#electricity network expansion

[townpostin]

Saryu Roy Advocates Equal Electricity Subsidies in Jamshedpur

MLA pushes for 200-unit subsidy for Jusco consumers in line with JBVNL customers Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy calls for equity in electricity subsidies between JBVNL and Jusco areas during a recent JBVNL office meeting. JAMSHEDPUR – In a recent meeting at the JBVNL office, Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy advocated for equal electricity subsidies between JBVNL and Jusco areas. The meeting, chaired…

[fatehbaz]

"The most fashionable bathing station in all Europe". British industrialists and American mining investors plotting the colonization of the Congo, while mingling at Ostend's seaside vacation resorts. Extracting African life to build European railways, hotels, palaces, suburbs, and other modern(ist) infrastructure. "Towards infinity!"

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In 1885, King Leopold II achieved an astonishing and improbable goal: he claimed a vast new realm of his own devising, a conjury on a map called [...] the Congo Free State. [...] [A] fictional state owned by the king, ruled by decree, and run from Brussels from 1885 to 1908. [...] This was [...] a private entrepreneurial venture [for the king]. The abundance of ivory, timber, and wild rubber found in this enormous territory brought sudden and spectacular profits to Belgium, the king, and a web of interlocking concession companies. The frenzy to amass these precious resources unleashed a regime of forced labor, violence [millions of deaths], and unchecked atrocities for Congolese people. These same two and a half decades of contact with the Congo Free State remade Belgium [...] into a global powerhouse, vitalized by an economic boom, architectural burst, and imperial surge.

Congo profits supplied King Leopold II with funds for a series of monumental building projects [...]. Indeed, Belgian Art Nouveau exploded after 1895, created from Congolese raw materials and inspired by Congolese motifs. Contemporaries called it “Style Congo,” [...]. The inventory of this royal architecture is astonishing [...]. [H]istorical research [...] recovers Leopold’s formative ideas of architecture as power, his unrelenting efforts to implement them [...]. King Leopold II harbored lifelong ambitions to “embellish” and beautify the nation [...]. [W]ith his personal treasury flush with Congo revenue, [...] Leopold - now the Roi Batisseur ("Builder King") he long aimed to be - planned renovations explicitly designed to outdo Louis XIV's Versailles. Enormous greenhouses contained flora from every corner of the globe, with a dedicated soaring structure completed specifically to house the oversize palms of the Congolese jungles. [...]

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The Tervuren Congo palace [...]. Electric tramways were built and a wide swath of avenue emerged. [...] [In and around Brussels] real estate developers began to break up lots [...] for suburban mansions and gardens. Between 1902 and 1910, new neighborhoods with luxury homes appeared along the Avenue [...]. By 1892, Antwerp was not only the port of call for trade but also the headquarters of the most profitable of an interlinking set of banks and Congo investment companies [...]. As Antwerp in the 1890s became once again the “Queen of the Scheldt,” the city was also the home of what was referred to as the “Queen of Congo companies.” This was the ABIR, or Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company, founded in 1892 with funds from British businessman “Colonel” John Thomas North [...].

Set on the seaside coast, Belgium’s Ostend was the third imperial cityscape to be remade by King Leopold [...] [in a] transformation [that] was concentrated between 1899 and 1905 [...]. Ostend encompassed a boomtown not of harbor and trade, like Antwerp, but of beachfront and leisure [...] [developed] as a "British-style" seaside resort. [...] Leopold [...] [w]as said to spend "as much time in Ostend as he did in Brussels," [...]. Ostend underwent a dramatic population expansion in a short period, tripling its inhabitants from 1870–1900. [...] Networks of steamers, trams, and railway lines coordinated to bring seasonal visitors in, and hotels and paved walkways were completed. [...] [A]nd Leopold’s favorite spot, the 1883 state-of-the-art racetracks, the Wellington Hippodrome. Referred to with an eye-wink as “the king incognito” (generating an entire genre of photography), visitors to the seaside could often see Leopold in his top hat and summer suit [...], riding his customized three-wheeled bicycle [...]. By 1900, Ostend’s expansion and enhancement made it known as “the Queen of the Belgian seaside resorts” and “the most fashionable bathing station in all Europe.” Opulence, convenience, and spectacle brought the Shah of Persia, American tycoons, European aristocrats, and Belgian elites, among others, to Ostend.

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Leopold’s interventions and the Congo Free State personnel and proceeds played three pivotal and understudied roles in this transformation, all of which involved ABIR [British industrialists].

First, it was at Ostend that an early and decisive action was taken to structure the “red rubber” regime and set it in motion. In 1892, jurists such as [E.P.] had ruled, contravening [...] trade laws, that the king was entitled to claim the Congo as his domanial property [...]. Leopold [...] devised one part of that royal domain as a zone for private company concessions [...] to extract and export wild rubber.

Soon after, in 1892, King Leopold happened to meet the British “Colonel” John Thomas North at the Ostend Hippodrome. North, a Leeds-born mechanic [...] had made a fortune speculating on Chilean nitrates in the 1880s. He owned monopoly shares in nitrate mines and quickly expanded to acquire monopolies in Chilean freight railways, water supplies, and iron and coal mines. By 1890 North was a high-society socialite worth millions [...]. Leopold approached North at the Ostend racecourse to provide the initial investments to set up the Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company (ABIR). [...]

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One visible sign of Ostend’s little-known character as Congo boomtown was the Royal Palace Hotel, a lavish property next to the king’s Royal Domain, which opened in 1899. With hundreds of rooms and a broad sweep of acreage along the beachfront, the palace “occupied the largest space of any hotel in Europe.” [...]

King Leopold met American mining magnate Thomas Walsh there, and as with North, the meeting proved beneficial for his Congo enterprise: Leopold enlisted Walsh to provide assessments of some of his own Congo mining prospects. The hotel was part of [...] [a major European association of leisure profiteers] founded in 1894, that began to bundle luxury tourism and dedicated railway travel, and whose major investors were King Leopold, Colonel North [...].

At the height of Congo expansionism, fin-de-siècle Antwerp embodied an exhilarated launch point [...]. Explorers and expeditioners set sail for Matadi after 1887 with the rallying call “Vers l’infini!” (“towards infinity!”) [...].

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Text above by: Debora Silverman. "Empire as Architecture: Monumental Cities the Congo Built in Belgium". e-flux Architecture (Appropriations series). May 2024. At: e-flux.com/architecture/appropriations/608151/empire-as-architecture-monumental-cities-the-congo-built-in-belgium/ [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Italicized first paragraph/heading in this post was added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism.]

[arachnixe]

One Final Homecoming

The rain falls hot on my skin, landing with a sizzling hiss whenever it manages to dodge the brim of my hat and find a patch left exposed by my dress. The burns heal immediately, the spell an automatic reflex I don’t consciously register anymore.

I don’t sneer at the people hurrying through the rain, shielding themselves from the downpour with umbrellas and coats. I don’t show my contempt for what I can only conceptualize as a form of cowardice, knowing the rain would happily embrace them if they let down their guard. The water would glide smoothly over their skin with a gentle caress, a “you belong here and I love you” that stands in stark contrast to the downpour’s efforts to scour me away.

I don’t sneer. I keep myself composed. My mask of indifference remains flawless. The world may reject me, but I rejected it first, didn’t I? Being born here came with certain terms and conditions I found disagreeable, and so I made myself its enemy.

It’s in the spirit of this mutual animosity that I stand here right now, in front of an unmarked office building in a city that sleepwalks a cancerous expansion of itself. My hand drifts of its own accord into my bag seeking the reassuring touch of the seed I carry. It’s still there—smooth, warm, pulsing gently—the beating heart of something altogether foreign, yet not a heart at all, and maybe not quite a seed either, but rather a key, and if there’s anything in this world or any other that a witch understands, it’s keys.

Time’s wheel turns, as do the wheels within and without. I turn the mind’s eye inward to watch. I raise my eyes skyward to see. At last the inner aligns with the outer. Above and below, a moment clicks into place. I press my hand to a locked door and push it gently open.

