#laac

[bondibee]

Have dnd soon, so I'll just drop this here and run 😘

[canadian-riddler]

I’m at the point where I use the ‘Entire Work’ button on AO3 to see if I’ve already covered something in LaaC

[kirstydreaming]

Starlet

[recklessbucket]

More love as a construct fanart because I love it sm

Just wanna keep making things up with these goobers

[taashyvashedan]

Whenever I see this come back across my feed, I reblog. Taash's lil' happy face at the end.

did that wingman quest for taash

[thislovintime]

Photo (from 1997) by Marilyn Ingram, via LAAC.

“Tork took time out from a round of TV appearances to give the keynote speech at a recognition awards and joint holiday breakfast for two Bay Area Employment of People with Disabilities groups. […] ‘I’ve never talked before about my intimate life,’ he told the audience in the ballroom of the Sunnyvale Hilton. Tork then plunged into a deep, wide-ranging explanation of why he originally thought he drank and what changed that reasoning and helped him maintain sobriety. ‘I’m worried you’ll think I’m off my rocker,’ he said. ‘You probably didn’t come here to hear something like this. You want to hear about Davy Jones. Well, he comes up to here on me, speaks with an English accent and sometimes is a pain in the ass.’ That got a laugh. But most of Tork’s words were as sober as he says he’s been for more than 16 years. Although his audience was filled with suits and dress ensembles on both men and women, Tork wore jeans, cowboy boots, a vividly embroidered vest, a bright blue print shirt and slung over his chair a leather jacket with Popeyes cartoon characters cavorting on the back. Tork said he argued continually with his cold, unemotional father, came from a dysfunctional family and drank to drown his sorrow, loneliness and feelings of being left out and different. ‘I realize now everybody has those feelings. Who hasn’t suffered? It’s universal. Buddha says all people suffer, not just the disabled. I’ve come to the conclusion that life stunts your growth. We all get scars. No one gets out of life unscathed.’ When he didn’t drink, Tork said, all the people who knew him didn’t like him. So he drank and found that once he started, he couldn’t stop. He finally surrendered to the idea he couldn’t do it himself and looked to a higher power for help. Tork worried out loud that his talk about God might offend atheists in the audience. ‘I can’t put it into words and don’t want to use the wrong terms,’ he said. ‘But you can’t nail it down. I know the answer for me is to be part of something larger, whatever it is. Bob Dylan wrote a song that had the line “You’re gonna have to serve someone.” Life demands that we rely on other people. It’s a curse to believe you’re too independent.’ Finally, Tork summed up his philosophy: ‘It’s no official doctrine we’re speaking about. We’re just talking about community.’” - Ventura County Star, December 13, 1996

[burnwater13]

Concept art by Brian Matyas, of Grogu meeting Ahsoka Tano on Corvus as Din Djarin watches them from the a small distance away. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 5, The Jedi.

His name was what? Grogu? What kind of name was Grogu? Then he laughed nervously inside his own mind. What kind of name was Djarin? He hadn’t been named after his father or any relative he knew. His mother had told him it meant ‘finder’ but he didn’t know what language that was from. It certainly didn’t mean anything in Gal Basic. He wondered what Grogu meant?

To the Mandalorian, Grogu meant trouble. But it also meant kindness. Curiosity. Sadness. Strength. Responsibility. And determination. The kid was really determined to stay with him and Din Djarin couldn’t figure out why. 

He wasn’t some sort of experienced father who knew how to raise children. He didn’t even know people like that. People who raised their children to be kind and helpful and sweet rarely got picked up on bounty fobs. They didn’t steal from their employers. They didn’t kill people. They weren’t pirates, or spice runners, or criminals. They worked at steady jobs like running a diner and they paid their way and if they fell on hard times they worked twice as hard to provide for their family. 

Or so he’d been told, by his former commander. Laac had a number of children. All raised to be Mandalorian warriors. They had been brave and smart and a credit to their parents and their clan. Din Djarin didn’t know where they were now, probably gone given the way things had worked out for so many Mandalorians. But if they had survived the Imperial attack on Mandalore, he was sure that Laac, his wife, and their children lived on a planet that was free from strife and made an honest living. At least he wished that was their destiny. 

