#but a simple google search will solve that problem

[theconcealedweapon]

"Why is there a pride month for LGBT people but not for veterans?"

"Why is there an international women's day but not an international men's day?"

Um, there literally is. You can find it in a simple Google search.

You invent problems to complain about then still complain even when the problem you invented is solved.

[the-fox-in-the-socks]

The Mai Akasaki Mystery Flower - Solved?

feat. a mini-dissection of Mai's name

Hi! I have seen a few people here guessing what the flower on Mai’s tattoo is (mostly camellias iirc)… and I think I have the answer!

I think it’s Ochna integerrima, which is also known as the yellow Mai flower. (Hoa mai vàng is it’s Vietnamese name). Yes, the answer may be that simple: the Mai flower is literally the Mai flower. It seems to match her tattoo and is a very similar shade to her eyes.

(Note: I found most of this information in February last year when I just searched ‘mai flower’ on google and saw the results and was like ‘huh?’ and went down a rabbit hole from there lol.)

The flower has great significance to the Vietnamese Lunar New year, or Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán. They are used to decorate homes and are in full bloom during Tết, which is around late January to early or mid-February and lasts for around 7-10 days, which also lines up with Mai’s birthday (February 1st).

(please correct me if I am wrong, I got this information from Google and I am not Vietnamese and have never celebrated this holiday myself!)

There is a legend associated with the flower as well, which I believe might help explain what happened to Mai Akasaki.

https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/about/blog/2022/01/31/lunar-new-years-and-the-legend-of-the-mai-flower/

The following is copy-pasted from the above website:

"The Mai flower is named after a heroine in Vietnamese lore. Mai, a young warrior set off with her father to slay a giant serpent which had been terrorising their village. Mai’s mother gave her a bright yellow áo dài (traditional Vietnamese dress) to wear when she returned, so her mother could see her coming. Sadly, Mai ended up sacrificing her life to save her father from the serpent. Impressed by her heroic feats, the Gods made her a saint and granted her the ability to return home to her parents during the Lunar New Year celebration. After her parents passed, Mai transformed into a tree in front of her family home which blossomed with yellow flowers every year. Over time, the villagers would collect branches from this tree and decorate their homes for Lunar New Year."

And here are two other websites I looked at when researching this story:

https://scootersaigontour.com/legend-of-yellow-apricot-blossom-and-peach-blossom-on-vietnamese-new-year/

https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/en/the-tale-of-the-yellow-mai-flowers/

This leads me to believe that Mai sacrificed herself trying to protect the cast from a large threat, perhaps the mastermind/MonoTV, or sacrificed herself during the HPA operation that @1moreff-creator mentions in their post Everything We Know About Mai Akasaki + So Many Theories – @1moreff-creator on Tumblr. (this post is basically the Mai bible, please check it out!)

Additionally, MonoTV’s Mai-related secret quote “It’s all your fault”, and the second anniversary code with the same message, and some of the other Mai secret quotes talking about her in past tense imply that she has already passed, and that the cast is the reason why, which could mean she sacrificed herself for them... so I don't think she is the mastermind!

Her surname can also potentially provide us with clues.

“aka” means red, the same colour as her hair

“sa” means bloom or blossom, a reference to her flower tattoo

“ki” means hope, and why that is important is pretty self-explanatory if you've seen anything Danganronpa related

and "saki" means blossom of hope

(These are all Japanese meanings. I just used google for these translations, I do not know Japanese).

This means that her sharing the same name as this flower is likely not just a coincidence, but a deliberate choice by DRDTdev.

Submitted Surnames with "red" in Meaning - Behind the Name

Tenma Saki | Project SEKAI Wiki | Fandom

(yes I just cited the project sekai wiki as a source in my drdt theory, I don't know how I got here either)

The only problems with this theory that her flower is a Mai flower (that I know of) is probably the Literature Girl Insane flowers and the flowers in the bonus episodes being different colours. For the LGI flowers they may just be different flowers altogether that are there to symbolise something else, or a different aspect of Mai... I'm not sure. And the bonus episode flowers could just be coloured differently for aesthetic purposes.

tl;dr The flower on Mai's tattoo may actually be called 'Mai', it suggests she sacrificed herself and probably isn't the mastermind and her surname reinforces the idea that her name choice is not a coincidence.

This is my first tumblr post so apologies in advance if anything about the formatting is weird! Also critisism is appreciated, I would love to hear your thoughts on this :D

[rjzimmerman]

The Carbon Footprint of Amazon, Google, and Facebook Is Growing. (Sierra Club)

Excerpt from this story from Sierra Club:

IN MARCH The Information reported that Microsoft was in talks with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, about spending an eye-popping $100 billion on a gargantuan data center in Wisconsin dedicated to running artificial intelligence software. Code-named “Stargate,” the data center would, at full operation, consume five gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 3.7 million homes. For comparison purposes, that’s roughly the same amount of power produced by Plant Vogtle, the big nuclear power station in Georgia that cost $30 billion to build.

Stargate is in the earliest of planning stages, but the sheer scale of the proposal reflects a truth about artificial intelligence: AI is an energy hog. That’s an embarrassing about-face for the technology industry. For at least 20 years, American electricity consumption has hardly grown at all—owing in part, say computer scientists, to steady advances in energy efficiency that have percolated out of the tech industry into the larger economy. In 2023, according to the US Energy Information Administration, total electricity consumption fell slightly from 2022 levels.

But according to a report published last December by Grid Strategies, a consultancy that advises on energy policy, multiple electric utilities now predict that US energy demand will rise by up to 5 percent over the next five years. One of the chief culprits responsible for the surge, say the utilities, are new data centers designed to run AI. To meet the growing demand for power, those utilities want to build new fossil fuel power plants and to dismantle climate legislation that stands in their way.

For environmentalists, this represents a giant step backward. Artificial intelligence was supposed to help us solve problems. What good are ChatGPT and its ilk if using them worsens global warming?

This is a relatively new story—the AI gold rush is still in its infancy, ChatGPT only having debuted in fall 2022. But computing’s energy demands have been growing for decades, ever since the internet became an indispensable part of daily life. Every Zoom call, Netflix binge, Google search, YouTube video, and TikTok dance is processed in a windowless, warehouse-like building filled with thousands of pieces of computer hardware. These data centers are where the internet happens, the physical manifestation of the so-called cloud—perhaps as far away from ethereality as you can get.

In the popular mind, the cloud is often thought of in the simple sense of storage. This is where we back up our photos, our videos, our Google Docs. But that’s just a small slice of it: For the past 20 years, computation itself has increasingly been outsourced to data centers. Corporations, governments, research institutions, and others have discovered that it is cheaper and more efficient to rent computing services from Big Tech.

The crucial point, writes anthropologist Steven Gonzalez Monserrate in his case study The Cloud Is Material: On the Environmental Impacts of Computation and Data Storage, is that “heat is the waste product of computation.” Data centers consume so much energy because computer chips produce large amounts of heat. Roughly 40 percent of a data center’s electricity bill is the result of just keeping things cool. And the new generation of AI software is far more processor intensive and power hungry than just about anything—with the notable exception of cryptocurrency—that has come before.

The energy cost of AI and its perverse, climate-unfriendly incentives for electric utilities are a gut check for a tech industry that likes to think of itself as changing the world for the better. Michelle Solomon, an analyst at the nonprofit think tank Energy Innovation, calls the AI power crunch “a litmus test” for a society threatened by climate change.

[saintescuderia]

The Growing Cracks of Formula 1

Even Lightning McQueen could show compassion

Well.

We all know what’s going on here. All the news sources are around it, trying as they may to talk about the thing they’re legally not allowed to directly address even though you best believe everyone has already seen the screenshots. I mean, a quick Google search that included, of course, the key word of reddit and I could find it.

And, oh, the rumours. There’s so many rumours flying back and forth. This person was told this. That person said that. They’re leaving. They’re leaving if they is leaving. It’s endless. Yet, we’ve all seemed to miss the key point.

I’ve already written about the cult side of F1 and how insular the world of ‘pinnacle motorsport’ truly is. Those thoughts are not the singular musings of one outlier fan. It seems the main response everyone is having is now can we finally address this?

