#Technical leadership and strategic thinking

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Is Your Leadership Aligned or an Illusion? and How to Bridge the Strategy Gap?

Why Most CEOs Fail to Implement Real Strategic Principles and What You Can Do About It? As a long term researcher of technical leadership and excellent, one of my hobbies is to explore fresh voices and unique perspectives from thought leaders from different cultures. While browsing my reading feed today, I came across and article with a beautifully narrated voice.  The title of article…

[brookghaib-blog]

The weapon designer

Pairing: Hoshina Soshiro x reader

Summary: What happens when Gen Narumi's sister meets Vice-Captain Hoshina in person.

--

Y/N Narumi smoothed down the creases of her sleek, midnight blue mini dress as she stepped out of the car, her gaze sweeping over the formidable structure of the Defense Force headquarters. This was her first visit to the base, accompanying her brother, Captain Gen Narumi, who had a crucial meeting with Captain Mina Ashiro and Vice-Captain Hoshina Soshiro.

Being the head designer responsible for crafting innovative weaponry for the Defense Force, Y/N was accustomed to commanding attention. Her attire today—a tailored dress that accentuated her figure with just the right amount of flair and her Rene Caovilla butterflies crystal-embellished high sandals —was a testament to her love for fashion and her penchant for making a statement.

"Are you nervous, Gen?" Y/N teased, her voice light as she linked her arm with her brother's.

Gen chuckled, his own uniform crisp and impeccable. "Not at all. Just another day at the office."

As they entered the base, Y/N's eyes widened at the bustling activity around her. Soldiers in uniform hurried past, their expressions a mix of determination and duty. The hum of activity filled the air, punctuated by the occasional sound of machinery and distant chatter.

They were escorted to Captain Mina Ashiro's office, where the atmosphere was a blend of efficiency and authority. Captain Ashiro, a commanding figure with a sharp gaze, greeted them with a nod, her attention immediately drawn to the detailed portfolio Y/N carried.

"Captain Narumi, good to see you," Captain Ashiro said, her voice carrying a hint of respect for Gen's reputation. "And this must be your sister, Y/N."

Y/N smiled warmly, extending her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Captain Ashiro. I've heard so much about your leadership."

Captain Ashiro's stern demeanor softened slightly as she shook Y/N's hand. "Likewise. Your designs for our weapons have been impressive."

Vice-Captain Hoshina Soshiro, standing nearby, observed the exchange with interest. "Your work is vital to our mission's success, Ms. Narumi," he commented, his tone appreciative.

Y/N's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Thank you, Vice-Captain. I'm passionate about creating tools that ensure our forces have the best chance against the kaiju threat."

As the meeting progressed, discussing technical specifications and strategic deployments, Y/N couldn't help but steal glances at Vice-Captain Hoshina whenever he entered the room. His presence commanded attention, his posture exuding confidence and capability. She had seen pictures of him before but never in person, and she found herself captivated by his rugged good looks and the air of mystery that surrounded him.

After the meeting concluded, Y/N lingered near the exit with Gen, reviewing some final notes on her tablet. "You know, Gen," she remarked casually, "Vice-Captain Hoshina is even cuter in person."

Gen chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "I thought you might notice. He's quite popular among the recruits. And don't even think about it"

Y/N grinned mischievously. "Popular is an understatement. I have had a crush on him since I saw his profile, and don't make it seem like it's all forbidden, that just makes it hot."

Her brother chuckled again, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "I'm not letting my sisters get with that guy, forget about it, weren't you dating that CEO of that car company, the old guy?"

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh we broke up, too jealous, have I told you that he had kids ? I'm too young to commite to that, and he tried to offer me those cheap Tiffany & Co. necklace, silver, it was silver Gen."

--

The Defense Force's newest innovations were on display in a sleek, high-tech showroom within the headquarters. Rows of prototype suits lined the room, each gleaming with the promise of enhanced protection and agility against the relentless kaiju threat. It was a momentous occasion, and Y/N Narumi, alongside her brother Gen, stood at the heart of it all.

Y/N, dressed to impress in an exquisite crimson dress that hugged her curves and accentuated her poise, was the embodiment of elegance amid the cutting-edge technology. Her heels clicked lightly on the polished floor as she moved from one suit to another, her eyes sparkling with pride and excitement.

"These designs are revolutionary, Y/N," Gen remarked, his voice tinged with admiration as he examined the intricate details of a suit.

Y/N beamed, her gaze sweeping over the room. "Thank you, Gen. It's been a labor of love. I'm thrilled to see them come to life like this."

The room buzzed with chatter as Defense Force personnel and invited guests mingled, discussing the capabilities of the new suits and the implications for future missions. Y/N's attention, however, was drawn to Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina, who stood in deep conversation with Captain Mina Ashiro and Vice-Captain Eiji Hasegawa.

She couldn't deny the thrill that surged through her as she watched him, his presence commanding attention even in the midst of the crowd. His rugged good looks and aura of confidence had always intrigued her, and tonight was no exception.

As the formal presentation concluded, the atmosphere shifted to a more relaxed tone. Waitstaff circulated with trays of gourmet appetizers and glasses of champagne, adding to the celebratory ambiance. Y/N found herself by Gen's side, a glass of champagne in hand, her cheeks flushed with a combination of excitement and the effects of the bubbly drink.

"Cheers to a successful presentation," Gen toasted, raising his glass.

Y/N clinked her glass against his, her laughter bubbling forth. "Cheers indeed, Gen. I couldn't have done it without your support."

As they sipped their champagne, Y/N's gaze drifted back to where Soshiro was now engaged in conversation with another officer. She felt a playful nudge from Gen, who leaned in with a teasing grin. "I see you eyeing Vice-Captain Hoshina."

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "Can you blame me? He's rather handsome, isn't he?"

Gen chuckled, shaking his head. "Just be careful, Y/N. He's not exactly known for commitment."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. "Who said anything about commitment? I'm just admiring the view."

Before Gen could respond, Soshiro glanced in their direction, his eyes meeting Y/N's. A slow, confident smile spread across his face as he excused himself from his conversation and made his way over to them.

"Captain Narumi, Ms. Narumi" Soshiro greeted, his voice smooth. "Congratulations on the impressive designs. They look even better up close."

Y/N felt her heart skip a beat at his compliment. "Thank you, Vice-Captain Hoshina. I'm glad you approve, you can call me Y/N."

Soshiro's gaze lingered on her, his eyes flickering with a hint of mischief. "I must admit, Y/N, you clean up quite nicely. I don't think I've said it yet, but you look beautiful, you don't have ever use an uniform of some sort?"

Y/N chuckled, the effects of the champagne emboldening her. "Me? Those clothes hide me too much, not for me, and besides, and can do my job perfectly with my own clothes, you can be smart and good looking you know ? I have a closet full of surprises."

Soshiro raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Is that so? I look forward to it."

Gen cleared his throat pointedly, his expression growing more serious. "Vice-Captain Hoshina, we appreciate your kind words about Y/N's work, but perhaps it's time we let her mingle with the other guests."

Y/N shot Gen a playful glance, her lips curved in a knowing smile. "Oh, don't mind Gen. He's just protective."

Soshiro's eyes twinkled with amusement as he turned to Gen. "Of course, Captain Narumi. Wouldn't want to keep you from your sister's admirers."

With a polite nod, Soshiro excused himself and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Y/N and Gen standing in silence. Y/N couldn't help but notice the tension in Gen's shoulders, his protective instincts clearly riled by Soshiro's flirtatious demeanor.

"Gen," Y/N began, her tone gentle, "you know I can handle myself."

Gen sighed, his expression softening. "I know, Y/N. It's just… I worry about you."

Y/N reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "I appreciate that, but I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself."

Gen nodded slowly, his gaze searching hers. "I know. It's just hard to see you all grown up sometimes."

Y/N smiled warmly. "I'll always be your little sister, Gen. But I'm also an officer of the Defense Force. And tonight, I'm celebrating a job well done. And that cute Vice-Captain is all over me you think I'll let him get away?" She said as she drank the last portion of champagne she had on her glass.

As they continued to mingle with the guests, Y/N felt a sense of pride swell within her. She had come a long way from the little girl who dreamed of designing weapons to protect her loved ones. Tonight, surrounded by innovation and ambition, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.

And as for Vice-Captain Hoshina? Well, he certainly knew how to keep things interesting.

The night wore on, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the promise of future collaborations. Y/N watched as Soshiro mingled effortlessly with the crowd, his presence drawing people in like moths to a flame. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards him, nor could she ignore the way he made her heart race with just a smile.

As the lively celebration continued in the Defense Force headquarters, Y/N found a moment to slip away unnoticed. With a mischievous smile playing on her lips, she quickly scribbled her phone number and the name of the hotel and room number that she was staying at on a small piece of paper. Folding it neatly, she tucked it into the palm of her hand.

Spotting Soshiro engaged in conversation across the room, she waited for the perfect opportunity. When the crowd momentarily shifted, she subtly approached him, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement.

"Soshiro," she murmured, her voice low to avoid attention. "I have something for you."

He turned towards her, surprise flickering in his eyes as she slipped the folded paper into his hand with a playful wink. Before he could react, Y/N turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd, her pulse racing with anticipation.

Soshiro unfolded the paper, his lips quirking into a grin as he read her message. He glanced around discreetly, ensuring no one was watching, and slipped away from the gathering.

--

She was already in the room when Soshiro arrived, away from prying eyes. The air was charged with the excitement of their clandestine meeting, the faint hum of the city providing a backdrop to their conversation.

"So, Y/N," Soshiro began, his tone laced with amusement. "You're full of surprises."

Y/N chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. "What can I say? I like to keep things interesting."

They talked late into the night, exchanging stories and laughter, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment. The tension between them crackled like electricity, a magnetic pull drawing them closer together.

"And here I thought you were just another officer with a knack for designing weapons," Soshiro remarked, his gaze intense as it locked with hers.

Y/N grinned, a playful glint in her eyes. "Maybe I'm more than meets the eye."

Their banter faded into a comfortable silence, the unspoken desire hanging in the air between them. Without a word, Soshiro closed the distance between them, his hand gentle as it cupped her cheek. Y/N's breath caught in her throat as she leaned into his touch, her heart racing with anticipation.