The security guards inside are unprepared for me. “The Anomaly” is their name for me, and they shout the epithet while drawing guns. Their bullets splatter across my clothes, leaving even less of an impression than the raindrops, and it has been a very long time indeed since mere weather could divert my path. I pluck their threads and discard the rest—without much gentleness, I must confess—as I proceed to the elevators.

Their computer networks would deny me access to the lower floors if I asked permission, so I do not. “Down” is the most natural direction for a thing to move anyway, and it takes little persuasion to coax this little box where it wants to be. Down, down, down below the surface of this world, I pass alongside the city’s veins of sewage and lightning, poisoned air and poison dreams.

Real resistance makes itself known down below. This building’s ideas have strong roots down here, where people in stark suits spin a web of ontology to catch and contain, sneering their contempt of me. I let the mask fall. I am no moth, mercurial and unaware, easily misdirected to get ensnared by their traps. I dance electric across the apocalypse they’d weave for me, high voltage burning my entrance and exit through their collective consciousness.

I have even less gentleness to spare for these agents than I did the guards above. They collapse, mindsblood painting the walls in crackling infrablack.

A stairwell—less accessible than most, requiring the right eyes to even see it—takes me down to the bottom floor. There, the root office. In the office, a table. On the table, a briefcase. Above it all, a fluorescent light flickers.

I shove the table aside and get to digging. When a thing is meant never to be unlocked, one may need to carve a keyhole. Sometimes this means using one’s bare hands to claw through carpet and concrete. I do as I must, working quickly and ignoring the arrival of my executioner.

The bullet she puts in my head is made of realer stuff than mere lead, and I die almost immediately. Not much time left, then, but enough to reach into my bag, extract the key, and offer it a single kiss. I plant it and suture the building’s wound with the guards’ threads.

“It’s over,” my executioner informs me as if she believes me unaware that I’ve already died. I offer my most withering smile, one I’m quite sure will eventually kill her, before laying myself down to rest. My curse rattles her enough to command that concrete be poured here, filling the root office and sealing me in, as though I were radioactive waste, safe as long as I can be sequestered away indefinitely.

She will survive my smile for a decade or so. Long enough, I think, to see the strange new roots growing upward through the building, throbbing with the lifeblood of something truly alien to her reality. A fine curse, I think, to be the only one aware of corruption gripping the nexus of her life’s work.

My bones will rest easy, nourishing the world that is to come.

[delta-orionis]

I made a region map for Three Stars Above Clouds’ interior! It's loosely based on both Five Pebbles and Looks to the Moon's region maps. (Note: I’m not a level designer, I have no idea if this would actually play well as a region, but I tried to connect the rooms in ways that made logical sense.)

Explanations/Notes about the different Subregions under the cut.

Subregions:

Memory Conflux: Self explanatory. Equivalent to the Memory Conflux rooms in Five Pebbles and Looks to the Moon. I made a mockup of what TSAC’s Memory Conflux rooms look like here.

Cognitive Nexus: TSAC’s equivalent of the General Systems Bus/Neural Terminus. I posted TSAC’s Cognitive Nexus and puppet chamber in a video here. (The music that plays in this subregion would sound similar to Energy as Matter by Software.)

Sequential Processing Syzygy: TSAC’s equivalent to the Recursive Transform Array/Abstract Convergence Manifold. (Syzygy: the linear alignment of three or more celestial bodies.)

Data Archives: Technically part of TSAC’s Memory Conflux, but this is where they store their pearls. The rooms feature boxes that have inaccessible pearls floating inside. The rooms are also very dark, and bolts of green electricity arc across the walls. (My logic here is that, in order to keep the pearls from fading, they need to be kept out of the light and continuously electrically stimulated.) The player would have to pay attention to the rhythm of the bolts and time their jumps right.

The Data Archives are in roughly the same position as Unfortunate Development in Five Pebbles, and serves a similar gameplay purpose: a high-risk-high-reward shortcut that gets you to the Cognitive Nexus much faster than going through the Sequential Processing Syzygy. There's an accessible colored pearl in one of the rooms that can be brought to TSAC's chamber to be read.

Intake Ducts: A one-way entrance connected directly to the Pump Station located in one of TSAC’s reservoirs. This is one of the pipes running through TSAC’s legs that supplies TSAC with water- the player is pushed upward by a very strong current into TSAC’s can (similar to Facility Roots - Western Intake in Outer Expanse and the connecting pipe in Outskirts).

This is another shortcut that lets the player bypass TSAC’s equivalent of The Leg and Underhang entirely. The path to the preceding karma gate is treacherous and requires very precise swimming, similar to the way Submerged Superstructure functions for all slugcats except Rivulet.

Connecting Regions:

Pump Station: Connected to one of TSAC’s reservoirs. This is a network of partially submerged pipes and tunnels, similar to Drainage System and Pipeyard’s Sump Tunnel. The player can enter one of the pumps to be pushed directly into TSAC’s can, provided they don’t drown.

Zenith: TSAC’s city, equivalent to Metropolis or Luna. Home to several tall observatory spires. (Zenith: the highest point on the celestial sphere.)

The Roost: TSAC’s equivalent of The Wall. Features a high volume of vultures and vulture grubs. TSAC’s roof is a mess of sticks and shrapnel, which the vultures use to make their nests.

Nadir: TSAC’s equivalent of Underhang. Connects to one of TSAC’s legs, which is attached to the nearby cliffside by a series of bridges and supports. (Nadir: the lowest point on the celestial sphere.)

[tma-monad]

⤹ ₊ " "

⚙️┆ welcome to MONAD ⊹ a 15 + all oc magnus archives roleplay server. ◀

TMA · MONAD is set in London, United Kingdom. Society is experiencing a new wave of modernization through the integration of technology into everyday life. Complex expanses of electrical currents and signals pervade the city, now imbued with an artificial essence through millions of screens. Deep in this man-made network, something incomprehensible stirs. The world revels in its newfound power, unaware that its most revolutionary innovation may become its greatest mistake yet.

—————————————————————————————————

　✦ we offer an all oc experience with the capability of creating your own artifacts and factions .ᐟ 　✦ ↺ we are bi-poc, and lgbt staffed + friendly, ++ sys friendly ◟ 　✦ 📡 themed after the extinction, and set in 2012 london 　✦ ↳ pluralkit, qotw for your ocs, tma/tmp fan discussion channels & more 　✦╭╯ semi - literate (and up) roleplay; 🖥 a plot-driven storyline with events soon to come ノ

⤷ ⟡ opened : august 18 , 2024

⟡ permanent link : https://discord.gg/hm66sBxVBS

[raccoonfallsharder]

᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊°.⋆｡✶˖ the hunt ⌖˖✶｡⋆ preview part one of evasive maneuvers ✶ book two of kinktober 2024

[anticipated 10/22]

kinktober 2024 | navigation | fanfiction masterlist 18+ only | no use of y/n | f!reader | 2 parts | word count: pending.

rocket promises you an abundance of rewards in return for your assistance brushing up on some of his old résumé skills. an expansion on day 9 of kinktober 2023. KINKS/WARNINGS: predator/prey dynamics, dirty talk, little bit of breathplay at the end. mentions of: restraints & rope-play, blindfold & gag, gunplay, electricity play.

There’s a soft clicking sound, echoing somewhere — the quick repetitive tap-tap-tap of claws against metal. You gasp, and your nipples tighten — like the damn things have memories of their own and are recalling those same claws prickling over your areolas. You immediately drop into a crouch, and you try to remember the best route across the catwalks, the ones that might still have crates left on them, anything that can shelter you. He’s silent just long enough for you to start edging along the catwalk again, just long enough for you to hope he’d lost sight of you, that maybe he’d never been certain you were here and had just been trying to scare you into revealing yourself. The minute your heartbeat eases, though, there’s a soft rush of movement — just above you, to your right.  Fuck.