He wished that primarily because it meant that there was someone he could ask for advice on what to do with Grogu if this Jedi didn’t agree to take him. Ahsoka Tano had been happy to meet Grogu. Almost ecstatic. But then her attitude changed. Became aloof and questioning. He didn’t understand that. Everyone else who met the small green boy seemed to fall instantly in love with him. Even as a happily unattached person, Din Djarin had found Grogu too genuine, too engaging, too vulnerable to ignore, although he had tried. 

Then there had been that moment when he realized that he’d given a bunch of ex-Imps a child who just wanted to play with a toy. An innocent, vulnerable, controllable child. What was he doing? It had been an affront to everything he’d been taught and not just by the Children of the Watch on Concordia. His parents had taught him that it was better to be a helper than a trouble maker. Those lessons had sustained him when he had to pick up the threads of his life and learn to be a Mandalorian and follow the Creed.

He looked at the child now, speaking to the Jedi without actually speaking out loud, and wondered how he ever managed to give him up. Yes, a camtono of beskar was worth a lot of credits and he had an absolute duty to recover that beskar for the Tribe and the foundlings they supported, but giving a child to anyone who might harm them was against the Creed. Of course that had lasted long. Thankfully. 

He wouldn’t be mentioning anything about that to Laac. He’d lectured himself enough in his former commander’s voice. Every time Grogu cried out in his sleep, Din Djarin blamed himself. Every time Grogu gave him that sad look, when his ears drooped and the corners of his mouth sagged and his eyes… dank farrik!, his eyes would fill with tears and the bounty hunter would remember every time he’d felt that same way. He wasn’t just remembering the loss of his parents and his friends and everything he had loved about the village where he had grown up. He was remembering every time he’d disappointed his creche leaders, his instructors, and his commanders. 

He especially remembered going on a test mission with Laac Straso and he had made every rookie mistake you could make and still survive. He’d been too eager and too inexperienced and too wrapped up in his own view of things. At the end of that mission, on their way back to their barracks, Laac had taken him aside.

“Djarin, I don’t know that this is the right path for you. You are a good hearted man, but you are not a hard hearted man. To be a Mandalorian you must acknowledge that every mission could be your last. That the foundlings, your creche mates, and your squad mates depend on you to know that and take appropriate actions. That first action is to get out of your own way. Know you are not and never will be the smartest, the best, the most indestructible Mandalorian to ever wear armor. But, if you think first, evaluate your options, and remember what you are taking any risk for, then you have a chance to make it to the next mission. I will not take you out again until you can show me that you can do that.”

That had almost broken him. But then he remembered being rescued by the Mandalorians and what that had meant to him. What it had meant to the other survivors of the attack on Aq Vetina. He had a duty to not just follow the Creed but to support it with his every action. 

Later that day he had sought his commander out and apologized for his behavior and explained what he had come to realize and told him that he hoped to regain his trust. Lacc had simply replied ‘This is the Way’. Eventually, they went on another mission together and Din Djarin had gotten out of his own way and it went better than well. He graduated from the program and became a member of Laac’s squad until he was compelled to take up bounty hunting. 

Now here he was, many years later, staring at his foundling and wondering if he was getting in his own way again. He wanted the best outcome for Grogu. He’d been told by the Armorer to find his people. But was this Jedi really the right person to hand Grogu off to? Was any Jedi the answer to his quest? He didn’t know. 

But he worried that he wasn’t the right person either. He had been adopted by the Children of the Watch, hence Din Djarin. Adoptee Djarin. He had no idea why ‘Din’ meant that and he never asked. It just was what it was. But he had no family line. No history to gift a child. The only thing he could give Grogu was a Clan to be part of, Clan Mudhorn. A clan of two. Was that enough for such a special child? He wished he could ask Laac that question. But then he heard Laac’s voice in the back of his mind, “Did you need more than that? Every child is special, Djarin. Every one. Get out of your own way.”

Under his helmet Din Djarin, Child of the Watch, smiled to himself. There was other work to do before he had to make any decision. He could enjoy this time with Grogu and help Ahsoka Tano with her task and then determine the path they needed to take. They had time and that was a luxury he hoped Grogu would appreciate. A clan of two for another day. This is the Way.

[govindhtech]

Dell PowerEdge XE9680L Cools and Powers Dell AI Factory

When It Comes to Cooling and Powering Your  AI Factory, Think Dell. As part of the Dell AI Factory initiative, the company is thrilled to introduce a variety of new server power and cooling capabilities.