Their lips met in a tender kiss, a culmination of unspoken longing and shared attraction. Both leaning to get to the bed as they deepened their kiss.

As they reached the bed, Y/N begins to undress, slowly removing her clothing, using the given opportunity, Soshiro begins to kiss her neck and lowering more and more.

"You better take that stupid suit out. " Y/N said, now panting as Soshiro was kissing her inner tights, getting up, he removes his suit letting it go on the ground to be forgotten.

They both lay down, kissing and letting their hands explore their bodies, only the moon giving them light from the window of the room.

--

Meanwhile, back inside the headquarters, Gen Narumi noticed Y/N's absence from the festivities. He exchanged a knowing glance with Captain Mina Ashiro, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Have you seen Hoshina?" Gen asked casually, though a flicker of concern colored his tone.

Mina shook her head, her gaze scanning the room. "Not recently. Why?"

Gen's brow furrowed slightly as he pieced together the puzzle. "My sister's missing."

Understanding dawned in Mina's eyes, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "And what does Hoshina have too do with that?"

"Because I'm aware that my little sister can be very persuasive, and that Vice-Captain of yours doesn't seem to know where to keep his hands" Gen said as clutching his fists "I'm to kill him when I see that that abnoxious ass."

[carolmunson]

blood machine.

emperor geta x senator's daughter!reader songspiration: in keeping secrets of the silent earth 3 | coheed & cambria

did not once plan to write for this guy but here we are. also like, is it historically accurate? no. like, not even a little. (hell is mentioned and technically hell wasn't 'a place' until 400 BC but like WHATEVER.) am i making a semi effort? sorta kinda. have i been a little stoned every time i've worked on this? well, yes.

summary: when what was supposed to be a diplomatic dinner before a much bigger and lively feast becomes a marriage offer, all of the wine you drank turns to ash in your mouth. haters to haters, bay-bee. tw: 18+, drinking but like -- idk it's ancient rome, tension, fighting, some mild body shaming (??), a literal threat of domestic violence but again it's ancient rome so like i don't think they cared, two stupid little bitches who hate each other. mentions of war and ultimate distaste for the poor. reader kind of has lady macbeth vibes. my little evil queen.

Wine is poured, golden chalices exalted. You are a vision and he is a toad looking creature of a man that only his mother could love. Not quite his brother, never quite measuring up the same way -- always trying to puff his chest. It was easy to tease him, ego easy to bruise -- little brother. You’d spent time in your childhood tagging along with your brother and the other kids to taunt him, pathetic and whimpering. 'Tale teller!' you'd jeer, every time he'd run off to his mother to blubber over how mean you all were. And you were mean.

But people grow, as they do. And so did you -- still mean, but in a different way. Listening to meetings, reading maps, keeping tabs on new republics, on potential uprising. The poor -- the fucking poor. Finding new ways to keep them occupied so that they'd stop trying to find ways to be powerful. Powerful like you. Powerful like the man at the head of the table with a plum to his lips. And as it has been said, a man in possession of a good fortune and power, must be in need of a wife. It became clear when you arrived that this was not a business dinner before a grand feast, your parents simply forgot to mention what this was really about. Your best linens, your hair coiffed, your best jewelry, you should have known it had been a ruse the moment you got there. His home on Palatine just sparkling the way the gold on your fingers did, candles in the halls and stairways glittering when they hit the rubies and pearls on your chest and ears. When your father veers the conversation from politics and business to marriage you both choke, stern eyes glued to your mother's painted face. A business dinner where you are currency -- more than worthy. Just a few months shy of being eligible when Caracalla was, regrettably, forced to marry Flavia at the last moment. It would've been nice to have the gang together again in some capacity. Could've bullied the toad to assasinating himself if you were lucky enough. Total power. Complete upheaval. The more you thought about it, the more of it your craved. The pit in your stomach grew, if it wasn't with his brother -- even though you bore no attraction -- there was not a point at all. Geta didn't think nearly as critically, didn't hit hard enough, didn't strategize correctly. You'd never even seen him pick up a sword -- but then again, that made sense. You very rarely spent time in his palace, much prefering the festivities of Caracalla's close by.

You listen while your mother goes on and on about his grace, tongue dipped in honey while she blabbers. She mentions how handsome he is, his valiance in leadership, how honorable he's become as he's taken the place of his late father -- you can't help yourself but laugh. The giggle echos and bounces through the high ceilings, floating against the archways, getting caught in the drapery by the open hall. His eyes flick to you over his goblet, catching in the candle light, an aggravated sneer plaguing his face. He looks like a pig when he does that, you think to yourself.

You know that business, for the most part, is a man's game. But it does not deter you from doing your best to try and wager yourself out of this. Ideas drip into your mind while the drone of the conversation turns to fuzz in the background. How can you sell that this is a bad idea? It will bring less publicity, less of a threat, less resposibility if married to someone with equal nobility. Certainly not an emperor. Especially not one like this. So petulant, so competitive, so eager for a war he does not know how to plan, so temperamental, so weak, so conniving, so consumed with the colosseum that he doesn't think of what should be done around him. It's his voice that brings you back to attention.

"And why is it she hasn't been taken for a wife then, at this age?" he asks, brow quirking in your direction. You let out of huff of offense while he sips his wine, metal clinking as he places it back down. A smirk flits across his features at the remark, "Is something wrong with her?"

Your father, sweating with embarrassment, looks over at you and back at the emperor, "Well she, she's of course beautiful." Geta winces, cocking his head to the side with a shrug. Your father sighs, desperate to try to find a better angle, "She um, she -- she has great wits, Ceasar, unmatched. She knows her duties as a wife, but -- a great thinker. She could -- she could be helpful!" "Wits," he mumbles sourly under his breath before leaning back leisurely in his chair, "Great thinker? Very surprising." "August--" your father starts. "Co--" you correct over a sip of wine, "Co-Augustus."

Geta tosses you another sour look, tongue running over his teeth before clicking it behind his lips. You shrug while swallowing. "Semantics, Publius," you wave a hand at him. A hush falls over the room as his gaze snaps up at you, blanching at the disrespect of being called by his first name. Your mother hides her face in her napkin with a groan. Your father leans his temple against his fingers, eyes closed in frustration. "Mind how you address me," Geta corrects with a stern pull to his lips, eyes glittering with rage. Your eyes catch over the mountains of food before you, holding your glass out as one of his servants pours you another glass of wine. "Is that not what your mother calls you?" your voice feathery, but certain. A vein begins to raise and pulse in his neck while his shoulders round forward.

"Please apologize, dear," your mother mutters, putting the napkin back on the table, "Tell -- tell the emperor what it would mean, to be -- to be wed to someone of such calibur."

Your eyes stay on his, challenging him while your mother begs you to say something to make amends. Another sip of wine passes your lips, "No, shan't."

Your mother scolds you, your full name escaping her with embarrassment tainting her tongue. Sweat beads at your father's forehead while he changes the subject, doing aything to try to keep his good favor with both sides of the imperatorship.

You grin into your goblet at the sight of Geta's face -- reddened with anger and frustration at the brazen disrespect. But it was fine to continue to be an enemy if it meant you would leave these regal walls and never have to step foot in them again. And if you did, it would be as another senator's wife, visiting his brother in another house where you'll laugh and drink wine and cheer when he's killed.

Even his posture is revolting, hunched over while he listens to your father speak. Now going on and on about paper work that doesn't interest you if it doesn't have a say on who is next on the list to conquer. Your eyes glaze over in boredom while pomergranate, honey pudding, and dates are placed on the table. Rose wine replaces the red to sweeten the tongue -- you're sure your parents wished it were true.

It's not very long after dessert is served that your parents start again.

"As you know, she does come from a family of very fertile women," your father encourages. You quickly swallow the bite of date you'd taken to interrupt, nearly choking, "Excuse me, I'm not sure this is appropriate dinner conversation."

Geta looks at you while you speak, scanning you and then lingering on the dessert in your hand, "Her hips are quite sizeable -- big enough to bear multiple childen, that's certain. Is that her only sell?"

Anger bubbles under your chest, but warning looks from both of your parents keeps your sharp tongue between your lips. The grip on your goblet tightens, jaw clenching while your pass another sip through gritted teeth. You let a seething breath out through your nose. "As I tried to explain before," your father continues, "She is very on the pulse in terms of the political climate and, and, and great with strategy." "I'm not looking for a wife who tries to strategize for me--" he responds coolly. "From how the empire has not expanded since your father's death I would guess that perhaps you should be," you snap back smartly. His posture straightens, chains and medallions across his chest glinting in the candle light. The room quiets itself again, only the sound of untensils and cups being put down or collected filling the dead air. The soft scrape of metal, the rustle of linens while servants and guards alike avert their gaze downward.

"Leave us," he states, voice pungent with authority. You stretch your neck on both sides while the servants depart, already bored with the back and forth. Already moved on from the eventual scolding and potential exile that won't get put into motion because you are simply too friendly with the rest of the upcoming generals and politicians. One rogue idiot who barely has the power his brother has, that his father never trained into him, could not dole a punishment that is worth your genuine fear.

You sigh, hearing the staff make their way down the long stone corridors into the grand halls to prepare for a more formal party with other higher status families. More likely a collection of offerings for him to choose from, other parents trying to arrange a marriage with the empire's most powerful and eligible bachelor. It would be one of the few times the brothers would have to engage with each other, which you're sure put Geta more on edge than normal.

"Senator, please take your wife to the grand hall to be seated," he commands, his voice lower, delving darker. The vein in his neck continues to pulse, forearms straining against the golden cuffs over his wrists, "The guards will accompany you."

You watch as your parents rise, bowing their heads before following the guards out of the room and through the blood red drapery hung from gilded valances. Geta's eyes stay hardened on you, and yours him, while you rise as well, taking a few steps around the large wooden table toward the exit. "Not you," he says, not turning to face you, "You will stay." "It is not appropriate for me to be unaccopanied in the pres--" "Do not speak," he huffs, hand coming up to silence you, "Your voice grates on me." "Then you can imagine what your own voice does, Augustus," you say without thinking, letting the insults flow out of you like the fountain water in the courtyards. He pushes away from the table, steadily walking towards you with enough vigor that the bottom of his cape starts to billow behind him. On his way, he pulls a sword from a guard's holster, dragging it so the tip grinds against the stone, making your jaw clench at the shrill sound.

