#i cannot imagine a faster way to ensure nobody wants to help

[aritany]

i can’t believe i have to say this but if you reblog one of my posts about writing projects asking for aid and say anything along the lines of “this is your last chance to help me” or “i know you’re just going to ignore this” you’re absolutely right. i am going to ignore it

[dirtytransmasc]

¡ANGST WARNING! TW: Surgery, torture, body modification, experimentation

Thinking about spider’s time with the RDA made me realise that it would have been so much worse with his adaptions.

All these scientists are chomping at the bit to understand what happened to spider. Unlike Max and Norm, who take samples and examine Spider to help him and ensure he’s safe and healthy, the RDA scientists just want to further their own research. So they don’t use any anaesthetics or numbing agents, they don’t care for the boys discomfort or pain, everything they do that causes his suffering (intentional or not) is a chance to gather more data or study his habits more. Most would call this unethical, but this is the RDA - ‘Unethical’ is the only word a higher up needs to hear before they start thinking about all the money they are going to make.

What’s worse? Spider still gets adaptions. He gets tougher skin to prevent scalpels from cutting into him, his brain develops more connections and neurones in an effort to resist the damage caused by the Brain Scanner, his body heals faster to prevent his organs from getting even more hurt from the experiments from the night before. But this doesn’t stop the scientists. They keep going. The push the limits of his adaptions and keep testing the new ones that develop. They just don’t stop.

The only time they do stop is when Quaritch pulls Spider out, before he dies or worse. Though he can’t connect with his son as much, since there is nothing really resembling his father in spider’s appearance, Quaritch does recognise something - his son is nothing more than an object to the RDA, same as him. He cannot stand by and see someone be cut into day in and day out, treated as some freak of nature. Quaritch is a pile of extraterrestrial meat and bones resurrected with a computer file, he knows what it feels like to be an unholy abomination in the eyes of the scientists.

Years later, when the RDA is finally and completely burned to the ground and nobody is left to carry on their crusade, someone will find documents and files about the ‘research’ done against Spider and will find so much more than what anybody knew. Children forcefully changed, using Spider’s DNA, to further the RDAs needs, to be guinea pigs and the future for humanity. It’s a surprise to everyone and a reminder of the tremendous evils that were brought upon innocent children, who never asked for war and an unkind thing upon themselves. It is a miracle that they have survived this long, Eywa’s mercy and love keeping them living until they could be brought back to The People. Now they can heal and grow knowing that they will never be hurt again and will be loved by caring people. The RDA may be evil incarnate, but the Great Mother’s love will forever persist for the sake of these children.

—

I had this thought in my head for a week or so now, but I got busy with my job and university and I didn’t know how to right this down in a way that did it justice, if that makes sense. First time writing down angst or anything that might need a Trigger Warning, so I deeply apologise if it either not needed or if my headcanon got way too dark

first off, no need to apologize; I read and write body horror and angst for fun, you're safe around here my friend, stick around, get comfortable, cause I love your mind.

second off, this was great.

the RDA being horifically cruel, Eywas previous blessing turning into somewhat of a curse, keeping spider alive throughout the torture, allowing him to be used to create more and more science experiments to be tortured.

then imagining quaritch doing everything he can to get spider out, but they keep blocking him, keep getting in his way, keep making cheap deals that he has to take to keep spider alive; all the way he's being tortured, having to watch his son be used like some animal, for experiments for some sick sadists who got off on his boys, his baby.

its a sick and twisted cycle, never-ending, and filled with pain and suffering.

[fitmanagement]

Mastering the Art of Customer Service in the Modern Fitness Industry

As the fitness industry continues to evolve, so do the expectations of gym-goers. Providing top-notch customer service is no longer just about answering questions; it’s about navigating a complex web of customer demands and ensuring their satisfaction. In this article, we delve into the six trickiest customer service challenges faced by gym owners and provide effective solutions to conquer them.

Why Customer Service Challenges are Different Today

Customer service has always been about meeting customer expectations, but today’s gym-goers have raised the bar. They demand faster service, flawless handling, and tangible rewards for their loyalty. Failing to meet these expectations can result in a dissatisfied customer, which is akin to a ticking time bomb for your gym’s reputation and success.

6 Biggest Customer Service Challenges and How to Solve Them

1. Having No Answer To A Customer’s Question

Imagine a gym member asking about the status of their delayed package of nutritional supplements. You may not have an immediate answer, but responding with “I don’t know” won’t cut it. Instead:

Acknowledge the question: Let the customer know you’ve heard their concern.

Request time: Ask for a little time to find an accurate answer.

Follow up: Get back to the customer as soon as you have the necessary information.

This approach shows your commitment to their satisfaction and professionalism in handling their query.

2. Transferring Customer Calls

Nobody likes being bounced around between departments or left waiting in voicemail purgatory. If transferring a call is necessary:

Explain the transfer: Let the customer know why it’s beneficial for them.

Minimize wait times: Ensure the transition is swift to avoid frustration.

Clear communication can make this process less irritating for customers.

3. Handling Angry Customers

Dealing with an irate gym member can be challenging, but getting defensive or matching their anger is counterproductive. Instead, employ the “HEARD” technique:

Hear: Listen to their concerns without interruptions.

Empathize: Show understanding and empathy.

Apologize: Offer apologies, even if the gym isn’t at fault.

Resolve: Seek solutions and engage the customer in the process.

Diagnose: Identify the root cause and prevent future occurrences.

This approach, borrowed from Disney, can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

4. Customer Wants A Discount You Cannot Afford

Discounts can be a double-edged sword, potentially devaluing your brand. When refusing a discount request:

Explain politely: Clarify why the gym can’t offer a discount.

Highlight value: Emphasize the benefits of your services.

This way, you maintain your brand’s integrity while valuing the customer’s interest.

5. Serving Multiple Customers

Managing several gym members simultaneously can be a juggling act. Effective time management is key:

Time your pauses: If you need to put one customer on hold, explain the situation and aim for a quick resolution.

Avoid mentioning other customers: It’s not courteous, and it’s best to keep them informed.

Balancing the needs of multiple customers requires finesse and courtesy.

