#entry level prompt engineering jobs

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #20: The Art of the Booby Trap

Prompt: hamper || Master Post || On AO3

--

“Cid, honeybuns,” Rereha said, impressed despite herself, “what the fuck.”

She hung suspended by one ankle from one of the rafters in the ceiling, swinging slightly from side to side from slowly reducing momentum. Her arms and pigtail braids dangled and her stockman’s hat had ended up on the floor and like, honestly. This was kind of doing some really nice things to her spine.

Cid had flailed and fallen out of his chair at her ungodly shriek when the booby trap had sprung, and he was pushing himself off the floor now. “Seven fucking hells, Rereha, knock!” he said, scowling.

“I’ve never had to before!” she said, waving her hands, and cursing when all it did was start to spin her around. “Fuck’s sake, I expect this kind of bullshit from Nero!”

The engineer grumbled something too low for her to pick up the words, but Rereha’s ears perked anyway. “Oh, my fucking gods,” she cackled. “Cidolfus Garlond, did you get this idea from Nero? Did you get strung up like a dodo because you didn’t knock and you wanted to return the favor?”

“We are in a war of attrition over correcting one another’s blueprints,” Cid said, wading through the detritus of his lab—multiple drafting tables, boxes of spare parts, the half-built prototype of a new airship engine—to where the cable holding her up was tied off. “And so far, the bloody bastard’s winning.”

“Well, no shite, gumdrop,” Rereha said. Now that she knew to look for traps… Good gods, this was actually kind of sad. One, two, three, four, five, six… “You are a smart, creative man, Cid, but you don’t have a couple decades of experience as a fucking Frumentarium commander.”

Cid snarled something particularly foul in Garlean. Rereha yanked at her Echo to keep it from translating.

“Cid.”

A grunt.

“Ciiiiid.”

Another grunt.

“Cid. Cid Cid Cid Ciddy Cid. Ciiiiiiiiiid. Sugarplum. Buttercup. Hot stuff.”

Cid turned to glare at her, hands on his hips. She hadn’t seen him in this foul of a mood in a long, long time.

Awww. He really wasn’t used to being shown up so thoroughly by Nero, was he? A little humility was good for him, gods only knew he was ridiculously overdue for it, but it was definitely time to level the playing field. Especially before Nero’s ego raged out of control.

Rereha stuck out her arms. “M’ere.”

Cid sighed heavily, shoulders slumping, but he obeyed, weaving back across the lab to stand in front of her. She was short enough that even strung up like this, she was at eye level with him, and points to him for that, it would mean Nero would be just above the floor, and she could appreciate that kind of pettiness. But, focus!

She reached out and held his face in her hands. Gods, this was a little weird doing it upside down, but whatever. Needs must and all that. “Snookums, what is my day job?”

He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “You have a day job?”

“Cidolfus fucking Garlond, I swear to Nald’thal. Day job, full rank, I am making a point, go.”

“All right, all right! Scout-Captain for the Gods’ Quiver assigned to the Yellow Serpents Division of the Order of the Twin Adders. And then some logistics headache that means you’re also on permanent retainer to the Scions, even though that’s no longer official.”

“Correct! Which means that this kind of thing? Spotting traps, setting traps, and so on? Kind of what I get paid for.”

Cid furrowed his brows at her and wow, his eyebrows had gotten bushy. God, he should shave, go back to being baby-faced for a while to remind everyone he was just shy of forty and not seventy. “Offering to help?” he said, only a little skeptical.

(Which, fair, she wasn’t even mad, she had more recently been on the Nero side of the engineering war. But Nero kept coming up with upgrades for her monster turret bow, and she couldn’t say no to that.)

“Of course!” She batted her eyelashes. “Nero needs taking down a peg, and I’m always up for a little industrious chaos. Get Synnove on the linkpearl, too, she probably has a few tricks with aether-locks she’d be willing to dole out if she knows it’s for a good cause.”

“You are,” Cid said, finally starting to smile, a real, proper smile, “a very ridiculous creature.”

“It’s why you love me,” Rereha said with her most winning smile, and gave his cheeks a pat.

Cid snorted and said, "Jessie is going to kill us, but I suppose in your book, that just adds spice to things, doesn't it?" She cackled as her only response, and he was still smiling as he stepped away in the direction of the shelf where he kept his linkpearl.

Rereha blinked, and huffed.

“Cid?”

“Yeah?”

“Get me down.”

“Oh, shite, right, sorry, sorry—”

“Gently! Gently, you son of a biiIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAA!”

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[mysteriouslybluepirate]

Doom post

At the end of this is a picture of my cat, so if you wanna just skip to that, feel free. She's great, healthy, etc.

Don't read if you're already anxious, in a bad place in life, are directionless etc.. I'm ranting about life stuff, so you know yourself best. If you want to read and are feeling shitty, just wait.

It's winter here in the US. If you are reading this past 4 in the afternoon, you're probably not happy.

So there's this new AI coming up, it allows people to put in a prompt, and essentially ask an ai to write it. This works from anything from school essays, to basic medical diagnoses(enough to tell a person to go to the hospital), to correcting computer code. For the next few years this will be an uphill battle.

I'm just going to ask this now, as a person who is mentally ill and it's hard to hold down a serious job. I can't work or live at a deficit.

What the fuck am I supposed to do with my life?

(For context I'm officially diagnosed with: ADHD, Bipolar Disorder 1 with psychotic features, Depression, and Generalized Anxiety disorder)

After 3 degree changes I wanted to go into English teaching, but that whole landscape will change. Why would a 12-year-old write an essay when they can use this program. In the US, our long-form essay-based classes need to change. Plus, I'm a lesbian with a wonkey gender presentation on a given day that lives in a red state. I'm already not safe, I'm not going to be poorer than now and in dept as a teacher. So that's a no.

I'm in a 10k-people dying retirement town 6 hours away from a 100k-people city. I've already worked most jobs locally and was either let go of or quit due to my being part-time due to college. Got gently let go of from Walmart cause they were getting rid of part-time night stockers. All these jobs were manual labor, no office jobs, no 'lazy' jobs that respect my free time. They don't exist here.

I've tried nursing school, computer science, and engineering as degrees. Around 40-50 credits for nothing. Nothing kept me hooked, I had to be uber-medicated for my ADHD to stay going. I was able to get through high school cause I hated myself and punished myself whenever I was underperforming. I'm to tired to do that right now.

As for jobs-

Retail killed me, I worked WalMart for a year, and another local family owned business for four months before giving up. Unless forced to, I won't be returning.

I've tried Railroad (very male-dominated work environments); it's a trade. I wanted to die, mostly 40-year-old men looking at a 5'9 twig and deciding that's enough of a joke to grab onto for a bit. Not to mention all the touching. That's all there is here, besides specializing in another trade, where I could just get treated as badly. Nursing (where I'll be harassed with a smile on my face like my mother) or fitting in with a red town.

My therapist tells me to 'just go into computer science'. She's one of those people that are convinced that anyone can get a degree and find a good job. She ignores me when I tell her how my ADHD makes it hard to focus on tasks. I just need to 'power through it' and It'll work out in the end.

Oh! And Comp Sci is expected to have an influx of people over the next 5 years at entry-level positions due to the pandemic. No one in my family actually believes me when I tell them this, but I'd be fucked after I graduate. It will be impossible to find work with just a degree. I can't afford to leave for an internship that could cinch me a job.

I can't leave. I can't afford to leave. I'm 20, 21 next month, with no friends whatsoever as I hop around in life. All my coworkers are bigots, rude, or high schoolers, leaving me feeling more alone. I'm stuck in a $ 13-an-hour dead-end part-time job, and don't see an out.

If I left town for college, the only affordable housing is my family in the state I live in. So if I specialize I'll just be at ground zero if I'm forced to flee back to home.

I'm not the fun type of mentally ill that's gotten obsessed with something capitalism can call helpful. I obsess over a pirate show for 6 months, and spend most of my days tired and zoned out. I've tried to be hopeful and find a career that suits me. In every single degree I've looked into that isn't too heavily math-based (adhd) or social-based (probably autism, but no one here is qualified for AFAB people) is going downhill. I don't want to be here for this shit anymore.

Obviously, I've got stuff to keep me alive as concerning as this post sounds. I needed to rant, I'm probably in an episode, and if I was that badly off, I wouldn't be posting online. At the very least I have OFMD s2/s3 to look forward to, and household are kind enough not to point out how much of a dead weight I am.

I've got shitty meds that don't work, and a therapist who didn't know gay people could get married...so there's that.

I can't figure out how to verify this account. I've tried, but I can't see private messages. Reblog/comment if you want to talk. But IDK.

Cat photo reward for making it this far. Her name is Polly. She says hi.

[aionlinemoney]

India’s Tech Sector to Create 1.2 Lakh AI Job Vacancies in Two Years

India’s technology sector is set to experience a hiring boom with job vacancies for artificial intelligence (AI) roles projected to reach 1.2 lakh over the next two years. As the demand for AI latest technology increases across industries, companies are rapidly adopting advanced tools to stay competitive. These new roles will span across tech services, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), pure-play AI and analytics firms, startups, and product companies.

Following a slowdown in tech hiring, the focus is shifting toward the development of AI. Market analysts estimate that Indian companies are moving beyond Proof of Concept (PoC) and deploying large-scale AI systems, generating high demand for roles such as AI researchers, product managers, and data application specialists. “We foresee about 120,000 to 150,000 AI-related job vacancies emerging as Indian IT services ramp up AI applications,” noted Gaurav Vasu, CEO of UnearthInsight.

India currently has 4 lakh AI professionals, but the gap between demand and supply is widening, with job requirements expected to reach 6 lakh soon. By 2026, experts predict the number of AI specialists required will hit 1 million, reflecting the deep integration of AI latest technology into industries like healthcare, e-commerce, and manufacturing.

The transition to AI-driven operations is also altering the nature of job vacancies. Unlike traditional software engineering roles, artificial intelligence positions focus on advanced algorithms, automation, and machine learning. Companies are recruiting experts in fields like deep learning, robotics, and natural language processing to meet the growing demand for innovative AI solutions. The development of AI has led to the rise of specialised roles such as Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, and Prompt Engineers.

Krishna Vij, Vice President of TeamLease Digital, remarked that new AI roles are evolving across industries as AI latest technology becomes an essential tool for product development, operations, and consulting. “We expect close to 120,000 new job vacancies in AI across different sectors like finance, healthcare, and autonomous systems,” he said.

AI professionals also enjoy higher compensation compared to their traditional tech counterparts. Around 80% of AI-related job vacancies offer premium salaries, with packages 40%-80% higher due to the limited pool of trained talent. “The low availability of experienced AI professionals ensures that artificial intelligence roles will command attractive pay for the next 2-3 years,” noted Krishna Gautam, Business Head of Xpheno.

Candidates aiming for AI roles need to master key competencies. Proficiency in programming languages like Python, R, Java, or C++ is essential, along with knowledge of AI latest technology such as large language models (LLMs). Expertise in statistics, machine learning algorithms, and cloud computing platforms adds value to applicants. As companies adopt AI latest technology across domains, candidates with critical thinking and  AI adaptability will stay ahead so it is important to learn and stay updated with AI informative blogs & news.

Although companies are prioritising experienced professionals for mid-to-senior roles, entry-level job vacancies are also rising, driven by the increased use of AI in enterprises. Bootcamps, certifications, and academic programs are helping freshers gain the skills required for artificial intelligence roles. As AI development progresses, entry-level roles are expected to expand in the near future. AI is reshaping the industries providing automation & the techniques to save time , to increase work efficiency. 

India’s tech sector is entering a transformative phase, with a surge in job vacancies linked to AI latest technology adoption. The next two years will witness fierce competition for AI talent, reshaping hiring trends across industries and unlocking new growth opportunities in artificial intelligence. Both startups and established companies are racing to secure talent, fostering a dynamic landscape where artificial intelligence expertise will be help in innovation and growth. AI will help organizations and businesses to actively participate in new trends.

#aionlinemoney.com

[blogchaindeveloper]

Skills required to become an AI developer

The employment environment is changing due to the exponential expansion of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. It is predicted that automation will affect almost 800 million professionals globally by 2030, requiring a change in job duties. Exciting opportunities are emerging in this disruptive period, especially in AI engineering. The abilities, credentials, and employment opportunities needed to succeed in this field will be discussed in this article. In this changing environment, we'll also discuss the significance of AI certification and AI prompt engineer certification.

Recognizing the Function of an AI Developer

First, understanding developers' enormous responsibilities is essential to fully appreciate an AI developer's work. Developers are IT specialists who create computer software using a variety of programming languages, such as R, Java, and Python. They are also known as programmers or software engineers. While AI developers strongly emphasize AI, they share many duties with traditional developers.