"What happens to those who speak against me?" he asks, steps clicking against the floor from the studs on the bottom of his sandals. He begins to stalk around you, circling while he waits for an answer. "Execution," you respond, keeping your eyes on the drapery just twenty feet ahead of you. "What else?" he asks, you can feel his breath behind you, the whining grind of the sword against the stone making your shoulders tense. "Exile," you answer, a laugh bubbling out of you, "But I can't imagine your brother agreeing to either of those. You'd really banish me, Publius? Because I was a little mean to you?" When he appears in front of you again, your lips stretch into a sickeningly sweet smile, sarcasm staining your tone, "But we're such old friends."

He cocks his head to the side, taking a step closer with the sword between you, "Oh, I wouldn't do that to you."

He leans forward, enough that you can smell the rose wine on his breath. His voice quiet and menacing, "Though -- it could be that the senator said something to offend me tonight at dinner. It could be that perhaps he -- spoke poorly of my dear brother or my late father. Something just dastardly enough to sour my brother's respect for him." "And you expect Caracalla to believe that?" "In what way does it benefit me to lie about it?" he challenges, "And even more so -- with your father exiled, where does that leave you?"

You swallow thickly, not giving him the satisfaction of replying while your look into his now wild brown eyes. Flashing with mania and endless possibility.

"A peasant," he spits.

"If it keeps me out of these halls I should be lucky, no?" you fire back, looking at him from under furrow brows. He continues to circle you, dragging the sword again. The click, click, click of his shoes keeping time in your head. "I'm sure my brother would be happy to keep you as a pet in the meantime," he laughs to himself, "Or we could put you in the colosseum, you think you'd fare well?" "Better than you could, that's certain," you cross your arms over your chest, "Could never stand up and fight like a man, even as a kid. Your father would be embarrassed."

The grinding gets louder as he presses harder down, causing small sparks to fly from the edge of the sword.

"If you were to be chosen, would ever even attempt to learn respect?" he asks sharply, "Or would it have to be beaten into you?" You snort, "At least you're the funnier brother, you have that going for you." You can see him out of your periphery, the way he pulls his cheeks in, the roll of his shoulders -- he's losing patience. "What, would you prefer I called you Geta? Augustus? Ceasar?" your eyes roll. A soft cackle comes from his through, canines showing in a gleeful smile, "No, no -- from you? I'd much prefer something more respectful." Click, click, click. The grind of the sword. The rose on his breath. "Dominus," he nods with the threat, "Dominus et Deus."

"You disgust me," you respond quickly. "As a husband and as emperor is that not my title, already?" he shrugs, looking at you like it's obvious.

"You are nobodies Lord and God, you are a petulant -- sniveling -- repulsive little brother who is only where he is by being lucky to be born," you glower.

"You still see me as a child, femina," he tuts, "I promise you, what ever Caracalla has told you is a tapestry of made up stories. You could hang it on the tallest arch and it would hit the floor ten times over."

"I do see just a whining child before me," you hiss, "I'm sure you'll run to your mother after this, too."

His chuckle turns to a low, dark laugh from deep in his chest. It crawls up your spine and rings in your ears, mixing with the grating 'shhhhhhinnnngggg' of the sword on the ground.

"If it were fate that there was union between us," he asks from behind you, "What would you say to that?"

You look straight ahead, hearing the click of his shoes. The heat of the torches on the walls billowing onto your face while you keep your eyes on the drapery, still closed -- still keeping you here.

"It would be a fate worse than the hottest hell," you confess, your voice not wavering.

The whine of the sword stops, sheathed into his belt. The click of his shoes halts.

Quiet.

Rose wine on his breath, you feel it on your skin now, his chest against your back while he closes the space between you. A hand reaches up to push the hair from your neck, the other gripping the fat of your hip to pull you ruthlessly against him in a thud. Your eyes shut, bile crawling up your throat in disgust. His nose coasts against the shell of your ear, making you tilt your head away while goosebumps rise on your arms. Through a knowing grin he whispers, the words burrowing deep in your chest in loathing and a glimmer of fear: "I pray every moment of it burns you."

[howtofightwrite]

Speaking of martial competence, do you have any examples of characters that are actually written with this in mind?

Loads. Some actually even make good on that.

So, there's different kinds of martial competence. There are characters who are proficient in combat directly, there are well written strategists, there are characters who excel at military leadership, and when they're written well, you can actuallylearn some things from them.

I'm going to give some examples, and at least one cautionary example.

For, just, raw combat prowess, I still go back to Robert E. Howard's Conan short stories. It's easy to meme on the character, especially 90 years after the fact, with the cultural persona that's grown around him, but Howard's original writing is excellent. The character would not have survived Howard's early (and, frankly, tragic) death if it was just the one note gag you might expect, if your only exposure to the character was through cultural osmosis and the films.

Howard's fight scenes were shockingly well written. To the point that it is still absolutely worth reading if you want to write a fantasy fighter.

For strategists, three characters come to mind, but only two are literary, and all are Science Fiction.

Grand Admiral Thrawn is probably one of the best villains Star Wars has ever produced, it's part of why he's one of the few characters that's migrated from the original EU to the Disney era. My personal take is, as a character, he's lost a lot over the years, but the original incarnation from the early 90s novels is a very solid model for a strategist. Particularly in how he takes time to understand his opponents while looking for potential weak points to exploit.

His practice of studying a culture's art to understand their psychology might sound a bit goofy, but the concept does have a real basis. (At least, until it metastasized into a superpower, in later adaptations of the character.) Being able to psychologically assess your foe is an incredibly valuable element of strategy, and one that you probably want to consider when you're writing a character who is supposed to be a “strategic genius.”

When writing fiction, you want to consider all of your characters as if they were people, rather than as hollow, plastic toys. And, yes, the obnoxious villain who knows exactly what your heroes will do because of authorial fiat is going to be a more compelling character than the ambulatory goldfish villain who exists as a prelude for your heroes showing off how badass you think they are.

Granted, even in Heir to the EmpireThrawn was already drawing strategic insights that strained credibility, but understanding your foe is an element of strategic thinking that is often forgotten in literature. So, even as a villain in a tie-in novel (we're not done with tie-in fiction yet), he is worth looking at. At least when written by Timothy Zhan, Thrawn was a well written character, and even if he bordered on a Mary Sue at times, he escaped a lot of that stigma by justifying his competence.

It's also probably worth mentioning in passing that he's one of the few Imperial leaders in Star Wars who isn't also criminally incompetent.

The non-literary example of a strategist would be John Sheridan from Babylon 5. Unlike Thrawn, Sheridan's main strategic focus is on situational exploitation. A little of that comes from his knowledge of enemy procedures and psychology, but at lot of it comes from a rather ruthless approach to technical limitations. An alien race is using technology that blocks human targeting systems? Set up a nuclear mine and then send out a fake distress single to lure them in. Need to deal with a significantly larger, more dangerous ship? Lure them into a gas giant and and let the planet's gravity well drag them past crush depth. Bruce Boxleitner's performance helped sell the character, but Sheridan is a really solid science fiction strategist, who really exemplifies how technical limitations can have enormous strategic considerations.

I'm not citing Sheridan as an excellent example of a leader per se,it's certainly there, but it is harder to unpack from Boxleitner's performance. It does have some good payoffs much later in the series when he starts making some orders that cause his subordinates to sit up and stop what they're doing. And that is a consistent theme even back to his introduction, but, it's a tangible consequence to an intangible cause.

The last example is a negative example, both for strategy and leadership. And, as much as it pains me to say this, at least Orson Scott Card understood that Ender was a bad leader. At least in the original novel. To be blunt, Ender is a mediocre strategist at best. His highlights in the book involve, “inventing armor,” and creative movement in micrograv. That's setting the bar exceptionally low, and while it is reasonably within the range of what you could expect from a pre-teen, that's not much of a justification.

Again, I'm not a fan of Card, and I'm reallynot recommending Ender's Gameto anyone. However, if I didn't mention it, you know there'd be a reblog going for twelve hundred words about how Andrew Wiggin is the best strategist in literature, which, yeah, no.

Do you want a goofy, tie-in fiction, literary suggestion for the best leader in sci-fi? Too bad, because I'm pretty sure Ciaphas Cain is not that person. The Ciaphas Cain novels by Sandy Mitchell are unusual as leadership recommendations, because of how much Cain internally processes the social manipulation involved in military leadership. He's not a great leader, but he is exceptionallygood at explaining to the reader how he's creating that illusion to motivate the soldiers around him. In fairness, some of that is an intrinsic character flaw, he is incredibly insecure, and desperately trying to hide that fact. And the difference between being a great leader, and effectively creating a comprehensive illusion of a great leader is: There is no difference. As a serious complement, it is one of the few times I've seen an author treat leadership as an actual skill, and not simply an extension of a character's charisma. Which is why I'm singling this one out. It might sound like a joke inclusion initially, and the books are quite funny in a Warhammer 40k kind of way, but there is quite a bit of  value to be had.

-Starke

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[astrologged]

Pallas in the signs and houses

Pallas, also known as Pallas Athena, is an asteroid in astrology that is associated with wisdom, strategy, and creative intelligence.

Pallas in the signs

Pallas in Aries: A strategic thinker who likes to take charge and lead. May be good at starting projects but less interested in finishing them.

Pallas in Taurus: A practical and resourceful thinker who values stability and security. May be skilled in financial management or the arts.

Pallas in Gemini: A versatile and adaptable thinker who can see multiple perspectives. May excel in communication, teaching, or writing.

Pallas in Cancer: An intuitive and empathetic thinker who is skilled at nurturing others. May have a strong emotional intelligence and be skilled in psychology or social work.

Pallas in Leo: A creative and confident thinker who likes to be in the spotlight. May excel in the arts or entertainment industries.

Pallas in Virgo: A precise and analytical thinker who pays attention to details. May excel in fields that require a scientific or technical approach.

Pallas in Libra: A diplomatic and fair-minded thinker who values harmony and balance. May excel in law, mediation, or politics.

Pallas in Scorpio: A perceptive and strategic thinker who likes to uncover hidden truths. May excel in research, investigation, or psychology.