You dart toward the next intersecting catwalk and dodge left, trying to stay quiet and small. He certainly knows where you are now — is trying to scare you — and you’re heart’s beating so hard it hurts. He’s also probably trying to herd you — but you’re not even sure where you are now, much less where he wants you to go. When you find a rusted trunk on a landing, you sink behind it, trying to ease the burn in your crouched muscles and lungs. Somewhere, he snickers, and it sounds like it’s coming from all around you: echoing on duranium, reverberating on vibranium. Bouncing mockingly off railings and bulwarks.  “Little birdie—“  You swallow, and look up and to the left. He sounds like he’s clear across the enormous chamber.  “You nervous, sweetheart?” You crush your palm between your teeth, biting back a soft whine. Slowly, slowly, you inch your way toward the wall with the ladders and platforms. If you can get up five stories, there’s an access point to the gun turrets, you think.  Rocket will know them better than you, but it will at least give you some coverage while you run. Access to the gun turrets are networked together through the armory, with dozens of exits between them. If you can get out of his range long enough, you might be able to give him the slip— The longer you last, the nicer I’ll be.  Yeah, if you want to survive tonight without becoming nothing but a crawling, shivering, sobbing mess, you have to get out of here.  “Yeah, you are. I can tell you’re nervous,” he purrs from somewhere, and now you half-turn to check the deep shadows behind your right shoulder. “Can hear it — hear your heart fluttering like little frickin’ birdie-wings.” You chew your lip and shift sideways, edging along the railings.  “Pretty sure you’re all needy, too. All that adrenaline.” His snicker echoes along the catwalks. “Scared, but still all hot for a good dicking down. Bet your silly cunt can’t even tell the difference between the two anymore.”

part one of ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊°.⋆｡✶˖ evasive maneuvers ⌖˖✶｡⋆ kinktober 2024 | navigation | fanfiction masterlist

gray support/mdni banners by @/saradika-graphics | silver sparkle divider by @/strangergraphics

[secret-inevertell]

📝 Astro cheat sheet

A basic how-what-where guide to astrology

Sign (how things play out)

Aries: aggressive, impulsive, competitive, direct, excessive, selfish, childish, action-oriented, sudden, masculine, assertive, sharp, inspiring, fierce, decisive, hostile, angry

Taurus: persistent, trustworthy, stubborn, patient, stable, enjoyable, visible, touchable, valuable, delicious, organic, natural, earthly, elegant, vocal, self-indulgent, lazy

Gemini: clever, mischievous, communicative, inconsistent, youthful, witty, inquisitive, chatty, agile, dual, skillful, refreshing, nervous, eloquent, brief, comical

Cancer: nurturing, supportive, compassionate, soft, sensitive, fragile, emotional, sincere, encouraging, unconditional, comfy, gentle, cosy, harmless, transparent

Leo: brave, loyal, playful, charismatic, confident, prideful, outgoing, honest, courageous, protective, entertaining, eye catching, popular, childlike, romantic

Virgo: particular, organized, rational, detail-oriented, analytical, critical, nitpicking, intelligent, tiny, helpful, useful, clean, plain, fussy, healthy, neat, precise

Libra: friendly, sociable, diplomatic, charming, balance, easygoing, thoughtful, beautiful, indecisive, flighty, flirty, superficial, fair, symmetrical

Scorpio: secretive, bold, deep, intensive, controlling, strategic, transformative, paranoiac, jealous, clingy, intimidating, investigating, dark, scary, creepy, insightful, spiteful

Sagittarius: optimistic, versatile, adaptable, adventurous, rebellious, religious, wild, gullible, lucky, careless, clumsy, risky, open-minded, spontaneous, oblivious

Capricorn: disciplined, responsible, pessimistic, humble, hardworking, slow, patient, ambitious, old, rigid, tough, strict, gloomy, difficult, reserved, respectful, timeless, practical, stingy, filtered, effortless

Aquarius: random, rebellious, distant, emotionally detached, fast-moving, progressive, unexpected, crazy, odd, brilliant, disorganized, distinct, unusual, oblivious

Pisces: intuitive, spiritual, idealistic, sensitive, passive-aggressive, helpless, defenceless, vulnerable, unreliable, sickly, bizarre, drunk, addicted

Planet (event or thing that takes place)

Sun: one’s existence, self-awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, intelligence, life purpose, attention, fame, recognition, ego, the light

Moon: the need, emotion, family, home, selfless love, water, sincerity, mood, atmosphere, comfort, care, safety, food

Mercury: skill, communication, message, critical thinking and judgment, information sharing, speech, reason, logic, business, task, networking

Venus: the senses, high quality experience, pleasure, desire, luxury, generosity, romantic love, relationships, voice, mannerism, spending

Mars: passion, fight, war, explosion, abuse, burn, thorn, speed, initiation, leadership, risk-taking, anger, inflammation, burst of energy, violence, pain, fire

Jupiter: growth, truth, wealth, religion, authority, teacher, travel, inheritance, justice, lottery, opportunity, joy, celebration, expansion, belief, experience

Saturn: responsibility, authority, depression, criticism, frustration, guilt, time, repetition, fear, lession, maturity, vintage, tradition, rejection, challenge, discernment

Uranus: complete change, technology, electricity, revelation, advancement, invention, freedom, forecast, shortcut, astrology, group, community

Neptune: dream, confusion, idealism, delusion, mysticism, addiction, art, charity, hospital, disease, loss, fish, victim mentality, drug, sacrifice, imagination

Pluto: power, control, deep emotion, fear, betrayal, jealousy, traumatic experience, insecurity, adversity, death, sex, massive wealth, crime, lust, secret

House (where things play out)

1H: identity, character, first impression, general apperance, subconscious attitude, approach to life

2H: finance or income, possession, self-esteem, material desire, pleasure, value, eating habit, sense of security, bank, restaurant, the park, gallery, supermarket

3H: immediate environment, neighborhood, short distance travel, errand, sibling, peer, school, class, the mind and thinking, communication, skill, the media, the news, transportation, library, car park

4H: family, root, parents or guardians, foundation, emotion, home life, home country, domestic issues, real estate, private space, kitchen

5H: hobby, interest, romance, love affair, gambling, children, creative pursuit, talent, bar, club, casino, concert, theater, stage, spotlight

6H: daily routine, health, colleague, workplace, office, service to others, hygiene, problem-solving, assistance, the gym, pharmacy

7H: partnership, business contract, marriage, rivalry, shadow self, client, the other party, advisor, dating app, intermediary

8H: inheritance, tax, debt, death and transformation, intimacy, sex, mediumship, fear, grief, secret, joint venture, occult, unearned wealth, under the surface, dark space, funeral

9H: religion, long distance travel, wisdom, culture, fortune, church, foreign country, vacation, apprenticeship, university, stadium, academy

10H: public reputation, aspiration, career, career goal, expertise, long term goal, recognition, public life, status, company, museum, clock tower

11H: friend, group, social awareness and responsibility, the audience, follower, fan, hope and wish, social media, organization, airport, apartment, mall, crowded place

12H: isolation, seclusion, faraway place, prison, hospital, addiction, escapism, dream, foreign land, past life, hidden place, repressed thing, bedroom, beach, pool, hotel, waterfall

*couldn’t help but added more keywords outside of the how-what-where so use this how it makes sense to you

Feel free to add to the list.

[expertacademicassignmenthelp]

 How Does The Brain Work?

The brain stands as a marvel of biological engineering, Composing of a multitude of bodily functions ranging from cognition and memory to emotions and sensory perception. Together with the spinal cord, it constitutes the central nervous system (CNS), the command center of the human body.

Composition of the Brain

Weighing approximately 3 pounds in adults, the brain’s main structure comprises about 60% fat, interspersed with water, protein, carbohydrates, and salts. Unlike muscles, it houses a complex network of blood vessels and nerves, including neurons and glial cells.

a) Gray and White Matter

Within the central nervous system, gray matter and white matter occupies distinct regions. In the brain, gray matter forms the outer layer, rich in neuron somas, while white matter constitutes the inner section, primarily composed of axons unsheathed in myelin. Conversely, in the spinal cord, this arrangement is reversed.

b) Brain Functionality

 The brain operates by transmitting and receiving chemical and electrical signals throughout the body. These signals regulate a myriad of processes, with the brain disseminating each input. Some signals remain confined within the brain, while others traverse the spinal cord and nerves, disseminating information across the body’s expanse. This composes neural network relies on billions of interconnected neurons.