6. A Crisis or Outage

Emergencies, such as power outages or security breaches, can be catastrophic. Having a crisis management plan is crucial:

Prepare in advance: Ensure your staff knows their roles during crises.

Apologize and reassure: Express empathy and provide regular updates.

Post-mortem: After resolving the issue, publish a post-mortem to reassure customers.

Handling crises with transparency and professionalism can help maintain customer trust.

Before You Go

Statistics indicate that over 80% of customers switch to competitors after experiencing poor customer service. As a gym owner, you can’t afford to let this happen. Addressing these customer service challenges head-on is your gateway to building a successful gym business with a loyal customer base. Armed with these solutions, you’re ready to elevate your gym’s customer service experience and ensure your members keep coming back for more.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the fitness industry, ensuring your staff is equipped to handle these customer service challenges is paramount. This is where Fitness Management & Consulting comes into play. Our expertise lies in providing comprehensive staff training programs tailored to the unique needs of your gym. From honing communication skills to mastering crisis management, our experienced consultants will empower your team to navigate these challenges with finesse, creating a seamless and satisfying experience for your valued members. With the right training and support, your gym can stand out as a beacon of exceptional customer service in the fitness world, fostering lasting relationships and ensuring the success of your business. Contact FMC here.

Click here for more details on financing options or call 214-629-7223 or email jthomas@fmconsulting.net for more information. Or, apply now.

Unlock Your Gyms Full Potential with the Gym Success Blueprint! Get Your Copy Now!

An Outsourced CEO, Turnaround Expert and Author, Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround, financing  and brokerage firm specializing in the gym and sports industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at: www.fmconsulting.net or www.youtube.com/gymconsultant.

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Daniel Michaelson: The Adoption

I meant to write the baking-cookies drabble from Danny’s adoption stuff came out instead! Whoops. No warnings for this, beyond it being pretty bittersweet  - takes place in the past, when Danny is five years old. 

I’ll tag the usual people - even though this isn’t really whump. But it’s background for Danny!

@finder-of-rings, @bleeding-demon-teeth, @spiffythespook, @special-spicy-chicken

“He’s small,” The woman says, looking down at him, and Danny tries to straighten his back and make himself as tall as he possibly can. His hair sticks up a lot, which he has to hope helps at least a little. “Why is he so small? The papers I looked at said he’s five years old, has been since July.”

“He was born premature,” The social worker says without looking up from her paperwork. 

She’d brought Danny a cheeseburger Happy Meal and he’d inhaled every single bite and licked all the salt off his fingers afterward, so happy to have enough food to feel full and not have to fight any of the other kids for a single bit of it. He was currently twisting back and forth the little arms of the plastic toy man that had been inside the box, making him fight an invisible bad guy that kept punching him but he couldn’t see it. 

The toy man was from some movie, but it wasn’t out were Miss Karla could buy it yet, so he didn’t really know anything about it. Fighting an invisible bad guy seemed like the right thing to do with him. 

Bam, Danny thought to himself, making a mean snarling face. Punch him, kick his head.

“He was born eight weeks early, according to medical records,” The social worker continues, giving a loose, casual shrug. “He spent three weeks in the NICU before he went to his first placement.” This social worker was a new one, way younger than the last social worker. She didn’t seem to like him very much, but actually Danny thought mostly she looked more tired than angry, so maybe she didn’t mind him like some of the others did. 

The woman sitting at the table leans over, her voice pitched low, probably thinking Danny can’t hear her. Little pitchers have big ears, they said all the time at Kindergarten. He didn’t know exactly what that meant, other than adults said it to shut each other up when he was in the room. “Were there drug issues? We specified that we were not interested in taking on a greater than average amount of obligation-”

“He’s not a dog, Mrs. Michaelson,” The social worker says, looking up with the barest hint of an edge to her voice, and Danny fights back the tiniest little smile. It’s kind of nice, having one who sticks up for him. Usually they don’t. “But I understand what you’re trying to say, or at least what I hope you’re trying to say. Please understand that your guidelines were taken into account by the agency you contracted when they contacted us. Daniel was premature due to pregnancy-related complications with the mother, that’s all.”

“Complications? Does that mean there’s a family history of serious health concerns? Did his mother die?” The woman’s fingers stopped tapping again, and Danny looks back at his toy, but some of the shine has gone out of having a new thing (and Danny doesn’t exactly have a lot of things just for him), because he knows the answer to that question.

She gave me up.

The social worker’s eyes go to him, and Danny ignores her, setting his jaw in an angry, pouting line, and the invisible bad guy punched his toy until he died. Then he lived and got back up, but the dead part was pretty satisfying. 

The social worker looks back at the pretty woman in the nice clothes and jewelry and sighs, a little sadly. “No, she didn’t. She chose to, um, to place him with state care.”

“Do you know why she chose to-”

“She was thirteen years old, Mrs. Michaelson,” The social worker says quietly, so quietly Danny almost misses it. Thirteen isn’t very old, he thinks. One of his foster brothers, Craig, is thirteen, and he’s not even in high school yet. Danny could count to thirteen easily and without even needing help when he was four years old, so he knows it can’t be a very high number. That makes him think. If he’s five years old and his real mother was thirteen years old, then thirteen plus five is… Danny counts on his fingers, trying to remember.

If it’s ten eleven twelve thirteen… then it’s fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen… eighteen.

That would make his real mom eighteen.

Danny sits back, proud of himself for doing the counting all in his head and on his fingers, without having to ask the grown-ups, who were still talking about him like he couldn’t hear them.

Most grown-ups did.

“You can understand,” His social worker was saying, “Why a thirteen-year-old might make such a choice with even the healthiest baby. The home life was... not ideal.”

“I can understand.” The woman’s mouth purses a little, like she has a bite of food in her mouth she doesn’t like. “Poor thing. But you’re sure he’s healthy?”

The social worker shrugs. “He could use more time out in the sun and probably someone who lets him play outside more often, but… he’s healthy enough. He measured between 6th and 13th percentile straight through from birth until now, and his growth is steady. Honestly, ma’am, with a decent enough food intake he’d probably grow faster and catch right up. But...” 