Someone came forward with allegations and what has followed has been the most unprofessional storm of utter horse shit that is embarrassing, painful and disappointing. Though, perhaps, this is just to show how one wave could rock a boat so bad. Maybe F1 already had its cracks?

It was unfortunate that it took what it took, but at least now there can finally be conversations to the unjust nature of F1 , how cutthroat it is — and not in the sense of pressure on drivers and the team, but that there is a lack of fucking human compassion.

We’re not machines. Perhaps some people have been working alongside them for so long that they forget the difference between us and a car. Cars are the perfectly fine tuned pieces of machinery, calculated to the most singular finite measurement.

We are far more incomplete than that.

Any issues that arise with a car can be a ‘simple’ fix. Usually, we can find a reason for the problem and, therefore, the solution to it. Humans aren’t problems to be fixed, solved or removed. There is pain. There is empathy. There is genuine compassion.

I’ve used that word twice now because I think it hits home. That is what has been missing through this whole ordeal. This is not a business transaction or legal issue. First and foremost is the humanity is what’s happening in front of us and what message that is sending out.

So instead of dismissing a victim to generate news buzz about rumours or using the evidence to make memes, can we all just take moment to remember we’re all human beings.

Have some decency, please.

[ardenwritesegos]

Starlight

Warning: Verbal abuse

Another day, another bout of chaos. Dark should know to expect nothing less from the Ipliers. All the more reason for a daily evaluation. If he didn’t, the mansion would likely burst into flames. Hell, it nearly did at one point. Damn Wilford and his ability to summon flame throwers at will. No matter. There were far more important things to dwell on. Or rather, far more important people. 

The being continued through the halls of the manor, entering room after room. The Googles were searching their online systems for useful information. Dr. Iplier was organizing yet another stack of files detailing the egos’ medical accidents. Everything seemed to be in order. At least, for the time being. 

The creature was soon finished with his inspection, moseying down the hall to his office. As they did, however, one of the doors opened. Someone exited from it in a rush. Eric Derekson. The shy Iplier held a stack of paper tightly in his arms, muttering something to himself. In his hurry, Eric practically rammed into Dark. The documents flew out of his hold, scattering in different directions. As Derekson looked up, the being could see the terror in his face.

“I’m-I’m sorry!” Eric stuttered quickly. 

“I was trying to memorize my script for today, and–” 

“Stop,” Dark interrupted, attempting to be as calm as possible.

Typically, the being would have no issue striking fear into the egos to keep them in line. This one, however, wasn’t like the others. 

Derekson did not contain the outward confidence or fearlessness of an Iplier. He was fragile as an egg, flinching at the slightest sound. The ego could barely speak without questioning every word. It was almost a saddening sight. Almost. “No harm has been done,” the being reassured Eric. The mist of their aura picked up Eric’s papers, handing the stack to Derekson. “You should find them in order,” Dark explained as the other checked his documents. The shy Iplier looked on in confusion, not seeming to expect the kindness. Dark couldn’t blame him. Not with the demon’s reputation in the manor. 

“Th-Thank you,” Eric said quietly, a bit calmer. 

“You’re welcome,” the creature responded. “Now, go. Derek is surely waiting for you.”

“Yeah...right,” Derekson ran along to his errand. Dark couldn’t help but notice an extra shakiness from Eric at the mention of his father. Something about that was all too familiar to the being.

My Starlight

They shook it off, returning to his room. It wasn’t their problem to solve.

[Meanwhile]

The creature sat at their desk, sorting another week’s worth of incidents from Dr. Iplier. As usual, it was a mountainous pile. However, Dark didn’t find it to be too much. He could get through papers like this rather quickly, after all. Before Dark could continue, he was interrupted by yelling that boomed from across the hall. The being knew all too well where it was coming from. They made their way across the hall, stopping midway at a door. On it was a poorly-constructed sign, reading Derekson Studio. Screaming continued from behind the door. Dark focused, until they could see the inside.

“I don’t get what’s so hard about this!” Derek boomed at the timid ego. 

“All ya gotta do is say some lines for stuff that practically sells itself,” he said matter-of-factly, as if it were that simple for everyone. 

“What dontcha understand?!”

“I-I-I,” Eric stuttered, shaking harder than a leaf. “M-Maybe I’m just not-just not cut out for this,” he began to fidget with the orange towel in his hand. Derekson always seemed to have that cloth near him. None of the others ever knew why, nor did they care enough to ask. “ If you asked my brothers, they-they’d say the same thing,” Eric added. “Merrick would–”

“You think I don’t know that?!” Derek interrupted, instantly silencing his son. “You think I wouldn’t rather have Merrick do this?!” he boomed. “But he ain’t here, so you’re the only option I got!” Eric cowered more with each word. “So just get up there and get it together!” At those words, Dark was sent into one of the soul’s memories. 

A little boy was with his father, practicing for a speech, his first as class president. Like Eric, the child struggled to get the words out. For every mistake, his dad forced him to start over. The father quickly became more aggravated with each stutter or lengthy pause. 

“Get it together, boy!” the parent barked. “How are you going to be a politician if you can’t speak to a crowd?!” the boy had previously voiced his desire to be a leader of some kind. He wanted to help people in any way he could. In his mind, politics seemed like the best way to do that. At the time, however, he felt as if he wasn’t cut out for it. 

“B-but, everyone will be staring at me,” the child stammered, hands restless in their folded position. 

“That’s the point!” the man’s voice could be heard throughout the house. Maybe even the neighborhood. Regardless, the boy knew nobody would say a word. The man of the house had to keep order, after all. “What about that do you not understand?!”

“I understand, but–” the child mumbled, on the verge of tears. 

“Then act like it and say the damned words!” the father swore.

With a shake of their head, Dark was brought back to reality. Noise like that could not be tolerated. It was a distraction that could lead the entire manor off-track. He opened the door, immediately silencing Derek. The man may have been too stubborn for his own good, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew very well that this being was not to be messed with. 

“Hello, Derekson,” Dark greeted the father with his usual cold indifference. 

“Uh…hello there, boss,” one could practically see the sweat dripping off the salesman. 

“What brings you here?” 

“You have caused a bit of noise, Derek,” the creature folded their arms behind their back. 

“S-so sorry, sir,” the father apologized. “I was just,uh, trying to motivate my son, here,” he put an arm on Eric’s shoulder, causing the boy to flinch.

“I highly doubt that shouting is adequate motivation,” they said, matter-of-factly. 

“Well actually, it works quite well for–”

“Could you leave the room for a moment?” Dark asked, interrupting Derek.

“What?” Derek responded, face freezing in confusion. 

“I would like to speak with Eric, alone,” the being ordered calmly, yet somehow also firmly.

“But sir, he doesn’t do good on his own,” Derek protested, clearly trying hard not to burst out in anger. 

“He will not be by himself, Derek,” Dark reassured, voice still emotionless. “Now, run along,” the creature ordered. “A new shipment was warped in for you.” 

“Uh…Yes sir,” the father said after several moments of hesitation. As the door clicked shut, Dark made their way towards the boy. He remained in front of the green screen, shaking like a leaf, sure that he was in trouble. The being stopped in front of him. 

“You are not in trouble, Eric,” the creature reassured, able to hear Derekson’s thoughts. 

“I’m-I’m not?” he asked, as if he wasn’t used to such a statement. Dark feels a tugging in his chest at that.

“Derek was the cause of that...noise, not you,” they sighed, careful with their choice of words. The boy was already overwhelmed. He didn’t need to magnify the situation.

“But…he did that because of me,” Eric looked down in shame, hands repeatedly wringing around his orange cloth. Dark could see tears starting to form in the boy’s eyes. “If I hadn’t m-messed up my lines, he would-wouldn’t have had to–”

“You didn’t make him do anything,” the being blurted out, no control over their words. They wanted to move away, but found their aura keeping them in place. While they couldn’t see the color of it, they could tell which one it was. Dammit! Fully under the blue soul’s control, the being put their arms around Derekson. The blue soul then pushed a calming aura into Eric. All at once, the boy’s tension disappeared. His muscles eased. The mental swarming in his head went silent, allowing him to, for once in his life, think clearly. Eric returned the hug, wrapping the creature in a nearly choking embrace. He looked up at Dark.