Major Brain Regions and Their Functions

1.Cerebrum

Dominating the brain’s landscape, the cerebrum encompasses the cerebral cortex and underlying white matter. It governs a spectrum of functions, including motor coordination, temperature regulation, language processing, emotional regulation, and sensory perception.

2. Brainstem

 Serving as the bridge between the cerebrum and spinal cord, the brainstem comprises the midbrain, pons, and medulla. It regulates vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and reflexive responses.

3. Cerebellum

Nestled at the posterior aspect of the brain, the cerebellum coordinates voluntary muscle movements, posture, balance, and motor learning.

 Brain Coverings

a) Meninges

 Three layers of protective membranes, collectively known as meninges, enshroud the brain and spinal cord. These layers — dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater — shield the delicate neural tissue from physical trauma and infection.

b) Lobes of the Brain

 Each hemisphere of the brain comprises four lobes, each harboring distinct functional domains:

Frontal Lobe: Governing executive functions, motor control, and higher cognitive processes.

Parietal Lobe: Integrating sensory information, spatial awareness, and perception of pain and touch.

Occipital Lobe: Specialized for visual processing and perception.

Temporal Lobe: Involved in auditory processing, language comprehension, and memory consolidation.

Deeper Brain Structures

 These encompass important structures such as the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and pineal gland, orchestrating hormone secretion, emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and circadian rhythms.

Blood Supply

The brain receives its oxygenated blood supply through the vertebral and carotid arteries, ensuring adequate perfusion of neural tissue. The main network of blood vessels, including the Circle of Willis, safeguards against ischemic insults and facilitates intraarterial communication.

Cranial Nerves 

The twelve pairs of cranial nerves, originating from the brainstem, mediate a diverse array of sensory and motor functions, encompassing olfaction, vision, facial expression, and auditory perception.

Comprehending the anatomy and functionality of the brain fosters a deeper appreciation of its complexity and facilitates advances in neuroscientific research and therapeutic interventions aimed at diminishing neurological disorders.

Understanding the detailed anatomy and functionality of the brain is crucial for medical students embarking on their journey of study. Expert Academic Assignment Help offers invaluable assistance in navigating the complexities of neuroscience and related subjects. By leveraging expert guidance and support, students can excel in their medical education and contribute to advancements in the field of Medicine. Email us at expertassignment46@gmail.com to embark on your path to scholarly excellence and professional competency.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

Federal regulators on Monday approved sweeping changes to how America’s electric grids are planned and funded, in a move that supporters hope could spur thousands of miles of new high-voltage power lines and make it easier to add more wind and solar energy.

The new rule by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees interstate electricity transmission, is the most significant attempt in years to upgrade and expand the country’s creaking electricity network. Experts have warned that there aren’t nearly enough high-voltage power lines being built today, putting the country at greater risk of blackouts from extreme weather while making it harder to shift to renewable sources of energy and cope with rising electricity demand.

A big reason for the slow pace of grid expansion is that operators rarely plan for the long term, the commission said.

The nation’s three main electric grids are overseen by a patchwork of utilities and regional grid operators that mainly focus on ensuring the reliability of electricity to homes and businesses. When it comes to building new transmission lines, grid operators tend to be reactive, responding after a wind-farm developer asks to connect to the existing network or once a reliability problem is spotted.

The new federal rule, which was two years in the making, requires grid operators around the country to identify needs 20 years into the future, taking into account factors like changes in the energy mix, the growing number of states that require wind and solar power and the risks of extreme weather.

Grid planners would have to evaluate the benefits of new transmission lines, such as whether they would lower electricity costs or reduce the risk of blackouts, and develop methods for splitting the costs of those lines among customers and businesses.

The commission approved the rule by a 2-1 vote, with the two Democratic commissioners in favor and the lone Republican, Mark Christie, opposed. Mr. Christie said the rule would allow states that want more renewable energy to unfairly pass on the costs of the necessary grid upgrades to their neighbors.

Nationwide, energy companies have proposed more than 11,000 wind, solar and battery projects, but many are in limbo because there’s not enough capacity on the grid to accommodate them. What’s more, individual developers are currently required to pay for grid upgrades to accommodate their projects in a process that is piecemeal and slow.

Some critics say that’s like asking a trucking company to pay for an additional lane on a highway that all motorists ultimately use. A better approach, they say, would be to plan ahead for broad upgrades with the costs shared by a wide set of energy providers and users.

But the question of who pays for those grid expansions has sparked furious debate.

[satanicspeaks]

What I want to know about The Expanse world is how is data storage being managed? If there is that many people across our solar system (and beyond) then where is all the data being stored and how?

This also applies to other sci-fi media. Currently we are so used to places hosting data that it’s become an after thought (until AO3 goes down or someone remembers they don’t actually own a copy of the e-book they bought on kindle).

In The Expanse there are terminals, similar to phones but can do a lot more, where anyone can log in to a terminal with their identifier and then it has all their messages and things they need. So instead of the phone number system we have it’s more like logging in to a universal Facebook. That raises some security issues but not the point here.

By making it a Facebook type system then the person also doesn’t own their own data. It’s not solely stored on their device. There are tech in that world where data is only stored on one thing, like our USB’s, but that’s not the standard because there’s a network. For there to be a network there must be a place to connect it all to.

So, given what happens in book 6 (no spoilers here dw) I reckon it’s stored in the belt, somewhere in vacuum/space, on Luna, or on several of the moons. Reasoning is that reduces a lot of natural heat data servers would have to deal with, reduces natural environment problems. It would absolutely be several locations, sole locations are a serious liability, and also with how much emphasis the series puts on light delay data/communications from one to another that would cause bigger issues.

As I type this I just realised: each station/location would need to have some level of a local copy. There were times that characters quickly set up a new terminal within a minute, and functionally waiting long periods is just bad business.

This likely isn’t something the author considered for the series, because killing or taking data servers hostage would be a way to fuck everyone over. Hence strengthening to the idea that data storage is in *a lot* of locations, making it hard to do a full take over.

There is also some programming elements that make me ‘hmmm’, especially season 1 of the Tv series where a sole person is trying to crack complicated encryption on a time crunch. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a hobby programmer at most, my area is UX, so I don’t know if that’s truely effective. But from how over stated the complexity is it would make more sense to have several people on it (buuut of course story wise it’s cooler if one person can crack the really complicated Martian encryption).

I do wish the TV series showed Naomi as a programmer too, not just electrical and systems engineer. Maybe it’ll pop up later, I can see why they don’t with wanting a more visual way to show what she’s doing, but it feels like it understates her skills and what she can actually do.

Ty for reading my ramble if you made it this far. There’s practically no fandom for this series so mutuals can just second hand enjoy this

[valtionrautatiet-official]

An introduction to VR multiple units, part 3: Sm4

Sm4, aka the Bunny (Pupu), the trusted working girls on our commuter train network in southern Finland. I really like these girls.

An Sm4 unit in the original livery departing Kannelmäki station, 2010. My photo.

The Sm4 units were conceived in the late 1990s to provide additional capacity for the Helsinki commuter train system. Alstom in France provided a bespoke design for us, with step-free access from platform to the train, space for wheelchairs and a disabled-friendly toilet. As with the older Sm1 and Sm2, bicycle racks are also provided. The first batch of 10 two-carriage units were built by CAF is Spain rather than Alstom themselves, delivered in 1999.

Interior of an Sm4 with original violet upholstery of the seats and curtains for the windows. Photo Scorpion87, Wikimedia commons

The bunnies were designed for use on the longer commuter routes with fewer stops, Helsinki to Riihimäki and Kirkkonummi, with a service speed of 160 km/h. However, as they were our only commuter train units with step-free access, they were also used on the shorter routes around Helsinki to provide at least occasional low-floor service. Passenger experience with the bunnies was hugely positive; I remember one relative speaking enviously of lines with more Sm4's on them than their home route (or so they perceived anyway - bear in mind there were only 10 bunnies and a total of 100 units of the older types).