The social worker waves her hand around the house they’re sitting in, a vague gesture that means nothing to Danny - but the woman sitting at the table nods very seriously, and so Danny tries to look serious, too.

The woman raises an eyebrow and looks around the dining room. The large table has enough chairs for twelve people to sit, and Danny is unlucky number thirteen - the youngest - so he was used to sitting at the card table off in the corner, where he sat now, swinging his legs in the folding chair and making the toy man run across the table and dive-bomb towards the floor.

When he makes the little exploding sound, the woman sitting at the table - she has pretty brown skin and black hair, and funny honey-colored eyes - smiles at him, and he smiles right back at her. She has a really, really pretty smile - warm and nice.

His foster mother is nowhere to be seen - Miss Carla didn’t really like talking to his social worker anyway, and she had been furious to hear about the rich lady coming to look at Danny, which… Danny didn’t really get, since getting adopted was a good thing. 

Then again, Miss Carla didn’t exactly like him very much. Danny had a mouth, Miss Carla said all the time, and Danny would just grin at her with all his teeth inside that mouth. 

Then he called her whatever names the older boys had taught him, only he got in trouble because the words were different when the older boys said them, for some reason.

His social worker had told him this lady and her husband had chosen him straight away after seeing his photo, and so he had combed his own red hair this morning nice and careful (no one else ever did) and dressed in his absolute best clothing - his favorite blue T-shirt and his good brown pants, his Sunday pants.

He wasn’t sure if the lady at the table had noticed, but he was sort of hoping so. 

“How are his academics?” The lady at the table asks, glancing over at him again. He smiles brightly at her, trying to get her to smile again - he’s pretty sure she likes him. He’s little, and he’d heard Miss Carla say that little kids get adopted faster. 

His biggest foster brothers probably won’t, he thinks, if that’s true. They’re both big and mean, and they look older than they really are. Parents won’t want them, even if Miss Carla likes them the best because they act like her.

“I’m in kindergarten,” Danny speaks up, holding the little toy man in his hands, nervously twisting at his arms again. His voice is high and clear, and he swings his legs a little harder where he sits. “I have lots of good days on my take-home sheets. More good than bad, Miss Carla says.”

“That’s right, Daniel, you do,” His social worker replies, and she smiles at him, finally - a thin and tired smile - as she flips through the paperwork she brought with her in a big folder with his name on it and his photo paperclipped to the outside. “Daniel’s in his first year at public school,” She says to the lady at the table. “He’s in a class of 25-”

“My God.” The woman at the table puts a hand up to her chest. “We’re looking at an exclusive Montessori for our little boy with an average class size of eight - I showed you his photo, the three-year-old. Obviously Daniel would also attend, I’ve already ensured him a spot should we bring him home, I’m good friends with the director. I just cannot imagine attempting to corral so many five year olds-”

“Most of them are already six, actually - Daniel is the third-youngest in his class. In any case, based on his school reports, he excels at academics and struggles with focus, sitting still, and social interactions. Makes sense for the age and his current… ah, situation.” The social worker looks at him again, and Danny sits himself up just a little straighter, making the toy man wave his little movable arm at her. 

The smile this time is less tired, and more real.

“Does he do well with younger children?” The woman at the table asks. “I mentioned our other son - he’s just turning three. Any aggression would be absolutely unacceptable-”

“He loves younger children actually - his last placement was with a foster home that had very young babies and toddlers other than him, about a year ago for three months, and his foster parents reported that he was very gentle and loving with the younger children. I’ve been told he changed diapers, watched the younger ones, and was very good at comforting younger children at night.”

Well, Danny thinks to himself, nobody else woke up as fast as I did, so...

“Ryan doesn’t wear diapers any longer, so we’re not worried about that, but… why was he moved, if he was so good with them?” 

Danny looked down at the floor, because he knew the answer to this question, too.

Because she was growing a new baby and there wasn’t any room anymore.

“His previous foster mother became pregnant,” The social worker says brusquely, waving one hand in a dismissive way. “All the foster children in that home were moved to new placements at the couples’ request.”

“That must have been hard on the children,” The lady says, and her voice changes a little. It’s softer, but angrier at the same time. “They must have bonded. The young ones bond so quickly-”

The social worker shrugs. “It’s not uncommon. Daniel had some… difficulty adjusting here, but he’s doing well now.”

“Difficulty?” 

“It’s all in the paperwork,” The social worker replies, looking uneasily over at Danny again, who only stares back at her with his best totally-blank ‘I wasn’t listening’ face, even though he absolutely was. “He had conflicts with his new foster brothers, missed the little ones. Struggled with the change in schedules and rules. That happens with every new move, learning a whole new household.”

“So… when he moved, he doesn’t see the other children any longer?”

The social worker blinks, surprised by this line of questioning. “Ah, no. He has no further contact with them, that would be… incredibly difficult to put together, considering he’s not related to any of the other foster children. It really isn’t an uncommon situation, kids in the system tend to adapt really quickly to the loss of foster siblings.”

The lady at the table’s mouth thins, just a little. Danny watches, fascinated, at the way her honey eyes shift, and for a second he sees them flash a really pretty purple. Then the color was gone, before he even blinked.

The social worker isn’t looking up, and didn’t see it, and honestly maybe Danny just made it up. He did that sometimes. 

“If we come to a decision in favor of bringing him home,” The lady at the table says, her voice firm and warm and calm, “It should be with the understanding that it will be permanent. I dislike the idea of such a young child being moved around so often, that cannot be healthy.”

“It’s not, Mrs. Michaelson, but that’s the system we work with.” The social worker sighs. “Daniel, will you come over here for a second? Mrs. Michaelson wants to speak with you.”

Mrs. Michaelson hadn’t said any such thing, but Danny shrugs and nods, hopping off the chair to walk over to her, tilting his head and looking up and up and up at her pretty eyes. No purple at all. 

“Hi,” He says, politely. “You can just say Danny. I don’t really like Daniel.”