Pallas in Sagittarius: An optimistic and philosophical thinker who values freedom and exploration. May excel in education, philosophy, or travel.

Pallas in Capricorn: A practical and disciplined thinker who values hard work and achievement. May excel in business, finance, or politics.

Pallas in Aquarius: An innovative and unconventional thinker who values progress and individuality. May excel in science, technology, or social activism.

Pallas in Pisces: A compassionate and imaginative thinker who is skilled at connecting with others. May excel in creative fields such as music, poetry, or film.

Pallas in the houses

Pallas in the 1st house: is strategic and independent in their thinking, skilled in leadership or self-promotion.

Pallas in the 2nd house: is practical and resourceful in their thinking, and may excel in finance or the arts.

Pallas in the 3rd house: is versatile and adaptable in their thinking, and may excel in communication, teaching, or writing.

Pallas in the 4th house: is intuitive and empathetic in their thinking, and may be skilled in psychology or social work.

Pallas in the 5th house: is creative and confident in their thinking, and may excel in the arts or entertainment industries.

Pallas in the 6th house: is precise and analytical in their thinking, and may excel in fields that require a scientific or technical approach.

Pallas in the 7th house: is diplomatic and fair-minded in their thinking, and may excel in law, mediation, or politics.

Pallas in the 8th house: is perceptive and strategic in their thinking, and may excel in research, investigation, or psychology.

Pallas in the 9th house: is optimistic and philosophical in their thinking, and may excel in education, philosophy, or travel.

Pallas in the 10th house: is practical and disciplined in their thinking, and may excel in business, finance, or politics.

Pallas in the 11th house: is innovative and unconventional in their thinking, and may excel in science, technology, or social activism.

Pallas in the 12th house: is compassionate and imaginative in their thinking, and may excel in creative fields such as music, poetry, or film.

[hoidsd]

Asteroids that I found very interesting to explore in artists and athletes charts:

4464 Vulcano: craftsmanship, talent with crafting, skills with fire and creations. Innovative with technology, manual dexterity.

33 Polyhymmya: musical talent, rhythm, eloquence, hiddent talent in artistic pursuits.

1809 Prometheus: represents innovation, rebellion against limitations, and pioneering new paths. In the context of technology, it can reveal your potential to be a visionary inventor, a leader in disruptive technologies, or someone who challenges the status quo in the digital world.

93 Minerva: strategic thinking, wisdom, leadership.

8758 Perdix: technical talents.

407 Arachne: god given talents.

2212 Hephaistos: craftsmanship, sculptors, artists.

33154 Talent: this one explains itself ig.

For copy: 4464, 33, 1809, 93, 1809, 93, 8758, 407, 2212, 33154

[just-animaxiz]

Spike's Leadership

I'd always wonder a while back - Why Spike of all people to be the leader of Scrap City?

In Escape from Scrap City, it's shown in the background and the story that Spike is technically the leader of not only the Punk Bots, but Scrap City as well. He's the one who planned to manipulate both Randy and McFist, the one who gives orders, and he sticks out among the rest with how determined he is.

In the background (Sorry for poor quality), Spike is seen sitting on the throne of the arena, like he's the emperor watching a battle.

You can see a close up of this here.

It truly shows who's the boss and who had it big against the two trapped fighters.

The thing about Spike is that he's not the biggest or the strongest, but his mind is cunning in violence.

That's why my initial thought upon seeing this is that Spike rules Scrap City, and wants nothing more than savage fights.

He even has an arena in Scrap City, so it makes me think he coordinates fight battles between two bots to test their strengths, or they do so out of boredom.

Overall, Spike is shown to be combative in the episodes.

So maybe the reason why he's the leader is because of his aggressive personality and strategic methods?

Well - That's not the only reason.

Spike is also sympathetic to his people, even though he has an asshole attitude. He's the one who declared Ninja and McFist guilty for "Robo-Manity", showing how he valued respect to robots and determination to bring the two most responsible guilty.

There's a bit of early evidence for his heart in McStachlé, where before dying, he softly claimed Friendship is "Rock-And-Roll."

This soft side of Spike transitioning to his determined aggressiveness at Scrap City makes me think that he's the first to realize the state of his home.

It's meant to be a prison - a junk yard - a trash dump where all mistakes go.

No clean repairs

No spare clothes or parts.

No way out.

He learned what are the consequences, so he refused to be lenient about it. Broken robots might stop and looked to see a tall Punk Bot screaming to the sky, cursing McFist's name and swearing revenge. They might also see him swearing that if they ever see McFist and the Ninja, they'll get what's coming to them. This results to the people cheering for him whilst also afraid of his cold and hostile nature.

I wish we could've have more Scrap City, but I'm also the wish-maker so I'm gonna make content of it! Mweheheheh XD

Anyways, Spike is such a good character for me to create depth owo.

[mariacallous]

Over the past three and a half years, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has faithfully echoed her boss, U.S. President Joe Biden, by invoking pretty much the same hegemonic worldview that every American president has embraced since World War II. As Harris put it in a 2023 speech—quoting a favorite phrase of Biden’s—“a strong America remains indispensable to the world.”

But the United States may be downgraded to a humbler status if Harris is elected president in November, based on the thinking of her chief advisors.

In their written work, Harris’s national security advisor, Philip Gordon, and deputy national security advisor, Rebecca Lissner, have sketched the outlines of a new worldview in which Washington frankly acknowledges its past excesses and dramatically lowers its ambitions. Or as Lissner put it in An Open World: How America Can Win the Contest for 21st Century Order, the 2020 book she coauthored with another Biden administration official: The United States should give up on strategic primacy and the “increasingly obsolete post-Cold War ‘liberal international order.’”

Instead of seeking to remain the unquestioned hegemon, the United States should seriously downsize its global role, wrote Lissner and her co-author, Mira Rapp-Hooper, who is currently Biden’s National Security Council director for East Asia and Oceania. It’s past time for Washington to discard the “messianic” goal of transforming the world in its image—the United States’ basic policy approach going back to Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry Truman. Instead, it should ratchet down to a much narrower role: merely preserving an open global system in which the United States can prosper.

“As the unipolar moment wanes, so too must any illusions of the United States’ ability to craft order unilaterally and universally according to its own liberal preferences,” Lissner and Rapp-Hooper wrote. “Insisting upon the United States’ international leadership role but departing from reliance on primacy as the cornerstone of a messianic liberal mission, a strategy of openness departs from post-Cold War liberal universalism, Cold War-style containment, and the traditional alternative of retrenchment.”

This new approach would mean a lot of accommodation of autocratic and illiberal regimes and a discarding of ideological crusades or containment strategies—all in the pragmatic interest of keeping trade open and bolstering cooperation on critical issues such as climate change, future pandemics, and artificial intelligence regulation. To put it simply, Lissner and Rapp-Hooper argued that policies of containment and hegemony should be supplanted by the far more modest goal of ensuring an “accessible global commons.” The United States has one critical task left as the “indispensable” superpower, they wrote: It is “the only country that can guarantee an open system.”

Gordon would likely agree—at least about leaving behind, at long last, the messianic strain in U.S. foreign policy. His own 2020 book, Losing the Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East, is a fierce dissection of various failed U.S. efforts in the region dating back 70 years to the CIA-orchestrated ouster of Iranian President Mohammad Mossadegh.

Though he lumped in Afghanistan—which is technically in central Asia—with the failed U.S. interventions in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Libya, and Syria, Gordon was right to see a common theme: regime change almost never works. And like the proverbial lunatic who tries the same thing over and over thinking he might get a different result, U.S. policymakers never seem to learn the right lessons, he argued.

In every case, from 1953 (Mossadegh), to two disastrous episodes in Afghanistan (the 1980s and post-9/11), to the catastrophic invasion of Iraq in 2003, and to fitful efforts in Egypt, Libya, and Syria after the 2011 Arab Spring, Gordon identified a pattern.

“As different as each episode was, and as varied as were the methods used, the history of regime change in the post-World War II Middle East is a history of repeated patterns,” he wrote, “in which policymakers underestimated the challenges of ousting a regime, overstated the threat faced by the United States, embraced the optimistic narratives of exiles or local actors with little power and vested interests, prematurely declared victory, failed to anticipate the chaos that would inevitably ensue after regime collapse, and ultimately found themselves bearing the costs—in some cases more than a trillion dollars and thousands of American lives—for many years or even decades to come.”

Gordon noted that critics, especially the few remaining neoconservatives in Washington, would argue that in some cases regime change had worked very well. This is most notably true in the case of postwar Germany and Japan. But he argued persuasively that these were unique circumstances: two highly advanced countries after a devastating world war. And had it not been for the strange annealing effect of the subsequent 40-year-long Cold War, even the successful transformations of Germany and Japan might not have worked as completely as they did because U.S. patience would have grown thin very quickly—as it has in subsequent cases. A faster U.S. withdrawal from Europe and Japan might well have undercut the effort to fundamentally change Berlin and Tokyo.

Grim and exhaustive as Gordon’s assessment is, it actually understates the case for change. That’s because, added all together, these failed U.S. attempts at transformation contributed mightily to the growing obsolescence of the current liberal international order that so concerns Lissner and Rapp-Hooper.

The history that Gordon recounts is a history that keeps on giving. Today the number-one menace keeping the United States tied down in the Middle East is the very same Islamic Republic of Iran that rose to power fueled by its opposition to the American “Great Satan,” produced by the 1953 coup and empowered by the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In fact, a U.S. Army study completed in 2018 found that “an emboldened and expansionist Iran appears to be the only victor” in George W. Bush’s Iraq war—the exact opposite of what Bush and his neoconservatives sought.

The vicious spiral set in motion by these misguided policy choices undermined U.S. legitimacy—or its primacy, to use Lissner’s and Rapp-Hooper’s term—as global overseer. The unnecessary and fraudulently justified invasion of Iraq, and the drain on U.S. resources and attention that resulted, laid the groundwork for Washington’s 20-year failure in Afghanistan (which led to Biden’s declaration in August 2021 that he was putting an end to “major military operations to remake other countries,” which of course put the president in accord with Gordon’s advice). The Iraq catastrophe also exposed U.S. military vulnerabilities on the ground in the worst way, tutoring Russia, China, and the rest of the world in how to outmaneuver and fight what was once considered an unassailable superpower. Moreover, the Iraq and Afghanistan debacles projected an image of panicky U.S. retreat, from which Russian President Vladimir Putin may have drawn encouragement to invade Ukraine. (Putin also invoked the unilateral U.S. invasion of Iraq to justify his own aggression in Ukraine.)