With the upcoming opening of the Kerava-Lahti rail line (in 2006) and the corresponding expansion of the Helsinki commuter system, we ordered 20 additional Sm4 units in 2002. This second batch of bunnies was built by Alstom themselves and delivered in 2004-2005.

An Sm4 in the current livery passes an Sm3 Pendolino shortly after leaving Helsinki central station, 2012. My photo.

With the arrival of the new Sm5 units (owned by the municipal Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy but operated by us) for the Helsinki commuter rail network starting 2008, we could finally start moving the bunnies to the long commuter services they were designed for. Today, the Helsinki-Riihimäki-Tampere and Helsinki-Lahti(-Kouvola) routes are operated almost exclusively by the Sm4s, and you can also spot them on the Riihimäki-Lahti-Kouvola-Kotka routes and on the commuter service around Tampere.

The bunnies lost their original bespoke livery with the introduction of our current green image from 2010 onwards - luckily the cuties look good in both liveries! Starting 2013, they also received a thorough technical upgrade, as well as a freshing up of the passenger spaces.

Sm4 interior in current form, with seats upholstered in green to match the new corporate identity, and no more curtains on the windows. Photo Mico Hautaluoma, Wikimedia Commons.

The Sm4 will lose its status as the flagship of our local services with the delivery of the new Sm7 electric multiple units starting 2026. They will likely replace the bunnies on their current primary routes, which will mean the bunnies will migrate to different services - there are no plans to retire the well-liked and reliable cuties.

[s10127470]

The Wasted Potential of Tyler

"Alright campers! It's time to talk about Total....Drama...."

I've been hooked on Total Drama ever since it first premiered here in the United States on Cartoon Network, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite shows growing up.

I'd remember always looking out for the new seasons and I watched pretty much every season during its original broadcast here in America.

Even the seasons I would come to hate!

But out of the three generations of contestants, the most iconic is (of course) the first generation that stuck with us for the first three seasons and All-Star.

Part of that was because they were the most developed of the three generations (in addition to the aforementioned being the one that was the most seen).

Not to mention they possess some of the franchise's most popular and beloved characters.

The second generation (with the exception of Staci), while good, didn't quite reach the heights of the first one.

And with the exception of Shawn and Jasmine, literally no one gives a shit about the third generation.

But the character I want to focus on today is the clumsy jock himself, Tyler!

Although he was introduced in Total Drama Island, he was among the portion of the OG cast who didn't leave much of an impression on the audience (at first).

This was because he was only around for 7 episodes, and only spoke in about 4 of them.

After Island, he didn't return for the second season Total Drama Action.

He only appeared as a guest on the aftermath specials, where he didn't talk at all.

However, he would eventually make his grand return to the Total Drama game for the third season, Total Drama World Tour.

This was where Tyler started to come into his own as a character.

He was very funny and had a decent chunk of comedic lines, mainly stemming for his somewhat dimwitted nature.

But his best comedy came from the physical pain he often found himself in.

Funnily enough, this constant stream of pain was actually an expansion of his character.

Although he didn't have a whole lot going for him in the first season, one of the few defining characteristics Tyler had was his clumsy nature.

Although not shown to often due to his minor role, there were a few moments in Island that highlighted his clumsy nature.

In Dodgebrawl, he constantly kept missing the Screaming Gophers when throwing the balls.

In Not Quite Famous, he accidentally tied himself up with his yo-yo trick.

Hell, this is even shown when he first appears in the very first episode!

When we're first introduced to Tyler, we see him water skiing from the back of a yacht, somehow trips on the water, starts barreling across the water, hits the dock and is sent flying right into a pile of luggage

In World Tour, he's a full-on pain magnet.

From falling down a pyramid, to jumping out of piranha-infested waters, to getting shocked by electric eel.

Tyler pretty much got hurt in nearly every episode he was around in World Tour.

But it wasn't just his comedy that made him enduring.

Tyler was also depicted as good-hearted, patient and surprisingly loyal.

This was especially shown with his relationship with Lindsay, which holds the title of being one of the most wholesome romances in the entire series.

That fact that Tyler stayed loyal to Lindsay despite her forgetting who he was for about a year is nothing short of impressive.

Plus, he was the only one to call out Duncan's infidelity rather than blaming Gwen like damn near everyone else, which automatically makes him Best Boy.

However, there is one thing to note about Tyler in World Tour. He made it a bit further than he initially did in Island, making at least TWO episodes before the merge.

Because of this, Tyler has not only gone down as a fan-favorite, but also one of the most wasted characters in the show's history.

He's one of five of the original contestants that never made it to the teams merging, along with Noah, Katie and Sadie, and of course, Ezekiel. 

Not to mention he never made it far into the game despite other underdog-like characters such as Beth, Harold and Cody making it to at least the final five.

And despite the potential he had for the last season he would compete in, it ended up getting thrown away in order to obviously make room for a fan-favorite (aka Duncan)

So today I wanted to take the time to discuss how I think Tyler could've been better implement in the Total Drama series overall.

Total Drama Island:

Season 1 is pretty interesting, since it's blankest canvas on what to do with Tyler.

Since they're 22 contestants and lot of them fade into the background due to their limited screentime, the doors are wide open for what Tyler could do. 

While he wouldn't play a super big role in this season, he would have a little more to do. 

Tyler would be sticking around a little longer than he did originally, but he would still get eliminated before the merge.

Since he would be around a little longer, some things I want to see from him would be more interactions with Lindsay and even standing-up for Harold, the latter serving as build-up to something that would be explored a little later.

In terms of elimination order, Tyler is a pretty easy fix. Just have his original elimination order taken by Sadie. 

Sadie was just a filler character who faded into the background due to her limited amount of dialogue. 

The same applies for Katie as well.  

Not to mention that both of them would only be reduced to minor characters after this season and never compete again. 

But in a Uno-Reverse fashion, Tyler would be taking Sadie's original elimination order, which would make sense give that the challenge is focused on trust, and his clumsy and overconfident nature would put him at a major disadvantage.

So yeah....that's about it for Tyler for Total Drama Island. 

I don't really have anything on how he could be implemented into Total Drama Action, but luckily, I do have notes for he could implemented in.....

Total Drama World Tour:

This was the season where Tyler's potential started to be tapped.

One thing to note for this rewrite is that the teams will be a little different....

Team Victory: Ezekiel, DJ, Katie and Sadie, Leshawna, Lindsay, Bridgette and Trent.

Team Amazon: Heather, Gwen, Courtney, Sierra and Cody.

Team Chris is Really, Really, Really, Really Hot: Owen, Alejandro, Duncan, Noah, Izzy, Tyler and Harold.

Yep! Harold is on Team Chris now! That's because he and Tyler will actually be forming a pretty close friendship this season, similar to what Owen and Noah did.

I've always felt like these two really had the potential for a genuinely engaging friendship.

Hell, this was even shown in the original World Tour, when they were geeking out over Japanese game shows.

This would also led to Alejandro forming an alliance with Tyler and Harold, as he would see them as useful allies in some way.

Tyler for his loyalty and athleticism, and Harold for his loyalty, mad skills and vast knowledge of various topics.

(Plus the fact that he made it to the final five last season doesn't hurt either).

The alliance itself would actually be quite reminiscent of the one between Heather, Lindsay and Beth from Season 1.

Even Heather herself would point this out and be undoubtedly pissed about it.

As for why I decided to put Katie and Sadie and Trent in this season.

For the first two, just to fill out that team a bit more.

As for Trent, why wasn't he?

He's the most musically-gifted of the main cast, and despite this season being heavily focused on musical numbers, he didn't compete at all.

Hell, he only sings once in the entire season.....

And that was only for backup vocals!

As for the elimination order for this season.

Ezekiel and Duncan (until he returns) would still be the ones to be eliminated first in Walk Like an Egyptian.

DJ would be the one to go home instead of Harold in Super Happy Crazy Fun Time Japan.

His reason for elimination would the Animal Curse....well sort of.

Throughout the episode, DJ would find himself either getting attack by or accidentally hurting animals.