Dell PowerEdge XE9680L Server

As part of the Dell AI Factory, they’re showcasing new server capabilities after a fantastic Dell Technologies World event. These developments, which offer a thorough, scalable, and integrated method of imaplementing AI solutions, have the potential to completely transform the way businesses use artificial intelligence.

These new capabilities, which begin with the PowerEdge XE9680L with support for NVIDIA B200 HGX 8-way NVLink GPUs (graphics processing units), promise unmatched AI performance, power management, and cooling. This offer doubles I/O throughput and supports up to 72 GPUs per rack 107 kW, pushing the envelope of what’s feasible for AI-driven operations.

Integrating AI with Your Data

In order to fully utilise AI, customers must integrate it with their data. However, how can they do this in a more sustainable way? Putting in place state-of-the-art infrastructure that is tailored to meet the demands of AI workloads as effectively as feasible is the solution. Dell PowerEdge servers and software are built with Smart Power and Cooling to assist IT operations make the most of their power and thermal budgets.

Astute Cooling

Effective power management is but one aspect of the problem. Recall that cooling ability is also essential. At the highest workloads, Dell’s rack-scale system, which consists of eight XE9680 H100 servers in a rack with an integrated rear door heat exchanged, runs at 70 kW or less, as we disclosed at Dell Technologies World 2024. In addition to ensuring that component thermal and reliability standards are satisfied, Dell innovates to reduce the amount of power required to maintain cool systems.

Together, these significant hardware advancements including taller server chassis, rack-level integrated cooling, and the growth of liquid cooling, which includes liquid-assisted air cooling, or LAAC improve heat dissipation, maximise airflow, and enable larger compute densities. An effective fan power management technology is one example of how to maximise airflow. It uses an AI-based fuzzy logic controller for closed-loop thermal management, which immediately lowers operating costs.

Constructed to Be Reliable

Dependability and the data centre are clearly at the forefront of Dell’s solution development. All thorough testing and validation procedures, which guarantee that their systems can endure the most demanding situations, are clear examples of this.

A recent study brought attention to problems with data centre overheating, highlighting how crucial reliability is to data centre operations. A Supermicro SYS‑621C-TN12R server failed in high-temperature test situations, however a Dell PowerEdge HS5620 server continued to perform an intense workload without any component warnings or failures.

Announcing AI Factory Rack-Scale Architecture on the Dell PowerEdge XE9680L

Dell announced a factory integrated rack-scale design as well as the liquid-cooled replacement for the Dell PowerEdge XE9680.

The GPU-powered Since the launch of the PowerEdge product line thirty years ago, one of Dell’s fastest-growing products is the PowerEdge XE9680. immediately following the Dell PowerEdge. Dell announced an intriguing new addition to the PowerEdge XE product family as part of their next announcement for cloud service providers and near-edge deployments.

 AI computing has advanced significantly with the Direct Liquid Cooled (DLC) Dell PowerEdge XE9680L with NVIDIA Blackwell Tensor Core GPUs. This server, shown at Dell Technologies World 2024 as part of the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, pushes the limits of performance, GPU density per rack, and scalability for AI workloads.

The XE9680L’s clever cooling system and cutting-edge rack-scale architecture are its key components. Why it matters is as follows:

GPU Density per Rack, Low Power Consumption, and Outstanding Efficiency

The most rigorous large language model (LLM) training and large-scale AI inferencing environments where GPU density per rack is crucial are intended for the XE9680L. It provides one of the greatest density x86 server solutions available in the industry for the next-generation NVIDIA HGX B200 with a small 4U form factor.

Efficient DLC smart cooling is utilised by the XE9680L for both CPUs and GPUs. This innovative technique maximises compute power while retaining thermal efficiency, enabling a more rack-dense 4U architecture. The XE9680L offers remarkable performance for training large language models (LLMs) and other AI tasks because it is tailored for the upcoming NVIDIA HGX B200.

More Capability for PCIe 5 Expansion

With its standard 12 x PCIe 5.0 full-height, half-length slots, the XE9680L offers 20% more FHHL PCIe 5.0 density to its clients. This translates to two times the capability for high-speed input/output for the North/South AI fabric, direct storage connectivity for GPUs from Dell PowerScale, and smooth accelerator integration.