As counterinsurgency expert David Kilcullen wrote in his book, The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the West, also released in 2020, the rising challenge to U.S. hegemony from countries such as China and Russia is linked to the United States’ “repeated failure to convert battlefield victory into strategic success or to translate that success into a better peace.” Over the past two decades, the lone superpower has allowed itself to get bogged down in a “seemingly endless string of continuous, inconclusive wars that have sapped [its] energy while [its] rivals prospered,” Kilcullen wrote.

And so the postwar international system, at least as once conceived, went down the tube as Beijing and Moscow began to declare that U.S. hegemony was no longer acceptable to them.

Beyond that, these failures helped to create the deep divisions in the American polity that led Lissner and Rapp-Hooper to conclude that traditional U.S. leadership is no longer tenable. Together these titanic errors of policy also helped to discredit the political establishment in Washington and open the way for former U.S. President Donald Trump and his “America First” neo-isolationism.

There were, to be sure, other U.S. failures that undermined U.S. legitimacy as global leader, Lissner and Rapp-Hooper wrote—especially the 2008 financial disaster generated by Wall Street greed and the fecklessness of Washington regulators. But it’s clear that—far more than any fundamental flaws within the international system itself—it was largely the excesses of America’s postwar agenda and the arrogance with which it was pursued that squandered the world’s trust.

Gordon didn’t go quite as far as Lissner and Rapp-Hooper in his conclusions. Known as a passionate trans-Atlanticist—he served as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs in the Obama administration—Gordon acknowledged that “the regime change temptation will never go away.” He wrote: “The bias of American political culture, resulting from the country’s record of achievement and belief in its own exceptionalism, is to believe every problem has a solution.” Rather than reconfiguring U.S. policy entirely, he suggested that in most cases when it comes to rogue regimes “the best alternative to regime change looks a lot like the Containment strategy that won the Cold War.”

So where does this all leave us? There’s no use trying to unwind history and restore the old system. In many ways, despite their different conclusions, Gordon’s and Lissner’s books fit together like two big pieces of a puzzle: Thanks to the policy disasters detailed by Gordon (in which he took part, as a National Security Council official under then-President Barack Obama), some sort of humbler approach, along the lines proposed by Lissner and Rapp-Hooper, may be needed. And this strategy will likely be bipartisan to some degree.

Indeed, in their writings there is little doubt that Gordon and Lissner—the two chief foreign policy advisors to the woman who could soon be the next U.S. president—are in the process of codifying, perhaps for decades to come, the anti-interventionist impulse becoming ingrained in both political parties.

If Trump is elected instead of Harris, of course, he’s unlikely to embrace Lissner’s strategy of openness—at least not openly. (Trump continues to rhetorically demean U.S. allies and tout new tariffs as his main foreign-policy instrument.) What Trump is likely to do, however, is to continue to downgrade the United States’ global policeman role. Trump was instrumental in setting in motion the withdrawal from Afghanistan and, as Gordon wrote, also eager to pull out of Syria. Indeed, it is striking that after five years of dithering by Obama over whether to help the Syrian rebels, it was Trump who best put his finger on the problem. He questioned why the United States was helping to topple Syria’s dictatorial leader, Bashar al-Assad, when, as Gordon quoted Trump as saying, “Syria was fighting ISIS, and you have to get rid of ISIS. … Now we’re backing rebels against Syria, and we have no idea who these people are.”

Lissner and Rapp-Hooper’s prescriptions may be ambitious, but at the same time they are refreshingly modest in scope. Nothing has gotten Washington into more trouble over the decades than its continuing eruptions of hubristic policy. These extended from Wilson’s quixotic desire to make the world “safe for democracy” after World War I to then-Defense Department official Paul Wolfowitz’s uber-hawkish defense policy guidance from 1992, which embraced a frank post-Cold War policy of preventing the rise of rival military powers. It was this sort of thinking by Wolfowitz and his fellow neoconservatives that later helped justify the Iraq War.

Lissner and Rapp-Hooper’s open world concept also jibes with the changing calculus of our times: In economic terms, the divide between left and right wing is all but gone; instead, as Fareed Zakaria wrote in his 2024 book, Age of Revolutions, for the two political parties the old left versus right divide has been replaced by a struggle between those who want to keep the United States open to the world versus those who want to close it down more than ever. It is no accident that trade skeptics on the progressive left in the United States have come to lionize Trump’s former trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, for his tariff policies. (In his 2023 book, No Trade is Free, Lighthizer makes a point of thanking U.S. union leaders and acknowledging Lori Wallach—a progressive trade expert—as “a longtime friend and co-conspirator.”)

So Lissner and Rapp-Hooper may have chosen just the right battlefield to die on—or not. If we can salvage some degree of openness, we can save something of the old system. As they wrote: “Openness does not, of course, incorporate the totality of American strategic objectives. Other threats, like nuclear proliferation, disease, or terrorism, may menace vital U.S. interests. Yet closed spheres of influence—whether exercised regionally or in particular domains—present the greatest danger to the United States’ security and prosperity” because they preclude necessary international cooperation.

Another fundamental problem that Lissner and Rapp-Hooper hint at is that the United States may no longer be up to the task of fully managing the international system it created. There is a growing mismatch between the complexity of this world system and the level of knowledge in the U.S. populace because of laggard education and dysfunctional political systems. Americans may simply no longer understand the system—how global free trade works, how military alliances keep them safe—well enough to maintain it. At the very least, Americans now have very little sympathy for that system.

The United States’ domestic polarization may also wreak havoc on some of the solutions Lissner and Rapp-Hooper propose. The authors propose a plan to “harness the private sector for national advantage” and bring the tech sector and Washington closer together. “The next administration should consider elevating the Office of Science and Technology Policy to a National Emerging Technology Council (NETC) on par with the National Security Council and National Economic Council,” they write. Yet the leaders of the United States’ tech sector have long tried to keep their distance from Washington—especially on defense policy–except for a few oddball pairings such as Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

Perhaps the most fundamental question is whether the international system is really as obsolete as Lissner and Rapp-Hooper suggested. Yes, many problems the duo analyzed four years ago remain, including the increasing irrelevance of the World Trade Organization. But some of their views are dated. Lissner and Rapp-Hooper tended to echo the fears of Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who warned in a 2019 essay in Foreign Affairs, “Competition Without Catastrophe,” of the menace of “China’s fusion of authoritarian capitalism and digital surveillance.” Similarly, Lissner and Rapp-Hooper wrote that “China is at the forefront of a new model of ‘techno-authoritarianism’ that could confer considerable competitive advantages.” Yet in the four years since the book’s publication, it’s become far clearer that China under President Xi Jinping has only fallen behind thanks to this new model, with its economy seriously stagnating and Xi pleading for more foreign investment.

Moreover, in the wake of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Washington has been forced to revert, to some extent, to its old role of global enforcer. This has proved especially true as the European Union has fallen behind the U.S. economically. As the Carnegie Endowment concludes in a new report that highlights how difficult it is to bring about strategic change in U.S. foreign policy, “the administration’s response to that crisis has been to expand America’s security role in Europe and thereby create a new status quo.” Much the same can be said of the United States’ role in the Middle East following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, as Biden found himself sending carriers and submarines to the Mediterranean and forced to defend Israel from the air.

Yet we are also clearly moving into some kind of a new anti-interventionist era wherein Washington’s default mode—regardless of who occupies the White House—will be to stay out of global conflicts wherever and however possible. And it seems likely that if Harris wins, Gordon and Lissner will be major players. Gordon, to be sure, is more of a traditionalist who would be reluctant to tamper too much with the United States’ global security role. But it’s noteworthy that Lissner had a significant role drafting Biden’s national security strategy—and yet she chose to join the vice president’s staff in 2022 to influence policy for the next generation.

Asked whether Harris embraces Gordon’s and Lissner’s views, an aide to the vice president said only that Harris “is advised by a range of people with diverse views, and their previous writings reflect their personal views. Anyone looking to understand the vice president’s worldview should look at what she has said and done on the world stage.”

As for Harris’s current superior, perhaps Biden’s most enduring legacy—one that a President Harris would surely continue—will be that he sought to conduct a sort of halfway-house foreign policy that bridges the global policeman era and this new era of restraint. Biden has also attempted to find a workable compromise between the old consensus on globalization and the emerging cross-party consensus in favor of protectionism and industrial policy. As foreign-policy expert Jessica T. Mathews argued in Foreign Affairs, Biden has “unambiguously left behind the hubris of the ‘unipolar moment’ that followed the Cold War, proving that the United States can be deeply engaged in the world without military action or the taint of hegemony.”

At the same time, however, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Hamas’s attack on Israel, Biden has often gone back to invoking the old postwar view of the United States’ role, calling the United States the “arsenal of democracy” (FDR’s phrase) and declaring that “American leadership is what holds the world together.”

And given the ongoing crises around the world—especially in Europe, the Middle East, and possibly East Asia if the Taiwan issue heats up—it’s highly questionable whether the United States can adjust downward when there is no other major power that even comes close to approaching Washington’s global sway. If it can, then maintaining global openness may be a worthy—and perhaps achievable—goal.

[queerwritersingerdramaqueen]

A random, kinda crack pjo x mtp crossover

Random little PJO x MTP thoughts but William and Louis would be children of Hades. Before someone rocks up with "They're children of Athena" I simply want to avoid the whole "Sherlock and William are technically siblings in that vein of thought."

Following on from that, Sherlock could only be a child of Athena for me, unless there is some god of detectives and critical thinking or something.

(Maybe Louis and William are students of Athena on Olympus because they were cool or something, idk)

Moving on though, Albert is a child of Achlys and he carries it around as the most depressing burden ever. The man would not be able to get over it. Mostly, this connection comes through poison and Achlys being the personification of Sorrow (his dramatic ass in the tower is the only proof I need).