And aftering hearing about him accidentally destroying the mummified dog back in Egypt, Alejandro decides to make up the tale of the Animal Curse, knowing that it would throw DJ off his game.

In the end, Team Victory decided to send DJ home, feeling like it was the best for him.

And despite how short his stay on my World Tour was, at least it was a more dignified way to go when compared to the original World Tour.

Sadie would be the one to go in Anything Yukon Do, I Can Do Better, having suffered the exact same faith Bridgette did.

The next eliminations are pretty much the same as they were in the original World Tour (that being Leshawna and Lindsay).

In Jamaica Me Sweat, Katie would the one to go home.

Her reason for going home: Sadie.

Essentially, after Sadie was eliminated, as you expect, Katie didn't take it particularly well....

But thanks to the encouragement of her teammates, she was able to get over it and even became a bit of a team leader in her own right.

I thought it would be a little interesting to see one of the duo function without the other.

Since remember, in this version of Total Drama, they pretty much get eliminated back-to-back!

But since Alejandro saw her as a possible opponent, he threw Katie off her game by constantly reminding her of Sadie.

And eventually, she breaks down.

So yeah, in this version, Team Victory is still around after the Jamaica episode, with Bridgette and Trent being the last two standing.

I've always thought that the three team element was really interesting, but was heavily wasted in the original World Tour.

I mean for God's sake, one of the teams didn't even make it at least halfway through the season!

(Also by the way, Izzy doesn't go home in this episode).

The next two episodes are pretty much the same in terms of elimination, with Noah getting booted off in I See London....., and no one’s going home in Greece's Pieces.

Finally we come to The EX-Files, the episode that Tyler was eliminated in.

Taking his place instead would be Izzy since, let's be real, it would make sense for her to be eliminated in this episode.

In Picnic at Hanging Dork, there would be a double elimination.

And the ones going home would be Gwen and Trent.

Team Amazon still lose the same way they did the original season.

But as for why Trent got booted as well.....

Through this season, there would be awkward tension between Gwen and Trent, given everything that happened between them during Action.

And it unfortunately didn't get much better after Tyler spills the beans on Duncan and Gwen kissing.

Trent practically shut down after hearing that his worst fear pretty much came true.

And because of this, Bridgette had to do most of the heavy lifting to ensure they didn't lose.

But in the end, Chris decides to boot Trent off....

Not because he shut down. Oh no! Chris couldn't care less about that and would've gladly kept him in the game just to see Bridgette struggle.

Because he's a sadist.

He decided to boot Trent off because he knew about the awkward tension between him and Gwen, and just wanted him to go with Gwen just to rub salt in the wound that was her elimination and eucalyptus allergies.

Once again, because he's a sadist.

Next is Sweden Sour, and unlike the original, someone actually does go home.

And that person is unfortunately Harold.

The reason why....

Ever since Greece's Pieces, Duncan has been bullying Tyler because of him knowing about the kiss.

And it only got even worse when he eventually spilled the beans.

Harold, being Tyler's close friend, is not particularly keen on seeing this.

He already had to endure a season and a half of Duncan’s bullying, the last thing he wants is Duncan bullying someone else close to him.

This would eventually lead to Harold unleashing a can of whoop-ass on Duncan after taking the bullying too far, similar to what Leshawna did to Heather back in Germany.

As a result of this, Harold is booted off. But luckily, he does get the last laugh in the end.

Finally, we come to Niagara Brawls….

Our boy Tyler has made it to the merge! Along with Bridgette!

As for the pairings for the challenge, they’re more or less the same with two exceptions though.

Since Tyler and Bridgette are still around, they would be paired up for the challenge.

I could honestly see there being a running gag of them being somewhat uncomfortable with this, mainly because they fear their respective significant others would get jealous about this.

And other exception would be Owen and Noah.

Yep! The sassy king himself would be the one to return to game rather than Blainley!

Yeah I'm pretty much going off Schaffrillas' World Tour headcanon from his Noah video since let's be real, Noah coming back to the game would make much more sense than having a character who wasn't all that engaging to begin with and only made four appearances prior coming on, only to get booted off just the episode after her seasonal debut.

But just like in the original World Tour, Owen's the one to go home.

For the next two episodes, there'll be a double elimination.

For Chinese Fake-Out, Courtney and Bridgette are the ones to get the boot.

Bridgette because she was the first one out for the eating challenge, due to her vegetarian ways.

As for African Lying Safari, it'll be Duncan and Noah.

Noah because he's not the most physically capable around, which put him at a major disadvantage for the challenge.

Finally we come Rapa Phooey, and sadly, this would be the episode where Tyler gets eliminated.

The reason: He would be badly injured by the giant condor mom. Not to mention he tried and failed the most times out of the other contestants to return the eggs.

So yeah, that was Tyler's tenure on Total Drama. Although he didn't really do too much in Island, he really came into his own during World Tour, and made it pretty far at 5th place!

I think this would be the perfect usage of Tyler for this series. He wouldn't over-stay his welcome like some characters, but would still be utilized when he was around.

Let me know what you guys think about this post I made.

Also, I know someone's gonna bring this up, but yes, I can see Tyler and Leshawna competing together for the Ridonculous Race.

However, I'm not quite sure how far they would make it.

[0perfectimperfections0]

Hi fellow doll, I hope you're doing fine. I've been quite busy lately, college and life in general have been kicking my ass, so I was forced to take a step back from social media for a while to try to contain the chaos.

Firstly, I'd like to share a fun fact with you! I don't know if you're aware but did you know that Lou's Mansion has a Pool? You can see it more clearly in the Mansion's Concept Designs/Art on this site:

•https://www.claytonstillwell.com/ugly-dolls#23

However, the real reason for this ask is to present a possible answer/theory in regards to how the doll-sized phones came to be in the world of your stories (you can tell this is still related to our chat on Wattpad).

Recently, I came across the images you're seeing on Pinterest. They're Wide/Aerial Views of the Institute of Perfection and one thing that immediately stood out to me is that Giant Eye-Catching Dome behind the TV.

I mean what's its purpose, why is it even there to begin with and what's inside of it? I've been thinking about this for a while and would like to hear your thoughts about it as well, if you're willing to share them.

By any chance, have you seen the movie Wreck-it Ralph? There was a part where the villain enters the code of the game he's in and I think the Dome's purpose could follow a similar, if not equal, vein.

Now that I think about it, Lou and Vanellope's circunstances are almost identical, trapped in the same place for years without the option to leave, simply because of who they are and the traits they were born with, but didn't choose to have.

Sorry, I let my mind run on tangent there for a while, it wanders frequently which makes it hard to keep track of my line of thought.

To circle back to the main topic of discussion, what if the Dome is a Central Station of the Institute, like a Panel or Center for Command Control (or Command Control Center)? CCC for short? Ok, I'll stop trying to be funny...

Perhaps it could be a subroutine of the factory's software, a program linked to its network and wifi that contains all guidelines and rules that govern the Institute and must be followed and executed to keep it functional - a blueprint if you will - and is in charge of all commands, protocols, activities and operations being compiled and run by its machinery, such as the doll-scanner, the robots, the washing machine, the recycling, the Gauntlet plus the mechanical baby and dog and the Portal, just to name a few.

This means that it'd also take care of overseeing the integrity and performance of said machinery as well as its maintenance. It'd even be responsible for generating clouds and the artificial weather because apparently weather is still a thing, even though the Institute is inside of a factory.

I wonder if this subroutine would be run by an AI or simply an intelligent system/computer program. This world's version of Siri? 🤣

Or maybe I'm greatly exaggerating its function/letting my imagination run wild and it literally only gives Electricity for TV and Institute. Where was I going with this? /were we again?

Morever, it could be a storage unit that contains all collected, analysed and reviewed data regarding the inhabitants of the Institute and their responses, physical or emotional, to certain pre-determined stimuli.

It could also have a list of the factory's Perfection Standards: what consists/constitutes a Perfect Doll / product, its traits...

what can go to the market and which flaws/imperfections can't be ignored/overlooked and have to go to the recycling immediately, kinda like separating fruit/food

To sum up, it's the Institute's "rulebook", but instead of being specifically made for the prototype, it's more expansive and focuses on the Institute as a whole.