The woman - Mrs. Michaelson - nods, slowly, thoughtfully, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “He really is exactly what we had in mind when we began discussing bringing a child home for-... to be a sibling for Ryan,” Mrs. Michaelson says, her voice softer and more gentle now that he stood right there with her. She turns her eyes back to Danny and leans down to get a little closer to him. “I have a little boy named Ryan at my house. Do you think you could be nice to him?”

“Oh, sure,” Danny replies, nodding, because that’s what he’s supposed to say. And he really does like the littler kids - he’s small and littler kids don’t pick on him like all the big kids do. “I always think it’s fun to play big brother. Is your house very big? Would I share with him?”

“Share?” Mrs. Michaelson cocked her head, and it was like Miss Carla’s cockatoo in its cage, and Danny giggled a little. She smiled at the sound. “Oh, like a bedroom? No, darling, you would have your own room, of course you would.” 

“Then I think I could be a good big brother,” Danny says, with a grave and thoughtful voice he thought sounded very grown-up. He was rewarded with another smile. Mrs. Michaelson looks him over one more time, taking in his skinny arms and the freckles scattered across his face and the rest of him darkened by the time he spent just sitting outside in the sun. 

“He really does fit the profile we were hoping for exactly,” Mrs. Michaelson says, but her voice is very quiet and she seems to be talking more to herself than Danny or even the social worker. “They’re looking for Ryan, but that hair, those freckles… that’s what they think they need to look for, isn’t it? They think we’ re meant to be Irish, but oh no, we’ll fool them, won’t we? We always have...” 

“Huh?” Danny cocks his head right back at her, and she laughs, a brilliant, sparkling sound that he loves already.

“I’m sorry, what?” The social worker asks, looking up.

“Oh, nothing,” Mrs. Michaelson says breezily. “Just muttering to myself. I don’t need to speak with Patrick about this, I’ve already decided. We’ll move forward with the adoption immediately.” The social worker smiles, and the two women begin to speak in low tones, throwing words and terms and stuff back and forth Danny hadn’t heard before and doesn’t know. He steps a little closer, and a little closer still.

Danny blinks.

He blinks again. 

“The what?”

The two women turn to look down at him.

“Oh,” The social worker says, surprised. “Daniel. Mrs. Michaelson would like to consider adopting you. Would you like to go stay with her and see how it works out?”

“Go stay? For real?” Danny’s heart starts to beat fast inside of him, like when he stands up in front of music class to sing. He smiles, and he clutches onto the little toy man as tightly as he can. “For really real?”

Mrs. Michaelson laughs again, and he hopes she will laugh like that for him a lot when he goes to her house. “For really real,” She says with a nod, and leans over to tap the end of his nose with one finger.

“I, I, I’ll go get my things! I don’t have a lot of things, but I do have, I have a little dog I carry around his name is, um, his name is Scruff and he has a collar but I can get him and I have some clothes-” Danny starts to turn, only for both women to laugh.

He stops and looks back at them, suddenly embarrassed, his face burning bright red under his freckles, feeling his lower lip stick out all on its own. Miss Carla is always telling him to pout less, but he can’t stop, it’s not his fault, the lip just does that. 

“Oh,” He says, and feels a wave of hurt and mad. “Oh, it was a joke. I thought you meant for really real.”

The social worker is the first to understand, and her expression goes serious and thoughtful. “Daniel, we’re not laughing because it was a joke. It’s not, Mrs. Michaelson really does want to bring you home to meet her little boy.”

“I do,” Mrs. Michaelson says. “As soon as I can. We were only laughing because you were so excited - and it can’t happen right away, it takes a little while. The agency has already put everything in motion, of course,” She says sidelong to the social worker. “It’s just a matter of getting all the right papers to the right people.”

“Of course.”

“Then we’ll take you home, Daniel,” Mrs. Michaelson says to him, and bops him on the nose again. He hates when his foster brothers do this - they always flick the end of his nose and make it hurt - but he kind of likes it, from her. 

“Yeah? Not a joke?” Danny’s head goes back up, and he searches both of their faces for signs it’s still just a mean joke, like when Conrad apologizes and then smacks his head again and he didn’t mean the apology at all. “For really really real?”

“Not a joke,” Mrs. Michaelson says, and there’s a sweet little smile on her face as she puts her hand out, littlest finger crooked. “Pinkie swear.”

Danny puts his hand up, too, and he hopes that she understands how much it really means when you say you pinkie swear a thing, because that means you have to do it.

“For really really really really real,” He says, seriously. “You have to mean it or you shouldn’t say it.”

“I mean it,” Mrs. Michaelson says softly. “I really, really mean it. Don’t worry, Danny. I’m going to bring you home to stay with us, and you’ll be just like another son. My little boy Ryan is going to love you. He’s always asking for a brother.”

“Are you going to love me?”

The question startles the two women, who blink down at him in unison.

Then Mrs. Michaelson leans over to tuck a curly bit of bright red hair behind one ear, and smile. “I’m sure I will.”

[cryptobrief]

The article was written by Vladimir Malakchi, CMO at 482.solutions, marketing expert in the blockchain sphere.

In this article, there will be no news about the launch of any iCoin or Applecoin, but today we will look at several facets of the blockchain technology through the prism of its introduction into such a global and, not afraid of this word, giant corporation.

Of course, Apple Inc is associated with its flagship products, such as the iMac and the iPhone. However, if to characterize this corporation, we can call it a great specialist in the design and development of various hardware and software products, as well as the only true competitor of Microsoft in terms of technological dominance. More than 200 billion dollars in turnover per year, 132,000 employees worldwide and billions of users. Behind the scenes of stylish iStores is a tremendous work that does not subside for a minute and constantly produces technological innovations.

Blockchain – sooner or later: that is the question

Trying not only to follow the latest trends but also to create them, Apple could not bypass the blockchain technology anyway. For several years, the media have covered official corporations’ patents for researching or developing various blockchain solutions, but we are not observing any specifics.

For example, in February of this year, it became known that the Cupertino guys were thinking about introducing the blockchain into the supply of materials, even notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission about it. However, this fact is not mentioned in a separate document, but in a report of the corporation on ensuring human rights within the supply chains of minerals. Moreover, attentive report’s readers found a reference to the Blockchain Handbook, which is already being developed by Apple as part of the Alliance for Responsible Business.