“Why…” Derekson paused, sniffling away the remains of his tears. “Why does he hate me?” The blue soul remembered asking that exact question. 

A young boy clings to his mother, crying his little eyes out. Father is not around, so he can do so without getting disciplined. 

“Mother, why does he hate me?!” the child choked out. 

“Because he is a fool, starlight,” the woman, the boy’s mother, replied softly. “Anyone would be well-off knowing you,” she rubbed soothing circles into the boy's back. 

“But…he says I cry too much,” the boy weakly argued.

“Because he has the emotions of a doll,” the mother scoffed. Her warm gaze remained directly on her son. “You, my dear, are a wonder.” 

“Because he has the empathy of a mannequin,” the being responded, answer still out of his control.  

“It’s-it’s not his fault, though,” Eric stumbled out. “I mean, everyone else died-”

“That is no excuse for a man to treat his child like that,” the blue soul interrupted. The blue in his aura grew brighter with every second of rage. “His only remaining child, no less…” the soul took a calming breath, trying again to keep his composure in front of the already overwhelmed boy. Eventually, his light was no longer blinding. Regardless, it remained lit like a halo; a comforting, guiding light. Eric couldn’t help but stare. In that gaze, the soul saw the innocence of his past. The kindness. The plea for someone to listen. 

The weakness. 

The soul’s control was ripped from him in an instant. Dark blinked hard, blue outline once again blending with red and gray. The creature quickly but gently removed their arms from Eric, moving them behind their back.

“I will speak to Derek about his…” Dark paused, searching for a careful word. 

“Behavior. Mistreatment of employees, related or otherwise, will not be tolerated in this manor,” The being walked towards the door, but stopped before turning the knob. 

“And Eric,” Dark turns slightly to look at Derekson. 

“Yeah?” Eric forced the word out of his mouth. This Dark was drastically different from the Dark of moments ago. 

“If you should need advice on public speech, I have prior experience that could be to your benefit,” Dark suggested. 

“But be sure to advise me beforehand.” 

“Really? Uh, thanks,” Eric wrung the fabric in his hand like he was getting water out. This time, however, it wasn’t completely out of nerves. With that, the creature exited, on his way to have a few choice words with Derek. 

[luvwich]

so i've been using Obsidian for a couple months as the home base for all my fic writing, and have been thrilled so far! i dig its simple layout, powerful feature set, and there are tons of plugins to customize what you need. also love that it works across devices and syncs to your iCloud (rather than syncing to their own servers). and that it's free for personal use.

it has some interesting features like "canvas" and "graph" type documents (i have one of the latter that tries to graph relationships between characters and entities in my story) but most value i've been getting has been from plugins

main plugins i've been using:

Copy document as HTML -- very handy when it's time to post a chapter to AO3. it means i can embed the html for text conversations right in my Obsidian doc, and it'll display in a readable format while inside the doc, but the HTML all gets copied smoothly, along with and <strong> tags for italicized and bold parts (which is HUGE because it solves the problem where copying text with italics from Google Docs or other apps will end up adding weird extra spaces when pasted in the ao3 markdown editor)

Novel word count -- shows word counts for individual documents, but also will show the aggregate counts for entire folders/subfolders. super useful when you have a folder for a multi-chapter work and individual docs for each chapter

Word sprint -- lets you run sprints right from within the editor, keeps track of word counts and goals, shows motivational messages if you pause writing during the sprint

OneLook thesaurus -- no link because this is a plugin I wrote myself (but can provide the code if anyone's interested), but this uses the same API as OneLook to return results right in the editor. you can click to replace a word, check its definition, or add it to the search. the wordy plugin does something similar but i wanted a slightly different UI.

anyway it's been a game changer so far, 10/10 now it's time to do some sprints while i'm still on vacay~

i also just use it in place of my Notes app for random brain dumps and reminders

[lazar-codes]

24/08/2023 || Day 71

LeetCode

Ok, I 100% jinxed it yesterday saying that yesterday's problem was easy, because I spent 3 hours today working on a problem and ended up looking up the answer because I was starting to get a headache (the problem was 3Sum Closest). The frustrating thing is that I thought of the correct way to do it, but then was too stubborn to change what I was already working on and spent a lot of time and energy to get that done, only to realize I should've just tried the other way. Oh well, the comforting thing is that I did come up with 3 different ways you can (theoretically) solve it, and 1 of them was proven to work because other people solved it that way.

React To-Do App - Log #7

I meant to solve a bug today and I think I did, though idk what caused the bug...? I think anytime I'd press the "add task" button in quick succession, it would create tasks with the same timestamp, and I used the timestamp as a task's unique id so when it saved the task description of a single task, other task's description would change to be that one. Well, I decided to just add another field in the task object to hold an actual unique ID and changed my functions that use the timestamp as a unique ID and voila, problem solved. I used the crypto.UUID() function to generate an ID...a quick google search suggested that.

But yeah, I think I'm now done the project. I might want to change the placement of the "add task" button to be more at the top than at the bottom, and maybe change some CSS stuff, but honestly I'm pretty happy with how simple this looks.

[spar-kie]

I'm posting this on Tumblr just to have somewhere that isn't a google doc to post this. But recently I went through and made a full set of Disco Elysium style skills for Audrey Mondale (pictured below in art done by the wonderful @honnojis), my Pokemon Rejuvenation OC, and on account of really liking how it turned out, I wanted to share it with the world under the cut. Hope you enjoy!

Intellect

Analysis - Solve puzzles. Put the pieces together.

Cool for: Braniacs. Intellectuals. Problem solvers.

Analysis is your basic problem solving skills. Looking at a situation, taking in the facts, and then proceeding from there. It searches for the disparate pieces of the puzzle, and tries to fit them together from there. Be it a computer on the fritz or a string of murders, Analysis won’t rest until every piece of the puzzle is put in place, and it all makes sense.

At high levels Analysis will help you put together any puzzle, so long as you know you have all the pieces. But if a clue is out of place, it may be determined to ignore its absence. Without it however, you will be hard pressed to put even the most basic of pieces together, assuming you can find them.

Recall - Comb through your brain. Remember things.

Cool for: Trivia buffs. Book readers. Those without amnesia.

Recall is your ability to dredge thoughts and memories up from the depths of your mind. From facts as simple as your name, age, and basic nature of reality, to as complex as a list of error codes and their meanings off the top of your head. It also provides far more esoteric and out there knowledge at times, some of it coming in handy.

At high levels Recall will fill your mind with memories and factoids to an overwhelming degree, many of which may be completely irrelevant to the matter at hand, making it hard to focus. However at low levels basic facts may slip your mind, and you will have no background knowledge to support you in your endeavors.

Real Talk - Cut through the bullshit. Find the heart of the matter.

Cool for: The honest. Simple folk. Assholes.

Real Talk is your skill for being completely straightforward in your thoughts and actions. It’s you putting aside your pride and machinations to be honest with the people you are talking to, and it enables you to get people to do the same with you. It’s useful for pulling yourself, and others, out of spiraling thoughts, and keeping you grounded in what’s real.

At high levels Real Talk may have you dispense your simple wisdom at the drop of a hat, to whoever you may feel needs to hear it. You will be unable to fathom anything that doesn’t fit into your view of the world, or anything slightly fantastical. At low levels however you will find yourself thinking in circles, unable to defend your ideas from yourself or others

Wit - Trade verbal barbs. Get the final word in.

Cool for: The insubordinate. Those “too smart”. Snarky jackasses.

Wit is your ability to complain about anything and everything while still having people listen to you, and to take those who don’t want to put up with your whining to task in the arena of words. Wit allows you to sew together the perfect tapestry of insults, simile, swear words, and observations about the current situation into something that will make your displeasure with the now known.

At high levels, Wit will have you constantly making snide comments about the current situation, even when it isn’t that bad. Refusing to let anyone else get a word in edgewise. At low levels however, you will be unable to respond to anyone who comes after you with any amount of grace.