The XE9680L’s PCIe capacity enables smooth data flow whether you’re managing data-intensive jobs, implementing deep learning models, or running simulations.

Rack-scale factory integration and a turn-key solution

Dell is dedicated to quality over the XE9680L’s whole lifecycle. Partner components are seamlessly linked with rack-scale factory integration, guaranteeing a dependable and effective deployment procedure.

Bid farewell to deployment difficulties and welcome to faster time-to-value for accelerated AI workloads. From PDU sizing to rack, stack, and cabling, the XE9680L offers a turn-key solution.

With the Dell PowerEdge XE9680L, you can scale up to 72 Blackwell GPUs per 52 RU rack or 64 GPUs per 48 RU rack.

With pre-validated rack infrastructure solutions, increasing power, cooling, and  AI fabric can be done without guesswork.

AI factory solutions on a rack size, factory integrated, and provided with “one call” support and professional deployment services for your data centre or colocation facility floor.

Dell PowerEdge XE9680L

The PowerEdge XE9680L epitomises high-performance computing innovation and efficiency. This server delivers unmatched performance, scalability, and dependability for modern data centres and companies. Let’s explore the PowerEdge XE9680L’s many advantages for computing.

Superior performance and scalability

Enhanced Processing: Advanced processing powers the PowerEdge XE9680L. This server performs well for many applications thanks to the latest Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs. The XE9680L can handle complicated simulations, big databases, and high-volume transactional applications.

Flexibility in Memory and Storage: Flexible memory and storage options make the PowerEdge XE9680L stand out. This server may be customised for your organisation with up to 6TB of DDR4 memory and NVMe,  SSD, and HDD storage. This versatility lets you optimise your server’s performance for any demand, from fast data access to enormous storage.

Strong Security and Management

Complete Security: Today’s digital world demands security. The PowerEdge XE9680L protects data and system integrity with extensive security features. Secure Boot, BIOS Recovery, and TPM 2.0 prevent cyberattacks. Our server’s built-in encryption safeguards your data at rest and in transit, following industry standards.

Advanced Management Tools

Maintaining performance and minimising downtime requires efficient IT infrastructure management. Advanced management features ease administration and boost operating efficiency on the PowerEdge XE9680L. Dell EMC OpenManage offers simple server monitoring, management, and optimisation solutions. With iDRAC9 and Quick Sync 2, you can install, update, and troubleshoot servers remotely, decreasing on-site intervention and speeding response times.

Excellent Reliability and Support

More efficient cooling and power

For optimal performance, high-performance servers need cooling and power control. The PowerEdge XE9680L’s improved cooling solutions dissipate heat efficiently even under intense loads. Airflow is directed precisely to prevent hotspots and maintain stable temperatures with multi-vector cooling. Redundant power supply and sophisticated power management optimise the server’s power efficiency, minimising energy consumption and running expenses.

A proactive support service

The PowerEdge XE9680L has proactive support from Dell to maximise uptime and assure continued operation. Expert technicians, automatic issue identification, and predictive analytics are available 24/7 in ProSupport Plus to prevent and resolve issues before they affect your operations. This proactive assistance reduces disruptions and improves IT infrastructure stability, letting you focus on your core business.

Innovation in Modern Data Centre Design Scalable Architecture

The PowerEdge XE9680L’s scalable architecture meets modern data centre needs. You can extend your infrastructure as your business grows with its modular architecture and easy extension and customisation. Whether you need more storage, processing power, or new technologies, the XE9680L can adapt easily.

Ideal for virtualisation and clouds

Cloud computing and virtualisation are essential to modern IT strategies. Virtualisation support and cloud platform integration make the PowerEdge XE9680L ideal for these environments. VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and OpenStack interoperability lets you maximise resource utilisation and operational efficiency with your visualised infrastructure.

Conclusion

Finally, the PowerEdge XE9680L is a powerful server with flexible memory and storage, strong security, and easy management. Modern data centres and organisations looking to improve their IT infrastructure will love its innovative design, high reliability, and proactive support. The PowerEdge XE9680L gives your company the tools to develop, innovate, and succeed in a digital environment.

