experts has skyrocketed. With this growing demand comes the potential for high salaries, especially for top professionals in the industry. In this blog, we will explore some of the highest-paid digital marketers and the factors that contribute to their success.

Top 3 Highest Paid Digital Marketers

1. Neil Patel

Neil Patel is arguably one of the most well-known names in the digital marketing world. He has built an empire around his expertise in SEO, content marketing, and analytics. Through his successful blog, NeilPatel.com, and other ventures like Crazy Egg, KISSmetrics, and Ubersuggest, Neil has helped businesses increase their online presence and revenue.

Estimated Earnings: Over $1 million per year

Specialization: SEO, Content Marketing, Online Marketing Strategies

Neil Patel is not only a practitioner but also an entrepreneur who provides valuable insights through his courses, consulting services, and online tools. His digital marketing knowledge and authority have made him one of the highest-paid professionals in the industry.

2. Rand Fishkin

Rand Fishkin, the co-founder of Moz and SparkToro, is another highly paid digital marketing expert. He is a pioneer in SEO and digital marketing and is well-regarded for his contributions to the development of SEO tools and his expertise in content marketing strategies.

Estimated Earnings: Around $500,000 - $1 million per year

Specialization: SEO, Marketing Analytics, Content Marketing

Rand Fishkin’s focus on audience insights and data-driven marketing strategies has made him a highly sought-after speaker and consultant in the digital marketing world. His book, Lost and Founder, offers a deep dive into his career and the digital marketing industry.

3. Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee)

Gary Vaynerchuk, known as Gary Vee, is a digital marketing entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. He is the CEO of VaynerMedia, a full-service digital agency, and has built an online following through his content and social media presence. His unique approach to social media marketing, branding, and e-commerce has helped businesses grow exponentially.

Estimated Earnings: $10 million+ per year

Specialization: Social Media Marketing, Branding, E-Commerce

Gary Vaynerchuk’s charismatic personality, along with his deep understanding of digital marketing strategies, has made him one of the wealthiest figures in the field. He has a massive following on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, where he shares his marketing wisdom.

Factors Contributing to Their High Earnings

1. Expertise and Reputation

These digital marketers have built their reputation over years of hard work, constantly evolving with the digital landscape. Their expertise in SEO, content marketing, social media, and data analytics sets them apart from the competition.

2. Multiple Revenue Streams

Many of the highest-paid digital marketers have diversified their income streams. They don’t just rely on salaries or consulting fees; they also make money through books, courses, software, speaking engagements, and more. This diversification plays a significant role in their high earnings.

3. Business Ventures and Tools

Some digital marketers, like Neil Patel and Rand Fishkin, have launched successful marketing tools and platforms that generate a significant amount of revenue. By creating and selling digital marketing tools (e.g., Ubersuggest, SparkToro), they have established a strong income flow beyond traditional marketing roles.

4. Building Personal Brands

Personal branding is a powerful tool that many top digital marketers use to command high salaries. By building a personal brand through social media, podcasts, books, and public speaking, they establish themselves as thought leaders, which attracts high-paying clients and business opportunities.

How You Can Achieve Similar Success

While the highest-paid digital marketers have had unique experiences and journeys, there are key lessons we can all take from them:

Invest in Learning and Skill Development: Keep improving your skills in SEO, content marketing, and analytics. Attend industry conferences, take online courses, and stay updated on the latest trends.

Create a Personal Brand: Whether through blogging, YouTube, or social media, work on building your personal brand. Share your insights, create valuable content, and build your network.

Diversify Your Income: Explore opportunities like consulting, speaking engagements, and creating your own digital marketing tools or courses to generate multiple revenue streams.

Why Choose a Digital Marketing Agency in Tamil Nadu?

If you want to elevate your career or business through expert digital marketing services, partnering with the right agency can make all the difference. A digital marketing agency in Tamil Nadu can help you craft personalized strategies that bring results.

Contact us today to learn how our team of experts can help you achieve your digital marketing goals and take your business to the next level!

[themarketingspecialist]

Top Digital Marketing Experts in Los Angeles in 2024

The City of Angels isn’t just a hub for entertainment and tech startups; it's a thriving ecosystem for digital marketing innovation. From cutting-edge strategies to groundbreaking campaigns, Los Angeles is home to some of the sharpest minds in the digital marketing world. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or aspiring entrepreneur, these experts are reshaping the digital space and making waves with their expertise. Let’s dive into the list of the top digital marketing experts in Los Angeles for 2024, starting with none other than Deepak Shukla!