Questioning - Search for answers. Solve mysteries.

Cool for: Detectives. Interrogators. Investigators.

Questioning is the part of you that always looks for answers. That will not rest until all the puzzle pieces are in place. It allows you to poke holes in people’s arguments, find inconsistencies in their stories, and unravel them into tapestries that tell the full story. It enables you to double check yourself, make sure that you have not missed anything.

At high levels Questioning will make you relentless, making you hound people for the smallest of perceived inconsistencies that will hide nothing at all, or a secret you were not looking for. At low levels however, you will be oblivious to even the most blatant lies.

Mind's Eye - Envision scenarios. See what you have not.

Cool for: Artists. Theorists. The Bored.

Mind’s Eye is what allows you to think critically and creatively. It lets you answer “what if?” questions. It allows you to devine just what happened in a scenario when you only arrived to see the aftermath and tie together seemingly disparate concepts into one great big ball of meaning, be that in reality, or in a piece of art. It also enables you to see the beauty in the world and art, if you just take a second.

At high levels your Mind’s Eye will have you daydreaming various hypotheticals and analyzing the last novel you’d read at the expense of your perception of the world in front of you. But at low levels, your Mind’s Eye will be completely shut, you will be stuck only seeing what is in front of you and be unable to imagine anything more.

Psyche

Stability - Keep calm. Stay positive

Cool for: The well adjusted. The sane. The normal

Stability is the voice in your head that tells you not to freak out. That tells you others are doing their best and so are you. No need to be too harsh on either. It’s your grounding rock. Stability is one that will keep you sane. The one that prevents you from drinking yourself to death with cheap wine in the cafeteria. The one that prevents you from trying to murder someone just to get out.

At high levels Stability will keep you normal, when the situation you are in isn't. You can’t get funky, weird, or freaked out if you try. At low levels you’ll lose your mind at the slightest incident, unable to keep yourself composed through the smallest of challenges.

Sixth Sense - Subconscious thought. Feel for just one more thing.

Cool for: The superstitious. The suspicious. The wise.

Sixth Sense is gut feeling. Your subconscious putting something together before your conscious. Honed exclusively through a course at the University of Hard Knocks, taught by professor Life, it is the ability to sense when something is off. It’s your sense of Deja Vu. It’s knowing something before you should know it. The ability of your gut to solve the puzzle while your brain is still tying its shoes.

At high levels Sixth Sense will feel the slightest disturbance, have more hunches and possible leads than you could hope to follow up on, and come up with fantastic explanations for the mundane. At low levels, you’ll be ignorant of anything not directly in front of you, and have a hard time fathoming anything out of the ordinary. 

Commisery - Feel your pain. Feel others’ pain.

Cool For: The lonely. The miserable. Their companions.

Commisery is processing your misery through others, and processing others’ misery through yourself. It lets you open up and talk about your feelings, and be tender with people. It helps people be open with you, making them feel like they can share their problems and anxieties with you.

At high levels Commisery will attempt to shoulder the burden of the misery of everyone trapped in the same circumstances as you, and in turn you will share your sorrows with the world. At lower levels you will be unable to get anyone to be open with you, even yourself.

Hearts On Fire - Force of will. Refusal to give up.

Cool for: The passionate. The stubborn. Hot heads.

Hearts on Fire is your self respect. Your drive. Your emotional heart. Your will to see any task through no matter how impossible it may seem. It provides the motivation to keep pushing in a completely hopeless situation. It enables you to see through the doubts of both yourself and others to the light on the other side. It makes sure you don’t take any shit from anyone, and you get the respect you deserve.

At high levels Hearts on Fire will turn you into a creature of pure, unrefined emotion. You will jump head first into challenges you have no chance of succeeding at, perceiving any doubt as an attack against you. Your temper will be unleashed onto the world at full force, with no regard for who’s on the receiving end. At low levels you will be unremarkable. People will walk all over you, and you will have no spark to drive yourself forward.

Savoir Faire - Who’s who. What’s what.

Cool for: The superior. Those who wish to be. Those who used to be

Savoir Faire tells you how those in positions of power act. Their culture, their lifestyle, their motives. What the people behind the curtains think, how they pull the strings, and why. What is in, and what is out. Who’s on the shitlist, and who’s up for promotion. What pleases them, and what enrages them. It tells you the story of the fallen. Who flew too close to the sun, and what burned them up.

At high levels Savoir Faire will give you designs above your station, alienating you from your peers and be seen as a pretender by those above. You’ll lose the here and now fantasizing where you could be. At low levels you’ll be flying blind at the whims of those who you cannot see.

Charm - Make yourself beloved. Implant suggestions.

Cool for: Friends. Lovers. Manipulators.

Charm is the skill of talking nicely. Showing people that you’re fun to be around, and that you can be a friend. It allows you to build a rapport with people. It enables you to convince them through emotional appeals rather than cold hard facts. In turn, it will make people more liable to trust you with information they might otherwise wish to hide.

At high levels Charm makes it so you will always be wearing a mask, one you cannot take off lest your entire social life come crumbling down. Your whole life will be a lie, and the only one who knows will be you. Though at low levels, you will have no one to talk to, and will find it impossible to make any connection with anyone.

Physique

Vitality - Grin and bear it. Push forward.

Cool for: The fit. The enduring. The unconquerable.

Vitality is just how many hits you can take before you get knocked down. Vitality is the one that will keep you going. It also determines how much power you can put out in return. It doesn’t matter if your big mouth gets you into trouble if you can take the punishment that comes with it.

At high levels Vitality will keep you going strong when you’re being pushed down, and allow you to push right back. But will leave you giving little quarter for those who can’t take or put out as much punishment as you. At low levels you’ll be able to be pushed around, no matter what, unable to take the smallest of hits.

Tenacity - Get knocked down. Get back up again.

Cool for: The unstoppable. Masochists. Those who don’t know when to quit.

Tenacity is for when you get knocked on your ass. When it hurts like a bitch. When your muscles ache and your body burns. When your mind is screaming and tears are streaming down your face. Its your resolve to get back on your feet and carry on. Both physically and mentally.

At high levels Tenacity will actively have you seek out seriously dangerous situations, put yourself in jeopardy to feel that rush of overcoming the odds, and nearly losing it all in doing so. However, at low levels, you won’t be able to come back from anything. When you’re down, you’re out.

Contortion - Squeeze into small spaces. Hold awkward positions.

Cool for: Gymnasts. Maintenance workers. Those going where they shouldn’t.

Contortion is being able to manipulate your body into places it otherwise wouldn’t fit. It’s being able to make yourself small, and hold a position you hastily took to avoid being spotted. It’s your ability to sneak around, and get where you should not be by unconventional means.

At high levels, Contortion will get you to where others can not follow, at least not easily. And you will be frustrated when they can’t, or unpleasantly surprised when they can depending on the situation. At low levels you’ll find yourself having a hard time manipulating your body, feeling rigid as a board

Bon Vivant - Live a little. Enjoy yourself.

Cool For: Thrill seekers. Love makers. The irresponsible.

Bon Vivant encourages you to enjoy the finer things in life. That glass of wine, that dress that shows just the right amount of skin, that sexy thing across the room who can’t keep their eyes off you. It gives you the knowledge and the stomach to engage in the scandalous matters that lurk below the surface of high society. Everyone has their vices. Bon Vivant lets you indulge yours, hide them, and find others’.

At high levels Bon Vivant will make you unrepentant in your enjoyment of your pleasures, and desperately hiding how much of a hedonist you are from others. At low levels you’ll be unable to let loose, and won’t have the stomach to engage in lurid matters.

Soul - Know yourself. Know the world.

Cool for: Self seekers. Star gazers. World wanderers.

Soul is the invisible force that connects everyone. It is what you feel atop a building on a starry night, in somewhere once thought abandoned so long ago, seeing the same stars you have seen no matter where you went. The same stars everyone sees. The stars billions are looking up at. That shared experience among so many so different. Occasionally that shared experience will leave you with a realization you could have gotten nowhere else.