An AI developer's primary duty is integrating AI capability into software applications. This position focuses on the smooth integration and application of AI logic and algorithms into IT project deliverables, as described by The Enterprisers Project.

The Increased Need for AI Programmers

It's easy to see why there's an explosion in demand for AI engineers. Applications ranging from chatbots and driverless cars to virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri are driven by artificial intelligence. The need for qualified AI specialists is growing due to businesses and organizations' eagerness to realize AI's enormous potential.

By 2025, the worldwide AI market is expected to have grown to an astounding $190.61 billion, and future estimates point to even more significant development. Though worries about AI taking jobs are still present, AI is expected to create many more new job opportunities than it will take away from existing ones.

Principal Duties of an AI Developer

Depending on the role, an AI developer's precise tasks may change; however, the following is a rough rundown of what they usually do, as provided by reputed coding school Le Wagon:

Use AI tools to solve business problems.

Create, develop, deploy, and keep an eye on AI systems.

Effectively communicate AI systems to stakeholders and project managers.

Create an architecture for data transformation and ingestion.

Keep up with the most recent developments in AI technology.

Educate team members on how to use AI technology.

Programming languages like Python, Java, and Scala, deep learning platforms, cloud computing platforms, and AI products like IBM Watson are just a few of the tools and resources that AI professionals rely on.

Languages for Programming AI Development

Programming language proficiency is essential for the creation of AI. The following languages were listed by Ideamotive as some of the top choices for AI development in 2021:

Python

Lisp

R

Prolog

JavaScript

C++

Java

Scala

Julia

Qualifications for Education

A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level jobs; ideally, it should be in a related field like computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, or engineering. A master's degree can significantly improve one's professional prospects and offer insightful knowledge of the sector, even though it may not always be required.

Success-Oriented Skills

A few essential abilities are necessary to succeed as an AI developer. It is crucial to be proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, and Java. Being familiar with cloud computing is also very beneficial. Beyond technical expertise, logical reasoning, excellent problem-solving abilities, and successful teamwork are all highly valued by AI developers. Soft skills, such as strong work ethics, leadership, and effective communication, are just as critical.

Getting Accomplished in AI Developer Interviews

Hiring an AI developer requires more than knowing how to code. During interviews, it is critical to demonstrate your creativity, problem-solving skills, and original thought process. Staying current on the newest AI trends and offering samples of your prior work can help you stand out. Standard interview advice is equally relevant, such as rehearsing answers to possible inquiries, learning about the business, posing appropriate questions, and following up after the interview.

AI Developer Pay

The salary ranges for AI developers vary depending on criteria, including experience, education, geography, and work duties. The national average for AI developer salaries is approximately $126,472, while the US median wage is roughly $97,783. Typically, salaries fall between $100,000 and $150,000.

Progressing in the Domain

Improvement in the field of AI development depends on the acquisition of practical experience and ongoing skill improvement. AI developers must keep up with the newest advancements in AI and constantly improve their programming skills. Obtaining pertinent certifications and engaging in training courses are concrete ways to show that you are dedicated to continuing your education in the industry.

Employers Are Currently Seeking AI Developers

AI programmers are in great demand in a variety of sectors. Though job titles may differ, AI development abilities are essential for many AI-related occupations. AI developers are in high demand from the following industries: Information Technology, Retail, Sports/Entertainment, Education, Business and Financial Services, Government/Military, Health Care, and Food/Hospitality.

A Promising Future for AI Jobs

The future of AI-related careers seems incredibly bright. The employment of computer and information technology professionals is expected to rise by 13% between 2020 and 2030, indicating the field's strong growth. Surprisingly, AI is expected to generate 12 million new jobs by 2025, more than compensating the possibility of job losses and bolstering the world economy.

How AI Certification Can Help You Advance Your Artificial Intelligence Career

AI certification—particularly the specialized AI prompt Engineer certification—is significant in today's quickly changing technological environment. Having the appropriate credentials is essential in a world where artificial intelligence propels innovation throughout all industries. Certifications for AI chatbots and developers show a professional's proficiency in creating, developing, and deploying AI solutions. 

These certificates give you a competitive edge in the employment market, where AI abilities are highly sought after and validate your expertise. Possessing an AI certification or being a certified chatbot expert can lead to new job options as businesses depend increasingly on chatbots and intelligent systems. In addition, certification tests in artificial intelligence guarantee that practitioners remain current on the most recent developments in the field, which supports their ongoing growth and significance.

Becoming an AI developer requires a solid technical background, a strong educational foundation, and a commitment to staying current in a changing field. AI developers are crucial to determining the direction of technology and business as the need for AI grows. Pursuing AI certification is a significant step in advancing your career in the exciting field of artificial intelligence rather than just a business decision.

Blockchain Council is a recognized association of subject matter experts and enthusiasts for AI and fast engineer certifications. They aim to improve the world by promoting blockchain research and development, use cases, products, and knowledge. For those who want to become certified Prompt Engineers and become experts in AI, Blockchain Council is an excellent resource for putting oneself at the forefront of technological progress.

[truescoopnews4]

Who are you likely to call in a moment of crisis?

This is one of the most important questions that the study asks us, is likely to be an eye opener for many about How to live a happy life. In a world where we have dozens of friends we meet on and off and hundreds, maybe thousands of friends on social media platforms, it can get hard to pick someone in our moment of need to live a happy life. The issue isn’t a lack of people but a lack of people we have absolute faith and trust in. The study prompts each individual to ask himself this question and analyze where the stand in this regard.

Often, in our daily lives, people we interact with regularly tell us to be cautious. Some even scoff at the idea of adventure or lofty ambitions. In this case the study suggests that these people might not be fulfilling our needs and to know about How to be happy with yourself. It is better to lean on people who encourage us and stand by us when we pursue new things or try to grow. These are aspects of every person’s life that promote growth. It is best to have people around you, who respond positively to these pursuits rather than questioning their validity which tells you How to be happy always.

The next important question the study asks is who are you comfortable confiding in and whether they are the right person for the task or not and what is happiness in life. In a moment of weakness or vulnerability, it is imperative that we have someone to confide in, even more important is that said person is worthy of the responsibility which could be the Key to happiness. The lack of such a friend can leave us open to people who would use our vulnerability against us and this cannot help you to know How to be happy. Or one could stay closed off to other people entirely, bottling up their inner most thoughts and desires. Neither is a healthy way of processing one’s feeling and How to be happy in life, says the study.

Best Jobs in America with the salary you can earn there

Software Developer

While top jobs in America with the highest pay salary are filled in the Medical profession, the age of Information Technology is also on the rise. At a time when the world especially the United States of America is witnessing a hiring freeze, a Software Developer is still very much safe as IT jobs in USA and highest paying jobs in America. Software developers invent the technologies we sometimes take for granted. For instance, that app that rings, sings or buzzes you out of a deep sleep every morning? A software developer helped design that. And when you roll into the office and turn on your computer, clicking and scrolling through social media, music and your personal calendar – software developers had a big hand in shaping those, too. With America and the world developing apps and AI, stepping onto the shores of US as a software developer is not a bad idea as well as best jobs in USA and especially Jobs in USA for Indian freshers.

Now, for those who are looking to pursue Computer Engineering in the USA, here's what you need to do-

The traditional way to become a software engineer is by earning a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a similar discipline. A master's degree isn't required to work as a software engineer, but it can be helpful for career-changers and those who want to advance their knowledge of the field and help you to know about how to apply for job in USA from India.

Enroll in a degree program

The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. You don’t need to have a background in technology to pursue this degree path – most software development programs begin with foundational courses to help you learn common coding languages and basic programming skills, followed by more advanced courses to prepare you for entry-level roles in software development.

The best car insurance companies in America: Which one should you choose and why

Gain internship experience

Internships allow you to get hands-on experience in your field and put your skills and knowledge from class into practice which could be helpful to get Part time jobs in USA.

Choose your specialty

Software engineers will typically specialize in computer applications software or computer systems software. Applications software includes word processors, games and other computer applications that allow users to perform a specific task.

Get Certified

A software development degree program will also prepare you to sit for industry certifications, such as Oracle Certified Java Programmer or the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer, which are valuable differentiators for entry-level candidates. Pursuing these certifications can help you advance your software development career and allow you to pursue roles with additional responsibility and specialization and it let you know about How to get job in USA for Indian and highest paying jobs in USA.

Continue your education

With experience, software engineers can advance to information technology project managers who oversee the software development process. A master’s degree may be required for advanced roles. Software engineers can pursue an MBA in Technology Management to develop the leadership and management skills necessary to advance their careers to let you know How to get job in USA.

Top 5 US Colleges Offering Software Engineering Degree

Arizona State University (Kaplan International)

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Florida Institute of Technology

The University of New Orleans

Northern Kentucky University

Author: Ujjwal Samrat

[apothecaryassistant]

Got thinking about this again. Started a writeup at midnight. Realized that after midnight was a bad time to be writing, so I scrapped it. So here's another attempt at it.

AI is the future and it's here. It'll only be getting better, faster, and more accessable over time. Fighting against AI on principal is like fighting the tide, so instead, lets think about what will change because of it.

First off, as 'ethical' as you can make a model - through public domain works, paying artists to be used in a dataset, or even paying a 'licencing fee' to people in that data set for each commercial use of it - un-ethical datasets will still exist somewhere, on some .uk or .ru domain, ready to make copies of other people's work. It's the new recolored-OC art theft, and it'll be sticking around for a long time to come.

As for lost jobs... There will be a lot. The big businesses? They'll gladly lay off entire rooms of people if a program can even come close to the same job. The business that doesn't care about art? You know the one - down in the strip mall, with the comic-sans on their sign? They'll use AI to make something vaguely passable for free and rejoice. The junior animator animating inbetweens? Backgrounds? Bland corprate art, packaging, concept art, signage, amature artists rejoicing over their first commissions, gone. The entry-level jobs of the art world will be the ones under threat. (I'd say that I'm among them, but let's be honest, even after a decade of daily drawing I couldn't squeeze out lunch money with my skills.)

Not all things will be lost, though. "Fine art" will still exist to launder money, and people who have built their own brand will be able to survive. (Though see a lot more copycats pop up.) Skilled artists will still see a boutique trade for original prints. Character artists, keyframe animators, and the concept artist doing the finished splash screens, they will all keep going, as there will still be a need for proper vision and direction.

The problem I forsee will be getting from "hobbiest" to "professional," when the gulf between the two is only going to be widened by AI generating passable work for everything inbetween.

There will be upsides to AI as well. For artists, it will become a very efficient tool. For the solo-animator who can focus on keyframes and auto-fill betweens for faster animations. The comic artist who can have backgrounds done with a click. For the artist who dumps their own gallery into a generator to spit out dozens of thumbnails in preperation for their next piece, AI will be a tool of efficiency.

And there will also be new, different jobs as well. A corporation may drop their art room for a bot, but they need an AI engineer to wrangle the right prompts, filter the outputs, tweak the final results, and generally overview the results to make sure there's no penises on your company advertisements.

So in the long and short of it; don't panic. AI is here and will continue. It will offer new opportunities, but business being business, it'll likely be even harder on the small-time artist going forwards.

Art is not dead, it's just going to be a little different.

Oh, and have this attempt at remaking my doodle with open AI. I obviously don't qualify for AI engineer any more than actual artist.

[amitsonpal]

Job Search Marketplace

JobTerix, the job search marketplace, is giving job seekers a new way to find the right career path. With its easy-to-use interface and comprehensive database of jobs, JobTerix provides an efficient way for job seekers to connect with employers. Whether you’re looking for an internship or an entry-level position, JobTerix can help you explore your options and find the perfect fit. With its expansive network of employers across all industries, you’ll have plenty of options—all conveniently located in one place. Read on to learn more about JobTerix and how it can make your job search easier than ever before.

JobTerix Overview

JobTerix is a job search marketplace that connects job seekers with employers. It offers a variety of features and tools to help job seekers find the right job, and employers find the right candidates.

JobTerix has a simple, easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to search for jobs and filter by location, job type, salary, and more. Job seekers can also create a profile and upload their resume to make it easier for employers to find them.

Employers can post jobs on JobTerix, search for candidates, and contact candidates directly through the site. They can also view candidate profiles and resumes.

JobTerix is free to use for both job seekers and employers.

How JobTerix Works

Designed with the job seeker in mind, JobTerix is a one-stop shop for your job search needs. From finding the right opportunity to applying and interviewing, we've got you covered.

Here's how it works:

Start by creating a free account. You'll be able to upload your resume, search for jobs, and save jobs that interest you.

Once you find a job you're interested in, simply click "Apply." You'll be prompted to enter some additional information about yourself and your qualifications.