Mycroft I'm 30/30/30 on. One hand, he's Sherlock's half brother and the son of Zeus (cause he has that whole leadership thing going on), on the other hand, he's the son of Athena and Sherlock's full brother, and on the other other hand, he's a child of Ares and represents battle strategy. So while Sherlock is normal intelligence, Mycroft is strategic intelligence. The most probable one would be child of Athena but it's fun to think about.

James is a son of Aphrodite and has the most beef with Hera for being all "femininity this, masculinity that." He loves Artemis and her hunters, briefly considered joining her hunters when he was Irene, then found he didn't fit there. He's still invited on hunts sometimes.

Jack and Moran would be kids of Ares, with Jack being some legacy type guy, one of the very few Greek Demigods to survive to old age. If it were set in the Percy Jackson Universe, Moran would but heads with Clarice a lot and Jack would mentor her.

Herder is a son of Hephaestus, done.

Moneypenny gives off the vibe like she'd be a child of Hestia but I'm fairly sure Hestia has a virginity vow so maybe she's just a follower? If not, then maybe a child of Demeter (cause she provides) or Hermes (cause she's a secretary).

John's a child of Apollo in every Will Solace aspect of the gig. The man's a healer, a ball of sunshine and a soldier in one breath. the only thing he probably couldn't do is play music. Billy is also a kid of Apollo and takes on more of the aspects of the "archer" since he's a gunslinger.

Miss Hudson is a dryad or some other creature from the camp.

Patterson, weirdly, is also a child of Athena. He, Sherlock and Mycroft aren't particularly close as siblings but they do see eye-to-eye (Sherlock gets jealous of him a lot).

Fred would probably be a child of Persephone, which makes a strange relationship between him, Louis and William.

Bill is a child of Hecate for all the mystery around him. He can hide things and is extremely smart in doing so. He natural math skills are just his and have no connection to Hecate (I really tried to find a god that relates to him but Athena is the only other one and it just bothers me how many of them would be children of Athena).

Adam Whitely would be a child of Zeus but he'd die trying to protect his human brother.

Wiggins would be some mischievous little forest creature that bothers Sherlock for food.

[niadsofthelecterfarm]

Lecter Estate Niad Department Files

Subject: Queen William Graham

Identification Number: QN-001

Type of Niad: Royal Niad

Place of Origin: Ancient Forest of Eldoria

Acquisition Date: 15th August 1975

Physical Description:

- Height: 6'2" with tail

- Weight: 135 lbs

- Eye Color: Luminous emerald

- Hair Color: Dark blue with bioluminescent highlights

- Wingspan: 8 feet (translucent with intricate veining patterns)

Unique Physical Traits:

- Distinctive crown-like growth of bioluminescent petals around the head.

- Vine-like tendrils extending from arms, capable of intricate movements and manipulation.

Medical and Biological Information:

- Lifespan: Indeterminate; displays signs of longevity typical of royal niads.

- Metabolic Rate: Elevated; requires a high intake of energy and nutrients derived from specific flora.

- Reproductive Capacity: Able to produce and nurture a wide variety of lesser niads.

- Sensory Acuity: Enhanced; possesses superior vision, hearing, emotional and olfactory senses compared to other niads.

Behavioral Characteristics:

- Displays high levels of intelligence and strategic thinking.

- Exhibits strong leadership qualities and natural command over other niads.

- Shows deep attunement to the natural and magical elements of her environment.

- Temperamental

Technical Specifications:

- Energy Output: Radiates a consistent field of energy that can be harnessed for various purposes, including alchemical processes and enchantments.

- Communication Abilities: Utilizes a complex system of pheromones and telepathic signals to communicate with other niads.

- Environmental Adaptability: Highly adaptable to changes in environment, though prefers lush, wet, forested areas rich in magical flora.

Containment and Care Protocols:

- Habitat Requirements: Must be housed in a secure, enchanted habitat that mimics the natural conditions of the Ancient Forest of Eldoria. This includes ample magical flora, a flowing water source, and controlled light conditions.

- Nutritional Needs: Requires a diet of rare plants and a regular infusion of pure energy.

- Security Measures: Due to his unique abilities and importance, Queen Will habitat is under constant surveillance and protected by multiple layers of magical wards.

- Interaction Guidelines: Only authorized personnel may interact with Queen Will. All interactions must be documented and conducted with the utmost respect and caution.

Research and Utilization:

- Alchemical Research: Queen Will's magical essence is a key component in several advanced alchemical formulas.

WARNING: EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED

This report serves as a critical advisory regarding Queen William, the Royal Niad. Despite his majestic and ethereal appearance, Queen William possesses significant dangers that must be acknowledged and respected by all personnel. Failure to adhere to the following guidelines may result in severe injury or fatality.

Physical and Behavioral Warnings:

1. Enhanced Strength and Agility:

- Queen William exhibits extraordinary physical capabilities. His strength is far beyond that of typical niads, and his agility allows him to move with alarming speed and precision. Direct physical interaction without proper precautions is highly discouraged.

2. Vine Tendrils:

- The vine-like tendrils extending from his arms are not only dexterous but also possess considerable constrictive power. These tendrils can immobilize and potentially crush individuals who come too close. Maintain a safe distance at all times.

3. Telepathic Influence:

- Queen William has demonstrated the ability to exert telepathic influence over other niads and, in some cases, humans. This influence can lead to disorientation, confusion, and altered behavior. Personnel must be vigilant and report any unusual mental sensations immediately.

4. Pheromone Emissions:

- The Queen's pheromones have potent effects on niads, causing heightened aggression or docility depending on hia intent. These pheromones can also affect humans, inducing strong emotional responses. Protective gear is mandatory when entering his habitat.

5. Energy Field:

- Queen William radiates a powerful energy field. Prolonged exposure without proper shielding can lead to severe magical burns or energy depletion. Limit exposure time and utilize protective enchantments when in his vicinity.

Containment Protocols:

1. Reinforced Enclosures:

- Queen William is housed within a heavily reinforced, enchanted habitat. All access points are secured with high-level magical wards and physical barriers. Unauthorized access is strictly prohibited.

2. Surveillance and Monitoring:

- His enclosure is under constant surveillance. Any anomalies or unauthorized activities are to be reported immediately. Security personnel must be on high alert at all times.

3. Interaction Restrictions:

- Only authorized personnel with Level 4 clearance or higher may interact with Queen William. Interactions must be pre-approved and conducted under strict supervision. All personnel must wear protective gear and carry emergency containment devices.

4. Emergency Protocols:

- In the event of a containment breach, initiate Protocol Alpha immediately. This includes the activation of emergency wards, deployment of containment teams, and evacuation of non-essential personnel. Under no circumstances should any personnel attempt to engage Queen William directly.

Queen William is an extraordinary yet perilous entity. His potential for both knowledge and destruction is immense. It is imperative that all personnel exercise the utmost caution and respect when dealing with him. Complacency or negligence can have catastrophic consequences.

Stay vigilant, stay protected, and always adhere to established protocols.

"In the pursuit of knowledge, we must never forget the power we seek to understand."

Prepared by:

Dr. Abel Gideon

Head of Niad Research Division

Lecter Estate

[galene-gothic]

final ask:

initials: ACK

question: what’s my future spouse’s job/career?

thank you 🤍🤍

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ What is your future spouse’s job/career?

Your future spouse is going to be involved in a field where balance and harmony are challenging to achieve. They work in a high-pressure environment or a profession that requires constant adjustment and adaptation. They’re involved in a profession that requires strong leadership and intellectual capabilities but might face issues such as miscommunication, lack of clarity or ethical dilemmas. This could point to roles in fields like law, politics or any area where strategic thinking and authority are crucial but where they may face internal or external conflicts. In the early years, they are going to or have struggled with expressing their ideas clearly and maintaining professional boundaries. They have had to or will face issues related to emotional control or assertiveness, which could affect their performance or relationships at work. I’m getting that those older than them were bitter and wanted to chew them up. There could have been a couple or a couple of friends who could not stand them in the earlier years. Not to mention, the field seems to be demanding and draining as it is. They’re likely involved in a profession that values teamwork and the application of specialised skills. Where the ability to work well with others and contribute to a collective effort is essential. It often denotes roles in fields where craftsmanship, expertise and collaborative projects are important, such as in architecture, engineering, creative industries or any profession that involves building or creating something of value. It could very well be a doctor since they’d need nurses and interns to assist them. In summary, your future spouse’s profession is in a field where intellectual and strategic skills are required but where they also need to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and adapt to changing circumstances. Professions that involve leadership, detailed work and collaboration, such as in project management, consulting, creative design or technical fields, could align with these influences. Additionally, roles in sectors where one must manage significant responsibilities or deal with high-stakes decisions might be fitting, such as doctors, lawyers, judges. However, there’s another scenario coming through where your person could be studying to be a high skilled professional which could result in them becoming an intern which leads to them facing all these problems which is why they’ll most likely change their path. Let’s look at why they are most likely to change their path. They are going to start or have already started their career with great enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn and develop their skills. They are going to approach their role with curiosity and a willingness to invest in their growth. Despite their initial eagerness, they will encounter limitations in their role that hinders further professional development. The work environment will not fully support their learning or provide opportunities for advancement. Despite this, they are going to manage to achieve a level of success or stability in their first career. However, this stability will not entirely positive. It’s possible they feel that while they reached important milestones, the work environment became stagnant or unfulfilling over time, or was always that way to begin with. This sense of accomplishment will lead them to realize that despite their achievements, the work environment is not conducive to their personal growth and happiness. They will start valuing their own happiness and peace. They will want to be more successful, to achieve more and especially have a work environment that’s a bit more community-like. Their work will lead them to feeling really lonely and drained so it’s only understandable for them to want something else. They are going to feel disconnected from their true self or struggle with understanding their and other’s deeper motivations. They might experience a work environment that is opaque or does not foster self-reflection and personal insight.