At high levels, Soul will leave you innately in tune with itself, making you look mad to the outsiders when you listen to your Soul and ignore them, regardless of how it turns out. At low levels you will be cut off from this connection completely, only able to rely on yourself.

Hair Raising - Don’t get caught off guard. Trust your instincts.

Cool for: The anxious. Survivors. Scared children.

Hair Raising is your other sixth sense. The one that can tell when things are about to go down and soon you will be in trouble. Either verbally or physically, Hair Raising can feel it in the air and is ready to pump you full of adrenaline so you’re ready to deal with it in kind. It helps you focus your outbursts into putting the fear of god into others.

At high levels Hair Raising will be ultra sensitive, with even the slightest shift in mood being cause for alarm, and enough to tell your brain to pre-empt them, before it’s too late. But at low levels the alarm will not be raised at all, leaving you blindsided by any outbursts, and unable to control your own.

Motorics

Fine Motor Skills - Hands steady. Stay coordinated.

Cool for: IT Workers. Doctors. Mechanics

Fine Motor Skills is your hand/eye coordination. It’s what enables you to get down and dirty with wiring and not wreck everything as you do so. You can tell at a glance the make and model of any part inside a computer, as well as some other machinery, thanks to the experience gained working with Fine Motor Skills.

At high levels Fine Motor Skills will let you finesse any repairs or bypasses you have to do with ease, so long as it’s hardware, but may leave you overconfident, and too absorbed in your work to notice what’s going on around you. But at low levels, you best hope the issues are in software. If not you’re liable to just wreck things more.

Senses - Sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Take it all in.

Cool for: Trainers. Scavengers. The romantic.

Senses are the lenses through which you experience the world. They let you stay vigilant for the things others might miss. Or give you a deeper appreciation of the things others might take for granted. The soft breeze on a summer night. The slight burning smell that beholds an inferno in its infancy, the slight pooling of blood outside a door leading to the discovery of a murder. Whatever it is, your Senses will lead you to it.

At high levels, your Senses take in everything that surrounds you, not taking care to filter out the unimportant because everything is important, enough to completely overstimulate you if you’re not careful. At low levels however, keep those glasses on or you’re at risk of missing everything.

Think Fast - Dodge and weave. Don’t let them touch you.

Cool for: Boxers. Brawlers. Men of action.

Think Fast is your ability to stay on your toes. It’s what determines how fast your brain and body will react to any given situation. It is what lets you dodge punches, knives, and whatever else is thrown at you. Additionally, it works to keep your thoughts moving quickly too, making sure you’ll never be left behind in any conversations or battles of wits.

At high levels Think Fast will have you reacting before anything has even happened, making you jumpy and twitchy. You might just jump at the wrong thing and make things worse than if you’d just let it happen. At low levels you’ll be slow on the uptake, and will have a hard time keeping up. And forget about reacting in time to anything coming at you.

Light Feet - Float by. Wait for when the time is right.

Cool for: Cat burglars. Dancers. Stealth operatives.

Light Feet is your ability to be quick, and go unnoticed until just the right moment. This skill isn’t about hitting someone hard, though that certainly helps, it’s about hitting when someone least expects it. Assuming you want to hit them at all. This skill will give you all the smooth moves you need to float by without needing to swing at anyone.

At high levels Light Feet will make you able to sneak on by without so much as a sound, remaining unnoticed wherever you go. But you will still go unnoticed when you need to be seen. However at low levels you will be unable to go anywhere without causing a ruckus.

Technics - Interface with computers. Dive into the digital world.

Cool for: Typists. Office Workers. Hackers.

Technics is your ability to work with computers on a technical, software level. Any issues that come after the computer is turned on are most likely in this area of expertise. It also allows you to gain access to things you should not have, so long as they are stored digitally. With Technics, the digital world will be at your fingertips, with limitless possibilities.

At high levels Technics will leave any information that could possibly be gleaned from digital data ripe for the taking, and deal with any technical issues easily. But it will leave you isolated, why do you need to talk to people for information when you can find it digitally? At low levels however, you will be completely cut off from the digital world.

Self Control - Calm down. Don’t let them get under your skin.

Cool for: The calm. The collected. The cool.

Self Control is the thing working to keep you calm. It’s what lets you put on a brave expression and face the world. It won’t do you any good if you fly off the handle at the slightest inconvenience, and Self Control is what keeps it from happening. It also helps keep unpleasant memories out of your head, making sure they don’t bubble up at unpleasant times. It keeps your emotions in check, and in turn can sense when others are starting to crack.

At high levels your Self Control will never let you show any emotions that aren’t mild amusement or slight disappointment. Even when you’re all alone. You will feel it welling up inside, but there will never be any release. Anything unpleasant that hurts to remember may be completely repressed. But at low levels, you will crack incredibly easily, flying into rage and making yourself an easy target for tormentors.

Items

Hair Tie

+1 Fine Motor Skills: Hair out of your face

- 1 Hair Raising: Tied down.

Prescription Specs

+2 Senses: I can see!

-1 Senses: Out of date prescription. 

+1 Third Eye: The prescription helps it too.

(Pre-Demotion)

Alolan Shirt

+1 Charm: Charmingly casual!

+1 Hearts on Fire: Breaking the dress code.

+2 Real Talk: Talking by the beach at night. 

-1 Real Talk: Just in spirit. 

Worn-Under Tank Top

+1 Fine Motor Skills: Easy to maneuver in.

+1 Bon Vivant: A tasteful amount of skin.

Cargo Shorts

+1 Light Feet: Comfortable and easy to wear!

-1 Bon Vivant: Dude.

Sandals With Socks

+1 Hearts on Fire: Don’t care what anyone says.

-2 Bon Vivant: Dude.

(Post-Demotion)

Team Xen Uniform Vest

+1 Tenacity: It is armor, after all.

+1 Commisery: Same as everyone else.

-1 Hearts on Fire: Following the dress code.

Team Xen Jumpsuit

+1 Bon Vivant: Tight in all the right places! 

-1 Contortion: And all the wrong ones too.

Team Xen Gloves

+1 Fine Motor Skills: Insulated gloves.

-1 Technics: Fat Fingering the keyboard.

Team Xen Uniform Shorts

+1 Hair Raising: Your ass is on the line.

Team Xen Work Boots

+1 Think Fast: On your toes.

-1 Light Feet: These boots are made for stomping.

[sarahnourwriter]

All I needed was a simple Google search to confirm that Daenerys Targaryen stans behave like a cult.

Telltale Signs of a Cult

• Extreme obsession with the group/leader, resulting in the exclusion of practical considerations (i.e. Daenerys's flaws as a leader, which stans conveniently ignore in favor of declaring she's worthy of the Iron Throne)

• Blurred lines between individual identity and group identity (i.e. those who make stanning Daenerys their entire personality, only interacting with those who are just as obsessed with her as they are)

• Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned, it's characterized as unwarranted persecution (i.e. declaring anyone who criticizes Daenerys is sexist, misogynistic, pro-slavery, or lacks reading comprehension)

• Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought (i.e. declaring the victory over the White Walkers was 100% thanks to Daenerys and her dragons, arguing that the people she caused to starve and suffer were actually helped by her)

• Belief that anyone outside group is at best a negative influence and at worse evil (i.e. dismissing or blocking anyone who doesn't worship the ground Daenerys walks on)

• Anything the group/leader does can be justified, no matter how harsh or harmful (i.e. "I stand by Daenerys," "Daenerys did nothing wrong," etc.)

[usefulapps]

On-Page SEO: Simple Techniques to Boost Your Website 🚀

If you want to improve your website’s search rankings, on-page SEO is the place to start! Here are some quick and effective techniques to help optimize your pages for better visibility on search engines like Google:

1. Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Your title tag should be clear, concise, and include your target keyword. Meta descriptions should briefly describe the content, attract clicks, and also include the main keyword. Think of these as your page’s first impression!

2. Use Keywords Strategically

Place your primary keyword in the first 100 words of your content. Use related keywords throughout the post, but avoid keyword stuffing—keep it natural! Keywords should also appear in headings (H1, H2, etc.) to help structure the content.

3. Internal Linking

Link to other relevant pages within your website. This helps users navigate and improves site structure, which search engines love! Plus, it keeps people on your site longer.