After you submit your application, the employer will receive it and can choose to reach out to you for an interview or additional information.

It's that simple! With JobTerix, finding your dream job has never been easier.

JobTerix Features

JobTerix is a job search marketplace that offers a variety of features to help job seekers find their perfect job.

Some of the key features of JobTerix include:

- A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to search for jobs - Advanced search filters that allow you to find jobs that match your specific criteria - A personalised job recommendations engine that provides tailored job suggestions based on your preferences - A career advice section with articles and tips on how to improve your job search

FAQs

Q: What is JobTerix?

A: JobTerix is a job search marketplace that connects job seekers with employers. We provide a platform for job seekers to search for jobs and employers to post jobs.

Q: How does JobTerix work?

A: Job seekers can create a profile and search for jobs on our site. Employers can post jobs and search for candidates on our site.

Q: How do I sign up?

A: You can sign up for free at www.jobterix.com.

[asengineering]

Greatest 30 Structural Engineers In Ny, Ny With Evaluations

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Above, two towers are joined by a center quantity and cascade right down to the Hudson River, allowing for spectacular views. The largest of its shops globally, Adidas’ new North American flagship at 565 Fifth Avenue in New York City spans 4 flooring, including a decrease stage, and occupies approximately forty five,000 sf. The general design was conceived with the theme of sports and high school stadiums. In specific, the entry tunnel, harking again to a stadium entry, is made up nearly entirely of glass with some stainless steel hardware and connectors; this load bearing glass construction at road degree features a glass ceiling and glass walls. The earlier storefront was changed with new glass panels spanning over sixteen ft, supported solely on the base and the pinnacle. seven-hundred consulting engineers and shoppers attended the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York’s 51st annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in New York.

Repairs had been completed in October 1978, earlier than the media resumed publishing. LeMessurier claimed a wind sturdy sufficient to topple the repaired constructing would solely occur as quickly as each 700 years. Stubbins and LeMessurier coated the entire restore prices, which had been estimated to be several million dollars.

With the tuned mass damper lively, LeMessurier estimated that a wind able to toppling the building would happen on average once each 55 years. If the tuned mass damper couldn't perform as a result of an influence structural engineer nyc outage, a wind sturdy sufficient to cause the building's collapse would occur as quickly as every 16 years on average. The Archinect Job Board attracts the world's prime architectural design abilities.

This merger fortifies BRAVO’s dedication to continuing to ship tasks that have clients experience excellence by way of diversity. BRAVO’s real excitement for what the future holds continues to broaden as we offer first-rate services throughout all our strains of business including value to any project. Expert consultant/witness in over eighty circumstances with testimony/trial expertise. Dr. Barzegar is a licensed professional engineer offering a broad vary of services in civil/structural engineering and construction forensics to insurance corporations and legislation... We are committed to highly revolutionary design through analysis and analysis of the core points surrounding each project.

Several award-winning GMS projects are being spotlighted this yr on Archtober’s “Building of the Day” tours, together with Stapleton Library, Tavern on the Green and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK. Several of our engineers ventured to Denver, CO, to current their papers, research and tasks at this year’s Structures Congress. The congress is organized annually by the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers. There are roughly 50,000 buildings on the 22.eight square mile island of Manhattan and the overwhelming majority of development happens in densely built areas only a few feet from occupied buildings. When your neighbor builds or renovates, there may be residual results in your property. On Thursday Laura’s team continued its route around the southern neighborhoods.

Many people follow structural engineering on some level, and few structures are going to require an SE License to design them. However, defining these buildings consistently on the nationwide level should be our goal. From the Pacific to the East Coast, I have introduced my knowledge and numerous experiences in design, development, and management. I have designed various sorts of buildings encompassing residential, industrial, retail, institutional and public works. These embrace residential houses and condominiums, schools, airport terminals, hospitals, motels, historic buildings, places of work, shopping advanced, water and wastewater facilities. These usually are not only for the design of recent structures but the renovation and retrofit of present buildings.

[shinygoku]

very intrigued to see what you think of Henry!!! ^v^ (character ask!)

Another day, another Big Green! (The others are Piccolo and Thunderbird 2 lmao)

First impression

"Green ver of that one big creepy dude" (Look, when I was Babby I saw a Gordon picture somewhere that minorly spooked me lmao)

Impression now

Ahh, Henry! In some ways, very much like Duck! Green, long nose, popular with the fans and I'm here like Yeah he's a good fixture of the series lol

Ok well, maybe I should disclaim that he's not one of my favourites, which is partly as I guess it's a bit hard to nail down his personality.

His, for lack of a better term, Illness Arc is fascinating and oddly Real for a series about machinery. Something's genuinely amiss with him, but the lack of a clear cause (at least, to the other engines, who presumably don't know he was built from stolen, incomplete plans and the logical issues that would arise from that) and his frequent complaints turn the other characters off wanting to hear about it, thinking he's exaggerating. Then the Welsh Coal stopgap is found! Then the very next story he has a horrible crash but it was a blessing in disguise because then he's rebuilt as a Black 5 and his health issues are gone forever! (ain't we envious of machines now?) Until Lazy Writer Disease sets in Meta-wise, but more on that later.

I think it's safe to say that it's Entry Level RWS Knowledge to know Awdry's frustrations with the character, and it is kind of hilarious how much he tried to write him out, and iirc Henry wound up with the most appearances and 'his' book has 5 stories instead of the uniform 4 for some reason. But it seems it takes further Lazy Corporate Mandates to actually write him out in BwBa which really sucks and is doing such an iconic lad horribly dirty.

Pictured: Henry as seen by Awdry/Mattel, who are about to just shove him out of the story with varying degrees of success.

Well yeah, for me I can't really settle on an opinion because he never seems to have anything solid after the Rebuild. He's kind of the nicer one out of the Terrible Trio, but sometimes he's as bitchy and obnoxious as Gordon without prompting. He seems to be pretty unlucky and sometimes his misfortunes are self inflicted, but they don't commit to this bit. He gets his (in)famous forest, much to Awdry's chagrin, but it does offer a nice gentler side to him. He also seems to be the main Fast Freight engine, particularly more Fish shipments, but this doesn't really inform his character. He all too often feels like a Spare, Green Gordon who's less full of himself (but still gets boughts of Envy and inflated self importance, like Tenders for Henry), and that's a shame because this nebulous lack of anything concrete seems to be why Bad TatMR Writing diagnosed him with Need Welsh Coal again for quite a long time (dunno if that only changed when Mattel/Brenner came in or not). But then the US dub makes him sound like w--dy all-n and that's the worst treatment of all! I kind of understand the temptation to make him the resident worrier but HUUURGHGHH NOT LIKE THAT

So yeah, the better characterization of him needs to strike a good balance of him being ...I guess a Gentle Giant, who enjoys nature and maybe is a smidge prone to bouts of feeling jealous. Maybe catches the engine version of colds more than the others because the early morning runs in the freezing air? I dunno, I'm trying to combine several traits that have been in Henry but never seemed to stick. But done properly, I could really get behind a nice, faceted character like that~

Favourite moment

It feels a bit mean to say, but it's due to the strength of the episode itself with the fantastic visuals, godly music and shocking drama (with a nice bonus of Correct Head Codes!) that put Flying Kipper at the top of this list!

Another part of this ep, is the beginning where the Driver is saying "Don't tell Gordon, but if you pull this nicely, the Fat Controller may let you pull the Express!". Like, that really squeezes my heart, because his driver is rooting for him, the prospect of a better regarded job is floating there, and knowing what eventually happens, it's like... oof! But in a good way.

...Also I think that must have been something Awdry added after deciding not to kill him off because having that bit and for it to all go up in flames would have made children and me extremely upset and he would have been buried under letters of complaint from angry mothers of the time.

Idea for a story

Other than the overly simple and grimdark "he was in fact killed that day" type coma inducers, I suppose the Two Henries theory being explored could offer some interesting interactions.

Like, what if the Henry who rolls back into The Big Station is instantly accepted and in fact, liked more than og Henry? What if the other engines instead couldn't fully relax around him? Were his memories perfect? Too Perfect?

And what would happen if OG Henry were later discovered... (and in what condition?) Dun Dun Dun dododo Dun!

The thing is, it is hard to really explore this because it's innately such a dark, heavy concept. I don't enjoy the 'Authoritarian Hellscape" lameass interpretation by normies. I like my silly workcom on the rails with warm fuzzies and funny antics, thank you very much!

Unpopular opinion

Some of his faces (even before the worsening first inflicted by Magic Railroad) are pretty weird looking! Maybe cause his forehead is so huge and smooth, but maybe just the odd mouth shapes. I like the variety, but they aren’t what I’d call cute... I find myself thinking ‘Moon Face’ looking at him [even with the lack of craters lmao] and oops I think I missed the weirdest grin of all, but here’s a small sample anyway

Favourite relationship

Not a favourite, per say, but some of the more friction-ish interactions he has with Thomas or Percy are pretty funny. With Thomas’ immortal flippant disregard to viaduct safety, Percy retorting that engines with Proper Funnels do, in fact, need scarves, something Henry wouldn’t know about, and that Henry somehow manages to dismiss Bill and Ben, a feat Gordon needs to take notes from. Even the Something in the Air exchange with Thomas, which isn’t really stellar writing just has a funny lame argument vibe.

For some nice Wholesome interaction, Bear is hands down the winner! Easy pick maybe, and it makes me wonder if Bear’s complete absence in the TVS is part of the downward spiral because he’d offer a lot more Plotlines.... hmmm...!

Favourite headcanon

Other than the universal fandom acceptance that He Digs Nature, Baby is the notion I’ve seen a few times that his “fear” of the rain, or what it would do to his paint, isn’t actually why he stopped in the tunnel, and it had more to do with his mechanical failure and/or him having something of a nervous breakdown. He does come across as something of an ass if you take the episode at face value, but there having a secret deeper meaning is way more interesting 👀

[spaceskam]

For the tropes mash up, 12+42 for malex

this is so old omg (and not even the oldest request in my inbox whoops) the only reason I know what this is from is I took a screenshot of the prompt list lol12. roommate au + 42. The Big Damn Kiss 

Alex didn’t even try to look away as his roommate stripped in the middle of the room.

The first handful of times, Alex had looked away. He’d get flustered and wonder why the hell his roommate was changing where he could see when he knew Alex was gay. Most guys hid from him like he was the plague. But then he realized that Michael was simply too drunk or high or both to give a shit. On top of that, he’d fallen over four too many times for Alex to feel comfortable not watching him like a baby. There was, sadly, nothing sexual about it.

“You are an absolute travesty, Michael Guerin,” Alex mused, shaking his head as the man tripped over his own jeans and caught himself an inch before slamming his face into his desk.

“Shh, my head hurts,” Michael whispered, letting himself sit on his ass to pull his jeans off his feet like a child. Alex couldn’t help but be amazed, honestly, how someone as smart as Michael could be reduced to this level of helplessness.

They lived in an honor hall in their dorm, which meant it was a 24-hour quiet hall with no parties allowed and every single student who lived in the dorm was apart of at least one honor society. Michael, in particular, was here on a full-ride and got the best grades Alex had ever seen despite the fact that he was taking nearly 20 hours of engineering classes so he could be a mechanical engineer. When he graduated, he’d be nearly debt-free and getting paid upwards of $70k a year at an entry-level status. 

And yet he couldn’t even take his pants off.

“You have a test in less than 45 minutes, you should thank me for making sure you’re awake rather than shush me,” Alex insisted. Michael sighed and looked up at him, his hair droopy from lack of being washed and his cheeks scruffy in a patchy I’m-Only-19-So-My-Beard-Isn’t-Full-Yet way. 

“Thank you, Alex, you are my one and only savior, the reason I’m still alive, the reason I wake up in the morning, the reason I-”

“Alright, I get it,” Alex laughed, waving him off. Still drunk from the night before, Michael grinned at him and winked.

As per usual, Alex helped Michael to his feet and started shoving him towards the bathroom so he could at least freshen up a little bit. He didn’t know why he was so willing to put up with his bullshit. Or, at least, that’s what he told himself. In the most embarrassing way, he knew that he was just helplessly attracted to this trainwreck of a boy who would never give him the time of day. 

Michael exited the bathroom with an impressively clean-shaven face in such a short amount of time, flashing his freshly brushed teeth and flicking his wet hair. Alex had decided to stop questioning why he kept his toothbrush and razor in the shower a few days after he met him. Whatever worked.

“Dry off,” Alex laughed, staring at him like he’d lost it by standing there in nothing but a towel. Because he had lost it by doing that. He had no idea what that did to him. Which was, again, embarrassing. Why was he attracted to this mess?