Featured Experts:

Deepak Shukla

Neil Patel

Rand Fishkin

Ann Handley

Gary Vaynerchuk

Pam Moore

Joe Pulizzi

Mari Smith

Seth Godin

Larry Kim

1. Deepak Shukla

Deepak Shukla is a renowned name in the world of digital marketing, leading the charge at Pearl Lemon, a globally recognized SEO and lead generation agency. Based in the UK but with significant influence in the U.S., Deepak's expertise spans SEO, content marketing, and business scaling. His unique blend of data-driven strategies and creative insights has helped countless businesses thrive in competitive markets, including Los Angeles.

Contact Info: LinkedIn Profile Portfolio Website

2. Neil Patel

Neil Patel is synonymous with digital marketing excellence. Known for his practical advice and cutting-edge tools, Neil has helped major brands like Amazon and NBC grow their online presence. His focus on SEO, content, and analytics makes him a trusted name in the digital space.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

3. Rand Fishkin

Rand Fishkin, the former CEO of Moz, is a digital marketing visionary. Now leading SparkToro, a platform that helps businesses identify their target audiences, Rand is a sought-after speaker and author. His insights into audience research and SEO are invaluable for marketers.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

4. Ann Handley

Ann Handley is a pioneer in content marketing, empowering businesses to create meaningful, engaging content. Her expertise in storytelling and strategy has positioned her as one of the most influential voices in the marketing world.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

5. Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vee is an entrepreneur and marketing guru with a massive following. Known for his no-nonsense approach to social media and branding, Gary inspires businesses to leverage digital platforms for success.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

6. Pam Moore

Pam Moore is a social media and branding expert, helping brands humanize their marketing strategies. Her work bridges the gap between technology and storytelling, making her a top digital marketing speaker.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

7. Joe Pulizzi

Joe Pulizzi is a trailblazer in content marketing, known for founding the Content Marketing Institute and launching the annual Content Marketing World event. His insights into audience engagement are a must for marketers.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

8. Mari Smith

Mari Smith is the “Queen of Facebook Marketing,” helping businesses unlock the full potential of social media. Her expertise extends to video marketing and community engagement, crucial for any digital strategy.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

9. Seth Godin

Seth Godin's thought leadership in marketing has shaped how businesses approach branding and customer connections. His books, including Purple Cow, offer timeless strategies for standing out in crowded markets.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

10. Larry Kim

Larry Kim is a paid ads and chatbot marketing expert, known for his work at MobileMonkey and WordStream. His innovative approaches to PPC and conversational marketing have set benchmarks in the industry.

Contact Info: LinkedIn | Website

Conclusion

The digital marketing experts on this list are not just thought leaders but trailblazers who shape the industry’s future. Whether you're looking for insights on SEO, social media, or content marketing, these individuals have the experience and strategies to help you thrive in 2024. Dive into their content, attend their talks, and follow them on LinkedIn to keep your marketing game strong!

[ai-network]