After the events of the movie, dolls with engineer role job created phones with recicled parts dangerous/turned the recycling into a good thing/while recycling was turned of and parts are human sized, plenty to spare and create phone since dolls come back now, have free time to assemble the parts and construct them and connected them to the signals/frequency emitted by the dome or they hack/steal or find out the password/'hijack' the signals🤣, use it to make them connect with each other but can't enter the dome without proper authorizations/permissions

Fun fact #2: Lou animatronic, would be a hipocrite if he called the Uglydolls "Ugly" has never seen a Mirror before

•https://www.indigobluepencil.com/ugly

Scroll almost to the middle (pre-planned concepts: dome by TV and washing machine, Big baby, Lou, Mandy, Tuesday and Kitty, Victoria, Perfection Council/of Dolls=board of investors directors reference)

•https://www.scottfassett.com/uglydolls-gallery

Had to restart Two Times... I hope you found this ask both entertaining and informative. Hopefully it'll give you Inspiration for your stories...

Okay, I had to do quite a bit of research and asked someone who knows a lot more about computers than I do.

So, I do agree that the dome has an electronic purpose. It really surprises me that STX animated an entire dome within the Institute and literally spoke nothing of it or what's inside of it. Like, seriously, it's huge and can't just be empty on the inside.

My theory, after some research, is that the inside of the dome is essentially a hard drive computer tower. For you younger folk who weren't raised in a 90's home, here's what I'm talking about:

These things right here used to be what would get hooked up to older Dell/Windows computers. The ones that weighed, like, 50 pounds and took up an entire desk.

Instead of a dvd player (which I didn't get one until maybe 8 years old) I would stick my Kidz Bop cd or movie into that slot at the top and watch the movie on the computer with Video Player.

Count your blessings.

But this is what I believe is inside that dome. These things are what holds the CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphic processing unit), and stores the memory, data, audio, and everything of the computer.

@natalie-the-writer and I have a running fanon that the company is older. The technology is older, the building is older, and everything is set in a pretty retro time period. So, this hard drive tower is connected to those bulky take-up-all-the-space-on-the-desk-computers.

The GPU in this system is also what control the day/night cycle in the Institute and the weather. It essentially simulates a troposphere and an environment that makes the dolls comfortable and prepared for the Big World.

The CPU is how the data is transferred. Info from the robots is controlled and processed, the Individualization scanners are monitored, the portal is opened and closed, the TV runs, and the holographic tutorials Moxy and her friends see in the beginning are kept on, all of it.

It basically functions as the brain of the Institute, but the sole controller and monitor of it is the CEO (Greyson Everett).

I also like to think that Lou's microchip (another fanon thought between Natalie and I) is also monitored via this hard drive tower. Any information that Lou learns and processes is sent into separate files on the computers back in the company building.

This is why in my Shell-Shock series, when Lou's emotions go south, the Institute begins to get windy when he's hyperventilating or rains when he cries. The ground trembles when he has body tremors and the lights flicker when his powers are used. He is literally connected to the whole Institute because his microchip and its data accidentally grow and manifest themselves into the files of the other Institute functions. His programming basically goes rogue and infects the Institute system like a virus.

I'm veering toward the explanation that results in Lou being the first successful form of Artificial Intelligence. But, for the moment, he is basically acting like a virus and it's not until he learns to control this new system he's connected to that it stops becoming a deadly thing.

[fanficsfreeideas]

The Meeting of the Tides

Polyamorousrivalryweek day 2 merfolks

Deep in the murky depths of the ocean, hidden beneath the glimmering surface of the mortal world, lay a mystical kingdom unknown to human eyes. Here, creatures of the sea lived among secret cities, where magic flowed as freely as the tides and long-standing rivalries burned with a fiery intensity. Four powerful mermen roamed the underwater nation, their fates destined to intertwine in an unforeseen way that would alter their fortunes forever.

The Convergence of Tides

Alastor was a solitary figure in the vast expanse of water. Adorned in striking crimson scales that shimmered like liquid fire, he ruled over his coastal territory with a commanding yet calm ferocity. His mastery over the elements was unmatched, and his infamous grin, laced with secrets and malice, struck fear into anyone who dared approach him. Known as the Radio of the Deep, he possessed a unique ability to manipulate lost sounds of the sea and compel them to do his bidding. One evening, while scouring through ancient wreckage in search of treasures, Alastor felt a strange presence. No, there were three.

The first to appear was Vox, sleek and formidable with electric blue scales that crackled with energy. His chest was adorned with shimmering electronics, and his sharp eyes gleamed like glass. A technomancer of the sea, Vox thrived on harnessing energy from human technology that fell into the ocean and used it to create a power network unlike any other. His demeanor matched his appearance: cold and calculating. Adam emerged next, a fierce warrior akin to a living statue. His golden scales glistened in the faint light of the water, reflecting his divine origins. Among the merfolk, he was known as a relentless protector and enforcer of justice, his reputation preceding him wherever he went. The soft glow of his halo served as a reminder of his celestial ties to the greater powers of the deep. But beneath his imposing exterior, there was a fierce determination and drive that burned like an inferno. Then there was Lucifer, the King of the Abyss, whose black-and-gold scales emitted a formidable aura. His eyes blazed with the eternal flames of the underworld, and his charm was so potent that it could bring entire civilizations to their knees. He was both majestic and terrifying, commanding respect wherever he swam. The three mermen had all been inexplicably drawn to the same location by a mysterious force. And as their piercing gazes fell upon Alastor, who hovered amidst the debris like a foreboding phantom, they understood why.

Alastor too felt it—a surge of energy, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. His grin widened as he locked eyes with the trio, anticipating the impending clash. They attacked in silence.

The Battle Beyond the Waves The clash of tridents and the crackle of electricity filled the ocean as Adam, Vox, and Lucifer engaged in a frenzied battle against Alastor. Each move was driven by instinct, fueled by years of training and honed skills.

Adam's trident blazed with celestial power as he surged forward, his eyes locked on Alastor's heart. Lucifer circled around, his black tail lashing like a serpent as he summoned dark energy from the depths. And Vox released bolts of electrical energy, each one hissing and crackling through the water as it aimed for their target.

But Alastor was no ordinary merman. With a deadly grace and a lethal gleam in his crimson eyes, he effortlessly evaded and parried their attacks. He even had the audacity to summon the souls of the drowned to fight alongside him, their ghostly forms swirling in the currents as they moved to defend their leader.

The battle raged on for what felt like hours, neither side willing to back down. But amidst all the chaos and fury, something unexpected began to happen. As they fought, Adam, Vox, and Lucifer each experienced a transformation within themselves. Every attack, dodge, and shared gaze triggered a deep stirring within them.

It wasn't hatred that fueled their actions anymore.

It was desire.

Adam's attacks became less angry and more calculated as he observed Alastor's otherworldly elegance. Vox found himself mesmerized by Alastor's wild energy, his heart racing faster than when he absorbed his beloved electricity. And even Lucifer, in all his pride and authority, couldn't help but admire Alastor's sheer power—a power that rivaled his own.

As exhaustion set in and they finally ceased their attacks, the three mermen floated in the water, gazing at Alastor, who smiled like a predator who had won a game. But there was something different in his expression—a glint of curiosity and amusement that they hadn't seen before.

And in that moment, they couldn't help but wonder what else lay beneath the surface of this formidable enemy.

The Pursuit.

In the days following their fateful encounter, the dynamic between the four mermen shifted in a way that no one could have predicted. Alastor, ever the mysterious and elusive figure, continued his solo wanderings through the ocean depths. But Adam, Vox, and Lucifer found themselves drawn to him like a clownfish to an anemone, unable to stay away from his enigmatic presence.

It wasn't just fate that brought them together, but also a growing sense of fondness that they couldn't deny. And so they began to pursue Alastor in a different way than before. No longer were they battling against each other for dominance; now they were all vying for the same prize—Alastor's heart.