Still, he made sure Michael had the right notebooks for the day in his backpack and enough pencils to last him. Then he grabbed him a pair of sweats and a t-shirt from his drawers, mindlessly acting like his mother. Maria had asked him why he did that and Alex couldn’t give her an answer. He figured if Michael was less thankful, then he wouldn’t do it. But he liked the way Michael liked being taken care of by him. Sometimes he questioned if Michael got extra fucked up just so Alex would take care of him more.

“Thank you,” Michael said, getting dressed a little more organized than he’d gotten undressed. 

“Mmm,” Alex hummed, leaning against the dresser as he watched Michael pull the baggy sweats over his ass that had already been covered in tight black briefs. He could hear Maria shaming him in his head for even being interested in his hardly-there, white boy ass. But he couldn’t help himself, sadly.

“No, seriously,” Michael said, tilting his head back a little as he gave Alex his full attention, “You don’t need to take care of me, but I appreciate it more than you know. Honestly. I promise I’ll make it up to you one day.”

Alex tried not to take that to heart if only to protect himself from being hurt. There were only so many ways this could go and all of them ended with him getting crushed by Michael’s ineptitude.

“Dry your hair and then go ace your test, bitch,” Alex told him. Michael snorted and looked at him with fond eyes that were the reason for him getting up two hours before his first class. 

“Do it for me?”

Alex thought about denying him, thought about telling him to do it himself and then push him out the door. But, well, he was feeling a little too lovesick from his grateful attitude, so he motioned him over. Alex pushed himself to sit on the dresser so he had somewhat of a height advantage and grabbed the towel, letting Michael step in between his legs.

He dried his hair that was stretched down to his shoulders at this point, focusing extra hard on that so he didn’t think about their close proximity. Why did he have to like him? Why couldn’t he be normal and hate his stupid, messy roommate like everyone else? Maria bitched about her roommate all the time for being just as much of an asshole as Michael and she wasn’t in love with her. It wasn’t fair.

“There, that’s about as dry as it’s gonna get by just a towel,” Alex decided, dropped his hands and leaning back just a little. Michael was still standing between his legs. “You have a test in like fifteen minutes, you need to go.” Michael didn’t really move, just smiling all sweetly and biting down on his lip. It got so awkward that Alex had to laugh. “Why the hell are you staring at me, you fucking weirdo?”

“I’m gonna go take my test,” Michael said, slowly backing away. Alex rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, go take your test.”

“And you’ll be here after I take my test, right?”

“Uh,” Alex said, his eyebrows meeting and he tilted his head, “Depends. I have class at 9:15, so if you’re not back by 9, then no.”

“So I’ll rush,” Michael decided with a shrug. Alex scoffed, kicking his way slightly. Michael caught his foot with that same charming smile.

“Don’t you dare rush, I’ll see you when you get home from whatever place you go to get plastered tonight,” Alex said. Michael scrunched up his nose and tugged on his leg a little. Alex quickly grabbed the edge of the dresser and looked at him with wide, amused eyes. “Dude!”

“What if I wanna see you before then?” Michael wondered.

“And why would you want to? I’m your roommate, you see me every day,” Alex pointed out. Michael again tugged on his leg which efficiently pulled him off the dresser, but he caught him before he could hit his head and pulled him close. Alex couldn’t manage a laugh or a smile, frozen as he stayed pressed against him. “What are you doing?”

Strong hands pressed against Alex’s back, holding him close while Michael just stared down at him with half-lidded eyes. It felt like some weird glitch in the universe where, instead of him doing this to some pretty girl, he was doing it to Alex.

“What are you doing?” Alex repeated, “A-are you fucking with me? Because that’d be an asshole move if you’re just—“

Alex was silenced as lips pressed to his, soft at first before he pulled away. Michael looked at him, checking if this was okay and god it was, so he smiled and closed the space again. Michael’s lips parted and his tongue slid over Alex’s in a slow, deliberate way. Suddenly, Alex was the one who was struggling to stand.

It didn’t make sense as he backed Alex gently into the dresser, kissing him like he meant something more than just the guy who put up with him. It made his head spin in ways that would be hard to untangle. 

Michael pulled away and peppered a couple pecks to his lips to finish the job, slowly peeling off of him. Alex stared at him like he couldn’t make sense of it at all and that was because he couldn’t. He kept staring at Michael as he brought his fingertips to his lips.

“I have a test to go ace,” Michael said softly.

“Yeah,” Alex agreed.

Then Michael was gone and Alex couldn’t pull out his phone fast enough to tell Maria about it.

[surprisinglycurvaciousbatman]

So uh.... I thought maybe I’d start posting some of my creative writing on here as I get back into the swing of creating things. I bought a Story Engine Deck awhile back and have some prompts that might be fun to continue later. 

Here’s one that I’d love to come back to when I’m done with some other longer form stuff:

Prompt: A plucky criminal wants to map an archive, but it will mean letting their greatest rival get ahead. 

(what I typed up in 15 minutes below the cut

Beatrice considered herself many things, but a scholar did not make that list. So when mysterious strangers had contacted her about breaking into and creating an /extremely detailed/ map of the University archives, she had to wonder how they’d gotten her name.

“Well,” the spokesman had said, “one of your previous associates said you were a fair hand at drawing, a map should be simple enough, yes?”

/A fair hand at drawing/ was perhaps spreading the truth a bit thin. 

“Sir, once again I thank you for your interest, but you realize I’m not a draftsman, right?” 

Again, this was an understatement. In certain circles, Beatrice was known for her exquisite art forgeries.

“Can you or can you not draw a simple map?” 

“For that sum? Do you want it illuminated while I’m at it?”

The mysterious spokesman did not, it turned out, want the map illuminated.

Gaining entry to the main part of the archives, it turned out, was much less difficult that Beatrice had assumed, given the exorbitant amounts she was being offered for the job. 

She had a contact whose bread and butter was making fake IDs, and he’d gleefully made her an ID for the university that proclaimed her to be a TA. 

“You’re a touch too confident to pass as an undergrad,” her contact had explained. “Also you may get into restricted areas with a bit more ease.”

Fresh ID in hand, Beatrice went to make her first visit to the archive.

The first day, she wandered all the publicly available spaces. There were vast, airy rooms with tables spread across the floor and carefully spaced shelves of books where students spoke in hushed tones and carefully copied notes and balanced massive stacks of reference materials. There were cozily appointed study nooks, half of which were being misused by amorous students. There was a sepulchral lower level where fluorescent lights leached the color from both book covers and the students who hunched over them. And everywhere, there were locked doors. Some, Beatrice could easily tell, were meeting rooms where students bitterly debated how precisely they should translate [rando foreign word here] or where actual TAs were leading small groups.

[locke-writes]

Starting Over

Author: locke-writes

Title: Starting Over

Prompt: Breakfast At Tiffany’s - Deep Blue Something, Tony Stark For: @thefanficfaerie​ ‘s 3500 Follower Challenge

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,466

AN: Takes place post-Endgame and is a Tony lives AU

Marvel Taglist: @lotsoffandomimagines​ @lgbtonystarks​

If anyone else had called you would have ignored it but this was Pepper calling which meant something had happened. Part of you wanted to block the number although you knew she could find other ways of contacting you. You didn't know why she was calling but you knew she was calling about Tony before she'd even said his name. A name which you hadn't wanted to think about for the last ten years, a name which you had tried hard to forget. Memories flooded through your mind as you tried to force them out. She didn't explain what had happened, just that you should be there, that you needed to be there. You weren't being told to come, you weren't being asked, it was just a matter of laying facts down. She texted you an address which you stared at trying to make the right choice.

You were lucky enough to be one of the rare few to have a job outside of college. Chalk it up to skill, persistence, or what have you, you ended up at Stark Industries. At first it was an entry level engineering job, development at the start no real builds just the planning of everything. You didn’t mind, this was your first real engineering job and as such most of what you wanted to do was learn while gaining some experience in what you were going to hopefully be doing for the rest of your life.

Over time you expanded your role, moved up the corporate ladder as it were. From a nameless employee doing whatever meaningless task came across your desk to eventually leading your own engineering research department. This was where you’d met Tony. Everyone who worked for Stark Industries knew who Tony Stark was although very few would ever come to meet him. You’d been told by people close to him that he’d gained some interest in one of the projects your team was currently leading and you had believed that his interest went as far as thinking once of your team when reports were reiterated back to him knowing for a fact that there was no way he could have bothered with anything other than what Pepper would present to him. You kept thinking this way until Tony had appeared in your lab with a list of questions and some suggestions for improvements. It was then that your friendship began, the two of you talking about the project which turned into talking about life and getting to know one another.

From that one project came many more, Tony often coming up with ideas and passing them along to you to see if they were feasible. The ones that you had confidence enough to confirm that you were able to bring to life were the ones that you and Tony worked side by side on. At first it was odd, not just for you but for your team. Having the CEO of the company they work for helping out and providing his own resources to the development of ideas that came from the members of your lab was something that no could have fathomed in any regard. Over the months that had passed since you had begun to work alongside Tony you had begun to develop feelings for him. This was not something you would have ever acted upon unless reciprocated and even then you were afraid of what a relationship with the man, if at all possible, would signal to the rest of the company and specifically your team. Your job came first among everything, you didn’t want people thinking you had gotten to the point that you had simply because of some sort of association to the man.

This was why after Tony had begun showing signs of mutual interest, you’d resigned yourself to other projects. Any time he became close to you, you avoided him. It seemed obvious what he was planning to do and truth be told you were afraid of what could potentially happen. Getting involved in him wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, you cared for him, perhaps you had even grown to love him, but he was from another world practically. There was the occasional shared experience yet even then this was looked on with a different perspective. You never thought it could work between you and when Tony did finally find the courage to ask you out you turned him down. The more he continued to ask, the more you began to reconsider, perhaps it was you who was overthinking and maybe he was right after all. Would anyone really care that you were dating Tony, him being with you would have he reassured, no influence on anything you were currently working on or would work on in the future. And you Tony still cared about, you knew he still wanted to be with you as he was persistent. Not persistent in the wearing you down by asking each and every day sort of persistent but persistent in the fact that his feelings for you were unwavering so he’d ask you every few months sometimes it could be a year later. Tony loved you, and try as he might to get over you after each time you said no, he kept on falling more in love with you.

And much to your own dismay as you had been trying to fight your own feelings, you’d begun to fall in love with him. You finally accepted to accompany him to dinner.

In total you and he were together for four years. It seemed too good to be true. Like you had predicted some rumors abounded about how you had received your current position, comments that you’d only been getting approval on further research and grants due to your association with Tony. Then one of your research ideas failed to get funding and the rumors died as everyone watched to see what would happen next, but as no money came and no help from Tony they realized that it was all some scheme someone had cooked up to paint you as the bad guy. You had been truthful all along when you assure them that you only got where you were on merit alone not from the influence of Tony Stark.

Four years. Tony thought you might get married at one point. He thought at one point of retiring from being Iron Man for you, he’d already given Pepper control of the company as he had become preoccupied with Avenger activities. Tony thought maybe one day there could be children or maybe one day you and he could create something for the benefit of all humanity. He saw a future with you, one he often talked about with you while you shared with him your own ideas of the future, he thought that you had shared these. He thought that all had been fine from the first day that he had met you, how could he not when you never changed the way you acted, never said anything or let on that you were unhappy. But you were unhappy.

You and Tony were from different worlds, just because you had found your way into his didn’t mean you suddenly belonged. At first you attempted to block out this sense that you didn’t belong, thinking that over time maybe something would change. Whether Tony saw anything of this he never told you. At first it was difficult, there were moments when you needed to take a step back and reexamine where you stood. You had moments where there was a sense of calm, sometimes months went by where you felt that truly there was no difference between you and Tony.

Then there were moments where you felt too far out of place. Tony wouldn’t lead on much about the state of the company, he may not have been running it currently but that didn’t mean he wasn’t on the board. His coming to you with speeches that he needed thoughts on made you feel out of place, looking on yourself and your own team as expenditures. Sometimes his parties were filled with friends reminiscing about vacations they had taken when they were younger to places you’d dreamed of going but could never afford. Tony came from money and it showed in every way, he'd had his hardships but he'd never had to struggle to get where he was or at least not in the way that you had.

All in all it culminated to the one act of cowardice you would never forgive yourself for. You left him, you left him when he was off on a mission and placed a letter on the counter. At first you didn't bother deleting his number but Tony kept calling, kept texting, as did Rhodey, Happy, and Pepper. Part of you wanted to answer, wanted to come running back and apologize with the attempt to fix everything but you knew if you did you might end up regretting going back.