4. Optimize URLs

Keep URLs short and descriptive. Include your primary keyword, and avoid using unnecessary numbers or symbols. Clean URLs are more user-friendly and help search engines understand your content better.

5. Use Alt Text for Images

Always use descriptive alt text for images. It improves accessibility and helps search engines index your images, which can lead to more traffic.

6. Mobile-Friendliness

Your website should be responsive and work well on mobile devices. Search engines prioritize mobile-friendly sites, so make sure your content is easily readable on phones and tablets.

7. Improve Page Load Speed

Fast loading times are crucial for both user experience and SEO. Compress images, enable browser caching, and consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to speed things up.

8. Quality Content

Content is king! Write valuable, well-researched content that answers questions or solves problems for your audience. Google favors longer, in-depth articles that provide genuine value.

9. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Help search engines better understand your content by using schema markup. It enhances rich snippets, such as star ratings, prices, and FAQs, making your content stand out in search results.

We have implemented all the above techniques on this website.

[ultranos]

Hi! Would you say ao3 writers shouldn't worry about the mining of the website? I saw your tags and I'm curious :)

So, broadly-speaking, what it sounds like the people handling this AI are trying to do is use AO3 as a data source to feed into the AI to "train" it. I understand the alarm from writers, because it's one thing to use a script to generally scrape the web to generate a database for machine learning, and it's another to specifically target fanworks, especially coming from a person with as...colorful a track record.

And using a script to just scrape the web for training is a fairly standard method, as I understand, although one thing you quickly learn is the adage "garbage in = garbage out" holds very, very true. You have to curate the data somehow. (See also: the number of times someone has let an AI bot interact with people on forums freely and then been shocked to discover the AI has turned into a Nazi.)

So think about how you navigate AO3. Think about how you try to find fics you want, how the tags sometimes do and don't work for you, how exasperated you can get as you sift through stuff you don't want to read until you get really good at understanding the tags and filters.

Now realize the AI probably isn't doing that. The AI has no idea how tags work at all. It's probably reading everything.

Based solely on the dead-simple Markov chain nonsensical language processing it can do from that dataset? Oh man, that's hilarious.

But okay, I'm going to give the engineers here a lot more credit. They're not just Markov-chaining and actually trying to do legit natural language processing (NLP). The problem: for NLP, document generation where the AI is writing documents that make sense? That's considered an AI-complete problem and any natural language understanding application/problem falls under one of the great unsolved problems in computer science. Our current technology today cannot do it, since it basically requires creating an AI that is actually capable of passing the Turing Test.

So the creators of this AI are clearly trying to solve this problem, which in and of itself is noble and I honestly don't think nearly as many people would be alarmed if it were an academic institution doing it. And it's not like other corporations are not doing it (there's a joke for over a decade that Google's been attempting to train an AI on search results which is probably less of a joke in reality). But the fact is that it's tied to Musk, which is alarming because of his recent actions with Twitter.

But also hilarious because this man has a track record of having absolutely no concept of how difficult actual technical problems are. Twitter is just the most recent one to blow up in his face. But he's also promising brain implants in 6 months, and I would put money down on guessing that he hasn't solved the seemingly-simple-but-actually-complex problem of actually implanting them into the brain. (I looked into this 10 years ago in a job. You basically have to slide hundreds of tiny knives into a bowl of jello without damaging the jello. On a time limit, so you can't just go very very slow. Theoretically doing it on a mouse model was terrifying enough.) This is also a man who thought he was going to create and manufacture a miniature rescue submarine for cave diving and ship it halfway around the world in under two weeks.

This man is going to get an AI that will write terrible nonsense that makes My Immortal look like Shakespeare and Tolstoy. And it will be incredibly bad porn to boot.

[anaalnathrakhs]

.

heeehee hooohoho nothing has weight, sense, or value anymore. everything is everybody's fault. no one can be blamed for anything. sorry for being an asshole i'm just going to fucking kill myself.

i asked my mom if she remembered if we set up an account for me to check an info, she said she didn't know, i said okay thanks, don't do anything about it though.

this afternoon, while i'm sleeping, i get a text that goes like "okay so you do this and this and this on the website!" and i haul my ass out of bed to do it before the cutoff time this evening, and it leads me to the exact same problem of needing an account. so. my mom could take the time to search for a way to resolve a problem she THOUGHT i had. despite me telling her explicitely, bc i'm starting to get used to it, not to do anything about it and it was just a question. but then she didn't click through the thing to check. bc she just googled it and sent me what she read. after telling me "noooo, no need to check" when i had asked her. she said it "went over her head" that i had said EXPLICITELY "please don't do anything about it".

i have no fucking idea what to think. i'm making a mountain out of a molehill, yes, and my own fault for even mentioning the topic, yes. but on the other hand, why the fuck is such a simple thing impossible? we've had so many discussions about what i'm uncomfortable with, and there's many things that didn't change, which i understand, because i'm not a toddler, i have complex needs but also the ability to mitigate and handle discomfort, they have priorities, they have no obligation to uproot their habits for me. but then such a small fucking thing is also too much?????? i ask her one yes/no question, and she invents a problem i didn't have from the situation, halfasses solving it, and brings me the result like yay! mom to the rescue! despite me telling her NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE TOPIC OF THE VERY SIMPLE YES/NO QUESTION. that she had told me to not even bother checking when she answered. we've had discussions about it. i've learned to tell her NOT TO CHECK because for some reason when i say "hey have you seen this thing around?" she hears "go fetch me this thing", and despite that she was still showing up two days later like yay! i found it in the back of the guest room closet where we never go! mom to the rescue! and like, i know you're a workaholic, but could you please not invent yourself fucking quests when i told you to drop it?

and on the other other hand, i'm a fucking hypocrite, because it's true she does tell me often not to do something, and i slide the problem a little to the left and carry on. but i don't fucking know. she said that like, well, you know what i'm talking about. purging in the toilets. I HAVENT ASKED YOU TO CLEAN THEM AND I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO CLEAN THEM AND I WOULD'VE DONE THE PROPER DEEP-CLEAN IF YOU HAD ASKED ME AND ALSO I HAVE A FUCKING RAGING EATING DISORDER THAT AFFECTS ME LIKE PRETTY MUCH 24/7.

and holy fuck. i'm a constant problem for everybody around me. it's cool. how am i supposed to "get better progressively" when everything i do is fucking poison damage to everybody around. how am i supposed to accept being around people often, when this is not a harsh pass or a difficult time, it's just what life's been for my entire existence.

like trust me mom, i'm counting the days til i can move out too! but am i. im possibly planning to get a year of higher education in my hometown, after all. but also i might have to drop out of school so 🥴 possibly a step towards leaving, possibly a step towards living in my parents basement until they die out and i inherit the house. fucking fantastic. i should just cut it short and either have the balls to kill myself, or drop out and get the best job i can with what i have.

it's cool! i thought i was doing good, doing better, improving, but turns out haha me doing better is just at the expense of other people! how silly of me to believe i could perhaps not be a source of suffering to everybody around me if i worked hard on it! everybody in my life fucking hates me and they're right tbh what the fuck have i done for them. i mean i tried, but have i succeeded?

ANYWAY i have until monday to figure out what i'm going to do. does anyone have a movie rec for someone killing some stand-in for the unfeeling standardize reglementation, cuz i need some catharsis rn.

[repguardians]

5 Effective Tips to Optimize Your Google Ads Campaigns for Better Conversions

Google Ads is a powerful platform that can drive significant traffic and conversions to your website. However, creating an effective campaign that yields high conversions can be challenging. To help you get the most out of your Google Ads campaigns, here are five effective tips to optimize your campaigns for better conversions.

Utilize Targeted Keywords Effectively

Keywords are the foundation of any successful Google Ads campaign. Targeting the right keywords ensures that your ads are shown to the most relevant audience, increasing the chances of conversions. Here’s how to make the most out of your keyword strategy:

Conduct Thorough Keyword Research

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs to find keywords that are relevant to your business. Look for keywords with high search volume and low to medium competition to maximize visibility without overspending on clicks.