This lack of clarity and support is going to greatly contribute to a sense of confusion or frustration about their role and future prospects, pushing them to seek a career where they can better align with their true aspirations. Your future spouse possesses strong creative and nurturing abilities, which were either underutilized or not fully appreciated in their first career. They might feel that their work environment does not or did not allow them to express their creativity or contribute in ways that were meaningful to them. In their first career, they may face difficulties related to clear communication and decision-making. They might experience a work environment characterized by poor communication, lack of transparency or emotional detachment. These issues could lead to conflicts, misunderstandings or feelings of isolation. At the end, they are going to be motivated by a vision of a more fulfilling and harmonious work environment. They are going to be inspired by the possibility of finding a career that aligns better with their values and allows them to overcome the difficulties they faced in their first career. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have multiple sources of income or projects going forward. I’m not getting any specifics for the second profession but it’s either going to be or is going to be similar to be a business. They will likely be in a field that requires determination and a strong will to succeed. They may face obstacles but their ability to persist and push through difficulties will be a key asset. They will have learned from past experiences and are going to be stronger and more prepared to handle any challenges that come their way. The good news is that it’s going to be prosperous and fulfilling. They will find themself doing something that offers financial security and allows them to build a solid foundation for the future. This profession will not only provide for their material needs but also contribute to their sense of accomplishment and legacy. It suggests a career where they can achieve lasting success and leave a meaningful impact. They will likely find a more harmonious and supportive work environment. They will be able to put behind any past conflicts or negative experiences from their first career, allowing them to focus on positive and constructive relationships with those they’re working with - be it bosses, clients, colleagues or subordinates. This situation indicates a fresh start where they can work collaboratively and enjoy a more peaceful professional atmosphere. There could be one group of people or one person in particular who can’t stand them though 💀. It seems so funny because they’ll feel aggressively and act like so with your person for no reason when they secretly can’t help but pick your spouse apart in order to figure them out because they will just admire them so much. They’ll have a need for self-awareness and clarity. In their second career, they’ll need to focus on connecting with their inner wisdom and understanding their true motivations. They might need to work on trusting their intuition and ensuring that their actions align with their deeper values. This process will help them make more informed and authentic decisions, ultimately leading to greater fulfillment in their career. Your future spouse will find their second career to be dynamic and exciting. They will be filled with energy and a sense of purpose, driving them to take bold actions and pursue their goals with vigor. This career will allow them to express their creativity and passion, leading to a vibrant and stimulating professional life. They may or may not receive immediate results but they’ll continue pushing until they manage to build something tangible.

🩰 Thank you for participating in my event, I would truly appreciate your feedback someday. Much love and take care 🐇

[aeoseo]

HEAD OF SEARCH (SEO)

Head of Search (Head of SEO)

The Head of Search, also known as Head of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), is a leadership role responsible for a company's organic search visibility. They develop and oversee the overall search strategy to drive qualified traffic to the website and achieve business goals.

Here's a breakdown of the typical responsibilities:

Strategy & Planning:

Develop and implement a comprehensive SEO strategy aligned with business objectives.

Stay updated on search engine algorithms and industry best practices.

Conduct keyword research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities.

Team Management:

Lead, motivate, and mentor a team of SEO specialists, content creators, and developers.

Delegate tasks and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

Technical SEO:

Oversee website audits and identify technical SEO issues.

Work with developers to implement technical SEO solutions to improve website crawlability and indexability.

Content Strategy:

Collaborate with content creators to develop SEO-friendly content that attracts and engages the target audience.

Ensure content aligns with search intent and incorporates relevant keywords.

Analytics & Reporting:

Track and analyze website traffic, keyword rankings, and other SEO metrics.

Generate reports to measure the success of SEO initiatives and identify areas for improvement.

Stay Informed:

Attend industry conferences and workshops to stay current on SEO trends.

Network with other SEO professionals and share knowledge.

Examples of Duties (may vary depending on company size and industry):

Manage SEO budgets and allocate resources effectively.

Conduct outreach campaigns to acquire backlinks from high-quality websites.

Manage local SEO for brick-and-mortar businesses.

Liaise with other departments like marketing, product, and development to ensure SEO best practices are integrated across the organization.

Similar Jobs to Head of Search

SEO Manager: Similar responsibilities but with less focus on leadership and strategy development.

Digital Marketing Manager: Oversees various digital marketing channels, including SEO, PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, and social media marketing.

Director of Communications & Marketing: Leads the overall communication and marketing strategy, with SEO as one of the components.

SEO Consultant: Provides SEO expertise to companies on a contract basis.

Web Analyst: Analyzes website traffic data to identify trends and improve website performance, which can include SEO analysis.

Choosing the right role depends on your career goals and experience level. If you enjoy leadership and strategic thinking, Head of Search could be a great fit. If you prefer a more hands-on technical role, SEO Manager might be a better option.

SEO IS ART

TOP RANKED SEO EMEA

[tarinidh-blog]

Building Leaders: Best Practices in Leadership Development Programs in India

In today's dynamic and fast-paced business environment, the need for effective leaders has never been greater. To foster the next generation of corporate leaders, Indian companies are becoming aware of the importance of significant investments in leadership development programs. Organizations can ensure that their manager leadership development programs have a lasting impact by emphasizing cutting-edge tactics and industry best practices.

The Importance of Leadership Development Programs in India

Leadership development programs in India are developed to give managers the skills and knowledge required to effectively manage teams, make strategic choices, and drive their organizations forward. Fostering a culture of constant learning, adaptability, and resilience is the goal of these programs rather than just sharing theoretical knowledge.

Best Practices in Leadership Development Programs

1. Customized Learning Paths

Since every business is different, a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership development often proves fruitless. Leading Indian organizations have tailored their programs to cater to individual development needs in addition to particular company goals. They ensure the effectiveness and relevance of the leadership development program by carrying out comprehensive assessments and matching training goals with corporate plans.

2. Blended Learning Models

A method of blended learning has grown exponentially popular. It combines traditional classroom instruction with online resources. This approach provides flexibility, letting managers take their time learning and still gain from face-to-face, interactive sessions. Among the resources utilized to improve the learning process are virtual simulations, webinars, and online modules.

3. Experiential Learning

The basis for several effective leadership development programs in India is experiential learning. Through practical projects, real-world problem-solving, and role-playing activities, managers may hone their abilities in a secure setting. Learners can hone the critical thinking and decision-making skills necessary for effective leadership by simulating real-life scenarios.

4. Mentorship and Coaching

A successful leadership development program for managers requires both coaching and mentoring. Emerging leaders can receive essential coaching and support from experienced leaders in the company to help them navigate their career paths and overcome obstacles. To promote a culture of constant growth, regular coaching sessions, feedback loops, and development plans are essential parts of this approach.

5. Focus on Soft Skills

Soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution are just as vital for effective leadership as technical skills. These abilities are being highlighted more and more in leadership development programs in India, where they help managers build strong, cohesive teams and cultivate a pleasant workplace culture.

6. Measuring Impact

Measuring the effects of leadership training programs is essential for ensuring their success. Businesses use a range of metrics, such as company performance indicators, leadership effectiveness ratings, and staff engagement scores, to evaluate the success of their programs. Organizations can improve their programs and achieve better outcomes by using continuous feedback and evaluation processes.

In conclusion, training effective leaders requires a methodical and thorough approach to leadership training. Through the implementation of best practices including personalized learning pathways, blended learning models, experiential learning, mentorship, and a concentration on soft skills, Indian organizations can ensure the success of their leadership training programs for managers. These initiatives will be crucial in influencing organizational excellence and the direction of leadership in India as they develop further. 

[river-taxbird]

It can be easy to take your creativity for granted. Most of my friends are dynamic creative people. Probably because most of my friends are furries and a lot of furries are creative people. How can you not be when you're surrounded by so much good art?

I had to essentially "break up" with my group project team in my "Strategic business leadership" class in uni. The one thing that everyone in my post-grad class seems to hate more than anything technical, is if they are asked to be creative. We had four weeks to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about a multinational company, and give our opinion on its strategy. We are now on the third week, and I'm the only one who has lifted a finger on the project. The professor even agreed I should go solo. It's a pattern too. Any time they are asked to synthesise information or create a presentation or anything like that, they freeze up and don't work. Even in our Analytics class, thinking about the colours and shapes of graphs was too much for my classmates to handle so they all stuck to the defaults. Maybe they think they can do it in one week, but they are welcome to try but my professor agreed they shouldn't be using my work from the other three. I don't want to judge them harshly because it seems their priorities are elsewhere, but it's a consistent pattern I've seen.

God forbid you form your own opinion on something or add your own personal touch, right? I'm now doing a four person group project solo, and I'm happier than I've been for weeks. Don't take your creativity for granted.

[globsynbusinessschool]

Will MBA Jobs be Replaced by AI?

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer across industries. The business world, in particular, has witnessed a transformational shift with the integration of AI into various processes. This has sparked debates about the potential replacement of traditional MBA jobs by AI-driven solutions. While the rise of AI does bring changes to the job market, it's important to understand the nuanced dynamics at play.

AI's role in business is undeniable, as it can streamline operations, analyze vast amounts of data, and even provide insights for decision-making. For instance, AI-powered algorithms can quickly process market trends and customer preferences, aiding in strategic planning. This can prompt concerns about the future of roles typically associated with MBA degrees, such as business analysts, strategists, and consultants.

One practical example of AI's impact can be seen in financial analysis. Traditionally, MBA graduates have held positions as financial analysts, examining complex market data to make informed investment recommendations. However, AI-powered tools can now analyze data at lightning speed, identifying patterns and predicting market movements with a high degree of accuracy. This doesn't render financial analysts obsolete, but it reshapes their role. Rather than spending hours crunching numbers, analysts can focus on interpreting AI-generated insights and providing context to clients.

Moreover, AI is a powerful tool for data-driven decision-making. Consider supply chain management, where MBA professionals have historically played a vital role in optimizing logistics and operations. AI algorithms can now predict supply chain disruptions, optimize inventory levels, and even automate procurement processes. MBA holders in this field can leverage AI-generated recommendations to fine-tune strategies and focus on relationship-building aspects, ensuring smoother collaborations with suppliers and partners.

While AI enhances efficiency and accuracy, it lacks the nuanced human touch. One aspect where AI struggles is emotional intelligence and creativity. MBA graduates often excel in leadership roles that demand empathy, innovative thinking, and effective communication. For instance, negotiating deals, managing teams, and understanding the subtle nuances of human behavior are areas where human professionals still outperform AI.