Eventually you blocked Tony's number, you left New York and went to San Diego, you moved on. Calls stopped coming and you knew Tony would at least respect your privacy and not hunt you down, if you left then you weren't going to come back. He was miserable without you, would continue to be miserable without you but he didn't want to fight about this. This was a decision he knew you had thought over and over again, the letter was clear. Even as years passed he still read it. More frequently after you'd built your own company from the ground up and had started being featured in news segments more and more.

He was proud of you, he just hated being reminded of what was lost.

Then came Thanos.

Then came half the population disappearing. You did what you could to help, setting up charities and finding locations for food banks. You donated all the technology you could to those who needed it. In any way that you could you found some way too give back. At one point you'd been the one who was struggling, the one who had needed help, you could only think of what you had wished someone had done for you.

Then came the return, the defeat of Thanos. You hadn't bothered watching the news, he was gone and the population was back which was all that mattered. You continued to help.

Then came the call from Pepper.

She hadn't explained much, just said that Tony was the reason for Thanos being defeated. You were told that he didn't know she was contacting you, she just wanted you to be aware that he had changed, that whatever the reason you had left she was hoping you'd be willing to see him now, he needed a bit of hope, he needed someone who he cared about. It had been ten years since you had last spoken to Tony and it wasn't an easy decision to make but you agreed to come to the Avengers Compound to meet with him.

Pepper had sent a car to pick you up from the airport and had greeted you at the front of the compound. She hadn’t said a word about Tony or the condition you may find him in which made you both hopeful and terrified. She briefly introduced you to the team or who was at least home at the time, you recognized most from news coverage and wondered if any had an idea as to who you were. Again Pepper thanked you for coming not letting on that she had been one of the few people granted to read the letter, not letting on that she had made the call to bring you here because whether he spoke the words out loud or not, you were the only person Tony needed. You were pointed towards Tony’s room and walked up to the door knocking lightly.

The first thing you noticed was his arm or rather lack thereof as it had been amputated at the shoulder. The next thing you noticed were the tears in his eyes. In one quick movement you made your way into his room and into an embrace with the man as he came to bury his face in your neck. You could feel dampness start to form on your shirt as he gave way to sobs. He stayed like that for a few moments as you let him hold you for a moment, fighting back your own tears. When he was done he sat on the edge of his bed and gestured for you to take the desk chair, you noted blueprints for a prosthetic arm.

You were thinking of something to say when Tony broke the silence asking a question you wanted to hear but couldn’t seem to answer.

“Will you stay?”

You wanted to, being there with him brought every emotion you had fought to suppress back at the forefront of your mind.

“Tony, I can’t. It wouldn’t work I…we’re different, we come from different lives I don’t want to feel like an outsider anymore”

“If I told you I was done with all this what would your answer be”

“My answer would be that you couldn’t give all this up, I know you Tony, better than anyone, you can’t give up what you love”

“I’m not. I love you. I loved you then and I love you now”

“Still Tony, after everything? After all I put you through?”

“Still”

“I…” you began to speak but Tony interrupted.

“I promise you I’m done with all this. The world doesn’t need Iron Man anymore there are plenty of other heroes. I want to be Tony Stark again, I want to be in a lab for the fun of it and not because I’ve got suits to build. I want to buy a house, not anything to big, and I want to live there and have a family there and live a normal life. I’ve had time as a hero, it was good but I’d give it all up to be with you.”

“Tony, please”

“Tell me that you don’t love me and I won’t ask you to stay”

You shook your head, this wasn’t something you could say because it wasn’t the truth, “You promise me that’s what you want? You promise that you’ll be content with a house not a mansion and you’ll be ok that now it’s my turn to run a company”

“I promise”

“Good, because then I guess we do have at least one thing in common.”

“What’s that” he questioned.

“You haven’t guessed?” you paused before finishing, “I love you Tony Stark."

Before you could comprehend what was happening Tony kissed you, and it felt like coming home.

[hopefulfestivaltastemaker]

August 9, 2020

My weekly review of things I am doing and looking at. A long one this time; topics included disease risk in the food system, my research work patterns, ROI for energy R&D, Apocalypse Never, OpenCog, and housing and transportation in Hillsboro.

Disease Risk and the Food System

Last week I started looking at zoonotic diseases for Urban Cruise Ship, and this week I continued a bit more on disease risk. The current page is here.

Sans images, there is now material on foodborne illnesses, antibiotic resistance as it pertains to antibiotics in livestock, ecological risk from GM crops, and crop disease risk from monoculture. The section is far from done, but it is probably going to go on hold for a while. A few observations:

- Disease risk in general is a major issue, very much on our minds due to COVID-19. That’s a big can of worms. It would take an indeterminate amount of work to do the topic justice and require that I move well beyond the food system. So it’s one that I will have to take one bite at a time.

- There is an image under development that portrays foodborne illness risk in the US by type of food, but there is also a need to look at underlying causes, recognizing that food is a transmission vector and not necessarily the underlying cause.

- Antibiotic resistance looks like a scary topic. There is a report that antibiotic-resistant bacteria could kill 10 million people per year by 2050, which sounds scary, but I need more context on that number. Does this assume a business as usual trajectory where we don’t develop new antibiotics or develop alternative treatments for AMR bacteria, such as plasma medicine, and how much do such developments bend the curve?

- Ultimately I would like to be able to assess externalized monetary cost from antibiotics in livestock in terms of AMR bacteria. I don’t have this yet, but it should be possible.

- I half-assed the genetic risks, and I think justifiably so. I don’t see any evidence, aside from vague appeals to the precautionary principle, to support any significant ecological risks from GM crops. Partly to justify the half-assedness of my effort on the topic, I pointed to a Google Trends search indicating that the public is losing interest in the GMO issue.

A few years ago, I thought I was being bold and edgy by pointing to a lack of evidence of any health or environmental risks from GMOs per se. Now that seems like the safe position, and GMO opponents have (deservedly in my view) generally lost credibility in the way the anti-vax movement has.

- One of my associates is interested in systemic risks from crop monoculture, which prompted me to add that section. It appears that disease risk is the major such systemic risk. The issue of crop and animal disease (as opposed to human diseases for which the food system is a vector) is also a major topic deserving of more careful review and analysis. I would suspect that, from the viewpoint of disease, monoculture is not the most important issue, but it appears that way because monoculture was my entry point into the topic.

The Urban Cruise Ship Work Pattern

I figured now would be a decent time to open the hood and make a few comments about how I am going about the work. Recently the funder made some major additions and changes to the scope of work. This is good for me from a job security standpoint, but it means I need to do some major rethinking about how I go about the project, to insure that things get done at a high level of quality and in reasonable time.

We are ultimately trying to present the best data, analysis, and solutions available on the full range of environmental topics.

Such a grandiose vision requires that I innovate not just in how I think about particular issues, but in how I think about the big picture and how I work. We are setting into a comparison and monetization scheme to present data, a view that was driven by the funder but I have been convinced is best.

One thing I have learned is that knowledge across topics is synergistic. That means that is probably going to be more efficient to aim for a broad and shallow understanding of the environmental landscape, after which we go deeper on the things that require a deeper understanding. This is why I am moving on from the agriculture risk section despite having a superficial treatment of the subject; I intend to come back to it later when it can be better informed by material elsewhere on the site, and I also hope that I have done there will help inform the next sections of work.

This is a work style that suits me well. My mind is always jumping from one area to the next, and I like to draw connections and look at the big picture. This is very much a contrast from most of academic work, which requires a very deep analysis of a narrow topic. I ultimately lost interest in my narrow corner of mathematical research and was not able to make a successful jump to another area; hence (in part) I was not suited for the tenure track.

The obvious drawback is what one sees on the site now. It is obviously incomplete and a bit of a mess, and it will probably remain in such a state for the foreseeable future. It means I have to move fast, which increases the risk of making major mistakes. I fear we are operating at too high a level of abstraction and generality to make actionable policy recommendations.

Although not a high priority, I really wish I could integrate the graphic making process into the larger codebase. The current division of labor is such that I see no way to do so. I dislike having these “Image Under Development” messages and lacking the flexibility to easily modify images as the research proceeds or new data become available.

Return on Investment for R&D

I mentioned before some studies that the US Department of Energy has done on effectiveness of its research and development efforts. Having looked at them more closely, I found something a bit surprising.

I tried my best to harmonize the numbers reported to make a fair comparison. It’s not perfect, but the following seem to be the central estimates of the ROI for the program investment areas studied:

Combustion engines: 53

Building technologies: 42

Wind: 5.07

Geothermal: 4.865

Hybrid and electric vehicles: 3.63

Solar PV: 1.83

They all look like good investments, though building technologies (HVAC, water heating, appliances) and combustion engines clearly stand out as the best. I would have expected the opposite. Since the building and combustion areas are more incremental, there should be more incentive for the private sector to do the R&D and therefore a “crowding out” effect that would blunt the effectiveness of the public investment.

Part of this could be an artifact of the study methodology. Since the time horizon for the lower return technologies is longer, they simply haven’t captured the full benefit. The solar PV study was done in 2010, and I would expect a higher return to be found if it was redone today. There could also be an attribution problem, in that with developing more novel technologies, it is harder to attribute gains to a particular R&D investment, therefore depressing the observed ROI.

I want to propose some solutions on R&D efforts for synfuels and industry, so these studies might provide guidance as to what kind of investments can be expected to work best. Maybe this is a sign that I should be thinking more about short term gains.

Apocalypse Never

Apocalypse Never is a new book by Michael Shellenberger castigating the harmful effects of what he sees as environmental alarmism. I haven’t read it, but I have read enough of Shellenberger’s work and discussion around it to make some relevant observations.

Not too surprisingly, the reaction from the environmental community seems to be mostly negative. This article from Snopes captures fairly well what academic climate/environmental researchers think. Despite being from Snopes, the character of the article isn’t a “debunking” so much as a critical analysis. There is much disagreement about semantics (e.g. are we really in the Sixth Mass Extinction?) rather than factual disputes. Though I have a few of those too.

Since I hope one day to have major public exposure for Urban Cruise Ship, the discussion is a helpful case study in how to present material and what kind of reception I should expect.

Since I am critical of several aspects of environmentalism--particularly degrowth and related elements--I expect some negative reaction. To blunt the effect of criticism, I think I need do to a better job of operating on the following principles:

- Focus on principles and avoid ad hominem attacks, including against abstractions such as fields and movements.

- Make every effort to insure facts presented are accurate.

- Find the right level of nuance. Too little nuance can be inaccurate. Too much nuance can water down a message to the point of meaninglessness.

Though most of the discussion I saw was pretty even-handed, there is some gatekeeping that goes on in the climate community. The bogeyman of the “climate denier” looms large and triggers a kind of circle-the-wagons mentality when the field is criticized, whether justly or unjustly. Lacking formal credentials or institutional backing, I am going to be vulnerable to gatekeeping and probably can’t do anything about it.

OpenCog

Having listened to Ben Goertzel on Lex Fridman’s podcast a while back, I got around this week to looking over OpenCog, which is Goertzel’s open source project to create artificial general intelligence.

There is a ton of material here that will take a long time to work through, especially considering that I am doing it only as a side project. Just reviewing the set of AI principles being brought to bear in the project, though, buoyed my spirits and excited me about the field in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I am already thinking about some work I can do. Contributing to OpenCog is beyond my capabilities at present, but I have some related design ideas that have been sitting on the shelf for a long time and are time to give another look at.

I have no idea if this effort toward AGI will work. But I would guess that it is more likely to work than an approach rooted exclusively in deep learning, such as the GPT approach, which suffers from intractable diseconomies of scale. In particular, I think that a semantic encoding of knowledge is a necessary component of any AGI stack. There are people with far more expertise who disagree.

Housing and Transportation in Hillsboro

I’ve dialed back my political activities a bit lately, but there were some items at the Hillsboro (Oregon) City Council this week worth commenting on.

City staff presented on efforts to implement HB 2001, a piece of state legislation that mandates most cities allow for middle housing (du-, tri-, quad-plexes, cottage housing, small apartments) in residential areas. Without naming names, my read on the council and mayor is that among the seven, two are generally pro-housing, two are generally anti-housing, one is squishy, and two I don’t have a good read on. I have written to them to indicate my desire that we take advantage of the opportunity provided by HB 2001 for an expansive approach to opening up housing opportunities in Hillsboro.

We also had a presentation on the Get Moving package, which is the transportation package that Metro has now referred to the ballot in November. City staff seemed to be negative. The presenter asserted that Hillsboro gets a disproportionately low ROI (about 0.56) for the project and that Metro was unduly influenced by Portland-based anti-vehicle activists to reject road expansion capacity that Hillsboro needs. One council member expressed her concern (which I agree with) that the financial burden falls entirely on large employers, which will be particularly harmful in Hillsboro and I think is bad tax policy in general. On the positive side, the package includes some badly needed safety upgrades to TV Highway, which is the most dangerous highway in the state per-mile for both pedestrians and motorists. There is also money for a study of a downtown Portland MAX tunnel, which I think will be very important for the region. Ultimately, despite the extensive public engagement theatre, it is a pre-COVID package, based on economic and transportation demand assumptions that may no longer be reasonable.