Adam was the first to make a move. He approached Alastor with gifts fit for a king—treasures of gold and jewels found deep in the trenches of the ocean floor, relics of civilizations long gone. He spoke of justice and order, hoping to impress Alastor with his power and moral code. But the Radio Demon would simply laugh and tease him, calling him a "golden boy" before slipping away into the dark depths.

Vox took a more intellectual approach. He showcased his advanced technological creations, tempting Alastor with abilities and knowledge that no other merman possessed. His logical and pragmatic nature was meant to appeal to the Radio Demon's own intelligence and rationality. But Alastor would always find a way to evade his advances, mocking Vox's rigidity before disappearing into the shadows.

Lucifer, confident in his charm and appearance, attempted to seduce Alastor with his alluring ways. He used his powerful presence and intimidating aura to try and conquer the elusive merman's heart. But Alastor, ever the cunning trickster, would turn things around on Lucifer, leaving him unsatisfied and yearning for more.

A Heart Divided.

As time passed, the three mermen realized that their efforts were not enough to win over Alastor's affections. They were strong and formidable on their own, but together, they could be unstoppable. And so they came to a decision—to join forces and combine their skills in a united front that even the Radio of the Deep couldn't resist.

They invited Alastor to a secluded cove where the ocean's enchantment was strongest. There, they made their case for why he should choose them as his mates, baring their hearts and souls to him and declaring their love and devotion.

It was a powerful display of strength, desire, and passion, unlike anything the ocean had ever witnessed. Alastor, for the first time since their encounter, appeared surprised. His signature smile faltered for just a moment as he gazed at the three mermen before him—each so different yet all equally devoted to him.

He could sense their earnestness and longing for him, and in that moment, the Radio Demon of the Deep made his decision. With a sly smirk and glinting red eyes, he uttered two simple words. "Very well."

And with that, Alastor swam forward and sealed his fate with theirs in a kiss that echoed throughout the depths of the ocean, binding their hearts in an unbreakable bond of love, power, and darkness. From then on, the four mermen ruled the ocean depths together as equals, their love as wild and untamed as the endless blue waters that surrounded them.

[teiteiy]

Wired In this digital age, where worlds collide, A truth unfolds, let me be your guide, Physical reality, a hologram so grand, Information flowing, like grains of sand. Through the Internet's vast expanse, We're connected, in a cosmic dance, But what if I told you, it's all a charade, A mere illusion, where our minds are swayed? Physical reality, just a hologram, The universe's code, like a digital program, Our bodies, a vessel, a temporary guise, Verifying existence, as time flies. The human brain, a symphony of sparks, Synapses firing, igniting the dark, Electrical impulses, a dance so divine, Creating thoughts, in this grand design. But deep within, a secret lies, The body's purpose, to realize, That our existence, beyond flesh and bone, Resides in the realm where information's sown. Physical reality, just a hologram, The universe's code, like a digital program, Our bodies, a vessel, a temporary guise, Verifying existence, as time flies. So let go of the illusion, embrace the unknown, Expand your consciousness, let your mind be blown, For in this vast network, we're all intertwined, Connected by the threads of the cosmic mind. Physical reality, just a hologram, The universe's code, like a digital program, Our bodies, a vessel, a temporary guise, Verifying existence, as time flies. So open your eyes, see beyond the veil, The Internet's whispers, the universe's tale, For in this grand illusion, we find our truth, That our existence transcends this physical booth.

[jowhale]

The Journey in Entrepreneurial Mind : Political Science Edition

Hello, everyone! and every two! and every three!

The Final Pitching: Our OMNIHUB Innovation Takes Pride

After months of hard work, countless brainstorming, conducting several surveys, and more than a few late nights, the day finally arrived for us to pitch our innovative new service application “OMNIHUB '' to the panels. The atmosphere was electric as we took in commencing to pitch, presented a demo of the seamless user experience, and articulated our vision for creating a revolutionary platform to make people’s lives more convenient and open up new opportunities especially to the students. 

Moreover, there were certainly some nerves, months of preparation carried us through. We highlighted OMNIHUB’s unique ability to seamlessly connect users to local services, from transportation to grocery to dog walking and more remotely. I guess, the panel’s eyes lit up as they saw and witnessed just how great and intuitive the app made accessing these modern conveniences. When we revealed our expansive partner network of service, and assuming the presence of developers and partner providers, I believe they will be on board, and expecting that we could feel the rising excitement. 

As the pitch encapsulates, we feel the exploding applause coming from our adviser and the panel. Months of doubt, fatigue and challenges melted away in that moment of validation and promise for our startup’s future. Thus, there is still a long road ahead, pitching OMNIHUB was an incredible milestone and motivating start to our entrepreneurial journey. 

The Entrepreneurial Mind Lecture Series 2024

Credits: Mr. Reymark Menguito Facebook Post after the lecture series photo opt.

With the high pitch still fresh, we were fortunate to attend the Entrepreneurial Mind Lecture Series and gain invaluable insights about critical legal and business considerations for startup founders. The discussions around data privacy regulations, intellectual property protection and nurturing a healthy startup ecosystem were not only fascinating but immensely practical. 

One speaker’s cautionary tales about the risks of neglecting data privacy best practices clearly outlined the need to bake those considerations into our respective innovation’s infrastructure from day one. However, sometimes seen as a hindrance, we recognized robust data privacy as an opportunity to build user trust and position our brand as an advocate on valuing digital rights and freedoms. 

The intellectual property talks were another highlight, detailing strategies for safeguarding our core innovations while still encouraging productive partnerships and integrations within the broader ecosystem we aim to facilitate. It was a masterclass in walking the tightrope of protecting our interest while still boldly collaborating. 

Moreover, as we put the context to our innovation, while the OMNIHUB pitch was the dramatic crescendo, lectures like these represent the foundational learnings that will allow us to transform our plucky startup into an enduring, ethical and impactful enterprise. The insights gained will undoubtedly help steer us clear of many potential pitfalls. 

The Entrepreneurial Mind Experience: A Rewarding Whirlwind

The AB Political Science 3 in one frame with Sir Reymark Menguito.

Reflecting on the entire semester with “Entrepreneurial Mind” experience, it was truly a roller coaster in the best way possible. POwered by passion yet anchored in practicality and preparation, we weathered the inevitable storms of self-doubt, fatigue, and creative differences to bring “OMNIHUB” to this exciting inflection point. 

There were countless lows along the way - those nights where it felt like we never made a dent, or disagreements that threatened to derail everything. But each time we hit a roadblock, our resilience, openness to constructive feedback, and sheer belief in our vision pulled us through. We’ll carry the lessons of perseverance, resourcefulness, and teamwork with us forever. 

Of course, the highs were just as intense as the lows - those electrifying moments where everything clicked into place, or a conversation with a subject matter expert unlocked a powerful new idea we’d been stubbornly missing. Celebrating small wins with the team, whether a UI breakthrough or a new partnership commitment, recharged our momentum. 

Nevertheless, the future is unwritten, one thing is certain: we will always be visionary entrepreneurs at heart, capable of pouring out all into pursuing an ambitious idea and weathering any storm required to try and make an impact. OMNIHUB was the catalyst, but the Entrepreneurial MInd experience awakened something deeper- a mindset geared for constant evolution, lifelong learning and solving problems in unconventional ways. 

Moreover, this could not be possible without the ever-dynamic instructor of ours, Sir Reymark Menguito who made our journey in this course become extraordinary, through his expertise, motivation and passion to fuel our vehicles in entrepreneurship. I, myself, am beyond grateful for having Sir Reymark Menguito with us throughout the semester.

The abovementioned, the pitch, lecture series, and complete experience represented not just an academic exercise, but moreover the start of our entrepreneurial voyage. We have been equipped with tools, passion, memories and the hunger to continually innovate for a better world. After this rewarding whirlwind, we are eager to see what ambitious idea captures our “Entrepreneurial Mind” next. 

"Could have been me" a song of Halsey that pertains to someone or something that's holding oneself to be fearless, to do things scared and feel every emotions without restrictions in everything. To have some fun and enjoy things which talks to self indirectly that it could be me if I do it without anything is hampering me. And this is me.