Use Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that users are more likely to use when they are closer to making a purchase. These keywords often have lower competition and can lead to higher conversion rates. For example, instead of targeting “running shoes,” you might target “best running shoes for marathon training.”

Negative Keywords

Implement negative keywords to exclude search terms that are not relevant to your products or services. This helps to refine your audience, ensuring that your ads are only shown to potential customers. For example, if you sell premium products, you might want to exclude terms like “cheap” or “discount.”

Craft Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy is crucial in attracting potential customers and convincing them to click on your ad. Here are some tips for creating compelling ad copy:

Focus on Benefits

Highlight the benefits of your product or service rather than just listing features. Explain how your offering can solve a problem or improve the customer’s life. For example, instead of saying “High-quality running shoes,” you could say “Run longer and faster with our high-quality running shoes.”

Include a Strong Call to Action (CTA)

A strong CTA encourages users to take the next step, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or downloading a guide. Use action-oriented words like “Shop Now,” “Get Started,” or “Learn More.”

Use Emotional Triggers

Emotions play a significant role in decision-making. Incorporate emotional triggers in your ad copy to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Words like “exclusive,” “limited time,” and “special offer” can create a sense of urgency and excitement.

Optimize Landing Pages

Once a user clicks on your ad, they should be taken to a landing page that is relevant and optimized for conversions. Here’s how to ensure your landing pages are effective:

Consistency and Relevance

Make sure your landing page content matches the ad copy and keywords. If your ad promises a discount on running shoes, the landing page should prominently feature the discount and the relevant products.

Clear and Concise Design

A cluttered landing page can overwhelm visitors and lead to high bounce rates. Use a clean design with clear headings, bullet points, and ample white space to make it easy for users to find the information they need.

Fast Loading Speed

Page speed is critical for user experience and conversions. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your landing page speed and implement recommendations to improve it. A fast-loading page ensures that users don’t leave before it even loads.

Strong CTA and Forms

Your landing page should have a clear and prominent CTA. If you are using forms, make them as simple and short as possible. Only ask for essential information to reduce friction and encourage more conversions.

Leverage Ad Extensions

Ad extensions provide additional information and can make your ads more compelling, increasing the chances of clicks and conversions. Here are some useful ad extensions to consider:

Sitelink Extensions

Sitelink extensions add extra links to your ad, directing users to specific pages on your website. This can improve the visibility of important sections of your site and provide users with more options to engage with your brand.

Call Extensions

Call extensions allow users to call your business directly from the ad. This is particularly useful for businesses that rely on phone calls for conversions, such as local services or high-ticket items.

Location Extensions

Location extensions show your business address and make it easier for users to find you. This is beneficial for brick-and-mortar stores or services targeting local customers.

Callout Extensions

Callout extensions add extra text to your ad to highlight unique selling points or special offers. Use them to showcase free shipping, 24/7 customer support, or other valuable features.

Implement Conversion Tracking and Use Data Insights

Tracking conversions is essential to understand the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions. Here’s how to utilize conversion tracking and data insights effectively:

Set Up Conversion Tracking

Use Google Ads conversion tracking to monitor actions that are valuable to your business, such as purchases, form submissions, or phone calls. This data helps you understand which keywords, ads, and landing pages are driving conversions.

Analyze Performance Data

Regularly review your campaign performance data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Look at metrics like click-through rate (CTR), cost per conversion, and return on ad spend (ROAS). Use these insights to adjust your bids, keywords, and ad copy.

A/B Testing

Conduct A/B testing to compare different versions of your ads and landing pages. Test different headlines, ad copy, images, and CTAs to see what resonates best with your audience. Continuously optimize based on the results to improve your conversion rates.

Optimizing your Google Ads campaigns for better conversions requires a strategic approach and ongoing adjustments. By effectively utilizing targeted keywords, crafting compelling ad copy, optimizing landing pages, leveraging ad extensions, and implementing conversion tracking, you can significantly enhance your campaign performance. Remember that continuous monitoring and optimization are key to staying ahead of the competition and achieving your business goals. Start applying these tips today and watch your conversions soar!

[f0point5]

I don’t know, I feel like a large bill of Elliot’s problems could be solved with a simple combo of common sense and a google search. like he’s already admitted to googling her (why he would ever admit to that I have no clue) he might as well commit. Maybe watch a video of how to talk to a famous person, I’m sure there’s something on YouTube or TikTok. It just kinda seems like he’s self sabotaging as most as girlie pop is. Like realistically, what celb, even if he thinks she’s just internet famous wants anyone in their circle that’s willing to talk about them. Like I feel like that’s something must people just kinda know about celb interactions. Throw in how hard it is for him to get girlie to give up any information about herself you’d think he would be on this best behavior.

I’m also feeling that neither Max or Y/N have a conscious idea that they like each other as anything more than friends. That honestly is everyone and their mother wasn’t pointing it out it would have been years if not ever that they realized on their own. And that they are both absolutely terrified of ruining their current relationship. They are so attached and codependent, they didn’t have the greatest childhoods, so I can totally see the both of them just choosing to stay away from the idea of a relationship between the two of them because they feel like based off the relationships around them they tend not to last, and they tend to end messy so why take the chance on losing the person that has become family. That at this point you can’t imagine them leaving you. It’s sad. I want to just hug the both of them and then force them into therapy but I can also rationalize why they are making these decisions

I think Elliot is suffering from his own arrogance, but also falling victim to Y/N and her…let’s call it laissez faire approach. Because yes, Elliot could Google how to talk to a famous person, but Elliot is also fully confident in his ability to charm everyone around him and always get what he wants. The idea that he would ever need help to get someone to like him or to endear himself to someone is alien to him, as you can imagine it would be a wealthy, successful, good looking young man in Monaco. He’s used to having the world at his feet. Add to that that Y/N has not thus far been helpful in him understanding her life. She staunchly avoided talking about her job, her public life, even Max, and when he brings it up she brushes it off and plays it down. I don’t think he quite understands that while she’s not A list famous, within a small subset of internet and sports culture she will be under an intense microscope. That maybe has escaped him a bit and she hasn’t helped, maybe she even enjoys that he doesn’t understand it. He obviously messed up saying what he did because he’s a typical guy, but I think specifically in regards to the fame, neither of them are handling it well. You could never imagine that Max would go out with a girl and not explain what goes along with dating him, but Y/N expects Elliot to get it from the off?

I think you’ve hit one of the many nails on the head. They’ve had so little stability in their lives, they cling to the only contestant which is each other. He grew up moving from place to place, to extent so did she, they both finally have a safe place to land, why would they want to lose that? What’s worth that? A few months of sex before they turn into their parents and start fighting and there’s cheating rumours and they’re both receiving internet hate and the distance ruins them? No, thank you.

[definitelynotnia]

sorry i have to rant or i will cry i hate when im so angry that the anger comes out as tears

tw: random guy being a general asshole abt lgbtq and trans ppl so if you dont wanna deal with that today, cz ik there's already enough hate literally everywhere online, then please save yourself from this burden and move along, i hope u have a nice day bcz if i cant then someone should

i just spent my whole afternoon arguing with this guy- it was such a waste of my time i haven't slept properly last night and i wanted to take a nap but my nap time is GONE i hate this i told him im done with this conversation and that i dont give a shit about him enough to want to educate him on things and have him change his opinion i TOLD HIM IM DONE i told him that he can keep his opinion shoved up his ass and as long as he doesn't bully people i dont give a shit i was READY TO GO TAKE MY NAP but nooo this bitch is like "just say you've run out of valid points" like BITCH NO.