I haven’t yet decided how I will vote on the package, but I am leaning toward a No right now.

[gumnut-logic]

Virgil and The Last Straw

Title: Virgil and The Last Straw

Author: Gumnut

27 - 28 Jul 2019

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS

Rating: Teen

Summary: It all came to a climax on that day, but, really, it began many weeks before that.

Word count: 3889

Spoilers & warnings: Angst, family

Timeline: Standalone

Author’s note: Nutty’s Fandomversary Fic Seven – Virgil and the last straw

Okay, I admit this one was written outside the prompt request order. I apologise, but it was a special day for @i-am-chidorixblossom and I wanted to write this fic as close as possible to that day. Best wishes, Chiddi! And I hope everyone else enjoys it as well :D

Many thanks to @scribbles97 and @vegetacide for the read throughs :D

Disclaimer: Mine? You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.

-o-o-o-

It all came to a climax on that day, but, really, it began many weeks before that.

It started with his vacation. Or more the lack of his vacation.

He had been hanging out for his week of leave. Ever so looking forward to it. A few days in Paris before another few in Florence. A chance to walk idle, not rush, not be anywhere in particular, just explore.

Ever so looking forward to it.

Until an earthquake in Japan took so, so many lives. International Rescue did everything they could, but as always, they couldn’t save everyone. Virgil had a child die in his arms, followed by her mother. And to top it all off, a chunk of concrete caught him unawares, bruising his shoulder and causing him to wrench his ankle in an attempt to get out of the way. Gordon had to pull him out from under the remains of the shopping centre.

So shitty rescue and no vacation.

But it didn’t stop there.

Four days later, he woke from a fitful sleep to a raw throat and a high temperature. By the end of the day it was a full-blown flu. Hobbled and aching all over, Virgil Tracy curled up in bed and hid. Worse, he had to kick out his entire family, worried that any of them might catch the bug and cripple IR further.

Alone and miserable, he suffered through a nasty week of shivering, aching and a god-awful hacking cough. He shed weight through lack of appetite and not a little nausea. By the time he crawled out of his room he was a shadow of himself.

Two days later, while Virgil was still confined to the island, a cargo plane collided with Thunderbird Two midair. Her cahelium hull took the impact well, but the opposing craft tangled in her port wing, destabilised her flight and yanked her out of the sky.

Fortunately, they were over water and flying low enough that when they hit the ocean surface, both ships survived. Unfortunately, the cargo pilot did not and Gordon, who was flying TB2 suffered a nasty concussion.

A mad scramble with Alan in Thunderbird Four held precariously aloft by Thunderbird One and they fished Gordon off the ocean floor. Their aquanaut brother spent a few days with nausea, a throbbing headache and a deep-seated fear of his second eldest brother.

He needn’t have bothered. Virgil was only thankful Gordon had survived.

It could so easily have been worse.

It was with this determined thought that Virgil faced hauling his ‘bird off the ocean floor. Scott tried to ground him - Virgil was still sporting a nasty cough and was far from fit - but the engineer put up such a verbal fight, Scott was riled up and they ended up shouting at each other.

Not quite the effect the commander had been looking for.

So Virgil got his way and led four specialised pods out into the middle of the Pacific.

Halfway home, his ‘bird hanging below them, one of the support cables snapped. Thunderbird Two swung unbalanced, dragging his pod toward the waves. It was only thanks to a hurried grapple shot from Thunderbird One, flying escort, that he didn’t end up back in the drink.

It was a sad and slow limp home.

Another argument sparked up almost the moment the two brothers set foot on Tracy Island. Scott arguing that Virgil should go to bed, Virgil denying the broken cable was his fault. The younger brother was such a mess he didn’t realise Scott wasn’t blaming him for the cable, he was just concerned for Virgil’s health.

It turned into a screaming match for the record books.

It took John, hot from re-entry, to stop the yelling.

“What the hell is going on here?!” His normally calm voice, raised in volume was enough to shock both brothers out of what had become a pitiful excuse for an argument.

John didn’t give them the chance to answer. “I can hear both of you idiots from space. Virgil, you are still sick. Go to bed.” Virgil opened his mouth to protest, but turquoise eyes narrowed in on him. “Virgil, now.”

There was something in John’s expression, something somewhat alarming. To Virgil’s consternation he realised he was trembling. Not from anger, but exhaustion. John’s frown deepened and Virgil took a step back. It was his ‘bird. His beautiful ‘bird.

“Go to bed, Virgil. She will still be there in the morning.” More reassurance than admonishment.

How could he explain that leaving her on her runway like that just hurt? That she would haunt his dreams? That he wouldn’t sleep?

“Go, Virgil.” Soft, but firm.

He frowned at John, but found himself turning towards the elevator and his rooms. His hands were shaking. Damn it, this was ridiculous.

As he entered the elevator, he heard John turn on Scott. “What the hell were you thinking?!”

The doors cut off Scott’s reply.

He made it to his rooms and didn’t even bother to undress, just throwing himself onto the bed. His boots hit the floor with a double thunk and he closed his eyes.

Thunderbird Two fell from his grip over and over and over.

-o-o-o-

The next morning he woke feeling even worse.

He ignored it and headed down to his ‘bird.

Brains had moved TB2 into her hangar and had engaged the automatic cleaning system. A vacuum pump was sucking the moisture out of her systems and drones buzzed around her, picking seaweed and sealife off her hull.

She stunk.

How many times would he have to wash ocean out of his girl? She wasn’t a submarine, but she was determined to try to be again and again, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Brains hurried up to him. “W-we are going to n-need to replace part of h-her thruster assembly. Sand h-has corroded her intakes beyond r-repair.”

Damn.

That was a week’s worth of work in itself.

“What else?” No doubt Brains had done a thorough assessment already. The man slept less than Scott.

“Forward c-cannon flooded, e-electrics blown, port wing warped, port s-structure suspect...” Brains continued down his mental list and Virgil’s heart sank further and further into the tarmac below.

Planes weren’t meant to survive falling out of the sky.

He was lucky she was a Thunderbird or she would be little more than scrap metal.

Didn’t stop him from dropping his face into his hand.

“A-are you okay, V-Virgil?”

He looked up to find the kindly engineer staring at him worriedly.

Virgil sighed. “I will be. Once she’s flying again.”

To his surprise, Brains reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “W-we will fix her, Virgil.”

A slight smile and Virgil placed his hand on the one on his shoulder. “Yes, we will.”

They both turned to stare up at the green behemoth.

Another sigh.

“Guess we better get started.”

-o-o-o-

By mid-morning Virgil was considering changing careers. Perhaps he could move to London and hang out with Cass McCready. He could still do good, but he would never have to scrub sand out of anything ever again.

Brains was called away an hour into their schedule, John having some difficulty with Thunderbird Five. So Virgil was left to himself and a handful of bots.

An hour was spent programming the fabricators to create the parts he needed.

Three out of the five parts he initially built proved faulty and had to be recycled. He started from scratch twice.

Worse, the electrics issue proved more complicated than expected. TB2’s hull was watertight under normal circumstances, but the warping of her wing had created stress fractures on her port side. Just enough for some water to get into the electrics. Wicking action had drawn that water into most of her electronics, including her computer core.

The heart and soul of his baby had drowned at the bottom of the ocean.

The discovery had him on his knees in her cockpit silent for a whole minute. It was hidden as she was completely powered down, but he had found the water trail.

His head landed in his hands.

“Virgil?” It was quiet.

“Not now, Gordon. Just not now.”

“You okay?” He heard his brother’s footsteps on his girl’s decking. A hand landed on his shoulder.

He shook it off. “Not now.”

“V-“

“Gordon, please, just...leave.”

“Vir-“

“Get out! Leave me alone! Just go!” It came out in a rush and it was loud.

His brother left in a hurry.

His throat hurt in more ways than one.

Alone, he coughed so hard he saw stars. Leaning back against the main console, he closed his eyes and just sat.

-o-o-o-

It hurt, it was a challenge, but Virgil was a Tracy. Ten minutes of despair was enough and he pushed himself off the deck and straightened his shoulders.

She would fly again even if he had to program and rewire her himself by hand.

Back to the fabricators. Another programming run only to discover they were low on cahelium and optical fibre. Supply orders on the IR network and an argument with an idiot clerk halfway around the world who didn’t know the difference between copper and optical.

Cahelium was unique to IR and required base level processing. They were low because he had missed his own job list due to illness. That and he didn’t usually need to replace half a Thunderbird.

The thought just hurt.

Automation was the key to Tracy Island’s manufacturing processes.

When he discovered one of the cahelium smelters was offline due to a faulty part, his head almost exploded.

Okay, take a break. Another coughing session had him leaning against the smelter console gasping for breath.

For goodness sake.

Coffee.

Coffee.

His go-to for comfort and reassurance and energy.

He would grab a coffee and attack this from another angle calmly.

He made it to the kitchen without losing another lung and settled in front of his second favourite machine.

Poking buttons for his comfort concoction, he stared at the gadget as it sparked under his fingers and died.

He was speechless for an entire minute.

“You have got to be kidding me.” It came out in a hoarse rush.

His fingers hit the buttons again, but the machine was dead.

No coffee.

No coffee.

He lost it.

The world whited out in fury and the coffee machine was suddenly airborne. It flew across the kitchen to land with a godawful crash on the other side of the room.

Someone yelped and he looked up to find Alan hovering near the stairs, his eyes wide with a combination of terror and worry.

The sight of his little brother running away from him up the stairs, sobered Virgil immediately.

Shit.

Shit.

SHIT!

His hands climbed into his hair and he let himself slide down the kitchen cabinets until his butt hit the floor.

Damn.

His head fell into his hands.

And his throat closed up, barely allowing him to breathe.

-o-o-o-

He sat there for he didn’t know how long. His butt was sore and another cough was building when he was joined by a brother dressed in his familiar blue. Scott sighed as he folded himself down beside Virgil. He didn’t say anything, just sat beside him.

Virgil didn’t even acknowledge his existence.

“I’ve sent Alan to the mainland to get us a new coffee machine. Told him to get one with all the perks.”

He didn’t answer. Took too much energy to answer.

An arm wrapped around him and his head was drawn to his brother’s shoulder. “Talk to me, Virg.” Quiet, a little rough and worried.

Scott, always so worried.

Virgil didn’t want to talk.

He just wanted it all to stop.

He closed his eyes and leant into his brother. The arm around his shoulder tightened and was joined by Scott’s other arm wrapping around him and holding him close.

It wasn’t worth crying over, but god he felt like it.

Spilt coffee and all.

His sigh was more like a sob, despite his eyes being dry.

So tired.

That cough built again and he was once again hacking up a lung. His brother held him as he spasmed.

Great. Now he would never get back to the hangars to fix his ‘bird.

“You know, you don’t have to do this alone?”

Huh? He looked up into worried blue. Who else was going to do it? She was his ‘bird. He had to put her back together.

“Don’t look so shocked. I don’t recall you leaving any ‘bird unattended in such a condition, why would any of us neglect yours?”

“I-“

“Virgil, you’re sick and exhausted. We’ve got this. Give yourself a break.”

“But what if we’re called out-“

“We can only do our best, and what’s best for you right at this moment is rest.”

“Scott-“

“No, Virgil.” He drew in a breath. “Don’t you trust us?”

“I-“ His breath hitched and he was coughing up yet another lung. Scott was rubbing his back. His head was pounding.

“Go to bed, Virg. I’ll send Grandma up to make sure you’re comfortable.” Virgil shot him a frightened look, but Scott held up his hand. “No food, no home remedies, I promise. Just Grandma.”

With that Scott stood up and offered Virgil his hand.

The engineer stared up at his brother, half-heartedly defiant, but took it anyway. As if to drive the point home, the world wobbled for a moment and he stumbled.

Scott caught him and started leading him up the stairs. “Bed, Virgil. Leave Thunderbird Two to us.”

His suspicions were immediately aroused when Grandma met them at the top of the stairs. To top it all off, a glance into the comms room and he found three other brothers, one engineer and a sister peering at him worriedly.

What the hell was John doing down here?’

“C’mon, Virgil, dear, let’s get you comfortable.” Grandma was no nonsense and despite his physical strength being many times hers, he gave no resistance as she led him into the elevator, into the residential section and eventually into his rooms.

At least she didn’t offer to undress him.

But she did tuck him in. “Now, rest, Virgil. Everything is going to be okay.” Her hand found his hair and her fingers combed gently through.