I propose to switch on a little imagination and suggest how globally the blockchain technology can influence the multi-level processes of the most popular tech giant.

There is no perfect thing: vulnerabilities in the world’s best supply chain

Apple is a company which logistic system is always set as an example. Despite the incredible supply volumes, the corporation manages to always be one step ahead of its competitors. Tim Cook continues Jobs’s strategy for efficiency. As Apple’s head of the logistics department, John Martin, says: “Nobody wants to buy milk the day before yesterday.”

Interesting fact: the company focused on developing such a supply chain in 1997, just then Steve Jobs returned to the head’s chair of Apple. John Martin claims that then Jobs did not spare $ 50 million for the first iMac shipments during the Christmas holidays, leaving their competitors in this way overboard, because they most often used sea routes.

Apple is called the company with the most excellent supply chain in the world, since the tech giant does not stint on prepayments and advances, providing itself with everything necessary. It’s no secret that a partnership with Apple can provide the supplier company with a bright future, but to establish a business relationship with such a market’s shark is not an easy and very responsible task. For example, there was a case where one of the potential suppliers did not take a prepayment of $ 1 billion, not wanting to be too dependent on a global corporation.

It is also worth mentioning the important mystery that covers each stage of the supply process, ensuring its effectiveness. Moreover, all parts of the supply chain adhere to secrecy, Apple has to put control in the form of its employee in each of them. Moreover, there are rumors that once Apple even wrapped up its new products in juice boxes to protect them from third parties.

However, even in this seemingly well-tuned mechanism, the details fail. For example, in 2012, Apple was at the epicenter of the scandal because of an audit by the independent public organization China Labor Watch, which discovered a violation of several laws of the Pegatron Group, which was responsible for assembling the iPhone and iPad at that time. The investigation revealed that the Pegatron Shanghai factories (assembled the iPhones), Riteng (produced iMacs) and AVY (provided the iPads with details) violated China’s labor laws. Among the main complaints against the Pegatron Group was the use of child labor. Such a case was not the only one and always had an effect on the value of the goods for the end users, then on the enormous losses of Apple itself.

Also, we cannot but recall the numerous information leaks from both the suppliers and the employees themselves, who, under the threat of fines and even prison sentences, have not once distributed to the media information about new products that have not yet been released.

You will agree that the blockchain’s possibilities within such a logistic machine would be useful both in cases involving the struggle with the use of child labor and in the case of leaks of important data for the company.

By implementing the blockchain in every enterprise that is a link in the supply chain, we can create a secure registry of all employees and their employment contracts. At the same time, it is possible for each company to provide access to viewing, but not changing this information in real time. Thus, each Apple’s partner will meet the labor laws’ requirements of the country where its production is located, and corporation’s representatives do not have to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to investigate and examine their suppliers without incurring reputational risks.

With information leaks can also fight the blockchain but with limited access rights. For example, the technology will allow to enter only certain data and to those employees who will have this right, while other information relating to the development will be hidden from unwanted eyes. Of course, it is possible that an employee who has access to specific information can spread it, however, it becomes much easier and faster to determine the source of the leak, which is important in those moments when there are only a few minutes to take control of the situation.

The fight for the original devices on the market

Apple is always in the favorites of copies’ manufacturers. On popular Chinese websites, you can easily buy an iPhone X for $150, though it’s not a fact that after receiving the package, the user can at least turn it on. Of course, such a counterfeit atmosphere also affects the reputation of the original manufacturer, since the potential buyer will postpone the purchase of the device, tormenting himself in doubts about the authenticity of the new and such a desired smartphone.

Apple is not satisfied with this state of affairs, therefore, since 2008, an operational group has been operating in China to combat the illegal copying of their devices’ design. But this is only a drop in the ocean of fakes, which can not dissolve multibillion-dollar flows of fake devices.

WikiLeaks published documents showing that Apple attempted to influence the Chinese government in order to take tough measures against sales and the production of counterfeit products. At the same time, Chinese officials refused to close the production of fake iMacs, explaining this concern for the employment of local residents.

Citizens of the Celestial Empire with a good imagination are no longer limited to devices of only one kind, a few years ago, photos of entire fake Apple stores appeared in the media.

Apple has problems with counterfeit, not only in China but also in their home states, where you can meet fake accessories and devices which are often cheaper than originals. In the war with fakes help only point battles, which give results only after time-consuming litigation and ongoing costs for legal services.

Since Apple is an international company whose devices are used by millions of users from different countries, where the legal bases for the regulation of counterfeit goods differ from each other, it is rather difficult to track this problem on different continents.

Consumer activity is significantly reduced due to the fact that to distinguish a fake from the original in appearance is sometimes not an easy task, so Apple can successfully integrate the blockchain into its production and solve all of the above problems with one technology.

Creating its own blockchain chain, where data on each unit of goods will be entered, allows buyers to still track the entire path of a device or accessory while standing at the store shelves. To implement this method of protection against counterfeiting, the product can be assigned its own unique code with which users can identify the original products at any time.

Information that a potential buyer will receive by entering this code will contain all the characteristics of the device. At the same time, the authenticity of this data is guaranteed by the blockchain, since it is impossible for unscrupulous manufacturers to change or delete the information from it.

It is possible that distributors of fakes will be able to purchase several units of original devices and extend their codes to fake goods. The way out of this situation is to place in the blockchain the status of the good and the transition status of its owner (for example, manufacturing plant, distributor, and the end customer). Such a method would eliminate a full-scale problem that Apple is struggling from the very beginning of its history.

Conclusion

Despite the smooth production and enormous popularity, Apple still spends part of its profits on those processes that could be optimized. For me, it is strange that such a trendsetter in the technology industry is only looking closely at introducing a useful blockchain technology, fueling public interest with the unrealized patents. The implementation of the blockchain in Apple’s business processes could be the starting point in the company’s new history and the beginning of the global adoption of technology around the world.

The post No, not about Applecoin: what could create a Blockchain within Apple Inc? appeared first on ZyCrypto.

[cryptswahili]

No, not about Applecoin: what could create a Blockchain within Apple Inc?