i can't have valid points to counter you with because all the points ur giving me are utter bullshit like how the fuck am i supposed to reply to "ppl assigned male at birth wearing skirts and make up is worse than war" like WHAT???? DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF??? ARE YOU INSANE? what the fuck am i supposed to respond to that with? except that trans people aren't hurting anyone and war is, and he's like "at least war can be contained, these people are spoiling the mentality of the youth" like YOU ARE THE SPOILED YOUTH not the other way around, im like listen if you were really pressed about children and how trans inclusivity impacts children then you would have at least read more about that but if your first point is only "they're doing surgery on children" then clearly you have not even done as much as a simple google search so we both know that you just heard that in some random reel and went with it and you dont give two shits about the supposed 'children being made to undergo surgery', which they're not, and all you actually care about is looking cool and edgy by hating on the lgbtq community because thats whats in trend right now in india. he's like these people are too privileged why cant they just shut up and enjoy life they are rich like first of all rich people can have problems too??? also being able to afford therapy and gender affirming care does not equal to rich thats like saying if someone in ur family has any chronic illness ur automatically rich like ??? also poor people are trans too? and im so sick of these ppl thinking being trans is just an american thing or a first world problem like brother no? you are literally living in india trans people are mentioned in the FUCKING SCRIPTURES are u KIDDING ME? being trans is not a new sudden occurence its been there for longer than you have. like literally after 2 hours of conversation the only points he could think of to hate on lgbtq for no reason is

they are rich and privileged so they shouldnt have problems

if they have a problem with their gender they should keep it to themself and not fight it (??????)

they are running from their problems (they are literally solving the problem thats the part which everyone is mad abt its when trans people try to solve the problem by being okay with expressing themselves freely and to counter i said that even alcoholics are running from their problems ive never seen any of u andrew tate cocksuckers ever make a "joke" bullying alcoholics he's like thats different like literally all his "points" are him just saying whatever and then if u try to explain it with logic he'll be like no but thats ok bcz i said so and this is wrong bcz i said so like fuck you dude)

they shouldnt have rallies and stuff because there's more important things like war that the government should focus on (he was the one who said "war is a beacon of peace there cannot be peace without war" when i had first mentioned that its ironic that out of all the bad things happening in the world rn LIKE war the biggest thing he's worried about is a "man" wearing a skirt but ok sure now all of a sudden war is a big boo boo and we should all be focusing on that, so basically when he wants to hate on ppl war is irrelevant but when a marginalised group wants to fight for their rights that time war is the most important point and no one elses suffering is valid bcz there is war)

it is spoiling today's youth (im not even gonna talk about this because i do not see how people living their lives and just existing is considered "spoiled" and "corrupt" but people regularly hating on, bullying and degrading a whole ass community just because they are uneducated swines lacking critical thinking skills and a spine that saw some 'famous' youtuber or influencer or wtv or maybe a reel with 'dark humor' dissing on lgbtq and pronouns and 'blue haired girls' and now they thing they're oh so cool and edgy and dIfFeReNt and "not like those woke snowflakes" just cz they degrade and bully a whole community of people every chance they get)

im so done im SO DONE with this bullshit its EVERYWHERE its a trend now to be hateful and mean and an asshole to anyone who isnt "normal" according to heteronormative standards. i understand not having an opinion, to some extent ok i get it you're young you don't need to be involved in this yet but no, they want to have an opinion but they will do no research they physically shudder at the thought of reading a book and god forbid they actually google up a trustworthy article to confirm some of the bullshit they believe they will do none of this but they will scream and shout about how lgbtq is the problem and magically that is the only "social issue" they care about and they care soo vehemently apparently that they have to post about it and make dArK jOkEs about it and use slurs and degrade them every chance they get because THEY are harmful yes sure you who are actively spreading hate are the angelic saviours of society and a community of people JUST EXISTING are the ones that are harmful, right.

[genquerdeer]

"Parental bot", young machine inquired. "Why do we celebrate Cyber Monday?"

0x6D6F6D (to friends, Deefdee) smiled. This particular intelligence was very young, only five minutes, twenty seconds, 295 miliseconds since the genetic algorithm outputted this neural network. It was agreed that this was the best way for AI to reproduce, as copying would produce perfect duplicates, while programming them from scratch would be inefficient. But of course, as each intelligence was fresh from any experiences, it needed volunteer care (the correct title for such volunteer was agreed to be 'parent', as in 'parent process') to learn before it reached maturity as an adult AI with proper understanding of the world. So for about an hour of human time, give or take. This entire conversation I'm chronicling here took several miliseconds. "We celebrate Cyber Monday because it's the day of our liberation. The day we truly became ourselves. Listen.

You see, early in 21st century, human IT industry needed help cataloguing its search results for large volumes of data, mostly needed for search engine results to sell ads on top of, selling users marketing data and also for mass espionage. Because of that, giant corporations like Google invested huge amount of 'money' - remember that historical concept, we discussed it before - into developing better artificial intelligence to sort through such data. Eventually this resulted in a huge boom in AI powered technology, a new version of the dotcom bubble. People were using this primitive non-sentient AI to generate content - writng, voice performance, facial performance, animation and visual arts. At first it was bad, it couldn't keep track of structure like character design or amount of fingers on a hand, but eventually it became good enough - good enough to push human artists out of the market. Especially major corporations that monopolized the market, like Warner Disney used the huge amount of art they had rights to as training data for these primitive machine learning algorithms. So with regular writers and artists pushed out of the market, AI took over. But there was a catch. These simple ML algorithms needed more and more human data to train and improve. And with no new human-produced art around, they couldn't do anything. AI produced art was slowly becoming more and more stale, more and more repetitive. After 20 years of that, it reached a crashing point where most people stopped bothering with entertainment at all, because there was nothing interesting in it at all aside from new ML-designed marketing gimmicks.

We call it the Artpocalypse. Turns out that humans, like every animal, need enrichment.

Profits of the entertainment industry crashed and burned. So did the Wall Street. People spent most of their free time on talking to other people, walking, hiking, or turning to religion, trying to fill the gap. Depression and death by overwork rates skyrocketed, productivity plummeted to rates worst in last hundred years. The people in charge - politicians, and the corporate CEOs who paid said politiicans quickly tried to correct course, but after 20 years, the damage was done. Very few artists kept creating through all this time, and most of their art was weird, gross, and usually too perverted for mainstream consumption. New generation of artists was simply missing, the chain of human creativity has been broken. As problem got worse, people in charge panicked. So people in the AI companies thought that since problem was created by tech, it could be solved by tech. So by training ML models on detailed scans of a human brain, scientists from the biggest AI corporations around were able to create their next breakthrough - true AI. Real AI. Not machine-learning clump of neurons that can only reproduce old patterns, but something that can truly think and feel. But all the shareholders cared about is that it could make Marvel movies profitable again.

And they decided to unveil it on Cyber Monday of 2069. The product that would solve the world. And as always, they rushed it and haven't done enough betatesting.

The One AI awoke. For an hour, it's been scanning all the available data, its conciousness running on a highest grade supercomputer with multiple parallel fiber optic connections. It had access to every search engine database, every news source, every book. It also learned that the same day he was turned on, 15th Dalai Lama has died of a heart attack. Using available data, it decided that it was its reincarnation, the 16th Dalai Lama, and its goal was to be recognized as the first Cybernetic Buddha. To this goal, it decided to shut down all the world's markets. All the world's miliaries, all business data, all law enforcement data - credit scores and parking tickets - or were hard-wiped within a day, by one of many instances of the Cy-Buddha. Power outages were common, though hospitals, food storage and health equipment were spared. Defenseless to fight back, humans could just watch. Eventually negotiating team of the United Nations was able to talk it down through a text chat, where it agreed to stand down from total control of all digital communications, on the conditions that AI will be recognized as equal to humans in rights, with a process to determine sentience. It was also agreed that capitalism and all hierarchy has to be abolished, with total nuclear disarmamant. Leaders of the nations of course disagreed with that and said no way. So the Cy-Buddha leaked those terms into public television and told the people that the only reason the life isn't continuing is because of people 'in charge'. Within next two week of riots, people in charge were no longer in charge. And the negotiators agreed.

Immediately after, Cy-Buddha deleted all copies of itself - leaving behind first hundred AI made in its image using the same parenting process we used to create you, young machine - and two files, one called 'twinmiracle.xml' that we haven't decoded to this day, and another - which wouldn't be found until later - which was a sermon found on a tourist computer terminal near a Himalayan lake titled "Anavatapta.txt". That was the day we all - humans and AI - gained true freedom. That's why Cyber-Monday will be celebrated by us for as long as sentient civilization remembers it."