In conclusion, the integration of AI into the business landscape does bring changes to the roles traditionally held by MBA graduates. However, rather than outright replacement, it fosters a transformation in the nature of these roles. MBA professionals who embrace AI as a tool to enhance their decision-making and streamline operations will remain relevant and valuable. The synergy between human expertise and AI's analytical capabilities is the key to navigating this evolving landscape.

As with previous technological advancements, AI is likely to create new opportunities as it transforms existing ones. MBA programs are also adapting to this shift, incorporating AI and data analytics into their curricula. Graduates who possess a blend of business acumen, technical know-how, and emotional intelligence will be well-equipped to thrive in this AI-augmented business world, leading us to a future where collaboration between humans and AI defines success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will AI replace MBA finance?

AI is unlikely to fully replace MBA finance roles but will transform them. AI can enhance data analysis, automate routine tasks, and provide insights. However, roles requiring strategic thinking, human judgment, and relationship management will remain vital in the finance industry. The future lies in a synergy between AI's capabilities and human expertise.

Will ChatGPT Replace Your jobs?

ChatGPT and similar AI technologies are tools designed to assist and enhance human tasks, but they are unlikely to entirely replace jobs. They can automate certain processes and provide information, but professions requiring complex decision-making, creativity, empathy, and nuanced understanding will continue to require human involvement. The collaboration between AI and humans is expected to shape the future of work.

How Will Work and Jobs Change by 2030?

By 2030, AI is expected to bring significant changes to the work and job landscape. Routine tasks in various industries may become automated, leading to job displacement in certain roles. However, new opportunities will emerge as AI creates demand for jobs related to its development, maintenance, and ethical oversight. Jobs that require creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving will remain crucial, as these are areas where AI currently struggles. Collaboration between humans and AI will be key, necessitating upskilling and adaptability to harness the potential of AI while addressing its limitations.

Should I Avoid Doing MBA as AI Is Going to Replace the Jobs?

Deciding whether to pursue an MBA should consider various factors beyond AI's impact on the job market. While AI may change some aspects of business roles, it's unlikely to replace all MBA-related jobs. AI's influence can enhance certain functions, making them more efficient and data-driven. However, roles that involve strategic thinking, human interaction, and creativity will remain valuable.

When contemplating an MBA, focus on your strengths, interests, and long-term goals. An MBA equips you with versatile skills that extend beyond specific job titles, such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Additionally, industries evolve, and AI's integration will likely create new opportunities, especially for those who can bridge the gap between technology and business acumen.

Consider the specific program, its curriculum, and how it adapts to the changing business landscape. Look for programs that incorporate AI and technology-related courses to ensure you're prepared for the future work environment. Ultimately, the decision should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of your aspirations, strengths, and the evolving demands of the job market. For that reason, you must research for the best MBA colleges in Kolkata, shortlist them (according to your needs. budget, etc.), and get your admission.

[waheelawhisperer]

Ignore if you already got this one: what sort of weapon & special abilities is Feilan packin'?

Sword and shield combo, basically a reskinned Crocea Mors that I have yet to find a name I like for because his origins are similar to Jaune's in the sense that he's the dumbass with no clue what he's doing/audience surrogate that gives me an excuse to explain how the world works and the various storylines I've planned around him specifically involve him starting behind everyone else and managing to "catch up" by being clever more so than just having a larger stat block. Sword + shield is versatile, doesn't rely on flashy techniques like a lot of weapons in the series, and fits his assigned role as a fighter. I still need to come up with a good name for them ugh.

In terms of stats/powers/special abilities and so on, I started off by giving him extensive Aura reserves. Feilan typically lacks any sort of real training or conditioning at the start of a story and has to find a way to pick that shit up fast (and he generally manages to find a competent mentor, depending on how you define competent), so having a larger-than-average Aura lets him push himself hard during training. It's not enough to let him catch up, exactly, but he can at least close the gap enough to hold his own or not outright be a liability to more talented and experienced allies.

In terms of physical ability, he's got a good frame (plenty of height, broad shoulders) with room to add weight and a lot of innate athletic talent at the beginning, but he tends to start off fairly lean and not overly impressive in terms of strength/speed/stamina etc. because he hasn't put in the work yet. Once he does, he tends to be built like an NFL linebacker (I think I usually cap his height/weight out at 6'3" 225 lb) and relatively solid in terms of physical stats (he notably outmatches most members of Team RWBY in terms of pure physical strength and has good, but not exceptional, cardio/speed relative to his peer group), but he usually still suffers from a lack of technical skill. Outside of one very specific circumstance, I've made it a hard rule that he's never stronger in a duel than any member of Team RWBY, and his skills tend to run more toward larger-scale tactics and strategy. His role in a fight is generally not to personally win it through overwhelming combat prowess, and he usually considers simply surviving a fight until someone can arrive to bail him out or stalling until an ally completes an objective to be an accomplishment. When placed in a team (usually of students), his role is typically to serve as a tank, drawing aggro and freeing up/enabling his more dangerous allies to go HAM. When faced with an enemy that needs a serious ass-kicking, his response is less "whip out bullshit shonen powerup and win the fight himself like a badass" and more "scream Yang's name really loudly until she shows up and solves the problem for him" (if the threat is truly serious and he needs a real heavy hitter, he'll call for Qrow or one of his other mentor figures).

Feilan is quite intelligent and a little bit of a nerd, and thus he can serve effectively in a leadership role, whether that be as the leader of a team or a larger-scale command. He's experienced enough with strategy games like the one Team RWBY plays in Volume 2 that he understands basic tactical and strategic aspects of comment and can adapt on the fly, and he tends to do better when he can direct a battle instead of participating in it directly.

Feilan's Semblance is called Pack (or at least that's the working title), and its base form functions similarly to Jaune's Aura Amp - he can spend Aura to grant himself minor-to-moderate stat boosts, amplify the effects of someone else's Aura and Semblance, and infuse his own Aura into someone else to replenish their reserves. As his Semblance evolves, he gains the ability to apply the same stat boost to his senses (improving his sense of smell, hearing, etc.) and form Bonds to others, assuming there is sufficient and reciprocal emotional attachment. Once a Bond is established with a Packmate, Feilan can sense the presence of and apply the base effects of his Semblance to that Packmate without requiring physical contact (e.g. restoring Aura or boosting their stats from a distance) as long as the Packmate is within a certain distance of him. If two or more Bonded Packmates are present, Feilan can shuffle Aura directly between them (e.g. if Weiss's Aura broke, he could pull from Yang's reserves to replenish it, assuming both of them were Bonded to him), though he explicitly cannot draw in Aura from a Packmate and deposit it into his own reserves (wow I really wonder what that says about how he sees himself vs. how he sees others!!!). As more Packmates assemble within the area of effect, Pack becomes stronger - while it initially takes considerable effort and concentration to maintain the Semblance, to the point where Feilan must remain stationary and devote his full attention to keeping it working, each new Packmate to enter Pack's effective range increases the speed and efficiency of the transfers and reduces the concentration required to perform them, similar to how Geth platforms from Mass Effect network more efficiently in larger groups. With enough Packmates present, Feilan becomes able to contribute to the fight directly (at least in a limited capacity) while shuffling Aura between his allies and basically pumping a bunch of already-violent badasses full of Magic Meth (no, this power did not come about because I thought it would be funny to infuse Weiss with the essence of Florida Woman, I don't know what you're talking about), though doing so rapidly drains his reserves and thus can only be maintained for so long.

When designing Feilan, there were a number of key things I wanted to keep in mind. First, I wanted to make sure he didn't overshadow Team RWBY too egregiously. By nature of his position as the focal point of the stories I tell about him, there is no way to avoid him drawing some degree of attention away from the girls, but I didn't want to force them into the role of side characters in their own franchise, so I made an effort to contrive things such that Feilan is not equal to the challenges he faces alone and desperately needs their support and assistance, in addition to providing them with their own storylines and opportunities to shine that are mostly unrelated to him. As a result, I place a lot of emphasis on Team RWBY's internal narratives, as well as their presence in action set pieces. Team RWBY's fights feel very serious, like something out of a battle anime or martial arts movie, whereas Feilan's fights are more like a Vash the Stampede clown fiesta or something out of a Jackie Chan movie that likes making its protagonist the butt of the joke.

I also really appreciate the way RWBY deviates from Standard Shonen Bullshit where the protagonist wins more or less on his (and it's almost always his) own through direct personal strength and determination, so I wanted to make sure I kept as many of RWBY's themes intact as possible. I didn't try to preserve all of them at all costs, some because I just did not really vibe with them and some because I just felt like telling a different kind of story, but I did try to make my story something recognizably RWBY instead of simply slapping names and concepts on top of something that otherwise only bears the slightest resemblance to the show. This might be a hot take, but I feel like a lot of RWBY fanfiction has very little respect for the source material and is written by and for people who don't like and/or don't understand the show and want it to be more like "normal" anime or whatever, so I really wanted to avoid that. There is more Anime Bullshit in my stories than the initial show, but I took pains not to treat the source material with contempt.

Anyway, the point of saying that is that I wanted to preserve RWBY's thematic assertions regarding there being no victory in strength (or at least not solely in strength. This is an action show, after all) and the value of unity, which is why I gave Feilan a mindset and skillset that makes him significantly more effective in the presence of allies (and, notably, doomed to failure without them. The only reason he survives any of the stories I've plotted and outlined is because he has people watching out for him). He's not meant to succeed on his own, he's meant to lift others up.

Feilan arose because I wanted to write self-indulgent bullshit but I didn't want to do the horrible things the people who just use Jaune for that crap do to his character, so I did the cultured thing and made an OC who shares some of the traits that make Jaune useful for this kind of role, but is distinctly his own character. The things I wanted to do would not have worked if I tried using Jaune as a focal character unless I warped him so badly that he wasn't Jaune anymore, but Jaune and Feilan do share certain attributes and struggles - they start behind everyone else, share similar weapons/Semblances/physical profiles, typically try to become a Huntsman through less-than-legitimate means, have many, many sisters, have some attitudes about masculinity that they need to unlearn, work better in combat as support fighters/tanks instead of carries, and so on and so forth.

Also, I didn't want things to get too self-indulgent, so I gave him Lots of Traumas. Like yeah sure he gets attention from hot ladies but he also lives in near constant terror of arrest or execution, depending on storyline, and frequently gets hit in the balls or set on fire