Investment Dynamics in AI Infrastructure: Renovus Capital

The acceleration of digital transformation is creating an unprecedented demand for robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure. As businesses race to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities, they need an underlying infrastructure that can support these technologies, while also addressing operational efficiency, data security, and disaster resilience. One significant development in this sector is the recent investment by Renovus Capital Partners, a Philadelphia-based private equity firm, in Performive—a managed IT services provider specializing in cloud, infrastructure, and cybersecurity solutions. This move exemplifies the latest dynamics in AI infrastructure investment, where capital is flowing toward firms with the expertise and technological foundation to support the AI revolution. In this article, we’ll explore why such investments are crucial and how they signal broader shifts in technology, security, and business strategy. The Investment Landscape: Why Infrastructure is Critical for AI Growth The growing emphasis on digital-first business strategies has increased the demand for cloud services and managed IT solutions that can seamlessly support AI workloads. Key sectors such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing are adopting AI-driven insights, from predictive analytics to automated decision-making. To ensure these technologies run smoothly and securely, companies need reliable infrastructure that can handle massive volumes of data and complex computational tasks. This is where managed IT service providers like Performive play a critical role. Renovus’s investment in Performive underscores the market’s recognition that scalable and secure IT infrastructure is foundational to the adoption and expansion of AI technologies. For private equity firms, this type of investment is strategic: it positions them at the forefront of an industry undergoing transformation, poised to see high growth as AI adoption rates increase. Performive’s Role in AI-Driven Digital Transformation Founded in 2005, Performive has earned a strong reputation in the mid-market enterprise segment by offering mission-critical services tailored to organizations that require both scalability and robust cybersecurity. With services spanning cloud management, infrastructure optimization, and data security, Performive addresses key needs that arise as companies leverage AI to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and make more informed business decisions. Gary Simat, Performive’s Co-Founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of this partnership, describing it as a "pivotal moment" for the company’s future. This capital injection will not only fuel Performive's growth but also enable it to expand its service offerings, acquire complementary businesses, and strengthen its technical capabilities—all with the goal of better supporting AI-ready infrastructure for mid-sized enterprises across the U.S. Strategic Implications for AI Infrastructure Investments Private equity firms, including Renovus, have developed investment theses around differentiated managed service providers (MSPs) with recurring revenue streams, vital service offerings, and a strong commitment to customer service. Performive’s fit within this framework illustrates several important trends in the AI infrastructure market: - Scalability and Flexibility: As companies incorporate AI into core processes, they require scalable infrastructure solutions that can evolve with their growth. Performive’s cloud and infrastructure services are designed to provide this flexibility, allowing clients to adapt their IT resources based on demand. - Enhanced Security and Compliance: AI applications often involve sensitive data, whether in healthcare, finance, or other industries. Performive’s focus on cybersecurity positions it as a valuable partner for companies that must navigate stringent regulatory requirements, ensuring that AI initiatives do not compromise data integrity. - Customer-Centric Innovation: Renovus’s backing will allow Performive to continue to refine its customer experience, a crucial differentiator as businesses seek IT providers that offer high-touch, customizable solutions. By investing in innovation, Performive can stay ahead of the technology curve, ensuring its clients benefit from the latest advances in AI infrastructure. - AI and MLOps (Machine Learning Operations): With AI applications growing more complex, MLOps—practices that streamline the development and deployment of machine learning models—has become a priority for infrastructure providers. Performive is expected to channel some of the new funding toward enhancing its MLOps capabilities, which will make it easier for companies to deploy, manage, and monitor AI applications effectively. Broader Market Trends: AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity The infrastructure segment of the AI ecosystem has been a major focus for investment, especially as enterprises accelerate cloud adoption and seek advanced data management solutions. According to recent studies, global spending on AI is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030, with infrastructure investments comprising a large portion of that total. Renovus’s recent move to partner with Performive aligns with these projections and reflects the growing importance of infrastructure providers in the AI value chain. With increasing cyber threats, there is also a heightened focus on security within AI applications. Managed IT service providers, particularly those offering cybersecurity alongside cloud infrastructure, are in a strong position to meet this demand. Performive’s investment in cybersecurity solutions will likely continue to be a critical component of its service offering as it grows. The Future of AI Infrastructure Investment Renovus’s partnership with Performive is just one of many signs that AI infrastructure will remain a high-priority investment area. Other private equity and venture capital firms are similarly seeking companies that are well-positioned to support the deployment of AI solutions across industries. Looking forward, we can expect a few key developments in this space: - Increased Mergers and Acquisitions: As companies look to scale their offerings, we may see a rise in mergers and acquisitions among MSPs, cloud providers, and data management firms. For instance, Performive may consider acquiring smaller companies with specialized technology to further bolster its capabilities. - Focus on Edge Computing: With the expansion of IoT and real-time AI applications, edge computing is gaining traction as a way to process data closer to its source. Investments in edge-compatible infrastructure will likely grow, enabling faster, more efficient AI-driven insights. - Ethics and AI Governance: As infrastructure providers help companies deploy AI at scale, they will also play a role in upholding ethical standards and AI governance. Managed IT providers may increasingly offer compliance solutions that help clients navigate ethical challenges and regulatory requirements. - Emphasis on Sustainable Infrastructure: The environmental impact of AI infrastructure is drawing scrutiny. Providers like Performive will be expected to implement sustainable practices, from energy-efficient data centers to carbon-neutral cloud offerings, aligning with broader corporate sustainability goals. Conclusion: The Strategic Role of AI Infrastructure in a Data-Driven World Renovus Capital Partners’ investment in Performive demonstrates the vital role that infrastructure will play in the AI ecosystem. As companies integrate AI and ML technologies into their operations, the demand for secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure is more urgent than ever. Performive’s growth trajectory, backed by Renovus, is likely to set a benchmark for the industry, showing how managed service providers can adapt and thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world. For mid-market enterprises, partnerships like this one mean access to high-quality, customer-centered infrastructure that supports digital transformation. Looking ahead, AI infrastructure will continue to attract substantial investment, not only from private equity but also from other strategic investors who see the potential in fueling the next wave of AI-powered business innovation. Read the full article