Mom used to do that.

Mom.

He sagged into the bed. Perhaps he could let go.

Let go.

-o-o-o-

“You know, kid, I’ve been doing some research on you.”

Virgil froze in the door to his bathroom. He knew that voice. Oh god.

A glance over towards his sofa and yes, it was confirmed.

Kip Harris was in his living room.

He blinked.

What was Kip Harris doing in his living room?

Virgil became suddenly very aware that moments before he had wandered zombie-like out of his bedroom wearing little but a pair of pyjama pants and attended to his morning necessaries in the bathroom with his idol sitting on his couch in full view.

Thank god, he had shut the bathroom door this morning.

“Mr Harris? Uh, what are you doing here?”

“Gordon let me in. Said you’d be happy to see me.” Yes, that was a smirk on the older man’s face.

Gordon was so dead.

Kip snorted. “Don’t kill him, son. I was fully aware of what I was doing. Sally said you were having a bit of a low run. I thought we could take this opportunity for a little one-on-one.” He held up his left leg. It was wrapped in a cast. “Had a bit of a low one of my own. Thought we could share the boredom.”

“Really?” Okay, so it was higher pitched than normal.

“Why, sure. As I said, I’ve been doing a bit of research and I find myself admiring your work. Wouldn’t mind swapping a few stories with you, myself.”

Virgil was staring.              

“Of course, that’s if we can talk.” The man was grinning at him.

Virgil flushed scarlet.

More so than normal since he wasn’t wearing a shirt. “Um, I’ll just go get some clothes on first.”

“No, hurry. Though Sally’s laid on a breakfast down there. Something about O’Malley’s speciality?”

Virgil was staring again.

A blink and he was moving.

Red flannel was thrown on in a hurry. O’Malleys was not something to be toyed with. The family owned business was to steak what the Tracys were to rescues. Their breakfast menu was to die for.

Scott must have hauled it in on TB1 to get it here fast enough.

He offered Kip a hand up and the man deployed a pair of crutches. “I’d be very interested if you’d fill me in on how you and your brothers managed to get a panda off a plane midair.”

Virgil held the door. “How do you know about that?”

Kip grinned at him. “Oh, a little brother may have mentioned it. Something about you slicing off the entire rear end of a plane?”

“Really?”

“Well, it might be presumptive of me, but I believe your brothers are quite proud of you.”

Virgil froze halfway down the corridor. “Exactly how long have you been on Tracy Island?”

“Oh, long enough to be told several heroic stories starring you.”

Virgil didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or alarmed. He blushed either way while holding the elevator doors.

“Don’t you be worrying about it, son. It never hurts to have a proud family.” Something flickered across the man’s face for just a moment before the grin returned. “Though I have to say, young Gordon, was particularly enthusiastic. Did you really do that with a barbecue?”

Shit.

And Kip burst out laughing. “Oh, I can see why he does it. With a face like that, son, you’re just asking for it.”

Somebody was asking for it.

“Heh. I had one of those, rapscallion little brat. Drive you to the edge, but then risk his life to save yours.” He smiled down at Virgil. “Cherish him while you can.”

A frown and he relented. “Yes, sir. I do, sir.”

“And drop the ‘sir’. The name’s Kip.”

“Yes, sir.”

A flat stare.

“Yes, Kip.”

A small smile. “Much better.”

The elevator doors opened and they were suddenly surrounded by the most delicious aromas. Steak, eggs, and, oh god, bacon.

And coffee.

Coffee!

“Virgil, honey, help Kip over to the table.” Grandma.

“What? Oh, sorry, sir.” Virgil moved furniture out of the way, giving Kip easy access to the well-laden table and helping him with his chair.

Scott shot Virgil an assessing glance, one he must have passed because his big brother didn’t say anything, only dropping a plate down in front of first Kip then Virgil. A soft smile before he turned back to grab some cutlery.

“Hey, Virg, how you feeling?” Gordon’s grin on the other side of the table was a little hesitant though determined.

“Better, thank you.” A pause. “Sorry, for yesterday.” He caught his brother’s eyes trying to convey his sincerity.

Gordon waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about it, bro. We’ve all been there. She’s your ‘bird. Totally get it.” As always, Gordon’s tone was flippant, but the emotion in his eyes said everything. Their russet brown sparkled with fondness.

Virgil’s attention was sideswiped by Alan barrelling into him. “Virg, tell me you’re okay.”

Totally stunned, he froze for a moment. Alan hadn’t hugged him like this in years. He struggled to find words as his hands wrapped around him. In the end he settled on doing exactly what his little brother asked. “I’m okay.”

“Good.” Alan let him go, briefly squeezing his arm before ducking around an absorbed Brains towards the food on the table.

“Sit down, young man. Where are your manners?” Grandma, ever on guard, glared at the youngest.

John slid into the seat beside him. “Good to see you finally awake.”

“What?”

“You were out for a good fourteen hours. Scott was on the verge of breaking into your room with a medical scanner.”

“I was not.” Scott slipped into a seat opposite John. “You’re exaggerating.”

“I am quite capable of reporting the facts, Scotty. It’s my job after all.”

“Scotty?”

The smile that curved John’s lips was pure smart ass.

Virgil raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t called him Scotty in years.”

“There’s a reason for that.” Scott’s glare was so flat it affected the curvature of the planet.

John’s smile just got wider. “I think I’ll start using it again. It communicates so much.”

“Sure, Johnny.” Scott had his own weaponised smile.

“I can live with that.”

Virgil’s eyes widened. That was a first. He darted a glance at Gordon, but the aquanaut’s expression reflected his own, eyes wide.

“I’m beginning to think I might need that medical scanner.”

The moment he said it, he regretted it. Four pairs of eyes latched onto him, worry foremost.

“Virg?” Gordon spoke before any of them.

He flung up his hands. “I’m okay, honest. It’s you I’m beginning to wonder about. Are you guys okay?”

“We are now you are.” Gordon’s voice was quiet. A sigh. “Eat, Virg, you’re half the man you used to be.” His brother dumped a huge slab of meat on Virgil’s plate and followed it with a couple of eggs and a pile of bacon.

“You might as well, son. Family won’t be happy until you do.” Despite himself, Virgil jumped. He had forgotten Kip was there.

“Yes, sir.”

There was a scoff from Gordon across the table and a slither of toast slapped Virgil on the forehead.

“Gordon Cooper Tracy! Where are your manners?! We have a guest.” Grandma was sitting on the other side of Kip, her hand on his arm.

Oh, yes, that.

Ignoring that thought, Virgil turned to Gordon. “What the hell was that for?”

“Virgil! Language!”

“Sorry, Grandma.”

“You boys settle down and eat your breakfast. This is a rare treat. Thank you to Scott for the early morning flight to collect this meal. And Kip.” She patted the man’s arm and they smiled at each other.

Yes, that.

A large mug of steaming coffee appeared at Virgil’s elbow and he jumped. His sister smiled down at him, knowing the exact effect she had on him. “Good morning, Virgil. Here’s your coffee.” Kayo’s smile was laughing at him.

“You love doing that, don’t you.”

“Oh, you know I do.” Her hand landed on his shoulder. “Good to see you are feeling better. You had us all worried.”

He blinked as she brushed past him and took a seat on the other side of Grandma.

Her words sunk in. He was feeling better. There had been sleep and now there was family. Kip Harris was willing to talk shop and there was enough food to feed a hoard.

His ‘bird was still grounded. There was still work by the bucketload. His body still wasn’t running at one hundred percent. But this was a moment. This was his family.

“Thanks, guys.”

Gordon grinned at him and Scott caught his eyes, his blue smiling.

The coffee was warm as it hit the back of his throat, but it wasn’t the source of the warmth in his heart.

A small cough to clear his throat and Virgil smiled.

He was a very, very lucky man.

-o-o-o-

FIN.

[blogchaindeveloper]

Skills required to become an AI developer

The employment environment is changing due to the exponential expansion of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. It is predicted that automation will affect almost 800 million professionals globally by 2030, requiring a change in job duties. Exciting opportunities are emerging in this disruptive period, especially in AI engineering. The abilities, credentials, and employment opportunities needed to succeed in this field will be discussed in this article. In this changing environment, we'll also discuss the significance of AI certification and AI prompt engineer certification. 

Recognizing the Function of an AI Developer

First, understanding developers' more significant responsibilities is essential to thoroughly appreciate an AI developer's work. Developers are IT specialists who create computer software using a variety of programming languages, such as R, Java, and Python. They are also known as programmers or software engineers. While AI developers strongly emphasize AI, they share many duties with traditional developers. 

Integrating AI capability into software applications is the primary duty of an AI developer. This position focuses on the smooth integration and application of AI logic and algorithms into IT project deliverables, as described by The Enterprisers Project. 

The Increased Need for AI Programmers 

It's easy to see why there's an explosion in demand for AI engineers. Applications ranging from chatbots and driverless cars to virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri are driven by artificial intelligence. The need for qualified AI specialists is growing due to businesses and organizations' eagerness to realize AI's enormous potential. 

By 2025, the worldwide AI market is expected to have grown to an astounding $190.61 billion, and future estimates point to even more significant development. Though worries about AI taking jobs are still present, AI is expected to create many more new job opportunities than it will take away from existing ones. 

See also: How Do Peer-to-Peer Networks Operate and What Are They? 

Principal Duties of an AI Developer 

Depending on the role, an AI developer's precise tasks may change; however, the following is a rough rundown of what they usually do, as provided by reputed coding school Le Wagon: 

Address business challenges using AI software.

Design, develop, implement, and monitor AI systems.

Explain AI systems effectively to project managers and stakeholders.

Develop data ingestion and data transformation architecture.

Stay well-informed about the latest AI technologies.

Train team members in the implementation of AI systems.

Programming languages like Python, Java, and Scala, deep learning platforms, cloud computing platforms, and AI products like IBM Watson are just a few of the tools and resources that AI professionals rely on. 

Languages for Programming AI Development 

Programming language proficiency is essential for the creation of AI. The following languages were listed by Ideamotive as some of the top choices for AI development in 2024: 

Python

Lisp

R

Prolog

JavaScript

C++

Java

Scala

Julia

Julia's Educational Needs 

A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level jobs; ideally, it should be in a related field like computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, or engineering. A master's degree can significantly improve one's professional prospects and offer insightful knowledge of the sector, even though it may not always be required. 

Success-Oriented Skills 

A few essential abilities are necessary to succeed as an AI developer. It is crucial to be proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, and Java. Being familiar with cloud computing is also very beneficial. Beyond technical expertise, logical reasoning, excellent problem-solving abilities, and successful teamwork are all highly valued by AI developers. Soft skills, such as strong work ethics, leadership, and effective communication, are just as critical. 

Getting Accomplished in AI Developer Interviews 

Hiring an AI developer requires more than just knowing how to code. Demonstrating your creativity, problem-solving skills, and original thought process during interviews is critical. Being current on the newest AI trends and offering samples of your prior work can help you stand out. Standard interview advice is equally relevant, such as rehearsing answers to possible inquiries, learning about the business, posing appropriate questions, and following up after the interview. 

AI Developer Pay 

The salary ranges for AI developers vary depending on criteria, including experience, education, geography, and work duties. The national average for AI developer salaries is approximately $126,472, while the median wage is roughly $97,783 in the US. Typically, salaries fall between $100,000 and $150,000. 

Progressing in the Domain 

Improvement in the field of AI development depends on the acquisition of practical experience and ongoing skill improvement. AI developers must keep up with the newest advancements in AI and constantly improve their programming skills. Obtaining pertinent certifications and engaging in training courses are concrete ways to show that you are dedicated to continuing your education in the industry. 

Employers Are Currently Seeking AI Developers 

AI programmers are in great demand in a variety of sectors. Though job titles may differ, AI development abilities are essential for many AI-related occupations. AI developers are in high demand from the following industries: Information Technology, Retail, Sports/Entertainment, Education, Business and Financial Services, Government/Military, Health Care, and Food/Hospitality. 

A Promising Future for AI Jobs 

The future of AI-related careers seems incredibly bright. The employment of computer and information technology professionals is expected to rise by 13% between 2020 and 2030, indicating the field's strong growth. Surprisingly, AI is expected to generate 12 million new jobs by 2025, more than compensating for the possibility of job losses and bolstering the world economy. 

How AI Certification Can Help You Advance Your Artificial Intelligence Career 

AI certification—particularly the specialized AI prompt Engineer certification—is significant in today's quickly changing technological environment. Having the appropriate credentials is essential in a world where artificial intelligence propels innovation throughout all industries. Certifications for AI chatbots and developers show a professional's proficiency in creating, developing, and deploying AI solutions. These certificates give you a competitive edge in the employment market, where AI abilities are highly sought after and validate your expertise.