The article was written by Vladimir Malakchi, CMO at 482.solutions, marketing expert in the blockchain sphere.

In this article, there will be no news about the launch of any iCoin or Applecoin, but today we will look at several facets of the blockchain technology through the prism of its introduction into such a global and, not afraid of this word, giant corporation.

Of course, Apple Inc is associated with its flagship products, such as the iMac and the iPhone. However, if to characterize this corporation, we can call it a great specialist in the design and development of various hardware and software products, as well as the only true competitor of Microsoft in terms of technological dominance. More than 200 billion dollars in turnover per year, 132,000 employees worldwide and billions of users. Behind the scenes of stylish iStores is a tremendous work that does not subside for a minute and constantly produces technological innovations.

Blockchain – sooner or later: that is the question

Trying not only to follow the latest trends but also to create them, Apple could not bypass the blockchain technology anyway. For several years, the media have covered official corporations’ patents for researching or developing various blockchain solutions, but we are not observing any specifics.

For example, in February of this year, it became known that the Cupertino guys were thinking about introducing the blockchain into the supply of materials, even notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission about it. However, this fact is not mentioned in a separate document, but in a report of the corporation on ensuring human rights within the supply chains of minerals. Moreover, attentive report’s readers found a reference to the Blockchain Handbook, which is already being developed by Apple as part of the Alliance for Responsible Business.

I propose to switch on a little imagination and suggest how globally the blockchain technology can influence the multi-level processes of the most popular tech giant.

There is no perfect thing: vulnerabilities in the world’s best supply chain

Apple is a company which logistic system is always set as an example. Despite the incredible supply volumes, the corporation manages to always be one step ahead of its competitors. Tim Cook continues Jobs’s strategy for efficiency. As Apple’s head of the logistics department, John Martin, says: “Nobody wants to buy milk the day before yesterday.”

Interesting fact: the company focused on developing such a supply chain in 1997, just then Steve Jobs returned to the head’s chair of Apple. John Martin claims that then Jobs did not spare $ 50 million for the first iMac shipments during the Christmas holidays, leaving their competitors in this way overboard, because they most often used sea routes.

Apple is called the company with the most excellent supply chain in the world, since the tech giant does not stint on prepayments and advances, providing itself with everything necessary. It’s no secret that a partnership with Apple can provide the supplier company with a bright future, but to establish a business relationship with such a market’s shark is not an easy and very responsible task. For example, there was a case where one of the potential suppliers did not take a prepayment of $ 1 billion, not wanting to be too dependent on a global corporation.

It is also worth mentioning the important mystery that covers each stage of the supply process, ensuring its effectiveness. Moreover, all parts of the supply chain adhere to secrecy, Apple has to put control in the form of its employee in each of them. Moreover, there are rumors that once Apple even wrapped up its new products in juice boxes to protect them from third parties.

However, even in this seemingly well-tuned mechanism, the details fail. For example, in 2012, Apple was at the epicenter of the scandal because of an audit by the independent public organization China Labor Watch, which discovered a violation of several laws of the Pegatron Group, which was responsible for assembling the iPhone and iPad at that time. The investigation revealed that the Pegatron Shanghai factories (assembled the iPhones), Riteng (produced iMacs) and AVY (provided the iPads with details) violated China’s labor laws. Among the main complaints against the Pegatron Group was the use of child labor. Such a case was not the only one and always had an effect on the value of the goods for the end users, then on the enormous losses of Apple itself.

Also, we cannot but recall the numerous information leaks from both the suppliers and the employees themselves, who, under the threat of fines and even prison sentences, have not once distributed to the media information about new products that have not yet been released.

You will agree that the blockchain’s possibilities within such a logistic machine would be useful both in cases involving the struggle with the use of child labor and in the case of leaks of important data for the company.

By implementing the blockchain in every enterprise that is a link in the supply chain, we can create a secure registry of all employees and their employment contracts. At the same time, it is possible for each company to provide access to viewing, but not changing this information in real time. Thus, each Apple’s partner will meet the labor laws’ requirements of the country where its production is located, and corporation’s representatives do not have to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to investigate and examine their suppliers without incurring reputational risks.

With information leaks can also fight the blockchain but with limited access rights. For example, the technology will allow to enter only certain data and to those employees who will have this right, while other information relating to the development will be hidden from unwanted eyes. Of course, it is possible that an employee who has access to specific information can spread it, however, it becomes much easier and faster to determine the source of the leak, which is important in those moments when there are only a few minutes to take control of the situation.

The fight for the original devices on the market

Apple is always in the favorites of copies’ manufacturers. On popular Chinese websites, you can easily buy an iPhone X for $150, though it’s not a fact that after receiving the package, the user can at least turn it on. Of course, such a counterfeit atmosphere also affects the reputation of the original manufacturer, since the potential buyer will postpone the purchase of the device, tormenting himself in doubts about the authenticity of the new and such a desired smartphone.

Apple is not satisfied with this state of affairs, therefore, since 2008, an operational group has been operating in China to combat the illegal copying of their devices’ design. But this is only a drop in the ocean of fakes, which can not dissolve multibillion-dollar flows of fake devices.

WikiLeaks published documents showing that Apple attempted to influence the Chinese government in order to take tough measures against sales and the production of counterfeit products. At the same time, Chinese officials refused to close the production of fake iMacs, explaining this concern for the employment of local residents.

Citizens of the Celestial Empire with a good imagination are no longer limited to devices of only one kind, a few years ago, photos of entire fake Apple stores appeared in the media.

Apple has problems with counterfeit, not only in China but also in their home states, where you can meet fake accessories and devices which are often cheaper than originals. In the war with fakes help only point battles, which give results only after time-consuming litigation and ongoing costs for legal services.

Since Apple is an international company whose devices are used by millions of users from different countries, where the legal bases for the regulation of counterfeit goods differ from each other, it is rather difficult to track this problem on different continents.

Consumer activity is significantly reduced due to the fact that to distinguish a fake from the original in appearance is sometimes not an easy task, so Apple can successfully integrate the blockchain into its production and solve all of the above problems with one technology.