Read more on govindhtech.com

[canadian-riddler]

actually, in the last chapter of LaaC, GLaDOS came to the conclusion that Chell couldn't be the kind of friend to her that she needed or deserved and both figuratively and literally let her go lmao

def behind the scenes of portal 2, Chell GLaDOS and Wheatley are a poly triad

[deardisney365]

Today letter at www.DearDisney365.com continues our 100 Years of Wonder highlight and review. Today’s review is Disneyland’s Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, two minutes of chaotic Motor Mania. #mrtoadswildride #disneyparks #deardisney365 #letterstodisney #disneyblog #100yearsofwonder https://www.instagram.com/p/CptrBh-LAac/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[guesswhattimeitis]

WIP Game

Oh my god I know you didn't you know what you were opening with this @kalevalakryze but I'm happy to oblige:

Wip Game Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

So. Uh I'll list them here, but just a warning some of these are not fanfic wips they're original works, or for other projects, and not all of them are longer than a couple sentences, but here you are!

Files:

New Moon

List of WIPs (this one is not complete but includes WIPs that aren't any place but my mind)

D&D Planning

Kaori Project

KH Story

Lancer Fic

Shep/Miranda

Snippets

Field Guide: House of Lanterns (lots of overlap here with Lancer Fic)

battlegroup

Cyberpunk Lich

Ttrpg deck building

Dnd/Spelljammer (overlap with D&D Planning)

Shatterstar

Scars Old and New

Princesses

Sidari doc

Streamer Caitlyn

Pixie Knight

Kae meets Annalise

Femme Knight

Star Wars WIP

Aethesium Notepad

Aethesium Eyes

Aethesium Start and Outline (these 3 are obviously related lol)

Eyeshine

Ilium Ball

Snippets/Close

At The Predetermined Time

Kurinth

Shepard's Bad Month

Nemesis

Welcome Home

Parallel

Cold Hearts

Poker Face

Promise

Shawson Outline

Armored Heart

Haircut

Liara Changed

A Careful Touch

Takeoff

Core Testing Initiative LaaC (a wip for someone else's au)

Claire de Lune LaaC

Android Glados WIP

Butterfly Brigade

First Day

A Little Secret

Haruka and Michiru Make a Mistake

3 Times

Forest story name to change

Forehead kisses

Smooth stone flagstones

And technically I have MORE if you can believe it, though many are either very old and I wouldn't continue or they have nothing actually written down yet and only exist in my head. (Some of these last ones are pretty old already)

I don't know 54 writers, on tumblr or otherwise. So um if you see this and want to do it go ahead, and tag me! And don't be afraid to send me an ask to see one of these!

@opossum-knight I want to see your wips list

[bondibee]

Redraw of this old piece ✨

Making adjustments

[canadian-riddler]

When people say stuff like this about Love as a Construct I really do think I might be good at writing outside of the context of fanfic

[caymannewsservice]

Hastings claims LAAC golf championship title for Cayman

LAAC Champion 2025 Justin Hastings (photo supplied by the CI Golf Association) (CNS): Caymanian golfer Justin Hastings claimed the title of the 10th annual Latin American Amateur Championship on Saturday at the Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, giving the Cayman Islands its second champion in four editions following Aaron Jarvis’s win in 2022. Continue reading Hastings claims LAAC golf…

[recklessbucket]

Ive been meaning to draw fanart to this fanfiction for awhile. Also note: #WheatDOS

The "Love As A Construct" fanfic by @canadian-riddler has been one of the best fanfics I've ever read with all my years as a casual reader (and one of the best I've read as a portal 1/2 fan so far).

The author did such an excellent job capturing the character's personalities to their writing and made these two isolated beep-boops a cute couple. Despite Wheatley and GlaDOS' history, they manage to make them work by providing a prelude called "My Little Moron" (which is also something to look into as well) that made this love story made a whole lotta' sense!

It may be very long, but as one of the few who still reads it, the adventures were worth the read!

P.S.

Both of these fics are part of a series! They're also really good reads. Let me direct you there with this handy link!

[mckoysnews-blog]

Challenging 1st day for Jamaican golfers at 10th Latin America Amateur Golf Champs in Argentina

Zandre Roye and Ryan Lue were challenged on day one of the tenth Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) (golf) on Thursday at the Pilar Golf Club in Buenas Aires, Argentina. The four day championship will run until Sunday at the same venue. Roye started out well posing three under par after seven holes but was pegged back at the half way mark after making two bogeys, to end on one under par…