Possessing an AI certification or being a certified chatbot expert can lead to new job options as businesses depend increasingly on chatbots and intelligent systems. In addition, certification tests in artificial intelligence guarantee that practitioners remain current on the most recent developments in the field, which supports their ongoing growth and significance.

Conclusion

The road to becoming an AI developer requires a solid technical background, a strong educational foundation, and a commitment to staying current in a changing field. AI developers are crucial to determining the direction of technology and business as the need for AI grows. Pursuing AI certification is a significant step in advancing your career in the exciting field of artificial intelligence rather than just a business decision. 

Blockchain Council is a recognized association of subject matter experts and enthusiasts for AI and fast engineer certifications. They aim to improve the world by promoting blockchain research and development, use cases, products, and knowledge. For those who want to become certified Prompt Engineers and become experts in AI, Blockchain Council is an excellent resource for putting oneself at the forefront of technological progress.

[aegistomorrowtoday]

EPISODE 1: 蜂の巣の繭の蒸気殺人

It has been a week since this group of cyberpunks had all reconvened. The low-level street zeitgeist mourns the loss of one of their most talented tattoo artists, Chouji. The news media didn't give him or the other victims a name - labeling them as misguided youth and Synthetic Rebel Activists attempting to reignite the fires of the civil war of the previous world. Using the anti-synth sentiments of Suginami-ku to broadly paint this as just a nonsensical act of violence. There was no mention of the gunmen, just the seemingly innocent young people gunned down in the walkway. Not to mention they got Chouji’s name especially incorrect. Chojiro and not Chouji.

Business as usual in Tokyo Mega, the rhythm of the city was unaffected by the murders in Suginami-Ku. The police would investigate, the media would show only a sliver of the story to the public and the faces of those lost will be largely forgotten by all who didn’t know them personally. Eventually. Until then, the Izumi-Kai were invited to a memorial street race.The winnings were 5,000,000 won divided evenly among the top four competitors, Sef didn’t come in first but he stole a fast second in style. Even donating a portion of his winnings to the family of “Chojiro”, the fourth place winner also donated the entirety of their winnings to the affected family. The youth of the gangs saw this as a most respectful thing for the two racers to do, and the Feed noted that it was only Sef and the other competitor to part with some of their prize money as tribute. 

 Haru's patron has been called into the office moreover the week. Spending longer days than normal doing important company work. He doesn't talk much about it, just that it could save lives someday. Long nights in the very private corporate building and an armed escort to and from his home have spared him really noticing Haru’s new sword and choice of apparel - the previous jumpsuit having been shredded in the very gun battle that had the news all twisted up about pro-synth demonstrations. 

 The Hotel that Ard has rented upgraded his vacation suite from a standard 1 bed and bath capsule to a full Samurai class suite on the 300th floor. About the size of a small one bedroom home. The violence in one of the most peaceful sections of the city has prompted a sweeping upgrade package among the visitors to the city. For some reason or another, Lumos' has received multiple freelance consulting jobs through The Early Bird . The small Synthshop and Augment installer has a pretty regular clientele and freelance engineers and docs who rotate the hours along with the main proprietor, HNY-4456K. A synth representing a female who only really converses in snark and sass but will answer to Six or Six-K, she does wear a name tag that says Honey however, though no one calls her that out loud. 

After enjoying tea at the Nakahara Peace Garden the group give up on waiting on Ard. The Wormer PTST (Philanthropist Thrill Seeking Tourist) opted to stay-in that night. Probably to enjoy his swanky new hotel suite upgrade. Whatever his reasons, the three members of the so far unnamed crew decided to follow up on Sef’s hand issues. Fondly referring to the situation as the ‘hand-job’. All jokes aside, they thought it was in everyone’s best interest to go to the address they received from the scan last week. Heat’s died down by now and whatever trap or trick that Choji might have tried to spring has sprung by everyone’s death on that street last week. In theory, it should be totally safe and fine to just check the address out. 

The group arrive via taxi and motorbike and already the building itself is tall and wide, with a rotating door at its entrance with windows that hint at perhaps some type of luxury hotel experience or something similar. The lobby was tile, glass, and metal. A grand staircase curved around what looked to be obviously a long receptionist’s desk reminiscent of a check-in counter. In between the entrance and the desk were four minimalist lounge areas. Stylish cubist couches enclosed glass coffee tables that were ornamented with real paper magazines. Relics of the past or, a flaunt of the super wealthy? None of the group could really know for sure - but what they did immediately realize is that they were sorely out of place. Sef removed his leather jacket and put up his hair, his minimal augmentation lifestyle lent very well to the appearance of a wealthy individual with some western ideology on purism. The guards in black suits watched the trio as the group looked about trying to find a hint of their reason for being here. Sef spotted a staircase leading downwards; it was marked with the trigram for heaven.

 After sharing their misgivings about the irony, they descend and are met with another receptionist desk at the bottom of the landing who interacts with them directly, asking how they could be helped - more specifically asking Sef. After they present Sef’s palm as their business, a secret door is opened and they are allowed entry to an entirely different area, in both style and aesthetic. Lacquered wood floor and soft fresh soil filled with greenery. Real greenery. Plants that gave off oxygen and ate carbon dioxide. Plants that Sef - along with the majority of the entire city - had never even encountered before. At least not their biological counterparts. The party traverses a long hallway and are met with a luxurious banquet hall, hardwoods and greenery abound with patrons garbed in wealth beyond measure being served by a very poised waitstaff - most likely all synths. 

They are approached by a staff member wearing the same uniform as the receptionists at the desks they had already encountered. He greeted them to the soiree and judged by their demeanor and clothing surmised accurately that they were not where they were supposed to be. Sef showed his palm again and the staff member quickly told them where to go with a cheerful demeanor. They were directed down another long hardwood hallway to a waiting area just outside of a solid metal doorway. “Mr.Hong is taking his annual bath - he will be with you shortly.” The man would relay before walking off to attend to the other guests. The group moved down the hallway and took in their new and odd surroundings. Lumos’ the most technologically savvy of the group surmised that the panels nearest the door and the seating area were an inactive suite of some type of comprehensive security system

The door hisses open after about five minutes. Revealing a spartan office in decor. Minimalist, devoid of windows. There was a desk of metal and glass with a stone slab positioned behind it. There was a single bed in one of the corners and a metal locker that had been carefully decorated to look as if it was real wood. After a quick look around the office, a voice spoke to the group as the door closed behind them. The voice was that of Mister Hong, the owner of this office apparently. Moments later he would exit the private bathroom stark naked, dripping with water still and eyes as wide as dinner plates before he collapsed onto the floor and convulsed. Lumos, being the medical professional in the room immediately deduced the man was choking and he ran over to help, going so far as to inject the man with a dosage of nanites to alleviate the asphyxiation. They helped momentarily, allowing him to pass along the message of “Save Keiko Swan.” Keiko Swan is a well known ballet dancer in Tokyo Mega. A quick search on the Feed yielded that information. Scrambling for more clues, and more importantly a method of unlocking the sealed door to the room, the group found a key to the locker disguised as a wooden cabinet and accessed the computer of the now dead Mister Hong that was projecting onto the stone slab. They scoured his emails and found rather quickly that his name wasn’t Hong at all, but he was Shin Kosanji of Kosanji Talent, a tour promoter and small-time talent scout who was local to Tokyo Mega. Along with this information there was an unopened email from an unknown sender that showed a very graphic photograph of a cute asian girl with blonde hair carrying a chainsaw and a severed head. At first glance it seemed like a very guro-esque cosplay photo but upon closer inspection the group deduced that the photograph was very much real and the single line caption was some type of message: I do birds too. Among the possessions in the office the group found a smart suit, the latest in pocket computer devices, a cred card with 5000 won on it and a gold origami crane. As Sef discovered, the crane was made out of gold smart-paper. Paper that was inlaid with technology that acted as simple one or two way communication. Not a typical single use item but it was flashy and most likely saved. Unfolding the crane revealed that it was an invitation to an event happening that very night, with Keiko Swan as the star of the entire evening. If they were to save Keiko they needed to get to that event. Based on the invitation it would be taking place in New Shinjuku. In a Skytree. A tough journey for any of the three. 

Before they could ponder more the door unlocked and the group panicked. Each attempting to look nonchalant and unsurprising by the dead man by the bathroom as the metal entrance slid apart and in walked several staff members of the building they were in. They moved directly towards the dead man without pause and the group was questioned briefly by a younger man, a little younger than Sef on the death of Mr. Hong. He apologized for the interruption and sent the group on their way with a free access pass to the member’s only club of Hachi Rebisu. Step one for infiltrating the skytree was to look the part. Sef took Haru and Lumos to get a suit, using the found card to purchase Haru his first set of personal clothes. The seven year old synth chooses style over function with a red suit with a black dress shirt and white tie. The event is a black tie event. The obvious facepalming occurs but the group lets Haru keep the clothes as Lumos decides on a healthy medium of dress suit that isn’t too matchy-matchy in his own words, via his augment that allows him to simulate any wardrobe he desires. They call a lux cab their way in order to better emulate the rich citizens who lived in the skytree. New Shinjuku is a place of power and control amidst the wealth. Of all the districts the police presence is very strong, within and without the skytree. The streets are patrolled by roving mechanized drones with heavy anti-personnel weapons mounted on their shoulders and backs,while the Tokyo Mega Police Department has its headquarters here deep underground in a secure bunker facility. The urban paradise of the skytree is manned by countless cameras and rapid response police teams and privatized military. Only Sef and Haru knew this information off hand due to their criminal familiarity and privately regard their situation as they disembark the Ultralux transport. 

They are within view of Grand Station, a large theater hall that was the host of the event. There is a mass of police, unmanned drones and guests in suits and dresses for the occasion. Seeing this gives the group pause, as this event has a lot of people attending with a larger portion of them being law enforcement from the looks of it. If Keiko was in danger, the perpetrator was either embedded with the guests or the security. Ease of access to the building and the theoretical access to a weapon. Security forces were almost usually armed. Guests who had enough money, or looked like they had enough money could practically do anything or - more importantly -  carry anything. Just then the invitation started making noises from Sef’s backpack, he investigated. Unfolding the paper swan, the invitation is blaring a reminder for the event and to RSVP attendance in order secure seating. Sef RSVPs in Shin’s stead for obvious reasons. Moments later an anonymous and blocked number texts Sef’s phone. Detailing that they know who the group is and what they have - the most confusing part - and that they will assist the group if the three of them are interested in saving Tokyo Mega. If they decline, they are to find a locker in the Grand Station venue and deposit the golden origami crane within it. Within the same time span another message is sent across to Sef who is rightly freaking out about his privacy being compromised so quickly and easily - in the form of a hacked product ad ticker scrolling across the front of a nearby shop. Threatening violence if the group didn’t turn over the crane. Neither message named an origin but clearly one side had Tokyo’s best interest in mind. Or so they said. 

The following moments were crucial, the group decided to go for Keiko directly. Cut out the middle men as it were and protect the ballet dancer the best way they knew how. By kidnapping her until the danger passed. The group get in. They note the opulent architecture and the presence of a catering company providing the food and beverage for the event. Sef also spies children, no older than ten all sporting backpacks seem to be on the lookout for someone. They are dressed appropriately for the occasion but everyone so far in attendance is either remarkably youthful, in the prime of their lives or amazingly old. Natural grey hairs, wrinkles, the whole deal. 

After incorrectly remembering the details of why children were important - postulating they were Korporate Kids. The group makes their way backstage past the first floor kitchens. Before they can arrive at the dressing room they see that the police presence is strong and are greeted by an officer barring entry to the performers. Sef attempts to use status as a way to get through the tight cordon of security using their mission of keeping Keiko safe as the sufficient clearance that they needed. Sorely, they were denied and attracted the intervention of a Hiashi Miyamoto. Someone distinctly from Haru’s past. The exchange is terse but the group is allowed to leave and soon a representative of the concert hall escorts them to their reserved section overlooking the stage. Leaving a note that gave them a hint in their search for Keiko’s assassin. 

Do not trust the waitress. The words had been written on a napkin and Haru searched for a waitress among the waitstaff. Most were men, but some were objectively female based on his visual scan of. The three of them begin to panic, which waitress was it? How did they catch her? But that was when she appeared. A woman with blonde hair just delivered a tray of horderves to the next private box beside theirs. It was uncharacteristic of the staff, who all wore conservative black and brown hairstyles. Probably to match the setting of their work, real or not.  

It all came together now, it unraveled before Haru as he got everyone’s attention as the waitress in question slipped out of sight again. Most likely into the kitchens which had an entrance on this level of the theater as well. 

I do birds too.