Creating its own blockchain chain, where data on each unit of goods will be entered, allows buyers to still track the entire path of a device or accessory while standing at the store shelves. To implement this method of protection against counterfeiting, the product can be assigned its own unique code with which users can identify the original products at any time.

Information that a potential buyer will receive by entering this code will contain all the characteristics of the device. At the same time, the authenticity of this data is guaranteed by the blockchain, since it is impossible for unscrupulous manufacturers to change or delete the information from it.

It is possible that distributors of fakes will be able to purchase several units of original devices and extend their codes to fake goods. The way out of this situation is to place in the blockchain the status of the good and the transition status of its owner (for example, manufacturing plant, distributor, and the end customer). Such a method would eliminate a full-scale problem that Apple is struggling from the very beginning of its history.

Conclusion

Despite the smooth production and enormous popularity, Apple still spends part of its profits on those processes that could be optimized. For me, it is strange that such a trendsetter in the technology industry is only looking closely at introducing a useful blockchain technology, fueling public interest with the unrealized patents. The implementation of the blockchain in Apple’s business processes could be the starting point in the company’s new history and the beginning of the global adoption of technology around the world.

The post No, not about Applecoin: what could create a Blockchain within Apple Inc? appeared first on ZyCrypto.

[Telegram Channel | Original Article ]

[myrobertallen-blog]

Videosly Review and huge bonus

Videosly Allows You To Produce Videos Quicker Than Ever. Videosly's advanced modern technology does something no other software program can, it permits you to pick and choose the EXACT web content you want in your video.

Official site: http://www.socialleadfreak.com/videosly-review/

Seems simple, but do not forget that if you're cooking anything on a heater, you could constantly transform it off and also fire points numerous times if you should. Lighting Uniformity This is where if you're shooting with all-natural light, you're going to encounter some trouble. I don't want to blow your mind right here with some insane scientific research knowledge, but we keep spinning around the sun and that indicates that natural light is constantly changing. Just what this means for your video clip is when you sufficed together, you'll see various levels of illumination as well as it will not look as tidy. If all-natural light is your only option, wish for a gloomy day or a sunny day with indirect light and aim to obtain all of your recording done as snugly as possible to decrease the change in light. If you're utilizing synthetic light, make certain you're shutting shades, blinds, doors, the darker the far better if it's daytime. Aim for the Edit Shooting for the edit implies that you're not just shooting the procedure, you're considering how it will certainly go together when you're modifying the video. It likewise means providing on your own alternatives. Any time we fire something that doesn't entail an undoable activity, we shoot numerous takes. In the video over, instances of this are my arms dragging throughout the display, lassoing the video in as well as pointing to components. The more choices you have later on the easier of a time you'll have putting it together. Something specific to these types of video clips is additionally the value of the positioning of your tools/props. Be sure to keep in mind that if you wish to be able to reduce between two takes, as long as possible, items in the shot should not be disturbed as well as the video camera should additionally stagnate. Often times this is much easier said compared to done. Do your best and remember that at high speed, you have actually got more wiggle area compared to you would or else. Take Your Time If you've prepared points out, you must have the ability to focus on capturing in tiny items. Place components into bowl, mix components, draw bowl away, bring in another bowl. Each of these can be shot on their own with time between to intend your next action. If your plan is in area, you could leave the electronic camera shooting and then eliminated the voids as you relocate from action to tip later on (this can additionally be a huge help in preventing electronic camera movement). Enjoy Play around with different suggestions, get imaginative, a lot of times the little fun points that you include that have nothing to do with the real production of the dish are what could make your video stand apart. And Finally ... Errors Take Place In the video clip above, we got it excellent the very first time mixing with each other the Videosly Review, oil as well as vanilla. Would not it have actually been terrific if the electronic camera was taping. DOH! Hey, s ** t takes place as well as I ensure you it will certainly happen, so go into each shoot with the best purposes yet complete expectation that something might go wrong. For me, anticipating that something will certainly go wrong makes it a whole lot much easier to not obtain upset when it does.

The Editing and enhancing Refine When editing and enhancing fast setting up videos, you wish to keep it limited. The secret is to maintain something consistently involving your customer. Below are some ways to do that: Speed it up: Okay, you obtained that component already, however be discerning. My default is aiming at 150-200% for most of the video clip, yet ramping up to 600-2000% for areas where a great deal of blending or various other activity occurs. Throughout specifically long sections I'll cut large portions out, see below. Rough Cut: Assembled your timeline with every one of the Ins/Outs of each clips (the beginning as well as ending). This will certainly be truly long, yet you'll desire this as your structure to modify with, particularly if you're setting songs first. Rate AFTER THAT cut: When you accelerate a clip, you're basically getting rid of frameworks. If you're contending 24fps as well as speed that up 300%, you're only going to see 6 frames. Due to this, it is necessary to speed the video clip up very first and after that take the time improving the cuts. Otherwise you might wind up obtaining slightly different results than anticipated. You don't need to reveal whatever you filmed: When the video is flying by at 600-2000% you could cut out sections to reduce things up without anyone noticing. I do this a whole lot throughout lengthy blending sections where the initial fifty percent is important to see the blending begin, yet the last fifty percent does not change a lot. Every structure counts: Cut at the frame right before your hands/objects really leave the structure as well as reduced in the initial structure you see your hands/object returning to. It's amazing the result of just eliminating a handful of added frameworks can carry the smoothness. Struck 100% for impact: A really great impact can be falling to routine rate at specific minutes. I prefer to do this when getting bowls as well as drawing them out or bringing bowls back in. Decide on and see what works for you. Right here's what the final timeline for the example video above appeared like to offer you an idea of how it came together

So, why are these video clips so proficient at ORDERING people's interest? No Noise Essential A great deal of times we remain in a circumstance where we cannot (or shouldn't) hear sound as well as do not have any type of headphones. Whether you get on the bus, metro, in a waiting area, class, work, no matter. These kinds of Videosly Review let you appreciate them without sound because there's no dialog. All interaction is done visually, often with on-screen text instructions. Music could be a large part of the tone, however they can make it through without it. Attack Sized It's challenging to obtain individuals to buy a two, three, four plus minute video. 2 MINUTES! What!?!? Who has 2 minutes anymore. It seems insane, however with our need for every little thing on-demand, interest periods have actually obtained shorter as well as shorter. What individuals have actually been conditioned for nonetheless is seeing something for 30-60 seconds. Possibly you have actually seen a few of these little points we call commercials prior to. Anybody. any person. fine great. There's a factor they're all 15-60 secs. An Image deserves 1,000 Words Nothing proves that more than these fast-motion setting up video clips. You're not only combining a good quantity of info that would be included in the instructions, but you're giving your customer 24-30 pictures every second to reveal them precisely the best ways to do it. Effective. How? The just how is the component that I'm most delighted about. If you have a DSLR or mobile phone that was acquired within the last couple of years, you're a lot of the way there. Not just that, yet you do not need to worry about exactly what to claim, just how you'll appear, slipping up or how you look. It could be our little secret, however in the video clip above Jennifer as well as I remained in our jammies. Our Setup We've replaced the c-stand that you'll see in the arrangement photo listed below and also now we simply utilize our tripod that I state listed below. I such as the arrangement far better this way. It's cleaner, extra stable, uses much less equipment, no demand for sand bags etc. This is the setup that we'll be making use of progressing. I'm consisting of an image of the reverse angle with the tripod instead of the c-stand below.

How You Can Make Videos Play Much Faster on a Computer system

Computers use a wonderful means to see video clips, however rough playback as well as repeated buffering are an actual drag on the pleasure aspect. Nobody prefers to be disrupted in the middle of viewing something even if the innovation isn't up to the task. However before you invest the huge bucks on updating your hardware or replacing your whole computer, you can try a variety of easy and mainly totally free actions that must improve video rate and also integrity on your computer.

Step Close unnecessary tabs in your Internet web browser as well as other programs running on your computer system to liberate system RAM. Step Launch the Videosly Task Supervisor by keying "Job" on the Start Screen or pushing and holding "Ctrl," "Shift" and "Esc" on your key-board. In the Job Supervisor, check out the energetic processes as well as shut down any that you identify as excessive. Finishing procedures additionally decreases RAM use. Action Restart your device if it has been competing greater than a day. Operating systems are very complicated, as well as starting a fresh session can clear traffic jams that break down system efficiency.

Step Disable hardware acceleration if you're enjoying a Flash video clip. This could be specifically helpful if you have actually a computer made before 2010, or if you have trouble watching Flash video clips in full-screen mode. If you have no idea whether you're watching a Flash video clip or an additional kind, merely right-click on the real video during playback. If it's a Flash video, the Flash context menu will certainly pop up. Click "Settings." The Show Panel will certainly appear, and also from there uncheck the "Enable Hardware Velocity" alternative. Tips & Warnings If you're having problem with on the internet video clips particularly, see them utilizing a reduced resolution quality. A lot of video sites, consisting of YouTube, Dailymotion as well as several information video internet sites, permit you to readjust this setting. In YouTube, the "Settings" switch is in the bottom-right corner of the video. In Dailymotion, the "Resolution" button is at the top of the video clip. Reducing the quality of the video clip stream is among one of the most reputable ways making online video clips play much faster.

Why Does YouTube Maintain Stopping? Many YouTube video clips are published for the enjoyment of individuals all over the globe. Nevertheless, it is hard to enjoy the experience if the video clip maintains beginning and quiting. The longer the video, the a lot more information your computer system should download. It is normal for an on-line video clip to buffer just before it starts, yet it needs to not quit during playback unless you are seeing an exclusive video or have a Flash or data transfer issue.

Personal Video clips Some video clips are noted as exclusive and will certainly stop playing if you are out the uploader's Pals and Family members listing. Attempt viewing a different video clip to see if it is an isolated issue. If you are particular the video clip is public, your firewall software could be blocking YouTube. Attempt viewing it from a different network, if possible. If all else falls short, empty your web browser's cache and also clear the cookies before attempting once again. Go to "Tools," "Remove Surfing Background" and position a check by each choice other than "Preserve Faves Internet Site Information." Net Speed When videos do not play constantly, it is most likely because of a slow-moving Net link. Your Videosly should be quickly sufficient to download the video clip quicker than your computer plays it. If it is slow-moving, YouTube will keep quiting to buffer, or pre-download the video. At least 500 or more Kbps is recommended to stop this from taking place. In the meantime, you could stop briefly the video, providing the stream time to load.

Bandwidth Your transmission capacity is determined by your Net rate, and also it is the optimum quantity readily available for use. If you get on a network, the overall data transfer will certainly be shared amongst all computer systems linked to the network. If you are making use of any type of programs that make use of the Internet, they will certainly additionally gobble data transfer that might be utilized by YouTube. Do not make use of the Web till the YouTube video clip has actually totally filled. Flash All YouTube videos utilize the Adobe Flash Gamer. If you have problem with all of the video clips, install the latest version of the gamer. You may additionally see the complying with message: "You Had to Update Your Adobe Flash Player to Watch this Video clip." It is a great idea to uninstall previous versions of Flash, and also, if you are unsure, simply use Adobe's official uninstaller. If upgrading Flash does not fix the problem, disable your popup blocker from "Web Options," "Personal privacy.".

Readjust either end of the range to pick the beginning time as well as end time of the result.

Move the worth nob to the wanted speed:. You could quicken as well as slow down the video clip by an optimum value of 10 time the original speed. If you wish to make it slower move the nob to the left. If you want making it quicker move the nob to the right.

Select the smooth in/out alternative if you desire the video decrease as well as accelerate slowly over 1 2nd instead of instantaneously.

Preview the impact a number of times to see if you should raise the worth. If you are not satisfied with impact and also wish to eliminate it. Click the trash can symbol on the Rate Tab:.

You'll see that if you make your clip slower the general length of the clip will be much longer. If you speed up your clip the total length will be much shorter. When you pick the effect you wish to keep, readjust the rest of your story if needed.

Tags: Videosly, Videosly Review, Videosly Bonus, Videosly Discount, Videosly Reviews, Videosly Bonuses.